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No Room at the Little Cornish Inn: An absolutely sweet and uplifting Christmas romance!
There's magic in the Cornish air this Christmas... Rosie Anderson was hoping to whisk her young son Danny away for a lovely Christmas with family, far from the hustle and bustle of her life in London. But then her boss at the head office – aka Susan the Sacker – suddenly assigns her to go in incognito and save a tiny inn in Cornwall from being closed permanently. Rosie doesn't know why The Old Bell Inn is performing so badly but it's on her to sort it out! Hours in the car later, Rosie arrives at the inn to find she's been double booked – there are no rooms left. And she isn't there for more than a minute before she's butting heads with the manager, Irishman Mitchell Fitzpatrick . He seems to dislike her on sight, so it's confusing that he seems to get on so well with Danny... But if he's as terrible as his reputation, Rosie will have to be the one to fire him. This really isn't the Christmas Rosie was dreaming of. But maybe, just maybe, it could be a whole lot more... A sweet and uplifting Christmas romance, No Room at the Little Cornish Inn is perfect for fans of Philippa Ashley, Holly Martin and Jenny Hale. Praise for Nancy 'I thoroughly enjoyed this utterly lovely story. Touching, heartwarming and a joy to read' Holly Martin on New Hope for the Little Cornish Farmhouse 'Nothing like the magic of Cornwall!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NetGalley reviewer 'A sweet and delightful Christmas tale' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NetGalley reviewer 'All the makings of a classic hallmark Christmas movie!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NetGalley reviewer
320 pages, Paperback
Published October 2, 2021
291 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Barone
22 books83 followersNancy grew up in Canada, but at the age of 12 her family moved to Italy. Catapulted into a world where her only contact with the English language was her old Judy Blume books, Nancy became an avid reader and a die-hard romantic.
Nancy stayed in Italy and, despite being surrounded by handsome Italian men, she married an even more handsome Brit. They now live in Sicily where she teaches English.
Like Erica, the heroine of The Husband Diet, Nancy is of Italian descent, but she swears that is where the similarities stop. And she’s absolutely never fantasized about murdering her husband.
Nancy has had a number of romance novels published, but The Husband Diet is her first Women’s Fiction book. She is a member of the RWA and a keen supporter of the Women’s Fiction Festival at Matera where she meets up once a year with writing friends from all over the globe.
Nancy stayed in Italy and, despite being surrounded by handsome Italian men, she married an even more handsome Brit. They now live in Sicily where she teaches English.
Like Erica, the heroine of The Husband Diet, Nancy is of Italian descent, but she swears that is where the similarities stop. And she’s absolutely never fantasized about murdering her husband.
Nancy has had a number of romance novels published, but The Husband Diet is her first Women’s Fiction book. She is a member of the RWA and a keen supporter of the Women’s Fiction Festival at Matera where she meets up once a year with writing friends from all over the globe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
December 3, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
… blasting from my mobile phone in the form of the infamous and ominous The Ride of the Valkyries tune. It’s the ringtone I’ve assigned to the HR manager at Johnson Hotels Head Office, Susan Hearst – better known as Susan the Sacker… Rumour has it no men are allowed anywhere near her home, where she lives with her divorced sister who joined the Single and Furious Club. Apparently, they have a ground-to-air missile they use to fight off blokes.
I hug myself and breathe deeply, and feel a sudden, unfamiliar rush of what I soon realise must be joy. I didn’t know happiness could have its own fragrance.
My Review:
This was a fun, light, and sweet holiday read with a bit of somewhat underhanded hidden motives as well as some snooping and sneaking around during an undercover investigation. The characters were likable and relatable and the storylines were easy to follow with amusing bits of levity, a blossoming romance, and curious tidbits tossed in that poked at my curiosity. This was my introduction to Nancy Barone and I enjoyed her fluid writing style and gently paced storytelling.
Ms. Barone also provided me with a new entry for my Brit Words and Phrases list with bubble and squeak - which Mr. Google tells me is a traditional British dish that was named for the sound it makes while cooking and is made from cooked potatoes and cabbage which is mixed together and fried, although looking at the pictures it appears that sometimes meat, a fried egg, or other vegetables are also added.
… blasting from my mobile phone in the form of the infamous and ominous The Ride of the Valkyries tune. It’s the ringtone I’ve assigned to the HR manager at Johnson Hotels Head Office, Susan Hearst – better known as Susan the Sacker… Rumour has it no men are allowed anywhere near her home, where she lives with her divorced sister who joined the Single and Furious Club. Apparently, they have a ground-to-air missile they use to fight off blokes.
I hug myself and breathe deeply, and feel a sudden, unfamiliar rush of what I soon realise must be joy. I didn’t know happiness could have its own fragrance.
My Review:
This was a fun, light, and sweet holiday read with a bit of somewhat underhanded hidden motives as well as some snooping and sneaking around during an undercover investigation. The characters were likable and relatable and the storylines were easy to follow with amusing bits of levity, a blossoming romance, and curious tidbits tossed in that poked at my curiosity. This was my introduction to Nancy Barone and I enjoyed her fluid writing style and gently paced storytelling.
Ms. Barone also provided me with a new entry for my Brit Words and Phrases list with bubble and squeak - which Mr. Google tells me is a traditional British dish that was named for the sound it makes while cooking and is made from cooked potatoes and cabbage which is mixed together and fried, although looking at the pictures it appears that sometimes meat, a fried egg, or other vegetables are also added.
August 31, 2020
No Room at the Little Cornish Inn is a delightful light romance novel set during Christmastime. It is the perfect novel for those readers wanting to cozy up to read a book with a warm quilt next to a glowing fireplace.
Rosie Anderson and her son Danny were all set to enjoy the Christmas holidays with family and friends until those plans are dashed by her boss. Instead, Rose must head out to The Old Bell Inn to perform an inspection of the Inn’s operations and staff — a witch hunt,
After a bristling confrontation with the Inn’s manager, Mitchell Fitzpatrick, Rosie must find it within herself to keep an open mind. After all, it is the holiday season.
After a rough first two chapters, No Room at the Little Cornish Inn ended up being a four star read for me. Get through the rough patch and you will be rewarded with a charming and delightful read, as a Christmas romance should be.
I received a digital ARC from Aria & Aries through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Rosie Anderson and her son Danny were all set to enjoy the Christmas holidays with family and friends until those plans are dashed by her boss. Instead, Rose must head out to The Old Bell Inn to perform an inspection of the Inn’s operations and staff — a witch hunt,
After a bristling confrontation with the Inn’s manager, Mitchell Fitzpatrick, Rosie must find it within herself to keep an open mind. After all, it is the holiday season.
After a rough first two chapters, No Room at the Little Cornish Inn ended up being a four star read for me. Get through the rough patch and you will be rewarded with a charming and delightful read, as a Christmas romance should be.
I received a digital ARC from Aria & Aries through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
November 5, 2020
This was good in concept and started off cute, but again the speed of the romance killed it for me. Who meets, falls in love, and decides to get married in under three weeks while facing a “break up” in the middle? It’s just too unbelievable. Especially for someone who is newly divorced.
I wish romance writers would stop force feeding us these fast progression romances. Meet, hate each other, smooch, sleep together, declare themselves in love and are married in under a month. Less than one average menstrual cycle.
My copy was provided by NetGalley for review
I wish romance writers would stop force feeding us these fast progression romances. Meet, hate each other, smooch, sleep together, declare themselves in love and are married in under a month. Less than one average menstrual cycle.
My copy was provided by NetGalley for review
November 30, 2020
Pure perfection! No Room at the Little Cornish Inn was filled with Christmas Magic! Perfect for cozy reading and getting you into the Christmas spirit. I was almost crying at how sweetly this book ended in the best way! When single mom, Rosie, is ordered by her awful boss to spend the weeks leading up to Christmas and her son's birthday secret shopping a franchise of their hotel chain she rises to the occasion. Along the way Rosie finds friends, purpose and sparks in the beautiful country setting Cornwall. I would love to be friends with Rosie in real life she seems so refreshing, positive and grounded. This book is sure to warm even the coldest of hearts and make them grow a size or two.
October 24, 2020
Thanks are owed to author Nancy Barone, NetGalley, and publisher Aria & Aries for giving me a free ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was such a cute Christmas book.
The story provides the reader a wonderful story of new beginnings and finding a second chance at love in the most unexpected places. This book had some of my favorite romance troupes such as a grumpy male hero, single parents, and small town/village settings. I really enjoyed the relationships developed throughout the story and not just the main romantic one, but also the friendships and mother/son bonds deepened during their stay at the inn. I really found myself drawn to Mitchell. He was such a sweet hero! I loved the way he was willing to spend time getting to know Danny as well as Rosie. The pacing of this story was well done! I did not feel any scene was overly drawn out just to fill the pages, but really seemed to be written in for the story development. The ending was really satisfying! And not to give anything away, but I was glad certain individuals got theirs in the end! I highly recommend this cozy holiday read for those cold winter night in front of a fire and with a mug of hot chocolate! I look forward to more books by this author!
This was such a cute Christmas book.
The story provides the reader a wonderful story of new beginnings and finding a second chance at love in the most unexpected places. This book had some of my favorite romance troupes such as a grumpy male hero, single parents, and small town/village settings. I really enjoyed the relationships developed throughout the story and not just the main romantic one, but also the friendships and mother/son bonds deepened during their stay at the inn. I really found myself drawn to Mitchell. He was such a sweet hero! I loved the way he was willing to spend time getting to know Danny as well as Rosie. The pacing of this story was well done! I did not feel any scene was overly drawn out just to fill the pages, but really seemed to be written in for the story development. The ending was really satisfying! And not to give anything away, but I was glad certain individuals got theirs in the end! I highly recommend this cozy holiday read for those cold winter night in front of a fire and with a mug of hot chocolate! I look forward to more books by this author!
August 29, 2020
What an adorable Christmas read!
This is a story about new beginnings and letting go of the past. It's a fast-paced, addictive read and really made me look forward to the festive season.
I loved the relationship between Rosie and her little boy Danny and he was a wonderful character who brought a smile to my face. And Mitchell is a gorgeous Irish hero.
The perfect book to get you ready to hang up your Christmas stocking.
This is a story about new beginnings and letting go of the past. It's a fast-paced, addictive read and really made me look forward to the festive season.
I loved the relationship between Rosie and her little boy Danny and he was a wonderful character who brought a smile to my face. And Mitchell is a gorgeous Irish hero.
The perfect book to get you ready to hang up your Christmas stocking.
December 5, 2020
This was my first book by this author and my word it's brillant worth far more than five stars and so well written and great characters and of course helps it's set in Cornwall. Plenty of changing your life and romance and standing up for yourself and if course plenty about Christmas.
Rosie is so looking forward to spending Christmas with her son Danny and her parents but just before Christmas her boss tells her she has to work and go and spy on a hotel but she knows she has to do go otherwise she will loose her job. She heads to Cornwall with Danny only to arrive at the hotel and she learns they have double booked and no room for her so what will she do. It's Christmas and she wants Danny to enjoy it she speaks to the manager Mitchell and they dislike each other straight away but he does take to Danny. It is agreed if she stays in Mitchell's accommodation she will work in the hotel to help them out and work out what is going wrong. She is spying on them all and starts to notice money is missing and can she work out where it is and will romance start to happen and what will happen when her ex turns up saying he wants to get back together when a secret gets out what will she do and will she loose her job or not.
Simply fantastic read.
Rosie is so looking forward to spending Christmas with her son Danny and her parents but just before Christmas her boss tells her she has to work and go and spy on a hotel but she knows she has to do go otherwise she will loose her job. She heads to Cornwall with Danny only to arrive at the hotel and she learns they have double booked and no room for her so what will she do. It's Christmas and she wants Danny to enjoy it she speaks to the manager Mitchell and they dislike each other straight away but he does take to Danny. It is agreed if she stays in Mitchell's accommodation she will work in the hotel to help them out and work out what is going wrong. She is spying on them all and starts to notice money is missing and can she work out where it is and will romance start to happen and what will happen when her ex turns up saying he wants to get back together when a secret gets out what will she do and will she loose her job or not.
Simply fantastic read.
October 28, 2020
I have to start by saying that this would probably make an incredible hallmark movie. This plot that Nancy Barone has come up with would be perfect, and I would be so intrigued to see what would come to be regarding the setting. It sounds amazing and I have to give Barone kudos for thinking it up. Beautiful, snuggly warm Christmas feels, for sure.
Sadly, this story did not work for me in the written word.
The first half, I thought, was well done. The introduction to the characters was great. The story flowed well. There was some mystery that pulled you in and made you want to read more to find out what the heck was going on.
You spend a good chunk of this novel in Rosie’s rambling thoughts, and really, the rambling both made and ruined this novel for me. Rosie, in general, made and ruined this for me. Sometimes, she was totally relatable and then her thoughts would change. You’d think that would make her more human, but I found it too far fetched. Frankly, some of her thoughts made her dense and obtuse in my mind. At first, I was totally sucked in. I didn’t even notice that Rosie was rambling. It was like having a heart to heart with your favorite friend. Realistic and relatable. Then, half way through, the flow started to go a little wonky. I had to reread more than a few paragraphs, because I was confused or something didn’t make sense. I wasn’t sure if it was the writing style, the references or the rambling that had started to go a tad bit long. It started to take me a while to sort the difference between Rosie’s thought process and when she got back to telling the actual story.
I particularly had a problem with her work place relationship. Especially, that Rosie thought it was okay that someone from HR was treating her that poorly and that she had no one to go to above that person’s position. Then, suddenly, at the end we find out there was someone she could have gone to after all.
I also had an issue with the romance in the second half. I found Rosie and Mitchell’s relationship started to jump ahead too far. Like I had missed something that happened in the background. It went from 0-100, and there wasn’t really much of a development. There was nothing, then undying love, then an overdramatic reaction that turned the just proclaimed undying love into smashed potatoes…? Huh??
The time line also confused me. Rosie woke up on Christmas morning, then went to bed, then woke up on Christmas morning… again??
In my opinion, there were too many balls up in the air, and the way Barone connected them, missed its mark with me. If it was kept a little simpler, I think I would have enjoyed this more.
Thank you Netgalley, Aria and Aries and Nancy Barone for giving me a chance to read this story. All thoughts are my own.
Sadly, this story did not work for me in the written word.
The first half, I thought, was well done. The introduction to the characters was great. The story flowed well. There was some mystery that pulled you in and made you want to read more to find out what the heck was going on.
You spend a good chunk of this novel in Rosie’s rambling thoughts, and really, the rambling both made and ruined this novel for me. Rosie, in general, made and ruined this for me. Sometimes, she was totally relatable and then her thoughts would change. You’d think that would make her more human, but I found it too far fetched. Frankly, some of her thoughts made her dense and obtuse in my mind. At first, I was totally sucked in. I didn’t even notice that Rosie was rambling. It was like having a heart to heart with your favorite friend. Realistic and relatable. Then, half way through, the flow started to go a little wonky. I had to reread more than a few paragraphs, because I was confused or something didn’t make sense. I wasn’t sure if it was the writing style, the references or the rambling that had started to go a tad bit long. It started to take me a while to sort the difference between Rosie’s thought process and when she got back to telling the actual story.
I particularly had a problem with her work place relationship. Especially, that Rosie thought it was okay that someone from HR was treating her that poorly and that she had no one to go to above that person’s position. Then, suddenly, at the end we find out there was someone she could have gone to after all.
I also had an issue with the romance in the second half. I found Rosie and Mitchell’s relationship started to jump ahead too far. Like I had missed something that happened in the background. It went from 0-100, and there wasn’t really much of a development. There was nothing, then undying love, then an overdramatic reaction that turned the just proclaimed undying love into smashed potatoes…? Huh??
The time line also confused me. Rosie woke up on Christmas morning, then went to bed, then woke up on Christmas morning… again??
In my opinion, there were too many balls up in the air, and the way Barone connected them, missed its mark with me. If it was kept a little simpler, I think I would have enjoyed this more.
Thank you Netgalley, Aria and Aries and Nancy Barone for giving me a chance to read this story. All thoughts are my own.
December 10, 2020
A cute Christmassy story. Rosie and her son Danny wanted to enjoy Christmas but the boss played scrooge and they had to go for an inspection of the Old Bell Inn. Friction with the manager Mitchell was a rocky start, but soon things smooth over.
I loved the premise of the book. The emotions warmed my heart as I flipped the pages. New beginnings and second chance romance was the core of the book. It was nice to see the two coming together within the strong connections of a small town.
A lovely read.
I loved the premise of the book. The emotions warmed my heart as I flipped the pages. New beginnings and second chance romance was the core of the book. It was nice to see the two coming together within the strong connections of a small town.
A lovely read.
December 30, 2024
A single mum has to spend the holidays at an Inn in Cornwell with her 8 year old boy for work. They will have a great time and she will fall head over heels for the inn's manager: an aloof and Poldark-looking Irish man. She is there to fix the inn's problems and probably fire him but, will she be able to do it?
I loved the main character's inner voice: it made the story really funny! However, the whole "forever love" during Christmas break seemed unbelievable. Besides, the boss and the ex-boyfriend were horrible characters, especially that piece of sh*t called Mark, aka absent father and douchebag. So much so, that it made it difficult to read some chapters.
It is also a closed door romance, so my disappointment was huge when a kiss led to a chapter beginning with "the next morning". No. We are all grown ups here. Please, give me some heat.
I loved the main character's inner voice: it made the story really funny! However, the whole "forever love" during Christmas break seemed unbelievable. Besides, the boss and the ex-boyfriend were horrible characters, especially that piece of sh*t called Mark, aka absent father and douchebag. So much so, that it made it difficult to read some chapters.
It is also a closed door romance, so my disappointment was huge when a kiss led to a chapter beginning with "the next morning". No. We are all grown ups here. Please, give me some heat.
December 8, 2020
I have to settle for 2,5 stars. This book started with a solid 5 stars. I liked the countryside, the English inn and all the people in the village. It was going so well. We have a grumpy but charming hotel manager, a sweet mother of an even sweeter little boy. And then about 70% in, this book went downhill. Full speed downhill! I almost DNF, because man it was awful. I was irritated, frustrated and mad with the heroine. How on earth could she be so stupid and weak? It was just unbelievable. I hate weak heroines and her actions made her so pathetic! I can’t imagine in my right mind that a woman would even consider this after all the shit that went down 8 years ago! AND THEN SHE INDEED CONSIDERS IT!!! Even the response of her mother, I mean WTF!! No, no, no, again a good book that is spoilt to rotten by the author. I went from 5 stars to 1 star and have to settle in between, but upgrading to 3 stars is even too kind for this book. And then that ending. I mean COME ON!!! How long have they known each other for? 3 weeks and then we get that kind of ending? Hell no, the last 30% ruined this book for me! Why would an author AGAIN make such a nuthouse of a perfectly fine book?
January 1, 2023
A lovely Christmas themed story. Quite predictable but the sort of book you want at the time of year.
December 7, 2023
it’s givinggggg…hallmark christmas movie vibes and i ate it up 🩷🥹 yes it’s a little cheesy but that’s what christmas is all about!
November 24, 2020
Sadly this story didn't really work for me. I liked the set up of Rosie being made to work through Christmas by her horrible boss and pressured into firing the manager of this inn on the other side of the country. You know going in that she's going to fall for this guy, and there's an adorable little boy in the mix, as well as interesting side characters. But then the romance only took 2 seconds to go from 0 to 100, and the book just lost me.
I liked Rosie and her sometimes rambling thought spirals at first, but after a while they started to become more and more annoying. I also had a hard time believing her behaviour at work. It just seems hard to believe that she didn't know there was someone she could go to with regards to her boss's treatment of her.
I feel like I would've enjoyed the basic concept behind this more in another format, like maybe one of those over-the-top Christmas movies with ridiculously attractive actors trying to look like normal people?
(I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
I liked Rosie and her sometimes rambling thought spirals at first, but after a while they started to become more and more annoying. I also had a hard time believing her behaviour at work. It just seems hard to believe that she didn't know there was someone she could go to with regards to her boss's treatment of her.
I feel like I would've enjoyed the basic concept behind this more in another format, like maybe one of those over-the-top Christmas movies with ridiculously attractive actors trying to look like normal people?
(I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
September 11, 2020
3.7 stars (Rounding off to 4 as 3 seemed to less)
The book is a sweet Christmas romance between Rosie Anderson and Mitchell Fitzpatrick, the Irish manager at The Old Bell Inn in Cornwall. Rosie is sent undercover to the place to investigate the manager and the sudden reason for the bad reviews about the inn.
Rosie and her almost 8yo son Danny, go to the inn where the story takes place. From meeting the staff to noticing that something is not right, falling for the Irishman, and dealing with the father of her son, Rosie has to find a way to set things right, even as Susan the Sacker, her boss, is hell-bent on firing Mitchell.
The premise was cute, and the setting was a definite bonus. I’ve always been a fan of Christmas stories, especially the ones set in the countryside.
Rosie is our narrator, who takes us through the book in the present tense. She’s what I call a rambler who can go on and on about her feelings, doubts, insecurities, and whatnot. This gets annoying when she is, in reality, doing a great job of bringing up her kid in the circumstances.
While she has every reason to be wary, how many times does the reader want to know the same things about her stupid ex? Her thoughts aside, she is someone who knows how to do her job and is very good at it. Even if she doesn’t stand up to Susan, she stays true to her cause of helping the staff and Mitchell while trying to find out the root cause of the issue.
The romance part is predictable but sweet. The kid is damn cute. The secondary characters are engaging and warm (except Susan, of course). The ends tie-up quite well, as the story picks up pace after 75% of the book. We also get to see Mark, the father of her son, and well, he isn’t interesting or engaging (I don’t think he was supposed to be).
I’ve skimmed through at times and didn’t miss any important details. Rosie just needed to be a little less rambling, and I’d have liked the book even more. I also wished the Christmas celebrations were more detailed, but that’s fine. Not everyone likes to read descriptions.
Overall, it is a sweet and light romance to pick up on a cozy afternoon. Don’t have too many expectations, and you’ll enjoy this one.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and Aria & Aries.
#LittleCornishInn #NetGalley
The book is a sweet Christmas romance between Rosie Anderson and Mitchell Fitzpatrick, the Irish manager at The Old Bell Inn in Cornwall. Rosie is sent undercover to the place to investigate the manager and the sudden reason for the bad reviews about the inn.
Rosie and her almost 8yo son Danny, go to the inn where the story takes place. From meeting the staff to noticing that something is not right, falling for the Irishman, and dealing with the father of her son, Rosie has to find a way to set things right, even as Susan the Sacker, her boss, is hell-bent on firing Mitchell.
The premise was cute, and the setting was a definite bonus. I’ve always been a fan of Christmas stories, especially the ones set in the countryside.
Rosie is our narrator, who takes us through the book in the present tense. She’s what I call a rambler who can go on and on about her feelings, doubts, insecurities, and whatnot. This gets annoying when she is, in reality, doing a great job of bringing up her kid in the circumstances.
While she has every reason to be wary, how many times does the reader want to know the same things about her stupid ex? Her thoughts aside, she is someone who knows how to do her job and is very good at it. Even if she doesn’t stand up to Susan, she stays true to her cause of helping the staff and Mitchell while trying to find out the root cause of the issue.
The romance part is predictable but sweet. The kid is damn cute. The secondary characters are engaging and warm (except Susan, of course). The ends tie-up quite well, as the story picks up pace after 75% of the book. We also get to see Mark, the father of her son, and well, he isn’t interesting or engaging (I don’t think he was supposed to be).
I’ve skimmed through at times and didn’t miss any important details. Rosie just needed to be a little less rambling, and I’d have liked the book even more. I also wished the Christmas celebrations were more detailed, but that’s fine. Not everyone likes to read descriptions.
Overall, it is a sweet and light romance to pick up on a cozy afternoon. Don’t have too many expectations, and you’ll enjoy this one.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and Aria & Aries.
#LittleCornishInn #NetGalley
December 21, 2020
Single mum Rosie can’t wait to spend a few Christmas holiday days with her son Danny, away from her job, only with her family – this is what she needs at the moment. However, Rosie’s plans for a quiet Christmas are cancelled when her boss from hell gives her a last – minute assignement. Hoping for promotion, Rosie simply can’t turn it down and so she has to go to a tiny inn in Cornwall belonging to the hotels chain Rosie is working for. Things are not good at The Old Bell Inn and she has to find out why and to fire the inn’s manager, Mitchell Fitzpatrick. And so, next to incognito investigating what’s wrong with the inn, she has also to deal with her son’s father, suddenly turning out of blue. And then there is this little magical inn and perhaps Mitchell isn’t as grumpy as she thought at the beginning…? With Susan breathing down her neck will Rosie be able to see what’s really important?
This is another book that started brilliantly and I thought, yesss, I have a winner on my hands. The first part was brilliant, funny and like a comedy of errors, and the introduction to the characters was really promising. But then, so around the middle, I started to feel I am reading another book as nothing really fitted anymore.
The name Rosie is spoiled for me now, guys, as Mitchell probably liked it so much that he had to repeat it in every single sentence. „Rosie, are you going to the toilet, Rosie?“. „Rosie, do you want to blow your nose, Rosie?“. Rosie, Rosie, Rosie, it sounded somehow incredibly patronizing when he talked like that and I don’t ask my husband „Joseph, are you read to eat now, Joseph“? Aargh.
And it pains me that another very promising story didn’t deliver at the end.
Rosie was, at the beginning at least, a totally normal, likeable character that felt so relatable with all her unsecurities and trying to be the best mum to her 8 – year – old son. She was very open and didn’t keep secrets from the reader, we got the whole program about her feelings, emotions, thoughts and doubts. But then I started to feel tired with Rosie’s insecurities and her being so weak – it was annoying and frustrating that she wasn’t able to say boo to a goose. You also won’t want to hear the same things again and again, especially about her annoying ex. But she also was really great, what with staying true to her cause of helping Mitchell and his staff. Later on I started to call some of her decisions into question. Her son was another thing that bothered me totally and absolutely. You know, I also have an 8 – year – old daughter and either Rosie’s son is 8 going on 80 or my Sophie is underdeveloped. The way he was speaking gave me a migraine, there was not a bit of child in him and 8 is not an age when you continually tell your mum that you want her to be happy.
And apologies, but the romance aspect also didn’t work form e, I had a feeling that I missed something really significant, like, the whole development of it?
Altogether, it was a cute and light holiday read with a nice storyline, a bit of drama, curves and bumps and blossoming romance.
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
This is another book that started brilliantly and I thought, yesss, I have a winner on my hands. The first part was brilliant, funny and like a comedy of errors, and the introduction to the characters was really promising. But then, so around the middle, I started to feel I am reading another book as nothing really fitted anymore.
The name Rosie is spoiled for me now, guys, as Mitchell probably liked it so much that he had to repeat it in every single sentence. „Rosie, are you going to the toilet, Rosie?“. „Rosie, do you want to blow your nose, Rosie?“. Rosie, Rosie, Rosie, it sounded somehow incredibly patronizing when he talked like that and I don’t ask my husband „Joseph, are you read to eat now, Joseph“? Aargh.
And it pains me that another very promising story didn’t deliver at the end.
Rosie was, at the beginning at least, a totally normal, likeable character that felt so relatable with all her unsecurities and trying to be the best mum to her 8 – year – old son. She was very open and didn’t keep secrets from the reader, we got the whole program about her feelings, emotions, thoughts and doubts. But then I started to feel tired with Rosie’s insecurities and her being so weak – it was annoying and frustrating that she wasn’t able to say boo to a goose. You also won’t want to hear the same things again and again, especially about her annoying ex. But she also was really great, what with staying true to her cause of helping Mitchell and his staff. Later on I started to call some of her decisions into question. Her son was another thing that bothered me totally and absolutely. You know, I also have an 8 – year – old daughter and either Rosie’s son is 8 going on 80 or my Sophie is underdeveloped. The way he was speaking gave me a migraine, there was not a bit of child in him and 8 is not an age when you continually tell your mum that you want her to be happy.
And apologies, but the romance aspect also didn’t work form e, I had a feeling that I missed something really significant, like, the whole development of it?
Altogether, it was a cute and light holiday read with a nice storyline, a bit of drama, curves and bumps and blossoming romance.
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
December 5, 2020
Charming, funny and uplifting, it’s impossible to resist Nancy Barone’s enjoyable new romantic comedy, No Room at the Little Cornish Inn.
The festive season is fast approaching and single mum Rosie cannot wait to take her young son Danny away for the holidays. Some time spent with her family far from the hustle and bustle of London is just what the two of them need, however, Rosie’s plans for a quiet Christmas hit a snag when she receives a call from her boss with a last-minute assignment she simply cannot turn down: she has to go to a tiny inn in Cornwall incognito and try and save The Old Bell Inn from being permanently closed down. Rosie has been given no clues as to why the inn is performing so badly, but she is determined to find out and try her best to save it from closure. But little does she realise just how magical this little inn in Cornwall actually is…
On her arrival after hours upon hours spent in the car, Rosie is dismayed to find that there are no rooms available – and worse, the manager, Irishman Mitchell Fitzpatrick seems to have disliked her on sight. Rosie has barely set foot in the inn and she begins to butt heads with the irascible and infuriating Mitchell. Just what is his problem? And why does he seem to have such a massive grudge against her? The funny thing is that although Mitchell doesn’t seem to have a kind word to say about Rosie, he has bonded with Danny and goes out of his way to ensure that her son has the best time ever. Is there more to this aggravating Irishman than meets the eye?
As Rosie and Mitchell find themselves forced to spend time together, they quickly begin to get closer. However, Rosie shouldn’t let her heart overrule her head because if Mitchell is truly the tyrant everybody thinks he is, then she will be the one who has to fire him. Will Rosie’s job end up coming between her and her future happiness? Or will a Christmas miracle end up giving her everything she has always wanted this year?
No Room at the Little Cornish Inn was my first Nancy Barone book, but it certainly won’t be my last. Full of humour, charm and sparkle, No Room at the Little Cornish Inn will touch your heart and tickle the funny bone as you will find yourself completely mesmerized by this enchanting and enjoyable feel-good romance featuring a wonderful heroine and a gorgeous hero you simply cannot help but fall in love with.
A delightful Christmas romance, No Room at the Little Cornish Inn is not to be missed.
The festive season is fast approaching and single mum Rosie cannot wait to take her young son Danny away for the holidays. Some time spent with her family far from the hustle and bustle of London is just what the two of them need, however, Rosie’s plans for a quiet Christmas hit a snag when she receives a call from her boss with a last-minute assignment she simply cannot turn down: she has to go to a tiny inn in Cornwall incognito and try and save The Old Bell Inn from being permanently closed down. Rosie has been given no clues as to why the inn is performing so badly, but she is determined to find out and try her best to save it from closure. But little does she realise just how magical this little inn in Cornwall actually is…
On her arrival after hours upon hours spent in the car, Rosie is dismayed to find that there are no rooms available – and worse, the manager, Irishman Mitchell Fitzpatrick seems to have disliked her on sight. Rosie has barely set foot in the inn and she begins to butt heads with the irascible and infuriating Mitchell. Just what is his problem? And why does he seem to have such a massive grudge against her? The funny thing is that although Mitchell doesn’t seem to have a kind word to say about Rosie, he has bonded with Danny and goes out of his way to ensure that her son has the best time ever. Is there more to this aggravating Irishman than meets the eye?
As Rosie and Mitchell find themselves forced to spend time together, they quickly begin to get closer. However, Rosie shouldn’t let her heart overrule her head because if Mitchell is truly the tyrant everybody thinks he is, then she will be the one who has to fire him. Will Rosie’s job end up coming between her and her future happiness? Or will a Christmas miracle end up giving her everything she has always wanted this year?
No Room at the Little Cornish Inn was my first Nancy Barone book, but it certainly won’t be my last. Full of humour, charm and sparkle, No Room at the Little Cornish Inn will touch your heart and tickle the funny bone as you will find yourself completely mesmerized by this enchanting and enjoyable feel-good romance featuring a wonderful heroine and a gorgeous hero you simply cannot help but fall in love with.
A delightful Christmas romance, No Room at the Little Cornish Inn is not to be missed.
October 31, 2020
No Room at the Little Cornish Inn by Nancy Barone
Publication Date: November 5, 2020
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Description from NetGalley...
“There's magic in the Cornish air this Christmas...
Rosie Anderson was hoping to whisk her young son Danny away for a lovely Christmas with family, far from the hustle and bustle of her life in London. But then her boss at the head office – aka Susan the Sacker – suddenly assigns her to go in incognito and save a tiny inn in Cornwall from being closed permanently. Rosie doesn't know why The Old Bell Inn is performing so badly but it's on her to sort it out!
Hours in the car later, Rosie arrives at the inn to find she's been double booked – there are no rooms left. And she isn't there for more than a minute before she's butting heads with the manager, Irishman Mitchell Fitzpatrick. He seems to dislike her on sight, so it's confusing that he seems to get on so well with Danny... But if he's as terrible as his reputation, Rosie will have to be the one to fire him.
This really isn't the Christmas Rosie was dreaming of. But maybe, just maybe, it could be a whole lot more...”
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Thank you to @NetGalley @ariafiction for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts...
I did not read romance or romcom before I joined Bookstagram. No reason.Recently, I have read a few. It’s been a mixed bag of great, good, okay and meh. Although, so far, the majority of what I’ve read have been based in Cornwall. Is it the water? Moving on...this book is your typical romance/romcom story. The title and the story is sweet and cute. Except, I had a problem with Rosie. The book started off well enough, introducing characters, getting to know Rosie and her son. She had relatable/acceptable musings, but then the musings changed. They became naive, eye-rolling ridiculous and I just wanted to give her a shake. Then, I thought I missed something, because I had to read back a few chapters as the “romantic relationship” just went super fast. There wasn’t anything in between. Overall, it was a quick read and had a Christmassy feel to it.
Publication Date: November 5, 2020
.
Description from NetGalley...
“There's magic in the Cornish air this Christmas...
Rosie Anderson was hoping to whisk her young son Danny away for a lovely Christmas with family, far from the hustle and bustle of her life in London. But then her boss at the head office – aka Susan the Sacker – suddenly assigns her to go in incognito and save a tiny inn in Cornwall from being closed permanently. Rosie doesn't know why The Old Bell Inn is performing so badly but it's on her to sort it out!
Hours in the car later, Rosie arrives at the inn to find she's been double booked – there are no rooms left. And she isn't there for more than a minute before she's butting heads with the manager, Irishman Mitchell Fitzpatrick. He seems to dislike her on sight, so it's confusing that he seems to get on so well with Danny... But if he's as terrible as his reputation, Rosie will have to be the one to fire him.
This really isn't the Christmas Rosie was dreaming of. But maybe, just maybe, it could be a whole lot more...”
.
Thank you to @NetGalley @ariafiction for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
.
My thoughts...
I did not read romance or romcom before I joined Bookstagram. No reason.Recently, I have read a few. It’s been a mixed bag of great, good, okay and meh. Although, so far, the majority of what I’ve read have been based in Cornwall. Is it the water? Moving on...this book is your typical romance/romcom story. The title and the story is sweet and cute. Except, I had a problem with Rosie. The book started off well enough, introducing characters, getting to know Rosie and her son. She had relatable/acceptable musings, but then the musings changed. They became naive, eye-rolling ridiculous and I just wanted to give her a shake. Then, I thought I missed something, because I had to read back a few chapters as the “romantic relationship” just went super fast. There wasn’t anything in between. Overall, it was a quick read and had a Christmassy feel to it.
September 12, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries/Aria Publishers for a copy of "No Room at the Little Cornish Inn" in exchange for my honest review.
When Rosie Anderson and her son Danny arrive at the Old Bell Inn in Little Kettering in Cornwall they find that the Inn is overbooked and there is literally - no room at the inn for them. Rosie works for Johnson Hotels and has been sent to the Inn because her boss Susan The Sacker, wants her to evaluate the Inn and and fire manager Mitchell Fitzpatrick. There have been bad reviews, many cancellations and Rosie is to be there incognito to observe, find and sort out the problems.
What she finds is a small staff who are wonderful and friendly. They welcome her as one of them. While dealing with constant phone calls from Susan demanding constant updates with phone calls at all hours Rosie quickly realizes that something doesn't add up at the Inn. She questions the timing and the viciousness of the reviews. There are 63 negative bloggers that the IT department was able to trace to the same IP address. The complaints are bizarre - the lack of castor support cups on chairs, someone didn't like the colour of the wood on the furniture in their room. The only department that was not getting bad review was the chef and the kitchen staff. There is money missing from accounts but Rosie feels that Mitchell is definitely not to blame.
Susan comes across as an annoying, rude and unprofessional boss who thinks nothing of phoning at midnight demanding an update or requesting a bi-weekly report when Rosie had barely just arrived at the Inn.
Woven into the story is Rosie's cheating, lying and manipulative ex-boyfriend who dropped out of her life before Danny was born but has now decided to drop back in. There are of course, the usual misunderstandings, a lovely Christmas romance or two, and a very happy outcome and ending.
An absolutely delightful read!!
When Rosie Anderson and her son Danny arrive at the Old Bell Inn in Little Kettering in Cornwall they find that the Inn is overbooked and there is literally - no room at the inn for them. Rosie works for Johnson Hotels and has been sent to the Inn because her boss Susan The Sacker, wants her to evaluate the Inn and and fire manager Mitchell Fitzpatrick. There have been bad reviews, many cancellations and Rosie is to be there incognito to observe, find and sort out the problems.
What she finds is a small staff who are wonderful and friendly. They welcome her as one of them. While dealing with constant phone calls from Susan demanding constant updates with phone calls at all hours Rosie quickly realizes that something doesn't add up at the Inn. She questions the timing and the viciousness of the reviews. There are 63 negative bloggers that the IT department was able to trace to the same IP address. The complaints are bizarre - the lack of castor support cups on chairs, someone didn't like the colour of the wood on the furniture in their room. The only department that was not getting bad review was the chef and the kitchen staff. There is money missing from accounts but Rosie feels that Mitchell is definitely not to blame.
Susan comes across as an annoying, rude and unprofessional boss who thinks nothing of phoning at midnight demanding an update or requesting a bi-weekly report when Rosie had barely just arrived at the Inn.
Woven into the story is Rosie's cheating, lying and manipulative ex-boyfriend who dropped out of her life before Danny was born but has now decided to drop back in. There are of course, the usual misunderstandings, a lovely Christmas romance or two, and a very happy outcome and ending.
An absolutely delightful read!!
December 17, 2022
Une romance de Noël qui fait le taff mais un peu trop mièvre pour moi
Le gros point positif de ce livre est incontestablement son ambiance. En pleine campagne anglaise on se retrouve dans une auberge très cosy, très hiver, très Noël. L’atmosphère est chaleureuse avec un personnel qui à défaut de voir son établissement dépérir, est au petit soin pour l’héroine. Et puis qu’est ce que j’aime quand une histoire se passe dans un hotel ! Pas la version ibis budget hein on s’entend. Mais le style auberge du coin qu’il faut sauver c’est ma came.
J’ai bien apprécié la protagoniste principale, Rosie, qui donne tout pour son fils et veut faire les choses bien. Un peu plus d’affirmation de son côté aurait été mieux. Son love interest Mitchell était gentil… c’est tout. Une vraie gentillesse qui reste son seul trait de caractère parce qu’autrement il ne m’a pas fait vibrer. Tout comme la romance en fait, pas vraiment d’étincelles c’est dommage et c’était tellement mielleux par moment qu’on risquait le diabète.
Là où j’ai commencé à décrocher c’est avec tout le drama autour de la romance. Il y a un tel paradoxe entre tous les malheurs qui arrivent à Rosie et Mitchell et toute la gentillesse qu’ils reçoivent des autres, c’était assez irréaliste. Au vu de ce qu’il se passe on pourrait verser dans la théorie du complot. Et puis bien sûr tout se finit comme un cheveu sur la soupe avec l’apparition magique de personnages. Mouais, je suis pas convaincue à 100%.
Cependant je garde en tête le côté romance de Noël, c’est fait pour que tout se resolve comme par magie ! Seulement là, ça ne m’a pas trop touchée. L’histoire était sympa, j’ai lu jusqu’au bout sans peine mais ça ne me marquera pas.
Le gros point positif de ce livre est incontestablement son ambiance. En pleine campagne anglaise on se retrouve dans une auberge très cosy, très hiver, très Noël. L’atmosphère est chaleureuse avec un personnel qui à défaut de voir son établissement dépérir, est au petit soin pour l’héroine. Et puis qu’est ce que j’aime quand une histoire se passe dans un hotel ! Pas la version ibis budget hein on s’entend. Mais le style auberge du coin qu’il faut sauver c’est ma came.
J’ai bien apprécié la protagoniste principale, Rosie, qui donne tout pour son fils et veut faire les choses bien. Un peu plus d’affirmation de son côté aurait été mieux. Son love interest Mitchell était gentil… c’est tout. Une vraie gentillesse qui reste son seul trait de caractère parce qu’autrement il ne m’a pas fait vibrer. Tout comme la romance en fait, pas vraiment d’étincelles c’est dommage et c’était tellement mielleux par moment qu’on risquait le diabète.
Là où j’ai commencé à décrocher c’est avec tout le drama autour de la romance. Il y a un tel paradoxe entre tous les malheurs qui arrivent à Rosie et Mitchell et toute la gentillesse qu’ils reçoivent des autres, c’était assez irréaliste. Au vu de ce qu’il se passe on pourrait verser dans la théorie du complot. Et puis bien sûr tout se finit comme un cheveu sur la soupe avec l’apparition magique de personnages. Mouais, je suis pas convaincue à 100%.
Cependant je garde en tête le côté romance de Noël, c’est fait pour que tout se resolve comme par magie ! Seulement là, ça ne m’a pas trop touchée. L’histoire était sympa, j’ai lu jusqu’au bout sans peine mais ça ne me marquera pas.
September 14, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries/Aria Publishers for a copy of "No Room at the Little Cornish Inn" in exchange for my honest review.
I love a sweet Christmas romance, and this one was wonderful! Rosie Anderson, the single mom to her son Danny, has her Christmas holiday plans upended by an over-demanding boss. Rosie works for Johnson Hotels, and her boss, Susan the Sacker, is sending her to the Old Bell Inn to sort out why the inn is receiving negative reviews, oh, and she has to fire the manager, Michael Fitzpatrick. Despite this mission ruining her young son's Christmas plans, Rosie agrees because she is anxious to earn a well-deserved promotion finally. There is only one problem when she and Danny arrive; they discover there is no room at the inn; they are overbooked!
While the staff at the inn are lovely, Rosie continues to deal with a demanding boss. Susan calls at all times, basically whenever she wants and demands an update. Rosie begins to realize there is more to this story than she realized. With random yet abundant customer complaints and the determined way Susan is behaving, Rosie starts to question the legitimacy of the negative reviews. Oh, and there is money missing from accounts, the whole this is suspicious.
On top of everything she is dealing with, Rosie’s' ex-boyfriend, Danny's father, decides to drop back into their lives after years of being gone. There is just a lot going on, including some romances, and things do ultimately work to a happy ending.
I enjoyed this book a lot. I love the writer's style and flow and found this book to be a delight, perfect read for the upcoming Christmas season.
I love a sweet Christmas romance, and this one was wonderful! Rosie Anderson, the single mom to her son Danny, has her Christmas holiday plans upended by an over-demanding boss. Rosie works for Johnson Hotels, and her boss, Susan the Sacker, is sending her to the Old Bell Inn to sort out why the inn is receiving negative reviews, oh, and she has to fire the manager, Michael Fitzpatrick. Despite this mission ruining her young son's Christmas plans, Rosie agrees because she is anxious to earn a well-deserved promotion finally. There is only one problem when she and Danny arrive; they discover there is no room at the inn; they are overbooked!
While the staff at the inn are lovely, Rosie continues to deal with a demanding boss. Susan calls at all times, basically whenever she wants and demands an update. Rosie begins to realize there is more to this story than she realized. With random yet abundant customer complaints and the determined way Susan is behaving, Rosie starts to question the legitimacy of the negative reviews. Oh, and there is money missing from accounts, the whole this is suspicious.
On top of everything she is dealing with, Rosie’s' ex-boyfriend, Danny's father, decides to drop back into their lives after years of being gone. There is just a lot going on, including some romances, and things do ultimately work to a happy ending.
I enjoyed this book a lot. I love the writer's style and flow and found this book to be a delight, perfect read for the upcoming Christmas season.
December 23, 2020
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
I had fun while reading No Room at the Little Cornish Inn. There were some issues, yet none were strong enough to take anything away from the sweet, and charming scenery or the story unfolding.
Rosie has a Scrooge of a boss who sends her on a secret shopper mission to a small inn that is experiencing problems. It’s a go or you’ll lose your job type of situation so, unfortunately, Rosie’s plans with her son for a fun Christmas with family are in the trash bin. To make matters worse, upon arrival she’ll discover that she’s been double-booked and there truly is no room available for her and Danny. Add a grumbly, nearly rude manager and her day is complete – completely ruined that is. Now, somehow, Rosie has to do her job under difficult circumstances, save the Christmas celebration with her son – oh, and not fall head over heels for one grumpy man who makes a solid connection with her son.
There is an underlying mystery going on, as well as interesting characters, some developments that upset all the good that’s been happening between Rosie and Mitchell, and some unexpected surprises for Rosie along the way. It’s a fun Christmas romance with a touch of Scrooge-like actions. I enjoyed myself here, and as I mentioned, the parts that were rough (for me) didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of Mitchell’s, Rosie’s, and Danny’s story.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
I had fun while reading No Room at the Little Cornish Inn. There were some issues, yet none were strong enough to take anything away from the sweet, and charming scenery or the story unfolding.
Rosie has a Scrooge of a boss who sends her on a secret shopper mission to a small inn that is experiencing problems. It’s a go or you’ll lose your job type of situation so, unfortunately, Rosie’s plans with her son for a fun Christmas with family are in the trash bin. To make matters worse, upon arrival she’ll discover that she’s been double-booked and there truly is no room available for her and Danny. Add a grumbly, nearly rude manager and her day is complete – completely ruined that is. Now, somehow, Rosie has to do her job under difficult circumstances, save the Christmas celebration with her son – oh, and not fall head over heels for one grumpy man who makes a solid connection with her son.
There is an underlying mystery going on, as well as interesting characters, some developments that upset all the good that’s been happening between Rosie and Mitchell, and some unexpected surprises for Rosie along the way. It’s a fun Christmas romance with a touch of Scrooge-like actions. I enjoyed myself here, and as I mentioned, the parts that were rough (for me) didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of Mitchell’s, Rosie’s, and Danny’s story.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
January 8, 2021
3.5 stars, Rounded
Firstly, apologies to the author and publisher for the lateness of this review: but it’s a Christmas-themed one and no one said you couldn’t do that. That being said: Rosie was planning to whisk her son Danny off for the holiday for some quiet time and celebration. Unfortunately for her, her boss has other plans. Rosie is to head to Cornwall and do an efficiency evaluation of a failing inn – The Old Bell Inn has been running poorly and in the red, and it’s up to Rosie to discover why.
Arriving to find there is no room for her and her son, and she and the manager instantly have friction – the beginning of the story is a bit rough as the ‘backstory’ is set, allowing us to see the general outlines. But get through that beginning and the story (particularly Danny and Rosie’s relationship and the budding romance with Mitchell (after several snarky moments) are all that you’d want in a story of hope, new beginnings and the magic of Christmas.
Rosie is a rockstar – trying to see the positive, always open to suggestions and options, and even having a mitigating effect on Mitchell. Her relationship with Danny, the beauty of the setting and her ease making friends and finding her place, along with the opportunity for new beginnings for them all made this a wonderful escape read.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review. All conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Firstly, apologies to the author and publisher for the lateness of this review: but it’s a Christmas-themed one and no one said you couldn’t do that. That being said: Rosie was planning to whisk her son Danny off for the holiday for some quiet time and celebration. Unfortunately for her, her boss has other plans. Rosie is to head to Cornwall and do an efficiency evaluation of a failing inn – The Old Bell Inn has been running poorly and in the red, and it’s up to Rosie to discover why.
Arriving to find there is no room for her and her son, and she and the manager instantly have friction – the beginning of the story is a bit rough as the ‘backstory’ is set, allowing us to see the general outlines. But get through that beginning and the story (particularly Danny and Rosie’s relationship and the budding romance with Mitchell (after several snarky moments) are all that you’d want in a story of hope, new beginnings and the magic of Christmas.
Rosie is a rockstar – trying to see the positive, always open to suggestions and options, and even having a mitigating effect on Mitchell. Her relationship with Danny, the beauty of the setting and her ease making friends and finding her place, along with the opportunity for new beginnings for them all made this a wonderful escape read.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review. All conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
January 31, 2021
As you will read in the blurb single mum Rosie who works at Johnson Hotels head office in London is being forced to work over Christmas, by her frightful boss, which means that she has to take her eight-year-old son Danny to stay at The Old Bell Inn in Cornwall as a kind of ‘mystery shopper’ to try to find out why the Inn is failing and report back. She really doesn’t want to spend Christmas working and doesn’t like the thought of snooping on the employees, but if she refuses the assignment, she risks losing her job.
Rosie is soon charmed by the Inn and it’s employees, which isn’t hard when one of them is a handsome Irish man who is fantastic with her son. Instead of reporting the Inn’s failures back to Head Office, she decides that she will try to help them turn things around. As Danny spends his days at the beach or with the horses in the stables, they both start to fall in love with Cornwall and Rosie has some big decisions to make.
I loved the setting of the story, Cornwall is beautiful and the Inn sounded so quaint and cosy I could imagine how gorgeous it would be over Christmas. I also liked the way Rosie was portrayed as a strong working mum trying to do her best for Danny. I enjoyed all the different aspects of the storyline, from the inner workings of the hotel, the different relationships and the will they/won’t they romance, so there was plenty to keep me hooked.
This was a really lovely, well written story with plenty of romance, suspense and loveable characters within a wonderfully festive background and I would highly recommend adding this one to your Christmas reading pile.
Rosie is soon charmed by the Inn and it’s employees, which isn’t hard when one of them is a handsome Irish man who is fantastic with her son. Instead of reporting the Inn’s failures back to Head Office, she decides that she will try to help them turn things around. As Danny spends his days at the beach or with the horses in the stables, they both start to fall in love with Cornwall and Rosie has some big decisions to make.
I loved the setting of the story, Cornwall is beautiful and the Inn sounded so quaint and cosy I could imagine how gorgeous it would be over Christmas. I also liked the way Rosie was portrayed as a strong working mum trying to do her best for Danny. I enjoyed all the different aspects of the storyline, from the inner workings of the hotel, the different relationships and the will they/won’t they romance, so there was plenty to keep me hooked.
This was a really lovely, well written story with plenty of romance, suspense and loveable characters within a wonderfully festive background and I would highly recommend adding this one to your Christmas reading pile.
July 19, 2023
No Room at the Little Cornish Inn by Nancy Barone
Blurb
There's magic in the Cornish air this Christmas...
Rosie Anderson was hoping to whisk her young son Danny away for a lovely Christmas with family, far from the hustle and bustle of her life in London. But then her boss at the head office – aka Susan the Sacker – suddenly assigns her to go in incognito and save a tiny inn in Cornwall from being closed permanently. Rosie doesn't know why The Old Bell Inn is performing so badly but it's on her to sort it out!
Hours in the car later, Rosie arrives at the inn to find she's been double booked – there are no rooms left. And she isn't there for more than a minute before she's butting heads with the manager, Irishman Mitchell Fitzpatrick. He seems to dislike her on sight, so it's confusing that he seems to get on so well with Danny... But if he's as terrible as his reputation, Rosie will have to be the one to fire him.
This really isn't the Christmas Rosie was dreaming of. But maybe, just maybe, it could be a whole lot more...
My Opinion
This audiobook was a new addition to my local library and I was unable to resist the cover. This is a sweet Christmas novel, about second chances and new beginnings. Rosie has been sent to find out what is wrong with The Old Bell Inn, and is dreading the thought of having to fire the manager, but could it be the start of her new life?
I found this to be a sweet, charming, festive read and will make for a lovely book to read curled up on a dark winter evening. Another great, festive book from Nancy Barone.
Rating 4/5
Blurb
There's magic in the Cornish air this Christmas...
Rosie Anderson was hoping to whisk her young son Danny away for a lovely Christmas with family, far from the hustle and bustle of her life in London. But then her boss at the head office – aka Susan the Sacker – suddenly assigns her to go in incognito and save a tiny inn in Cornwall from being closed permanently. Rosie doesn't know why The Old Bell Inn is performing so badly but it's on her to sort it out!
Hours in the car later, Rosie arrives at the inn to find she's been double booked – there are no rooms left. And she isn't there for more than a minute before she's butting heads with the manager, Irishman Mitchell Fitzpatrick. He seems to dislike her on sight, so it's confusing that he seems to get on so well with Danny... But if he's as terrible as his reputation, Rosie will have to be the one to fire him.
This really isn't the Christmas Rosie was dreaming of. But maybe, just maybe, it could be a whole lot more...
My Opinion
This audiobook was a new addition to my local library and I was unable to resist the cover. This is a sweet Christmas novel, about second chances and new beginnings. Rosie has been sent to find out what is wrong with The Old Bell Inn, and is dreading the thought of having to fire the manager, but could it be the start of her new life?
I found this to be a sweet, charming, festive read and will make for a lovely book to read curled up on a dark winter evening. Another great, festive book from Nancy Barone.
Rating 4/5
December 3, 2020
I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for trusting me with an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Rosie Anderson was hoping to whisk her young son Danny aware for a lovely Christmas with family, far from the hustle and bustle of her life in London. But then her boss at head office suddenly assigns her to go incognito and save a tiny inn in Cornwall from being closed permanently. Rosie does not know why The Old Bell Inn is performing so badly but it is on her to sort I out. Hours in the cars later, Rosie arrives at the Inn to find she has been double booked and there are no rooms left. And she is not there for more than a minute before she is butting heads with the manager. He sees to dislike her on sight, so it is confusing that he seems to get on so well with Danny. This really is not the Christmas Rosie was dreaming of. But maybe, just maybe, it could be a whole lot more.
I absolutely loved this book. It was just absorbed in Christmas cheer, magic and love throughout the whole thing. I could imagine what The Inn looked like by Barone’s amazing writing. It was a good story about Rosie investigating but knowing this sort of book the end was as predicted. That is not a bad thing when it comes to Christmas stories as we all imagine happy endings. It was truly heartwarming and definitely a story that I would highly recommend to friends and family alike.
5 stars
Rosie Anderson was hoping to whisk her young son Danny aware for a lovely Christmas with family, far from the hustle and bustle of her life in London. But then her boss at head office suddenly assigns her to go incognito and save a tiny inn in Cornwall from being closed permanently. Rosie does not know why The Old Bell Inn is performing so badly but it is on her to sort I out. Hours in the cars later, Rosie arrives at the Inn to find she has been double booked and there are no rooms left. And she is not there for more than a minute before she is butting heads with the manager. He sees to dislike her on sight, so it is confusing that he seems to get on so well with Danny. This really is not the Christmas Rosie was dreaming of. But maybe, just maybe, it could be a whole lot more.
I absolutely loved this book. It was just absorbed in Christmas cheer, magic and love throughout the whole thing. I could imagine what The Inn looked like by Barone’s amazing writing. It was a good story about Rosie investigating but knowing this sort of book the end was as predicted. That is not a bad thing when it comes to Christmas stories as we all imagine happy endings. It was truly heartwarming and definitely a story that I would highly recommend to friends and family alike.
5 stars
November 12, 2023
Because it's nearly Thanksgiving, I was in the mood to read something with a Christmas theme. While the storyline in this book was good, I would guess that one third of the book could've been deleted. How many times can our main character, Rosie, doubt herself, think that she is not worthy of love, or that she doesn't deserve someone good in her life? There were times where I wanted to take her by the shoulders and shake her; there were other times when, knowing what was coming(all her self-doubt), I would just skim over paragraphs. Okay, so the plot is: Rosie was so in love with Mark, a good looking, ambitious man who worked for Johnson Hotels, Inc., the same place that Rosie works now. Rosie found herself pregnant and Mark, the father, nowhere to be found. Fast forward nine years, her baby, Danny, is getting ready to turn eight; Mark is in, but (mostly) out of her life and he's living in the States. Mark has very little contact with Danny. Rosie's assignment now is to go investigate, covertly, a small inn in Cornwall and find out why it's doing very poorly. Some very bad reviews have been posted about the inn, and Home Office wants to know why. After meeting the staff, including the manager, a warm Irishman named Mitchell, Rosie is determined to save the inn. What happens later is a good Christmas story, but why does Rosie have such self-loathing?
November 6, 2020
This is a beautiful story. It’s a love story, and also a life changing story.
Rosie Anderson, a single mom, was hoping for a quiet Christmas with her son Danny and her family, far from London. But then her boss at the head office – aka Susan the Sacker – suddenly assigns her to go in incognito and save a tiny inn in Cornwall from being closed permanently. Rosie doesn't know why The Old Bell Inn is performing so badly but it's on her to sort it out!
Once Rosie arrives at the inn, she finds out she's been double booked – there are no rooms left. And she isn't there for more than a minute before she's butting heads with the manager, Irishman Mitchell Fitzpatrick. He seems close up and rude, but he gets really well with Danny.
Now, Rosie has a work to do, a mystery to solve and a heart to protect, because Mitchell is not only a gorgeous man, but an amazing partner for Danny and herself. But is he going to forgive her once he discovers she is there to spy on him?
I really like this book, is sweet and romantic. The side characters, specially Danny are amazing. I love the dynamics between the three of them. This is one of those books to read dreaming of Christmas trees. Enjoy! I absolutely did.
Rosie Anderson, a single mom, was hoping for a quiet Christmas with her son Danny and her family, far from London. But then her boss at the head office – aka Susan the Sacker – suddenly assigns her to go in incognito and save a tiny inn in Cornwall from being closed permanently. Rosie doesn't know why The Old Bell Inn is performing so badly but it's on her to sort it out!
Once Rosie arrives at the inn, she finds out she's been double booked – there are no rooms left. And she isn't there for more than a minute before she's butting heads with the manager, Irishman Mitchell Fitzpatrick. He seems close up and rude, but he gets really well with Danny.
Now, Rosie has a work to do, a mystery to solve and a heart to protect, because Mitchell is not only a gorgeous man, but an amazing partner for Danny and herself. But is he going to forgive her once he discovers she is there to spy on him?
I really like this book, is sweet and romantic. The side characters, specially Danny are amazing. I love the dynamics between the three of them. This is one of those books to read dreaming of Christmas trees. Enjoy! I absolutely did.
February 1, 2021
Rosie Anderson was hoping to whisk her young son Danny away for a lovely Christmas with family, far from the hustle and bustle of her life in London. But then her boss at the head office – aka Susan the Sacker – suddenly assigns her to go in incognito and save a tiny inn in Cornwall from being closed permanently. Rosie doesn't know why The Old Bell Inn is performing so badly but it's on her to sort it out!
Hours in the car later, Rosie arrives at the inn to find she's been double booked – there are no rooms left. And she isn't there for more than a minute before she's butting heads with the manager, Irishman Mitchell Fitzpatrick. He seems to dislike her on sight, so it's confusing that he seems to get on so well with Danny... But if he's as terrible as his reputation, Rosie will have to be the one to fire him.
This really isn't the Christmas Rosie was dreaming of. But maybe, just maybe, it could be a whole lot more...
Nancy Barone is new to me but I like her style! Hilarious in places, heart stopping in places and everything in between. Written with the perfect balance of story and as if Rosie is talking to the reader at time I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Christmas done properly...eventually. Such a lovely ending. Thoroughly recommend
Hours in the car later, Rosie arrives at the inn to find she's been double booked – there are no rooms left. And she isn't there for more than a minute before she's butting heads with the manager, Irishman Mitchell Fitzpatrick. He seems to dislike her on sight, so it's confusing that he seems to get on so well with Danny... But if he's as terrible as his reputation, Rosie will have to be the one to fire him.
This really isn't the Christmas Rosie was dreaming of. But maybe, just maybe, it could be a whole lot more...
Nancy Barone is new to me but I like her style! Hilarious in places, heart stopping in places and everything in between. Written with the perfect balance of story and as if Rosie is talking to the reader at time I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Christmas done properly...eventually. Such a lovely ending. Thoroughly recommend
October 6, 2020
I’m not a fan of books where one character is deceiving the other main character for most of the book. We all know that things won’t work out well when the truth comes out. If you can get past that, this was a sweet, but improbable story about a single mother who is sent by her demonic boss to figure out why an adorable inn in Cornwall hasn’t been earning as much money as it should.
So Rosie sets off with her sweet eight-year old son to Cornwall to go undercover and figure out what is going on. Of course, the manager, Mitchell turns out to be a dreamy guy who is as nice as can be to her son. She falls in love with the area, but dreads his finding out her secret.
It all got resolved rather easily but I still had questions about how the money was being siphoned away from the inn and where Mitchell got the money for his investment in a separate business.
It made me want to visit Cornwall more than it made me want to spend more time with Rosie.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.
So Rosie sets off with her sweet eight-year old son to Cornwall to go undercover and figure out what is going on. Of course, the manager, Mitchell turns out to be a dreamy guy who is as nice as can be to her son. She falls in love with the area, but dreads his finding out her secret.
It all got resolved rather easily but I still had questions about how the money was being siphoned away from the inn and where Mitchell got the money for his investment in a separate business.
It made me want to visit Cornwall more than it made me want to spend more time with Rosie.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.
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