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The Beach Café #2
Snöfall över Strandcaféet
A Christmas short story from bestselling author Lucy Diamond, revisiting her Beach Café characters.
After a hectic summer running her beach café in Cornwall, Evie Flynn is looking forward to her first Christmas with new boyfriend Ed – she’s determined that it’s going to be the most perfectly romantic one ever. Cosy nights in front of the fire, spicy mulled wine, mince pies . . . what’s not to love? But the peace is shattered when Ed’s ex suddenly gets in touch again, and then some unexpected guests arrive: Ed’s surly brother Jake and Evie’s heartbroken best friend Amber. Add in the stress of trying to finish her very own recipe book, snow blizzards and family dramas and Evie’s Christmas starts to look as if it’ll be a total turkey. Will any of her festive wishes come true . . . or is this Christmas just a recipe for disaster?
An absolute Christmas cracker from Lucy Diamond, bestselling author of The Beach Café and Me And Mr Jones. This novella is the perfect present for anyone who loves women’s fiction, heartwarming stories and the festive season!
After a hectic summer running her beach café in Cornwall, Evie Flynn is looking forward to her first Christmas with new boyfriend Ed – she’s determined that it’s going to be the most perfectly romantic one ever. Cosy nights in front of the fire, spicy mulled wine, mince pies . . . what’s not to love? But the peace is shattered when Ed’s ex suddenly gets in touch again, and then some unexpected guests arrive: Ed’s surly brother Jake and Evie’s heartbroken best friend Amber. Add in the stress of trying to finish her very own recipe book, snow blizzards and family dramas and Evie’s Christmas starts to look as if it’ll be a total turkey. Will any of her festive wishes come true . . . or is this Christmas just a recipe for disaster?
An absolute Christmas cracker from Lucy Diamond, bestselling author of The Beach Café and Me And Mr Jones. This novella is the perfect present for anyone who loves women’s fiction, heartwarming stories and the festive season!
231 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2013
About the author
Lucy Diamond
91 books1,493 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
First of all, a confession. My name isn’t really Lucy Diamond at all, it’s Sue Mongredien. I’ve used a pen name because ‘Diamond’ is a lot easier to spell and pronounce than ‘Mongredien’ and also because I’ve written lots of children’s books too and wanted to keep the genres separate. (There is actually another Lucy Diamond on Amazon who writes religious children’s books. That isn’t me, though.)
I was born in 1970 and grew up in Nottingham. I read English at Leeds University then moved to London and worked for various publishers before I packed it all in to go travelling around the world for a year and a half. When I came back to the UK, I worked in publishing again, then moved to the BBC. I now live in Bath with my husband and three young children and divide my time between writing and looking after them. You can have a look at my children’s books here.
Favourite things: beaches, holidays, chocolate, wine, reading, Green Wing, bubble baths, sunshine, hearing my children laugh, babysitters
Favourite books: The Magus (John Fowles), The Edible Woman (Margaret Atwood), The Secret History (Donna Tartt), The Colour of Memory (Geoff Dyer)
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
First of all, a confession. My name isn’t really Lucy Diamond at all, it’s Sue Mongredien. I’ve used a pen name because ‘Diamond’ is a lot easier to spell and pronounce than ‘Mongredien’ and also because I’ve written lots of children’s books too and wanted to keep the genres separate. (There is actually another Lucy Diamond on Amazon who writes religious children’s books. That isn’t me, though.)
I was born in 1970 and grew up in Nottingham. I read English at Leeds University then moved to London and worked for various publishers before I packed it all in to go travelling around the world for a year and a half. When I came back to the UK, I worked in publishing again, then moved to the BBC. I now live in Bath with my husband and three young children and divide my time between writing and looking after them. You can have a look at my children’s books here.
Favourite things: beaches, holidays, chocolate, wine, reading, Green Wing, bubble baths, sunshine, hearing my children laugh, babysitters
Favourite books: The Magus (John Fowles), The Edible Woman (Margaret Atwood), The Secret History (Donna Tartt), The Colour of Memory (Geoff Dyer)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
November 26, 2022
2,5 stars. I didn’t like the writing much. It was bland and unimpressive. Like many rom-coms, it was sweet but it didn’t leave an impression.
November 29, 2017
There is a lovely little Café in Carrawn Bay, Cornwall. Evie Flynn has inherited the Beach Café from her Aunt Jo. Her boyfriend of five months, Ed, is the Café's chef. After a busy summer of tourist trade, Evie wants nothing more than to have a cozy, romantic Christmas. Just her and Ed, the most perfect Christmas ever.
On the first day of December she roots out Aunt Jo's Christmas decorations, searching for her glass angel. Her Aunt Jo had given the angel to Evie and her sisters when they were children. Her twin sisters had broken theirs, but hers is intact and she treasures it.
When she finds it, she tumbles from the attic ladder and it shatters. This omen precedes several other small disasters that make Evie fear her 'perfect' Christmas is doomed.
Together, she and Ed are making a cookbook to give out as gifts to their friends and customers. "Recipes from the Beach Café" is still not finished and they must get to it before the holiday arrives.
Unexpected company arrives in the form of Ed's younger brother Jake - and then Evie's best friend Amber. Another minor disaster takes place when Jake spills a bottle of wine on Evie's laptop - the Christmas Cookbook was on it, and Evie hadn't backed it up!
A serious snowfall prohibits her houseguests from leaving, yet she will end up with even more company on the big day!
"Christmas was all about magical moments, even when you were a grown-up."
I loved the setting of this novella. In fact I think the setting is what made me purchase it in the first place. The characters were charming. There are some scrumptious sounding recipes at the back of the book.
If you are suffering from pre-holiday stress and want a quick, light read, then this is the book for you. This chick-lit Christmas novel is so light it could pass for a meringue. A feel-good bit of fluff that will de-stress you, not a serious read by any means. This is the first I've read of Lucy Diamond, and to be honest, it is just a bit to 'fluffy' for my tastes. It is good for a reader who has a lot on their mind and just wants to 'veg-out' with a book.
On the first day of December she roots out Aunt Jo's Christmas decorations, searching for her glass angel. Her Aunt Jo had given the angel to Evie and her sisters when they were children. Her twin sisters had broken theirs, but hers is intact and she treasures it.
When she finds it, she tumbles from the attic ladder and it shatters. This omen precedes several other small disasters that make Evie fear her 'perfect' Christmas is doomed.
Together, she and Ed are making a cookbook to give out as gifts to their friends and customers. "Recipes from the Beach Café" is still not finished and they must get to it before the holiday arrives.
Unexpected company arrives in the form of Ed's younger brother Jake - and then Evie's best friend Amber. Another minor disaster takes place when Jake spills a bottle of wine on Evie's laptop - the Christmas Cookbook was on it, and Evie hadn't backed it up!
A serious snowfall prohibits her houseguests from leaving, yet she will end up with even more company on the big day!
"Christmas was all about magical moments, even when you were a grown-up."
I loved the setting of this novella. In fact I think the setting is what made me purchase it in the first place. The characters were charming. There are some scrumptious sounding recipes at the back of the book.
If you are suffering from pre-holiday stress and want a quick, light read, then this is the book for you. This chick-lit Christmas novel is so light it could pass for a meringue. A feel-good bit of fluff that will de-stress you, not a serious read by any means. This is the first I've read of Lucy Diamond, and to be honest, it is just a bit to 'fluffy' for my tastes. It is good for a reader who has a lot on their mind and just wants to 'veg-out' with a book.
November 11, 2019
A wonderful follow up to The Beach Cafe.
December 17, 2024
Det här med att läsa julfeelgood i december är faktiskt en lysande idé, har jag märkt, och något som jag verkligen ska försöka komma ihåg till kommande jular. Näst på tur var en riktig feelgood, Snöfall över strandcaféet.
I somras läste jag första delen i den här serien och efter det försökte jag hitta de resterande delarna i serien, vilket visade sig vara betydligt svårare än vad jag hade trott. Inga bibliotek i min närhet hade vare sig pappersversion eller e-bok. Och så var det bara den här andra delen jag letade efter. Till slut köpte jag den som e-bok. Tredje och fjärde gick bara inte att hitta. När jag väl hade börjat läsa den här så fattade jag att den egentligen är tre noveller/kortromaner, som har satts ihop till en roman. Så mycket tid jag la på att försöka hitta det som kallas bok 3 och 4. Helt i onödan. Här finns alltså Christmas at the Beach Café, Christmas Gifts at the Beach Café och A Baby at the Beach Café. Fast på svenska då.
Snöfall över strandcaféet är bättre än den första boken, tycker jag, och en väldigt söt historia. Julstämning finns det mycket av, åtminstone i de två första delarna, och här finns sorg och skilsmässor, men allra mest glädje.
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg
I somras läste jag första delen i den här serien och efter det försökte jag hitta de resterande delarna i serien, vilket visade sig vara betydligt svårare än vad jag hade trott. Inga bibliotek i min närhet hade vare sig pappersversion eller e-bok. Och så var det bara den här andra delen jag letade efter. Till slut köpte jag den som e-bok. Tredje och fjärde gick bara inte att hitta. När jag väl hade börjat läsa den här så fattade jag att den egentligen är tre noveller/kortromaner, som har satts ihop till en roman. Så mycket tid jag la på att försöka hitta det som kallas bok 3 och 4. Helt i onödan. Här finns alltså Christmas at the Beach Café, Christmas Gifts at the Beach Café och A Baby at the Beach Café. Fast på svenska då.
Snöfall över strandcaféet är bättre än den första boken, tycker jag, och en väldigt söt historia. Julstämning finns det mycket av, åtminstone i de två första delarna, och här finns sorg och skilsmässor, men allra mest glädje.
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg
November 10, 2013
Christmas at a cafe in Cornwall was always going to be a winner for me.
Evie is hoping to have a really romantic christmas with her boyfriend and is planning the perfect day- complete with stocking fillers and the ultimate present.
Things don't go to plan- when his brother turns up unannounced and shows no sign of leaving any time soon, then her best friend also lands on the doorstep. Then to top it all off her parents turn up unannounced to the two bedroomed flat.
Although things don't go the way she imagined - Christmas at the Beach Cafe was still a wonderful place to be.
Evie is hoping to have a really romantic christmas with her boyfriend and is planning the perfect day- complete with stocking fillers and the ultimate present.
Things don't go to plan- when his brother turns up unannounced and shows no sign of leaving any time soon, then her best friend also lands on the doorstep. Then to top it all off her parents turn up unannounced to the two bedroomed flat.
Although things don't go the way she imagined - Christmas at the Beach Cafe was still a wonderful place to be.
May 28, 2017
Dit boek was natuurlijk veeeeeeel te kort. Gelukkig heb ik nog een novel klaar staan om gelezen te worden. Heerlijke kerstsfeer.
December 14, 2023
Mignon et conforme à ce qu'on attend ! Je n'avais pas lu les précédents, mais ce n'est pas bloquant. On lit ces 2 nouvelles comme on regarde un épisode de Virgin River 😉 Ce n'est pas compliqué mais ça fait du bien !
December 19, 2019
So since I read this book in Swedish they put all the three novellas together, Christmas at the Beach Café, Christmas Gifts at the Beach Café, A Baby at the Beach Café and called it "Snowfall over the Beach Café" Which I'm not sure was the best thing they could've done since it got kind of jumpy and a little too fast.
Anyway, I had pretty high expectations for this book. I love Christmas since it is my absolute favorite holiday and I just love everything about it. The snow, the cold, it's dark outside, it's warm and bright inside, candles and fires are lit, hot drinks are being served and I get to bury myself in lots of books and blankets!
Sorry I got a bit carried away. I started reading the book two days ago while taking a bath, really lovely by the way. I could not stop reading I found it so entertaining and heartwarming.
I loved seeing how Ed and Evie's relationship had progressed and how in love they are.
I've given this part four stars since I found it a bit to stressy and not as festive as I would have liked. But I still loved it!
The second part I found was both lovely and annoying to read. I loved reading about the kids and how Ruth opened up, also when the dog showed up and how it just all made sense somehow. This part had a little more emotion I felt, but I liked it. One thing I found irritating was how the ending was really predictable... Anyway, it was really Christmasy and festive so I really enjoyed it!
I'm not really sure why they put the third part in this book since that part places out in July, the middle of summer. I enjoyed it and it was funny at times but I just felt like it didn't make sense and the characters with all their emotions just got on my nerves haha.
Good job Lucy(or Sue) for three great books/novellas!
XoXo Annie
Anyway, I had pretty high expectations for this book. I love Christmas since it is my absolute favorite holiday and I just love everything about it. The snow, the cold, it's dark outside, it's warm and bright inside, candles and fires are lit, hot drinks are being served and I get to bury myself in lots of books and blankets!
Sorry I got a bit carried away. I started reading the book two days ago while taking a bath, really lovely by the way. I could not stop reading I found it so entertaining and heartwarming.
I loved seeing how Ed and Evie's relationship had progressed and how in love they are.
I've given this part four stars since I found it a bit to stressy and not as festive as I would have liked. But I still loved it!
The second part I found was both lovely and annoying to read. I loved reading about the kids and how Ruth opened up, also when the dog showed up and how it just all made sense somehow. This part had a little more emotion I felt, but I liked it. One thing I found irritating was how the ending was really predictable... Anyway, it was really Christmasy and festive so I really enjoyed it!
I'm not really sure why they put the third part in this book since that part places out in July, the middle of summer. I enjoyed it and it was funny at times but I just felt like it didn't make sense and the characters with all their emotions just got on my nerves haha.
Good job Lucy(or Sue) for three great books/novellas!
XoXo Annie
April 7, 2025
Lire une romance de Noël en Avril ? c'est possible, quand on aime Noël, c'est Noël toute l'année.
Cette lecture m'a fait du bien, c'est doux et réconfortant, on a envie de rejoindre Evie et Ed dans leur café pour passer Noël avec eux.
Cette lecture m'a fait du bien, c'est doux et réconfortant, on a envie de rejoindre Evie et Ed dans leur café pour passer Noël avec eux.
Read
November 25, 2021a cute christmassy edition to the original Beach Cafe story <3 if you enjoyed the Beach Cafe this is the perfect novella to join the characters at the most magical time of year!
September 14, 2015
This was a really good short read following on from the beach cafe I don't normally read Christmas books at this time of year but as it followed on from the previous book I wanted to and I wasn't let down so was so good to find out what happens with the little cafe. Evie and Ed have had a busy summer and are looking forward to a really quiet Christmas juts the two of them. The start of the year doesn't go to well as she breaks an angel for the Christmas tree that was from her auntie Jo who died and she just feels it's one thing after another. Does it work out alright in the end or is she worried Ed will go back to his ex wife. Really good easy read.
December 4, 2021
Evie a hérité du café de sa tante en Cornouailles et a décidé de tout plaqué pour aller vivre là-bas avec son nouveau petit ami, Ed. Cette année est donc la promesse d'un Noël romantique en amoureux... jusqu'à ce que débarque Jake, le petit frère d'Ed...
C'est mielleux, cheesy à fond et tellement prévisible mais tous ces bons sentiments font un bien fou. J'ai adoré lire ces 2 nouvelles et j'ai versé ma larme plus d'une fois. C'était juste ce dont j'avais besoin en ce moment !
En bref : à lire en décembre !
C'est mielleux, cheesy à fond et tellement prévisible mais tous ces bons sentiments font un bien fou. J'ai adoré lire ces 2 nouvelles et j'ai versé ma larme plus d'une fois. C'était juste ce dont j'avais besoin en ce moment !
En bref : à lire en décembre !
December 5, 2014
Festive, easy to read short book. Perfect to read in the run up to Christmas when you're running about in circles without a lot of spare time on your hands and a great little book to get you into the Christmas spirit with its talk of mince pies, mulled wine and other Christmas goodies. At the end of the book are a few little recipes you can try to crave the munchies this book will definitely cause you to have.
October 11, 2022
Une lecture agréable, qui sent bon les scones, la cannelle et les mince pies 🥧👩🏼🍳 Une belle ambiance de Noël émane de ce roman et ça donne envie d’arriver à cette période de l’année vite vite vite! 🎄✨
February 8, 2016
The first in the short stories about Christmas at the Beach Cafe. Normally I don't like short stories but enjoyed the follow on fromThe Beach Cafe.
November 9, 2022
Lecture parfait pour se mettre en mode ambiance des fêtes. Lecture qui nous donne le sourire et envie aussi de vivre sur le bord d’une plage en Angleterre !
March 21, 2022
Sedan Evie ärvde strandcaféet har det varit fullt upp. Nu ser hon fram emot en lugn och mysig jul ihop med Ed. Men julen blir allt annat än lugn. Plötsligt knackar Eds bror på, och Evies bästa vän som strular med sin pojkvän kommer till Cornwall. Ja, en efter en dyker de oväntade händelserna upp. En mycket annorlunda jul står för dörren.
📖
De kommer uppenbarligen igenom den och även den hektiska sommaren på caféet, för efter ett år är det dags att fira jul igen. Även denna jul blir lite av ett kaos och inte alls som planerat. Men frågan är om det inte blir bra ändå?
📖
Denna uppföljare på Strandcaféet från 2017 utspelar sig under jultid, men handlar egentligen mer om relationer. Författaren skildrar på ett underhållande sätt vardagsdilemman på ett litet café, och runt dess människor - och djur. En lättsam bok som får en att le ibland, men som även berör.
Tyckte om den!
📕📗📘📙av 5📚
#snöfallöverstrandcaféet @lucydiamondwrites @printzpublishing #caritasläsning2020 #69 #julbok
📖
De kommer uppenbarligen igenom den och även den hektiska sommaren på caféet, för efter ett år är det dags att fira jul igen. Även denna jul blir lite av ett kaos och inte alls som planerat. Men frågan är om det inte blir bra ändå?
📖
Denna uppföljare på Strandcaféet från 2017 utspelar sig under jultid, men handlar egentligen mer om relationer. Författaren skildrar på ett underhållande sätt vardagsdilemman på ett litet café, och runt dess människor - och djur. En lättsam bok som får en att le ibland, men som även berör.
Tyckte om den!
📕📗📘📙av 5📚
#snöfallöverstrandcaféet @lucydiamondwrites @printzpublishing #caritasläsning2020 #69 #julbok
December 5, 2017
I really enjoyed this warm and fuzzy trip to the beach cafe. It was Evie’s first Christmas at the beach cafe that she acquired when her aunt passed away. With the first Christmas with her newish boyfriend Ed, Evie has all kinds of visions of what this Christmas should be. But sometimes what we want, isn’t always the only way we can be happy.
I don’t think I have read Lucy Diamond before but I really liked this one. I love her writing; her descriptions and visions of this small town and cafe made me yearn to be there. She writes a romance that isn’t sappy, but with real characters I’d like to know and throws some humour into the mix as well.
I didn’t realize it was part of a series but enjoyed this one so much I downloaded the others.
I don’t think I have read Lucy Diamond before but I really liked this one. I love her writing; her descriptions and visions of this small town and cafe made me yearn to be there. She writes a romance that isn’t sappy, but with real characters I’d like to know and throws some humour into the mix as well.
I didn’t realize it was part of a series but enjoyed this one so much I downloaded the others.
November 11, 2021
Det här var en nästintill perfekt julbok, om bara den hade slutat på julen och inte i augusti! För övrigt var den väldigt mysig, jag blev sugen på både varm choklad och att börja julpynta och att hitta den perfekta kocken och pojkvännen, flytta till Cornwall eller något liknande och öppna upp ett fik tillsammans! Någon som vet var jag kan hitta en sån man?
February 3, 2026
Yes I know its a bit late to read a Christmas book. But i had others I had started not thinking.
This is a cute little story. Life and events may not be how you planned but they do turn out how they are ment to. Things happen for a reason. Very quick little read. Good story line. Nothing bad just not my favourite. worth a read if you want a quick Christmas story
This is a cute little story. Life and events may not be how you planned but they do turn out how they are ment to. Things happen for a reason. Very quick little read. Good story line. Nothing bad just not my favourite. worth a read if you want a quick Christmas story
December 10, 2017
I haven't read The Beach Cafe but still enjoyed this lovely Christmas short story.
September 18, 2018
Really got me in the mood for christmas
October 21, 2018
3/5
Extremely short novella. Kinda pointless really but for what it is, it was just ok.
Extremely short novella. Kinda pointless really but for what it is, it was just ok.
December 26, 2018
Småtrevlig men också förutsägbar.
April 4, 2019
2,5owls.
Parentes: Framsidan avslöjar ju allt!
Parentes: Framsidan avslöjar ju allt!
September 7, 2020
Mysig bok, igen. Inte lika bra som första boken, men storyn håller fortfarande!
December 12, 2021
Tykkäsin tästä jopa enemmän kuin sarjan avausosasta, vaikka tämä oli tosi lyhyt kirja ja mitään kunnon juonta ei ollut. Kivaa jouluhömppää.
November 13, 2022
Återigen, jag ÄLSKAR feelgoodromaner😁
Läste första boken förra sommaren och var helt fast. Den här boken innehöll egentligen tre kortare romaner men fungerade väldigt bra som helhet. Ibland är det skönt att läsa någonting lite mer lättläst🙈
Läste första boken förra sommaren och var helt fast. Den här boken innehöll egentligen tre kortare romaner men fungerade väldigt bra som helhet. Ibland är det skönt att läsa någonting lite mer lättläst🙈
November 17, 2023
Il se lit tranquillement mais j'étais pas spécialement emballée, sauf quand il y a eu un peu de drama mais c'est vite redescendu.. Bien pour passer le temps mais sans plus.
November 4, 2024
En mysig julbok. Ren och skär feelgood, kanske aningens för lättsam men en fin fortsättning på Strandcaféet.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews