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Mint Condition
Nora has one Christmas peppermint does not belong in dessert. Unfortunately, the annoyingly calm chocolatier across the alley has built half his reputation on it.
Honey & Rye is all brown butter, gingerbread, honey, and warm holiday flavors. Cole’s chocolate shop, The Frost Line, is polished, precise, and currently declaring peppermint season like a personal attack.
The town’s Christmas market pairs them for a holiday dessert competition.
Now Nora and Cole have just over three weeks to create one winning treat, which means shared kitchens, blind taste tests, and far more time together than either of them planned.
But they might find creating the perfect Christmas dessert may be easier than figuring out what happens when business, trust, and feelings all end up in the same recipe.
Honey & Rye is all brown butter, gingerbread, honey, and warm holiday flavors. Cole’s chocolate shop, The Frost Line, is polished, precise, and currently declaring peppermint season like a personal attack.
The town’s Christmas market pairs them for a holiday dessert competition.
Now Nora and Cole have just over three weeks to create one winning treat, which means shared kitchens, blind taste tests, and far more time together than either of them planned.
But they might find creating the perfect Christmas dessert may be easier than figuring out what happens when business, trust, and feelings all end up in the same recipe.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Kate Rozy for the arc of Mint Condition. This novella releases on 11/2. This was a 3.25 star read for me. I thought it was decent. The banter was very sharp at times where the fmc and mmc would go back and forth and so I tended go get confused as to who was saying what since neither was connected to the sentences. So you kinda have to guess. The romance was closed door. If it had been a little more spicy it would have been chefs kiss but that's my own personal preference. This is a cute quick fast read and I enjoyed it.
Blurb
Nora thinks Christmas should taste like gingerbread, brown butter, and absolutely no peppermint.
Cole owns the chocolate shop next door and has built an award-winning reputation around proving her wrong.
Naturally, the town decides they should create a holiday dessert together.
Mint Condition is a cozy, funny, winter romance featuring rivals-to-lovers banter, neighboring businesses, forced proximity, snowed-in chemistry, and an extremely serious argument about peppermint.
This is Book 2 in the A Taste of Love series, but it can be read completely as a standalone.
Blurb
Nora thinks Christmas should taste like gingerbread, brown butter, and absolutely no peppermint.
Cole owns the chocolate shop next door and has built an award-winning reputation around proving her wrong.
Naturally, the town decides they should create a holiday dessert together.
Mint Condition is a cozy, funny, winter romance featuring rivals-to-lovers banter, neighboring businesses, forced proximity, snowed-in chemistry, and an extremely serious argument about peppermint.
This is Book 2 in the A Taste of Love series, but it can be read completely as a standalone.
November 2, 2026
A little holiday magic, a little baking, and two very different people finding something sweet together.
📚 I loved how two completely different personalities came together. Their differences made their connection especially sweet.
📚 The small-town setting added just the right amount of charm and cozy holiday fun.
📚 The baking tradition was such a cute addition! I love when a story creates little moments that feel special and memorable.
📚 This was a quick, comforting read that gave me exactly the warm holiday romance vibes I was looking for.
A sweet, cozy holiday romance that was easy to settle into and left me feeling warm and happy. Perfect for when you want something light, festive, and comforting!
I received a free copy of this book as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this review.
📚 I loved how two completely different personalities came together. Their differences made their connection especially sweet.
📚 The small-town setting added just the right amount of charm and cozy holiday fun.
📚 The baking tradition was such a cute addition! I love when a story creates little moments that feel special and memorable.
📚 This was a quick, comforting read that gave me exactly the warm holiday romance vibes I was looking for.
A sweet, cozy holiday romance that was easy to settle into and left me feeling warm and happy. Perfect for when you want something light, festive, and comforting!
I received a free copy of this book as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this review.
November 11, 2026
I am a huge fan of Kate Rozy books and this one did not disappoint. This is a cute, cozy, Christmas novella with a hint of peppermint and spice. Nora owns a bakery and Cole owns the chocolate shop next door. They are forced to work together to form the perfect dessert.
October 20, 2026
I received an ARC of Mint Condition from Kate Rozy! Thank you, Kate, for the opportunity to read Mint Condition! There are no spoilers ahead!
I wasn't even finished reading page 1, and I immediately felt like I was in the scene of the book!. Everything (and I mean everything) was described so vividly that I could picture myself as a fly on the wall during the entire book. This book made me want to curl up with a blanket and enjoy everything that the holiday season brings!
I enjoyed getting to know both the MMC and the MFC throughout the entire story. I did have a bit of trouble keeping some of the friends straight in my mind (who they are, what role they play in the story, etc). I know that this book is part of a series. I did not get the opportunity to pick up the other book in the series though I think this would have been helpful when it came to remembering the friends and understanding them in a different way. There were a few parts of the book that were slower than others, but I really enjoyed the book overall!
A few good surprises and twists in the story that I wasn't expecting! Definitely recommend reading during the holiday season or whenever you're craving a great holiday book! Thanks again to Kate for the opportunity to read this 2nd book in the series!
I wasn't even finished reading page 1, and I immediately felt like I was in the scene of the book!. Everything (and I mean everything) was described so vividly that I could picture myself as a fly on the wall during the entire book. This book made me want to curl up with a blanket and enjoy everything that the holiday season brings!
I enjoyed getting to know both the MMC and the MFC throughout the entire story. I did have a bit of trouble keeping some of the friends straight in my mind (who they are, what role they play in the story, etc). I know that this book is part of a series. I did not get the opportunity to pick up the other book in the series though I think this would have been helpful when it came to remembering the friends and understanding them in a different way. There were a few parts of the book that were slower than others, but I really enjoyed the book overall!
A few good surprises and twists in the story that I wasn't expecting! Definitely recommend reading during the holiday season or whenever you're craving a great holiday book! Thanks again to Kate for the opportunity to read this 2nd book in the series!
November 9, 2026
🎄 Peppermint Wars, Gingerbread Dreams, and One Deliciously Sweet Christmas Romance! 🍫❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars
PEPPERMINT DOES NOT BELONG IN DESSERTS!! 😂🎄 At least, that's Nora's opinion, and this woman is NOT about to change her mind without a fight! Mint Condition by Kate Rozy was such an adorable, cozy little Christmas romance filled with hilarious banter, delicious holiday treats, and two completely opposite personalities who might just discover they're the perfect combination!
Meet Nora, the talented and fiercely opinionated baker behind Honey & Rye, where brown butter, gingerbread, honey, and all those wonderful warm holiday flavors reign supreme! Nora knows exactly what she likes, and peppermint has absolutely NO BUSINESS making an appearance in her desserts!
And honestly?! I have to admire her dedication to the cause! 😂❤️
I absolutely loved Nora's snark and sass! She's passionate about her baking, confident in her opinions, and definitely not afraid to speak her mind. And when it comes to the annoyingly calm chocolatier across the alley? Well, let's just say she has PLENTY to say!
Enter Cole, the owner of The Frost Line, a chocolate shop where everything is polished, precise, and apparently peppermint is practically a Christmas requirement!
OH, COLE!! 🍫❤️
He's calm, collected, and the complete opposite of Nora's fiery personality. While she's busy declaring war on peppermint, he's perfectly content defending his chocolate creations and getting under her skin without even trying!
THE BICKERING BETWEEN THESE TWO!! 😂
I loved how their completely different personalities created such an entertaining dynamic. Nora's sarcasm paired with Cole's calm demeanor made their interactions so much fun, and their playful disagreements gave their developing relationship a wonderful sense of charm.
But things get especially interesting when the town's Christmas market pairs them together for a holiday dessert competition!
TWO RIVAL BUSINESS OWNERS. THREE WEEKS. ONE WINNING CHRISTMAS DESSERT!! 🎄🧁
And suddenly, avoiding each other is no longer an option!
Between shared kitchens, blind taste tests, and their very different opinions about what makes the perfect holiday treat, Nora and Cole have to figure out how to work together without driving each other completely crazy!
I really enjoyed watching their relationship gradually develop as they spent more time together. What starts as a battle of flavors and personalities slowly becomes something much sweeter as they begin recognizing each other's talents and appreciating the differences that once frustrated them.
And that's what made their connection so enjoyable!
Neither character needed to become someone completely different for their relationship to work. Instead, they learned that their individual strengths could actually complement each other.
WHO KNEW GINGERBREAD AND PEPPERMINT COULD MAKE SUCH AN INTERESTING COMBINATION?! 😂🍫
I also loved the cozy Christmas atmosphere Kate Rozy created throughout the story. The small-town setting, festive market, charming businesses, and descriptions of all those delicious desserts made everything feel so warm and inviting!
Seriously, this book might leave you craving gingerbread, chocolate, and maybe even a peppermint treat or two!
And the little holiday baking traditions?! 🥹❤️
Those sweet, memorable moments added another layer of charm to the story and made Nora and Cole's growing connection feel even more special.
One thing I particularly appreciated was how well the novella format suited this romance. It's a quick, easy read with a straightforward storyline, plenty of playful banter, and just enough romantic tension to keep things entertaining.
This isn't a holiday romance filled with enormous stakes or overly complicated drama, and I think that's part of its appeal. Sometimes I just want something lighthearted and comforting that lets me escape into a cozy little Christmas world for a while!
And Mint Condition delivers exactly that!
I especially enjoyed the way Nora and Cole's relationship highlighted the importance of compromise and learning to appreciate someone else's perspective. Their differences might have started the rivalry, but those same differences eventually helped them create something wonderful together.
FOUR STARS!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mint Condition was a sweet, funny, and wonderfully festive little romance! With a sassy baker, an adorably calm chocolatier, a Christmas dessert competition, and plenty of cozy small-town charm, Kate Rozy created the perfect story for anyone craving a quick holiday escape.
If you love Hallmark-style Christmas romances, playful rivals, opposites-attract chemistry, and enough delicious desserts to make you hungry, this is such a fun little read!
NORA AND COLE!! 🎄🍫❤️ Sometimes the sweetest things happen when two people stop arguing about the recipe and discover how perfectly their ingredients work together!
Thank you to Kate Rozy for the gifted advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars
PEPPERMINT DOES NOT BELONG IN DESSERTS!! 😂🎄 At least, that's Nora's opinion, and this woman is NOT about to change her mind without a fight! Mint Condition by Kate Rozy was such an adorable, cozy little Christmas romance filled with hilarious banter, delicious holiday treats, and two completely opposite personalities who might just discover they're the perfect combination!
Meet Nora, the talented and fiercely opinionated baker behind Honey & Rye, where brown butter, gingerbread, honey, and all those wonderful warm holiday flavors reign supreme! Nora knows exactly what she likes, and peppermint has absolutely NO BUSINESS making an appearance in her desserts!
And honestly?! I have to admire her dedication to the cause! 😂❤️
I absolutely loved Nora's snark and sass! She's passionate about her baking, confident in her opinions, and definitely not afraid to speak her mind. And when it comes to the annoyingly calm chocolatier across the alley? Well, let's just say she has PLENTY to say!
Enter Cole, the owner of The Frost Line, a chocolate shop where everything is polished, precise, and apparently peppermint is practically a Christmas requirement!
OH, COLE!! 🍫❤️
He's calm, collected, and the complete opposite of Nora's fiery personality. While she's busy declaring war on peppermint, he's perfectly content defending his chocolate creations and getting under her skin without even trying!
THE BICKERING BETWEEN THESE TWO!! 😂
I loved how their completely different personalities created such an entertaining dynamic. Nora's sarcasm paired with Cole's calm demeanor made their interactions so much fun, and their playful disagreements gave their developing relationship a wonderful sense of charm.
But things get especially interesting when the town's Christmas market pairs them together for a holiday dessert competition!
TWO RIVAL BUSINESS OWNERS. THREE WEEKS. ONE WINNING CHRISTMAS DESSERT!! 🎄🧁
And suddenly, avoiding each other is no longer an option!
Between shared kitchens, blind taste tests, and their very different opinions about what makes the perfect holiday treat, Nora and Cole have to figure out how to work together without driving each other completely crazy!
I really enjoyed watching their relationship gradually develop as they spent more time together. What starts as a battle of flavors and personalities slowly becomes something much sweeter as they begin recognizing each other's talents and appreciating the differences that once frustrated them.
And that's what made their connection so enjoyable!
Neither character needed to become someone completely different for their relationship to work. Instead, they learned that their individual strengths could actually complement each other.
WHO KNEW GINGERBREAD AND PEPPERMINT COULD MAKE SUCH AN INTERESTING COMBINATION?! 😂🍫
I also loved the cozy Christmas atmosphere Kate Rozy created throughout the story. The small-town setting, festive market, charming businesses, and descriptions of all those delicious desserts made everything feel so warm and inviting!
Seriously, this book might leave you craving gingerbread, chocolate, and maybe even a peppermint treat or two!
And the little holiday baking traditions?! 🥹❤️
Those sweet, memorable moments added another layer of charm to the story and made Nora and Cole's growing connection feel even more special.
One thing I particularly appreciated was how well the novella format suited this romance. It's a quick, easy read with a straightforward storyline, plenty of playful banter, and just enough romantic tension to keep things entertaining.
This isn't a holiday romance filled with enormous stakes or overly complicated drama, and I think that's part of its appeal. Sometimes I just want something lighthearted and comforting that lets me escape into a cozy little Christmas world for a while!
And Mint Condition delivers exactly that!
I especially enjoyed the way Nora and Cole's relationship highlighted the importance of compromise and learning to appreciate someone else's perspective. Their differences might have started the rivalry, but those same differences eventually helped them create something wonderful together.
FOUR STARS!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mint Condition was a sweet, funny, and wonderfully festive little romance! With a sassy baker, an adorably calm chocolatier, a Christmas dessert competition, and plenty of cozy small-town charm, Kate Rozy created the perfect story for anyone craving a quick holiday escape.
If you love Hallmark-style Christmas romances, playful rivals, opposites-attract chemistry, and enough delicious desserts to make you hungry, this is such a fun little read!
NORA AND COLE!! 🎄🍫❤️ Sometimes the sweetest things happen when two people stop arguing about the recipe and discover how perfectly their ingredients work together!
Thank you to Kate Rozy for the gifted advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 3, 2026
A Christmas dessert competition where peppermint is apparently a personal enemy? I knew I was going to have fun with this one!
Nora and Cole had me smiling with their ridiculous dessert disagreements, and I honestly loved how seriously they took their differences. These two could turn a simple conversation about Christmas flavors into a whole debate, and somehow I was invested in who was going to win. I'm not sure I've ever thought so much about peppermint in my life!
I really enjoyed Nora's personality. She's got her own ideas, isn't afraid to stand by them, and isn't exactly interested in letting Cole have the last word. And Cole? That calm, matter-of-fact attitude made their exchanges even better. I loved the contrast between them, especially when they were forced to spend more time together than either probably wanted to admit was a good thing.
The holiday competition was such a fun way to bring them together, and I loved the little glimpses of the town and the Christmas festivities. There's something about a small-town holiday setting that makes me want to grab a blanket, make something sweet, and pretend I have absolutely nothing else to do.
This was a quick, cozy read that gave me exactly what I wanted from a holiday romance. The banter was definitely one of my favorite aspects, and I enjoyed seeing these two slowly find a little common ground beyond their very strong dessert opinions.
Kate Rozy has a way of making the everyday feel entertaining, and this was such a cute addition to my holiday reading. Now I'm craving gingerbread... and maybe a little peppermint!
Nora and Cole had me smiling with their ridiculous dessert disagreements, and I honestly loved how seriously they took their differences. These two could turn a simple conversation about Christmas flavors into a whole debate, and somehow I was invested in who was going to win. I'm not sure I've ever thought so much about peppermint in my life!
I really enjoyed Nora's personality. She's got her own ideas, isn't afraid to stand by them, and isn't exactly interested in letting Cole have the last word. And Cole? That calm, matter-of-fact attitude made their exchanges even better. I loved the contrast between them, especially when they were forced to spend more time together than either probably wanted to admit was a good thing.
The holiday competition was such a fun way to bring them together, and I loved the little glimpses of the town and the Christmas festivities. There's something about a small-town holiday setting that makes me want to grab a blanket, make something sweet, and pretend I have absolutely nothing else to do.
This was a quick, cozy read that gave me exactly what I wanted from a holiday romance. The banter was definitely one of my favorite aspects, and I enjoyed seeing these two slowly find a little common ground beyond their very strong dessert opinions.
Kate Rozy has a way of making the everyday feel entertaining, and this was such a cute addition to my holiday reading. Now I'm craving gingerbread... and maybe a little peppermint!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Taste of Love: Cole & Nora
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A cute little small-town Christmas romance with forced proximity, a dessert competition, and two people who couldn't be more different!
Nora and Cole have very different ideas about what belongs in a Christmas dessert, and watching these two rivals being forced to work together was fun. Their opposites-attract dynamic created tension, with a little bickering thrown in for good measure!
I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop as they spent more time together, discovering that there's more to each other than their competing businesses and strong opinions about holiday flavours.
This was a sweet, cosy, and easy read with festive vibes, a touch of romance, and nothing overly complicated, just a cute story that was easy to enjoy!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A cute little small-town Christmas romance with forced proximity, a dessert competition, and two people who couldn't be more different!
Nora and Cole have very different ideas about what belongs in a Christmas dessert, and watching these two rivals being forced to work together was fun. Their opposites-attract dynamic created tension, with a little bickering thrown in for good measure!
I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop as they spent more time together, discovering that there's more to each other than their competing businesses and strong opinions about holiday flavours.
This was a sweet, cosy, and easy read with festive vibes, a touch of romance, and nothing overly complicated, just a cute story that was easy to enjoy!
November 2, 2026
I did like the premise of the plot, the battle between peppermint and gingerbread being the flavor of Christmas was fun and bringing in the town to help with the decision . Their banter between Nora and Cole was good too, even if its delivery is mostly dry and almost clinical, which seems to just be writing style after reading a few Kate Rozy books. I think for me, and this could be just how I interpreted things, the three little words between them kind of came out of nowhere? It's an obvious piece of a romance novel but it just took me by surprise. Overall, it was a decent, short holiday read.
November 3, 2026
I received a copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I should start by saying team gingerbread all the way!
This was such a short sweet read. Great novella that you can devour in a sitting.
This was more of a cozy, holiday read, that gives the Hallmark vibes. I thought the length worked perfectly for this story. Nothing felt unnecessarily stretched out and it made for a quick, easy read.
I loved the idea of the bakery competition and the playful teasing between Nora and Cole really set the scene for their HEA.
Overall, this was a great little read and a perfect palate cleanser between longer books.
I should start by saying team gingerbread all the way!
This was such a short sweet read. Great novella that you can devour in a sitting.
This was more of a cozy, holiday read, that gives the Hallmark vibes. I thought the length worked perfectly for this story. Nothing felt unnecessarily stretched out and it made for a quick, easy read.
I loved the idea of the bakery competition and the playful teasing between Nora and Cole really set the scene for their HEA.
Overall, this was a great little read and a perfect palate cleanser between longer books.
November 3, 2026
A funny, cute holiday story with two rival bakers forced to work together for the holidays. I adore the great banter, sarcasm, and overall wholesomeness that Rozy brings to her works. Her stories always find ways to bring smiles and laughter throughout and even though this story has lower stakes than her other works in terms of outcome, I still greatly enjoyed it with the holiday banter and very slow, reluctant changes that each main character experiences as the story develops.
Favorite Quotes:
“You climbed through a service window. Your judgment has been unreliable all afternoon.”
“Do you love me more than peppermint?”
Favorite Quotes:
“You climbed through a service window. Your judgment has been unreliable all afternoon.”
“Do you love me more than peppermint?”
October 20, 2026
I never thought mint and gingerbread would be a combo I wanted to try till I met Cole and Nora.
Oh my what a cute winter romance, forced proximity and a desert competition. When we first meet Cole and Nora they are rivals in town being forced to work together. Cole is a chocolate shop owner and Nora cooks Christmas in dessert. When it comes time to combined, the tension is tensioning.
This sweet and cozy winter romance with everything I needed to start my holiday reads.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my what a cute winter romance, forced proximity and a desert competition. When we first meet Cole and Nora they are rivals in town being forced to work together. Cole is a chocolate shop owner and Nora cooks Christmas in dessert. When it comes time to combined, the tension is tensioning.
This sweet and cozy winter romance with everything I needed to start my holiday reads.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 24, 2026
Review of an ARC received from the author.
I really enjoyed this novella. It was short and sweet - I read it in one sitting - but it felt like a complete story. I felt like I could hear Nora and Cole speaking, which is always a good sign, and I had a smile on my face the entire time. Thoroughly recommend this to everyone wanting a sweet Christmas romance.
I really enjoyed this novella. It was short and sweet - I read it in one sitting - but it felt like a complete story. I felt like I could hear Nora and Cole speaking, which is always a good sign, and I had a smile on my face the entire time. Thoroughly recommend this to everyone wanting a sweet Christmas romance.
November 2, 2026
If I were as driven as Nora was in her fight against peppermint I would be further in life! This adorable and hilarious quick read. Nora’s snark and sass immediately won me over.
I thoroughly enjoyed Nora and Cole’s bickering episodes. It made be development of their relationship more fun. They ended up complimenting each other well.
I thoroughly enjoyed Nora and Cole’s bickering episodes. It made be development of their relationship more fun. They ended up complimenting each other well.
November 8, 2026
Mint Condition by Kate Rozy
4/5 ⭐️
This was such a fun holiday treat! I could almost taste the gingerbread and the peppermint! I loved the back and forth between the rivals and found myself smiling from ear to ear when they finally fell for each other.
I can't wait read more of Kate Rozy! Easy read. Simple characters. Sweet story. And enough rivalry to keep it interesting.
4/5 ⭐️
This was such a fun holiday treat! I could almost taste the gingerbread and the peppermint! I loved the back and forth between the rivals and found myself smiling from ear to ear when they finally fell for each other.
I can't wait read more of Kate Rozy! Easy read. Simple characters. Sweet story. And enough rivalry to keep it interesting.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received the ARC of Mint Condition
I enjoyed the story like I just wish it was longer so we could get to know the characters more and stuff like that.
Because of Cole and Nora, the Christmas cookie of 2026 will be a gingerbread cookie with peppermint ganache!
I enjoyed the story like I just wish it was longer so we could get to know the characters more and stuff like that.
Because of Cole and Nora, the Christmas cookie of 2026 will be a gingerbread cookie with peppermint ganache!
October 20, 2026
Such a cute holiday read filled with conflict, attraction, and a little “spice” lol (the baking kind).
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was an adorable winter, baking romance
October 28, 2026
Such a fun book! I’ve fallen in love with the characters and their banter! Found myself laughing out loud a lot. Thank you for the free copy of the book
November 2, 2026
Short, holiday baking competition story. Mint Condition is the perfect title.
November 4, 2026
This cozy Christmas story is the perfect holiday read! It's the perfect short read with closed door spice that did not disappoint! Thank you Kate for sharing this ARC with me!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews