My favorite holiday ARC this season!!! A second chance in love, epic holiday town setting equals a fun read! Melody is raising her twin sons after losing her husband. Jonathan is elementary school principal. The holiday scene in the town revolves around the annual cookie swap activities. Together, Melody and Jonathan bond over the activities with their extended families. Just a fun holiday must read. Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam & Sons for this advanced read!

Fun festive romance. The story of Melody and Jonathan, who start to spend more time together when she takes over running the cookie swap at her children's school, where Jonathon is the Principal.

The Christmas Cookie Wars - Eliza Evans
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.

A warm, lighthearted, holiday romance. Melody is trying to do the best she can to make the holidays special for her twin boys. She has become everything to them and is trying to give them the best of times after the loss of the father. Though she is now surrounded by family, there are some days where she is doing all she can to keep it all together. She wants Christmas to be filled with love, joy, happiness, the magic of the holiday season and cookies. Lots and lots of cookies. When the school cookie club falls apart, for some reason she decided to take it over. One hiccup in the plan is the uptight inflexible principal. There is no love lost between them, so in essence, let the cookie games begin. This is a small town, enemies to potentially more, second chance at love, opposites attract, sweet funny read that is absolutely adorable and exactly what I needed.

This book is such a Hallmark movie & I would totally watch it!! 🎄❤️ The Christmas Cookie Wars was such a cute book! Such a heartwarming romance!

The Christmas Cookie Wars takes place in a small town where Melody is a widowed mom of two boys. Her town is all about cookies & Christmas & when the cookie club at her sons school is disbanded, Melody steps in to help out. The school has a single principal that all the moms talk about, but until she started helping out with the cookie club, she didn’t think of Jonathan like that. When they start the cookie club back up before Christmas, Jonathan & Melody find themselves in a bet. Melody is pretty competitive, but when she starts spending more time with her son’s principal while planning events for Cookie Daze, will she still feel competitive or will her feeling start to shift??

I really enjoyed this one! This was such a sweet, lighthearted romance & I always love a small town romance! I really loved watching Melody navigate her feelings after being single for so long since the passing of her husband. Also, the relationship with her boys was something that really hit me as a mom. Melody has to watch her boys grow up & grow out of traditions, especially when they were things she did with her husband, & she has to learn how to navigate & handle this new phase of life.
Overall, great cozy holiday read!

It is definitely a book I would recommend & a perfect read for the holidays!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the ARC of The Christmas Cookie Wars.

The Christmas Cookie Wars was like reading a Hallmark movie! So charming and spirited. I raced to finish this one because I needed to see Melody and Jonathon's story unfold before I did anything else. 100% recommend this to anyone who likes romance, feel-good, Christmas vibes and can't wait to have my copy in hand!

This is such a cute and cozy winter read! I loved Melody and her strong personality. Melody is a single mother to twin boys who has been struggling trying to find balance after their father’s passing. Melody’s sons are struggling in school, and she volunteers at their school to bake and sell cookies.

The principal Johnathan and Melody make a bet and things begin heating up. This novel has laughter, banter and explores if a mom can be with the principal. I found myself enjoying this one from the start. Thank you Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel.

The Christmas Cookie Wars by Eliza Evans

The Christmas Cookie Wars was a cute cozy holiday romance with a little mystery mixed in. Melody has been raising her twin boys Tate and Flynn alone since their father Thomas passed away, but recently she has been struggling. The boys have been getting into trouble in school and Melody has been called into the office, as she has arrived late with the boys for school for the millionth time. Principal Johnathan Braxton is wound a little tight, not caving on rules, and following policies, he dresses like he’s going to a business meeting, but Melody is starting to see just how fit he really is.

When the person that runs the annual cookie events drops out, Melody volunteers to run it, unfortunately Melody has had no success at cookie making yet. When Johnathan and Melody make a bet on the outcome of the bake off, they don’t expect to start feeling attracted to the other. As things heat up, will the community do if they be ok if they date? Can a parent and the principal have a relationship? Toss in the mystery of the sugar and salt swap, and you have a bit of mystery and drama.

I definitely enjoyed this sweet wholesome story about a second chance at love. This was heartwarming and definitely made me smile. Great for a before or after Christmas read. This is filled with traditions and magic.

i LOVE LOVE LOVE christmas romances and this was a perfect option. the holiday spirt is alive in this book- it was funny, charming, and made me want to scream sing jingle bells at the top of my lungs. if you’re looking to get in the christmas mood pick up this book!!

Huge thank you to Putnam Books for the ARC!

I read Eliza Evan's debut novel, The Christmas Café last Christmas season and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one! Don't her books have the cutest covers ever? Covers are important to me, but especially Christmas book covers since so much about it is the *aesthetic*!

I thought this one was fun and tender. I felt the romance was sweet and believable, and I loved the added depth of love after loss as I watched the main character, Melody, falling in love for the first time since her husband died. Being a widow with twin 10yo boys, dating wasn't high on her list of priorities, but after her son's continued trips to the principals office, Melody begins spending more and more time with him.

Read this if you enjoy:

-Love after loss
-Closed door romance
-Single parent romance
-Small town coziness
-Cookies, obviously
-Baking competitions

You definitely need to add this one to your Christmas TBR!

Warning: it will make you EXTREMELY HUNGRY, so make sure you have some cookies nearby!

This was a great little holiday romance. I loved that the main character is a widowed mother of two fifth-grade boys - it gave a point of view that I seldom see. As a mom of three young boys, it helped me recognize how fleeting this time is, and the realization that my boys will grow out of traditions, but hopefully also create new ones together. I really appreciated the mature perspective of the two main characters: usually one character overreacts to something that extends the plot a bit, but I never felt that in this book. I enjoyed all the Christmas traditions and references, and the little mystery plot behind who was sabotaging the cookie events!

Melody Monroe is determined to keep Christmas traditions alive for her sons, even as they grow up and become more independent. When the school’s beloved cookie club disbands, she sees an opportunity to create lasting memories with her kids. But between baking mishaps and mysterious sabotage during the festive competition, Melody starts to wonder if a second chance at love might be in the cards.

This book is wonderfully cute and heartwarming. I loved the cozy, small-town vibe, which sometimes gave off a Gilmore Girls feel—yes, it’s a bit of a cliché, but it’s true! There were moments when everything seemed to go wrong, and the whole town rallied together, bringing that familiar sense of community and charm.

Six years after losing her husband, Melody has been raising her twin sons with the support of her parents and sister. As her boys start to become more independent and leave their belief in Santa behind, Melody clings to her annual Christmas traditions more than ever—and doesn’t expect to find new love along the way.

Jonathan, the divorced single father and principal at Melody’s kids’ school, has been a familiar face lately due to her children’s frequent tardiness. Though he’s attractive and highly sought after by other moms, Melody can’t picture herself with someone so serious and structured—until he swoops in to save her cookie recipe. Suddenly, Melody starts to see a different side of Jonathan, and a possible future together begins to take shape.

This book was filled with nostalgia and holiday cheer, and it got me in the Christmas spirit. The romance was wholesome and sweet, complemented by many tender family moments throughout the story. It’s a fun, easy romantic holiday read that’s perfect for cozying up with during the festive season.

I loved Eliza’s first book that came out last year, but this one fell a little short for me. I loved the romance between Melody and Johnathan and seeing her relationship with her kids grow and change. I did notice quite a few grammatical errors & it didn’t really give me a happy holiday vibe. I did like how emotional and deep the storyline was and how it showed Melody learning to love someone again and try out a relationship since her husband passed. Overall it was just okay for me. I would recommend to others to read especially during the holiday time but I still prefer The Christmas Cafe more!

The Christmas Cookie Wars by Eliza Evans. This was a cute, charming, fast-paced read.
This book was so cozy and wholesome.
Overall, it was the perfect book for a cozy season!
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Melody Monroe is determined to keep Christmas traditions alive for her sons, even as they grow up and become more independent. When the school’s beloved cookie club disbands, she sees an opportunity to create lasting memories with her kids. But between baking mishaps and mysterious sabotage during the festive competition, Melody starts to wonder if a second chance at love might be in the cards.

This book is wonderfully cute and heartwarming. I loved the cozy, small-town vibe, which sometimes gave off a Gilmore Girls feel—yes, it’s a bit of a cliché, but it’s true! There were moments when everything seemed to go wrong, and the whole town rallied together, bringing that familiar sense of community and charm.

Six years after losing her husband, Melody has been raising her twin sons with the support of her parents and sister. As her boys start to become more independent and leave their belief in Santa behind, Melody clings to her annual Christmas traditions more than ever—and doesn’t expect to find new love along the way.

Jonathan, the divorced single father and principal at Melody’s kids’ school, has been a familiar face lately due to her children’s frequent tardiness. Though he’s attractive and highly sought after by other moms, Melody can’t picture herself with someone so serious and structured—until he swoops in to save her cookie recipe. Suddenly, Melody starts to see a different side of Jonathan, and a possible future together begins to take shape.

This book was filled with nostalgia and holiday cheer, and it got me in the Christmas spirit. The romance was wholesome and sweet, complemented by many tender family moments throughout the story. It’s a fun, easy romantic holiday read that’s perfect for cozying up with during the festive season.

The Christmas Cookie Wars by Eliza Evans was a funny, cute story that kept you engaged till the end. If you like Hallmark movies, you will like this book. It was predictable, but in the most adorable way. I recommend.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Sweet Romance, Holiday Romance
Spice Level: Kissing
Language: I don't remember any profanity (so if there was, it passed by me)

THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE WARS is so adorable and funny!

I liked the mystery element of who was sabotaged the cookie events. And I'm wondering if other readers will know who is responsible.

The build up in the burgeoning relationship and the escalation of antics all around the cookie fund raiser was so satisfying. I loved all the kids in this story too. Melody's husband died, and she's raising twin boys who are full of mischief. Jonathan is divorced and his teen daughter gets to visit, and she has a panache for clothes.

Melody took on the cookie fundraiser and had no idea what she was in for! So part of the fun was being overwhelmed with her. Family is also a big support to her. I love how family plays a positive role instead of being dysfunctional. Jonathan is also uptight with his sweater vests, and is always strict with the rules. The changes in their personalities were also wonderful to see as they unfurled.

I think this book will appeal to all romance readers and holiday lovers.

Happy reading!

Thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and Eliza Evans for this ARC! I thought this story was so cozy and sweet! It was like a hallmark movie in a book. It was cheesy but I enjoyed it so much. This was the perfect little Christmas romantic comedy.

I really enjoyed all the characters, especially Melody. Her feelings about her children getting older and wanting to hang out with her less, really got me in my feelings as a mother. I would recommend this to anyone who is in the mood for a fluffy Christmas romance.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. this is a great, heartwarming christmas book for sure. i loved seeing melody being such a good mother when her kids need it to matter. especially during the holidays, i can imagine it being hard not having all your family with you. the writing and plot was really well done.

The Christmas Cookie Wars
By Eliza Evans

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 (4 out of 5)

Publishing date: 10/22/2024

Single Mom Melody, is trying to help her sons find their holiday spirit. Her boys have recently lost their father, and unfortunately aren't feeling the Christmas magic.  When Melody learns the school Cookie Club is in need of a new leader, she volunteers... even though she will have to deal with the grumpy principal, Mr. Braxton.
  SOMEHOW, Melody gets involved in a bake off with the principal and isn't sure what to do when her frustrations turn into....romance?

Review:
One of my least favorite things about a chrismas book, is when it doesn't put me in the holiday spirit. But this one did the opportunity!   It definitely had a ton of Christmas aspects throughout the book, and it also made me want cookies. 🤣

It kept my interest, and I enjoyed the characters! I really liked Melody and Jonathans relationship. It was sweet.

It's not a super memorable read for me, but it was enjoyable while i was reading it. 😊

Thank you @goodreads and @putnambooks
For the early read opportunity! Very much appreciated!