A Small-Town Christmas Romance (Haven Point) - Sugar Pine Trail

Sugar Pine Trail

After several tempting introductions to Jamie Caine in previous books in her Hope’s Crossing and Haven Point series, RaeAnne Thayne rewards her loyal readers with Jamie Caine’s story. Jamie, currently a pilot for Caine Tech, rents the second story of Julia Winston’s Victorian home while waiting for construction of his new condo to be completed. Julie Winston is head librarian at the town public library. Quite by accident Julia takes in two abandoned boys until a permanent foster home placement can be arranged. Unexpectedly, Jamie begins to reach out to help Julia in providing a joyful holiday season for the boys. Jamie is a very likeable character. Learning about the tragedies in his past, he becomes more to the reader than just a “good looking guy”. Julia’s sacrifices in her personal life while providing care for elderly parents, results in a rather lonely life. RaeAnne Thayne is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Like comfort foods, certain books become “comfort books.” Ms. Thayne’s books have become my new comfort books. I find myself reading them slowly so they will last longer. Sugar Pine Trail is a rewarding Christmas holiday read. Julie and Jamie are characters one would embrace as friends. Great cover art and a wonderful addition to this series.

Julia Winswton is a librarian. She had inherited her parent's victorian. When Eliza Caine asked her to rent the upstairs apartment to her brother-in-law, Jamie Caine, for a few weeks she should have known better. She had a riduculous crush on him. She has no idea how grateful she will be that he is there when her life spins out of control.

RaeAnne Thayne has a knack for adding a real humanity in her books. The books are sad, funny, real life and touching. There is always a sense of family. The people have heart and a connectiveness not always seen. I they are all my favorites and love Julia and Jamie's story. I like the supportive people and the mulititude of personalites. Everyone loves living and working in Lake Haven and they work hard to support the town. Each time I read a new book by RaeAnne Thayne I thinkg this is definitely my favorite. Truth be told, they are all my favorites and I can't wait to see what happens next! These books are such a delight to reand and will hold your interest from page one until the very end. Then, you will be sad to leave you new friends!

For librarian Julie Winston, she feels like she needs to shake things up a bit in her life. She wants to experience new things, expand her horizons but she never anticipated that falling for her sexy Romeo of a neighbor, Jamie Caine, was the way to go.

When she finds two young boys, brothers, end up in her care for the holidays, she finds Jamie harder to resist especially as he helps Julie out with the boys and to broaden her horizons, one thing at a time. But what happens when Julie finds herself falling in love with Jamie and can she risk her most prized possession- her heart- to Jamie?

I adore RaeAnne Thayne’s novels and her latest holiday story in Haven Point is sweet and delightful from start to finish. We met Jamie back a few books ago and I loved how this guy is so adorable, a rascal and has a sweet sensitive side that doesn’t come out to play until he meets Julie’s new friends. Ms. Thayne delivers a story full of emotion and more as the reader enjoys the holidays in Haven Point and I loved meeting back up with a ton of favorite characters and a few new ones. I loved how cheerful Julie was with parents who taught her the value of helping people who may need it. She does this with a smile and cheer that just astounded me. I loved how Julie literally opened her home to two brothers while trying to make sure they got the home they needed at the time and the love they so desired. She was a delight to enjoy reading about and I, for one, was cheering her on right from page one. Add in Jamie Caine who is a playboy with a past who is determined to find what his brother has found with his lady love, a rented apartment in quiet librarian’s home and you got the makings of a story that will knock your socks off.

RaeAnne Thayne is a wonderful storyteller who delivers heartfelt stories that readers can delve into and enjoy, regardless of the season. Each book is well written and captures the small-town charm that is Haven Point and at times, Hope’s Crossing, which has some of these characters Haven Point stories. The characters are what makes this one of my go to series to read when I need a pick me up. The characters are so well written, delightful and yes, entertaining, that I fall in love with them all over again. Ms. Thayne continues to deliver diverse and intriguing characters in her stories that capture your heart and never let go.

SUGAR PINE TRAIL is a delightful holiday read that can be read at anytime of the year. I look forward to more visits to Haven Point in the future and hope you can check this series out. You won’t be disappointed at all.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

There were a lot of tears shed during the reading of this story, I’m not going to lie. This one really tugged at my heartstrings. If it wasn’t my devastation at the situation Clint and Davey found themselves in, it was my recognition of Julia’s feelings of not being enough. Good enough, pretty enough, interesting enough…whatever. What a sweet lady, but oh so clueless in many ways.

If you’re a fan of RaeAnne Thayne, you’ve known the character of Jamie for quite a while. He harkens back all the way to the Hope’s Crossing series, before Aiden Caine moved to Haven Point and a new series was started. His HEA has been a long time coming. And Jamie is just as awesome as the rest of the Caine family. He has some issues he has to deal with, but he’s such a great guy he doesn’t even let his family know he even has issues. Jamie is a typical hero…he thinks he’s to blame for all that goes wrong but likes to share the wealth of kudos when things go right. Unfortunately, that has gotten him into a situation where he is holding onto way too much guilt.

Julia is, in many ways, the opposite of Jamie. Where he grew up in a huge, loving, demonstrative, and loud family, she grew up an only child to older (although still very loving), more reserved parents. Because their attention was always on her, she felt the pressure to always do the right thing. Julia has held herself back for so long, now that both of her parents have passed she doesn’t even know how to let loose a little. Of course, this makes Julia and Jamie perfect for each other!

Throw in two confused, scared, and rascally little boys and this is the perfect holiday feel-good story. With lots of tears, as I’ve mentioned, along the way. Since Jamie is already a known entity for those that have read all of this author’s books, it’s no surprise he jumps in to help with the kids when he sees Julia is a bit out of her element. He’s got so many nieces and nephews and I wouldn’t imagine anyone is even allowed to be shy with children in his family. He’s so natural with Clinton and Davey and it makes him that much more attractive.

Although this is definitely an HEA book, there is a ton of heartache throughout. Even, in a happy/sad way, at the end. Things end as they should, but it doesn’t make it any easier.

Oh, I also have a warning. This story is overflowing with warm-fuzzies! My stomach was in a constant state of butterflies throughout the whole book.

Another wonderful book in the Haven Point series! It's summer and I now have Christmas and holiday warmth spreading through my veins after reading Sugar Pine Trail. Ms. Thayne has done another wonderful job of bringing readers with her to the wonderful little town full of amazing, yet often quirky inhabitants of Haven Point. Several times while reading I teared up a little over Clint and Davy's situation but the emotions were well balanced throughout. Julia and Jamie are both likable characters and once again the town is one anybody would love to spend long amounts of time in! Though the book deals with some heavy subjects it isn't overly depressing and over dramatic. I would consider this book a bit on the heavier side of Christmas reading, but Ms. Thayne provides enough lighter moments that I do still consider Sugar Pine Trail Christmas-esq reading. Having said that, if you're looking for a Christmas story that is full of nothing but laughter, crazy mix ups, and humorous situations, Sugar Pine Trail is not that book. If you want something with a bit heavier subject matter w/very well written characters, a charming little town, and enough warm fuzzies to keep you warm all winter; then Sugar Pine Trail is your book! I've found you can't go wrong when you read a RaeAnne Thayne novel, and you definitely will not be sorry if you venture into Haven Point. So, if you're on the fence, feel free to cross on over and become a fan!

Sugar Pine Trail in the seventh book in the Haven Point series. I jumped into this series with book #5, and if there's one thing I learned about RaeAnne Thayne, it's that she can certainly tug at your heartstrings, and now, in early December, it was the perfect time to be reading this incredibly sweet, heartwarming novel. It gets 5 stars from this reader/reviewer.

Although the title didn't begin to fit the content of this story, I'm always happy to return to Haven Point, and this novel grabbed me from the first page and kept me up practically until dawn because I simply couldn't put it down until I finished it. If you're new to this series, have no fear--I works perfectly as a standalone.

Thirty-two year old Julia Winston, a straitlaced, shy, single librarian, is the first character we meet, as she stands in the front room of the huge Victorian home she inherited upon the death of her adoptive parents, looking out the window with great trepidation as a black SUV pulls into her driveway. As a favor to a friend, she's about to welcome a short-term tenant, her first, and he's the utterly gorgeous private pilot, Jamie Caine, whose new condo isn't quite finished being built yet and who needs a place to stay for the next six weeks. Half of the women in town have either dated him or want to, and Julia has crushed on him since the day she first saw him. His reputation precedes him--he's a flirt, and has dated a lot of beautiful woman, but is never with one woman for long, and to say he's commitment-phobic is putting it mildly, but he does have his reasons.

Although the shy, spinster librarian trope has been done to death, thanks to the excellent writing skills and storytelling ability of the author, in this case it works, and I was absolutely charmed by Julia's nervousness and Jamie's reaction to the small, flustered woman, and I was hooked.

There's a lot more to this story than the shy, straitlaced, old maid, librarian with 3 cats meets a handsome and available hunk--Julia is a gem of a character, and while at a book club meeting, discussing a self-help book, she's talked into writing a short bucket list, while drinking a bit too much sangria punch. The next time Jamie encounters her, she's tipsy, and he begins to realize there's more to Julia than he originally thought.

While at work, Julia notices two small boys wearing threadbare clothing (Clint and Davy, 8 and 6, respectively), sitting quietly in the library for a couple of days running, and as she's closing up one snowy night, she offers them a ride home, which the boys initially refuse. When she gets in her car and follows them as they leave, shivering in their inadequate clothing she insists, and discovers that their mother is nowhere in sight, their father is dead and they've been alone for days, without heat or electricity in a ramshackle house, and, after taking them to her house she calls child protective services, who, despite their protests, takes them away.

When Julia learns that the two boys will be split up and sent to different foster homes, Julia, with her soft heart and too large home, eventually winds up fostering them while attempts are being made to locate their mother. To say the boys aren't happy with her is putting it mildly, but surprisingly, Jamie Caine, who grew up in a large family with lots of siblings, steps in to help and comes to her rescue, and what follows is among the sweetest, most charming, heartwarming and emotional stories I've been privileged to read in years. The two boys, rather than being mere plot devices to bring two unattached adults together, had their own well-defined personalities and it was hard not to laugh out loud at their antics one minute, and cry over their situation the next.

In addition to the sweetness of the story and the Thanksgiving to Christmas background, Ms. Thayne also manages to subtly indict the way the foster care system separates siblings, as well as bringing up such subjects as wounded warriors, survivor guilt, PTSD, and nursing homes, yet she does so in a manner that doesn't make the reader feel as though she's overemphasizing the inadequacies of these institutions and issues.

All in all, the slowly building attraction between Julia and Jamie, the secrets in each of their pasts, their relationship with the two boys, and the absolutely wonderful cast of secondary characters, some of whom have been featured in previous novels, all combine to make this novel an addictive, emotional read and one which is utterly unforgettable. I was absolutely charmed and captivated by Sugar Pine Trail, and if you're going to read one Christmas themed novel this year, make it this one. I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

Another Haven Point novel in which librarian Julia Winston decides that her too-bland life needs to be shaken up with a list of things she wants to happen. She's not quite sure how they will happen, but, hey, a start is making that list.

Reluctantly, she agrees to allow Jamie Caine, a pilot whom she's known since they were in school together, to rent the upstairs apartment in her late grandparents' Victorian while he waits for the completion of his condo.

In the course of doing her job, however, she discovers that the two small boys at the library are living in a cold little house in the dead of winter. No adult is around and when she learns their mother has left them alone, she agrees to take them in so that they won't be separated in different foster homes. Over the next several weeks, she begins to see that life for her is better with those boys messing up her house, making her laugh and sometimes cry. And Jamie helps--at times when she least expects it, even taking the boys on a plane ride and then her (one of the items on her to-do list).

But he's temporary and won't be staying. Julia doesn't dare allow him to steal her heart, though she finds herself unable to stop imagining what her life might be like with him in it. Jamie, too, is fearful of getting close to Julia, though he can't seem to stop himself. After all, previous experiences have left him certain that he'll hurt her if he dares to love and then leave her. What are these people to do--especially when the boys are suddenly taken away when their aunt and uncle show up? Read to find out. A great story for the holiday season.

I was first introduced to the Haven Point Series when I read Snowfall on Haven Point. Since then I've managed to keep up with the series as it continues. Serenity Harbor solidified my love for this cozy romance series and I really didn't think the next story could top it, but Sugar Pine Trail came mighty close. It's something to do with the cute kids and pets with big personalities that keep me coming back!

Sugar Pine Trail focuses on librarian Julia Winston who spent the last 10 years caring for her ailing parents and not truly living her life. When playboy pilot Jamie Caine rents out the upstairs apartment in her home, she has to fight not to become his next conquest. Lines are blurred as Jamie, who vowed not to get close to the uptight librarian, goes out of his way to help when Julia becomes the temporary foster parent of two boys in need. Joining together over the holiday season Julia and Jamie learn that despite the long, scary road to reach it, love is possible.

Julia is a genuine, true-blue character that I can only dream of emulating. I loved this character for so many reasons but mostly because of how selfless she was when she pushed into the lives of Davy and Clint and helped them in a time of need. Her selflessness made her story that much more touching and the ending that much more bittersweet. Even Jamie's character struggled with a loss that shaped his actions and the course of their romance. I love how these stories emphasize family and kindness to strangers. Sugar Pine Trail was no exception as readers are pulled into the fold of the ever growing and loving Caine family.

Out of the three Haven Point novels I've read to date, Sugar Pine Trail has the most heart. It's the perfect novel to cuddle up with during the cold winter months.
*ARC provided in consideration for review*

3.5 STars

Librarian Julia Winston lives a very sedate and quiet life in the big old house her parents left her. Until that is the man she has been crushing on moves in as her lodger over the Christmas season. Her tactic of avoiding him until he moves out so he doesn’t figure our her embarrassing crush comes to a halt though when she fosters two young brothers who have no where else to go. Now her old house is full of life and laughter…and maybe even love, but will Julia be willing to step outside her quiet life to claim it?spacer

It felt very strange reading this Christmassy book in my swimsuit under the hot Mexican sun…somehow I managed though, cocktail in hand. But, despite (or maybe because of) the strange juxtaposition in weather and atmosphere between where I was and what was happening in the book, I really enjoyed the cozy seasonal read. Yes, it was predictable and yes it was almost nauseatingly sweet, but at the same time it managed to get me in the Christmas spirit whilst on a summer holiday, so kudos!

If you’re looking for a hot romance to read over the season than this probably isn’t for you, it’s more of a steady build. As they begin to get know one another their feelings build as Jamie starts to notice Julia and Julia sees Jamie as more than just the womanising charmer and begin to know the real him. I thought it was a really sweet romance, it’s nice to read something that isn’t over saturated with sex and lust without anything deeper mixed in. I also liked the addition of Julia fostering the two young boys, is there anything more likely to tug on your heart strings than orphans at Christmas?

I haven’t RaeAnne Thayne before but I would definitely give her books a go when I am in the mood for something sweet to chow down on. If you want to snuggle up with something cute that makes you feel all fuzzy inside this Christmas season than I recommend that you give Sugar Pine Trail a try.

Julia Winston is the town librarian with a secret long-time crush on sexy pilot Jamie Caine. She never imagines that he’d look at her twice, but when a friend suggests he rents the upstairs level in her large, historic home, and they can’t help but bump into each other. When two kids, eight and six-year-old Clint and Davy, need her to take them in, Jaimie steps up to help wrangle the boys, melting Julia’s heart in the process.

Jamie is surprised by the attraction he feels for the demure, uptight librarian, but he can’t let his attraction go anywhere. Julia’s a forever-type of girl, and he hardly ever goes on a second date. This might make you think Jamie is the usual player-type jerk, but he’s a sweetheart, plagued by guilt over the past. Soon spending time with Julia and the boys feels vital and he can’t hardly stay away.

Both Julia and Jamie were lonely in their own way, but you know there’s an end in sight when they lay eyes on each other. Clint and Davy, the two boys who need a home when their mom disappears melds them together into a makeshift family, one that completely tugged at my heart strings! Julia has such a big heart full of love, she helps both the kids and Jamie without an ounce of judgment or expectation.

Jamie stumbles on a sort of bucket-list of Julia’s, who’s lived the last few years helping ailing parents, and he can’t help but make it his mission to secretly help her check everything off.

I previously read Serenity Harbor by RaeAnne Thayne and it wasn’t my cup of tea, but that was more because of the circumstances of the book than because of the writing, so I was determined to give her another shot, and I’m glad I did. Sugar Pine Trail was a sweet, heartwarming story of love and finding the “one” when you least expect it. A perfect holiday kind of read!

If there is one thing I know about RaeAnne Thayne is that she can create a wonderful Christmas story and she has done it again. Sugar Pine Trail is a holiday hit that combines a small town setting with all their holiday community traditions, two adorable children that are in need of fostering, a swoon worthy hero, and an ordinary heroine that really isn’t quite ordinary. Jamie Caine and Julia Winston may appear to not belong together but looks can be deceiving, and only love can see how very right these two need each other.

Jamie is going to rent the upstairs apartment at Julia Winston’s Victorian home and comes to her rescue more than once over a short period of time. Julia quite unexpectedly starts to foster two young brothers during the holidays and is totally out of her element. When Jamie saves the day she sees a different side of Jamie and realizes there is more to this handsome man, and more desirable in her eyes. When Jamie began to help her with the boys and accidentally saw her bucket list, he thought it would be fun to help her with it. It might have started out innocently but the more he is with her, the more he begins to care for the passionate woman underneath the librarian shell she shows to the world. A sweet romance develops and makes it a holiday miracle when she finally realizes that Jamie is the man she loves and wants.

RaeAnne Thayne set the mood for the holidays with cookies baking, holiday shopping and tree trimming. A romance between two unlikely characters that was delightful and very entertaining. A special bonus was seeing his family again and the other couples from Hope’s Crossing. She also highlights what the holidays can be when you give back in small ways to make someone else’s a little brighter for someone in need. I absolutely loved this story and with each new one I fall more in love with RaeAnne Thayne and the small town of Haven Point.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

This is the seventh book in the Haven Point series, I jumped in at book six with Serenity Harbor and have been bummed that I didn’t get in on the ground floor of this one. These books are SO sweet, I love how each one focuses on a new developing romance but there are appearances from previous characters in the subsequent books, that’s always so fun. I know I’ll never have time to go back and read the first five books, but I’ll definitely be following it from here on out.

Julia is the town librarian and lives a fairly quiet life. She has plenty of close friends but her parents have both passed away and she’s an only child so she doesn’t have any real family left. Jamie needs a rental for a few weeks so his sister sets him up in Julia’s apartment that is attached to her own house. It’s a total opposites attract saturation, he’s a bit of a ladies man with a huge family, (he has six siblings) and she’s more reserved but besides the obvious cliche there isn’t anything cheesy here. I loved both of them and watching them fall in love was adorable. Jamie was quite the charmer and Julia was beyond cute but they both had wounds that needed to heal and darkness in their pasts. As much as I enjoyed their storyline two little boys stole the show and my heart. Clint and Davy end up staying with Julia while they wait for a spot with a foster family and they were the cutest kids and such a sweet addition to this already endearing story. Hot guys and darling kids, what more could a girl want?!

This was a cozy little read, tons of Christmas magic set in an idyllic, charming town. There’s a strong message of hope in Thayne’s novels that’s truly heartwarming, I’m in love with her writing style, there’s a natural ease and fluidity that just makes reading her books so much fun. If you need a book to add to your holiday reading list that would be perfect to read fireside make sure you add this one!

SUGAR PINE TRAIL can only be described as a lovely story. It was very easy to read and get lost between the pages. It has a timeline from Thanksgiving to Christmas so it is perfect for a seasonal read.

Jamie was the ultimate commitment-phobe, almost a bit frustrating in this but he had lots of pluses. He was a pilot, kind, great with kids and came with an awesome family. Jamie seemed to have a well-earned reputation with women and the looks to go with it.

"Up close, Jamie Caine was, in a word, breathtaking. He was Mr. Darcy, Atticus Finch, Rhett Butler and Tom Cruise in Top Gun, all rolled into one glorious package."

Julia, a prim and proper, mousy librarian was looking to inject some life into her mundane existence and she found herself taking in two kids from social services. These children absolutely made this book excellent. The kids themselves, but more, the emotions and connections between the kids and both Julia and Jamie made for the most heart-warming feels. The chemistry between the two main characters sizzled but although I enjoyed the slow burn, I did want a bit more heat.

This is my first read by RaeAnne Thayne, which might be odd considering this is number seven in the series but these reads do stand alone. I am definitely going back to number one because I feel the need to read about a number of Jamie's family that I met along the way.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher, through netgalley, in return for a honest review.

Reviewed for JoandIsaLoveBooks Blog.

Sugar Pine Trail: Haven Point is by RaeAnne Thayne. As unusual as it is to have a favorite among all of RaeAnne’s books, I do believe this is the one. It is absolutely wonderful. It is serious and yet quirky; serious as well as irreverent; and happy as well as sad. RaeAnne has put the best that Haven Point has to offer on the table with this book.
As librarian of the Haven Point library, Julia Winston lives a very sedate and structured life. She was the only child of elderly parents and instead of heading out for life’s pleasures, she stayed to care for them in their last days. Now she lives alone in the large house with her cats and memories. She has her friends in town and now can decide on what she really wants to do. One day, she gave in to her friend, Eliza and decided to rent the top level of her house to Jamie Caine. It will be only for six weeks and it will pay for the new heater she had to purchase.
Then, she followed two little boys home from the library one day and found they had been abandoned by their Mother. When her friend Wynona Emmett had been unable to find a home for them where they could stay together, Julia took them in temporarily. From what started out to be a chore, it ended up being a blessing.
How does Jamie figure into the equation? Can Julia keep her emotions out of the situation with the boys? What happens when their Mother is found?
The book is wonderful to read and it definitely hard to put down. It is definitely a box of tissues book.

There were a lot of tears shed during the reading of this story, I’m not going to lie. This one really tugged at my heartstrings. If it wasn’t my devastation at the situation Clint and Davey found themselves in, it was my recognition of Julia’s feelings of not being enough. Good enough, pretty enough, interesting enough…whatever. What a sweet lady, but oh so clueless in many ways.

If you’re a fan of RaeAnne Thayne, you’ve known the character of Jamie for quite a while. He harkens back all the way to the Hope’s Crossing series, before Aiden Caine moved to Haven Point and a new series was started. His HEA has been a long time coming. And Jamie is just as awesome as the rest of the Caine family. He has some issues he has to deal with, but he’s such a great guy he doesn’t even let his family know he even has issues. Jamie is a typical hero…he thinks he’s to blame for all that goes wrong but likes to share the wealth of kudos when things go right. Unfortunately, that has gotten him into a situation where he is holding onto way too much guilt.

Julia is, in many ways, the opposite of Jamie. Where he grew up in a huge, loving, demonstrative, and loud family, she grew up an only child to older (although still very loving), more reserved parents. Because their attention was always on her, she felt the pressure to always do the right thing. Julia has held herself back for so long, now that both of her parents have passed she doesn’t even know how to let loose a little. Of course, this makes Julia and Jamie perfect for each other!

Throw in two confused, scared, and rascally little boys and this is the perfect holiday feel-good story. With lots of tears, as I’ve mentioned, along the way. Since Jamie is already a known entity for those that have read all of this author’s books, it’s no surprise he jumps in to help with the kids when he sees Julia is a bit out of her element. He’s got so many nieces and nephews and I wouldn’t imagine anyone is even allowed to be shy with children in his family. He’s so natural with Clinton and Davey and it makes him that much more attractive.

Although this is definitely an HEA book, there is a ton of heartache throughout. Even, in a happy/sad way, at the end. Things end as they should, but it doesn’t make it any easier.

Oh, I also have a warning. This story is overflowing with warm-fuzzies! My stomach was in a constant state of butterflies throughout the whole book.

Another wonderful book in the Haven Point series! It's summer and I now have Christmas and holiday warmth spreading through my veins after reading Sugar Pine Trail. Ms. Thayne has done another wonderful job of bringing readers with her to the wonderful little town full of amazing, yet often quirky inhabitants of Haven Point. Several times while reading I teared up a little over Clint and Davy's situation but the emotions were well balanced throughout. Julia and Jamie are both likable characters and once again the town is one anybody would love to spend long amounts of time in! Though the book deals with some heavy subjects it isn't overly depressing and over dramatic. I would consider this book a bit on the heavier side of Christmas reading, but Ms. Thayne provides enough lighter moments that I do still consider Sugar Pine Trail Christmas-esq reading. Having said that, if you're looking for a Christmas story that is full of nothing but laughter, crazy mix ups, and humorous situations, Sugar Pine Trail is not that book. If you want something with a bit heavier subject matter w/very well written characters, a charming little town, and enough warm fuzzies to keep you warm all winter; then Sugar Pine Trail is your book! I've found you can't go wrong when you read a RaeAnne Thayne novel, and you definitely will not be sorry if you venture into Haven Point. So, if you're on the fence, feel free to cross on over and become a fan!

Sugar Pine Trail in the seventh book in the Haven Point series. I jumped into this series with book #5, and if there's one thing I learned about RaeAnne Thayne, it's that she can certainly tug at your heartstrings, and now, in early December, it was the perfect time to be reading this incredibly sweet, heartwarming novel. It gets 5 stars from this reader/reviewer.

Although the title didn't begin to fit the content of this story, I'm always happy to return to Haven Point, and this novel grabbed me from the first page and kept me up practically until dawn because I simply couldn't put it down until I finished it. If you're new to this series, have no fear--I works perfectly as a standalone.

Thirty-two year old Julia Winston, a straitlaced, shy, single librarian, is the first character we meet, as she stands in the front room of the huge Victorian home she inherited upon the death of her adoptive parents, looking out the window with great trepidation as a black SUV pulls into her driveway. As a favor to a friend, she's about to welcome a short-term tenant, her first, and he's the utterly gorgeous private pilot, Jamie Caine, whose new condo isn't quite finished being built yet and who needs a place to stay for the next six weeks. Half of the women in town have either dated him or want to, and Julia has crushed on him since the day she first saw him. His reputation precedes him--he's a flirt, and has dated a lot of beautiful woman, but is never with one woman for long, and to say he's commitment-phobic is putting it mildly, but he does have his reasons.

Although the shy, spinster librarian trope has been done to death, thanks to the excellent writing skills and storytelling ability of the author, in this case it works, and I was absolutely charmed by Julia's nervousness and Jamie's reaction to the small, flustered woman, and I was hooked.

There's a lot more to this story than the shy, straitlaced, old maid, librarian with 3 cats meets a handsome and available hunk--Julia is a gem of a character, and while at a book club meeting, discussing a self-help book, she's talked into writing a short bucket list, while drinking a bit too much sangria punch. The next time Jamie encounters her, she's tipsy, and he begins to realize there's more to Julia than he originally thought.

While at work, Julia notices two small boys wearing threadbare clothing (Clint and Davy, 8 and 6, respectively), sitting quietly in the library for a couple of days running, and as she's closing up one snowy night, she offers them a ride home, which the boys initially refuse. When she gets in her car and follows them as they leave, shivering in their inadequate clothing she insists, and discovers that their mother is nowhere in sight, their father is dead and they've been alone for days, without heat or electricity in a ramshackle house, and, after taking them to her house she calls child protective services, who, despite their protests, takes them away.

When Julia learns that the two boys will be split up and sent to different foster homes, Julia, with her soft heart and too large home, eventually winds up fostering them while attempts are being made to locate their mother. To say the boys aren't happy with her is putting it mildly, but surprisingly, Jamie Caine, who grew up in a large family with lots of siblings, steps in to help and comes to her rescue, and what follows is among the sweetest, most charming, heartwarming and emotional stories I've been privileged to read in years. The two boys, rather than being mere plot devices to bring two unattached adults together, had their own well-defined personalities and it was hard not to laugh out loud at their antics one minute, and cry over their situation the next.

In addition to the sweetness of the story and the Thanksgiving to Christmas background, Ms. Thayne also manages to subtly indict the way the foster care system separates siblings, as well as bringing up such subjects as wounded warriors, survivor guilt, PTSD, and nursing homes, yet she does so in a manner that doesn't make the reader feel as though she's overemphasizing the inadequacies of these institutions and issues.

All in all, the slowly building attraction between Julia and Jamie, the secrets in each of their pasts, their relationship with the two boys, and the absolutely wonderful cast of secondary characters, some of whom have been featured in previous novels, all combine to make this novel an addictive, emotional read and one which is utterly unforgettable. I was absolutely charmed and captivated by Sugar Pine Trail, and if you're going to read one Christmas themed novel this year, make it this one. I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

Another Haven Point novel in which librarian Julia Winston decides that her too-bland life needs to be shaken up with a list of things she wants to happen. She's not quite sure how they will happen, but, hey, a start is making that list.

Reluctantly, she agrees to allow Jamie Caine, a pilot whom she's known since they were in school together, to rent the upstairs apartment in her late grandparents' Victorian while he waits for the completion of his condo.

In the course of doing her job, however, she discovers that the two small boys at the library are living in a cold little house in the dead of winter. No adult is around and when she learns their mother has left them alone, she agrees to take them in so that they won't be separated in different foster homes. Over the next several weeks, she begins to see that life for her is better with those boys messing up her house, making her laugh and sometimes cry. And Jamie helps--at times when she least expects it, even taking the boys on a plane ride and then her (one of the items on her to-do list).

But he's temporary and won't be staying. Julia doesn't dare allow him to steal her heart, though she finds herself unable to stop imagining what her life might be like with him in it. Jamie, too, is fearful of getting close to Julia, though he can't seem to stop himself. After all, previous experiences have left him certain that he'll hurt her if he dares to love and then leave her. What are these people to do--especially when the boys are suddenly taken away when their aunt and uncle show up? Read to find out. A great story for the holiday season.

I was first introduced to the Haven Point Series when I read Snowfall on Haven Point. Since then I've managed to keep up with the series as it continues. Serenity Harbor solidified my love for this cozy romance series and I really didn't think the next story could top it, but Sugar Pine Trail came mighty close. It's something to do with the cute kids and pets with big personalities that keep me coming back!

Sugar Pine Trail focuses on librarian Julia Winston who spent the last 10 years caring for her ailing parents and not truly living her life. When playboy pilot Jamie Caine rents out the upstairs apartment in her home, she has to fight not to become his next conquest. Lines are blurred as Jamie, who vowed not to get close to the uptight librarian, goes out of his way to help when Julia becomes the temporary foster parent of two boys in need. Joining together over the holiday season Julia and Jamie learn that despite the long, scary road to reach it, love is possible.

Julia is a genuine, true-blue character that I can only dream of emulating. I loved this character for so many reasons but mostly because of how selfless she was when she pushed into the lives of Davy and Clint and helped them in a time of need. Her selflessness made her story that much more touching and the ending that much more bittersweet. Even Jamie's character struggled with a loss that shaped his actions and the course of their romance. I love how these stories emphasize family and kindness to strangers. Sugar Pine Trail was no exception as readers are pulled into the fold of the ever growing and loving Caine family.

Out of the three Haven Point novels I've read to date, Sugar Pine Trail has the most heart. It's the perfect novel to cuddle up with during the cold winter months.
*ARC provided in consideration for review*

3.5 STars

Librarian Julia Winston lives a very sedate and quiet life in the big old house her parents left her. Until that is the man she has been crushing on moves in as her lodger over the Christmas season. Her tactic of avoiding him until he moves out so he doesn’t figure our her embarrassing crush comes to a halt though when she fosters two young brothers who have no where else to go. Now her old house is full of life and laughter…and maybe even love, but will Julia be willing to step outside her quiet life to claim it?spacer

It felt very strange reading this Christmassy book in my swimsuit under the hot Mexican sun…somehow I managed though, cocktail in hand. But, despite (or maybe because of) the strange juxtaposition in weather and atmosphere between where I was and what was happening in the book, I really enjoyed the cozy seasonal read. Yes, it was predictable and yes it was almost nauseatingly sweet, but at the same time it managed to get me in the Christmas spirit whilst on a summer holiday, so kudos!

If you’re looking for a hot romance to read over the season than this probably isn’t for you, it’s more of a steady build. As they begin to get know one another their feelings build as Jamie starts to notice Julia and Julia sees Jamie as more than just the womanising charmer and begin to know the real him. I thought it was a really sweet romance, it’s nice to read something that isn’t over saturated with sex and lust without anything deeper mixed in. I also liked the addition of Julia fostering the two young boys, is there anything more likely to tug on your heart strings than orphans at Christmas?

I haven’t RaeAnne Thayne before but I would definitely give her books a go when I am in the mood for something sweet to chow down on. If you want to snuggle up with something cute that makes you feel all fuzzy inside this Christmas season than I recommend that you give Sugar Pine Trail a try.

Julia Winston is the town librarian with a secret long-time crush on sexy pilot Jamie Caine. She never imagines that he’d look at her twice, but when a friend suggests he rents the upstairs level in her large, historic home, and they can’t help but bump into each other. When two kids, eight and six-year-old Clint and Davy, need her to take them in, Jaimie steps up to help wrangle the boys, melting Julia’s heart in the process.

Jamie is surprised by the attraction he feels for the demure, uptight librarian, but he can’t let his attraction go anywhere. Julia’s a forever-type of girl, and he hardly ever goes on a second date. This might make you think Jamie is the usual player-type jerk, but he’s a sweetheart, plagued by guilt over the past. Soon spending time with Julia and the boys feels vital and he can’t hardly stay away.

Both Julia and Jamie were lonely in their own way, but you know there’s an end in sight when they lay eyes on each other. Clint and Davy, the two boys who need a home when their mom disappears melds them together into a makeshift family, one that completely tugged at my heart strings! Julia has such a big heart full of love, she helps both the kids and Jamie without an ounce of judgment or expectation.

Jamie stumbles on a sort of bucket-list of Julia’s, who’s lived the last few years helping ailing parents, and he can’t help but make it his mission to secretly help her check everything off.

I previously read Serenity Harbor by RaeAnne Thayne and it wasn’t my cup of tea, but that was more because of the circumstances of the book than because of the writing, so I was determined to give her another shot, and I’m glad I did. Sugar Pine Trail was a sweet, heartwarming story of love and finding the “one” when you least expect it. A perfect holiday kind of read!

If there is one thing I know about RaeAnne Thayne is that she can create a wonderful Christmas story and she has done it again. Sugar Pine Trail is a holiday hit that combines a small town setting with all their holiday community traditions, two adorable children that are in need of fostering, a swoon worthy hero, and an ordinary heroine that really isn’t quite ordinary. Jamie Caine and Julia Winston may appear to not belong together but looks can be deceiving, and only love can see how very right these two need each other.

Jamie is going to rent the upstairs apartment at Julia Winston’s Victorian home and comes to her rescue more than once over a short period of time. Julia quite unexpectedly starts to foster two young brothers during the holidays and is totally out of her element. When Jamie saves the day she sees a different side of Jamie and realizes there is more to this handsome man, and more desirable in her eyes. When Jamie began to help her with the boys and accidentally saw her bucket list, he thought it would be fun to help her with it. It might have started out innocently but the more he is with her, the more he begins to care for the passionate woman underneath the librarian shell she shows to the world. A sweet romance develops and makes it a holiday miracle when she finally realizes that Jamie is the man she loves and wants.

RaeAnne Thayne set the mood for the holidays with cookies baking, holiday shopping and tree trimming. A romance between two unlikely characters that was delightful and very entertaining. A special bonus was seeing his family again and the other couples from Hope’s Crossing. She also highlights what the holidays can be when you give back in small ways to make someone else’s a little brighter for someone in need. I absolutely loved this story and with each new one I fall more in love with RaeAnne Thayne and the small town of Haven Point.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

This is the seventh book in the Haven Point series, I jumped in at book six with Serenity Harbor and have been bummed that I didn’t get in on the ground floor of this one. These books are SO sweet, I love how each one focuses on a new developing romance but there are appearances from previous characters in the subsequent books, that’s always so fun. I know I’ll never have time to go back and read the first five books, but I’ll definitely be following it from here on out.

Julia is the town librarian and lives a fairly quiet life. She has plenty of close friends but her parents have both passed away and she’s an only child so she doesn’t have any real family left. Jamie needs a rental for a few weeks so his sister sets him up in Julia’s apartment that is attached to her own house. It’s a total opposites attract saturation, he’s a bit of a ladies man with a huge family, (he has six siblings) and she’s more reserved but besides the obvious cliche there isn’t anything cheesy here. I loved both of them and watching them fall in love was adorable. Jamie was quite the charmer and Julia was beyond cute but they both had wounds that needed to heal and darkness in their pasts. As much as I enjoyed their storyline two little boys stole the show and my heart. Clint and Davy end up staying with Julia while they wait for a spot with a foster family and they were the cutest kids and such a sweet addition to this already endearing story. Hot guys and darling kids, what more could a girl want?!

This was a cozy little read, tons of Christmas magic set in an idyllic, charming town. There’s a strong message of hope in Thayne’s novels that’s truly heartwarming, I’m in love with her writing style, there’s a natural ease and fluidity that just makes reading her books so much fun. If you need a book to add to your holiday reading list that would be perfect to read fireside make sure you add this one!

SUGAR PINE TRAIL by RaeAnne Thayne made me smile and made me shed a tear, but most of all it gave me that wonderfully warm and happy feeling that only a Christmas romance can give you!

Julia Winston has always lived her life for other people - caring for her parents before they passed, and helping out anyone that may need her. Wrapped up in her job at the library and her old family home, she keeps love and romance at a distance ever since that one time when she was younger. But when her best friend convinces her to rent out part of her home to playboy Jamie Caine, Julie knows that she will have to be on her guard around her secret crush even though she knows he would never look at plain old her.

Jamie Caine lives an interesting life as a successful pilot and knows he has a reputation as a bit of a womaniser. But underneath it all, Jamie carries scars from the past that haunts him to this day, and he will do whatever it takes to keep people at a distance.
But when Julia discovers two little boys who need her more than anyone else, it will place her and Jamie in closer quarters than either expected, and they begin to discover that maybe love is the best gift of all this Christmas...

SUGAR PINE TRAIL by RaeAnne Thayne is such a beautiful and heartwarming story of finding the courage to reach for your dreams and allowing yourself to open up to the possibility of love. I laughed and cried, especially towards the end (No, you will just have to read it to find out what I'm talking about ?), and I couldn't put this book down as it made me feel so cosy and warm. SUGAR PINE TRAIL by RaeAnne Thayne is the perfect Christmas read this winter and I highly recommend it!!!!!

*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com

SUGAR PINE TRAIL can only be described as a lovely story. It was very easy to read and get lost between the pages. It has a timeline from Thanksgiving to Christmas so it is perfect for a seasonal read.

Jamie was the ultimate commitment-phobe, almost a bit frustrating in this but he had lots of pluses. He was a pilot, kind, great with kids and came with an awesome family. Jamie seemed to have a well-earned reputation with women and the looks to go with it.

"Up close, Jamie Caine was, in a word, breathtaking. He was Mr. Darcy, Atticus Finch, Rhett Butler and Tom Cruise in Top Gun, all rolled into one glorious package."

Julia, a prim and proper, mousy librarian was looking to inject some life into her mundane existence and she found herself taking in two kids from social services. These children absolutely made this book excellent. The kids themselves, but more, the emotions and connections between the kids and both Julia and Jamie made for the most heart-warming feels. The chemistry between the two main characters sizzled but although I enjoyed the slow burn, I did want a bit more heat.

This is my first read by RaeAnne Thayne, which might be odd considering this is number seven in the series but these reads do stand alone. I am definitely going back to number one because I feel the need to read about a number of Jamie's family that I met along the way.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher, through netgalley, in return for a honest review.

Reviewed for JoandIsaLoveBooks Blog.

Sugar Pine Trail: Haven Point is by RaeAnne Thayne. As unusual as it is to have a favorite among all of RaeAnne’s books, I do believe this is the one. It is absolutely wonderful. It is serious and yet quirky; serious as well as irreverent; and happy as well as sad. RaeAnne has put the best that Haven Point has to offer on the table with this book.
As librarian of the Haven Point library, Julia Winston lives a very sedate and structured life. She was the only child of elderly parents and instead of heading out for life’s pleasures, she stayed to care for them in their last days. Now she lives alone in the large house with her cats and memories. She has her friends in town and now can decide on what she really wants to do. One day, she gave in to her friend, Eliza and decided to rent the top level of her house to Jamie Caine. It will be only for six weeks and it will pay for the new heater she had to purchase.
Then, she followed two little boys home from the library one day and found they had been abandoned by their Mother. When her friend Wynona Emmett had been unable to find a home for them where they could stay together, Julia took them in temporarily. From what started out to be a chore, it ended up being a blessing.
How does Jamie figure into the equation? Can Julia keep her emotions out of the situation with the boys? What happens when their Mother is found?
The book is wonderful to read and it definitely hard to put down. It is definitely a box of tissues book.

This story involves an unlikely match. First there is Julia Winston, a librarian who fills her evenings alone in a large historic Victorian house with her deceased mother's cats. She has friends, but her life over the past ten years have been focused on caring for her elderly parents, both of whom are now gone. Then there is Jamie Caine, the sexy and handsome lead pilot for Caine Tech Company jet fleet. Rich, handsome and the focus of every woman's fantasy. Jamie ends up renting the upstairs rooms in Julia's home temporarily while waiting for construction of his new home to be completed, and... yes, you can pretty much predict what ends up happening but the adventure getting there is quite eventful. It also includes two adorable little boys that Julia finds living on their own when their mother disappears. No more spoilers!

RaeAnne Thayne had me smiling at the sweet budding romance and I found myself grabbing the box of tissues near the end. I think I had tears streaming down my face non-stop through the last two chapters.

Sugar Pine Trail is the perfect book to get the reader ready for the holidays. I loved it!

Disclosure: A complimentary ARC was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.

First, I loved Sugar Pine Trail. I always enjoy a visit to Haven Point and every time I read a new one by RaeAnne Thayne, it becomes my favorite. Sugar Pine Trail is no different. As with all the other Haven Point books, this is a standalone novel but we get to visit with past characters – and some of them ARE characters! – and I always love reading about them, too. This time we get to read Julia Winston’s and Jamie Caine’s story. Both of them have backstories, of course, but they have much to work through, by themselves and of course, together. It’s their journeys that make this book so special. Both Julia and Jamie are wonderful characters and I found myself rooting for them individually and as a couple. And the two young boys that stay with Julia for the holidays? OMG, they will melt your heart! Julia is so vulnerable, typically quiet and shy. Jamie, for all his “sexy” bravado and man-about-town attitude, is just as vulnerable, in his own way. Julia’s list is hilarious, as is Jamie helping her fulfill everything on it, even if she doesn’t know he’s seen it. I really enjoyed this story and it will warm your heart, make you sniffle, and smile, all the way through. Highly recommend!

Julia world seem to be flipped upside down when her new tenant moves in and takes on the challenge to taking care of two boys until their parents can be found. After having them in her life things will never be the same.

This was such a sweet little contemporary book. I enjoyed seeing things change for Julia it was obvious she wasn't satisfied with the way that things were going to her. After seeing that list she made during a book club meeting she didn't think much when that list was made and if shed be able to accomplish the things that she wanted. I loved that she was a caring women enough to take in the boys after finding out about their parents and being there for them when they had no one else. I also loved seeing that romance bloom between Julia and Jamie they were such a cute pairing and seeing how they worked together then things got a bit tough and where Julia was being challenged Jamie was there by her side even if they weren't together at the time and it was just sweet to read. Overall I loved seeing how everything played out and this has all the holiday feels and will get you in the spirit this coming holidays.

Another completely satisfying installment in the Haven Point series!

Take a librarian with multiple cats
Add in a sexy pilot
Then mix in a few adorable kids
Stir it all with some wonderful holiday spirit
And Sprinkle in the small town charm
Finally combine with an adorable and hilarious “Bucket List” trope

What you have is the recipe for the perfect Winter read.

I promise that you don’t want to miss out on RaeAnne Thayne’s latest in the Haven Point series!

NOTE: Review copy from publisher, all thoughts and opinions my own.

I loved this new addition to this Haven Point, Idaho series which is about librarian, Julia Winston, and lead pilot for Caine Tech, Jamie Caine. With flights back and forth to Hope’s Crossing, Colorado, the Caine characters from both series mesh! It does hold its own and can be read as a standalone. Abandoned, Clinton, age 8 and Davy, age 6 grabbed my heart from the beginning. I shed many a tear, both in heartbreak and in joy. Love, strength, courage, and hope make this another wonderful book to read. As one that takes place during the Christmas season, it is another warm and caring story with top notch writing by this author.

A fantastic book with an emotionally charged story that kept me turning page after page.I really enjoyed both of these characters and the growth as people they both experienced. Julia is the quiet, reserved librarian who is ready for something new in her life. Living alone in a huge house just isn't working anymore. She has no idea how much her life will change this holiday season. First she rents her upstairs apartment to carefree Jamie Caine. Then she finds herself the temporary care provider for two young brothers. Things are definitely picking up around the old house these days!

I highly recommend this one!

You can never go wrong with a RaeAnne Thayne book, especially if you love reading small town romance. Ms Thayne's books are always full of emotions and always teaches us about love.

Julia and Jamie are an unexpected couple. But love is never expected and when they are thrown together because of circumstances, they discover each other's endearing qualities and fall in love. Their story is sweet, beautiful and romantic and I really loved reading it.

** I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own

Sugar Pine Trail: The Sweetest Story of the Series

I loved this book!

I just finished reading Sugar Pine Trail, the latest book in the Haven Point series. In fairness to the reader of this review, I received an advanced and free copy of Sugar Pine Trail, in exchange for an honest review.

The storyline centers on Julia Winston (the quiet Head Librarian of Haven Point), and Jamie Caine. The first Thayne story I read was Snow Angel Cove, so that was my first introduction to Jamie – the second youngest Caine brother, who (at the time) was a helicopter pilot in the military.

This story does not disappoint. Thayne’s character development has really grown since I started reading her books a few years ago, and this story touches on many themes that perfectly tie in to the upcoming holiday season (and all year round): how making a difference in the lives of others can really turn into making a difference in your own life, and (no pun intended) that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover (in this case, the “book” being a certain fun-loving , hard to resist, mojo-throwing pilot!)

I found the story to be really sweet and touching, and was happy with the ending. While it is helpful to have already met the many people of Haven Point, Sugar Pine Trail stands on its own as a great read!

But if you are familiar with Thayne’s stories, as an added bonus, there is some great character cross-over in the story, with other members of the Caine clan (and their friends in Hope’s Crossing) making an appearance, so you get an update on the latest with everyone else who you’ve come to love in the series.

Happy sigh – but now I want to know who the next story will be about? Is it Samantha’s turn to fall in love? Roxy’s? someone else? I just hope this isn’t the last story in the Haven Point series!

Wow! Another great story!!! Every time I read a RaeAnne Thayne book I think it's my favorite until the next one comes out. She had a way of grabbing you from page one and you become so enthralled with the whole book. This story is about Julia Winston and Jamie Caine. Jamie ends up being Julia's houseguest/renter. Both characters have pasts that pull at your heart, but watching them come together and fall in love fills you with so much warmth you feel you are a part of the book. I highly recommend any book by this author!

I've enjoyed excerpts including Jamie in previous books and was really looking forward to Sugar Pine Trail. I was not disappointed. While I'd overlooked Julia in previous books I came to admire that she was willing to take leaps of faith and go outside of her comfort zone. Jamie already seemed to be a bit bold but was largely reserved with emotions and I think Julia helped him take a leap of faith himself. I loved reading about their blossoming relationship and look forward to reading about them more in future books.

This is a lovely holiday story that takes us back to the small town of Haven Point.

In this latest entry in the Haven Point series author RaeAnne Thayne revisits several familiar
characters we'll recognize from her previous books. Librarian Julia Winston ends up renting part
of her large house to pilot Jamie Caine against her better judgement. This unlikely pair find themselves drawn together and soon falling in love.

Julia also takes in two young, abandoned brothers over the holidays. Both Jamie and Julia endeavor
to make sure they have a wonderful Christmas while becoming closer themselves. Julia's normally
quiet life is rapidly changing, and for the better!

This story if full of heart as are all of RaeAnne Thayne's books. You'll definitely enjoy this one!

This series just keeps getting better and better! At first, I was like Jamie and wasn't that impressed with Julia, but we do see her other side. Watching them come together was fun, especially adding in the little boys. Jamie's Christmas gift to Julia reminded me of his brother Dylan's gift to Gen (Christmas in Snowflake Canyon, Hope's Crossing #6) and I just sobbed at his thoughtfulness. Read this book. I promise you won't be disappointed.

I received an ARC from the author for an honest review.

A quiet librarian Julia who has trouble trusting her heart to love, Jamie the playboy who never commits because of secrets from his past, two adorable boys left alone by their mother. Julia ends up taking the boys in and rents her upstairs apartment in her Victorian home to Jamie who she has had a secret crush on for years. What an adventure for all of them! If you want to read a story with a great cast of characters that will melt your heart than this is it. A story you will hate to see end!

Jaime Caine has secrets that have haunted him for sixteen years; he can't share them with anyone, even his brothers or father, Dermot Caine. As close as the Caine's are, how bad must Jaime's secrets be? Author RaeAnne Thayne has written another best seller in the Haven Point Series!
Readers will revisit the Caine Family in Cold Creek Crossing, get intimately acquainted with Julia Winston when she reveals her bucket list, and fall totally in love with the two little boys that Julia passionately tries to rescue. This story will take the reader through a full circle of emotions! Grab a box of tissues and settle in for a beautiful journey on SUGAR PINE TRAIL!

I just adored this totally sweet book, so much so I could barely put it down. Julia and Jamie were so wonderful together, and there were very few unlikeable characters in it; those who were, were not part of the main cast of characters.

It's a very good, emotionally deep story about sensitive and hurting people who finally find love which will last forever.

As much as I always love RaeAnne's books, I think so far this has been my favorite.

The latest book in the Haven Point series is filled with wonderfully flawed characters, a delightful storyline and enough emotion to fill a dozen books.
Expect to laugh, cry and feel a tug on your heartstrings.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Jamie Caine makes a wonderful hero in this Christmas themed story by Thayne. He rents a room in librarian Julia Winston's home. Sparks seem evident almost immediately, but then Julia discovers two young boys, left behind by their ailing mother and takes them in as a temporary foster situation. Those boys become a wonderful conduit between Jamie and Julia. The story really shines with the spirit of the holiday and love.

My emotions were on a rollercoaster while reading Sugar Pine Trail. I was devasted, heartbroken, joyous, happy. I smiled, I laughed , I cried (tears were rolling down my face). I wanted to jump through the pages of the book to yell at the characters, to help them, to celebrate with them and to be their friend.

This was my first time reading RaeAnne Thayne. I'm going to have to read more of her books.