I love Sarah Morgan’s books & this one is no different! Honestly, this book could be a Hallmark movie! It wasn’t the best Christmas book or Sarah Morgan book I’ve ever read, but it was still a cute, quick, holiday read!

This book follows 3 POVs: Imogen, Dorothy & Sara. Imogen is a workaholic with a mom who doesn’t really want to be her mom. Dorothy is a mom, grandma & business woman who lives in a small village & is all about family! She is also a client of Imogen’s. Sara is Dorothy’s daughter who is a mom, works for the family business & also lives in the small village & loves her town & family.

The Holiday Cottage is a cute book for the holidays! You can definitely snuggle up with this book & listen to some Christmas music! This book has some family drama, a small town, found family, a little romance, & some twists!

I always love how Sarah Morgan ties the POVs together! I think that is one of my favorite things about her books. Would definitely recommend for a quick holiday read that definitely gives Hallmark movie vibes!

I am a Christmas fanatic and this was the perfect read to get me in the mood even though it isn't December yet. This will definitely be one I go back to in future years for that wholesome Christmas vibe. With that said, that doesn't mean there isn't a good mix of angst throughout this story line which definitely kept me hooked!

Imogen has always had to fend for herself and hasn't had any family except for her mother, who never really wanted her. She overworks herself to keep busy but eventually it becomes to much. Enter Dorothy, her client who has become a close friend to her and offers her the Holly Cottage to escape while Imogen is told to take a month off of work. Dorothy and her family are so kind and giving, even when some of their intentions are based on them trying to see redemption for mistakes they have made in the past. The quaint little town Holly Cottage is set in is the perfect Christmas scene and just what Imogen needed. But she didn't expect to gain as much as she did from staying in this cottage.

This story was full of heartwarming moments and leads you on a path of self discovery and the ultimate found family trope. I kept trying to guess what the big twist was going to be and I was definitely shocked. I loved how Dorothy was able to give Imogen a family after so long and how open Imogen was to changing things so that she could fully enjoy life. She and Miles were and adorable match and I am obsessed with them. If I could jump in a book to visit a Christmas town I would definitely do it here! Christmas tree farms, holiday school plays, ice skating, a town that is decked out in everything Christmas, quaint bakeries/shops, beautiful snowy views? I could go on and on, this book was just overall everything I could ask for in a Christmas story!

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!

Immy's life has been less than ideal, with her mother (who has issues) being her only family and a fake-life that she makes up to fit in at work. She works hard, she works a lot, and she does her best to carve out the life she dreams of having. One of her clients, Dorothy, has a secret and is working on sharing it with Immy, but like most secrets, it comes out in an unexpected way. I feel like this book could really have been set at any time of the year, as the holidays were more of an afterthought to it or a setting, but it's still a good story. I would love to see a follow up that gives Immy some resolution to the ghosts she has been carrying far too long.

Another lovely book from Sarah Morgan! Although this is a Christmas story, it is deeper than that. I loved the character development and sense of place, and I feel sure our patrons will enjoy this one!

I have probably only a bit more than handful of authors I truly love and will read their next book without hesitation and Sarah Morgan is one of them! She is absolutely amazing and any book is a winner by her! Only please do more of your pastel covers. I love them next to each other looking gorgeous!

I unfortunately "DNF"d this book. Whereas Sarah's other books have grabbed me from the start, this one took about 44% until I realized it wasn't the story for me. I am quite bummed as Sarah has been an auto-buy author for me, but this story wasn't as captivating. Thank you so much for the opportunity to rate and review.

The Holiday Cottage was such a delightful, cozy holiday read. I was completely sweapt away to the Cotwolds in this very enjoyable book with a twist. It may have been early September that I read this but it certainly put me in the mood for Christmas.

Imogen is completely alone but that's fine, she's fine, why wouldn't she be. So she works way more than anyone in the company, she has a fake dog and oh yeah, her mother wishes she was never born.

When she gets invited by a client to stay at Holly Cottage after a forced leave from work she jumps at the chance not knowing that in a turn of events her life as she knows it will be completely changed.

This book was such a lovely read. My only wish was that it was read on a snowy winters day with a fuzzy blanket and hot chocolate in hand.

**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**

Holly Cottage changes Imogen's life- and Dorothy's. Imogen finds herself on an enforced time out from work and time at the cottage was only meant to be a vacation of sorts but it turns out to be much more. And Dorothy is more than just a client. There are secrets and lies (some of which you might see coming), a bit of romance, and some nice atmospherics of Christmas in the Cotswalds. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It's an easy read that will make you smile.

Imogen is a workaholic who has no life and no family, but her co-workers wouldn’t know that. To her co-workers she has a family in the county, a boyfriend and a dog named Midas – all completely made up to fit in. The only family she has is a mother who knew wanted to be a mother, only calls her when she needs money and led her to believe her family abandoned them when she was pregnant. After another one of her alcoholic mother’s accidents lands her in the hospital and she misses events from work she expects to be fired but instead her boss makes her take a month off from work – during Christmas. Her favorite client, Dorothy, invites her to spend the time in a cottage at her home in Cotswold. Turns out Dorothy is not only her favorite client – she’s her grandmother. Told her the pov of Imogene, Dorothy and her Aunt, Sara, Imogen experiences the Christmas and family she’s always wanted. What Christmas book out be complete without love, brought to you by the local vet, Miles and dog he takes in, Ralph.

Side note not shared on social - The book was ok, but felt more like just pushing out another Christmas book during this season. The title being Holiday Cottage over Holly Cottage? What happened at the Christmas play? Her mother Tina just disappears, no confrontation? How does it work out with Imogen/Miles when she still works in London? I guess I would have liked a follow chapter a year later with how it worked out.

I was excited for another holiday book, but this one was a bit slow until around halfway then there is a twist that is unexpected. If you can make it through the first half it may be worth it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I loved this different plot line. It wasn't typical of the Romance genre. I love Christmas romances and this one didn't disappoint.

The Holiday Cottage, by Sarah Morgan, is an enjoyable read. Imogen, a marketing expert, devotes her entire life to her clients and job. She tries to disguise her workaholism by inventing a fake personal life- including a family and a dog. When a crisis takes place with her real family- her dysfunctional mother- everything comes crashing down around Imogen. After being forced by her manager to take a month of vacation, Imogen ends up accepting the invite from her favorite client, Dorothy, who offers her cabin in the Cotswolds for the holidays. There, Imogen learns about real family, love and forging a meaningful life.

The plot of this story takes some interesting turns- and it is truly painful to read about Imogen’s sad work-only life in the beginning. That only makes the growth and good that come into Imogen’s life that much more enjoyable.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader copy of this book.

The Holiday Cottage is a fun, heart-warming, if slightly formulaic holiday story. It centers around three women, Imogen and mother and daughter Dorothy and Sara. Imogen is workaholic with a cold and cruel mother that leads her to fabricate a home happy life to her co-workers. With a (fake) missing dog and a disaster with her mother that leads her to miss a work event, her boss forces her to take a month away from work. In swoops Dorothy, one of her clients, to offer her a place to spend the holidays. Dorothy's daughter isn't too happy about the decision because it will unearth a family trauma the pair have been living with for years - but at the same time it may finally provide them some closure and resolution. The book is definitely centered more around family relationships, but does have some very low spice romance in it as well. The star of the book is without a doubt Ava, Sara's bold and fearless daughter, who as a secondary character steals the show every time she makes an appearance. The plot doesn't have a lot of depth to it, and the second half feels rushed after how slowly things unspool in the first half of the book, but if you're look for warm, fuzzy holiday feels then the book is perfect for you. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First of all, I thank NetGalley very much for allowing me to read and advance copy of this novel by Sarah Morgan in return for an honest review.

This story touches on some really deep aspects of family life. There are the strong emotions and internal struggles crippling each of the characters in this story and they are forced to reach across long-held barriers of fear, denial, anger, and resentment until the truths and lies from the past are revealed.

I felt the inner strength of the characters that they didn’t even know they possessed, marveled at how each person came to define what makes a family strong and was incredibly moved by the solutions that were eventually found. Words that fit the story include anger, hope, love, forgiveness, and trust.

I was drawn to Dorothy and her daughter’s totally different ways of compartmentalizing the past and I felt Imogene’s pain from having to hide hers, and I really loved how each learned from the others how to grow beyond old hurts and move into acceptance, love and family.

Well done.

The Holiday Cottage is the newest release from Sarah Morgan. This delightful holiday tale is atmospheric and filled with family drama, relatable life issues, friendship, second chances and thoughtful themes. As is the case with all of this author’s stories, the writing is clear, cozy, compelling and easy to get caught up into. Her storytelling and consistent character-depth draw the reader into the plot and leave you satisfied and charmed. I highly recommend for your winter TBR.

3.5 stars

This is a sweet holiday romance with a beautiful setting. The pace was a bit slower than I preferred, but the writing does pull the reader in. It has a bit of a Hallmark movie feel to it. Of course, the romance angle moves a bit quick, but that is typical with such stories. There were a couple of unexpected twists, particularly one that is halfway through the book. This is a nice option to help readers get into a seasonal mood.

Sarah Morgan has written another heartwarming Christmas story. Set in both London and the Cotswolds, The Holiday Cottage is about finding family, forgiveness, a true home, and unconditional love and finally discovering the joy that is Christmas. I am a true Anglophile, so I appreciate how beautifully Morgan describes the charm of the fictional Winterbury including the sparkle of lights against the yellow stone shops and cottages, the Christmas market, and the wintry walks through the fields. The sweet friends-to-lovers romance between Imogen and Miles isn’t the central focus but adds another touching plot line to a story that’s full of emotion and second chances. I highly recommend adding The Holiday Cottage to your Christmas story collection.

Coffee Shops, Christmas Tree Farms, Ice Skating, and all the other small town Christmas movie things. Your big city girl heads off to a small town for Christmas… You probably already know the rest.

I feel like this deserves 2 ratings… the first 40% is 2 stars, but once you get past that it’s a solid 4 stars. The first 40% felt like it was dragging on just talking about how much time Imogen spends working. There was just too much of that content for me. The last 60% is your fairly average small town boy meets the big city girl, they fall in love stuff. This portion was well written and had just enough details, but not too much.

3 Stars overall

I received an advance reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The publish date for this book is September 24, 2024. Pre-orders are available.

"The Holiday Cottage" is not the usual Rom-Com story of a girl who meets a guy and moves to the country for her happily ever after. There is so much more to this story and there is a delicious twist that is unpredictable even to a seasonal Rom Com fan.

This story will pull you in and hold on to your heart long after you finished reading it. I hope there is a sequel in the works because I so want to know what happens next.

Sarah Morgan has set the bar high for holiday romance with "The Holiday Cottage". If you only read one holiday book this year, this should be the one!

I think the cover and title may be a bit misleading; this isn’t a cozy Christmas story. But, this IS a fantastic domestic drama with a great twist. I definitely recommend it for anyone who likes family drama and relationships, plot twists, romance. I appreciate the opportunity to read in advance!