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Navidad En El Cupcake Café (2013)

by Jenny Colgan(Favorite Author)

3.93 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

8415420684 (ISBN13: 9788415420682)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Vergara

series

At the Cupcake Café

review 1: The second book that I have read from this author, I love how Colgan incorporates food (chocolate or cupcakes) into her stories and gives them a respect that one would expect from characters. Issy is a year into running her Cupcake Café, and when I finished this, I added Meet Me at the Cupcake Café to my buy list. Colgan provides readers who haven’t read the first book with a solid sense of events leading to this story, without overwhelming us with details or information, in fact, she starts out with a quick “catch you up” that actually gives a nice sense of what has happened, so the characters feel familiar. Issy is content with her café, and is thinking that she and Austin just may take the next step in their relationship. And while Austin starts out being ra... morether ‘meh’ in my opinion, Issy’s confidence in who he could become, even when she isn’t completely certain herself, fit the story beautifully: these two are both at crossroads and decisions must be made. Austin has been father and mother to his younger brother, Danny, since their parents were killed in a car crash. At the time, he started in banking to pay the bills, never thinking that years later he would still be there. But, a slowdown in the economy and more local banks closing their doors, he is sent to work in New York for a short while, an offer that turns into a wonderful opportunity in the states. Meanwhile, Christmas is coming, and Issy still isn’t comfortable with Austin so far away, leaving her in charge of Danny and with her own support system being less than supportive. People change and lives alter, and Issy is so completely attuned to being ‘left behind’ that she is certain Austin is gone. Her best friend Helena is in the middle of the ‘post marriage first baby everything is wonderful as the best mommy ever’ moments, and you can completely feel how the loss of Helena as she was without the title of Mummy and utterings on her very intractable and rather ordinary child are not quite her cup of tea. With Pearl’s disgruntled attitude getting worse, as her struggles to keep Louis happy and manage expenses, she is wrapped in her own world and the pressure of the holidays start to wear on her. Always battling with Caroline, who is a solidly Harrod’s woman living on an Asda budget, who is in the midst of a very tempestuous divorce. Caroline is very ‘high maintenance’, and she delights in picking at Pearl, with a lackadaisical attitude toward her job. There are so many stories all pulled together as the characters are tied to Issy and the café, and somehow Issy is determined to give everyone some spirit for Christmas, even if she doesn’t find it for herself. Her own concerns about her relationship, and the changes that are expected of her from Austin, who doesn’t see just how important her life in England and the café are to her consume many of her hours when she isn’t making a new treat or contemplating the next one. You have to be willing to let a story unfold in front of you, without great dramatic reveals or twists, seeing the gradual changes and influences that people have on each other. Colgan does this with great flair: sure there are moments that could be the next big ‘bang’ but most of the story is one foot in front of the other, all leading you down a path that is pure delight for the wonderful side-journeys that you take. Issy is the woman you want to call friend: and you actually do worry for her, cheer her on and find the ending, while feeling a bit rushed, the ending that was meant to be. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
review 2: Really good follow up book from 'Meet me at the Cupcake Cafe'. I know this is a Christmas read and I have read it in summer but it really does not make a difference. It was lovely catching up with Izzy and her colleagues. Izzy's business has gone from strength to strength and she has decisions to make regarding her private life with her boyfriend Austin. Really good read and would love another follow up. less

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