All This Time

Brandywood #1

by Annabelle McCormack

Samantha Redding swore off her hometown of Brandywood, Maryland when she left after high school. Sure, she misses her family, but growing up the victim of vicious gossip cured her of small-town living. Besides, the photography career she dreamed of couldn’t be found in the Appalachians.

But when Sam’s mom gets sick and needs her help, Sam’s faced with a long-term stay back home. As a tight deadline for her fast-paced job forces her to relocate a holiday photoshoot to Brandywood, Sam finds her old life converging with her new one. What’s more, she needs help from the townspeople she’s spent years disregarding. Overwhelmed, Sam finds an ally in a man who kept her at arm’s length all his life: brooding and sarcastic Garrett Doyle—her on-and-off again boyfriend’s best friend.

There’s a reason Garrett’s tried to keep his distance from Sam, though: being in love with your best friend’s girl sucks. But Sam needs help and he’s too much of a sucker to say no. Anyway, she’s leaving Brandywood soon enough, and then he can go back to trying to forget her.

. . . except, Sam’s about to discover that everything she thought she knew about home—and Garrett—was wrong.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Christmas, Contemporary Romance, Ebooks, Holiday, Chick Lit

374 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2022

About the author

Annabelle McCormack writes historical romantic fiction, fantasy romance, and contemporary romance packed with sprawling adventures, epic love, and soulmates who just can’t stay away from each other (even when the world is falling apart). If there’s a sweeping love story with high stakes and deep emotions, she’s probably writing it—or at least dreaming about it while chasing down her next cup of coffee.

When she’s not wrangling words, she’s wrangling five home-schooled kids, a couple of dogs, and an unreasonable amount of books in Maryland. If life had more hours (and less laundry), she’d be traveling, painting, or becoming a professional pastry chef. For now, she’s content with baking, reading, lifting heavy things at the gym, and plotting her next great escape—er, novel.

Follow her adventures (both literary and domestic) on Instagram, or sign up for her newsletter at her website!

Reviews

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

All This Time by Annabelle McCormack is a fantastic holiday romance that I absolutely LOVED.

I am SO ready for all the holiday romance novels and this one was sheer perfection!

A small-town romance with fantastic characters. I absolutely LOVE our heroine, Samantha.

She was never going to go back to her hometown, but family comes first.

I enjoyed that this holiday romance between Sam and Garrett who has literally loved Sam his entire life.

While a wonderful holiday romance, I appreciate the author attacking some serious issues (cancer, abuse, alcoholism) and how it impacts personal relationships.

I really loved this story, I read it in one day. I am so looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Danielle B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samantha left Brandywood, Maryland to pursue a career in New York. She comes back when her sister gives birth to her third child. While at the hospital visiting her sister, she gets news that her mom is on her way to the Emergency Room after an accident. Sam finds out her mom is very sick. She needs comfort, but not from her "on again off again" high school boyfriend Eli. So that's when Garrett, Eli's best friend and also her best friend Katie's ex-fiance, offers comfort to Sam. She couldn't stand Garrett before, but now she may see him in a different light after all these years.

This was a very easy book to read and I got lost in it for a day. I really enjoyed it. If you like a romance with a bit of family dynamics added in, I highly recommend it. I will be looking forward to Annabelle McCormack's next book in this series.

Many thanks to the author for my ARC and @suzyapprovedbooktours for having me on this tour.

This review will be posted on my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

[Kristi C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaaahh, I wasn’t ready for All This Time to end! I was so engrossed in this small town romance that I felt a part of Brandywood. I laughed. I cried. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a well-written, easy to read book with lovable characters and multiple plot lines (check the trigger warnings if you are sensitive to certain topics) that kept me intrigued and not wanting to put the book down. If I didn’t have other obligations, I definitely would have read it in a day or two because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

I am about to start the second book, I’ll Carry You.

I recently won the third book in the series (Once We Met) in the Goodreads book giveaways and was thrilled to be turned on to a new author and genre that I don’t read as often. I reached out to Annabelle McCormack to inquire about the order to read her books, and she was so kind to respond, even directing me to BookSirens to read the first two books in the series. I was so pleasantly surprised at her thoughtfulness, especially taking time out of her busy schedule. Great books and a personable author! That’s a win-win!

Thank you to Annabelle McCormack and BookSirens for the read of this book. Loved it! ☺️

* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as she could, Samantha (Sam) got out of small-town Brandywood and moved on to bigger things in New York, like her photography career. She’s been in her on-again-off-again relationship with her boyfriend Eli for years, and right now she kinda needs a break.

When Sam’s sister has a baby, Sam travels back to Brandywood for a visit. But when her mom becomes terminally ill, Sam finds herself staying in her hometown longer than she planned. Not only that but she falls into the arms of Garrett, her boyfriend’s best friend - 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵?

If you’re thinking, oh this is a love triangle romance, well not really, kinda but… it’s complicated. And so good! There’s a lot going on in this town, with secrets and friends backstabbing, addiction and unknown family members. But in the end this small community rallies together and you’ll be feeling the warm and fuzzies.


I love a story where people make others feel worth fighting for, that we all desire second chances - maybe even more.


Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @annabellemccormack for a spot on tour and a gifted copy.

[JP · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
Are you from a small town? I feel like there’s so much to love about them. And yet it can feel like high school with the mean girls and bullies no one will do anything about.
So when I started this I didn’t have any illusions about it being magical because I know this authors writing and she will bring me real life feelings and situations that make me cling to her story. All I wanted to do was sit in my ultra comfortable reading spot with a warm pumpkin latte and get lost in it. And as a side note, this is a Christmas story. And I love Christmas.
This had broken relationships, secrets and a smexy romance. It checked all my boxes. I loved the romance of course and think AM has a special touch or at least she speaks my language. I highly recommend it if you like contemporary romance.
Thanks to Annabelle McCormack and the Publisher for this ARC.

[Kims.reading.nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam is only planning a short visit to her hometown of Brandywood to meet her new niece before the Holidays. But when a family emergency occurs, she scrambles to manage her mother's rental cabins, whilst also coordinating a holiday photo shoot for her boss in New York.

The last person she expects to help her is Garrett; a former Army Ranger who left her best friend Katie at the altar 5 years ago. He's also the best friend of her on again, off again first love Eli who crushed her after their last attempt at a relationship failed.

She and Garrett both grew up experiencing the negative side of Brandywood, suffering for the sins of their fathers. But the more time she spends back there, the more she realises she may have been wrong... about everything. Why were so many secrets kept from her? And how can she keep her distance from 'bad guy' Garrett, when all he's been to her is good?

Thank you to Author @annabellemccormack & @booksirens for providing me with book 1 of the Brandywood Small Town Romance series. I was absolutely hooked and read the whole thing in one sitting, which resulted in quite a late night! I'm excited to read books 2 and 3 right away.

I am honestly so impressed with this book. The writing immediately captivated me, and all characters were well thought out with a purpose and depth. There was 🔥 romance, raw emotional experiences and deep connections between so many of the characters. They were real people; flawed but trying to do better. Watching their growth made me feel like I was on the journey with them.

I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book. I'm certain you'll be hooked and will read the rest of the series too!

[rosana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

How can I start? I have no perfect words to describe how much I loved this book. Overall, I would give it a 4,5 stars and I will explain, in this review, why I don't felt like giving it 5 stars instead, even though it was REALLY close! I would describe this book not only as a romance book but also a book where you can see the main female character going through a healing proccess, with her, with her loved ones and everyone who cares about her. Growth is a really good point of this book, seeing the characters going through so many, different situations and feelings and how they overcome it. I feel like the main female character is always faced with situations of "if you're not happy in a situation, leave, go after your happiness" and "follow your dreams/goals". The writing??? Oh, let me tell you about it. It was SO easy to read this book, it's so well-written and, if english isn't your first language, you will have no trouble reading and understanding what's happening! And the whole topic of this book + writing made me want to read this whole book in just one sitting, even though I had lots of stuff to do! I liked how the mental health of some characters are brought up and how they deal with the decisions they need to make to feel better and how, sometimes, even if it hurts them, it's better to face them then to run. The plot twists? OH GOD! I wasn't expecting all of this! This is a roller coaster of a romance, there is always something happening that might let the relationship go forward or not. The only thing that made me not give this book 5 stars was the ending because I felt it was a little bit rushed, many things happening in such a short period of time but, as you can see for my rating, I didn't mind it THAT much. I liked it but I think a few more pages of things happening in between would have made it even better.

For anyone who might be interested in this book, I would suggest to read the TW before reading it since it has some sensitive topics and it might not be for everyone.

P.s: I checked the author's website and it seems there will be a second book!!! I'm so excited!!!

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good read to get into the holiday season! Sam took off from her small hometown to live life in the big city and hasn't looked back. Having had a hard childhood, Sam has no intentions of ever going back after how many treated and have treated her since. She has just been offered the job of her dreams when she has to head back to that dreadful town. Her mother is sick and her sister just had had another baby - they need help. Used to the cold shoulder, Sam heads back and quickly finds a friend in someone who betrayed her best friend and if the rumor-villa is still anything like it was when she was in high school, she knows it won't be long before lies are being spread. Her plan is to stay until she is no longer needed, and be back in time to complete the photo shoot she has dreamed of, but life has other plans and Sam is scrambling to save her job, help her mother and try to make amends with her sister. It seems no one understands her want to leave this place as soon as possible again, but when a bombshell is dropped it is the key to understanding the town and why she was treated how she was. Meanwhile, the true colors of others she has always looked up to are showing through and Sam is slowly reminded about the good that small towns can also bring. I am really excited to read Jen's story next. Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite and to the author for the free novel. She has become one of my go to authors!

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! Yes, it’s a romance with a holiday setting set in a small town, but this book had added depth to it that I absolutely loved.

There are lifelong friendships/romances involved that become complicated quickly. There is a terminal diagnosis that cause reflection and a family secret to be revealed. There is a sense of not being able to move forward because of so much past baggage.

The characters in this story are flawed and written to feel like people you know.

Sam, who is only in Brandywood to visit her newest niece, ends up staying temporarily and helping with her family’s rental cabins. While counting down the days until she can get back to NY, she brings her job to Brandywood for a photoshoot of local home bakers sharing their favorite Christmas cookies.

Then there is Garrett. Sam has known him since Kindergarten and he was once engaged to her best friend, Katie. Sam has dated Garrett’s best friend, Eli on-and-off since high school. Garrett has been in love with Sam for years.

When circumstances cause Garrett and Sam to be together, will the small town past be too much to allow for any sort of future.

I can’t wait to read the next book in this thoughtful series!!

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It felt very realistic to me.

[Tala · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing an ebook arc in exchange for an honest review

the vibe of the book is perfect for this time of the year, and it’s a small town romance with dual POV of Sam and Garrett.

Sam is forced to come back to her small town that she left years ago due to her mother’s illness, where she’s met with Garrett who left her best friend Katie at the altar because he’s been in love with Sam since they were kids, her on and off boyfriend Eli, and her complicated relationship with her family and the town’s residents.
as Sam begins spending time with Garrett she discovers that he’s not the asshole she thought he was and things develop from there, however there’s obstacle of them being best friends with each others exes..

Overall, I enjoyed the plot of the book. Sam and Garrett characters were interesting on their own and together and I loved that the book didn’t only focus on romance but also childhood trauma, addictions, family issues etc.

my issue is that by around 85% of the book I felt like there was an unnecessary event that dragged the book for me.

[Dawnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha left her hometown for a photography career in New York. She never wanted to look back on the little gossipy town she was raised in. Sam finds herself back home again with the birth of her niece and unsettling news about her mother's heath. Forced to relocate her holiday work project Sam is in need of the towns people. She finds herself getting closer to Garrett, her on again off again boyfriend's best friend. Secrets are revealed and sparks start to fly. This was a heartfelt
Christmas romance and I really enjoyed it. A perfect holiday read.


Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY

[Sarina Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

*thanks to NetGalley for providing me an arc of this in exchange for an honest review*

To be completely honest, I kinda struggled a bit getting through this. From the get go, the writing itself really threw me off. Something about the sentences all felt so forced and off, and it made me hard to get into the story when I couldn’t get past the writing. As the story went on, I was able to get used to it and ignore it, but it really took me a while and almost made me dnf.

As for the story, there were definitely parts I liked. I liked how all of the characters were super flawed and messed up in a lot of ways, and how they developed as the story went on. I think the main theme of the story is that people can be selfish and screwed up, but they still have the ability to change if they try hard enough.

That being said, I really couldn’t connect with the main characters. I liked Garret well enough, but even he didn’t really have a personality. As for Sam, she definitely didn’t have a personality. All she did was whine and complain the entire book. At the end, she realized this and tries to change, which is great, but she was insufferable most of the book.

The side characters were written to he complex, but still came of as shallow. Like Dan, he was an asshole one moment and then suddenly redeemed and great the next. Same with Garrets dad. These characters were written to be deep and complicated but were somehow still one-dimensional. There was so much going on in the story that I feel like the author didn’t have time to explore it all enough.

The romance was meh overall. I liked the concept but just couldn’t find myself caring all that much.

I didn’t hate this book, though. I think it could have been something great if it were just edited more, because the main issue is that it reads like an early draft.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually found this book a bit difficult to review - overall, I have come out of it feeling like I enjoyed it much more than I felt during the reading. Let me explain.

I really don't like our main character, or to be honest, a fair few of the other characters. And this made it pretty difficult to invest in.

However, the writing style was good and I found the storyline interesting. I made myself stick with it and although my opinions on the characters didn't change much, I did start to get invested in their lives a little more and this, along with the writing, made me carry on until the end.

I often really enjoy a book with morally grey characters - it makes things interesting ...I'm just not sure that here, they really learned their lesson or grew enough for me?
They're not very nice people, for various reasons. I think fundamentally they're good deep down, but they're flawed due to upbringing and other circumstances. Therefore, I should feel some connection or compassion, but I just couldn't get to grips with them.

I enjoyed the initial introductions to our characters and I instantly had an idea of how things would play out in the very end.
The relationships were really well written and developed throughout - I liked the drama and the spice and I loved the unexpected twists in the storyline.

I think the world of Brandywood is really well thought out and makes a great setting - I've also heard good things about books 2 & 3 (from my daughter) - as these look at different characters and I did enjoy everything else about this book, I'm definitely going to be reading on in the series.

[Amy (amelinesbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not your fluffy Contemporary romance. Annabelle McCormack manages to infuse just enough drama to infuriate you and possibly even make you cry. Her books bring the romance but also tackle difficult themes. Check your trigger warnings.

This is a romance, but it’s also a story of the FMC’s personal growth. While most of the focus is on Sam’s growth, she’s not always likable. And neither is the MMC. But I appreciate that! Give me characters with flaws so that we can watch them grow. Facing issues she’s been running away from for years, Sam Redding has been forced to come back home to deal with both her past and her ever-changing present.

I loved that this book takes place in Brandywood, Maryland. Being a local and also living in a somewhat “small-town” of Catonsville, I really identified with the story. It highlights all the best and worst that small towns have to offer. This was the perfect read for Winter! Lots of snow and talk of the holidays. I can’t wait to read Jen’s story next.

⚠️ Tropes may be considered spoilers, you’ve been warned.

🥰Read this if you enjoy: City girl returns to small town, small town romance, He falls first, some 🌶️, cabin settings, quarreling siblings, family secrets, HEA, Hallmark endings
🚨Cancer, domestic abuse, alcohol addiction, police harassment.

❤️‍🩹What I didn’t love: Miscommunications, this is one of my least favorite themes in a romance but I understand the need to include these storylines. Sam is described as selfish and self-serving in the book and at times it was frustrating to see her get in her own way and not take accountability.

[Rebecca Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the small town setting of Brandywood and the people who lived there. Everyone had their own little story which made all the characters seem important and real even if they weren't the main characters. I can't wait to see more of Brandywood in book 2 and more of Annabelle's writing because I really liked the writing style. I won't say it's an easy read because there were definitely some hard topics covered but I think they were handled really well and added to the story. I thought Garrett was a great MMC but I wasn't 100% keen on Sam (the FMC). She wasn't awful and I understand that a lot of her issues were because of her past but she did come across as annoying at some points and didn't seem to have any care to fix these issues. For example, she doesn't like the fact that people see her as snobby and too good for them but then she'd act exactly that way from my opinion, and also seemed quite bad at communicating. She didn't like that people thought she only cared about herself but then repeatedly seemed to only care about herself and disregard others feelings completely. She did improve a bit right at the end but there wasn't really much to demonstrate that she'd actually changed, especially not to the people of Brandywood. I'm hoping we'll see some more of her and how she's changed in book 2 though.

I received a free copy of this book to write an honest review.

[Meredith H · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up

For a "free reading weekend" book from B&N, this was such a treat. At its core this is a love story - a girl who tried to escape her small town is unexpectedly back and finds love in the strangest of places - but it also has lots of small town drama that makes this more than just a holiday romance.

Aside from the usual plotline of trying to make a name for herself in the big city as a photographer, Sam also learns of her mother's terminal illness and some surprising half siblings. She also ditches a jerky on-again off-again boyfriend in favor of his brest friend, and her shit-stirring best friend's ex-fiance. The love triagle (quadrilateral??) that ensues is annoyingly dumb, but it allows for misunderstandings and stupidity to reign for a while. Add in the small town gossip mill junk, a dying mom, and a missing toddler, and this book found some very touching moments.

While this is no literary masterpiece, it was a fun read. The twists of the plot were surprising, and the characters were more complex than expected. And of course, she gets a good sex life, a good guy, and a new job out of this... even though none of it was how she thought her life would end up.

[Brinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't the type of romance I'd normally enjoy. For one; it's long. This took me ages to read, and that's normally not my thing with romances. Usually, I want to read them fast and enjoy them, not devote days to them. This one also spent almost the entire book without the main two as a couple. Instead, we spent a good portion of the book with them dating other people. I still enjoyed this, but it's definitely not my romance of choice.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Beena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was well written, with good characters and a generally upbeat vibe. However I think the best friend's ex trope made it a bit hard to read and just a tad bit awkward.

Personally this wasn't my cup of tea, but it was still a good book. So I would definitely recommend it if you're okay with the trope.

Thank you to the publisher for kindly providing me with an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Holly Annaleisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being forced to return to her hometown, Sam finds herself pulled back into the life she thought she had left behind, which includes her on and off ex boyfriend's closest buddy Garrett. Garrett and Sam never saw eye to eye on anything, not growing up and certainly not now. But as she spends more time with him, she realises there is a lot more to him than she originally thought.

To add to the fact that Garrett is not only Sam's ex-boyfriend's best friend, but Sam is also best friends with the woman Garrett left at the altar. Awkward! What do you expect from a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business?

This book has it all: family drama, small-town squabbles, a will they/won't they dynamic, and ex-partners getting in the way. What an enjoyable read!!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/ 5

[Farah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this book! What an emotional rollercoaster, of which I loved the ride! Why did I wait so long to read this? And it's the start of a series, which I'm excited about. I can't wait to read more about the characters in Brandywood.

[Simone Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Meggan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this book mainly because of the setting - who doesn’t love a small town romance. I’m also a sucker for a cozy, winter vibe this time of year.

Some things that I loved were:
💕 The character development of our main character Sam. She endured a lot in this story - trauma, loss, stress. She came out better on the other side having more confidence in herself and peace with her past.
💗 Garrett. I really liked this character. He was flawed and angry but also lovable and sweet.
💖 The side characters were fun and I found myself caring just as much about them as the main characters in the book.

All this being said, I had a hard time getting into the book. The drama was real and it felt like a rollercoaster of a read but I still felt disengaged. The writing was simple and easy to follow along but didn’t hook me. Some dynamics between the characters and themes covered in the book felt lacking and oversimplified at times.

✨Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Erin Geiges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book! I love a story set in a small town and this book fit that perfectly. Sam left her small hometown for the hustle and bustle of NYC to chase her career dreams, dating her on-again off-again boyfriend. She is led back to her small town to celebrate the birth of her sister’s baby but shortly thereafter the Redding’s family is hit with some difficult news. Sam reconnects with an old acquaintance when her world comes crashing down and works to change her outlook on life. Sam & Garrett were great characters and it was enjoyable to watch their character development as they dealt with life’s issues and finding a way to make things work

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam Redding is back home in Brandywood to meet her latest niece. Garrett Doyle has been back home for a few years after a stint in the military. Sam’s on/off boyfriend is Garrett’s best friend, Eli. Sam’s best friend is Katie, Garrett’s ex-fiancée. There is family drama, town drama, relationship drama, and other things that keep you reading this story. Garrett offers to teach Sam to drive so she can help her family while she’s home. Their chemistry leaps off the page but their potential relationship is complicated by their friends. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. You won’t want to put this book down.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jennifer Healey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was perfection! It dealt with tough subjects, life changing events, happy endings and everything in between. I laughed, I cried, I fell in love and I absolutely could not put this down. Sometimes you read a book and think "Oh right, like it would ever actually play out like that" but this felt so real to me that my heart ached with joy and sadness. This was just superb.

I am not usually one for Christmas books but this just checked all the boxes for me.

I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sarah Cetra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really a winner for me. The characters were across the board really shallowly written, though you could tell the author dumped a load of issues on everyone as a sort of shortcut for actual depth. The main plot was interesting, but the book kept dragging under the weight of SO MANY subplots and plot points that were just overwhelming and not necessary. Also, the dialogue wasn’t well written- it came off stilted and didn’t ring true.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so much fun. I knew I would love it because it's her boyfriend's best friend and he left her best friend at the altar because he's in love with her. It gives such a good level of angst and seeing Garrett's guilt was so entertaining.

I received an arc through netgalley.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sexy, fun read! I adored this romance that had me crying and laughing and not wanting it to end. A great book about finding forgiveness and facing our past for love!
The first book in a series and I can’t wait for the next book!

[Alex (Alex's Version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

All This Time by Annabelle McCormack is a delightful holiday book that captures the essence of a Hallmark Christmas movie. As a fan of both the genre and the author's previous work, I was excited to dive into this heartwarming tale. However, what sets this book apart from the typical holiday romance is its exploration of serious issues such as cancer, abuse, and alcoholism, which adds depth and complexity to the story.

The setting of Brandywood, the small town where the protagonist, Sam, grew up, immediately drew me in. It reminded me of Stars Hollow, the charming town from the television series Gilmore Girls. Brandywood is filled with quirky characters and a strong sense of community, making it a place readers will want to visit again and again.

Sam's return to Brandywood is initially meant to be a short visit to meet her new niece before the holidays. However, a family emergency throws her plans into disarray, and she finds herself managing her mother's rental cabins while also coordinating a holiday photo shoot for her boss in New York. In the midst of this chaos, she unexpectedly receives help from Garrett, a former Army Ranger who left her best friend Katie at the altar five years ago. To make matters more complicated, Garrett is also the best friend of Sam's on-again, off-again first love, Eli, who broke her heart in their last attempt at a relationship.

Both Sam and Garrett have experienced the negative side of Brandywood, suffering from the sins of their fathers. As Sam spends more time in her hometown, she begins to question the secrets that have been kept from her and reevaluates her perception of Garrett. Despite being labeled as the "bad guy," Garrett has only been good to her. This internal conflict adds an intriguing layer to the story, as Sam grapples with her preconceived notions and learns to trust her own judgment.

McCormack skillfully weaves together the themes of forgiveness, redemption, and second chances throughout the narrative. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their own flaws and struggles. Sam's journey of self-discovery and healing is particularly compelling, as she confronts her past and learns to let go of her pain.

The author's writing style is engaging and evocative, capturing the holiday spirit and the magic of Brandywood. The descriptions of the town and its festive atmosphere immerse the reader in the story, making it feel like a cozy winter escape. The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of heartwarming romance and emotional depth interspersed with lighthearted moments and humorous dialogue.

All This Time is a captivating holiday read that goes beyond the typical Hallmark romance. It tackles serious issues with sensitivity and grace, while still delivering the heartwarming moments and happy endings that fans of the genre crave. Annabelle McCormack has once again crafted a story that will leave readers feeling uplifted and filled with the joy of the holiday season.