Close Knit by Jenny Colgan

 

Gertie has always had her head in the clouds, wondering what her life might be like if she could only pluck up the courage to leave the remote Scottish island where she was born.

It's the only place she knows, but you can't do anything there without everyone knowing - the glue of this close-knit community is the Knitting Circle, a group of strong, capable and frankly nosy women who work hard, gossip, knit and support each other through thick and thin. At the centre of this sisterhood is Gertie's mum Jean and her grandmother Elspeth, and the three generations of women live together, surrounded by wool, in one small cottage.

When the chance comes to make changes - a new job working with old schoolfriend Morag on the local airline, new friends and even a possible new romance - a world of possibilities opens up before Gertie. Is this the way to make her dreams come true?

Jenny Colgan is one of my favourite cosy feel good authors and after reading a lot of fantasy recently I needed something light that provides pure escapism and that was just what I got with her new release Close Knit.

Our main character is the loveable day dreamer Gertie who has a pure heart of gold but she has led a very sheltered life never quite fitting in anywhere other than her mum Jeans knitting friends. When an opportunity arises to take a leap and work at the local little airport Gertie finds herself out of her comfort zone and her romantic daydreaming almost getting her in trouble.

The book feels very atmospheric set in Scotland with the harsh weather conditions and small sometimes too close knit community that makes such a cosy and luring setting for the storyline.

If you read Summer Skies last year then you will be thrilled to be reunited with Morag once again and if someone can bring Gertie out of her shell then it is Morag. I still feel like you could read this book as a stand alone so don’t be put off if you haven’t read Summer Skies.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was certainly the right book at the right time but for me it did lack a little of the excitement I usually feel when reading Jenny’s books and I am usually left desperately clinging onto the characters not wanting to let them go but at the end of this book I felt ready to leave these characters behind. The part of the book that was a highlight for me was when the school trip took an unexpected turn of events and I was eager to see how things would pan out. 

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Sunrise by the Sea by Jenny Colgan

 

When she is given the opportunity to move to a remote tidal island off the Cornish Coast, Marisa Rossi decides some peace and quiet might be just what she needs.

Since the death of her beloved grandfather back in Italy, she's been struggling to find a way out of her grief. Perhaps this will be the perfect place for her to recuperate.

But Mount Polbearne is a far cry from the sleepy little place she was imagining. Between her noisy piano-teaching Russian neighbour and the hustle and bustle of a busy community, Marisa finds solitude is not so easy to come by. Especially when she finds herself somehow involved with a tiny local bakery desperately in need of some new zest to save it . . .

Do you have certain authors who you have such a love for their books that you don’t even need to look at the synopsis as you just know that you will love whatever they deliver?

That is how I am with any new Jenny Colgan release! I love her uplifting and comforting novels that always have me immersed in her writing and connecting instantly with her characters and her new release Sunrise by the Sea is no exception.

Following the death of her Grandfather, Marisa has crumbled under the grief and no one seems to understand her struggle. Even her flatmate doesn’t want her around but when he throws an opportunity her way to escape to somewhere remote and quiet, with no other options available to her she takes the leap to Mount Polbearne.

Will the tiny Island be able to work its magic and get under her skin and help her to find her way back out and living life again.

Marisa was a well developed character and her struggles that she faced were delivered in a delicate and informative way showing how grief can effect everyone in very different ways and that there is no time scale to mourning. Although the storyline follows a challenging battle it didn’t make this a depressing read as it focused more on healing and new beginnings as well as new friendships and unexpected romance too so it was still an uplifting and enjoyable read.

I loved reconnecting with previous characters from the Little Beach Street Bakery series especially our much loved Polly and Huckle, I actually feel like this book has set them up for another book in the series as things are rather up in the air for them and I would love to read another novel that touches on them and Marisa again even if they are just supporting characters, Mount Polbearne is not an Island that or community that I ever seem to tire of.

This was another one of Jenny’s books that plays havoc with the diet, cooking and baking seems to be a passion that a lot of Jenny’s characters seem to have and everytime my cravings kick in so I think that Jenny Colgan needs to have a treat box that comes with her next book!

Another enjoyable read with a loveable cast of characters and a writing style to lose yourself in this Summer.

 

Christmas at the Island Hotel by Jenny Colgan

 

Flora Mackenzie is worried about her brother. Fintan hasn't got over the death of his partner, Coltan, and Flora thinks he needs a project.

The Rock - the rambling, disused hotel on the tip of the island - was Coltan's passion project before he died. With Flora's help, Fintan is going to get the hotel up and running in time for Christmas, transforming it into a festive haven of crackling log fires and delicious food. But running a hotel, they are about to discover, is not that easy. Especially when their motley staff includes a temperamental French chef, a spoilt Norwegian kitchen boy who can't peel a potato without mutilating his own hand and a painfully shy kitchen assistant who blushes when anyone speaks to her.

Can they pull it together in time for the big opening?

In Jenny Colgan’s latest release Christmas at the Island Hotel we are heading back to our friendly community on Mure as Fintan is still coming to terms with the loss of Coltan. Coltan’s dream of having The Rock hotel a thriving success still needs to get off the ground and Flora is ready to step in and help Fintan to get things running and hopefully give him a distraction and a purpose. We welcome two new characters in the form of a temperamental French chef and useless, spoilt Norwegian guy!

Jenny Colgan never fails to provide us with a gripping storyline in a cosy setting, and even if you haven’t read the previous books in the Mure series I still believe you could read this one as a standalone although you would feel more connected to the characters and the goings on if you do treat yourself to the rest of the books.

I do love reuniting with old characters to see how things are progressing in their lives and it gives a feeling of familiarity and comfort which is perfect in winter novels but having the vibrancy of fresh new characters too bring an exciting bubble to the storyline too. Konstantin was an out and out spoilt rich man who really needed the push his dad gave him to actually do something with his life to make him grow up and start taking some responsibility and also to learn some basic life skills and what better place than Mure to learn. His character actually provided a few comedic moments and I had a little soft spot for him and was looking forward to watching him grow into skin.

There are a couple of delicate subject matters that are touched on in this book but wasn’t heavily featured so there was still an uplifting feel to the storyline but with an added depth with these matters gently weaved in.

There is a touch of festivity sprinkled into this book but it isn’t overly Christmassy so this book can still be read all year around. I loved my return visit to Mure and I am still not ready to leave yet so I do hope that Jenny Colgan has another return trip up her sleeve for us yet.

If you would like to try and help local bookshops after the effects this year has had on them then you can also order from the link below.

Five Hundred Miles From You by Jenny Colgan

Lissa loves her job as a nurse, but recently she's been doing a better job of looking after other people than looking after herself. After a traumatic incident at work leaves her feeling overwhelmed, she agrees to swap lives with someone in a quiet village in Scotland.

Cormac is restless. Just out of the army, he's desperately in need of distraction, and there's precious little of it in Kirrinfief. Maybe three months in London is just what he needs.

As Lissa and Cormac warm to their new lives, emailing back and forth about anything and everything, finally things seem to be falling into place. But each of them feel there's still a piece missing. What - or who - could it be?

Jenny Colgan has always been one of my go to authors since she blew me away with one of my all time favourite books Meet me at the Cupcake Café and I trust in her writing so much that I jump at each new release of hers and dive into her books without even reading the synopsis.


Jenny Colgan’s new release Five Hundred Miles from You is another great read that follows two lead characters Lissa and Cormac who are both Nurse Practitioner Liaisons but work at opposite ends of the country. When Lissa witnessed a hit and run that had a drastic and traumatic effect on her it was put in place that the pair would job swap for three months giving Lissa the chance to work in a slower and calmer environment whilst allowing Cormac to challenge his skills in the hectic surroundings and sights of London.


We are reconnected with some much loved characters from The Bookshop on the Shore, Zoe and her family and the loveable Nina and her book van which was a lovely touch to be able to catch back up with these characters to see how their lives are progressing and they are definitely the kind of women Lissa needed around her at this difficult time in her life. Don’t be put off by reading this book if you haven’t read The Bookshop on the Shore as it is a complete stand alone, the author often weaves characters from previous novels into her storyline as her characters are so engaging, they are hard to just leave behind.


The storyline does touch on the importance of transplants and the thoughts behind them from both sides from making that decision to donate your loved one’s organs to the desperate hope on the other side of awaiting for a donor to come up to save a loved one.


The storyline highlights the different pace of life, the pros and cons between country and city life and we watch Lissa begin to unwind and see the beauty of living in the country but never quite sure if the appeal of the city will pull her back in.


I loved watching the connection between Lissa and Cormac grow and having the added little illustrations was a great touch provided by Cormac! My only little frustration in this novel was that we had a Lissa and a Larissa in this novel and it could be that I have only just got back into reading again recently but I found myself a couple of times confused thinking it was the same person.


This was a wonderful light read with short sharp chapters and a storyline that gripped me and characters that I found engaging.



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The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan

Zoe is a single mother, sinking beneath the waves trying to cope by herself in London. Hari, her gorgeous little boy is perfect in every way – except for the fact that he just doesn’t speak, at all. When her landlord raises the rent on her flat, Zoe doesn’t know where to turn.
Then Hari’s aunt suggests Zoe could move to Scotland to help run a bookshop. Going from the lonely city to a small village in the Highlands could be the change Zoe and Hari desperately need.
Faced with an unwelcoming boss, a moody, distant bookseller named Ramsay Urquart, and a band of unruly children, Zoe wonders if she’s made the right decision. But Hari has found his very first real friend, and no one could resist the beauty of the loch glinting in the summer sun. If only Ramsay would just be a little more approachable…


Jenny Colgan is a favourite author of mine with her novel Meet Me at the Cupcake Café being one of my all time favourite novels that I can read again and again. The excitement was bubbling again for me when I saw that the new release was entitled The Bookshop on the Shore as being a book addict I love novels that feature bookshops, libraries etc so I knew I was going to be in for a treat added to the fact that the novel reunites with Nina and her book van from The Little Shop if Happy Ever After but if you haven’t read that book don’t be put off as this can still easily be read as a stand alone.


Our main character is Zoe who is a single mum to a dear little boy called Hari. They find themselves in a desperate situation when their rent is put up and they have no means to pay with no help form Zoe’s ex Jaz so when an opportunity comes along for them to move to the Scotish Highlands and get not one but two jobs as well as accommodation Zoe doesn’t hesitate as she will do whatever it takes to put a roof over her sons head.



Zoe gets stuck right in as an au pair to three motherless children but the children make it clear that Zoe isn’t welcome and they wasn’t going to make it easy for her. Hoping that her second job of bookselling in the quirky little book van would be the job of dreams she soon realises that she can’t follow in Nina’s footsteps she needs to make this work her way to get the money rolling in.



I always find that when reading a Jenny Colgan novel I am always so full of adrenaline and excitement, desperate to change career and follow in her characters footsteps and this book was no exception as the idea of driving my own little book shop sounds like a delightful way to spend my time although the same couldn’t be said for taking on the au pair role to these difficult hair raising children!


When we first meet the three children Mary, Patrick and Shackleton they were difficult to take too as they were rude and unruly but I found as the storyline progressed and we find out more of their background my heart began to open up to them and I desperately wanted them to find a safe and loving bubble to make them happy.


I actually really felt for Zoe, she wanted to do the best for her son even though that meant upping sticks to Scotland but deep down she seemed so incredibly lonely which I found incredibly sad as she had a pure heart of gold and deserved to be surrounded by a supportive circle of friends.

I loved the different references to a number of different books that popped up in parts of the storyline, I was ticking them off in my mind thinking yes I have read and enjoyed that one!


The Book Shop on the Shore is a dreamy uplifting novel that kept me entertained from start to finish.

The Bookshop on the Shore is out in Hardback and on Kindle from 13th June! 

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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, doughy 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 on 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?

I never imagined that I would be reading my first Christmas novel of 2016 in September in the sunshine sitting around the pool but that is what the excitement of a new Jenny Colgan book does to you!

Christmas at The Little Beach Street Bakery reunites us with our much loved characters from the previous Beach Street books. Polly is still busy baking delicious delights to make our mouth water and when she is not working she just wants to curl up with Huckle. Polly’s best friend Kerenesa plays a bigger part in this book as she finds herself in a terrible position which she shares with Polly putting her in a very awkward situation which could also cause big problems for Polly and Huckle’s relationship.

There are family and financial worries in this book and the author shows how financial strain can put pressure on relationships which is something many people will relate to but it isn’t just personal financial worries, the Puffin Sanctuary is in trouble too and the loving caring woman Polly is soon finds this weighing heavily on her shoulders too!

I was a huge fan of the previous Little Beach Street Bakery books so I couldn’t wait to be reunited with the characters we have all come to know and love and become so familiar with but there is always that worry that as much as you love the characters by book 3 in a series where can you take the characters journey next without feeling like the series has been strung out? I had no reason to worry though as this books plot was just as strong and enjoyable as the first book.

At the beginning of the book the author does say this is the last book in the series (probably) and I was devastated as I don’t want to let Polly and the gang go but now having finished reading this book I think Jenny Colgan has done so much with the characters in this book and has wrapped up the end so perfectly so I think she has made the right decision to part with Polly now.

Although Christmas does feature in the book it isn’t overly festive so I do feel this is a book that can be read and enjoyed anytime of the year. It is an entertaining and sometimes humorous read but it also a book about true love and friendship as well as family issues which will tug at the heart strings but don’t worry Neil is back and will put a smile on your faces!

Make someone’s Christmas this year and buy them a copy of Christmas at the Beach Street Bakery it is sure to warm their hearts this winter.

Hardback                Kindle

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...

Jenny Colgan is one of my top 5 authors and I look forward to diving into her fictional worlds with each book she releases. When I read the synopsis for her latest release The Little Shop of Happy-Ever-After, I knew this was going to be an exciting read because it featured a book business!

Our heroine is the endearing Nina, she has worked in her local library for years but now with the current changes she is given a computer job but her heart and soul is in working with books. When she sees an opportunity to start her own business selling books on her very own book bus she takes the opportunity with both hands and embarks on a complete change of life.

There are going to be so many book lovers wishing they were Nina after reading this book. I was so envious of Nina not just because of her having her own book van business but even having the courage to just leave everything behind and make a completely new life for herself, this really had an effect on me and I wish I had the courage that her character had!

Nina has set up her new life in Kirrinfief in Scotland where the community spirit is still strong with everyone pulling together to help out and everyone knowing each other’s business which gives the book a cosy and welcoming feel. As we have come to expect from Jenny Colgan’s novels there is also a charming romance which although it was quite predictable what the outcome would be Nina’s love life it still had its ups and downs.

Nina also had a little helping hand from little Ainslee a teenager who seemed reluctant to come on to the bus but who actually had such a love for reading. When Ainslee’s little brother Ben kept turning up at the van looking very unkept Nina soon got the feeling that something was amiss with the two of them and Nina being the soft hearted character she is, takes it upon herself to try and find out what is going on and what she uncovers was not what I had been expecting and it covers a topic that is all too realistic now days and it is quite sad to think that people are still in this position but Jenny and her character Nina deal with this topic in a positive and careful way. I actually found I was more interested in Ainslee and Ben’s story than I was by Nina’s romance.

This was another uplifting and charming storyline, it didn’t quite match my love of The Beach Street or Cupcake books by Jenny, but it was still a wonderful read that had me hooked. I am pretty sure we can expect a follow on to this book and I would love to catch up with Nina to see how things have progressed for her and Ainslee.

Paperback                Kindle

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.

Last Year Jenny Colgan delivered the beautiful Little Beach Street Bakery where we got to see Polly Waterford rebuild her life down at Mount Polbearne, I loved the book so much I was so disappointed that it had to end but knowing that there would be another book in the series made it a little more bearable even if it does feel like I have waited so long for the second book but having just finished reading Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery I can tell you it has been well worth the wait.

Polly is loving life on Mount Polbearne she is enjoying working in the Little Beach Street Bakery doing what she does best and to top it off she is in love with Huckle and has pesky little Neil around too. But although the sun is shining a storm lays ahead that looks set to wreak havoc with all Polly knows and loves.

This is yet another book that Jenny Colgan has delivered that is absolutely flawless. I read this book in one sitting but was battling with myself because I was so compelled by this storyline that I just needed to see what happened next but as I was coming to the last few chapters of the book I then had that panic of oh no its coming to an end again but I couldn’t slow down this was like the Pringle slogan once you pop you just can’t stop! The storyline was heartwarming and dreamy and in true form this had managed to capture my attention and made me feel wrapped up in this little community, I have such a longing to go and visit Mount Polbearne as the writing style really makes this feel like such an idyllic setting.

It is an uplifting bright read and I really felt in that bright happy Summery mood reading it (until I looked out the window). The lovely Neil takes another starring role, I don’t think I have ever had such a love for an animal character in a book but I am like an excited child when he makes an appearance in the book!

There are also Jenny Colgans deliciously good recipes back again and I am determined to attempt to make one this time around. This could be read as a standalone book because the author has such a wonderful introduction to the book where it feels like she is sitting down with us with a cup of tea having a little chat to us about the main points in the previous book and I love this little touch but I do urge you to read the previous book first because it is such a delightful read you wouldn’t want to miss out.

I am pretty sure going on the ending of this book that there is a great possibility for a third installment so I am looking forward to visiting Mount Polbearne again and catching up with this humble cast of characters again. I cannot recommend this book enough if you loved Little Beach Street Bakery then you will not be disappointed with this book.

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The Christmas Surprise by Jenny Colgan

I loved Jenny Colgan's previous two Sweetshop books and so I couldn't wait to get my hands on the third in the series The Christmas Surprise although I was a little apprehensive as so many series don't seem to do well past book two so I was hoping this book was going to show me I had nothing to worry about.

Rosie and Stephen are newly engaged and things seem to be going well for the couple, there is decisions to be made about there Wedding and Rosie is busy helping Tina with the planning of her wedding too. But things never go smoothly for this poor couple and as everything is looking good the couple are faced with a massive blow that will have a big impact on the couple, will their love for each other be strong enough to ride this storm?

I have to start this review by saying that the synopsis of this book was perfect it told enough to get me intrigued and excited to meet back with Rosie and Stephen but it didn't give any of the storyline away at all so when I began reading this book I was in for a big shock!

Like I said before this is book 3 in the Sweet Shop books but this can actually be read as a standalone especially because this fabulous author has written such a great introduction to this book so it gives you a little recap of who is who and what has happened to them in the previous books so you won't lose track of what is going on, but then I have to say the previous two books are such great reads I don't know why on earth you would want to miss out and just start with this one, go on treat yourselves!

I did not manage to put this book down it even came with me to make a cup of tea, so I ended up reading it in one day and I loved every part from beginning to end. It was such a touching read that although it broke my heart in places it also healed it again with a big dose of hope and love that was flowing through this book.

I found the book unpredictable and at one point I actually had to re-read a page I was not expecting what had happened so I needed to re-read just I case I had missed something! I really don't know what it is about this author but she really is one talented lady her writing style is so warm and descriptive and it is so easy to get quickly absorbed into the town of Lipton I was well and truly under Jenny Colgan's spell in this book.

I loved that my favourite little man Edison was back in this book it wouldn't be the same without him appearing. I didn't think it was possible to love our Rosie anymore but after reading this book she really is a firm favourite of mine and I can. It wait to meet up with her again and I am full of hope that this author will bring us another book in this series as it doesn't fell like I.t is ready to end yet.

There was a festive feel to this book but not overly so, I could easily have read this book anytime in the year so don't let the Christmas cover and title put you off reading it any other time. This was a heartfelt read that was also full of hope and love and I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in this storyline. What are you waiting for this needs to be next on your list!

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Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

Polly Waterford is recovering from a toxic relationship. Unable to afford their flat, she has to move miles away from everyone, to a sleepy little seaside resort in Cornwall, 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.


How gorgeous is the cover for this book?
There is something so cute and sweet looking to Jenny Colgan's book covers which matches her storyline perfectly. I loved the blurb on the back of this book as well it made a nice change.

Polly is down on her luck, she has lost everything, the business with her husband, their home and their relationship. As she attempts to get back on her feet there is only one property she can afford and it is tucked away in the sleepy seaside town of Mount Polbearne. With no luck getting a job she starts baking and before long her baking skills are the talk of the town.

I just don't know what it is about Jenny Colgan's books that get me so excited and they seem to hypnotise me as first I wanted to open up a Cupcake Shop then a Sweet Shop and now a Bakery! I think the author is calling to my inner child! Her writing just seems to pull you into this cosy and exciting little world that you just seem to lose yourself in.

I devoured this book in no time at all which always seems to happen with this authors books because her writing style is so easy to follow and there never seems to be a convenient place to pause because you need to find out what is going to happen next. Her writing style is effortless and her descriptive writing sets the scene beautifully and her descriptions of the produce were mouthwateringly good! I am not happy now I have finished this book as I have got to wait again for my next Jenny Colgan fix!

There was a lovely set of characters in this book who I loved and Polly was a wonderful main character who was easy to warm to right from the first chapter. I have to say though that Pollys' new little pet was my favourite and I am sure this is the first time this pet has featured in a book!

At the end of both Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe and Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop of Dreams I felt as though the endings had been left wide open for another installment but with this book I didn't feel as though it was left for a sequel, to me the ending was tied up perfectly and I am unsure where else the author could take these characters so I feel that this book will be a stand alone book.

Although Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe is still my firm favourite by Jenny Colgan, I still loved this book it was a cosy and enjoyable read that I will definitely be recommending and I know all of Jenny Colgans' fans will not be disappointed by this book.

Kindle                  Paperback

Christmas at Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop by Jenny Colgan

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? Treat yourself and your sweet-toothed friends to Jenny Colgan's heart-warming new novel. The irresistibly delicious recipes are guaranteed to get you into the festive spirit and will warm up your Christmas celebrations.

I absolutely adored Welcome to Rosie Hopkins Sweet Shop, so when I heard Jenny Colgan was not only bringing out a sequel to this book, but it was also going to be a Christmas book, well I felt like all my Christmases had come along at once!

Rosie is so excited about spending Christmas in little Lipton and to top it all off her family are all coming over from Australia to join her. The Sweetshop is dripping with Christmas treats and a perfect snowy scene creates the perfect Christmas setting but nothing is ever quiet and trouble free in Lipton as they are all about to find out.

I am so happy to be reunited with this quirky group of characters. I remembered them all so well but I warmed to them even more in this book as they are so friendly and familiar. Rosie has to be one of my all-time favourite characters, but then that could be the envy of her owning her own sweetshop!

Although the sweet shop is still a part of the storyline, it has moved on to focus more on relationships, the community and a hell of a lot of trouble in this book, but there are still some mouth-watering descriptions of the confectionary so don’t threat!

This is a sequel and although it could be read as a standalone book, the first book is too good to miss and you just feel like you are returning to old friends when you start this book. The author does give a little summary of the previous book at the start of this book incase you did want to read this one straight away and it is also a great to refresh your memory to remind you who was who and what happened previously.

There is so much going on in this book without giving too much away all I will say is for such a small village there is a lot of heartache and tragedies. There was never a dull moment the storyline had everything you could wish for, a warm, cosy, entertaining read that was very eventful and had a lovely splash of romance. There were also a few pars in this book that really pulled at my heart strings.

I still do not feel that Jenny Colgan is finished with this set of characters yet so I am hopeful for another book. Go and treat your friends or loved ones to this for Christmas this year it will not disappoint!

Festive Cover

Festive Storyline

Overall Review

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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. I felt like I was in book heaven when Jenny Colgan’s new book arrived in the post this week. What more could a woman ask for in a book than the words Chocolate and Paris! I had insanely high hopes for this book I wanted to devour it as quick as a bar of chocolate rather than sit and savour it!

The story alternates between the past with Claire’s stay in Paris to the present with Anna’s adventures in Paris. Anna has been working in a chocolate factory so when she has an accident that leaves her a little lost in direction until her old French School Teacher Claire arranges for her to have a taster at working with a chocolatier friend of hers in Paris.

The amount of research that must have gone into this book shines through from the picturesque setting of Paris to the mouth-wateringly detailed description of chocolate making and tasting I only wish the author would have found it in her heart to have invited me along for the research!

There is more than just a beautiful setting in Paris and heavenly chocolate  to this story there is also romance which I am sure you would expect from a book set in the romantic Paris. There was a particularly emotional part in this book as well which was very touching. One of my favourite books is Meet me at the Cupcake Café which is also by this author and I am sure a lot of you who are reading this review would have read it, that book has a very warm cosy feel to the book whereas this book feels a little more chic and traditional.

I did find the choice of injury to Anna a little bizarre but I did love her character she seemed to have come to a point in her life where she needed a little push in the right direction so she could make the most of her life which I think most of us can sympathise with.

One thing that seemed to be a great hit in this authors books are the recipes she gives us and I am pleased to tell you that they feature in this book too. I am very tempted to make the Malteser Cake!

This is a fantastically written book that will get those taste buds dancing, I thoroughly  enjoyed this book now I can’t wait for Christmas at Rose Hopkins’ Sweet Shop.

Paperback               Kindle

Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

 My favourite book of 2011 was easily Meet me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan. The storyline left you all warm and fuzzy inside and the characters seemed to play on your mind for weeks after finishing the book so imagine my delight when sorting out our Christmas book when I am told Jenny Colgan is releasing a Christmas book and not just any Christmas book but back with our characters who we know and love!

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 . . .

This is the first sequel Jenny Colgan has released and what a hit this is going to be. Meeting back with all of our favourite characters it doesn't take long to fall into step with their lives a year on. Even if you didn't get to read the authors previous book you will still be able to read this as a standalone book as at the beginning of the book the author gives us a brief summary of the first book so don’t hesitate and pick this one up ( and the first one whilst you are at it ;-)

This book is oozing with festivity with decorations, present buying and wrapping and that lovely Christmas dinner for all to enjoy this will definitely get you in the Christmas spirit. The storyline focuses more on the characters lives and relationships now rather than the cafe but don’t threat we are still treated to many mouth watering recipes throughout the book! I loved that the book was a mystery right the way through never quite knowing how things will pan out.

I was hoping for a different ending for Pearl but that is just me being a hopeless romantic. I do wonder if this is the last we will see of these characters I personally feel as though there are still a few things not tied up so I am hoping that we may have a book 3 looming!

The cover of this book is beautiful and festive with its wintery blue colour theme which seems to be very popular this year and has an added touch of Christmas objects around the border but yet the book still has the signature Jenny Colgan look to it.

Looking for something warm and cosy to wrap up and read this Christmas then Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe is the book for you.


 Book Cover


Festive Feel


Review overall 


Hardback                  Kindle

Welcome To Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop Of Dreams by Jenny Colgan

Plot
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.

My Opinion

After reading Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe last year I have been eagerly awaiting a new book by Jenny Colgan to come out so you can imagine the expression on my face when I was contacted by Sphere Publishing and asked to review her new book I was over the moon and then when I read the press release and see the title of the book I knew this was going to be the book for me I LOVE SWEETS!!

Jenny Colgan brings us a unique storyline that must be everyone’s dream come true. I mean who has never once in their life wanted to work in a sweet shop! I really enjoyed watching Rosie working to get the sweet shop back to its traditional glory, and when she finds the different kinds of sweets in the shop it had my mouth watering and me shooting back to my childhood remembering all my favourite penny sweets!

The storyline flows at a gentle pace which helps, along with the beautiful descriptive writing, to set the scene in the idyllic little village. There were a real mix of characters some who you love and some who you just have to roll your eyes at! Our main character Rosie is full of warmth and is at a dead end in her life we instantly pick up that Rosie isn’t really happy with things in her life but we hope that by taking time out of her day to day routine that she will finally find some happiness by making some changes in her life. What I liked about this book was I was never quite sure how the story was going to end which made me keep turning the pages eager to see what was going to happen next.

There was plenty of humour in this book which only added to this perfect concoction to make a deliciously delightful read.

This tantalising book is due for release on the 29th March head over to the link below to pre-order your book now.

Head back to our page on publication day for a special suprise!!



Why not read Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe while you wait?

Meet Me at The Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

Meet Me at The Cupcake Cafe is the first book I have read by Jenny Colgan. I have found the last few weeks when I have gone in to Whsmiths to find a new release book which I haven’t read I am stuck as there seems to be a bit of down time in the kind of books I like to read. What pulled me to this book was firstly there is a statement about the book from an author I enjoy ( Sophie Kinsella ) secondly the style of the front cover which is pink and cream which is very fitting considering the book is about cakes!!

Plot

Issy finds herself at a loose end when she is made redundant by her boss Graeme who is also her boyfriend. Heartbroken and jobless Issy needed to find a way to get her life on track and quick as she is not getting any younger. With a large redundancy package and the help of her Gramps who sends her the recipes for cakes he used to use when he was a baker she decides to take the plunge and open up her own Cupcake cafe. Issy has full support from her Gramps and from her bestfriend /flatmate Helena and also her new employee Pearl who faces her own troubles in life.  With the cafe up and running and word of the cafe getting around will Issy be able to find time for romance.  Will she pleased when Graeme arrives with an offer up his sleeve!!

My Opinion

Issy our main character is an absolutely joy to read about. She is very soft natured and seems to know what she wants in life but may just need a little push to get what it is she so desperately wants. As the reader we can only hope that things improve for her as the book goes along but this book just shows she is in for a bumpy ride! I felt like the character of Issy was very believable she could easily be the girl next door.

After reading the title to the book and reading the first few chapters I thought it was going to be a very basic and predictable storyline but I was wrong! There were a few twists and turns and some of the characters such as Graeme the ex and Austin the bank manager were hard to work out until the end of the book you wasn’t sure if they were hiding something.

Jenny Colgan had a way of describing the cafe which made you feel as though you were really sitting in this cafe with a coffee and cake in hand!

One of the things which has really stood out for me in this book and makes it different to all the other books out there is that at the beginning of each chapter there is a recipe for a variety of different cupcakes, I have never seem this in a book before so this is new to me and in my opinion was a nice touch although I have to say having these recipes to hand and reading this enjoyable book about this welcoming cafe did make you want to follow in Issy’s footsteps! The way Cohen talks about her cakes makes it seem as if she has a great passion for cakes either baking or eating!

I did find at a point in this book that I felt rather moved with the relationship between Issy and her Gramps and it was at this point I realised how real this book felt.

In my opinion this is a definite must read, a real page turner. There is a real mix in this book with a little humour, a lot of touching emotional parts with a little romance but not too much. After reading this book I will defiantly be on the lookout for more Jenny Colgan books in future.