Praise forNew York TimesandUSA TODAYbestselling author RaeAnne Thayne
âAs always Ms Thayne writes a fascinating story that will keep readers interested from beginning to end ⦠a feel good romance that takes place over the holidays in snowy Idaho, with sleigh rides and sparkling Christmas trees. It is sure to meet with readersâ approval.â
âRomance Reviews Today on A Cold Creek Noel
âI love RaeAnne Thayne. She is the best when it comes to crafting an engrossing mystery and characters youâd love to know personally. She deftly creates a love story that makes us believe that true love, such as that which happens to the characters in this story, can and does happen in the real world.â
âIdaho Statesman on A Cold Creek Christmas Surprise
âA sometimes heartbreaking tale of love and relationships in a small Colorado town ⦠Poignant and sweet, this tale of second chances will appeal to fans of military-flavored sweet romance.â
âPublishers Weekly on Christmas in Snowflake Canyon
âOnce again, Thayne proves she has a knack for capturing those emotions that come from the heart. Crisp storytelling and many amusing moments make for a delightful read.â
âRT Book Reviews on Willowleaf Lane
âThayne pens another winner by combining her huge, boisterous cast of familiar, lovable characters with a beautiful setting and a wonderful story. Her main characters are strong and three-dimensional, with enough heat between them to burn the pages.â
âRT Book Reviews on Currant Creek Valley
âHopeâs Crossing is a charming series that lives up to its name. Reading these stories of small-town life engage the readerâs heart and emotions, inspiring hope and the belief miracles are possible.â
âDebbie Macomber, No.1 New York Times bestselling author, on Sweet Laurel Falls
âThayne, once again, delivers a heartfelt story of a caring community and a caring romance between adults who have triumphed over tragedies.â
âBooklist on Woodrose Mountain
âThayneâs series starter introduces the Colorado town of Hopeâs Crossing in what can be described as a cozy romance ⦠[a] gentle, easy read.â
âPublishers Weekly on Blackberry Summer
Chapter One
Though Thanksgiving was still a week and a half away, Christmas apparently had already rolled into Pine Gulch, Idaho, in all its snowy glory.
Hope Nichols looked through the windshield of the crappy old Ford pickup truck she had picked up for a cool thousand dollars at the edge of a Walmart parking lot in Salt Lake City. On a late afternoon in November the storefronts of the small but vibrant downtown area were alive with Christmas displaysâtrees, lights, toy soldiers, the occasional Nativity scene.
As she drove through more residential areas on her way to Cold Creek Canyon, she saw the holiday spirit extended here. Nearly every house had decorations of some sort, from inflatable snowmen to a full-fledged Santa and reindeer display.
She didnât mind even the kitschiest of decorations, even though to some it might seem early in the season. Considering she hadnât spent the holidays at home for the past five yearsâor even in the countryâshe couldnât wait to embrace the whole Christmas thing this year.
She supposed that was a good thing, since her familyâs Ranch was the holiday epicenter around here.
This area of eastern Idaho already had a few inches of snowânot much, but enough to cover everything in a lovely blanket of white and add a bit of seasonal charm to the town she remembered with such warmth and affection.
While Pine Gulch wasnât exactly her hometown, it was close enough. Hope and her sisters had lived here through most of their formative teen years, and she loved every inch of it, from the distant view of the west slope of the Tetons to the unassuming storefronts to the kind people who waved at her even now, though they couldnât possibly recognize her or the old blue pickup truck with the primer on the side.
She had come to be pretty fond of the old Ford. It didnât exactly drive like a dream, but it had four-wheel drive and all its working parts. Buying it had been an impulsive decisionâshe had intended to rent a car in Salt Lake City to drive home after she flew in from northern Africa, but had suddenly realized she would need transportation permanently now. This truck would get her through the gnarly winter season until she figured out what she would do next. After a decade of wandering, she was ready to stay put for a while.