There’s nothing quite like a holiday romance set in a picturesque small town, and that’s exactly what you’ll find in the two charming novels I’m sharing today. Both are brimming with delightful holiday details and cozy seasonal vibes.
I'll Be Home for Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
Pages: 448
Genre: Romance/Holiday
Publisher: Penguin
Source: Personal Copy
Other Books By Author: Kiss Me at Christmas
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads says, "Fred Hallow-Hart isn't in love with the idea of returning home to Pine Bluff. But after a bad breakup and a subsequent eviction, she's fresh out of options. God knows she loves her mum and her eccentric aunts—and who could forget their Christmas Cracker family business?—but she's always felt a little out of place in her small town.
Quickly roped in by her mother to help with the cracker shop, Fred decides throwing herself into work might actually be what's best for her. Until she reconnects with her old best friend Ryan, who is suddenly making her heart flutter in ways she's never known; and unexpectedly finds a spark with Warren, a charming journalist covering the Pine Bluff Christmas Market for the Daily News.
But as these connections slowly lead Fred back to her heart, she's forced to confront some harsh truths, which, if she doesn't find a way through, might just ruin the holidays for those dearest to her. Can Fred let go of the past enough to recognize real love? And when she does, how far will she go to protect it?
Fred Hallow-Hart had it all going for her away from the small town of Pine Bluff, Scotland, where she grew up alongside her mother and her eccentric aunts. But her world comes crashing town after she suffers a breakup and an eviction. Reluctantly, she returns home to her mom, aunts, and her family's Christmas Cracker business. While at home, she decides to help her family's business by using her marketing background as the company needs a lot of help to bring it up to speed. While spending time at home, she reconnects with her old best friend, Ryan, and even has a new connection with Warren, an aspiring food critic that is in Pine Bluff on assignment. Can Fred find love this holiday season, appreciate the small town of Pine Bluff, and move on from her past? Jenny Bayliss asks readers those questions in her latest holiday novel, I'll Be Home For Christmas.
My favorite aspect of I'll Be Home For Christmas was the town of Pine Bluff in cozy Scotland. I loved all the details and Bayliss does a great job of bringing it to life. I also enjoyed Fred’s mom and her quirky aunts—so many laugh-out-loud moments! The family’s Christmas Cracker business is a fun and festive addition to the holiday story. The romance was also strong, and I was rooting for Ryan and Fred to reconnect from the start as he is such a lovable character. Jenny Bayliss’s novels are always like putting on a cozy sweater on a chilly evening; this book is charming, delightful, and sure to put readers in the holiday spirit.
The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore
Pages: 384
Genre: Romance/Holiday
Pub. Date: September 16, 2025
Publisher: Harper Collins
Source: Personal Copy
Other Books By Author: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads says, "A wedding in Dream Harbor can only mean one thing, everyone wants to get involved!
With Jeanie and Logan set to tie the knot, and Kira desperate to hire out her newly renovated barn at the Christmas tree farm, everything seems to be going well. Annie has agreed to bake the cake, and Mac is responsible for, well… just being Mac. And as the whole of Dream Harbor comes together to celebrate the wedding of the year with the snow falling around them, can Annie and Mac put aside their dislike for each just long enough for the ‘I Do’s’ or is that one request too far…"
Readers return to Dream Harbor just in time for the holiday season and an exciting wedding between Jeanie and Logan. The town is buzzing with anticipation—Annie, the local baker, is in charge of the wedding cake, and Kira is set to unveil the newly renovated barn at her Christmas Tree Farm. Amidst the festivities, Annie and Mac find themselves thrown together again. Their banter and unresolved tension have lingered ever since high school, and now that Mac is back to run his family’s bar, the sparks—both old and new—begin to fly. As Jeanie and Logan’s big day approaches, Annie and Mac must work together to plan the perfect celebration. Interestingly, even their friends can’t quite remember the origin of Annie and Mac’s long-standing feud. With so much time spent together, will they finally lay the past to rest or discover that their chemistry might just lead to something more? Laurie Gilmore's The Gingerbread Bakery is a charming holiday novel filled to the brim with small town holiday details, and an enemies to lovers romance.
The narrative weaves in nostalgic glimpses of their high school years, offering insight into their complicated history in The Gingerbread Bakery. While I’ve only read The Pumpkin Spice Cafe from this series, it’s clear that Dream Harbor feels as cozy and close-knit as Stars Hollow—everyone knows everyone, and the sense of community is heartwarming for fans of this genre. Also, fans of the series will enjoy how the various characters overlap. The Gingerbread Bakery has delightful Hallmark movie vibes, making it easy to trust that everyone in Dream Harbor will ultimately find their happy ending. While the novel may be predictable, it’s cute and charming, making it a perfect holiday read—especially for those who love a sweet story with a touch of steam.
Have you read either holiday novel? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
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