This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
In between all the shopping and wrapping and ferrying family members around to parties and other festive events, it can be hard to snatch enough time to read a full novel in December.
That’s what’s so perfect about Lucy Diamond’s latest Kindle Single – Christmas Gifts at the Beach Café. Longer than a magazine article but shorter than a traditionally published book, it has just the right amount of everything.
The characters are well-rounded and entirely lovable, the plot is perfectly formed, and it has just enough Christmas sparkle to leave you really ready for the joys of the season.
With her Cornish Beach Café closed for the winter, Evie Flynn should be looking forward to lazy days and a happy Christmas, with nothing more pressing to think about than when to have her next mince pie.
But her sister Ruth is coming to stay, in a cloud of heartbreak and bitterness following her marriage breakdown, along with her three unhappy children, and Evie knows she’ll have her work cut out, trying to spread some festive cheer. Especially when her chef boyfriend Ed breaks the news that he’ll be spending Christmas in London with his recently widowed mum.
Throw a lost dog into the mix, as well as a hotly contested village Christmas bake off and more than a few surprises, and this might just be the most memorable holiday season the Beach Café has ever seen.
I curled up with a plate of mince pies and this little eBook during a rare solitary evening at home last week and had the most unexpected and charming evening in Lucy Diamond’s lovely fictional beach town.
I hadn’t read any of the Beach Café series previously, but I needn’t have worried about jumping in several books along; Christmas Gifts at the Beach Café is a perfectly formed novella and works beautifully as a standalone read. (Be warned, though, you’ll be adding the rest of the series to your Amazon cart before you can say ‘One Click’ as the characters are so charming, it’s hard to say goodbye to them.)
One of my favourite festive novellas of the year. Highly recommended.
10/10