Reviews

Starry Skies Over The Chocolate Pot Café by Jessica Redland

mahjabeen_alam's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

 

Tara is owner of a successful café The Chocolate Pot Café. However, she doesn’t show what’s happening behind the scenes. She has a lifetime of secrets that no one knows about, and she doesn’t want to share with anyone. She learnt that is easier if you don’t let any one in. Her best friend Carly from Carly’s Cupcake can sense something is wrong, she doesn’t pressure Tara into revealing anything unless she is ready. Tara, however, doesn’t want to let anyone in as she fears getting hurt…again. 

Tara lost her dad at a young age and her mother was unfit to take care of her. Moving around different foster homes didn’t make it any easier for Tara. However, when her birth mum died a change happened. Something happened between her and her foster sister Leigh-Anne. We soon learn the Leigh-Anne had broken her trust as well as Tara now ex-husband Garth.  

With her past coming back, Tara realises it might be best to open up. We find out about the trauma she lived through whilst growing up with her foster family and her marriage. The shop opposite has been bought by someone who Tara isn’t too fond of…Jed Ferguson. 

Jed had sold the café to Tara; however, he made an enemy out of Tara during the sale of the café. She soon realises Jed wasn’t the enemy.  

Alongside her café, Tara also runs an Etsy shop selling crocheted items. She emails asking from someone asking if they can sell her crocheted items in their store which she agrees to as well as a meeting. As soon as she realises it Jed new business, she cancels the meeting she had with him. Tara with the help of her friends decides to reconnect with her foster family & learning how to accept her past. 

When she finally talks to Jed about her business, she finds out about Jed’s history. Jed and Tara enemies to lovers. 

I would love to read about what happened next with Jed and Tara

eleanora0901's review against another edition

2.0

2.5

msalane's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

hazelnuss's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

stephen_on_a_jet_plane's review against another edition

This books twists and turns were crazy. I had no idea what I was getting in for. Sincerely

friedatweehuysen's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Such a sweet and lovely series. I know I'm listening to them out of order, each is their own story. Tara is so good and just sweet. I'm glad for her. 

bookstoloveandhate's review against another edition

1.0

The full title of the book as listed on Amazon is Starry Skies Over the Chocolate Pot Cafe: A heartwarming festive read to curl up with. The first line of the blurb advertises in large print, "Cosy up with a mug of hot chocolate for some festive sparkle from bestseller Jessica Redland."

My life is stressful right now. I was looking for something light, cozy, and heartwarming. Everything about this book, from the cover to the blurb, promised me just that. The promise was, at the very least, false advertising.

The book started out very charming, and I quickly wanted to know more about Tara and her friends. I wanted to know why she didn't like the celebrate Christmas. I appreciated that the easy trope of horrible foster parents hadn't been used, and that

Spoiler

while she had lost her father to an accident and her mother to mental health issues, she still remembered and treasured her time with them

. There were hints a marriage had ended badly, but she wasn't wallowing in self-pity and while she doesn't let people close, she is getting on with her life and being successful. Great.

She decides to finally open up to one of her friends, taking the steps she needs to begin the healing process for what made her close up. And here is where my issues with the book begin. TW: sex trafficking

Spoiler

Turns out Tara's foster sister, who is an insanely jealous, nasty piece of work, decided to groom Tara as a wife for a cousin. The grooming began when Tara was sixteen, though the plan had been decided on before. Leanne does this by introducing Tara to a series of male "playmates" who are to initiate her into the intimacies of making out and foreplay, though she doesn't lose her virginity until she marries the cousin. Who runs a sex club out of his country home. He doesn't necessarily want a wife, but needs one so he can advance in his day job by presenting the "right image." Oh, and Leanne secretly videos Tara with her "playmates," which her future husband uses to jerk off to. The book stopped being warm and fuzzy for me right there, and I DNF'd at the 42% mark. The story is told in detailed flashback chapters, not bits and pieces dribbled in.

Look, I don't mind reading difficult fiction. There is absolutely a place it, and recovery from being abused and mistreated can be a powerful thing. But, dear lord, don't package it as "heartwarming" or "festive sparkle." That's breaking trust with your readers. I'd thought I'd found a new author I could have a relaxing read with and a large backlist, but now I'm not planning to go anywhere near her books again because I cannot be certain I'm going to get what she promises on the inside. And that annoys me because I enjoy her writing style.

iffer's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed this, as it had a bit of the tone of the [b:Little Beach Street Bakery|18213783|Little Beach Street Bakery (Little Beach Street Bakery #1)|Jenny Colgan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1392740344l/18213783._SY75_.jpg|25637928] in terms of an adult woman starting afresh. It's optimistic, though the author does a bit more telling that showing. Also, I feel as though this book might need a content warning due to the level of emotional abuse and manipulation recounted about the main character's past.

aimeeinwonderland's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

4.0

eems's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Plot is far fetched and uses certain life styles as an easy shock factor. Highly disappointed in the story.