I love the Holiday at the Graff series. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but I recommend reading the entire series to fully appreciate the history of the Graff hotel. I love the holiday season with the perfect touch of romance. Marin Thomas makes the reader believe that love at first sight does exist.

OH MY!! WOW!! New Year’s at the Graff by Marin Thomas, the third book in the Holiday at the Graff series, is amazing story that I just loved. Can one truly fall in love at first sight? When Lucas Kendrick needed to leave San Diego during the holidays he decided to visit Marietta, Montana and give thanks to those who helped his now deceased mother when she arrived alone, unmarried and pregnant. He arrived in time to attend the New Year’s Eve celebration at the Graff Hotel where he is attracted to the pretty young lady working the dice table. Single mom Ava Moore has earned her business degree and wants to help the other struggling moms in Marietta by opening a co-op on Main Street. Unfortunately, the property see wants is the same one Lucas wants for a prize client.

Neither Lucas nor Ava can forget the kiss they shared on New Year’s Eve. Their attraction is strong and they enjoy spending time together. In fact Ava’s daughter Sophie is already in love with Lucas as these two bond. Lucas needs to decide to follow his heart and stay in Marietta or join his father’s company back in San Diego.

I really loved enjoyed this book and had trouble putting this book down. Marin Thomas is a great story teller able to draw her readers into her stories. I loved how Marin interwove Judge Kingsley & Sandra Reynolds from her Love at the Chocolate Shop story into this story. I definitely recommend this book to other readers and look forward to the next book in this series.

Marin Thomas is a newer author for me. I have read only one or two others but really enjoy her writing style. Her characters have emotional depth with genuine struggles and realistic goals. The supporting characters and events surrounding the main characters are equally thought out.

New Year's at the Graff is the third book in the Holiday at the Graff Series. Lucas Kendrick and Ava Moore should have nothing in common except an eye on the same property, but love is often unpredictable. I expected no less than a HEA but certainly found their journey to it to be an entertaining read. As with the other books in the series there is an added surprise. What a delight!

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley.

New Year’s at the Graff by Marin Thomas
Holiday at the Graff #

Lucas Kendrick is taking a few weeks off during the holidays and has chosen to go back to Marietta, Montana. Why? He was born there, wants to go back to thank those his mother left notes for and…just because. Marietta is a snowy, small town with a few quirky characters but also warm spirited and wonderful – as he soon finds out.

Lucas has issues in his past to sort out and a future to figure out when he hits town. He pretty much falls for Ava Moore when he sees her the first time and their relationship flows fairly smoothly including her daughter Sophie and Mother-in-law Tilly rather seamlessly.

Since Lucas lives in San Diego and is moving up at work and Ava is starting a new business in Montana it is not going to be easy to find a HEA…but…true love is worth working things out for and this story manages to do just that with tugs at the heart, family warmth, secrets shared, ghostly interference and a community rooting for the two of them.

Sophie was a scene stealer. Tilly was wonderful. Lucas and Ava so deserved to end up with one another and their story was a joy to read. I have really been enjoying this series and look forward to reading the next one when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4.5 Stars

What an incredible, touching journey New Year’s at The Graff was for Ava and Lucas, as well as the people their lives touched. This is one of those stories that I’d love to sit back and really talk about for it touches deeply into the heart, but I cannot for to do that would spoil this adventure for you. All I can do is tell you that this is a story that will give you all the “feel goods” you’ll ever want from a Romance, and hope that you’ll want to discover this story for yourself. This one is a keeper, and I can see myself pulling this one up on my Kindle for many holiday seasons to come.

Lucas has made the trip to Marietta, Montana for an enforced vacation as well as to follow his mother’s last wishes to return and thank many people of this small town for the kindness that was shown to them when life was difficult and very hard for them both. Ava is a widow, a single mom and in some ways watches over her eccentric mother-in-law. She’s worked hard for her education, her job at the Graff pays the bills but she’s working toward her dream of opening a co-op that will help single mothers have the chance for an education that will give them the financial freedom that a college education can help with. There are never guarantees in life, but with an education so many doors can open for these woman, and Ava’s dream is just about to be realized if things work as she hopes they will. She hadn’t expected the attraction to this handsome man who could have such an impact on her dreams. She might hope for a future with Lucas, but she’s realistic enough to know that he’s here in town temporarily and dreaming of his staying with her are probably unreasonable. But it’s hard to not dream when that perfect for you man is right there in front of you.

The true star of New Year’s at The Graff is Ava’s little daughter, Sophie. She steals your heart and every scene she’s in. Frankly, it wouldn’t be the same story, with the same impact without one little precious princess Sophie. Lucas’ interactions with Sophie from the very start will put a smile on your face and a warm tingling feeling in your heart. Lucas has a lot to learn on this trip to his and his mother’s past. Some things will be rather surprising, others will reinforce what he already knew of her. I was surprised to end up liking one secondary character more than I expected to at first. People can change, I think that’s something we often forget.

I enjoyed every moment of this story, and was rather sad to see it come to an end – even though the ending was pretty perfect for me. I would not hesitate to highly recommend this story or the entire series to any Romance reader who loves realistic, heartwarming love stories that are completely believable and will linger in your mind long after the final page is turned.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I really liked this story. Predictable? Yes. Familiar trope? Yup. Two lost characters ? You betcha!
Small town typical? Kinda, but with a twist. Did it matter as far as the story went? Not one single bit!!
This was a great little read about two people who woulda, coulda, shoulda and the best supporting characters I've read in awhile. It's a nice easy read, they're easy to like, the dialogue is great and the story is as well.
Read this book! It's a nice light read with no angst and lots of love. It's the holidays, destress with this one! I loved it.


*I voluntarily read this advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own*

**arc from NetGalley and publisher**

New Year's at the Graff by Marin Thomas, book three in the Holiday at the Graff series. A great addition to the series. I enjoyed the character development between the characters it was perfect for this holiday book. I look forward to reading more books in this series and more books by Marin Thomas.

A string of coincidences lays the groundwork for a happily ever after. New Year's at the Graff is a story of small town living, family, and new beginnings. City slicker Lucas hits small town Marrietta with an agenda. Plans change when his heart becomes tied up in a feisty country girl and her equally adorable daughter. Ava is a woman on a mission to follow her dreams and help others in the process. When a handsome stranger and a New Year's kiss disrupt her life, will she have the strength to risk her heart and dreams for a big city man? My favorite reads are small town stories. What may seem complicated, can often be simple and the helping hands and family atmosphere speak to the sentimental aspect of my personality.

An inspiring and heartfelt story.

Lucas Kendrick and Ava Moore met at The Big Sky Mavericks Ball at the Graff Hotel on New Year’s Eve where Ava is working. Lucas was in town to fulfill his mother’s wishes after she passed away. She wanted to thank the people in Marietta who helped her when she needed it most. He was also combining the trip with business to prove to his father he was serious about his job.

Ava is a hard working single mother who works as a maid at the Graff but her real dream is to run a co-op to help other single mothers further their education. She has finally found a place where she wants the co-op. Then she finds out Lucas is also interested in the same property. This causes a little friction in the newly found relationship. But, there is another force working behind the scenes which won’t allow anything to come between Ava and Lucas.

I was easily hooked on this book. I enjoyed the parts where Lucas found his mother’s old friends and how he thanked them. I liked how Lucas and Ava’s backgrounds were woven into the story. It was plotted out very well. Ava's daughter really added to the story too. I couldn't help but love her. But the real surprise was a secret Ava’s mother-in-law kept. I would love to learn more about her and her psychic abilities.

This addition to the Holiday at the Graff series contributes to the ongoing story of the relationships that develop through the magic of the town of Marietta, Montana.

Ms Thomas has written a story filled with emotions that are heartfelt about romance, fulfilling last wishes, and reconciliation. There is much to love about the story and its characters, they have depth, personality, and a way of drawing you into their lives. The relationships depicted include Lucas and Ava, but also all the individuals who evolve around them to form a Marietta family. If there was ever a more charming little lady as Sophie, I have yet to see her in any book I've read. Ms Thomas created a child who'll steal your heart.

I look forward to the next installment in the series as I've grown to love the town of Marietta and its residents.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.