THE CHRISTMAS INN

Pamela Kelley

St. Martin's Press

9/24/24

Fiction

Hardcover, 320 pages

"The Christmas Inn is the perfect holiday read. It is both a poignant exploration of the meaning of family, especially in small town America, and a story about second chances in love and in life. I couldn't stop reading, and highly recommend it. Put it at the top of your Christmas list!"

-Anita Hughes

Riley Sanders didn’t plan on losing her job as a content marketing manager right before Christmas. When she calls her sister Amy to vent, she learns that their mother has broken her leg and could use some help at the inn. Riley decides to head home to the inn, nestled along the shores of Cape Cod, in time for the Christmas rush. She is happy to help and needs something to distract her as mistletoe is hung and snowflakes begin to fall.

When she gets there, she not only finds delicious cookies and a crackling fire to lift her spirits but also the sense of family she’s been missing all along. There’s Franny, a woman who has just lost her sister and has four unopened letters from her that she plans to use to open her up to new experiences on the Cape. And there’s Aidan, her high school sweetheart, now a widower, who is staying at the inn with his nine-year-old son, Luke. What begins as a quick stay over the holidays to help her mom turns into something that means much more—a second chance at romance, a deeper sense of found family, and all the joy and wonder that comes with Christmastime on Cape Cod.

Dear Reader:

I'm so excited for people to read this book. The Christmas Inn is set in Chatham over the holidays and it's such a magical time of year on Cape Cod. The Cape is quieter in the winter months when all the summer tourists are gone, but it's still lovely, with the small-town vibes that are so cozy at Christmas. The setting is an inn on Main Street where several generations will come together. Franny is in her early seventies, Beth, who owns the inn, is in her mid-fifties and her daughter Riley is around thirty and in town from Manhattan.

This story has found family, second chance romance, delicious food, and the magic of Christmas. 

Pamela Kelley

Your book club menu might include some of my favorites from the book:

Beverages: La Marca Prosecco (we love bubbly prosecco around the holidays—great with appetizers), Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon (an inexpensive yet so delicious wine from Duckhorn Vineyards)

Appetizers: Bruschetta—toasted crusty baguettes topped with Boursin cheese, marinated tomatoes, basil, and balsamic glaze; Jumbo shrimp cocktail

Salad: Classic Caesar with chopped romaine lettuce, creamy homemade dressing, shaved parmesan cheese and toasted croutons

Entree: Lobster Newburg served with in toast cups and sliced filet mignon

Dessert: Cheesecake with fudge drizzle and wild cherry sauce or individual pavlovas with fresh berries and whipped cream.

-Pamela Kelley

FOR YOUR BOOK CLUB