Christmas at the Chocolate Pot Cafe by Jessica Redland @JessicaRedland #BlogTour @rararesources #Review

I’m thrilled to be taking part in the blog tour for Christmas at the Chocolate Pot Cafe by Jessica Redland and sharing my review today! First of all though let’s take a look at the description for the book…

ABOUT THE BOOK

A few minutes of courage might change your life…

Emotionally, Tara Porter finds the festive period a challenge. Christmas Day is a reminder of the family she lost, and New Year’s Eve holds bitter memories of the biggest mistake of her life: marrying Garth Tewkesbury. Shunning invitations to celebrate, she seeks refuge in her flat with only her giant house bunny, Hercules, for company.

Professionally, though,it’s the best time of year. Tara’s thriving café, The Chocolate Pot, is always packed. With the café hosting a wedding and engagement party, it’s shaping up to be the café’s best Christmas ever.

When former nemesis, Jed Ferguson, threatens the future of The Chocolate Pot, Tara prepares for a fight. The café is everything to her and she’s not going to let anyone or anything jeopardise that.

Tara badly misjudged ex-husband Garth and, since then, has refused to let anyone in. After all, if you don’t let them in, they can’t hurt you. But has she misjudged Jed too? Is it possible that he’s not the arrogant, deceitful man from whom she bought the café 14 years earlier? Can she find the courage to find out for sure?

BUY LINK

UK  – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Chocolate-Pot-Caf%C3%A9-Castle-ebook/dp/B07KDT15YP

US – https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Chocolate-Pot-Caf%C3%A9-Castle-ebook/dp/B07KDT15YP

MY REVIEW

Now if you read the fabulous review for this book that Zoé at Zooloo’s Book Diary posted yesterday as part of the blog tour then you will know that we may have a little crush on Simon Baker. So to discover that Jed’s character is described as being a lookalike I think this was the perfect icing on the cake or if you prefer the cream and marshmallows on a hot chocolate! Okay I’m going to stop now I’m getting hungry. Then add in a gorgeous plot and a character you will really root for and yes we have for me a winning story.

Jessica Redland easily drew me into this story and this is mainly down to the fact that she has created such a wonderful character in Tara so much so that I got a little emotional when we first meet her at Christmas and if I’m honest at other points in the story too there were definitely tears! My heart broke for Tara as I read about her back story, it explained her strong exterior but also the vulnerabilities that were just right there below the surface. Put it this way I was right there cheering her on and hoping she would get a happy ever after!

Another wonderful thing about this book is that all of the characters were a joy to get to know and made this book even more enjoyable for me! With a gorgeous setting that was easily brought to life and a community spirit that I guarantee you will love.

Now I will admit that I have a problem with hot chocolate, I have been having far too many as I sit down to read my books. Well this book made my craving for the delicious drink even worse, so be prepared to make a hot chocolate while reading! Although I really wish I could visit and get one made for me by Tara! The pacing was spot on and before I knew it I was more than half way through and hadn’t even realised the time! Christmas at the Chocolate Pot Cafe is magical, warm and inviting and I didn’t want to put down!

A truly hopeful, heartwarming and huggable story. I loved it!

With thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for my copy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessica had never considered writing as a career until a former manager kept telling her that her business reports read more like stories and she should write a book. She loved writing but had no plot ideas. Then something happened to her that prompted the premise for her debut novel, Searching for Steven. She put fingers to keyboard and soon realised she had a trilogy and a novella.

She lives on the stunning North Yorkshire Coast — the inspiration for the settings in her books — with her husband,daughter, cat, Sprocker Spaniel, and an ever-growing collection of collectible teddy bears. Although if the dog has her way, the collection will be reduced to a pile of stuffing and chewed limbs!

Her passion for North Yorkshire is shared by fellow-writer and great friend, Sharon Booth and, together, they are the Yorkshire Rose Writers.

Jessica tries to balance her time — oftenunsuccessfully — between being an HR tutor, trying to re-learn how to play thepiano, studying towards a Masters in Creative Writing, and writing itself. Whoneeds sleep?

Social Media Links 

Twitter:                                                @JessicaRedland

Facebook:                           https://www.facebook.com/JessicaRedlandWriter/

Website and blog:           www.jessicaredland.com

If you get chance why not follow along with the tour, see below…