Published by Little Bear Books on November 10 2018
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 187
Amazon UK, Amazon US
Goodreads
Also by this author: Bear With Me, Callie's Christmas Wish
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?
There are some authors where you just see their name come through on an email asking you to take part in a blog tour. You see the author name and you do not even bother reading the blurb of the book, you just do not care, why? Because you know that the author will bring their A game, you know that they will put you through the wringer and still you come out smiling. You know that said main character will not have had it easy, that someone would have destroyed their world that they know and that there is always hope at the end of the book. Jessica is one of these authors.
Before I start my review, I have to do a Simon Baker appreciation, because,
Ahme…I mean Ahem! Where was I!!!! So this book and all the Simon Baker references!
Having read previously Bear with me (still one of my fav books) and Callie’s Christmas Wish, it was nice to recognise some characters in the Christmas at the Chocolate Pot Café. Tara, the MC in this book, has had the worse of the worse backstory. I mean how mean are you, Jessica!! (Just joking, please don’t stop writing your books!) Tara has shut herself off from the world since her traumatic break up with the douche Garth and the fall out with her sister Leanne. When you finally learn what has befallen her, you understand why she is private, untrusting and lives in a hygge with her giant rabbit Hercules (best pet ever).
Once Tara up sticks and moved to my favourite place of Whitsborough Bay, she buys up the old crumbling café from Jed, and makes it into something of a dream place. Miscommunications, open hearts and tears are strong through the book, but like her other books, Love, Strength and Hope are the main features pulling the strings of this book. I am going to admit, I have the case of the feelings when reading this book, I cried again, goddammit not again something in my eye. My heart broke for Tara, but it was healed for her in time for her own personal growth.
I would love to live somewhere like Whitsborough Bay, there is a feeling of family and togetherness as everyone wants to help everyone, they are friends and supportive and there is just a magical feel to it all.
Jessica has a knack of making you love her characters, cheering for them, defending them and caring so damn much about them. Plus she made me want to drink a LOT of hot chocolate when reading this!!! Now the Grinch in me really did not want to read a Christmas book, but this is not really a Christmas book, ok it does feature but it is just an added feature. The book begins in November and ends the following December, but that it is. It is part of the scenery, the background while Tara and her epic Chocolate Pot Café take centre stage.
I do strongly recommend you pick up one of Jessica’s (or all of them) books, I have not started the series yet, but from what I heard it does not matter what order you read them, you will see your favourites pop up all over the place, leaving a little smile on your face.
And just incase you had not had enough of Simon
Until next time xx
Thank you so much to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the tour invite and the author for a copy of this book in return for my honest and unbiased review
jessicaredlandwriter says
Oh my goodness, this has to be my most favourite review ever. And all the images of the delectable Simon Baker have absolutely nothing to do with that. Nothing at all. Hmmm. Dreamy. Simon Baker aside, though, I cannot thank you enough for the lovely words. I’m so touched at how much you enjoy the world I’ve created and all my characters. Just say the word, and the trilogy will be with you for whenever you have time xx
Zoe says
Oh thank you! Wow! I am speechless! I loved the Simon Baker references so I had to include him rude not too lol. Oh thank you so much that would be amazing!! I would love to have them. You are way too kind xxxx
Rae Reads says
Fab review Zoé! Love love love all the gifs ??xx
Zoe says
Aw thanks lovely, I knew you would approve of the gifs! lolxx
jessicaredlandwriter says
Rae, you clearly have excellent taste. Hmmm <3
Zoe says
Thats how we started talking with our love of Simon lol <3
jenchaos76 says
Oh, Simon Baker is definitely a hottie. I like the way this book sounds.
Zoe says
Oh he so is!! So had to add a lot of him in lol
Joanne - Portobello Book Blog says
Love this review and all your little extras!
Zoe says
Ah thanks lovely! I couldn’t resist when Simon Baker’s name was mentioned in the book a lot lol x