The Christmas Crush by Noelle Douglas

Even as we’re heading into Spring, it can still be enjoyable to listen to a winter holiday romance. This is my favorite from the last couple of years, a first novel by an Illinois author, probably because much of the story is set in a cookie bakery and its new rival. Elena Voss is a vice-president of marketing for Sparkle Cookies. She is very good at her job, but finds it increasingly stressful and would rather be painting, or maybe adopting a cat. Sparkle Cookies has many cookie shops and the cookie dough is mass produced at a central bakery then baked and served by staff. The stores look fabulous, with a lavender color theme, and influencers love the photo ops of the cookies, especially at openings of a new bakery.

Lawrence Higgins, tall and handsome, is fond of his grandma and rather shy. He runs Sweet L’s Bakery in New Hope, Pennsylvania, the location of Sparkle Cookie’s next shop, with a grand opening expected on Christmas Eve. Lawrence’s dog Sugar often comes and hangs out in the office. Lawrence and Elena do not have a meet cute during their first encounter at a town hall meeting, but are soon striking sparks. They meet again at a cookie exchange, and Elena gets to experience a small-town Christmas tree lighting. Elena’s boss is very demanding, though her friend and coworker Priya is great, and she is challenged to make the grand opening a big success.

This is an uplifting and sweet rom-com, not at all a cookie-cutter romance, if you’ll excuse the pun. Lawrence bakes with love, his assistance Carmen is awesome, and the small-town setting is snowy and cozy. Lawrence is a talented baker, as is his grandma, and he can tell that Sparkle cookies don’t use real butter. Is there a way his little bakery can compete with the big chain, and will Elena be a help, or just a rival? Listening to the audiobook narrated by Kim Churchill makes me want to bake lots of cookies or a least visit a local, non-chain bakery to enjoy the wonderful aroma of freshly baked cookies. Pistachio Drop cookies from Sally’s Baking, anyone? Here’s the link: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/pistachio-cookies/ I look forward to another sweet rom-com from Douglas.

Brenda