A Dash Of Christmas

September 28, 2026 - By Corinne Rodrigues

Can lara add a sprinkling of magic this christmas?

Jacob introduces ever tastier treats to the Sugar and Spice cafe’s menu as the Christmas Spirit knits her magic into the lives of those finding this Christmas tough.

Florence is struggling to make ends meet and afford the present she knows her son wants for Christmas. Her ex-husband flaunting his new girlfriend and their baby isn’t helping her mood.

Widower Jude feels a failure as a father to his two young children after the tragic death of his wife. The move to Winstanton was meant to make life easier. Can he learn to carve out time to build new friendships and give himself the chance to grieve?

Rachel’s boss has given the promotion he promised her to the man twenty years her junior, whom she trained. She’s fed up with being taken for granted, and the lack of sympathy from her husband and teenage children.

Retired David feels Grinch-like as his son expects him to look after his grandchildren all the time, without taking his life into consideration. He used to love Christmas, but this year it has lost its sparkle.

Can the warm welcome at the Sugar and Spice café help them find their Christmas spirit?

A feel-good festive romance with a heartwarming community and a generous helping of Christmas spirit!

My Review of A Dash Of Christmas

In A Dash of Christmas Spirit, I revisited the lovely Sugar and Spice Café first seen in A Little Christmas Spirit. Visiting this small café and its warm community gives the sensation of reconnecting with old friends.

This Christmas, Florence, Jude, Rachel, and David face very different forms of heartache.

Florence is struggling to make ends meet but wants to give her son the Christmas gift he’s wishing for. Jude is mourning his wife’s death while trying hard to be the father he aspires to be for his two young kids. Rachel is facing the disappointment of not getting the promotion she believed was assured. David, who once loved Christmas, now feels unappreciated as his son expects him to always be on hand to care for the grandchildren.

I was invested in each of their stories since none of their problems seemed all that unusual. Worrying about cash, dealing with grief, feeling down, lonely, overlooked, or just hoping for a moment to breathe. Jude and Florence stories touched me the most.

Honestly, what I enjoyed most about the book was the sense of community. Everyone walks into the café lugging their own hidden baggage, but they’re welcomed just as they show up. Regardless of whether they are characters from earlier books or fresh ones, there’s always space for them. Seeing old characters again, even just in short stories or updates, feels like a pleasant warm hug.

And isn’t that what we sometimes need at Christmas? Not a grand transformation, but a little kindness. Someone noticing. A place where we feel welcome. A reminder that we don’t have to carry everything alone.

A Dash of Christmas Spirit is a gentle, comforting read. It explores finding your way through difficult seasons. It also highlights opening yourself to friendship and discovering the power of community.

Do you enjoy cozy Christmas stories? This book is full of heart, hope, and delicious treats. It might provide the dash of Christmas spirit you need.

Meet The Author

Susan Buchanan writes contemporary romance, women’s fiction and romantic comedies, usually featuring travel, food, family, friendship, community – also Christmas!

Her books are Sign of the Times, The Dating Game, The Christmas Spirit, Return of the Christmas Spirit, A Little Christmas Spirit, A Taste of Christmas Spirit and Just One Day – Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn, The Leap Year Proposal, You Can’t Hurry Love and The Boulangerie on the Corner.

As a freelance developmental editor, copyeditor and proofreader, if she’s not reading, editing or writing, she’s thinking about it.

She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Society of Authors and the Alliance of Independent Authors.

She lives near Glasgow with her husband, two children and a crazy Labrador.

When she’s not editing, writing, reading or caring for her two delightful cherubs, she likes going to the theatre, playing board games, watching quiz shows and eating out.