Usually I’m reading about a sun kissed locale when I dove into a Sue Roberts novel so this was a nice switch.
Sarah works at a theater and is raising her teenage daughter. It’s the holidays, her favorite time of year. She has a good life, but is missing a partner after her divorce.
Enter Luke, her blast from the past. Could they make their relationship long term?
This was such a pleasant book to lose myself in for the afternoon. There weren’t any major upsets or drama, just a nice consistent narrative.
A comfortable feel good read to brighten any reader’s day!
Whoever designs Roberts’ covers knows what appeals.

I’m a huge fan of Christmas books and this was no exception, I really enjoyed the story and the characters, For a minute I forgot it was September

Unfortunately I found this very slow and couldn’t get into it at all. Tried twice and then gave up, sorry 😬

This was a cute Holiday read! I loved the relationships within the story, and I appreciated the personal growth necessary for Sarah and her daughter. I love a good second-chance romance, and Sarah and Luke's is really sweet. Sarah has to navigate a new relationship with an old flame, while also caring for her daughter and her need and want for her father to be present, especially during the Holidays.

I also really loved Sarah's friends being there for her and helping her. I also loved the "GIlmore Girls" vibe of Sarah with her daughter Ellie. This was a bit of a slow read for me, but is perfect for someone looking for a Hallmark-like read during the Holidays.

Overall, very cute and sweet story.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Sarah a single mom with teenage daughter Ellie live in Red Robin Cottage in Little Newdale following her divorce. She is struggling to make ends meet and needs to come up with ideas to save her job at the villages little cinema. One day she bumps into her childhood sweetheart Luke after also a decade since they last saw each other.

Their friendship rekindles and begins to turn into something more. Can Sarah put her past behind her a let Luke in or will they stay as friends.

A good read.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was a gentle, enjoyable read. I love a good Christmas romance novel and this was written well, engaging, and with great characters whose story I was invested in.

This is my second book by Roberts and I was so excited for a Christmas romance that tackles some holiday blues, reconnecting with an old flame, and some tricky family dynamics.

The pros: Roberts writes in such a detailed way, the inner monologue of her characters are front and center allowing readers a clear connection, and it never fails our female protagonists are always a bit quirky and lovable.

The cons: This just wasn’t what I’d consider a true romance. I felt had it been marketed more as women’s fiction that focuses on family dynamics and self-growth. While the romance was there, I honestly felt that Luke just wasn’t a main character for 99% of the book. His appearances were sporadic and we saw more connection with Sarah’s friends and coworkers. This seemed to drag on for me and it started to feel like a chore to wrap up at about 60% in. Had I gone in with the mindset that this isn’t really a Hallmark cutesy romance, this probably would’ve been far more enjoyable.

3 ⭐ A sweet Christmas novel, but not my favorite working style. I found this to be really predictable and had very slow pace.

I loved this wonderful festive story and has got me all excited for Christmas and what matters most is who’s around you at Christmas time
I loved the friendships of everyone in the village and getting to know all of Sarah’s friends and of course her crush from when she was younger Luke
A great story to curl up with a blanket and hot chocolate and read this Christmas

Very heartwarming read. Love this author with her British influence style of writing. Sarah is navigating her new life as a single Mom after her recent divorce from Ellie’s dad. Sarah has a very good support group of friends and family that are more than happy to offer love and advice. Enter old school friend Luke and romance is on the horizon. Very good read. Loved the reference to all things English from speech to general customs of the area.
I was given this advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and am freely leaving a review.

There are some stories that grab you from page one.... and there are others that take awhile longer. Christmas at Red Robin Cottage was certainly more the latter. Typically in a romance, we are introduced to the hero and heroine very early in the story, so you really get invested in the love story early on. That was not the case here, with Sarah not meeting (or rather reuniting) with Luke until about halfway through the book. Honestly, I had almost given up on this one... but once the romance was introduced, I felt like things moved along much more smoothly and became much more interesting to me. I do wonder if perhaps this being a British book, that might have played a part in the disconnect as well as some phrasing is a bit different and all, but I really do feel it had more to do with that slow start to the romance.

This would be considered a clean read overall. There were- I believe- just a few (less than 5) swear words throughout, and some innuendos, but nothing graphic by any means.

Despite my initial hesitation, I actually did find that I enjoyed it by the end of it. I'd give it a solid 3.5 stars, but it might have been higher had I been able to connect to the story earlier on. If you enjoy a cute holiday romance, this is one that might be up your alley.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I loved the cover of this book. I loved how the authors style of writing, which set the theme of Christmas beautifully.

Sarah has a job in a old fashioned cinema which she loves doing, she’s a single mother, Ellie is her sixteen year old daughter, and Sarah is divorced from Robbie who is Ellie’s Dad.

Living in a old cottage, she loves, her life is perfect, a job she loves, has good friends, but doesn’t have someone in her life.

She looks back on her life, more so about the teenage years she spent with her best friend Kay, who had a brother called Luke, who was her first crush.

With those memories, one day at the train station, she’s thinks she saw him in the window seat of a train which was going in a different direction or whether it was her imagination. But when she goes to the library, she gets a surprise. So, did she she Luke or not?

I recommend this book.

A fairly enjoyable Christmas novel but in no way Sue Roberts' best work. I did enjoy the Christmassy touches; on the whole it was too predictable.

Happy tears! Christmas at Red Robin Cottage is a feel good novel about family, friends, and reconnecting with long lost relationships.

Sarah is a single mom that operates a vintage movie theater whose customer base has been dwindling over the last few years. Not one to be straddled with worry, Sarah plugs along, fingers crossed, in hopes that the theater will survive. She needs the income in order to raise her teenaged daughter, Ellie.

One day while waiting at the train station. Sarah catches a glimpse of a seemingly familiar face. A face that she hasn’t seen in over two decades. Can it be? Can it be Luke, her high school crush? Sarah was sixteen and Luke was nineteen, when Luke left for America. The thought that Luke was back in Liverpool seemed preposterous. But Sarah was hopeful, as sweet memories came back to her.

Then, as if Sarah’s dreams came true, Sarah bumps into Luke at the Library. And all of the lovely memories, feelings, and butterflies, came rushing back. Could it be fate that brought Luke back? And will Sarah now have the opportunity to find out if Luke really was “the one?”

Christmas at Red Robin Cottage was a joy to read with down to earth characters that made me laugh and cry. Sarah, the main protagonist is simple and pragmatic. While her daughter, Ellie, has all the telltale signs of a teen going through adolescent angst. Add in Sarah’s ex husband, Robbie and you have the makings of a soap-opera-like drama. It was fun… Luke doesn’t enter the picture until much later in the story. But that just added to the romantic suspense. A nice touch to keep a reader on their toes.

The plot was a little slow going at first. But once the rhythm is established it was smooth sailing from there. The narrative follows a second chance romance trope. But there’s also the family and friendship components which made for a wonderful, heartfelt read. It is the perfect novel to read while cuddled up with that cup of hot spiced tea, or that cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. Five delightful stars.

I received a digital ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

What a lovely Christmas book.
Sarah is looking forward to a peaceful Christmas with the traditional mince pies, carols and family, her daughter Ellie is a bit disheartened about spending Christmas without her dad.
Just before Christmas Sarah bumps into her childhood sweetheart Luke and even though they lost contact after his family moved away to America it’s just like they were never apart. Can Sarah risk falling in love with Luke knowing he lives miles away?
A brilliant, heartwarming book. Full of traditional Christmas feel, snow, mulled wine and a fantastic story. Made me think I was living in the book, recommended.

Sarah and her 16 year old daughter Ellie live in a small village near Liverpool, although Sarah is divorced from Robbie Ellie's dad they have stayed friendly for her sake.
A fleeting glance of a stranger on a train reminds her of her old crush Luke and she wonders what happened to him when he moved to America. A chance meeting in a library brings them back together again
Will they get together or not ?
A nice easy Christmassy read

very sweet christmas story. I read in one afternoon, it was hard to put down. I haven't read this author before but will look for more of her books.

I really enjoy books by Sue Roberts , and this one didn't disappoint i feel it could also be a series for example Shelly's story.

Sweet, make you feel good story.
This book is perfect for the holiday season. Second chance at love, single mother.
My only problem with this story was the paced, too slow for me. However, the story gives you all the warm cozy feelings and the setting it’s a Christmas village.

Sarah can't wait for Christmas even though her daughter Ellie is being a bit secretive. Sarah can't believe it when her first crush Luke returns after being away in America for years. Love it