This is a sweet Christmas-y book about three women who all find new paths. Riley was laid off right before Christmas- her job is going to be done by AI moving forward. She heads to her childhood home on Cape Cod to regroup and help her mother. Her mom runs and inn and just broke her leg. She could use the help. And then, Franny, one of the guests, just lost her sister. Her sister asked for her to stick around their hometown for a few weeks. Over that time, Franny remembers all of the good memories she had on the Cape.

I enjoyed this book about Christmas on Cape Cod. It is fluff, but enjoyable fluff. This type of book is never going to be a five star read for me, but I do enjoy them. My reason is mainly they tend to be overly detailed. I do not need descriptions of every outfit everyone wears and everything they eat.

Now, my real complaint here is with marketing. This is not a romance. Stop marketing these books as romance. Is there some minor romance? Sure. But with this one in particular, <spoiler> Riley is in a long term relationship until the very end!!! NOT A ROMANCE. </spoiler>

Stephanie Németh-Parker narrates the audiobook. She always does a great job.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re craving a heartwarming, feel-good story set against the backdrop of a Cape Cod Christmas, The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley is the perfect choice. As comforting as a cozy blanket and hot cocoa on a cold day, this book is a delightful blend of personal growth, second-chance romance, and the magic of the holidays.

The story follows Riley Sanders, who unexpectedly finds herself without a job just before Christmas. When she learns that her mom has broken her leg, she decides to head home to Cape Cod to help out with the family inn. The inn is charmingly set along the shores, and Riley hopes the change of scenery—and her family—will provide a much-needed distraction from her troubles.

Little does she know, her mother’s inn isn’t faring as well as expected, especially with the holiday rush approaching. The guest list is shorter than anticipated, but among the handful staying at the inn are some key characters—Aidan, Riley’s high school sweetheart, and his son Luke, who are temporarily living at the inn while their home undergoes renovations. There’s also Franny, who is grieving the loss of her sister and carrying four unopened letters meant to help guide her through a new chapter in life.

Kelley does a fantastic job of capturing all the cozy, festive vibes of Christmas on Cape Cod. From the crackling fires to the festive cookies, the setting alone makes you want to book a holiday escape. While the storyline is predictable in the best kind of way, I found myself enjoying every moment of it.

I particularly loved how Franny’s journey paralleled Riley’s in its own quiet way. Franny’s inner conflict between returning to her life in Manhattan or staying in Cape Cod felt authentic and meaningful. It’s a story of growth, love, and finding what matters most. The romantic subplots, especially between Riley and Aidan, are sweet and believable—they add to the holiday magic without feeling forced.

I also enjoyed all the holiday activities described at the inn and in the community. The festivities added to the cozy, nostalgic feeling and gave me all the holiday feels, even though I was reading this in September!

The Narration:

I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker, whose performance was absolutely lovely. Her voice had a gentle, comforting tone, and she did a wonderful job giving each character a distinct voice, making the whole experience feel like I was wrapped in a warm blanket.

Final Thoughts:

The Christmas Inn is a heartwarming read that’s sure to lift your spirits, whether you’re in the mood for holiday cheer or just looking for a feel-good escape.

#BookReview : The Christmas Inn by Pamela M. Kelley (audiobook)

This was a great first audiobook experience through NetGalley. I listened to the entire book and enjoyed the narrator's performance. The story was a heartwarming Christmas romance with a Hallmark movie setting. It's a feel-good story. I appreciated how Riley was eager to help her mom with the bed and breakfast. The characters were likeable and the romance, sweet.

This was also my first book by the author and it won't be my last.

Thank you netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Rating: 4 stars

This one was a delightful surprise.

Riley Sanders just lost her job in Manhattan, right before Christmas, and she goes back home to Chatham to help her mother with her Bed & Breakfast during the holidays while she begins to job hunt. There are a couple of other endearing female characters and some romantic threads going on, and this book would make an excellent Christmas movie—-heartwarming!

I really enjoyed the story and I look forward to more from this author. I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was so good! I want to go to Chatham!

Four twinkly stars for this one!

I received a complimentary copy of the audiobook from NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

A sweet Christmas romance that covers three generations. First love, old love and new love. All center around a typical small town Christmas. Riley lost her job in New York and returns home to help her mom who broke her leg with the inn she owns. Things are slow at the inn and Riley using her business experience revamps the marketing. A surprise for her was that her old boyfriend and is son were staying at the inn. With the new marketing ideas the inn is sold out and Riley and Aidan along with his son Luke and fellow guest Franny and of course her mom bond together during happy hour.
As life takes them different ways they always return and strengthen the friendship that develops over a glass of wine. I did enjoy the audiobook and also read it. The narrator was very good, I felt like I could smell the meals being cooked. Thank you for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own. #TheChristmasInn

Christmas stories are my absolute favorites and this one sure hit the mark. I also have a soft spot for books involving inns. It always brings characters into the book that have their own different backgrounds and stories.

Riley has come back home to help her mother run the inn while she recovers from a broken leg. Staying at the Christmas Inn is an older woman living out quests from letters left her by her deceased sister. There is Aiden (Riley's old boyfriend) and his young son. Could there still be something there between them? Other character help round out the entertaining cast.

I alternated between the digital and the audio version of this book narrated by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker. The narration was excellent and just what I hope for in a Christmas book. The voices were easily distinguishable and pleasant to listen to.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the copies. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was the perfect book to get me in the season. Pamela M. Kelley is an auto read auto for me and this book was adorable.

Give me all the holiday romance, yes even in September, I’m always a sucker for a Hallmark style read and this one delivered exactly that vibe. I loved the Cape Cod setting which was primarily at an inn and I really enjoyed the cast of characters. Riley and her mom interact with a sweet group of characters who are staying at the inn and I liked them all but Franny the most, she was such a sweet woman. There were lots of food descriptions, I feel like people either love or hate that and I enjoy it so heads up there but overall this was a delightful little holiday romance that was fantastic on audio and provided me with such a sweet escape. The narrator is a longtime favorite for me and she was so engaging and entertaining.

The Christmas Inn
by: Pamela M. Kelley
narrator: Stephanie Nemeth-Parker
Macmillan Audio
Pub date: Sept. 24, 2024
Romance / Women's Fiction

Listening to the audiobook of The Christmas Inn is as satisfying as the hot chocolate and tea served at the inn during the Christmas season. Kelley had me cheering for all of her main characters, including Riley, who returns to Cape Cod to help her mother Beth, the innkeeper, after she breaks her leg. I was engrossed in the holiday feelings experienced at a warm, cozy inn with a Cape Cod setting.

Kelley's gentle writing style is so descriptive and engaging, from the food and events at the Chatham Coastal Inn, to the Christmas atmosphere in the community. I especially enjoyed the relationship building of the story, with family, new friends, and second chances at romance. Narrator Stephanie Nemeth-Parker is a favorite, and I was happy to hear her expressive voice deliver this lovable story to me.

I received an advance listener's copy from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. My review is my own.

This is the book you've been waiting for! Multigenerational look at life, love and loss with a dose of second chances and starting over mixed in. Set around the Christmas season so brew up a cup of cocoa, coffee or hot cinnamon tea to set the mood and dive into the book! However, I must warn you that you need to make sure that you block the day off so you can spend it wrapped up in the lives of characters in this book as you won't want to put the book down for even a second! The characters are extremely well thought out with unique personalities, quirks, insecurities and charm to make them relatable and realistic. They will draw you into the story and keep you invested to the last word! FYI: If you like audiobooks, this book is available in audio and the narration is outstanding as well. The narrator does an amazing job of taking a well written book and bringing it even further to life. So, whether you prefer to read the book yourself or you like a narrator to do it for you, you can't go wrong with grabbing this book! I'm already planning on making this the book that I give to my reader friends for Christmas this year. The plot is well thought out, heartwarming and engaging! I can't wait for this author to create another world for me to fall into!

A Hallmark movie in book form.

This was very cute, and totally got me in the mood for the holiday season. Overall, it was super sweet and a nice introduction to the holidays.

This is definitely a book for the Hallmark movie lovers.

This was a sweet and cozy listen with all the hallmark vibes! I enjoyed the characters and their stories, but I will say, I don’t think I was quite the intended audience for this one. I usually like a little more banter and conflict to the story to have more reward with happily ever afters. This would be a great read for someone who wants a completely closed door romance!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for my ALC in exchange for my honest feedback!

This is such a feel good, cozy, holiday read and a great example of how it's never too early for Christmas stories. Just from the cover I felt like this one would have a very Hallmark feel and I was not wrong, so if you're a sucker for all those holiday Hallmark movies, you'll want to add this book to your tbr. I listened to the audio and cozied up with some fuzzy socks, my reading blanket, and of course my dogs, and got sucked right into the cozy inn and the lives of its residents. While Riley's is the main story, the author still gives plenty of insight to her mom's life and new love interest, as well as Franny, an older woman staying at the inn for the holidays while beginning a journey her recently departed sister has set her on through a series of letters she wrote before her death.

I liked Riley's outlook after losing her job in the city. She gets right up and takes this time to help her mom out on the Cape and ends up reconnecting with her first love. The Christmas Inn sounds like the perfect place to be for the holidays and all of the characters are sweet and easily lovable. Riley and Aidan's second chance at romance feels like it was always inevitable, like they were meant not to work out until they were a bit older because otherwise he would never have had his son Luke. It's also nice to see how the other characters' lives are changing this holiday season; everyone is finding their own joy and new experiences, giving the story even greater found family and holiday cheer vibes.

Stephanie Németh-Parker does a fantastic job narrating, drawing listeners in with her cheerful and steady voice. It's easily an audiobook you can listen to in one sitting and I felt like it flew by.

If you love small towns, second chance romance, forced proximity, found family, and of course holiday cheer, then check out this audio!

Thank you MacMillan Audio for the digital ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The Christmas Inn will be released on 9/24/24 so be on the lookout!

Thank you to #NetGalley #MacmillanAudio and #PamelaKelley for an advanced audio copy of this book.

This heartwarming story set in the beautiful Cape Cod area of Massachusetts (and a bit in Manhattan) is full of all the best holiday feels. The characters Kelley shared with us in the pages of this book are people I would enjoy spending time with over a cup of coffee or hot tea. This story drops readers into the lives of Riley Sanders, Beth, Aiden, and Franny primarily, and allows us to journey with them as they navigate their current, less than ideal, life situations. I enjoyed the perspectives of each character as they processed, through Kelley's writing of their words and thoughts, the highs and lows of life, and came away with strong reminders to let go of the little things, keep meals simple but delicious (especially at the holidays), be present for those that need us, be thoughtful and generous with our time and talents, and invest in relationships with those we love. Relationships are priceless, and we need to take advantage of opportunities to engage with others instead of letting other things become more important. Loved this book!

Really enjoyed this cute feel-good romance story with Riley and Aidan, her high school sweetheart, and their reconnection. His son Luke was adorable and I loved all the Christmas activities.

Sometimes, admidst everything you need a feel good, happy book with good food, in this case wonderful wine and cheese recommendations, Trader Joes' here I come to get ou through the day. I want to move to Chatham MA, in hopes I might meet these wonderful people. When you feel good after listening to a story, you can charge ahead in the day to day. Thank you for happy reading.

3.5 Stars

This definition swoon worthy, Hallmark Christmas movie wrapped up in a book! That is why I only gave 3.5 stars. It was very predictable.
I did really enjoy that there were 3 HEAs instead of just one! The narr0rator did a fantastic job and this was a very quick listen.

There're parts of this story which I absolutely love, and then there were bits which bored me till I zoned out. We have 3 FMCs, all of them at pivotal times in their life and undergo a decent character arc over the course of the book. The setting and its descriptions were quite pleasant to say the least. I love that all of the characters get their happy ending in the end, but the process of getting there was pretty tedious. The writing was off at times, with way too much filler to unnecessarily lengthen the book and the character voices were at times hard to distinguish. The occasional scenes with lovely banter kept me going and that was the only thing that made the listen worthwhile.

Posting on September 8, 2024
This audiobook got me in the mood for Christmas! I loved everything about, the location, Riley coming home and seeing old friends, and of course high school sweethearts reuniting. Anyone who loves Christmas and food will love this book as well, because there is a lot of food talk. Which is a good thing! I also enjoyed that Riley’s mom was also taking chances and living her best life.
Riley had a lot to think about while home for the holidays. Of course, she always wanted to live in a big city and to have her career, but what if that wasn’t enough anymore? Would living in Chatham for good mean that she gave up on her own dreams? Or would it mean that she finally found what had been missing in her life?
If you want to start the holidays out right, do so by reading or listening to this book. You won’t regret, my only recommendation is that you enjoy with some Christmas cookies.

All the perfect Hallmark feels!
This is a slow burn no spice type of romance.
Christmas is woven in the background but not the focal point making this a perfect read during the cooler months.

When Riley loses her job as a marketing manager she goes to her home town to help her mom that broke her leg with the Inn. All the hallmark love and feelings ensue.

I listened via audio. I think it was a perfect! The audio narration was great!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my opinion.