Christmas is the season the Gingerbread Café in Ashford, Connecticut was made for…but owner Lily couldn’t be feeling less merry if she tried. She’s spent another year dreaming of being whisked away on a sleigh-ride for two, but she’s facing festive season alone – again. And, just to give her another reason to feel anything other than candy-cane perky, a new shop across the road has opened… Not only is it selling baked goods, but the owner, with his seriously charming smile, has every girl in town swooning. But Lily isn’t about to let her business crumble — the Gingerbread Café is the heart of the community, and she’s going to fight for it! This could be the Christmas that maybe, just maybe, all her dreams – even the someone-to-decorate-the-Christmas-tree-with ones – really do come true!
The Gingerbread Café is all a buzz! This Easter, Lily and the rest of the town of Ashford, Connecticut are planning a truly decadent Chocolate Festival. Cooking up a storm, CeeCee and Lily are not just baking a batch of their sinfully delicious chocolate-dipped gingerbread men, but an excess of chocolate truffles, squidgy, cinnamony hot cross buns and melt in your mouth chocolate eggs. The Gingerbread Café staff have definitely enjoyed the tasting process!
Add in Damon’s cute-as-a-button seven year old daughter, Charlie, up for a visit and Lily’s perfect Easter may just be around the corner. Until her ex-husband Joel turns up demanding twenty thousand dollars… Suddenly the future of the Gingerbread Café is not so clear…and Lily finds herself eating far more of The Gingerbread Café’s treats than her skinny jeans allow…
Can Lily concoct a brilliant plan to save her beloved café, convince Damon she has no feelings for Joel and still throw a Chocolate Festival the town will be talking about for years? There’s only one way to find out...
I was lucky enough to get talking to Rebecca, a lovely lady. She very kindly gave me the links to both of her Gingerbread Cafe books for me to review on here, which was a real treat as I’m new to all of this.
I started Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe (book 1) early last night and I couldn’t put it down. Once I’d started reading the first couple of pages, I was addicted, it didn’t matter what else there was to do last night, all I was interested in, was finding out what was going to happen at the cafe. I can’t believe I’ve had a kindle all this time and never downloaded this book before- kicking myself as it’s the kind of book that I always enjoy and love reading!
The first character we meet is Lily, the owner of the Gingerbread cafe. You instantly love Lily; she’s a real down to earth character with a big heart. Rebecca has written Lily’s character is such a brilliant way, that as you read the book your able to connect with her and feel her emotions- It’s really easy to put yourself in Lily’s shoes and imagine yourself there in the gingerbread cafe.
The next character we meet is CeeCee, Lily’s employee at the cafe. She’s the mother figure in the book and you can tell she thinks a lot of Lily. CeeCee is one of those characters you just want to hug, she makes you laugh out loud with the different remarks she comes out with, but she always gives sound advice. CeeCee reminds me a lot of my own Nan with the way she always wants to help and support her friends, family and the local community. Every book needs a character like CeeCee.
Then we get to meet the fine looking thing called Damon, who owns the new store opposite the Gingerbread Cafe. He’s the kind of character every girl dreams off; he’s the perfect fictional boyfriend. Damon’s kind, sexy and sounds as scrumptious as the chocolate does! The thing I love about him the most is he’s mysterious; it gives us the opportunity to try and guess what secret he’s hiding from Lily. I love that in a book and I think Rebecca done it brilliantly.
I read the book in a couple of hours, only breaking to eat my dinner- all I wanted was to get back to reading more about the Gingerbread cafe. I loved Rebecca’s writing style and how real she made everything sound- when she describes the different things Lily and CeeCee make in the cafe it makes your mouth water. If only we could have our own Gingerbread cafe in Pembroke, I’d be a regular customer.
Once I’d come to the end of Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe, I went straight on to book 2 Chocolate Dreams at the Gingerbread Cafe. The second instalment was just as brilliant as the first with all the same lovely characters. I stayed up till 1am this morning to finish it. The more of the series you read, the more you want. Reading both the books last night provided me with more entertainment and joy than the television did! Best Saturday night I’ve had in ages. I can’t wait for the next instalment, book 3 A Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Cafe.
I can’t thank Rebecca enough for allowing me the opportunity to review her books. I thoroughly enjoyed both instalments of the Gingerbread Cafe and will be recommending the books to friends and family as she is a brilliant author. I am defiantly going to download Rebecca’s other book, The Bookshop on the corner. If you haven’t read any of Rebecca’s books yet, I truly recommend you do as they both are a real sweet treat.
My Rating for Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe: 5 Stars!
My Rating for Chocolate Dreams at the Gingerbread Cafe: 5 Stars!
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