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.

This was a cute story about two former lovers returning to their hometown. It's a love story, but the love is that which the characters find for their town and the people in it. It didn't end how I might've expected it to. It doesn't feel very Christmas-y until the second half, but given the plot, that's not surprising. Overall, it's a quaint and charming book that doesn't require much from the reader and I enjoyed it.

So I really enjoyed this book overall I felt that the story was really well written I enjoyed the writing style I also enjoyed the narrator's voice when I listen to the audiobook the story itself had a lot of depth and I really enjoyed the different aspects of the story with the different point of views and I enjoyed each character and their relationships with how they interacted with each other. My favorite part overall was how no one in the town allowed anything that didn't work out in their favor to hold them back or stop them from going after what they wanted like they were hit with this major storm and they didn't allow that to hold them back from celebrating Christmas or from being happy they still celebrated and had an amazing time even though things were not in perfect condition

The Christmas Cottage is a heartwarming story about starting over, and finding your home.

Despite being about a community facing the devastation of a storm, this was a gentle and uplifting read. The writing style was smooth and engaging, and I found myself absorbed in the story. While relatively low stakes, the story wasn’t overly predictable, which I really liked. There was a strong, friendly and established small town community feel and I look forward to returning to it with other books in the series.

I enjoyed this both as an ebook and audiobook. The narration was soothing, with a gentle pace, and animated characters, which made it both relaxing and easy to follow.

Thank you RBMedia and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

It is getting to be time for the holiday reads and I am ready. The Christmas Cottage was the latest holiday listen. I loved it.

If you love Nicholas Sparks and Karen Kingsbury the way I do, and Christmas, this book is just all around magical. It had every sweet moment in it, and I could not set this book down. It was beautiful. Absolutely loved it!

I am a great fan of David Bunn. In fact, I own about 15 of his books. So when I saw this come up for review, I jumped on it.

I enjoyed this one, too. Just not as much as normally. I thought it was a little hard getting into it.

Many thanks to Net Galley and RB Media for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Christmas Cottage is a heartwarming story, perfect for a cozy day with a warm tea under a blanket.
Returning to Miramar after a rough time turns out to be nothing like Olivia expected. A winter flood made the house she was supposed to stay in unlivable and she finds accommodations only at the police station. On top of it all, she meets again an old flame, Dillon.
The narrator’s soothing voice adds a layer of warmth that makes the story even better. You can feel the magic of holidays and second chances. It doesn't feel like a simple Christmas story because it is more about forgiveness, healing, and emotional growth than romance.
I recommend this audiobook to anyone looking for a comforting, inspirational listen that captures the spirit of Christmas. Many thanks to NetGalley for giving it to me.

Meh🤷🏽‍♀️

I could without hearing “Different question same answer” for a long long time. That phrase was used so much!

The Christmas Cottage by Davis Bunn is about a town in California that has just experienced some devastating storms. While this is going on, a young woman, Olivia, is just returning home to her Mom's cottage/home where she is hoping to put HER past behind her and start over again. BUT, upon her arrival she realizes that something is very wrong with the town...
She is unable to get to the cottage, due to the storm, and is told it is beyond repair (at least at present time). When she tries to book a room at the local hotel, she finds that nothing is available. In fact, the only space available is at the town's jail! =0

So, we are off to a bumpy start, and I expected that it would get much better from here.
For me at least, it did not. :(

Along the way we meet Dillon, Olivia's HS sweetheart. They broke up on bad terms, and have now both returned to their hometown after failing miserably on their own. At the time, he has no job and no prospects...

But as we go along, we meet many of the townspeople, and the sense of community and caring is overwhelming! And sweet little Elena, who is a gifted child (and the daughter of the town's mayor) is just the showstealer! She made most of the book worthwhile!

However, this is billed as "The Christmas Cottage"...therefore, I truly expected a CHRISTMAS story. Not that the story was taking place AT Christmastime, during some major storms, with most of the town delving into how to save their properties and get some funds to build back up. Although that is all well and good, and realistic, it is NOT what I want to read about in a Christmas themed novel....

So, because of all these detractors, at least for me, this was a 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ read.

#TheChristmasCottage by #DavisBunn and narrated by #GrahamWinton.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RecordedBooksMedia for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Sorry this one was not better for me, but here it is.
**** Release date was yesterday, 9/24/24. ****

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In *The Christmas Cottage* by Davis Bunn, Dillon Farrow and Olivia Greer return to their hometown, both struggling with personal and financial hardships. Forced to spend Christmas together after a flood, they reconnect in a plot that promised festive warmth but ultimately fell flat. I was hoping for a heartwarming holiday story, but it failed to capture my attention. Worse, the inclusion of the phrase “I was busy flirting with a ten-year-old” was completely inappropriate—especially as a mother of four girls, this is not something I want to read in a Christmas novel. Despite Graham Winton’s soothing narration, the story was disappointing and missed the mark for me.