Winter Wishes at Pennycress Inn: A BRAND NEW heartwarming small-town romance from BESTSELLER Sarah Hope for 2026

by Sarah Hope

Escape to the Cotswolds this Christmas with the BRAND NEW instalment in the heartwarming Pennycress Inn series from BESTSELLER Sarah Hope. The perfect cozy read for fans of Heidi Swain, Eliza J.Scott and Gilmore Girls. 🎄❄️ Every book in the Pennycress Inn series can be read as a standalone.

Scarlett never expected her Christmas to look like this…

Heartbroken and betrayed, Scarlett trades her old life for a camper van and heads to the beautiful Cotswolds, accompanied only by a rescued guinea pig. As fairy lights begin to twinkle across the village of Meadowfield, she dares to hope a little Christmas magic might help her start again.

But life isn’t that simple. Between freezing nights, a broken heater and inadvertently bumping into coffee seller Rowan (sending china cups flying), Scarlett’s fresh start quickly turns chaotic. Rowan is kind, funny and impossible to ignore - but after everything she’s been through, Scarlett isn’t sure she can trust anyone with her heart. Especially if it means revealing the truth about her past.

As Christmas draws near, Scarlett finds herself embraced by her cousin Laura’s cosy Pennycress Inn and the warmth of village life, from carols and ice skating to snowy days and the Christmas tree farm.

Could this winter give Scarlett the fresh start she’s been wishing for... and maybe even a second chance at love?

A romantic, warm and wholesome small-town romance that’s perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson and Rachael Lucas.

Praise for Sarah

'Love, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely gorgeous page turner!! An absolute must read!!!' ★★★★★ Reader Review

'A gorgeous story and one I would definitely recommend. It is light-hearted but with some serious things as well.' ★★★★★ Reader Review

'A nice easy read that had me hooked. Loved all the characters.' ★★★★★ Reader Review

'A perfect feel good read that left a smile on my face.' ★★★★★ Reader Review

'All Sarah's characters are well constructed and three dimensional, the kind you'd want as your own friends.' ★★★★★ Reader Review

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2026

Reviews

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and it's always great to revisit the characters as well as new ones. Funny, sweet and romantic what more could you ask for. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Diane Jewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter Wishes at Pennycress Inn by Sarah Hope ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Welcome back to Pennycress Inn with book 5. Each book we are meet new characters, therefore they can stand alone. I love catching up with "friends" from the previous books. It's because of their relationships that make up the close-knit community that we grow to love.
Scarlett has had a rough go lately. Her boyfriend left her, she has no home and now no job. She decides to move to Penneycress with her cousin to start over.
Rowan starts to show interest in her but she's not ready to get close to anyone thanks to her past. How long will Rowan keep trying or will he give up?
If that doesn't peek your interest, just wait till you read and laugh about the runaway pig 🐖🐷 😂

.....And guess what today, September 19th is release day. Get your copy today.

[Kaveesha Bandara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5⭐

This book instantly became one of my favourite winter romances. From beginning to end, reading it felt like I was watching a Hallmark Christmas movie. All the charming descriptions of winter in the Cotswolds made the reading experience even more joyful. The narration was smooth and flowing, making it an easy and enjoyable read. Even though this is the fifth book in a series, it can be read as a standalone.

The characters are well developed and have emotional depth. The romance between the two main characters was heartwarming. The supporting characters added to the feeling of a close-knit community and made the story even more charming.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a cosy, heartwarming winter romance filled with Christmas charm, romance, and small-town vibes.

[Ann-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s wonderful to be back in Meadowfield and at the Pennycress Inn, catching up with old friends and making new ones.

Scarlett’s broken up with her boyfriend Tyler and is on her way to visit her cousin Laura, after a spot of breaking and entering to rescue a Guinea pig. The breakup with Tyler was complicated and messy and Scarlett‘s too ashamed to tell Laura and Jordan the truth, as she’s scared they will think badly about her. Bumping (literally!) into Rowan’s coffee cart, and breaking a few coffee cups, is the start of a new friendship for Scarlett but is she ready to reveal her past and trust anyone again?

Enjoyable fun read, perfect for Christmas.

Thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for an ARC for my honest review.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice enjoyable festive read

[Marie Yarwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great instalment of the series. This time we follow the life of Scarlett as she returns to pennycress in her campervan as a heartbroken woman having found out her boyfriend is actually married and living a double life.

With her cousin going away for Christmas this is the perfect opportunity to start again as she helps to run Pennycress Inn on the run up to Christmas.

When an unfortunate mishap occurs involving a coffee cart and an attractive gentleman called Rowan can Scarlett find it in herself to love again after the way she’s been treated?
Time will tell

[Connie · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This book is part of the Pennycress Inn series, but reads just fine as a standalone.

When Scarlett has her whole life uprooted she hops into a beatup camper van and heads to visit her cousin Laura at the Pennycress Inn in the Cotswolds to heal and start over. She has a cute little guinea pig for a companion that she rescued from her ex. When she gets there she runs into Rowan who has a coffee cart and it's the start of a beautiful friendship.

This is a slow burn, small town romance and I enjoyed the fact that the two main characters took their time getting to know each other. Both of them were learning to trust after being betrayed.

Scarlett sells her art at holiday markets and pitches in at the Inn when they're short of help. She begins to love the town and the people in it which adds another layer to the cozy storyline.

Scarlett got a little repetitive beating herself up for something she didn't know, but don't let that keep you from reading the book. The side characters are wonderful and the cozy holiday setting will let you fly through the book. I can't wait to read the other books in the series and look forward to future books.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Of course, I had to read this after the summer wedding of Laura & Jackson and I was happy to see that this was about her cousin Scarlett! (Kinda predicted this seeing she showed up at the wedding as a new character) but what a tragic backstory for her. Tragic because she had totally no idea of the ex-boyfriend totally leading a second life with her despite having a wife and child, and I'm glad she is rid of him.

Pennycress sounds like a lovely inn, and the Christmas setting makes me want to visit and I also want to say I am wanting to know the very scary Ms Cooke mayoress better! Despite just being a side plot, she seems to be a misunderstood soul in the village, especially to the newcomers. I'm happy with the romances and couples that come out of the story but more about Ms Cooke please!

[Grace Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved returning to Meadowfield and Pennycress Inn to meet Scarlet and Rowan who have both been unlucky in love.
Happy to hear the Inn is doing good business and keeping Laura and Jackson busy in the run up to Christmas.
Some old favourites popped up in this book and no surprise Claudette did too!
A cosy festive read that gives you all the Christmassy feels.

[Dawn Griffith Hansard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely second chance romance filled with family, friends and hope. I loved the characters, especially the run away sheep. This is perfect holiday reading. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley

[Angie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

The characters were amazing ,loved how the characters learnt to trust again after had relationships between them becomes clear that they are meant to be together

[Wendy Ann Neels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story, Scarlett and Rowan's story is lovely, lots of romance, snow and hot chocolate,a very warm and cosy read.

[Pat Langhelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved being back in Pennycross, following Scarlett visiting her cousin Laura in her camper van.

[anna louise croft · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read but too much time repeating the same things around the relationships - a lot of repetition on what could have been a shorter story