The Christmas Cake Cafe by Sue Watson

 

The Christmas Cake Café by Sue Watson

Published: October 12th 2016

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 258

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Rating: 5/5

Blurb

As the Prosecco chills and Bing Crosby croons, Jen Barker just knows that her long-term boyfriend is about to propose.  But instead of a diamond ring nestled in her champagne flute, Jen finds cold flat rejection.  Her once perfect life and dreams of a husband and family seem even further from reach.

A working holiday to the Swiss Alps with her younger sister Jody might not be the Christmas Jen had it mind, but it offers her the chance to recharge her batteries and recover from heartbreak.

When Jen meets handsome ski instructor Jon Zutter her hopes for a happy-ever-after seem within her grasp again. Jon is kind and gorgeous and as they bond over Sachetorte at the picturesque Cake Café, Jen thinks he might just be her perfect man. But a relationship with him comes with a catch – and there are some things even cake can’t fix.

As the snow falls and Christmas approaches, could this be the place that restores Jen Barker’s faith in love?

Review

Sue Watson is one of my favourite authors when it comes to Christmas novels, they are always full of fun and put me in an extra festive mood, her latest book The Christmas Cake Café could be my favourite so far.

Jen Baker has spent years planning and dreaming of the perfect Christmas and this year is the year its finally going to be perfect as she is sure that boyfriend Tim is just about to propose…instead he ends their ten year relationship and shatters poor Jens heart. Fast forward eight months and Jen is dreading being alone for Christmas, so when half-sister Jody offers her the chance to go to Switzerland for three months and work at a ski-resort she reluctantly agrees. After a bumpy start where Jen faces lost luggage and Jody’s drunk friends things start to pick up and Jen finds herself falling in love and not just with the gorgeous scenery and delicious pastries but with handsome German Jon.

Jen was a character I could identify with straight away, she’s a planner and just longs for every moment to be perfect and instead life seems to pass her by and she always ends up disappointed. She’s never felt she was really good enough after her father left her and her mother when she was ten years old to start a new family. I loved how Jen opened up more as the story progressed. Throughout the book she is often put in some awkward positions such as being the only member of the café to wear a cow onesie to work or to go on a sight-seeing trip wearing a see through dress. However as she begins to lighten up and laugh at these embossing situations and just go with it she has a lot more fun and begins to realise living in the moment is much more fun, something I found very inspiring.

I loved the way the romance developed between Jen and Jon, it was romantic but comical at the same time as things never quite went to plan. The part where Jen meets Ella for the first time was probably my favourite part of the book…awkward.

I found this didn’t take me long to read at all as with all Sue Watson books there is never a dull moment and the drama just keeps coming. The characters are all brilliant and there wasn’t one I disliked, well maybe Tim but luckily he’s not in the book for long.

This probably isn’t the most festive of Sue Watson’s books but it was definitely the funniest in my opinion. It’s a book which made me laugh all the way through and definitely one to pick up if you-re feeling a little down, I guarantee you will laugh.  I loved everything about this book and can’t wait to read what Sue brings us next.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy to review.