Thursday 9 November 2017

Book Review - Christmas at Carly's Cupcakes by Jessica Redland

Amazon UK
Title: Christmas at Carly's Cupcakes
Author: Jessica Redland
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source: Author supplied review copy
Publisher: Little Bear Books
Publication Date: 4th October 2017
Rating: 5 Stars


Christmas at Carly’s Cupcakes is a cosy heartwarming tale of friendship, family, putting the past behind, and embracing the future.

It’s Christmas in Whitsborough Bay. With fairy lights connecting the shops and cafés on either side of the cobbles, Castle Street seems magical. And in such a magical place, surely Christmas wishes can come true.

Carly Travis, owner of Carly’s Cupcakes, has two Christmas wishes this year. Her first is for her younger sister, Bethany, to focus on the positives in her life, including her Christmas wedding, instead of writing herself off as a failure. Bethany's attempts at cake-decorating aren't going to win any awards, but she’s certainly great with customers. Carly’s second wish is for her best friend, Liam, to come home for Christmas.

When Liam calls to say he’s been granted leave from the army, Carly makes a third Christmas wish. It’s the one she’s made every year since she was a teenager and, if she’s really brave, could this be the year when it finally comes true?

With Liam coming home, the shop having its best year yet, and a wedding to look forward to, it’s shaping up to be the best Christmas ever for Carly. But for Bethany, things are starting to unravel …

I do love a good cupcake and Carly's cupcakes is filled to the brim with cakes, icing, funny moments and a story of two sisters. 

One sister is lucky in love, unlucky in career choices, is a bit clumsy and suffers from self esteem issues. The other has a fabulous cake shop, but is lusting after her best friend who is away with the army.  Two very different sisters in one run up to Christmas including bitchy bridesmaids, some slight icing disasters, self esteem issues and fingers crossed a happy ending for each of them. 

This is another fabulous return to Whitsborough Bay, and I always love seeing what previous main characters are getting up to now. It is a location that is really starting to feel very familiar to me, having read seven books there so far, and I just love it and the people.  Christmas at Carly's Cupcakes though is a completely standalone novella, you don't need any prior knowledge to enjoy it. 

Bethany as a character that frustrated me, Carly's younger sister who is convinced everything she touches will go wrong. I wanted to knock some sense into her, as she had plenty of good points, in amongst the ditzy, clumsiness of her nature. It is clear though how much her fiance loves her. 

Carly just has the magic touch when it comes to cakes, she is imaginative and very creative and I loved the thoughts of all of her Christmas cakes and celebration cakes. I could really picture them and taste, and just wish I had had some cupcakes to hand while reading this story. 

Another thoroughly enjoyable book by Jessica Redland that I loved every second of. 

Thank you to Jessica Redland for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 


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