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A review by azdesert_bookworm
Starry Skies Over the Chocolate Pot Cafe by Jessica Redland
4.0
I added this to my December reading list because I thought it seemed like it would be a cute holiday read. Granted, I based this on the cover and the notion that there was “festive sparkle.” I also didn’t know this was book three in a series.
This was not your typical warm and fuzzy holiday rom-com. The book starts at Christmas, goes through the whole next year and ends at the following Christmas. The ending is really sweet and fulfills the Christmassy feels that you want, but the rest of the book addressed some pretty tough and emotional challenges for more than just our main character, Tara.
Tara opened up the Chocolate Pot Café fourteen years earlier in Whisper Bay. This sounds like an amazing and beautiful little town in Yorkshire. Yes, another holiday read that takes place in England! All this is accomplishing is making me want to visit even more! Anyway, through flashbacks, throughout about 75% of the book, we learn why Tara moved to Whisper Bay and shut herself off from everyone including severing all ties with her family.
She slowly realizes that after all these years, she is missing the human connection that I personally feel makes life fulfilling. She slowly decides to begin to rely on and trust her friend and fellow business owner, Carly and slowly begins sharing the story of her past. This friendship gives her the support and confidence she needs to really explore what she wants out of life and how to begin living again.
Tara’s early life was devastating, she was hurt and betrayed and it is understandable that she wouldn’t trust, but it was quicker than I expected. I guess once the floodgates open, there is no holding back when the new love interest finally enters the picture. What I really liked is that they both have baggage. They both have issues that they are trying to cope with and learn to lean on each other to support decisions and show what it really means to love and care about someone.
I respected the topics addressed and Tara’s selflessness in giving so much back to the community that took her in. There were a few points I felt were a little slow or where I struggled with Tara, but in the end, I felt that there was a solid conclusion and there really weren’t any questions that I was left with. I loved the family dynamics and the unconditional love that creates the foundation of a family, even when that love makes really hard “tough love” decisions a necessity. I really did enjoy it and loved seeing how Tara found herself and love.
This was not your typical warm and fuzzy holiday rom-com. The book starts at Christmas, goes through the whole next year and ends at the following Christmas. The ending is really sweet and fulfills the Christmassy feels that you want, but the rest of the book addressed some pretty tough and emotional challenges for more than just our main character, Tara.
Tara opened up the Chocolate Pot Café fourteen years earlier in Whisper Bay. This sounds like an amazing and beautiful little town in Yorkshire. Yes, another holiday read that takes place in England! All this is accomplishing is making me want to visit even more! Anyway, through flashbacks, throughout about 75% of the book, we learn why Tara moved to Whisper Bay and shut herself off from everyone including severing all ties with her family.
She slowly realizes that after all these years, she is missing the human connection that I personally feel makes life fulfilling. She slowly decides to begin to rely on and trust her friend and fellow business owner, Carly and slowly begins sharing the story of her past. This friendship gives her the support and confidence she needs to really explore what she wants out of life and how to begin living again.
Tara’s early life was devastating, she was hurt and betrayed and it is understandable that she wouldn’t trust, but it was quicker than I expected. I guess once the floodgates open, there is no holding back when the new love interest finally enters the picture. What I really liked is that they both have baggage. They both have issues that they are trying to cope with and learn to lean on each other to support decisions and show what it really means to love and care about someone.
I respected the topics addressed and Tara’s selflessness in giving so much back to the community that took her in. There were a few points I felt were a little slow or where I struggled with Tara, but in the end, I felt that there was a solid conclusion and there really weren’t any questions that I was left with. I loved the family dynamics and the unconditional love that creates the foundation of a family, even when that love makes really hard “tough love” decisions a necessity. I really did enjoy it and loved seeing how Tara found herself and love.