A Mini Review of Like a Holiday Inn by Lindsay Harrel, a Port Willis Romance Novella
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary advanced reader e-copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review. Also, this blog post includes affiliate links. You can view my affiliate disclaimer here.
Rebecca Trengrouse is quite possibly the worst businesswoman in the world.
All she ever wanted was to run her family’s bakery in tiny Port Willis, England, but that dream was squashed when her father decided to close up shop without asking her.
Now, thanks to mounting debt and an aversion to marketing (and, let’s be honest—people in general), she needs to sell the bed and breakfast she bought on a whim a few years ago.
And fast.
So when a handsome guest makes her a purchase offer that’s halfway decent, she knows she shouldn’t refuse.
But there’s just something about the guy she doesn’t like.
It doesn’t matter that the American is her friend Ginny’s older brother. Benjamin’s casual smile, perfectly tousled hair, and arrogant chocolate eyes are exactly the kind of charming Rebecca knows to keep at arms’ length.
But that becomes difficult when the two of them get snowed in together at the inn during a freak Christmas blizzard.
And as cozy as things are getting between them, Rebecca knows it wouldn’t be smart to open her heart to yet another man who is destined to leave her.
But love is not as predictable as baked goods.
And the heart does not always do what is smart.
MY REVIEW: ★★★★★/5
Tis the season for romance and curling up by the cozy fire (or Christmas tree!) with heartwarming stories. This sweet story burrowed right down into my soul with an adorable romance that tugged on all my heartstrings! It amazed me how author Lindsay Harrel managed to pack so much depth, character, joy, sorrow and heart into such a short story.
The setting of Port Willis in England came alive through Harrel’s descriptions and had all the quaint, small town feels; the camaraderie between the characters of the town was delightful. The beauty of a freshly fallen snow and the idea of being snowed in together ramped up the sizzle and tension between the two main characters, Rebecca and Ben. I adored their banter and found myself fully immersed in their laugh-out-loud moments of a growing romance.
I enjoyed how Ben’s charm thawed Rebecca’s “Ice Queen” heart. His antics made me smile and his charisma had me swooning. Meanwhile, it was refreshing to read a single POV and the innermost thoughts of a simple, ordinary heroine in Rebecca. Her scarred, lonely heart and the interwoven threads of faith, family and forgiveness made this darling story even more endearing! It couldn’t have been any better!
This novella reads as a standalone but features characters from Harrel’s other Port Willis books.
