Books & Spoons review for THE HOLIDAY GIFT by RaeAnne Thayne

A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS 

With two kids and an active life, widow Faith Dustin only wants peace and quiet for Christmas. But her snowy Pine Gulch ranch is nothing but chaotic. All that keeps Faith going is her helpful neighbor, cowboy Chase Brannon. He's always been "good ol' Chase," her faithful friend. Until he kisses her under the mistletoe… 

Years ago Chase blew his chance with the woman he's loved since childhood. Now he's determined to step out of the friend zone…and into the role of husband. But the scared and stubborn Faith won't let herself fall. With Christmas just days away, Chase will need all the magic of the season—and the help of her two matchmaking children—to unwrap a second chance at love.

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There's nothing better than your dearest oldest friend, they are always there for you. But if that person also happens to love you, is the possible chance of romantic relationship worth to risk the friendship? Faith didn't think so when it came to Chase. 
I found this story somber, and more than that, the romance left me wanting, for me it felt incomplete as it was, even with the epilogue. And that made me little sad because I had set such a high hopes for this Christmas novel. 
The friendship between Faith and Chase had been tested through fire over the years. That was solid, unwavering, something you could always count on. And the way Faith acted, Chase was a saint. So understanding, kind, giving, generous, patient, tolerant, you name it. 
And I understand the fear Faith was facing, considering all the loss in her life, the possibility of loving again was terrifying to her. What I really didn't like in the story was the matchmaking Faith was doing. Boldly pushing Chase to another woman, again and again even after his feelings towards Faith were clear. The was so disrespectful and rude, I couldn't get over it. Thankfully for Faith, Chase is a better person than I am.  
There's children, puppies, horses, and Christmas cheer. All the trimmings to a wonderful celebration. But the story mostly focuses on the inner battle Faith is having about not wanting to love again or change anything on the relationship she has with Chase, thus, there's no development of the relationship in the tale, but lots of woman's melancholy battle of moving on with life after series of devastating losses in her life. 
So along these lines, it does give a different kind of Christmas story, more fitting to the women's lit than romance genre. But the children are cheerful, there's good will towards the neighbors, there are puppies born, Christmas wishes comes true, and lots of good eating around the family table, while pondering about life and the future and change and possibly even romance...
~ Three Spoons

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