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Hope's Crossing #8
All Is Bright
Christmas Romance
Get cozy with this heartwarming holiday story!
"[Thayne] engages the reader's heart and emotions, inspiring hope and the belief that miracles are possible." —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Return to Hope’s Crossing this Christmas in New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne’s latest heartwarming story of matchmaking at the holidays!
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.
Don’t miss Christmas at the Shelter Inn , New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne’s latest charming story about two sisters coming together and finding hope one magical Christmas, years after tragedy and loss tore their family apart.
Other heartwarming reads from RaeAnne
Get cozy with this heartwarming holiday story!
"[Thayne] engages the reader's heart and emotions, inspiring hope and the belief that miracles are possible." —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Return to Hope’s Crossing this Christmas in New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne’s latest heartwarming story of matchmaking at the holidays!
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.
Don’t miss Christmas at the Shelter Inn , New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne’s latest charming story about two sisters coming together and finding hope one magical Christmas, years after tragedy and loss tore their family apart.
Other heartwarming reads from RaeAnne
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2022
439 people are currently reading
7412 people want to read
About the author
RaeAnne Thayne
311 books3,849 followersI'm not one of those people who knew from birth she was destined to become a writer. I always loved to read and throughout my childhood I could usually be found with a book in my hands. To the disgust of my friends, I even enjoyed creative writing assignments that made them all groan. But I had other dreams besides writing. I wanted to be an actress or a teacher or a lawyer.
Life took a different turn for me, though, when my mother made me take a journalism elective in high school (thanks, Mom!). I knew the first day that this was where I belonged.
After I graduated from college in journalism, I took a job at the local daily newspaper and I reveled in the challenge and the diversity of it. One day I could be interviewing the latest country music star, the next day I was writing about local motorcycle gangs or interviewing an award-winning scientist.
Through it all -- through the natural progression of my career from reporter to editor -- I wrote stories in my head. Not just any stories, either, but romances, the kind of books I have devoured since junior high school, with tales about real people going through the trials and tribulations of life until they find deep and lasting love.
I had no idea how to put these people on paper, but knew I had to try -- their stories were too compelling for me to ignore. I sold my first book in 1995 and now, more than 30 books later, I've come to love everything about writing, from the click of the computer keys under my fingers to the "that's-it!" feeling I get when a story is flowing.
I write full-time now (well, as full-time as I can manage juggling my kids!) amid the raw beauty of the northern Utah mountains.
Even though I might not have dreamed of being a writer when I was younger, now I simply can't imagine my life any other way.
I love to hear from readers. You can reach me at my email address, raeannethayne@gmail.com
Life took a different turn for me, though, when my mother made me take a journalism elective in high school (thanks, Mom!). I knew the first day that this was where I belonged.
After I graduated from college in journalism, I took a job at the local daily newspaper and I reveled in the challenge and the diversity of it. One day I could be interviewing the latest country music star, the next day I was writing about local motorcycle gangs or interviewing an award-winning scientist.
Through it all -- through the natural progression of my career from reporter to editor -- I wrote stories in my head. Not just any stories, either, but romances, the kind of books I have devoured since junior high school, with tales about real people going through the trials and tribulations of life until they find deep and lasting love.
I had no idea how to put these people on paper, but knew I had to try -- their stories were too compelling for me to ignore. I sold my first book in 1995 and now, more than 30 books later, I've come to love everything about writing, from the click of the computer keys under my fingers to the "that's-it!" feeling I get when a story is flowing.
I write full-time now (well, as full-time as I can manage juggling my kids!) amid the raw beauty of the northern Utah mountains.
Even though I might not have dreamed of being a writer when I was younger, now I simply can't imagine my life any other way.
I love to hear from readers. You can reach me at my email address, raeannethayne@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 432 reviews
October 12, 2022
All Is Bright by RaeAnne Thayne is a contemporary romance novel that is set during the Christmas holiday season and is a new book in the Hope’s Crossing series. While All Is Bright is a part of the Hope’s Crossing series it does change the main characters in each book of the series so all can be read as a standalone including All is Bright if choosing to do so.
Sage McKnight is an architect who has decided to specialize in customizing spaces to cater to those with handicaps. Sage has made a decent career out of he designs and has a show showcasing the end results but her current client, Mason Tucker, wants nothing to do with being in the spotlight after his injury.
Mason was once a famous professional baseball player but now he is recovering from devastating injuries after a plane crash which led him to hire Sage to remodel his home in Hope’s Crossing. Mason doesn’t want the pity that will come from seeing him in his current condition but Sage doesn’t want to take no for an answer when his home is some of her most amazing work yet.
While I have been a fan of RaeAnne Thayne for several years now I have not had the chance to read all of the books in the Hope’s Crossing series yet so I can safely say from first hand knowledge All Is Bright reads fine on it’s own. As with other books I have read by this author I was immediately pulled into the small town setting and fell in love with the characters and story. The author did a wonderful job bringing to life Mason’s struggles and you couldn’t help but feel for him but diving deeper and you will see how Sage got to be who she is today and I couldn’t help but love her too. Being all wrapped up in Christmas cheer I didn’t want to story to end.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Sage McKnight is an architect who has decided to specialize in customizing spaces to cater to those with handicaps. Sage has made a decent career out of he designs and has a show showcasing the end results but her current client, Mason Tucker, wants nothing to do with being in the spotlight after his injury.
Mason was once a famous professional baseball player but now he is recovering from devastating injuries after a plane crash which led him to hire Sage to remodel his home in Hope’s Crossing. Mason doesn’t want the pity that will come from seeing him in his current condition but Sage doesn’t want to take no for an answer when his home is some of her most amazing work yet.
While I have been a fan of RaeAnne Thayne for several years now I have not had the chance to read all of the books in the Hope’s Crossing series yet so I can safely say from first hand knowledge All Is Bright reads fine on it’s own. As with other books I have read by this author I was immediately pulled into the small town setting and fell in love with the characters and story. The author did a wonderful job bringing to life Mason’s struggles and you couldn’t help but feel for him but diving deeper and you will see how Sage got to be who she is today and I couldn’t help but love her too. Being all wrapped up in Christmas cheer I didn’t want to story to end.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
November 2, 2024
ALL IS BRIGHT was a heartwarming Christmas romance. Sage is an architect who specializes in making homes for people with mobility impairments. She is tasked with redesigning a home for Mason, a former baseball player whose wife was killed in the helicopter crash that left him paralyzed. Mason still has a lot of anger about his disability and although he is attracted to Sage, at first he pushes her away. There are lots of characters in this one and I found the storylines a little hard to follow at first (I didn’t realize this wasn’t a standalone when I checked it out from the library.) Still I wound up highly enjoying it. 4/5 stars.
January 2, 2023
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
ALL IS BRIGHT (Hope’s Crossing Book #8) by RaeAnne Thayne is an emotional holiday contemporary romance featuring a young female architect who returns home to Hope’s Crossing for the holidays to oversee the completion of her most ambitious project to date. This story is a complete romance plot and can be read as a standalone, but so many people from town are pulled in for the community holiday theme from previous books in this series, I feel I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous books first.
Sage McKnight is making a name for herself in the world of architecture with her unique designs for inclusiveness and accessibility for everyone. Her largest and most challenging project to date was completely redesigning Wolf Ridge in Hope’s Crossing to meet the needs and wishes of her current client, Mason Tucker and his daughter.
Mason Tucker was a famous professional baseball player until the helicopter crash which killed his wife and unborn son as well as leaving him partially paralyzed. He has become bitter and reclusive since the accident and feels the smaller community of Hope’s Crossing can give him and his daughter a new start, but his property needs extensive work to make it appropriate for his needs.
Sage is excited about the project, but Mason makes the project difficult with his attitude and constant interference. Slowly Mason becomes more involved with the community through his daughter and Sage, but Sage is only in town through the holidays and Mason believes no woman would want him with his disabilities. It will take some holiday magic and friendly interference to make Mason realize what he has before he loses it.
This is a wonderfully heartwarming holiday romance with memorable main characters. Sage is such a loving and caring person, and she makes Mason face his anger and bitterness head on. The discussions of inclusive design are very interesting. There are several minor plot threads with Sage’s previous pregnancy, Mason’s mother, and the secondary romance between Taryn and Charlie which kept me turning the pages and were all tied up satisfactorily in the end. I did get slightly irritated when there were occasionally to many names and relationships discussed which I felt were not necessary and at those times I wished I had read the previous books in the series. This is a cozy romance with no sex scenes, but lots of love, family, and romance.
This is an enjoyable contemporary romance that will fill you with holiday warmth, love and cheer.
ALL IS BRIGHT (Hope’s Crossing Book #8) by RaeAnne Thayne is an emotional holiday contemporary romance featuring a young female architect who returns home to Hope’s Crossing for the holidays to oversee the completion of her most ambitious project to date. This story is a complete romance plot and can be read as a standalone, but so many people from town are pulled in for the community holiday theme from previous books in this series, I feel I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous books first.
Sage McKnight is making a name for herself in the world of architecture with her unique designs for inclusiveness and accessibility for everyone. Her largest and most challenging project to date was completely redesigning Wolf Ridge in Hope’s Crossing to meet the needs and wishes of her current client, Mason Tucker and his daughter.
Mason Tucker was a famous professional baseball player until the helicopter crash which killed his wife and unborn son as well as leaving him partially paralyzed. He has become bitter and reclusive since the accident and feels the smaller community of Hope’s Crossing can give him and his daughter a new start, but his property needs extensive work to make it appropriate for his needs.
Sage is excited about the project, but Mason makes the project difficult with his attitude and constant interference. Slowly Mason becomes more involved with the community through his daughter and Sage, but Sage is only in town through the holidays and Mason believes no woman would want him with his disabilities. It will take some holiday magic and friendly interference to make Mason realize what he has before he loses it.
This is a wonderfully heartwarming holiday romance with memorable main characters. Sage is such a loving and caring person, and she makes Mason face his anger and bitterness head on. The discussions of inclusive design are very interesting. There are several minor plot threads with Sage’s previous pregnancy, Mason’s mother, and the secondary romance between Taryn and Charlie which kept me turning the pages and were all tied up satisfactorily in the end. I did get slightly irritated when there were occasionally to many names and relationships discussed which I felt were not necessary and at those times I wished I had read the previous books in the series. This is a cozy romance with no sex scenes, but lots of love, family, and romance.
This is an enjoyable contemporary romance that will fill you with holiday warmth, love and cheer.
November 15, 2022
I usually love RaeAnne’s books and rate them 4 stars but this one was cringe. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and honestly didn’t buy into the romance of either couple. Giving it a 3 because I love RaeAnne and will always pick up her books regardless!
September 23, 2022
I loved returning to Hope's Crossing. My dream has always been to live a small close community like Hope's Crossing. Where everyone comes together to help each other and gives support to one another. This was such a wonderful treat from Thayne. I could not put it down. I can't wait for her next book.
October 7, 2022
Sage McKnight is an architect specializing in “universal” or “inclusive” design for those with different mobility needs. Sage used those talents to redesign Wolf Ridge, a big mountain lodge, for Mason Tucker, an ex-pro baseball player still recovering from an accident that left him hardly able to walk. Now Sage is back in Hope’s Crossing for the holidays to visit with her family, oversee the finishing touches on Wolf Ridge and hopefully feature the finished project on her YouTube channel show, Homes for All.
Mason just wants to be left alone after the accident the tragic accident that left him a single father and ended his baseball career. He’s a bit of a reclusive grump and who could blame him after all he went through? But getting to know Sage with her warmth, positivity, and love starts to thaw Mason out and awaken feelings he never thought he’d have again after the accident.
Sage has her career path figured out and staying in Hope’s Crossing has never been her plan, but getting to know Mason, seeing his unerring love for his daughter and his resilience after all life has handed him has her yearning for a future that includes love.
All is Bright was a magical, heartwarming romance! Healing and forgiveness also feature prominently, as well as a community coming together to help a family in need. Just the kind of story to pull at my heartstrings and fill me with joy!
A copy was provided by HQN in exchange for an honest review.
Mason just wants to be left alone after the accident the tragic accident that left him a single father and ended his baseball career. He’s a bit of a reclusive grump and who could blame him after all he went through? But getting to know Sage with her warmth, positivity, and love starts to thaw Mason out and awaken feelings he never thought he’d have again after the accident.
Sage has her career path figured out and staying in Hope’s Crossing has never been her plan, but getting to know Mason, seeing his unerring love for his daughter and his resilience after all life has handed him has her yearning for a future that includes love.
All is Bright was a magical, heartwarming romance! Healing and forgiveness also feature prominently, as well as a community coming together to help a family in need. Just the kind of story to pull at my heartstrings and fill me with joy!
A copy was provided by HQN in exchange for an honest review.
November 23, 2022
All Is Bright was such an endearing audiobook that I just fell so quickly in love with. I adored the way that this one was written. Of course, RaeAnne Thayne is always such a fun author to writes, especially for Holiday Romances. I found this story so well and adored the way that it was handled especially in reference to the disabilities that were handled. It was so atmospheric to the Christmas season, so I really enjoyed the way it was portrayed. I had a blast seeing the manner in which this author wrote the romance. The romance that developed between these two was so charming and I was so hooked within their story. While not my favorite from this author, it definitely is a solid Holiday romance to warm your heart!
September 27, 2022
The Hope Crossing books are always fun to read, especially those set at Christmas time. I like that with this book we get to see some old characters a bit more grown up and living their lives.
Sage seems like she's in a good place in her life, yet as she's back home you can tell she really wants what she sees all around her in town with the loving couples and happy families. Mason doesn't seem like a great match at first. He's like a crotchety old man, yelling at every one to "get off my grass" while shaking his arm in the air. Does he have a reason to be so crotchety, yes, but a great part of that is how he won't let go of things. I'm glad that by getting his house ready for him to life and actually starting to live in Hope Crossing by attending town events, Mason gets less crotchety. Sage and Mason are good together if only they let their own issues go.
The secondary romance was great too. So glad that Taryn finally let Charlie know what she was feeling/thinking and he stopped holding back.
The ending to this one was great, loved seeing everyone happy and living their lives.
Sage seems like she's in a good place in her life, yet as she's back home you can tell she really wants what she sees all around her in town with the loving couples and happy families. Mason doesn't seem like a great match at first. He's like a crotchety old man, yelling at every one to "get off my grass" while shaking his arm in the air. Does he have a reason to be so crotchety, yes, but a great part of that is how he won't let go of things. I'm glad that by getting his house ready for him to life and actually starting to live in Hope Crossing by attending town events, Mason gets less crotchety. Sage and Mason are good together if only they let their own issues go.
The secondary romance was great too. So glad that Taryn finally let Charlie know what she was feeling/thinking and he stopped holding back.
The ending to this one was great, loved seeing everyone happy and living their lives.
December 6, 2022
This was basically a hallmark movie in book form, so I enjoyed that part of it!! Also a super quick read, it took me less than 2 days.
I feel like the beginning was SO confusing with all of the different characters that were introduced and all of their backstories, I literally wanted to draw them out in a map lol. Some of the characters and backstories just seemed unnecessary?? Like how she had a stepdad and didn't meet her real dad for a while, a lot of the characters could've been simplified IMO. Taryn and Charlie also kinda seemed unnecessary to the story?? Like their love story was kinda random and could've been a separate book.
I also thought her relationship with her son Nick was gonna be a bigger deal (especially based on the back of the book). Like I feel like it was kinda brushed off that he was her son but she just lived in SanFran and was like oh well! I understood letting her parents adopt him bc she was a teenager but she seemed a little too chill about not having a big role in his life to me idk. And in the beginning it was mentioned that she thought Nick was starting to think their arrangement was odd, but then never mentioned again.
It also felt like their love story was super rushed which I'm noticing a lot lately. There's no slow burn (or burn at all) like Mason hates her and then suddenly he can't resist her and is in love with her before they got to know each other?? Taryn and Charlie's love story made more sense (friends to lovers, knowing each other for years, etc.) but it was randomly placed in this book for whatever reason.
I liked that the book had a lot of characters with different abilities/mobilities/etc., but sometimes the way it was written made me cringe a little (I'd be interested to hear other opinions on this!) I think Sage being 100% able bodied and having her youtube channel kinda reminded me of the white savior trope but for people with disabilities. She was also way too pushy about filming his house and I think inserted herself in his life problems too much too soon. And I think the storyline of someone who has an accident, has to use a wheelchair/crutches/etc. afterword, is angry/bitter at the world until they meet some perfect love interest is a little overdone and can seem a little gross?? But again I'm not an expert on this topic so I wanna know what others think, I could be wrong!
Like I said this was basically a corny Hallmark movie (which I love those don't get me wrong) so a lot of this might just be an ~it's not that deep~ moment but these were my thoughts!
I feel like the beginning was SO confusing with all of the different characters that were introduced and all of their backstories, I literally wanted to draw them out in a map lol. Some of the characters and backstories just seemed unnecessary?? Like how she had a stepdad and didn't meet her real dad for a while, a lot of the characters could've been simplified IMO. Taryn and Charlie also kinda seemed unnecessary to the story?? Like their love story was kinda random and could've been a separate book.
I also thought her relationship with her son Nick was gonna be a bigger deal (especially based on the back of the book). Like I feel like it was kinda brushed off that he was her son but she just lived in SanFran and was like oh well! I understood letting her parents adopt him bc she was a teenager but she seemed a little too chill about not having a big role in his life to me idk. And in the beginning it was mentioned that she thought Nick was starting to think their arrangement was odd, but then never mentioned again.
It also felt like their love story was super rushed which I'm noticing a lot lately. There's no slow burn (or burn at all) like Mason hates her and then suddenly he can't resist her and is in love with her before they got to know each other?? Taryn and Charlie's love story made more sense (friends to lovers, knowing each other for years, etc.) but it was randomly placed in this book for whatever reason.
I liked that the book had a lot of characters with different abilities/mobilities/etc., but sometimes the way it was written made me cringe a little (I'd be interested to hear other opinions on this!) I think Sage being 100% able bodied and having her youtube channel kinda reminded me of the white savior trope but for people with disabilities. She was also way too pushy about filming his house and I think inserted herself in his life problems too much too soon. And I think the storyline of someone who has an accident, has to use a wheelchair/crutches/etc. afterword, is angry/bitter at the world until they meet some perfect love interest is a little overdone and can seem a little gross?? But again I'm not an expert on this topic so I wanna know what others think, I could be wrong!
Like I said this was basically a corny Hallmark movie (which I love those don't get me wrong) so a lot of this might just be an ~it's not that deep~ moment but these were my thoughts!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2022
Sage McKnight is an architect who specializes in remodeling houses for people who have become handicapped. Her next big job is in her hometown of Hope's Crossing working with Mason Tucker a former pro baseball player who was severely damaged in a helicopter crash. Will Sage and Mason be able to work together along with his young daughter, Grace; or will Mason still be so angry about what's happened that neither his house remodeling nor Christmas will go well?
Well written with great characters and a wonderful focus on forgiving yourself for past mistakes. I especially liked the idea of remodeling homes to allow handicapped individuals more independence within their original setting without having to buy a new home.
Well written with great characters and a wonderful focus on forgiving yourself for past mistakes. I especially liked the idea of remodeling homes to allow handicapped individuals more independence within their original setting without having to buy a new home.
September 5, 2022
What an awesome book!
A heartwarming story that will have you laughing and crying. A story that will warm your heart. I loved every minute and hated to see it end.
I received a copy of the book for my honest and unbiased review. This is my honest review.
I highly recommend this book.
A heartwarming story that will have you laughing and crying. A story that will warm your heart. I loved every minute and hated to see it end.
I received a copy of the book for my honest and unbiased review. This is my honest review.
I highly recommend this book.
November 16, 2022
Cute Christmas read.
December 18, 2023
rep: wheelchair user (incomplete spinal cord injury)
Wow! Honestly, I picked this one up because I was looking for holiday rates for disability December, and this one happened to be an audiobook on Libby without a wait time and oh my god, am I blown away.
This is the eighth book in the Hopes Crossing series, something I was unaware of going into it, I will say, can absolutely be right as a standalone however, after reading this book, I so wish I read the previous seven because I loved absolutely everything about this town these people. There’s so much amazing diverse representation, multiple characters in wheelchairs for various reasons, autism representation characters, as well as multiple sclerosis- and that’s just in this book. It’s clear that the Hope’s Crossing series is definitely a mix of tragedy and tenderness. Truly I have never read a book with so many characters having such tragic things happened to them and while it felt kind of like a lot to remember, I definitely think that’s where reading the previous books in the series would help you have a better understanding but this wasn’t something that deterred me from liking the book!
Sage is an architect who has a passion in creating houses that are inclusive in their designs for people with disabilities. I think this book does a wonderful job of really pointing out a lot of issues that disabled people have just going about day-to-day life without making the story overwhelmingly about that. as someone that was wheelchair, bound for many years, RaeAnne does a wonderful job of highlighting the difficulties, but also celebrating the lives of wheelchair users, and not making it just a plot in the book.
Mason, a pro baseball player is still trying to put together the pieces of his now very different life than the one you never imagined. Mason was in a plane accident, leaving him with an incomplete spinal cord injury and requiring a wheelchair most of the time. Mason takes a while to come to terms and accept his disability for what it is and stop shaming himself for it. Sage is kind’ve the first person to really show him normalcy and make him believe that happiness is still possible just in different ways than he once imagined.
Honestly, this book couldn’t have been more perfect in my opinion. The character were top-notch, and so lovable I was truly rooting for each and everyone of them the entire time. The side characters felt just as important as the main ones, there was no part where I was bored, or felt like the story was honestly, I feel like I could live in this town for many more books. I’m definitely considering going back and reading the first seven in the series!
Overall I thought this was a wonderful holiday book, that also did an amazing job of showing the reality of living with disabilities and how if we all come together and except help from one another, we are stronger than we would be part! I HIGHLYYYY recommend this book!!
Wow! Honestly, I picked this one up because I was looking for holiday rates for disability December, and this one happened to be an audiobook on Libby without a wait time and oh my god, am I blown away.
This is the eighth book in the Hopes Crossing series, something I was unaware of going into it, I will say, can absolutely be right as a standalone however, after reading this book, I so wish I read the previous seven because I loved absolutely everything about this town these people. There’s so much amazing diverse representation, multiple characters in wheelchairs for various reasons, autism representation characters, as well as multiple sclerosis- and that’s just in this book. It’s clear that the Hope’s Crossing series is definitely a mix of tragedy and tenderness. Truly I have never read a book with so many characters having such tragic things happened to them and while it felt kind of like a lot to remember, I definitely think that’s where reading the previous books in the series would help you have a better understanding but this wasn’t something that deterred me from liking the book!
Sage is an architect who has a passion in creating houses that are inclusive in their designs for people with disabilities. I think this book does a wonderful job of really pointing out a lot of issues that disabled people have just going about day-to-day life without making the story overwhelmingly about that. as someone that was wheelchair, bound for many years, RaeAnne does a wonderful job of highlighting the difficulties, but also celebrating the lives of wheelchair users, and not making it just a plot in the book.
Mason, a pro baseball player is still trying to put together the pieces of his now very different life than the one you never imagined. Mason was in a plane accident, leaving him with an incomplete spinal cord injury and requiring a wheelchair most of the time. Mason takes a while to come to terms and accept his disability for what it is and stop shaming himself for it. Sage is kind’ve the first person to really show him normalcy and make him believe that happiness is still possible just in different ways than he once imagined.
Honestly, this book couldn’t have been more perfect in my opinion. The character were top-notch, and so lovable I was truly rooting for each and everyone of them the entire time. The side characters felt just as important as the main ones, there was no part where I was bored, or felt like the story was honestly, I feel like I could live in this town for many more books. I’m definitely considering going back and reading the first seven in the series!
Overall I thought this was a wonderful holiday book, that also did an amazing job of showing the reality of living with disabilities and how if we all come together and except help from one another, we are stronger than we would be part! I HIGHLYYYY recommend this book!!
December 20, 2022
All is Bright is the author’s eighth book in her Hope’s Crossing. I have not read the earlier books in the series and did not feel I lost anything by reading this as a standalone. The book tells the story of two romances, but the focus of the book is Sage and Mason.
Sage is a young architect who works for her father. For personal reasons, she enjoys renovating and retrofitting homes to make them physically accessible to all. She has been the architect working on Mason’s home for the past several months.
Mason’s baseball career ended with a tragic helicopter crash that killed his wife and unborn child and left him a single parent with physical and emotional challenges. At the time of the accident, his estranged mother came to care for Mason’s daughter but he’s guarded as to whether or not she has changed her ways enough for him to trust her.
It was interesting to see the relationship between Sage and Mason develop over time with a little matchmaking from friends and family. The book is full of Christmas hope and spirit as the reader is taken to several community holiday events. The book is heartwarming and emotional – perfect for those that enjoy a holiday romance.
I listened to the audiobook version of All is Bright which was narrated by Carly Robins. Her performance was expressive and easy to listen to. I would not hesitate to choose this version of the book to those that enjoy this format.
Sage is a young architect who works for her father. For personal reasons, she enjoys renovating and retrofitting homes to make them physically accessible to all. She has been the architect working on Mason’s home for the past several months.
Mason’s baseball career ended with a tragic helicopter crash that killed his wife and unborn child and left him a single parent with physical and emotional challenges. At the time of the accident, his estranged mother came to care for Mason’s daughter but he’s guarded as to whether or not she has changed her ways enough for him to trust her.
It was interesting to see the relationship between Sage and Mason develop over time with a little matchmaking from friends and family. The book is full of Christmas hope and spirit as the reader is taken to several community holiday events. The book is heartwarming and emotional – perfect for those that enjoy a holiday romance.
I listened to the audiobook version of All is Bright which was narrated by Carly Robins. Her performance was expressive and easy to listen to. I would not hesitate to choose this version of the book to those that enjoy this format.
March 5, 2023
This was a wonderful book set in Colorado during the winter near Christmas time. A pro athlete is having his house renovated by a local architect who turns out to be a love interest for him. Mason is the lone survivor in a helicopter crash, which killed his wife and their unborn baby and left him in a wheelchair. He is a grumpy guy, but Sage is able to reach his inner beauty. This book definitely gets the reader in the mood for winter, snow, and the holidays.
December 9, 2023
When I picked this book up at the library, I wasn’t aware it was part of a series, or rather a return to that series after a number of years. It can stand alone but there are lots of mentions of characters from previous books that would make it fun for those who have read those books. This is a squeaky clean romance, which isn’t really my thing, but this author tells a good story.
October 4, 2022
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Having recently began reading Raeanne Thayne’s books and loving them, I looked forward to dive into 🎧︎All is Bright. In 🎧︎All is Bright, Thayne treated her readers to a heartwarming holiday story served up with not one but two romances. A story which delivers a powerful message about how holding to the hurt from the past leads to bitterness and how love brings about healing and forgiveness.
Mason Tucker, a retired baseball play, is renovating his new home in Hope’s Crossing. The purpose of the renovations is to accommodate his wheelchair mobility. Two years ago, he lost his wife and unborn child to a plane crash. As a result of the crash he suffered a spinal cord injury, which left him relying on a wheelchair. He lost all that mattered to him in one fell swoop, except for his nine-year-old daughter who brought sunshine to his Darkest days. He gave upon love, believing no woman would love a damaged and broken man, but that was before he met the architect in charge of the renovations.
Sage McKnight is working her dream job and using her skills to help clients with mobility issues. She has taken on her most difficult client to date. The one she never expected to develop feelings for. Given her track record with relationships, she knew she should keep her distance. Secondly, she will not be in town for very long. However, the more contact they had with each other, the greater their feelings grew. Soon, they can no longer ignore the attraction brewing between them.
Narrated from triple POVs 🎧︎All is Bright was a heartwarming story of second chances, healing, forgiveness and love. The characters featured in Thayne’s latest novel will capture the hearts of readers. Each has experienced physical and emotional pain and loss in the past, and is still affected by the aftermath. Sadly, as a result, they spent their days mired in self doubt and guilt.
The romance which developed between Mason and Sage will warm your heart on a cold winter night. They may not have been looking for love, but it found them when they least expected it. They will learn that love was more powerful than the baggage they refused to let go. The walls Mason erected around his heart came tumbling down with each interaction he had with Sage. She refused to allow him to wallow in self -pity. The secondary romance didn’t receive a lot of exposure, which for me was a travesty. I believe Taryn and Charlie’s story needed to be told separately.
I enjoyed the romance, but the aspect of the story which resonated most with me lay in Mason’s relationship with his mom. Sadly, they never shared a bond during Mason’s younger years. This made him bitter and angry towards her. Now she’s back in his life wanting to make up for lost time. One could understand Mason’s reluctance to let her into his life. It took him sometime to recognize her motives were pure, and I loved how never gave up despite his antagonistic behaviour towards her.
🎧︎All is Bright is a sweet small town holiday romance that will warm your heart and have you believing in second chances and happily ever after.
Carly Robins narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story. She brought the characters to life and allowed their personalities to shine through with her impeccable performance. Her performance brought an added layer of goodness to the story.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
Having recently began reading Raeanne Thayne’s books and loving them, I looked forward to dive into 🎧︎All is Bright. In 🎧︎All is Bright, Thayne treated her readers to a heartwarming holiday story served up with not one but two romances. A story which delivers a powerful message about how holding to the hurt from the past leads to bitterness and how love brings about healing and forgiveness.
Mason Tucker, a retired baseball play, is renovating his new home in Hope’s Crossing. The purpose of the renovations is to accommodate his wheelchair mobility. Two years ago, he lost his wife and unborn child to a plane crash. As a result of the crash he suffered a spinal cord injury, which left him relying on a wheelchair. He lost all that mattered to him in one fell swoop, except for his nine-year-old daughter who brought sunshine to his Darkest days. He gave upon love, believing no woman would love a damaged and broken man, but that was before he met the architect in charge of the renovations.
Sage McKnight is working her dream job and using her skills to help clients with mobility issues. She has taken on her most difficult client to date. The one she never expected to develop feelings for. Given her track record with relationships, she knew she should keep her distance. Secondly, she will not be in town for very long. However, the more contact they had with each other, the greater their feelings grew. Soon, they can no longer ignore the attraction brewing between them.
Narrated from triple POVs 🎧︎All is Bright was a heartwarming story of second chances, healing, forgiveness and love. The characters featured in Thayne’s latest novel will capture the hearts of readers. Each has experienced physical and emotional pain and loss in the past, and is still affected by the aftermath. Sadly, as a result, they spent their days mired in self doubt and guilt.
The romance which developed between Mason and Sage will warm your heart on a cold winter night. They may not have been looking for love, but it found them when they least expected it. They will learn that love was more powerful than the baggage they refused to let go. The walls Mason erected around his heart came tumbling down with each interaction he had with Sage. She refused to allow him to wallow in self -pity. The secondary romance didn’t receive a lot of exposure, which for me was a travesty. I believe Taryn and Charlie’s story needed to be told separately.
I enjoyed the romance, but the aspect of the story which resonated most with me lay in Mason’s relationship with his mom. Sadly, they never shared a bond during Mason’s younger years. This made him bitter and angry towards her. Now she’s back in his life wanting to make up for lost time. One could understand Mason’s reluctance to let her into his life. It took him sometime to recognize her motives were pure, and I loved how never gave up despite his antagonistic behaviour towards her.
🎧︎All is Bright is a sweet small town holiday romance that will warm your heart and have you believing in second chances and happily ever after.
Carly Robins narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story. She brought the characters to life and allowed their personalities to shine through with her impeccable performance. Her performance brought an added layer of goodness to the story.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
December 20, 2022
this was literally a hallmark movie !! so excellent but also 3 stars in the nicest way possible
November 15, 2022
Wow!! I love RaeAnne Thayne, and she never disappoints!! This is the newest book in the Hope's Crossing series, and I will admit to it having been awhile since I last visited (the last book was published in 2014). It was so great "seeing" all the old friends from the previous books, and getting updates on where they are now. This was actually two stories, about girls from the previous books who are now grown women. Watching them take charge of their lives, and their loves, was a real treat! This book could be read as a standalone, but I am betting if you do, you'll want to go back to the beginning and read them all!!
November 25, 2023
Book courtesy of HQN and NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.
I’ll say right up front All Is Bright is going to be one of my favorite Christmas themed books in the CR genre. The trope of grumpy hero meets optimistic and unstoppable heroine doesn’t alway work for me but in Thayne’s hands it was a win. Sage and Mason have separately faced very difficult emotional and physical challenges but are at the point of moving forward in their lives.
There are sub-plots involving interesting secondary characters, complicated families, and regular daily life. I enjoyed it all and especially appreciated the epilogue that put the bow on this gift of a novel.
If you’re a fan of author RaeAnne Thayne, contemporary romance with a Christmas theme, and a mountain town setting you’ll want to read All Is Bright.
I’ll say right up front All Is Bright is going to be one of my favorite Christmas themed books in the CR genre. The trope of grumpy hero meets optimistic and unstoppable heroine doesn’t alway work for me but in Thayne’s hands it was a win. Sage and Mason have separately faced very difficult emotional and physical challenges but are at the point of moving forward in their lives.
There are sub-plots involving interesting secondary characters, complicated families, and regular daily life. I enjoyed it all and especially appreciated the epilogue that put the bow on this gift of a novel.
If you’re a fan of author RaeAnne Thayne, contemporary romance with a Christmas theme, and a mountain town setting you’ll want to read All Is Bright.
September 20, 2022
A wonderful story about rebuilding
A few lives, homes and so much more.
Mason, a once famous ball player.
Now just a dad, taking care of his life and his little girl.
After a plane crash. So much lost. But so much life to live.
Sage, back home for a few weeks in Hope Crossing. Doing what she does best. Rebuilding homes for those with special needs.
After losing her sister years ago.
It's hard to forget. But moving forward is a must.
This is as is all Rayanne Thayne Books a wonderful read. I'm a total Fan. As is my Husband he is a new reader of this wonderful author.
A few lives, homes and so much more.
Mason, a once famous ball player.
Now just a dad, taking care of his life and his little girl.
After a plane crash. So much lost. But so much life to live.
Sage, back home for a few weeks in Hope Crossing. Doing what she does best. Rebuilding homes for those with special needs.
After losing her sister years ago.
It's hard to forget. But moving forward is a must.
This is as is all Rayanne Thayne Books a wonderful read. I'm a total Fan. As is my Husband he is a new reader of this wonderful author.
December 23, 2022
3.5 stars
I usually love Thayne's Christmas-related books.
This one slightly missed it though.
I guess I was too ANNOYED with both male characters here - Mason Tucker (Sage's love interest) and Charlie Beaumont (the guy that Taryn's been crushing forever). They're drowning in their internal rage/grief (Mason's) and guilt (Charlie's) too much, it doesn't make a good reading experience. Especially when it comes to accepting the love from both women: Sage and Taryn.
The kids characters are great though - and I still got teary eyed during the last two chapters
I usually love Thayne's Christmas-related books.
This one slightly missed it though.
I guess I was too ANNOYED with both male characters here - Mason Tucker (Sage's love interest) and Charlie Beaumont (the guy that Taryn's been crushing forever). They're drowning in their internal rage/grief (Mason's) and guilt (Charlie's) too much, it doesn't make a good reading experience. Especially when it comes to accepting the love from both women: Sage and Taryn.
The kids characters are great though - and I still got teary eyed during the last two chapters
September 23, 2022
ALL IS BRIGHT takes you back to Hope’s Crossing and introduces you to the local legend, Mason Tucker. Sage McKnight is an architect who has been hired to renovate Mason’s home to accommodate his healing. Mason is a single father of one daughter who just lost her mother not too long ago. They are both struggling to move on with their lives when they meet Sage. The more time Sage spends with Mason the more she grows to care for him. Neither one of them is looking for a relationship, but you know how that goes. Sage just wants him to be happy and wants to help Mason realize he still has so much to offer. Mason believes he doesn’t deserve her help. She is totally out of his league and he thinks he is no good for her.
Sage is someone I connected with from the very beginning of ALL IS BRIGHT. She has her hands full and never stops trying to help everyone she knows and meets. Mason is very hard on himself. He made some big mistakes in his life and does not feel deserving of any love or happiness. He feels responsible for the loss of his wife and unborn child. Why did he survive and they didnt? To say Mason is struggling would be a huge understatement. RaeAnne Thayne sure was able to portray the Colorado town in such a way that I’d love to live there myself. I am more than ready to read more about Hope’s Crossing. I will be keeping my fingers crossed that there will be more to come.
ALL IS BRIGHT was a quick read for me. Mason and Sage have some major hurdles to get over and problems to overcome, but if anyone deserves to be happy, it is these two. Even though this is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand alone. I haven’t read all of the books in the series yet, and I wasn’t lost at all. I will now go back and read the books I have missed and I can’t wait to go back to Colorado and this beautiful town! I didn’t realize I was holding my breath near the last page until I let it out to let the tears flow. ALL IS BRIGHT is filled with heart-tugging moments and will have you laughing and crying all at once.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
Sage is someone I connected with from the very beginning of ALL IS BRIGHT. She has her hands full and never stops trying to help everyone she knows and meets. Mason is very hard on himself. He made some big mistakes in his life and does not feel deserving of any love or happiness. He feels responsible for the loss of his wife and unborn child. Why did he survive and they didnt? To say Mason is struggling would be a huge understatement. RaeAnne Thayne sure was able to portray the Colorado town in such a way that I’d love to live there myself. I am more than ready to read more about Hope’s Crossing. I will be keeping my fingers crossed that there will be more to come.
ALL IS BRIGHT was a quick read for me. Mason and Sage have some major hurdles to get over and problems to overcome, but if anyone deserves to be happy, it is these two. Even though this is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand alone. I haven’t read all of the books in the series yet, and I wasn’t lost at all. I will now go back and read the books I have missed and I can’t wait to go back to Colorado and this beautiful town! I didn’t realize I was holding my breath near the last page until I let it out to let the tears flow. ALL IS BRIGHT is filled with heart-tugging moments and will have you laughing and crying all at once.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
September 29, 2022
I love RaeAnne Thayne's books but a "widower romance"... is not romantic at all!!
Having lived this I can tell you that there were several times I was telling Sage that she needed to run away from him as fast as she could!! He was not at all ready to be in a serious relationship. There were too many red flags and honestly I am not happy that they did end up together.
Having lived this I can tell you that there were several times I was telling Sage that she needed to run away from him as fast as she could!! He was not at all ready to be in a serious relationship. There were too many red flags and honestly I am not happy that they did end up together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2022
Typical heartwarming holiday story by an author whose books I automatically buy without even reading the description of what they're about. RaeAnne Thayne never disappoints with interesting characters and situations. I especially loved catching up with characters from previous installments of this series.
Despite all these ingredients, I didn't connect with this book the way I have with most of her past stories. Not really sure why; it just seemed like one minute Mason is irritated by Sage and with the flip of a switch they're in love. I didn't really feel a connection between the characters. I did really enjoy the secondary story of Taryn and Charlie and finding out where their lives were now after what happened when they were teenagers.
Despite all these ingredients, I didn't connect with this book the way I have with most of her past stories. Not really sure why; it just seemed like one minute Mason is irritated by Sage and with the flip of a switch they're in love. I didn't really feel a connection between the characters. I did really enjoy the secondary story of Taryn and Charlie and finding out where their lives were now after what happened when they were teenagers.
December 23, 2022
Cute Christmas themed romance set in a small American town of Hope's Crossing. Overall, I enjoyed it as a light, comfortable "Hallmark movie" type of book. You have your cookie cutter characters destined to fall in love but not after overcoming some life obstacles. The main character is Sage and she is an architect that refits houses for people with mobility issues and I found this an interesting spin to the story. Of course, the love interest is Mason Tucker, ex baseball player and hunk in a wheel chair who is feeling sorry for himself after the accident that caused his disability. Since this is the eighth book in a series, there are a lot of pages retelling who the characters are and what their back story is which is kind of annoying but I guess needed. I did not read the previous 8 books and I dont think I want to now.
November 25, 2024
So most contemporary romance novels that are cemented in a fictional town or community that is built up over several novels are usually pretty cut and paste. This isn’t too different from that, but it does explore topics that I was surprised by. It really included a range of people’s experience with disability, whether they were able to gain mobility back or not, and the issues it creates for them in every day life. It also explored the ways people react to grief and how it can really change their lives. My only problem with it was that at some points it sort of seemed to invalidate the feelings of some of the characters for the sake of having a happy ending tied up with a bow. But overall it was wholesome.
November 27, 2024
DNF. I got 5% in and couldn’t continue after how frankly ableist this book is.
I’m disabled and a wheelchair user.
it is VERY clear this is written by a non disabled person - close proximity to disability also doesn’t equal lived experience and it’s concerning to see phrases such as “differently abled” in a book about a disabled MC.
overall this 5% made me deeply uncomfortable and i could tell there were no disabled people doing sensitivity reads on this one.
I’m disabled and a wheelchair user.
it is VERY clear this is written by a non disabled person - close proximity to disability also doesn’t equal lived experience and it’s concerning to see phrases such as “differently abled” in a book about a disabled MC.
overall this 5% made me deeply uncomfortable and i could tell there were no disabled people doing sensitivity reads on this one.
January 14, 2025
Another heart warming story in the Hope's Crossing series set several years after the last I read. Catching up on the families after several years is an eye opener. The characters progress but the basic values remain. Sage's character has definitely evolved and a few new characters have emerged who fit right in the feel of regeneration of lives and finding, hope.
December 12, 2024
A hallmark paperback romance, but holiday edition.
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