The Cotswolds village of Babblebrook is filled with the scent of hot chocolate and gingerbread this Christmas. Could love be in the air, too . . . ?

After leaving her cheating husband, Marnie needs a fresh start. With her thirteen-year-old daughter, Lauren, she moves back to her childhood village, Babblebrook. But her new neighbour, Andrew, might just be the rudest man Marnie has ever met. So why can’t she stop thinking about him . . . ?

Marnie throws herself into the local bakery, making mince pies and spiced buns to help her old friends Pat and Matt. She spends her days dreaming of turning the bakery into a cozy café that will be the heart of the village, and finds herself unexpectedly drawn to gruff Andrew and his kind, reliable nature.

But when some unexpected visitors arrive in Babblebrook, Marnie is confronted with a choice – stick to what she knows, and the person she’s always been, or start putting herself first.

Marnie has spent her whole life taking care of everyone else. Is she ready to fight for her café dream and admit that all she wants for Christmas is Andrew?

~Standalone~

This is a no-spice romance with either closed doors or fade-to-black scenes. Tension and kisses might be involved 🙂

Title:  The Cotswolds Christmas Cafe
Series:  ~Standalone~
Author:  Lizzie Lee
Published:  October 28, 2025
Publisher:  Embla Books
My Rating:  4 stars

The Cotswolds Christmas Cafe is a delightfully festive standalone Christmas romance that sets the holiday mood perfectly as we watch Marnie and her daughter, Lauren, make the move to Babblebrook when their lives, and Marnie’s marriage to her unfaithful jerk of a former husband, implode.  Perhaps, back home, she can finally realize her dream of a cafe that is the heart of her village’s residents.  Her neighbor, Andrew, isn’t the most pleasant man at first impressions, but beneath his gruff exterior lies a heart of gold.

I enjoyed this heartwarming Christmas Romance as Marnie and Andrew let down their walls and begin a lovely, slow-burning relationship.  It’s well-written, emotional, and full of holiday cheer as two worthy people find their true matches in the most unexpected people.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon