The Sugar Stop Chocolate Shop

by Nova Walsh

Savor this sweet, clean romance set in a charming college town—a perfect Christmas read for fans of Grace Meyers and Jenny Colgan.

Welcome back to Maple Grove, where the snow is falling and holiday magic is in the air...

Meredith has poured her heart into The Sugar Stop, crafting exquisite chocolates that delight the residents of Maple Grove. But when a burst pipe threatens to close her beloved shop just before the crucial holiday season, she's forced to call the one person she'd rather avoid—her ex-boyfriend, Sawyer.

As the only contractor in town who can fix the damage in time, Sawyer is Meredith's last hope. He's everything she isn't—rough around the edges and unapologetically bold. Working in close quarters reignites the spark between them, but can these opposites move past their differences and seize this second chance at love?

Indulge yourself

• The warmth of a small-town chocolate shop in crisis

• Festive Christmas celebrations and winter wonderlands

• The comfort of close-knit friendships

• A sweet, second-chance romance with a touch of opposites-attract

• The cozy atmosphere of a New England college town during the holidays

The Sugar Stop Chocolate Shop is the second book in the beloved Maple Grove series, offering a clean, heartwarming romance that's as rich and satisfying as Meredith's finest truffle. Perfect for readers who love low-angst stories with a guaranteed happily ever after.

Return to Maple Grove this Christmas, where love is always the sweetest treat!

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Chick Lit

79 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 28, 2024

About the author

Author Nova Walsh writes cozy mysteries full of humor, shenanigans, and friendships that last a lifetime. She mixes in a healthy dose of amateur sleuthing, some slow-burn romance, and a pinch of comedy in every book she writes.

Nova is a former chef/caterer who still loves to cook but loves to write even more. She’s an enthusiastic, if not totally successful gardener who loves travel, wine, and hanging out with friends.

Nova grew up in the southwest, and now lives in Galveston, Texas with her husband and son. When she isn’t writing, she’s often cooking, gardening, hiking, feeding stray animals, or trying to make her way through her endless TBR pile.

Reviews

[Rosio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute short story, great for a quick Christmas read to put you in a holiday mood.

[Linz Jogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute quick and to the point.

[Marci Poe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I preferred this second book in the series to the first. This was a warm hearted quick read!

[Yvette Boer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are in the mood for a fluffy christmas romance this book is for you!

[Jokie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heartwarming read, perfect for Christmas time ❄️🎄

[Sarahjane Baxter · Rating 3 out of 5]

cutie Christmas read 📖

Cute Christmas 🎅 read 📖. You learn so much about the small town. Second chance romance and clean. If you need a quick read to boost your numbers try this. The description of the town at Christmas time is magical

[Paige Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sugar Stop Chocolate Shop by Nova Walsh is a cozy holiday romance that blends festive charm, second-chance love, and small-town warmth into a delightful seasonal read. Set against the backdrop of a picturesque Christmas in Maple Grove, the novella offers readers an uplifting escape filled with heartfelt moments and comforting holiday spirit.

One of the story's greatest strengths is its inviting setting. The charming chocolate shop, snow-covered streets, and close-knit community create a warm atmosphere that perfectly complements the Christmas season. The backdrop becomes an essential part of the story, making readers feel immersed in the cozy world of Maple Grove.

The relationship between Meredith and Sawyer provides the emotional heart of the novel. Their shared history, lingering feelings, and forced proximity create an engaging second-chance romance that unfolds naturally. Their contrasting personalities add warmth and humor while allowing both characters to grow as they reconnect.

Another highlight is the novella's comforting tone. Rather than relying on heavy drama, the story focuses on hope, forgiveness, friendship, and the joy of rediscovering love. The clean romance and guaranteed happily-ever-after make it an enjoyable choice for readers seeking an uplifting holiday escape.

For readers who enjoy cozy Christmas romances, charming small-town settings, and heartfelt second-chance love stories, The Sugar Stop Chocolate Shop delivers a sweet and satisfying seasonal read.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

A group of fun mysteries that invite you along to help solve the mysteries I enjoyed the build up, the suspense, and the climax of the books. Loved the romance and the incredible recipes. It was so hard to wait until the end of the book to see the recipes! Can't wait until the next one!

[Jess Keller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, cozy, romance novella.
This second book of Maple Grove just felt very repetitive, to me it felt like when you’re trying to get the word count in during a school paper, and you just keep adding the same sentence/feelings but slightly changing the words around.

Will still read the third novella in this series though, cause I do like these characters.

[christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sugar Stop

This is so cozy and really sweet. The characters are friendly, independent, and great fun. I didn't realize that this second book was a Christmas holiday book but I didn't care, its that good. So get this two book series and cozy up. Enjoy

[Skarleth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 estrellas 💫

Bien escrito y tan al estilo de las películas Hallmark que hasta escuchaba las voces de doblaje en mi mente jaja, en fin está bien pero no me gusta lo de segunda oportunidad ni tampoco sentí tan auténtico el romance.

[Trice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this cute little town and the second chance romance. Love how it continues to focus on friendship and the importance of understanding others.

“It felt like a scene from a holiday movie—perfect in its simplicity, cherished because of the people who shared it.”

[Jaeda Kadrmas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait for snow and Christmas 🎄

[Jenna Cuccionilli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute short read! Loved this one even more than the first book. A perfect read to get you into the holiday season - & could totally be a Hallmark movie!

[Carolyn Shipley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the first it was very cute and innocent I just think it was very short and crammed.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this I'm definitely reading to start reading Christmas books real soon!!! Cute little holiday bakery story 😊😊

[Felisha Higgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute, very G-rated Romance. Not a whole lot to the substance of the story but it was sweet. Nice little Christmas read.

[Marina Boucher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet!

[Carly Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and sweet

I love that this is so simple yet sweet. Nothing crazy going on here, yet it warmed my heart and made me feel all the feels. Def worth the quick read!

[courtney leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

super cute.
felt that conversations were repeated but other than that, i loved

[Noms Haugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice sweet short romance.

[Tricia Tessora · Rating 2 out of 5]

lol what was this storyline…
He breaks up with her to move away to come back because he couldn’t make it. Like at least say it was because you loved tge women.

[Michael Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this cute little Christmas read!

[Gianna Nigro · Rating 3 out of 5]

so actually there were no stakes and she has a really supportive group of people around her, why is she acting like that?

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The shortest Christmas Hallmark movie you’ll ever read. If you want a sweet and whimsical small town read, that goes by really quick, then this sweet spot is the stop for you.

[Wendy Ann Neels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet

This a short Christmas romance . Lots of lovely Christmas confectionery and hot chocolate. A new author to me I enjoyed this book more than the first in this series

[Cassie Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute

Cute and cozy short Christmas book that has some clean second chance romance in it. Gets you in the spirit.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

In love with sugar

Fast easy romance. A broken water pipe sends an ex in to repair the chocolate shop. It doesn't take long for more than water to flow. Love is in the air

[Madeline · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you like ooey gooey romance stories with poor dialogue and editing skills, this is the story for you.

[✨Brooke✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5