Christmas in Vermont: A Novel

by Anita Hughes

A sweet holiday love story about the magic of synchronicity and fate set at a quaint Vermont inn during the week after Christmas. Emma can’t believe her luck when she finds an open pawn shop on Christmas Eve in Manhattan. She’s there to sell the beautiful bracelet her ex-boyfriend gave her when a familiar looking watch catches her eye. It’s the same engraved watch she gave her college boyfriend, Fletcher, years ago. On a whim, she trades the bracelet for the watch and wonders at the timing.Practical Emma thinks it’s just a coincidence, but her best friend Bronwyn believes it’s the magic of synchronicity that caused Emma to find the watch. Fletcher was the one that got away, and somehow Emma never quite moved on. When Bronwyn finds out that Fletcher is in snowy Vermont at a romantic inn for the week, she can’t help but give synchronicity a push. She signs Emma up to help the inn keeper as the children’s activity coordinator. Emma agrees that a week filled with quaint shops and maple syrup would do her good… and maybe Fate really does have a Christmas gift in store for her. That is until she sees Fletcher with his daughter and fiancée. Suddenly, the fairytale trip seems doomed to fail… much like the innkeeper’s dwindling cashflow. It will take a miracle to save her heart and the inn. And that just might be what Fate has in mind.Christmas in Vermont is a delightful and charming love story about the magic of second chances during the most festive time of year.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Fiction, Holiday, Contemporary, Audiobook, Chick Lit

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2019

About the author

Anita Hughes was born in Sydney, Australia. She attended UC Berkeley's Masters in Creative Writing program. She is the author of MONARCH BEACH, MARKET STREET, LAKE COMO, FRENCH COAST, ROME IN LOVE, ISLAND IN THE SEA, SANTORINI SUNSETS, CHRISTMAS IN PARIS, WHITE SAND, BLUE SEA, EMERALD COAST, CHRISTMAS IN LONDON and CALIFORNIA SUMMER, and CHRISTMAS IN VERMONT published by St. Martin's Press. ROME IN LOVE is coming to the HALLMARK channel in July, 2019!

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A second chance romance for two college sweethearts set in snowy small-town Vermont. I loved this destination Christmas romance, which had gorgeous descriptions, so many delicious foods that I think I gained five pounds reading, and felt like I was taking a trip back to Vermont to see all the wonderful sights. I love it when books describe a setting so well it’s like being there. Emma and Fletcher were in love once, but circumstances forced them apart. Now he’s a play director, she’s in advertising, and he has a 9-year-old daughter (who was seriously my favorite character.) There’s also a potential wicked stepmother in the mix. A perfect light read with the exact right mix of romance, fun, holiday cheer and drama.

[Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love stories about chances, serendipity, synchronicity - call it what you will - the idea that two people are meant to be together and that fate will make it happen. It's naive, I know, but it's wonderful to imagine. Christmas in Vermont is all about second chances and fate.

When Emma goes into a pawn shop on Christmas Eve to sell the bracelet that her ex gave her, she discovers an engraved watch that she once gave to Fletcher, the "one who got away." Sentimentally, Emma purchases the watch for old time's sake. Her friend decides it is a sign that the two, Emma and Fletcher, are meant to be together and she arranges it so that the two of them are at the same place in Vermont at the same time. Of course there a moments of rekindled love, mishaps and miscommunication but in the end will their old feelings be enough to carry this couple into a future together? Well, you have to read Christmas in Vermont to find out! And you will want to read this gem this holiday season! Anita Hughes is a master story-teller in this genre and weaves a marvelous tale here. Definitely all the stars from me!

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas in Vermont by Anita Hughes

synchronicity: When chance lines up for a specific event.
A sweet contemporary romance of chance, coincidence or fate. Whichever is your belief, acting on that moment can change your life.
In this romance, Emma is reminded of her lost love when she finds the gift she gave him years ago in college. With the help of her best friend, Emma is spending her Christmas vacation in a picturesque inn exactly where Fletcher will be.

Lola, Fletcher’s daughter is adorable and precocious. I was really glad when everyone found out the fiancé was only interested in what Fletcher could do for her career. Fletcher was just a bit too naive about her.

Overuse of characters “wondered”. The phrase stuck out for me quite a few times.
Several references to specific actors or events that made me think the author must be older (late sixties at least) which then made me question if a younger twenty something reader would understand those references.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank St Martin's Press for an ARC of the book. I loved this New England Christmas Love Story set in Vermont. I could especially relate since I am a New Englander myself. So Emma goes to a pawn shop in NYC and notices a watch that she gave to a college boyfriend 11 years ago. Emma buys the watch and ends up in an Inn in Vermont where this College boyfriend, his fiance and his daughter is. And things come together that may change Emma's destiny. This was a well written love story and nice Christmas Story.

[Lindsey Gandhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas in Vermont is just a cozy, delightful story. This is a book you will want to wrap up in a blanket by a cheery fire with a steaming cup of hot chocolate to read. I don't think I have ever heard of synchronicity before or at least I haven't experienced it, but this book makes me a believer!! In addition to that, it will make you a believer in second chances.

Around the holidays we all like those warm, fuzzy, feel good stories. And just like a Hallmark movie, this is one of those stories. While the ending is very predictable, I don't feel it takes away from the storyline at all. It's a sweet, romantic love story. I loved the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. It's beautifully written to make a nice, quick read. This heartwarming, adorable book will definitely get you in the Christmas spirit!! So get ready to spend Christmas in Vermont and enjoy the magic!!!

My thanks to Anita Hughes, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming love story, wonderful characters

[Dianne · Rating 1 out of 5]

(DNF due to extremely poor research and patently awkward story-line for this day and age). I love romances but this one I would have had to suspend too much reality to finish.

I would have read on to see how this book was going to turn out but gave up very early in it for the simple reason that I am tired of so many authors doing sloppy research. But this one took the cake.

When an author can't do research into something so simple as to Norman Rockwell's birthplace (my very favorite artist BTW) or where his museum is, I do not finish the book. He was born in NY, not Vermont, his main museum is in Massachusetts -Stockbridge to be exact although there is one in Rutland VT that displays his covers. Frankly, even before that part, I was disgruntled with the writing and plotting.


*ARC provided by the publisher.

[Jennifer]

DNF.

I think my time of reading this type of rom-com book has passed. I found the writing to be overly simplistic and the dialogue unrealistic. After 30 pages, I couldn’t take any more.

[Kelly (UnshelvedEdition) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you enjoy those Hallmark Christmas Movies? I used to slightly rebel against them whenever my wife asked me to watch them with her, especially when we had 70 on the DVR, but now I love them

This book is exactly like one of those movies. It is sweet and romantic and gives you all the warm fuzzies you need for the holidays. Reading this book felt like watching a movie, all the details were clear and I felt like I was just another guest at the inn and I absolutely loved the meddling little girl

I will say that you have to know what you’re getting into with this book. If you have seen enough of those Christmas movies you know you can usually predict every twist but you don’t read it for the surprise and suspense you read it for the joy

See more reviews on instagram @UnshelvedEdition

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma lives in Manhattan and is a successful advertising agent. She has two beautiful godchildren, and a best friend but can’t keep a relationship. Oh, it’s not them, it’s all her. She ends them before they can propose. After ending her current relationship and attempting to give back a beautiful bracelet, she finds herself in a pawnshop and that is where she finds the watch she gave Fletcher. The one man she gave her heart to….

Her best friend calls it synchronicity and Googles Fletcher. When she discovers he is spending the week at the Smugglers Inn in Vermont, she books Emma a room there for the week. The only catch; they were booked and Emma will have to work a few hours each day as the Kids’ Club coordinator!

Only Bronwyn didn’t do all of her homework…. Fletcher is there all right with his nine-year-old daughter Lola, and fiancée Megan.

The tale that unfolds shares both the past sharing the college romance between Fletcher and Emma eleven years prior and what went wrong while allowing us to spend days with them in the present as fate sorts things out and we experience the magic of small-town holidays.

For those looking for a feel-good, make you smile romance filled with small-town charm, best friends and tender moments you’ll want to grab Christmas in Vermont.

Caroline Slaughter narrates the audio and brought unique voices to all the characters. Both her male and female voices were well done. I felt she captured their personalities and aided in delivering the holiday magic. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Original Rating: 4.5
Take Two Review Rating: 4.5 stars

Sometimes I accidentally pick up a book I have already read and don’t realize it until I am part way through.

I picked this one up again because I adored the cover and I am all about the holiday romances right now and I know that I love Anita Hughes so I grabbed this one and about a third of the way through I was like wait, this sounds familiar?

I checked my Goodreads and sure enough there it was….I read it last year! But I was enjoying it just as much this second time around so I just kept right on reading! I am so glad I got to read this one again though because it was just as much fun a second time around!

Having read all of Anita Hughes’s Christmas novels, I should have remembered that I read this one but for some reason I saw the cover and I even remember thinking, I think I have read this one before? But then I was like screw it, I need all the holiday romances right now and I started reading. But as I said, I quickly realized I had read this one before but I didn’t even care. Anita Hughes writes such fun romances and I now recall that this one was one of my favorites!

I adore second chance romances and fate driven romances. I watched Only You (with RDJ and Marissa Tomei) about a million times as a little girl and I instantly fell in love with the idea of destiny. So this book had a strong destiny theme in and I absolutely loved it. Not to mention the second chance romance—-so wonderful. I always subscribed to the notion that ex-es are ex-es for a reason and why go back and give it another try, but I also know that there are often grey areas when it comes to relationships and this book highlighted how true that was for Emma and Fletcher.

College sweethearts who reconnect over a decade later and neither can move on from their college romance—-I was totally hooked and really enjoyed watching them come together. Sure it was predictable but who cares? It’s a holiday romance people, not a Pulitzer Prize winner. I wanted something fun, uplifting, Chirstmas-y and full for small town charm and holiday magic and that’s exactly what I got. It was a quick read that I read in a day or two and loved my time in Snowberry Vermont.

The first time around I gave this one 4.5 stars and I would give it the same this time around. If you love holiday romances then you do not want to miss Anita Hughes. I am sorry to say that I didn’t see a holiday romance book from her they year and I am so sad about that. I need more Anita Hughes Christmas!

See my full review here

[Sharon Huether · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all started with an engraved watch, Emma found at a pawn shop in New York City. It was the same watch she had given to Fletcher, a boyfriend she had eleven years before.

Emma had her second chance at love when went to Snowberry Inn in Vermont, at her best friends advice, for Christmas and New Years.

Fletcher was there too with his daughter Lola and Megan his fiancee. In a surprising turn of events, Emma gave Fletcher the engraved watch again.

A lovely story and a page turner too.

I won this wonderful book from Goodreads First reads.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas In Vermont reminded me of a wonderful Hallmark Christmas movie. Full of interesting characters, CIV has a fast-paced storyline following main character Emma who has a long history of ending her relationships as they near their first anniversary.
Emma pawns a gift given to her from her latest ex-boyfriend, and sees a watch under the glass she had given to the ONE guy she thought she’d spend the rest of her life with, Fletcher. Her BFF Bronwyn believes in synchronicity, a group of meaningful coincidences, and investigates Fletcher on-line learning he’ll be spending his holiday at a Vermont Inn. She talks Emma into traveling alone and staying at the Smugglers Inn in Snowberry, Vermont where Fletcher will be staying. Neither ladies know it yet, but Fletcher is now a father to a precocious daughter and is engaged with both daughter and fiancé staying at the Inn also. I enjoyed reading this fun book. It was such a cosy, delightful and sweet holiday story that I couldn’t put it down. If the Smugglers Inn really did exist I’d be calling for a reservation. Great story!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, this is my honest review.

[Sara Jo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was not at all impressed with the writing in this story. Every scene was staccato short and poorly developed. Lola was cute at first, but soon became the most irritating child. The author merely used her to drive the plot forward instead of having the adults be adults. Fletcher and Emma both were ridiculously immature and I didn’t like either of them for a moment.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Emma walked into the pawn shop right before Christmas, she didn’t expect to see a ghost from her past. Still, the engraved watch she gave her ex-boyfriend, Fletcher, way back in college seems like just a coincidence—but her best friend Browyn would argue synchronicity led her there. So when Bronwyn discovers that Fletcher is celebrating Christmas in Vermont, she volunteers Emma for a holiday position at the inn where he’s staying. The thought of a cozy inn and a snowy backdrop does have appeal … that is until she runs into Fletcher, his daughter, his fiancée. While she’s not holding out for fate to intervene, sometimes second chances can be magical.

Anita Hughes’s unapologetically Christmassy kismet starts with Emma, who’s down on her luck because of a romantic quirk that keeps her from staying in a relationship for longer than a year—like clockwork. It’s painful reading as her practical side fully accepts this as a way of life.

But after a few signs that are either coincidences or fate, depending on the viewpoint, push her to Vermont, the fun really kicks up. Hughes excels when Emma explores her wintery wonderland surroundings, and she expertly sets up a magical setting in only a few pages. However, Christmas in Vermont really shines as she finds unique and occasionally embarrassing situations for her characters to collide. Emma’s timidity is balanced by Fletcher’s precocious daughter, Lola, which provides plenty of room for light drama.

Even so, mixing synchronicity and romance is a recipe for a sweet time. Often romances are unfairly knocked for relying on seemingly impossible situations, but Hughes leans into a series of coincidences that eventually bring two characters back together. The result? A heartwarming read that uplifts the idea of fate.

Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.

Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've spent nearly every Christmas in my life in Vermont, but never have had a week-long experience like Emma did in Snowberry, Vermont. I didn't want to love the quintessential Vermont experience during the holidays Hughes created, but I did. I didn't want to love the nine-year-old who talks like a 35-year-old (who uses the words like "linger" and read how-to columns in Good Housekeeping!?), but I did. This book was as sickly sweet as drinking a mug of cocoa and eating a plate of pancakes with maple syrup--but I ate and drank everything. I let my critical reader's eye go and went along for the (sleigh) ride and it was a blast! Now I want a cup of cocoa and to sit next to a fire at an inn during Christmas!

[Lorilin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma walks into a New York pawn shop and finds the personalized watch she gave her ex-boyfriend years ago. Although she’s never forgotten Fletcher, she’s startled to be reminded of him like that and wonders if it’s a sign. Fresh off a breakup, she decides to look Fletcher up online, and she eventually tracks him down to an inn in Vermont. She decides to take a holiday vacation there to see if sparks will still fly between them. Unfortunately, when she arrives, she sees Fletcher happily enjoying himself…with his daughter and new fiance. Disappointed, Emma resolves to go back to New York and forget all about her foolish ideas of second-chance romance. But when the weather makes that impossible, Emma is forced to interact with Fletcher and his daughter. Soon, the three are wrapped up in a scheme to save the inn from foreclosure—and with all the time they’re spending together, Emma can’t deny that her feelings for Fletcher are still there. But does he feel the same?

This is a sweet but mindless holiday read. It is basically totally unrealistic, full of privileged white people leisurely enjoying their wealth and minor torments. It has its charm—I did like the descriptions of quaint, small-town life, and baked goods—but there were a couple aspects that were annoying, too. Everyone in this book is living the luxe life: expensive destination vacations, car service travel accommodations, cashmere every where you look. Which is fine, but posh circumstances tend to make whiny characters even more aggravating.

But what really irked me was Emma’s interaction with Fletcher’s daughter, Lola. As Lola struggles with a new relationship dynamic with her dad post-divorce, she understandably feels at times ignored, criticized, replaced, etc. And almost every time she expresses this to Emma, Emma only undercuts her experience by reassuring Lola that her feelings couldn’t possibly be true. Oh no, it can’t be that bad! Oh no, I’m sure your new step mom thinks you’re amazing! Oh no, you should be excited to have a new baby brother! It’s pretty terrible. And it’s irritating to read.

Still, the feeling I’m left with after finishing Christmas in Vermont is pleasant mehness. It was an okay story, but I’m already starting to forget it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

See more of my book reviews at www.bugbugbooks.com!

[Ariel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of the silliest, fluffiest, thinly written books I've ever read. It's reading stuff like this that actually gets published that makes me think I ought to at least be able to write a little better than this myself. The characters in this are SO BAD. I think the book mostly exists so she can describe this Christmas town in Vermont, but at least come up with a decent conflict for the main romance. It would have been better if the guy was a widower- the fact that he was going to marry a girl he only met 6 months ago makes him look like an idiot and then he forgets about her in two seconds. The best friend of the main character is one of the most garish caricatures of a rich bimbo I've ever read- and I'm pretty sure she's supposed to be a character we like. Every time she mentioned the horrors of her latest luxury resort vacation I hoped her husband was cheating on her. And worst of all the daughter of the main guy is supposed to be 9 years old, but obviously Anita Hughes doesn't know how 9 year olds talk, so she decides to just write all her dialogue as if she's 38. And then have a couple people comment on how she sounds so mature for her age- bullshit! She engages in full on conversations with adults that no child would ever. It completely takes you out of anything that's happening because she's such a pivotal character. I didn't HATE the two main characters and having the chapters go back and forth between their points of view was okay, but they also weren't interesting enough people to begin with. And their previous college romance should have been a little more dramatic than it was. They didn't even date for a year. The only thing that allowed me to finish this book was that Emma herself wasn't so bad as a protagonist, but the book seems to endorse the idea that you might as well be dead if you never marry and have kids, and since everyone keeps telling her that over and over again, she basically agrees with it.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

11 years ago you thought you had the love of your life but when he doesn't tell you about a letter... and you then tell him something that's not true it cost you all those years in your life what you could have had what you should have had but things happen for a reason.. finding Fletcher's watch in a pawn shop in Manhattan leads to a whole new Journey for Emma... Christmas in Vermont was a beautiful story this was the first book for me by this author and I was lucky enough to win this book from Goodreads so thank you for that.. I truly enjoyed this story I would recommend it to everyone that enjoys Christmas stories and romance.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely full of holiday charm, Christmas in Vermont by Anita Hughes is her latest holiday book to hit shelves. Grab a copy today, "magic of synchronicity and fate set at a quaint Vermont inn during the week after Christmas. "
Emma never stays in a relationship for more than a year and when a Christmas Eve occurrence has her finding a what she thought was a long gone item could it be a coincidence or is it as her best friend calls it, the magic of synchronicity .
The one that got away, of her past relationships there is one that stands out and rediscovering each other again in picturesque snowy Vermont well is it synchronicity or just coincidence?
When she discovers there is more to him than meets the eye is this second chance romance doomed before starts anew or will sparks fly along with the snowflakes in this beautifully charming romance set during the most festive time of the year?

Published October 15th 2019 by St. Martin's Griffin
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Elizabeth Bennett · Rating 1 out of 5]

Um yeah this was pretty bad

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story overall, but definitely took me a very long time to read because there was so many points I just didn't want to pick this one up. I liked the story just fine, but I felt like there could have been more interesting parts to pull me in.

This story follows a woman named Emma, who had just broken up with her boyfriend, Scott, and decides to take a bracelet that was given to her by him to a local pawn shop in exchange for this watch she miraculously finds that she gave him back when they were dating in college years.

Emma's best friend, Bronwyn, is such a big believer in synchronicity that she decides to send her friend Emma to this inn, The Snowberry Inn, in Vermont where Fletcher happens to be staying at in hopes that the two will rekindle their romance and fall in love again and soon things get crazy once she arrives there.

I liked how throughout the whole book you got holiday feels and that it was a cutesy Christmas Hallmark type of story.

I thought the characters were just kind of whatever, nothing special, but they were fine to read about. I didn't like how long the chapters were as I am starting to like shorter chapters when I read now. I thought they made the little girl, Lola, too adult like for this story and I thought it was a little confusing with the whole timelines just because it seemed like such a short time with an entire story, so it was dragging on for those few days for me personally.

I liked this book, but I definitely can see the flaws very easily. I would recommend this story to someone looking for a Christmas-y Hallmark romance type of story.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma visits a pawn shop on Christmas Eve to sell a bracelet from an ex boyfriend. She plans to donate the money to charity but sees an old watch she had purchased for her college love and does an exchange. It motivates her to search for him and finds him and his daughter at an Inn in Vermont. She signs up to be a children's activity director for the holiday and see if they still have sparks. A nice Christmas romance that is a little predictable and seems to end rather abruptly. A very enjoyable holiday read. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy received from St Martin's Press via Netgalley for an honest review

I am a sucker for a Christmas story, and a Christmas story with a second chance of love story included is the best.

Emma and Fletcher's tale is serendipitous in that a chance finding at a pawn store leads our lovelies on a journey to reconnect, and to realise they never stopped loving each other.. swoon.

Of course there are hurdles to jump, however I liked that it wasn't all easy peasy for our lovelies. They had to fight for what they wanted.

There was a character involved, that gah, I could see what was happening right from the start and was yelling at my Kindle for Fletcher to wake up and smell the coffee - you will pick it too, I am sure, however it was all part of cupid's big plans.

There is a scene stealer that will completely have your heart too.

I love that there is little angst and no OTT drama also.

Great to get you into the Christmas mood, and to believe in Christmas miracles.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful Christmas story set in in the visually stunning state of Vermont. Emma and Fletcher met and fell in love at Colby College in Maine, but at graduation, life got in their way. Anita Hughes’ Christmas in Vermont has Emma’s best friend in NYC many years later explaining to Emma the theory of synchronicity, and gives Emma for Christmas a trip to The Smuggler’s Inn in Snowberry, Vermont. Against her better judgment, Emma leaves NYC-destination The Smuggler’s Inn, Snowberry, Vermont, and who does she find there - Fletcher. The author does an excellent job of describing the beauty of Vermont in the winter while the story pulls on the heartstrings of the reader. A beautiful holiday escape! 4.25 stars.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this book! Christmas in Vermont is your classic cheesy "Hallmark movie." You know the type, likable characters, swoon love story, and a predictable happy ending that you just crave so badly around the holiday time. I especially loved the writing style of Anita Hughes. Beautiful descriptions but nothing too lengthy and the storyline never felt drawn out. This was my first by her and it won't be my last. I fell in love with every single character (except Megan), and could not get enough of sweet Lola, the most confident 10 yr old.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martins Press for this free copy.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma should be walking on the beaches of Maui with Scott right now instead of walking the streets of Manhattan on Christmas Day. It’s clearly her fault, she knows, but five days ago she just knew he was about to propose when he gave her this beautiful bracelet she’s about to sell if she could only find an open, second-hand Jewelry store. She had to break up with him; Scott was a great guy, but she wasn’t ready to marry him!

As Emma entered the only shop open today, the older gentleman behind the counter wishes her a Happy Holiday and asks if he could help. She presents the exquisite bracelet, but he offers her only two hundred dollars, apologizing and explaining that’s the highest he can go. As Emma looks around the small shop, the gleam from a watch-face catches her eye. My goodness she thinks, that watch looks exactly like the one I gave Fletcher at graduation almost eleven years ago. She asks to see it and sure enough it is the same watch. As she begins to bargain with old gent, he offers her a deal to swap the bracelet for watch. “Deal,” says Emma.

Emma walks over to her best friend, Bronwyn’s apartment, to show her the watch and see how her friend is holding up with her two young daughters, on their “staycation” in the city. Bronwyn’s husband had to rush to his mother’s home after she had a bad fall. As soon as Bronwyn saw the watch she immediately stated: “synchronicity;” or in simpler terms; fate. Bronwyn felt this wasn’t just a coincidence that Emma found Fletcher’s old watch on Christmas day, but fate; and Emma needed to help it along and find Fletcher. “I’m not so sure that’s how fate works,” said Emma. Bronwyn waved her away and took matters into her own hands.

So, by magic, or actually Bronwyn’s sleuthing, she discovers Fletcher will be at the Smuggler’s Inn, Snowberry, Vermont for six nights, between Christmas and New Year’s. Bronwyn, being the good friend, has arranged for Emma to be there as well, with one slight catch. Emma has to substitute for the woman who was to be the Kids’ Club coordinator, a few hours each day. If Emma agrees, she gets free lodging and food at the quaint little Inn. “Oh, why not, it’s better than staying in Manhattan, alone for the Holidays.” Says Emma.

Off she goes to the best Christmas adventure we’ll get to read about. Complete with a beautiful snowy Inn, tons of Christmas decorations, and a friendly, newly widowed owner. When Emma first meets Fletcher again after all these years, it’s a bit awkward, but all that melts away to a lovely romantic story. Put this in your stocking and a few extra for people you love. Merry Christmas to all!

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Anita Hughes

[Christi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh, I really wanted to love this book.
It's got Vermont at Christmas. Unfortunately that's all it had.

My biggest issue is with the timeline. The author keeps putting all these pre-Christmas festivities into the week AFTER Christmas week and it is annoying. No town has Santa appearances and caroling during December 26-30. Santa also wouldn't show up at a New Year's Eve party and "hand out gifts" to make patrons donate more money.

It's evident that the author wanted this book to take place the week before Christmas because about 6 times in the book the timeline is labeled XX Days/Nights before Christmas instead of New Year's Eve.

Also, why is everyone taking a taxi to get around Snowberry? They all drove in cars to get to Vermont. This makes no sense. I get taking a sleigh ride to go down the street to be all festive but a taxi? The one time Emma drives her car, she gets stuck in the snow and whatever the guy's name is convinces her to just leave the car instead of waiting for AAA to get there. Um, ok.

I also didn't enjoy the characters at all. If the characters were in their 50s, this whole thing might be more believable. They do not act like people in their early 30s. The two main characters are only 10 years out of college but this rekindled romance plot is written like they are two middle-aged characters. There is a big deal made about the main guy's new young fiancée who is 26 to his 32. The friend actually says "How many women our age can wear slim fit jeans?" SERIOUSLY. Emma and her friend only FaceTime when she is on her laptop. Why aren't they using their phones?

Speaking of the best friend, she is such a shallow caricature. She reschedules her dermatology practice at the last minute to go to Palm Beach for a week and every time she pops up she's spent a new boat load of money. The most ridiculous part is when she makes cookies with her daughters. One kid gets bored while waiting for the cookies to finish baking, so they “give up" and order cinnamon rolls instead. What?!?! The cookies are IN. THE. OVEN. How exactly does one give up? Do you pull out the almost baked cookies and throw them away? WHY???????????

Finally, the inn owner miscalculated the hotel tax rate when she did her business plan to open the inn and will have to shut down on January 1. This is not a good reason for a fundraiser.

So this was not the magical, romantic, sweet, Christmas book I was hoping to enjoy. There were too many plot holes, too much awful dialogue, and too many unlikable characters for me. It was left feeling cranky not jolly.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.*

[Jodie (That Happy Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma has a history of ending romances as they near their first anniversary. Having just ended a romance and wanting to pawn the bracelet her ex had given her, she happens upon a pawn shop where she finds the watch she’d given her college boyfriend Fletcher - perhaps her one true love. When she reveals this to her best friend Bronwyn, Bronwyn convinces Emma this is synchronicity - a group of meaningful coincidences. Bronwyn discovers via the internet that Fletcher will be spending the week between Christmas and New Year’s at the Snowberry Inn in Vermont and persuades Emma to spend her week there as well. What Emma finds when she arrives is that Fletcher is not alone.

I loved this book and its small town setting. It is full of interesting characters, including precocious children, and budding romances. I enjoy holiday books immensely and this did not disappoint. The end of the book had me wanting more - always a sign of a great read.

This is my first book written by Anita Hughes but it certainly won’t be my last. I rate this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 stars and recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great holiday romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of the book in exchange for the honest review provided here.

[Mikaela (Booklover1974) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wish I could say something nice about this book but the only thing nice about it is that the story takes place in Vermont, which seems wonderful.

The characters are shallow and unlikeable. Fletcher sucks as a father...I'm wondering what kind of father leaves his nine year old alone at an inn to have some alone time with fiancee and stays away for five hours. Oops, sorry we just kind of stopped to have a five course lunch. Idiot.

Emma was also clearly stupid who fell for Fletcher. Don't get me started with her inability to have a relationship longer than 365 days. Hello therapist???

I wish the author had written about a strong woman and especially a father who puts his child first. She describes Vermont very well!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for kindly providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.