Jaimie Admans’ The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens is a cosy festive romance best read cuddled up under a comfy blanket with a great big mug of cocoa.

Local baker Essie Browne loves Mistletoe Gardens – so she is absolutely devastated when she discovers that it is to be demolished in January. Essie is not going to let them destroy the place she loves so much without a fight, so she vows to do whatever she can to prove just how important the gardens are to the community – starting by building a life size gingerbread house to bring in visitors. The problem is though, that although Essie can bake gingerbread in her sleep, she is clueless when it comes to building a house out of it. If she wants to make her gingerbread house a must-see attraction, then she needs help – and fast!

Christmas might be coming up, but for builder Joss it’s his least favourite time of year. Joss hates Christmas, gingerbread, mistletoe – and anything remotely festive. When he hears of Essie’s plan, he makes it clear from the off that her idea is ridiculous, but he offers to help her regardless. However, what Joss hadn’t counted on was on finding himself falling under Essie’s spell – and realising that Christmas needn’t be a season to dread, but one to cherish.

Can Essie and Joss save Mistletoe Gardens? Will all of their efforts be in vain? Or will a Christmas miracle give them both everything they’ve always wanted?

Even the scroogiest of Scrooges cannot fail to be charmed by this enchanting and irresistible romance by Jaimie Admans, The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens. Warm, funny, uplifting and absolutely joyful, this opposites attract romance touched my heart and made me laugh out loud and kept me glued to its pages from beginning to end.

The perfect Christmas romance, The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens by Jaimie Admans is everything you love about Hallmark movies and so much more besides – don’t miss it!

This author has such a talent for capturing the spirit of Christmas and the lead up to the best time of year. The developing relationship between Essie and Joss is a pleasure to follow, and the Mistletoe Gardens sound simply magical. Each character that shares their own personal story or experience about the gardens adds to the enchantment and I loved this story.

Cosy and festive, it is a good book to get you into the Christmas spirit.

Overall, Mistletoe Gardens is a delightful escape, perfect for anyone seeking an uplifting romance filled with charm and holiday spirit. It’s a heartwarming reminder that love can blossom in the most unexpected places, especially under the mistletoe.

A lovely feel good read with lots of gingerbread! I love Jaimie's Christmas books but I felt that it took me longer to warm to this one. In some ways this reflects the relationship between the 2 main characters as Joss has closed himself off from those around him and is reluctant to open up. An easy read, perfect for the festive season.

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable. The plot is one that is engaging and I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

Whenever I read a Jaimie Admans book my cheeks hurt from smiling. At once vulnerable and gentle and wholly romantic, Admans loves to paint the marvel of the season with dollops of romance besides. Essie and Joss were so believable. I love how there's no insta-love in an Admans novel ( and this was no exception), Essie and Joss' connection was authentic and they fell for their flaws and foibles as they finessed their perfect chemistry.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Ess and Josh. There is an instant attraction when they meet. Ess works for her mother at the family’s bakery. Josh runs his family’s construction company. Ess and Josh are building a gingerbread house in the town’s mistletoe garden. They are trying to save mistletoe gardens from being torn down. They work day and night to build a big gingerbread house. The members of the town all help. Ess and Josh fall in love.

Absolutely loved this book. Jaimie is such a fabulous writer and never fails to write a great book. Can't wait to read more by hee

Lovely festive romantic comedy read, read fairly quickly. Characters were relatable and it was a nice cosy read.

In this delightful festive narrative, Essie and Joss embark on the whimsical endeavor of constructing a real-life gingerbread house to safeguard Mistletoe Gardens from potential loss. Despite the lighthearted premise, the imminent threat to Essie's Welsh village infuses their task with urgency. The sparks between Essie and the initially gruff Joss ignite from the start, yet the author skillfully postpones their romantic involvement, emphasizing the organic growth of their friendship. The mystery surrounding Joss's reluctance to deepen their connection adds intricate layers to his character.

The essence of Christmas is beautifully captured through festive elements, and the delightful addition of gingerbread facts at the onset of each chapter enhances the seasonal charm. The imaginative plot revolves around constructing a shed-like gingerbread creation, reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel's witch's house. As characters jeopardize Mistletoe Gardens, Essie's steadfast patience and the endearing quirks of the villagers contribute to the story's overall charm. Essie's kindness and understanding unravel Joss's tragic past, revealing the benevolent and compassionate man beneath the surface. The narrative unfolds with endearing characters, such as Mr. Arkins in his dino-suit and the Mystical Magical Magi dispensing magical potions and sage advice. Alongside a charming grand gesture, the novel is enriched with fascinating gingerbread facts and imaginative methods for constructing a large gingerbread house.

Fairly predictable rom com but it was still a good read that I enjoyed it. It was also a quick read.

Grumpy/Sunshine - Check
Holiday Romance - Check

If you are looking for a Hallmark Christmas Movie with the perfect amount of holiday romance, here it is!!! Quick read with a lot of small town Christmas magic.

A beautiful Christmas, cosy novel. What’s not to like?

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

a christmas story with a difference love romance quarrels debates sorrow and the delight in building a gingerbread house which was a mighty task with its ups and downs but a perfect finish and a good outcome for the welsh village

Want a read with the Christmas feel,
One with characters who feel real?
Look no further grab a copy of this book
It is a joy to read - worthy of more than a look!

In a close knit Welsh community they discover
Mistletoe Gardens are going, not to be replaced by any other.
This community space has legends from year gone by
To lose it will make so many of them cry.

Essie Browne is determined to save the space
To do so before January she need to up the pace!
She suggests a life size Gingerbread House be made
But making one so big - plans need to be laid!

Who can she get to come to her aid?
Will the local Grinch builder help it be made?
Will the gingerbread house help save the place
Or will it be disappearing without a trace?

A story where grief and lost confidence, too,
Impact dramatically on what folks say and do.
It is only when you look closely and give support, too,
That you may really discover what is true.

However, secrets and surprises aren't always the best
And can put any relationship to the test.
But bringing folks together to help each other
Can help forge links as these will soon discover.

A gorgeous festive read, with family dramas galore
As this delightful community we get to explore.
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
I throughly enjoyed reading it and this is my honest review.

Another absolutely fab cosy festive read from Jaimie!
This is all you need to get into the festive spirit.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Holy Mistletoe! My first Jaimie Admans novel is a hit. It's a feel-good romance about learning to believe in yourself and others as well as healing old wounds and opening your hear

The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens is a lovely read.
It is well written, with a good cast of characters, and a nice Christmas message.

Essie is a baker, she wants to show her mother her worth, so she decides to try and save Folkhornton's Mistletoe Garden building a big Gingerbread House. There's only a little problem she doesn't know anythig about construction, she needs a constructor, and she finds Joss, who despite being skeptical, helps her with her crazy idea.

Essie and Joss are so different, friendly and outgoing the first, grumpy and quiet the latter, but they are good for each other. I adored to see how Joss boost Essie confidence, believing in her and her dreams. I was also pleased to see how Essie made Joss understand how it's so far better to have connection with other people, even if we are scared to suffer when we lose them.

I recommend this novel for a pleasant read in front of the fireplace.

The legend of Mistletoe Gardens – the guarantee of another year of love if you kiss under the mistletoe – just might not be enough to save it from being flattened and turned into a housing development. The residents of Folkhorton have rather forgotten its magic – but not Essie, and if this Christmas will be its last she’s determined to make it a special one. As a baker, she wants to build a life sized gingerbread house on its bandstand – but has no idea where to start. Until she enlists the help of local builder Joss – reluctant at first (in fact, downright hostile), distinctly lacking in excitement about anything Christmassy (but Essie has enough of that for both of them), coming up with a plan to put up a framework and build it brick by brick, and slowly discovering the magic of the season for himself.

The relationship between the two of them – a tentative friendship at first, that slowly becomes something rather more – is just wonderfully drawn and developed, and filled with the chemistry that the author always does so very well. Despite her sunshine smile and endless enthusiasm, Essie’s confidence has been knocked by her previous life experiences – her mother’s controlling behaviour doesn’t help much either – and romance is the last thing she’s looking for. And Joss has his own very good reasons for his Grinch-like approach to Christmas – a few secrets gradually shared, but not the one big one that makes Essie wonder why she ever began to open her heart again.

The supporting cast is just fantastic – a whole community, all with their own stories, from the seller of magic potions with her enigmatic pronouncements, to the shopkeeper who dresses as a dinosaur (a touching story all of its own), the local councillor who’s so determined the development will go ahead (but a little side-tracked by his attraction to Essie’s mum), and a large number of other well-drawn characters who offer support in their many different ways. And then there’s the baking – each chapter is prefaced with facts about the history of gingerbread, and the whole book is beautifully infused with the glorious aroma of Christmas spices.

Emotionally, the book is simply perfect – the romance everything I wanted it to be, and there were plenty of moments that made me quite tearful when it looked like all Essie’s efforts were to be in vain. But the humour is always there – dialogue that fizzes and sparkles, moments of the ridiculous to make you smile, and the odd moment that really made me laugh out loud. And the Christmas touches are quite wonderful, especially that night when… but no, you’ll need to read it yourself, and discover the joy of it in the same way I did.

Heartwarming and thoroughly gorgeous in every way, with characters I entirely took to my heart – this is a book everyone needs to have on their Christmas reading list. I totally loved it…

I love Jaimie Admans books, and I loved this one too! This is a lovely Christmas story, which is about a woman called Essie who is trying to save Mistletoe Gardens from destruction by building a giant gingerbread house to bring in visitors and save the day. Joss is a builder who helps Essie to build it, but he is holding a dark secret which shocks Essie. Will Essie be able to forgive him?

This is such a great book, and I adored it. It is full of love, joy, festivities, family, teamwork, romance and interesting information about gingerbread. What is there not to love? Highly recommended!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.