The Perfect Holiday Read!It’s a long way from New York to Idaho…but could they have found a home at last?Dani Capelli has never truly belonged anywhere. And from her earliest days as a foster child in Queens, she would have been lost if it weren’t for her love of animals. Until high school, when she fell hard for the wrong boy, and found herself pregnant—and married—by graduation. Two daughters … pregnant—and married—by graduation. Two daughters later, Dani realized her mistake and filed for divorce, and with the help of scholarships and loans—and a lot of macaroni and cheese dinners—she enrolled in vet school. Things were finally looking up…until her ex-husband became her late husband, in the most notorious way possible.
Now Dani and her daughters need an out-of-town pass more than ever. So when the retiring Haven Point veterinarian offers her a chance to settle in the small Idaho town and take over his practice, she jumps at it. But adjusting to the charming mountain community isn’t easy; thirteen-year-old Silver begins acting out while six-year-old Mia is growing too attached to Haven Point and everything in it, especially their next-door-neighbor, Deputy Sheriff Ruben Morales. And Dani can’t blame her. Ruben is everything she’s secretly wanted—and everything she can’t bear to risk loving…and losing.
As the holidays draw near, their shared concern for Dani’s daughters brings them closer together, giving Ruben the chance to show this big-city woman just how magical Christmas in Haven Point can be…and that the promise of a home at last is very real in the most wondrous season of the year…
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A lovely holiday read about a family struggling to find their place in a new town, and the man who sees the special qualities in all of them.
I may be wrong, but I don’t really recall meeting Ruben in any of the previous books. I feel like he must have been mentioned at some point, but I also feel like I would remember such a sweetheart. My goodness, the way that man is with children just melted my heart.
In fact, I loved everyone in this story. Not only is Dani a strong and independent woman who lives for her children, but she’s also super caring and giving. Not everyone can see that since she puts up so many walls. When she’s around people she trusts, like Dr. Morales, her true nature shines through. Although her oldest daughter is teetering on the edge of being a bit of a delinquent, the goodness and kindness she got from her mom shines through. And the precious younger daughter is irresistible.
Ruben makes Dani nervous. She’s had some not-so-great experiences with law enforcement that have left her jaded. Once she actually has a few conversations and actually interacts with Ruben, Dani starts to realize her image of a police officer was developed at a young age in extreme circumstances. She also begins to see that Ruben is just a big softy. Again, Dani has many walls. This causes her to keep pushing away even when everything in her screams to pull forward.
While Dani’s fears about her past are legitimate to some extent, she is a bit of a pessimist about how people will react when they learn where she and her daughters came from on a familial level. At the same time, I agree with Dani’s assessment that Ruben tends to wear rose-colored glasses. A bit surprising considering his profession. But he comes from such a caring and stable family, he can’t help but see the good in those around him. It would seem a relationship wouldn’t work between these two personalities, but they end up complimenting each other and having an undeniable magnetism.
I love getting to know more people in the Haven Point community while getting to see peeks at those we’ve gotten to know throughout the series. With Ruben’s family now in the mix, there are so many possibilities with where this series can go.
This review can also be found at https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2018/11/30/season-of-wonder-book-review/
This latest installment from the Haven Point series is wonderful. Perfect for the holiday season. I’ve been wondering about the veterinarian, Dani from the first book I read in the series (I started mid-series I believe). Why she’s so stand offish and WOW she has an inner strength that will knock you off your feet. Rueben has a giant heart and I wish their story had been a bit longer so we read more about him. He showed a bit of insecurity in one spot but that was it. The books focus was Danny and her kids and a little about Reuben. His POV was always curiosity and wondering about Dani, her past etc… I’m not knocking it at all this is an amazing book I just get curious about characters.
If you enjoy a great holiday romance with a hit deputy, prickly vet, moody teen and an adorable little girl then I highly recommend checking out Season of Wonder.
Good story about starting over. Dani moved herself and her two daughters across the country to get away from the mistakes of her past. After she finished veterinary school she was offered an internship in Haven Point, with the possibility of taking over the practice when the current vet retired. She loves her work, but life in a small town is very different than life in Queens and Boston, and all of them have some trouble adjusting. Dani isn’t accustomed to the friendliness and interest of the people around her, six-year-old Mia has become shy and withdrawn, and thirteen-year-old Silver is grouchy and defiant. When Silver is caught tagging the next door neighbor’s boat, life becomes much more complicated. Ruben is a deputy sheriff and her boss’s son. He is kind, compassionate, and sexy. He was intrigued by Dani from the start, but hesitant about getting involved with the single mom. He had a similar relationship go bad, which has left him wary, but resisting Dani and her girls proved to be impossible.
I loved the development of the relationship between Dani and Ruben. He could have been a hard-nose about Silver’s vandalism, but instead found a way to work with her to get her back on the right track. This frequently put him and Dani in each other’s company. I loved seeing all of them grow closer as the days went on. There’s no doubt about the attraction between Ruben and Dani, but she is determined to resist it. I loved Ruben’s patience as he found various ways to spend time with her and show her what could be. I ached for Dani, who was so certain that Ruben would hate her if he found out about her past. There are some very sweet scenes between them as Dani let down her walls a little. But Dani’s fears about her past came rushing back when there was another problem with Silver, causing her to jump to conclusions and push Ruben away. It took some words from an unexpected source to show Dani that her fears were ungrounded. I loved that Ruben never gave up on Dani, and showed her that he could be trusted to stick with her.
I loved the family theme of the book. Dani’s past choices were caused by her desire for a family of her own. Those choices have made her who she is, which is a woman who will do anything to protect that family. Ruben’s family is loving, boisterous, and always there for each other. I loved the way that he drew Dani and the girls into his family’s life and holiday traditions. I also loved the connection that Ruben had with both Mia and Silver. It was sweet to see little Mia come out of her shell around him. I especially liked the relationship that grew between Ruben and Silver. He had the firmness that she needed, but also an excellent way of making her look at her actions from a different perspective. I loved how he stood by her at the end and discovered the truth of what had really happened. The epilogue was a nice glimpse into the future of the new family.
A sweet romance with the spirit of Christmas and a wonderful small town tied into a beautiful bow. Dani Capelli, escapes from Boston to the small town of Haven Point with her two daughters. After graduating from Veterinarian School, Dani accepts an offer from a Veterinarian she has been corresponding with to work with him and one day take over his practice. Little does Dani know that when she meets his son, Deputy Sheriff Ruben Morales through her daughter’s misstep that she will be drawn into the Morales family and also into Ruben’s life. A perfect holiday story to enjoy with hot chocolate and a fire.
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Feel good Christmas read. Highly recommended. Can a small town deputy and a veterinarian single mother of two who has lived on the wrong side of the law find true love? It is Christmas so yes they can if only they believe.
Loved it!
I couldn’t wait to dive into another book set in the charming town of Haven Point–especially during Christmas–and this one did not disappoint! RaeAnne always delivers emotional, heartfelt stories with so much depth in both the characters and the theme. This second-chance romance is full heart and Christmas charm. Season of Wonder is one of the most uplifting books I’ve read in a long time.
I absolutely love Raeanne Thayn’s books and have read most of them. I am always excited to see that a new book of hers is available and when this one came out, I quickly snatched it up! You will not be disappointed in it.
Season of Wonder was a beautiful, fun and light-hearted romance. Dani moved to Haven Point with her two daughters to start a new chapter in her life. She is closed off and doesn’t really interact with anyone in town, because she doesn’t want them to find out certain things about her life. This results in her daughters being skittish as well, and one of them starts to act out. It was obvious that Dani was doing her best to give her kids the best life possible, and was feeling like a failure many times. My heart broke for her, because she was really trying.
Then comes Ruben, her next door neighbor, into the picture. She already noticed him but no way will she start anything with him. However, Ruben isn’t that easily pushed away, and does his best to be there for Dani and her daughters. He was such a great guy, who did more than what people would usually do to include this new family. He was exceptional with the kids, and I loved the scenes between them. I enjoyed reading how Dani and her kids slowly started to trust Ruben and started lowering their their guards around him. Season of Wonder is a great contemporary romance. Sometimes I just want to read a nice, light, and fun romance without any darkness. And this book fit the bill perfectly. I am looking forward to reading the previous eight books in the Haven Point series.
Dani wears me out with her low self esteem. She actually achieved goals other women in her circumstance dream about. She is raising two children alone, is a success story all around, yet thinks very little of herself. She meets a great man, yet paints him with the same ugly brush her ex. Its exhausting. First book by my favorite author I will close without finishing.
Awesome well written holiday story!
Small-town life at it’s best! With another book in the ever-popular Haven Point series by RaeAnne Thayne, we meet a new family that is moving to town and trying to settle in after leaving big city life and problems. The family was quick to grab my attention and the turmoil that starts to flow keeps it. Small town life can be a blessing or a curse depending on how well you want to fit in and how many secrets you are hoping don’t come out! An enjoyable addition to the series.
When tragedy strikes Dani Capelli’s relatively young life yet again, she finds the need to bury her head in the sand and start anew. With her two daughters, this New York native sets out to start over in Haven Point, Idaho with the wonderful position she’s been given taking over some of the town veterinarian’s duties as he eases into retirement. One rebellious teenager and one clingy six year old make for an interesting mix in this new town.
Deputy sheriff Ruben Morales obiously knows the Capelli’s because Dani is working with his dad at the clinic, but he’s not sure what to make of them yet. She seems to keep herself separate from the town a lot even though she’s supposed to be settling in. When her teenage daughter starts getting into trouble, Ruben is the one to step up with a helping hand. There’s more to this family than meets the eye, and he’s really starting to like them, so he’s making it his mission to make sure they see what a great place Haven Point can be … especially around Christmas!
great new addition to haven point.
The front of the story is great. Lots of backstory on Dani and her family. I, myself, understand the negative thoughts that go through one’s brain when you don’t want them too. Dani’s seemed to the extreme. But I did enjoy the story.
I thought that maybe it wrapped up the backside a bit too quickly. Other than that it was a great story that I could not put down.
Season of Wonder is a gift from RaeAnne Thayne to her readers. This family story set during the Christmas holiday season is a treasure to be read again and again each and every holiday season. Each word and phrase is carefully constructed to provide solace and soothing for the reader. “He had brought light and color to her world, in so many ways.” “Nobody makes it through this ride called life without making choices he or she regrets.” Season of Wonder is filled with endearing characters – Ruben Morales, Dani Capelli, Silver and Mia Capelli, Frank and Myra Morales. The story and the characters, are indeed a wonderful addition to the holiday season!
I found myself reading, turning pages, and finishing chapters while putting off all the rest of the chores that I was supposed to be doing. Maybe it helped that it was a rainy gloomy day but I could not stop reading about Dani and Ruben.
Dani’s children were amazing. The attitude of the teenager, the wanting to please of the youngest were so real to how my children were that I could picture myself as a single mom trying to handle the kids, a job, and now a man that I can’t stop thinking about.
Ruben…sigh… he was amazing. He won my heart when he didn’t push the girls to talk to him; he talked to them as adults and didn’t expect more from them than what a child can give. He knew that Dani and the girls were a family and if he wanted to be in any of their lives he had to be in all of their lives. He treated Dani with respect but also as a woman, he showed her he was attracted to her, gave her space when she needed it, and accepted what she was able to give.
RaeAnne Thayne is an author that I always enjoy and Season of Wonder is no exception. I recommend picking up this easy, light, and fun book. It does not have to be read with the rest of the series as it is definitely a stand-alone book.
Season of Wonder is book nine in the Haven Point series. This is one of those books that you just can’t stop reading. It has all the feel goods, the emotions, the love, the magic, and I absolutely loved it. I highly recommend it.
This was a cute holiday read with so much emotion. Not only from the single mom, but the ‘troubled’ teen. Trying to run and hide from your past is difficult, it will always come back to bite you. How you handle it is what is important. Dani has always been alone, will she learn to accept help?
We return to Haven Point and get to know the new town Vet, Dani Capelli and her two daughters, Silver and Mia. They live next door to Deputy Sheriff, Ruben Morales whose father, Frank gave Dani the job and a place for her and the girls to live. Ruben and Dani have an attraction right from the start but Dani has too many secrets and past hurts to let it go anywhere. When Silver gets in trouble Ruben steps up in a big way to help this family and soon Dani finds herself drawn to a man she never thought she could have or be worthy of.
I love going back to this little town to catch up on previous characters and meet new ones. This story is a wonderful tale of starting over, new beginnings, and learning to trust again. My heart hurt for Dani as she was struggling with such a sad past and was so afraid to let anyone in. Ruben was such a strong, caring man who went the extra mile for this family. This author has such a talent when writing about families who aren’t perfect but are strong and loving. This was such a sweet holiday read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
Reading this Haven Point story is like coming home. I have really enjoyed all of them. This one is no different. I fell in love with Ruben, Dani, Silver and Mia. Dani came there to start over. She has gone through veterinary school and is ready to start being the best veterinarian she can be and a good mother too. Silver has been resisting the new home and has gotten herself into trouble. Ruben can remember when he was Silver’s age and is trying to help her make some good decisions, besides, he really likes Silver and Mia. He really likes Dani too, but she doesn’t seem to want any kind of relationship. So, he will just be her friend. Easier said than done. Dani feels like she has made more than her share of bad decisions, so she won’t get involved with anyone. It wouldn’t be fair to her daughters if she made another mistake. Can Ruben change her mind?