A sweet and spicy holiday romance, this novel delivers all the cozy Christmas charm with a dash of competitive heat. When Storee Taylor and her sister return to their aunt’s festive Christmas town to care for her after an accident, Storee expects a calm winter getaway—not to be thrown headfirst into the town’s legendary Christmas Kringle competition. But Aunt Cindy has other plans, and suddenly Storee finds herself whisk-deep in flour, sugar, and holiday chaos. Her biggest obstacle? Cole, the town grump who takes the competition far too seriously and is determined to stop her from claiming the coveted Kringle crown. Their rivalry quickly melts into sizzling tension, laugh-out-loud banter, and moments that will make romance readers swoon. Perfect for fans of How the Grinch Stole Christmas–style grumps, holiday baking show vibes, and anyone who wishes Hallmark movies came with a bit more spice, this charming enemies-to-lovers holiday tale is a delightful treat for the season.

This Christmas thriller unfolds in dual timelines—one told through eerie 1989 diary entries, the other from the killer’s chilling perspective. Ashley Smith, an American art student in London, accepts a last-minute invitation to spend Christmas at Starvewood Hall, a picturesque Cotswold manor that feels like a dream. She’s drawn to the warmth of the Chapman family, the cozy village of Clevemoor, and especially Emma’s enigmatic brother, Adam. But Adam is under suspicion for the murder of a local girl, and a mysterious stranger haunting the nearby woods makes Ashley question whether she’s stepped into a romance, a gothic tale, or something far darker. Over thirty years later, a long-hidden diary resurfaces, revealing how the events of one haunting Christmas reach their terrifying conclusion decades later in modern-day New York.

The Twelve Dates of Christmas follows Kate Turner, a charming small-town woman who’s finally ready to find true love. Hoping to shake up her romantic luck, she signs up for a dating service that promises twelve festive dates with twelve different men. Along the way, Kate is supported by her tight-knit community, her hilarious best friend, and Matt—the longtime friend who just might be more than an unrequited crush. Filled with cozy humor, second chances, and Hallmark-worthy charm, this closed-door romance delivers all the warm, twinkling holiday vibes. And if you can’t get enough, the book was also adapted into a sweet Hallmark TV series that captures the same heartwarming spirit.

Molly and Andrew are longtime friends with one unusual holiday tradition: every December for the past ten years, they’ve ended up sitting next to each other on the last pre-Christmas flight from Chicago to Ireland, sharing bad wine and life updates. Romance has never been part of the deal—just comfort, familiarity, and a connection neither of them wants to lose. When a massive snowstorm cancels their flight home, Molly makes an impulsive promise to get Andrew back to Ireland in time for Christmas dinner with his family. Armed with determination and a slightly unhinged travel plan involving multiple modes of transportation, the two set off on a race against time. As delays pile up and plans unravel, Molly begins to realize that what’s always felt like friendship might be something deeper. This is a charming, cozy friends-to-lovers holiday romance about tradition, timing, and discovering that the person you’re meant to be with might have been beside you all along.

Sameera Malik and Tom Cooke cross paths at an unremarkable holiday party, both firmly uninterested in love. Sameera is buried in her demanding legal career and still recovering from personal and family upheaval, while Tom is chasing a future as a chef and content creator—despite his family’s insistence that he choose a more “practical” path. After an innocent social media post sparks a rumor that they’re dating, Tom proposes they lean into it. The arrangement is simple: a temporary, fake relationship that boosts his online presence and helps Sameera make a valuable professional connection. It’s practical, mutually beneficial, and definitely not supposed to involve feelings. Things get complicated when their families get involved—specifically when Sameera’s devout Muslim parents and Tom’s very different family decide to meet over Christmas in rural Alaska. Surrounded by snow, cultural clashes, and nonstop family opinions, the fake dating act starts to feel a little too convincing. What begins as a strategic “fauxmance” slowly turns into something genuine in this warm, funny holiday romance built on the fake dating trope, family chaos, and unexpected connection.

Callie has sworn off both love and Christmas after a painful breakup, determined to avoid the holidays altogether. But her well-meaning sister intervenes with a homemade Advent calendar challenge designed to drag Callie back into festive cheer—one small task at a time. Reluctantly completing the challenges leads Callie to an endlessly optimistic baker who’s everything she isn’t when it comes to the holidays. As they agree to tackle the Advent activities together, sparks begin to fly, testing Callie’s resolve. This cozy holiday romance leans into the opposites-attract trope, showing how Christmas magic—and the right person—can thaw even the most Grinch-like heart.

Noelle Jones is a personal chef who lives for Christmas, even when she’s cooking for her least favorite client—a wealthy, brooding tech entrepreneur who couldn’t be less festive. A last-minute, high-paying dinner seems like easy money before she heads home for the holidays. Everything changes when a blizzard traps them together, leaving Noelle snowed in with a certified Christmas grinch. Forced proximity, clashing holiday attitudes, and unexpected moments of warmth turn an inconvenient situation into something more. This cozy holiday story delivers a classic snowed-in romance where opposites collide and sparks fly amid the winter storm.

Holly Jackson is a hopeless romantic who refuses to give up on love—even after a disastrous Christmas Eve heartbreak. Determined to keep dating, she becomes a regular at a local restaurant, much to the irritation of its gruff, love-averse owner, Kai Kane. To restore his peace and quiet, Kai offers to help Holly find the perfect match, playing reluctant dating coach in hopes she’ll take her romances elsewhere. But as Holly’s sunny optimism clashes with Kai’s grumpy exterior, he finds himself growing unexpectedly jealous and far more invested than planned. This festive romance leans into the grumpy–sunshine trope, proving that sometimes the grumpiest hearts fall the hardest—especially during the holidays.

Saira Wright is a successful romance author facing a career-threatening creative slump—and an ultimatum to write a holiday romance she doesn’t believe in. Desperate for inspiration, she escapes to an over-the-top, festive small town. There, she meets Dorian Black, a quiet volunteer firefighter still grieving his late wife and uninterested in love. As holiday traditions, close-knit community moments, and a winter storm pull them together, sparks ignite. This cozy small-town romance blends holiday magic, healing, and second-chance love.

Bee Hobbes—known online by a very different stage name—has built a thriving career and a devoted fanbase. But when she’s cast in a wholesome Christmas movie for a family-friendly network, she’s suddenly navigating a world where her real job must stay secret. Things get even more complicated when she realizes her co-star is Nolan Shaw, a former pop star and her longtime crush, now trying to rebuild his reputation for the sake of his family. As filming in a charming Vermont town brings them closer, attraction ignites behind the scenes—along with the risk of exposure from curious executives and an intrusive reporter. This playful holiday romance blends second chances, hidden identities, and off-camera sparks that threaten to steal the spotlight.

Alisha Dutta, an aspiring journalist recovering from a breakup, agrees to a two-week ski holiday in a small Austrian town—well outside her comfort zone. What she doesn’t expect is a literal collision on the slopes with Felix Bauer, a guarded local who’s sworn off love after being left at the altar. As snow-filled days draw them together, Alisha’s warmth begins to crack Felix’s icy defenses, and the two find themselves changing in ways neither anticipated. What starts as a holiday escape may be something deeper, raising the question of whether some vacation romances are meant to last beyond the trip.

Charlie Kingsley is known around town for her calming teas and good advice—but love magic is strictly off the menu. When a stressed, pregnant client jokingly asks about poison after discovering her husband’s affair, Charlie brushes it off as empty venting. Then the husband is found dead on Christmas Eve… poisoned. With suspicion falling squarely on the wife, Charlie is drawn into a tangled mystery filled with secrets, small-town drama, and holiday tension. Set in 1990s Wisconsin, this cozy Christmas mystery blends humor, twists, and an amateur sleuth who can’t resist uncovering the truth—one cup of tea at a time.