Christmas at the Ranch by Anita Hughes

 Book Excerpt:

"Filled with Christmas cheer and the magic that can only be found in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, under the shadow of the Tetons, Anita Hughes's Christmas at the Ranch is a love story sure to enchant and warm your heart like a cup of hot apple cider.

It's days before Christmas, and Samantha Morgan is in her Brooklyn apartment when her editor, Charlie, shows up. Her publisher Arthur Wentworth is throwing a Christmas party and wants Samantha to be the guest of honor. Samantha tries to come up with an excuse to miss it. She writes a series of books featuring a female James Bond-type heroine named Sloane Parker, and Charlie is the only person who knows that Samantha is the opposite of Sloane, though the marketing team has built up an entire social media presence for her claiming that she is just as adventurous. In reality, Samantha rarely leaves her neighborhood and does her research online. She is afraid of almost everything and is only happy when sitting in her apartment and writing.

Samantha reluctantly agrees to go. But instead of taking her to Arthur's house in Connecticut, the driver goes to the airport. On the phone, Charlie admits that the party is at Arthur's new ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This is her worst nightmare for someone who hates even walking around the block when it snows.

But things begin to look up when a handsome stranger sits next to her on the plane. She feels comfortable enough to spill all her secrets to him, including her fears and the truth about her fake Instagram account. However, when she shows up at the house, it turns out that this man, Drew, is Arthur's son. Now Samantha is worried that Drew will tell his father about her lies.

Over the course of Christmas week, Samantha grows closer to Drew. But when his fiancée, Beatrix (who recently gave him an ultimatum about settling down), shows up, things get more complicated. As Samantha's fears of bison and giant icicles subside and her feelings for Drew grow deeper, new fears develop…Will she leave this Christmas adventure brokenhearted? Or will true love prevail?"

Title:  Christmas at the Ranch

Author:  Anita Hughes

Publisher:  St. Martin's Press

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating:  Four

Revi "w:

"Christmas at the Ranch" by Anita Hughes

My Assessment: 

"Christmas at the Ranch" was a good story about 'friendships, secrets, letting go of the past, facing your fears,  and finding love.' We find Samantha Morgan, who was a popular author [from her Sloan Parker plots series], being invited to spend the Christmas week at her publisher's beautiful ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. But will Samantha leave her Brooklyn, New York home because she never likes to travel outside her apartment? Now, why is that? 

Be ready for a long storyline read with some very intriguing characters that could have one wondering if there were some fakeness around but definitely will keep one turning the pages to see what is coming next. The story may have been somewhat predictable too, but still an enjoyable read. Oh, this story will focus quite a bit on the family.

However, above it, all one thing about this read is one gets a beautiful scenic Christmas setting, with lots of knowledge and great advice from this read filled with lots of wisdom after it is all said and done.

So, to find out what the novel 'Christmas at the Ranch' is, the reader must pick up this read to see how the author brings it out so well.

Thank you, NetGalley & St. Martin's, for this arc in exchange for an honest review!