You simply cannot beat a Sarah Morgan Christmas book! Every year, she comes out with another cracker (pun not intended!) and this one is no exception. Loved the best friends book club theme for this year. Yes, you tend to figure out what is going to happen (although I have to say that I did love the end of this book, which in my opinion gave a bit more on Christmas Day than I was expecting) and they have similar settings. However, they are exactly what you want for a seasonal, feel good story! It wouldn't be right if things didn't turn out as they should - where's the Christmas magic in that!

Anyway, read it - you won't be disappointed. Sorry, but I can't write any more for this review as I'm off to book a room at the Maple Sugar Inn......!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to review this in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

A bit of a slow start quickly became a wonderful festive read filled with family, friendship, love and life after loss in a picture perfect setting. Likeable characters and a great story, highly recommended

Another great novel from Sarah Morgan. I loved the concept of the book club and the descriptions of the library at the Inn as its setting. I enjoyed the characters and fell in love with them all, especially little Delphi with her constant questions. It wouldn't be christmas without a Sarah Morgan Novel.

The writing was clear and engrossing. It was cleverly done by going round each of the characters and learning about their pasts as well as telling the reader what was happening at the present time. The story had a good flow to it and all of the different character threads came together well.

The chapters were long and each one was dedicated to an individual character. You got to know that character's secrets and past before the other characters did and got to see how those secrets translated into what was happening at the present time. It was very interesting and drew me in!

The characters were excellent. There was a character that every reader could relate to and it was nice read about each character's individual journey.

I liked that the friends all knew each other inside out and were there for one another over the years. It was a wonderful friendship between them all which spilled out to the other character who wasn't originally part of their friendship group. What was particularly interesting was that even though they know each other inside out there were still things going on that they keep hidden. It was really good to explore each character as they all had their different layers. Each character portrayed something different to the outside world and assumptions were made.

Lastly the settings. It was the ideal, beautiful Christmas setting which allowed the characters to discover one another as well as keeping the reader in the Christmas spirit.

Overall a lovely Christmas story.

Hattie has her inn, her daughter and many many other responsibilities, with Christmas fast approaching she is a bit over her head but she knows she must keep going.

Three friends choose a different hotel each year in order to host their annual book club, but this year things are different for Erica, Claudia and Anna.

It's a challenging time for all four women and we go to see each one's pov and how they are reacting to the changes and ways to help them through that time.

There are hidden secrets and feelings that are all slowly being revealed along the story, the good thing is that that can all be there for each other for support and help.

The book has romantic aspects as well but the main focus is each main character, which is why I would say it's more of a woman's fiction than romance book.



* I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

Thanks to netgalley and publishers for arc
Love Sarah Morgan books read all of them! And this was no exception it follows the lives of Erica tough non nonsense business women lives in 5* hotels most of time deals in crisis management and has no time for anyone but her 2 friends.
Anna who is happily married to Pete and have twins Daniel and Meg who are about to leave for college leaving Anna with empty nest syndrome and Pete not understanding her !
Finally Cordelia whose partner has walked out on her after ten years together for a 26 year old, which has hurt her
They all meet twice a year for book club missed summer so Erica arranges winter one in this very quaint country hotel in middle of nowhere they all show concern ask is she ok ? She remains tight lipped and drives them through increasingly thick snow until they arrive
They walk in and Hattie the owner greets them but Erica has lost the will to speak so Anna says they have rooms booked for a week as they are going to hold their book club there
Something is very off with Erica though and her friends are worried she is staring at a picture on the desk they just checked in at Hattie explains oh that’s my dad he died a few years ago but brought me up on his own after my mum died
A beautiful story of friendship, love and family

Oh my! This novel is just like a festive hug in book form. Sarah Morgan really knows how to hit the spot with her Christmas books.
Three women who have been friends since college have an annual reunion at a hotel where they discuss a book. This year. Erica has unusually gone for a cosy hotel in Vermont rather than her usual city based choice. All three women are at a crossroads in their lives; Anna is facing the prospect of an empty house when her children leave home, Claudia has lost her boyfriend of ten years and her job while Erica, while being an incredibly successful business woman has her own very private reasons for choosing to stay at the Maple Sugar Inn.
The setting is absolutely perfect and I now have a burning desire to actually go to Vermont one Christmas although I can’t believe that it would be as idyllic as described in The Christmas Book Club. Obviously there is snow and masses of hot chocolate as well as an amazing bookshop that stocks everything you could possibly need in the way of books.
I loved all of the characters especially Hattie, the owner of the hotel who is struggling to maintain her late husband’s ideas for the hotel. The story arcs for all of the women are brilliant and while you know that the book is going to have a happy ending, the journey towards that ending is never too sugary.
Hattie’s young daughter, Delphi is a key character in the book and Sarah Morgan does a good job of making her precocious without being irritating. Her growing relationship with Erica is really cute.
This story is one of friendship and love as well as a strong theme of finding who you really are and what you want from life. It was a gorgeous read and I thoroughly recommend it.

🎄Feel good festive read 🎄

Christmas book club in a hotel would be bliss. The Maple Sugar Inn sounds idyllic.

A trio of friends each with various changes in their lives, from losing jobs and relationships, to having children flying the nest, they all have to find themselves again. Each year they come together and host a bookclub in a hotel and 'The Maple Sugar Inn' turns out to be the ultimate cosy winter setting...where all is not it seems as they learn the true meaning of family....plus of course what would a Sarah Morgan novel be without the sprinkling of festive romance.

Sarah Morgan, as usual, manages to evoke the joyous side feeling of Christmas. Set in Vermont with plenty of snow to add to the mix as three friends meet up for a week at the Maple Sugar Inn. The hotel itself sounds just perfect along with the wonderfully drawn characters who make up the main characters Hattie, Erica, Anna and Claudia, all who have real life issues to resolve. A fabulous heartwarming tale for a cosy wintery read.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advance copy to review. I was delighted to be transported from my hot and steamy week in Italy in October to a very snowy Vermont in December.

In the Christmas Book Club we have all the magic: Snow, sledges, hot chocolate and book clubs. Along with new romances, ended romances and long term relationships that are stepping up a bit.

Well rounded characters who all tie in with a wonderful setting of Maple Sugar Inn. Some of the events that unfold you can see coming but that adds to the enjoyment.

I am totally envious of their ever being a Christmas Book Club and came away wishing that my book club would do the same.

Curl up in front of the fire and enjoy this lovely, magical 5 star read.

Sarah Morgan strikes again! Loved this heart filled, romantic and friendship enduring book. Loved how and where the book was set. The only down side was I felt the ending was slightly rushed compared to the beginning- I could have easily carried on reading more about the individuals stories. That being said another solid read from Sarah.

A cosy read about friendship, families and finding yourself. It was good to have a romance style book that didn’t focus on romantic relationship but more on empowerment of the characters.

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a new festive Sarah Morgan book to read. As always this is a lovely well written story. Great characters and a fabulous story. Absolutely perfect for the festive season. Recommended

The most wonderful Christmassy read! Full of friendship, festivities,family and the most fantastic atmospheric location loaded with snow, Christmas’s trees and festive fare ! What more could you wish for to get into the Christmas spirit!
A trio of friends all very different but united by a shared past and a love of books. The annual book club get away has changed from summer to winter this year in a drastic change from the normal, along with a different vibe and a strange atmosphere!
However as the book evolves secrets are revealed, relationships scrutinised, and the most wonderful discoveries lead to such happiness, joy and a new found purpose for all involved! A real festive feel good read that I would highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for this early read.

Sarah Morgan has written another great Christmas book. This one is not your typical romance novel but has some elements of romance but mostly it is about friendship and families found. A feel good story set in an idyllic Christmas setting. Recommend this book for Christmas.

Sarah Morgan is one of my favourite authors; I couldn’t wait to read her latest book and wasn’t disappointed. Told by four women, Harriet, Erica, Anna, and Claudia, all with untold secrets and at a turning point in their lives.

Harriet is working hard at running the hotel which was her husband’s dream. Now a widow, harassed by a temperamental chef and bullying housekeeper, she wants different things but feels unable to move on. Erica is a successful, independent woman, totally focused on her career with no family commitments. Chloe’s partner has left her and she has been made redundant, wondering which way to turn, and Anna feels lost as her teenage children are about to leave home for college. Each chapter of the book is told from different perspectives, which gives a more rounded, in depth picture.

This festive read is about relationships, friendships, and supporting each other when decisions need to be made. A real page turner which explores secrets as the story unfolds. The strength of the story is within its characters, they have their strengths and weaknesses brought to life by an expert hand.

There's some books that no matter how big your TBR pile is you know will go straight to the top.

Not only do I now want to read the Catherine Swift Thriller I feel like I'm ready for Christmas.

When the girls agree on a cosy Christmas Inn rather than a city break for their annual book club they get to know more about the owner and her life than most of them expected.

This really makes me remind why old friend who know you better than you know yourself are usually the best and when you stick together there's nothing you can't do

What a lovely Christmas story set in a beautiful location featuring a woman called Hattie who is the owner of Maple Sugar Inn and the struggles of being a single mother and running the inn after the tragic death of her husband.
When three friends arrive each with their own problems it proves a eventful week as they discover truths about each other and when all three rally round to help Hattie and her daughter have a good Christmas it really made me feel all warm and cosy.
I would highly recommend this book for Christmas as you will want to put it down.
Thanks to NetGalley & HQ for a ARC for a honest review.

I always enjoy Sarah Morgan’s books and this one did not disappoint. Although predictable, I worked out who was who and what was going to happen before it was revealed, the feel good factor is wonderful. I read the book in 2 sittings and it left me with a lovely warm feeling. Recommended.

Amma, Caludia and Erica have been best friends since collage. Now they are all turning forty, although they have very different lives, their friendship is as strong as ever. Every year they spend a week together to discuss a book one of then has chosen. This year they are having their book club week in December and have booked into the beautiful Maple Sugar Inn.
The inn is run by Hattie, a young woman bringing up her daughter alone after her husband died 2 years earlier. Hattie does everything she can to make her guests’ stays perfect but staffing issues are causing her more problems than any guest ever could.
A week in a cosy snow-covered Inn sounds idyllic but each of the women is hiding something and as the days unfold secrets are revealed and unexpected feelings come to the fore.
This is a wonderful Christmassy book full of friendship, family, and the magic of Christmas.