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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is now the second book in the cream tea series that I’ve read and the charm of the Cornish villages really doesn’t grow old. I was ready and waiting to see Gertie the cream tea bus appear with Charlie and was glad when they got a mention in this.
I absolutely love the idea of hampers for Christmas and quite often make little hampers for people as presents as I feel like you can really personalise them and if I was receiving one I would know how much time and effort had gone into it. There’s just something quite special about a box or basket full of lots of little treasures and surprised isn’t there! It’s like a grown up stocking!!
Meredith’s enthusiasm for these hampers and everything at Cornish Keepsakes is infectious and I just know that it would be a shop I headed straight to if I was visiting. These little bespoke gift shops are the best and I find that they always have unique items that you wouldn’t find anywhere else.
The morning swims of Meredith’s aren’t really my cup of tea - definitely rather staying snug for an extra half hour lay in but Cressida makes it sound so refreshing and like the right way to start a day. Especially if you could walk out of the sea to find a gorgeous man waiting there for you…
I really liked Meredith and Finn’s budding friendship, especially how well Finn takes to Crumble and his caring nature whenever he’s talking to Meredith, even if there is a healthy dose of banter there to!
Another cracker for Cressida and it’s made me more determined to read the rest of the cream tea books - and also The Staycation!!!
I absolutely love the idea of hampers for Christmas and quite often make little hampers for people as presents as I feel like you can really personalise them and if I was receiving one I would know how much time and effort had gone into it. There’s just something quite special about a box or basket full of lots of little treasures and surprised isn’t there! It’s like a grown up stocking!!
Meredith’s enthusiasm for these hampers and everything at Cornish Keepsakes is infectious and I just know that it would be a shop I headed straight to if I was visiting. These little bespoke gift shops are the best and I find that they always have unique items that you wouldn’t find anywhere else.
The morning swims of Meredith’s aren’t really my cup of tea - definitely rather staying snug for an extra half hour lay in but Cressida makes it sound so refreshing and like the right way to start a day. Especially if you could walk out of the sea to find a gorgeous man waiting there for you…
I really liked Meredith and Finn’s budding friendship, especially how well Finn takes to Crumble and his caring nature whenever he’s talking to Meredith, even if there is a healthy dose of banter there to!
Another cracker for Cressida and it’s made me more determined to read the rest of the cream tea books - and also The Staycation!!!
I am a crazed Cressida superfan so any time there is a book release by her it feels like Christmas to me! Book 5 in the Cornish Cream Tea series is titled Christmas Carols and a Cornish Cream Tea and has a festive cover to swoon over and will make the prefect stocking filler this Christmas.
Our heroine this time is Meredith who lives in a Cornish village working in a Cornish gift shop and is less than a fan of Christmas due to memories that she carries with her of a past Christmas. But as the shop is gearing up for the season Meredith can’t escape the festivities but can the help of the delightful newcome Finn get Meredith to begin to embrace the festive spirit and create new heartwarming feelings for Christmas?
Cressida really does have a skill at creating idyllic villages with endearing characters and this book is no exception. Meredith touched my heart and I loved following her every step of the way as she slowly began to open her heart and embrace the festivities. Finn was also such a loveable gentleman who brought a touch of romance to this sweet storyline.
There is only a brief mention of Charlie and our much loved Cream Tea Bus which some may find surprising but before you get a chance to be disappointed you are swept up in this festive romance with a wonderful community and friendship that keeps the series fresh and exciting. I hope future books in the series will see our characters merge together as they compliment each other. Easily read as a standalone so do not feel like you have to go back and read the first books in the series however you are COMPLETELY missing out on a fabulous series if you don’t!
This book has certainly got me in the Christmas spirits with its gift making, carol singing and gingerbread making all tied up in a bow, definitely another cracker by this author.
Our heroine this time is Meredith who lives in a Cornish village working in a Cornish gift shop and is less than a fan of Christmas due to memories that she carries with her of a past Christmas. But as the shop is gearing up for the season Meredith can’t escape the festivities but can the help of the delightful newcome Finn get Meredith to begin to embrace the festive spirit and create new heartwarming feelings for Christmas?
Cressida really does have a skill at creating idyllic villages with endearing characters and this book is no exception. Meredith touched my heart and I loved following her every step of the way as she slowly began to open her heart and embrace the festivities. Finn was also such a loveable gentleman who brought a touch of romance to this sweet storyline.
There is only a brief mention of Charlie and our much loved Cream Tea Bus which some may find surprising but before you get a chance to be disappointed you are swept up in this festive romance with a wonderful community and friendship that keeps the series fresh and exciting. I hope future books in the series will see our characters merge together as they compliment each other. Easily read as a standalone so do not feel like you have to go back and read the first books in the series however you are COMPLETELY missing out on a fabulous series if you don’t!
This book has certainly got me in the Christmas spirits with its gift making, carol singing and gingerbread making all tied up in a bow, definitely another cracker by this author.
Predictable and an easy read, but warm and cosy, and sometimes that is what you want from a book.
Thank you to the publisher for this wonderful Christmas read! It’s comforting to see people who don’t have the fondest memories of Christmas discussed and how if they wish to, they can overcome their apprehension.
Absolutely loved this festive, heart-warming book.
There are a few very funny situations, especially the one on Christmas day.
I really enjoyed the sense of Christmas by the sea and the fact that Meredith was a bit of a scrooge (for good reason) at the beginning and after meeting Finn she began to change.
When she get star struck, I think I would feel exactly the same in that situation.
There are a few very funny situations, especially the one on Christmas day.
I really enjoyed the sense of Christmas by the sea and the fact that Meredith was a bit of a scrooge (for good reason) at the beginning and after meeting Finn she began to change.
When she get star struck, I think I would feel exactly the same in that situation.
Oh my word, and sniffle, and swoon, and sigh. What an utterly delightful, heartwarming and perfect-for-the-season book this is. I just wish I could forget it so that I can re-discover it for the first time again!
Meredith and Finn, along with the delightful Cornish setting and the super gorgeous Crumble, totally captured my heart. Meredith, our heroine, is a down-to-earth young woman with whom I instantly felt a connection. Already a very likeable character I enjoyed seeing her overcome those mental obstacles to truly become the best person she could be. Very notable was how authentic that growth felt; whilst Finn was the spark that lit the fuse it still felt as though Meredith had autonomy over her decisions.
The plot spread beyond the mere seasonal romance and incorporated several different aspects that helped move the story forward as well as engage the reader even more! The side plots involving Anisha and her family, the mystery of neighbouring Bernie, the hampers, and the artwork all added a vibrant richness to the book. There were one or two things I might have added to my Christmas list such as having at least a small amount of Finn's viewpoint - particularly around resolving the issues around his parents.
The author's voice felt like a warm hug; it has a smooth flow and steady quality to it. It took absolutely no time at all for me to be caught up in the story and invested in the characters. Cressida McLaughlin has a wonderful way with words, evoking strong emotions and precise images without being overly complex or descriptive. I was inside Meredith looking out through her eyes, rather than feeling like an outside observer. There may even have been occasions when I shed a few tears.
The book had so much hidden depth, not only with its themes of grief, family and love but also some of the other topics it touched on. The community aspect, the truth of Britain's struggling High Streets and the joy of the season all combined into a first-rate story. This was all further enhanced by the beautiful setting and subtle yet solid world-building. The author wove Cornwall into so many aspects of the story, but in such a gentle way that it didn't detract from the plot.
This may be the first book I have read by Cressida McLaughlin, if it is any indication to go by then I do not intend it to be my last.
Meredith and Finn, along with the delightful Cornish setting and the super gorgeous Crumble, totally captured my heart. Meredith, our heroine, is a down-to-earth young woman with whom I instantly felt a connection. Already a very likeable character I enjoyed seeing her overcome those mental obstacles to truly become the best person she could be. Very notable was how authentic that growth felt; whilst Finn was the spark that lit the fuse it still felt as though Meredith had autonomy over her decisions.
The plot spread beyond the mere seasonal romance and incorporated several different aspects that helped move the story forward as well as engage the reader even more! The side plots involving Anisha and her family, the mystery of neighbouring Bernie, the hampers, and the artwork all added a vibrant richness to the book. There were one or two things I might have added to my Christmas list such as having at least a small amount of Finn's viewpoint - particularly around resolving the issues around his parents.
The author's voice felt like a warm hug; it has a smooth flow and steady quality to it. It took absolutely no time at all for me to be caught up in the story and invested in the characters. Cressida McLaughlin has a wonderful way with words, evoking strong emotions and precise images without being overly complex or descriptive. I was inside Meredith looking out through her eyes, rather than feeling like an outside observer. There may even have been occasions when I shed a few tears.
The book had so much hidden depth, not only with its themes of grief, family and love but also some of the other topics it touched on. The community aspect, the truth of Britain's struggling High Streets and the joy of the season all combined into a first-rate story. This was all further enhanced by the beautiful setting and subtle yet solid world-building. The author wove Cornwall into so many aspects of the story, but in such a gentle way that it didn't detract from the plot.
This may be the first book I have read by Cressida McLaughlin, if it is any indication to go by then I do not intend it to be my last.
A lovely, cosy romantic novel set at Christmas. Really enjoyed this book that linked into the Cornish Cream Tea series. A perfect standalone in the series. Enjoyable from start to finish.