Thank you for this ARC! Unfortunately, this was not a good book. I have read all of Anita Hughes' Christmas stories and usually enjoy them for the food, location and holiday descriptions. This one did not include enough of that stuff to make it bearable. It had far too many characters, too many timelines and an unbelievable storyline. It was ridiculous at times. I would skip this and read her older Christmas books, they are much better.

This is the second book I have read by this author. This book actually had a lot of similarities to the other book I read, which was also a Christmas book.

First, what I liked. For the most part, I liked the two main characters. I also really liked the two side stories, and enjoyed watching them unfold throughout the book. I found them really interesting.

What didn't work for me was that, from the beginning, the two main characters were lying to each other about their situations. Because that went on for so long, there were times when I felt like I couldn't trust what they were saying when they were talking to each other.

All in all, though, it was well-written and enjoyable, and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a good Christmas read.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Put on some Christmas Music and make some hot chocolate because it is a fun Christmas tale.

It’s so easy to picture the story playing on TV at Christmas with the characters so easy to connect with.

I’d definitely recommend reading this when you need to be in the Christmas support .

This eArc was provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A jilted bride, an old crush, and plenty of secrets to be found in Christmas at the Lake, the new romance novel by Anita Hughes. Set at Christmas in Lake Tahoe, it's a light read for any time of the year.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In my opinion, it's never too early or too late to read a Christmas-themed book. Having loved Anita Hughes' A Magical New York Christmas, and because I live less than a 2-hour drive from Lake Tahoe (the setting of this book), I wanted to give Christmas at the Lake a try. And I'm so glad I did.

Rebecca and her fiancé, Ben, have together created the successful Dealbreakers online dating platform. But on the morning of their wedding day, Ben tells Rebecca he's been dating their company's legal counsel for six months. Rebecca's dreams of a perfect wedding are dashed, and in a haze she decides to share their planned holiday-week honeymoon in Christmas Cove with her best friend, Kimi. But when Kimi is called home, Rebecca is left alone to distract herself with the town's holiday activities. Fortunately, she meets 60-year-old travel company owner Howard, who needs someone to plan his annual New Year's party in the absence of his usual planner, and she suddenly has something important to keep her mind occupied.

Rebecca also runs into Zach, a former classmate at UC Berkeley, who has always liked her and is in town to complete a short film for a contest he hopes will give his career a much-needed boost. The film he had originally planned evolves into a paean to first love, as narrated by several friends, including Rebecca herself and Zach's current resort roommate, Meredith, who has had more than one past failed romance. And through Howard's journal entries from long-ago trips we learn about the alluring woman who traveled with him until she simply left.

I liked the idea of Dealbreakers being based on clients being matched by their similar dislikes, rather than likes. And the author is second to none at her expressive descriptions of sparkling holiday decorations and activities, sumptuous hotel suites, and mouth-watering food. You won't be surprised by the predictable outcomes of the story, but that didn't keep me from being charmed by it. My only question--did Zach win the contest or not?

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Anita Hughes’s books are some of my absolute favorite reads!
Christmas at the Lake was no different.
A cozy heartwarming holiday romance story set in a stunning Christmas village on the shores Lake Tahoe.
Rebecca and Zach work just so well together.
I loved everything about them. Their chemistry, their personalities, the conversations.
This is the perfect holiday romance love story to get so lost in.
Her writing is captivating and I got so lost in her writing and story. It was truly amazing.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Anita Hughes, and publisher for the ARC!

Christmas at the Lake begins with the day of Rebecca and Ben's wedding. Mere hours before the ceremony Ben comes to see Rebecca, telling her he cannot marry her and has been having an affair with the attorney in their office. Blindsided, Rebecca decides to go on their romantic Christmas honeymoon in Lake Tahoe and ends up running into a old friend from college film class Zach. Over the next week Zach and Rebecca try to keep the painful parts of their lives hidden from each other while they spend more and more time together. When the week is over will they admit the truth to each other, and themselves?

Christmas at the Lake is an easy and lighthearted read, sweet and heartwarming.

Synopsis (It's a fiction book, so it helps….)
*********************************************
A heartwarming holiday romance set in a charming Christmas village on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

On Christmas Eve, just hours before their wedding, Rebecca Huntley is left at the altar by her college sweetheart and fellow co-founder of the hugely successful dating app, Ben Cole. He’s fallen in love with the app’s head of legal, and they are going to leave for three weeks in St. Bart’s.
Rebecca is shocked but a small part of her isn’t surprised. "Dealbreakers" matches potential couples by the things they hated, instead of what they had in common. Lately, she and Ben seem to have less and less in common. He craves the trappings of success, while Rebecca enjoys simple things.

Rebecca decides to go on their honeymoon to the cozy Christmas Cove Inn in the charming small town of Christmas Cove on the shores of Lake Tahoe. There, Rebecca runs into an old college friend, Zach Mason, who had always had a crush on Rebecca. Through a misunderstanding, Zach believes Rebecca is married to Ben, and Rebecca believes Zach is in a relationship with a sophisticated older woman when really, he is a waiter at the hotel. As Christmas week unfolds, will the two learn the truth about each other and then be open for a second chance at love? Or will they begin the new year with broken hearts? People are complicated. Everyone has positive attributes as well as faults – but none are dealbreakers when you’re really in love.

It is March (St Patty's Day!) as I read this book and write this review and it is snowing so I can handle the thought of Christmas... which in Lake Tahoe can mean 10 feet of snow overnight ... just ask Jeremy Renner. This was an interesting premise for a book and I really enjoyed it: it is not a typical romance as there is a lot of humour in the book and that was appreciated as I am not a fan of schmaltzy romances.

I will recommend this far and wide to my lovers of Chick-lit, romances and Christmas novels...by the time it comes out I will be counting the days to the first snow so it will weigh heavily on my mind after what will undoubtedly be another hot, sticky summer.

Christmas at the Lake would make a great Hallmark Christmas movie! I liked it overall - it’s set on Lake Tahoe during the holiday season, and the food descriptions made me hungry, while the decorations made me miss Christmas already. What I didn’t like was all the lying - everywhere ohh turned, it seemed another character was getting caught up in lies. It’s written well and ends happily, so I do recommend it!

I received an advanced digital review copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review, and opinions are my own.

A heartwarming holiday romance set in a charming village on the shores of Lake Tahoe. I enjoyed this charming novel about second chances at love.

Rebecca Huntley is left at the alter by her college sweetheart Ben Cole, and fellow co-founder of the hugely successful dating app, just hours before their wedding on Christmas Eve.

Rebecca decides to go on their honeymoon to the cozy Christmas Cove Inn in the charming small town of Christmas Cove on the shores of Lake Tahoe. Rebecca runs into Zach Mason, an old college friend, who had always had a crush on Rebecca. Zach believes due to a misunderstanding, that Rebecca is married to Ben , and Rebecca believes Zach is in a relationship with an older woman.

Will the two learn the truth about each other as Christmas week unfolds?

I love the author’s gorgeous descriptions of Lake Tahoe. Though I’ve never been to Lake Tahoe it is on my bucket list of places to travel. I enjoyed the main characters and adored the romantic stories as well involving other characters. I enjoyed the book from beginning to end and will definitely reread each Christmas season.

My review will be posted immediately to Goodreads and Pinterest and will be posted to Amazon on publication day.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel for my honest opinion.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a thoroughly enjoyable romance novel about second chances at love. I was engaged with the storyline from the first page to the last and found the characters to be believable and likeable (except for the self-centered fiancé). I was rooting for the two protagonists (Rebecca and Zach) from the start and the romantic twists involving other couples was a delightful bonus. This is definitely a feel-good Christmas story with just enough drama to keep it interesting and moving at a good pace.

The author’s writing style included wonderful, evocative descriptions of the Lake Tahoe environment. Having many pleasant memories of my own travels to area made the read all that more satisfying. This is definitely a book I will read again as the Christmas season approaches.

My only criticism is that the ending felt rushed. All the loose ends were addressed, but the conclusion lacked the richness of the story up to that point.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.