This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Review by Susan Lobban
It’s Christmas at Mount Polbearne, which means a cosy warm house and time to put your feet up…Not for Polly Waterford though. The only warmth she gets in her freezing Lighthouse home is from boyfriend Huckle’s cuddles and rather than take time off from baking she has just been roped into catering a lavish Christmas feast.
Polly had planned to spend the festive period in loved up bliss but this has to take a back seat as she has so much on her mind; from her best friend’s woes to the local puffin sanctuary closing down. Poor Huckle doesn’t get a look in and he is beginning to doubt where he fits into his girlfriend’s busy schedule at all.
I've read the other books in this series and was looking forward to this book in particular as it combines my two favourite things: baking and Christmas. However there was so much more to the story than I expected which was a lovely bonus. Rather than simply making cosy and having a relaxing Christmas, Polly and Huckle’s festive season is anything but, which of course makes for a riveting read. Polly has a lot on her plate, so various plot lines intermingled but my favourite to follow was her best friend Kerensa’s marriage dilemma. Kerensa and Rueben are as integral to the Little Beach Street Bakery stories as Polly and Huckle, so I was rooting for things to be salvageable. Jenny Colgan has succeeded in writing couples that are different but are very relatable and the kind that you wish you could spend a Christmas night out with.
For me this book was like returning to a much loved holiday destination full of familiar characters and locations, however if you have not read any of the series you could pick up and enjoy it too. I actually think this book gives the greatest insights into the inhabitants of this little Cornish coastal village we have had yet and as such it was my favourite of the three – so where better to start?
Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery is like all of our Christmases – just because it does not go as planned does not mean it is any less special. So instead of stressing over gift lists and seating plans just make some hot chocolate, get cosy and start this book. Christmas planning can wait!
9/10
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CHRISTMAS AT LITTLE BEACH STREET BAKERY