From the publisher:
A cozy holiday rom-com in which ER physician Dr. Libby Munro travels back in time to the previous Christmas during her hometown’s rumored-to-be-magical Christmas tree lighting ceremony, where she must confront her past choices—while navigating an unexpected romance that could rewrite her future.
He wasn’t on her Christmas wish list, but he’s just what Santa ordered.
When Libby Munro returns to her hometown of Harmony Hills—a holiday-obsessed village that feels like stepping into a Christmas card—she’s longing for an escape. A respite from her hectic job as a big-city emergency room doctor, and a change of scenery after a painful break-up. Maybe Harmony Hills’s festive charm will help her rediscover the holiday spirit.
What she doesn’t expect is Liam Young: the dreamy, green-eyed owner of the local bakery, whose smile rivals the glow of the town’s legendary Christmas tree. Or a run-in with Liam’s excitable pot-bellied pig, Mary Piggins, at the rumoured-to-be-magical tree-lighting ceremony. Libby’s knocked unconscious in the chaos and wakes up to find herself thrust into the past: specifically, to Christmastime, one year ago.
As she relives last Christmas, Libby begins to wonder if this is a second chance to change her life. With every snowflake-filled moment, the undeniable spark between her and Liam grows brighter. But if she’s going to rewrite her future, she’ll need to figure out what changes the past is asking her to make—and whether she’s ready to embrace the pull of home, and the promise of true love.
Perfect for fans of In a Holidaze and One Day in December, The Christmas Cure is the holiday rom-com that will make you believe in the magic of Christmas.
This warm, twinkly holiday romance comes from Canadian author Karma Brown, writing under the pseudonym Kristine Winters. Set in a fictional small town straight out of a Hallmark movie, it’s filled with festive charm, nosy-but-lovable locals, and a sweet pig, Mary Piggins.
Libby Munro, a Toronto ER doctor, returns to her hometown of Harmony Hills for the holidays, only to find herself tripping over the adorable pig. She blacks out, and when she awakesn, she has been transported back to the previous year and forced to repeat the town’s beloved Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. And there she stays, stuck in the past. Libby must confront what she truly wants: the high-pressure city life she’s built, or the slower, sweeter rhythm of home… and maybe even Liam, the dimpled tree farmer–baker who is basically the human embodiment of a cinnamon roll.
I love magical realism and alternate-reality stories, and I thought the premise here was clever and charming. Overall, this is a cozy, pun-filled, delightful small-town holiday romance. Liam was an instant favorite—soft, steady, and swoon-worthy in all the right ways. The story is comforting and predictable in the best holiday-romance way, with plenty of Hallmark vibes and a light touch of magic. A sweet, festive read that’s perfect for the season.
12/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE CHRISTMAS CURE by Kristine Winters. Simon & Schuster. (October 7, 2025). ISBN: 978-1668069592. 304p.
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