Rebecka Cole: Winterberry Inn

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/244622741-winterberry-inn

Holly is tired... tired of everyone wanting so much more from her than she's currently able to give, especially her own mom who has taken managing the holidays to a whole new level so when she's asked if she is bringing someone home for the holidays and told that there are going to be a festive awkward photo shoot in order to "boost" her online presence she decides to step out for some fresh air which involves getting in her car and driving far, far away from all of that nonsense... only on the drive away she ends up caught in a blizzard and quite possibly the most charming town she's ever seen in person... seriously did she land in a hallmark movie set?

Winterberry Inn is cozy, nearby and they have vacancy only not inside the Inn  (of course not) they do have a cottage in the back... great she'll take that thank you very much, except for Nick bursts in from the storm right when she's about to accept to attempt to stake a claim on the cottage that is rightfully hers... she did get there first.  

The storm getting worse and with no other place to sleep Holly comes to an agreement with this stranger (lets hope he isn't a serial killer)... they are 100% not sharing a bed though...

Nick is in this small town for work and while the town is charming he's a -->get in, do his job and leave kind of guy never stopping long enough to settle down or leave a lasting impression on any one place, he is under a lot of pressure from his boss to get the job done no matter the consequences and that's usually who he is but he just met someone to throw his whole world view off kilter and she's sharing his space for the duration of this storm and the more he spends time with her the more he feels like maybe his life isn't going in the direction he wants it to maybe he needs something more stable.  

This is a novella and usually the pacing can be hard since there is less time to tell the story but the author did a great job keeping the story line moving along and easy to follow.  You don't really get to know the characters really well but you get enough of an idea for the point of the story, I loved this feel good holiday romance it was a quick cozy read I was going to sit down and read a few chapters and ended up reading half the book in one sitting.  The lead characters are likeable and have you wanting to see them get a happy ending, I also enjoyed the side characters (like the meddling inn keeper).  

I loved the hallmark vibes and I found myself wishing I could visit this charming town myself the author did a great job creating the holiday magic in a small town charm which kept me turning page after page.  Looking forward to the next book from this author!  

*Novella *2025 read  *Holiday Read  *strangers -->  more  *forced proximity  *cozy read  

*hallmark vibes *small town *Grumpy(ish)/Sunshine *slow burn  *one room/one bed *banter

*Indie author  

Possible spoiler:

I do wish the epilogue was spaced a bit further in the future, it is set only about a week after the last chapter ends not giving much time for the couple to be together or for us to really see how things are going for them after leaving the small town.