This is a charming story of a woman, Josie, who never belongs anywhere. She ends up in the small town of Sunnycombe believing it to be just another stop on her endless journey. But everything changes as she seeks a job in a bakery. Enter the owner who is on his own path of loneliness and walls. With the added benefit of townsfolk who believe heavily in community and traditions, the charming story becomes one of home and redemption.

Hailes writes a story with great description and heartwarming characters. Each flawed in their own way, they find a way to work around those flaws or make them work. She gives great insight into how Josie and Callan feel while still keeping some suspense in the mix. Will it work out or will it not?

Callan lives in his bakery with young daughter Mia as Christmas approaches, Josie find herself arriving at their bakery and applying for the job going as front of bakery assistant.



Abigail was Callans wife who sadly passed away and left him to coepwith Mia and running the bakery, which it's obvious he's failing to manage as his bakes aren't up to much instead being hard and not the gorgeous delicacies his wife used to bake, which is where Josie comes in and changes things...



In a really sweet read Kellie has centred a whole story around a bakery that revives its Christmas spirit with renewed love and a new match made family thanks to Christmas spirit and magic. I loved the way the characters didn't fall for each other straight away but slowly and then suddenly especially little Mia as she comes to love and accepting Josie being around. I also love that Josie was the main characters name as my auntie Josie would've loved this book of she was here still and being nearly a year on since losing her, I encourage anyone who loves Christmas as much as she did to definitely give this book a read, it was quick and eventful but leaves you feeling happy and content with the story you've devoured and the sweet Christmas bakes you had too!



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Well if there was ever a book to make you crave all your favourite festive treats then its certainly this one. I was permanently hungry while reading this delicious book, and some of the cakes sounded Bake Off worthy!

I was hooked pretty much from the first few pages, I completely and utterly fell in love with Mia. She is the four year old daughter of widowed bakery owner Callan and some of what she comes out with had me laughing. Literally "out of the mouth of babes" moments!

And then there is Josie who has just moved to Sunnycombe, who has applied for the job in the bakery, and little does she know how much its about to change her life. She is wary of Christmas but Sunnycombe's traditions soon eek their way into her and may just start healing her too.

Both Callan and Josie are broken for different reasons, and it really is a bakery of hopes and dreams as the story progresses, I loved seeing how both of them developed as characters, and also a few of the other residents of the village.

It is a book full of warmth and heart, that will give you a festive fuzzy feeling, and wow the finale section, was just wonderful. Took me by surprise but really did have me believing in the magic of the season.

I loved every second of this book, just a bit upset that I read it so quickly, that I ran out of pages. I would have loved more. Well I console myself with the fact I still haven't quite got around to Kellie Hailes previous book, so still have another to look forward.. although one Kellie Hailes book to look forward to is never enough so I can't wait for the next release too... I really do love this author.

Easily one of my favourite Christmas books for 2019 (and I have read many so far), this one was pure magic!

Thank you to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Lovely festive read. It was a heart warming romance. It was a wonderful book to read. It was well written and flowed well.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

It’s such an easy read! I loved it. You grow as the characters grow and it’s a magical feeling. Gives me all those warm and fuzzy feelings. 5/5 stars for a job well done.

This was a lovely feel good read! Great characters and story line, I wanted to be there in the village and live that life and know the people! Great

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Josie hates Christmas. She moves to Sunnycombe and gets a job in a bakery, that Callan runs following the death of his wife the previous Christmas. Can Josie settle in the village, enjoy Christmas again and help Callan and his daughter Mia to see that Christmas can be a happy time.

Couldn’t put it down, read in one day.

This was a wonderful book. I really enjoyed it. It has lots of little funny moments, some heartwarming moments, excellent character development and a lovely Christmassy atmosphere.

I love the relationship between Callan and Mia, in fact Mia was brilliant altogether. The way that the people in the village care for each other is marvellous. Callan and Josie each working through their issues - I liked the way that they each thought it through in their head, they weren’t magically fixed by being in a relationship.

Overall, a great book to curl up with on a cold wintery day. I definitely recommend it.

Cake, Christmas and a fluffy romance are three of my favourite things. This was really sweet story. Loved the slow, gentle way Josie and Callan fell for each other despite their individual fears about letting anyone in. Mia was adorable and I loved the mix of Sunnycombe characters like Margo, Brendon,, Lauren and Will that made the little village feel real. Oh and lots of cake talk which is always excellent. A lovely read.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. What a great uplifting read, perfect for a dark winter night to snuggle down with.

I was so excited to read this book as I loved Kellie Hailes other book, 'The Bookshop at Herring Cove'. She has a great way of storytelling! This book is really heart-warming and will have you thinking of having your own family to enjoy Christmas with! Could easily see it as a Hallmark Christmas movie.