
Member Reviews

A really enjoyable book with lots of interesting storylines. I really liked Emily and warmed to Jude once we found out more about his past.
I will say it wasnt overly Christmassy but it was still romantic none the less.
Overall a great read

4.5 stars
I just love Jo's writing. She has become a must read author for me! Jo writes stories where the characters feel so real and where the reader feels what the characters are going through.
I loved Emily, the main character and she had such a lovely family too, full of love. Jude is not my favorite character but as he grows throught the story I do start to understand him more and therefore also like him more.
I really enjoyed how both main characters love books and work with books, and how their characters were complete opposites but somehow also complemented each other.

when do opposites collide can they attract? a grumpy crime writer who basically hates everything and everyone enlists the help of a audio book narrator who loves love and life!
it’s a turbulent ride but a great read

Emma narrates romantic audio books and Jude writes crime fiction. When Jude’s editor tells him his books are falling from the top spot and he needs to add a bit of romance to try to and liven up his books he drafts Emma in to try to change his opinion on love.
When Emma decides to go home to Cornwall for Christmas Jude decides to go to as his family are also local.
Can Emma change how Jude feels about love and will spending time back with Emma and his family only time will tell.
A beautiful book taking us back to Port Agnes, filled with Christmas love and sparkle another wonderful book by Jo Bartlett.
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC of this book.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
A lovely, heartwarming festive read. Perfect for cold, winter nights. Emily believes in love with all of her heart, Jude does not believe in it at all. Can they find any common ground?

This is such a gorgeous and emotional festive read. It definitely makes you feel warm and happy.
I love Jo Bartlett's books, this one is well written, with lovely characters. It is an enjoyable, heartwarming read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my arc.

A Cornish Winter Kiss* is a charming, heartwarming read that wraps you in a cozy blanket of festive romance and small-town magic. Set in a picturesque Cornish village during the winter months, the story follows two endearing characters brought together by fate—and maybe a bit of holiday spirit.
The author paints the setting beautifully, making you feel the chill in the air and the warmth of a crackling fire. The romance develops at a gentle pace, with enough tension and emotional depth to keep it engaging without becoming overly saccharine.
While the plot is fairly predictable (as most seasonal romances are), the strong character development and vivid atmosphere more than make up for it. It’s the perfect book to curl up with on a cold evening, especially if you're craving a feel-good escape with a satisfying, snowy ending.
Ideal for fans of festive fiction and second-chance love stories, *A Cornish Winter Kiss* delivers everything you want from a holiday romance—and a little extra charm to spare.
Thank you for allowing me to read and review

This one took a while to get going for me; however the characters started to grow on me and I ended up caring strongly about them and what happened. There was a lot of interesting back story in the book, which added to the storyline. The two main characters had very different family backgrounds and this added to the interest within the book, and it was clear the trauma involved had a big impact on Jude.
Some interesting examinations of the themes of love and romance developed within the book, it had a backdrop of books and authors which is always good, and also the added Christmas dimension within the book. These all added to the book in my opinion.
At times I found myself frustrated with the characters in the book and wanted to shake them. However I did really enjoy this book, and happy to recommend it if you enjoy a good romance, which has many layers, which slowly unravels.

Jo Bartlett is a favourite author of mine, and this book didn't disappoint. Just lovely..
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

In this fun, heartwarming, and cozy winter romance novel, readers follow Emily Anderson, a big believer in romance for others and (eventually) herself and audiobook narrator who loves bringing stories to life, and Jude Cavendish, a crime author with writer’s block who scoffs at love stories. Forced to add a romance subplot to his next book, Jude begrudgingly seeks out Emily’s help, and she is committed to helping him realize that love is real against the backdrop of a Cornwall Christmas season. As they spend time together, the two of them might discover that Christmas magic is enough for a happy ending. With a classic grumpy-sunshine trope at the heart of the book and other fun tropes included throughout, readers will love the holiday backdrop and great chemistry between the characters in this fun new romance novel. Emily and Jude are well-written, complex characters, and their relationship is really fun to follow because of the tropes and the background factors that bring them together. The setting is detailed and acts as a fantastic backdrop for the two characters’ relationship and their continued tropey interactions. With great characters with fantastic chemistry, readers will really enjoy this holiday and winter romance novel.

A lovely story about Emily and Jude. Emily lived for love but Jude did not believe in love. Emily was on a mission to get Jude to believe in love. Emily's family was heartfelt and their devotion with each other. An all round good read

I really enjoyed Jude and Emily’s story. It was a book I couldn’t put down , brilliant characters, good storyline, and a beautiful location. Jo is a brilliant writer who really makes the reader engage with her characters. A book I didn’t want to end , Highly Recommended
Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Jo Bartlett for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

Another great book from Jo Bartlett, I loved the story of Jude and Emily and how from nowhere their friendship grew and the chemistry between them was shouting from the rooftops. It was a great storyline and pageturner I read it in one session and it is definitely a book that will leave you with a warm glow

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Jude is a crime writer who is struggling with writers block. His publishers want hi. To add romance to his books but how can he do this when he doesn’t believe in love himself. Jude reluctantly turns to Emily. Emily is a reader for audiobooks and believes in love. Can Emily help Jude believe in love and help him to push through his writers block.
A great read.

A chance encounter on a train,
A struggling Mum to help again,
Leads to a job that’s Emily’s dream
And per chance to romance it would seem!
An author looking for aid
A different deal to be made.
Mr Grumpy needs Miss Sunshine’s inspiration
But will true love prove a huge temptation?
The impact of his childhood and past
Are uncovered and revealed at last.
Can both families help this pair to discover
More about themselves and each other?
With Christmas and deadlines added to the mix
Can Emily successfully Jude’s writer’s block fix?
Could researching love lead to more
With dog walks, talks and so much to explore.
Whilst it works as a standalone, I like revisiting here
And catching up with characters from other books who reappear.
A delightful read in which time to spend,
I enjoyed it from beginning to end.
For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

“It was a time of year Emily loved, When twinkling lights gave the whole world a more magical feel.” This quote really resonated with me as I absolutely love Christmas and the magical feeling that you get with a few twinkling lights - even better if they’re on a Christmas tree while you’ve got your comfies on, with a hot chocolate in one hand and a Christmas romance like this in the other.
There’s also something a bit magical about Christmas books themselves and I really enjoyed this one. Jude is a best selling crime writer who believes that love is a transaction and that ‘happy ever afters’ only happen in fairy tales but I absolutely loved watching him thaw out the more and more time he spent with Emily. I think everyone who reads this will relate to Emily in many ways - for one she has the fab job of getting paid to read!
I really enjoyed reading this and found myself hoping for cosy nights and getting wrapped up in all the layers as Jo brings so much heart and warmth to her books that you feel transported to the pages.

What happens when an incurable romantic meets someone who doesn't believe in love? Emily is an audiobook narrator, and Jude is a successful crime writer, but his books are less popular than they were. His editor feels they need a gentler, lighter element and insight into his protagonist's personal life to draw in the reader. Emily lives for romance, and Jude realises she is the perfect person to give him the ideas he needs. I enjoyed this emotional story with its festive twist. There's an engaging mix of family, friendship, humour, romance and sadness that keeps you invested in the couple. I like the characters, the conflicts and the festive settings that make this a lovely read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This was a treat to find, it was almost like a book within a book, I enjoyed the concept and it was very well written, the characters were very likable and you could really feel the struggle Jude was having and his transformation was lovely, Emily was equally lovely and she was a really nice person, I hope we can catch up with these characters in the future.

A Cornish Winter's Kiss
by Jo Bartlett
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Port Agnes, Cornwall, during the enchanting holiday season, this heartfelt romance weaves together festive charm and profound emotional change.
At the centre of the story is Emily, a talented audiobook narrator renowned for her engaging interpretations of romantic tales. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Jude, a once-successful author of gritty crime novels. After receiving disheartening news about a significant decline in his book sales, Jude is driven to rethink his writing strategy. In a bid to revitalise his career, he is told by his editor to explore the concept of love, believing that incorporating a romance subplot for his lead detective might rekindle readers’ interest.
Teaming up with Emily, who brings her expertise in romantic narratives to the table, Jude embarks on a journey to uncover what true love looks like. As they navigate their creative collaboration, their interactions bloom with chemistry and mutual understanding, revealing layers of vulnerability and growth in both characters.
I found Jude and Emily's characters to be incredibly relatable and well-developed, which made their evolving relationship feel authentic. The pacing of the story kept me engaged from start to finish. While some plot twists were a bit predictable, the warmth and charm of their romance made the reading experience thoroughly enjoyable.

This is the first Jo Bartlett book i've read but i'm gping to have to keep an eye out for more i loved this infact its been a while where i've stayed up all night to finish a book because i just couldnt bring myself to put it down
i was just hooked from the beginning theres just something so relateable bout Emily and Jude and i just wanted to know how the story ended
it shows how childhood trauma and not dealing with things can have a knock on effect later on in life and mKe you closed off and cynical and how it takes a special someone to come in and knock the walls down...
and its really well written and dealt with there are some fantastic characters and
i dont want to give any spoilers but i actually cried in a scene with Jude and his dad....
also as its based around christmas the family scenes around the tree and the traditions that emilys family do makes you all nostalgic and think of the christmas's you have..
actually didnt want it to end i feel like i have so many unanswered questions i want more..