Book Review: An Alaskan Family Thanksgiving by Beth Carpenter

AN ALASKAN FAMILY THANKSGIVING by Beth Carpenter
SERIES: Northern Lights #10
GENRE: Contemporary Romance (Clean & Wholesome)
PUBLISHER: Harlequin Heartwarming
RELEASE DATE: October 25, 2022
PAGES: 274

His task was simple…

Until he met her

Adam Lloyd has one job: revitalize the newly acquired failing seniors’ apartment complex in picturesque Palmer, Alaska, by Thanksgiving. Falling for vivacious activities director Sunny Galloway and having his love of photography reawakened by her precocious daughter wasn’t part of his plan. His failure would mean eviction for the tight-knit residents and unemployment for Sunny. But even if he succeeds, he can’t stay in Palmer—can he?

From Harlequin Heartwarming: Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.

Other Books In This Series

I am woefully behind in reading & reviewing An Alaskan Family Thanksgiving, but don’t let the word ‘thanksgiving’ in the title deter you from reading it now. It’s one of the sweetest stories I’ve read, and it’s just as good in winter or spring or summer as it is in late fall.

When I read that this story took place in a senior living apartment complex in Palmer, Alaska, I was so hoping we would get to hang out with Bonnie and her quirky group of friends, aka the Mat Mates. As soon as Adam is halted by a woman with orange-streaked white hair and a broomstick to allow geese to cross the street, I did a little bookish clap of glee because I just knew the Mat Mates were on the scene! And I was right 🙂 Oh how I loved getting reacquainted with these dear, funny ladies – and also with Lauren’s goats who treat us to a hilarious yoga session once again.

Adam and Sunny are about as polar opposite as two people can be, at least at first glance. Adam’s job with his father’s investment company requires him to be all about the bottom line. And his newest project – the senior apartments in Palmer – is turning out to be more of a money drain instead of a money maker, even if it is for noble reasons. Sunny, on the other hand, has a name to match her bubbly personality, and it’s easy to see how much she loves her job as the activities director. In fact, it’s easy to see that it’s not just a job to her – she pours her heart and soul into it and into the residents. In return, they are a family to Sunny and her adorable daughter Piper – and vice versa. It’s inevitable that Adam and Sunny will clash over their cross purposes (and then of course fall in love anyway), but I loved the way that the author turned this plot point on its head so that it wasn’t as predictable as maybe it first appeared to be.

The result is, as I said, one of the sweetest stories I’ve read in recent memory. The way the community rallies together, the way that Adam teaches Piper about photography, the way he and Sunny fall in love, the way that friends become family and family become friends… and especially the way one unlikely person changes the outcome – all of it is just perfection and emotion and the kind of blissful sigh that comes from reading a delightful-in-every-way book.

Bottom Line: Beth Carpenter’s Northern Lights series is one of my faves, and each new installment reminds me of exactly why. An Alaskan Family Thanksgiving is a sweet romance with vibrant characters (main and supporting) and the kind of community that restores your belief in humankind. Watching Adam and Sunny fall in love was truly a pleasure, and so was watching Adam fall in love with Palmer, Alaska, and its residents (especially those in a certain apartment complex). This book hit me in all the feels, beyond just the romance (though I loved that, too), and it will be a fave re-read for me in years to come.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 5 stars / fantastic!

KissingBook Level: 3+ / will forget to breathe on occasion

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Beth Carpenter grew up on a farm reading everything she could get her hands on, from cereal boxes to the encyclopedia. Saturday visits to the library were the highlight of her week. Due to motion sickness, she couldn’t read on the school bus so she made up her own stories instead.

She still consumes books like popcorn and loves to create happy endings for her imaginary friends. She believes dogs, books, and laughter are key to happiness. And dark chocolate. And love.

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