Feel-Good Archives

The Cranberry Inn is the latest small-town romance novel by author Barabara Josselsohn and it is perfect timing for the holidays.

By now, reading a small-town romance set in Lake Summers feels like taking a vacation. The location is familiar, the characters are pleasant, and the stories are always sweet.

Oh, and I can’t forget the HEAs. Never underestimate the power of a good “happily ever after,” especially these days.

And what more perfect time of year for one that is set around Christmastime?

There is not a lot that makes Laurel or Joel stand out, but that is not a bad thing. They are both real people that could step off the page into real life without skipping a beat.

I like that they are not dramatic or overdone. It makes it so much easier to enjoy their story.

The author cleverly uses Laurel’s profession as a springboard (and a metaphor) for her own life. There is some good decoration, and a few special pieces (like her son), but it is – for the most part – empty.

I think a lot of people can relate to that.

The action kicks in when Laurel returns to the Cranberry Inn (her childhood home) and finds her dad…not where is supposed to be. The resolution of that comes late in the book, but only when Laurel is ready for the reason for his disappearance.

Honestly, I love the way this author plots her books. Everything happens for a reason and in its good time.

The Cranberry Inn blog tour schedule — Buy Link:
Amazon: https://bit.ly/3od5VDa

I liked Laurel and Joel both apart and together. As I have mentioned several times, the reader knows they are going to end up together. The fun and enjoyment are in going on the journey with them.

We get the usual interesting secondary characters as well. Another strength of this author is how perfectly she captures small-town life.

For those who have lived it, it’s a great reminder of the quirks and perks. For those who have never lived in a small town, it’s an accurate portrayal that allows them to live vicariously.

The biggest message I got from this story is that sometimes the best gifts are intangible. Second chances, time, and personal connections can be the greatest gifts of all.

I absolutely recommend The Cranberry Inn as a holiday season read. And while you’re at it, you should also take a look at other books set in Lake Summers:

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Author Bio:
Barbara Josselsohn is an award-winning journalist and novelist who loves crafting stories about strong protagonists facing a fork in the road. Her novels center around second chances, family relationships and, of course, romance. She is the author of the Lake Summers series set in the fictional town of Lake Summers, nestled in the Adirondacks Mountains, which includes the books The Lilac House and The Bluebell Girls. Before joining with Bookouture, she published The Last Dreamer, a women’s-fiction novel from Lake Union Publishing, along with hundreds of articles and essays in major and regional publications about family, home and relationships. She lives just north of New York City and enjoys escaping to the beach or the mountains whenever she can. Other than writing, her biggest passion is her family: husband, her three kids, and her indefatigable shih-poo!

I’ve become a big fan of this author. Her stories have always had a calming effect on me.

I think it’s because the stories are simple and don’t take a lot of brainpower. There’s no criminal to catch, no psychological twist to figure out, no historical lesson to learn – just nice, easy plots that allow me to ride along with the characters’ experiences and enjoy them.

(That’s not to say that the other types of stories aren’t good as well, because I love those books. But everything in its own time and sometimes a break with something different is a good thing.)

In this case, we get the story of Caroline, and how she returns to a small town to help save a garden that was started by her mother many years prior.

I enjoyed the setup of this plotline. I think it was highly relatable in many ways. Caroline isn’t sure about her corporate job and often wonders if she holds the position because of her family connections.

It’s obvious that her heart is in another place, even as she doesn’t realize it herself. It takes a message from an old friend to make her realize where her priorities should be. It’s also a good lesson for her daughter, Lee, who is being groomed to be the heir apparent to the corporation.

Back in Lake Summers, Caroline finds herself again and also uncovers a family secret. It’s a good story, told in an approachable and interesting way. And, as with other books set in small towns, there is a literal townful of local characters.

I will say that in some ways, I actually liked the secondary characters better than Caroline. It’s not that she was unlikeable, but people like Maxine and Gull seemed to be much more fleshed out. Maybe because they were in their element in town already? I’m not sure.

I also liked Aaron. I definitely would have loved to read his papers, because they sounded interesting. I’m not sure that I bought the relationship between Caroline and Aaron, though. It didn’t seem very full or complete.

And the secret (as mentioned in the blurb) is revealed very late in the book – almost as if it was an afterthought. This was a shame because the build-up was pretty well-done, and I expected it to take a bigger part of the story.

As it was, the last part seemed rushed. After an easy-going story that moved along, sort of like a stream trickling through, the revelation and wrap-up felt like it had hit rapids. It was bumpier and fast-moving – and didn’t feel as natural as the rest of the story.

But in spite of that, I very much enjoyed this book and would recommend it for a simple, relaxing beach read.

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Author bio:

Barbara Josselsohn is an award-winning writer who loves crafting stories about strong protagonists facing a fork in the road. Her novels include The Bluebell Girls, The Lilac House, The Last Dreamer, and her newest release, The Lily Garden. She has published hundreds of articles about family, home and relationships in national and regional publications, and also teaches novel writing at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. She lives just north of New York City and enjoys escaping to the beach or the mountains whenever she can. Other than writing, her biggest passion is her family: her husband, her three kids, and her indefatigable shih-poo!