Book Review: Christmas at the Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

"It's Christmas in the Cornish coastal village of Mount Polbearne - a time for family, friends and feasting.

Polly Waterford loves running the Little Beach Street Bakery. She's at her happiest when she's creating delicious treats and the festive season always inspires her to bake and knead something extra special for the village residents. In fact, the only thing she loves more than her bakery is curling up with her gorgeous boyfriend, Huckle. She's determined that this Christmas is going to be their best one yet, but life doesn't always work out as planned...

When Polly's best friend Kerensa turns up with a secret that threatens the life Polly and Huckle have built together, the future begins to look uncertain. And then a face from Polly's past reappears and things become even more complicated. Polly can usually find solace in baking but she has a feeling that's not going to be enough this time. Can she get things back on track so that everyone has a merry Christmas?"

Rating: 5/5

I adore Jenny Colgan's books, so when I discovered she was writing a third book in the 'Little Beach Street Bakery' series, I was really happy, even more so when it was a Christmas novel! Although Jenny has written a bit of an introduction to this book, explaining the characters and the story to date and therefore you can enjoy this as a standalone, it is best read as part of the series, you'll be missing out if you don't catch up with the other two books!

Polly is still happily baking away in her little bakery in Mount Polbearne. She also still lives with her American boyfriend Huck, and their puffin Neil. Polly loves that Christmas is coming, and is looking forward to baking up a storm for the locals who love to buy her goods. But Polly and Huck's perfect Christmas is under threat when Polly's best friend Kerensa confides a secret with her, one that is sure to put a rift between Huck and Polly. Burdened by the secret, Polly's Christmas spirit is feeling dampened... can she make sure she and Huck have a Merry Christmas after all?

As I said, I have read the previous books in the series, and know the ins and outs of these characters really well, so it was great to slip back into the world of Mount Polbearne, and Polly's bakery and her lighthouse again. I've always loved Polly, and I definitely did throughout this book too. She struggles with the burden of her best friend Kerensa's secret, as any of us would I think, and I felt sorry for her being put in that position, and worrying about how she can keep it secret from Huck too. The storyline of the secret takes place throughout the book, and I kept nervously picking up the story, eager to see if things would be revealed or not!

I don't want to say too much about the story of this book because it's one of those that wants to be discovered as you read the book. There was a really well written bit about Polly in this book coming to grips with someone shocking from her past making a reappearance, and I loved how well Colgan writes this part of the book. It is of course very emotional, but Colgan wasn't afraid to portray Polly really struggling it with it too, rather than making it the fairytale ending we sometimes assume a situation like this can have.

I think this is perhaps the last we will see of Polly, Huck and Neil in the Little Beach Street Bakery series after the ending of this book, but I would definitely welcome them coming back again! The final few scenes were wonderfully written and emotional to read, and really puts across the family feel and atmosphere that living on a small island like Mount Polbearne brings. As well as this, there's festive spirit throughout as Polly prepares for Christmas with Huck, Kerensa and the rest of her family. This was a wonderful read, perfect to snuggle up with a hot chocolate and sausage roll (I can't stand mince pies personally!), and join Polly and Huck for their Christmas!

Book Review: The Little Shop of Happy Ever After by Jenny Colgan

"Given a back-room computer job when the beloved Birmingham library she works in turns into a downsized retail complex, Nina misses her old role terribly - dealing with people, greeting her regulars, making sure everyone gets the right books for their needs. Then a new business nobody else wants catches her eye: owning a tiny little bookshop bus up in the Scottish highlands. No computers. Shortages. Out all hours in the freezing cold; driving with a tiny stock of books... not to mention how the little community is going to take to her, particularly when she stalls the bus on a level crossing..."

Rating: 5/5

You can buy the book now.

I always really look excited for a new book from Jenny Colgan, and was thrilled to get access to her latest book The Little Shop of Happy Ever After on Netgalley. It's a book about a book lover who decides to open a book shop - what isn't there to love about this story?! Nina was a librarian, until cuts meant she lost her job, and the idea of working in the backroom on computers really doesn't interest her. She makes an impulse decision and buys an empty van, and decides to use it as a book bus, up in the Scottish highlands of all places. Will she be able to make her fledgling business a success all on her own?!

This is most definitely a book for bookworms, and I am sure so many of us can see ourselves in the fantastic character that is Nina. She is completely passionate about books, reading and libraries and that comes across so beautifully in Colgan's writing. Nina rescues old books, wants to encourage reluctant readers into her bookish world, and despairs at the closures happening to local libraries - something many people are hating in the real world, so this book is most certainly fiction was a big doseful of reality.

I don't get to read many books set in Scotland, so I was really looking forward to reading this and finding out more about life north of the border. I have to say Jenny Colgan writes about the highlands so wonderfully, and you can fully imagine all of it in your mind as you are reading, from the rolling hills and countryside, to the small Scottish village Nina settles into. She ends up renting a place from a local farmer called Lennox, who seems quite rude and standoffish, determined to be alone and avoid Nina at all costs, although she is sure she can get him out of his shell. As well as her new friendship with Lennox, the book explores a few Scottish traditions, in particular a dance that Nina and her friend are invited to, and these scenes were so fun to read!

Although these are the main two characters in the book, we meet many other villagers that were fun to read about, and there was one story in particular that really touched my heart, and made me enjoy the book that little bit more, involving a teenage girl and her younger brother, living in difficult circumstances. Colgan writes their story beautifully, full of emotion, and as well as touching on their circumstances, shows us how reading can be such a vital escape for people, allowing you to become anyone and be anywhere when you're involved in a good book. I loved that the book showed readers from babies, toddlers, children and adults at every stage of their life, it was just a joy to read.

I loved everything about this book, and was completely absorbed by the story, the setting, the characters and just everything about this book. As I said, it truly is a book for book lovers, and I agreed with so many things in this book, from Nina's obsessive hoarding of books to her wanting to encourage everyone to pick up a book and discover the joy that is reading. Colgan's writing is so wonderful to read, with her evocative descriptions of the Scottish highlands, passion for books and reading and skilfully crafted characters making this book simply unmissable. I loved it.

Book Review: Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

"Summer has arrived in the Cornish town of Mount Polbearne and Polly Waterford couldn't be happier. Because Polly is in love: she's in love with the beautiful seaside town she calls home, she's in love with running the bakery on Beach Street, and she's in love with her boyfriend, Huckle.

And yet there's something unsettling about the gentle summer breeze that's floating through town. Selina, recently widowed, hopes that moving to Mount Polbearne will ease her grief, but Polly has a secret that could destroy her friend's fragile recovery. Responsibilities that Huckle thought he'd left behind are back and Polly finds it hard to cope with his increasingly long periods of absence.

Polly sifts flour, kneads dough and bakes bread, but nothing can calm the storm she knows is coming: is Polly about to lose everything she loves?"

Rating: 5/5

You can buy Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery as a paperback or an eBook now.

Ooh I do get excited about a new book from Jenny Colgan! Over the past few years, I have reviewed so many of Jenny's books and each of this is just as good as the last. I especially love that they have involved bakeries, chocolate shops and sweet shops - foodie heaven! As well as the lovely food though, there are great characters, brilliant stories and gorgeous covers to match. Therefore I was super excited to be sent a review copy of her latest book Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery, the second in the Little Beach Street Bakery series.

Polly Waterford has settled brilliantly on the island of Polbearne, and her bakery is going from strength to strength. She's moved into her new home with American boyfriend Huckle, and Polly is sure that the pair of them, together with their puffin Neil, are going live happily ever after. However, when tragedy strikes, Polly finds herself about to lose everything that she holds dear - most of all, her beloved bakery. As well as her troubles, widow Selina is back in Polbearne as well as some more unfamiliar and unwelcome faces. Is Polly going to make it through the tough times, or is her happiness about to come crashing down around her?

As I said, this is the second book in the series - this can be read as a standalone novel and would be perfectly enjoyable, but I would definitely recommend that you read them in the order that they are written. This gives you much more background, and obviously everything in this book will make much more sense once you know what happened previously. There is a catch-up in the front of this book, but I like reading series' properly.

Polly is a great character, and I was really pleased to be back with her in her bakery on Polbearne. I have to confess that living somewhere that is cut off from the mainland, doesn't have any internet or any decent phone reception sounds like my idea of hell! However, Polly has settled in brilliantly, befriended many of the locals, and lives for making bread and treats for her new friends. You definitely get the sense it's all going too well for Polly, and of course the inevitable happens - it all starts to go wrong. I felt incredibly sorry for Polly as one bad thing after another happens to her - I was surprised she didn't throw the towel in and move back to the mainland for an easier life!

As usual, Colgan describes the bread, the bakery and the processes of baking perfectly. In fact, I was inspired to make bread myself for the first time after reading this book, and I can see why Polly loves it so much - it's addictive! You can really imagine in your mind what Polly is doing, from kneading the dough to setting up the shop in the early hours with her assistant. Polly's boyfriend Huckle is also present throughout the book - he's handsome, charming and caring - no wonder Polly fell for him! I loved reading about their relationship, one of respect and love, and loved how encouraging he was of Polly and her shop, and the faith he had in her even in the darkest of times for the pair. I can't review this book without mentioning the lovely Neil the puffin who regularly steals the show throughout the book, such a cute character!

As you can probably tell, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even if it meant Polly went through the mill a bit as a result of the bad luck on Polbearne! There were some truly tense scenes in this book - emotional ones which took my breath away and left me reading on to simply find out what happens, and then there's the more fun side at the bakery, and when Polly and Huckle are hanging out with their uber-rich friends. It was fun to return to the Little Beach Street Bakery, and I think it was left open enough at the end that we could hopefully return once more to Polbearne and catch up with Polly! Another super book for fans of Jenny Colgan, I loved it.

Book Review: Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

"Polly Waterford is recovering from a toxic relationship. Unable to afford their townhouse, she has to move miles away from everyone, to the sleepy little seaside resort of Polbearne, where she lives alone above an abandoned shop.

And so Polly takes out her frustrations on her favourite hobby: making bread. But what was previously a weekend diversion suddenly becomes far more important as she pours her emotions into kneading and pounding the dough, and each loaf becomes better and better. With nuts and seeds, olives and chorizo, with local honey (courtesy of local bee keeper, Huckle), and with reserves of determination and creativity Polly never knew she had, she bakes and bakes and bakes . . . And people start to hear about it.

Sometimes, bread really is life . . . And Polly is about to reclaim hers."

Rating: 5/5

You can buy Little Beach Street Bakery as a paperback or an eBook now.

I have become a huge fan of Jenny Colgan over the past few years. I've read a lot of her books now, and I have loved every single one so far. I always look forward to her new books, so when I was sent a review copy of her latest book Little Beach Street Bakery, I was really excited because I had high hopes for the book! I have to compliment the publishers on the cover, it's gorgeous and looks like a perfect spring read, and seems to suit the novel perfectly. As usual, it's full of Colgan's wit and warmth, and is possibly one of my favourites of Jenny's books to date!

Polly Waterford's life feels like it's falling apart around her. The company she has with her ex-boyfriend has gone bankrupt, and her relationship has pretty much ended as well. Unable to afford her expensive house anymore, Polly decides to take things into her own hands, and moves to the quiet and tiny village of Polbearne, where she rents a tiny flat in an abandoned shop. Polly slowly starts to get used to her new life, and as she does, she starts up her love of baking bread again. However, without meaning to, she seems to have upset her landlady, owner of the local bakery. The residents of Polbearne seem to love Polly's bread, and it's making her some steady friends, including fisherman Tarnie and local beekeeper Huckle. As bread starts to take hold of Polly's life, she wonders if this could mean her life is finally getting back on track.

For me, what made this novel so readable was the character of Polly. She's the leading lady of the novel, the one we follow for the duration, and I have to say that I loved her. I felt so sorry for her at the beginning, struggling to cope with the end of both her business and her relationship, and the fact she really doesn't know where to turn. I was pleased when she moved far away from her ex-boyfriend to Polbearne, and there started my love affair with Polbearne too! Colgan writes everything about the sleepy seaside town so beautifully, it's vivid in your mind as you read, and it really comes to life. Everything from the dilapidated flat where Polly finds herself living, to Huckle's home and the sea front itself sounded so picturesque, you can see why Polly was drawn to the village so much.

I loved the inclusion of Polly baking bread throughout the book - Colgan writes about so many different breads, lots that I hadn't heard of and some that I of course had - they all sounded so delicious, I could almost smell them as I turned the pages of the book! You can see why Tarnie, the other fisherman and residents of Polbearne love her bread so much, and I was willing for her to make a success out of her vocation somehow, even though her landlady Gillian seemingly doesn't want her to! I really disliked Gillian, but Colgan slowly reveals to use her story, and I began to feel incredibly sorry for her, and could understand why she is how she is. This is a very emotional read, what with Polly contending with many issues in her own life, and other stories going on. There is a shocking story twist along the way that I hadn't seen coming whatsoever, and it really knocked me for six. It was so well handled, but really tough to read, and was a massive change in the story so far.

I have to confess that I really didn't want to put this book down once I started reading it. It was completely compulsive, and I felt like I was lost in the world of Polbearne with Polly, Huckle and Tarnie. Huckle and Tarnie were fantastic male characters, more positive males in the book for Polly to be with and she really comes alive when she is around them both. This book has everything; happiness, sorrow, hope and love, all woven together in a magical tale that you won't want to end. I cannot review this book without mentioning the brilliant Neil, a puffin that Polly adopts in Polbearne - he surely is a star in his own right, and the bond that he and Polly have was truly adorable! It was a truly delightful read, everything from Polly losing herself in her bread baking, to the different relationships she forms in Polbearne make the book well worth reading, Little Beach Street Bakery is a poignant and heart-warming story that I must definitely recommend P.S. Look out for the gorgeous recipes in the back!!

Book Review: Christmas at Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop by Jenny Colgan

"Curl up with Rosie, her friends and her family as they prepare for a very special Christmas . . .

Rosie Hopkins is looking forward to Christmas in the little Derbyshire village of Lipton, buried under a thick blanket of snow. Her sweetshop is festooned with striped candy canes, large tempting piles of Turkish Delight, crinkling selection boxes and happy, sticky children. She's going to be spending it with her boyfriend, Stephen, and her family, flying in from Australia. She can't wait.

But when a tragedy strikes at the heart of their little community, all of Rosie's plans for the future seem to be blown apart. Can she build a life in Lipton? And is what's best for the sweetshop also what's best for Rosie?"

Rating: 5/5

You can buy Christmas at Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop as a hardback or an eBook now.

I have become a huge fan of Jenny Colgan's novels, and the past few books that she has written have been absolutely brilliant, and definitely must-reads in my opinion. I was thrilled to receive a review copy of her latest novel Christmas at Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop for review, since I loved the first one in that series, Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop of Dreams. I actually read the book before Christmas, devoured it in just a few days and am finally getting around to reviewing it... doing so has certainly made me want to read it again, it was that good!

Rosie Hopkins loves working in sweet shop in the village Lipton, even more so now the festive season is well and truly on its way. Rosie is looking forward to the first one in her new home, with new boyfriend Stephen and her aunt too. As an extra treat, Rosie's mum and other family is flying in from Australia to spend the season with her... she's just got to break it to Stephen first! As the village is gearing up for Christmas, a tragedy strikes and the residents are forced to pull together to help each other through the hard times. Rosie is worried that it might mean the end for the plans she had made for the future - is her happy ending definitely in Lipton??

You don't need to have read the first book in this series to enjoy this book, although it of course helps knowing the back story, especially of Rosie getting the shop and her relationship with Stephen too. However, everything is quite well explained so its easy to enjoy this as a stand alone novel too, especially as a festive treat. Things have moved along slightly since the previous book, Stephen is now starting work as a school teacher at the local school, Rosie's shop is becoming a roaring success, and they are living together, quite happily plodding along in their relationship, taking things slowly. I enjoyed the twists and turns that their relationship took as this book progressed, the things they came up against felt very realistic, and it was emotional to read at times, with Rosie desperately trying to work out the right thing to do.

For me, the setting of Lipton was perfect. With it's wintery snowy setting and festive feel, it seems perfect and exactly the sort of place you want to be as Christmas approaches. It's a quaint, small village with close friends and neighbours and I really enjoyed this aspect of the book. Rosie was a great main character again, and it was lovely getting back into step with her narrative, and I loved Stephen as much as I had last time. They make such a good couple, I was really hoping that they would end up with a happy ending! I really enjoyed Rosie's aunt Lilian's story in this book though, it was very emotional and totally unexpected, it was so beautifully written and touching to read, it was very compulsive once I got reading!

Rosie's family make an amusing addition to the book, and it was fun seeing Rosie with her own family for a change, rather than just making new friends in the village. The tragedy that happens shocked me quite a lot, I hadn't expected it at all and Colgan really did the scenes justice. It felt so real as I was reading, I couldn't put the book down and was desperate to find out what was going to happen next. It was totally gripping! Everything about this novel was absolutely brilliant. While the sweet shop took a little more a back seat in this book, the other stories going on around it in Lipton were amazingly written - Colgan puts across the emotion and tension in these scenes so well. I loved everything about this book, it was a complete joy to read and I hope it isn't the last we see of Rosie and her beautiful sweetshop!!

Book Review: The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan

"As dawn breaks over the Pont Neuf, and the cobbled alleyways of Paris come to life, Anna Trent is already awake and at work; mixing and stirring the finest, smoothest, richest chocolate; made entirely by hand, it is sold to the grandes dames of Paris.

It's a huge shift from the chocolate factory she worked in at home in the north of England. But when an accident changed everything, Anna was thrown back in touch with her French teacher, Claire, who offered her the chance of a lifetime - to work in Paris with her former sweetheart, Thierry, a master chocolatier.

With old wounds about to be uncovered and healed, Anna is set to discover more about real chocolate - and herself - than she ever dreamed."

Rating: 5/5

You can pre-order The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris as a paperback or an eBook now.

I loved this book so much. I almost think I could stop the review there because that is really all there is so say about it! It draws you in and is just beautifully written, interesting, tantalising and just all round brilliant to read, and I think this is my favourite of Jenny Colgan's books I have read so far. I was wondering how much of it would be set in the lovely city of Paris, and the answer is pretty much all of it. Although I've been to Paris a fair few times in my life, I wouldn't say I know it very well or am particularly enamored by it so I was hoping Colgan would be able to persuade me otherwise.

The characters are absolutely fantastic in the book, and they are what really draws you in because you care about them and want to find out what happened to them all by the end of the book. Our leading lady is Anna, a young woman who suffers a bit of an unfortunate accident at work and finds herself bored in hospital and out of a job. Surprisingly, she bumps into her old french teacher Claire who is desperately unwell. Claire persuades Anna to take her life into her own hands and do something exciting, and so she ups and leaves to Paris to work in a world famous chocolate shop under the watchful eye of Claire's old friend Thierry. But is it just chocolate Anna will making whilst she's in Paris?

Jenny Colgan really manages to bring the city of Paris to life in the book, and writes about it so evocatively you feel as if you are there with Anna, Thierry and co making chocolate in their shop! Everything from the streets to the buildings to the landmarks are so beautifully described that you can picture them when you close your eyes and that was one of my favourite things about this book. I also found the way Colgan wrote about the chocolate and Thierry's processes for making it were just magical - it seemed like so much more than just chocolate and it was mesmerising to read it, especially the way Thierry worked. I was totally lost in the pages of this and it actually made wonder what goes into the chocolate that I eat lol!

One of my favourite bits of the book though (shock horror... not the chocolate!) was Claire's story which is interspersed throughout the book with Anna's. Claire's is told as a flashback using an italic font to make it stand out slightly, and it's quite simply a joy to read. Everything from her moving to France as a naive, sheltered young girl and literally growing up there was wonderful to read, and I just didn't want to put the book down when Claire's story was the focal point. At some points, I actually ploughed through Anna's story just to get to more of Claire's, I was totally lost in her world and I wish in a way Colgan could have written a whole book just about this, it was wonderful!

This book made me laugh, smile and cry along with it - the ending for me was so bittersweet and I actually flicked back several pages to make sure what I'd read was right, simply because I didn't want to believe it was the end, I felt it could have gone on and on and I'd have kept reading! The book was enchanting from start to finish, and Anna's humour peppered throughout kept the tone light and the chocolate made it all the more delicious to read! For me, this is Jenny Colgan's best book to date, and she effortlessly weaves the timeless tales of Claire and Anna throughout the beautiful city of Paris, and by the end, I didn't want to leave either Claire or Anna behind, nor their beautiful chocolate shop in Paris. Simply a must-read. With chocolate. Lots of chocolate.

Book Review: Christmas at the Cupcake Café by Jenny Colgan

"Issy Randall, proud owner of The Cupcake Cafe, is in love and couldn't be happier. Her new business is thriving and she is surrounded by close friends, even if her cupcake colleagues Pearl and Caroline don't seem quite as upbeat about the upcoming season of snow and merriment. But when her boyfriend Austin is scouted for a possible move to New York, Issy is forced to face up to the prospect of a long-distance romance. And when the Christmas rush at the cafe - with its increased demand for her delectable creations - begins to take its toll, Issy has to decide what she holds most dear.

This December, Issy will have to rely on all her reserves of courage, good nature and cinnamon, to make sure everyone has a merry Christmas, one way or another . . "

Rating: 5/5

I absolutely loved Jenny Colgan's 2011 release Meet Me at the Cupcake Café, it was my first ever Jenny Colgan book, and it was a delight to read from start to finish. I think it prompted a whole new fanbase for Jenny as well, and the gorgeous covers certainly help matters, they're so pretty! I really loved the characters that we met in that book, so when I heard that Jenny was bringing them back for a festive offering, I was really pleased, it seemed like a cupcake café would be the perfect setting for a Christmassy book! The cover is so pretty, with it's light blue and red, and the intricate patterns around the edge, and as soon as it arrived, I got stuck in and devoured it as quickly as I could...  much like I would one of Issy's cupcakes!

Issy Randall's 'Cupcake Café' is going from strength to strength, and she loves working there. She's still close friends with her colleagues Pearl, and her best friend Helena is still enjoying being a new mother, although Issy feels her friend's obsession with her new baby daughter is driving a wedge between their friendship. Then there's Issy's relationship with boyfriend Austin, which seems to be going well too. But when Austin is offered a job opportunity that could make he and his brother Darny more well off and successful than he ever could have thought, Issy is worried that it will spell the end of their relationship. Will Issy have the courage to stand up for what she really believes in, and what will come of her beloved Cupcake Café?

The really good thing about this book is that you don't have to have read the first book to really enjoy this one, and this is something that Colgan acknowledges in her short introduction to the book. She very briefly recaps what happened in the last book, and this was enough to refresh my memory sufficiently for me to quickly slip back into these characters and enjoy the book! Issy is the same as before; likeable, friendly and kind, and the perfect person to run the cafe. She bakes amazing sounding cakes, and as with the last book, Colgan has included recipes for the cakes that Issy bakes, and there are certainly a few that I want to try out myself! Issy is a great leading lady for the book, and I really enjoyed following her story, from her café over to New York and back again.

Issy's friends are also quite important in the book too, although of course their stories are secondary to the main one of Issy and Austin. Pearl, a single mother, is dreading the financial burden that Christmas is undoutedbly going to put on her, but wants to give her son Louis the best things that she can. Caroline, a divorcée single mum whose job at the Cupcake Café is her first job ever, is trying to be strong despite her husband's infidelities, but her attitude keeps rubbing her colleagues and customers up the wrong way. Then there's Helena who is a new mum to baby Chadani Imelda (sorry but just reading that name makes me a bit cross, I couldn't stand reading it in the book!) and her obsession with her new daughter and her developments are pushing Issy away somewhat. All of these characters are so important to the book, and I liked how Colgan effortlessly weaves them into the book through the Cupcake Café.

I was surprised at New York being included in the book, as it didn't seem to fit at all, and given that I'd just read a book set in that city, I was a bit worried it would seem a bit repetitive and spoil my enjoyment. However, of course that wasn't the case, and while the scenes in NYC were few and far between, there to update us on Austin and to throw a spanner in the works for Issy, they were fun to read, especially as it was set at Christmas and Colgan writes the city so beautifully. I loved the 'will they, won't they' aspect of this storyline, and was worried about whether Issy and Austin would make it through, it's not clear cut as you're reading and I loved that! Colgan really weaves her Christmas magic through this book, from the lovely descriptions of the festive decorations that adorn the Cupcake Café, to the lovely cakes and cookies that Issy bakes throughout the book, plus the excitement of young Louis for Christmas that is just infectious! I loved every page of this book and didn't want it to end, I just hope this isn't the last we see of Issy and her wonderful Cupcake Café! This book is simply a must-read this Christmas.

You can buy Christmas at the Cupcake Café as a hardback or an eBook now.

Book Review: Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan

"Were you a sherbet lemon or chocolate lime fan? Penny chews or hard boiled sweeties (you do get more for your money that way)? The jangle of your pocket money . . . the rustle of the pink and green striped paper bag . . . Rosie Hopkins thinks leaving her busy London life, and her boyfriend Gerard, to sort out her elderly Aunt Lilian's sweetshop in a small country village is going to be dull. Boy, is she wrong. Lilian Hopkins has spent her life running Lipton's sweetshop, through wartime and family feuds. As she struggles with the idea that it might finally be time to settle up, she also wrestles with the secret history hidden behind the jars of beautifully coloured sweets. Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop of Dreams - a novel - with recipes."

Rating: 5/5

After reading (and loving) my first Jenny Colgan novel last year, Meet Me At The Cupcake Cafe, I was really, really keen to read to read her brand new novel, especially as it sounded like it was going to be about sweets... how could you go wrong?! The cover is fantastic, red with the teal foil highlights for the lettering, and I think it is certainly going to be a book that people will want to pick up and find out more about, especially thanks to that tantalising title! I have to say I found this book better than Colgan's last release, and that's certainly saying something considering how great that book was, and I ploughed through this book in just a few days because I was in love with the characters, and the interesting way in which it was written, it really did keep me hooked. I have to say as well, whether you're a fan of sweets or not, do read this book because it's a joy!

The book tells the tale, funnily enough, of Rosie Hopkins, and her sudden move from London to the countryside where her ailing, elderly Aunt Lilian is living alone, and needs Rosie's help. Rosie is reluctant to leave her job as auxiliary nurse in a busy city hospital, and boyfriend Gerard behind, but does so for her family, especially mother Angie. When she gets there, she finds Lilian's sweet shop closed and it looks like it hasn't been open for a while, and Lilian is in a fairly bad way too. Rosie struggles to get used to country life, every knowing everyone elses business, but befriends the local doctor, and ends up with stroppy local patient Stephen to tend to. Rosie is determined to get Lilian's shop ready for selling, and sets about making it look brand new, but ends up falling in love with it herself. I loved Rosie straight away, she's the perfect heroine for a book, and is so loveable, there's nothing at all to fault about her!

Rosie is all about her family, which is a good message to send out, and helps Lilian out even though the pair barely know each other. I liked that Rosie didn't take any nonsense from her elderly Aunt, and found the pair to be quite the comedy duo as the book went on, with both girls giving as good as they got! I especially enjoyed reading about Rosie's escapades with the locals in the village, some hilarious moments did make me laugh out loud, and I found it so easy to read. Lilian herself was a great character, clearly troubled by events that happened in her past, but reading her unfolding relationship with her niece was fantastic, and I really liked the stroppy old woman by the end of it! These two were definitely the main characters, but there were a few others who were important too, such as Rosie's hideous boyfriend Gerard, just an awful character and I could not understand for the life of me why Rosie let him treat her that way! Moray the local doc was lovely, a really friendly face for Rosie in the book, and I loved their scenes together, and the medical issues that came up were well written too, I enjoyed the realism of those.

Now to the sweet shop. Well what can you say? Colgan has clearly done her research (lucky her!) about all manner of sweets, old and new and so many make an appearance in the book that it makes for fantastic reading! As well as mentioning the sweets in the shop, Colgan has introduced extracts from a book Lilian wrote about sweets, which has real recipes in it too if you fancy trying those out, and they sound amazing! I found the extracts at the beginning of the chapter were funny and enlightening, and added something a bit different to the book. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of the sweet shop, from the fancy chocolate boxes to the big glass jars lined up on the shelves... it sounded like heaven! Another thing I want to mention about this book was the way it was told. The majority of it was in the present day with Rosie and Lilian, but throughout the book, there were flashbacks to Lilian's youth in the 1940's, and what exactly went on there is nothing short of heart-breaking, and very emotional to read. Colgan easily manages to transport you back many years into that time period, and it was great to have a background for Lilian to explain her in the present day, I found these parts of the book so touching and incredibly well written.

Overall, this book was a joy to read, and I really can't recommend it enough. From the enticing, bright front cover that immediately draws you in, you're then sucked into the world of Rosie and Lilian and the glorious sweet shop, as well as the things in the women's lives too. There is a great cast of characters, from the youngest villagers through to the oldest, and a moody young man thrown in to boot, and I loved every single page. Colgan manages to combine this story with Lilian's youth with ease, and I enjoyed each part of the book equally. This book delves deep into the heart of family, love and sweeties, and I defy you not to crave at least half of the things mentioned in the book, especially in a candy striped paper bag as you're reading along! I miss the days of proper pick n mix, and this book will definitely bring that all back in your mind, and more! A fantastic novel that I know will be a surefire success, and it thoroughly deserves to be! A really treat of a read!

You can buy Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop of Dreams as a paperback or an eBook now!

Book Review: Meet Me At The Cupcake Café by Jenny Colgan

Issy was strolling along in her life, she had a secure job, a pretty okay relationship, a gorgeous flat and an even better flatmate in nurse Helena. However, Issy's life is turned upside down when she suddenly loses her job and her boyfriend in one fell swoop. She has to quickly find another job, and when the quaint little shop near her home becomes free, Issy decides she wants to become a baker just like her beloved grand-father. With the help of his recipes, her new friend and business partner Pearl and a lot of cakes, the Cupcake Cafe is open for business and Issy is loving her life. But when her slimey ex-boyfriend comes back on the scene, is it going to mean problems for Issy and her wonderful cafe?

I have tried to read some of Jenny Colgan's novels previously, but I've never been able to get into them. Mind you,this was a few years ago before I started reviewing for the site and I didn't have the perseverance I do now so I gave up far too easily if I wasn't gripped within a few pages! When a gorgeous copy of this very pink and girly book landed on my doorstep, I have to admit it did catch my eye and make me want to read it, so I was quite pleased that I was down on our schedule to review this one. The cover was originally blue but I think the pink suits it far more and I'm really pleased the publishers changed it to the more girly and cute looking pink version we see today.