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The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens
In Mistletoe Gardens a legend anyone who kisses underneath the mistletoe will be guaranteed another year of love… When local baker Essie Browne discovers that Mistletoe Gardens is to be demolished in January, she’s determined to save the place she loves so much. So Essie proposes building a life size gingerbread house to bring in the crowds…just how hard can it be? Well, quite hard actually. Essie can bake gingerbread blindfolded, but she hasn’t got a clue how to build an actual house with it! She needs help - and fast! Enter local builder, Joss Hallissey. Essie is convinced that with Joss’s help they can pull this off. There’s just one tiny Joss hates Christmas, gingerbread, and… well, just about everything else too. Joss the Grinch makes it clear that her idea is ludicrous and pointless, but he reluctantly agrees to help with her plan. Will the gingerbread house be enough to save Mistletoe Gardens? Or will Essie's chance for a magical kiss under the mistletoe be lost forever? Perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Kat French and Caroline Roberts!
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2023
329 people are currently reading
573 people want to read
About the author
Jaimie Admans
32 books709 followersJaimie is a 32-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, watching horror movies, and drinking tea, although she’s seriously considering marrying her coffee machine. She loves autumn and winter, and singing songs from musicals despite the fact she’s got the voice of a dying hyena. She hates spiders, hot weather, and cheese & onion crisps. She spends far too much time on Twitter and owns too many pairs of boots.
She will never have time to read all the books she wants to read.
She is the author of chick-lit romantic comedies The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters and Kismetology, and she has also written young-adult romantic comedies Afterlife Academy, Not Pretty Enough, and North Pole Reform School.
She will never have time to read all the books she wants to read.
She is the author of chick-lit romantic comedies The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters and Kismetology, and she has also written young-adult romantic comedies Afterlife Academy, Not Pretty Enough, and North Pole Reform School.
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September 13, 2023
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:
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.
The book is available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
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.
The book is available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
September 7, 2023
Publication Date: 12th Sep 2023
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 (happens in the other book). 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.
#NetGalley #TheGingerbreadHouseinMistletoeGardens
***
P.S.: I wish Beryl would crochet me a Santa zombie hat or a gingerbread vampire. Her creativity is next level!
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 (happens in the other book). 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.
#NetGalley #TheGingerbreadHouseinMistletoeGardens
***
P.S.: I wish Beryl would crochet me a Santa zombie hat or a gingerbread vampire. Her creativity is next level!
November 13, 2023
My fourth read from Admans and this one returns to the magic that I associate with this author. Whilst my last read was not my favourite, this one sees Adman return to the story-telling that I really enjoy.
There is definite magic with this festive read as Essie and Joss look to construct a real-life gingerbread house in an attempt to save Mistletoe Gardens. Sounds fun, right?! Well, fun it might be but with the threat of the romantic gardens being taken away from Essie’s Welsh village, she is willing to do anything to help her community. Even if it does mean working with the grumpy and isolated Joss.
Sparks fly from the beginning between Essie and Joss, but Admans delays their relationship until right near the end. Instead, readers get to see their growing friendship and how much both Essie and Joss rely on one another. I enjoyed learning more about Joss – peeling back the hard exterior to see a much softer side to the man that apparently is intensely disliked by so many. Essie cannot stop her growing feelings for Joss and whilst readers can see the attraction is mutual, I was always keen to understand why Joss doesn’t reveal why he doesn’t want to go further with Essie; it adds to his character and another element of mystery to him.
This is a great Christmas read as it contains everything festive. The gingerbread facts at the beginning of each chapter were a brilliant feature and I enjoyed learning more about the history of this delicious treat. Whilst a bit of imagination is required when it comes to the plot of building a gingerbread house (Admans tries to make it as realistic as possible but I think there is a bit of creative license going on here), I loved the idea of making a shed-like construction that is on par with the witch from Hansel and Gretal… just featuring a dinosaur and a Father Christmas, naturally.
There was plenty to love about the story, even with the characters that threaten the future of Mistletoe Gardens. I didn’t really like Essie’s mother and thought she was particularly hard on her daughter; I thought Essie had the patience of a saint to put up with her! On the other hand, Essie has such a good friend to support her that she makes up for the lack of charm that Essie’s mum does not show. Some of the other villagers are quite quirky but I enjoyed learning their background story as the novel progressed.
I enjoyed this festive offering from Admans and it is perfect for those with a sweet tooth! There is a bit of sadness running in the sub-plot but I liked the happy ever after. It has certainly got me in the mood for the festive season.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There is definite magic with this festive read as Essie and Joss look to construct a real-life gingerbread house in an attempt to save Mistletoe Gardens. Sounds fun, right?! Well, fun it might be but with the threat of the romantic gardens being taken away from Essie’s Welsh village, she is willing to do anything to help her community. Even if it does mean working with the grumpy and isolated Joss.
Sparks fly from the beginning between Essie and Joss, but Admans delays their relationship until right near the end. Instead, readers get to see their growing friendship and how much both Essie and Joss rely on one another. I enjoyed learning more about Joss – peeling back the hard exterior to see a much softer side to the man that apparently is intensely disliked by so many. Essie cannot stop her growing feelings for Joss and whilst readers can see the attraction is mutual, I was always keen to understand why Joss doesn’t reveal why he doesn’t want to go further with Essie; it adds to his character and another element of mystery to him.
This is a great Christmas read as it contains everything festive. The gingerbread facts at the beginning of each chapter were a brilliant feature and I enjoyed learning more about the history of this delicious treat. Whilst a bit of imagination is required when it comes to the plot of building a gingerbread house (Admans tries to make it as realistic as possible but I think there is a bit of creative license going on here), I loved the idea of making a shed-like construction that is on par with the witch from Hansel and Gretal… just featuring a dinosaur and a Father Christmas, naturally.
There was plenty to love about the story, even with the characters that threaten the future of Mistletoe Gardens. I didn’t really like Essie’s mother and thought she was particularly hard on her daughter; I thought Essie had the patience of a saint to put up with her! On the other hand, Essie has such a good friend to support her that she makes up for the lack of charm that Essie’s mum does not show. Some of the other villagers are quite quirky but I enjoyed learning their background story as the novel progressed.
I enjoyed this festive offering from Admans and it is perfect for those with a sweet tooth! There is a bit of sadness running in the sub-plot but I liked the happy ever after. It has certainly got me in the mood for the festive season.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2024
This book made me think I have rated other books as 5 star when they were only 4 star because this was really an excellent story and rates 5 stars for me.
Yes, it’s a romance so there was never any doubt in my mind that they would end up together, but it was just so realistic how their connection developed. There was some really wonderful character development in the main characters, and even for the ancillary characters some growth… or maybe it was just because you got to know them better through the time of the story, just like you would have, because they seemed like real people to me. There were some twists and turns, some complications, many moments I laughed out loud and even some tears as the author made some of the scenes very emotionally touching.
Overall I would recommend this story.
Now I will have to look for other books she has written!
Yes, it’s a romance so there was never any doubt in my mind that they would end up together, but it was just so realistic how their connection developed. There was some really wonderful character development in the main characters, and even for the ancillary characters some growth… or maybe it was just because you got to know them better through the time of the story, just like you would have, because they seemed like real people to me. There were some twists and turns, some complications, many moments I laughed out loud and even some tears as the author made some of the scenes very emotionally touching.
Overall I would recommend this story.
Now I will have to look for other books she has written!
November 26, 2024
A cute holiday Christmas romance with a fun group of quirky characters. Like reading a Hallmark movie.
September 6, 2023
Not my favorite book from Jaimie Admans. The relationship felt unnatural and rushed. Not enough time in the book with the supporting villager characters. The plot was predictable sadly. Ess was kind of a wet dishrag doormat character and Joss was just plain nasty to people. Speaking of nasty Essie’s mom was super rude to everyone, not at all charming.
This wasn’t a bad read, it just felt forced.
This wasn’t a bad read, it just felt forced.
May 20, 2024
I just love Jaimie Admans' books. Definitely one of my 'go to ' authors for a wonderful Romcom with strong characters and beautiful settings. When I found this book on Prime Reading I was delighted. It's like a warm hug and a cup of hot chocolate in a book.
Essie loves Mistletoe Gardens, her ancestors planted the first Mistletoe, an rumour is that if you kiss under the Mistletoe you are guaranteed a year of love, and Essie could do with love before her Mother sets her up with just about anyone! When she finds out that the Gardens are being demolished to build flats due to their not being used, she decides to build a full size Gingerbread House for publicity and to draw the crowds. As a baker she can make Gingerbread, but she has no idea about the actual building. Enter Joss, a local builder. Grumpy, moody, Christmas hating, village hating, and who can't wait to sell up and move away to a dessert island!
I just loved this book. If you have Amazon Prime it's free so go and read it today - a wonderful, heartwarming Christmas story.
Essie loves Mistletoe Gardens, her ancestors planted the first Mistletoe, an rumour is that if you kiss under the Mistletoe you are guaranteed a year of love, and Essie could do with love before her Mother sets her up with just about anyone! When she finds out that the Gardens are being demolished to build flats due to their not being used, she decides to build a full size Gingerbread House for publicity and to draw the crowds. As a baker she can make Gingerbread, but she has no idea about the actual building. Enter Joss, a local builder. Grumpy, moody, Christmas hating, village hating, and who can't wait to sell up and move away to a dessert island!
I just loved this book. If you have Amazon Prime it's free so go and read it today - a wonderful, heartwarming Christmas story.
September 14, 2023
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.
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.
August 9, 2023
What a sweet little treat of a book! A must read if you like Hallmark Christmas movies (I can totally picture it being adapted).
This book follows Essie, a thirty-something woman who lives in a small town in Wales and works at the family bakery. The town’s claim to fame is a the charming town center called Mistletoe Gardens, which, unfortunately, is slated to be torn down after the new year. Essie decides to drum up some publicity for the town by creating a life sized gingerbread house.
All the candy, cookies, and gingerbread were making me hungry and I liked that each chapter has a fact about gingerbread. It was a nice touch. I also loved all the Christmas vibes and the small town feels. I would love to see a life sized gingerbread house!
Unfortunately, I thought the book got slightly bogged down with the interactions with the characters and the romance. It also seemed somewhat repetitive, between Essie’s mother trying to set her up on random dates, to Joss complaining about the small town, to the weird fortune teller lady peddling her wares. Most of the cast of characters were a bit too quirky for my taste.
I also learned some Welsh slang which was interesting. “Cwtch” is apparently a Welsh term for a hug or snuggle with someone that you feel safe with (there’s no direct English translation) and the first time I saw the word I thought it was a typo! I like learning new things in the books I read and seeing new places as well so that was cool.
This book follows Essie, a thirty-something woman who lives in a small town in Wales and works at the family bakery. The town’s claim to fame is a the charming town center called Mistletoe Gardens, which, unfortunately, is slated to be torn down after the new year. Essie decides to drum up some publicity for the town by creating a life sized gingerbread house.
All the candy, cookies, and gingerbread were making me hungry and I liked that each chapter has a fact about gingerbread. It was a nice touch. I also loved all the Christmas vibes and the small town feels. I would love to see a life sized gingerbread house!
Unfortunately, I thought the book got slightly bogged down with the interactions with the characters and the romance. It also seemed somewhat repetitive, between Essie’s mother trying to set her up on random dates, to Joss complaining about the small town, to the weird fortune teller lady peddling her wares. Most of the cast of characters were a bit too quirky for my taste.
I also learned some Welsh slang which was interesting. “Cwtch” is apparently a Welsh term for a hug or snuggle with someone that you feel safe with (there’s no direct English translation) and the first time I saw the word I thought it was a typo! I like learning new things in the books I read and seeing new places as well so that was cool.
July 28, 2023
The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens by Jaimie Admans is an entertaining, festive, and fun contemporary romance that I enjoyed.
This was an opposites-attract, being brought together through external circumstances, and “enemies” to lovers contemporary romance. Essie and Joss go through all these classic romance tropes surrounded by feelings, gingerbread, and the greater good of saving a town’s much-cherished landscape.
I definitely finished this book smiling ( and wanting gingerbread!).
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Boldwood Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/12/23.
This was an opposites-attract, being brought together through external circumstances, and “enemies” to lovers contemporary romance. Essie and Joss go through all these classic romance tropes surrounded by feelings, gingerbread, and the greater good of saving a town’s much-cherished landscape.
I definitely finished this book smiling ( and wanting gingerbread!).
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Boldwood Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/12/23.
August 3, 2023
Between a 4 and 5. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this Jaimie Admans book I've been dying to read! This book definitely had a lot of Christmas feels and references that I loved. I will have to read it again over Christmas one year to make it feel even more magical. I loved all the gingerbread facts at the beginning of each chapter. I felt it was a nice touch and loved learning more about gingerbread! The book was a bit more sad at times than some of her others and a little bit slower at times as well compared to some of her other books but still a great read! Jaimie Admans has definitely become an instant read author for me!
December 13, 2023
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.
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.
September 20, 2023
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.
Read
November 22, 2023I'm not going to rate this. I found it sickly sweet and entirely too precious. YMMV
December 14, 2023
“Whether there’s any such thing as magical mistletoe or not, maybe the only thing any of us need is to find someone who makes the world seem a little bit more magical than it did before.”
🥺❤️
🥺❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2023
I received this Advance Review Copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher Boldwood Books for the wonderful opportunity!!
“You never know what you might end up liking”
“There’s an old legend that says anyone who kisses under the mistletoe on a December night is guaranteed another year of love and happiness in their relationship.”
REVIEW
It’s September and it already feels like Christmas! Why? Because The Nerdy Bookarazzi’s favourite author Jaimie Admans is back again with a Christmas book and we are ready with an in-depth review. If you are looking for a holiday read then keep reading the review.
The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens is the latest Christmas book of Jaimie Admans, this is her first Christmas book with her new publisher Boldwood Books. Like every other Jaimie’s book, this one is also an absolute delight to read right from start to end.
“Folkhornton is funny like that – it creeps up on you and before you know it, you���ve fallen in love with the place.”
The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens is written in the backdrop of a fictional town called Folkhornton. This small beautiful town has an awesome community vibe where everyone knows everyone; everyone is keen on helping their fellow townsfolk. As it is known for small towns gossip travels faster than light. Our lead character Essie works for her mother in a bakery called Dancing Cinnamon Bakery and lives just above it. Essie lacks self-confidence and keeps self-doubting all her decisions and ideas, this tendency of Essie was developed because of her past decisions and experiences.
When Folkhornton‘s signature, Mistletoe Garden is in danger of being demolished as a part of town development, which holds Essie’s family legacy since her great-grandmother was the one to plant the first Mistletoe in the garden. Essie involuntarily pitches a far-fetched idea of building a life-size Gingerbread house to save the Mistletoe Garden which is very special to her family and to the town itself. For the the first time in a very long time, Essie is super confident about her Gingerbread idea and she truly believes she can pull this off and save their dearest Mistletoe Garden and probably get her kiss under the Mistletoe in the Folkhornton’s Mistletoe Garden for anyone who kisses under the Mistletoe under the Mistletoe Garden during Christmas will get one year of happiness in their relationship.
But the only problem with this prodigious plan is Essie might be a talented baker who can make lakhs and lakhs for Gingerbread in her sleep but she doesn’t know anything about constructing a building. That’s when she decides to take Joss a local builder’s help. Joss hates Christmas and any festivity, most of all, he hates Folkhornton and doesn’t care if the Mistletoe Garden was saved or not. But Joss is Essie‘s only hope. Will she be able to build a life-size Gingerbread house and save the Mistletoe Garden and also get her kiss as well? That’s the story of this bodacious book.
Well, to begin with, who doesn’t love Christmas books? Except for the Grinch but even Grinch is falling in love with Christmas with these kinds of books and movies. Undoubtedly Christmas books are solace to the soul and Jaimie’s books definitely fall under this category. She has done a spectacular job with this book as well. The story is straight and simple filled with a lot of magical, cute and heartwarming scenes. If you have been reading Jaimie Admans for quite sometime, you will be able to feel the vibe which only Jaimies’ books can provide. At some point you will be able to find a pattern from her previous books but still you will enjoy it nonetheless.
The character building of both the main characters has been done meticulously. If you take Essie for that matter, her susceptibility to doubt herself and her desire to do something big and the creative side of her everything will make her character more relatable and readable. Joss, being that mysterious guy who showcases himself to be bad in order to protect him from the world was extremely interesting to read. The best part was, after spending more and more time with Essie, how all the walls Joss has painstakingly build around him crumbles and everyone sees him for the person he is, is absolute a bliss to read.
The slow and blooming relationship between Essie and Joss has been written so pleasingly. The community vibe that the side characters presented was phenomenal. The minor gestures and the little things the folks of Folkhornton did were extremely heartwarming to read. Their presence will make the readers wish that they lived in a town like Folkhornton. The sibling like relationship Essie shares with Saff, her best friend and a co-worker has been penned in a cute manner. Mr. Arkins in a dinosaur suite 24/7, The Mystical Mistletoe Magi aka MMM who sells portions like love portions made the book all the more interesting to read. And Essie‘s mom was one character, super hyper and authoritative.
“I begged my mom not to do anything embarrassing tonight, but no parent ever listens when they can embarrass their offspring in public, do they?”
As the book marches forward, the transition in Joss’s character is extraordinary. Or to be precise, when Joss exhibited his core characteristics which were so genuine. Be it a small gesture of buying coffee every single more for Essie, buying the portions sold by MMM despite him not being a fan of it, or helping the neighbours when he actually hates the town, all of these made him all more interesting to read about.
Both Essie and Joss are extremely creative. The entire journey of Essie trying to save the Mistletoe Garden was supremely engaging and entertaining to read. Not even at a single point in time while reading this book the readers will be bored or out of focus. They will be enthralled and engulfed by the magic created by Jaimie Admans’ words and characters.
All things considered, this book was magnificent. Do not miss reading The Gingerbread house in Mistletoe Gardens, this Christmas.
Book cover of The Gingerbread house in Mistletoe Gardens
“I like children because the world hasn’t yet turned them into cynical and selfish adults.”
MY VIEWS
Jaimie Admans’ books are my source of escaping reality and believing in magic and the good side of the world. Reading her books makes the inner child and romantic in me so happy. Jaimie has made my reading journey so much better. I have been reading the Games of Thrones aka A Song of Ice and Fire series for a few months now. I suddenly wanted to read a happy, light-hearted romance novel. I tried reading a couple of books and was super disappointed or rather let down. And then came Jaimie for my rescue with her new launch. Can this year get any better than this? I got to read two ARCs of Jaimie’s this year 🙂
Throughout the book, I was able to find some relevance between A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street. Since I’m reading a lot of Jaimie’s books I was able to find a pattern. Usually, when I find a pattern, I do not like the book that much but surprisingly I loved this book nevertheless. I loved all the characters in this book. I got so invested in this book and love Joss unconditionally that I felt like Essie overreacted a little bit towards the end lol. I got emotional while reading the backstories of all the side characters and how much the Mistletoe garden means to them.
I really liked that both the main characters have a backstory and the author did not dwell too much on it but nonetheless was able to make the readers understand the depth of those backstories. What was extremely difficult for me to do while reading this book was, I just decided I would not be eating any sweets or pastries and Essie was making some kind of amazing pastries and I couldn’t help craving for it. It was the real challenge.
And I learnt a little bit about Welsh customs and things to do. The most interesting thing of all was Cwtch. Before this book, I don’t know what Cwtch means. If you are not from South Wales, you might not know it, don’t google, just go read this book.
My rating for this book would be 4 out 5 stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
I would like to recommend this book to all romance lovers, Christmas books or movie lovers. You will absolutely enjoy this book.
I just love Jaimie Admans and her books. Period. I don’t have anything else to say.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher Boldwood Books for the wonderful opportunity!!
“You never know what you might end up liking”
“There’s an old legend that says anyone who kisses under the mistletoe on a December night is guaranteed another year of love and happiness in their relationship.”
REVIEW
It’s September and it already feels like Christmas! Why? Because The Nerdy Bookarazzi’s favourite author Jaimie Admans is back again with a Christmas book and we are ready with an in-depth review. If you are looking for a holiday read then keep reading the review.
The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens is the latest Christmas book of Jaimie Admans, this is her first Christmas book with her new publisher Boldwood Books. Like every other Jaimie’s book, this one is also an absolute delight to read right from start to end.
“Folkhornton is funny like that – it creeps up on you and before you know it, you���ve fallen in love with the place.”
The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens is written in the backdrop of a fictional town called Folkhornton. This small beautiful town has an awesome community vibe where everyone knows everyone; everyone is keen on helping their fellow townsfolk. As it is known for small towns gossip travels faster than light. Our lead character Essie works for her mother in a bakery called Dancing Cinnamon Bakery and lives just above it. Essie lacks self-confidence and keeps self-doubting all her decisions and ideas, this tendency of Essie was developed because of her past decisions and experiences.
When Folkhornton‘s signature, Mistletoe Garden is in danger of being demolished as a part of town development, which holds Essie’s family legacy since her great-grandmother was the one to plant the first Mistletoe in the garden. Essie involuntarily pitches a far-fetched idea of building a life-size Gingerbread house to save the Mistletoe Garden which is very special to her family and to the town itself. For the the first time in a very long time, Essie is super confident about her Gingerbread idea and she truly believes she can pull this off and save their dearest Mistletoe Garden and probably get her kiss under the Mistletoe in the Folkhornton’s Mistletoe Garden for anyone who kisses under the Mistletoe under the Mistletoe Garden during Christmas will get one year of happiness in their relationship.
But the only problem with this prodigious plan is Essie might be a talented baker who can make lakhs and lakhs for Gingerbread in her sleep but she doesn’t know anything about constructing a building. That’s when she decides to take Joss a local builder’s help. Joss hates Christmas and any festivity, most of all, he hates Folkhornton and doesn’t care if the Mistletoe Garden was saved or not. But Joss is Essie‘s only hope. Will she be able to build a life-size Gingerbread house and save the Mistletoe Garden and also get her kiss as well? That’s the story of this bodacious book.
Well, to begin with, who doesn’t love Christmas books? Except for the Grinch but even Grinch is falling in love with Christmas with these kinds of books and movies. Undoubtedly Christmas books are solace to the soul and Jaimie’s books definitely fall under this category. She has done a spectacular job with this book as well. The story is straight and simple filled with a lot of magical, cute and heartwarming scenes. If you have been reading Jaimie Admans for quite sometime, you will be able to feel the vibe which only Jaimies’ books can provide. At some point you will be able to find a pattern from her previous books but still you will enjoy it nonetheless.
The character building of both the main characters has been done meticulously. If you take Essie for that matter, her susceptibility to doubt herself and her desire to do something big and the creative side of her everything will make her character more relatable and readable. Joss, being that mysterious guy who showcases himself to be bad in order to protect him from the world was extremely interesting to read. The best part was, after spending more and more time with Essie, how all the walls Joss has painstakingly build around him crumbles and everyone sees him for the person he is, is absolute a bliss to read.
The slow and blooming relationship between Essie and Joss has been written so pleasingly. The community vibe that the side characters presented was phenomenal. The minor gestures and the little things the folks of Folkhornton did were extremely heartwarming to read. Their presence will make the readers wish that they lived in a town like Folkhornton. The sibling like relationship Essie shares with Saff, her best friend and a co-worker has been penned in a cute manner. Mr. Arkins in a dinosaur suite 24/7, The Mystical Mistletoe Magi aka MMM who sells portions like love portions made the book all the more interesting to read. And Essie‘s mom was one character, super hyper and authoritative.
“I begged my mom not to do anything embarrassing tonight, but no parent ever listens when they can embarrass their offspring in public, do they?”
As the book marches forward, the transition in Joss’s character is extraordinary. Or to be precise, when Joss exhibited his core characteristics which were so genuine. Be it a small gesture of buying coffee every single more for Essie, buying the portions sold by MMM despite him not being a fan of it, or helping the neighbours when he actually hates the town, all of these made him all more interesting to read about.
Both Essie and Joss are extremely creative. The entire journey of Essie trying to save the Mistletoe Garden was supremely engaging and entertaining to read. Not even at a single point in time while reading this book the readers will be bored or out of focus. They will be enthralled and engulfed by the magic created by Jaimie Admans’ words and characters.
All things considered, this book was magnificent. Do not miss reading The Gingerbread house in Mistletoe Gardens, this Christmas.
Book cover of The Gingerbread house in Mistletoe Gardens
“I like children because the world hasn’t yet turned them into cynical and selfish adults.”
MY VIEWS
Jaimie Admans’ books are my source of escaping reality and believing in magic and the good side of the world. Reading her books makes the inner child and romantic in me so happy. Jaimie has made my reading journey so much better. I have been reading the Games of Thrones aka A Song of Ice and Fire series for a few months now. I suddenly wanted to read a happy, light-hearted romance novel. I tried reading a couple of books and was super disappointed or rather let down. And then came Jaimie for my rescue with her new launch. Can this year get any better than this? I got to read two ARCs of Jaimie’s this year 🙂
Throughout the book, I was able to find some relevance between A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street. Since I’m reading a lot of Jaimie’s books I was able to find a pattern. Usually, when I find a pattern, I do not like the book that much but surprisingly I loved this book nevertheless. I loved all the characters in this book. I got so invested in this book and love Joss unconditionally that I felt like Essie overreacted a little bit towards the end lol. I got emotional while reading the backstories of all the side characters and how much the Mistletoe garden means to them.
I really liked that both the main characters have a backstory and the author did not dwell too much on it but nonetheless was able to make the readers understand the depth of those backstories. What was extremely difficult for me to do while reading this book was, I just decided I would not be eating any sweets or pastries and Essie was making some kind of amazing pastries and I couldn’t help craving for it. It was the real challenge.
And I learnt a little bit about Welsh customs and things to do. The most interesting thing of all was Cwtch. Before this book, I don’t know what Cwtch means. If you are not from South Wales, you might not know it, don’t google, just go read this book.
My rating for this book would be 4 out 5 stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
I would like to recommend this book to all romance lovers, Christmas books or movie lovers. You will absolutely enjoy this book.
I just love Jaimie Admans and her books. Period. I don’t have anything else to say.
December 13, 2023
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…
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…
September 21, 2023
Jaimie Admans - The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens.
I always get a little giddy with excitement, when Jaimie Admans releases a new book. So it was a happy dance day when I got my copy of #TheGingerbreadHouseInMistletoeGardens.
Mistletoe Gardens is a magical place. Kiss under it’s trees and you will be blessed with happiness for you and your loved one.
Every year, it plays a big part in the town’s Christmas celebrations, with lights and a gingerbread display from the local bakery drawing people from miles around. Or at least it did.
This year, things are set to change, as the local council plan to sell off the gardens to build luxury flats.
Desperate to save their beloved gardens. The locals all pull together, to make this Christmas in Mistletoe Gardens the best one yet, and to convince the council that it’s a space worth saving.
Essie, the local baker, ambitiously plans a life sized gingerbread house. But she needs some help…
Joss, the local builder, is the obvious choice.
There is just the slight issue of his dislike for local people and the town in general.
Can gentle Essie, charm grumpy Joss and find a way for the pair to work together to save the town?
#TheGingerbreadHouseInMistletoeGardens is exactly what I’ve come to love and expect from Jaimie Admans. It’s warm and funny, sweet and romantic. It has characters that you will take to your heart, especially those who live in a dinosaur costume! It has a sprinkling of magic and a pinch of bonkers. With a gorgeous Welsh setting, and some wonderful welshisms running through the whole story…. It’s quite simply lush!
#JaimieAdmans has once again written a unique story that will transport you on a journey just past the boundaries of believability, to a beautiful place of dreamy escapism.
There is no doubt, you absolutely HAVE to add this fabulously, fresh, funny, feel good, festive tale to the very top of your reading list.
I hope this book flies high for you Jaimie Admans, you truly deserve it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a digital arc of this title.
I always get a little giddy with excitement, when Jaimie Admans releases a new book. So it was a happy dance day when I got my copy of #TheGingerbreadHouseInMistletoeGardens.
Mistletoe Gardens is a magical place. Kiss under it’s trees and you will be blessed with happiness for you and your loved one.
Every year, it plays a big part in the town’s Christmas celebrations, with lights and a gingerbread display from the local bakery drawing people from miles around. Or at least it did.
This year, things are set to change, as the local council plan to sell off the gardens to build luxury flats.
Desperate to save their beloved gardens. The locals all pull together, to make this Christmas in Mistletoe Gardens the best one yet, and to convince the council that it’s a space worth saving.
Essie, the local baker, ambitiously plans a life sized gingerbread house. But she needs some help…
Joss, the local builder, is the obvious choice.
There is just the slight issue of his dislike for local people and the town in general.
Can gentle Essie, charm grumpy Joss and find a way for the pair to work together to save the town?
#TheGingerbreadHouseInMistletoeGardens is exactly what I’ve come to love and expect from Jaimie Admans. It’s warm and funny, sweet and romantic. It has characters that you will take to your heart, especially those who live in a dinosaur costume! It has a sprinkling of magic and a pinch of bonkers. With a gorgeous Welsh setting, and some wonderful welshisms running through the whole story…. It’s quite simply lush!
#JaimieAdmans has once again written a unique story that will transport you on a journey just past the boundaries of believability, to a beautiful place of dreamy escapism.
There is no doubt, you absolutely HAVE to add this fabulously, fresh, funny, feel good, festive tale to the very top of your reading list.
I hope this book flies high for you Jaimie Admans, you truly deserve it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a digital arc of this title.
August 13, 2023
Tropes
Small town
Grumpy/sunshine
Holiday read
Hallmark cozy movie vibes
Folkhornton has always been known for its beautiful Mistletoe Gardens, where if you kissed your loved under under the mistletoe you’re guaranteed a year full of love and happiness. Essie is the only one in her family to have never kissed a special someone under the mistletoe.
Essie is determined to make this her year, but unfortunately Mistletoe Gardens is due to be leveled due to financial reasons, and the land sold. Everyone in town is devastated but Essie most of all. She quickly comes up with an ELABORATE way to save the gardens, a GIANT (Santa sized) Gingerbread house.
Enter Grumpy construction worker Joss, who the town tries to rope into helping Essie make her plan a success. These two are the most unlikely pair, who reluctantly come together to build the gingerbread house, and ultimately save Mistletoe Gardens. What happens when “Mr. grump” isn’t so grumpy after all, will they share the magic of a first kiss under the mistletoe and save the gardens? Find out in this adorably, cozy, winter read. You’ll find yourself rooting for the town in no time!
ARC in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.
Small town
Grumpy/sunshine
Holiday read
Hallmark cozy movie vibes
Folkhornton has always been known for its beautiful Mistletoe Gardens, where if you kissed your loved under under the mistletoe you’re guaranteed a year full of love and happiness. Essie is the only one in her family to have never kissed a special someone under the mistletoe.
Essie is determined to make this her year, but unfortunately Mistletoe Gardens is due to be leveled due to financial reasons, and the land sold. Everyone in town is devastated but Essie most of all. She quickly comes up with an ELABORATE way to save the gardens, a GIANT (Santa sized) Gingerbread house.
Enter Grumpy construction worker Joss, who the town tries to rope into helping Essie make her plan a success. These two are the most unlikely pair, who reluctantly come together to build the gingerbread house, and ultimately save Mistletoe Gardens. What happens when “Mr. grump” isn’t so grumpy after all, will they share the magic of a first kiss under the mistletoe and save the gardens? Find out in this adorably, cozy, winter read. You’ll find yourself rooting for the town in no time!
ARC in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.
September 20, 2023
The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens by Jaimie Admans
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
In Mistletoe Gardens a legend anyone who kisses underneath the mistletoe will be guaranteed another year of love… When local baker Essie Browne discovers that Mistletoe Gardens is to be demolished in January, she’s determined to save the place she loves so much. So Essie proposes building a life size gingerbread house to bring in the crowds…just how hard can it be? Well, quite hard actually. Essie can bake gingerbread blindfolded, but she hasn’t got a clue how to build an actual house with it! She needs help - and fast! Enter local builder, Joss Hallissey. Essie is convinced that with Joss’s help they can pull this off. There’s just one tiny Joss hates Christmas, gingerbread, and… well, just about everything else too. Joss the Grinch makes it clear that her idea is ludicrous and pointless, but he reluctantly agrees to help with her plan. Will the gingerbread house be enough to save Mistletoe Gardens? Or will Essie's chance for a magical kiss under the mistletoe be lost forever?
My Opinion
A new Christmas book by Jaimie Admans, do I need to say anymore? There was no doubt in my mind that this was going to be a must read. I have yet to read a disappointing book by Jaimie, and this is definitely another great one. This is a lovely, festive read that is full of joy and community spirit.
Jaimie has written a heart-warming festive book with some adorable characters. I did have one issue with this book - I spent the book wishing that I had some gingerbread to tuck into whilst escaping into Mistletoe Gardens. A highly entertaining read that will leave you wanting more.
Rating: 5/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
In Mistletoe Gardens a legend anyone who kisses underneath the mistletoe will be guaranteed another year of love… When local baker Essie Browne discovers that Mistletoe Gardens is to be demolished in January, she’s determined to save the place she loves so much. So Essie proposes building a life size gingerbread house to bring in the crowds…just how hard can it be? Well, quite hard actually. Essie can bake gingerbread blindfolded, but she hasn’t got a clue how to build an actual house with it! She needs help - and fast! Enter local builder, Joss Hallissey. Essie is convinced that with Joss’s help they can pull this off. There’s just one tiny Joss hates Christmas, gingerbread, and… well, just about everything else too. Joss the Grinch makes it clear that her idea is ludicrous and pointless, but he reluctantly agrees to help with her plan. Will the gingerbread house be enough to save Mistletoe Gardens? Or will Essie's chance for a magical kiss under the mistletoe be lost forever?
My Opinion
A new Christmas book by Jaimie Admans, do I need to say anymore? There was no doubt in my mind that this was going to be a must read. I have yet to read a disappointing book by Jaimie, and this is definitely another great one. This is a lovely, festive read that is full of joy and community spirit.
Jaimie has written a heart-warming festive book with some adorable characters. I did have one issue with this book - I spent the book wishing that I had some gingerbread to tuck into whilst escaping into Mistletoe Gardens. A highly entertaining read that will leave you wanting more.
Rating: 5/5
September 18, 2023
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 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.
September 26, 2023
I am a huge fan of Jaimie Admans and her work.
This book has blown all of her other work out of the water!! And that is no easy feat!
I was sat here actually laughing out loud, I was having heart palpitations and could not read any faster!
I have read this in 2 sittings.. only stopping to sleep in between and even sacrificing sleep so I could read.
Jaimie always writes wonderful stories, amazing characters and her personality comes across in her work. ❤️ absolutely perfect combination.
If you have not purchased this book yet... what are you waiting for!!
Highly recommended by me.
I have been in a real slump with reading this year.. only reading 16 books overall but this has given me back my love of reading again. Thank you so much Jaimie 💋 😘
This book has blown all of her other work out of the water!! And that is no easy feat!
I was sat here actually laughing out loud, I was having heart palpitations and could not read any faster!
I have read this in 2 sittings.. only stopping to sleep in between and even sacrificing sleep so I could read.
Jaimie always writes wonderful stories, amazing characters and her personality comes across in her work. ❤️ absolutely perfect combination.
If you have not purchased this book yet... what are you waiting for!!
Highly recommended by me.
I have been in a real slump with reading this year.. only reading 16 books overall but this has given me back my love of reading again. Thank you so much Jaimie 💋 😘
November 5, 2023
I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I was able to find the audio version through my local library.
I will say I didn't like the narrator for the audio version. The main female character is supposed to be 35/36 and the narrator sounds like she is in her 50's. And she talked really slow enunciating every single word it just got on my nerves. I suggest you read the book instead.
But besides that. I really enjoyed this book. It is very light hearted. Perfect Christmas romantic drama. There are some funny parts that I actually laughed out loud. All the characters are great and I really really enjoyed it l a lot. Perfect for Christmas 🎄⛄ season, which is right around the corner.
I will say I didn't like the narrator for the audio version. The main female character is supposed to be 35/36 and the narrator sounds like she is in her 50's. And she talked really slow enunciating every single word it just got on my nerves. I suggest you read the book instead.
But besides that. I really enjoyed this book. It is very light hearted. Perfect Christmas romantic drama. There are some funny parts that I actually laughed out loud. All the characters are great and I really really enjoyed it l a lot. Perfect for Christmas 🎄⛄ season, which is right around the corner.
September 26, 2023
Another gorgeous book full of everything that’s magical about Christmas. Essie was a lovely happy character as opposed to grumpy Joss and they have absolutely nothing in common or do they? A baker and a builder sounds like the perfect combination to construct a life sized gingerbread house. Full of magical touches and the right amount of sugar and spice sprinkled with a dash of romance, a winning recipe.
December 7, 2023
The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens is the perfect holiday romance for me! It’s a sweet romance, centers around the construction of a life size gingerbread house, features a bakery and baking, and takes place in a small, English town. Grab something warm to drink, some Christmas cookies (maybe even some gingerbread), curl up by the Christmas tree, and enjoy all the vibes as you give this book a read. Highly recommended.
January 5, 2024
My last Christmas book of the season (even though we are in January now!), and I'm glad it was a good one!
Very easy to read, with a great sounding place, and a great storyline with plenty of romance but also a touch on the sad side at times when it touched on the characters lives and their pasts.
Really enjoyed everything about this book and would recommend.
Very easy to read, with a great sounding place, and a great storyline with plenty of romance but also a touch on the sad side at times when it touched on the characters lives and their pasts.
Really enjoyed everything about this book and would recommend.
December 16, 2023
Fairly gentle, does what it says on the tin jobbie. Chick lit at it’s finest-
They meet, they build a gingerbread house, they fall in love.
What’s not to like at this time of year?
They meet, they build a gingerbread house, they fall in love.
What’s not to like at this time of year?
December 23, 2023
Great story and loved all the bits of gingerbread trivia at the beginning of each chapter.
December 25, 2023
4.5! ⭐️
November 25, 2025
A little long but the story is very cute.
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