Although I’m not usually an audiobook listener, my love for Christmas led me to give The Christmas Cottage by Davis Bunn a try as an audio preread/early release through NetGalley. While I was hoping for a bit more holiday magic, the story still delivers a touching tale of healing, hope, and second chances.

The story explores whether we can truly go home again—and if love from the past can be rekindled. Dillon Farrow left Miramar at seventeen, determined to rise above a difficult childhood. Now a successful investment counselor, he’s been forced to return, financially ruined and disillusioned after a deep betrayal by a trusted friend. As if fate had a hand in his arrival, a winter flood traps Dillon and his fellow travelers in town, with the only available shelter being the local jail. There, he encounters his first love: Olivia, the girl he left behind.

Olivia Greer, recently divorced and facing her own heartache, has returned to Miramar after years away. With her mother—the woman she always turned to—gone, and her family’s hillside cottage empty and neglected, Olivia feels adrift. The flood adds one more test to her resilience, but it also brings an unexpected reunion with Dillon. Together, they try to rekindle a spark not just for themselves, but for the town that has suffered so much.

Cute little story nonetheless!

I didn't really enjoy the audio version and never connected with the characters. Not really a true Christmas story either. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ahh so super cute. I’m still kind of into the spooky Halloween reading but this was a quick and light Christmasy tale that will be sure to get you excited for the holiday season ahead!

The audiobook is narrated very well and really pulls you into the story. I feel like most audiobooks are narrated by women and this one is narrated by Graham Winton so it’s a nice change, especially for a holiday read.

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media, Kensington Publishing, and the author for the ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!

What a good book! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I loved the main characters! They had great chemistry and worked so well together. I loved how the book just flowed. My first by this author but will not be my last!! I love a good Christmas book!!

This charming holiday novel takes place in Miramar, CA. Dillion and Olivia were high school sweethearts who left Miramar as soon as they could and are returning after losing everything. Will they reunite and find love?

This novel was beautiful and such a cute holiday read. I enjoyed the growth of the town and it's characters. This story was interesting as the town and it's struggles are just a much of a character as the people. I thoroughly enjoyed this and loved this wholesome, Christmas, found family, romance story of growth and renewal. Beautiful.

Thank you RB audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A Christmas story....of two lost souls, down on their luck, and returning home to try and put their lives back together. When Dillon, the male protagonist, sees Olivia, the female protagonist and his first love, it is the first time they have encountered each other since he left her behind. Reuniting is a blessing for them both, but not the ending the reader will expect. Read to find out the twist in the story.

Can you go home again? Can you rekindle that first love? These are the questions we ask in The Christmas Cottage. Dillion returns home after leaving as a teenager. It's not the best of circumstances that he returns home. His hometown has been devastated by a winter storm that does lots of damage to the town and right at Christmas. Olivia has also returned back home. Her circumstances not much better. The join forces to try and bring a little Christmas cheer to the town and maybe even save their town.

3.5 Stars: Dillon Farrow left Miramar when he was seventeen. He built up a successful investment business, until a betrayal by a friend brought it all crashing down. His only choice is to move back to Miramar and live in the family cottage while trying to rebuild his life. Olivia Greer, Dillon's high school sweetheart is recovering from a divorce and heads back to Miramar. She hasn't been home since her mother died and the family cottage has sat empty ever since. She plans to move in and figure out what is next in her life. As they are both returning, a winter flood sweeps away all the roads in town, and they are forced to take refuge in the local jail. This reunion brings back sweet memories, and will change lives for more than one person in Miramar.

This was a sweet story set at Christmas. I have only read one other book in this series and enjoyed it. This was fine to read as a standalone, although it is book #9). The mayor of Miramar is an old friend, and the ex-wife of Dillon's best buddy growing up. They all work together to rebuild Miramar, as well as their lives. This is a slow moving story, and besides being set at Christmas, there isn't a lot of festive activities. This is a story of forgiveness, new beginnings, working together, rebuilding, friendship and some romance. I enjoyed this one, but would have liked more Christmas. As the book is basically told from Dillon's POV, Graham Winton was a perfect choice for the narrator. He does a great job with the voices and story. I enjoyed his performance and know that he added enjoyment to this story.

The Christmas Cottage (audiobook) by Davis Bunn
I must admit that I was expecting more “Christmas “ in this story, but in the actions of a town rebuilding, the spirit of Christmas certainly set the tone. The part of rebuilding a town after a storm destroys it and the roads leading to it, was so relevant and on point with where I live right now, it just happened.

Set in Miramar Bay, California, this is a story about redemption, rebuilding, and re-enforcing the human spirit. Dillon and Olivia both arrive back in town from different directions and circumstances. With a lot of history and brokenness they are looking for a reboot and a safe landing space. In their retreat from their former life, they reconnect as friends and build a new relationship with respect and trust as a they work together to help a town they hold close to their hearts. They land in jail, as there is no where else to stay, they both find new direction and purpose.
This is a story of rekindling hope.
I found the story well written, and I was not hindered with it being in a series that I had not previously read. It was fine as a stand alone.

The narrator had a soothing, storytelling voice with full command of his audience. Well done!
I would like to thank NetGalley for the ARC of the audiobook for review.
4/5⭐️

This is a quick read, it's a lot like Nicholas Sparks novels. It takes place at Christmas but is not much of a holiday book because of the characters' situations. Books in the Miramar Bay series can be read individually and a visit back to Miramar Bay is always satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Sadly I didn’t finish this one. Can’t say I was enjoying narrator or the story. Not sure which one was actually to blame but it just didn’t work for me.

Not the love story I was hoping for. Having both left Marimar 9 years ago for better things both Olivia and Dillion return coincidentally at the same broken and looking for the comfort of home. They come home to their town having been ravaged by a flood. Surprised to see one another again they reconnect helping out through this tragedy. Olivia uses her camera to capture photos to give the townsfolk a sense of hope and happiness. This wasn’t a love triangle because Olivia encouraged Dillion to start a relationship with another woman from town. I would’ve liked to have see them rekindle their childhood love. I feel like Dillion felt the bond with the woman’s daughter to choose that life for himself rather than try again with Olivia Thank you to NetGalley and RB media for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

The Christmas Cottage is advertised as Christmas Romance and I feel so disappointed after reading it because it barely has any Christmas or romance. It seems like the author remembers this is supposed to be a xmas novel at the end of the book and then tosses a santa Claus in there.

The short summary is Dillon and Olivia were high school sweethearts and now 20ish years later find themselves back in their hometowns after a storm. They are both broke and without any future plans. They help rebuild the town by using their skills - Olivia is a photographer and Dillon is an accountant. Most of the book is dedicated to describing photography lightning, cameras, paper or red paper and how FEMA works. I would recommend this book for people who like photography or paperwork :D.

You don't understand why the main characters broke up in their teenage years. It's supposed to have shook the whole town, but everyone is fine when they both return and just decide to be friends, without a serious tal about the past. The romance part is basically "hmm I think I am interested in this guy" and that's it. You are supposed to see the romance there.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

The book is nice, positive and heartwarming.
I expected more of a Christmas, but received more of a self-knowing, self-finding, self-developing kind of book, which is not bad, but just did not match my expectations. The Christmas theme is very slightly touched.
The community's joint efforts on reviving the Bay from its ashes is remarkable and enjoyable to read.
Dillon and Olivia'a SPOILER!!!!not coming togetherSPOILER!!!! is a nice change and was kind of unexpected for me.
Some of the characters were truly hard to relate, however as there are many of them and the book is shortish. it is overall a mediocre reading experience.

This book did not grasp me at all. I couldn't get through it. It is very little to do with Christmas and time of magic. The plot itself was a little dull.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley for my honest review. I went into this book expecting something more with holiday spirit. But apart from this story (a flood devastated a town) taking place around Christmas, it doesn’t have any Christmas feel at all. I know this is book 7ish or something in the Miramar series, and I have not read any of the previous ones, so that may impact this, But I just didn’t love any of the characters. I just didn’t connect with any of the them.

What a beautiful story of community and friendship.

I haven't read any of the previous books in this series, and I was able to follow it with no problems.

Trigger warning: natural disaster.

The narrator did an amazing job on the audiobook.

NetGalley provided this audio. Opinions are my own.

I listened to the audio version of this book, so I did finish it. If I had to read it I probably would not have. I expected this book to be about Christmas and a cottage, but Christmas was a very small focus of the story, and the cottage even less.

There was too much focus on politics and government. So much of the storyline was focused on completing forms, the government reimbursing the city for their damage, that it took away from everything else. Also, too many descriptions on things that really didn’t matter, making it drag on and the words didn't mean much to the storyline.

It was sweet how the community came together to rebuild the town after a flood and also how welcoming they were to Dillon and Olivia, who both had been away for some time.

This book was just ok. I probably wouldn't recommend or re-read it.

Classic, feel-good holiday fare.

‘The Christmas Cottage’ is all about second chances — for a storm-ravaged town as well as two world-weary souls who make their way back home after devastating circumstances leave them no choice. Dillon and Olivia haven’t seen each other in years but fate has brought them back to Miramar at just the right time.

This is as much the town’s story as it is theirs. Because Miramar is a community made up of overcomers. Good people willing to help in whatever capacity they can. And the town needs that help after weathering a bout of storms, floods and mudslides. Miramar is officially a disaster zone just days before Christmas.

Love the host of diverse secondary characters in this novel and the way they pull together in a time of adversity. When Dillon and Olivia get swept up in the cause, they both discover their unique talents are exactly what the town needs and, in serving others, they find their way to healing and second chances.

I listened to the audio edition and enjoyed Graham Winton’s portrayal of these characters. He really captured the spirit and hope in the story in his narration

My thanks to RB Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

3.25 of 5 stars

This was a feel-good Christmas read. I love small town settings & who can resist a budding holiday romance?!
That being said, I felt like something was missing. I did jump into this not having read any of the previous books in the series but was told I would still get an enjoyable reading experience. I believe it would have been a more enjoyable read if I had been already introduced to some of the characters and the setting.
The ending was a little abrupt for me. Hopefully the next installment will begin right where this one ended.