I found The Cranberry Inn too be a enjoyable read, a heartwarming storyline that brings two friends back together again. Who doesn't enjoy a second chance romance. I loved the setting of the Inn, and it sounds like a wonderful little town to be a part of. I definitely would recommend this book to others.

I received a ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture, and the opinions expressed here are my own.

Such a heartwarming and festive story that has stayed with me for quite a while after reading. Perfect for the upcoming festive season

The Cranberry Inn by Barbara Josselsohn
Published: November 15, 2021
Bookouture
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Barbara Josselsohn grew up on Long Island and lived for several years in her beloved New York City before moving to the northern suburbs. She began her career as a business journalist and then turned her attention to her first love, fiction. Her novels include THE LILY GARDEN, THE BLUEBELL GIRLS, THE LILAC HOUSE, and THE LAST DREAMER. Her fifth novel, THE CRANBERRY INN, releases in November 2021.

“You know as well as anyone that if you want the truth, you shouldn’t go looking on social media.”

Laurel gets a random phone call from her father, asking her to return to the family inn a month before Christmas. So Laurel packs up her son, Simon, and they head to Laurel’s hometown. Little did Laurel know, she was about to get the most surprising Christmas of all!

This was a charming Christmas tale. He was filled with a heartwarming story, adorable characters, and a perfect ending. Joel came home after learning his mom had passed away suddenly. He thinks it will be a quick trip to pack up his childhood home and his mother’s store. But a blast from the past has blown in, and now Joel wants to deck the halls.

Laurel was such a beautiful character. I love how she worked through her past trauma and learned the essential things in her life—Simon, happiness, and most importantly- forgiveness.

Joel was such an excellent representation of someone people assumed had it all, not realizing there were big regrets in his past.

Simon was such a fun, light, delightful character. He was such a perfect balance to Laurel’s intensity. And I love that Simon showed Laurel what growth looks like.

I enjoyed how this was a mix of past and present, with a twist of the future: warm, welcoming, and fresh twist on a Christmas romance.

This was a nice break from the thrillers I’ve been reading. And I have a sudden urge to decorate my house for Christmas! Sometimes coming home is both the hardest and best thing to help heal your heart.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the chance to read The Cranberry Inn by Barbara Josselsohn. I was looking for a feel good holiday story and I found The Cranberry Inn was a quick and easy read. I did find the plot a little too much, but overall I enjoyed the story.

What a sweet heart warming story. This book was uplifting and filled with relatable characters that made me smile throughout. I couldn’t put it down and devoured it in less than a day. Perfect addition to the holiday season.

Another winner by Barbara Josselsohn! Grab a mug of your favorite hot drink and find the perfect reading spot to enjoy this new love story in the well-crafted universe of the town of Lake Summers. Josselsohn is that unique writer whose prose is so easy to follow and so well crafted that you hardly notice you have been taken by the hand and invited into the lives of these characters. A read as gorgeous as the covers of her books!

The Cranberry Inn is the perfect holiday read that had me feeling all the warm fuzzes and wanting to run and book a Bed and Breakfast.stat. I loved the characters,the story line, the setting, everything was described so that the reader could just enjoy a light hearted story but also get wrapped in romance and Christmas! I don't know about you but I look forward to holiday books to get me in the spirit every year.
When Laurel receives a call from her dad asking her to come to the Inn immediately shes a little concerned but also excited to spend the holidays with her dad. The Cranberry Inn has been special to Laurel and holds so many found memories of her childhood. Holidays with her two sisters, her parents serving the guests, pancake breakfast all sitting around the counter. Now that Laurel is a mom she loves sharing the Inn with her son and creating new memories.
When laurel arrives she finds a note from her dad saying he'll return to the Inn on Christmas Eve with some exciting news but to enjoy the Inn while he's away. Everything looks the same but run down. What has her dad been doing? How could he let so many repairs be left undone? Laurel is filled with dread, joy of being home, and full of possibility of what's to come. The town hasn't changed and everyone is so happy to see Laurel return. These people are her family and each of them are special to her and hold special memories of growing up and living in a small town. One of her found memories is of Joel and the time they spent together in high school. Laurel always had a crush on him but sadly nothing ever came of it. They both graduated and went in different directions. Now he's back taking care of his mothers store and has offered to help with the repairs of the Cranberry Inn. Having Joel around the Inn just feels right, but Laurel knows that once again, the holidays will end and Joel will go home and so will she.

By now, reading a feel-good romance set in Lake Summers feels like taking a vacation. The location is familiar, the characters are pleasant, and the stories are always sweet.
Oh, and I can’t forget the HEAs. Never underestimate the power of a good “happily ever after,” especially these days.
And what more perfect time of year than one that is set around Christmastime?
There is not a lot that makes Laurel or Joel stand out, but that is not a bad thing. They are both real people that could step off the page into real life without skipping a beat.
I like that they are not dramatic or overdone. It makes it so much easier to enjoy their story.
The author cleverly uses Laurel’s profession as a springboard (and a metaphor) for her own life. There is some good decoration, and a few special pieces (like her son), but it is – for the most part – empty.
I think a lot of people can relate to that.
The action kicks in when Laurel returns to her childhood home and finds her dad…not where is supposed to be. The resolution of that comes late in the book, but only when Laurel is ready for the reason for his disappearance.
Honestly, I love the way this author plots her books. Everything happens for a reason and in its good time.
I liked Laurel and Joel both apart and together. As I have mentioned several times, the reader knows they are going to end up together. The fun and enjoyment are in going on the journey with them.
We get the usual interesting secondary characters as well. Another strength of this author is how perfectly she captures small-town life.
For those who have lived it, it’s a great reminder of the quirks and perks. For those who have never lived in a small town, it’s an accurate portrayal that allows them to live vicariously.
The biggest message I got from this story is that sometimes the best gifts are intangible. Second chances, time, and personal connections can be the greatest gifts of all.
I absolutely recommend this feel-good romance for the holiday season. And while you’re at it, you should also take a look at other books set in Lake Summers.

With Christmas right around the corner, it was the perfect time to read Barbara Josselsohn’s new holiday release, The Cranberry Inn. It’s the perfect blend of women’s fiction and romance that will delight fans of her Lake Summers series as well as folks just being introduced to this charming small town that always puts me in mind of The Gilmore Girls’ Stars Hollow.

This has all the classic ingredients of a feel-good story of a woman starting her life over. Laurel, single mom to Simon, travels home at the frantic request of her father, ostensibly to help him with the country inn he’s running. But when she arrives, he’s gone missing. Left alone to keep the inn’s doors open and its one guest happy, Laurel reconnects with Joel, her high school crush, and together they discover that it’s possible to integrate the past with the present and find happiness in unlikely places.

Barbara Josselsohn delivers a delicious treat for the holidays. Cozy up on the couch with #TheCranberryInn and get swept away by the magic of the season.

When Laurel receives an urgent call from her father, she packs up the car and her son to head to the Cranberry Inn, located in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. Growing up, Laurel didn’t fit in and that feeling intensified after her mother died. Looking forward to escape the city yet filled with uncertainty she’s shocked to discover that her father is missing and she’s in charge.

While settling in and coming to terms with her memories, Laurel reconnects with the past and teaches her son the value of family and traditions. Finding her place helps Laurel take center stage of her life.

Teaching her son how to make snow angels and other fun-filled winter activities, her confidence begins to return. While she’s always doubted herself, others admire her quiet strength.

As a budding designer, Laurel is routinely passed over as her designs are labeled too traditional. Stitching the past and present, will Laurel learn that you can go home again to design a new future?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the @Bookouture for the early edition in exchange for an honest review. Barbara Josselsohn pens characters that readers will relate to by celebrating their successes while sympathizing during difficult times. It's the perfect book to unlock the true meaning of the season.

I visited Lake Summers, earlier this year with The Lily Garden, I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting some of the characters from that book and seeing what was new in this gorgeous mountain town.

From the opening chapters, I adored Laurel’s relationship with her son, Simon. Despite being desperate to succeed as an interior designer, her son’s needs ca`me first. Family is clearly a huge part of Laurel’s life, and this detail is examined in greater detail as the story unfolds.

The descriptions of the Inn had me imagining a cosy hotel where every need is met, and comfort is king. In my mind, it was in the vein of an Alpine retreat, complete with roaring fires and seasonal decorations. It always strikes me as peculiar when a building or location work as additional characters, but once again, Barbara Josselsohn has woven a magic thread across this story, and everything feels alive.

The introduction of Joel is an interesting move. He has a schooltime history with Laurel, but there is an unaddressed hurt that is hinted at. I loved Joel’s character, in particular his kindness to his deceased ‘Mom’s’ neighbour, Lexy. Despite being eager to complete his business in town, he takes time to help Lexy come to terms with their shared loss.

Whilst I had a pretty good clue how this story would turn out, I had no idea how it would get to its conclusion. There were several false starts which could have changed the story, but this tale was in expert hands, there was never any danger of not finding a happy ending. I’m already looking forward to another trip to Lake Summers, and to finding out what’s in store for some more of the wonderful residents.

This was my first book I've read by Barbara Josselsohn. I enjoyed the setting of the inn and the fact that it needed to be fixed up plus the Christmas time storyline. I liked the bit of mystery that surrounded Laurel's dad's disappearance right before Christmas and that Joel was willing to pitch in and help with what was needed. This is a nice book to read at Christmas-time.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publishes 15 November 2021.

The story that unfolds within the pages of THE CRANBERRY INN is as delightful as its cover. It begins with a warmly relatable heroine and a mysterious phone call that will alter her life and prove that some holiday gifts don’t come wrapped up with a bow. Sometimes they’re less tangible and come in the form of a second chance. Sometimes they’re given from one heart to another. This is such a story; one you don’t want to miss.

This is a feel-good romantic holiday story set in a cozy, lake-side inn nested in the Adirondack Mountains.
Following a puzzling call from her dad, single mom and assistant interior designer Laurel Hanover changes her Christmas plans and travels with her eight-year-old son, Simon, from their home in Queens, New York City to the tiny upstate town of Summer Lakes.

Laurel has a complicated past with Summer Lakes – and her dad. She grew up there and would have liked to have stayed, but her father always pressured his daughters to leave their small town and carve out important lives for themselves. Since her beloved mom died years ago, Laurel makes it back only rarely to Summer Lakes, and never at Christmastime. But her dad needs her help for a month, and she won’t let him down.

As soon as Laurel and Simon arrive, they learn Laurel’s dad will be away the whole month, will be unreachable and will return only on Christmas Eve. The strange note, coupled with the obvious physical decline of the inn, leave Laurel concerned. Nevertheless, Laurel quickly throws herself into preparing the inn for the arrival of their lone guest and vows to spruce up the inn to its former glory. To do this, she enlists the help of former high school crush, Joel Hutcherson.

Joel is a high-flying international management consultant now, but he has returned to Summer Lakes following the unexpected death of his mother, and helping out on DIY projects around the inn helps keep his mind off his grieving and regrets, and allows him to grow closer, once again, to Laurel.

The Cranberry Inn touches upon many themes, including the pressure in small towns to go away and create important, worthy lives far away. But what if what you seek is closer to home? Laurel’s return to her hometown allows her to reevaluate many of the choices she made, to connect once again with the townspeople, to try to rebuild the relationship with her dad, and to reexamine long-ago misunderstandings that may have caused her to miss out on love.

An enjoyable, quick read, with nicely drawn characters and a feel-good, holiday setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this novel, in exchange for an honest review..

Laurel is living her life in New York with her 8 year old son, Simon. She has been working for the same person for 6 years but keeps on being overlooked. She has great ideas but somehow she just isn't being heard.

Then, she gets a phone call from her dad, asking her to run her family's Inn for several weeks. She has no clue where he is, what he is doing or why she has to drop everything to do this, but she obliges. Only, she doesn't know that her teenage crush, Joel, is also back in town.....

Of course, this is a romantic story so there is a bit of a winding path to romance, misunderstandings, a nice time had by all back in their old home town etc. I have to admit that Lake Summers sounds like a lovely place to live :)

I liked this book but I didn't love it. There were things that just weren't explained in enough detail for me to get fully invested. That is probably just me though.

4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

My Review
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

The Cranberry Inn.
By Barbara Josselsohn

Cranberry Inn is in the heart of Adirondack Mountains.
a small town were ever one knows everyone.

Laurel, gets a phone call from her dad. He needs her to come home.
So packing up her son Simon
Leaving NY behind for the month of December... arriving at the Inn finding a note. It's a Bit of a mystery. But it's what you do for family.

Joel,
Has come back to close up his mom's shop and sell her house
After receiving the call of her passing.

Laurel and Joel grew up together in this small town. Old friends

This is a short sweet read..
Wonderful characters. I love This author's writing style...
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Barbara Johnson Heinlein
Thank you for this sweet story..

A warm, easy read for Christmas. A bit predictable but the characters are likeable and there is a lovely sense of community and Christmas spirit.

Wonderful read , love how the author describes the scenes , the characters and their mindsets. I really like the authors thinking like "if the person were a house this is what they would like ". I also liked the small town , the feel of home when Laurel goes back to the Inn , the second chance at love when Joel is back home as well for a stint of time . Overall a feel good read of , hope , love and Family.

The Cranberry Inn
by: Barbara Josselsohn
Bookouture
How wonderful it would be to wake up in the Blue Mountain room of the gorgeous Cranberry Inn, on a cold Winter morning in Lake Summers. After a signature four course Inn breakfast, I'd then explore the shops in the quaint town and hike in this beautiful southwest corner of the Adirondack Mountains.
Laurel's parents ran the picturesque Inn in her hometown. After the death of her mom, her dad struggled to continue its upkeep. Laurel and her son leave New York and go to The Cranberry Inn to help for the weeks leading up to Christmas. Her dad, however, is away until Christmas Eve, so Laurel and Simon are on their own for a few weeks. As Laurel interacts with old friends, the townspeople, and the one guest at the Inn for the season, she is at a threshold of self-discovery that will affect her future. I felt as if I were with Laurel throughout her visit home, comfortable in the Inn, strolling the streets of town, and ice skating.
Josselsohn shines in creating this warm, inviting community. The easy to love town, with its shops, restaurants, and landmarks, is a character itself and pairs well with the strong, appealing narrative. Pearls, The Grill, the Smoothie Shop, a dress shop, The Heart of Lake Summers shop, and more bring Lake Summers to life.
I first fell in love with the town of Lake Summers in the first three books of Josselsohn's Lake Summer Series, and visiting there again for the holidays was like a cozy winter vacation. You might want to have a cranberry snack or beverage at hand while reading. I chose cranberry-almond biscotti!
Thank you to Net Galley and Bookouture for the advance reader's copy and the opportunity to provide my unbiased review.
 #TheCranberryInn #NetGalley

“If you were a house, what house would you be? I’d be the Cranberry Inn, of course!” This was a game Laurel remembered playing with her mom and sisters as a child. Laurel’s mom and dad owned and operated the 12 room Cranberry Inn nestled in the Adirondack Mountains in scenic Lake Summers. Barbara Josselsohn takes readers on a soul-searching journey as Laurel, whose mom died ten years ago, gets a strange request from her dad to leave New York City and come home to run the Cranberry Inn for the month of December.
Barbara Josselsohn creates mystery and anticipation as she develops the relationships between Laurel and Joel, a former high school crush, and Laurel and Christopher, the outgoing, charismatic single, surprise guest at the Cranberry Inn. Emotions get as tangled as light strands as Christmas Eve and Laurel’s dad’s return fast approaches. Feelings of guilt, living up to expectations, handling confrontation, and complicated family misunderstandings are all explored through Laurel’s memories of the relationship with her dad, high school days with Joel, and Christopher’s feelings of inadequacies through interactions with Lake Summers’ beloved residents that readers have come to cherish. Read The Cranberry Inn as a mirror to reflect on family relationships and belonging through “fresh eyes.” Follow your heart. Check in at The Cranberry Inn, for a view of the sunset and snow on the evergreens and discover the perfect Christmas romance.