The Secret Mistletoe Promise by Cressida McLaughlin

 

When Imogen leaves her fiancé at the altar and escapes to her grandmother’s cottage by the sea, the only thing she wants to do is disappear.

But in a village curious about their new arrival, Imogen finds hiding out harder than expected, especially with the charming local baker Dexter around to distract her.

As secrets unravel and the festive season draws near, Imogen wonders if she’s been running from the wrong things all along.

Will the runaway bride find her happy ever after under the mistletoe?

My first festive read of 2025 was a no brainer for me as I am a HUGE fan of Cressida McLaughlin and with her new release The Secret Mistletoe Promise set in Mistingham which is the same cosy seaside town her previous book was set in I was ready to be re-united with the community I fell in love with including the troublesome Jumper wearing goat Felix!

This time we arrive in the town alongside a new character Imogen who is a runaway bride who has come to hide out with her grandmother but there this community welcomed her with open arms and rather than hiding away we watch as Imogen begins to flourish as she helps the locals with goat hunting, decoration making as well as taking part in Christmas festivities. There is a sparkling gentle romance fizzing through the pages and new friendships made making this the perfect foundation for a winter romance which I adored. Dexter was a character who I loved from the previous book and I was so pleased that Cressida featured him in this book so heavily as I was hoping for a happy ever after for him.

If you haven't read The Secret Christmas Bookshop yet you can read this one as a stand alone however that was a wonderful read where we really start to get to know the characters and where the antics of Felix the naughty goat will have you chuckling away so treat yourself to both this Christmas.

Available to purchase here

A Cornish Love Story by Cressida McLaughlin

 

The most romantic house in Cornwall has got a new owner…

Journalist Georgie Monroe has watched as it has been transformed into a high-tech glass palace, renovated by a mystery buyer.

When she’s invited to report on an event there, she comes face to face not only with her first love, architect Ethan Sparks, but also with their complicated past. Finding themselves trapped inside when the house malfunctions, Georgie realises that they ― and the house ― are still keeping secrets.

But have Georgie and Ethan left it too late to start again, or can they write the next chapter of their love story together?

Cressida McLaughlin is a go to author of mine so I didn't hesitate to start her latest release A Cornish Love Story the moment it pinged onto my kindle. 

This is a perfect light holiday read with its forced proximity romance set on the idyllic setting of Cornwall which this author always charms us with her exceptional descriptive writing that brings the Cornish setting to life.

In this story we meet Georgie and Ethan who were childhood sweethearts whose relationship ended abruptly but they still hold a torch for each other years later. When the two meet again and find themselves in extraordinary circumstances but will it pull them together or push them further apart?

I love a character who seems lost in life who then turns their life around and finds their path in life and so I think this is why I loved Georgie in this book. We get to know her and Ethan from both the current day and also hopping back to their early years too so we get a rounded view on their relationship. 

I enjoyed this storyline and I certainly think it makes for an ideal holiday read as compared to her previous books this one is a lot lighter so it is easy to pick up devour a couple of chapters here and there. Although I wouldn’t say this was one would leave a lasting impression on me it was still none the less an enjoyable romantic read. 

The Secret Christmas Bookshop by Cressida McLaughlin

 

In a village by the sea, where wintry skies bring a dusting of sparkling snow, somebody is opening an unexpected gift…

When Sophie receives a surprise package, she’s intrigued to find a beautifully bound book inside.

Sophie is desperate to discover the mystery sender, and her hunt draws her to the enigmatic Harry. The subject of much gossip since his return from London, Harry keeps to himself in his crumbling manor house.

But they are both about to learn that the best stories can take on a life of their own.

If you are looking to start your festive reads now in October and not sure where to start then The Secret Christmas Bookshop by Cressida McLaughlin is a great place to start in my opinion because it is a cosy winter romance without being to heavy on the festivity.

This is a new standalone from Cressida and introduces us to a whole host of new characters who are big on community spirit and traditions. Our main character Sophie has never had a place to call home that is permanent which offers solid foundations, stability and love. Having always been ready to up and run as soon as she starts to set down roots anywhere and start again in a way of protecting herself from making strong bonds and face getting hurt, her first instinct is to run and start again. 

I adored not only this storyline but also Sophie as a character, she has a dream job making notebooks which really intrigued me being such a big stationery addict myself but I also really warmed to her character. She was such a loveable woman who I was hoping I would see let her barriers down and let those around her who love her to help her feel safe and secure to be able to actually start living her life rather than always being on the run.

There was a lovely romance blossoming and yes you could see this romance happening a mile off but that's fine with me as I was still so preoccupied trying to get to the bottom of the mystery of who was behind the secret book shop book gifts which I still hold my hands up and say I didn't solve until the point before they were discovered.

I will say at times I was so frustrated with Sophie and wanted to give her a good shake and a hard wakeup call but luckily our characters felt the same as me and gave her some tough love for me!

This was a heart-warming romance that was full of community spirit and learning to trust again to be able to truly start living. 

Available to purchase here

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The Happy Hour by Cressida McLaughlin

 

Jess is happy working in Greenwich market selling trinkets to well-heeled locals and excitable tourists.

Then one Sunday, Jess is thrown together with handsome, funny Ash, as they chase a pickpocket through the market, and before long they are making a habit of running into each other at the same time each week.

Jess starts to realize that their hour together is the brightest part of her life. But Ash isn’t telling her everything – can she discover the truth before it’s too late?

Cressida Mclaughlin is one of my all time favourite authors and I trust and love her writing so much so that I never read her synopsis of her books now before diving in. Her new release is titled The Happy Hour and it is a stand alone so it is a great book to start if you haven’t yet discovered her writing ( although I am going to badger you to get The Cornish Cream Tea Bus next as it is a must read and my favourite of her books!)

We meet Jess who is a creative and supportive woman but who has barriers as high as Big Ben, she is a loved and valued worker of the market community. When a shoplifting attempt brings Ash into her path things begin to blossom for the pair in a unique set up of only spending an hour together every Sunday. But as Jess begins to fall for Ash it is clear he his hiding something important from her.

There was a sense of intrigue created in the early part of this book which really kept me gripped as I had different scenarios running through my head as to why Ash had to dash off every Sunday at the same time.

Was he Married?

Meeting his child?

Having Counselling?

These were just a few of the ideas that were rattling around in my mind. I am not going to give this part of the book away as I think this intrigue was what appealed to me in this book alongside the community spirit that was found amongst the traders at the market.

Jess and Ash were both loveable characters who each have their issues and there relationship was far from plain sailing but at times they did bring out the best in each other and they did have some entertaining hourly dates too.

Weirdly as much as I enjoyed the romance between the pair I actually found myself more drawn to a supporting character Felicity and her situation and I continually looked forward to those chapters that found us back at her house!

The one thing that Cressida always does so well is to bring the atmosphere to life and she does that again in this book with the Hussle and bustle of the market and the various landmarks of London thrown in too.

I really enjoyed my time with these characters and it is certainly a book I will be recommending.

Available to buy here!

From Cornwall with Love by Cressida McLaughlin

 

There’s no place like home. There’s no place like Cornwall…
Maisie Winters has everything she could ever want. She lives in the idyllic Cornish town of Port Karadow, has a jammy job in her dad's shop, adores her rescue mutt, and has time to take the landscape photos she loves.

While her best friend and sister left the town to chase big dreams in London and New York, Maisie stayed – she wouldn't leave her favourite place for anything … or anyone.

When her long-time crush, Colm Caffrey, returns from a decade abroad, old feelings start to resurface. Maisie begins to ask herself if there might be one big thing missing after all?

You know it’s a good day when you turn on your kindle to find your most anticipated book of the year has arrived!

Yes that’s right Cressida McLaughlin is back with another book in the much loved Cornish Cream Tea series titled From Cornwall with Love where we are reunited with all our favourites from the previous books as well as opening our arms to new characters too.

Our protagonist is the lovable Maisie who has grown up in Port Karadow and whilst those she knows and loves around her all seem to want to grow their wings and escape Maisie is true to her roots and wants to stay put, in her eyes what more can somewhere else offer her when her Cornish town has everything to offer. The one thing she is missing is romance, after having her heart broken when her teenage love disappeared without a moments notice. But is love about to blossom when an unexpected arrival returns to Port Karadow?

This is everything I hoped it would be and more. I don’t know how Cressida Mclaughlin does it but this series is just unstoppable, at the end of each book I am desperate for more they just don’t tire or lose their spark. The community spirit in in abundance in this book with characters who we already know and love all coming together but don’t be put off if you have yet to read the previous books in the series because you can still follow this book easily as a stand alone ( but boy are you missing out on a wonderful series, where have you been hiding?)

Maisie felt like she hadn’t really found her way in life but by the end we realise this is more from what is pushed on her by her mum, Maisie is actually very content with her life the way it is and I loved this about her.

I can’t not mention the surfer god that is Colm, he certainly got the pulse racing amongst the women in Port Karadow and he was a wonderful introduction to the series too. An ideal man that not only has looks to melt the strongest heart but also has a pure heart of gold too.

This is quite simply a feel good heavenly romance with an idyllic setting and a host of friends for entertainment and support, the perfect concoction for a Summer read. Roll on the next book in the series, I am already so excited for another return.

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The Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop by Cressida McLaughlin.

 

Ollie Spencer has started a new life in the idyllic Cornish seaside town of Port Karadow. Throwing herself into her job at the town’s bookshop, A New Chapter, is one way to make friends. The shop is glitzing up for first Christmas and Ollie hopes her inspired ideas will give the shop the edge it needs to dazzle the town.

But far from being the Sugar Plum fairy the place needs, Ollie is fast becoming its Christmas pudding. With the bookshop’s success at stake, Ollie turns to twinkly-eyed café owner Max for help. Can he help Ollie to turn the page, and put the sparkle back into her Cornish dream?

Cressida McLaughlin is back again with every bookworms favourite ingredients in a festive novel, sparkling festivity, books new beginnings are a simmering romance all set in a Cornish bookshop!

We have a new character in Port Karadow ready to start a new chapter in her life and Ollie is going to fit right in because she has a strong passion for books and a bucket load of enthusiasm which she is determined to use to help Thea with the new bookshop at The Old Post House. As much as Ollie is wanting to prove herself hurdles keep appearing but can the help of the handsome Max keep her spirits up and help her to put down roots in Port Karadow.

I loved meeting Ollie especially because she was a character who I could relate to, and I could easily see as a friend. Life isn't perfect for her and she hasn't had it easy but her determination shines through, and she keeps battling on without feeling sorry for herself.

We are reunited with past characters from previous Cornish Cream Tea series with Thea who we met in the last book featuring heavy which I am thrilled about as I felt like her story still had more to give so it was exciting to see what she had already done with the renovations, and I was looking forward to Ollie being able to help Thea's dreams flourish.

There is a meaningful romance that blossoms and I was routing for Max and Ollie the whole way through as they both have pure hearts of gold and have both had a big health related knock that have changed the path of their lives. 

There is a touch of festivities and traditions as well as legends and mysteries that are sprinkled through the storyline. My favourite parts of the book though was watching Ollies mind pouring out with various ideas for book themed events that help the bookshop, authors and also the community to come together.

This was another praiseworthy novel that was the perfect winter warmer to curl up with this Christmas, Cressida McLaughlin has touched us once again with her beautiful writing and idyllic setting with characters who feel like firm friends.

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The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday by Cressida McLaughlin

 

Thea Rushwood was looking forward to exploring the beautiful Cornish tourist spot of Port Karadow, but when her friend drops out at the last minute, she is forced to go solo. Arriving at her cosy holiday cottage to discover a building site next door, Thea and the annoyingly attractive, but grumpy builder, Ben, don’t get off to the best start.

Thea starts to wonder if her perfect escape wasn’t meant to be. That’s before she realizes there is more to Ben – and to the community – than she first thought. As a magical Cornish summer stretches out in front of her, Thea discovers this is one holiday that she never wants to end…

Cressida McLaughlin’s Cornish Cream Tea series is definitely up there with my favourite series and each time I finish one I am already sitting there wishing the months by eager for the next one to be released.

 

The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday is book number 6 in the series but to be completely honest if you haven’t read the previous books it is not a problem at all as this can easily be read as a standalone but you will be desperate to go back an read the others straight after.

 

I am sure every reader will love our new main character Thea because she has a dream I am sure most of us keen readers have had at some point through our lives! When her holiday to Cornwall with her best friend Esme faces a hiccup because Esme is unable to come Thea goes anyway armed with a list of things to do sites to see and a secret mission to see if she can possibly make her dream come true.  What was not on her list was finding an irresistible builder named Ben living next door to her rental who soon becomes a consistent distraction!

We are reunited with some of much-loved characters from previous books, Meredith and Finn are weaved in around the storyline and it is great to see how well they are doing. We also have a very brief appearance from Charlie and Daniel but I really wish we could have more of them and Gertie in the novels but I need to stop being needy and just appreciate that a little bit of a good thing is probably what makes you want and love something even more.

Watching Thea building her confidence and pushing forward to try and make her dream a reality and a new life for herself was both exciting and inspiring, I was cheering her on all the way.

Ben was an intriguing character who I grew to love. His past shadowed his pure heart of gold but as his barriers began to come down we could see he was a pure gentleman with a whole lot of love to give, he had just lost his way.

I would have loved to have seen more of the renovation process in the book to go on Thea’s journey from start to end but that is just me being greedy and wanting to live a little of my dream through her! I definitely feel like there is still so much to come from both Thea and Ben so I am hoping that they make a strong reappearance in a future novel.

This was up there as my second favourite in the series and I highly recommend this for those looking for an uplifting romance with Cornish charm to take away on your holibobs or to enjoy on your staycation this year.

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The Staycation by Cressida McLaughlin

 

Thanks to her fear of flying, she hasn’t been on a plane in years. Now Hester wants to make a good impression on her newest client, Jake Oakenfield, who was heroically injured saving an old lady, and is now laid up in a luxury hotel.

For Jake, unable to return to New York, binge watching Netflix just won’t do. He wants Hester to invent the ultimate escape and re-create her most magical holidays abroad from the confines of his hotel room.

As their perfect mini-breaks around the globe take on a life of their own, Hester wonders if her world of make-believe is all starting to feel just a little too real…

Cressida McLaughlin is one of my go to authors and as I sit patiently waiting for the next book in the Cream Tea series I jumped at the chance to read her latest standalone novel The Staycation.

Travel Agent Hester Monday has the world at her fingertips but when she is called into a new client Jake who wants the perfect holiday experiences from the comfort of his hotel room drawn from her own personal travels there is a big problem, Hester hasn’t been on a plane since she was a child!

This was a perfect light read full of a blossoming romance, facing your fears and making the most of what you have which is something we have all had to do over the last few years with the dreaded C-word!

Hester was such a little sweetheart and despite her fear caused by trauma she has still pushed forward and managed to pave her way with a successful career but it constantly reminds her of her barriers. I loved Hester and found her kindness and creativity a breath of fresh air but I longed to see her break down her barriers and really open up all the opportunities available to her. Jake was a real heart throb and has us swooning over him along with Hester.

Ok so the romance was predictable but we all need a little bit of simple love and positivity in our lives and also a little splash of humour and there were a couple of laugh out loud moments in this book.

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Christmas Carols and a Cornish Cream Tea by Cressida McLaughlin

 

All Meredith Verren has ever wanted is to escape the holiday season without having to wear a Christmas jumper. Her new job at the cosy gift shop in a picturesque Cornish tourist spot is making it impossible for her to maintain her scrooge-like manner.

With their seasonal hampers on everyone’s wish list, Meredith must paste on a smile and fake some holiday cheer. Then she meets handsome new arrival, Finn, who wishes it could be Christmas every day and wants her to feel the same way too.

Can she embrace the holly and the ivy before the decorations are packed away for another year?

I am a crazed Cressida superfan so any time there is a book release by her it feels like Christmas to me! Book 5 in the Cornish Cream Tea series is titled Christmas Carols and a Cornish Cream Tea and has a festive cover to swoon over and will make the prefect stocking filler this Christmas.

Our heroine this time is Meredith who lives in a Cornish village working in a Cornish gift shop and is less than a fan of Christmas due to memories that she carries with her of a past Christmas. But as the shop is gearing up for the season Meredith can’t escape the festivities but can the help of the delightful newcome Finn get Meredith to begin to embrace the festive spirit and create new heartwarming feelings for Christmas?

 

Cressida really does have a skill at creating idyllic villages with endearing characters and this book is no exception. Meredith touched my heart and I loved following her every step of the way as she slowly began to open her heart and embrace the festivities. Finn was also such a loveable gentleman who brought a touch of romance to this sweet storyline.

There is only a brief mention of Charlie and our much loved Cream Tea Bus which some may find surprising but before you get a chance to be disappointed you are swept up in this festive romance with a wonderful community and friendship that keeps the series fresh and exciting. I hope future books in the series will see our characters merge together as they compliment each other. Easily read as a standalone so do not feel like you have to go back and read the first books in the series however you are COMPLETELY missing out on a fabulous series if you don’t!

This book has certainly got me in the Christmas spirits with its gift making, carol singing and gingerbread making all tied up in a bow, definitely another cracker by this author.  

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The Cornish Cream Tea Wedding by Cressida McLaughlin

 Wedding planner Ellie Moon is dreaming up the most beautiful bespoke wedding for Charlie and Daniel, owners of Cornwall’s favourite cream tea bus. Even though her own life has been turned upside down and she’s had to rent out her charming Cornish cottage with its climbing roses and lavender beds, Ellie is determined to give them a day to remember.

Her new tenant, handsome mechanic Jago, keeps popping up around the picture-postcard seaside village of Porthgolow. When they’re thrown together in the effort to help his elderly father get a spring back in his step, she discovers that he is full of surprises. Can romance bloom and give Ellie the fresh start she’s been wishing for?

The one book that was top of my list for release this year was The Cornish Cream Tea Wedding by Cressida McLaughlin. The Cream Tea bus series is a firm favourite of mine and I wish we could have 4 books a year set around Gertie but I still don’t think that would be enough for me!

In this new release we are introduced to a few new characters as well as reuniting with our familiar and much loved friends too. Ellie Moon takes the lead in this novel and she has the incredibly important job of organising the wedding of Charlie and Daniel but with the pair having their hearts set on a wedding in their charming seaside town is it possible to find a venue to suit the couple?

Whilst juggling the wedding planning Ellie also needs to settle in her tenant at her beloved home but will she be able to stay away from her beautiful garden or will there be more things pulling her heart back to her cottage?

I am such an organised person, always with a notebook and a list in hand so I instantly connected with Ellie, she had a kind calming and caring nature that radiated through the pages so she was easy to like and a welcome edition to our Cream Tea Community.

We also meet Ellie’s new tenant Jago who is our bit of eye candy to swoon over! He plays a big part in this book and his story kind of weaves everything together.

I loved getting to know our new characters and I got swept away with the wedding plans and the wedding chapter itself was so joyous and I was grinning away reading it like a loon, it really did feel like watching our friends tying the knot! I loved Gertie’s part in the storyline but oh how I wished we could have had her featured more and had my taste buds tingling but that is just my greedy wasteline complaining!

For those green fingered readers out there you will love this book because alongside the romance and planning there is also a heavy feature of gardening including a very special find so this one will certainly appeal to you.

I had waited so long for this novel to come out so I wanted to savour every moment I was eager to race through it and soak it up in one swoop but I was hesitant to because I kept thinking what if this is my last visit to Porthgolow and aboard the Cream Tea Bus, I am definitely not ready to walk away from these characters yet they still have so much to offer and the excitement and enjoyment of revisiting is still as strong as I felt in the first book so you can imagine my delight when I found a certain something at the end of the book!!!!!!!

Once again Cressida McLaughlin has whisked me away to a place that my heart feels at home amongst the most memorable and loved characters I have met and I enjoyed every single moment of this book and I can not recommend this series enough. Now it is time to turn over the page in my diary and let the next count down to commence........

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The Cornish Cream Tea Christmas by Cressida McLaughlin

 

Hannah Swan is looking forward to Christmas for the first time in years. Her new job as an eco-consultant is taking her – and her geeky colleague, Noah – to the beautiful Cornish village of Porthgolow for the first time.
They’re are helping the Crystal Waters Hotel to ramp up its green credentials, though after a bumpy journey, Hannah can’t shake off the feeling that Porthgolow is strangely familiar. Never able to resist a mystery, her interest is piqued when the hotel’s staff and customers report odd noises and sightings, believing the hotel to be haunted.
When bad weather cuts off Porthgolow, Hannah and Noah are looking at a Cornish Christmas. It gives them plenty of time to work out what is really going on, but will their yuletide escape send shivers up their spines? Or will it be as warm and toasty as a glass of mulled wine?

My most anticipated Christmas novel of 2020 was The Cornish Cream Tea Christmas by Cressida McLaughlin, her Cream Tea series of novels are up there with my favourite series of books and with each release I am eager to get back to Gertie the Tea Bus to be teased with the delicious delights and to catch up with the loving community of Porthgolow at the most wonderful time of the year.

Eco-Consultant Hannah Swan heads to Porthgolow to assess the green credentials of Crystal Waters Hotel. Paired with a local Cornish freelancer on the project called Noah, Hannah is keen to make a success of her first case to impress her boss. After a less than welcoming first meeting with Noah, Hannah wonders how the pair will get along but she is determined to enjoy her time in Porthgolow and hopefully find some answers as to why she feels like she has been here before.

This was another wonderful novel in the series and I am so please I waited to read this novel in one greedy swoop rather than in the serialised parts it is first releases in as I know I would have been too impatient waiting for each part to be released!

Hannah is a new character to the series and she fit in with the original characters perfectly and it was easy to see the magic of Porthgolow creeping into her heart. Her relationship with Noah was a rollercoaster of emotions never quite knowing where she stood. I loved being reunited with Charlie and Daniel to see how their relationship and businesses are progressing, I hate leaving them at the end of each book as they feel like firm friends now.

I have to admit I was a little concerned with this novel as I got about half way as part of the storyline followed a ghost topic which is not something I enjoy reading and I did worry that my attention would waver but luckily the storyline surrounding Hannah and Noah still held my attention. This is not something the author done wrong it is just a subject matter that doesn’t appeal to me.

Yest again Charlie had my tummy rumbling and taste buds tingling with her treats she had to offer on the Cream Tea Bus and I really feel like we still have so much more to come from this series and I think I can even guess the title of the next book and I will definitely be putting it as one of my most anticipated novels of 2020!

There was a festive feel flowing through the latter part of the novel but wasn’t overly done so this novel can easily be read all year around and although I adore the first two books and urge everyone who hasn’t yet read them to do so, this can still be read as a stand-alone novel.

If you are able to do your bit and help bookshops after this difficult year then please consider ordering from the link below.

The Cornish Cream Tea Summer by Cressida McLaughlin

Charlie has a new helper on her bus, her free-spirited and loveable cousin, Delilah, who’s paid a visit to the charming Cornish village of Porthgolow and is helping out on Charlie’s adorable cream tea bus.
When the director of a new TV series filming further along the coast tells Delilah that the bus would be the perfect addition to their onsite catering, she takes him a bit too literally. Charlie and Delilah find themselves caught up in the filming of a lavish period drama and it isn’t long before Delilah finds herself drawn to the handsome male lead.
But Delilah has made a habit of making rash decisions and it’s one of the reasons she’s hiding out in Cornwall. Could this be one impulsive step too far, or is a change of direction the start of something quite unexpected…

When my copy of The Cornish Cream Tea Summer pinged it’s way onto my kindle I had a grin like a Cheshire Cat on my face at the thought of returning to Gertie and her delights in the luring setting of Porthgolow

Lila has caused a whirlwind of disaster with nothing keeping her in London her mum suggests she takes some time out and goes to spend some time with her cousin Charlie in Porthgolo

Not one to sit around Lila gets involved ( maybe a little too involved) in helping Charlie on the unique bus of delights and lands Gertie a new job on a production set.

Oh this novel was all I hoped for and more. It was like revisiting a much loved holiday destination and reuniting with friends rather than looking back at a novel. There is something about that Cream Tea Bus that has just got me hook, line and sinker! I loved that Charlie and Gertie were still a big part of this storyline rather than just a mere glimpse at how they are doing, as well as many of the memorable locals like lovable little Jonah making an appearance. Lila was a flawed character who unintentionally seemed to cause problems but yet I loved her character and at times I just wanted to shake her.

I’m not one who enjoys novels set around actors, actresses and film sets as I don’t find the razzmatazz of it all enjoyable to read but I have to say this storyline worked well, it is helped by the fact all the actors seemed down to Earth with not all the diva attitude going on. 

This book needs to come with a big red warning, because not only are the mouthwatering cream teas going to get you drooling but there are so many other delicious delights to tease us from raspberry doughnuts to passion fruit cheese cakes and all washed down with an array of signature coffees I think I consumed a years worth of calories just through touching the pages! 

I can not recommend this book enough if you are looking for an upbeat cheery read of new beginnings, romance and diet sabotage! I really hope we will be revisiting the Cream Tea Bus in another book because it has become my new addiction.

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The Cornish Cream Tea Bus by Cressida McLaughlin

Baking fanatic, Charlie Quilter, inherits a vintage bus in her late uncle’s will and is keen to give it a new lease of life. Charlie thinks it will be the perfect mobile café for afternoon tea, so she heads to the picturesque Cornish village of Porthgolow, hoping for a new start. However, Daniel Harper, the owner of the posh spa up on the hill isn’t very pleased that her bus is parked outside his lovely hotel. Has Charlie’s Cornish dream developed a soggy bottom? Or can she convince Daniel that her bus could take them somewhere wonderful?


I am a complete sucker for a book set in a bakery or café and I know I hear you all whispering not another one but I adore the comforting storylines with the little buzz of excitement they bring as we watch these determined women begin to build their businesses whilst tempting us with their mouth-watering treats. The Cornish Cream Tea Bus has all of that and more with the unique twist of setting up on an old route-master, how could I resist, the temptation was just too much.


Meet Charlie our leading lady who is ambitious, hardworking and selfless always thinking of how she can help others. As Charlie gets to work on creating her vision of running her own cream tea business onboard her treasured route-master that she has inherited she sees a chance to help the community around her at the same time but this was not going to be plain sailing. Charlie is a determined and honest woman and with every knock she takes from those around her she gets straight back up and comes back fighting strong.


The friendships and relationships between all of the characters were all a joy to read and all felt genuine. I had my reservations about the love interests Oliver and Daniel, the author cleverly pulls us in believing at different points that they could be the one before throwing in situations that then made me wary, so I was never quite sure what way the romance would go which only kept me all the more intrigued!


The temptation was too much for me when it came to the mouth-watering cakes that were continually teased with, I can’t tell you what I would have done to be able to jump on board and gorge on warm homemade scones!


I find Cressida’s writing style manages to sweep me away providing me with pure escapism and creates such an exciting and buzzing atmosphere to her storylines. This is definitely my favourite of her novels and I do hope we see these characters pop up again in future novels.

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