Do you like cheesy and cute hallmark movies? This is for youu!

The Christmas Crush need to turn into a Christmas special movie for sure! I could totally see it playing out in my head as I was reading it. ❤️💚

Add it to your holiday TBR!!

This book wasn't for me. I felt a little bit bored while reading it. I also think the start of this book was a little bit confusing. I have read a book by this author before and I don't think her books are for me. Her writing style doesn't work for me.

I just love Christmas romances. I need them every December. This one was just what I wanted. Lawrence is our local small-town baker. In rolls in Elena with Sparkle, the big cookie conglomerate. Elena needs to prove herself and Lawrence needs to make sure his business survives. They immediately butt heads. Their banter is so funny. The romance is sweet. I adored them. Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is a super cute holiday romance. Great pacing and conflict between characters. I loved that yes there is an initial meet disaster and some bickering between the main characters but that they reign it in pretty early on with maturity and eventual understanding. This is like a more developed and legit Hallmark movie and I do NOT mean that as an insult. Like if you've ever watched one of those movies and just wanted more, more character backstory, more chemistry, this book will do that for you. The corporate lady and small town baker pairing to the max.

My one criticism is that some of the relationship and intimacy building is off page. This book was culminating to a fun snowed in trope and then had some fade to black moments so just fyi no spice. And there is nothing inherently wrong with a fade to black or closed door romance, BUT if they are going to hook up so early on and it's got to be an integral aspect of their relationship there needs to be more relationship building on page and not just assumed that off page shenanigans = falling in love (in my opinion).

But still, really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to Alcove Press for this eARC! It really hits for the season.

If I could give this book 0 stars I would. It was like a knock off wanna be hallmark movie. Was not entertaining or anything it was like watching paint dry trying to read this

The Christmas Crush is the perfect book for fans of closed door, Hallmark movie style books. You get backing, big city girl coming to a small town, charming townspeople and family, and a work villain. I enjoyed reading it and looked forward to seeing how it all came together at the end. And it made me extremely hungry for cookies.

This was such a cute book. It felt like a hallmark Christmas movie mixed with some type of reality baking show. I mean there was no baking competition but it was giving the vibes. The whole book was Christmas vibes and a cute romance.

In "The Christmas Crush" by Noelle Douglas, career-focused Elena is determined to climb the corporate ladder at Sparkle Cookie. When the company opens a new branch in New Hope, Pennsylvania, she seizes the opportunity to impress her bosses. However, the townsfolk, including local baker Lawrence and his dog Sugar, are not thrilled about the large company disrupting their small-town charm. Lawrence, whose bakery specializes in cookies, fears that Sparkle Cookie will crush his business. Sparks fly when Elena and Lawrence butt heads at a town hall meeting, but a cookie competition forces them to join forces. As they work together, they must decide what price they are willing to pay to achieve their goals.

This book is a delightful holiday romcom that perfectly captures the magic of the season. The story of career-driven Elena and local baker Lawrence is filled with charm, humor, and heart. Their initial rivalry and eventual collaboration in a cookie competition make for an engaging and heartwarming read. The small-town setting of New Hope, Pennsylvania, adds to the cozy, festive atmosphere. This book is a must-read for fans of holiday romances and anyone looking for a feel-good story to get into the Christmas spirit. Highly recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book was cute! It was a great hallmark movie style book, predictable and cozy but still good! Some parts were a little long and draggy, but loved the characters!

This was a fun, upbeat, Christmas read. Perfect for getting in the holiday spirit. I can't wait for the next one!

Cute premise but I was not able to finish the story so I won't be leaving a full review. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

I loved it. Perfect for the holiday feels. This one is a small town sweet holiday enemies to lovers romance story and has the perfect cute holiday vibe that everyone needs for this upcoming season. Set in a small town - competition between bakeries. Easy to read, Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was so cute! I knew exactly what was going to happen throughout the whole thing, but I still loved seeing how it unfolded. It was such a cute little small town holiday romance. The characters were lovable and I was invested in it. I liked that the main character/baker was a male. It made the hallmark film vibe feel new.

It was super cute, sweet, heartwarming and cosy. New Hope was one of those places that make you wish they were real so you can go and visit.
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Lawrence is the perfect golden retriever guy, owner of the only bakery on the main street of New Hope, and the best homemade cookies in the entire small town that looks like something out of a Hallmark movie.
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But with the opening of the new branch of Sparkle, the most popular brand of cookies on the market, it is threatened, not only with losing customers.
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Elena Voss is in a complicated situation at work, and everything depends on her not only making the opening of the new branch a success, she needs to beat the competition and win over the people of this small town that seems like something out of a Christmas movie.
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And she thinks it's an easy thing until at the town meeting she crosses paths with the handsome owner of the competition and in the first conversation, sparks not only ignite the chemistry and make them begin to bring the best of their game to beat the other.
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What can I say, it is a perfect book for this time of year, sweet and with very little angst that gives you a very nice ending and also it comes with a recipe that I am dying to try. It’s the perfect book to start feeling the spirit of the season.
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Thanks to Noelle Douglas and Alcove Press for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion.

This one wasn’t for me. Lawrence and Elena just seemed mismatched from the start, and not in a fun way. Imagine having a job that required you to only wear their colors. Very odd. And how would Lawrence even consider dating the person who works for the company that is trying to steal his business? Makes no sense really. The trope just didn’t work here in a smal, town.

In this holiday rom-com, Elena is an ambitious executive from Sparkle Cookie who comes to the small town of New Hope to open a new branch. But the townspeople aren’t thrilled—they think her company will ruin their tight-knit community vibe. The most vocal opponent is Lawrence, the local baker who owns Sweet L’s, a bakery known for its delicious artisanal cookies. He sees Sparkle Cookie as a major threat to his business and is determined to stop them from setting up shop.

Their rivalry comes to a head during a heated town hall meeting, but things take an unexpected turn when they’re forced to team up for a holiday cookie competition. As they spend more time together, their initial tension starts to melt, and soon sparks fly between them. The chemistry between Elena and Lawrence is undeniable, and their connection grows as they balance work pressures and their blossoming feelings.

The small-town setting is charming, with festive decorations and cozy winter vibes. The author does a great job blending themes of ambition, tradition, and community spirit, making this a perfect holiday read. The rivalry-to-romance trope is fun, and though the pacing can feel a bit slow, the cookie competition adds a sweet twist to the story. Overall, it’s a cute, feel-good romance perfect for fans of Hallmark holiday movies or anyone who enjoys a cozy, festive love story.

This was cute for a quick holiday read. Definitely Hallmark vibes. A bit insta-lovey but I still enjoyed it :)

A fun festive read, the story of Elena and Lawrence. She works for a cookie company that looks set to put his bakery out of business by opening a rival store. An enemies to lovers story, set around Christmas. I liked the setting and how it was told from both points of view.

Elena, an ambitious executive from Sparkle Cookie, arrives in New Hope with plans to establish a new branch of the company. Her determination to impress her bosses clashes with the townspeople's resistance, who fear the large corporation will spoil their small-town charm.

At the center of this opposition stands Lawrence, the beloved local baker, alongside his loyal canine companion, Sugar. For two years, their bakery has been the sweet heart of New Hope, specializing in delectable artisanal cookies. Lawrence sees Sparkle Cookie as a direct threat to his business and is resolved to prevent the company from setting up shop in town.

The clash between Elena and Lawrence is inevitable, and their rivalry ignites during a tense town hall meeting. However, fate has other plans when a cookie competition forces them to join forces. As they work together, their initial tension transforms into undeniable attraction.

This book is perfect for lovers of holiday stories with a dash of romance and humor. The author skillfully weaves themes of professional ambition, local tradition, and the true meaning of community into this cozy tale.

The Christmas Crush was a cute read but I'm not sure it was for me. I did really enjoy the relationship between Lawrence and Elena. However, I think that the book kind of lagged about half way through and could have been a little shorter.

This book is very descriptive and I love the town of New Hope. The town is full of a lot of hometown spirit and fun characters.

As I said, this book wasn't necessarily my cup of tea but I know there are people who like uncomplicated, closed door romances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the e-ARC of this book. This review is my own opinion.