Christmas at Gingerbread Inn

by Jennifer Griffith

Former reality TV starlet Jessamyn Fleet is in hiding.

She’s living the Sugarplum Falls version of witness running the Gingerbread Inn bed and breakfast—and keeping off her famous ex’s radar.

Jessamyn has changed her look, her name, her world. Instead of living the glamorous life, she’s making warm-spices-laced breakfasts and providing her guests cozy hospitality. All she needs now is to pay off that unwise loan she borrowed from that horrible loan shark to buy the place, and she can exhale—by Christmas.

Thank goodness she has an anonymous pen pal, Santa Claus of San Nouveau, to confide in and give her guidance.

Sugarplum Falls’ #1 hotel owner, bachelor Cliff Rockingham, gave up chairmanship of his charity, Presents for People, this year. Instead, he’s determined to do something deeply meaningful for Christmas. Something life-changing for an individual. But what?

Plus, there's the little matter of saving his business, Sweetwater Hotel. Why is it suddenly hemorrhaging money?

When Cliff retrieves a desperate message in a bottle from Sugarplum Falls, he’s gifted a chance to achieve that goal! He can create meaningful change in the life of the most beautiful tourist he’s ever seen.

It’s perfect! Until … he learns Jessamyn isn’t a tourist. And the two hotel rivals become the latest targets of the matchmaking mayor of Sugarplum Falls.

Read Christmas at Gingerbread Inn, book 5 in the Sugarplum Falls Romance series by USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Griffith andfall in love with Cliff, Jessamyn, and Sugarplum Falls in this snowy Christmastime pen pal romance.

All books in the Sugarplum Falls Romance series are CLEAN STANDALONE romances with a happily ever after, swirling with blizzards of Christmas charm.

The Sugarplum Falls Romance Series
Christmas at Holly Berry Cottage
Christmas at Turtledove Place
Christmas at Angels Landing
Christmas at The Cider Press*
Christmas at Sugarplum Falls
Christmas at Gingerbread Inn

*Christmas at The Cider Press is available exclusively to subscribers to Jennifer’s hilarious, upbeat newsletter.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Suspense

238 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 2023

About the author

Do you love free e-books? Check out my website to see how to get a free book. http://authorjennifergriffith.com

I love a story that ends with a kiss, whether it's a book or a movie. That's the big payoff! So that's the kind of books I like to write, and I call my style "cotton candy for the soul"-- light, sweet, gone. We all need a little escape from reality for a while, and escapist fiction can be the perfect remedy.

I'm a moderately bad housekeeper, I have a black thumb, and it takes a small miracle to get my hair to curl. My handsome husband and I live in the Arizona desert where we're raising our five children, who never let us stop laughing.

Reviews

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one had all the fun cozy Christmas vibes. The Gingerbread Inn is a magical place! The memories and food and quaint setting in the town of Sugarplum Falls will have you wanting to snuggle up by a blazing fire, hot cocoa in hand, Christmas music playing softly in the background with twinkle lights sparkling! Seriously!

Cliff and Jessamyn get off to a bit of a wrong footed start but Cliff is such a great guy and just wants to help people that he just can't help himself. Jessamyn is trying to lie low keeping out of the spotlight and away from someone from her recent past.

These two get matched up despite their best efforts to not be. And to stay on the good side of the mayor they can't say no! What ensues is a charmingly delightful Christmas story. But watch out, there's some fishy things going on and a bad guy to watch out for...maybe more than one. There's humor and sweet sentimental stories and Christmas lights and gingerbread and snow and hand holding and so much more!

Content: Clean.

I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt drawn right into this story like the smell of fresh cider in the air. Jessamyn Flint is hiding from her past, questioning her business decisions, and making a life for herself in Sugarplum Falls. She opens the Gingerbread Inn in honor of her grandma Ginger. I loved this tribute to her grandmother and how Jess made the inn so welcoming to her guests. I’m still salivating over the breakfasts and treats Jessamyn would whip up. I would gladly stay there!

Cliff Rockingham was a knight in shining armor. I loved how their relationship started from his desire to help her. I also loved how it got its momentum from a little meddling from the local mayor. Sugarplum Falls is a beautiful small town with tradition, loyalty, busybodies, and the magic of the holidays.

I loved the town events, the mystery, and the sweet romance between Cliff and Jess.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful addition to the Sugarplum Falls Series. This story can be read as a stand alone but there are so many characters from previous stories that pop up in this one. I love all of the fun Christmas activities in this small town and the matchmaking mayor is at it again. She manages to get the owner of the Sweetwater Hotel, Cliff Rockingham, and the owner of the Gingerbread Inn, Jessamyn Fleet, to work together to write about each Christmas Activity taking place in the town. One of them will win a spot on the State Tourism Web Site.

With a former reality TV star hiding out in Sugarplum Falls and an anonymous pen pal, Santa Claus of San Nouveau this story has lots going on. I love the humor and I love the descriptions of the food served to the guests of the Gingerbread Inn. I actually looked to see if I could find a recipe for Gingerbread Oatmeal.

Watching to see if the Mayor Lang can make another successful match in this story is so much fun.

I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Jennifer Griffith invites us to join in the festivities of Sugarplum Falls in book five, Christmas at Gingerbread Inn. What a magical story of secret pen pals, avoiding the bad guys and matching making. Former reality TV starlet Jessamyn Fleet has remake herself into a down to earth innkeeper, baking wonderful breakfasts and providing comfy hospitality. I want to stay there now. Cliff Rockingham is one of the good guys and a charming even if Jessamyn and he get off on the wrong foot a bit when they meet in person. Loved the match making. Thumbs up to a mayor who can multitask.

A clean sweet romance with an enchanting plot that flow making you feel the warmth we all want at the holiday season. Snuggle up with a cup of hot cider, a warm blanket and this book today. What a delightful treat that has warmth, charm and love.

The publisher/author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Ballet in AK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas at Gingerbread Inn by Jennifer Griffith (5 stars)

I always look forward to Ms. Griffith’s books with a great sense of expectation! She writes such cute, quirky characters that even when bad things are happening, there’s a sense of positivity pervading the book.

The situations that trouble our main characters are certainly serious, as are some of the assumptions they mistakenly make about one another. But their inner thoughts and dialogues are entertaining, quirky and thoroughly enjoyable!

The romance is sweet and clean and it’s so fun to watch as these two beautiful people become more and more caught up in one another and start to fall in love.

The side characters are great fun; the bad guys are truly bad and the good people of the town really are wonderful! Plus, the town Christmas activities are downright idyllic!

[Maria Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jennifer Griffith Christmas romances. And I enjoyed this one too. It seems like romance stories either have conflict within their relationship or get attacked from villains outside their relationship. Cliff and Jessalyn seem to be getting hit from all sides in this story. And it all seems to come to a head at once. I was sucked deep into the story and was just reaching the climax of the everything when the kids I babysit arrived. Gah! I had to wait for hours to see how it was all going to come aright again. But by the end I could give my sigh of contentment in the happily ever after.

Merry Christmas

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: threatening situation

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Runaway Bride

Jessamyd is in hiding from the man she was to marry. In order to
open the Gingerbread Inn she borrowed money from a loan shark.
Now not only she in hiding she has the loan shark goon bothering
her. She goes to the bridge to throw her letter in a bottle over
when Cliff sees her and thinks she is going to jump. He rushes to
save her. Will he be able to help? Well written story with strong and believable characters. Can't wait to read more of this series. joy943

[Denice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sweet, charming story held in such a wonderful town. Cliff and Jessamyn both hold secrets and are also both in the hotel business. Then they have to work together, but really it is a busy town mayor trying to matchmake. I loved all the fun Christmas activities they went to and I could just imagine the magical time they had. The Gingerbread Inn is a warm cozy place I wish I could go to; I loved this sweet, swoony, cozy Christmas story.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas at Gingerbread Inn is a clean, heartwarming, small town romance for Cliff and Jess. I am packing my bags now to move to Sugarplum Falls! I might decide to be a permanent resident of Gingerbread Inn if Jess keeps making those great breakfasts. This well written book has Christmas, pen pals, a charming inn, a plush hotel, hemorrhaging money, secrets, villains and more set in this charming town. I loved watching Cliff and Jess fall in love and the bad guys get their due!

[Lynn Hyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bad Guys and Good Guys

I have so enjoyed all the books in this series. This one has an abundance of bad guys, though. I was getting irritated just reading about what they were doing. Thank goodness for Jess and her Grandma's ideas for hospitality. Thank goodness for Cliff and his overall goodness, kindness, and generosity. Once again, the small town and family dynamics come into play in the best sort of ways. The ending is sweet and so satisfying.

[MaryEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my voluntary review of a copy I received from the author.

They are each have secrets they are keeping to protect themselves, not realizing the harm that cam come when those secrets are revealed.
But, they grow to trust each other... Don't they?

There's a lot going on and it was all enjoyable to read!

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessamyn has her reasons for moving to Sugarplum Falls and for hiding her true identity. When Cliff meets her, she is a real puzzle and he wants to discover her secrets. Cliff's search helps him discover much more then he expected. I liked the characters and the secrets that Sugarplum Falls hides.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fifth book in the Sugarplum Falls Romances series, this series gets better with each new story. Jessamyn Fleet and Cliff Rockingham's story is a sweet Christmas story that held my interest in this well written story. I enjoyed seeing them get their happy ending. I received a ARC copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gingerbread Oatmeal

Jess and Cliff meet when Cliff is jogging up to Sugar Lake Falls and see Jess leaning precariously over the railing at the top of the falls. He knocks her down to save her from the fall and that is how it begins. Great story wonderful characters!! Highly recommend!!!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sugarplum Falls Christmas

The series comes full circle to Book 1 Holly Berry Cottage. This book didn't keep my attention. It was interesting and entertaining; the descriptions are beautiful. I would love to visit this town. And definitely go to Gingerbread Inn.
All the characters are interwoven among the Sugarplum Falls series.

[Kim C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Virtual narration is horrible. There’s no inflection in the character’s voices. And words with dual meanings like content are mispronounced. They totally botched saying ibuprofen!

The story was so-so. The characters weren’t believable and seemed like were caricatures of real people. Jessamyn was annoying and Cliff didn’t act like a man.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love going back to Sugarplum Falls. What a magical romantic Christmas read. Secrets kept and revealed bring the couple together, but will they tear them apart? The author made me feel as if I was a guest at the Gingerbread Inn.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Love Jessamyn and Cliff. Great story. The food descriptions sounded yummy! Loved the characters.
I received an advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily sharing my honest opinion.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise for this story is cute. The characters are somewhat likable. My problem is that I own a hotel and neither Jess nor Cliff are very smart business owners. I don't buy into their horrible accounting.

[Ruth Oldham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best of the series at

This book has celebrities, runaways, a new PI, loyal small town citizens, as well as a rough villain and one hidden as a citizen. All the interactions made a lively story with a happy ending.

[Kathy Dryden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

Captivated me from the beginning with Jessamyn and and the Gingerbread Inn, and Cliff and the Sweetwater Inn, and so much mystery. I could actually taste and feel all the holiday goodies. Totally enjoyed this very enjoyable read.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Christmas drama filled with all kinds of crazy and sweet. It kind of reads like a tv show and I think that was intentional. Quirky characters and a bit of romance to keep everyone happy.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cozy Christmas read!

[Shammah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really sweet holiday romance. Clean and wholesome. I definitely recommend.

[Tamera Westhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Romance

Jess has completely redone herself in order to hide from her ex. Cliff struggles with trust. What a pair! I love a good happy ending though!

[Michelle Cloutier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the series.

[Patti]

So far I have loved every story I have read by Jennifer Griffith. I keep looking for more titles that I have not had a chance to read!

[Jessica Ledford · Rating 1 out of 5]

it was ok just not my jam
it was a cute story I just didn't like it

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magical town to be in at Christmas. Two people who aren't totally forthright or honest with each other, yet they fall in love. A cute premise and an enjoyable book. The town's Christmas activities were exceptionally creative and fun to "experience" with the characters. The descriptions certainly allow the reader to be immersed into the story. Lovely story but fraught with misconceptions and deceptions between characters.

[Rebekah Benne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mysterious Road to Love and Success

This book was a delightful read! It is full of mystery that encompasses a budding love relationship and success in launching a legacy business. Highly recommended!