This was a great holiday story told in multiple points of views. I loved the holiday feeling/setting, the Cape Cod setting and all the characters finding a found family and their new paths in life. This is just a great feel good story.

Who needs a little more joy and happiness? Christmas novels have become a recent obsession,
and THE CHRISTMAS INN by Pamela Kelley is one of the best.

Protagonist Riley Sanders has lost her job to AI and decides to return home to help her mother run the Chatham Coastal Inn, on Cape Cod. Mom Beth, is recovering from a broken leg and could use the help. Next, we meet the other wonderful characters at the inn and in town.

I especially enjoyed the story of their lives together at the inn. There is so much to love: wine and cheese pairings, delicious breakfast treats, truffles, hot chocolate, and romance for just about everyone. Oh, and there’s a huge Christmas tree and a bookstore, too. Merry Christmas!

THE CHRISTMAS INN - Pamela M. Kelley

Warm and Cozy - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - Riley Sanders didn’t plan on losing her job as a content marketing manager right before Christmas. When she calls her sister Amy to vent, she learns that their mother has broken her leg and could really use some help at the inn. Riley decides to head home to help. When she gets there, she finds the sense of family she’s been missing all along. What begins as a quick stay over the holidays to help her mom turns into something that means much more—a second chance at romance, a deeper sense of found family, and all the joy and wonder that comes with Christmastime on Cape Cod.

Writing - 4 stars - This is my second Kelley book, and I've enjoyed both of them very much. She writes in a casual and easy-to-read style that draws the reader in to the story right from the first page.

Characters - 4.5 stars - This is where the story shone for me. The characters are all warm and caring and fit together so well. Riley is a strong professional, but I'll admit that it did take her longer than I expected to figure out the best life plan for herself. But I loved her relationship with her mother (Beth) and sister (Amy)--close yet respectful of each other's feelings and decisions. Aiden is loveable as a great single dad who is also holding a torch for Riley. But he's willing to take it slow, waiting for her to make a decision. Sean is an excellent older MC, courting Beth but not afraid to fight for her love.

Title - 4 stars - This sets the stage for the setting and the holiday spirit.

Cover - 4 stars - Beautiful cover, with a holilday vibe.

Overall - 4 stars - This is such a nice book that I'm still feeling the warmth and good vibes even though I've finished. As with her previous book, I love the setting of Chatham MA, both because I'm from Massachusetts, but also because it's clear that Kelley loves this location and describes it well. The characters are friendly but not pushovers. They fit together like family, welcoming the reader into their circle. I would definitely love to stay at that B&B and participate in many of the activities there. Is this a typical romance? Yes. Do all the stories end up tied nicely in bows? Yes. And that is the beauty of this book. It's familiar and comfortable, with a strong holiday theme, excellent characters, and a beautiful setting.

The Christmas Inn is a lovely standalone story by Pamela M. Kelley, although it does have significant ties in location and secondary characters as her earlier novels The Bookshop by the Bay and The Seaside Sisters.

Marketing content writer Riley Sanders has just been laid off from her dream job as her entire department is being replaced by AI. If such things are possible, the timing is perfect as her mother, Beth, has just fallen off a ladder resulting in a broken leg. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Christmas is near and her mother is in need of help in her daily life as well as in running her Inn in Chatham, MA.

While Riley’s sister Amy has been doing her best to help, she has four year old twin girls that need her attention the most. With nothing tying her to Manhattan, Riley packs up her cat, Lily, rents a car, and heads for the cape. Her boyfriend of two years, Jack, is a driven lawyer trying to make partner and Riley is lucky to see him once or twice a week so he won’t really miss her. Upon arrival, Riley dives into what she can do to help, but other than everyday tasks it seems like the biggest thing she can do is to help her mother once again sell out the Inn using her marketing skills.

With a cast of lovely characters, the widow Franny who has just also lost her sister, Riley’s high school boyfriend, now a widower with a young son, and her mother’s friends, old and new, this book touches the heart and is everything a holiday tale should be! I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

The Christmas Inn is a feel good, predictable but exactly what you want, Hallmark-like Christmas story that takes place in Chatham, MA on Cape Cod. It is full of friendly, likable characters, cozy venues, good books and delicious quiche, cheese and wine. The focus is on Riley Sanders, a senior content manager in Manhattan who temporarily returns home to Chatham; her mother Beth who owns and runs the Chatham Coastal Inn; Franny, a 73 year old woman who has returned to Chatham to care for her dying sister; and of course, the town of Chatham which seems to envelop them all with love, friendship and good food. Each of the women learns, grows and transforms their lives throughout the book. 3.5 stars! It will warm your heart. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC.

First of all, I love the cover of this book. It is so inviting and gave me such a cozy feel right off the bat.

I really enjoyed this author’s writing style. However, it was quite simple compared to the books I typically read. The character’s were likable and I really felt like I connected with them.

I did feel like the ending was abrupt but I also felt like I knew where the book was headed.

Overall, I enjoyed this read and would definitely read more books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and author, Pamela Kelley, for an Advanced Reader’s Copy. I truly appreciate it!

My favorite time of year is when the holiday books become available. In Pamela Kelley’s new novel The Christmas Inn, Riley finds herself going home to Cape Cod after losing her job. It’s perfect timing in a sense because her mother Beth, broke her leg and could use some help while running her Bed and Breakfast. Her mom has been struggling with obtaining reservations and because Riley is a marketing whiz, the reservations start to come in.

Although Riley leaves her boyfriend, Jack, in New York while she tends to her mother and the B and B, Riley doesn’t feel as though she is missing him too much. Jack is a senior associate on his way to making partner at a law firm and works a lot leaving little time to see Riley. Riley is enjoying the guests at the B and B. One of the guests staying at the Inn is Riley’s high school sweetheart Aiden and his son Luke. He is raising Luke as a single father after his wife, Luke’s mother, passed away three years earlier.

The book very much reads like a Hallmark Christmas movie. This is for you if you are a Hallmark lover!

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the Advance Reader’s Copy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book for my honest review.

The Christmas Inn was a good Christmas read. The main character Riley loses her job in the month before Christmas. On the same day she finds out that her mother, Beth, has broken her ankle. So Riley decides to return to Cape Cod to help her mother run her bed and breakfast for a while. While Riley is helping her mother she reconnects with her high school boyfriend, Aiden. Riley does return to Manhattan when she is hired by her boyfriends law firm, but quickly realizes that everything in her life in Manhattan isn't what she wants anymore.

I love reading Pamela Kelley books and all the characters she has in each one of her books as they make cameo appearances.

Pick this one up for a good holiday read.

**Features:**

- Cozy, second chance romance with almost no spice
- Explores themes of change, dealing with loss, and family (both found and literal)
- Set in Cape Cod during the Christmas season
- Hallmark movie in book form

**Summary**

Riley finally got promoted to content marketing manager at her company then suddenly, her whole department was laid off right before Christmas. Though disappointed, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Riley’s mother just broke her leg and needs Riley’s help running the inn for the Christmas holiday. Riley is happy to be able to spend more time with family, but she quickly finds out that her high school boyfriend Aidan is staying at the inn with his son Luke for the holidays. As she tries to promote the strangely empty inn and make the holidays special for Luke, Riley begins to wonder if her busy life in Manhattan with her frequently absent boyfriend is the life she still wants. Meanwhile, Franny is mourning the recent loss of her sister, but is staying at the inn for the holidays as part of her sister’s last request. Her sister has already arranged everything for her celebration of life, including a number of letters for Franny to take Franny on one last trip down memory lane and reintroduce her to the place they both loved so much.

**Thoughts**

If you are looking for a Hallmark Christmas movie in book form, this read is perfect for you! This cozy, holiday romance set in Cape Cod depicts characters helping each other through the various changes and challenges of life. Though it handles serious topics, this book embraces being a ‘slice of life’ and doesn’t try to delve deeper than it needs to. When exploring these more serious themes, this book does so with great care so that the exploration feels natural to the story and does not change the overall vibe. This book gets 5 stars from me because on top of being a great holiday romance, it manages to have some really impactful moments without feeling forced or overdramatized. Though there weren’t any particular ‘wow’ elements for me, at the end of the day, it is a phenomenal example of a holiday romance.

Most of the critiques I would give this book from a literary standpoint don’t really impact my experience because most books in this subgenre share these same characteristics. Things like the predictability of the story, the use of common tropes, and the slower pace are likely a reason why some people will love this book while others will be turned off by it. I personally feel that if the author still manages to engage me and give me the cozy feel I am looking for despite these tendencies, then the book has achieved what I was looking for. This book manages to do that and a little more.

This was my first time reading a book by Pamela Kelley, and I have to say it was a solid 5-star read for me. From the very beginning, I found myself completely hooked and finished it in one sitting. The book felt like the perfect blend of a heartwarming Hallmark Christmas movie, with all the comfort and joy that comes with it.

Kelley's writing made it easy to feel like I was right there in the middle of the story. I could deeply feel Riley’s sadness and regret when she returned to Manhattan after spending time back home. But the story truly warms your heart when she heads back to Chatham, a place that clearly holds so much meaning for her.

The plot revolves around Riley, who, after losing her job in Manhattan right before Christmas, returns to Chatham to help her mom run their family’s bed and breakfast. At first, she misses her life in Manhattan, including her boyfriend, but soon she settles into the charm of her hometown. Between rekindling an old flame and making new friends, Riley starts to question if returning to the bustling city is truly what she wants.

As always, Pamela Kelley has delivered yet another heartfelt story that makes you feel like you've made new friends by the end of it. Her characters are relatable, down-to-earth, and easy to root for. This story really does give you that Hallmark-movie feel, making it a perfect escape when you’re looking to relax and immerse yourself in a cozy, feel-good read.

I’m looking forward to diving into more of Kelley’s books!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin and the author for an ARC of this book. Pamela M. Kelley has written another warm and uplifting novel filled with likable and multidimensional characters. Riley Sanders loses her high powered job as a marketing manager in New York City right before Christmas and decides to head home to Cape Cod. Once home, she realizes how much she has missed her family and the sense of community in her small hometown. This is well written and the story flows smoothly. The characters, who represent different generations, all grow and evolve throughout the story and realize it is never too late for love and second chances. Long time fans of Pamela M. Kelley will enjoy this new addition to their holiday bookshelf and new readers can look forward to discovering all her previous books. Highly recommend for readers of all ages looking for a festive and heartwarming holiday read!

Perfect book for those who love Hallmark movies. Riley has lost her job in Manhattan. Her sister informs her that their mother fell off a ladder and broke her leg. So Riley heads home to Cape Cod to help her mother run her B&B. Staying there is Riley’s high school sweetheart and his son. The story involves the lives and lives of three generations of women. Sweet quick read. My only negative was all the descriptions of cheeses along with wine. Lots of discussion of food and meals cooked. Nice happily ever after Christmas themed read.

Pamela Kelly and Christmas in Chatham? Yes, please!

In The Christmas Inn, we meet Beth who runs a bed and breakfast in Chatham, Massachusetts. Beth has two adult daughters, Riley and Amy. Riley lives in NYC and Amy is in Chatham. When Beth breaks her ankle, Amy asks Riley if she can come help. The timing works out as Rileys entire department was let go. Riley's boyfriend Jack is in New York, but he is always working at his law group.

Riley looks for a job while she is home for Christmas and helping her mom with the inn. She is eager to get back to the city, but the longer she spends in Chatham, the more she wishes she could stay longer. Part of that reason is some of the guests at the inn. Franny, originally from Chatham, is staying at the inn after losing her sister. Aidan and his son, Luke, are at the inn while their house is being repaired. Aidan and Riley dated in high school and fall back into an easy friendship.

Beth, who hasn't dated much since her divorce, meets a handsome builder working on the inn. Franny, a widow, meets an old flame also back in town.

There are three women in different places in their lives, but who all have to decide what their future holds.

This was such a good book. I loved all the Christmas elements and the different storylines were all expertly woven together, The repeat characters from the other books in the series are always fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a chance to read this novel ahead of it's publication date.

A feel good book that returns us to Pamela M. Kelley's Cape Cod, this time at Christmas. Riley didn't plan on losing her job just before Christmas, but it gives her needed time to spend with her family back on Cape Cod. The timing is perfect since her mother has a broken leg and needs help running her inn as the holidays approach, A bit of romance and nostalgia for those who have read some of her other Cape Cod books. An excellent read to cozy up with under a blanket with a hot cup of tea,
Thanks to #NetGalley#TheChristmasInn#StMartinsPress for the EARC.

This would make a perfect Hallmark movie. A great book to start the holiday season with.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Pamela Kelley book. It was easy, understandable, and overall, a cute story! A heartwarming holiday book.

But, it was incredibly predictable, lacked depth including in the characters, and the actual writing was lackluster. The novel didn't keep me interested, as the content was so elementary I felt no desire to pick it back up. I knew what was going to happen and the author's writing was far too simplistic for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

If Bobby Flay and Candace Cameron Bure Had A Baby. Particularly a "baby" in the business sense (aka, a company ;) ), this is probably what it would look like. Fans of both the Hallmark Channel and the Food Network are going to love this, as the plot itself *is* very stereotypically Hallmarkie (and, given that their Christmas movies in particular seem to be looked forward to all year by *millions*... perhaps this isn't a bad thing) and yet the level of detail Kelley goes into when describing the food... well, I daresay Gordon Ramsey himself would have a challenge trying to make words on paper sound so utterly delectable.

Now, if this isn't your scene... eh, maybe you like the women's fiction and/ or romance elements here and don't care so much about the foodie side or the Hallmarkie side. In which case, you're still going to enjoy this book. But if you're looking for Michael Bay action where there are explosions just because the "camera" turned... yeah, this isn't that. If you're looking for a Jeremy Robinson style balls to the wall scifi action... yeah, this isn't that either. But for what it *is*, it is done quite well - well enough that if Kelley can get this into enough hands, she's going to have quite the success on her hands.

Very much recommended.

A cozy read about Riley who loses her job just before the holidays and goes home where her mother who owns an inn has broken her leg, and could use her help. Riley finds that she enjoys the simpler life with family.

A hallmark movie in book form. For those of us who prefer to read our sappy, small town Christmas romance, this book delivers.
Riley returns home to help her mom run her Cape Cod B&B while she recovers. Who should be staying there but a high school ex and his son. This book doesn’t have a lot of surprises but that is exactly what make it a nice cozy read.
A great kick off to cozy Christmas season.
I recorded a ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

Fans of Pamela Kelley’s other Chatham-set books will find some familiar faces that join newcomers Beth, Riley, and Franny, three women from different generations who all find happily ever after in this cozy Christmas story set on Cape Cod.

Beth owns a somewhat struggling bed and breakfast when daughter Riley is laid off from her marketing job in Manhattan. With the holidays approaching, Riley opts to come home to Chatham to help her mother at the inn. Neither Beth nor the inn are performing at full capacity, as she had fallen and broken her leg, so the timing of Riley’s lay-off couldn’t be more helpful for Beth. Riley implements some marketing tricks and introduces some upscale services at the inn that both attract new clientele in time for Chatham’s Christmas stroll. Widow Franny, in her eighties but young at heart, is back home in Chatham as her sister lays dying of a terminal illness. In the aftermath of her death, the sister has left Franny a number of letters that will let her re-live some of their favorite moments during their Cape Cod upbringing. The more time Franny stays on the Cape, the more she can see herself spending more time there going forward. She even buys a house that will let her come and go as she pleases. A number of things happen in between, but by the end of the book, all three women find their happily ever afters with their perfect matches.

The Christmas Inn has all the elements that Pamela Kelley has become known for—delicious food, lots of wine, women’s friendships, and cozy romance. This book was an enjoyable, light reading-trip to Cape Cod, just in time for the holidays.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.