Christmas On The Island: A Novel by Jenny Colgan

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

On the remote Scottish island of Mure, the Christmas season is stark, windy, and icy—yet incredibly festive and beautiful…

It’s a time for getting cozy in front of whisky barrel wood fires, and enjoying a dram and a treacle pudding with the people you love—unless, of course, you’ve accidentally gotten pregnant by your ex-boss, and don’t know how to tell him. In the season for peace and good cheer, will Flora find the nerve to reveal the truth to her nearest and dearest? Will her erstwhile co-parent Joel think she’s the bearer of glad tidings—or is this Christmas going to be as bleak as the Highlands in midwinter?

Meanwhile Saif, a doctor and refugee from war-torn Syria is trying to enjoy his first western Christmas with his sons on this remote island where he’s been granted asylum. His wife, however, is still missing, and her absence hangs over what should be a joyful celebration. Can the family possibly find comfort and joy without her?

Travel to the beautiful northern edge of the world and join the welcoming community of Mure for a Highland Christmas you’ll never forget!

my thoughts:

Another heartwarming and heartbreaking story in Jenny Colgan's latest series, Summer Seaside Kitchen.  Set in the odd, quirky seaside town of Mure, we find Flora and her boyfriend Joel - happy in love and life.  Except, life has just thrown them a curve ball and Flora isn't so sure how she or Joel will handle it.  Plus, Fintan (Flora's brother) is dealing with the devastating news that his husband, Coltan, has cancer and is dying.  And then there are the new inhabitants, a doctor, Saif, and his two sons, who are trying to settle themselves into their new lives on this unusual little island with its freezing weather and busybody neighbors.  Oh, and did I mention that Christmas is fast approaching, which means that everyone is excited, stressed, and ready for the holiday shenanigans to begin.  Its a pretty lively time on the island of Mure and I just loved reading all about it.

Talk about a fun, emotional, and amazing story! I absolutely enjoyed getting caught up with familiar characters and meeting new ones. I could easily picture Mure with its freezing winds, quaint little shops, and tight-knit community that is excited about the holiday season.  I could smell the yummy baked goods in Flora's bakery, feel the icy breeze, and hear the chatter of island gossip.  Colgan did a fantastic job describing everyone and everything - she made it all feel so real.  Plus, the story lines were chock full of heavy, but relatable issues that made for compelling storytelling. So much seemed to happen this time round, or maybe it was due to the substantial nature of the issues being dealt with that made it seem like a lot.  Either way, this was one story that I was happy to get lost in.

I would happily recommend Christmas On The Island to fans of Jenny Colgan and anyone looking for a great holiday read - you will LOVE this book!!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tours schedule for: Christmas on the Island

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery: A Novel by Jenny Colgan

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and the perfect moment to escape to a charming English village! From the beloved author whose novels are “sheer indulgence from start to finish” (SOPHIE KINSELLA) comes a delightful holiday story — funny, heartfelt, romantic and packed with recipes — perfect for the winter months.

In the Cornish coastal village of Mount Polbearne, the Christmas season has arrived. It’s a joyous time for family, friends, and feasting, as decorations sparkle along the town’s winding streets and shop windows glow with festive displays. And in Polly’s Little Beach Street Bakery, the aroma of gingerbread cookies and other treats tempts people in from the cold.

Though Polly is busy keeping up with the demands of the season, she still makes time for her beekeeper boyfriend, Huckle. She’s especially happy to be celebrating the holiday this year with him, and can’t wait to cuddle up in front of the fireplace with a cup of eggnog on Christmas Eve.

But holiday bliss soon gives way to panic when a storm cuts the village off from the mainland. Now it will take all of the villagers to work together in order to ensure everyone has a happy holiday.

Full of heart and humor, Jenny Colgan’s latest novel is an instant Christmastime classic.

my thoughts:

Polly, Huckle and Neil the Puffin are back! Hurrah! Yep, its the third book in the Little Beach Street Bakery trilogy and I absolutely LOVED it!! Filled with familiar characters that you want to keep in touch with; a quirky and quaint town by the sea; a drafty, old lighthouse; and loads of DRAMA - this book was seriously a delight to read. 

Its Christmas season and you know what that means - baking galore! Yep, Polly is baking her delicious breads, cakes, and treats all for the residents of Mt. Polbearne.  She wants to earn enough money to stay afloat during the rough winter season that the Cornish town is known for.  And, she'd also like to get a start on the never-ending list of things to fix at her beloved lighthouse - like the fact that it never seems to get warm! Aside from having to wear twenty sweaters at once, life is moving along nicely for Polly.  Except, there are a few hiccups that seem to have cropped up lately...like Huckle wanting to set a wedding date and his idea to start having kids already.  YIKES!!!  Talk about moving too fast for Polly's liking.  She knows that she's stalling her future, but she's can't seem to move forward.  Of course she's worried how that will affect her relationship with Huckle - he's feeling hurt and confused by her reactions to his ideas.  Plus, she's just received a phone call from her father's wife asking for Polly to come meet him - yeah, they've never met and now that he's dying he wants to know his daughter!?!  Oh, and to top it all off, Kerensa is preggers and worried that Ruben isn't the father of her baby!?!! OMG!! Talk about DRAMA galore!! 

Colgan has delivered another frothy confection chock full of sweets, drama, and and the quirks of village life.  The story was just perfect with its holiday atmosphere, over the top craziness, and heartwarming surprises - I absolutely LOVED it!! I would most definitely recommend Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery to fans of the first two books and anyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book so hard!!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Summer At Little Beach Street Bakery: A Novel by Jenny Colgan

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

For fans of Elin Hilderbrand, Jojo Moyes, and Jane Green, Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery is an irresistible novel—moving and funny, soulful and sweet—about happiness, heartache, and hope. And recipes.

A thriving bakery. A lighthouse to call home. A handsome beekeeper. A pet puffin. These are the things that Polly Waterford can call her own. This is the beautiful life she leads on a tiny island off the southern coast of England.

But clouds are gathering on the horizon. A stranger threatens to ruin Polly’s business. Her beloved boyfriend seems to be leading a secret life. And the arrival of a newcomer—a bereft widow desperately searching for a fresh start—forces Polly to reconsider the choices she’s made, even as she tries to help her new friend through grief.

Unpredictable and unforgettable, this delightful novel will make you laugh, cry, and long for a lighthouse of your own.

my thoughts:

I loved Little Beach Street Bakery, so I was super excited to learn about Colgan's new book, Summer At Little Beach Street Bakery. How fun to be able to catch up with Polly, Huckle, Neil, and the people of Mt. Polbearne.  Talk about a delicious treat!

In this latest story, we find all is right in Polly's world.  She's baking her delectable breads and selling out faster than you can spell "dough".  Huckle and Neil continue to bring love and smiles to her 24/7.  And the people of Mt. Polbearne seem to have finally accepted her into the fold.  Life is good.  And then it most definitely isn't.  The owner of the bakeries that Polly runs has died, which means that change is inevitable.  Yep, Polly has a new boss named Malcolm.  He's rude, dirty, eats all the bread, and is determined to oust Polly.  She tries hard to make him happy and continue making her yummy eats, but nothing seems to work.  Eventually he fires her outright and fills the bakeries with manufactured bread wrapped in plastic.  Polly is devastated.  Her life is baking bread and now she no job and no money.  Ack!  Talk about stress.  Especially, since she decided to buy the lighthouse that she lives in (with Huckle and Neil).  How will she pay her mortgage now?  And then Neil gets attacked by a cat! Oh, and Huckle heads back to America to help out on a farm that his deadbeat brother ran away from.  And did I mention that Tarnie's wife Selina has moved back to Mt. Polbearne - a woman that Polly has decided to befriend instead of confessing to that she slept with her husband. Talk about horrible, weird, and uncomfortable situations all around.  Yep, life is now filled with stress, anxiety, and too many problems to handle.  What's Polly to do?

Summer At Little Beach Street Bakery is chick lit at its best!  A woman's career is over, her relationship is on the rocks, her pet puffin is attacked, her best friend's have lost all their money, her ex-lover's wife is back in town, and she may lose her lighthouse.  Cripes! That's a lot to handle.  And yet, Polly perseveres and everything manages to get resolved.  After all, love and friendship really do conquer all - at least they do in chick lit novels (which is why I love them!).  Of course, there were plenty of predictable and over the top scenes and plot lines, but in the end the funny, engaging, and sweet story is what kept me hooked.  I loved Polly's strength which reared its head when needed and I loved Neil's return in the end.  All in all, Summer At Little Beach Street Bakery was a charming and entertaining read.  I would happily recommend this book to fans of Colgan and fans of chick lit - you will love this book!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Summer At Little Beach Street Bakery

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Little Beach Street Bakery: A Novel by Jenny Colgan

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

In the bestselling tradition of Jojo Moyes and Jennifer Weiner, Jenny Colgan’s moving, funny, and unforgettable novel tells the story of a heartbroken young woman who turns a new page in her life . . . by becoming a baker in the town of Cornwall.

A quiet seaside resort. An abandoned shop. A small flat. This is what awaits Polly Waterford when she arrives at the Cornish coast, fleeing a ruined relationship.

To keep her mind off her troubles, Polly throws herself into her favorite hobby: making bread. But her relaxing weekend diversion quickly develops into a passion. As she pours her emotions into kneading and pounding the dough, each loaf becomes better than the last. Soon, Polly is working her magic with nuts and seeds, chocolate and sugar, and the local honey—courtesy of a handsome beekeeper. Packed with laughter and emotion, Little Beach Street Bakery is the story of how one woman discovered bright new life where she least expected—a heartwarming, mouthwatering modern-day Chocolat that has already become a massive international bestseller.

Includes 7 Recipes!

my thoughts:

Little Beach Street Bakery is chick lit at its best!  A woman's career and marriage have fallen apart and so she heads off to a new town to start over.  Once settled in her new digs, which are absolutely awful, she sets out to get a job and meet new people.  Very quickly, she befriends a group of fishermen, a baby puffin, and the local beekeeper.  Unfortunately, she makes enemies with THE town's matriarch - the baker.  However, drama happens and the next thing you know, she's in the bread baking business with her nemesis and experiencing hits and misses in the LOVE department.  Oh, and her best friend shows up now and again to encourage and support her decisions.  Did I mention that even her ex shows up to town to try and make a go of their relationship again - work-wise and romance-wise?  Talk about unwelcome visitors!  Plus, there is a possible ghost haunting the local lighthouse, a storm that wrecks a ship filled with fisherman, a death, an affair, and so much more in this story - I loved it all!  I have to admit that at times I did roll my eyes and laugh out loud at how ridiculous the characters were or the various story lines that popped up - it was a bit over the top.  However, in the end, I truly did enjoy getting to know Polly and her new gang of friends in her new hometown.  Plus, I loved how she grew into herself and succeeded in making a home and a career for her self - a true go-getter! 

This is a book that I would happily recommend to fans of Jenny Colgan and fans of chick lit/women's fiction - you will LOVE this book!! 

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tours schedule for: Little Beach Street Bakery

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!