Review by Booklist Review
When Anna, Erica, and Claudia arrive at Vermont's Maple Sugar Inn for their annual book-club trip, they're charmed by the winter wonderland that awaits them. Erica has an ulterior motive for choosing the inn: Hattie, the innkeeper, is her half sister, daughter of the father who abandoned Erica as an infant. But Erica's not the only person who has reached a crossroads. Anna's twins will be heading to college in the fall, and being an empty nester has her worried. Claudia is dealing with the end of a long-term relationship and the loss of a job. Widowed single mom Hattie has issues of her own--the inn was her late husband's dream, and she's dealing with unhappy employees as well as the fallout from a kiss she shared with her handsome neighbor. Morgan (The Island Villa, 2023) unspools the story through alternating viewpoints, providing insight into the characters' thoughts and feelings. The camaraderie between the women shines, and light romantic subplots add further depth and interest. This heartwarming novel about love, friendship, and resilience is ideal for fans of Kristan Higgins and Mariah Stewart.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
With charming characters, an idyllic setting, humorous moments, and complex relationships, Morgan's (The Island Villa) novel is everything readers could ask for on their holiday wish list. Hattie Coleman's husband died two years ago, leaving her to raise their five-year-old daughter, Delphi, and run the Maple Sugar Inn. For the past 20 years, college friends Erica, Anna, and Claudia have taken a yearly book-club vacation. This year, Erica chooses the cozy Maple Sugar Inn instead of a big-city setting. Preoccupied with their own troubles, Anna and Claudia don't know that Erica's more interested in meeting Hattie than enjoying a relaxing getaway. The friends quickly include Hattie in their group, and together these four women face unexpected hurdles and discover, just like Delphi, that Christmas is truly a time of merry miracles. Even secondary characters are given backstories in this novel, and all the issues are thoughtfully discussed before finding possible solutions. This feels realistic, and the magic of a happily-ever-after at Christmas is celebrated in a satisfying way. VERDICT Fans of Christina Lauren, Debbie Macomber, Susan Wiggs, Jenny Colgan, or Mary Kay Andrews will want to put Morgan's lastest on hold immediately.--Stacey Hayman
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