Book Review: The Cranberry Inn by Barbara Josselsohn

The Cranberry Inn


by Barbara Josselsohn
Published by Bookouture
Purchase Here Buy on Amazon US - Buy on Amazon UK
Goodreads
Genres: Family & Relationships, Family & Relationships / Love & Romance, Fiction, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Holidays
Pages: 202
Format: ARC

When Laurel loses out on her dream job in New York she has no idea what she’s supposed to do next. So when her father asks her to return home to Lake Summers to look after his inn for the holiday season, she can’t believe her luck. The Cranberry Inn, with its grand fireplace, twinkly lights and candlelit hallways, is the perfect place for her and her eight-year-old son to enjoy a stress-free Christmas.

But Laurel is shocked to return home to find her father gone and the inn in disrepair. Seeing the worn-out wooden bannisters and faded paint she immediately recruits her childhood friend, brooding local carpenter Joel, to help her transform it before any guests arrive. As Laurel and Joel get closer tending to the rickety old house, Joel admits that Laurel was his first crush, and one beautiful moonlit night she is sure she is falling for him.

Until Laurel uncovers a card with beautiful ornate writing amongst her father’s things and she learns the real reason he disappeared. Worse still, Joel knew the truth all along. Laurel thought she’d never leave The Cranberry Inn again, but will this secret and the actions of the man she loves send her back to New York for good?

My Review:

The Cranberry Inn by Barbara Josselsohn is a delightful, holiday story about family, and starting over.  As soon as I started to read this heartwarming tale and was quickly immersed in this wonderful story.  

Laurel and her son Simon are called back to her hometown of Lake Summers in order to run her family’s inn, aptly named The Cranberry Inn.  Laurel’s father called her to help but has mysteriously disappeared when she and Simon arrive at the inn.  He leaves her a note that he will return on Christmas Eve, and there will not be any guests.  But, Laurel gets a call for a reservation for a mysterious guest, and she accepts the reservation.  

When Laurel finds the Cranberry Inn in a state of disrepair, she finds her old high school friend, Joel, to help fix up the Inn. Joel is back in town to pack up his late mother’s home and her store.  Joel has forged a friendship with Laurel’s father and is happy to see Laurel, an old high school crush of his, back at the inn.  But, when Laurel finds out why her father is gone and finds out Joel has known all along, her trust is broken, and she doesn’t know if she can forgive Joel.  

The Cranberry Inn has everything I want in a holiday book.  It’s romantic, festive, and heartwarming in all the best ways.  It’s a slow burn romance, with characters who were worth rooting for.  I enjoyed the descriptions of the lovely Cranberry Inn and it made me want to go there for a stay.  The town of Lake Summers is delightful, and it’s fun to hear about all the quirky characters of this lovely town.  

I recommend The Cranberry Inn to anyone who loves a small town romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book.  The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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