Christmas at Valentine Inn

By: Jennifer Peel

Narrated by: Stefanie Kay

With a name like Isabelle Valentine, one would think I was destined to find true love and believe in the ridiculous notion of soul mates. Don’t get me wrong: I’m all about love. I even own an inn with my sister where each room is named after our favorite romantic couples. But soul mates? It seems highly implausible there is that one person, your person, meant only for you. My sister, of course, would tell me I’m dead wrong and that the very inn we own calls to such lovers. So, what if she did find her own unlikely happily ever after here with one of the most famous men alive? That doesn’t mean I’m meant for such a destiny.

But what happens when the implausible happens? When a man I thought I would never see again walks into my inn. The man who 20 years ago administered the kiss of all kisses. The kind of kiss that whispered to my soul and told me things I wasn’t ready to hear. But this time Dr. Patrick Abbott isn’t alone—he comes with two beautiful kids and the memory of his dead wife, who seems to haunt all their lives. So much so, Patrick would just as soon skip Christmas. At least that’s his plan until he finds himself playing hero trying to help me save my sister’s secret Christmas Eve wedding. By hero, I mean pretending it’s our wedding. Yep, you heard that right. Now we find ourselves having to act as if we are the jolliest couple around, making the season bright. But somehow the pretend feels all too real. Perhaps in all the chaos, there is room for my own Christmas dreams to come true. Maybe, just maybe, I was wrong about soul mates? Either way, I’m hanging up more mistletoe. Because hello, the man can kiss.

USA Today best-selling author Jennifer Peel presents a swoony, laugh-out-loud story full of holiday magic and charm.

©2022 Jennifer Peel (P)2023 Jennifer Peel

So perfectly swoony

This author is a go to for me. Swoony romance? Check. Characters that pull you in and keep your soul attached? Check. Fun banter? Oh yeah. Izzy is adorable and I so wanted her to get some happy. And she does. It’s another fantastic book by one of my favorite authors. This narrator is also a favorite. She seriously does male leads perfectly. Like hello there Patrick. We all see you. Total win for me.

Fabulous second chance romcom

I loved this cute romcom! Christmas at Valentine Inn has a bit of everything- fake dating, awkward moments, laughter, magic, mystery, and swoony kisses, and a fabulous epilogue! With Jennifer Peel’s writing, and Stefanie Kay’s narration, this is perfection. I highly recommend this, and all of Jennifer Peel’s books!

A fabulous and swoony second chance romance!

This book delivered ALL the feels. Oh my gosh Jennifer Peel, how do you do it? I felt so invested in the characters while I listened to the audiobook of this story and was cheering for Isabelle and Patrick from the very start. That epilogue was exactly what I was wishing for and made me tear up I was so happy.
I really enjoyed that the characters were older than I think you find in a lot or romance novels. The author did a great job showing how age doesn’t matter in terms of the heart. I loved the chemistry and how there was a great physical attraction and swoon level, while staying closed door. I laughed, I cried, I felt frustrated and mad alongside Izzy, but mostly I felt the love and heartwarming message through it all.
An excellent second chance romance. The narrator Stephanie did such a fabulous job too. It was easy to understand and follow along while also pleasant to listen to. I definitely recommend this book. Content: does contain evil exes and infertility.

I loved Izzy and Patrick

Izzy Valentine's story is finally here and it was well worth the wait! I have no idea what to say about this book! It's funny, swoony, Christmasy, it has cute kids, a crazy interfering mom, and wonderful characters. . .all the things!! It's got tropes--single dad, second chance romance, and fake relationship. . .but deep down I wonder if it was ever really fake with Izzy and Patrick?

We met Izzy in The Valentine Inn but now we get to see other sides to this spunky woman who says all the snarky things a lot of us would love to say. Because of Patrick and his emotionally scarred teens staying at the Inn we're able to see Izzy's tender side as she mothers them and helps them learn to love Christmas.

Izzy and Patrick haven't seen each other in 20 years. She didn't think she'd ever see him again and yet there he is staying at the Inn because of a busted pipe in the house he just bought. Coincidence or the workings of the magic (aka Daisy) of Valentine Inn? But this Patrick isn't the same man Izzy knew--what happened to him in the past 20 years?

Some of my favorite parts were the nightly sliding and dancing in the ballroom and Izzy's mom! The woman drove me crazy and yet made me laugh out loud. I LOVED all the scenes of Izzy and Bridgette. If you're tender-hearted you may need a tissue for some of them. Oh, and I can't forget Bridgette and Rory's Christmas tree topper! Oh my! And of course I loved the wonderful ending!!

This book would make a perfect Hallmark movie! You don't have to read The Valentine Inn first but I feel it would enhance your enjoyment of this book. I listened to the audiobook and LOVED it so much I almost finished it in one night, but my bed was seriously calling to me. Stefanie Kay is the narrator and she also narrated The Valentine Inn. She's fantastic and is wonderful with giving each character a different voice and getting across all the emotions.

Content: There is innuendo and french kissing but nothing beyond that. Probably PG-13 level.

Enjoyable

I thought this was such a fun book. I loved the characters and I thought the story line was fun.
It is part of a series but I think it would be just as enjoyable as a stand alone- although I loved seeing characters from previous books make an appearance.
This book was a closed door romance- it had plenty of sizzle, but didn’t cross any major lines for me (I prefer my books to be as PG as possible).
I thought the narrator for this book did a fantastic job(I do listen to my books sped up a bit).
I can’t wait for more from this author!

Christmas second-chance rom-com

This squeal-worthy romance was pure delight. I liked the continuation of the first story in this series and the beloved characters. Izzy so deserves her happily ever after and I am so glad that she got it. The narrator did a great job bringing this story to life.

Content warning—pg-13; innuendo, sex talk, body parts discussed, closed door romance

SUCH A GOOD SEQUEL!

I loved this book so much! This is a continuation to “The Valentine Inn” book. They are both stand alone stories but you may as well read/listen to them both because you are going to want to anyway.

Isabelle and Patrick knew each other 20 years earlier but came together again and this is their story. Patrick is a Swoony book boyfriend and I love their story.

I also loved the narrator, she did a fantastic job bringing it to life! This is an audiobook that I will be listening to many times.

Best of 2022

This book is one of my favorite reads of 2022! Jennifer Peel hit it out of the park with this story, and Stefanie Kay did a fantastic job with the narration! Loved it!

Christmas Romance

You get all the feels with this closed door, second chance romance! The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the story to life!

I absolutely loved everything about this book!

One of the best stories I have read! the narrator was one of the best I've heard!