
Ten years ago her best friend left. This Christmas, he’s back. Will this spell love or disaster? Birdie Hawthorne has spent her entire life at her family’s magical bakery, infusing pastries and dessert with an extra special spark. At twenty-eight, she isn’t certain she wants this life; to stay in her small Ontario hometown and eventually inherit the bakery. Not when she’s never experienced anything beyond the Bruce Peninsula. When her best friend Charlie Singer comes home for Christmas after ten years away, Birdie’s life turns upside down. Ten Decembers with zero contact. He said he’d be home for Christmas. He lied. Now he’s back and he’s so different from who he was in high school, but he still has a touch that literally sends sparks through her veins. Soon, Birdie discovers she botched the silly love spell she performed at eighteen, driving Charlie away instead of bringing them together. Fear and regret have kept her at the bakery all these years. With five days left until Christmas, Birdie must summon her courage and reverse the spell or risk losing Charlie for good.
Author

Madeline Nixon has been a dog walker, a nanny, a baker, a shoe saleswoman, a chocolatier, and an editor, but the title she’s most fond of is author. She’s published one nonfiction short story collection about her paranormal experiences, several educational children’s books, and two contemporary romances. When she’s not writing, you can find her hunting ghosts, planning elaborate theme parties, and baking whatever recipe looks the best. She lives in a suburb outside of Toronto. Find her on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and Twitter/X @markedwithanm!