Such a delightful read, easy and light, with cute and relatable characters. This is a wonderful romcom, very festive, my second read by Kellie and confirmed me as a big fan now, will be reading everything she has written now, it’s a lovely feel good read, gives you warm fuzzy feelings and a big grin while you read. Want joy and happiness read a book by Kellie Hailes.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I've read and enjoy a couple of books by Kellie Hailes before, so I was pleased to receive an early preview copy of this book from Netgalley and the Publisher.

Josie does not like Christmas anymore, she moves to Sunnycombe, a quiet village, trying to escape the festive season. She soon discovers that the village has huge celebrations, and pride themselves on being the most festive village.

Callan is also trying to keep a low profile in the village, after tragically losing his wife. He is trying to make everything perfect for Mia, his 4 year old daughter, without getting close to anyone.
A tentative friendship soon develops, and the villagers try to get the Christmas cheer bring back the magic of Christmas to Callan and Josie.

This is a lovely, charming and gentle book. It is an easy read and very festive, perfect for curling up with. It is a heartwarming read which makes you feel warm and fuzzy. I enjoyed reading this book, and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.

I'm in the mood for Christmas romcom and this novel was exactly what I wanted.
It's well written, festive and with a lovely setting and cast of well written characters.
I can't wait to read another book by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I’ve read all but one of the books in this series (and the one is in my piles) and I just adore the coming together of not only the core characters featured in each story, but the community involvement, wanted or unwanted, that helps to add atmosphere, humor, depth and a sense of ‘place’ to the larger story arc. In this book, we meet Josie who has, for the umpteenth time, moved on to ‘somewhere else’ and is looking to use her baking skills (and front counter skills) to secure a job in the local bakery. With the opportunity for another fresh start and a place where no one knows her, she’s convinced that the small town will be perfect for her, until she needs to move on again.

Callan has done his best with the bakery, even though he’s got no skills, but it gives him time to focus on his daughter Mia after his wife’s death. He’s going through the motions of living, and putting out truly terrible cakes and baked goods, all in an appearance of ‘keeping it together”. It also buys him some time from rejoining the very robust village events, using Mia as a shield and prop to simply exist from day to day. From the first he and Josie had and electric connection, and Josie’s skill for baking, as well as a clear determination to make herself helpful in the bakery but removed from the ever-increasingly personal chit-chat make her the obvious choice to revamp and run the bakery

OH this was sweet – from both Josie and Callan trying to heal from their losses and their inability to simply state what they fear and move from there – with a nudge (or a giant push) from the pub owner, other townsfolk and Josie’s landlady who also serves as Callan’s sounding board, the two are clearly well suited, if only they could see it for themselves. But fear (and a tendency to be defensive and guarded because of past hurts) leads them into some potentially spontaneously bad decisions and choices. It will take no little amount of villager interference and pushing, and old town tale that is reputed to be true, some daring and real honesty to bring them together and allow them a new start, both together and alone.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-ayR/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

What a lovely story! Josie has never felt tethered anywhere and she particularly hates Christmas because, well for a lot of reasons. When she moves to the town of Sunnycombe she finds more than she ever expected to after she takes a job at the local bakery. Cullen, the owner, is coping with the death of his wife. He's trying to raise his little girl Mia and keep the business going but he's not the baker she was and things aren't looking good. Readers of this genre know these two are meant for each other but they both have issues they need to work through. Then there's Mia- she's a great kid who has a strong personalities and feelings. Add to it the season and you know this is going to be a good read, don't you? Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Cheerful, positive, and sigh, HEA.

Fantastic feel good novel this book was read in one sitting. Loved the characters and as usual as expected from Kellie extremely well written. Highly recommend

Christmas is the most magical time of the year. But for Josie Donnelly, it's a day filled with painful memories. Hoping to escape the festivities, she moves to the charming little village of Sunnycombe and gets a job at a family bakery. But the more time she spends with the handsome bakery owner and his daughter, the more she longs for a family-filled Christmas celebration. The Little Bakery of Hope and Dreams is a sweet, uplifting Christmas love story, full of holiday cheer, humor, delicious cakes, and a heartwarming romance. The author did a fantastic job of developing the characters and I really liked her writing style. Josie and Callan were both easy to relate to. Their grief will tug at your heartstrings and make you root for them. If you like slow-burn romances, then you will enjoy their love story. I really enjoyed this cozy, feel-good romance and will not hesitate to read more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the opportunity to read this ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

What better does one need to tuck up with on a cold day than a warm and fuzzy holiday story.
Josie, a single woman who never seems to stay in one place for long applies for a job at a bakery run by Callan, the widowed father of young Mia.
The story brings you the love of Christmas in Sunnycombe and how even if you don’t love Christmas it can work its way into your heart along with the people that live in a small town.

This was a lovely Christmas story. that left me with the warm-fuzzies. It was very easy to read and flowed easily. The story was sweet and I especially adored the little girl. This was my first read from this author, but it won't be my last.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher was an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

A really nice festive read When Josie gets a job in a cake shop she doesn't plan staying long term as she struggles with event's in her past which make her afraid of settling anywhere but she underestimates new people who come into her life when she really needs them A lovely warm hearted story where love is found at this very special time of the year loved it

I love good love story and this one does not disappoint,

Josie and Callan are our main characters. Callan is recently widowed and finds himself looking running the bakery that belonged to his wife. As an accountant his skills do not transfer to baking! As another learning curve, Callan is now a solo father to his very beloved and very chatty daughter Mia.

Josie arrives in town and sees and advertisement in the bakery window for an assistant.

Callan gives Josie the job and the rest is history....... or is it? Understandably Callan has a lot of grief to work through. Josie also has a story of her own that unfolds throughout the book.


I have really loved all the books from this author and this one is one is as good as the others.

Loved this book. Great characters, easy read, uplifting, funny, romantic and charming. A really nice story that is the perfect escapist read.

A thoroughly enjoyable Christmas read, read it in one sitting.
The story of Josie, who arrives in a lovely town, hating Christmas, due to her past but the people of this town show her the true meaning of Christmas and she’s able to overcome the reasons why she hates Christmas and also to enjoy the festive season along with finding her Prince Charming and a place she can call home.
This book had me laughing, sad and excited. Loved the little girl. Proves hopes and dreams can come true. Thoroughly recommend it, with a mug of hot chocolate and the fire burning.

What a wonderful Christmas read this is! I loved every word of it. Perfect to curl up with on a cold winters night and lose yourself in the lovely community of Sunnycombe. This is a very gentle romance, beautifully written and described. It is one of those books where you can tell every single word counts and has been carefully chosen. It is the story of Josie who has been running away from a tragic episode in her past which has left her unable to put down roots, enjoy Christmas, trust anyone with her feelings or fall in love. She applies for a job at a bakery in the charming village of Sunnycombe which has its own very special traditions at Christmas. I enjoyed this book so much that I think I will read it in the run up to every Christmas!

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for allowing me to read a preview copy of this book in exchange for a totally honest review.
Review on Amazon to follow when released.

The Little Bakery of Hopes and Dreams I would describe as being pleasantly bland. The story had a nice premise but was too one dimensional for me. I did not enjoy the character of Mia...she didn't seem believable. Every time I picked up this book and startef reading, I would start to fall asleep. The British references and language were great!

A relaxing 4.5* festive read by a new author to me.

The villagers of Sunnycombe love the festive season - can they help Josie and Callan rediscover their love for the festive season after life events made them sad?

The cakes at the bakery sound delicious - this is a book that will make you crave cake, log fires and snow.

Thanks to NetGalley and HQDigital for a digital ARC - my thoughts are my own.

Josie has never belonged anywhere, nor does she ever believe she will - so, when she ends up in the small town of Sunnycombe for a temporary job, she doesn't expect to at all fall in love with the town and the people in it.

Callan is the owner of a bakery, with young daughter Mia - the two of them grieving a tragic loss. Queue Josie, who is interested in becoming the bakery's front assistant, the two are about to have their worlds turned upside down.

The Little Bakery of Hopes and Dreams was such a gorgeous read and a Hallmark movie just waiting to be made! Josie was such a likeable character from the get-go, even when she was very negative about life, however, you learn early on as to what is the cause of her attitude, allowing you to sympathise and root for her. I couldn't blame her at all for falling in love with Callan and Mia, they were both such wonderful characters and even I thought they were the perfect family from the beginning.

Callan is one of my favourite male leads to read about this year. He had been through so much pain and heartache, it was lovely to see Josie by his side, helping him come out of shell and learn to love. He had every right to be guarded, but he did so much wonder also to Josie's life, like turning her in to a Christmas lover and making her see that she didn't need to move around all the time, she was welcome to stay exactly where she is.

I absolutely adored the gorgeous little Mia, she was the perfect addition to this story and had me giggling to myself plenty of times. Her and Callan's relationship really is such a special one and it showed through every page. With Josie now involved, they really are the most complete and perfect family now!

Every book I read of Kellie's, I absolutely love and this one is no exception. I would highly recommend it to everybody and know, as this is a Christmas book that can't go amiss.

A great christmas read.

Set in a small village, will Josie manage to stay when she is so used to running? Will village life and Callan and his daughter Mia be enough for her to change her ways?

This was such a feel-good read. Kelly Hailes had me hooked from the beginning with this one.

Callan is a widow with a young daughter, Mia. Mia is the center of his universe, and she's utterly adorable and insightful.

Josie is a new employee at the bakery, and she's a little bit broken in her own right. But luckily Sunnycombe's traditions grow on her and help her heal..

The character and plot development in this book are gentle and warm, and well-written. This book definitely gives you warm-fuzzy feelings and makes your heart feel full. This is a light-hearted, warm book, and easy read, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Kelly Hailes' books in the future.

A great feel-good Christmas story.

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!