Genre: Holiday Romance

I enjoy cookies: baking and eating. I enjoy holiday rom coms: movies and novels. I certainly enjoyed reading Eliza Evans’ The Christmas Cookie Wars. Melody is struggling this year to find the Christmas spirit with her 10 year old sons. They seem to be growing out of some of the traditions that she has maintained so carefully after the death of her husband some 6 years earlier. When she learns that the Christmas Cookie Committee has disbanded, she risks the wrath of its former chair to take it over. To do so she must work with and then compete with Jonathan, the stuffy principal of her sons’ school who has historically made HER feel like a ten year old child. Baking, ice skating, snowman making, and love ensues.

Evans captures the spirit of Christmas in a big way. She creates a town that celebrates Christmas cookies for weeks. She gives us a spirited baking competition. She gives us a family that is experiencing growing pains, but that clearly love each other - and wanting what is best for each other. She gives us an enemy in Charlene who tries to rule the school with an iron fist. She gives us a mystery - someone is sabotaging the events. And of course, she gives us a lovely romance. I would rate it as Hallmark style in terms of romantic content. Just right for me.

Sometimes we just need a joy filled, escape from real life, holiday read. I needed one this week and The Christmas Cookie Wars by Eliza Evans was just right for me. Be sure to find it when it publishes on October 22. Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putman’s and Sons publishing for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.