This one gives all the holiday vibes just like in a Hallmark movie. Riley Sanders lost her job just before the holidays. She decides to head back to Cape Cod to help her injured mother run the Inn. This was a cute, feel-good story with good characters and a solid plot. Riley is determined to revive the failing inn and to find herself a new job. A sweet and cozy story to read around the holiday time.

hank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This is the third or fourth book that I have read that was written by Pamela Kelley and I must say that she is becoming one of my favorite women's fiction writers. With Elin Hilderbrand "retiring" from writing about Nantucket, I think Pamela Kelley is a contender to become the next Elin Hilderbrand. And while this book is not a beach read, it still takes place on the Cape. I could see tthis book being adapted into a Hallmark or Lifetime Christmas movie. This book was like being wrapped up in a nice cozy blanket, and just made me feel so warm and fuzzy. I enjoyed every second of reading this book.

Stephanie Nemeth Parker narrates the audiobook and I thought she was a great fit and has a very pleasant voice.

Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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I really enjoyed this Pamela Kelly novel. It was a heartwarming story of family, love, loss and redemption set around the holidays. I enjoyed the characters and the plot line. It is a warm and comfortable read that is perfect for the holidays!

I also had the opportunity to preview the audiobook which was very enjoyable to listen to. The narrator, Stephanie Németh-Parker, was easy to listen to and I look forward to listening to other novels that she narrates.

Thank you Net Galley, Pamela Kelly, Stephanie Németh-Parker, St Martin's Press and MacMillian Audio for the opportunity to preview both the e book and audiobook. The opinions shared are my own.

What a sweet Christmas book! This felt like a warm hug while holding a cup of hot chocolate ☃️ It was cozy and had a good storyline. I do wish that it would have been in first person rather than third, but that’s just personal preference. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the gifted audiobook. #macaudio24 (Available 24 Sep 24)

The book was like if the Hallmark Channel and Food TV had a baby. Heaven help me. If you can read this without immediately pouring a big glass of Cabernet to sip along with a tray of gourmet cheese, you’re a stronger person than I am. I was googling varietals, blends, and manchego like a madwoman.

This charming, sweet story had tons of detail about everyday things: what they ate and drank down to the types of cheese and the exact number of nuts on their plate. Okay, I exaggerated on the last part, but this was down to the minutia. If it had been a thriller, I would have thought the writer was dropping important clues each time they mentioned a new wine. Is that the poisoned bottle? But it wasn’t. It was just a little story about regular people living regular lives while discovering and enjoying interesting wine and cheese. That’s it. And yet, it kind of worked. Like playing a happy movie in the background while you get dinner ready. Easy peasy.

Oh wait, the plot! Daughter loses her high-speed job in Manhattan and returns to help her mother run an inn in Cape Cod during Christmas. Runs into her (widowed) ex from high school. Her mom meets a handsome handyman. Chapters ensue. There are Christmas trees. And a lot of wine. Spoiler Alert: Happy Endings.

A cute holiday book that's right up Hallmark's alley. This one is about Riley, her Mom, and the guests at her Mom's Bed and Breakfast. After Riley gets laid off (just before Christmas, those grinches) she heads to the cape to help her Mom with the business. I should have loved the story but it just was a little too slow pacing wise for me. If you like wholesome Christmas stories that are low drama, I think this would be right up your alley. Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

I’m such a sucker for a Hallmark holiday romance vibe and The Christmas Inn definitely had me feeling those vibes! It has all the typical elements that we love in a holiday romance: small town setting, heart-felt storylines, cozy feel and likable characters.
The Christmas Inn has multiple stories intertwined. While the main character’s story was enduring and sweet, I also really enjoyed the stories of the side characters.
This was a sweet, happily ever after romance with all the things you’d expect in a feel good Christmas story.

Inn’s in New England are my favorite thing ever! I could read about them any day. This reads like an even better Hallmark movie that I could get lost in.

This book is reminiscent of a Hallmark movie, in a good way. It’s just a sweet story about Riley who unexpectedly gets fired from her job. She decides to spend some time at her mom’s B&B where she sees old friends and makes new ones. Along the way she starts to rethink some of the things she wanted.
I really enjoyed this book. I’ve read this author before and this had the high quality writing, character development and story development I’ve come to expect from her. I did read this as an audiobook and the narrator was great. I carried my phone with me all day long so I could keep going with the story.
I received this book as a free ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Christmas Inn by Pamela M Kelly
Contemporary holiday check lit, and romance. Multiple POV.
Riley Sanders losses her marketing job in New York right before Christmas. She travels home to Cape Cod to help when she finds out her mother has broken her leg and is struggling to keep up with the work at the B&B, the Chatham Coastal Inn. Riley can also use her marketing experience to boost demand which has been slowing.
Franny loses her sister at seventy-eight. She’s already arranged everything and paid for the gathering to be a celebration rather than a sad event. She’s also left Franny four letters that’s she is to open each week as she stays at the Inn.
Riley, her sister Amy and their mother Beth, reconnect more than they would have if Riley was in town just a couple of days for the holiday. Franny, Aiden, and Luke, guests at the Inn all benefit from the additional family and holiday celebrations.
Cape Cod is special to all of them and it’s going to be an enriching holiday season.

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker who does a wonderful job with the multiple couples and various family members. There aren’t a lot of volatile emotions in this story but I was able to hear the concern for the mother, the sadness from the loss of a sister, the worry from the father and the joy of Christmas from the child. This narrator has done hundreds of books and the professionalism shows in the flawless production. I did listen at 1.5 since that more closely matches my reading and speech patterns.
I enjoyed the audiobook a lot but between the two formats would recommend the print version because of the multiple POV’s. The first couple of sentences of each chapter does include the name of the POV that chapter is for, but it’s easier to identify that by seeing the name than waiting for the name to be heard. Having the chapter number announced does help to know the POV has changed. The child’s joy of Christmas and trains did endear me to the audiobook format.

A heartwarming story of love, made family and knowing what you want in the next phase of life.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher MacmillanAudio.

Lovely Christmas themed story!!

Riley is living her best life! She has everything she ever wished for!!
An apartment in NYC. A boyfriend (Jack) with a good job. And family back on Cape Cod that she can go visit at will! ❤️

And then, just before Christmas, she gets called in to her bosses office. (She is a content manager for a big company.) The entire department is being laid off…due to the progression of AI.

To make matters worse, she gets a call from her sister asking for help. Her Mom just fell and broke her leg. How is she going to run her B&B??

Riley figures this couldn’t have happened at a better time. At least now she HAS the time to go home and help her Mom!!

🛑🛑 STOP HERE if you don’t want to know anything else!!
Outline is below. 🛑🛑

So as Riley gets home and starts helping out Mom at the B&B she meets the guests.

One is Aidan and his 9 year old son Luca. He was her HS crush. He recently lost his wife, had some problems at the house and is staying there until the house is ready.

Another is Franny, an older woman who recently lost her sister. She’s returned to the Cape for the funeral…and decided to stay on for a while. You see her sister left her a series of letters to be opened, with instructions, after her death. 😢

As we explore the lives of these core people, well, your heart will cry, and your heart will swell. For that is the spirit of Christmas. 🎄 And it is portrayed beautifully in this story!! A perfect, feel-good, Hallmark movie vibes book!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

#TheChristmasInn by #PamelaKelley and narrated beautifully by #StephanieNemethParker.

**** Release date is coming very soon on 9/24/24! Look for it then! ****

4 big Christmas-y 🎄🎄⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎄🎄 for me!

⭐️ Comfy B&B with fireplaces and hot cocoa
⭐️ Christmas themed 🎄🎅🏼🤶🏼
⭐️ Warm family vibes
⭐️ Old friends, old places, new beginnings…and maybe…second chances all around…❤️

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Enjoyable Hallmark-like movie in book form. And I’m here for it!!

The Christmas Inn, by Pamela Kelly, is a sweet, charming holiday romance. It is set in Cape Cod during the holidays which sounds magical! Riley Sanders is working at her dream job in NYC doing content marketing when her entire department is down sized and replaced with AI. Riley calls her sister to discuss and finds out that their mom had broken her leg and needs help running her B&B. Perfect timing! The story is charming. My favorite part is seeing Riley slowly realize how lonely her life was in NYC and how much more meaningful it is to do life day to day with friends and family. Throw in a holiday romance and delightful food descriptions and this book is a treat for holiday romance lovers!

The Christmas Inn by Pamela M. Kelley is a heartwarming holiday novel that perfectly captures the spirit of the season. Set against a charming backdrop, the story unfolds with delightful characters that are both relatable and endearing. Stephanie Németh-Parker’s narration adds warmth and joy, enhancing the cozy atmosphere. (I received an advance copy and all opinions are my own.) This feel-good tale is a perfect escape for anyone looking to embrace the magic of Christmas, making it an ideal read for the holiday season!

The Christmas Inn
By Pamela Kelley
Narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker
Length 8 hr, 41 min
Pub Date September 23, 2024


Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

The Christmas Inn delivers all the Hallmark Christmas vibes!

Beth, a marketing exec from NYC, heads back home to help her mom with the family inn for the holidays after being laid off, and guess who she runs into? Her high school sweetheart! He’s a handsome, single dad in need of some Christmas cheer and now Beth is wondering if she chose the right path in life. We also get to follow Riley’s mom, Beth, as she has a little holiday romance of her own. Then, there’s Franny, an adorable elderly woman who’s grieving her sister. Before passing, Franny’s sister leaves some letters reminding her it's never too late to live life to the fullest.

It’s so wholesome and packed with holiday goodness. Pamela Kelley nails all the little details - from the food and recipes to the cozy atmosphere of the Inn. I loved that they watched It’s a Wonderful Life, which is one of my favorite Christmas movies, that was a fun touch for me! If you’re into heartwarming Christmas romances, this one's perfect for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Riley’s on her way back to her hometown for Christmas, but not for fun. When she got the call her mom fell and broke her leg, Riley decided to head home to help at the family’s bed and breakfast while her mom recovers. And where better to drown her sorrows about losing her job than back home with her mom? Will getting to know their guests and reconnecting with the community and her family help Riley find what she feels is missing in her life, or will it bring more chaos than she’s ready for?

Bestselling author Pamela M. Kelley is back with a holiday adventure to Cape Code in The Christmas Inn. With novels like The Nantucket Inn and The Bookshop at the Bay, Kelley is a master of the coastal romance novel and delivers her trademark “feel-good read” in this newest release. This book delivers small town romance, a little mystery, and plenty of family drama along the way.

I give The Christmas Inn 4 out of 5 stars. Instead of solely focusing on Riley as the main character, Kelley delivers an ensemble cast including Riley’s family, friends, and their town. I appreciate the light mystery woven in through one of the guests’ scavenger hunts courtesy of letters from a dead sister. I also appreciate the behind-the-scenes glimpses into life running a bed and breakfast from providing food, to getting the rooms ready for guests, to developing marketing and event ideas. It does read a bit like a Hallmark movie script, but is a perfect light read to get you ready for your upcoming holiday travel.

If you love Kelley’s other works, you will love this book, too. With discussions of death and light romance, I would direct this to audiences over 13. This would be a fantastic girlfriend or sister read along, especially if traveling together for the holidays. I would love to see this as a book club selection around the holidays, too – between the decorations and foods mentioned throughout the book, it would provide a lot of other ideas for crafts and snacks to go along with the discussion!

I chose this book based on the cover when I saw it on Netgalley – how gorgeous is that snowy scene? I’m also familiar with Kelley’s other works and the quality of her writing. I am so excited to have had the opportunity of reading this book before it’s release. The Christmas Inn released earlier this week on the 24th. You can grab your copy today on our Bookshop.org page!

This book will get you in the holiday spirit! Seriously, a good read while you’re warming up inside by the fire or watching the snow fall outside! Definitely gave me Hallmark romance vibes!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Christmas Inn
By; Pamela Kelley
Narrator: Stephanie Nemeth-Parker
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Pub Date: 9/24/24

It’s Christmas already in the book world and this is my first of the year. Pamela’s books always remind me of a Hallmark Christmas movie! I love how some of her characters from her other books are sprinkled in this one too.
Riley has unexpectedly been laid off from her job in Manhattan. Its turns into the ideal timing when her sister calls to tell her their mom fell and broke her leg. Riley knows her sister has her hands full with toddler twins, so she heads home to the Cape to help out. There we meet the guests of the Inn her mother owns including Riley’s high school boyfriend and his 9 year old son. This was a quick read which I really enjoyed on what’s hopefully the last 90° day in Iowa.
Stephanie is always such a delight to listen to and does a beautiful job bring the characters to life.
Thanks to Pamela Kelley, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this galley.

The Christmas Inn was my first book by Pamela Kelly but it definitely won’t be my last. I absolutely adored this book. It’s the perfect cozy book to read on a snowy day.

Riley loses her job and goes back home to help her mom with the Inn she owns in Cape Cod. Riley couldn’t wait to leave her hometown when she was younger and that was the downfall of her relationship with her high school sweetheart Aidan, who happens to be one of the guests at the inn.

Aiden and his son were great characters and every guest at the inn was amazing. There were no bad characters in the Inn. It was so easy to root for Riley but given her situation, I didn’t know what she was going to do. She is in a serious relationship with an attorney in New York. He is not a bad guy but he will always put work before Riley. I wanted her with Aiden but he has his own heartbreak to think about. His wife passed away unexpectedly leaving him a single father.

I didn’t even touch on how great Riley’s mom was! This book has to be on the top of your Christmas book list because I can’t say enough good things about it.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the digital audiobook; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was looking for something lighter after dealing with some heavier historical fiction and biographies, and Pamela M. Kelly has done it again. I’ve enjoyed a couple of her book previously and have enjoyed her writing every time. There’s such a warmth to the characters and the settings, and let’s not forget the copious amounts of wine, cheese, and chocolate.

Narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker. I thought she brought the right tone to this homey, feel-good story. I enjoyed the sweet and simple story that’s the perfect thing to get you in the holiday mood. If you like a slow-paced story, closed door romance, and loads of character development, this book is for you.

For more reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com

This is the perfect holiday read. It’s simply delightful. This is the story is found family, second chance love and a charming setting centered around an inn. I loved the characters so much. Their struggles are completely authentic and relatable. I’ll be recommending this book to anyone looking for a good Christmas story.