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.

This book was like a big hug that gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings!

If you’re looking for a super lighthearted pick me up read - THIS is the one!

It was like chatting with my besties, curled up in front of a fire in a wintery Christmas town with a glass (or bottle) of wine and delicious cheeses 🍷 🧀

I didn’t even think I was a big wine and cheese fan, but after reading this I want to have that for dinner nightly 😂

Adorable story. Heartwarming and total feel good vibes. It was a quick and enjoyable read!

I did the listened to the audiobook and the narration was so well done! 🎧

I’m going to start this review with a warning - this book may give you the urge to go out and stock up on wine, cheese, and chocolates. Now onto the story itself. This was all about second opportunities in life whether a second chance at love with a previous partner or taking a new chance on love after having your heart broken. This did have all the makings of a Hallmark movie-esque read with the reconnections, new connections, business miracles, and everything happens for a reason vibes. This story focused on a few different characters’ lives and while Franny was one of the lesser main characters, I actually loved her storyline the most. I’m also a sucker for books about book lovers, so the book club and book store moments really worked for me. The one issue I had with this story is that everything felt like it moved too rapidly. It felt like most of the focus was on the slower moments in building connections to all of a sudden major life changes are happening in the span of a few chapters. I read this via audiobook and thought the narration matched the sweet vibes of the story perfectly. I would recommend the audiobook to enhance the Hallmark movie vibes.

Overall Rating: 3.5⭐️

The Christmas Inn is a beautiful story of family, friends, grief, second chances, and leaps of faith. Pamela M Kelley weaves family and loss along with a gentle approach to romance. I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker. She did a great job with each character she portrayed. From young to old, Ms. Németh-Parker brought the characters to life, adding another dimension to this wonderful story. Women’s fiction isn’t really my thing, but I loved the sweet simpleness of The Christmas Inn.

The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley AUDIO/Print is a charming story, just as are all of Kelly’s books. Riley Sanders had just been called into a meeting and been laid off, as had her entire department. The company was just going to use AI to create content in the future. She was having trouble getting her head around it. She responded by packing a suitcase, grabbing her cat, and taking off for the Cape. She could spend some time with her mother. Her mom had bought an inn and Riley thought she was crazy, but her mom was really happy. Since this was all happening in the weeks before Christmas, she could help out there, apply for any job she saw, and wait until the new year to get serious. That turned out to be a decent plan. She even helped her mom out with some marketing. Others in the small town saw what she was doing and requested her help, too.

Riley had a boyfriend., Jack. He was a very busy lawyer and she only saw him once a week, twice in a good week. He came up one weekend to meet her family but that didn’t really work out. It turns out that Aiden, her high school boyfriend and his young son were staying at the inn while some work was done at their house. She was happy to see an old friend and enjoyed their time together. She applied for two jobs, one at the law firm Jack worked at. She wasn’t sure about that, but went ahead anyway. Riley was a really likable woman, at a crossroads in her life. She thought she knew what she wanted, but maybe she was wrong. We were with her while she decided. It was a fun book. Not a huge plot, but entertaining, and Christmasy.

Stephanie Nemeth-Parker was the narrator and her voice was well-suited to this kind of light romance. She did an excellent job with the main characters as well as those who just flitted through. It is a toss-up which is the better way: reading or listening. Whatever you are comfortable with, just don’t miss this story.

I was invited to read The Christmas Inn by St Martin’s Press and to listen by MacMillan Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #MacMillanAudio #PamelaKelley #StephanieNemethParker #TheChristmasInn

The Christmas Inn by Pamela M. Kelley; Narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker


The story opens with Riley walking back to the office in a snowstorm, “...first snowfall made her want to go home, curl up on the sofa and watch a Hallmark movie.” This sets the atmosphere of this novel and is the perfect book to sit up and curl with during the holiday season, sitting in front of a fireplace blazing with warmth, watching snowflakes out of the window, completes the picture.

Instead of that cozy sofa, Riley returns to the office and loses her job, being replaced by AI. Given the timing of the layoff (holiday season), she decides to visit her mom earlier than planned. She had broken her leg and needed some help with the inn on the Cape. There also seems to be some brewing ambivalence about boyfriend in NY as well, so he isn’t exactly holding her back.

The cozy inn, finding her old high school flame temporarily living at the Inn with his son, the upcoming holiday and Christmas stroll, snow, fireplaces…we have all the makings of a Hallmark movie.

This is a story of endings and beginnings, relationships, and what it really means to be home. Kelley creates a sweet picture of Chatham and the cape. There is the community Riley’s mom has created for herself – family, friends and the friendly atmosphere she creates at her Inn. And we see the stirring of fond, memories of what was left behind for a few of the characters returning for the holiday season. This novel is full of lovely descriptions of community and events – Christmas stroll, gatherings for food – at home, at the inn and at restaurants w/old and new friends, and family.

Thank you to NetGalley; Pamela M. Kelly, MacMillan Audio and narrator, Stephanie Németh-Parker, for the advanced copy.

Review in Goodreads; link below
Amazon after pub. date.

3.5 ⭐️

This read follows the love story of 3 ladies, Riley is the main (in her late 20s/early 30s) with Beth (in her 50s) and Franny (golden years), as they rekindle or find love. Set in a Hallmark perfect town, in their Hallmark perfect B&B, we get to watch these very cute ladies find their matches. It's very sweet. It's very G rated and you know the HEAs coming from the beginning. The audiobook is a great format to consider - the narrator was good. I didn't have any complaints. This sugary-sweet Christmas comfort read is a perfect option if you want a mild Hallmark movie-like read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Pamela M Kelley, and Macmillan audio for the audiobook ARC.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6855757055

Riley loses her job right before Christmas. She has a really good outlook and a savings to hold her through the next few months. Her mom had a fall and broke her leg. Riley is able to help her mom at her Bed and Breakfast. While there, she is able to reconnect with her family and an old flame. She also meets and befriends visitors of the B&B.

I really enjoyed the way the narrator took to this script/story. She had so much inflection and passion. I loved the characters and the scenery. I would love to visit that town and B&B.

Thank you for the copy, this is my honest opinion.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for the free copy for review.

Get ready to be swept off your feet by a holiday romance that's as cozy as your favorite Christmas sweater and as heartwarming as a mug of hot cocoa on a snowy evening. "The Christmas Inn" by Ms. Kelly is a delightful tale of second chances and rediscovering life's true treasures, all wrapped up in a picturesque small-town bow.

For those of us who can't resist the charm of a quaint village during the holidays, this book is a gift that keeps on giving. The story revolves around a small inn that's more inviting than Santa's workshop, populated by a cast of characters you'll wish were your next-door neighbors.

Ms. Kelly's true gift lies in her ability to weave relationships tighter than a Christmas wreath. Family bonds are explored with the tenderness of a Hallmark card and the authenticity of a hand-knitted scarf. The rekindling of old friendships and the spark of new romances are described with such warmth, you'll feel like you're right there in the inn's cozy living room, watching it all unfold by the fireplace.

This book isn't just a story; it's a celebration of all things that make the holidays special – community, love, and the magic of new beginnings. It's the literary equivalent of finding the perfect gift for someone you love – unexpected, joyful, and utterly satisfying.

So far, really enjoying my holiday reading binge and definitely filling up on some holiday fun, romance and some family craziness. The book summary pretty much lays out the start of the story. For Riley, there’s nothing like going back home to Cape Cod after getting laid off from her NYC job because she was replaced by AI. As luck would have it, Riley’s mom, Beth, broke her leg while tending to her Cape Cod B&B and is struggling with keeping the Inn full lately. Alas, super marketing whiz, Riley, home for the holidays to help out while Beth is on the mend. Riley does her marketing magic and voilà, reservations start coming in.

Can’t have a holiday romance story without a hunky widower or any other male who is single as a pringle. This hunk happens to be, Aiden, Riley’s high school sweetheart, who she dumped after graduation, before going off to college, because she had no intention of coming back to Cape Cod after college. Aiden, who did come back after college, so that he could take over his father’s accounting firm, so his parents could retire – to AZ, where millions of other east coast retirees flock to. Aiden married a townie and they had a son, Luke. His wife died three years earlier. Aiden and Luke are staying at the Inn through Christmas because of some unexpected home repairs. Aiden has decided that he and Luke are going to skip Christmas this year, unbeknownst to Luke.

Most of the story revolves around updating the promotion, branding and marketing of the Inn to get reservations back up to what they used to be. There are also the issues Riley is having with long-time boyfriend, Jack, who is a workaholic, much to Riley’s concern and displeasure. Riley and Beth have also decided to make this Christmas a special one for Luke, in spite of Aiden’s resistance. The guests at the Inn are a wonderful addition to the story, especially, Franny, an elderly woman who just lost her beloved sister and is mired in grief. Her sister left her some letters, messages about how to move on.

This story, including the romance sections, was kind of slow and a little bland; very G-rated for those that like to know that kind of stuff. There wasn’t even much drama until deep into the second half. The ending was nice and wrapped up the story in a big, pretty bow. The second half was better than the first half, which saved this story from a disappointing rating.

The character development of most of the characters was fairly good. The pacing was really slow, with the second half being a little better than the first half. The storyline was ok, once again, the second half was a little better than the first. The writing was fine, but one of the most surprising and funny things about the story were the recipes that Beth and Riley made for the Inn guests. I actually wrote a few of them down to try out. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.25 that I will be rounding down to a 3star review. I want to thank NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio #TheChristmasInn