Lovely book in great Christmassy setting in Mistletoe Gardens. Heartwarming story with a great cast of characters, especially the relationship blooming between Essie and Joss, throw in a dinosaur and a crazy mystic and you have a really fun story not forgetting the giant gingerbread house! Great lighthearted book to lose yourself in for a few hours

Rating : 4.5 out of 5

A cosy and heartwarming festive story! Enjoyed till the end.

- Essie was so comforting and cheerful despite her past and present situation and that's why I liked her. About Joss, he was hilarious man! Have to give it to his sense of humour! Specially at the 1st half, I laughed so hard, God!
- Their past was so beautifully described by the author.
- I liked everyone in the book except Essie's mum. Sorry but she was utterly annoying throughout the book except that last 2-3 chapters.
- The 3rd act conflict was good but the reason for it was silly. It was a decision made before their meeting and of course after all those weeks he would never do it. About keeping it secret, I didn't find it as a big enough reason to react that way. Not that I disliked it, just saying there could be a better reason to all that.

And yeah! I really feel bad for the members of the council, God save them!! 😂

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the eARC in exchange of an honest review.

An absolute gem of a winter read. I loved every single bit, from the warmth of the bakery to the serious magic created by the gardens and community in the village.

It's a perfect will they, won't they, scenario that has you crossing your fingers everything will come right in the end.

The perfect book to cozy up with at christmas.

I thoroughly enjoyed this festive romance and was hooked throughout. Set in Mistletoe Gardens, where a legend exists, stating that “anyone who kisses underneath the mistletoe will be guaranteed another year of love”! Essie Browne is the local baker and when she discovers that Mistletoe Gardens will be demolished she’s determined to save it. Essie’s plan is to build a life size gingerbread house which will hopefully bring in the crowds, however although she’s great at baking gingerbread she has no idea how to build the actual house. Essie decides to ask the local builder Joss Hallissey, the only problem is he’s known as ‘Joss the Grinch’ so she just needs to convince him that he doesn’t hate Christmas and everything that goes with it, such as gingerbread. Joss reluctantly agrees to help but makes it clear that he thinks it’s a ridiculous plan and a waste of time. Essie just wants her chance at having a magical kiss under the mistletoe! This is a heartwarming romance which kept me happily turning the pages. I loved the characters and thought Essie and Joss were made for each other, their chemistry came across in the story and I liked how their relationship developed. The magical setting of Mistletoe Gardens really came alive through the descriptive narrative and I felt immersed in the story. The storyline had a real feel good factor to it and put me in a festive mood, an enjoyable and engaging read and one which I definitely recommend.

This is the third book I've read by this author and its another great one.

I loved Essie and Joss and the sunshine/grumpy trope. Essie likes to dream big but is being held back by her mother's attitude towards her and her past. Joss is such a sweetheart behind the grumpy, miserable exterior and as the book progresses we learn why. I also can't forget to mention Rob.

With fabulous supporting characters, especially some very eccentric ones, this made for such an enjoyable read. I don't know how often I cried with laughter. It was lovely to see the community come together towards the end and it delivered some surprises.

The little facts about gingerbread at the start of each chapter, I felt, was a lovely addition.

A wonderful feel good Christmas story about love and, second chances.

Thank you Rachels Random Resources, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for my ARC copy. This is my honest review which I am leaving voluntarily.

I love Christmas and all things Christmassy and this is the perfect, fantastically festive read full of Christmas joy and romance.
I loved the idea of the giant gingerbread house and the fact that it brought the community together was the icing on the roof ! Seeing Essie’s confidence grow as she worked on the house with Joss was wonderful to see - having had knock backs before it was good to see her finally believing in her own ability. The slow build up of the relationship with Joss was beautiful and the love and support each gave to the other was lovely. I bet seeing the Mistletoe Gardens in all their glory at Christmas time would have been magical.

Another charming and heartfelt Christmas story from Jaimie Admans.

Jaimie Admans is one of my go-to insta buy authors. Every time I pick up one of her books, I am in for a charming and sweet love story. This book was so easy to read and fall in love with. Jaimie knows how to write a Christmas book that is chalked full of holiday spirit and left me feeling all festive inside. One of the things that I adored about this book was all the secondary characters. Goodness, the residents of Folkhornton are lovely in every possible way. They are quirky, sweet, and had me laughing at times. Their stories about why Mistletoe Gardens was so special to them melted my heart and sometimes had me reaching for the tissue box.

There is also some fabulous food talk in this book. I love holiday baking, so I gobbled up all the descriptions of holiday treats Essie would bake. The whole story around building a giant gingerbread house captured my attention right from when Essie brought it to the town at the beginning of the book. My mind started racing, trying to figure out various ways that someone could build a gingerbread house that large. It was so exciting to read the scenes where Essie and Joss discussed how they would make the house, and watching this festive project come to life was so joyous. I also enjoyed Jaimie's gingerbread facts at the beginning of each chapter.

Essie is a big ball of festive sunshine. Even though she always tries to face the world with a glass-half-full attitude, she can be riddled with insecurities that make her doubt herself and her abilities. It was wonderful watching Essie grow confident and learn to believe in herself again. Joss comes across as quite the grouch. When I first met him, he actually reminded me of Luke from Gilmore Girls. The way he sat in that meeting, and his grouchy behaviour, just screamed Luke Dane. But underneath that prickly exterior is a man with a heart of gold. He was such a kindhearted person. His acts of kindness were not showy or used to get attention. His prickly behaviour comes from being knocked down time and time again by the universe and those he thought he could trust. It was absolutely fabulous watching Essie work her charming magic and slowly melt those ice walls around his heart.

Like any Jaimie Admans story, the romance is so utterly sweet. It's a charming slow-burn romance. There are plenty of cute and heartfelt moments between Essie and Joss. Watching them work together on the gingerbread house was lovely and exciting. One moment, they are joking around, and the next, they are having these emotional conversations. I loved that they both felt comfortable enough with each other to talk about their past, their fears, and the things they were struggling with. Essie and Joss become this wonderful support system for each other.

The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Garden is a perfect Christmas romance to read on a snowy December night.

Thank you, Rachel Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

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 heart.

Essie Browne’s overbearing mother’s mission is to marry her daughter off to a local so she’ll stay in town. However, Essie is not looking for a new romance due to her last failed relationship which had her coming back home with her tail between her legs. So when a great opportunity to save the local Mistletoe Gardens arises, Essie is all in. Unfortunately, her overzealous enthusiasm may get her in hot water if she doesn’t find a builder to help her with her Christmas project of a life-sized gingerbread house.

Enter the grumpy and unsociable Joss Hallissey whose first priority is to leave this town by the first of next year. This town did not do him any favors when his life was going to hell, so he did not owe any back. But unexpectedly, the sweet and lovely gingerbread maker changed his mind when she looked him in the eye and saw the lonely man beneath his angry mask.

I love Essie and Joss’s relationship. They listen to each other and give each other support where others have failed. I had never heard of a Welsh cwtch before which is “much more than a hug” and Essie uses it deservedly and liberally on Joss with no objections from him. It’s so endearing that I caught myself just sighing. Essie’s kindness and patience with Joss are lovely as she gets Joss to open up about his tragic life. Joss is misunderstood by the town due to his tragic past and it’s wonderful watching Essie peel back his layers to see the generous and compassionate man underneath. Will she convince him to stay? Not before some secrets are revealed and a charming grand gesture is made.

Loveable characters abound in this story. One will chuckle at Mr. Arkins in his dino-suit and the Mystical Magical Magi (MMM) with her magical potions of questionable origins and sage advice about love.

In addition, there are interesting facts about gingerbread at the beginning of every chapter and also yummy and inventive ways to build a large gingerbread house.

I recommend this delightful slow-burn holiday romance which confirms that “nothing’s impossible at Christmas”.

Thank you to Ms. Admans for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectations of a positive review.

When the residents of Folkhorton find out that their beloved Mistletoe Gardens is about to be bulldozed to make room for a block of flats there is shock and horror but no one seems to know what to do to save it.
Essie who is a baker and has the idea of building a life sized gingerbread house in the gardens for Santa to welcome the children in but she doesn’t have a clue how to go about it
Joss is a builder who has so much sadness and misery in his life lately he has turned into a grumpy loner who hates the towns people and can’t wait to get away.
Enter Essie into Joss’s life to ask for advice about how to build it and to Joss’s surprise finds out he can’t say no and ends up helping with the build.
Can they save the gardens or is it too late ?
Loved it, a fab festive read

Christmas books always have the most gorgeously named places don't they? I'd love to live somewhere that felt festive everyday! Why would you want to knock it down?

Essie who comes up with the genius (and tasty) idea of building a gingerbread house...a life size one, to draw in the crowds and save this romantic hot spot - who in their right mind would turn down the chance of love? There's even a Grinch in the form of Joss, but can be Essie be the one to remove his mask and reveal the real him. The 'supporting cast' of characters are adorable and I love their sense of community spirit in times of need.

Each chapter has some interesting gingerbread facts at the start, so not only did I get to devour this wonderful book, I was left with a hankering for the largest piece of gingerbread - word of advice - don't read on an empty stomach!

Enjoyable, festive and absolutely delightful!

Last Christmas I became a regular reader of Jamie’s books. She has a gift for creating such wonderful characters and their lives become intertwined. Essie loves all things Christmas and especially the Mistletoe Garden that was initially created by her Great Great Grandmother. The story is that if you kiss someone you love under these mistletoe trees in December, your love will last. This year the locals learn that the garden is going to be taken down and sold for housing apartments. They get together and decide something needs to be done to try to overturn that decision. Essie takes it upon herself to build a gingerbread house there to use as Santa’s Grotto. I highly recommend you read this and discover what happens next.

I will forever read anything this author writes. These are the most magical feel good books I have ever read, and The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens is such a feel good happily ever after story that anyone who loves the genre should read

When Essie Browne hears at a village meeting that the council plan to demolish Mistletoe Gardens in January
Essie decides the village need to fight to try to save it.
Traditionally anyone who kisses there under the mistletoe in December is guaranteed another year for love.
Essie suggests they build a life sized gingerbread house in the gardens to try to bring back some of its festive magic.
When Joss a very grumpy local builder is approached to help Essie design the house she discovers that not everyone is a fan of Christmas.
Can Essie bring a smile back to Joss and fill him with festive cheer while bringing Mistletoe Gardens back to life.
A magical festive book full of Sparkle and fairy lights, a must read for all fans of the season.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this Yuletide book.

As a long time fan of Jaimie Admans’ I was anticipating a charming, heart warming story with sweet characters, wonderful, enchanting locations and a sprinkling of magic, of course I was not disappointed.
A festive story that filled me with that cosy, warm feeling, where my heart was full and fuzzy with love and festive spirit. A story of hope, determination, a resolve to make changes and also to find the best of everyone and of course, to embrace tradition and celebrate love.
Essie, local baker extraordinaire, loves where she lives, the people, the place and has vowed to never leave. Mistletoe Gardens is a special place to all who live there and when to discover upcoming plans to demolish this much-loved place she sets her sights on making a stand, saving Mistletoe Gardens. Her plan, outrageously, is to build a life size gingerbread house, but whilst she can bake, she has no idea on how to build and needs help.
Joss hates Christmas, and pretty much most things. He wants to be away from the place that holds painful memories and definitely has no real intention on getting involved in anything community spirited. He has a few loose ends to finish up and then he plans to go.
My first “festive” read of the season and I think it will take a lot to top this one. I adored it, felt like I was there with Essie in Mistletoe Gardens. She is a spirited young lady and knows what she wants, lacking in the ability to speak up for herself after being hurt in the past. Mistletoe Gardens sounds like such a festive, special place – I’d love to take a trip there myself.
With a cast of very unique characters, you will laugh, you will feel emotional but you will remember that magical feel we can forget as we get older. This story will reignite that sense of wonder and will have you ready for the season! Fantastic read that will be a favourite!

I loved this sweet Christmas story, Mistletoe Gardens is due to be torn down, but will a life sized gingerbread house save it?

A festive hug in a book. Reading Jaimie's books bring me such joy. You get drawn into Essie and Joss's story and can't help but root for them and the quirky residents of Folkhornton. There's plenty of festive cheer, along with Jaimie's trademark humour and abiltity to qrite such swoonworthy stories. The little facts about gingerbread are entertaining (particularly the one about the Romans). A perfect read to curl up with over the long Winter nights.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Another brilliant read from Jaimie.

Another year of loved is guaranteed when to kiss your partner under the mistletoe in Mistletoe Gardens.

Essie Browne is a local baker who loves Mistletoe Gardens is devastated when there are plans for it to be demolished. She needs to make people believe that they are making a mistake. Do to this she decides she will build a life size gingerbread house, how will she do this?

She is an expert at making gingerbread but how do you build a house with it?

She tries to get local builder Joss on board but he hates Christmas. Can she persuade Joss to help her? Will it work to save Mistletoe Gardens?

The book, like its title was adorable, the FMC was fun to read about! I don't really see many Christmas stories of FMC in their mid-thirties, that aspect of the story was interesting! I enjoyed this one!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

Such a gorgeous, festive book. It had everything you want in a Christmas story - community, Christmas carols, gingerbread making, mistletoe kissing and a little sprinkle of magic too. Joss was such a beautiful character, I needed his happiness more than anything else. A really beautiful book.

The Gingerbread House In Mistletoe Gardens by Jaimie Admans is a perfectly charming contemporary festive offering that left me feeling warm and fuzzy.
The novel is very community minded as the residents band together to save Mistletoe Gardens.
This is the essence of Christmas in a book – from gingerbread houses to mulled wine to mistletoe – the festive season comes alive under the artistic pen of Jaimie Admans.
Some characters are hiding from life. Some have erected walls around their hearts as past pain still hurts. Others are hiding physical scars.
We see characters getting to know each other. “Eyes don’t make someone attractive, personality does.” Kindness is always a very attractive feature.
We witness the cruelty of dementia. How hurtful it is when our loved ones do not remember us. “She might not know you, but she can sense love.” Our loved ones may forget us but they will not forget how we make them feel. Love shines through.
All the characters were delightfully drawn. The sparring between the leading two was wonderful to witness, as was the budding and blossoming of characters – it seemed as though some were awakened from a winter’s sleep.
I adored The Gingerbread House In Mistletoe Gardens and am sorry it has ended.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.