Book Review - Chocolate Dreams at the Gingerbread Cafe by Rebecca Raisin

 

Chocolate Dreams at the Gingerbread Café by Rebecca Raisin

Published: 20th March 2014

Publisher: Carina UK

Pages: 72

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Blurb

 

Chocolate…the most irresistible temptation?The Gingerbread Café is all a buzz! This Easter, Lily and the rest of the town of Ashford, Connecticut are planning a truly decadent Chocolate Festival. Cooking up a storm, CeeCee and Lily are not just baking a batch of their sinfully delicious chocolate-dipped gingerbread men, but an excess of chocolate truffles, squidgy, cinnamony hot cross buns and melt in your mouth chocolate eggs. The Gingerbread Café staff have definitely enjoyed the tasting process!

Add in Damon’s cute-as-a-button seven year old daughter, Charlie, up for a visit and Lily’s perfect Easter may just be around the corner. Until her ex-husband Joel turns up demanding twenty thousand dollars… Suddenly the future of the Gingerbread Café is not so clear…and Lily finds herself eating far more of The Gingerbread Café’s treats than her skinny jeans allow…

Can Lily concoct a brilliant plan to save her beloved café, convince Damon she has no feelings for Joel and still throw a Chocolate Festival the town will be talking about for years? There’s only one way to find out...

 

Review

 

Chocolate Dreams at the Gingerbread Café is the second book in the Gingerbread Café trilogy and it is just as scrumptious as the first.

This time its Easter and Lil and CeeCee are preparing for Ashford’s first Chocolate Festival so they are creating all kinds of yummy chocolate treats including hundreds of chocolate eggs for an Easter egg hunt. In this book Lil’s ex Joel turns up demanding money which Lil just doesn’t have, how will she find a way to pay him off and rid herself of him for good?

I loved this book even more than the first, for me it had more of a background plot and more characters.  I loved CeeCee even more in this book, she had me laughing one minute and then crying the next. I want this woman as my grandma!

The only thing I didn’t like in this book was Joel, he’s a really nasty piece of works and I’m not sure what Lil ever saw in him, glad she moved on and found someone better.  Just hoping he doesn’t come back in the third book.

The ending to this was perfect; it tied things up in this book brilliantly but left the reader wanting more. 

If you liked the first Gingerbread Café book you will love this, be warned though you will want to eat chocolate while reading it!

Rating 5/5

 

 

 

 

Book Review - Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe by Rebecca Raisin

 

Christmas at the Gingerbread Café by Rebecca Raisin

Published: 12th November 2013

Publisher: Carina UK

Pages: 64

Available on Kindle

Order from Amazon here

 

Blurb

Christmas is the season the Gingerbread Café was made for…but owner Lily couldn’t be feeling less merry if she tried. She’s spent another year dreaming of being whisked away on a sleigh-ride for two, but she’s facing festive season alone – again. And, just to give her another reason to feel anything other than candy-cane perky, a new shop across the road has opened… Not only is it selling baked goods, but the owner, with his seriously charming smile, has every girl in town swooning.

But Lily isn’t about to let her business crumble — the Gingerbread Café is the heart of the community, and she’s going to fight for it! This could be the Christmas that maybe, just maybe, all her dreams – even the someone-to-decorate-the-Christmas-tree-with ones – really do come true!

 

Review

I was kindly sent this and the following Gingerbread Café stories from Rebecca in exchange for an honest review. I was really excited to read them as the covers of all three books are just beautiful and just make you want to dive straight in.

 

In Christmas at the Gingerbread Café we meet Lil who owns the café, CeeCee  her employee and friend and Damon the handsome newcomer to Ashford.

 

Lil is still suffering from heartbreak after her husband Joel left her two years ago and is struggling to get into the Christmas spirit, which the café was made to embrace. Along comes Damon with his super sexy bum and opens a shop across the road, initially selling small goods items but it turns out he has similar items to the Café. So Lil and CeeCee begin scheming against Damon to get their customers back.  CeeCee begins to see a little spark between Lil and Damon and gently pushes them together, will the Christmas spirit finally find its way back into Lil's heart?

 

I really enjoyed reading this novella, the descriptions of the food that Lil and CeeCee baked were delicious and made me very hungry...gingerbread coffee, butterscotch pie...yes please!! My favourite character was CeeCee, I just imagined her always with a huge mixing bowl and wooden spoon and a great big smile on her face, I also loved that she was a little sneaky they way she put ideas into Lil's head.

 

Overall this is a lovely little Christmas read, which makes me wish I had my own Gingerbread Café to visit as I'm sure I'd be a regular. It did leave me wanting more from the characters as I wanted to get to know them more, so I'm glad I have book two and three to read straight after.

 

Rating 5/5

 

Book Review - A Christmas to Remember by Jenny Hale

 

A Christmas to Remember by Jenny Hale

Published: 10th October 2014

Publisher: Bookoture

Pages: 249

Available on Kindle

Order from Amazon here

 

Blurb

A beautiful story about the magic of childhood Christmas memories, the strength of family and falling in love when you least expect it.

Everyone loves Christmas – don’t they?

Carrie Blake loves her job as a nanny but, while her friends are settling down, all of Carrie’s spare time is spent with other people’s families. Though it breaks her heart, her New Year’s resolution is to embark on a new career and fix her love life.

As Carrie starts her last job, she’s sure she’ll be going out on a high – the house is amazing , the kids are adorable, and she’s in charge of decorating the tree!

The only problem could be her boss… single-dad Adam Fletcher might be both handsome and successful, but he’s always working. Doesn’t he realise he’s missing out on precious moments with his son and daughter?

As Adam’s family arrive for Christmas including his sensitive sister, Sharon, and his fun-loving elderly Grandpa, Walter, Carrie realises that she might just have found the perfect allies in her quest to persuade Adam to loosen up. There’s still time for Carrie to make this the best Christmas ever… after all, Christmas is the time for miracles, isn’t it? Let the festivities begin! 

 

Review

 

Carrie Blake is a full-time live in nanny who spends all her time helping other  people’s families, she has finally decided that the job she is about to start at the Fletcher household will be her last and then she will take control and live her own life.  As soon as Carrie sets eyes on Adam Fletcher she is struck with butterflies in her stomach, something she’s never felt before. She’s also struck with how reserved and formal Adam and his children are with each other. She vows before she leaves to inject some fun and love into the household. With the help of Adam’s family she begins to help Adam see that work isn’t the most important thing in the world.

I instantly fell in love with this book and its characters, especially Carrie. She reminded me a bit of Mary Poppins with her bag and tricks, like the food colouring for snow volcanoes. I loved the way that she injected fun and Christmas spirit into the children and eventually Adam. The way she was with Adam was just lovely to read about, I loved the way he made her nervous whenever he was around and she really wanted him to work less and see what wonderful children her had. The romance was perfect for the story as it was so innocent and gradual that you were just hoping that Adam would have feelings for Carrie too. She was also so caring with other members of the family I really loved the way she played cards with Walter and how she wanted to help Sharon but she was unsure about whether that would be interfering as she wasn’t part of the family.

Adam is also a great character too; obviously he’s extremely good-looking and very successful as he lives in a huge house. I think the most adorable thing about him is that he’s kind of shy of his children, it’s like he doesn’t want to get too close in case he hurts them.  The scene where he takes Olivia up to bed and reads her a story and she falls asleep on his shoulder is probably my favourite in the book, Adam was just so cute!

This is the first Jenny Hale book which I have read but I will definitely be picking up her other Christmas story Coming home for Christmas as I believe that it will be just as good and features two characters mentioned in this book Robert and Allie Marley, so reading more about them would be good. Her writing is easy flowing and very comforting and makes you feel like you’re living the story yourself.

This is a book that made me feel warm  and cosy inside and I know I will want to read it every Christmas, it has the perfect mix of elements for a Christmas story including family visiting, Christmas decorating, old wounds being healed, love and friendship blossoming and of course plenty of snow.  So get on your big Christmas jumper, make yourself some hot cocoa, curl up by the fire and read it too!

Rating 5/5

Showcase Sunday #12

 

Showcase Sunday is a weekly event hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea where book bloggers share what books they have added to their collection in the previous week. This week I'm also going to do a weekly round-up where I share what I have read and reviewed. Firstly here's what books I've added to my ever increasing tbr pile:

 

 

These have all been lent to me from my friend Jane:

 

A French Affair by Katie Fforde

The Holiday by Erica James

The Beach Café by Lucy Diamond

The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell

Summer at the Lake by Ericia James

 

 

I also bought some books this week:

 

What Would Mary Berry Do? by Claire Sandy

The Seafront Tearooms by Vanessa Greene

Biscuit by Miranda Gore Brown

 

 

 



I also received a copy of The Marriage Mender by Linda Green from Quercus for a Goodreads giveaway, super excited to read this one.

 

I also had some super books sent to me through Netgally this week:

 

Snow Angels, Secrets and Christmas Cake by Sue Watson

Mistletoe Mansion by Samantha Tonge

Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Café by Rebecca Raisin

Cold Feet at Christmas by Debbie Johnson

Mr Miracle by Debbie Macomber

A Christmas to Remember by Jenny Hale

As Good as it Gets by Fiona Gibson

The Mysterious Miss Mayhew by Hazel Osmond

Baby It's Cold Outside by Kerry Barrett

 

I started reading Baby It's Cold Outside and realised it was a series I would really enjoy so I bought the first two books for my kindle:

 

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered by Kerry Barrett

I Put a Spell on You by Kerry Barrett

 

So I have a lot of reading to do! This week I read:

 

A Week in Paris by Rachel Hore

The Heart of Winter by Emma Hannigan

A Christmas to Remember by Jenny Hale

Snow Angels, Secrets and Christmas Cake - just started

 

This week on the blog

 

Monday - Review Fool's Gold by Zana Bell 5/5

Tuesday - Top Ten Tuesday - Character Driven Novels

Wednesday - Review A Week in Paris by Rachel Hore 5/5

Thursday - Release Day Round-Up # 6

Friday - Review The Heart of Winter by Emma Hannigan 4/5

 

 

Book Review - The Heart of Winter by Emma Hannigan

 

The Heart of Winter by Emma Hannigan

Released: 9th October 2014

Publisher: Headline Review

Pages: 439

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Blurb

Holly Craig's family have lived happily in Huntersbrook for generations but when times grow hard, even she must admit defeat and sell off their once-successful stables.
The three Craig children, Lainey, Joey and Pippa find themselves locked in a fight to keep their beloved Huntersbrook; dare they transform it into one of Ireland's most sought after countryside venues?
Renovation work is well underway when life rears its ugly head and everything stops in its tracks. The Craig family is forced to reassess what matters and although they no longer live at Huntersbrook, can the house work its magic even so ... and lead them into the light once more?

 

Review

 

The Heart of Winter is set in the county house of Huntersbrook which has been owned by the Craig family for three generations, now Holly Craig and her children must pull together to save the family home they adore.  Although none of the children currently live at home they are drawn back to help transform the home they love into a house that can host upmarket country events. 

Lainey the eldest lives with husband Matt and young son Ely in a farmhouse on the edge of the estate she is longing to expand her family and her home to fulfil her dreams. Joey is on the verge of being made a partner at his Dublin accountancy firm, is he on the edge of great things or about to lose what is most important to him? Pippa the youngest has no intentions of settling down like her sister, she’s living life in the fast lane, living a very fine line between work and too much play, will she slow down before it’s too late?

The Heart of Winter is told mainly from the perspectives of the three Craig children in alternating chapters.  Initially I found it hard to get my head round who was who and how they fitted into the story, once I had it worked out the story flowed at a good pace and kept my interest. I found the characters not very likeable at the start. Lainey comes across very angry and bitter towards her mother because she feels she was unloved as a child, this made me feel sorry for Holly as she clearly loved all her children. Joey seems to be letting his new role in the firm go to his head and I didn’t like the way he kept breaking promises and becoming too busy for his family. At the beginning  I really struggled to find anything likeable in Pippa, she comes across as selfish, silly and easily led into things which are bad and I just wanted her to stand up for herself and be strong.

As the story progressed and unfortunate events start to happen the family did start to unite and come together and support each other and by the end I did enjoy the family spirit in the story and this was highlighted most in the family Christmas scenes. I really liked the way each of the children overcame their difficulties and were able to become in my opinion better, stronger more likeable characters. I also like the way that there were enough hints at the end of the book that I could see another book with these characters being written, I don’t know if that was intentional or not.

The Heart of Winter is essentially a family saga that will warm your heart and make you want to let your own family know you love them. With a Christmassy ending it is a good book to start your festive reading. I would give this book a rating of 4/5 as it took me awhile to relate to the characters.

Thank you to Headline Review and bookbrigr for my review copy.

 

 

Release Day Round Up #6

Today there seems to be a huge amount of books due for release , in fact is being called Super Thursday in the publishing world, obviously I cannot feature all the books so here are a few of which I have been lucky enough to read and review already myself and some which I still have to read. So here's my pick's for this week:

 

Fool's Gold by Zana Bell

Released: 7th October 2014

Publisher: Choc Lit UK

Pages: 320

Available in Kindle or Paperback

Order from Amazon here
 

Love – is it worth its weight in gold?
It’s 1866 and the gold rush is on. Left to fend for herself in the wilds of New Zealand’s west coast, Lady Guinevere Stanhope is determined to do whatever it takes to rescue her ancestral home and restore her father’s good name.
Forced out of his native Ireland, Quinn O’Donnell dreams of striking gold. His fiercely held prejudices make him loath to help any English person, let alone a lady as haughty and obstinate as Guinevere. But when a flash flood hits, Quinn is compelled to rescue her, and their paths become entwined in this uncharted new world.
Though a most inconvenient attraction forms between them, both remain determined to pursue their dreams, whatever the cost.
Will they realise in time that all that glitters is not gold?

 

I was lucky enough to be sent this from Kim at Choc Lit a couple of weeks ago. This is a brilliant book and quite unlike anything I've read for a long time, I really loved the adventure aspect of it, check it out its a great read. Check out my full review here.

 

 

A Week in Paris by Rachel Hore

Released: 9th October 2014

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Pages: 480

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order from Amazon here.

 

The streets of Paris hide a dark past...September, 1937. Kitty Travers enrols at the Conservatoire on the banks of the Seine to pursue her dream of becoming a concert pianist. But then war breaks out and the city of light falls into shadow. Nearly twenty-five years later, Fay Knox, a talented young violinist, visits Paris on tour with her orchestra. She barely knows the city, so why does it feel so familiar? Soon touches of memory become something stronger, and she realises her connection with these streets runs deeper than she ever expected. As Fay traces the past, with only an address in an old rucksack to help her, she discovers dark secrets hidden years ago, secrets that cause her to question who she is and where she belongs...A compelling story of war, secrets, family and enduring love.

 

I was sent a copy of this to read from Simon & Schuster via NetGalley, so thank you to them.This book was totally absorbing I just could not put it down until I knew what all the secrets were, truly brilliant, definitely an author I need to read more of. Check out my full review here.

 

 

Baby it's cold outside by Kerry Barrett

Released: October 9th 2014

Publisher: Carina UK

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

For better or much, much worse...

Esme and Jamie have finally got their perfect wedding day planned. Beautiful snowy landscape – check. Amazing venue – check. Stunning dress – check.

But when an avalanche seals off their gorgeous mountain hometown from the outside world, their dream day starts to look more like a nightmare. Especially when Jamie’s ex turns up on their doorstep with a surprise neither of them expected!

Whilst Esme’s magical powers can solve a lot of problems, it's starting to look like their big day is doomed! Is Esme and Jamie’s wedding simply not meant to be, or can they still make it down the aisle, against all the odds?

 

I was lucky enough to received a copy of this to review from Kerry herself and I did start reading it but realised it is something I am going to love. So instead of just reading book three I have ordered the other two books in the series (Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered and I Put a Spell on You) and intend to read them all soon, so my review for this will be a little later than I initially planned.

 

 

 

A Christmas to Remember by Jenny Hale

Released: 10th October 2014

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 249

Available on Kindle

Pre-Order now from Amazon

 

Carrie Blake loves her job as a nanny but, while her friends are settling down, all of Carrie’s spare time is spent with other people’s families. Though it breaks her heart, her New Year’s resolution is to embark on a new career and fix her love life.

As Carrie starts her last job, she’s sure she’ll be going out on a high – the house is amazing, the kids are adorable, and she’s in charge of decorating the tree!

The only problem could be her boss… single-dad, Adam Fletcher might be both handsome and successful, but he’s always working. Doesn’t he realise he’s missing out on precious moments with his son and daughter?

As Adam’s family arrive for Christmas including his sensitive sister, Sharon, and his fun-loving elderly Grandpa, Walter, Carrie realises that she might just have found the perfect allies in her quest to persuade Adam to loosen up. There’s still time for Carrie to make this the best Christmas ever… after all, Christmas is the time for miracles, isn’t it? Let the festivities begin!

 

I have a copy of this I'm hoping to curl up with this weekend as it looks the perfect book to start my Christmas reading with.

 

 

The Heart of Winter by Emma Hannigan

Released: 10th October 2014

Publisher: Headline Review

Pages: 435

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Holly Craig's family have lived happily in Huntersbrook for generations but when times grow hard, even she must admit defeat and sell off their once-successful stables.
The three Craig children, Lainey, Joey and Pippa find themselves locked in a fight to keep their beloved Huntersbrook; dare they transform it into one of Ireland's most sought after countryside venues?
Renovation work is well underway when life rears its ugly head and everything stops in its tracks. The Craig family is forced to reassess what matters and although they no longer live at Huntersbrook, can the house work its magic even so ... and lead them into the light once more?

I'm currently reading this book and so far I'm enjoying it. I'm hoping to have a review up on my blog on Friday or Saturday so pop back if you would like to know my full thoughts.

 

The Seafront Tea Rooms by Vanessa Greene

Released: 9th October 2014

Publisher: Sphere

Pages: 416

Available in Paperback and Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

The Seafront Tea Rooms is a peaceful hideaway, away from the bustle of the seaside, and in this quiet place a group of women find exactly what they've been searching for.

Charismatic journalist Charlotte is on a mission to scope out Britain's best tea rooms. She knows she's found something special in the Seafront Tea Rooms but is it a secret she should share? Kathryn, a single mother whose only sanctuary is the 'Seafront', convinces Charlie to keep the place out of her article by agreeing to join her on her search. Together with another regular, Seraphine, a culture-shocked French au pair with a passion for pastry-making, they travel around the country discovering quaint hideaways and hidden gems. But what none of them expect is for their journey to surprise them with discoveries of a different kind . . .

Full of romance, tea and cake, The Seafront Tea Rooms is a heart-warming tale about the strength found in true friendship.

 

I've had my eye this one for a while and have finally pre-ordered it, so keep an eye out for a review sometime soon.

 

 

The Year I Met You by Cecelia Ahern

Released: 9th October 2014

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages:328

Available in Hardback and Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Jasmine loves two things: her sister and her work. And when her work is taken away she has no idea who she is.

Matt loves two things: his family and the booze. Without them, he hits rock bottom.

One New Year’s Eve, two people’s paths collide. Both have time on their hands; both are at a crossroads. But as the year unfolds, through moonlit nights and suburban days, an unlikely friendship slowly starts to blossom.

Sometimes you have to stop still in order to move on…

Original and poignant, The Year I Met You will make you laugh, cry and celebrate life.

 

A new Cecelia Ahern novel, bound to be brilliant, I'm hoping I can hold out for a paperback copy but who knows this may show up on a Showcase Sunday post sometime before June.

 

So that's my pick of today's release's, what are you hoping to add to your collection? I'd love to know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review - A Week in Paris by Rachel Hore

 

A Week in Paris by Rachel Hore

Released: 9th October 2014

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Pages: 480

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order from Amazon here.

 

 

Blurb

The streets of Paris hide a dark past...September, 1937. Kitty Travers enrols at the Conservatoire on the banks of the Seine to pursue her dream of becoming a concert pianist. But then war breaks out and the city of light falls into shadow. Nearly twenty-five years later, Fay Knox, a talented young violinist, visits Paris on tour with her orchestra. She barely knows the city, so why does it feel so familiar? Soon touches of memory become something stronger, and she realises her connection with these streets runs deeper than she ever expected. As Fay traces the past, with only an address in an old rucksack to help her, she discovers dark secrets hidden years ago, secrets that cause her to question who she is and where she belongs...A compelling story of war, secrets, family and enduring love.

 

Review

A Week in Paris tells the story of Fay Knox a 21 year old violinist with no recollection of her early childhood.  The story starts when Fay in 1956 when Fay is sixteen and she travels to Paris on a school trip, while she is there everything feels familiar to her although when she returns her mother assures her she has never been. When Fay reaches 21 she is accepted to play in an orchestra on tour in Paris.  Before she goes her mother has a mental breakdown and is admitted to hospital, while Fay visits her she tells her daughter to look in the linen chest before she goes on her trip. Fay finds an old child’s rucksack which feels familiar to her, with just a label saying St Cecile’s, Paris. Confused Fay heads to Paris where she again has feelings of familiarity, after finding a convent named St Cecile’s Fay begins to unravel a past life which makes her question everything she believes to be true.

Although the majority of this story is set in the present day 1961 we also learn about Kitty’s early life through the narrative of Nathalie Raymond a lady who Fay meets after being lead to the convent of St Cecile’s by the luggage ticket.  Kitty’s story takes place during the war years and it was just so haunting and really conveyed the uncertainty and fear people must have had at the time.

I loved the way that Fay’s life in Paris began to reflect that of her mother’s years earlier and like the parallels between Kitty and Eugene and Fay and Adam. In a way I think it helped to tie the two stories together. I also loved the way that both Fay and Kitty rely on their gut instinct when they are unsure about things and when knowing who to trust.  After the story had unfolded it was easier to see why Kitty had had her breakdown and ended up in the hospital, I’m sure many who have kept so much hidden for so long would crumble eventually too.

This was my first time reading a novel by Rachel Hore and I think she has done an incredible job in creating a very realistic feeling historical novel, I actually felt like I was living Kitty’s story and the writing was so gripping that I could just not stop reading.  I loved this book as I really enjoy historical fiction, especially when there is a hidden mystery to unfold which this book did brilliantly. It is a book which will make you question whether the truth is sometimes best left hidden or if it should be told despite the repercussions. 

I’m sure fans of Rachel Hore will adore her new book and I highly recommend it to those of you who are fans of historical fiction, it’s a book that will totally absorb you.

Rating 5/5