Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas: Includes a Bonus Novella by Melinda Curtis

Haven't read this author's books before but picked up the 2nd book and saw there was a 1st book and had to have it.

I don’t usually do holiday books, but Sarah Robinson has changed my mind!!! This was such a WONDERFUL read!!! The characters and storyline were amazing!!!!

The perfect read for every romance lover. Grumpy hometown boy falls for the happy hometown girl who moved away and is back for the holidays.I started this series with book two and was fine so they can be read in any order. I’m excited for book three later this year.

Nola comes to town to sell her grandmother's home which is known as The Castle. Selling this house is going to be her ticket to being her own boss. What she doesn't expect is to run into Tanner, fall him and this quaint town and the people in it. Great quick holiday read! I received an ARC from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This book was the perfect mixture of sweet Hallmark with a little pinch of spice. This book follows Nola (short for Magnolia) and Tanner - he’s her best friend’s older brother and she’s always had a thing for him. And vice versa. But whenever they’re together, all they do is bicker and fight.Nola finds herself in town during Christmas, getting her grandmother’s house ready to be sold (she’s selling it after she passes, even though it’s a big historic property and the buyer wants to tear it down to build condos and other stuff). This fact pisses Tanner off because Heart Lake is his home and he hates what corporate America is trying to turn their little town into. But Tanner even finds himself wondering what he’s doing with his life and if he’s even happy. He’s set to take over the construction business that his dad opened and pass it down to him. But is that what he even wants?We even see some forced proximity after a snowstorm keeps them locked in the same house over night! So if you’re needing a festive read, you should definitely give this a chance! This was such a great read, I literally read it in ONE sitting because I couldn't put it down.

Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas is the first book in the new Heart Lake series by Sarah Robinson. I love Christmas Romance books and I’m glad I chose to read this one. Sarah Robinson has created a small-town romance set in Heart Lake, Michigan with a Hallmark vibe.This cute holiday romance centers around Nola Bennett. Nola returns to Heart Lake to sell the Castle, her grandmothers home so she can raise money to start her own business. Nola runs into her old crush Tanner Dean, a woodworker, and who also runs his family construction company. Tanner doesn’t want Nola to sell the home and a smarmy developer who is her ex high school boyfriend, wants to tear the house down and build condos. Can Tanner Dean convince Nola Heart Lake is where she belongs?This was a perfect little cozy read and highly entertaining. If you like frenemies with a happily ever after this one is for you.I love the small town setting, great characters, building snowmen, hot chocolate, and festive cheer. I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the series scheduled to be released in the summer of 2023.

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!

DREAMING OF A HEART LAKE CHRISTMASBY: SARAH ROBINSONAbout 3.75 Stars!I was in the mood for something light, and a real Christmas story. Instead I feel like I got a romance heavily themed novel that only had a few Christmas scenes. When I got to the end of the novel I discovered that this Author is well educated, but a romance writer. I wish that I had known that beforehand. Maybe it's my fault for not reading the synopsis carefully enough. So I can't be unfair to the Author and rate it lower, because this kind of romance centered story is too focused on romance, and is just not for me. The novel was well written and it did have a theme that I appreciated which is finding value in tradition and quaint and charming settings which is Heart Lake, Michigan.Nola's grandmother has died and left her a huge home with a lake view which she refers to as the castle. Nola is back for what she plans to be back in her home town for a brief time to get her grandmother's home ready to sell so she can use the proceeds to start her own business. I enjoyed the eggnog contest with nutmeg, also eggnog ice cream sounded tasty. Her best friend Rosie has two fraternal twins which are a girl named Becca and a boy named Zander that Nola is crazy about and babysits often. Rosie's brother Tanner has been groomed to take over the family business.To say much more would spoil it. A heartwarming story which can be read in one sitting. I thought the Title and cover would deliver me more of a Christmas story, but this was okay. I am trying one more and hopefully it will focus more on Christmas scenes in the novel. When this did focus on the holidays I enjoyed it.Publication Date: 09/27/2022