The Cotswolds Christmas Cafe

by Lizzie Lee

Paperback

Reviews

[Laura❄️📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much, it was full of Christmas magic and I lapped every moment of it up. Reading this book was like a trip down memory lane, I’ve lived most of my life within an hour of the Cotswold but had never visited until I met my husband as he lived in a small town not far from Cirencester. A lot of our earlier relationship was played out against the beautiful and picturesque villages and towns in the Cotswold, Babblebrook could have been any of them. I loved Marnie and Lauren, Pat, Matt, Greg, David, Andrew, the Vicar who missed her calling as an army drill Sargent. I thought Andrew was grumpy and miserable when we were first introduced to him but I enjoyed reading as he and Marnie grew close and she got to see the gentle and kind man underneath. Pat and Matt were like surrogate parents to Marnie and I lived her easy relationship with them, her ex husband Ian needed a good dose of karma. This was a cosy book about romance, fresh starts and found family coming together to save the magic of Christmas.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚The Cotswolds Christmas Cafe
✍🏻Lizzie Lee
Blurb:
'So homely, cosy and heart-warming, it's like a big warm blanket hug! . . . Go grab a hot chocolate and slip into the festive vibe as you meet the inhabitants of Babblebrook.' Reader review, 5 stars

The Cotswolds village of Babblebrook is filled with the scent of hot chocolate and gingerbread this Christmas. Could love be in the air, too . . . ?

After leaving her cheating husband, Marnie needs a fresh start. With her thirteen-year-old daughter, Lauren, she moves back to her childhood village, Babblebrook. But her new neighbour, Andrew, might just be the rudest man Marnie has ever met. So why she can't stop thinking about him . . . ?

Marnie throws herself into local the bakery, making mince pies and spiced buns to help her old friends Pat and Matt. She spends her days dreaming of turning the bakery into a cozy café that will be the heart of the village, and finds herself unexpectedly drawn to gruff Andrew and his kind, reliable nature.

But when some unexpected visitors arrive in Babblebrook, Marnie is confronted with a choice - stick to what she knows, and the person she's always been, or start putting herself first.

Marnie has spent her whole life taking care of everyone else. Is she ready to fight for her café dream, and admit that all she wants for Christmas is Andrew?

A gorgeous cozy winter romance to lose yourself in this Christmas. Perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Sue Moorcroft, Sarah Morgan, Donna Ashworth and Lucy Coleman - snuggle up by the fire with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and enjoy this heartwarming debut Christmas romance!

Readers are already falling in love with Marnie's Christmas new beginning!

'This was pure heart and soul goodness . . . fizzy feelings and gooey moments of pure joy . . . This book was one of my best of the year. I inhaled it!' Reader review, 5 stars

'Perfect perfect perfect! . . . like a big warm blanket hug! . . . I loved getting to know the town and the story was a true beaut. I can't wait for more!' Reader review, 5 stars

'I loved this book!! . . . The story of Marnie resonated with me personally as a divorced woman who put herself last her whole life, it was so satisfying reading about how she finally saw her worth and her chance to shine.' Reader review, 5 stars

'Babblebrook is the place to be at Christmas . . . A sweet Christmas tale that kept me entertained throughout.' Reader review, 5 stars

'I felt warm inside and out with this book. It is a warm and inviting plot.' Reader review, 5 stars

'If you are looking for the perfect winter/Christmas cozy book, this is the one for you . . .This book has everything I want in a cozy, with the magic of Christmas sprinkled in.' Reader review, 5 stars

'A sweet, festive read which really warms the heart. I really wanted to go to this cafe with all the lovely food. The characters were so sweet that I just couldn't help liking them. A perfect read for autumn.' Reader review, 5 stars
My Thoughts:
I loved this book so much, it was full of Christmas magic and I lenjoyed every moment of it up. Marnie, 40, divorced, a translater and hobby baker moves to fictional Babblebrook in the Cotswolds with her 13 year old daughter Lauren, into a cottage her absent mother lets them stay in. It needs renovating, plus her aunt Pat and uncle Matt need help with their bakery that has seen better days and more customers. The tight-knit community including her brother David with husband Greg welcome Marnie and Lauren warmly, apart from rude neighbour Andrew who she is warned about. The only good thing about him seems to be his cute dog Rosie. All the characters were great, so sweet and just all round lovely.
Thanks NetGalley, Embla Books and Author Lizzie Lee for the advanced copy of "The Cotswolds Christmas Cafe" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#EmblaBooks
#LizzieLee
#TheCotswoldsChristamsCafe
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Grief, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Medical content, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

[Karen Kingston · Rating 4 out of 5]

#bookreview Thank you to Vishani from @emblabooks for a digital proof copy of The Cotswolds Christmas Cafe by @lizzieleewriter .
I’ve enjoyed reading this recently published book over the weekend. We live near the Cotswolds and from Lizzie’s descriptions I could imagine what Babblebrook would look like. Loved how the story evolved as Marnie and Lauren dealt with their new beginnings. Great characters, a cute dog, emotional and humorous moments, and full of festive traditions. And cake! Lots of cake! Happy to recommend.

[J'nell Ciesielski · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love a good cozy at this time of year, especially with quirky villages and charming cottages, but the charm was lacking here. All the ingredients were there, but for some reason I couldn't connect to this place or the characters. Maybe I was expecting more Christmas magic when instead there was too much middle age single parenting stuff going on.

[Erica]

I’m bummed that this book fell a bit flat for me—I couldn’t connect with the characters. Had a little bit of Christmas magic, but it didn’t feel like a Christmas-y book. I would categorize it as a women’s fiction with a hint of romance, which for me I didn’t like the MMC all that much.

*Thank you NetGalley and Bonnier Books for the ebook ARC*

[Lizzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read for work. Really flat.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. So much talk of drinking tea, putting the kettle on and ‘would you like a cuppa’ - very repetitive