Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas begins like many Hallmark movies do. The woman, Magnolia (Nola), moves away to the big city. She needs to come back to her home town to clean up an prepare her grandma's house for sale. Tanner is Nola's best friends sister. They have always had a strained relationship, but their bickering has always been "fun", and unbeknownst to each other they have always had crushes on each other, but never acted on them. When they get stuck together in a snow storm, they act on their passions and Nola and Tanner need to decide if they want to keep their lives the same, or throw chaos into their lives for a chance at love.

This was a quick and light read that I could not put down. It was a cute rom-com-esque book by Sarah Robinson. She writes a great romance with all the quaintness of a small town. You have failing businesses, unique characters (including side characters) and the all so perfect snow storm. I loved the main characters, Nola and Tanner, and even though you knew they would ultimately get a happily ever after, it was interesting to see how they got there. I also really liked the personal growth that we saw in both Nola and Tanner in this book, realizing that you can plan things, but have to ready and willing to change when presented with an opportunity.

This was an adorable Christmas read that would be a perfect read this holiday season.Thank you to NetGalley and Forever publishing for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas begins like more HEA small town romances, The woman (Magnolia, Nola) is from the small town and moves to a bigger city to live her dreams. Small town man (Tanner) is living his best life in the small town and is Nola’s best friends sister. While they are conveniently stuck in a massive snow storm, they realize they have amorous feelings for one another.

I enjoyed this book, It gave good history for the main characters and some insight into the supporting roles. There was too much left to the imagination regarding Tanner’s sisters children and how their father entered into the relationship he is in. Left it open for a sequel or prequel, but the Ned of the book only left me hanging with something about “come back for more” with no name or preview who it would be about. I hope I don’t miss it, because I enjoyed this book and the characters a lot,

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever Publishing, and Sarah Robinson for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Dreaming of a heart lake Christmas is a heartwarming story set in the Midwest. The characters will warm your heart and their stories will entertain you. Coming home to find love and friends and family

Nola's grandmother leaves her the Castle when she passes away, and she decides she is going to sell it to start her own business. She goes back to Heart Lake, to go through her grandmother's things and prepare the house to be sold.
The person who wants to buy it wants to tear it down and put up condos. The town people don't want that, but Nola is stubborn and isn't listening. As she begins going through her grandmothers belongings, memories start to show what she had. What the town stands for, the people who loved her grandmother, and all that embraced her as she came back.
She is set on going down a path, but sometimes life will steer you to another without even realizing it. What will Nola do when she realizes what is going on? The book will make you laugh, when you read about her godchildren. It had me hoping that she would follow the path that she didn't have planned but might just give her the life she didn't think she needed but would bring her to becoming the woman she was meant to be.
I received an ARC from Forever through NetGalley.

This is a sweet holiday romance that centers around Nola Bennett. Nola returns to her hometown to pack up the historic house she inherited from her grandmother. She has an offer from developers that want to turn it into lake view condos! Along the way, she runs into Tanner Dean...her teen crush. He also had a crush on Nola as a teen, but nothing came of it because they were on separate paths. Tanner and Nola get stuck at the house in a major snowstorm and things get complicated! This is a sweet second chance romance story. I loved Nola and Tanner and didn't want the story to end! It's the perfect book for cuddling up to on a cold winter's day.

Loved reading this book and new author for me. Can't wait for the next book in the series. I seriously give it 10 stars

This was so cute! A wonderful romance, filled with witty banter, delightful characters, and just enough steaminess. A must read for romance lovers!

This story is one to be enjoyed all year round.
Nola is back home after having moved to Chicago in order to pursue a career. The goal is to put on sale the house she inherited from her grandmother, and use the money to start her own business.
Tanner, a woodworker, and the older brother of her best friend , is also the boy she had a crush on during her teen years. He’s also the one she was also always bickering with.
Unbeknown to Nola, Tanner too has secretly been attracted to Nola, but she’s become a city girl while he has been running the family’s construction company. He’s oppose to change and even more so, that Nola plans to sell the majestic house.
This was a sweet story about family, and getting stuck in life. It is also a story about taking chances in life and love. And last but not least, a story about remembering that “ home is in the heart”.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Forever. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Loved this book! Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas was a fantastic, lovely Christmas book. I liked the characters and loved the town! Such a cozy, warm book to curl up to!

An adorable, uplifting, Christmassy story in a small town with a fun second chance romance. And an inherited house! Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas is a sweet, light, Hallmark-ish tale that will put any reader in the spirit of the holiday season!

Robinson weaves a beautiful story about loss and moving on. The chemistry between Tanner and Nola is fire!

Very sweet, Hallmark type Christmas story. Nola Bennett returns to her hometown of Heart Lake from Chicago for the holidays. She plans to pack up the historic house she inherited from her grandmother. She’s has an offer to sell it to a developer to turn into lake view condominiums. She wants the money so that she can start her own business consulting company. While catching up with best friends and her godchildren she crosses paths with Tanner Dean. They were both each others teen crushes but nothing came of it as the older brother of her BF. Tanner loves woodworking and tradition and can’t understand her desire to let go of the historic home.

The story is cute, predictable, low angst and with a smidge of heat. This is really what I expect and want for a small town Christmas romance. The characters were good and their motivations clear. I especially enjoyed the snow fight scene as it introduces the MC’s lighter side very early. Extra bonus for having an adorable cover. My ARC did not contain the bonus story mentioned on the cover of the book so I can’t comment on that. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
(3.5 stars)

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect book to snuggle up with on any day.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Nola who currently lives in Chicago is traveling to the small town she grew up in to sell her grandmother's house. She wants to use the money to open her own business. While their she meets Tanner who she know from school. I liked the chemistry between Nola and Tanner.

Tanner and Nola have a wonderful story to follow. Also their romance catches up to them in this book. Hard decisions make for an interesting read

Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas (Includes a Bonus Novella by Melinda Curtis) by Sarah Robinson
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Genre: Romance
Published: September 27, 2022

Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas is the first book in the new Heart Lake series by Sarah Robinson. I chose to read this as part of my "Christmas in July" books and I am so glad I did. This heartwarming romance was perfect for trying to ignore the blazing heat here in Texas!

This is a fast read that I could not put down! I loved the characters and the small town setting. If you love Hallmark romances like I do, you will love this book.

Nola, a small-town girl who is trying to make it big in the city has to return home to sell her family home to have enough capital to fund her dreams. She wants to branch out on her own and be successful in Chicago and she needs the money from the house sale to fund her new business. Tanner is a small-town guy struggling to fill his father's shoes in their father-son business. He doesn't love the work he's doing, but feels obligated to it, especially since his father can't work the business anymore due to a back injury.

From the second Nola and Tanner are reunited, the sparks begin to fly....bickering, snowball fight, snarkiness towards each other. Will either of them accept that they are perfect for each other?

I really enjoyed reading this book and will probably re-read it again for Christmas this year! The characters are great, the story is engaging and easy to read and the romance is fun to watch build! Overall, I loved this book and highly recommend reading it!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I received an ARC of, Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas, by Sarah Robinson. All Nola Bennett has to do, is sell her grandmas castle, easy right? Tanner the town grump does not want her to sell, what will Nola do?

I really enjoyed this author's style of writing and I also liked that there was no huge drama or over the top angst in the story. The characters were wonderful, some even quirky! lol I love the feel of the small town personality, especially at Christmas time.

Nola and Tanner have known each other forever and even though they had a crush on each other as teens, nothing ever came of it because their futures were on totally different paths. She wanted the excitement of living in a big city and having her dream job while he was more than happy to stay in the small town he'd been born in and running the family business. When Nola comes back to town with the intention of selling her gran's house, she doesn't expect what happens when she and Tanner get stuck in the house while a major snowstorm happens. Emotions take over and a passion so sweet makes her wonder if her decision to sell and go back to the big city is even what her heart wants.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This was your typical Hallmark holiday movie-style romance. Nola Bennett inherits hers grandmother's historic home in her hometown. Nola's former high school crush, Tanner Dean, still lives in town and has never forgotten Nola. Nola and Tanner reconnect while caring for Tanner's rambunctious niece and nephew, and the two get snowed in together during a blizzard. Nola's high school ex-boyfriend appears, trying to rekindle an old flame while Nola battles with her decision to keep or sell her grandmother's property.

This was a very low angst holiday romance novel. It was definitely forgettable because it followed the plot of nearly every Hallmark movie, but sometimes you need a break from high tension novels. If you're looking for a low steam, no anxiety holiday romance, this is for you.

Second chance romance after returning home. Loved the cozy Christmas feelings in the book and had me dreaming of Christmas already!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.