Book Review - Christmas at the Candied Apple Cafe by Katherine Garbera - Rachel Reads Randomly Book #78

Amazon UK

Title:  Christmas at the Candied Apple Cafe

Author:  Katherine Garbera

Format reviewed:  Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Publication Date: 10th November 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

There’s nothing so magical as Christmas in New York…
Santa is coming to New York!

Snow is falling, excitement is high and the delicious scent of chocolate drifts along Fifth Avenue – the Candied Apple Café is ready for Christmas! And no one is busier than publicist Iona Summerlin. With so much to do, she doesn’t have time to think about men, dating, or the fact her last boyfriend ditched her for her brother… Relationships are off the menu!

Hotel boss Mads Eriksson is not looking forward to the first Christmas since losing his wife. His six-year-old daughter Sofia has lost her belief in Christmas magic along with her mother, and he has no idea what to do. But an unusually festive business meeting at the Candied Apple – and meeting the beautiful Iona – starts to defrost Mads’ frozen heart, and suddenly life seems full of light and sparkle again.

If only they dare to believe, maybe all their Christmas dreams will come true!

Certainly a book that tries its hardest to bring the magic of Christmas in New York to life. 

There is a romance in this but to me that was the frustrating part of the book, as I was getting fed up with neither character wanting to admit what was blatantly obvious for half the book to the reader, to each other. 

The story that I loved within this book was of Sofia, she is Mads daughter, six years old and unfortunately doesn't believe in Santa anymore. When you hear the reasoning you will understand it, but due to a series of encounters with Iona, she and Mads are determined to bring the magic of the season back to Sofia. 

So there are all manner of fabulous festive outings, that show off New York and Christmas to their best. There is a trip to the Nutcracker, there are Christmas markets, and Sofia is also keen to learn about various Christmas traditions.  

The other highlight of the book for me was The Candied Apple Cafe itself. I loved all the delicious sounding chocolates and other candy on offer, as well as the friendship co-owners Hayley, Cici and Iona all shared.  I remember parts of Hayley's story from The Hot Cop Next Door which I read a few years ago, so it was good to have a degree of familiarity. 

I didn't feel lost that I hadn't read Cici's story, so would say this could easily be read as a standalone despite being the third in a series about the friends.  

Mads and Iona are both great characters and I enjoyed reading their story. There was certainly some chemistry between them which they were fighting. Both of them are selfless and both just want what's best for Sofia which was lovely to see. 

Christmas at the Candied Apple Cafe is an enjoyable story to read in the run up to Christmas and I'm glad I read it. 

Thanks to Harper Impulse and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Thanks to everyone that took part and voted for this book this week, good to see your normal decisions to get me to read books I will enjoy is continuing to work!  Let's see what happens this time! 

Book Review - Her Christmas Cowboy by Katherine Garbera

Amazon UK

Title: Her Christmas Cowboy

Author: Katherine Garbera

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Tule Publishing

Publication Date: 31st October 2016

Rating: 3.5 Stars

There's no place like Marietta, Montana for the holidays, and retired Marine Lane Scott has finally, reluctantly, returned home...

...only to run into a sweet and sexy woman from his past, Felicity Danvers, who is running away from her Christmas loving momma.

Lane can’t resist playing the hero and sweeping Felicity out of town. He vows he’ll do everything he can to make this holiday special for her. And as Christmas approaches, they discover that their love can conquer and overcome any obstacle—but can they both trust that it’s not just Christmas magic bringing them together?

I really loved Lane Scott, he is a retired marine, who is adjusting back to life as a double amputee. He won't let his disability get him down but since the injuries, he hasn't really had much to do with women, and that all changes the day that Felicity Danvers runs into him in town. 

They knew each other at school, but never dated, but suddenly they are aware of some chemistry between the,  as they try to decipher their feelings for each other. 

I found Lane really easy to get to know and he is a classy cowboy who knows how to treat a lady right. However I just couldn't get to grips with Felicity as easily, there seemed to be things hinted at but not really explored in depth which is a shame, as this was a romance you had to pretty much believe in at face value only. 

Her Christmas Cowboy is the fifth book in the Scott brothers series, but I don't feel I was missing out having not read the others, so this can be read as a standalone. I did like what I heard about the other brothers though, as well as Lane's nephews. 

Short and sweet romance between a cowboy and a teacher, that is a good escape for a couple of hours from your regular routine. 

Thank you to Tule Publishing and Netgalley for this copy of the book. This was my honest opinion. 

Book Review - The Billionaire's Temptation by Katherine Garbera

Amazon UK

Title: The Billionaire's Temptation (Amalfi Billionire's Book 1)

Author: Katherine Garbera

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Tule Publishing

Publication Date: 16th August 2015

Rating: 3 Stars

Rocco De Luca lives and loves in the fast lane. A past Formula 1 champ, he has been jetting around the world arranging celebrity charity races and partying with the world’s elite. Coming home to Isola del Fiori and filling in for his older brother for a few weeks sounds…well, boring. Until he meets Steffi Harlan. 

Steffi Harlan is sophisticated, elegant, and way too smart to fall for a tanned chest and a bad-boy smile, or so she thinks, until she’s put in charge of keeping the jet-set playboy out of trouble while he’s gone. Sure, no problem. Except Steffi isn’t immune to Rocco’s charms. 

They burn up the nights they spend together, and the last thing Steffi wants is to crash out and end up with a broken heart… Can they both survive love in the fast lane? 

I found this to be a fast paced,  very simple romance, with clearly great sexual chemistry between Rocco and Steffi. 

It is set on the wonderful Amalfi Coast, which sounds very picturesque, but since the book was so short, I found there to be very little depth to the story, so you had to take the characters at face value. They were both clearly suffering from issues relating to their parents, but it was more passed in mentioning than giving you a proper insight. 

I was originally interested in this book as I have read a previous Katherine Garbera book and enjoyed it, as well as being intrigued by an ex-F1 champion (you don't come across them often), but unfortunately on this occasion I found it came up short. 

I liked The Billionaire's Temptation, and it being so short is in its favour, if you are looking for something quick and sexy. 

Book Review - Eye Candy by Katherine Garbera - #HIReadathon

Amazon UK

Title: Eye Candy

Author: Katherine Garbera

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Publication Date: 13th August 2015

Rating: 4 Stars

Candy chef Hayley Dunham has vowed to own her thirties; she’s a successful business woman, good friend and dutiful daughter but she can’t help but want more. She wants passion… Fireworks… And one kiss with the hot cop-next-door shows her exactly who she wants those fireworks with.

Garrett Mulligan has always wanted to be a cop, he’s the kind of man who lives to protect and serve. But when an injury sidelines him and raises doubts about him returning to work, he’s at his wit’s end until cute, flirty Hayley shows up to provide the perfect distraction…

I found Eye Candy an incredibly enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon, out in my garden, sunbathing and reading this steamy story that was getting me all hot and bothered. 

It is a fairly simple story, next door neighours Hayley and Garrett come across each other one evening when Hayley is trying to break into her own house, after a night out celebrating her 30th birthday. She is determined to start her 30s as a "bad girl" instead of the good girl she had been in ther 20s. 

Garrett is a cop and came to stop the house being broken into, and the pair have a somewhat instant sexual chemical reaction to each other. 

However neither of them are convinced they want a relationship. 

This is a classic will they, won't they be together book, that is full of amusing incidents, as well as fabulous encounters between the pair. 

I was a bit disappointed more wasn't made of Hayley's job as a candy maker, she makes the most wonderful truffles, but despite there being bits about her days at work,  I wasn't made to feel hungry, which I would have expected from a candy maker. 

Although Hayley's candy, wasn't the only sort featured, Garrett was the ultimate in male eye candy, to the extent that Hayley's nickname for him is Officer Hottie!

I really enjoyed reading Eye Candy, its a lovely story, with some great characters, and a cute little dog too!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Impulse for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Eye Candy is out on Thursday in ebook.