All is Bright - Contemporary Romance Review

Goodreads: All is Bright by RaeAnne Thayne

Rating: Really Liked It! (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Sage McKnight is an ambitious young architect working at her father’s firm who takes on her most challenging client in Mason Tucker. The former pro baseball player is still healing from the physical and emotional scars after a plane crash left him a wheelchair-using single dad, and he’s determined not to let anyone breach his emotional defenses. Sage knows her work on Mason’s new home in Hope’s Crossing is her best work yet, and she won’t let her grumpy client prevent her from showcasing her work personally.

With Sage’s gift for taking broken things and making them better, the matchmaking talent of the quirky locals and a generous sprinkling of Christmas cheer, Mason doesn’t stand a chance against the power of this magical holiday season.

Genre: Romance - Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book:   I love Thayne's Christmas stories but it has been a year or two since I've read one.  

My Impression: I love the cozy feel of Thayne's Christmas books and this was a lovely one.  I love the community of Hope's Crossing and reading this book made me want to go back and reread the earlier books in the series.

I liked Sage a lot.  She's had some very tough times but has made the absolute best of it and has found her passion with creating homes with universal designs.  She's positive and a hard worker but is still struggling a little to find her place and figure out what makes her happy.  Mason is a slightly harder sell.  He's got a lot of anger both from his accident and from things that happened in his childhood.  He has a hard time forgiving and makes a snap judgement about Sage even when there is clear evidence that things might not be fully what he believes them to be.  

As the story went on I grew to understand Mason a bit more and was caught up in the story of Sage and Mason and of the town itself.  I loved being in Hope's Crossing at Christmas time and getting caught up in the magic of the town and the season itself.  I do wish Taryn's relationship had been explored a little more as it did feel like her story was shoved into the corners a bit.  

This was a fantastically cozy Christmas-y read with likeable characters (who aren't so likable they're unrealistically perfect) and a magical setting.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I would!  It's been awhile since I read any book by Thayne and it was such a joy to rediscover just how much I enjoy her books.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you like stories that have a bit of an ensemble cast with a touch of romance and a lot of heart then I think you would love this book - and really most books by Thayne.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *