I requested to read and review this book for free from St. Martin Publishing Company. I know this story is set during Christmas but it truly could be read at anytime. It has some drama, romance, mystery. Riley life is going just the way she thought she wanted it to but then she loses her job. Deciding she needs to regroup she heads home. Will heading home help Riley find a new job and anything she is missing out on? Or will going home to regroup realize she has everything she wants. Beth loves what she does ans is happy or is she? Adian and his son Luke had a big loss a couple of years ago. Can they truly be happy or is the loss to big for them to open their hearts to anything new or old? This story is f0r a mature reader and can be read anywhere!

Heartwarming read. Riley is blindsided when the job of her dream lays her entire department off. Her return to her childhood home to help her injured Mom brings new eyes to see her life is not as great as she thought she’d been living. Enter an ex boyfriend and his son and multiple other new friends and she questions her goals in life. Very good read. I was given an advanced reader copy of this book by NetGalley and I am freely sharing my review.

It’s been awhile since I read a book in a day, stuff always gets in the way. I was under the weather yesterday so decided I needed a feel good story to lift my spirits today. Besides it’s the usual scorching summer season in Texas and it’s my favorite time to read a story set at Christmastime with snow. What could be better than beach, ocean waves on Cape Cod, a charming B&B and going home to family. All of the characters had personal journeys, grief, betrayal, getting laid off, breaking a leg, losing loved ones, new beginnings, careers and lost love rediscovered. There are young, midlife, senior, new and old family and friends. I loved them all and I needed their inspiration. Yes, the story is like a Hallmark movie and I knew what to expect, and I unabashedly loved it. In this crazy world of politics, war, divide and economic unrest, I needed hope. I needed a story to lift my spirits and make me laugh and cry. Thank to St. Martin’s Publishing via NetGalley for providing an Advance Reader Copy of The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley. Publication expected 09/24/2024. If you love a good family drama with romance this is for you!

The Christmas Inn is as comfy and entertaining as a Hallmark Christmas movie. If you are a fan of a heartwarming story with no unpleasant surprises, you’ll love this book.

Although the story of Riley, who goes back to Cape Cod to help her mother at her mother’s bed and breakfast is the main one, this book also features the stories of several women who are at a crossroads in their lives. The descriptions of life in the town and the villagers makes for a lovely escape into their world. The women are all capable and supportive of each other. I loved reading how Riley’s tech marketing skills helped her mother’s inn. I also relished love reading about how they upgraded the inn’s services and what they cooked for breakfasts. And finally, the musings on an optimal life work balance made for an interesting read.

Women helping other women, romances for people of a variety of ages, and the small town charm made for delightful escapism.

The Christmas Inn brings that warm, holiday spirit no matter what time of year you read it. Riley has been laid off, replaced by AI. Her boyfriend, Jack, is a lawyer working his way up to partner, but putting in exceedingly long hours, so they hardly ever see each other. Riley’s mom owns a B&B on Cape Code and recently broke her leg and could use some help, so Riley heads home. The guests at the inn include an old boyfriend of Riley’s and his young son, an older woman whose sister recently died, and there is a carpenter that Riley’s mom is drawn to. There is snow, Christmas activities, lots of yummy food and congenial company, and happy endings all around. Riley eventually returns to New York, but will she find her happy ending there?
I loved this book and it is the perfect Christmas novel.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

A beautifully written novel about second chances, recognizing what you truly value at any age and being content. Great supporting characters that become family of the heart. Realistic situations. No bad guys. Clean read.

Riley Sanders, marketing manager, living in Manhattan, and spending rare moments with her boyfriend Jack who's on the fast tract to becoming a partner in a Law firm is content until she loses her job because of the introduction of AI. Before Riley can think about what's next in her career, her sister Amy calls and tells her their mother has broke her leg and needs help running the Chatham Coastal Inn along the shores of Cape Code. Riley heads home to help out and enjoy her family during the Christmas holiday.

After Riley arrives she finds her 1st love Aiden Shaw who's now a widow and his 9 yr. old son Luke staying at the Inn while their home is being repaired. As Riley and Aiden reconnect they realize that they still have strong feelings for each other, but the reason why they broke up was because Riley wanted to leave her small town for the big city lifestyle while Aiden always knew he would return home and take over his father's business. Riley will have to decide if what she thought she needed and wanted has changed. Maybe working and living in the city isn't the answer to happiness after all.

The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley is a lovely story of love old and new in Chatham Massachusetts, a small town near Cape Cod. Riley has moved home from Manhattan temporarily after being laid off from her marketing job in December to help her Mom Beth run the bed and breakfast she owns.

Beth broke her leg and can’t perform her usual duties on crutches and December isn’t a great time to look for a new job anyway.

Meanwhile Beth’s old boyfriend Aidan who was widowed three years ago and his nine-year old son are staying at the bed and breakfast because their house flooded and had to be repaired and will be there through Christmas and New Year’s. Riley and Beth decide to make Christmas special for them.

There’s also an older widow Franny who used to live in Chatham who came back to see her sister Ella but she was sick and just died. Ella left Franny four letters to read one a week. Franny will also be staying through Christmas and New Year’s.

She spends time with her Mom and her sister and 4-year old nieces and makes snowmen with Aidan and Luke.

Franny meets her first love again who is also widowed and back from the West Coast. He’s now the owner of her favorite cheese shop in town.

Even Beth mets a new person. She starts going out with a builder named Sean who comes to fix problems with two rooms in the bed and breakfast and they hit it off. Things take off from there.

Every one eats lots of dinners in and in restaurants together and there are lots of Christmas movies and hot chocolates on couches.

As the weeks go on, Riley starts to really love Chatham again but then gets a job offer in Manhattan with her boyfriend’s firm. She takes it and moves back to her apartment but misses Chatham.

Will she stay in New York or move back to Chatham? Will love win? You’ll have to read this wonderful story to see.

A book by Pamela Kelley always touches my heart from the beginning. Her loveable characters come to life on the page, and often a few from previous books either make an appearance again, or they are mentioned. In this book comments of previously beloved characters which is very much like catching up with a friend.
The entire marketing department where Riley had a successful career was laid off, being replaced by AI. When the shock wears off, Riley realizes the timing is actually good since her mother could use some help managing her B&B after she suffered a broken leg when falling off a ladder. Riley rents a car, leaving Manhattan and her very driven lawyer boyfriend, Jack, behind, and heads for her hometown in Cape Cod to spend a few weeks helping her mother.
Upon arrival, Riley jumps right in doing whatever her mom needs help with, including using her marketing and writing skills to promote the B&B online to increase business. 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, all the while, making it clear she has a boyfriend back in Manhatton.
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. 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.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and comments are my own.

For many reasons other than just that we share a name, Pamela Kelley is one of my favorite authors. I very much enjoyed her new book. I’ve loved all the beach reads and now we can add a Christmas story to the mix. Pick this one up for sure!

The perfect Christmas cozy happily ever after (by the end) novel centered around a bed and breakfast inn during the holiday. The cast of characters is so likeable I wanted to move to their town. Long lost loves, soul searching, family ties- all the things that make the holidays and Hallmark movies sworn worthy.

This is the story of a woman, Riley, who loses her job shortly before Christmas. She worked at a job she loved in New York City. She worked for a tech company that is now replacing the entire department with AI . Her boyfriend is an attorney on track to become a partner in a very important firm. She believes her life is very good.

She returns home, when she finds that her mother, Beth, has broken her leg and will need help with her Inn in Chatham Mass. It is nearly Christmas and we are reminded more than once that Chatham looks like a picture on a Christmas card.

The story is about both Riley and Beth finding new paths in life. It is also about the supportive friends and family who surround them.

The story is an easy read and there are no real surprises. These lives are lives of ease. And any drama is addressed and fixed relatively quickly.

There are slow spots where things seem to be repetitive. And I really got over the discussions of wines and cheese and foods. It felt as times as though the meals were more important than the character’s actions.

Ms Kelly is a very talented writer. I would have enjoyed this more if there were more depth to the relationships.

I received the book from the publisher. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

## Book Review: *The Christmas Inn* by Pamela Kelley

Pamela Kelley’s *The Christmas Inn* is a heartwarming holiday tale that beautifully captures the essence of Christmas magic, love, and the importance of family. Set against the charming backdrop of Nantucket Island, this novel is the perfect festive read to get you in the holiday spirit.

The story centers around Emma, a young woman facing a crossroads in her life. Recently laid off from her job and recovering from a breakup, she receives an unexpected invitation from her grandmother, Dolly, to spend Christmas at her newly acquired inn on Nantucket. With nothing holding her back, Emma decides to embrace the opportunity for a fresh start and heads to the picturesque island.

The Christmas Inn, nestled in the heart of Nantucket, is not just a place to stay; it’s a cozy haven filled with warmth, love, and holiday cheer. As Emma helps her grandmother prepare the inn for the holiday season, she meets a variety of endearing characters who bring the inn to life. Among them is her childhood friend and now handsome handyman, Luke, who has also returned to Nantucket after a series of life changes.

Kelley’s storytelling shines through her vivid descriptions of Nantucket’s snowy streets, twinkling lights, and festive decorations. The inn itself is portrayed as a character, with its crackling fireplaces, delicious holiday treats, and rooms named after Christmas themes, creating an inviting atmosphere that makes readers wish they could visit.

As Emma and Luke rekindle their old friendship, sparks fly, and it becomes clear that there’s more than just nostalgia at play. Their blossoming romance is tender and genuine, adding a delightful layer of sweetness to the narrative. Kelley expertly balances their love story with the broader theme of finding oneself and the importance of community.

Dolly, the heart of the inn, is a standout character with her wisdom, kindness, and unwavering belief in the magic of Christmas. She serves as a guiding light for Emma, encouraging her to follow her heart and rediscover her passions. The intergenerational bond between Dolly and Emma is touching and adds depth to the story, highlighting the significance of family traditions and legacy.

The supporting cast, including the inn’s quirky guests and the close-knit Nantucket locals, add charm and humor to the story. Their interactions and shared experiences create a sense of belonging and demonstrate the true spirit of the holiday season—coming together, helping one another, and celebrating love and joy.

*The Christmas Inn* is not just a romance; it’s a celebration of new beginnings and the magic that the holiday season brings. Pamela Kelley weaves a tale that is both heartwarming and inspiring, reminding readers of the importance of resilience, love, and community.

For those looking for a feel-good holiday read, *The Christmas Inn* delivers on all fronts. It’s a delightful escape into a world where Christmas magic is real, and love has the power to heal and transform. This novel is sure to become a holiday favorite, perfect for curling up by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and a heart full of festive cheer.

The was a second chance romance with little spice. All of the difference characters had growth, which I appreciated in terms of character arcs. This is the perfect holiday book that everyone should pick up during the holidays.