What do you think?
Honey Haven #2
The Hot Chocolate Hotel
Not yet published
Expected 10 Nov 26Lacey Dupont is usually out Christmas shopping in London at this time of year and would normally be careering down Oxford Street laden with perfectly gift-wrapped packages. But this December, her heart is in shreds over her cheating ex and she’s driving her little red car to the Scottish village of Honey Haven to get as far away from him as possible.
Scott McRae, owner of The Hot Chocolate Hotel, is there as she tumbles through the door of the first hotel she can find when her car breaks down. Only, his gruff exterior isn’t exactly welcoming, even if the steaming mug of cocoa he offers her is. Her inability to pay for her room doesn’t exactly cheer him up. But he’s low on staff and high on festive chores. And she’s more than willing to work for a place to stay until her car is in action again. If they can keep it under wraps, that is. Because the last thing Lacey wants is to be found…
As festive preparations bring the two closer together, their chemistry starts to hot up faster than the mulled wine they’re dishing out to guests. The two lock eyes over the fairy lights they’re delicately draping on the tree, any unpaid hotel stays long forgotten – and everything else, for that matter.
But when the hotel’s heavy oak door swings open and Lacey sees who’s burst in with the flurry of snow from outside, she knows that life in this little chocolate-box Scottish village is about to come to a screeching halt.
Will Lacey end up lonely this Christmas? Or can the magic of the season melt even the hardest of hearts?
Tropes:
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Small Town
- Forced Proximity
- Spicy
Scott McRae, owner of The Hot Chocolate Hotel, is there as she tumbles through the door of the first hotel she can find when her car breaks down. Only, his gruff exterior isn’t exactly welcoming, even if the steaming mug of cocoa he offers her is. Her inability to pay for her room doesn’t exactly cheer him up. But he’s low on staff and high on festive chores. And she’s more than willing to work for a place to stay until her car is in action again. If they can keep it under wraps, that is. Because the last thing Lacey wants is to be found…
As festive preparations bring the two closer together, their chemistry starts to hot up faster than the mulled wine they’re dishing out to guests. The two lock eyes over the fairy lights they’re delicately draping on the tree, any unpaid hotel stays long forgotten – and everything else, for that matter.
But when the hotel’s heavy oak door swings open and Lacey sees who’s burst in with the flurry of snow from outside, she knows that life in this little chocolate-box Scottish village is about to come to a screeching halt.
Will Lacey end up lonely this Christmas? Or can the magic of the season melt even the hardest of hearts?
Tropes:
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Small Town
- Forced Proximity
- Spicy
- GenresChristmas
Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
It seems I often start a review of one of Donna Ashcroft’s novels with ‘this has got be my new favourite’ as I love her books! They always whisk me away to warm and cosy settings and introduce me to characters I care about—including the animal ones. Again, I have to say this is another that stole my heart and made me feel all kinds of emotions! The Hot Chocolate Hotel is a contemporary festive romance that conjures up warm, delicious, satisfying feelings and ideas. The cover is gorgeous, too, with its Christmas colours and garnishes. Plus there is atmosphere, snow, lights, presents and a poodle! Animals are always featured in Donna’s books and this little one is especially dear. We have a toy poodle (now 15 years and still going strong) with a gentle though vibrant personality and has posh refined tastes!
Lacey Dupont comes from a family with money but she is not a snob about it. In fact, she is quite the opposite. She is down to earth, wants to be useful (not pampered) and when she is at her engagement party to a man she does not love (picked out by her parents who remind her of what they owe this man who ‘saved’ them) she feels obligated to go along with her parents’ wishes. But standing in the middle of the event, she learns of her fiancé’s infidelity. The realisation of her life, hits her so hard she needs to get away to breathe and figure out what to do next. And to probably gather courage to stand up for herself. ‘Leaving William Booker III at their engagement party was out of character for her. But…she had to escape the runaway train that her life had become.’ And because this was the first she went against her father’s wishes, she knew there would the dire consequences. When she jumped in her car, and headed in no particular direction, she ended up in a boutique hotel in the Highlands of Scotland. She wanders in late, exhausted and emotional, the receptionist feels sorry for her and sets her up in a room. In the morning Lacey comes down to pay only to discover she does not have her wallet which she must have left in the car that ran out of petrol.
Scott McRae is the owner of the hotel and he is not happy with her situation. He is not a very pleasant man to start with. But he has his problems and we learn what they are and how it has affected him. He offers to fetch a can of petrol and drive her back to her car, only to find it has disappeared. While it looks like a kind gesture, his real motive likely is to ensure she pays her bill. They return to the hotel and although Lacey finally gives her real last name (not the made up one she used at check in) she continues to conceal her background, revealing she needed to get away from a difficult circumstance. Scott and her come up with an arrangement of working there to pay off her debt. But while there, her whole life begins to change.
While working together, since help is needed and a bill must be paid, an attraction develops between Scott and Lacey. Things are going well until a cold blast from the past and, a current one, come into town and turn everything upside. Lacey and Scott must deal with their nemeses before either of them can go forward. Identities are revealed (and transformed!) as these collisions happen but they are necessary catalyst for change. Painful for the characters but fun for the reader as these events make for some interesting fireworks in the plot!
This second book in the Honey Haven series is spicy and special. It features the popular romance tropes of Grumpy & Sunshine, Close Proximity and Small Town setting but it is not formulaic. As in all Donna’s books, she puts her own creative spin on these tropes that are used to demonstrate some very important topics like relationship control and being yourself. The Hot Chocolate Hotel is brimming with warmth, love, sparkle and festive spirit. A romance erupts so right for these two who deserve real happiness that is not dictated by others. Loved, loved, loved this! It gave my heart a real boost of energy and feel-good emotions. An absolute romantic Christmas gem. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.
Lacey Dupont comes from a family with money but she is not a snob about it. In fact, she is quite the opposite. She is down to earth, wants to be useful (not pampered) and when she is at her engagement party to a man she does not love (picked out by her parents who remind her of what they owe this man who ‘saved’ them) she feels obligated to go along with her parents’ wishes. But standing in the middle of the event, she learns of her fiancé’s infidelity. The realisation of her life, hits her so hard she needs to get away to breathe and figure out what to do next. And to probably gather courage to stand up for herself. ‘Leaving William Booker III at their engagement party was out of character for her. But…she had to escape the runaway train that her life had become.’ And because this was the first she went against her father’s wishes, she knew there would the dire consequences. When she jumped in her car, and headed in no particular direction, she ended up in a boutique hotel in the Highlands of Scotland. She wanders in late, exhausted and emotional, the receptionist feels sorry for her and sets her up in a room. In the morning Lacey comes down to pay only to discover she does not have her wallet which she must have left in the car that ran out of petrol.
Scott McRae is the owner of the hotel and he is not happy with her situation. He is not a very pleasant man to start with. But he has his problems and we learn what they are and how it has affected him. He offers to fetch a can of petrol and drive her back to her car, only to find it has disappeared. While it looks like a kind gesture, his real motive likely is to ensure she pays her bill. They return to the hotel and although Lacey finally gives her real last name (not the made up one she used at check in) she continues to conceal her background, revealing she needed to get away from a difficult circumstance. Scott and her come up with an arrangement of working there to pay off her debt. But while there, her whole life begins to change.
While working together, since help is needed and a bill must be paid, an attraction develops between Scott and Lacey. Things are going well until a cold blast from the past and, a current one, come into town and turn everything upside. Lacey and Scott must deal with their nemeses before either of them can go forward. Identities are revealed (and transformed!) as these collisions happen but they are necessary catalyst for change. Painful for the characters but fun for the reader as these events make for some interesting fireworks in the plot!
This second book in the Honey Haven series is spicy and special. It features the popular romance tropes of Grumpy & Sunshine, Close Proximity and Small Town setting but it is not formulaic. As in all Donna’s books, she puts her own creative spin on these tropes that are used to demonstrate some very important topics like relationship control and being yourself. The Hot Chocolate Hotel is brimming with warmth, love, sparkle and festive spirit. A romance erupts so right for these two who deserve real happiness that is not dictated by others. Loved, loved, loved this! It gave my heart a real boost of energy and feel-good emotions. An absolute romantic Christmas gem. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There's something about a Christmas romance set in a tiny Scottish village that immediately puts me in the festive mood, and The Hot Chocolate Hotel delivered exactly the cosy escape I was hoping for. 🎄☕️
Lacey arrives in Honey Haven trying to escape a life that has become too complicated and expectations that no longer feel like her own. When her car breaks down, she finds herself at the Hot Chocolate Hotel, where she meets Scott, the hotel's grumpy owner.
Their grumpy x sunshine dynamic was probably my favourite part of the romance. Scott and Lacey have great chemistry, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop as they spend more and more time together. There are plenty of fun, awkward and romantic moments along the way.
I also really loved the setting. Honey Haven feels wonderfully festive, and the hotel sounds like the sort of place I'd happily spend Christmas in, preferably with an endless supply of hot chocolate! 😂🍫
What I appreciated most was that underneath all the Christmas cosiness, Lacey is also trying to work out who she is when she stops trying to please everyone around her. That gave her character journey some emotional weight and made her romance with Scott feel more meaningful.
The supporting characters and hotel guests also added some lovely humour and helped give the story that warm small-town feeling.
Overall, this was a charming, easy and festive read with romance, humour, Christmas magic and just enough spice. Perfect for anyone who loves cosy holiday romances, grumpy heroes and small-town settings.
Definitely one for the Christmas TBR. 🎄❤️ Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC
There's something about a Christmas romance set in a tiny Scottish village that immediately puts me in the festive mood, and The Hot Chocolate Hotel delivered exactly the cosy escape I was hoping for. 🎄☕️
Lacey arrives in Honey Haven trying to escape a life that has become too complicated and expectations that no longer feel like her own. When her car breaks down, she finds herself at the Hot Chocolate Hotel, where she meets Scott, the hotel's grumpy owner.
Their grumpy x sunshine dynamic was probably my favourite part of the romance. Scott and Lacey have great chemistry, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop as they spend more and more time together. There are plenty of fun, awkward and romantic moments along the way.
I also really loved the setting. Honey Haven feels wonderfully festive, and the hotel sounds like the sort of place I'd happily spend Christmas in, preferably with an endless supply of hot chocolate! 😂🍫
What I appreciated most was that underneath all the Christmas cosiness, Lacey is also trying to work out who she is when she stops trying to please everyone around her. That gave her character journey some emotional weight and made her romance with Scott feel more meaningful.
The supporting characters and hotel guests also added some lovely humour and helped give the story that warm small-town feeling.
Overall, this was a charming, easy and festive read with romance, humour, Christmas magic and just enough spice. Perfect for anyone who loves cosy holiday romances, grumpy heroes and small-town settings.
Definitely one for the Christmas TBR. 🎄❤️ Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This cutesy Holiday themed RomCom will hit you in all the feels. I was first drawn in by the cover but it was a fast and sweet read. Perfect to get you in the holiday spirit.
Lacey is running from her future- a controlling family, a fiancee she doesn't love. She has spent her entire life being perfect and at her engagement party hits a breaking point. She runs away to Honey Haven, the perfect small town in the Highlands that could be a Hallmark Christmas movie come to life. She ends up staying at the The Hotel Chocolate Hotel which also has a extremely attractive owner, Scott.
Scott and Lacey have excellent chemistry and I really enjoyed the storyline. Texts at the start of some chapters between Lacy and her family show more insight into their controlling behavior with her. And while it helps understand her character it also makes me hard to like her. Her family puts her through emotional abuse and manipulation to get what they want. It's not for me and they should be cut out of her life. She is way to nice and looking for support she wont' get from them.
Regardless the story is sweet and it's a fast read as they work together to save Scott's hotel from financial issues, and from his ex-fiancée who has showed up to win him back. Of course all the hotel guests are invested in their relationship and help along the way which makes for some funny scenes and giggling.
4 Stars
2.5 Spicy (it's on page with some description but nothing dirty dirty)
Tropes:
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Small Town
- Holiday themed
- Secrets
- Past OW drama (light)
- Controlling family
Lacey is running from her future- a controlling family, a fiancee she doesn't love. She has spent her entire life being perfect and at her engagement party hits a breaking point. She runs away to Honey Haven, the perfect small town in the Highlands that could be a Hallmark Christmas movie come to life. She ends up staying at the The Hotel Chocolate Hotel which also has a extremely attractive owner, Scott.
Scott and Lacey have excellent chemistry and I really enjoyed the storyline. Texts at the start of some chapters between Lacy and her family show more insight into their controlling behavior with her. And while it helps understand her character it also makes me hard to like her. Her family puts her through emotional abuse and manipulation to get what they want. It's not for me and they should be cut out of her life. She is way to nice and looking for support she wont' get from them.
Regardless the story is sweet and it's a fast read as they work together to save Scott's hotel from financial issues, and from his ex-fiancée who has showed up to win him back. Of course all the hotel guests are invested in their relationship and help along the way which makes for some funny scenes and giggling.
4 Stars
2.5 Spicy (it's on page with some description but nothing dirty dirty)
Tropes:
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Small Town
- Holiday themed
- Secrets
- Past OW drama (light)
- Controlling family
October 3, 2026
‘I think you might be just what I need to win the Turkey & Tinsel contract.’
Firstly how gorgeous is this cover?! Super Christmassy and I really want to visit the hot chocolate hotel at Christmas time!
Scott is the manager and part owner of the hotel, and enlists guest Lacey’s help when she can’t pay for her room. He is trying to win a lucrative ‘Turkey and Tinsel’ holidays contract at short notice and soon discovers Lacey might be his secret weapon, but they then have to fake a relationship when his ex-fiancée and business partner turns up. The relationship very quickly becomes anything but fake.
This is a lovely, cute festive read and I loved being back in honey haven again. The other residents as well as the hotel guests were great side characters and I really liked Lacey. Scott frustrated me at times but I loved how Lacey saw him and supported him in the ways he needed.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
Firstly how gorgeous is this cover?! Super Christmassy and I really want to visit the hot chocolate hotel at Christmas time!
Scott is the manager and part owner of the hotel, and enlists guest Lacey’s help when she can’t pay for her room. He is trying to win a lucrative ‘Turkey and Tinsel’ holidays contract at short notice and soon discovers Lacey might be his secret weapon, but they then have to fake a relationship when his ex-fiancée and business partner turns up. The relationship very quickly becomes anything but fake.
This is a lovely, cute festive read and I loved being back in honey haven again. The other residents as well as the hotel guests were great side characters and I really liked Lacey. Scott frustrated me at times but I loved how Lacey saw him and supported him in the ways he needed.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A gorgeous cover, fake dating around the holidays, amazing small town vibes and characters, and a good plot plus a little spice!
Lacey finds herself in Honey Haven while escaping her engagement party after realizing she isn't in love and doesn't want to marry the man her parents had selected for her. Scott Is the owner of the Hot Chocolate Hotel and gives Lacey a job in exchange for a place to stay. While she is figuring out her future and helping the hotel, she is also falling for Scott. Scott tried hard to Stay away from Lacey, but their instant attraction and chemistry keeps pulling them together. In a fake fiancé rouse to trick Scott's ex-finance, the piano playing, engaging Lacey wins over Scott. But as the lies build up, will they be able to overcome and move forward or come crashing down around them?
This was a fun and engaging read. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an arc of The Hot Chocolate Hotel in exchange for an honest review.
Lacey finds herself in Honey Haven while escaping her engagement party after realizing she isn't in love and doesn't want to marry the man her parents had selected for her. Scott Is the owner of the Hot Chocolate Hotel and gives Lacey a job in exchange for a place to stay. While she is figuring out her future and helping the hotel, she is also falling for Scott. Scott tried hard to Stay away from Lacey, but their instant attraction and chemistry keeps pulling them together. In a fake fiancé rouse to trick Scott's ex-finance, the piano playing, engaging Lacey wins over Scott. But as the lies build up, will they be able to overcome and move forward or come crashing down around them?
This was a fun and engaging read. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an arc of The Hot Chocolate Hotel in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lacey fled her own engagement party, trying to escape a controlling family and a man she never loved, and when her little red car broke down in Honey Haven, I was right there with her stumbling into the Hot Chocolate Hotel. Scott, the gruff owner, offered her a steaming mug of cocoa and a job in exchange for a room, and their grumpy and sunshine chemistry was my favorite part. Honey Haven feels like a Hallmark Christmas movie come alive, and the hotel guests, invested in every moment between them, brought such warmth and humor. I loved watching Lacey work out who she is when she stops pleasing everyone, even as the family texts made my blood boil. When Scott’s ex-fiancée turned up and a fake engagement ruse tangled everything, I couldn’t turn pages fast enough. A cozy, spicy, festive read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Honey Haven Book #2 did not disappoint!!!!
I enjoyed every second of this comfy romantic story! I literally felt I was right there in Honey Haven as the story progressed. The characters were deeply developed and the storyline that went along with them was executed perfectly to lead up to the perfect ending to this novel! I am really enjoying the Honey Haven series. Book 1 was amazing also.
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of this book to read and review.
I enjoyed every second of this comfy romantic story! I literally felt I was right there in Honey Haven as the story progressed. The characters were deeply developed and the storyline that went along with them was executed perfectly to lead up to the perfect ending to this novel! I am really enjoying the Honey Haven series. Book 1 was amazing also.
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of this book to read and review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wasn't finished at Honey Haven so I was really happy to be approved for book 2 in the series. Loved this book as much as book 1 and I'm hoping there might be a book 3.....
Loved the characters in this book well except for Philippa, and the chemistry between Lacey and Scott was 🔥.
Donna is a new to me author and is now firmly on my radar. Can't wait to read more from her.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Loved the characters in this book well except for Philippa, and the chemistry between Lacey and Scott was 🔥.
Donna is a new to me author and is now firmly on my radar. Can't wait to read more from her.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A standard romance of two people who've been burnt before. I enjoyed the characters and overall the story of running this small hotel at Christmas time was fun. The pace is off in certain parts where things are stretched out when needn't be and then too quickly moved when.a but more would be nice.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Cute easy Christmas read. Great for those that love grumpy mmc x sunshine fmc. The forced proximity wasnt over the top and the spice was about a 2⭐️. It was a lovely pallet cleanser read and would make a great December read
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews