An entertaining and well written romance.  Well crafted plot and characters.  I highly recommend this book.  I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Christmas Kisses, by Judith Keim, is the second book in a six book series released in the fall of 2020.  This story revolves around the four Kirby soul sisters, four girls who were brought into the home and heart of widow Maddie Kirby and shown what it it is to be loved and part of a family.  This story revolves around Hailey Kirby.

Hailey Kirby is the assistant librarian in charge of children’s and special programming in her small town library in Granite Ridge, Idaho. But that is not her only vocation, she is also a children’s author writing under the pen name of Lee Merriweather.  Hailey has carried a torch for singer/songwriter Nick Hensley.  Now back from touring with a very popular band, Nick is helping his sister Stacy and her young daughter Regan while working and performing at the Cedar Mountain Lodge.  Stacy has told Hailey that Nick is half in love with Lee Merriweather and he has investigated writing children’s songs to compliment the book series.  Nick has sought advice about doing so from Hailey as he sees her as somewhat of an expert since she avidly reads these books to her young audiences, Regan included.

In this volume of the series, Hailey comes to terms with her past and embarks upon a promising future with Nick, Regan, and Stacy in her life. This is a sweet holiday story that highlights the beauty of both family and the Christmas season. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it

Christmas  kisses by Judith Keim,  Ev Bishop, Tammy L. Grace, Violet Howe, Tess Thompson
(Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge #2)
Hailey Kirby plans to spend a wonderful Christmas holiday at the Cedar Mountain Lodge with her family, celebrating her sister’s wedding as Maid of Honor. Things go awry when the wedding is called off. Hoping to comfort her sister, her mother and three sisters decide to go ahead with their winter vacation plans at the Lodge.
Hailey works in town as the children’s librarian, and under the pen name of Lee Merriweather is secretly the author and illustrator of picture books. Young children adore the stories of Charlie and his dog, Zeke, including Regan, the niece of Nick Hensley, a rock star musician who’s recently moved back to Granite Ridge. When he reaches out to the author to seek permission to write songs to go with the stories, Hailey is forced to confess who she is and the painful reason why she’s been hiding behind a pseudonym.
As Hailey and Nick put their creative minds together, they form a friendship that quickly grows to much more. Hailey learns to trust and discovers some chances in life are worth taking.
If you’re a fan of small towns, heartwarming holiday stories, and second chances, along with a few furry friends, you’ll fall in love with Hailey and her soul sisters in CHRISTMAS KISSES, Book 2 of Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge, from bestselling author Judith Keim.
This is Hailey Kirby and Nick Hensley's story.
Hailey is  Lee Merriweather a famous author and illustrator of children’s books.
Nick Hensley is a successful rock musician.
Maddie lost her husband and daughter in a car accident. As the holidays 
are coming Maddie decided to become a foster Mom.
Four young girls find security and love in the home of Maddie, a young widow
one year at Christmas.
The Soul Sisters, Jo, Stevie, Alissa, and Hailey.
Now grown, their lives are changing and Alissa one of the sisters is getting married at Christmas at the Cedar Mountain Lodge.
I highly recommend reading.
Christmas  kisses by Judith Keim ,Ev Bishop, Tammy ,L. Grace, Violet Howe, Tess Thompson is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Judith Keim,, Ev Bishop, Tammy L. Grace, Violet Howe, Tess Thompson.
I received a complimentary e-book from Net Galley.

Judith Keim 
Christmas Kisses (Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge Book 2) 
ARC REVIEW 
Hailey and Nick 
This is a heartwarming story that you just want to cozy up with on a snowy day in front of a fire with some hot chocolate! I loved this book!

Christmas Kisses by Judith Keim is a sweet holiday romance that will find you wanting the holidays to arrive now rather than later! Hailey has overcome a rocky start in childhood, but has bloomed into an incredible adult, thanks to the love and guidance of her adoptive mom, Maddie, and her three sisters. Hailey is loving her adult life as the children’s librarian by day and a secretly successful children’s author by night! Writing and illustrating under a pen name means no one outside of her family knows and Hailey intends to keep it that way. (I love books and movies where we watch how the average relatable person is discovered to be a talented artist, artist, or musician. So much fun!) She has everything a girl could ask for except knowing what true love feels like. 

Christmas Kisses is Book 2 in the Soul Sisters Series with Book 1, Christmas Sisters, available for free as an introduction to Maddie and her four daughters. The chapter about Hailey in Book 1 is included in Christmas Kisses as the prologue so you are able to read it without having to read Christmas Sisters first. But with Book 1 being free, short, and sweet, you’ll find yourself grabbing a copy of that, too. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley, Judith Keim, and the publisher for my honest review.

I didn't read the first book in the series as this is the second, but I didn't feel like I was missing out on any plot points, and the prologue was more than enough to fill in any gaps. 
I liked that it was a simple story with straightforward character and basic plot. Easily predictable, no surprises. I also liked that it was fun to read while cuddled up with a blanket and coffee, especially since the book takes place at a ski lodge! It was an easy quick read. Not much angst, no major issues, no drama. Simple feelings and a wholesome family and love story.
A simple and sweet Hallmark love story. The characters are quite simplistic. This is a short book, and it flies by while reading it. There's barely any angst and it has a really nice 'feel good' vibe to it. Very cheesy, romantic, and gushing with love - familial love, romantic love, platonic love, and self-love. 
It's a little too simplistic for me, as I like to read books with more substance and mystery and drama to them, but this was a nice break as well from my murder mysteries. 

It's a very simple love story about two people more alike than they knew with the same goals and hopes for their lives. 
I thought the ending was super sweet and more than was planned, the love story goes by really fast and for the first 42% of the book, there is just flirting and testing the waters, but then when the romance starts, it goes really fast. But because of the context and the characters' backstories, it makes sense for things to go fast, and in the end, it reads like a fairytale ending with all the right notes.

*Thank you to the publishers, Wild Quail Publishing, the author, Judith Keim, and to Netgalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Christmas Kisses (Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge, Book Two) is by Judith Keim. I had not read the first book in the series but saw where it was free so I have downloaded it to catch up with the family. Maddie open her home to four girls when she was a young widow. The concept of family can be the one that you can make is strong in this series since the four girls are now grown women. They consider Maddie their mother and each other sisters. 

Hailey Kirby on of the sisters is now the town librarian. She is also secretly the author of a popular children’s series. Her love interest is a famous rock star, Nick Hensley who has moved back to town. Hailey is reserved and still lacks confidence. Two people with different types of personalities but the same values sounds like a win-win to me. This is their story.

The Christmas theme is well-suited to the series with family and love at its center. Christmas Kisses will remind you of the important thins in life while entertaining you.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this series so much the first book! I believe the first book, Christmas Sisters, will be permanently free on Kindle.

It is definitely worth reading the first book before reading any of the other books in the series. It tells the story how this wonderful family came to be. Mattie’s husband and child were killed in a car accident. Maddie eventually adopted four girls of different ages, all at the same time. That is how this unique Kirby family came into existence. I will add that each book can be read independently and fully understood, but please read them all!

This second book in the series focuses on Hailey, the youngest of the girls Mattie adopted. It is now 15 years after the first book took place and the family is gathering for a wedding at the Cedar Mountain Lodge in their small home town of Granite Ridge.

I love seeing these broken children from the first book grown into strong woman. Each book in the series will focus on one of the family members. I enjoyed both books that I read in this heartwarming series and I am so looking forward to continuing the series.

I have not read books in the past by this author. I liked her writing style, character development and scenery description. She is a gifted author and I was drawn into the story and so enjoyed the escape from real life.

I want to thank Wild Quail Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy of this book. My review is my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

Title: Christmas Kisses
Author: Judith Keim
Publisher: Wild Quail Publishing
Series: Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain LodgeBook 2
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Christmas Kisses" by Judith Keim

My Speculation:

This author presents a beautiful story, "Christmas Kisses," so well to her readers in this sweet romance. The four sisters [Hailey, Jo, Alisha & Stevie]from Granite Ridge were really something in how they came together under the guidance of their adopted mother [Maddie Kirby]. It looks like it will be a wedding; however, it was called off, and the family decided to go to the Cedar Mountain Lodge resort since everything had been paid for. And it was there that a childhood friend Nick [musician - Rock Star] finally lets Hailey [Librarian] know he is interested. The story will take off, and there will be some surprises as the whole novel comes together as one will be rooting for Haley and Nick. Will this be a Christmas be one to remember for these two? "Christmas Kisses" was book 2 of 'The Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge,' and I am sure the rest of the series will also be very interesting reading.

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

Christmas Kisses is the second book in the Cedar Mountain Lodge series, we first met the young girls and Maddie in the previous book and I do wish this book shared more of their experiences growing up as sisters instead of jumping straight to them being adults. Overall the book is very well written, and centers moreso around the life of Hailey and life for her now as a librarian and writer. This is a sweet story, and I look forward to the next short story in this series to see where it takes us. 

I received a ARC from NetGalley and Quail Publishing, the comments and review are my honest opinion.

Christmas Kisses...the second book in the Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge series...is written by author Judith Keim. In the first book of the series, Christmas Sisters, we are introduced to a young widow named Maddie, and the four young girls she adopts. Hailey was only eight-years-old when Maddie took her into her loving home, and this is her story.

Hailey is an assistant librarian at the Granite Ridge Library, and she is also the director for their children's programs. She loves reading to the children during story time, and she especially loves seeing the reaction of the children whenever she reads them a book written by Lee Merriweather. The reason behind that is because Hailey is the author Lee Merriweather. Only a few people know about Hailey's secret, and Hailey prefers it that way. However, as we all know, secrets never remain secrets for long because the truth is almost always revealed.

Nick Hensley is a successful rock musician that has been cheated out of money by his agent. Between that, and the recent death of his mother, Nick decides it is time to give up life on the road, and he returns to Granite Ridge to live a more quiet life. When he is not working at Cedar Mountain Lodge, he helps his sister Stacy with the family candy store, Hensley's Sweet Shoppe. Nick also loves spending time with his niece, Regan. Regan is obsessed with the children's book series written by Lee Merriweather. Nick has read them to her so many times that he knows them all by heart. After a suggestion by Hailey, he recently emailed the author to see if she would be interested in working with him to write some children's songs to go along with her books. What Nick does not know is that Hailey is actually Lee Merriweather.

The story that unfolds is the perfect feel-good holiday story. The book begins with the prologue detailing the holiday season when Hailey first went to live with her "soul sisters" and Maddie Kirby. Then we fast forward fifteen years later, and the soul sisters are now adults living on their own. Hailey is on vacation to help prepare for her sister's wedding at Cedar Mountain Lodge on Christmas Eve. However, everything is up in the air when Alissa's fiance suddenly calls off the wedding just days before the big day. Since everything is already planned and paid for, the family decides to still stay at the lodge, continuing the tradition of spending the holiday season together. Although this will not be the Christmas they were initially expecting, it will end up being a Christmas they will never forget!

Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge is a wonderful series so far, centering on the love and bond between family. While the Kirby family is not the traditional family related by blood, they are a testament to the fact that family is about so much more. The "soul sisters" have a bond that is unbreakable, and they genuinely love and respect one another. Judith Keim is a master at telling a story about family and love, and once again, she covers all of the bases with Christmas Kisses. So many people forget the true meaning behind Christmas, but so far, this series reminds us what is truly important...family, love and the ability to give.

I would like to thank Judith Keim, WildQuail Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Christmas Kisses. My views are my own, and are in no way influenced by anyone else.

Christmas Kisses is a romantic novel set between the week of Christmas and New Year.

Nick and Hailey have been friends since childhood. They have interacted as adults, as Nick picks up his niece Regan when she attends Hailey's story hours at the library. Little does Nick know that Hailey is reading books that she wrote and drew pictures for as the books are written under the fake name of Lee Merriweather. 

Hailey is vacationing at the Lodge where Nick works. Nick is also a former band member who has now moved back to their home town. Hailey is there as it is supposed to be the site of here sister Alissa's wedding. Her fiance called off the wedding, but the Kirby sisters, as well as their mother and grandmother, chose to vacation there. Jed, her fiance, shows up and the wedding does occur.

Nick and Hailey get even closer when Hailey fills in for Nick's sister at the candy store that Nick and his sister own after a car accident that involves Regan. A New Year's Eve proposal follows a gift of Zeke the puppy for Hailey.

A quick read with lots of great descriptions of the area where they vacationed.

I received an ARC for honest feedback.

#christmasstory #adoption #netgalley

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase your copy here: 
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Kisses-Sisters-Cedar-Mountain-ebook/dp/B08BV1P9MP/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Christmas+Kisses+Judith+Keim&qid=1600769755&sr=8-1
It was 33 degrees here this morning! We are trying to make it until the book release before we turn on our heat here, so yes, I will indulge in yet another Christmas book because other than Christmas and the hope to ski this year, what does cold weather bring us? Less daylight? Christmas cookies, Thanksgiving, more food that I will have to work harder to work off.  Nope, I am going to stay positive and indulge in Christmas books! This was such a great book! It is the second book in the series. 
We begin this book with Hailey Bennett wondering what to do. Her new foster mother, Mrs. Kirby had asked her and the other three girls to write a letter to Santa. She decided that she would ask for a puppy with lots of kisses. Hailey had a long road to get where she was. She had been told that her mother had died when she was just four years old and they did not know how to find her father. Hailey’s new foster mother tried really hard to make her feel at home, but it is so hard to trust anyone after such a hard life. Her new foster mother presented her with a stuffed dog to represent the future of getting a real one after the holidays. Hailey immediately named her Charlie. Mrs. Kirby also have her a new nightgown and surprised her with the news that the next day they would be going Christmas shopping so they could get gifts for the other girls from them. They had never done such a thing. The other kids even saved cookies for her to decorate. We are then fast forwarded to Hailey as an adult reading to children in the library. She has a secret; she has a pen name- Lee Merriweather. Ms. Merriweather was very popular as an author, something a foster child would not be OK with. Most of the books were written about a boy named, Charlie. Charlie and his three friends would get into all sorts of trouble and learned a life lesson or two from them including a happy ending. Hailey’s sister, Alissa had been dumped by her fiance’, Jed just days before their Christmas Eve wedding. Travel arrangements had already been made and accommodations. We are then taken on a journey of Hailey and her pen name and someone discovering it and well..you will just have to read it to find out the rest. 
I cannot wait for the next book in the series and to go back and read the first book in this series! I read this book in one afternoon! Was such a quick and cute read!

This book was a quick and easy read, but it will definitely lift you up and get you already for the Christmas season!  Hailey was in the foster system when she and her adoptive sisters were brought into their Mother’s house just before Christmas. Now, they are grown and meeting at the Lodge for her sister’s wedding, although the wedding is called off, they decide to try to make the best of it. 

Hailey is a librarian and an author, and Nick is a handyman who used to be a rock n roll star. Can they get past their issues and differences and find each other? 

After I read this book, I found that I could get the first book, which told each of the girls stories of their first Christmas together on Amazon for free. It is called Christmas Sisters. After reading it, O understood the backstory on why Maddie brought them in for their first Christmas, and it made me want to read the other upcoming stories; each of the ladies gets her own book by a different author - how fun! 

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story should be made into a Hallmark Christmas movie.  This is such a sweet story about Hailey Kirby and her family.  We get a little background on Hailey. She was adopted along with her other three sisters by her mother and they became known as the Soul Sisters.  One of those sisters is getting married at Christmas in the local Lodge.  It is a beautiful mountain lodge in Idaho covered in snow with all the fun winter activities.  Days before the wedding the groom to be called off the wedding.  The family decides they will go ahead and still meet and spend the holidays together.  Hailey discovers her girlhood crush is back in town and working at the Lodge.  And just like a good Hallmark movie they run into each other and the rest is history.  The sister's wedding is back on and Hailey is in love herself.  This is a feel good holiday book.

Hailey is such a sweetheart!

Set around Christmas and New Year's, this sweet romance follows the youngest of Maddie's four adopted daughters, Hailey, and the local singer who's been her crush for years, Nick.  Add in sweets from the local candy store, a secret identity, some family drama around her sister's nuptials, and a couple adorable children at the library's story hour, and you've got a sure-fire heartwarming romance that cuts through all the usual angst to give us a winning love story that's as charming as it is fast-paced.

I truly enjoyed this story, though I was expecting a bit more drama and depth to the relationship.  Not all romances need heartbreak, however, and Hailey and Nick's quick path to love doesn't feel quick at all when we realize they've grown up knowing each other in their small home town.  For these two wary lovers, it was exactly what they needed.  

As the first couple's story to be told, we're also given a peek into Alissa and Jed's turbulent, on-again-off-again engagement, though their full story is waiting for its own book in this enchanting series.  I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

What a wonderful story! This book grabs you on the first page and doesn't let go. It's the perfect book to curl up with and forget about your troubles for a while. It's a sweet, clean, heartwarming romance that has just the right amount of emotions. I can't wait for the next book in this series. Thank you Wild Quail Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This felt waaay too forced.
The entire book takes place in the span of a week, and I feel like, they packed a year's worth of events & emotions into said 7 days.
Who exchanges I love yous after 3 days?
Are you freaking killing me?
The story itself is sweet and the internal monologues are well written. The conversations were pedestrian and heavily contributed to the overall disagreeable pace in the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wild Quail Publishing for my DRC.

Christmas is the season of love and Mistletoe! Can kisses turn trust back around for a new romance like Hailey and Nick!? Hailey has trust issues and as she tries to work out her dilemmas she rediscovers her crush on Nick, but Nick falls for Hailey, but doesn’t know her secrets! Those secrets could damage their relationship before it even really gets to another level!

Hailey’s sisters are all their trying to sort out their own life choices and aren’t really their to be her sounding box. Hailey has to make some good choices for her life.

I think this book was pretty predictable, but it was a lighthearted read and a overall good Christmas book that was a good clean book that showed responsibility and respect.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

This is the second book in the series "Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge".
It is the story centering on Hailey.
 She is one of Maddie's four adopted daughter's and is coming into her own in her career as a writer, and her life as she finds self-confidence within herself.
When all the sisters, Mom and Nan come to celebrate the wedding of sister Alissa, Hailey sees the man of her dreams, Nick. 
She has known him since she was young, but now grown up, she sees and realizes just how kind and sweet he is. 
Will this Christmas be all Hailey hopes? 
It certainly is a magical time at the lodge and love is in the air!
Looking forward to the third book in this series. These are just perfect for the times and it makes me long for hot chocolate and my fireplace!