Cooking Up a Christmas Storm: A warm and cosy festive romcom, the perfect Christmas escape

The Highland Cookery School #2

by Amelia Berry

Can you find love if you can't be yourself?
Jodie Simpson's life is falling apart.
She's been dumped by her girlfriend, Gemma, lost her job and is about to be kicked out of her flat. When she mistakenly opens a letter addressed to Gemma and finds a job offer to work at the Highland Cookery School, she makes a momentary decision that will change her life forever.
Jodie heads to the Scottish Highlands to begin her new job - as Gemma. But it all starts to work a little too well, and she finds herself loving her new life at the cookery school. As the snow starts to settle and the festive magic cast its spell, she finds herself falling for Pavel, the estate caretaker.
But Jodie cannot keep up her fake identity forever and a storm is brewing.
If she tells the truth, will she lose the new life she has built for herself, and the man who might just be The One?
An uplifting romcom that fans of Sarah Morgan, Heidi Swain and Katie Ginger will adore
Praise for the Highland Cookery School
'Funny, romantic, with great characters and set in Scotland, this book has it all.' Katie Fforde
'A heartwarming read full of engaging characters, fun moments and a captivating romance.' Bella Osborne
'Beautifully written, with wonderful characters, a lively community and oodles of charm all wrapped up in a gorgeous Highland setting.' Suzanne Snow
'I devoured it in one sitting and was looking for more - so I can't wait for the next in the series. Second helpings, please!' Lilac Mills
'Utterly delightful. A truly gorgeous book that will hook you from the startthis has all the feels.' Helga Jensen
'Warm and welcoming, a delicious Scottish holiday of a book.' Jeevani Charika
'A wonderful hug of a book. Loved every minute.' Reader Review
'The story had everything and I devoured it, this is definitely a fun read for any day of the year to get lost in.' Reader Review
'This was a joy to read and I loved every second of it and am already looking forward to the next book.' Reader Review
'This book was perfect! A Cinderella retelling with baking. Say no more! This was such a cute read and I could not put it down!' Reader Review
'Amazing. A lovely, cosy read for those spring evenings.' Reader Review
A humorous, romantic read with a brilliant cast of characters and idyllic setting. Plenty of ups and downs to keep the pages turning. A gorgeous piece of romantic escapism.' Reader Review
'I absolutely adored this book! The perfect blend of cozy romance and a dash of cooking with love.' Reader Review
'Warm, welcoming, and utterly engaging, this book is like a cozy Scottish holiday. Perfect for anyone looking for a charming, heartfelt read with a touch of humor and a lot of heart.' Reader Review
'I really enjoyed reading this gorgeous, cozy closed-door romance. The beautiful setting of the Scottish Highlands, the descriptions of delicious sweets interwoven with some of the most memorable and lovable characters makes for a book that is hard to put down!' Reader Review
This a sweet, engaging romantic comedy that will appeal to readers who enjoy heartwarming stories set in picturesque locations. Perfect for those looking for a cozy romance with a dash of culinary magic.' Reader Review

Genres: Christmas, Holiday

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 18, 2025

Reviews

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so good to be back at Lowbridge and at the Highland Cookery School with Adam, Bella and Darcy from the previous book. Along with all the memorable characters in the town too.

But this can definitely be read as a standalone as the two leads are brand new characters to us (or at least I don't have any distinct memories of Pavel, but could be wrong).

Jodie is definitely a fresh face to the series and a rather chaotic one at that. After all on a whim she impersonates her ex on the phone, accepts a job without knowing what it is and moves to the Highlands where she then needs to persuade everyone that she is a fabulous events manager and more, and that her name is Gemma.

And believe it or not that isn't the only level of deception in this book which is what lead to the moments where I was totally laughing out loud, completely amused at just how complicated this was getting, in a good way.

While when we have a focus on Pavel, he is far steadier, and is the town's good guy. I loved him instantly and he is just an all around great guy. But has his own sense of self to deal with.

There are so many strands to this rather delicious story, as Jodie attempts to help save Lowbridge, along with trying to help Bella figure out what to do with a lot of sprouts! She is a hit with everyone in the village, give or take the fake identity.

I thoroughly enjoyed all of this story, and really am hoping the bad guy of this series will get his comeuppance at some point. As we got to see a whole lot more of him and I was with Jodie in fantasizing about how to destroy him.

Jodie is a complex character, who comes across really well and you can't help but love her.

This was a joy to read, and I can't wait for the next book in this series.

Thank you to Hera and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A coming-of-age story about a young 20 something woman who hits rock bottom and grabs an opportunity that knocks on her door. Or should I say calls on the phone. Jodie needs a new job, a place to stay and a new life, far from anyone who knows her. Her ex GF, Gemma, moved out three months ago after secretly applying for several jobs and accepting one in another city in England. So when a cooking school in Scotland phones to offer Gemma a job, Jodie stumbles her way into taking her place. How hard can it be to pretend to be Gemma for awhile.
The story is full of hilarious scenarios, crazy schemes, quirky small town characters, intrigue, all becoming a tangled web of lies. Of course, there is the new love interest, Pavel, who is a man who can fix anything, without even being asked.. I love the dialogue between all the characters and their complex relationships. And how excellent the author was with tying up loose ends and leaving an opening to continue the story in the future.
I did find Jodie a bit annoying at first but the author had her reasons. I gave Jodie the benefit of the doubt and she grew on me. Pavel, I liked him from his first scene. The ladies group are a hoot. I greatly enjoyed my time visiting the Town of Lowbridge while reading the adventure of Jodie and Pavel. I have discovered there is a previous book about the love story of the owners of the cooking school. I will be finding that one to read soon.
I recommend this book as a feel good story for an entertaining read.

I received this ARC through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cooking Up A Christmas Storm by Amelia Berry

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Can you find love if you can’t be yourself?

Jodie Simpson's life is falling apart.

She has lost her girlfriend, Gemma, her job and is about to be kicked out of her flat. When she mistakenly opens a letter addressed to Gemma and finds a job offer to work at the Highland Cookery School, she makes a momentary decision that will change her life forever.

Jodie heads to the Scottish Highlands to begin her new job - as Gemma. But it all starts to work a little too well, and she finds herself loving her new life at the cookery school. As the snow starts to settle and the festive magic cast its spell, she finds herself falling for Pavel, the estate caretaker.

But Jodie cannot keep up her fake identity forever and a storm is brewing.

If she tells the truth, will she lose the new life she has built for herself, and the man who might just be The One?

My Opinion

Cooking Up A Christmas Storm was a lovely, festive read. It was nice to return to the familiar characters of Lowbridge and the Cookery School. With a great sense of community this was a delightful read.

Rating 4/5

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC

This was such a cozy Christmas read! As someone who loves cooking and baking, I really enjoyed how the recipes were woven into the story — I even bookmarked a couple to try out myself. The characters felt warm and real, and I loved how food brought everyone together through the ups and downs. Nobody’s a proper grown-up — we’re all just pretending — and that theme really shines here. People aren’t always who they claim to be, but the stronger fronts don’t take away from the heart of the story.

Even though this is technically book two, I read it beautifully as a standalone and didn’t feel like I missed a thing. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Lowbridge — it brings with it such a sense of community and a touch of magic. And I can’t wait to go back again !

A perfect December wholesome read to curl up with on a cold night, maybe with some cookies fresh out of the oven.

⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[Ymbear · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful, sweet novel! What I really loved was that I was able to get into the book right away. The book started off quickly, just like I like. The scenes were so beautifully written and I could imagine being there. I really liked all of the characters except maybe Gemma. She just seemed a bit pretentious, which is fine! Gemma was a side character although her name was used a lot. I personally wouldn’t have gone looking for her though. The romance was sweet and overall the plot was woven together quite well. I love a good Christmas book and this definitely delivered. Now I need to go back and the author’s other book! I’ll be looking for more books as well!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC.

[Arielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

I love a highlands/fresh start romance, but Cooking Up A Christmas Storm wildly exceeded my expectations for a cozy Christmas read.

Of course the book lives up to its name, but the characters and story are surprisingly deep. In particular, Berry was able to capture neurodivergence in a way that both articulated the everyday struggles and misconceptions, while still showcasing its unique abilities and strengths. You wouldn’t expect it just judging the book by its cover, but it was one of the best explanations I have read (including non-fiction books!)

Definitely pick up if you want to get in the holiday spirit while also learning to let go of some of your self-criticism (and day dreaming about some great food along the way).

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two in The Highland Cookery School Series and can be read as a standalone as I have done. I love a book that combines romance and cooking. Jodie is not having the best of luck recently, everything seems to be going wrong so when she gets mistaken for her ex girlfriend she goes along with it. A new job but she has to pretend she is her ex, can’t be that hard right? Jodie does not really realise what the job entails but she might as well try it out. Can she find her happiness? I liked how simple but courageous the story line was, I was really rooting for Jodie though I don’t think I would of been as brave as her to up sticks and start a new life. It was a nice read to escape with.

[Isabelle D · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a joy to be back at Lowbridge, this time rediscovering it through the eyes of Jodie, who's been hired by Bella to help organize Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations (except that Bella thinks she hired Jodie's ex-girlfriend Gemma, so Jodie's now stuck pretending to be the confident and competent woman who left her for being too much of the opposite).
I loved seeing again Bella, Adam and all the other characters met a few months ago in A Recipe for Love, starting with Pavel who's the MMC of this second book. He really is a sweetie, always helping everyone in the village and at the castle, and just the kind of person Jodie needed to feel accepted, not judged.
Now I'm already looking forward to book 3, which will be about Adam's stepmother Darcy.

[Amanrit Uppal · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Cooking up a Christmas Storm" turned out to be one of the most charming, creative and heartwarming reads I've picked up this year.

The story swept me into the Scottish Highlands (a place that is already ranked high on my future travel plan list). Thanks to the inspiration I received through this book, it may even be a Christmas destination one day!

Amelia Berry paints a vivid and cozy world that feels both magical and grounded. Her descriptions of food were so rich and mouthwatering that I found myself looking up unfamiliar dishes (Makowiec) and learning about Scottish traditions (Hogmanay).

I loved the characters of Pavel and Jodie. Pavel is a divine masculine character, but not in the overly heroic or stereotypical way. He's practical, grounded, and quietly magnetic. This is a refreshing take on the romantic lead. And Jodie. Imperfectly perfect. She doesn't fit the mold of the typical heroine and that is exactly what makes her feel real, relatable and worth rooting for!

The novel is full of originality and lots of inspiration. It's more than a festive romance novel. It's a celebration of healing, connection and finding beauty in the unexpected.

Amelia Berry, you've earned a new fan! I'm already exploring your other books!

Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel Stansel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really lovely story about two people who in very different ways and for very different reasons find themselves feeling unable to be themselves. Jodie and Pav are great characters and Low bridge is a terrific small village setting. This is best read in order but this third installment does read fine alone.

Full disclosure - I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Stacey Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if this book is actually good or not because at this point, I am SO blindly in love with Lowbridge. I'm going to need at least a dozen more books so I can get to see more of the characters (all of whom I've fallen in love with - even McKenzie who I just love to hate!).

I especially loved the romantic leads in this book and felt the pacing an improvement on Book One. I even gasped at one point!

I couldn't have wished for a better book to finish reading on Christmas Eve.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute and cosy festive read. I loved the Scottish place setting in the book and the baking story line. The story was easy to follow and had a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💓 Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catching up with the residents of Lowbridge is a hug in a book. Great continuation of a story but could be read as a standalone. Looking forward to the next book from Amelia Berry.

[Em_tem · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
Soooo much potential but missed the mark on every single point.