Recommendations based on "Christmas at the Heartbreak Cafe"

The queen of feel-good Christmas fiction returns with a snowy adventure to Canada!'If you love a rugged hero, a heroine you can relate to, a warm romantic story and a bit of armchair travel, Countdown to Christmas is for you!' Katie Fforde'It just wouldn't be Christmas without Jo's book in your stocking!' Jill Mansell-----------------------------------Chloe can't wait for Christmas . . . to be over! Her son Ruben is staying with his dad and Chloe is planning to ignore the holidays altogether. Her only festive touch is her son's advent calendar, to help count down the days till he's home again.But a surprise call changes everything. Chloe might be the unexpected owner of some land in Canada! Surely, it's a scam. Or could it be just the escape she needs right now? Ruben's latest note in the advent calendar tells her to 'say yes!'In a flash, Chloe's new countdown to Christmas involves a log cabin in the middle of a snowy forest, a community that's worried for its future, a gruff lumberjack who gives her butterflies and a lot of pancakes with maple syrup . . .For a happy Christmas read full of romance and festive surprises, choose Jo Thomas.Readers love Jo's books:'Bursting with flavour, adventure and romance' Ruth Jones'Jo sweeps you away to a better place with every book, which are always filled with warmth, love and a big spoonful of happiness' Veronica Henry'Sparkling, romantic, magical - and delicious' Milly Johnson

From The Outside, Adrienne Has Everything Any Woman Could Want. However, She Knows What Real Happiness Is, And It Isn’t Having A Good Job And A Condominium. Traveling Home To Her Small Texas Town For A Friend’s Wedding, Adrienne Is Hit From All Sides With The Happiness She Hasn’t Found For Herself—her Long-married Parents, Her Joyful Sister And Brother-in-law And Their Two Children, And Her Childhood Friends. They All Think She Has It All… All Except One. Trace Has Been Something Of A Nemesis Since Grade School. Always Ready With A Quip And Happy To Squabble Over Even The Smallest Thing, Adrienne Dreaded Seeing Him When She Came Back For The Wedding. So Why Does It Seem Like Trace Is The Only One Who Really Knows Her, Who Sees Her For Who She Is? Losing His Parents To A Plane Crash And His Uncle To Cancer, Trace Is Not Too Keen On Losing Anyone Else Close To Him. If Only She Didn't Skip Town After Graduation. He Didn't Get A Chance To Tell Her How He Felt. There Was A Reason Behind All His Teasing. He Loved Their Banters. It Meant Spending Time With Her. He Could Hear Her Voice. Now She's Back, But Her Leaving Is Inevitable. He’d Have To Risk His Heart By Asking Her To Stay. He Can’t Take Another Loss. Working To Save Their Friends’ Wedding Brings Adrienne And Trace Together Like Never Before. The Clock Is Ticking, And It’s The Worst Blizzard Lakeshore, Texas Has Seen In Years. Will These Two Match Up Their Friends Or End Up Matched Themselves?

The perfect cosy Christmas novel to curl up with this winter, from Sunday Times bestseller Cathy Bramley.'Charming, cosy, candlelit romance all wrapped up in a gorgeous setting' Veronica Henry'The perfect Christmas treat!' Sarah Morgan'Stuffed with Cathy's sparkling wit and warmth - I devoured it whole' Milly Johnson'A wonderful warm hug of a book, brim full of festive comfort and joy!' Alex Brown'Treat yourself to this gift of a book - if Merry and Cole's story doesn't get you into the Christmas spirit, nothing will!' Holly Hepburn'A real Christmas cracker of a book. Romantic and uplifting - the perfect early Christmas present for yourself!' Sophie Cousens'Merry, bright and sparkly - we were enchanted by this feel-good romance' People's Friend* * * *Christmas has always meant something special to Merry - even without a family of her own. This year, her heart might be broken but her new candle business is booming. The last thing she needs is another project - but when her hometown's annual event needs some fresh festive inspiration, Merry can't resist.Cole loves a project too - though it's usually of the bricks and mortar variety. As a single dad, his Christmas wish is to see his kids again, so getting the new house finished for when they're all together is the perfect distraction.But this Christmas, magic is in the air for these two strangers. Will it bring them all the joy they planned for . . . and take their hearts by surprise too?After all, anything can happen at Christmas. . .* * * *Praise for Cathy Bramley from some of your other favourite authors:'The perfect read to escape with over the festive season if you want your heart warmed and a smile on your face.' Veronica Henry'Filled with warmth and laughter' Carole Matthews'Delightful!' Katie Fforde'A page-turner of a story' Milly Johnson'Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley'A gorgeously romantic comfort read' Rachael Lucas'Magical, heart-felt and uplifting, this book will bring joy to all who reads it.' Carmel Harrington'The perfect romantic tale, to warm your heart and make you smile' Ali McNamara'A wonderful warm hug of a book, brim full of festive comfort and joy!' Alex Brown

There's nowhere better to spend the holidays than with New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery in the town of Fool's Gold, where love is always waiting to be unwrapped… Noelle Perkins just got a second chance at life, and she intends to make the most of every minute. That's why she ditched a frustrating legal career to open her own store in Fool's Gold, California. The Christmas Attic celebrates everything that's magical about her favorite season. Business is booming, and as a bonus, gorgeous army doctor Gabriel Boylan has offered to help out during the holiday rush. Gabriel's memories of Christmas past contain more sour grapes than sugar plums, thanks to a drill sergeant father who ran his home like a boot camp. Spending the holidays with his family while he recuperates from injury sounds as appetizing as last year's eggnog. Still, there are some enjoyable distractions in town, including sunny, sexy Noelle…and the red-hot mistletoe kisses they can't stop sharing. Gabriel didn't think he was made for happily-ever-afters. But when fate hands you a love as sweet and surprising as this, only a fool could refuse….

Timeless stories with a message of unselfish love and personal involvement will turn thoughts to Christ and remind readers that this is really what Christmas--and life itself--is all about.

“Patricia Davids writes with heart, integrity and hope. Her stories both entertain and edify—the perfect combination.” —Kim Vogel Sawyer, award-winning and bestselling author Christmas comes to a small Amish community—and brings new beginnings with it. Karl Graber is too busy struggling with his hardware store and two young daughters to indulge local matchmaker Rose Yoder’s schemes. After his wife’s death, the thought of loving and perhaps losing another woman holds no appeal. So while he’s relieved to learn he’s not on Rose’s list of potential husbands for new schoolteacher Sophie Eicher, he’s also surprised. Despite himself, Karl can’t help wondering what Rose thinks he lacks—and why outspoken, attractive Sophie has so little interest in marriage. After surviving breast cancer, Sophie is hoping to make a fresh start in Harts Haven. Perhaps the handsome widower next door would make a good match for her sister, but Sophie won’t burden any man with her uncertain future. But when Karl offers to help her to create a “living nativity” Christmas program for the schoolchildren, she gratefully agrees. It’ll take a bold plan and help from Karl’s children to make this chaotic Christmas play a success. And as friendships deepen, hearts open and hopes are rekindled, two unlikely people may discover the healing gift of love. The Matchmakers of Harts Haven Book 1: The Inn at Harts Haven Book 2: A Match Made at Christmas

Three cities, three seasons, one chance to find the life that fitsCassie settled down too young, marrying her first serious boyfriend. Now, ten years later, she is betrayed and broken. With her marriage in tatters and no career or home of her own, she needs to work out where she belongs in the world and who she really is. So begins a year-long trial as Cassie leaves her sheltered life in rural Scotland to stay with each of her best friends in the most glamorous cities in the world: New York, Paris and London. Exchanging grouse moor and mousy hair for low-carb diets and high-end highlights, Cassie tries on each city for size as she attempts to track down the life she was supposed to have been leading, and with it, the man who was supposed to love her all along.

This Christmas, Isla Greene's festive cheer is buried under six feet of snow.Unemployed, evicted, and back in a hometown that no longer feels like home, the twenty-five-year-old faces a not-so-merry life reset.The one bright spot in an otherwise bleak winter? Spending the holidays with her childhood friend and his loud, loving family. Their charming chaos provides the perfect distraction, but December isn't done playing dirty.An unwelcome chill sweeps into Sugarpine Springs, arriving just in time to crash her vacation.Theo Thorne.Her best friend's older brother. Former mentor. The mistake she swore never to repeat.For the last half-decade, Theo's pointed boycott of eggnog and emotions has spared Isla from his grinchy glower. Now, they're stuck under the same mistletoe-covered roof, flirting with tension thick enough to qualify as foreplay.As the spirit of the season pulls strings for second chances, Isla must stay focused on her New Year's goals: establish a freelance graphic design career, find an apartment, and-no matter what-keep Theo out of her heart.Her crush of Christmas past has no place in her future.

"Thayne is a master at creating richly dimensional and kind characters from different generations who find themselves facing difficult challenges."--Booklist With the emotional pull of Debbie Macomber, Barbara Delinsky and Susan Wiggs, RaeAnne Thayne brings readers an uplifting, brand new story told with her trademark charm and heart. She knows what's best for everyone but herself... With a past like hers, Jessica Clayton feels safer in a life spent on the road. She's made a career out of helping others downsize--because she's learned the hard way that the less "stuff," the better, a policy she applies equally to her relationships. But a new client is taking Jess back to Cape Sanctuary, a town she once called home...and that her little sister, Rachel, still does. The years apart haven't made a dent in the guilt Jess still carries after a handgun took the lives of both their parents and changed everything between them. While Jess couldn't wait to put the miles between her and Cape Sanctuary, Rachel put down roots, content for the world--and her sister--to think she has a picture-perfect life. But with the demands of her youngest child's disability, Rachel's marriage has begun to fray at the seams. She needs her sister now more than ever, yet she's learned from painful experience that Jessica doesn't do family, and she shouldn't count on her now. Against her judgment, Jess finds herself becoming attached--to her sister and her family, even to her client's interfering son, Nate--and it's time to put everything on the line. Does she continue running from her painful past, or stay put and make room for the love and joy that come along with it? Don't miss the enchanting holiday tale, THE DECEMBER MARKET by RaeAnne Thayne, a story of second chances, family, and unexpected love, set in the charming town of Shelter Springs, where the spirit of Christmas brings two reluctant hearts together. Get lost in more stories by RaeAnne Thayne: The December Market 15 Summers Later Christmas at the Shelter Inn The Café at Beach End All is Bright

The holidays are the icing on the cake for bakery owner Hannah Swensen. Surrounded by her loved ones, she has all the ingredients for a perfect Christmas--until murder is added to the mix. . . When it comes to holidays, Minnesotans rise to the occasion--and the little town of Lake Eden is baking up a storm with Hannah leading the way. The annual Christmas Buffet is the final test of the recipes Hannah has collected for the Lake Eden Holiday Buffet Cookbook. 'Tis the season for trimming the tree, caroling, baking cookies, and curling up by the Yuletide waiting for Santa to drop down the chimney. But in this festive collection of holiday whodunits, murder is also paying a visit. . . "Candy Cane Murder" By Joanne Fluke When a trail of candy canes leads to a corpse outfitted in a Santa suit on a snowy bank, Hannah Swensen sets out to discover who killed Kris Kringle. . . The yuletide season in Lake Eden, Minnesota, guarantees a white Christmas, delectable holiday goodies from Hannah Swensen's bakery, The Cookie Jar--and murder. As a shadow hangs over her friends' Christmas wedding, Hannah's determined to cook a killer's goose before anyone else gets burned. . . The Cookie Jar's busiest time of the year also happens to be the most wonderful time. . .for Christmas cookies, Hannah's own special plum pudding--and romance! She also gets a kick out of "Lunatic Larry Jaeger's Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot," a kitschy carnival taking place smack-dab in the middle of the village green. But then Hannah discovers the man himself dead as a doornail in his own office. . . Nothing's better on Christmas Eve than waiting for the stroke of midnight with a cup of eggnog and a plate of warm gingerbread cookies. But in this merry collection of holiday mysteries, murder is making its own special delivery. . . "Gingerbread Cookie Murder" By Joanne Fluke When Hannah Swensen finds her neighbor Ernie Kusak with his head bashed in and sprawled on the floor of his condo next to an upended box of Hannah's Gingerbread Cookies, she discovers a flurry of murder suspects that's as long as her holiday shopping list.