This is a sweet holiday romance set in a small town. Elena is a successful career woman who is working for a large cookie conglomerate that is opening a new location in New Hope. Lawerence is the local bakery owner who is ready to fight against Sparkle Cookies coming into his town.

Elena and Lawerence immediately had sparkles flying but they also quickly team up to hopefully save both of their careers. This novel is filled with adorable romcom moments, holiday cheer and lovable characters.

I enjoyed the narrators tone of voice and expressiveness. Thank you Dreamscape media for the ALC.

Received a copy from NetGalley as an audiobook. Can never argue with a Hallmark type Christmas book with closed door romance. You add in a small town rugged baker, cute dog named Sugar, and a city girl who needs to escape and come to love small town charm and this book was a perfect recipe!

I keep Christmas going all year with books. I am always looking for great books to add to my list. This one was a cute story that filled a need but wasn’t a favorite. I was craving cookies the whole time the romance came second.

I loved this feel-good romance between Elena and Lawrence. I was hoping for some spice, but it was fine without. This is a holiday romance.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Audio wise this was very well done, the narrator did a spectacular job. Loved it.
Story wise this was cute, fun and very enjoyable . I like the characters and how it developed around cookies too cute.

A cute holiday rom com from Noelle Douglas. A little vanilla in the feelings and story line but an overall cute read.

A small-town baker and a career woman working for a cookie conglomerate get all mixed up in this small town Christmas romcom, perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey and Maggie Knox. Career focused Elena is climbing the corporate ladder all the way to the top; so when Sparkle Cookie, the cookie manufacturer she works for, opens a new branch, she jumps at the opportunity to impress her bosses. But the townsfolk in New Hope, Pennsylvania aren’t exactly thrilled about a large company coming in to ruin their small town feel with factories and truckloads of Sparkle Cookie products on their roads, yet Elena is determined to prove herself and make the new branch a success. Local baker Lawrence–and his dog Sugar–have been a beloved staple in New Hope for the past two years. Their bakery specializes in cookies, but with Sparkle Cookie coming in, he’s worried their market will be quickly squashed by franchise locations selling mass-produced (and, in his opinion, terrible) cookies on every street corner. Elena and Lawrence immediately butt heads at a town hall meeting, and Lawrence is determined to drive Sparkle Cookie from town at all costs–but Elena is just as ruthlessly determined to make the New Hope location a success and win over the townspeople. When a cookie competition makes them join forces, sparks fly, and they’re both forced to decide just what price they’re willing to pay to reach their goals.

Yes chef 🫡

In this cute Christmas book we are transported to New Hope, a wonderful little town where everyone knows everyone. Lawrence the local baker is in jam since Sparkle cookie is planning on a big opening which can end his business.

Enter Elena, the sparkle cookie executive who is in charge of making the grand opening Grand!

This was a dislike to hate story though our boy Lawrence was a goner the moment he saw Elena.

I really liked the way Lawrence’s family (especially his grandma) accepted Elena who always had a lonely childhood.

Elena was such a strong woman who sometimes hurt people too much. Something she learned from her lawyer father.

The audiobook was wonderfully narrated, Kim Churchill does a great job at conveying the feelings of these characters.

I would recommend this book to those who like Halmark movies. This book will truly get you in the Christmas spirit!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC copy.

I am so excited to listen to this book in the 4 month run up to Christmas! Full review to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, the narrator and the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a cute, fluffy, small town romance. Such a nice break from heavier books! I love a holiday romance and one with an enemies to lovers storyline. Definitely recommend this one for your holiday reading list! The narrator did a great job as well.

It's almost winter reading season! Time to dust off the Hallmark movies, cuddle by a fire with some delicious cookies, and enjoy warm cocoa. This book follows Elena and Lawrence, who flip the stereotypical roles. Lawrence is a small-town baker trying to make ends meet, and Elena is the big-city VP of marketing sent to the small town to edge out the competition and open a competing box store cookie shop. Despite their initial animosity, they are drawn to each other and their brief enemies-to-lovers journey turns into a romance. Elena has a distant relationship with her family and never spends the holidays with them, while Lawrence has a close-knit family, best friends, and embodies the overall charm of small-town life. The spirit of baking, hope, self-confidence, and new romance is woven throughout this sweet book, making it the perfect Hallmark movie in book form. It's cheesy, over the top, and includes a plot twist that brings the two protagonists even closer together. If you love Hallmark movies, you'll adore this book. It may not be perfect, but it's heartwarming and will make you want to read more holiday books!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This story was adorable. Elena is a VP at a large cookie company. They decide to open a cookie store in a small town where there is already a loved bakery and baker, Lawerence. (Who I loved and was rooting for the whole time!)

This book was absolutely darling!!!! I just loved it so much. The book was so sweet. Love the characters.

This was very cute and festive! However, I personally felt like the chemistry between our two main characters was forced and I really disliked the pet names they called each other.

Thank you netgalley and dreamscape media for the free ALC. My opinions are being left voluntarily. This was such a fun cleaver holiday adjacent book. I enjoyed the enemies to lovers i wish the 3rd act breakup could have been done a tad bit better and slightly lo g but overall good listen.

4.5/5☆

This book will be for anyone looking to read the equivalent of a Hallmark movie with just a dash* more spice to it. (*Fade to black/closed door)

In this over the top sweet story, Elena and Lawrence clash over cookies with Elena working for a big name corporation looking to move into Lawrence’s hometown where he owns his own cookie shop.

The book has the recipe anyone tuning into Countdown to Christmas and the impending holiday season full of made-for-tv movies will be sure to enjoy.

Elena is an intelligent, competent young woman working for a hellacious boss and watching her find her backbone with him was one of the things that brings the most joy in the story. Lawrence has a lovely relationship with his grandmother that is endearing to read as well.

The romance between Elena and Lawrence is pretty instant and sweet. I like a little more tension and build up in a story with characters who have competing interests, but in the feel-good holiday romance world I know things trend lighter and quicker. Both characters are far from perfect and there is eventually a big conflict, but the resolution is handled well.

The narration by Kim Churchill for this book is well done. She has a distinct voice for each character, as well as the secondary characters, so it is easy to follow the flow of the story. She also has good inflection and emotion in the moments the story calls for it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 rounded up. On paper this was a promising book (small town, Christmas romance, rivals to lovers, and a cute dog).

Some thing I enjoyed about this book
- The base story. Rival cookie bakers, Lawrence and Elena, fall in love while helping each other - Elena helping Lawrence grow his business with her marketing knowledge, Lawrence helping Elena embrace her love of art and while also supporting her competitive cookie company
- Lawrence’s support network including her grandma, Carla, and Sugar
- The cute, small town with all local shops and beautiful holiday celebrations

However, i had a few issues that ultimately detracted from the experience
- Not enough character development - as is, the characters felt more like tropes or caricatures than fully thought through. For example, Elena’s boss was ‘the corporate American villain’ but it’s over the top and unrealistic
- Similarly, I never understood what made the relationship between Elena and Lawrence worked for me. It could have used more depth instead of solely being based of physical attraction
- The dialog was overly direct, making it feel unrealistic. Adding some musings LE. Holding it out further would have made if feel like how people actually have discussions or treat one another

Thank you to NetGalley, Noelle Douglas, and Alcove Press for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Really, really enjoyed The Christmas Crush by Noelle Douglas. It's a feel good, sweet holiday romance!
If you're a fan of Hallmark movies, then you'll love The Christmas Crush.
Thanks to NetGalley I was given advance access to the ALC. The book is narrated by Kim Churchill, who has a soothing voice.

Publication date- October 8, 2024.

Such a great christmas love story. Makes me want to run out and make a bunch of cookies. Hometown baker meets the new girl in town with Sparkle Cookies. Can they complete against each other and not fall in love? Can both stores remain in business? I'm sure you know what will happen but it was a good book and cute love story!

Quick Summary: A "best Christmas ever" romance

My Review: The Christmas Crush by Noelle Douglas is a small town, business rivals romance. It is a contemporary standalone novel.

About the Book: A hometown baker and a corporate VP for a cookie empire clash over a proposed business plan. Despite the initial rivalry, the two share an instant connection. How will they maneuver professionally, especially considering that there seems to be something between them personally?

About the Narration: Kim Churchill provided narration for this general fiction story. I could have listened to her voice the characters all day. It was so easy to get lost and found in her voice.

My Final Say: I loved this book! Both leads were imperfect yet perfect at the same time. They had their strengths and their own success stories; they also had insecurities and personal challenges. The aforementioned made them so easy to relate to. The support that Elena and Lawrence received from key family members and/or friends was special.

*** I could easily see this becoming a series.

Other: I loved Lawrence's grandma. She stole the show. Can she get her own story? She was a spry one.

My Final Say: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status/Level: 💖
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Dreamscape Media), and to NetGalley. Thank you so much for allowing access to an ALC of this title in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful for the opportunity.

this is such a lovley, cozy, warm holiday romance 🥰

Elena & Lawrence are so adorable with each other right from the start! even with a tumultuous beginning, they both show such tenderness & care toward the other. I LOVE me some softie characters & both of them are the sweetest softies for each other 🥰

the plot of Big Corporate versus Small Business cookie companies added to the charm & tension of the story, especially as Elena & Lawrence need to show & rely on the others trust, integrity, & deep connection with each other. I love how they both show such love, patience, & care with each other as they navigate this.

overall this really is just the coziest, loveliest story! I flew through the audiobook in one day, loving the narration & storytelling.

thank you so much for the alc :)