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Comfort Food Café #2
Kerstmis in het Duincafé
In het Duincafé, gelegen op een winderige heuvel, wordt het heerlijkste eten geserveerd, zoals versgebakken broden, overvloedige salades en verrukkelijke cupcakes. Voor zowel toeristen als dorpelingen is het rommelige café met uitzicht op het strand een fijne plek vol vrolijkheid, gezelschap en geborgenheid. In het Duincafé is iedereen altijd hartelijk welkom!
Becca Fletcher heeft altijd een hekel gehad aan kerst, maar dit jaar ontkomt ze er niet aan. Haar zus Laura heeft haar namelijk uitgenodigd om de feestdagen met haar gezin in het Duincafé door te brengen. Becca's verwachtingen? Lauwwarme chocolademelk en een marathon van flauwe kerstfilms. Maar wat Becca niet weet, is dat het Duincafé een heel bijzondere plek is. Een plek waar gebroken harten kunnen helen, nieuwe liefdes ontstaan en waar kerstwonderen echt gebeuren, zelfs bij Becca.
Becca Fletcher heeft altijd een hekel gehad aan kerst, maar dit jaar ontkomt ze er niet aan. Haar zus Laura heeft haar namelijk uitgenodigd om de feestdagen met haar gezin in het Duincafé door te brengen. Becca's verwachtingen? Lauwwarme chocolademelk en een marathon van flauwe kerstfilms. Maar wat Becca niet weet, is dat het Duincafé een heel bijzondere plek is. Een plek waar gebroken harten kunnen helen, nieuwe liefdes ontstaan en waar kerstwonderen echt gebeuren, zelfs bij Becca.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 23, 2016
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January 10, 2019
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Yet another overdue book review. I read this one as soon as this happened . . . .
So, you know . . . .
Okay, not really, but next year? It’s on like bing bong starting November 1. I’m like 99.99999% sure it was Bonnie who mentioned this title, but old lady brain sometimes tells me things that aren’t actually true. I do know the discussion had been regarding Lifetime Christmas Movies and my affinity for them and that this was promised as one of those films in book format. And it totally was!
This was the second in a series about the Comfort Food Café, but it worked just fine as a standalone. The story here is about Becca who avoids . . . well pretty much any human interaction that she possibly can . . . but ESPECIALLY at Christmastime because she’s a real . . . .
There’s a good chance you’ll want to kick her in the babymaker until her reasoning is finally explained since she comes off as quite the . . . . .
But at the end of it all it is oh-so-very-Lifetimey-yummy as Becca realizes . . .
“All you have to do is give it a chance, and I’m sure something magical will happen.�
If you’re already compiling your to-read list for December, this might be a winner. Heck, add it for that cover alone. And . . . .
Yet another overdue book review. I read this one as soon as this happened . . . .
So, you know . . . .
Okay, not really, but next year? It’s on like bing bong starting November 1. I’m like 99.99999% sure it was Bonnie who mentioned this title, but old lady brain sometimes tells me things that aren’t actually true. I do know the discussion had been regarding Lifetime Christmas Movies and my affinity for them and that this was promised as one of those films in book format. And it totally was!
This was the second in a series about the Comfort Food Café, but it worked just fine as a standalone. The story here is about Becca who avoids . . . well pretty much any human interaction that she possibly can . . . but ESPECIALLY at Christmastime because she’s a real . . . .
There’s a good chance you’ll want to kick her in the babymaker until her reasoning is finally explained since she comes off as quite the . . . . .
But at the end of it all it is oh-so-very-Lifetimey-yummy as Becca realizes . . .
“All you have to do is give it a chance, and I’m sure something magical will happen.�
If you’re already compiling your to-read list for December, this might be a winner. Heck, add it for that cover alone. And . . . .
September 23, 2016
This summer I read Debbie Johnson's Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe and, even though I had a hard time connecting with the main character Lauren, I ended up liking it.
When I heard about festive novella Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe, I knew I wanted to read it because:
a) I liked Johnson's full time novel, the setting and characters she created so I was glad I had a chance to revisit that imaginary cafe full of positive vibes;
b) Festive stories are my favorite reads so, of course, the curiosity won me over;
c) The novella follows a different narrator. This time we have a chance to read about Laura's sister Becca, who we didn't get a chance to meet properly in the book one;
d) The cover is just plain gorgeous and I am weak when it comes to beautiful covers, especially christmassy ones.
Revisiting Dorset and „exploring� it during winter was a pure pleasure. It was so nice to see how Laura's life is going after the Summer is over and how her relationship, but also the lives of all the side characters I already knew improved.
This novella has 187 pages, so it is on a longer side. Honestly, it felt like a novel to me.
Nevertheless, I think it is just about perfect leight because it reads like a complete standalone story that left me satisfied. I wouldn't want it to be longer or shorter.
Becca was a narrator I found to be easy to connect with. Because of that, I enjoyed Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe so much more then it's predecessor.
This is a standalone novella and you can it read even if you haven't read Summer at the Comort Food Caffe. The writer explained everything that happened before and the story is easy to follow.
However, you should be warned that going into this novella you will be spoiled for the book one, so if you plan to read both stories, I suggest you to read them in order they were published.
The writing style is simple and easy to read.
The story is written in first person from Becca's POV.
Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe consists of three parts: Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future.
The first part is written in third person.
Some parts of the story were little rushed (ex. the wedding), some were a bit predictable (ex. a big thing that happend to Becca closer to the end), but overall it was a good festive read that I would suggest if you're in the mood for something quick that will put you into Christmas Spirit.
Note: I got this book for free via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review. Thank you HarperImpulse.
Read this and more reviews on my blog:
When I heard about festive novella Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe, I knew I wanted to read it because:
a) I liked Johnson's full time novel, the setting and characters she created so I was glad I had a chance to revisit that imaginary cafe full of positive vibes;
b) Festive stories are my favorite reads so, of course, the curiosity won me over;
c) The novella follows a different narrator. This time we have a chance to read about Laura's sister Becca, who we didn't get a chance to meet properly in the book one;
d) The cover is just plain gorgeous and I am weak when it comes to beautiful covers, especially christmassy ones.
Revisiting Dorset and „exploring� it during winter was a pure pleasure. It was so nice to see how Laura's life is going after the Summer is over and how her relationship, but also the lives of all the side characters I already knew improved.
This novella has 187 pages, so it is on a longer side. Honestly, it felt like a novel to me.
Nevertheless, I think it is just about perfect leight because it reads like a complete standalone story that left me satisfied. I wouldn't want it to be longer or shorter.
Becca was a narrator I found to be easy to connect with. Because of that, I enjoyed Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe so much more then it's predecessor.
This is a standalone novella and you can it read even if you haven't read Summer at the Comort Food Caffe. The writer explained everything that happened before and the story is easy to follow.
However, you should be warned that going into this novella you will be spoiled for the book one, so if you plan to read both stories, I suggest you to read them in order they were published.
The writing style is simple and easy to read.
The story is written in first person from Becca's POV.
Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe consists of three parts: Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future.
The first part is written in third person.
Some parts of the story were little rushed (ex. the wedding), some were a bit predictable (ex. a big thing that happend to Becca closer to the end), but overall it was a good festive read that I would suggest if you're in the mood for something quick that will put you into Christmas Spirit.
Note: I got this book for free via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review. Thank you HarperImpulse.
Read this and more reviews on my blog:
November 22, 2016
4.5 -
It's definitely beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.
Stars!
Christmas at the Comfort Food Café is the second successful seasonal read for me from Debbie Johnson, after absolutely loving Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper last year, I was quick to request this title when I saw it on Netgalley.
Becca and Sam’s story wasn’t massively new or unusual in the tropes used, but it was well written, bolstered up by a host of likeable secondary characters, and hit just the right note in drama levels for a book set around the Christmas period.
I am used to solitude and it is used to me.
I think Becca is definitely a character you will either empathize with or struggle to understand, for me it was a bit of both, but the more of her that was revealed as the book progressed, the more I sort of understood her as well. Dislikeable as she was a points due to reactions and behavior, I actually saw a little of myself in her, which kind of made it difficult to out and out be put off by her personality.
He’s a bit of a clown, a quality I find highly attractive in a human being.
I loved Sam, in that he tried to be what Becca needed him to be, even if you as the reader can tell that he had fallen hopelessly in love with her during the time they spend together, nice guy that he was, he knew that any pressure would send her running, and adjusted his actions accordingly.
"When I do kiss you� it’ll be because we both want it, and we’re both ready. And it will be an absolute cracker of a kiss, I promise."
Another great, easy to read Christmas treat from this author, I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
Christmas at the Comfort Food Café is the second successful seasonal read for me from Debbie Johnson, after absolutely loving Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper last year, I was quick to request this title when I saw it on Netgalley.
Becca and Sam’s story wasn’t massively new or unusual in the tropes used, but it was well written, bolstered up by a host of likeable secondary characters, and hit just the right note in drama levels for a book set around the Christmas period.
I am used to solitude and it is used to me.
I think Becca is definitely a character you will either empathize with or struggle to understand, for me it was a bit of both, but the more of her that was revealed as the book progressed, the more I sort of understood her as well. Dislikeable as she was a points due to reactions and behavior, I actually saw a little of myself in her, which kind of made it difficult to out and out be put off by her personality.
He’s a bit of a clown, a quality I find highly attractive in a human being.
I loved Sam, in that he tried to be what Becca needed him to be, even if you as the reader can tell that he had fallen hopelessly in love with her during the time they spend together, nice guy that he was, he knew that any pressure would send her running, and adjusted his actions accordingly.
"When I do kiss you� it’ll be because we both want it, and we’re both ready. And it will be an absolute cracker of a kiss, I promise."
Another great, easy to read Christmas treat from this author, I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
February 7, 2017
I loved the Comfort Food Cafe and getting to know Laura, her family and the numerous characters of Bunbury. Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe is the follow up and makes a lovely Christmas time read. It's only a short story and you could read it as a stand alone book, with the author giving back stories on what happened in the first book to either refresh your memory, or to bring new readers up to date.
The first book was centred around Laura and her move down to the Jurassic coast. This time we discover more about Laura's sister, Becca, who is visiting Dorset from Manchester for Christmas and the wedding of two of the characters we first met in the first book - i won't say who! The descriptions of the cafe during the winter, with the snow on the beach and of the yummy sounding cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows, really conjured up wonderful images and the wedding storyline has plenty of moving moments. Laura has a bit of a Bah humbug attitude towards Christmas, and in flashbacks to previous Christmases in the Fletcher household, we get to understand why Laura isn't keen on Christmas and why she's the way she is.
It was fantastic getting to catch up with what felt like old friends again at the Comfort Food Cafe. It's one of those books that make you feel all warm and safe, perfect as a pick me up at this time of year. Books such as this one make me want to move down to the West Country when I move home to the U.K from Australia this year. They really paint an idyllic picture of places filled with loveable characters and jaw dropping stunningly beautiful scenery.
The first book was centred around Laura and her move down to the Jurassic coast. This time we discover more about Laura's sister, Becca, who is visiting Dorset from Manchester for Christmas and the wedding of two of the characters we first met in the first book - i won't say who! The descriptions of the cafe during the winter, with the snow on the beach and of the yummy sounding cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows, really conjured up wonderful images and the wedding storyline has plenty of moving moments. Laura has a bit of a Bah humbug attitude towards Christmas, and in flashbacks to previous Christmases in the Fletcher household, we get to understand why Laura isn't keen on Christmas and why she's the way she is.
It was fantastic getting to catch up with what felt like old friends again at the Comfort Food Cafe. It's one of those books that make you feel all warm and safe, perfect as a pick me up at this time of year. Books such as this one make me want to move down to the West Country when I move home to the U.K from Australia this year. They really paint an idyllic picture of places filled with loveable characters and jaw dropping stunningly beautiful scenery.
November 6, 2017
Apparently I am 0 for 2 for Christmas romance reads this year. Geez.
Well this was disappointing. I found book #1 a solid romance so I bought book #2. The second book in the series focuses on Laura's younger sister Becca. We have heard from Laura that Becca drinks, does drugs, and has all kinds of sex with totally wrong men, but loves her life. Becca goes and visits her sister and her family for the Christmas break to see how they are settling in and to meet her sister's new boyfriend. The big problem is that Becca hates Christmas. She also hates too much togetherness as well. We find out why Becca is this way, but honestly I wanted to tell her to grow the hell up so many times while reading I am not even getting into her backstory (which I totally called by the way).
Becca is not that interesting to follow in this book. We find out that she has been on a diet that does not include men, drinking, drugs, etc. since her sister fell apart two years ago after her husband died. That apparently means that Becca is not much fun at all these days. Though her sister still tries to set her up with someone, Becca is resistant, until she's not. Honestly, there was no real tension in this book. Reading about Becca constantly turning down the character of Sam was boring. Heck it gets even worse when they finally get together. I wish that we had Becca talking to her sister and even her mother in this one. She shares all of her secrets with Sam and another resident and it didn't feel real at all after what Johnson shows us of this character.
The writing was eh. Due to Becca not being a central part to the story, she feels removed from other characters we heard about in book #1. I would have expected more of Becca playing and hanging out with her niece and nephew, or staying up all night talking to her sister. They all barely interact in this one.
The flow wasn't great. The story felt rushed (it was only 209 pages) so the get together of the hero/heroine came way too early and didn't feel earned.
The setting could have been perfect if the Christmas aspect had been played up more I think. Instead I found myself rushing to finish this thing.
The ending made me roll my eyes. No spoiler, but come on. It was totally obvious where this was going to go. Going to skip reading any more books in this series. I think I would just end up irritated.
Well this was disappointing. I found book #1 a solid romance so I bought book #2. The second book in the series focuses on Laura's younger sister Becca. We have heard from Laura that Becca drinks, does drugs, and has all kinds of sex with totally wrong men, but loves her life. Becca goes and visits her sister and her family for the Christmas break to see how they are settling in and to meet her sister's new boyfriend. The big problem is that Becca hates Christmas. She also hates too much togetherness as well. We find out why Becca is this way, but honestly I wanted to tell her to grow the hell up so many times while reading I am not even getting into her backstory (which I totally called by the way).
Becca is not that interesting to follow in this book. We find out that she has been on a diet that does not include men, drinking, drugs, etc. since her sister fell apart two years ago after her husband died. That apparently means that Becca is not much fun at all these days. Though her sister still tries to set her up with someone, Becca is resistant, until she's not. Honestly, there was no real tension in this book. Reading about Becca constantly turning down the character of Sam was boring. Heck it gets even worse when they finally get together. I wish that we had Becca talking to her sister and even her mother in this one. She shares all of her secrets with Sam and another resident and it didn't feel real at all after what Johnson shows us of this character.
The writing was eh. Due to Becca not being a central part to the story, she feels removed from other characters we heard about in book #1. I would have expected more of Becca playing and hanging out with her niece and nephew, or staying up all night talking to her sister. They all barely interact in this one.
The flow wasn't great. The story felt rushed (it was only 209 pages) so the get together of the hero/heroine came way too early and didn't feel earned.
The setting could have been perfect if the Christmas aspect had been played up more I think. Instead I found myself rushing to finish this thing.
The ending made me roll my eyes. No spoiler, but come on. It was totally obvious where this was going to go. Going to skip reading any more books in this series. I think I would just end up irritated.
November 21, 2017
This was a lovely Christmas story (although I would recommend reading Comfort Food Cafe #1 first - it was really good and most of the characters are introduced there). Becca, who hates Christmas, is nevertheless spending it with her family at the Comfort Food Cafe. The location and the great people work their magic on her. I liked Becca - she had a good sense of humor and some real issues, and I loved reading her story!
December 16, 2019
Šo lasīt izvēlējos jau šovasar, kad grāmatu pamanīju humpalās. Jau tolaik sapratu, ka šī būs Hallmark vai Netflix Ziemassvētku filma grāmats formātā. Un tā arī - saldi lipīgs stāsts apr sievieti, kura ienīst Ziemassvētkus, atbrauc ciemoties pie māsas gleznainā mazpilsētā un satiek brīnišķīgu vītieti, kurš ir viecpuisis 30+ gados jo vienkārši ir (bez emocionālas bagāžas un saistīšanās problēmām). Pasaka pieaugušajiem, kuri tādu grib bezsniega Ziemassvētku laikā.
November 15, 2020
Ik hou van luchtige boeken alleen deze was te luchtig en te voorspelbaar. Op zich heb ik ervan genoten maar is niet een boek die ik zou aanraden aan vrienden.
December 24, 2017
Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe sort of follows on from the first book in the Comfort Food Cafe series, Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe. Don’t worry though as it really does read as a stand alone, though probably will have you racing back to read book one. Where as we get to meet Laura in book one, we now get to know her sister Becca better.
I loved Becca. She reminded me of myself when I was younger. Probably not a good thing when you read the book and see what she was like growing up but I remember the childish strops and the door slamming as well as the many drunken nights in my teens. Oh, okay so there may have been a few since then also lol. Whilst she was a bit of a handful she is still a decent person who more than anything is trying to find herself. The trip to the small Dorset village is just what she needs, whether she knows it or not.
Seeing the village in the full swing of Christmas was great. My head was full of wonderful visions of the cafe, the area and he homely house that Laura and her family live in. I so wanted to be part of it all.
Whilst this may have a wonderful romance story that has you full on routing for Becca, it is essentially Becca learning some home truths about herself and leaving the past behind and getting on with the future.
A fabulous read that I raced through as couldn’t put it down.
I loved Becca. She reminded me of myself when I was younger. Probably not a good thing when you read the book and see what she was like growing up but I remember the childish strops and the door slamming as well as the many drunken nights in my teens. Oh, okay so there may have been a few since then also lol. Whilst she was a bit of a handful she is still a decent person who more than anything is trying to find herself. The trip to the small Dorset village is just what she needs, whether she knows it or not.
Seeing the village in the full swing of Christmas was great. My head was full of wonderful visions of the cafe, the area and he homely house that Laura and her family live in. I so wanted to be part of it all.
Whilst this may have a wonderful romance story that has you full on routing for Becca, it is essentially Becca learning some home truths about herself and leaving the past behind and getting on with the future.
A fabulous read that I raced through as couldn’t put it down.
December 29, 2019
'Kerstmis in het Duincafé' van Debbie Johnson omvat alles waar kerst om draait: liefde, familie, vriendschap, winderige gebieden, sneeuw en kerstversieringen. Nu slaat hoofdpersonage Becca dat laatste liever over, wat ze al duidelijk maakt in de eerste hoofdstukken waarin er wordt teruggeblikt op haar kerstjaren. Hilarisch om dat te lezen, maar waar komt het vandaan? In het tweede gedeelte van dit boek krijg je het verhaal erachter ook te weten en dat maakt dit verhaal, ondanks de luchtige schrijfstijl, toch ook wel emotioneel. Je hoopt dat Becca vrede durft te sluiten met zichzelf en zichzelf weer open durft te stellen voor geluk. Want dat ze dat verdient na al die jaren, is één ding wat vaststaat. Het was soms even een gepuzzel wie nu wie was (aangezien ik het eerste boek van Debbie niet had gelezen), maar dit was zeker wel een boek - met een perfecte einde - waar ik met zowel een lach als een traan op zal terugkijken.
December 17, 2017
This was FABULOUS.
I HATE (with a passion) most books written in 1st person/present tense because more often than not they are little more than a vapid 'look at MEEEE - aren't I wonderful/clever/amazing/gorgeous etc.
It wasn't until Chapter 5 that I realised that this book is just that- 1st person, present tense - and up until that moment I had not noticed! In fact I had to skim back over the preceding chapters just to check.
I wont go into the story, but this is the second in the series. I haven't read the first and yet the author managed to achieve what a lot of other writers fail to do - to sum up the events of the previous book without resorting to tedious info-dumps or horrendously faked 'conversations' that sound like a ten year old wrote them.
The writing was beautiful. Poignant, funny, charming and yet honest.
By the time she left Manchester in July, Lizzie had been seventy er cent sullen teen, thirty per cent little-girl-lost. Not just your normal sullen teen, but Sullen Teen With Dead Dad, which takes the potential for disaster to a whole new level.
I really 'got' that.
I thought I'd scored a blinder with my Aussie accent, until a girl waiting on us in a cafe on the seafront turned out to be from Sydney and I was rumbled.
Loved the brevity of that - It made me imagine the whole scene and what had gone on before. Enough details to give some depth to the scene, but not so many that I ended up bored.
This book is heavy on dialogue and yet the conversations are believable and sound 'right' - this is how people DO talk to each other.
As for the characters, I loved Becca but I adored Sam. Who could resist a man who says - in response to Becca's - 'I won't respect myself, though, you see.'
'Ah,' he says. 'Well, that's different, then. That actually matters.'
Five stars and my thanks to the author for such a wonderful story.
I HATE (with a passion) most books written in 1st person/present tense because more often than not they are little more than a vapid 'look at MEEEE - aren't I wonderful/clever/amazing/gorgeous etc.
It wasn't until Chapter 5 that I realised that this book is just that- 1st person, present tense - and up until that moment I had not noticed! In fact I had to skim back over the preceding chapters just to check.
I wont go into the story, but this is the second in the series. I haven't read the first and yet the author managed to achieve what a lot of other writers fail to do - to sum up the events of the previous book without resorting to tedious info-dumps or horrendously faked 'conversations' that sound like a ten year old wrote them.
The writing was beautiful. Poignant, funny, charming and yet honest.
By the time she left Manchester in July, Lizzie had been seventy er cent sullen teen, thirty per cent little-girl-lost. Not just your normal sullen teen, but Sullen Teen With Dead Dad, which takes the potential for disaster to a whole new level.
I really 'got' that.
I thought I'd scored a blinder with my Aussie accent, until a girl waiting on us in a cafe on the seafront turned out to be from Sydney and I was rumbled.
Loved the brevity of that - It made me imagine the whole scene and what had gone on before. Enough details to give some depth to the scene, but not so many that I ended up bored.
This book is heavy on dialogue and yet the conversations are believable and sound 'right' - this is how people DO talk to each other.
As for the characters, I loved Becca but I adored Sam. Who could resist a man who says - in response to Becca's - 'I won't respect myself, though, you see.'
'Ah,' he says. 'Well, that's different, then. That actually matters.'
Five stars and my thanks to the author for such a wonderful story.
May 16, 2023
Another 3-3/4 stars for book 2 in this series. This one was, in some ways, EVEN BETTER than book 1. Now... am I willing to wait for book 3 from the library or do I just give in and buy the lot?
Dec 25 update: Bought the whole series and rating upgraded to 4 stars after second read.
Dec 25 update: Bought the whole series and rating upgraded to 4 stars after second read.
November 24, 2016
Now, I just need some snow to make the Christmas reading a little cozier.
November 24, 2024
Vergeleken met het eerste deel viel deze een beetje tegen. Ik vond Becca wel een leuk en interessant personage, maar voor de rest bracht het verhaal weinig spektakel met zich mee. Alle personages heb ik al leren kennen in het eerste deel, dus daarin bracht dit deel weinig nieuws.
Wel vond ik het fijn dat het personage van Becca wat meer de diepte in ging. De kerstvibes bleven wat aan de oppervlakte, maar deze waren wel aanwezig.
Ik kijk gematigd positief terug op dit verhaal.
Wel vond ik het fijn dat het personage van Becca wat meer de diepte in ging. De kerstvibes bleven wat aan de oppervlakte, maar deze waren wel aanwezig.
Ik kijk gematigd positief terug op dit verhaal.
September 12, 2016
What a wonderful return to the Comfort Food Cafe, and this time from Becca's perspective, instead of sister Laura's. Becca is a bit of a scrooge sort of person, she really hates Christmas, and the start of the book, shows various of their childhood Christmases as to why she is that way.
I loved those Childhood memories as they are the sorts of incidents that happen up and down the world in families every year, without fail, and they are as amusing as they are recognisable. We then fast forward to the present day and Becca is to join Laura at the Comfort Food Cafe for December.
Becca soon can see all the reasons that Laura loves her new home, and there is a certain surfer who catches her eyes. The cafe is a sort of magical place, so whether it can weave its comfort around Becca is to be discovered.
If you haven't read the first book don't worry this could easily be read as a standalone, but you would be missing out on a wonderful story in the original. As a sequel this feels quite different and although all the regular guests to the cafe are back the focus of the book isn't so much on them, but partially on Cherie's wedding.
Despite being a book featuring a Grinch like person, and you obviously wanting to see her heart melt, it really is the sort of story that will greet you like an old friend, and envelop you in a big warm hug, and of course a cup of hot chocolate, like in the cover for the book.
I loved the Christmassy elements of this story, but also the greater depth, as Becca touches upon the hidden reasons as to why she has acted in certain ways over parts of her life. Not only the Christmas bits, but the Christmas wedding which needs to be read to be believed. That whole event had me smiling from start to finish, as it was so perfect for Cherie.
In fact I really did love the whole of Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe, its definitely another winning book from the talented Debbie Johnson.
Thank you so much to Harper Impulse and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
I loved those Childhood memories as they are the sorts of incidents that happen up and down the world in families every year, without fail, and they are as amusing as they are recognisable. We then fast forward to the present day and Becca is to join Laura at the Comfort Food Cafe for December.
Becca soon can see all the reasons that Laura loves her new home, and there is a certain surfer who catches her eyes. The cafe is a sort of magical place, so whether it can weave its comfort around Becca is to be discovered.
If you haven't read the first book don't worry this could easily be read as a standalone, but you would be missing out on a wonderful story in the original. As a sequel this feels quite different and although all the regular guests to the cafe are back the focus of the book isn't so much on them, but partially on Cherie's wedding.
Despite being a book featuring a Grinch like person, and you obviously wanting to see her heart melt, it really is the sort of story that will greet you like an old friend, and envelop you in a big warm hug, and of course a cup of hot chocolate, like in the cover for the book.
I loved the Christmassy elements of this story, but also the greater depth, as Becca touches upon the hidden reasons as to why she has acted in certain ways over parts of her life. Not only the Christmas bits, but the Christmas wedding which needs to be read to be believed. That whole event had me smiling from start to finish, as it was so perfect for Cherie.
In fact I really did love the whole of Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe, its definitely another winning book from the talented Debbie Johnson.
Thank you so much to Harper Impulse and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
February 10, 2017
‘They are perfect together, and it’s only their pasts holding them back.
Which, I suppose, is a sentence that could be applied to all of us, in some way or another.�
Becca Fletcher has always been known as the wild child of the family: drugs, alcohol, one night stands, you name it. She’s turned over a new leaf after a tragedy strikes her sister’s family and she realizes that it’s time she became someone that can be depended on. And now that same sister is asking her to come visit her for Christmas. She hates Christmas, but she just can’t say no to her sister.
The little town of Budbury is a charming little seaside village where everyone is friendly and looks out for one another. It’s the kind of quaint place that is only found within the pages of a story, but it doesn’t stop you from wishing such a place really existed. This is a fun Christmas time read but admittedly the Christmas theme took a backseat to the romance. Becca’s sister has been trying to set her up with the cute Irish boy named Sam since this past summer and when she visits, they finally meet in person for the first time. I appreciated Becca’s honesty with her past problems and not wanting to jump into anything (like a bed) too quickly and was up front and honest with him about this. She didn’t beat around the bush and gloss over her problems or make any sort of excuses, so for him to continue to doggedly pursue her despite her insistence they take things slow was a bit problematic for me. Granted, this all works out like your typical storybook romance is supposed to and was undeniably cute once I got past my awkward feels about the whole thing.
Christmas + cutesy romance = two peas in a pod.
Which, I suppose, is a sentence that could be applied to all of us, in some way or another.�
Becca Fletcher has always been known as the wild child of the family: drugs, alcohol, one night stands, you name it. She’s turned over a new leaf after a tragedy strikes her sister’s family and she realizes that it’s time she became someone that can be depended on. And now that same sister is asking her to come visit her for Christmas. She hates Christmas, but she just can’t say no to her sister.
The little town of Budbury is a charming little seaside village where everyone is friendly and looks out for one another. It’s the kind of quaint place that is only found within the pages of a story, but it doesn’t stop you from wishing such a place really existed. This is a fun Christmas time read but admittedly the Christmas theme took a backseat to the romance. Becca’s sister has been trying to set her up with the cute Irish boy named Sam since this past summer and when she visits, they finally meet in person for the first time. I appreciated Becca’s honesty with her past problems and not wanting to jump into anything (like a bed) too quickly and was up front and honest with him about this. She didn’t beat around the bush and gloss over her problems or make any sort of excuses, so for him to continue to doggedly pursue her despite her insistence they take things slow was a bit problematic for me. Granted, this all works out like your typical storybook romance is supposed to and was undeniably cute once I got past my awkward feels about the whole thing.
Christmas + cutesy romance = two peas in a pod.
April 16, 2021
Niet slecht maar zeker ook niet wauw. Het eerste boek uit de reeks was een stuk grapiger en leuker van verhaal dan dit 2e deel. Heel voorspelbaar allemaal en te weinig onverwachte wendingen om het spannend te houden.
April 13, 2018
Hmm, you know when you really get into a series and then the dreaded book comes where you dislike one of the characters? This is the one for me.
Becca Fletcher is the younger sister of Laura, the subject of the first book . Always the rock-n roll chick, the wild child, the girl most likely to [insert doomsday scenario]. We saw her as Lizzie's confidant in the first book, always joking about wild parties, drugs and booze. The reality is somewhat different. Unbeknown to the rest of the world Becca gave up all of that the night her brother-in-law David died.
Now it's almost Christmas, Becca's least favourite time of the year, and she is finally coming to Dorset to spend Christmas with Laura and her children and her new man, Matt and the rest of the villagers as they prepare for Cherie Moon and Farmer Frank's Christmas Eve wedding at the cafe.
Almost from the first chapter I found Becca a difficult to like character and frankly I never warmed to her. Her entire life, one way or another, appeared to be one of secrecy and self-absorption - funnily enough she came across as more likeable in the first book where she supported Laura and helped her to understand what Lizzie was doing and feeling! Indeed, Laura sees Becca as this feisty, sarcastic, funny free-spirit, down with the kids and rocking her life whereas what we see in this book is a miserable woman afraid to embrace life and love.
Laura had already sent photos of hunky Sam to Becca as a possible boyfriend in the first book, but that didn't explain to me why Sam found Becca so attractive. As I recall the book my over-riding impression is of Becca sitting in a corner, drinking diet coke and not participating in ANYTHING. You know, like that one 'friend' you have who just sucks all the fun out of an evening?
And dare I say it, I found Becca's reason for hating Christmas to be predictable and signalled from a long way off.
Anyway, just my opinion, others may love Becca and Sam.
Becca Fletcher is the younger sister of Laura, the subject of the first book . Always the rock-n roll chick, the wild child, the girl most likely to [insert doomsday scenario]. We saw her as Lizzie's confidant in the first book, always joking about wild parties, drugs and booze. The reality is somewhat different. Unbeknown to the rest of the world Becca gave up all of that the night her brother-in-law David died.
Now it's almost Christmas, Becca's least favourite time of the year, and she is finally coming to Dorset to spend Christmas with Laura and her children and her new man, Matt and the rest of the villagers as they prepare for Cherie Moon and Farmer Frank's Christmas Eve wedding at the cafe.
Almost from the first chapter I found Becca a difficult to like character and frankly I never warmed to her. Her entire life, one way or another, appeared to be one of secrecy and self-absorption - funnily enough she came across as more likeable in the first book where she supported Laura and helped her to understand what Lizzie was doing and feeling! Indeed, Laura sees Becca as this feisty, sarcastic, funny free-spirit, down with the kids and rocking her life whereas what we see in this book is a miserable woman afraid to embrace life and love.
Laura had already sent photos of hunky Sam to Becca as a possible boyfriend in the first book, but that didn't explain to me why Sam found Becca so attractive. As I recall the book my over-riding impression is of Becca sitting in a corner, drinking diet coke and not participating in ANYTHING. You know, like that one 'friend' you have who just sucks all the fun out of an evening?
And dare I say it, I found Becca's reason for hating Christmas to be predictable and signalled from a long way off.
Anyway, just my opinion, others may love Becca and Sam.
November 11, 2020
Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe is yet another feel-good, and in this case, festive story from Debbie Johnson. It’s a surprisingly short story, and as such, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as her previous book. Though this story was richly descriptive and had the same lovable, quirky crew, it was focused solely on the romance between Laura’s rebellious sister, Becca, and local outdoorsman, Surfer Sam.
This is a go-to story if you’re looking for a quick holiday romance, but it was lacking the broader range of topics and more in-depth exploration of them that the original story contained. Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe became a bit repetitive with its circling around the same topic of, “I’m attracted to you, but sworn off men for fear I’ll lose my reformed ways�, rather like a cat chasing its tail. I also wasn’t crazy about the notion of Sam pressuring Becca, even if it was done in a rather mild mannered, semi-endearing way.
All-in-all, this was a cute Christmas romance, and I got my HEA, but I was hoping for more from this story.
This is a go-to story if you’re looking for a quick holiday romance, but it was lacking the broader range of topics and more in-depth exploration of them that the original story contained. Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe became a bit repetitive with its circling around the same topic of, “I’m attracted to you, but sworn off men for fear I’ll lose my reformed ways�, rather like a cat chasing its tail. I also wasn’t crazy about the notion of Sam pressuring Becca, even if it was done in a rather mild mannered, semi-endearing way.
All-in-all, this was a cute Christmas romance, and I got my HEA, but I was hoping for more from this story.
December 29, 2019
Ik vond hem minder leuk dan deel 1, omdat je daarin meerdere personages leert kennen en in dit boek alleen Becca.
Maar alsnog met plezier elke dag een stukje gelezen (readalong met The Feelgood Book Corner).
Het eind had ik al vrij snel voorspeld, was dan wel jammer is maar het is wel een passend eind voor dit boek. Ik hoop dat deel 3 snel vertaald wordt!
Maar alsnog met plezier elke dag een stukje gelezen (readalong met The Feelgood Book Corner).
Het eind had ik al vrij snel voorspeld, was dan wel jammer is maar het is wel een passend eind voor dit boek. Ik hoop dat deel 3 snel vertaald wordt!
December 28, 2021
What a dissapointment. Becca seemed such a vibrant and interesting character in the first book.
But she just really annoyed me. Even in her noble attempt to clean up her act and to be there for her sister, she seemed to do because of a self centered reason. Her aversion for Christmas was also just kind of outrageous and she was a even more dense than her sister.
I felt sorry for Sam...
But she just really annoyed me. Even in her noble attempt to clean up her act and to be there for her sister, she seemed to do because of a self centered reason. Her aversion for Christmas was also just kind of outrageous and she was a even more dense than her sister.
I felt sorry for Sam...
September 19, 2016
Christmas is coming earlier and earlier each year, at least bookish Christmas - "Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe" is already one of the few festive reads that I read in September. Not that I'm complaining - I love Christmas and I probably could read Noel - centred books all over the year. And especially if they are written by Debbie Johnson - she has really ricocheted herself to the top of my favourite authors list and I'm sure she's going to stay there for a very long time, if not for ever.
I think I don't have to emphasize that "Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe" is a return to our beloved Comfort Food Cafe, as the title says it all. However, this time, even though it is also return of some of the characters that I've learnt to love in the previous novel, this story is told by Becca, Laura's sister. Becca seems much more disturbed and complicated than Laura but she has her reasons! She also hates Christmas, literally hates it, and we quickly learn why as the story begins with showing us a few of Becca and Laura's Christmases, and those scenes were brilliant, they were like watching a kaleidoscope, and no matter what there was always a Christmas disaster with Becca.. I think she would be a great best friend of Scrooge. But now the biggest nightmare of Becca is coming true - she is going to spend family Christmas, together with Laura, her children and Matt, and the whole team from Comfort Food Cafe! Oh boy...
Why is Becca such a Christmas grouch? What has happened? Is she going to open to her family? Start to enjoy life more? Is the Comfort Food Cafe going to do its magic again? This all, and much, much more is waiting for you in this brilliant, warm, cosy and already festive story. What I like so much in Debbie Johnson's books is that they so effortlessly combine fun and humour with more poignant, serious issues and I love the way she always deals with those issues, with a lot of understanding and without judging, letting the reader know all the circumstances and judge for themselves. Yes, there were moments that I felt desperate with Becca, she was not too easy - going, she was always kicking herself, and it seemed as if she didn't want to change, at all, that she's happy in her shell and I wanted her to stop being like this. She wasn't moaning or wanted to burden us with her problems, she wanted to deal with them alone, but her being so miserable inside and only showing the world a different face was not good for her and I wanted her to go out of this dark and cold corner, and to fully live. Becca is this kind of person who's initially not so easy to like but as the story went along she really grew on me, she got under my skin and at the end I was a putty in her hands. Debbie Johnson has made her character really complex and complicated and she brilliantly showed how difficult it is to break off with your old habits, how easy it is to stay like you are just because it's more comfortable, and how much it costs - and I mean here emotions and feelings - to try to go out of your comfort zone, and this all made Becca only even more realistic and believable.
The story brings us back all the characters from the summer novel, introduces new of them, and focuses more on the characters that we got to know in summer and now have a chance to get to know much better, such like some sexy surfer Sam, mmmm. Sam was so, so funny, so laid - back and easy going, you know, he was the yin to Becca's yang or whatever it is - I loved their banter and the way they were so honest with each other, they didn't fake anything, they were genuine with their feelings.
It seems that Comfort Food Cafe is really a magic, perfect place to be when you have problems and I want to go and live there, and eat Laura's brilliant food. When reading the story I just wanted to be a part of it, to join the gang and to forget about all my worries and sorrows. I think this story can be read as a stand - alone novel but I also think you'd miss out too much on the summer book, and on the whole Comfort Food Cafe charm. Immediately after starting reading this sequel I've felt at home, as if I was meeting with good, old friends. Yes, I'd love to hear much, much more from Laura and the gorgeous vet, as well as from her brilliant children, but I do appreciate the turn this story took, the depth and - shortly - I just get what the author wanted to do this time. The story brilliantly mixes fun and seriousness, and Debbie Johnson is truly a champion of writing catching one - liners and hilarious scenes, and you need to read the wedding or the visit at the shopping centre for yourself. Each character mentioned in this book, even so very background one, like for example Willow and her mum, had their place in this story and their presence adds tons of warmth. "Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe" is like a mug of Laura's hot chocolate with marshmallows - warm, melting your heart and cheering. Highly recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
January 9, 2019
Totally awesome story of Becca, sister of Laura and how she finds happiness at the comfort food cafe. Very lovely story about sisters and overcoming personal demons.
November 21, 2017
Eine Woche vor dem ersten Advent fange ich traditionell an zu dekorieren und zu backen. Dabei werden die Weihnachts-Cds ausgebuddelt und danach lese einen Weinachtsroman. Dieses Jahr werden wir ja um eine Woche Adventszeit gebracht, da an Heilig Abend der 4.Advent ist � so fing zumindest lesetechnisch die Weihnachtszeit schon früher für mich an. Und letzten Samstag war mir nach „Weihnachten mit Dir� von Debbie Johnson. Ich erwartete einen zuckersüßen Liebesroman� � und wurde völlig überrascht!
Becca Fletcher ist wirklich nicht leicht zu mögen. Schon als Kind war sie trotzig und hat � besonders an Weihnachten � ihre Familie terrorisiert. Vor allem, weil sie anstatt der heiß ersehnten Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles nur eine blöde Frisierpuppe für Mädchen geschenkt bekommen hat!
„Während Laura zu brav war, ohne den geringsten Sinn für Abenteuer, war ich die personifizierte Auflehnung und Streitlust. Zusammen hätten wir wahrscheinlich einen normalen Menschen ergeben.� (Becca)
Ich mag ja so Antihelden. Auch ich bin nicht immer nett und lese gerne Geschichten mit Protagonisten, die liebenswerte � oder auch mal nicht liebenswerte � Macken haben. Und unter der harten Schale und den ganzen Selbstzweifeln trägt Becca das Herz schon am rechten Fleck.
Wer die Vorgänger Bücher von Debbie Johnson gelesen hat, der wird sich freuen wieder auf altbekannte Personen rund um das Comfort Food Café zu treffen, denn dort hin ist Becca unterwegs, um mit Laura, deren Kindern und dem Welpen Midgebo Weihnachten zu feiern � weil ihr einfach keine gute Ausrede eingefallen ist, es nicht zu tun.
Laura und ihr Freund(Spätestens beim Vergleich von Lauras neuer Liebe Matt mit Han Solo war ich dem Roman völlig verfallen!!!)wollen Becca mit dem Landschaftgärtner Sam verkuppeln. Ein Adonis, und auch noch verdammt nett:
„Ich spüre sofort, dass ein Funken zwischen uns überspringt, der heller ist als die Flamme meines imaginären Zippos.� (Becca)
Alle glauben fest an ein Happy End mit dem Iren Sam � genau so fest wie BeccaNICHTdaran glaubt. Doch keiner ahnt welches Geheimnis Becca seit Jahren mit sich herum trägt�
Ich fand es klasse, dass hier nicht die Annäherung der Beiden im Vordergrund stand � das diese sich toll fanden stand von Anfang an fest � sondern die Entwicklung von Becca. Ich habe die rund 270 Seiten an einem Abend durchgelesen � es las sich locker, leicht und ich fühlte mich dabei wohl wie in Stars Hollow. „Weihnachten mit Dir� ist wie fünf Folgen Gilmore Girls schauen. Die Dialoge genau so geist � wie temporeich, die Protagonisten menschlich, ein wenig verrückt und liebevoll und eine Dorfgemeinschaft die unter allen Umständen zusammen hält und aufeinander aufpasst.Völlig unschnulzig und doch soooooooo schön!
Gerne vergebe ich volle 5 von 5 LieblingsLesesessel für dieses witzige, coole und herzerwärmende Weihnachtsbuch. Es wird sicher nicht das letzte gewesen sein, das ich von Debbie Johnson gelesen habe!
Becca Fletcher ist wirklich nicht leicht zu mögen. Schon als Kind war sie trotzig und hat � besonders an Weihnachten � ihre Familie terrorisiert. Vor allem, weil sie anstatt der heiß ersehnten Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles nur eine blöde Frisierpuppe für Mädchen geschenkt bekommen hat!
„Während Laura zu brav war, ohne den geringsten Sinn für Abenteuer, war ich die personifizierte Auflehnung und Streitlust. Zusammen hätten wir wahrscheinlich einen normalen Menschen ergeben.� (Becca)
Ich mag ja so Antihelden. Auch ich bin nicht immer nett und lese gerne Geschichten mit Protagonisten, die liebenswerte � oder auch mal nicht liebenswerte � Macken haben. Und unter der harten Schale und den ganzen Selbstzweifeln trägt Becca das Herz schon am rechten Fleck.
Wer die Vorgänger Bücher von Debbie Johnson gelesen hat, der wird sich freuen wieder auf altbekannte Personen rund um das Comfort Food Café zu treffen, denn dort hin ist Becca unterwegs, um mit Laura, deren Kindern und dem Welpen Midgebo Weihnachten zu feiern � weil ihr einfach keine gute Ausrede eingefallen ist, es nicht zu tun.
Laura und ihr Freund(Spätestens beim Vergleich von Lauras neuer Liebe Matt mit Han Solo war ich dem Roman völlig verfallen!!!)wollen Becca mit dem Landschaftgärtner Sam verkuppeln. Ein Adonis, und auch noch verdammt nett:
„Ich spüre sofort, dass ein Funken zwischen uns überspringt, der heller ist als die Flamme meines imaginären Zippos.� (Becca)
Alle glauben fest an ein Happy End mit dem Iren Sam � genau so fest wie BeccaNICHTdaran glaubt. Doch keiner ahnt welches Geheimnis Becca seit Jahren mit sich herum trägt�
Ich fand es klasse, dass hier nicht die Annäherung der Beiden im Vordergrund stand � das diese sich toll fanden stand von Anfang an fest � sondern die Entwicklung von Becca. Ich habe die rund 270 Seiten an einem Abend durchgelesen � es las sich locker, leicht und ich fühlte mich dabei wohl wie in Stars Hollow. „Weihnachten mit Dir� ist wie fünf Folgen Gilmore Girls schauen. Die Dialoge genau so geist � wie temporeich, die Protagonisten menschlich, ein wenig verrückt und liebevoll und eine Dorfgemeinschaft die unter allen Umständen zusammen hält und aufeinander aufpasst.Völlig unschnulzig und doch soooooooo schön!
Gerne vergebe ich volle 5 von 5 LieblingsLesesessel für dieses witzige, coole und herzerwärmende Weihnachtsbuch. Es wird sicher nicht das letzte gewesen sein, das ich von Debbie Johnson gelesen habe!
March 14, 2019
So wonderful to go back to the lovely small seaside village of Budbury in Dorset and the comfort food cafe it's simply brilliant I didn't think it could improve on the first book but it did so well written and has you in tears plenty but also happy. Shows how you need to let the past go before you can move forward. Plenty of romance and of course plenty about families and friendship. Plenty of healing takes place and so heartwarming.
Laura and her children have settled in really well now and getting close to Christmas and Laura's sister Becca hates Christmas and has done for years but how will she escape it this year with heading to her sisters and being in the small seaside village. Once she arrives her sister is putting decorations up and the children want Becca to help but she really wants to be somewhere further away but they then surprise her and say she can stay in her own place above the cafe as the owner has moved in with her husband to be. She loves the place and enjoys the peace and quite but she soon spots a man on the beach and her heart turns but she doesn't want to be tempted. She has kept from her sister that she has stopped everything from her past and not drinking or anything but she doesn't want to let any one down. She soon gets friendly with everyone who comes to the cafe but when she opens up to one person what happened in her past little dos she realise she would then sleep and be able to feel relaxed more. She starts getting friendly with Sam but says she doesn't want a relationship but they do get friendly. It comes towards Christmas and her parents have come down and there is a big wedding in the town but Sam then has to head home and is sorry to say goodbye to Becca. Christmas Day comes and Becca is being sick and says she has a bug but her sister thinks she could be pregnant. Becca leaves to go home but stops at the service station and soon learns her life is gong to change in a big way but will she stay back in Manchester where she is from away from Sam or move back to Dorset and how will she tell Sam her news and how will he react will it be what he wants or not.
Worth far more than five stars as simply brilliant.
Laura and her children have settled in really well now and getting close to Christmas and Laura's sister Becca hates Christmas and has done for years but how will she escape it this year with heading to her sisters and being in the small seaside village. Once she arrives her sister is putting decorations up and the children want Becca to help but she really wants to be somewhere further away but they then surprise her and say she can stay in her own place above the cafe as the owner has moved in with her husband to be. She loves the place and enjoys the peace and quite but she soon spots a man on the beach and her heart turns but she doesn't want to be tempted. She has kept from her sister that she has stopped everything from her past and not drinking or anything but she doesn't want to let any one down. She soon gets friendly with everyone who comes to the cafe but when she opens up to one person what happened in her past little dos she realise she would then sleep and be able to feel relaxed more. She starts getting friendly with Sam but says she doesn't want a relationship but they do get friendly. It comes towards Christmas and her parents have come down and there is a big wedding in the town but Sam then has to head home and is sorry to say goodbye to Becca. Christmas Day comes and Becca is being sick and says she has a bug but her sister thinks she could be pregnant. Becca leaves to go home but stops at the service station and soon learns her life is gong to change in a big way but will she stay back in Manchester where she is from away from Sam or move back to Dorset and how will she tell Sam her news and how will he react will it be what he wants or not.
Worth far more than five stars as simply brilliant.
February 15, 2018
This is wonderful feel good sparkly story that you will want to read curled up with a cup of hot chocolate. It’s a follow on from Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe but can also be read as a stand-alone . This time the story revolves around Laura’s sister Becca but we also are reintroduced to the characters we met previously . I absolutely adored this book and highly recommend .
November 29, 2017
Becca is a difficult person, character, to really understand or like, for that matter, at the beginning of Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe. The story itself sets her up that way, and her early actions will reinforce that puzzle of who is she really. In the end, Becca is simply her own unique person � like all of us. Nope, she’s far from perfect but so am I. She’s definitely moody, and often times mean. Yet, there underneath the surface stuff is a woman who has been hurt, not seen or valued for herself and who has learned her own defense movements to keep her own sanity intact. We all cope with life differently, this was Becca’s way.
Much like the earlier book in this series, this story tells us of one woman’s journey to discover herself within the comfort of family, good people and an atmosphere of acceptance from those around her� something Becca is not used to. As she slowly comes back to life, opens up her heart about the terrible hurts she’s experienced that shaped her future we will see a slightly different Becca. Oh, she’s always going to be that unique personality but she’s more human, more easy to sit back with and simply relax. Her romance with Sam is a slow burn and it moves along at the right pace for them. Sam is exactly what Becca needs in her life, she might just have to be convinced of that small fact for a bit.
I enjoyed Sam and Becca’s journey in Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe. I’ll tell you frankly that Becca will not be my favorite character from this story or this series� but I did grow to understand her and like her. And the ending she and Sam found was perfect for them and that’s really all that matters. While I wouldn’t call this a traditional Christmas story � it is one that will touch your emotions and give you a tear or a smile along the way. I enjoyed my time in their world and I believe you would as well.
I own a Kindle copy of this story.
December 23, 2020
A gorgeous book to read at this time of year along with your own special comfort food or drink as you effortlessly step into the snowflakes and happiness of seasonal love and romance.
Becca might not want a relationship and she might be as prickly as a hedgehog when it comes to contemplating the Christmas festivities, but life as described in this charming book has other plans for the world weary woman in the shape of surfer Sam.
There is an array of quirky loveable characters living in Budbury, Dorset where Becca's sister Laura relocated to in an attempt to heal following the sudden loss of her husband David. There is clearly another story here, which I haven't read but which I have now purchased, Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe. Never one to read anything in order as it doesn't bother me, others may well wish to read about Laura first before enjoying this Christmas sequel.
The residents of Budbury range in ages but all have the special quality of helping Becca relax and open up to the possibilities that life can be good again. There's 80 year old Frank who is about to wed Cherie Moon, owner of the Comfort Food Cafe where Laura does all of the delicious cooking, Lizzie and Nate, Laura's children, the delightful 90 year old Edie May, Hot Vet Matt and pink haired Cafe assistant Willow.
As the cast prepare for the wedding and for Christmas Becca slowly learns that what happened in the past does not need to prevent her from hoping for a positive future. Sam can help heal her broken heart but the burning question is, will Becca let him or will she run back to Manchester and hide away forever?
Many will argue these twee and unrealistically happy books are nothing but ten a penny fantasies, but I argue that anything that makes a reader glow with happiness and feel good whilst reading is a priceless gift in a world which can be so grey and unforgiving. I am not at all ashamed to say that I LOVED this book and the joy Debbie Johnson can bestow a reader through her writing.
I am going back in time now to have summer with Laura!
Becca might not want a relationship and she might be as prickly as a hedgehog when it comes to contemplating the Christmas festivities, but life as described in this charming book has other plans for the world weary woman in the shape of surfer Sam.
There is an array of quirky loveable characters living in Budbury, Dorset where Becca's sister Laura relocated to in an attempt to heal following the sudden loss of her husband David. There is clearly another story here, which I haven't read but which I have now purchased, Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe. Never one to read anything in order as it doesn't bother me, others may well wish to read about Laura first before enjoying this Christmas sequel.
The residents of Budbury range in ages but all have the special quality of helping Becca relax and open up to the possibilities that life can be good again. There's 80 year old Frank who is about to wed Cherie Moon, owner of the Comfort Food Cafe where Laura does all of the delicious cooking, Lizzie and Nate, Laura's children, the delightful 90 year old Edie May, Hot Vet Matt and pink haired Cafe assistant Willow.
As the cast prepare for the wedding and for Christmas Becca slowly learns that what happened in the past does not need to prevent her from hoping for a positive future. Sam can help heal her broken heart but the burning question is, will Becca let him or will she run back to Manchester and hide away forever?
Many will argue these twee and unrealistically happy books are nothing but ten a penny fantasies, but I argue that anything that makes a reader glow with happiness and feel good whilst reading is a priceless gift in a world which can be so grey and unforgiving. I am not at all ashamed to say that I LOVED this book and the joy Debbie Johnson can bestow a reader through her writing.
I am going back in time now to have summer with Laura!
December 17, 2019
Mijn volledige recensie is terug te vinden op:
Het eerste hoofdstuk van Kerstmis in het Duincafé speelt in december 1987, december 1991 en december 2000. Hier wordt je vooral duidelijk gemaakt hoe en waarom Becca een bloedhekel aan Kerstmis heeft. Eerlijkheidshalve kan ik haar geen ongelijk geven.
De rest van het boek speelt in het heden. Becca heeft haar zus beloofd om de maand december in het Duincafé door te brengen.
In de zomer heb ik met veel plezier Zomer in het duincafé, Comfort Food Cafe 1, gelezen. Ik kon bijna niet wachten om Kerstmis in het Duincafé. te gaan lezen. Mijn verwachtingen waren hoog gespannen. Wel die zijn, wat mij betreft, volkomen uitgekomen. Wat een heerlijk boek. Met een flinke dosis humor en natuurlijk een behoorlijke dosis romance. Net zoals het vorige boek heeft het mij ook nu weer ontroerd en aan het lachen gemaakt. Debbie Johnson heeft een zalige schrijfstijl die je meteen beetpakt en niet meer loslaat.
Het eerste hoofdstuk van Kerstmis in het Duincafé speelt in december 1987, december 1991 en december 2000. Hier wordt je vooral duidelijk gemaakt hoe en waarom Becca een bloedhekel aan Kerstmis heeft. Eerlijkheidshalve kan ik haar geen ongelijk geven.
De rest van het boek speelt in het heden. Becca heeft haar zus beloofd om de maand december in het Duincafé door te brengen.
In de zomer heb ik met veel plezier Zomer in het duincafé, Comfort Food Cafe 1, gelezen. Ik kon bijna niet wachten om Kerstmis in het Duincafé. te gaan lezen. Mijn verwachtingen waren hoog gespannen. Wel die zijn, wat mij betreft, volkomen uitgekomen. Wat een heerlijk boek. Met een flinke dosis humor en natuurlijk een behoorlijke dosis romance. Net zoals het vorige boek heeft het mij ook nu weer ontroerd en aan het lachen gemaakt. Debbie Johnson heeft een zalige schrijfstijl die je meteen beetpakt en niet meer loslaat.
December 27, 2019
Vergeleken met deel 1 viel dit verhaal ietwat tegen. Het is nog steeds een heerlijk verhaal om bij weg te dromen. Maar het haalt niet het niveau van het eerste deel. Er zit best veel overlap in. Handig voor mensen die het eerste deel niet gelezen hebben, maar ik vond het op een gegeven moment toch wat hinderlijk. Deel 1 was ook voorspelbaar. Maar waar het me bij deel 1 niet zo stoorde, stoorde het me nu soms wel. Jammer, want ik had me wel op een soortgelijk verhaal als het eerste deel verheugd.
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