3.5 STARS!
If you love Hallmark-type Christmas movies, then this book is calling your name. Set in a small town, this author dives into the feel-good, down-home story and she doesn’t miss a thing.

With three generations of women intertwined in this story, we get to dive deep into their lives while romances are budding around them.

Kelley is detailed in her descriptions and we experience every bit of the character’s lives, including who ordered what, who ate what, and received what gift. For me, that was a bit of overkill and it felt like fillers that could be trimmed for more exciting content.

The characters were likable and The Christmas Inn is a sweet, homey clean romance set in a darling small town setting.

While this book is entertaining, I was not overly drawn to any one character and some parts of the story seemed a bit flat. However, this story is loaded with all the things required in a Christmas romance.

This heartwarming story centers on the individuals who find themselves at an Inn around, you guessed it, Christmastime. Riley finds herself jobless after her entire division has been laid off from her job in Manhattan, so she decides to assist her mother, Beth, who own the inn as she has fallen and broken her leg.
At the inn, we find Aiden, Riley’s high school boyfriend, and his son who are there because their home flooded, and they will be spending Christmas with an entire cast of characters. One of these is Franny, who just lost her sister, Ella. Ella left her four notes she was to open each week that have reinvigorated Franny’s love for Chatham, the small town in which she and her sister grew up. Even Beth finds herself opening her heart as she meets this new group of friends and perhaps a new gentleman. This sweet tale will show anyone one who picks up this book how lovely it is to enjoy a winter storm, hot cocoa, and Christmas movies no matter the time of the year.
Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley is a delightful story about a small town bed and breakfast, the family who run it and their guests. The author builds the characters beautifully and adds the perfect amount of colloquial charm and Christmas cheer. I enjoyed this book so much that I have decided to read all of Pamela Kelley's books. She has a great way of creating interesting story plots that enticed me to take a break from my day and travel to the Christmas Inn for a bit. Thank you to NetGalley, Ms. Kelley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to enjoy this book.

I received a free e-arc through Netgalley for my honest review. A somewhat predictable romance, but in times like these, you need something predictable to read. I feel like a third of the book was just talking about cheese and wine. I get it, you like cheese, but it kinda made me never want to eat cheese again just from all the cheese talk. I liked the mom and sister relationships. A mom with young kids not having any free time felt realistic.

An easy read, this was a feel good holiday story with minimal drama, but both predictable and respective. And this is exactly what you need sometimes in a book.

A cozy choice to read on a cold evening or weekend, at home, perhaps with a warm beverage and snack.

This was my first time reading the author and I will be reading more.



Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the DRC

A strong 4+ stars for this fun, heartfelt book! I loved the setting and got a real feel for what it's like in the Cape Cod area - very descriptive and well written so much so that I felt like I was there with them. The storylines were well thought out and easy to follow. This sweet romance is the perfect Christmas read. I hope we'll be lucky enough to get more installments from these characters. I appreciate the Author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an ARC - all comments are my own.

Riley works in content marketing at a big software company in NYC. She abruptly gets laid off with her whole department, being replaced by AI, just a month before Christmas. Riley is also dating a lawyer Jack, who she rarely sees, as he is up for partner and works 24/7. After, losing her job, Riley calls her sister Amy to tell her and Amy informs her that their mom just broken her leg and was on crutches. Riley decides that she would go home to Chatham in Cape Cod to help her mom out and her Inn ‘The Chatham Inn’. Riley didn’t know that the unexpected layoff from work would change her life completely.

This is the second book of Pamela Kelley’s books I have read. This one was a little bit of a slower pace than the other one I read. Overall, I love the characters and that she essentially wrote two other story lines of both Riley’s mom’s (Beth) life and a guest at the Inn’s life (Franny). I felt that this book did have a little more detail of each day than necessary for the story. I also did like the feature of a couple of characters from the other book I read of hers. I think Pamela has set herself up to have sequels with these characters. I would happily continue to read on.

Net Galley and St. Martin Press - St. Martin Griffin thank you so much for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Awkward for Hank.

It's nice that she saved her mother's pride.

Jack is a douche. She's been unemployed for twelve hours. What resume gaps?

I like Riley's ideas for the inn.

Franny's story is also interesting.

Does Riley really have a life in the city, though? No one seems to miss her.

I look through books the same way, Franny. And now I want cheese.

Beth is right. There is no career growth at a law firm.

Franny needs to eat more.

The job at Jack's firm is getting more suspicious by the day.

Aww.

Like I said, a douche.

That seems about right. You get punished for working fast.

She should set up an LLC.

Wow Riley really goes all-in!

The copy I am reading does need a fair amount of editing.

Title: The Christmas Inn
By: Pamela M. Kelley

Genre:
Fiction, Women’s Contemporary

Summary:
Thanks to the new and upcoming AI, Riley’s marketing position at work in Manhattan is terminated. Riley’s sister calls to notify her that their mom broke her leg and needs help at the Airbnb her mom owns. Without any hesitation, Riley leaves her lawyer boyfriend, Jack, behind and heads to Chatham, Massachusetts, her small hometown in Cape Cod. Christmas in the Cape is special at Christmastime. While in Chatham, Riley runs into her boyfriend from high school, and the old spark is still there, however, she’s with Jack and her life is in the city…or is it? Which life will she choose? Is there a right decision?

Review:
“The Christmas Inn” is a perfect blend of a warm and cozy novel with a hint of suspense! This is my first novel by Pamela Kelley, but not my last. I can’t wait to read more of her books. I loved every part of this storyline. The author masterfully navigates the plot from the small town comfy Christmas Inn, to the charming characters, to the importance of family, and the significance of work- life balance. In “The Christmas Inn” Pamela Kelley has created a relaxed, welcoming narrative whose overall theme is the importance of second chances. I highly recommend not only this book, but most definitely this author.

Thank you Pamela M. Kelley, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#TheChristmasInn
#PamelaMKelley
#StMartinsPress
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#netgalleyreviews

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the opportunity to read The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley, an author I can always count on for a satisfying, heart warming read. I loved this one.

Riley is from Cape Cod and lives in New York. She works for a company that does content marketing. Right before Christmas, the company lays the entire department off. Riley’s mom broke her ankle so she goes home to Cape Cod to help her mom run her B&B.
Riley’s high school boyfriend and his 9-year-old son are staying at the B&B because their house flooded.
Can you see where this romance book is headed? Another great book by Pamela Kelley!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Publishing Group and to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.

The most darling Christmas book! Loved the characters, the details about food and the Hallmark movie feel!

Highly recommend picking this one up this holiday season.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Christmas Inn is a delightful book that flows very smoothly. The characters are memorable and you feel like you are part of the family. The story is very believable and easy to read. You don’t want to put it down once you begin reading it.

What a wonderful, feel good story of the holidays in the special village of Chatham Massachusetts. It is set in a family owned bed and breakfast. The snowy days paint the perfect picture of the days before Christmas in such a way the reader longs to be there. The characters are charming and the story is enchanting. Put this book on your must read list and you will not be disappointed. I look forward to reading all the books by this author and highly recommend it.

I wish to thank Net Galley and the publishers, St. Martin’s Press - Griffin for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first Pamela Kelly book and I do not think it will be my last. Our main character moves home to take care of her mother who runs a bed and breakfast because her job was replaced with Ai. ( I believe this will happen more in the near future.) While helping her mother she is introduced to a whole inn full of people from different backgrounds. When the time comes to move back home and get a job, she does, working at her boyfriends workplace. But is it what she wants now. Does the city life she loves have the same pull? I loved the characters and the narrator was wonderful. Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC.

This was an absolutely delightful holiday story that truly reads like a Hallmark Christmas movie. The characters are completely enjoyable, and the setting was perfect for the story. The plot was filled with everything one would expect from a holiday story - love, loss, friendship, family, and starting over. Looking forward to reading more books by this author.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Christmas Inn is a sweet, feel good, easy read. The premise is mother gets hurt, daughter loses her job and comes home to help run the inn. There is a lot of talk of food, budding romances & holiday festivities. I did enjoy this light read but did find some topics repeated often.

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A holiday story about family, friendship, and second chances.

Set at Christmas with a Cape Cod backdrop, it has multiple romances and is an overall feel good story. I liked the family bond, how the Inn was welcoming and cozy, and the multiple romances of varying ages. I did find it a bit slow for me, but still a good, light read. If you love the Hallmark Channel, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book!
Reviewed by Comfy Chair Books (August 6, 2024)
eBook ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley

Reviews posted as book is released

Pamela M. Kelley always writes such sweet stories. I love being at the Cape again and this puts me in the Christmas spirit. I just missed reading it in Christmas in July. I love that there was no cheating and a lot of adult talk. Like actual adults having real communication.

Riley Sanders is laid off just before Christmas. Her sister calls to inform her that their mother has fallen and broken her leg, asking if Riley can come home. Her mother operates a B&B Inn on the cape, and Riley left for the big city as soon as she could. She packs her bags and her cat and returns to town to assist her mother. She has been in a relationship with a lawyer for the last few years, but he seems unable to take a break from work to maintain the relationship.

Upon her return, Riley discovers her high school sweetheart living in the inn with his son. His wife has passed away, and his house is undergoing renovations due to flooding. The inn hasn't been doing well lately, so Riley sets out to update the website and social media, which brings in more business. As she reconnects with her hometown, family, and friends, she begins to question whether NYC is still where she wants to be.

When her boyfriend visits for the weekend, he spends the evening working on his laptop and leaves early the next day to return to work on a case. Riley heads back to NYC before Christmas to interview for a job she's interested in and another position at her boyfriend's law firm. After spending Christmas back home, she contemplates whether the life she has in NYC is truly what she desires.

She does go to work at the law firm; but finds the job is not what it was supposed to be.