Christmas at Honeycombe Bay

by Lilac Mills

Two Scrooges come together for a festive-free holiday season by the sea and find all their anti-Christmas plans going up in smoke when they decide to play Santa for a single mom and her child.

Eloise Garrett thinks Christmas is overpriced, overhyped, and overrated, and without any family to share it with, she feels sad, lonely and isolated. The “season for giving” is just a constant reminder that she’s single, sixty(ish), and staring down retirement. But not this Christmas. Determined to avoid the most magical time of the year, Eloise decides to spend Christmas in Honeycombe Bay. Surely a seaside village in the middle of winter won’t be too festive?

Ever since his wife passed away, Bartholomew Knott hasn’t felt up to welcoming visitors to his guest house. With the prospect of another long, lonely winter, and having become more Scrooge than Santa over the years, Bart is dreading Christmas. However, when he’s contacted by someone who dislikes decking the halls just as much as he does, Bart has the brilliant idea of opening the guest house to people who want to escape all things festive.

Christmas isn’t easy to ignore, though, not even in off-season Honeycombe Bay. So when fate forces Bart to give shelter to a single mother and child whose holiday has been devastated by a terrible fire, Eloise finds herself playing Mrs. Claus to Bart’s Santa—dragging the house’s other guest, a heartbroken teacher looking for a break during the holidays, into the action as well. But holiday cheer isn’t the only thing sparking under the mistletoe. Will the guests at Honeycombe Bay realize that, sometimes, the best way to escape Christmas is to let it into your heart?

Christmas at Honeycombe Bay features two heartwarming romances and all the holiday romance tropes a small-town that is “all in” for Christmas, a later in life romance, a widower hero, forced proximity in a charming B&B, a grumpy/sunshine couple with a single mom character, and plenty of carols, cocoa, and decking the halls.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Adult Fiction, British Literature, Chick Lit, Adult

304 pages, Paperback

Published September 29, 2026

About the author

Lilac lives on a Welsh hillside with her very patient husband and incredibly sweet dog, where she grows veggies (if the slugs don't get them), bakes (badly) and loves making things out of glitter and glue (a mess, usually).
 
She's been an avid reader ever since she got her hands on a copy of Noddy Goes to Toytown when she was five, and she once tried to read everything in her local library starting with A and working her way through the alphabet.

She loves long, hot summer days in the garden, and cold winter ones snuggled in front of the fire, but whatever the weather she's usually writing, or thinking about writing, with heartwarming romance and happy-ever-afters always on her mind. 

Reviews

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Ah Eloise, such a grinch and then she meets Bart who’s also a grinch? What are the chances – ha. I appreciated that they were both a little older, and had gone through some things in their lives. The part of the book that resonated the most with me was that the adults ended up doing everything they could to bring the joy of Christmas to life for a child. I was the same way when I had my child. The romance between Eloise and Bart was slow but it was a natural slow. I also enjoyed the secondary romance as well. This book was so emotional and really touched on loneliness and having a second chance at love.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story of found family at the most special time of the year. But it did not start out that way. Eloise is not a fan of Christmas and wants to escape the festivities and goes to the English seaside of past summer memories. Bart is mourning the death of his wife that happened a couple of years ago and his B&B doors are closed. But when Eloise calls to book a room he says yes as he needs the money. Mitch then books a room. Three people not interested in the holidays. A fire next door leaves a young mum Sarah and her son Toby homeless so Bart invites her to stay at the B&B. Everyone becomes close as they decide to make the time special for a little three year old boy. The characters are likable and realistic in a lovely village that has a special week of events to celebrate Christmas. And romance is in the air with a happily ever after.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my thoughts.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Book Review✨

This book has all the Hallmark Christmas vibes!

I love how the story begins with both Bart and Eloise wanting to escape all the holiday cheer. They definitely found camaraderie in being total Scrooges!

This story was especially fun for me because the characters were older and had unique perspectives compared to what I’m used to reading. Bart is still grieving the loss of his wife, whom he loved dearly, while Eloise just wants a break from the whole holiday season.

I loved how they slowly built their friendship and how all their plans went out the door when they took a young family under their wing during the holidays. Their generous spirit and willingness to put others above themselves was so heartwarming! It was sweet seeing them slowly become something more in the process.

I completely understood all the moments of disconnect in this book. I was right there with Bart when his son became opinionated! He’s a grown man and knows what’s best for himself. When Eloise questioned her connection with Bart because he was still affected by his late wife’s passing… because he so was! All these real life issues made the story even more intriguing.

This story would make the best Christmas movie! It’s so cute, heartwarming, and cozy. Definitely a perfect holiday read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Lilac Mills books and always look forward to a new one coming out especially one taking place at Christmas time.
Eloise Garrett is so over Christmas and it hasn't even happened yet. Christmas is just too Christmassy for her. After all what's the big deal, she has no one to buy for aside from a few friends and she doesn't enjoy the hype or everyone's else's fixation with it.
Time away at a bed and breakfast in Honeycombe Bay is just what she needs and its holiday free because the owner of this lovely little seaside resort isn't celebrating either since the loss of his wife celebrating without her around just isn't something he can see himself doing.
The seaside resort owner, Bartholomew Knott and Eloise are both sixty something and seem to have a lot in common and are enjoying time together as she's the only one staying at the inn for now over the holidays. As their talks become personal, they find themselves becoming close. When other guests arrive they all pitch in to help a single mother and her child having an unfortunate event happen to them. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and enjoyed them all equally.
It was heartwarming seeing the Christmas spirit awaken in the hearts of the characters who though they didn't need Christmas. So many want to help a young child and his mother at Christmas time helping hand and hearts get a sprinkling of magic and it's a beautiful thing. Romance is popping up for several couples unexpectedly and this is such a heartwarming and fun book.
Highly recommended!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas at Honeycomb Bay is an enjoyable festive read that follows a group of characters trying to escape the festive celebrations for different reasons.

This was a story full of amazing characters and a storyline full of happiness and newfound love. The author's descriptive writing is so thoroughly detailed that it's easy to picture and feel all the festivity cheer while reading.

Overall, this was a heartwarming read about friendships and new beginnings during the festive season and is well worth the read. A highly recommended read.

[Alexandria Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eloise Garrett has decided she is officially DONE with Christmas.
No tinsel. No carols. No forced holiday cheer.
No pretending the season is magical when it mostly reminds her of everything she doesn’t have.

So she escapes to a little seaside village and books herself into a B&B for a quiet, Christmas free holiday. Except the B&B owner Bart is also a certified Scrooge.😂 Bart has been grieving the loss of his wife and hasn't really been living so much as existing. His guesthouse is basically closed, Christmas is definitely not happening and he and Eloise immediately bond over their mutual hatred of holiday cheer. Two lonely people who don't want Christmas? Yeah babes… you guessed right…the universe had OTHER plans. 👀🎄

A house fire leaves Sarah and her little boy Toby with nowhere to go. This Christmas hating group finds themselves opening their home to a young family and trying to give a little boy the holiday he deserves. And this is where my heart absolutely melted.🥹

Eloise and Bart are both in their sixties. They’re carrying grief, disappointment, retirement, and years of life experience into this relationship. Bart is still grieving his wife. Eloise spent so much of her life working and suddenly finds herself wondering what comes next. Toby 🥹…That little boy basically walks into this house and starts bulldozing through everyone's emotional walls without even trying.

This book isn't really about learning to love Christmas. It's about realizing that sometimes what you're missing isn't the holiday itself it's having people to share it with.🥹🎄

If you're looking for a cozy, heartwarming holiday read that reminds you it's never too late to find love, purpose, friendship, or family…
Put this one on your Christmas TBR babes.🎄

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eloise was looking to escape all the holiday fuss and booked a trip to Honeycombe Bay which is known to be very quiet in the winter. Through a series of events, Eloise finds herself in some very surprising and wonderful situations as she begins enjoying Christmas for the first time in many years.

Christmas at Honeycombe Bay had all the warmth and charm I expect in a holiday book. I was a bit worried at the beginning when I first met Eloise and Bart. They both wanted to forget Christmas for their own reasons, and Eloise came across as quite grumpy. But as I made my way through the story, I learned more about Eloise, her past, and her recent past. All of this helped me better understand why this time of year was so difficult for her. And you know what? When push came to shove, she showed, through her actions, what a huge heart she had.

It was enjoyable seeing sparks between Bart and Eloise. I don't read too many romances that feature "mature" characters, so that was a delight, but the story really started picking up for me when the other characters joined in the fun. I loved the little family that was formed right there at the inn. I was especially excited for Eloise. She had a rough year and a rough life. She lost her mother at a young age and navigated foster care until she aged out. She had no family, so these people showing her so much love and affection hit me hard and made me happy.

It may be overused, but I know everyone will understand when I say this was very Hallmarkie. Cute, sweet, heartwarming - all that good stuff. It was a pleasure to spend the holidays in Honeycombe Bay with these people, and I was overjoyed that they found love and each other there.

*ARC provided by publisher

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[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four unhappy people are just trying to make it through the holiday season, and their stories pulled me in right away. This was one of those books that made me feel a little bit of everything, from sadness and frustration to hope and happiness. The author does a great job with the descriptions, making it easy to picture both the holiday setting and what the characters are going through. It's a sweet story about people coming together when they need each other most.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eloise really looked at Christmas and said, "Absolutely not." She booked herself a holiday in December specifically to avoid tinsel, carols, matching pajamas, and people who think cinnamon automatically counts as a personality trait. Then she arrives in Honeycombe Bay and discovers the town has apparently signed a legally binding contract with Christmas itself. Wrong place, ma'am.

Meanwhile Bart has been quietly running his own one-man anti-Christmas campaign from his closed guesthouse ever since losing his wife. The second these two started bonding over how much they both wanted to ignore the holidays, I knew they were doomed. You cannot put two lonely people together and have them grumble about Christmas without the universe immediately plotting against them.

Then life barges in wearing muddy boots. A fire leaves a single mum and her little boy with nowhere to go, and suddenly all these people who were determined to spend December avoiding holiday feelings are cooking meals, making space, looking after each other, and basically building a found family before they've even admitted that's what they're doing. They kept insisting they weren't celebrating Christmas while doing some of the most Christmas-y things imaginable. It was actually kind of adorable.

I also really loved that this wasn't just another romance about twenty-somethings misunderstanding one text message and calling it emotional conflict. Eloise and Bart are in their sixties, carrying years of loss, disappointment, and the quiet kind of loneliness that sneaks up on you. Neither of them believes life still has surprises left. Watching them slowly realize they might be wrong felt incredibly sweet.

And then you throw Mitch, Sarah, and Toby into the mix, and suddenly the guesthouse feels less like a bed and breakfast and more like one of those places where broken people accidentally wander in and leave with extra family members. Toby especially has that magical little-kid ability to bulldoze straight through adult walls without even realizing he's doing it. Everyone kept trying to protect him, but honestly he was the one quietly fixing everyone else.

Honeycombe Bay itself is exactly the kind of fictional place that makes you question your real estate decisions. The seaside, the little community, everyone sticking their noses into each other's business in the nicest possible way...I completely understood why Eloise wanted to run away there, even if she accidentally picked the most aggressively festive town imaginable. I also appreciated that I'd already enjoyed The Christmas Fayre on Holly Field, and this had that same cozy, comforting feeling where ordinary people slowly become each other's home, even though the stories are completely different.

By the time I finished, I realized this wasn't really about learning to love Christmas. It was about realizing that sometimes what you're actually missing isn't the holiday. It's having people to spend it with. That landed harder than I expected, and then the book casually handed me two romances for the price of one just to make sure I left smiling.

This was an easy 4 stars for me. It felt like curling up under a blanket while someone quietly reminded you that it's never too late for second chances, even if you spend the first half of the book insisting you don't want any.

Merry Mayhem Prize: For Turning Two Certified Scrooges Into the Most Reluctant Christmas Elves Without Either of Them Noticing

And thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC. Next time I'd appreciate a warning that I'd be emotionally manipulated by grumpy retirees, an unexpectedly lovable kid, and a seaside guesthouse that apparently doubles as Cupid's seasonal headquarters.

[Trinity Gerke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine. I liked the characters and the story was ok, but it wasn’t my favorite. It may just be me, but I didn’t really understand why Eloise hated Christmas so much other than she had a bad childhood and that soured it. I didn’t feel that was a good enough reason to hate it so much. Maybe I missed something. Other than that I liked the characters and their relationships. The town seemed cute and like somewhere I would want to visit. I think the act 3 “breakup” was a little lame. If you want a cute love story like a Hallmark movie then I would say read it.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to preface with I read a lot of holiday books, as soon as Thanksgiving gets here I am all about holiday books and Hallmark romance, which is not my usual fare. That said, Christmas at Honeycombe Bay is not the usual holiday fair. Granted, Eloise is newly retired and her best friend, the one she typically spends Christmas with, is newly married, it seems a perfect set up for a sad to happy holiday romp. But Eloise is feeling out of sorts and has no family, and a sad childhood story. She decides she will return to a bed and breakfast she enjoyed in the past as long as there is no Christmas goings on. Eloise is feeling full on grinch. The B & B owner, Bart, is in his second year of grieving his late wife, Penny. He too is not looking forward to the holidays and hasn’t run the B & B properly since his wife’s passing. The idea of zero holiday spirit combined with a glimmer of hope to keep his house financially solvent is an inviting idea.

Eloise and Bart hit it off immediately but both have heavy hearts and do not trust themselves as they begin to develop some sort of feelings. At the same time, his neighbor’s home has had a fire and Sarah and her young son, Toby, are in need of a place to stay and frankly, a bit of support. Meanwhile, Mitch, a heartbroken school teacher, is also coming to stay at the lonely hearts club. Eloise, Bart and Mitch seemingly find their purpose taking care of Sarah and her son. Sarah, who is fiercely independent, reminds Eloise a bit of herself and Toby reminds her of what she is missing with no family. It’s a perfect set up for this band of misfits to cobble together their own family of sorts.

I enjoy that was Eloise is a bit prickly and older, not the expected female lead in a rom come. She came for NO holiday but Honeycombe Bay has other plans. Unbeknownst to Bart, the town is trying to drum up community with their own holiday market literally brimming with festivity. Needless to say Eloise is annoyed. But as she begins to see what Sarah and Toby need, combined with what she has missed, she lightens up a bit. It’s wonderful to image at 60 we can reinvent ourselves. The story has is share of expected rom com turns but feels less love story and more real, warts and all, people.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eloise Garrett, 60, has just been made redundant from her long-time job. As Christmas is nearing, she is just wishing it would go away. She does not care for all the hype and with no one to share it with, she wants to escape. She remembers a trip she made to Honeycombe Bay in the summer and decides a few weeks at the Sea View Guest House where she stayed before would be perfect to have a quiet time.

Bart Knott, 63, is the owner of the Sea View Guest House. His life is lonely since his wife passed away and he has closed the bed and breakfast for a while. His son, Ross, wants him to sell it but he’s not ready.

When Bart gets a call from Eloise asking to stay for 3 weeks, he knows he needs the money so he accepts her request to stay. He knows that if he advertises, he may get a few more people as well.

This is a delightful story of rather sad people coming together to find camaraderie during the Christmas season. While I’m like Eloise in that I don’t necessarily care for Christmas, I wasn’t wild about her at first. She seemed to be a cold person in general. But, she did warm up and I then came to like her very much. Bart and the other characters are all quite delightful and it’s lovely how they all came together to see that Sarah and Toby had a nice Christmas. Oh yes, a love sparks too! Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of the tagline "Two scrooges come together for a festive free holiday season..." was enough to hook me. I could not wait to dive into this book.

Eloise Garrett is single, sixtyish and needs a reprieve from holiday festivities. Bartholomew Knott, who is also in his sixties, is still grieving the loss of his wife, and the holidays have lost their glitter for him. When Eloise wants to book a room at his now closed B & B, he decides to rent the guest house to her. He was especially eager to rent it after he found out she was bah humbug material like him.

What starts out as the need to avoid Christmas turns into something much sweeter and festive.

I loved that this was a later in life romance. There are not many romances out there that feature people in their 60's as love is usually young. The characters are so easy to like as they find new light in their lives when they least expect it.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Book Escapes Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas at Honeycombe Bay is a delightful festive read. As the synopsis explains, two main characters fit the description of Scrooges. Neither wants to celebrate Christmas, but for different reasons.

Firstly, we meet Eloise. Life has sucked the happiness from her, and she has no desire to witness the money machine that Christmas has become. Forced out of a job she was underwhelmed with, staring her sixties in the eye, she sees no joy in her future and simply needs to get away. Eloise’s outlook was anathema to me. I love the festive season, but I can understand how it must feel to be on the outside of the celebrations. It must be painful to have absolutely nobody to share with. I think her experience was the most satisfying, as she discovered an outlet for the kindness she had kept to herself for so long.

Scrooge number two was Bartholomew, Bart, a widower whose life had shrunk beyond all recognition since his wife’s death. He had family, but he struggled to cope with their interference. He wasn’t at a point where he was ready to move out of the B&B that had been his home and business for his entire marriage. It was clear to me that Bart only needed a nudge to embrace his festive memories and enjoy their warm comfort. His biggest issue was the guilt from outliving his wife.

The addition of a single mother and her son acts as a catalyst for this story. Made temporarily homeless by a house fire, they are offered refuge by Bart, and the ensuing metamorphosis of our two Scrooges begins. The story arcs for both Eloise and Bart are heartwarming. I loved the gentle way Lilac Mills introduced them to new perspectives and the joy of creating new memories. I don’t include spoilers, so if you want to find out how it all unfolds, the book is out now.

[KanisBookCorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiday reads are among my favorite books to read, and this one did not disappoint. This book follows a group of people trying to escape the holiday cheer, only to find themselves in the middle of a very festive Christmas. What a beautiful story of found family and newfound love. I loved all the characters, but it was especially beautiful to follow the story of Eloise and Bart, a story of older adults who find a second chance.

You will find hope, kindness, and overall happiness within this read. Definitely recommend this one to be added to your upcoming holiday TBR pile.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for this ARC.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming story of later-life romance and was most enjoyable to read.

If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:

https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eloise wants to get away from everything Christmas. On the spur of the moment she decides to return to Honeycombe Bay where she’s sure nothing Christmasy will be going on.
This was an easy to read story with a dash of romance. Eloise was a little annoying at times but got better as the story progressed. It’s perfect for your holiday reading list.

[Helen Leecy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think I've ever been this disappointed by a Lilac Mills book before, and I'm pretty sure at this point I've read everything she has written, including having started with one of her Christmas books, A Very Lucky Christmas. I usually know exactly what I'm going to get when I pick up one of her books, and that's part of why I enjoy them so much. They're normally easy, comforting reads that I can settle straight into, but unfortunately, Christmas at Honeycombe Bay just didn't have that same magic for me.
For approximately the first 50% of the book, I was simply bored. I didn't particularly like Eloise as a character, and I didn't find her interesting enough to carry the story. There seemed to be far too many scenes of her wandering around Honeycombe Bay by herself, thinking about the same things over and over again. I kept waiting for something to happen that would properly pull me into the story, but it took such a long time to get going that I found myself really struggling to pick it back up.
Then, around the middle, my boredom turned into annoyance when a mother and her young son were introduced. I didn't have a problem with either character as such, but the way everyone behaved around the little boy drove me absolutely insane. He would stomp his feet because he wanted something, his mum would say no, and then everyone else would fall over themselves trying to make sure he got exactly what he wanted anyway. It happened repeatedly, and I couldn't understand why everyone was so determined to undermine his mother and indulge him. Rather than finding it cute or endearing, I just thought he was being incredibly spoilt, and everyone around him was enabling it. It became one of those things that irritated me more every time it happened.
The final 25% was much more in keeping with the Lilac Mills books I've come to know and enjoy. There was a misunderstanding, some heartache, and, of course, the happy ever after that I had been waiting for. I definitely enjoyed this section more, and it did go some way towards making the book worthwhile, but by that point, I was still trying to overcome how long it had taken me to get through the rest of it. Usually, I fly through this author's books, whereas this one felt like hard work for far too much of its length.
I think a lot of my problem ultimately came down to Eloise. I just didn't connect with her at all. She wasn't particularly likeable at the beginning, and I didn't feel as though I got to know her well enough to change my mind as the story progressed. What bothered me even more was that other people's attitudes towards her seemed to improve once she started splashing her cash around. Suddenly, she was considered generous and helpful because she had the money to solve problems, and I didn't feel as though that gave me much reason to warm to her as a person.
I've since seen that a second Honeycombe Bay book is planned, and I'm surprisingly torn over whether I'll read it. Considering how many Lilac Mills books I've enjoyed over the years, normally I'd automatically want to carry on with a new series, but this one has left me in a bit of a quandary. I suppose it will depend on who the next book follows because I don't think Honeycombe Bay itself was necessarily the problem. Perhaps, with completely different characters, I'll find that familiar Lilac Mills charm again.
Unfortunately, though, Christmas at Honeycombe Bay was a disappointing read for me. The last quarter was much better and finally gave me some of what I'd been expecting, but it wasn't enough to make up for how bored I had been for the majority of the book. Considering how reliably I've enjoyed this author's books in the past, I really didn't expect to struggle with this one quite so much.

[Shawna Borman · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s the last Wednesday in September, so you know what that means. Book review time! This month, I ended up with a cozy Christmas romance. Christmas at Honeycombe Bay by Lilac Mills was released by Dell yesterday (the 29th). As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for giving me access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s do the thing.

Christmas at Honeycombe Bay follows Eloise and Bart. Eloise (60 and was recently let go from her lifetime job) wants nothing more than to escape all things Christmas, so she runs away to a seaside village that’s supposed to be dead in the winter. Bart (widowed and still wallowing in his loss) owns a B&B that he never really planned on opening again but does so just to prove he can run it alone with the bonus of having an excuse not to spend Christmas with his son’s family. Nobody in the B&B particularly wants to celebrate, but when a house fire a few doors down leaves a single mother and her young child homeless, what are they supposed to do? Bart and his guests decide to give the little boy and his mother the best Christmas they can, of course.

Plot: slow. This is obviously more character driven than plot driven. Yes, you get all the Hallmark romance plot points, but they take a backseat to the characters. Eloise is constantly ruminating on something. Bart is always fretting. And the biggest plot issue is that neither of them can openly communicate to save their lives. Based on the plot alone, the story is cute. It’s standard Christmas fare. There’s nothing special about it. That’s not to say it’s not good. It is. I found it to be very enjoyable. I’m just not going to add it to my list of books I want to re-read. It’s a one and done.

Characters: mixed bag. I didn’t like Eloise. She’s a whiny bitch and everything has to be her way. Her attitude is explained away as stemming from a tough childhood. She is 60. It’s time to acknowledge that other people have agency in their own lives. Also, nothing about her past is severe enough or explained well enough to warrant the hissy fit she throws when she discovers the town is trying something new this year. I also didn’t like Bart’s son. He’s the one who comes off as an uncaring gold-digger, so he has no room to accuse anyone else. And he doesn’t support his father at all even though the book tries to make it seem like he does. That being said, I loved Bart, Mitch, Sarah, and Toby. So, mostly good with a couple of meh characters.

Setting: LOVE! It’s a cozy English seaside village. What’s not to like? It’s a great book in terms of world building. I kind of wondered why it was so fleshed out until I saw a second book set in the same village is coming out next year. Different scenario and different people, but same setting. I don’t know if I’ll pick it up, but in case you were wondering, that’s why Honeycombe Bay is so vividly described.

Writing: not bad. Unobtrusive. I had to look up one or two things because it’s in England and I’m not. But that’s a me problem.

Ultimately, I liked Christmas at Honeycombe Bay for what it is. I’m not particularly interested in future books, but I’m not mad I read this one.

Overall, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. A solid 3.5, anyway. If you enjoy binging Christmas romances (nothing spicy), you’ll probably like this one. If you’re looking for something special, keep looking.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas at Honeycombe Bay by Lilac Mills
A Holiday Romance
Two Scrooges come together for a festive-free holiday season by the sea and find all their anti-Christmas plans going up in smoke when they decide to play Santa for a single mom and her child.

Eloise Garrett thinks Christmas is overpriced, overhyped, and overrated, and without any family to share it with, she feels sad, lonely and isolated. The “season for giving” is just a constant reminder that she’s single, sixty(ish), and staring down retirement. But not this Christmas. Determined to avoid the most magical time of the year, Eloise decides to spend Christmas in Honeycombe Bay. Surely a seaside village in the middle of winter won’t be too festive?

Ever since his wife passed away, Bartholomew Knott hasn’t felt up to welcoming visitors to his guest house. With the prospect of another long, lonely winter, and having become more Scrooge than Santa over the years, Bart is dreading Christmas. However, when he’s contacted by someone who dislikes decking the halls just as much as he does, Bart has the brilliant idea of opening the guest house to people who want to escape all things festive.

Christmas isn’t easy to ignore, though, not even in off-season Honeycombe Bay. So when fate forces Bart to give shelter to a single mother and child whose holiday has been devastated by a terrible fire, Eloise finds herself playing Mrs. Claus to Bart’s Santa—dragging the house’s other guest, a heartbroken teacher looking for a break during the holidays, into the action as well. But holiday cheer isn’t the only thing sparking under the mistletoe. Will the guests at Honeycombe Bay realize that, sometimes, the best way to escape Christmas is to let it into your heart?

Christmas at Honeycombe Bay features two heartwarming romances and all the holiday romance tropes including: a small-town that is “all in” for Christmas, a later in life romance, a widower hero, forced proximity in a charming B&B, a grumpy/sunshine couple with a single mom character, and plenty of carols, cocoa, and decking the halls.
My favorite quote is 
“So, if you don’t want a perm,” Becky huffed impatiently, “what do you want?”

“I want to forget about Christmas,” Eloise replied without thinking, as Mariah Carey announced that all she wanted for Christmas was you.

“Don’t you like Christmas?”

“Not particularly.” She’d never been keen, finding the hype and unrealistic expectations too much; but she’d grown to tolerate it, and for the most part she’d been able to ignore it, especially since Steerhope Ltd. had always conducted a stocktake in early January which she’d been heavily involved in, and the preparation and planning had been extensive.

But this year everything was different, and without work to occupy her, Christmas seemed to have taken a front seat.
Christmas at Honeycombe Bay by Lilac Mills
is a 3-star book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.

[Heidi Lengenfelder · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

*Christmas at Honeycombe Bay* by Lilac Mills is a wonderfully warm, comforting holiday read about loneliness, second chances, unexpected connection, and discovering that sometimes the people who insist they want nothing to do with Christmas are the ones who need a little holiday magic the most.

Eloise Garrett has had enough of Christmas. Without family to celebrate with, the endless cheer, expectations, and reminders of togetherness only make her feel more alone. So this year, she has a plan: escape the festivities altogether with a quiet stay in the seaside village of Honeycombe Bay.

Bart Knott understands completely. Since losing his wife, he has withdrawn from the guest house he once ran and from much of life beyond it. Christmas has become another reminder of everything he's lost, which makes opening his doors to fellow festive escapees seem like the perfect solution.

Of course, Christmas has other ideas.

When a devastating fire leaves a single mother and her child needing somewhere to stay, Bart and Eloise find themselves doing exactly what they were determined to avoid: embracing the season, helping a family in need, and slowly transforming the guest house into a place filled with warmth, generosity, companionship, and perhaps even a little romance.

One of my favorite things about this story was its focus on finding love and purpose at different stages of life. Eloise and Bart's later-in-life romance feels especially refreshing. Their relationship isn't about being swept away by some idealized version of love; it's about realizing there can still be new beginnings waiting for you when you thought that part of your story might already be over.

And they're not the only ones finding unexpected connection. With two romances unfolding beneath one very festive roof, there's plenty of sweetness to go around. I loved the found-family feeling that gradually develops among this group of people who arrive carrying their own loneliness, grief, disappointment, and heartache.

Honeycombe Bay itself provides exactly the kind of setting I want from a Christmas romance—a charming seaside village determined to celebrate the holidays whether its reluctant visitors approve or not. Add in a cozy B&B, forced proximity, carols, cocoa, decorations, community spirit, and some wonderfully reluctant Christmas cheer, and the result feels like curling up beneath a blanket beside a glowing tree.

But beneath all that festive coziness is a genuinely lovely message about what Christmas can mean. For these characters, the season isn't magically perfect. Instead, its magic comes from showing up for someone else, opening the door when it would be easier to keep it closed, and allowing yourself to belong again.

Sweet, uplifting, and full of heart, *Christmas at Honeycombe Bay* is a lovely reminder that family can be found, love doesn't have an expiration date, and sometimes the Christmas you're trying hardest to escape becomes exactly the Christmas you needed.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Ashleigh Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

If a found family at Christmas is your vibe - then this is the book for you. If you love a good Hallmark Christmas movie - then this is the book for you.

I wasn't sure what to expect going into Christmas at Honeycombe Bay, but I was not disappointed. I loved that the story opened with both Eloise and Bart hating the holidays and in doing so wanted to escape them. I also really liked that both of these characters were in their early 60's because oftentimes we forget that older people can also lose and find love. The nice thing about the both of the main characters is that they disliked the holidays for very different reasons. And it's a great reminder that we can find ourselves feeling the same way for very different reasons. Bart was still grieving the loss of his wife. And Eloise had lost her job. They both felt alone and somewhat forgotten in the holiday season.

Eloise remembered staying at a Bed and Breakfast in Honeycombe Bay and wouldn't you know it? It was Bart's B&B. Eloise convinces him to let her come for the holidays as long as he was as grinchy as she was. No Christmas. No Decorations. Nothing. Just a boring holiday season. Bart wanted Eloise to come because he wanted to save his house and the money would help. He also realized that others may want to get avoid the holidays and decided to open the B&B up for those looking for a reprieve from Christmas.

What no one counted on was becoming a found family. That in spending time together reminded them of why the holidays matter and it started with a sweet family was displaced from their home after a fire. It was also in watching Mitch and Sarah try to figure out how they feel about each other. And each one going to Bart or Eloise for advice. It was almost as if watching the Mitch and Sarah and Sarah's son thawed Eloise and Bart's soured hearts. They knew that just because they didn't love Christmas didn't mean they got to deprive a young boy of his Christmas wish.

Once thing that I wish had been addressed was the lack of communication between Eloise and Bart. There were multiple occasions where they "read" the others mind and assumed what they were thinking. And instead of being the adults they were they let these assumptions fester until they almost lost it all. I did appreciate that Bart reminded his son that he was an adult and could make his own decisions. While also reminding him that no one could take his mom's place. I think that both his son's reaction and Bart's conversation were handled well. I would have been frustrated if it had been forgotten.

This a great book to had to your holiday TBR. You won't be disappointed.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't read many holiday stories and can count on one hand how many Hallmark movies I've watched. Of the ones that I have read, I've been far from happy. Usually they're so cheesy, cringey, and painful to get through. This was fine, which for a holiday story is a compliment from me.

From the beginning, I was intrigued that the FMC, Eloise, was sixty. I never really understood why she seemed to despise Christmas and everything to do with it (even drink flavors like spiced caramel). She did have a bad experience as a child, but it didn't seem proportional to her avoidance of all things Christmas-related. It was nice to see her grow from being a prickly older woman to one whose heart opened up to all kinds of love and care.

That being said, this would've been better if it wasn't a romance. It felt.. so wacky to me. She meets Bert, who is a grieving widow of twenty months, and they both fall in love with each other after ten days. Okay. They both acknowledge their feelings of romantic love for each other to themselves and I sat here confused as to how they felt that way. Sure, they shared meals and talked a bit .. maybe they were both so lonely and recluse that once they interacted with someone age-appropriate and of the desirable gender that they just fell in love and trauma-bonded? I don't know man.

The third act break up was so unnecessary. It's not a requirement of a romance book. Eloise was categorized as straightforward and honest in the beginning, but once she started falling for Bert three days in, she lost her proclivity to communicate? I can understand why Bert struggled to communicate because she is his paying guest, he's grieving his wife and marriage of thirty seven years, and he really needs the money so he doesn't want to shove her away. But sir, you're grown. How are you going to go from puffing icing sugar on Eloise because she laughed at the mess you made to suddenly reaching out to kiss her??? No prolonged eye contact, no flirty talks and touches, no tension. Just. Food fight. To make out session. Huh.

This definitely gave me Hallmark vibes, so if you like that, you should definitely give this a try. I enjoyed that the main characters were older, and it was a more detached take on a small town which was nice. I had some gripes with it, but as a read, it moved along smoothly. I wasn't dragging my feet to read it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for this eARC!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may be sitting in Northern California where September still hasn’t gotten the memo about fall, but Lilac Mills’ Christmas at Honeycombe Bay had me on the patio with my morning coffee pretending there was a chill in the air. Thank you to Dell and Random House Publishing Group for the gifted early copy. Anyone else completely willing to read Christmas books while it’s still way too warm outside?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Eloise Garrett wants absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. No decorations, no forced cheer, no pretending the holidays are magical when they mostly remind her of everything she doesn’t have. So she heads to Honeycombe Bay and books herself into a seaside B&B for what she hopes will be a wonderfully Christmas-free escape.

There’s just one problem: Bart, the widowed owner of the B&B, is every bit as determined to avoid Christmas as Eloise is. Two Scrooges under one roof? I was already entertained.

What really won me over, though, was that Eloise and Bart are both older characters who have lived enough life to know that starting over isn’t always easy. I loved getting a later-in-life romance where loneliness, grief, retirement, friendship, and the possibility of falling in love again were allowed to matter. Their relationship felt gentle rather than rushed, and I found myself rooting for both of them.

Then a fire leaves a young mother and her little boy needing somewhere to stay, and suddenly this house full of people trying to escape Christmas is figuring out how to create one for a child. That’s where the story got me. The shared meals, decorating, Christmas activities, and this unexpected little group slowly becoming a family gave the book so much heart.

And we don’t just get one romance! There’s another relationship quietly taking shape alongside Eloise and Bart’s, although I’ll admit I was more invested in Eloise and Bart. Apparently I have picked my Honeycombe Bay couple and I’m standing by them.

This ended up being less about Christmas decorations and presents and much more about loneliness, kindness, second chances, and finding people when you least expect them. My coffee definitely went cold during those last chapters.

Now tell me—what’s one romance trope you’ll never get tired of? Later-in-life romance and found family are pretty high on my list.

#ChristmasAtHoneycombeBay #LilacMills #ChristmasRomance #HolidayRomance #LaterInLifeRomance #FoundFamily #SmallTownRomance #Bookstagram #BookReview

[Jerri Bosley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a cute story. Very hallmark. But it didn't need to be a romance.

I loved the setting, I live close by and the way it was described was beautiful. It had such cozy vibes, exactly what you want from a Christmas story. I also loved the found family aspect, I loved how everyone became friends and came together at Christmas! It was heart-warming.

I however have a few frustrations.

The main characters worked as friends. They had zero chemistry. Honestly she was a truly awful person for the way she spoke to people and I did not connect with her at all. He deserved so much better. Great friends would have worked better than the rushed "we've only kissed once but now we're moving in together" scenario.

I did not like how the two main characters were written like they were elderly. Its like the author does not have any 60 plus persons within their life! The way they spoke and acted was like they were over 80. Another reason I could not connect with them, as it did not make any sense to me.

I do not feel enough research was done before this book was written. As a person who had a huge house fire 4 years ago, I can tell you the Red Cross do nothing apart from throw a few vouchers at you. Yet the book said they would be the ones to help? Also, all the speak about the council not looking after them due to the time of year etc and them being useless - they literally have a duty to house you if you are homeless and have a child. I can understand the MMC putting her off going elsewhere, but it's quite different to have the constant "we won't go to the council as they will be useless" comments. I was put in 4* hotels for odd days before a longer term place came up. You also don't go straight from hotels to housing, you're in temporary housing first.

The last thing, and the thing that offended me the most with this book is saying the child was constantly having "meltdowns". Is he autistic? No. Neurodivergent? No. He's a toddler. He's having a tantrum. As a SEN mum to two neurospicy children, and being neurodivergent myself, nothing irritates me more than people using words that do not apply. If he was actually having a neurodivergent meltdown, and the FMC was judging him and avoiding him because of that - well in my opinion that's even worse.

Would have been 3 stars as it was a lovely cosy read, but a point comes off as always for the 3rd act breakup. Its unnecessary and not needed.

[Jeremy Reppy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Christmas at Honeycombe Bay” was a beautiful story. Eloise wants to avoid everything Christmas. She has no family and after devoting her life to her job, she has been made redundant. She decides to spend three weeks at a charming B&B in the village of Honeycombe Bay, which she had visited a few summers ago. She probably won’t be able avoid everything Christmas, but the tourist town will likely be largely closed up for the season. The Sea View Guest House is not actually open. Since the death of his wife, Penny, almost two years ago, Bart has been mired in grief. While he will enjoy spending time with his son and his family, Bart is not very excited about Christmas either. When Eloise goes on a rant about wanting to avoid everything Christmas related, Bart sees the appeal and announces he will be avoiding Christmas too. He actually finds two more guests who want the same thing, although only one (Mitch) will actually show up.

However, Bart, Eloise and Mitch will not be skipping Christmas. A house fire leaves a young woman and her young son homeless, so Bart offers to let them stay at the guest house. And decides to give Sarah and Toby the best Christmas he can. Mitch is immediately on board, but Eloise is more resistant. However, when she comes around, she goes all in.

I enjoyed the relationships that developed between the main characters. Reopening the B&B, even if only temporarily, and helping Sarah and Toby, gives Bart a sense of purpose he has been missing. It also brings meaning to Eloise’s life, who has been left adrift by the loss of her job. Sarah is proud and stubborn, not wanting to accept charity. So, Eloise, Bart and Mitch have to be creative in how they help her out. Toby is resilient and adjusts fairly well to his new situation, especially with the love and kindness he is shown. Mitch is a teacher and is great with kids in general. Eloise has no experience with children or grandchildren, but it is not long before she becomes Nana Weez (Toby cannot say Eloise 😀), a role she finds she really likes. Sarah and Mitch have an attraction but Mitch lives far away and both have been badly hurt in relationships. Eloise and Bart will also develop an attraction, though they are convinced the other one does not feel the same.

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas at Honeycombe Bay by Lilac Mills

[AD PR] I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Two Scrooges come together for a festive-free holiday season by the sea and find all their anti-Christmas plans going up in smoke when they decide to play Santa for a single mom and her child.

Eloise Garrett thinks Christmas is overpriced, overhyped, and overrated, and without any family to share it with, she feels sad, lonely and isolated. The “season for giving” is just a constant reminder that she’s single, sixty(ish), and staring down retirement. But not this Christmas. Determined to avoid the most magical time of the year, Eloise decides to spend Christmas in Honeycombe Bay. Surely a seaside village in the middle of winter won’t be too festive?

Ever since his wife passed away, Bartholomew Knott hasn’t felt up to welcoming visitors to his guest house. With the prospect of another long, lonely winter, and having become more Scrooge than Santa over the years, Bart is dreading Christmas. However, when he’s contacted by someone who dislikes decking the halls just as much as he does, Bart has the brilliant idea of opening the guest house to people who want to escape all things festive.

Christmas isn’t easy to ignore, though, not even in off-season Honeycombe Bay. So when fate forces Bart to give shelter to a single mother and child whose holiday has been devastated by a terrible fire, Eloise finds herself playing Mrs. Claus to Bart’s Santa—dragging the house’s other guest, a heartbroken teacher looking for a break during the holidays, into the action as well. But holiday cheer isn’t the only thing sparking under the mistletoe. Will the guests at Honeycombe Bay realize that, sometimes, the best way to escape Christmas is to let it into your heart?

My Opinion

Christmas at Honeycombe Bay is a lovely, heart-warming festive novel. I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this delightful book. I read the majority of this book in one sitting as it was difficult to put down. Another stunning novel by Lilac Mills that I would highly recommend.

Rating 5/5

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this was so totally and utterly heartwarming, and made so feel rather festive too. I feel this at it's heart really does show the true meaning of Christmas, and it's not the presents, lights etc.. but it's how you can make other people's lives a bit better for the festive period at least.

Eloise is determined to avoid Christmas this year, she is recently unemployed and was never a big fan of the season anyway, plus her best friend is in a new relationship and she doesn't want to intrude. so will be alone.

Impulsively she decides to book into a B&B in Honeycombe Bay, a place she has some fond memories of, and assumes that it will be quiet and not full on xmassy, given it's out of season. Something Bart the owner agrees with. Bart hasn't opened the B&B since his wife passed over a year ago, but needs the money, so not only agrees to Eloise but promptly decides to offer it as a non Christmas break to others.

I enjoyed getting to know Eloise, Bart and the other guest Mitch, even though it turns out Honeycombe Bay was putting on a week of Christmas activities. But it's when Bart takes in a young mum and child after they have no where else to go, that he decides the little boy needs to have good Christmas memories, even if the other guests leave.

But instead they all agree and from then there is a real sense of found family between them all, and I'd say the second half of the book with all the characters in place is just a sheer pleasure to read.

It really gave me all the festive feels, and I loved all the various Christmas activities that were undertaken, including the local panto,

There are also some fledgling slow burn romances, if only the characters can actually learn to communicate and not just guess what the others are thinking, which was a bit frustrating but true to life.

This is another wonderful book from Lilac Mills, and it left me feeling warm and fuzzy.

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

[Doreen Prentiss Gabriellini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas at Honeycomb Bay by Lilac Mills is a charming Christmas story where the main characters are of a certain age. Eloise is the main female character. She has never been married and she has no family so she will be alone for Christmas. She decides that she just doesn’t want to celebrate Christmas this year and she decides to go to a bed and breakfast she stayed at years ago in Honeycomb Bay. Bart is the main male character who is the owner of the bed and breakfast. He is still grieving his wife that died over a year ago. Eloise calls Bart and they decide they will not celebrate Christmas. No trees, no baubles, no lights, no anything.

Eloise is planning to stay until after New Years. Bart is happy about this because he can use the income. One day when Eloise is out for a walk she comes across a flyer announcing a Christmas Festival in Honeycomb Bay where all the shop owners are pulling out all the stops. Eloise is furious and goes back to the bed and breakfast and gives Bart a piece of her mind. How dare he dupe her. Unfortunately Bart is was so wrapped up in his grief that he hadn’t a clue that the town was doing this.

Eloise decides to stay because she believes Bart that he was oblivious to the events in town. That night Eloise wakes up to the sounds of fire engines outside her window. She notices that the house across the road is on fire. Unfortunately, the occupants of said home are a single mom and her three year old boy.

So Bart offers the Mom and son a place to stay til they can get situated somewhere else. It seems that that won’t happen until the New Year. So can Bart and Eloise still avoid Christmas with a three year old in the house?

This was a very cozy holiday romance that had all the ingredients of a comforting Christmas read. I appreciated that the main characters were of a certain age which is something you don’t usually find in holiday romances. The story is about found family, starting over, doubting one’s self, festive traditions and romance. It was a nice heartwarming story.

[Simone ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first I need to say a gigantic thank you to my favourite lady Lilac for giving me a proof of her next book which I was excited beyond words for! As expected I adored this read from start to finish, Bart & Eloise’s story had me feeling all of the feels the entire way through and this was a christmas read which ofc we know I adored which I promise i’m not biased just because i’m a christmas baby 👀

If there’s one trope I love it’s found family and this book captured it perfectly, most of the time in life we don’t get to pick our family but on the odd occasion someone will walk into our lives and become a member of your family and I loved how this group became their own little family even though they’d only known each other a few weeks, the way that they took care of & showed up for each other was so beautiful 🥹 One of my favourite things of this whole read was seeing how Eloise opened up to those around her after being alone for so long and seeing her connection to Sarah had me in my feels so hard, they had the perfect mother-daughter connection!

We know how much I adore an older couple so Eloise & Bart’s story was so perfect for me, reading about them reminded me that we can fall in love more than once in our lifetime and that love can make itself known at any point in time and everyone has their own timeline - plus these two were the sweetest humans ever and I loved seeing how natural they were around each other even before mitch & sarah came into the story the way that they could just exist in each others space as if they’d been together for years was the best 🫶🏻

Overall, I adored this read & all of it’s characters on another level and Lilac absolutely smashed it once again - the excitement I feel about the rest of this series and the highland rescue centre series cannot fully be explained because it would just be me screaming constantly but I cannot wait to read all of these books and to keep telling you wonderful people all about them! 🥰