I thought this was a cute Christmas book. I loved all the Christmas themed activities and descriptions. Also loved the little dog party ideas. The romance was cute and I loved seeing the characters grow into themselves and past their traumas. There was a nice little plot twist. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was hearing so much about the books Samantha had been writing. Overall great Christmas romance.

Christmas as the Ranch by Anita Hughes
Samantha writes a female agent series but prefers a solitary life. Her agent convinces her that she needs to attend the invite only Christmas party in Jackson Hole, WY. Skiing, ATV’s and adventures are not her choice, but she finds the fortitude. Meeting Dean helps bring out her best but once she realizes he is engaged, she backs off their friendship.

Reading Sam come into her own strength makes this novel powerful and inspiring. It’s a slow burn romance due to the situation but you are rooting for her (and the competition!) the whole time. Sam becomes empowered and it’s wonderful.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley , then did a second read via my library’s hoopla audiobook.

Synopsis: Samantha is a action and adventure novelist which is the polar opposite of Samantha who is truly afraid of almost everything. Her editor convinces her to be a guest of honor at an event. She agrees to go but doesn't realize that this even involves hoping on a plane to go to a ranch in Wyoming. She meets people along the way that helps calm her nerves and opens her up....but will she leave the ranch broken hearted or in love?

This book had some cute moments but it wasn't my favorite. I was expecting hallmark vibes - but it wasn't hallmarky but also didn't feel like "genuine romance" if that makes sense.
There were parts of it that I liked and thought were sweet like the setting and the diary aspect but didn't love the characters/character development.
In general this was a fun, quick read with Christmasy vibes.
Would rate 3.5 stars.

I normally love Anita Hughes books and this was the first Christmas book I read for the 2022 season and unfortunately, I was so disappointed in it.

I didn't like the main character Samantha at all -- I didn't like the bouncing back from her life to her ideas for the main character in her books. It felt like this kept distracting me.

I did like the Jackson Hole setting, but that was about it.

Christmas at the Ranch, by Anita Hughes, is the story of author Samantha Morgan who writes about the daring Sloane Parker, British Intelligence. But the author herself is anything but the daredevil she pens. Unfortunately, the PR team has spun an internet tale of Samantha being the same as her heroine.

When Samantha’s editor Charlie unexpectedly arrives at her New York apartment, she is taken aback when he informs her she has been invited to her publisher Arthur Wentworth’s Christmas house party and that she must pack and go. Worried about her beloved mixed Beagle Socks, Charlie promises he and his fiancé will care for the pup as he rushes her to get ready for the trip to Jackson Hole.

Samantha, not a good traveler, is white knuckled when seat mate Drew joins her onboard the flight. His stories, however, soothe Samantha, and she opens up about herself and her fictional alter ego. When she finally arrives at her publishers beautiful Wyoming ranch, Samantha is both amazed and chagrined to find her seat mate is her publisher’s son.

This is a lovely holiday story that brings together flawed characters, both carrying different emotional baggage. But in this well plotted tale, the reader gets a front row seat to the healing of these delightful characters. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

Christmas at the Ranch is a story of a woman afraid to live life. Forced outside her comfort zone, she has no choice but to suck it up and learn to experience life. She discovers that with the right person next to you life is most definitely worth living. Samantha is a mess as the book opens. Although the successful author of a book series featuring a feisty, danger loving heroine, Samantha is anything but brave. She's scared of, well, everything. Her imagination weaves even the most common happening, such a turbulence on a plane, into a probably disaster. When her editor, Arthur Wentworth, invites her to his home for a house party Christmas week, Samantha is not in a position to refuse. What she doesn’t know is this house party is actually to take place at his ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. With no option, Samantha is forced to face her fears as she boards a plane to Wyoming. Looking for a distraction, Samantha strikes up a conversation with the gorgeous man sitting beside her. Drew is enchanted by Samantha. He has no problem keeping her secrets. But he’s also determined to bring her out of her comfort zone and teach her how to live a little. Samantha reluctantly agrees to participate in activities that terrify her but leave her feeling invigorated. Time spent with Drew brings her back to life, gives her the confidence to grow beyond her fears.

Christmas at the Ranch has a beautiful snowy backdrop with it being set at a sprawling modern ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It is a Christmas romance, a Hallmark type of story that will leave you with a smile. But I have read previous books by this author and this one felt lacking. The romance felt too rushed which was completely out of character for Sara the main character. She starts out as a hermit riddled with anxieties about deviating from the set plan or from Brooklyn to Manhattan for even just a night out and without any therapy she suddenly just by the power of love is willing to fly to Asia and live in a tent. The male MC starts the week engaged to somebody else, whom Sara even befriends and helps to plan the wedding and to get from there to going to Asia together within just a mere couple of days just seemed odd.
Same with his parents - they haven’t seen each other on 25 years when one left the other but they are so understanding to each other’s reasons that they can pick up where they left off within just two days …
I am all for an unbelievable but cute Christmas love story but this was just too much …

Christmas at the Ranch is a holiday romance set against the snowy slopes of Jackson Hole, WY. Samantha Morgan, successful author of the action-adventure book series, is attending an exclusive Christmas party at book publishing elite’s home for the week. Samantha would rather be sitting at home with her dog socks instead of traveling. One horrible trip years ago has given Samantha debilitating phobias and anxiety. While traveling to WY her flight hits some turbulence and she demands that the person sitting next to her distract her. Drew is more than happy to help calm this woman’s fears.

I was quite frustrated that while reading a chapter Samantha would turn that moment into a part of her book. The main story would be lost and readers get pages of this adventure character’s life that we just heard about from Samantha. It was also jarring because there wasn’t any formatting change when that happened.

Samantha wasn’t likable. I’m sorry. She was still broken-hearted over an ex from four years prior, and is obsessed with her dog. I love dogs. I have one. They are wonderful creatures. But at one point she wouldn’t take a picture with a dog because she didn’t want her dog getting jealous. You see what I mean?

The book was well written, I just didn’t enjoy the story. Perhaps you will. This is a story ready to be a Lifetime or Hallmark movie. The kind where you can see the story going before it really starts and get a happily ever after. There were aspects of the book that I didn’t enjoy and that is why I am rating it a 2.5 but rounding up to a 3.

I am very grateful to St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy.

This is a well-written book with well-developed characters. Arthur Wentworth, the owner of the publishing company that publishes main character Samantha Morgan's books invites Samantha to his week-long Christmas party at his ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Samantha writes stories with a James Bond type female lead. Samantha is portrayed by the public relations people at the publishing company as the same way. But Samantha is the opposite. She is afraid of so many things so she prefers to stay in her apartment.

I enjoyed the setting of the story and I really enjoyed all the Christmas festivities. I couldn't get into Samantha and her constant thinking about the main character in her books, Sloane Parker, all the time. This just kept bumping me out of the actual story. This story did make me put Christmas in Jackson Hole on my bucket list.

I'm a huge fan of holiday romances and I was so excited to read Christmas at the Ranch. I loved the snowy landscape of Wyoming and the holiday vibes, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters especially Samantha.

Thanks to NetGalley and SMP for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted this to be like a hallmark movie and it just didn’t live up to that for me. The premise was good hit something just felt off, maybe having so much description, I’m not sure.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

I just loved this book! Set in gorgeous Jackson Hole Wyoming this book makes me want to pack up and visit today. A sweet love story about following your heart, this is the perfect start to holiday reading.

Christmas at the Ranch
Author: Anita Hughes
St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin
Pub Date: 9/27/2022
Genre: Romance

Settle in for a week of Christmas adventure, surprises, and romance in the splendorous, snowy setting of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Samantha, the main character in this pleasing book, is the opposite of her bold, brave heroine Sloane that she writes about as an author in Brooklyn. When her publisher, Arthur, sends her as guest of honor to his ranch for a Christmas party, Samantha is way out of her comfort zone. Surrounded by the winter wonderland beauty of the Grand Tetons, she must either warm up to new experiences or remain frozen by her countless fears.

Samantha's action packed week at the ranch kept me entertained and captivated in the setting. Hughes includes not only Samantha's stories in this book, but also some plot lines and story ideas for the manuscript she is working on. I loved escaping to Jackson Hole, meeting the side characters and watching Samantha face her fears and grow. This is a comfortable, cozy read for those who love escaping reality with a holiday romance.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review.

I didn’t move this one. I was hoping for a cute hallmark theme book and this was not it. It was way too corny. To much complaining from Samantha we didn’t really get who she really was.

It's no secret that I adore Christmas romances! Christmas at the Ranch did not disappoint! I was charmed by Samantha and loved that she was a writer, who appeared to be the polar opposite of the star character of her books. Meeting Drew on the plane and finding out he was the son of the host where she was spending a week for Christmas seemed like kismet (perfect for Christmas!). There's just one complication to their friendship - Drew's engaged and Samantha genuinely becomes friends with her. Overall, the message of friendship, journeys of the past and present, and the atmosphere of Christmas in Wyoming make this the perfect Christmas season read!

Christmas at the Ranch by Anita Hughes is a fun read with character that feels as if she is a fake. Samantha Morgan is a writer who is the complete opposite of the character in her spy books. Of course this is not necessarily bad unless others have encouraged you to promote yourself as being fearless. Samantha is anything but brave being needless anxious and afraid of everything. While she may not be my favorite type of character to read about in a story, I appreciated the growth that she goes through an eventful week.

Drew is a wonderful male protagonist, being my favorite character in this book. There is a mystery in his family, along with a major decision that he must make. Still he is a great listener, a keeper of secrets, and a great all around person.

Christmas at the Ranch has a beautiful snowy backdrop with the ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It is a Christmas romance but the true gift Samantha receives is personal emotional growth leading to confidence in herself. A Hallmark type of story that leaves you will a smile.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sarah is a total fraidy cat. She lost her mojo and hides out in her apartment, writing the next installment in her female Bond series. Until she’s hoodwinked into going to Wyoming for Christmas. It could just be the very thing she needs.
The best part of the story is is setting. Jackson Hole, Wyoming is stunning no matter what time of year it is.
The other part I liked were the side adventures Sarah’s parents were having on their whirlwind Christmas tour of Europe. They sounded fun and enticing.
Sarah’s story line was ok, but I thought the subplots were more interesting.

Title: Christmas at the Ranch
Author: Anita Hughes
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Revi "w:
"Christmas at the Ra "nch" by Anita Hughes

My Assessment:

"Christmas at the Ranch" was a good story about 'friendships, secrets, letting go of the past, facing your fears, and finding love.' We find Samantha Morgan, who was a popular author [from her Sloan Parker plots series], being invited to spend the Christmas week at her publisher's beautiful ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. But will Samantha leave her Brooklyn, New York home because she never likes to travel outside her apartment? Now, why is that?

Be ready for a long storyline read with some very intriguing characters that could have one wondering if there were some fakeness around but definitely will keep one turning the pages to see what is coming next. The story may have been somewhat predictable too, but still an enjoyable read. Oh, this story will focus quite a bit on the family.

However, above it, all one thing about this read is one gets a beautiful scenic Christmas setting, with lots of knowledge and great advice from this read filled with lots of wisdom after it is all said and done.
So, to find out what the novel 'Christmas at the Ranch' is, the reader must pick up this read to see how the author brings it out so well.


Thank you, NetGalley & St. Martin's, for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Another fabulous Anita Hughes Christmas romance! You will feel like you are spending Christmas in Jackson Hole with the characters in Christmas at the Ranch.

Author Samantha Morgan has become a bestselling author despite the fact she rarely leaves her apartment. She writes about a fearless spy named Sloane Parker. Despite her publisher's marketing (read: photoshopping) of Samantha's adventures, she is nothing like her character. Her editor Charlie and trusted canine, Socks, are her confidantes. Wanting Samantha to expand her horizons as well as sell more books, Charlie convinces her to go to her publisher's famed Christmas weeklong party. Samantha thinks she will just be leaving Brooklyn for nearby Connecticut until she finds herself at the airport and on her way to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Near panic, Samantha is calmed by telling the man sitting next to her, Drew, how she is afraid of everything. Little does she know Drew will also be at the party and he is the son of her publisher!

As the week passes, Drew and Samantha grow closer. Then Drew's fiance shows up without notice. Soon a New Year's Eve wedding is being planned, and Samantha finds herself as the maid of honor. Between the wedding and trying to not panic while participating in the week's winter sports, Samantha finds a mysterious diary that may help heal old wounds.

The side story of Samantha's parents adventures in Europe was fun too! I really enjoyed Christmas at the Ranch and was reminded how we cannot hold onto fear and truly live.

Anita Hughes has a gift for immersing her readers into the setting of the story. Whether it's Paris, London, the Swiss Alps, or Jackson Hole, WY, I always feel like I'm right there. In this novel, unfortunately, that was the best part of it. I loved visiting Jackson Hole (and will certainly plan a trip to see the Tetons!), but I really didn't like any of the characters. I had little patience for the innumerable fears of the main character, and I felt little connection with the others. The story was fairly bland and felt long for a novel that's on the shorter side. That said, I will read whatever comes next to see where the story will take me! Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance digital copy.