In a Nutshell: If you have read Jaimie Admans before, you know what you would expect from her, and you get exactly that from this charming book. Sweet & loveable characters, a heart-warming setting, some holiday magic, and clean romance.

Story Synopsis;
Mistletoe Gardens is a special place to the townspeople of Folkhorton. According to local legend, if you kiss your special someone under the mistletoe-covered boughs, you will have a year of happiness. But what does the local council care about romance? It has decided to raze the gardens in the new year and make way for a housing complex.
Essie, a local baker, decides to do whatever she can to stop the demolition. Her plan involves the construction of a life-sized gingerbread house in the gardens, so as to attract a crowd and show the council that people still want Mistletoe Gardens. She coerces another local, a builder named Joss, to help her with the construction, though Joss is quite a Grinch, if rumours are to be believed.
What lies in store for Mistletoe Gardens, and to the people striving to save their romantic hotspot? Will Essie and Joss save the beloved park?
The story comes to us in Essie’s first person perspective.

I rarely pick up romances these days. Nothing against the genre, but I think I have outgrown their typical tropes. And yet, here I am, with my third Jaimie Admans novel within two years. (The Post Box at the North Pole – read in Jan 2022, and A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street – read in July 2023) I have not read any other romance author more than once in this period. Why Jaimie Admans then?


Quite simple. She has figured out the formula that makes her books click, and that formula, barring a couple of minor hiccups, works nicely for me when I want a light read.

Here is what I can count upon from a Jaimie Admans romance:
😍 A FMC who isn’t afraid to dream big. While she may be a pushover for a part of the story (which is usually not expected from a character in her mid-thirties), the reasons for her lack of confidence are clear, and she learns to stand up for herself as the plot proceeds. The narration is always in her first person perspective.
😍 A MMC who appears to be a grump but is a softie at heart. The MMC is always battling some past trauma, and this adds to his vulnerability. He is a reluctant hero, and it takes the FMC’s best sunshine smiles to get him to let go of his strong façade and be his true self.
😍 While the FMC and the MMC may appear to be at odds, the plot never resorts to the standard enemies-to-lovers trope, though it may appear as such from the blurb. Rather, the main characters grow in friendship and love as the story progresses. Nothing insta, means I can’t complain about the pace of the relationship.
😍 A small town location with all its pros (such as a close-knit community and helpful neighbours) and cons (such as busybodies who enjoy gossip.)
😍 Memorable secondary characters, who, even within their small roles, ensure that their presence is felt.
😍 A magical setting that charms and delights, even if there’s no actual magic in the plot. (A Santa village in the first book, a fairytale-themed street in the second one, and a mistletoe garden in this one – all three wonderful, though I must confess that this one was my least favourite of the three because the earlier two settings were simply outstanding!)
😍 No steam beyond a few kisses. ‘Yay’ for me! Possible ‘Boo’ for some romance lovers.
😍 A straightforward story that sticks to the standard plot progression of romantic dramas – initial conflict, friendship, love, misunderstanding, patch-up, HEA. Predictable, yes, but who wants experiments in romance? This genre is more about the journey than the destination, and the journey herein is picturesque.
😐 Lots of physical gestures (hugging, bumping elbows, waggling eyebrows, wringing hands, heads resting on shoulders,… you get the drift!) This is one point I bear patiently with, because as I had mentioned in my review of ‘A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street’, touch isn’t my love language and hence I find it difficult to relate to an FMC who is always thinking about physical contact. But I have learnt to take this in my stride with Admans’ books because she actually makes this trope work well for her characters.
😐 Some amount of repetition in the FMC’s first-person thoughts, especially when she reflects on her uncertainty about the future.

The above is what I have got from every Jaimie Admans book I have read so far, including this one. Now here are some features that are special to this book:
🎄 The baking and everything connected to it: With Essie being a baker and the gingerbread house being such an essential part of the storyline, we get to see loads of baking-related scenes. Needless to say, this isn’t a book to be read when hungry.
(I must add that the implementation of Essie’s grand plan seemed to be oversimplified. Making a life-sized gingerbread house, replete with edible accoutrements, would have required tons of ingredients, and it was surprising how Essie’s bakery never ran out of stock of the vital necessities. I guess this is me being the Christmas Grinch. One mustn’t use too much logic while reading romances - something I always forget!)
🎄 The Christmassy details: Even other than the gingerbread house, the book is filled with the Christmas spirit, right from discussions over Christmas Carols to mistletoe kisses to special dances to even some tantalising crocheted Christmas wear. It is the perfect book to generate Christmassy feels during the holiday season.
🎄 The Dinosaur: I bet you didn’t expect to see this word in a Christmas romance, but whaddya know!? I loved the dinosaur in the book. No more details on him/it. Read and find out more!
🎄 The Welsh factor: The story is set in Wales, and this is consistently visible with the use of Welsh words such as ‘cwtch’ and Welsh carols. I love it when authors actually use the location in the stories rather than just mentioning the place and then forgetting all about it.
🎄 The gingerbread trivia: Every chapter begins with a special fact connected to gingerbread. Loved all of these!
🎄 The theme of successful parents putting pressure on their children to follow in their footsteps, knowingly or unknowingly. A practical issue, and well-depicted.

All in all, this is the perfect Christmas novel when you want a Hallmark-style holiday romance, with great characters, wonderful settings, minimal steam and maximum holiday cheer. It doesn’t experiment with the structure, but delivers as promised. Needless to say, Jaimie Admans holds on to her place in my dwindling list of romance writers I am still happy to read.

4 stars.

My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of “The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

It’s a Jaimie Admans book and it is a festive one so I am the happiest lady in the world right now! After being very low in mood recently and juggling a lot - this book came at such a perfect moment and really lifted my spirits. Nobody writes a more magical story found in everyday people and places the way Jaimie does.

The Gingerbread House is full of everything sugary and sweet and there’s a delicious mixture of romantic chemistry, community spirit and something to fight for! It’s the perfect recipe for a perfect book.

I adored Essie and her determination and creativity when trying to save the gardens. She is so committed to her community. Joss is a bit of a grump - but not unlikable and it isn;t long before there’s a chemistry in the air between them. The community characters are varied and add a lot of depth to the village and inspired by Essie’s drive, I felt as though I belonged there too. Their quirky and lively personalities certain added in extra spice and I really hope we see more books in this community and they pop up again.

The description of the baking process and the gingerbread left my mouth watering and now I am so ready for gingerbread season. I could taste every morsel that was mentioned.

I adored the descriptions of the gardens and how they were a central place in the community.

The Gingerbread House in MIstletoe Gardens has completely put me into the festive reading mood and I enjoyed every delicious crumb of. It’s a delightfully sweet romance and it is perfect to get you in the mood for those cosy nights in.

4 Stars
One Liner: Adorable (but a bit too long)

The Mistletoe Gardens is set to be demolished in the coming January to make space for a real estate venture. Folkhornton is aghast. How can their beloved garden with such a legend (you’ll have a year full of happiness if you kiss your love under the mistletoe in the garden) be destroyed by the council?
Local baker Essie Browne announces a mega Christmas celebration as a goodbye to the Mistletoe Gardens. She plans to make a huge gingerbread house that will attract people from all over to visit the event. However, Essie has no idea how to get this done.
Joss Hallissey, aka Joseph Hallissey Jr. (don’t call him that), is a grumpy local builder who wants nothing to do with the event or the townfolk. However, he agrees to help Essie after some persuasion. Can the two make it happen, or will the Mistletoe Gardens not even get a last goodbye?
The story comes in Essie’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
This is my second book by the author, and I enjoyed it more than the first. I also see a few common themes in both.
Essie and Joss are sunshine vs. grumpy at the initial glance, but soon, we realize that both are dealing with personal issues. While Joss’s issues seem heavier, it’s clear the two complement each other very well. I like both of them.
Though this is a small-town book where the community members have good roles, the focus is more on the main lead and the mega gingerbread house. We see them know more about each other, become friends, and maybe more.
The scenes with baking are, of course, my favorite. I always love reading about cakes, cookies, and icing. The side characters are decent; some better than others. Essie’s mom can feel like surviving a dust storm. She’s a go-getter with endless energy, and let’s say even reading about her can be a little tiring at times. It helps establish one of the themes in the book – comparing children to their parents and expecting them to be the same.
Little Rob is such a cute addition! He (I’m assuming the gender) even gets to be on the cover. Isn’t that super sweet?
The narration is slow. The story moves at a languid pace. Repetition doesn’t help (this happens in the other book too). The story feels a little too long at times. I wouldn’t have minded if it was short by some 20-30 pages.
However, I like how the main leads have enough time to spend with each other to talk and heal. It’s sort of a slow burn with enough bits of humor. I chuckled and laughed quite a few times throughout the book.
There is a mini third-act breakup. I was afraid of this, but the issue was handled well towards the end. There are a few lighthearted and funny moments, even during this stage. It balances out things to a good extent.
The solution to the core issue is thoughtful and sensible. It provides a rounded solution where the past and present co-exist while also being practical enough to generate money for the council. After all, communities need money to survive.
The tidbits about gingerbread (and gingerbread houses) at the beginning of each chapter are a great idea. I tend to skip quotes under the chapter titles, but not in this one. I read each of them.
It’s a clean romance with some kisses towards the end. The characters do go touchy-feely a lot (it was the same in the other book, too). Since I like touch as a love language, I enjoyed these scenes in both books. It may not work for everyone.

To summarize, The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens is a sweet, heartwarming, Christmasy book dealing with second chances, love, healing, self-confidence, and small-town communities.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***
P.S.: I wish Beryl would crochet me a Santa zombie hat or a gingerbread vampire. Her creativity is next level!

I loved the title of this book and hoped it would as good as it sounded. In fact, it was amazing. A lovely, cosy read for those autumn nights. Thank you for the ARC.

Jaimie Admans is one of my favorite Christmas authors -- her stories always have elements of magic and surprise twists! In this story, Essie is trying to save her beloved Mistletoe Gardens - where legend says a kiss will bring the magic of another year of love - from destruction. Joss is the grumpy, misunderstood male protagonist in our story, and while we all know how it will end...it's the journey that is so loveable. One of my favorite parts of this book was the inclusion of gingerbread history at the beginning of each chapter. I want to walk into a life-sized gingerbread house now!!

Such a sweet story watching a community come together with Essie and her epic Christmas project.
I loved the fascinating gingerbread pieces of information at the start of each chapter, it added another layer to this fabulous festive read.
The concept of building a life size gingerbread house was brilliant, it was so engaging to see the relationship grow between Essie and Joss too.
Lots of gorgeous festive moments to enjoy.

This gorgeous book captivated me from the very first page. It is a magical, enchanting story that gave me all the festive feels that I could hope for. Beautifully written, it’s full of wonderful characters, particularly Joss and Essie, who completely captured my heart. The description in this book is absolutely magical, enabling me to completely lose myself and be drawn into the beautiful story. I absolutely loved it, and wholeheartedly recommend it.

I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my kindle, in return for my honest review.

In Mistletoe Gardens there is a legend that anyone who kisses under the mistletoe will be guaranteed another year of love………. Just reading this pulled me in and made me want to read the whole book, just to see how it all unfolds and i was definitely not disappointed!

This book was a perfect grumpy-sunshine story and i loved both Essie and Joss and loved joining them for their journey.

It had the wonderful small-town community vibes, which i loved and was super-sweet and heartwarming too. It was a slow burn romance that was quite funny in places and had me giggling along!!

A gorgeous, Christmassy romance that made my heart very happy…….

As with all of the author's Christmas books, I've found this one to be drenched in Christmas descriptions and vibes and I mean this in a great way. I love a descriptive Christmas book. Our main character works at her mom's bakery and it keeps her quite occupied. I really loved the gingerbread facts at the beginning of each chapter. Not much more Christmassy than a huge gingerbread house. This is exactly what our main character is trying to build, a life-size version of one, to try to save the beloved Mistletoe Gardens. This is where we meet Mr. Grumpy, he hates Christmas and just about everything else. Is this where our Ms. Sunshine can come in and show him the holidays aren't all that bad?
I loved reading about the kissing under the mistletoe tradition. I held my breath to see if Mistletoe Garden could be saved from those who want to get rid of the traditions and replace it with a shopping center. With the holiday season you can expect the best type of magic to come around though. Fun, fantastic and an all-around charmer. I always look forward to the author's holiday books!

Pub Date 12 Sep 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

As soon as I saw this book I knew that I had to read it. Jaimie Adman's is one of my favourite Authors and I absolutely love Gingerbread in all its forms, I loved the Gingerbread facts at the start of each chapter.
This book has Jaimie Adman's usual magic, charm and feel-good factor. I really enjoyed reading it. It is such a cosy and heartwarming read and very festive. Although I read this book in August, during a heatwave I wanted to curl up with this book and drink hot chocolate and eat gingerbread. This book oozes festivity.
Jaimie Admans has done it again, such an enjoyable and fantastic read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood books for my ARC.

Mistletoe Gardens has been a staple of Folkhornton’s holiday season for decades, and legend has it that if you kiss a loved one under the mistletoe, you’re guaranteed a full year of love and happiness. But when the town council decides to tear out the garden and replace it with apartments, local baker Essie Browne (the only one in her family never to have been kissed in the garden) decides to take matters into her own hands.

Essie comes up with an elaborate plan to build a life-sized gingerbread house to bring visitors from all over and, hopefully, save Mistletoe Garden. The only problem, she has no idea how to construct the home. Enter Joss Hallissey, a grumpy, down-on-the-town builder who begrudgingly helps Essie with the work. Not only does he think everyone in the town despises him, but he hates Christmas, too. What could go wrong?

Will the unlikely pair have what it takes to construct the gingerbread house and save Mistletoe Gardens? And more importantly, will Essie break down Joss’s walls to get her magical kiss?

Full of Hallmark-movie moments, this cozy read is filled with fun, quirky characters (including a dino-clad townie), charm and romance. You can’t help but root for the town to win back their beloved greenspace.

Thank you to Jaimie Admans, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of the book.

A lovely Christmas story and one to be enjoyed. It may be the hottest weekend this year but a good time to read this. Well worth 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Jaimie Adman’s has done it again. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this gorgeous book.

We meet Essie, who has had her heart broken and faced financial loss in her past, and it’s something that she’s never been able to forget, thanks to her mother,

She’s back in the bakery, working for her mother. At a local meeting she hears that Mistletoe Gardens will be demolished once the holidays are over.

She comes up with an idea to keep the place from being turned into something else, as It’s said that anyone who kisses under the mistletoe is guaranteed good luck in love for the next year. Her idea is to build a big gingerbread house, so that people from outside the village continue to come, and the gardens stay around for a long time.

Only, she’s not thought about how hard it’s going to be. The only person who can help her is Joss, a builder.

But, he doesn’t like Christmas. Essie has to make him realise why she needs his help.

Will Essie and Joss be able to construct the gingerbread house and save Mistletoe Gardens?

I highly recommend this book.

Mistletoe Gardens is under threat of demolition by the council and will be replaced by an apartment block in January, that is unless local baker Essie Browne and the locals in the Welsh village of Folkhornton can do something to save it. She comes up with the idea of building a life size gingerbread house, all she needs is someone to help her build it and she thinks local builder Joss Hallissey may be just the man but, as he hates everything about Christmas and life in general at the moment, will she be able to persuade him and will she ever get to meet the man of her dreams and have that magical kiss under the mistletoe?

This latest feel good romance by Admans has all the trappings for a Hallmark movie. Set in the close knit community of Folkhornton we meet some fabulous characters, the main two being Essie and Joss who just instantly gelled and understood each others aspirations and feelings and, to me, they were the perfect couple and I loved everything about them. I thought the gingerbread fact at the beginning of each new chapter was a great touch and just added to the festive feel of the story. Another great read from this author which really gets you in the mood for Christmas.

I'd like to thank Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Jessie finds out that her local park, Mistletoe Gardens, is due to be demolished and replaced with blocks of flats. She decides that something is required to bring people back to the park. She suggests making a full-size gingerbread house using her skills as a baker , however isn't sure whether it is possible until local builder Joss offers to help, despite being the original anti-Christmas grinch . Cue mass production of gingerbread bricks, mixed support from locals (including a dinosaur?), interference from Jessie's bossy mother, owner of the bakery and the local councillor who is pushing for the redevelopment
As the story develops you find out the reason for Joss' grumpy behaviour and Jessie's lack of self confidence. The gingerbread house itself doesn't sound possible until the concept does become reality and is a symbol of local community spirit. The growing attraction between the two had its ups and downs and the saving of the gardens isn't a foregone conclusion, but you end up keeping your fingers crossed age hope that all will be well in the end.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

This book is a wonderful feel good Christmas magic book. I could not put it down. The setting, characters and storyline were absolutely brilliant. Reading this was like having a ‘happy’ potion in a book. It’s the first Jaimie Adman’s book I’ve read so I’m off to look through the back catalogue.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review. It was an absolute delight.

Unfortunately this wasn’t my favourite of Jaimie’s novels. I felt like it was very repetitive with emotions and hugging and laughing etc and I just couldn’t 100% enjoy it. I skipped some pages when the storyline just kept repeating.

Overall unfortunately not the best

Oh my! This is another wonderful Christmas story that is filled with love, kindness, and hope. I knew from the earliest pages that I would love Essie, and I was not remotely disappointed. She had a driving force that I always feel leaves others feeling inspired and driven to spread love and kindness. Despite her own damaged and bruised heart, she sets about the task of saving Mistletoe Gardens for the villagers.
Essie’s relationship with her mother is definitely complicated and it was difficult to understand why her mother treated her with so little trust. But it’s never wise to question an author’s logic and all became clear as the story unfolded.
As the synopsis explains, the central characters are Essie and local builder, Joss Hallisey. Joss is so anti-Christmas that he could give the Grinch a run for his money, but it soon becomes clear that he is protecting himself after a devastating experience in his past.
I don’t think that Essie and Joss could have been more perfect. The gentle way that they explored their delicate work relationship was sensitively handled and exuded the warmth that I now associate with Jaimie Adman’s writing. I was thrilled to see a lovely reference to Nutcrackers and it made me smile.
The setting of Mistletoe Gardens was very special indeed, and I was able to imagine the scenes as described. I always think that it’s a shame when Mistletoe is described as a parasitic plant, even though it’s accurate. Especially when we associate such love, warmth and optimism with the delicate berries and vivid green leaves.
Of course, there’s a delightful supporting cast that help to bring this story to life. From the local shop owner, who mysteriously dresses as a dinosaur every day, the council representative, who is clearly holding Essie’s mother in high regard, and the myriad of helpers who take up the challenge of rescuing the Gingerbread House from dereliction.
If this gorgeous story doesn’t leave you excited for a visit from St Nick, then I’ll be truly surprised. It’s a fantastic book and I was thoroughly invested.

There is absolutely no-one who can write a beautiful, feel-good novel like Jaimie Admans, no-one. Her stories are always romantic, clean but realistic as well.

Essie discovers that Mistletoe Gardens, the source of a family legend, is going to be demolished for apartments. Clearly, something needs to be done and that something is......making a life-size house out of gingerbread, of course! Unfortunately, although Essie is a good baker, she has no clue how to actually do this. Enter Joss, a grumpy builder who couldn't like all things Christmassy less.

I really loved the vibe between Essie and Joss. Essie is so cute and energetic and I really love that Joss responded to her, albeit reluctantly, in the beginning! Joss is clearly a damaged soul but there is so much more to him than his grumpy persona and I really like that we find out exactly why he is the way he is.

Not overly fond of Essie's mother and Joss' father sounds like the sort of bombastic character that I would steer clear of as well. Which is kind of the point. Essie and Joss are NOT their parents and other people trying to pigeonhole them is not very helpful.

I found myself being a huge fan of the cwtch, it has to be said. It sounds just so absolutely lovely to me. If anyone offers me one, I am SO there! :)

5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

Enjoyed it. I would give it 3.5 stars. The book is a cute and fun read. It's perfect for Christmas. Now I want to visit Mistletoe Gardens and visit all the shops, especially the bakery and the dinosaur shop. Mr. Arkins is definitely dedicated with his dinosaur costume. He must sweat to death in the summer months. His story brought tears to my eyes. The town sounds like a magical place to live, except for Joss. He hates everything about Folkhornton. He was actually putting his anger on the wrong people. It wasn't the townspeople who betrayed him. I guess he just needed to put his anger somewhere. I loved all the gingerbread facts at the beginning of each chapter. Essie definitely had misguided anger towards Joss when she found out what his last job was going to be. It wasn't his fault about the gardens. How could Essie not fall in love with Joss? He tried to be the Grinch, but was the exact opposite. Loved his sarcasm and his faithful feeding of Rob.

Definitely recommend the book. Enjoyed the story, characters and writing style. I could see this made into a movie. It would be the perfect rom-com. I knew from the start Joss and Essie would be perfect together. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Love the cover of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Boldwood Books, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.