Camilla Dix is fiercely independent. Growing up, she had to be strong for her mother and younger sister after her father left them for a new life in Benidorm. Camilla has kept her heart firmly closed to love, and never allows her relationships with men to develop into anything serious.
Tom Stone moved to Heatherlea for a fresh start. He’s been hurt in the past and has no intention of making himself vulnerable again. The only company he wants at night is that of his rescue British Bulldog Hairy Pawter.
However, when Camilla and Tom meet, they can’t deny their mutual attraction, and something deeper soon develops between them.
As snows falls over Heatherlea, mulled wine flows and festive carols fill the air, but can Camilla and Tom put their fears aside and trust each other enough to let love in?
This is the third of four short stories in The Cosy Cottage Café series.
Now available:
Summer at The Cosy Cottage Café Autumn at The Cosy Cottage Café Winter at The Cosy Cottage Café
Rachel Griffiths is an author, wife, mother, Earl Grey tea drinker, gin enthusiast, dog walker and fan of the afternoon nap. She loves to read, write and spend time with her family.
Winter at the Cosy Cottage Café is the third book by Rachel Griffith that is set in the little village of Heatherlea. Last year I reviewed the first two, Summer at the Cosy Cottage Café and Autumn at the Cosy Cottage Café – can you guess which one is next? Yes, you’re right, Spring at the Cosy Cottage Café, which is to be released in April 2018.
In book one we met Allie, who runs the Cosy Cottage Café and her boyfriend, author Chris. In book two we met Allie’s friends and villagers, Dawn and Rick Beaumont-Dix and their two children, Laura and James. Dawn was having a troubled pregnancy and the couple were having marital problems. In this book we meet Dawn’s sister Camilla, whom we met briefly in book two, and newcomer to the village, Vet Tom.
In this book, winter has definitely arrived, Christmas is looming, a romance might just be blossoming and a face from the past is causing emotions to run high.
All the books are only a short read, this one being the longest at 165 pages. The book might only be short but Rachel has filled it with such wonderful characters, vivid scenery and a beautiful plotline that I enjoyed from beginning to end. I also love how the characters from previous books make appearances in the later ones.
The Cosy Cottage Café series is very Chick-Lit-Esq, and doesn’t actually feel like separate stories, more like one long novel. For this reason you really need to read this series from the beginning, and in order. They are perfect feel-good romantic stories that you can settle down with, making you feel warm and fuzzy inside. They are all a real joy to read. I now can’t wait for Spring to arrive!
Another brilliant update on events and characters in Heatherlea, I just couldn’t resist reading this straight away! When you consider how many other books I have on my tbr pile, that in itself is an endorsement of how much I enjoy this author’s stories - and, as usual, she didn’t disappoint.
Camilla Dix became the main carer in her family after her Mum went to pieces after her husband, Camilla’s father, left them to live in Benidorm. Camilla is a feisty, independent young woman, determined never to end up like her Mum and extremely wary of trusting any man with her heart. So just why does she keep thinking about the new vet, Tom Stone? She’s been attracted to him from their first meeting but events at his housewarming party were just so embarrassing! However, their attraction is mutual - even his bulldog, Hairy Pawter, is attracted to her (oh dear!). Can love find a way to bring these two together as Christmas approaches?
With great characters living in a fantastic community which are all brought to life in the pages of the book, this is a delightful, heartwarming festive read. I suspect it could be read as a standalone but, personally, I liked reconnecting with some of the characters from earlier stories in the series and they are all great reads so why not, like me, indulge yourself? This novella has plenty of angst and turmoil and is, at times, an emotional rollercoaster, so jump on board and enjoy the ride to another HEA in Heatherlea!
All reviews can be found on my blog: thecosiestcorner.blogspot.com
I've loved the first two parts of The Cosy Cottage Cafe so to be honest I just knew that I was going to enjoy this one. Rachel Griffiths writes beautifully and you're instantly immersed in the story from the first page. I absolutely adore the cover as well, the use of the snow, the Christmas lights and the holly come together to make one beautifully festive cover.
I've been waiting to hear more about Camilla, so I was so pleased when I found out that this story was going to be based around her. The story starts with Camilla doing a bit of Christmas shopping and then bumping into her close friend Allie - the two women go and get some champagne and take a look around at all the festive presents. Straight away I start feeling festive and excited for the upcoming holidays. There's a lot of description about lights, presents, decorations and it just makes you feel so warm and cosy inside.
As well as the Christmas side, there's quite a bit of drama. Camilla soon has quite a shock to the system when an unexpected guest shows up for Sunday lunch at her mums house! And poor pregnant sister Dawn starts crying due to the surprise. Luckily, Camilla has a friend in new vet Tom (whom she desperately fancies) and feels better after talking to him about her situation. There's quite a bit of flirting coming from the two and I could sense the chemistry between them, Tom seemed like such a lovely guy so I was hoping they would get together.
The thing I love most about Rachel's style of writing, is that it's just such an easy read and her novels always leave you feeling happy and in a better mood. It's an easy escape into a different world and I love it. I really enjoy all of Rachel's novels and I'm sure you will too. Each story has so much to give and as they're only short novella's, you find you finish them so quickly.
Overall, another really lovely read by Rachel Griffiths. I can't wait to read the next one in the series! Thank you to Rachel Griffiths for supplying a copy of this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.
Camilla values her independence. She is her own boss and can do what she likes. She doesn't want to fall in love, because she thinks love only hurts. When Camilla's father left her mother Camilla had to pick up the pieces. She had to be there for her mother and she took care of her younger sister. This left Camilla with a negative view on love. Camilla's always been fine and there was never anyone who managed to steal her heart, until Tom.
Tom is a local vet. He wanted a fresh start and moved to Heatherlea only recently. He's trying to get to know people and would love to be Camilla's friend. The same goes for his British Bulldog Hairy Pawter, who's left quite an impression the first time he met Camilla. Tom isn't like the men Camilla usually dates, but Camilla is willing to give him a chance. Will he be the first man to break through her barriers or is he going to mess things up?
Winter at the Cosy Cottage Café is a wonderful winter story. I immediately loved Camilla. She's loyal, fierce and protective. She can take care of herself and I liked her strength and determination. She's always there for her family and friends, but she doesn't allow anyone to be there for her. This gradually changes and that was amazing to see. There are plenty of ups and downs in Camilla's life while it used to be quite predictable and I enjoyed watching her responses. I couldn't wait to find out if she'd finally let herself be happy.
Rachel Griffiths has a lovely heartwarming writing style. She has a fantastic sense of humor and I often laugh out loud when I read her stories. I love how unrestrained her writing is, which is a great gift. Every little detail is exactly as it should be. Winter at the Cosy Cottage Café is an entertaining story about true love, family, friendship and relationships in general. It's a sweet and charming festive story. It also has a terrific feelgood factor that really cheered me up.
Cute & cosy clean romance novel. Great to get into the Christmas spirit. And always nice to read a romance series about the same town/with same familiar characters as the previous books.
I have been absolutely loving this series of novellas set around the Cosy Cottage Cafe! Rachel Griffiths has given us a fabulous cast of characters, all with their own connections to the cafe owner Allie and after the first two books in the series I have been desperate to follow Camilla and see where her meeting with the new vet would take her!
Heatherlea sounds like the sort of village you could just fall into, a sweet, gigantic marshmallow of a place designed to soften your fall and protect you from harm! And the Cosy Cottage Cafe sits at the very heart of the village feeding the needs of the villagers with cake, coffee and friendship. What more could a girl ask for!? Well, apart a gorgeous man to share it all with of course!
Camilla has shut herself off to love following her traumatic childhood when her Dad left her, her mum and sister to go and live abroad. She has a great job, gorgeous handbags and supportive friends but a meeting with Tom Stone who has moved to Heatherlea for a new start sparks off an unexpected chemistry between them. And as their relationship blossoms, they both start to let their guard down but can they find happiness together if they aren’t completely honest with each other? It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year but can love conquer all under the Christmas mistletoe or will it be as prickly as those holly wreaths?
This Christmas novella is the perfect length for shutting yourself off from the world, cuddled up in your PJs and cosy socks with a hot chocolate and a slice of Christmas cake (with a piece of wensleydale! Go on try it!!) It’s a feelgood read packed full to the brim with subtle humour and engaging romance as it follows these two damaged individuals as they try to overcome their misgivings and find their own happy ever after. Rachel Griffiths beautifully brings to life this village and it’s residents so that the reader really comes to care about what happens to them. I found her insightful exploration of the problems faced by the group of friends completely engrossing, highly believable and very comforting. And as usual the descriptions of the fabulous food had me drooling as I read! Loved it!
To begin with I have to mention the cover, I have loved every one of the covers for The Cosy Cottage Cafe Series so far but this one has to be my favourite. It could possibly be the snowman or the holly but I just think it’s lovely. This series of books have been so enjoyable and I can’t believe that I will be reading the last one in 2018. I’m looking forward to reading Spring at The Cosy Cottage Cafe but I think I will also be a little sad that it will be over! One of the main things that stands out in this series is the group of friends I feel as if I could just drop in for a chat with them. Along with having a drink, a slice of pizza and of course a piece of cake not that I’m greedy or anything! Just like the previous books this one has a lovely warm and comforting feel to it as if I’m getting wrapped up in a cosy fluffy blanket. That is definitely down to some delightful characters and the wonderful down to earth writing style that Rachel Griffiths has. Even though this book is the third in the series I still think it could be classed as a standalone. However you really are missing out on getting to know some lovely characters.
In this book we follow Camilla in the run up to Christmas and I couldn’t wait to see how her story would turn out. Camilla has a strong personality but also that little bit of vulnerability after having faced issues within her family when she was younger. I love the relationship with her sister Dawn and how she feels she has to look out for her. I’m not going to go into the plot too much but there is a big shock in store for Camilla and her family. Camilla also seems to be finding herself in plenty of embarassing situations whenever she is near Tom who is the vet in the village of Heatherlea. Tom is so loveable, I think I may have fallen a little for him myself and I loved their sweet interactions. You also get to meet a very cute British Bulldog with one moment in particular that really stands out. So a special mention has to go to Hairy Pawter (brilliant name) he was such a perfect addition to the story!
Winter at The Cosy Cottage Cafe is a story that is not only witty but will also melt your heart. From the wonderful characters who will have you rooting for their happy ending to the heartwarming nature of the story.
This is the first book by Rachel Griffiths that I have read, but I will definitely be adding the other two books in this series to my TBR list.
Camilla is a strong, independent career lady but when it comes to romance her guard is firmly up and she avoids commitment at all costs. There is a very good reason for this, which is explained in the book, and my heart went out to Camilla because after looking after her mum and sister for most of her life, she deserves to be happy.
Tom is a vet who has just moved to the area and is eager to build a circle of friends.He arranges to meet Camilla for a drink but finds her vulnerable and upset after a deeply emotional encounter. Camilla opens up to him in a way that she has never done with anyone before and to her surprise finds that she can talk to him, and he listens and gives her support. As Camilla gets to know Tom better she starts having powerful feelings for him, but will she be able to put her insecurities aside and take their friendship to another level?
Tom has a British Bulldog, called Hairy Pawter who has a huge appetite and an aversion to exercise. His first meeting with Camilla is hilarious, and one that all dog lovers will appreciate!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Rachel Griffiths has an impeccable eye for detail and she sets a scene to perfection. The trip to the Christmas markets was just magical, and my personal favourite part of the book.
The characters are all extremely likable, with depth, and lots of humour. There is a very strong family theme, deep friendships and lots of happy gatherings at the heart of the story, the Cosy Cottage Cafe.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a treat to return to one of my favourite cafes (shame it's fictional)! Rachel Griffiths has created an idyllic setting for her new book series and Winter at The Cosy Cottage Café is our third outing to the café. Each book can be read as a standalone but to fully immerse yourself in this picturesque landscape and the characters that the author has created I would fully recommend reading all the books in the series in chronological order. The books now available are:
•Summer at The Cosy Cottage Cafe •Autumn at The Cosy Cottage Cafe •Winter at The Cosy Cottage Cafe
and coming soon ...
•Spring at The Cosy Cottage Café
I instantly felt like I was re-visiting my very own book family as Rachel Griffiths has created a lovely myriad of characters for this series. Characters written with warmth and humour and all set around The Cosy Cottage Café in the fictional country village of Heatherlea.
This story focuses on Camilla, the older sister of Dawn and the glamorous career woman from the friendship group that live in the village and congregate at the café. Due to heartbreak in the past Camilla is wary of committing to a relationship but when a new vet turns up in the village Camilla is instantly attracted but is confused with her growing feelings.
Vet Tom has recently moved to the village following his own heartbreak, with the unique help of his trusted dog HP he is trying to settle into a new community.
With the festive season in full flow the storyline weaves around Christmas markets with festive foodie treats and handmade toys. Family and relationship unrest but with a close friendship circle any unsettling is minimised by the love of the community within.
This was such a fun, festive read and the author has given us so many comical moments in this story. A story of letting go of the past and opening your heart to new beginnings. Cosy, comforting, full of laughter and festive sparkle.
I’ve been so looking forward to reading this! Having another Cosy Cottage Cafe stored in my kindle is like finding out your favourite tv programme is airing another series! All the familiar faces are there but one of those who has been hanging around in the background suddenly comes to the fore and you get to know the character that much better.
Camilla Dix is a strong independent woman and sister of Dawn whom we found out all about during Autumn. With a deep distrust of men, thanks to her father abandoning his family when the girls were quite young, she has made a secure life for herself. But not needing a man in your life is a bit different to not desiring one …
I love these books. A great story with plenty of village goings on and peripheral characters adding to the fun. Rachel Griffiths paints a picture of the village we would all want to live in, and winter seems to be a fabulous time of year to be there. Fantastic smooth writing, a good storyline and a dollop of magic in the air makes this a terrific read. The best bit of all is finding out there’s another book on the way .. can’t wait!
My sincere and grateful thanks to the author. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
Winter at the Cosy Cottage Cafe is yet another of Rachel Griffiths feel-warm romantic comedies, but this time it is sprinkled with Christmas sparkle. Winter at the Cosy Cottage cafe is centred around Camilla and her life in Heatherlea, the wonderfully charming village that is oozing with friendliness and happiness ( who would not want to live there) and of course the heart of the village life The Cosy Cafe! But as well as lots of Christmas magic there is also a bit of drama involved around Camilla's family. Luckily for Camilla, she has a certain and very attractive man to listen to her vows and most probably offer lots of comforts. Camilla and new village vet Tom found themselves in a romantic whirlwind that is brimming with that sort of energy that makes you want to gulp down the whole book in one single setting. Rachel writing style has a great balance of romance/drama, and the storyline of Winter at the Cosy Cottage Cafe is full of Christmas spirit and joy that will make your reading heart happy.
This is the third book in the series, which can be read as an individual book or part of the series.
Camilla has always protected Dawnie her sister and Jackie her Mum since they were abandoned by her Father. It was hard but they managed. Fast forward to adult years and Camilla is still fiercely protective towards them and avoids getting close to men in case history repeats itself.A turn of events has her Father returning for Christmas and Camilla meets Tom the local vet. Of course there is friend Allie, owner of The Cosy Cottage Cafe who manages to create the perfect seasonal venue for a Christmas carol service and helps to bring the community together.
I really enjoyed this book which is a nice easy read with believable characters. A thumbs up from me.
I didnt enjoy this as much as the first two books. I found that I could already see the ending coming and I was just so surprised by how jackie and Lawrence just got on as if nothing had happened in the 20 so years they were apart - surely there would be some negative reactions rather than all fully accepting the new relationship. I will probably read the last one as they are very short books but it was not one of my best reads
What an excellent Christmas Novel. Perfect for a seasonal short rea Camilla has grown up with her sister and her mum after her dad left. She has learned to be strong and independent and thinks that love cannot be found easily. He best friends. one of whom owns the Cosy Cottage Cafe, support her and they have weekly meetings together with her sister to help each other and put the worlds to right. Not a predictable storyline and the sub plots keep you interested all the way through
Es un libro corto y ligero que, en mi opinión, no profundiza demasiado en ninguno de los personajes y sus historias y tiene bastantes clichés. Pero es agradable, la ambientación es navideña a tope, hay nieve, mercadillos, chimeneas, vino especiado... Así que te mete de lleno en el espíritu navideño. Si es eso lo que buscas, que era mi caso, te lo recomiendo para pasar un rato muy cosy y agradable.
Why is this book rated so high? There was nothing special about it…nothing really memorable either. Classic Hallmark Christmas Movie plot with a main character that is sometimes unlikeable in her fits of childlike overwhelm. Parts of the plot were eye-roll-inducing and I can recall very little about the cozy christmas cottage aside from the ending.
My verdict? Skip it. Very average. Wouldn’t recommend it to any friends.
Nice, easy read. My kind of romantic novel. I became fully invested in Camilla and Tom's story but was less convinced by Jackie and Lawrence's reunion, but maybe that's the groundwork for another story later on. I've now bought Summer at The Cosy Cottage Cafe and 'Autumn' is next on my list. I love the book cover as well.
Another lovely easy read that you can do in one sitting . I enjoyed this as much as the first and more than the second it gives a feel good feeling that made me giggle when reading of the antics of the dog ,looking forward to reading the next in this series of the cosy cottage cafe .
A beautiful end to the amazing series. I have loved the entire series and this last book is my favorite.
Painted around the Christmas time with all the cozy, warm and lovely family atmosphere this is a story of strong independent Kamal and her vowe to never get involved with a local man.
Will this change? Or will her heart be broken? Or will a local guy sweep her right off her feet?
My least favourite book of this series, not much heart fluttering moments & some part were annoying.
Spoiler: One the reason is like it’s a bit too surface like how fast Camilla accept her dad who left them for 25 years & suddenly popped up again. And the love story of Camilla & Tom is too short, the end is so sudden they just get together like that?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I have read the first three books and looking forward to the spring story. I love Allie and the Cosy Cottage Cafe and I hope you don't stop at four books. Great read highly recommended.Jan
The cost cottage cafe series is a heart warming read. The characters all are very individual and you really want to get to know them. However that does become a problem when several pages are missing through the download, this is frustrating.
Ok so i have read all four of these books for a challenge. Each of four friends has a run with the course of true love and of course it never runs smooth. They are readable and if you are a romance fan i suspect you will rate them higher. For me they are a bit predictable chintzy a cosy read.
The character's are great here and it made me laugh especially the fancy dress party.Great story and thoroughly enjoyed the read and will get the other books in the series. A full 5 stars for me.
This is the third book in The Cost Cottage Cafe series and just like the other stories it is a brilliant read. Rachel Griffiths books are a joy to read and look forward to the next instalment.