Book excerpt: The brand-new Cotswold romance from Anita Faulkner, author of A COLOURFUL COUNTRY ESCAPE. Cosy up for chilly winter nights, falling snow and heart-stopping romance - the perfect festive read! 'Cosy, charming and utterly captivating' HEIDI SWAIN CAN GRETEL FIND THE RECIPE FOR THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS? The Gingerbread Café is always full of Christmas magic. Come rain or shine (or even a July heatwave), there's always a hot chocolate bursting with cinnamon and marshmallows waiting for you. For introverted Gretel, it's been the perfect escape from 'real life'. The owner, Nell, is Gretel's last link to her late mum, and hiding out at the café feels so much safer than making new friends. So when Nell suddenly passes, Gretel is left heartbroken. Then she discovers that Nell has left the café to her - but there's a catch. Gretel has to share the running of The Gingerbread Café with the least festive person ever: Nell's nephew, Lukas. Head chef at the local fancy restaurant, Lukas makes it clear he has no time for the café, Gretel or even Christmas itself, and Gretel's too busy struggling to save her burnt batches of gingerbread to work out why. Gretel is determined to keep Christmas alive and make the café a success before Lukas hands the keys over to the scrooge-like developers. But she can't do it alone; besides an over friendly ferret and a waitress with a secret, the only person she has now is Lukas. Will it take a Christmas miracle to get the pair to finally see eye to eye, or could the ice already be melting? Packed full of sugar and spice, The Gingerbread Café will tick all the wishes off your Christmas list this festive period. Perfect for fans of Heidi Swain, Jo Thomas and Bella Osborne. 'Don't miss this enchanting sparkly Christmas read . . . grab it as soon as you can and devour, along with a steaming mug of hot chocolate, marshmallows and a gingerbread cookie!' GEORGIA HILL 'A beautiful Christmas story full of love and festive magic' KATIE GINGER 'One of the most beautiful Christmas books I've ever read. Warm, lovely, homely, and filled with community spirit and festive joy in all the right places!' JAIMIE ADMANS PRAISE FOR ANITA FAULKNER: 'Full of fun and colour' BELLA OSBORNE 'A heart-warming and uplifting romance!' HOLLY MARTIN 'Such a fun ride! Faulkner brings colour and humour to every line' PERNILLE HUGHES 'I absolutely adored this book. Fresh, funny and upbeat' KITTY WILSON 'Pure delight - I loved it!' NICOLA MAY 'Endlessly joy-lit. Bursting with character and warmth' CHRISTIE BARLOW 'A vibrant, charming book. Makes me quite want to take a colourful adventure of my own, especially after these rather beige past couple of years!' ISLA GORDON