The Christmas Inn by Pamela M. Kelley is the kind of feel-good holiday read that you just want to curl up with. I’m a big fan of her books, and this one definitely lives up to the hype. Riley’s journey back to Chatham, after being laid off right before Christmas, pulls you right into the cozy charm of small-town life. Helping her mom at the family BnB and reconnecting with her past, including an old high school flame, brings all the warmth you’d expect from a holiday romance.

Aidan and his son Luke absolutely stole my heart—every character in this book is just so likable, it’s impossible not to get attached. And while there were moments where the details, especially around the food, felt a bit much, it didn’t take away from the overall experience. If anything, it added to that cozy Christmas vibe.

The story ties everything together beautifully, with multiple plotlines that wrap up in a way that leaves you completely satisfied. If you’re looking for a holiday book that’s full of heart and warmth, The Christmas Inn is a must-read. Pamela M. Kelley has a way of making you feel right at home, and this book is no exception.

Pamela Kelly books are like reading a Hallmark movie! I absolutely adored The Christmas Inn! I love that Pamela always weaves in former characters - I'm catching up with old "friends!"

A lovely holiday romance with several intersecting storylines, numerous Christmas touches and a satisfying, if somewhat predictable ending.

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down. I loved the way Riley realized that her and Jack weren't compatible and she found she could start her own busy., Family is an important part of life and they way they all became family was amazing. I hope this becomes a series.

This was a Hallmark Christmas movie in book form. It was the coziest Christmas read set at a quaint little family owned inn on the Cape. Riley returns home to the Chatham after being laid off from her job in NYC and spends the holidays helping at her mother’s inn. This book is full of cozy Christmas traditions, second chances, found family and home.

A warm and comfortable read. Good main characters. I like that former characters from earlier Chatham books are mentioned so, if you follow the series, you get a quick update on them. Definitely a stand-alone book if it’s your first. ,

Riley Sanders hopefully expects spending a few weeks over the Christmas holiday at her Mother’s Christmas Inn in Cape Cod can perhaps soften the blow of losing her job right before Christmas. What she doesn’t expect is a second chance at falling in love again with her first love.
An enchanting book with delightful characters, a clean romance and a revelation of how love should really be. Thank you Netgalley and St.Martin’s Press/Griffin for an early copy. This review is my honest opinion.

Who says you can't go home again? This was a sweet, heartwarming story, and I loved it. I was disappointed when it ended.

ARC review for The Christmas Inn
By Pamela M. Kelley
The Pub date is 9/24/24

I just love Christmas in July and this year it was extra-special because I read Pamela Kelley’s new holiday fiction novel, The Christmas Inn. The book was a lovely escape from the heat in SC to the warmth of family, Christmas, hot chocolate, and relationships.

Pamela Kelley is the Queen of ‘Love for ALL Ages.’ It is wonderful to find fiction that features not only relationships for 30-something year old women, but also for 50-somethings and in the novel, even 70-somethings. Pamela’s characters are all strong, relatable women, who are willing to listen and learn from each other, expect the most from their relationships, and are willing to take chances. Riley, Beth, and Franny do not disappoint as each overcomes loss and challenges throughout the novel.

Riley is the 30-something with a big career in NYC until AI technology sweeps in and changes her life. Riley must make several tough decisions. Her grace and ability to share her thoughts and feelings is key to her future happiness. I was thrilled that she really listened to her heart when deciding between her NYC boyfriend and high school love, as well as between her two potential career paths. I love her cat, Lily, who makes many appearances in the novel. What a charmer!

Beth, the 50-something, has her own loss to overcome-over and over each December. I had tremendous empathy for Beth and her past loss during the holidays. I think that has happened to many of us as we navigate love. That loss can linger for years as the holidays roll around and the emotions of loss resurface. Riley knows the holidays are hard for Beth. I loved how she came to her mom’s rescue at the Inn this holiday season. Both women benefited greatly from the work and emotional partnership throughout the novel.

I am delayed slightly in my review as I, like Franny, have been settling an estate.

The four letters from Ella to Franny are an inventive twist to help Franny, the 70-something, navigate her next life steps and overcome her hesitation of moving on. I cried all through the unveiling of the last letter discovery. What a happy shock and brilliant way to bring Franny home. Kudos!

My favorite part of reading Pamela Kelley’s books is that she revisits past characters in future books. It was fabulous to hang with the friends from The Bookshop by the Bay again.

4.5 Stars-Get your copy on Sept 24th!

Net Galley and the publisher, St Martin Griffin, have provided me with an advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What a feel good book!! Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of The Christmas Inn by Pamela M. Kelley. I never miss one of her books for a reason...they are great and this one does not disappoint. Every character in this book is likable (I loved Aidan and his son Luke the most) and it made me just want to move there. There were over descriptions and at times, too many details and too many mentions of food, but it does not in any way detract from the story. It's just the right time to be reading a cozy Christmas book. I highly recommend it.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A typical, predictable read by author Pamela Kelley, though I still loved the characters and story.

From the moment I first started reading, I got hooked into the storyline and the characters and how the story all mesh together. I really really enjoyed it.

This book is a very good feel good book for the holidays. I liked Riley and I kept reading because I wanted to know what happens to her. But it was a bit predictable.
I loved the setting of this small town in Cape Cod. It felt so homey, the inn, the bookstore, the wine & cheese shop, loved it.
I didn't love all the details and the explanation of the kinds of wine or cheese they were eating at every event. I think some of the details could be paired down and this would be a quicker read. There are also some typos and mixing up of names towards the end.
I do think this will be a hit at the holidays because it does have such a warm and cozy Hallmark vibe.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I was a bit concerned about reading a holiday book before the season had started, but I should not have worried about it. I was easily swept away into the story and the magic of the season.

I had recently read The Bookshop by the Bay, so returning to Chatham felt familiar. It was enjoyable to see some characters from the Bookshop and get to know some new people.

I enjoyed that there was not a lot of drama in this book. It would be the calm escape in the crazy time of the holiday.

"The Christmas Inn" by Pamela M. Kelley is a delightfully cozy and joyful novel that embodies the magic and warmth of the holiday season. This feel-good story centers around the FMC, Riley Sanders, who after losing her job just before Christmas, returns to her family's Inn nestled along the shores of Cape Cod. Her intentions to help her mother who has suffered a broken leg quickly becomes a journey of self-discovery and reconnection. The inn, decked out with mistletoe and snowflakes, provides the perfect backdrop for the unfolding drama, familial bonding, and romance.
There are plenty of positives in "The Christmas Inn." The story is undeniably sweet and wholesome, making it a perfect Christmas holiday read. The author has crafted charming female characters, each contributing to the narrative's heartwarming appeal. The novel features three romantic subplots, including a new romance and two second-chance love stories, adding variety to the reading experience. The intergenerational relationships add richness, as the novel spans three generations, emphasizing the timeless theme of returning home to family. Additionally, Pamela Kelley's knowledge of food and wine is evident, adding a delightful sensory layer to the festive setting.

However, the book has its shortcomings. At times, the emphasis on food and drink to set the scene feels overdone, with an overload of hot chocolate and frequent references to wine and alcohol. The rapid succession of scenes often lacks depth, with some sections feeling more like telling than showing. Riley’s second chance at love with her old boyfriend comes across as somewhat flat, with little internal thought or emotion driving their actions, making the secondary character romances more compelling by comparison. The predictability of the main character's storyline and the lack of a strong romantic struggle can be disappointing for readers expecting a more dramatic love story. Moreover, the descriptions of the setting could use more detail to evoke that old-world charm of a traditional Christmas holiday.

Despite these flaws, "The Christmas Inn" ends on an upbeat note, capturing the spirit of second chances and the joy of family. The novel's charm lies in its ability to create a comforting, festive atmosphere that feels like a warm hug on a cold winter's night.

A big "thank you goes to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to review this Christmas novel.
I would rate it a solid 3.5 to 4 cups of hot cocoa (stars), as it succeeds in delivering a heartwarming holiday tale, even if it falls short in some areas.
NetGalley Reviewer: 1375356 (Christina H.)

It’s never too early to get in the Christmas mood. Like reading a Hallmark movie set near Cape Cod. Riley loses her job in Manhattan just before Christmas and heads home to help her mom run a b&b after she broke her leg. Will being away from the big city and her work obsessed boyfriend change her mind about her small town… and her widowed high school sweetheart with a kid tempted her to reevaluate her life? Will her mom ever find love again? Will the older Franny who came home to see her dying sister filled with memories from letters her sister wrote come back home too?
Is it predictable?-yes. Does everyone have a happy ending?-obviously. Does it just make you feel cozy and warm?- it did for me
Thank you NetGalley & St Martins Griffin

I have to admit that I am a big fan of Ms. Kelley's. And the Christmas Inn is another wonderful novel. Riley grew up on Chatham, on the shores of Cape Cod. She is a successful content marketer in New York City, dating an attorney on the fast track. But her success comes to a halt when she is laid off before Christmas. She packs up and heads home to Chatham to help her mother at her BnB. While in Chatham, she is immersed in family and the small town charm of Chatham, including a former high school flame. There are several intertwined plots, all of which are neatly wrapped up at the end. The Christmas Inn is a delight, as all of Ms. Kelley's books are. You won't be disappointed with this one!

Who wouldn’t want to spend the holiday season, or any season, in beautiful Cape Cod. Riley rushed home to Chatham, one of my favorite towns on the Cape, to help her mom run her bed and breakfast, the Chatham Coastal Inn. Her mom’s broken leg didn’t slow her down too much, but she was glad to have Riley with her during the busy holiday season. Riley needed something to keep her mind off of her unemployed status and the fact that she wasn’t sure her boyfriend had time for anything but work! Was he really the one for her and would she ever come first in his life? Riley knew that time spent back home with her family would ease her mind and just make her happy! What I love most about this book is that perfect strangers became friends, and almost like family. Riley and her mom Beth, befriended Franny, one of their guests and included her in all of the holiday festivities. Riley’s old boyfriend Aidan and his son were staying at the Inn, and Riley made sure they both had a special Christmas. Their holiday guests became family, old friends became more and the magic of the holiday brought romance for three special couples. If you love a happy ending, holiday sparkle and Cape Cod, then “The Christmas Inn” is where you need to be this holiday season!!

Loved this book!!!! It’s the Christmas season and Riley unexpectedly loses her job, her mother has an accident and her help is needed back home the job loss isn’t such a tragedy! There are several different loves stories going on and you’re invested in all of them! The characters are delightful, a must read!!

The Christmas Inn is a feel good holiday story that will tug at your heartstrings and make you believe the magic of the season. It begins when Riley loses her job when her department is eliminated, and she becomes restless and ready for a change. When her sister mentions their mom broker her leg, Riley drives to Cape Cod immediately, to help her mother run their B&B inn, trying to use her skills to increase occupancy. As she reconnects with her hometown, family, and friends, she begins to question whether NYC is still where she wants her home. She also discovers her high school sweetheart who lost his wife three years earlier is living at the B&B with his 8-year-old son, while his house is being restored. Aiden and Riley renew their friendship and enjoy some activities together with 8-year-old Luke. As Christmas approaches, a few intriguing stories emerge about the guests at a B&B in Cape Cod during the holiday season in the winter. The characters are relateable and the reader will be able to easily identify with any of the stories within the main story that is happening concurently. This touching story truly is a testament to the truth that family isn’t necessarily those we are related to but those we care about and hold close in our hearts. Looking forward to some network turning this into a movie. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher.