A lovely heartwarming read. Raff seemed like the perfect gentleman and I enjoyed reading about the cosy festive nights that Franca had with Raff’s family.

A great story to add to the Ever After Street collection. Already looking forward to the next one!

Loved it!!!! I would give the book 4.5 stars. So far this is my second favorite book in the series after "An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street." This book series are cute and fun reads, especially if you love all things surrounding Disney and fairytales. This book is all about Christmas. It's the perfect read for the holidays or anytime since I read it in September. It will get you in the mood for hot chocolate, nutcrackers, mistletoe, carols.....everything holiday related. When I first started reading, I wasn't too sure about the story. Franca and Raff were dreadful. I didn't want to read about two people hating each other that much. The bickering and the anger was just too much. They didn't even know each other. Franca kept going on and on about Jorge and how wonderful he was and how much she wanted to kiss him. Bad breath and an oink definitely changed her mind. After a terrible fall and some broken bones, the story changes. We get to see the real Franca and Raff. Franca's anger was completely displaced. She blamed the Dardennes for her parents' horrible marriage. Instead of making her parents accountable for their actions she blamed the snow globe creators. Loved getting to know Raff and Franca. Once they let go of their anger, they were perfect for each other. They wanted both shops to succeed and helped each other out. Raff's family is the best. They are all so loving and welcoming of Franca. Grandma Biddy is never without a martini in her hand, no matter the time of day. All around I loved the book. It made me laugh, smile and maybe a few sniffles at the end.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the story, characters and writing style. I want to visit Ever After Street and Christmas on Ever After Street. I would be friends with all the shopkeepers, except for Jorge. Hopefully there's more books in the series. This would make the perfect Christmas rom-com. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

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

Ahhhh my first Christmas book of the year and now I can’t wait to dive into more! This was a lovely read and has left me wanting to do some crafting activities this weekend,

I love Christmas but haven’t been much of a nutcracker fan but that may change after reading this! Although it would definitely have to be a hand crafted one…

The community of Ever After Street is present in this book and lots of familiar faces are mentioned but this is very focused on Raff and Franca which I really liked, you get lost in their worlds and I felt like I became friends with them both.

This is chocka block with Christmas festivities, from quality street, to Christmas markets and building gingerbread houses. Such a warm feeling spreads while reading this and it really did feel like you (and Franca) were getting a massive hug!

I’ve loved this series and the final one is no different.
Full of Christmas magic and romance. Franca runs a nutcracker shop and when a terrible accident brings her together with Raff who runs Loves is all Around something magical happens.
With Raff and Franca both struggling to keep their business afloat can they settle their differences and help each other out.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book

Jaimie Admans’ Christmas Ever After is the perfect festive finale to the beloved Ever After Street series, and it absolutely shines with heart, humour, and Christmas magic!
Franca has lost her love for Christmas, and after watching her parents’ marriage fall apart, she’s also given up on romance. Now, she channels all her energy into one-upping her longtime rival, Raff Dardenne, who owns a snow globe shop with a magical history of bringing couples together. Franca, meanwhile, is famous for her handcrafted nutcrackers, and the rivalry between them has been simmering for years. But when a humiliating accident during a live-streamed holiday event leaves Franca with broken fingers, everything changes. Unable to work, she finds herself reluctantly accepting help from none other than Raff—and soon, their feud begins to melt into something entirely unexpected.
Raff is a beautifully flawed character, and as Franca starts to see beyond their rivalry, the chemistry between them becomes irresistible. Their enemies-to-lovers journey is filled with touching moments and festive charm, making their romance feel magical. Watching Franca’s walls come down and her rediscovery of Christmas joy was both heartwarming and relatable, especially with Raff’s gentle support.
This story is more than just a romance—it's about healing, embracing love, and finding magic in the most unexpected places. I loved the return to Ever After Street, with its enchanting setting and the sense of community that brings the story to life. The small, whimsical touches, from nutcrackers to snow globes, add an extra layer of holiday warmth.
Christmas Ever After is a joyous, uplifting read that will leave you smiling long after the final page. Jaimie Admans has crafted a wonderfully cozy, festive love story, and I couldn't think of a better way to close out this enchanting series. If you’re a fan of holiday romance, this is an absolute must-read!

This is the last book in the last in the Ever After Street series and boy is it a beautiful ending to a beautiful series! I’ve loved every one and this is no exception!
The two main characters in this story are Franc and Raff. They are at loggerheads with each other and no one is backing down!
Unfortunately there is a bit of an accident and Raff manages to knock Franc off a stool while trying to do a kiss under the mistletoe for the start of the Ever After Street Christmas, drawing customers in from far and wide to buy all their Christmas wares. The trouble is that it’s a live stream and the whole awful episode is live online! Feeling awful about it, Raff attempts to help Franc, although they have a notice by the council that whoever sells the most through December will keep their shop while the other one loses theirs.
It’s a truly joyous read, making you want all that the characters have. A loving family, a perfect Christmas…. we can only hope!! I was left with a warm feeling inside when I finished this book.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #TheBoldBookClub, #JaimieAdams1

I'm thoroughly enjoying the Ever After Street Series so was looking forward to reading the latest book.

After Franca’s injury, the person who helps her most is Raff, although she cannot tolerate being in the same room as him. This changes as she gets to know him, which leads to some sweet moments and also some humorous ones. By the end I was rooting for both of them and their shops to stay on the Street.

I had very mixed feelings on Franca for a lot of the book but warmed to her as her realisation grew. Raff, on the other hand was so sweet and such a gentleman. I adored his family, especially when they welcomed Franca in and helped her see the magic of Christmas again.

A lovely enemies-to-lovers, slow burn story with all the magic of Christmas that makes for a heart-warming read.

Christmas Ever After
Jaimie Admans

“No one is ever too old to believe in magic.”

Ok this book was magical, I simply adored this and the sweet romance and realistic characters. The was the perfect balm to restore joy and festive cheer ahead of the busiest time of the year. I do know if Christmas Ever After lane was a real place I would be certain to visit.

“The broken fingers have revealed how many other parts of my life are broken. One spinning plate falls and all others falter too, like a ripple effect.”

Christmas Ever After was such a delightful holiday romance read and the perfect start to kick off my festival reads. It has feel - good characters, small town charm, second chances, found family and most importantly the magic of finding love in the most unexpected of ways.

“I’m yours. Metaphorically speaking.”

Welcome to Ever After Street and its little sister Christmas Ever After where every shop is festively themed. Franca owns the Nutcracker shop and her arch nemesis Raff Dardenne owns Dardenne Snow Globes, which has a magical reputation for bringing lovers together, a myth that Raff continues to exploit much to Franca’s annoyance. With their Christmas shops pitted against each other and only one will get to stay on Ever After Street, tensions will definitely boil over.

“You’re telling me that the entire Dardenne legacy is based on wishful thinking and the power of suggestion? Come off it, Raff!”

Will they be able to put aside their differences and find some Christmas magic of their own?
Magical matchmaking snow globes aren’t a real thing, or are they?

‘And it all starts to make sense. Horrible, profiteering, money-grabbing sense.’

Massive thank you to @jaimieadmans1 and @theboldbookclub. Christmas Ever After is out now!

Do you have a favourite Christmas shop? Mine is in Scotland, it’s open all year around and every time I’m on the Royal Mile (Edinburgh) I always go in and buy a handmade ornament.I have far too many now but it’s a little tradition I love. 💝

(Review posted 10th September 2024)

It was lovely to visit Ever After Street again, catching up with old characters and being introduced to new ones. Jaimie's books are such a joy to read, they remind me of Hallmark movies. Her characters are so lovely and have such depth. I loved getting to know Franca and Raff. Their chemistry from the start was fantastic. I'm so looking forward to the next book in the series. I'm definitely feeling the Christmas spirit after finishing this.

This was such a cute Christmas novel. I haven't read the Ever After Street Series and read this book as a standalone.
I really liked the two main characters Franca and Raff.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In a Nutshell: A sweet standalone continuation to the Ever After Street series. Christmassy vibes, loveable lead characters, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. Somewhat slow in tempo and not much conflict, but the emotions in the story trivialise the shortcomings. A heartwarming read for Christmas time.

Plot Preview:
After her career as a ballerina came to an abrupt end, Franca has been running her own nutcracker shop on Christmas Ever After, a festive offshoot of the Ever After Street. However, her shop might now be in danger, thanks to an unexpected competition pitting her against her “pet nemesis” Raff Dardenne and his snow globe shop. As they have been told that only one of their shops can continue on Ever After Street, it is going to be a fierce battle.
When an accident leads to an injury, Franca is forced to accept assistance from the only person capable of helping her out. And it turns out, Raff isn’t really the nemesis kind. Will the two be able to put aside their differences and save both their shops? Or will one of them be forced to say goodbye to their dream vocation?
The story comes to us in Franca’s first-person perspective.

I had always wanted my 1000th NetGalley review to be for a special book, so it thrills me that I achieved this milestone with a Jaimie Admans work. This is my sixth book by Admans, and at this point, I doubt I have anything original left to say about her novels. She continues to be the only romance author whose books I grab without even reading the blurb.

Bookish Yays:
😍 Raff might not be not as charismatic as Admans’ earlier leading men (Her own fault for setting such high standards of book boyfriends!), but he is still adorably perfect except for his hatred of spiders. I love how his arc depicted how the pressure of living up to your family’s expectations can affect you, even if the family is supportive.
😍 Franca is also amazing. Though she acts younger than her 38 years, at least she is not all cutesy and gushy like typical romcom heroines. While she does have her goofy quirks and biases, she isn’t afraid to use her head and her heart simultaneously. I loved her independent spirit that doesn’t stop her from accepting help when needed.
😍 While the blurb makes this appear like an enemies-to-lovers romcom, the ‘enemies’ part of the story hardly lasts for a couple of chapters. (Which was great news for me as I am not a big fan of enemies-to-lovers.) This story is more liked enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, and the progression is slow and steady. Loved it!
😍 Wholesome romance that gives all the feels without resorting to steam. Yay for me, might be a Nay for others. To me, clean romances over spicy, slowburn over insta, love over lust, friends over enemies – no exceptions.
😍 Raff and Franca also show the challenges of running a small business in a megacorp-oriented world (though I am not sure if their idea of celebrity nutcrackers can be implemented without copyright violations), of handling high expectations, of acceding to your family’s wishes even when your dreams lie another way. They are two individuals trying to handle past hurt and present uncertainties the best way they can, which makes their arcs believable and relatable.
😍 Several other loveable characters who, even in their limited roles, create a mark. Chief among these are the members of the Dardenne family, especially little Sophia and Grandma Biddy (except for the latter’s insistence on happiness being found only as a couple. Let’s put this down as a quirk of the aged.) I also loved Mrs. Bloom, and would like to see more of her in the rest of this series.
😍 Christmas Ever After is a slightly new venue, as all the earlier books have been on the main Ever After Street. But this little Christmassy offshoot offers a nice location for such a storyline. Plus, several characters and locations from the earlier books make an appearance, making us feel the closeness of the locations and the people.
😍 Loads of lovely Christmassy vibes in this story, right from carol singing to nativity plays to gifts to calorie-loaded lunches. I felt like I already reached December!
😍 While I am no fan of ‘The Nutcracker and the Mouse King’, which serves as the theme for this book, I loved how the story uses both nutcrackers and snow globes as actual plot devices than as background embellishments. I also loved learning the technicalities behind the making of nutcrackers.
😍 The plotline this time is the most understated of the series. There is no OTT drama or forced-in conflicts. The story progresses on natural human actions and reactions, which feels refreshing. There is a great balance between funny scenes and emotional moments.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
🤔 Loads of touchy-feely stuff in the content – touching of arms, brushing of hair, nudges, winks, shoves,… I usually complain a lot about such things, but I am kinda getting used to this as it is a standard feature of almost every Jaimie Admans book (Dear author, every time I read those scenes, I pictured you giving me a sneaky side-eye and a smirk!), and I am even willing to admit that those scenes were super-duper cute in this book. (Has this author finally managed to coerce this Grinch onto the other side of the touchy-feely fence? Time shall tell!)
🤔 Franca is a bit too obsessed with her supposed weight issues. While I appreciate this angle as it is so true to life, I think it could have been used better in the plot, maybe towards some kind of a self-realisation that she is not what her weighing scale says. As the writing was in her first-person perspective, it would have been great to see her verbalising her acceptance of her size and that it didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Regardless, I love the realistic way in which her insecurities about her weight were included in the story. (As a lifelong sufferer of BDD even before I knew the term or that it was a mental health condition, I really connected to Franca’s vulnerability on this aspect.)

Bookish Nays:
😕 This is not a Nay of the book but of the cover art. Only with this fourth book of the Ever After series did it strike me that even though the series has attempted to be somewhat different in its couples’ appearance (a bespectacled MMC in Book One, an MMC with major facial scarring in Book Two, a blue-haired MMC in Book Three, an FMC with mild body dysmorphia due to being slightly overweight in this fourth book), the book covers never reflect this. They always depict a picture-perfect, cookie-cutter-moulded romcom couple. Why? Even if the covers are gorgeous, readers would surely love to see the couple more accurately and might even appreciate the way they stand out.

All in all, Jaimie Admans’ performance streak continues untarnished in my reading list. She has never failed to deliver on semi-magical plots, memorable characters, astounding settings, clean romance, heartfelt emotions, and a HEA. This book retains all the positives of her writing.

Much recommended to readers of clean romances. You cannot go wrong with a Jaimie Admans work when you want something sweet and *touching*. [Pun intended!]

4.25 stars.

My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for a complimentary copy of 'Christmas Ever After' via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

The digital version of this book is currently available free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

For the first time, the author’s note reveals to us the next character that this series will focus on. The character’s unusual name had caught my eye while reading this book, and that, combined with the business she runs, are sure to make the next book an interesting one as well. Eagerly looking forward to it!

This book is actually book number four from the Ever After Street series of books. Each book can very easily be read as a stand alone with no problems at all.

Anyone who knows me will know that i love christmas books and this one was wonderful. I now actually want to go and live in Ever After Street and absorb all its goodness! It sounds perfect!!

The characters were all wonderful and we do come across some familiar faces from previous books which was a nice touch.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was Christmassy and heartwarming and funny and romantic and sweet and it definitely left me with a warm fuzzy feeling too…….

This is the perfect get ready for the season book. I love enemies to lovers and my family also has both a nutcracker & snow globe collection so reading about France & Raff was so fun for me. The book was sweet and a lovely Christmas romance to get you singing deck the halls.

It may be an unpopular opinion but I did not enjoy Christmas Ever After. It took me over two weeks to finish this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Christmas Ever After' by Jaimie Admans

What another absolute stunner from the extremely talented Jaimie!!! Well done Jaimie on absolutely beautiful and perfect read!! This is an absolutely gorgeous page-turner that regardless of whether you are laying on a lounger on the beach or curled up on the sofa in front of the fire Jaimie is guaranteed to pick you up and whisk you away to the stunning ever After Street.

The book is extremely well written with beautiful descriptions that completely drew me in. The synopsis and the cover match the storyline perfectly!!

Well, you may have noticed I have started reading festive books regular and very early considering it is only September but it doesn't matter if you are the type who doesn't want to hear the word Christmas until the day or whether you have already started thinking about getting the decorations down because regardless of how you feel about Christmas you will absolutely LOVE this adorable story!!

The storyline itself is absolutely magical and completely swept me away. This is the fourth book in Jaimie's 'The Ever After' series and although it is the fourth book in the series it can be read as a standalone with no problems but I cannot wait to go back to the previous two books that I have not managed to read yet and get completely lost in those too!! I mean, seriously, this book was just absolutely enchanting, beautiful, heart-warming and an absolute must read especially to turn a frown upside down!! In this stunning addition to this series we join Franca Andrews who is an ex-ballet dancer who now owns 'The Nutcracker Shop' on 'Ever After Street'. After her parents had a messy marriage and divorce Franca no longer feels the magic of Christmas or romance. Franca has been against the owner of the magical snow globe shop 'Love Is All A-Round' Raphael Dardenne ever since he moved on too Ever After Street. Franca hates Raphael and his late grandfather as Raff's (Raphael) shop has a magical history of bringing couples together, she thinks what they are doing is fraud and is to blame for the disaster of her parents marriage so plans on exposing them and getting their shop closed down. It gets to the point where they both end up fighting to keep their businesses but things go from bad to worse when Franca breaks 3 fingers in a fall which has been live streamed and she blames Raff for it. With her shop relying on her to make nutcrackers at the busiest time for her when she is unable to use her hand how will she save her shop? Well, you will just have to grab your copy of this absolutely gorgeous book to find out for yourselves!! I can promise that you will not regret it whether you start from this book or the first book in this series which is called 'A Midnight Kiss On Ever After Street' you are guaranteed to fall in love with the characters, the street and absolutely everything about Jaimie's absolutely stunning books and series!!! The storyline is absolutely filled with love, magic, snow globes, friendship, nutcrackers, drama, romance, rivalry and everything you could ask for in a stunning must read. You need to clear your schedules before starting this as it is completely unputdownable!! I picked this up in the morning and absolutely devoured it several hours later. I was completely hooked and so lost in the beautiful settings, magical storyline and amazing characters that I just could not put it down. Although I was devastated to come to the end I am going to go straight back and read the first book in this series which is called 'A Midnight Kiss On Ever After Street' and I'm excited to meet the characters again and see how they have moved on from the start! Jaimie's beautiful and evocative writing skills ensures the readers are absolutely sucked into the stunning storyline with the atmosphere and characters coming to life all around them.. I absolutely fell in love venturing into Ever After Street again and Jaimie portrays life in a small community absolutely perfectly I became so invested in this book that it actually felt like going on a holiday and I absolutely dreaded coming to the end where I had to unpack my suitcase and get back to reality. It was an absolutely compelling, easy to read, beautiful and addictive heart lifting read that kept me turning the pages. I loved discovering the pasts and histories of the characters and the street itself and I was absolutely swept away in the story line. I also thoroughly enjoyed reading about creating nutcrackers and future designs for snow globes and nutcrackers which I found to be a really unique and enjoyable part of the story! The characters, surroundings and everything came to life around me and I cannot wait to return in the previous and next books in what promises to be an absolutely stunning series. This book would make a beautiful movie and I will be the first in line to watch it!! An absolutely gorgeous, cute and addictive addition to an absolutely stunning series!!

Do not turn a single page of this book until you have cleared your schedules and when you do get ready to go on a stunning holiday you will not want to leave!!

I became completely invested in the characters, along with the storyline, who were all absolutely fantastic with their own individual personalities, flaws and quirks. They all started feeling like friends so quickly having got to meet and know so many of them so well. I felt like I was leaving amazing people and friends and feel quite sad about that but am happy in the knowledge that I can go back to the previous books in the series and meet many of them again while I am waiting for the next stunner to be released. Jaimie is hopefully writing her next book and bringing them alive as I write this as it wont take me long to zoom through the first and second books if they are anything at all like this one (hint hint Jaimie😉). I loved watching how Franca and Raff's characters and personalities develop and change from the first page to the last. I also adored watching them getting closer and seeing the sparks between them. It took me longer to warm to Franca than I was hoping, especially considering I clicked with raff practically immediately. Franca did annoy me on occasions as the fact that she blamed what happened to her parents on raff's grandfather and then taking it out on him to be ridiculous. I definitely found her to be cynical and immature but I did start warming to her and she definitely grew on me, by the end of the book I really liked her especially after when she broke her fingers and my heart went out to her. Raff on the other hand I found to be a warm, caring, compassionate and I found him to be a true gentleman. I did enjoy the enemies to lovers storyline and by the end I was absolutely rooting for them both!! Jaimie's is an absolutely phenomenal writer and her talent ensures that these and the other characters all leap off the pages and come to life in front of your eyes! I have NO idea how I have never read of her stunning books before now but I am so glad I have rectified this!! I cannot wait to meet most of them again in the first, second and next books in this series which I really, really, really hope is not going to take too long to come out!!!This is one of those series which could go on and on and I wouldn't get bored. Here's to meeting them all again along with the next new faces of Ever After Street!!

Congratulations Jaimie on yet another absolutely gorgeous success!!! I'm definitely looking forward to my next holiday on Ever After Street!!! This is exactly why you are in my favourite author club and my go to author when I need a frown turning upside down! Here is to your next success!!!

Overall this is a perfect, stunning, page turning beach or fireplace read with a great gang of characters that will sweep you away to the magical and enchanting Ever After Street from the very first page to the end!

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Christmas Ever After proves that Jaimie Admans is the queen of Christmas romances.

It's no secret that I am a huge fan of Jaimie's books. I always recommend one of her books if someone is looking for a charming pick-me-up read. However, I have to say that Jaimie's Christmas romance stories are on another level of swooniness. Her Christmas books are probably my favourite books in that subgenre. I cannot begin to describe the happiness and magical Christmas feelings her stories give me. Christmas Ever After was everything I hoped it would be. You will devour this book if you love Jaimie's The Little Christmas Shop on Nutcracker Lane. There are definitely some similar vibes between these two books. This story bursts with Christmas charm and magic, a cinnamon roll hero, rivalry between the two MCs, and so many sweet moments.

This story follows Franca, who has lost her Christmas spirit and really her spark in life. She feels alone in the world and doesn't know how to fix the rut she is in. The one thing she does know is that she does not like Raff (fellow shop owner) and thinks his magical match-making snow globes are a sham. They have a heated rivalry that has progressed to the point that the Ever After Business Council has stated that one of them will have to go at the end of the Christmas season. Things become worse for Franca when she finds herself injured and unable to make Nutcrackers anymore. She thinks that everything in her life is over, that is, until Raff comes in to help her make and run her shop. Gosh, I love a good rivalries-to-lovers story; it creates such great chemistry between the two MCs.

What I loved about this book was this reversal of that grumpy sunshine trope that you typically get in Jaimie's books. In this book, our hero is sunshine, a cinnamon roll character who believes in Christmas magic. Franca is prickly and wants nothing to do with the holiday season she used to adore. Watching as Raff tries to bring back joy and happiness in Franca's life was so cute and heartwarming. That man had me smiling and my heart pitter-pattering faster. What made Raff's character more real and relatable was his insecurities about running his family's business. Raff loves making snow globes but doesn't like the magical match-making element tied to it. His grandfather had the gift of matching couples, but Raff doesn't. You can tell he feels tremendous pressure and doesn't want to disappoint his family. This vulnerability made me fall in love with his character even more. I adored Franca, which is unusual because I don't always click with prickly female MCs. But I think Franca's loneliness made her so endearing to me. She's not a terrible person, but events in her past have made her see the world in a more jaded light. Her family life is full of hostility, and she is filled with this sense of hopelessness. My heart really did go out to her. I loved watching her grow in this book. It is always so heartwarming to watch a character fall back in love with their passion and also fall in love with a gorgeous man.

The romance has all that typical sweet charm that I have come to expect from Jaimie's books. You really cannot help but smile when you watch these two characters fall in love with each other. I lost count of the number of moments that had those butterflies fluttering in my stomach. This is a slow-burn love story. Franca and Raff fall in love over the course of the Christmas holiday season. I love the fun and cheeky banter between these two. And as much as the third-act break-up ripped my heart out, I knew the moment when these two finally got back together would be rememberable and oozing with swoony goodness.

Christmas Ever After is bursting with Christmas charm, and within its pages is a love story that is sure to put a smile on your face.

Are you Team Nutcracker or Team Snow Globe? It’s a battle of wills and a whole lot of Christmas magic that makes this story shine. Enter Raff, a cinnamon roll hero who creates snow globes at his family’s shop. He’s the ultimate good guy who goes the extra mile. His dedication to help Franca after her unfortunate accident is a testament to his patience and wonderful character.

Raff’s charm is undeniable as he becomes Franca’s biggest cheerleader, even as they compete for who will keep their shop at the end of the year. His selflessness shines through when he sacrifices his livelihood and takes the time to learn how to make nutcrackers to complete Franca’s orders. It’s commendable, and if she didn’t take him, I surely would.

Franca is struggling to save her nutcracker shop after breaking her wrist. She reluctantly accepts the help of the man who left her on the ground after her accident. Her journey to accepting Raff’s help is tumultuous, but his attention and cheery countenance slowly become the light to her darkness. Add in his extremely loving and supportive family, and Franca is a goner.

Franca takes some time getting used to, but her pettiness hides her vulnerability. Having been on her own for a long time, it takes her a while to relax and trust Raff. It’s heart wrenching to see Franca struggle to feel wanted, but Raff and his family show her that she’s enough, just as she is.

As the storyline between Raff and Franca unfolds, it’s impossible not to be drawn to the characters and the way they bring out the best in each other. Their story is a reminder that sometimes, the people who appear the strongest are the ones who need a supportive hand the most.

This delightful romance captures the essence of Christmas, offering an escape into enchanting worlds filled with love, laughter, and the promise of a heartwarming happily ever after.

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

I adored Franca and Raff and the whole festive feeling that this story had!

Franca sells Nutcrackers and Raff makes snow globes. Francas shop isn't doing as well and she's annoyed with Raff who sells his snow globes and the story of them bringing love. Franca really really dislikes Raff but when she needs help he is the first person who comes to her rescue and she realises that maybe she may have misjudged him

A gorgeously festive story, Love it!

Everything you want in a Christmas romance, I really loved this one!
I had to laugh out loud at a few moments and loved the simmering chemistry between the two main characters, topped off wonderfully by the family and friends who made a wonderful supporting cast!
The magic and wonder of snow globes, nutcrackers and so much more in this fantasy Christmas "village" that just was pure escapism

Franca owns The Nutcracker Shop on Christmas Ever After street, and is desperate to bring down Love Is All A-Round - the snow globe shop owned by the Dardenne family. Claude Dardenne ruined her life and, just because he's gone, it doesn't mean she can't destroy the legacy that his grandson Raphael has now taken over instead.

Unfortunately, at the grand Christmas opening, Franca has an accident and it looks like she might have to cancel all her commission orders - a disaster as obviously December is the busiest month for nutcracker sales! Together with her and Raff being in direct competition this month as the council have decided that one of them will be evicted in January, things are not looking good. Is it curtains for the final performance of The Nutcracker Shop? Or will a Nutcracker prince appear to defeat the mouse king and save the day?

Jaimie Admans just keep getting better and better, every time I think I have a new favourite she just writes my next new favourite! I loved this, I love nutcrackers, the ballet and snow globes and it's making me feel all cosy for Christmas. Maybe I just bought a nutcracker snow globe (I know it's September, it's Jaimie's fault). To borrow a quote from the book...it lets you "escape from the world for a moment"...and sometimes we all need a bit of that.

Review also posted on Goodreads but unable to link account.