Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas

Heart Lake #1

by Sarah Robinson

When sparks start flying, these total opposites discover Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.

To raise enough money to start her own business, Nola Bennett needs to sell “The Castle,” her beloved grandmother’s historic house, and get back home to the city. But Heart Lake’s most eligible bachelor is insisting she hang on to the property. He may be one of the hottest, grumpiest men she’s ever seen, but Nola has no time to pine over her high school crush.

All woodworker Tanner Dean wants for Christmas is some peace and quiet, but that’s not going to happen with infuriating, irresistible Nola Bennett back in town. How can he persuade her to keep The Castle out of the hands of greedy developers when sizzling attraction flares every time they’re together? And the more time he spends with Nola, the harder it becomes to picture a future without her—unless he can convince her, once and for all, that Heart Lake is exactly where she belongs.

Includes the bonus novella The Christmas Wish by Melinda Curtis!

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Contemporary, Holiday Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction

333 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 27, 2022

About the author

Contemporary Romances Across the Rainbow…

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About Sarah:
Contemporary Romances Across the Rainbow…

Sarah Robinson first started her writing career as a published poet in high school, and then continued in college, winning several poetry awards and being published in multiple local literary journals.

Never expecting to make a career of it, a freelance writing Craigslist job accidentally introduced her to the world of book publishing. Lengthening her writing from poetry to novels, Robinson published her first book through a small press publisher, before moving into self-publishing, and then finally accepting a contract from Penguin Random House two years later. She continues to publish both traditionally and indie with over 18+ novels to her name with publishers like Penguin, Waterhouse Press, Hachette, Forever, Grand Central Publishing, and more.

In her personal life, Sarah Robinson identifies as a queer, non-binary mother and is happily married to the gentle giant of her dreams. The duo have two little children and are happily living in Arlington, Virginia where Robinson also works full-time as a psychotherapist with queer individuals and couples.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas by Sarah Robinson is a contemporary romance novel that is set during the Christmas holiday season. The story in Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas is a second chance romance that is told by alternating the point of view between the characters.

Bailey Bennett left her hometown of Heart Lake, Michigan for the big city and never planned to return but inheriting her grandmothers historic home has brought her back to the small town. Bailey plans to handle the renovations and head back to the city to open her own business but a snowstorm brings her together again with Tanner Dean who doesn’t want Bailey to sell and leave the town yet again.

Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas is not the first book I’ve read by author Sarah Robinson and it certainly will not be the last. I’m a sucker for small town charm especially at the Christmas season so it didn’t take me long at all to settle into the story and grow to enjoy the characters, including the secondary characters in the charming town. A lovely Hallmark-y type of Christmas read perfect for the holiday season.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

DREAMING OF A HEART LAKE CHRISTMAS by Sarah Robinson is the first book in the Heart Lake series. It has all the vibes of a Hallmark type of a Christmas story. Nola Bennett returns to her hometown of Heart Lake from Chicago for the holidays. She really wants to sell what she has inherited. The problem is, her best friend, Rosie, thinks Nola should return to Heart Lake for good, keep The Castle, and start her business in town so she can be close to friends and her much loved God children. Then there is the problem of her high school crush, Tanner Dean. Tanner is set in his ways and doesn’t want the small town he grew up in to change at all. Nola already has an offer from a developer to turn the property into high end condominiums. Will Tanner ever find peace and quiet again?

Nola inherits her grandmother’s home, The Castle, and goes back to her hometown to clean it out and get it ready to be sold. The community of Heart Lake in DREAMING OF A HEART LAKE CHRISTMAS is filled with likable characters that you could see yourself becoming friends with. The women are strong and faithful to their families and the men are always trying to help them out. DREAMING OF A HEART LAKE CHRISTMAS is going to put you right in the middle of “the castle” with all of its problems! Sarah Robinson has a way of pulling you in and never letting you go! She will get you emotionally invested in all of her characters to the point that they feel like “real people” you know.

DREAMING OF A HEART LAKE CHRISTMAS is filled with family, new beginnings, getting over the past, love and loss. This story is a very heart tugging tale in Heart Lake and I loved every minute of it. The pages aren’t filled with romance but there is plenty of it. You will be believing in happily ever after and finding yourself wanting to pack you bags and moving to this charming lake town. The positive female relationships that these women share will make you want to go out and make some new friends. I love a good, small hometown, enemies to lovers, romance. A wonderful story from Sarah Robinson. I can’t wait to continue this series!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Forever Books through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

[Barbara Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re looking for your next Hallmark type holiday romance then look no further. Cute and Christmas-y with just a touch of spice, this will give you all the holiday vibes.
Nola inherits her grandmother’s home and heads back to her hometown to clear it out and get it ready for sale. She has big plans for the money from the sale. She’s burnt out from her job and wants to start her own business in Chicago. So when she’s back and reconnects with her high school crush Tanner and sparks fly while snowed in during an epic snowstorm, Nola reconsiders her decision to keep or sell her grandmother’s property.
There are fun supporting characters and there is a truly laugh out loud scene with Tanner’s dad that you won’t forget quickly!
If you’re a fan of small town romance, second chance romance or Hallmark movies, this book is for you.
Thanks to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

[Danielle B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heart Lake, Michigan was a character in itself! This town was bristling with Christmas joy, eccentric residents, and an overall sense of community. Magnolia (Nola) is back in her hometown from Chicago to sell her grandmothers home, "The Castle." Her grandmother left it to her and Nola wants to use the funds to get out from under her unappreciative boss and start her own company. Tanner is Nola's best friends brother and these two have never gotten along, not one bit. He is at a crossroads with his career and the last thing he needs is Nola, or her cocky ex boyfriend Craig in his way. Or his town for that matter. Why is everyone trying to change small towns into big towns anyways? And DoorDash?! What's that?

The plot in this book was wonderful. I love a good small hometown, enemies to lovers, and best friends brother romance! A couple misses for me were centered around the miscommunication -I know they were brooding but seriously, get it together people! Lol.

There were a couple spicy scenes but easily skippable if that's not your preference!

A scene at the end of the book where Tanner's Dad is in the hospital -actually was laughing out loud. Seriously, you need to find out why!

[Brooke — brooklynnnnereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the perfect warmhearted read for the holidays. Although the story is set in winter and Christmas is involved, I think it could easily be read and enjoyed anytime throughout the winter season.

This story is truly like a lovable Christmas movie in all the best ways. The perfect amount of cheesiness and cringe that's surely to put a smile on your face.

I don't want to spoil anything but there was a moment in the epilogue that actually had me laughing out loud. This is truly a fun and cozy read for winter.

-------------

Alternatively, the novella that was included in this book was a bit much. It was a cute and quick lovely read but it took the cringe factor beyond what's typically enjoyable for me.

Obviously with this being a novella, the pacing is much different compared to a full length novel. I felt things were progressing and happening too fast in this story which impacted my enjoyment.

***Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

[Jenn (burlingtonbiblio) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mini Book Review
Dreaming of a HeartLake Christmas
By Sarah Robinson

Tropes
Small town
Second chance romance
Close proximity

Highlights
Full of those Hallmark holiday movie vibes this feel good sweet romance is like a warm hug. Gift wrapped Happily ever after ❤️

Thank you to @readforeverpub for my gifted copy in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet, Hallmark type Christmas story. Nola Bennett returns to her hometown of Heart Lake from Chicago for the holidays. She plans to pack up the historic house she inherited from her grandmother. She’s has an offer to sell it to a developer to turn into lake view condominiums. She wants the money so that she can start her own business consulting company. While catching up with best friends and her godchildren she crosses paths with Tanner Dean. They were both each others teen crushes but nothing came of it as the older brother of her BF. Tanner loves woodworking and tradition and can’t understand her desire to let go of the historic home.

The story is cute, predictable, low angst and with a smidge of heat. This is really what I expect and want for a small town Christmas romance. The characters were good and their motivations clear. I especially enjoyed the snow fight scene as it introduces the MC’s lighter side very early. Extra bonus for having an adorable cover. My ARC did not contain the bonus story mentioned on the cover of the book so I can’t comment on that. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
(3.5 stars)

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's no place like home for the holidays, even though Magnolia (Nola) Bennett believes it will be her last Christmas in Heart Lake, Michigan. Though she grew up in this small town, she always had big dreams of the big city, and now that she has a high-powered consulting job in Chicago and plans to start her own business, she intends to sell the big house (The Castle) her grandmother Gigi left her in her will so that she has the necessary start-up funds.

Trouble is, her best friend Rosie thinks Nola should return to Heart Lake for good, keep The Castle, and start her business in town so she can be close to friends and her beloved godchildren. Rosie's brother Tanner, Nola's high school crush, disapproves of her selling The Castle in favor of a new condo development, but then, they've always argued, right?

But being back home brings back many happy memories for Nola, and the Christmas season has a way of revealing what's truly important in life...

This holiday romance hits all the feel-good Hallmark holiday tropes: city girl returns home to the small town, high school crushes, "enemies" to lovers, best friend's brother, and that perfect Christmas gift trope of being snowed in. You know from the get-go that you're going to get a heartwarming happy ending, and this book gets you there in an irresistibly charming way. Nola and Tanner are comfortable, likable characters who share a caring nature, and you can't help but agree with Rosie that these two should just get together already!

Nola's friends Rosie and Amanda are great side characters who I trust will get their own books, and Rosie's kids are adorably silly and wise. You'll find other fun characters as well as another romance budding in the pages (though I gotta say, Tanner was surprisingly clueless in this regard, and his reaction, while partly understandable, was on the immature side for someone in his late 30s).

A solid, quick read that gives you all the holiday feels. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

[Danielle Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I had no idea this book was going to be set in Michigan! I love when I pick up a book set in my home state! This is definitely a book that should be read around Christmas all cozied up by the fire. It will warm your heart, and made me want to move to a small town just like Heart Lake.

This has all the wonderful Hallmark-y tropes that we love and leave your heart full and satisfied. We have Nola who is returning to her hometown to sell her grandmothers house. Shes hoping to use the money to open her own consulting firm. While most everyone is supportive of her plans to sell the Castle ( seriously, why would you sell it? I want to live in a place with its own name, especially if the name is The Castle) they secretly all hope she will decide to stay.
Enter Tanner, older brother to her best friend, whom she has known forever. The two can't be in the same room with out arguing about something. They both loathe and dare I say love? one another. It doesn't help that while he finds her wildly attractive, and can't stop thinking about her, but her plans to sell The Castle aren't something he can agree with. Especially as it will be demolished to make way for new condiminiums. (I don't blame him... Keep the small town charm!)
Then there is a snow storm! I think you can guess what happens after that... (wink)
I loved Tanner from the very beginning, the way he was with his family... I want a guy just like him... While Nola took a bit for me to warm up to, she has a very strong personality... and doesn't like to admit she needs help (see snowstorm) but she did win me over. They had some great chemistry that has been slowly building since they were teenagers, and I loved Nolas relationship with her friends and everyone else in town. I loved all the characters except Craig, (blech) he gave off extra smarmy vibes.

I will definiely be reading the next book in this series, I can't wait to see who the couple will be!

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Set in picturesque Michigan it has small town charm with big city problems.
I was distraught that Nola wanted to sell her grandmother’s big house to developers. That just made my blood run cold.
I liked that Tanner worked with his hands and was a total grumpy bear. I would have kicked his rear end to the curb after his verbal assault.
These two need to wake up, but will it be in time?
There is a HEA or I wouldn’t read it 😜
Thanks to Forever and NetGalley for the early copies.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so festive and fun! A little bit too surface for my liking, I needed more depth in order to find the romance relatable. The town and it's people were so charming and I found they really elevated the book for me. This was full of Christmas spirit and featured interesting characters.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This read like a fairly standard Hallmark movie. There was a formula and you had to suspend reality a little bit to actually get into the story, but it was enjoyable for what it was.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas was a cute holiday read featuring a romance between a woman and her best friend's older brother.

Nola Bennett has always dreamed of opening her own business and now with the inheritance her grandmother left her, she'll finally have the means to do it. Unfortunately it means selling "The Castle", her grandmother's historic home in Heart Lake. As Nola works to clear out the home, she runs into opposition from some of the locals. All Tanner Dean wants for Christmas is some peace and quiet but with Nola back in town that's the last thing he'll get. Now he needs to find a way to persuade her not to sell The Castle to a greedy developer. But the more time he spends with Nola, the more he wants to convince her to stay in Heart Lake permanently.

I read the second book in the series, The Little Bookstore on Heart Lake Lane, first so I was excited to go back and read this one for Nola and Tanner's story. Nola and Tanner were quite sweet with each other in that book so I was looking forward to seeing how their relationship developed. At the start of this book, Nola and Tanner were quite adversarial with each other and it seemed like she genuinely disliked him so I wondered how we would go from that to love in the book. Their relationship does progress at an odd pace as it goes from nothing to fully involved in no time at all. I struggled a bit with their relationship as I felt they had no chemistry which was odd as I really enjoyed their interactions in book two.

The plot regarding Nola selling her grandmother's house was well done and plays out pretty much how I expected it to. It was fun watching her go through the house and finding some interesting items her grandmother owned. The dress up scene with Rosie's kids and Tanner was a ton of fun. I also really liked the small town aspect of the book as the town was well developed and seemed like a great place to grow up.

Overall Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it if you're looking for a cute holiday romance.

[Lingonberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was your typical Hallmark holiday movie-style romance. Nola Bennett inherits hers grandmother's historic home in her hometown. Nola's former high school crush, Tanner Dean, still lives in town and has never forgotten Nola. Nola and Tanner reconnect while caring for Tanner's rambunctious niece and nephew, and the two get snowed in together during a blizzard. Nola's high school ex-boyfriend appears, trying to rekindle an old flame while Nola battles with her decision to keep or sell her grandmother's property.

This was a very low angst holiday romance novel. It was definitely forgettable because it followed the plot of nearly every Hallmark movie, but sometimes you need a break from high tension novels. If you're looking for a low steam, no anxiety holiday romance, this is for you.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas by Sarah Robinson is a Hallmark-esque holiday romance novel set in the quintessential perfect for Christmas small town. This book encapsulates the allure of the idyllic small town along with the community & all the holiday events that create heartwarming memories. The food descriptions alone made me crave holiday treats.
The main character, Nola Bennett, has to return to her hometown after many years away when she inherits her Gigi’s gorgeous house. Once in town, she reunites with her best friends & falls back into old times, including the regular verbal sparring with her best friend’s stubborn brother, Tanner Dean. Perhaps their bickering is their own form of banter & there may be more than Christmas cheer in the air.
I will admit I got a bit tired of the repetitive competitive comparisons between city & small town life made about each other. It just felt a little unnecessary & it took me out of the story when it was brought up.
I also struggled to fall completely into the romance between the main characters. However, I really enjoyed all the side characters, the lovely holiday atmosphere & the festive celebrations & activities. I think Heart Lake is great place to set the location for romance novels. I also feel like there’s more love stories to be had in the side characters. The twin kids were adorably entertaining. & Tanner’s dad as well as another character were a hoot.
If you’re looking for an easy Hallmark type of Christmas story to get you into the holiday spirit, check out Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas by Sarah Robinson, which is out now!

Massive thanks to Forever Publishing for sending me a physical arc! All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Trigger warnings: This book mentions &/or contains loss of parent to cancer, loss of grandparent & brief mention of a toxic parent & parental abuse (side character).

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas by Sarah Robinson is an endearing little romance between two life-long frenemies: Tanner and Nola (Magnolia). Nola has returned to Heart Lake from her life in Chicago to pack up her grandmother’s home after her death. She plans to sell it and use the money to start her own business. She is tired of being used by her boss. One of the first people she tuns into is Tanner, her friend Rosie’s big brother. As usual, he has a snarky comment to make. It’s been like this between them for years. All is moving along with the sale of the house until the big snowstorm hits. Nola had been so sure she could take care of herself, but when the electricity goes out and it turns out she really doesn’t know how to start a fire, things are looking dire. Guess, who shows up? He and Rosie had both been worried about her. There’s a fire in no time and so much more. Their pent-up feelings explode into a memorable night for both of them. But, she’s going back to Chicago, right?

Robinson has put together a predictable, but very entertaining story about two pretty stubborn people. They are both so entrenched in what they have been doing that they can see little else. Tanner is the all-around good guy. He takes care of his family and is always available to help. Nola is the city girl with a career. It is what she has wanted since high school. The plot is a simple one, but effective. They both change their perspectives and that simple act opens a new world for them. There are additional interesting characters in this world Robinson has built: Rosie, the single mom; Amanda, the interior designer; Marvel, the not quite aged-out hippie. All have their stories to tell and they will be good ones. Fun read!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas by Forever, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Forever #SarahRobinson #DreamingOfAHeartLakeChristmas

[angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

When sparks start flying, these total opposites discover Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Calling all small town romance fans! Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas is the start of a new series, and oh so good! This book was sweet and tender, with a little bit of steam. I enjoyed the romance between Nola and Tanner, and I absolutely loved the town of Heart Lake. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

To raise enough money to start her own business, Nola Bennett needs to sell “The Castle,” her beloved grandmother’s historic house and get back home to the city. But Heart Lake’s most eligible bachelor is insisting she hang on to the property. He may be one of the hottest, grumpiest men she’s ever seen, but Nola has no time to pine over her high school crush.

All woodworker Tanner Dean wants for Christmas is some peace and quiet, but that’s not going to happen with infuriating, irresistible Nola Bennett back in town. How can he persuade her to keep The Castle out of the hands of greedy developers when sizzling attraction flares every time they’re together? And the more time he spends with Nola, the harder it becomes to picture a future without her—unless he can convince her, once and for all, that Heart Lake is exactly where she belongs.

Includes the bonus novella The Christmas Wish by Melinda Curtis!

[Jessie Carvalho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this if you like: Dual POV, enemies to lovers, family friend, best friend's brother, small town, steamy 🔥

Nola Bennett has come back to her small town to sell “The Castle,” her beloved grandmother’s historic house. She needs it to sell to raise money to start her own business. However, Heart Lake’s most eligible bachelor is insisting she hang on to the property. He may be one of the hottest, grumpiest men she’s ever seen, but Nola has no time to pine over her high school crush. He also happens to be her best friends brother.

Tanner Dean is a woodworker who wants peace and quiet for Christmas, but that’s not going to happen with infuriating, irresistible Nola Bennett back in town. He wants her to keep The Castle out of the hands of greedy developers and has to persuade her. He also finds himself trying to convince her, once and for all, that Heart Lake is exactly where she belongs.

I loved this. It's the perfect feel good Christmas book with some steam. 🔥 Major Hallmark vibes but with sex. She comes back, sees her former crush, a storm happens, and boom. The characters and romance are developed well. The supporting cast is great. It's funny, sweet, sexy. I highly recommend this book!

Huge thank you to the author and Forever Books for the gifted book!

[Dana]

Thank you to Forever for the gifted copy of Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas! All opinions in this review are my own.

Even though the Christmas season has passed, Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas is a great winter read! While it does end on Christmas, there is so much wintery fun in this romance!

Read if you like:
❄️ best friend's older brother
❄️ grumpy / sunshine
❄️ both POVs so you know how hard he's fallen too
❄️ open door romances
❄️ small town settings
❄️ forced proximity

I can't wait to return to Heart Lake this summer in the sequel, The Little Bookstore on Heart Lake Lane!

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute Christmas book. I enjoyed this authors writing style and have read book two in this series already. I loved revisiting the characters from that one. I thought the character development was well done, and I enjoyed the plot as a whole. I will say that I think I liked book two a little more; however, this one had me laughing out loud on several occasions.

Read this if you love:
- High school crush
- Best friend's brother
- Friend's to lovers
- Small town romance
- Christmas/holiday romance

[Rajini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a Christmas romance. They get me everytime and it's a guilty pleasure. This was the perfect one to get this season's holiday books going!

Friends to lovers, sister's best friend, holiday themed, it checked all the tropes I enjoy. Nola and Tanner had a relationship that just needed built on and it was done very well. Fast paced and a truly easy read. I was halfway done before I realized, and books that do that to you, while you can't deny the hold they have.

4/5

[LESLIE J (mrsj_readsbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute enemies to lovers / second chance romance with just a hint of spice. I loved that the story was set in Michigan.
Nola and Tanner are just perfect together. Thrown together since they were children, they were destined to be together. It just took a bit longer to get there. Change can be good if you open yourself up to all the possibilities.

I am excited for the next book in the series coming Summer 2023.

Thank you to Forever Pub for my gifted copy.

[Joyce Rawlins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreaming Of A Heart Lake Christmas by Sarah Robinson


When sparks start flying, these total opposites, Tanner and Nola, discover Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. He wants to stay in Heart Lake, but she wants to pursue her career in Chicago. Which one wins out?

I just loved this book. Very interesting and just kept moving along. Great characters. A special Christmas romance novel. I recommend this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

I

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreaming of a Heartlake Christmas has all the makings of a Hallmark classic but with some Hallmark After Dark spiciness sprinkled to it. Upholding the best friend’s sibling and enemies-to-lovers tropes; Nola’s and Tanner’s relationship from barely tolerating each other to realizing their animosity was because of their underlying attraction that they forcibly ignored for several years was cute to read about. There were some issues that arose that I felt were resolved a little to quickly, but overall this book has all the Christmas goodness one can ask for in a holiday read.

Thank you Forever for the gifted copy. Thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute holiday romance book! If you are looking for a Hallmark Christmas Movie in a book form? This is it! From second chance love to best friends brother also the setting a small town! So many good tropes! Definitely recommend a perfect holiday read
Thank you @netgalley for giving the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Readingwiththeroberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute Christmas book! This felt like a Hallmark Christmas movie that was just turned into a book! It was a really cute, fun read. It was predictable but that’s what you get when you want that Hallmark feeling. This will be a great book when it starts to get colder and closer to Christmas!

Nola and Tanner were really cute together. Tanner is set in his ways and doesn’t want the small town he grew up in to change at all. Nola is from that small town but she wanted more out of life. She moved off for years and is now back to sell her grandmothers historic home to a developer. Can Tanner get Nola to remember the charm of their small town and stay with him? Or will Nola continue to chase her dreams in the big city and cut ties with Heart Lake?

[Sarah Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now available for preorder!

Grab your copy here: https://booksbysarahrobinson.com/book...

[Ann Lorz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it's that time of year again. The time when I start reading holiday ARC's. I'm starting off the season with Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas. Sarah Robinson is a new author for me so I was very excited to find a new author who likes to write small-town romance.

There are many things that I enjoyed about this story. I like her friends and found them to be funny and very loyal. I kinda feel like they are better friends to Nola than she is to them. Sometimes you have to remember where you came from. I will say she is a great godmother.

I think you'll like Nola but get tired of her single-minded thought of selling her grandmother's home and getting back to Chicago. Okay, that might have been only me but I at times wanted her to stop with it. I understood her feelings but felt that point was bigger than the romance.

I love Tanner. He's such a great son, brother, and uncle. You won't be able to not love him. He works hard and has put everyone first before himself. He's even put off his own dreams to make his father happy.

In a way, these two are very good for each other. Nola needs someone to help her learn that being the biggest isn't everything. Sometimes it's about doing good work. And Nola helps Tanner learn to reach for his dreams and push himself.

As a whole, this is a sweet story but very low on the romance part. I personally would have liked more romance. I understand that they know each other already so you don't have that part but at times I didn't even feel any heart between them. I needed more. The funny part is that I pretty much loved the characters so that's what made me keep reading. I feel that's very important in the books I read. I can overlook some things, not liking the characters isn't one.

Since I did like them so much I will be reading the next book. I want to know what and who Nola's friends will get with.

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ARC received for an honest review.

[Danielle - drops.everything.and.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a Hallmark Christmas movie but in word format. And with more sex in it because I think we all know how chaste those Hallmark movies can be. :)
This book was light-hearted and fun to read. It hit some of my fave tropes: grumpy/sunshine, best friend's older brother, city girl returns to her small hometown, forced proximity, etc.

Magnolia, aka, Nola, inherited her beloved grandmother's house, nicknamed "the Castle" and returns home for Christmas to clean-out the place as she intends to sell it to raise money to start her own consulting firm. She clashes with Tanner, her best friend's older brother who never left their hometown of Heart Lake and thinks Nola is betraying her family and town by selling the house to a developer who wants to raze it and put up condos. Of course, because it's Christmas, Nola gets hit with waves of nostalgia, reminders of the joy of living in a small town, and the fun of being with her best friends and honourary niece and nephew, forcing her to rethink her plans, all while getting to know Tanner better.

What I liked: see first sentence of this review. I'm a sucker for the Hallmark Christmas movies and I could easily see this one being made into a movie. I felt that Nola was a relatable character. She didn't have all the answers, she was confident but wasn't cocky/arrogant, she acknowledged when she got something wrong. Tanner was also a good character - very devoted to his family, friends, and hometown. I felt that even when he was frustrated with Nola and her plan to sell, he didn't try to force her and bully her into doing something she didn't want to do.

Things that surprised me: how quickly things accelerated between Nola and Tanner. It was 0 to 100km/h in a single page! That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I would have liked more build up.

While reading it, it felt like the book was a set-up for a series with Nola's best friends, Amanda and Rosie. This theory proved to be correct when, at the end, there is a note that the next book in the series will be released in summer 2023. I will definitely add it to the TBR to find out what else happens in Heart Lake.

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Pj Ausdenmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Robinson has created a charming, small-town romance that unrolled across my mind like one of my favorite Hallmark holiday movies. And it's set in the state where I grew up: Michigan! Romances set in Michigan are not exactly plentiful on the ground but it's a wonderful location for journeys to love, especially in winter when the snow, the frozen lakes, the outdoor activities, and small-town traditions are on full display. For me, it was like a walk down memory lane.

Robinson populated the story with interesting characters, conflicting issues, and two of my favorite tropes: frenemies to lovers and best friend's brother. Nola and Tanner are on opposite sides of some pretty important issues in their lives with the sale of Nola's grandmother's house being at the center of their disagreements. Big city girl (Nola) comes home to sell grandmother's historic home to a developer who plans to turn it into condos for city vacationers. Local boy (Tanner) fears it will ruin the heart of his small town forever. Best girlfriends support Nola while also harboring the same fear. Will Nola remember why she loved Heart Lake so much? Will she realize her dream isn't so much about proving herself in the big city as it is finding happiness, career satisfaction, and love within herself? Will Tanner figure out that not all change is bad and that compromise can be a good thing? Will being snowed in together force both of them to confront the feelings they've hidden since they were teens? Find the answers to these burning questions and more in Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas.

I enjoyed my visit to Sarah Robinson's Heart Lake and am looking forward to returning for more stories in this new series. If you enjoy feel-good, small-town romances with humor, heart, mild conflict, character growth, an intriguing secondary cast, and heart-tugging happy endings, give Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas a try. Robinson's next Heart Lake book is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2023. I'm eager to discover which character will be taking the lead and what the author has in store for them.

ARC received for fair and unbiased review