Christmas in Vermont (edition 2019)

This was a very sweet romance about second chances and fate. I really enjoyed the setting. I don't like the cold but love reading about it! LOL! So it was nice to imagine being at the inn during Christmas time. The characters were likable, esp. Lola. She's a very rambunctious little girl and I love how she just takes action. The romance was sweet but predictable. All in all, a really good read.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.
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A lovely trip from New York to Vermont with flashback memories of London and Maine. An old flame rekindled. I personally loved reading it because it took place in Vermont. I recognized when they went to Simon Pierce and The Vermont Teddy Bear Factory. They drove down route 100, my all-time favorite scenic route! It was fun to see how the author would fit some real Vermont into her story and I was so pleased that she truly did pull off the spirit of Vermont. Yay! ( )

In “Christmas in Vermont,” magic and synchronicity appear to be at work for several people. Emma and Fletcher, former college sweethearts, meet at a Vermont inn for an after Christmas holiday. Chance meetings and coincidences bring them together repeatedly and allow them to rediscover their friendship, maybe more.

The child Lola, Fletcher’s daughter, is utterly delightful. She displays personality and talent throughout the book. Fletcher’s fiancée Megan provides enough snarkiness for readers to dislike her, and to cheer for Emma and Fletcher. A side bar story about the innkeeper also adds interest to the plot. Although this book is quite predictable, readers will enjoy the happy ending.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )

Anita Hughes, author of "Christmas in Vermont" has written a delightful, and entertaining novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Women's Fiction, and Romance. The timeline for this story is set in the present and goes back to the past when it pertains to the characters and events. The setting for this story is primarily in Vermont. The author describes her characters as complicated and complex.

Emma usually breaks up with her boyfriends before their relationship reaches the year mark. On Christmas eve, Emma finds a Pawnshop open and intends to sell the bracelet her ex-boyfriend gave her, and give the money to charity when she spots a special watch. It is the same watch that she bought her very first boyfriend. She decides to trade her bracelet for the watch. Her best friend, Bronwyn calls this "the magic of synchronicity".

Emma has thought that Fletcher, her first love was in London. Bronwyn checks social media and finds that Fletcher is in Vermont. Bronwyn, such a special friend gives Emma a gift of a vacation in Vermont. Is there such a thing as "the magic of synchronicity" or fate? Emma is certainly in for some surprises.

I appreciate that the author describes the importance of family, friendship, loyalty, honesty, communication, love, and hope. This is a story of forgiveness, second chances, being kind and helping others. I would recommend this charming and emotional novel to readers that enjoy a romantic story. ( )

Title: Christmas in Vermont
Author: Anita Hughes
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"Christmas In Vermont" by Anita Hughes

My Rationalization:

What an enjoyable Christmas read filled with 'synchronicity/coincidence' was something that 'appears in your life when you least expected it and in the end made your dreams come true.' This is exactly what happened to Emma as it was for her to lose love, hoping to find it again and then finally finding love. Yes, this was a second chance love that was presented to Emma in Snowberry Inn in Vermont during the Christmas holiday.

I found this quite interesting where Emma finds a watch at a secondary jewelry store that she had once given to her college sweetheart many years ago. Then what happens next that Emma's best friend Bronwyn does was quite something that brings this story altogether with the gift she gave. This was definitely one of those 'fate, kismet, synchronicity' things that happen just for Emma. Now, to find out what all this is about you will have to pick up "Christmas In Vermont" to see how well this story comes together. I found some of the characters quite interesting especially Fletcher's daughter Lola, Betty, Stephen however, I didn't care much for his friend Graham.

What will happen when Emma after eleven years sees her once loved Fletcher [college sweetheart] and finds out about his daughter and fiancee, Megan who was now in Snowberry for the holidays? This will definitely be one of those heartwarming stories that the reader will find it hard to put down even though it may be somewhat predictable at times it was a good holiday fun read.

Thank you, Net Galley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for my honest review. ( )