The Holiday Cottage, by Sarah Morgan

 Publication September 24, 2024

On the surface, Imogene would seem to have it all. A great job, co-workers who are warm and friendly, a caring, forgiving boss, a great family, adorable boyfriend and dog, and....oh, wait, the last three don't exist. Imogene made up to hide her real self from the world. You'll learn why as you read so I don't want to give too much away but, well, let's just say mother issues are at the root of it. Despite the stress of living a lie, she's juggling her fake reality well until, well, no spoilers, but until she can no longer juggle it all. That's when she winds up being invited to spend the Christmas holidays with Dorothy and her family (and her animal menagerie) in picturesque Cotswolds and her life changes. Of course there will be bumps in the road and, hey, this being a Christmas story, a possible romance as she finds the real Imogene. 

That's all I'm saying about the plot. As always Morgan does the usual job of intertwining the worlds of three different women, all connecting at some point in time and place. The build up did seem slower than usual but, hey, maybe because that was rain falling outside my window, not snowflakes. I've got to admit, too, that while I've grown accustomed to having a multi-character viewpoint, it does take me awhile to fall into the rhythm and connect, so that may all be on me. In any case, all the holiday and family feels are there, not to mention family drama, and romance. There were some twists that I wasn't expecting, so it most definitely held my interest. The gorgeous, snow-globe worthy setting didn't hurt, either. You'll get to know the characters and Cotswold well as Morgan is a master at writing characters and places you'll feel you know or, at the very least, wish you knew. 

Bottom line, if you're looking for a feel good holiday story that focuses on characters and watching them grow as we read, you'll enjoy this book. In fact, grab some hot chocolate, sweet treats, and a cozy sweater to curl up on the couch with as you read. Even better if you have a fireplace to curl up in front of but, hey, you can always use your imagination. Just don't try to build your whole life on it as Imogene did. Thanks author #SarahMorgan and #HarlequinTradePublishing - #CanaryStreetPress for this early dip into Christmas. I'm suddenly feeling the urge for a gingerbread cookie.