“I’ve seen you fight for your clients. I’ve seen you handle obstacles and objections that would floor most people. You are a champion problem solver. Why aren’t you fighting for yourself?”

Last year I had the pleasure of reading Ms. Morgan’s The Book Club Hotel so I jumped at the chance at reading her new work. The fabulous cover drew me in and the cute Christmassy story sealed the deal.

Imogen is a London based marketing professional who is great at her job but terrible at putting up boundaries. She has fabricated a fictional personal life to manipulate her coworkers (and herself) into thinking she has it all, but she harbors some deep, sad secrets.

A forced vacation and a generous client lead her to the Cotswolds for the Christmas holidays where she is forced to confront her past. Adorable animals, cute kids, a hunky vet and the magic of the season smooth out the rough edges of her harsh reality in classic Sarah Morgan fashion.

If you are a fan of B.K. Borison’s Lovelight Farms or the movie The Holiday, I recommend adding this to your December TBR list.

Christmas stories always seem to tug at my heartstrings, no matter the time of year. I really liked Imogen and the family drama along the way. The setting makes me feel like I was there and there was humor throughout too as an added bonus.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

4.5 Stars

The Holiday Cottage is a complicated family drama with a side of reconciliation, romance, and Christmas cheer.

Imogen is a high achieving professional marketer and a workaholic. At work, she pretends to have a social life, to come from a loving, happy family, and to love Christmas. She makes a mistake at work that results in a paid leave of absence. Her favorite client, Dorothy, invites Imogen to stay at the guest cottage on her estate in the Cotswolds. Dorothy’s daughter, Sara, is not happy with the situation and is critical of her mother. Tension ensues. Things become complicated, and family secrets are revealed. Will Imogen be able to return to her high-power career? Can Dorothy hold the family together?

Complicated family dynamics are the most compelling part of the story, but I can’t say too much because of spoilers. I will say that Dorothy is the most relatable character in the story for me because of something that happened in my own family. A personal connection with a fictional character can turn an ordinary reading experience into something extra meaningful. So I was deeply invested in this story, the risks that Dorothy takes, and the outcome.

We might not appreciate Imogen at first, but when we fully understand her backstory, we begin to understand and care for her and her well being. Imogen, Dorothy, and Sarah are imperfect characters who are relatable and trying their best. Because this is marketed as a holiday, chick lit, romance, we can trust the genre for a HEA. The journey there for our three main characters is especially rewarding.

In addition to family drama, the author provides other thoughtful poignant themes including reconciliation, forgiveness, taking risks, and second chances. There is a small side of romance and festive Christmas moments for your enjoyment. No profanity (or if there was it was minimal and didn’t bother me). Closed-door romance.

In my reading experience, the story builds slowly and the secret unfolds gradually. I was intrigued so this didn’t bother me. The pace picks up nicely as the story progresses.

Content Consideration: abandonment, childhood neglect

The Holiday Cottage is one of my favorite women’s fiction reads of the year. I recommend it for fans of complicated family drama with a side of reconciliation, romance, and Christmas cheer.

Thanks #NetGalley @HTP_Books Canary Street Press for a complimentary e ARC of #TheHolidayCottage upon my request. All opinions are my own.

“Find yourself a herd”

The Holiday Cottage is the perfect book to kick off the holiday season. A heartfelt story of a broken family, healing, forgiveness, acceptance, friendship and found family with a powerful message. Set in a cozy cottage in the Cotswolds during the Christmas season, with multigenerational characters and realistic conflicts that many people will be able to relate to.

I really enjoyed this book, like all the other Sarah Morgan books I have read. I loved the well developed likable characters, the festive cozy setting and the powerful message portrayed. As an animal lover, I loved the animal rescue stories that were incorporated into the story. Animals are so therapeutic and show unconditional love even when we are at our worst.

This book would make a perfect Hallmark Christmas movie, if it isn’t already in the works then it should be!
And can we take a moment to appreciate this gorgeous cover? It is absolutely stunning!

Thank you to @htp_hive, @canarystreetpress and @sarahmorganwrites for the advanced #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Christmas books and when I find a new author I have never read before, and they have a Christmas book I am eager to read it.
Imogene is excellent at her job in marketing but her life outside of work is not what it should be. When Imogen is forced to take time off and a invitation from one of her clients Dorothy to stay at her cottage is offered she takes the offer.
The characters in the story all fold together perfectly and Sarah Morgan gave me a story that will stay with me long after reading it.
Thank you Sarah Morgan and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the copy of The Holiday Cottage. This is my personal review.
I highly recommend this book to other readers and I look forward to reading more books by this author.

This was a lovely holiday tale, with plenty of real world drama mixed in. Imogen (a lovely not often seen name!) has built herself an independent life, though she feels she has to make up bits of it to fit in with her workmates. She works herself to the brink of burnout, wanting to assure herself of a livable income and basic success. It all felt very real and very modern day crushing. Her boss offers her a break to recover, and her favorite client offers her a free stay in a cottage in the Cotswolds. It certainly seems like a perfect place to recover and re-energize, so Imogen accepts. A surprise bit of family drama comes along, and then the story gets wonderfully intense. The local characters and setting add wonderfully to the holiday feel of it all. And there is also a dog who is important to the latter part of the story, which always adds to the fun for me. I hope to reread this in December, or perhaps revisit it in the audiobook version; Ms. Morgan delivers all the holiday redemption!

I was given an ARC by NetGalley and asked to provide a review, which I was happy to do.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for this advanced copy!!

A few years ago I went on a Sarah Morgan binge at Christmas time. I devoured the O’Neil Brothers trilogy, and thought they were the perfect Christmas reads. Once I saw The Holiday Cottage on NetGalley, I had to have it.

Quick synopsis:

“To the outside world, Imogen is a marketing dynamo. Her colleagues don’t know that while her high-achieving professional image is real, the happy childhood stories she spins are as fake as her pretend enthusiasm for Christmas. Working 24/7 has always been her solution to surviving the festive season—until burnout leads to a catastrophic blunder.

Suddenly, Imogen is handed a holiday gift she definitely doesn’t want: enforced time off work to recuperate. Then an invitation arrives from her favorite client, Dorothy, to stay at her guest cottage in the Cotswolds. From the thatched roof to the cozy open fireplace, Holly Cottage is a picture-perfect haven… Can it provide the fresh start Imogen so desperately needs?”

This book 1000% delivered, as I predicted it would. The main character, Imogen, was truly admirable. Regardless of everything that she endured throughout a horrible childhood, she encompassed strength and true positivity.

The Holiday Cottage really had it all- family, love, dogs, Christmas, kids, trees, sparkling lights, fireplaces (you get the idea.) The whole feel good Christmas magic was there. Now I want to put up my tree, and I’m a little confused about what season it is, but I don’t care because I loved this book 🎄🎃

Imogene is a marketing genius. She is great at her job because she has no family or home life. She works at all hours because she has no one. Well, except her mother who is verbally abusive and uses Imogene to support her misdeeds. Imogene has even gone so far as to lie to her co-workers. She even has fake photos on her desk of a dog and a family. So, when she makes a mistake one night at an event, her boss makes her take a vacation. This vacation changes her life.

Sarah Morgan has become a favorite for me, especially her Christmas novels. I loved last year’s book, The Book Club Hotel. And this book right is right up there with it!

I loved Imogene. She really has had a rough time. Her mother is a piece of work and Imogene struggles with self awareness and self esteem.

Enter Dorothy and her secret…you will have to read this to find out!

This story will take you through some emotional ups and downs and a family drama you won’t soon forget. Add in the sweet dog and the HOT veterinarian…and you have a magical, holiday story!

Need a good Christmas tale to get you in the spirit…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I have recently discovered Sarah Morgan's books and I always enjoy them! I enjoy how she develops her characters and the way she weaves their lives together. If you are looking for a warm holiday read The Holiday Cottage definitely fits the bill. The story did not have the holiday feels at the beginning but by the end it was all there.

Thank you Net Galley, Sarah Morgan and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.

This novel is now available for purchase.

“I’m always going to remember today.” “I don’t need a gift for that.”

This book is a perfect holiday read -- so sweet with such beautiful story-telling!

Set in both London and a cozy cottage in the Cotswolds, the story begins when Imogen, a hard working professional whose job is her whole world, is forced to take time off over the holidays. Faced with time to herself that she does not want, Imogen accepts an invitation from one of her favorite clients to stay at Holly Cottage. The quaint little cottage is a perfect refuge for Imogen who needs to come to terms with the imaginary life that she has created for herself yet she soon discovers more about her past than she could have ever imagined.

I am a huge fan of Sarah Morgan’s books, especially her Christmas stories and this one is no exception! I will say that The Holiday Cottage is a little light on the romance, so just know that going in, but regardless there are so many heartwarming moments. Multigenerational family stories are definitely Sarah’s specialty. This book is a perfect reminder of the importance of slowing down, appreciating all that life has to offer and cherishing the relationships you build with the people who mean the most.

The Holiday Cottage is filled with Christmas cheer and has the most perfect cozy setting. If you are looking for an emotional but sweet holiday read then this is the perfect fit!

The Holiday Cottage is available today!

Imogen is an absolute genius in her job. Unbeknownst to her coworkers, she has no life outside of work. The life they think she has is all a fallacy, and she is beginning to have trouble keeping up the façade. Her only family is her mother, who is a cruel woman that resents having a child and blames her for everything bad in her life. Her favorite client Dorothy invites Imogen to spend her time off in a cottage on her property. She thinks it might be a good place to figure things out, especially because she always spends the holidays alone. It seems that Dorothy has secrets of her own as well. The author alludes to a tragedy during the holidays for Dorothy’s family as well. Dorothy’s daughter is very against the idea, which doesn’t seem to make sense at the time. But secrets have a way of coming out and all of their lives will be changed forever.

Reviews also posted on B&N and Kobo under IrishEyes430

Happy Publication Day!!! This book holds all the warmth and magic of the holiday season. The setting makes me visualize the movie “The Holiday”. The main character, Imogen has lived a rough life with a useless mother. Yet, Imogen has thrown herself into being a very successful event planner. This character makes you cheer in on throughout this book. There is a plot twist that makes the book even more compelling. Without giving it away, this is a definite must read this holiday season. Actually, I am hoping there is a sequel to this one. I would love to see the characters again. Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for this advance read.

Imogene is a marketing genius. She’s professional and never makes mistakes. Her colleagues and clients are well aware of this. What they don’t know is that all of the stories she tells are fake. No happy childhood and she only pretends to like Christmas. An uncharacteristic mistake forces her to take time off from work, the last thing she wants. She is saved when a favorite client invites her to stay at her cottage. Dorothy, the client, has a chance to make up for things from her past by inviting Imogene to the cottage. Soon secrets are revealed and family drama ensues. Fast paced with great characters. A great book for the holiday season.

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Imogen is a workaholic. With no social life, she has created a faux life to fit into conversations with her coworkers and clients. One day, everything implodes, and her boss tells her to take the rest of the year off. With no family other than her mother, who just kicked her out of her hospital room, Imogen has nothing to do and nowhere to go.

Her favorite client invites her to stay at her cottage in the Cotswolds, an idyllic spot to stay and give her life a reset. Until she discovers a secret which will upend her life forever. Frantically leaving, she bumps into the local veterinarian and she finds she enjoys his company. He helps her see life differently and is a good sounding board for what's going on.

Imogen has two choices, either seek out the full truth of everything she learned or leave and shut out those who have answers. As she spends time with a newfound family, she enjoys the holidays and finally feels a place to belong, but can it last? She's spent a lifetime alone and it would be a huge change to accept the new facts and a possible new love.

A beautiful trip to the Cotswolds for Christmas, new family, and new love make this the perfect holiday read!

The perfect holiday read! I loved everything about The Holiday Cottage - the characters, the setting, the pets, the humor, all of the surprises along the way, and especially the ending. I didn't want their story to end.

An all around feel good festive Christmas story. Author Sarah Morgan has such a way with character development and connecting all the pieces. I couldn’t wait to jump into this Holiday read a couple months early, it’s just what I needed to get excited about the Holidays to come.

Imogen has set such high standards for herself and her work ethic has pushed her to limits beyond what one would consider “normal”. She is at the top of her game in marketing and her co-workers “think” she’s handling it all. Little do they know she has masterminded a “fake” family life including her very own loving dog. She just wanted to “fit in”.

Imogen is pushed to her limits and is being forced to take some much needed time off. Her favorite client, Dorothy, just so happens to offer her a stay in “Holly Cottage”, a remote quaint and cozy place. This could be JUST what Imogen needs.

Sara, Dorothy’s daughter is hesitant with how close Dorothy is getting to Imogen including letting her use the cottage. The shocking secrets, realities and hope is what brings this novel to the forefront and Imogen to a place she never imagined.

The Holiday Cottage has it all, even romance. I love how Sarah Morgan quickly develops a relationship to one you feel like you’ve known or seen for years. She pulls it together in a nice little bow leaving room for your imagination.
I highly recommend this Holiday read, 5 stars ! Enjoy!

Thanks to @Harlequintradepublishing @Canarytradepublishing @Htpbooks @netgalley for this eARC
All opinions are my own.

Imogen is a marketing genius, but she has no real life outside of work. She is rejected by her mom and has no family that she can turn to when Christmas is coming and her boss wants her to take a much needed break. Enter Dorothy, a wealthy client of Imogen’s who invited her employee to come stay in her holiday cottage in the country for Christmas. Family secrets are revealed methodically in this well-crafted and compelling novel about being yourself and discovering truths about others, too. Imogen’s story is a sad one of all work and no play, so when she has the chance to get out of London and spend time in the country, she jumps at the chance. Little does she know that she will find more in that little country cottage than she ever expected. The revelations in this novel come quickly once they begin and the moderately paced plot gets faster and more intensely interesting right away. I loved how the stories of all of the characters were woven together into one brilliantly conceived novel. I also enjoyed getting to know the characters, even the dog Ralph who is intuitive and an instant friend to Imogen just when she needs one. With cleverly concealed secrets and plenty of family drama and action, this is a wonderful book to enjoy and discuss in a book group!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Sarah Morgan's Christmas books are a part of getting ready for the season every year for me. No matter where she chooses to take me or what character's she's going to introduce me to, I know I'm going to enjoy it.

In this book, Imogene's life is her work. She had a rough upbringing and just tried to move forward. However, when her neglectful mother's accident causes her to mess up at her job, she is sent off for a vacation right at Christmas time. She ends up in a small cottage owned by a business acquaintance. She gets involved with the people, the secrets they hold, and discovers along the way that there really is more to life than her job.

As usual, a totally delightful story from Ms. Morgan that is filled with family, love, forgiveness, and joy at Christmas time.

Thanks to Canary Street Press and NetGalley for this e-book. All thoughts are my own.

Sarah Morgan has done what she does best. Creates the perfect family dynamics and found families into a great holiday read.
It is almost tradition to read Sarah Morgan for the holidays.
She creates the complex characters and develops their story and backgrounds to immerse you into their world and their experiences.
Sarah created Imogen's & Dorothy's world and we are all living in it as supporting characters. Dorothy is the angel we need and Imogen is us, over worked and learning she needed the support of her found family and self.
Highly recommend this Sarah Morgan book for this holiday season, and maybe a trip to a Holly cottage ourselves.