Das Weihnachtscafé in Manhattan

Candied Apple #3

by Katherine Garbera

There’s nothing so magical as Christmas in New York…

Santa is coming to New York!

Snow is falling, excitement is high and the delicious scent of chocolate drifts along Fifth Avenue – the Candied Apple Café is ready for Christmas! And no one is busier than publicist Iona Summerlin. With so much to do, she doesn’t have time to think about men, dating, or the fact her last boyfriend ditched her for her brother… Relationships are off the menu!

Hotel boss Mads Eriksson is not looking forward to the first Christmas since losing his wife. His six-year-old daughter Sofia has lost her belief in Christmas magic along with her mother, and he has no idea what to do. But an unusually festive business meeting at the Candied Apple – and meeting the beautiful Iona – starts to defrost Mads’ frozen heart, and suddenly life seems full of light and sparkle again.

If only they dare to believe, maybe all their Christmas dreams will come true!

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Contemporary Romance

Paperback

First published November 10, 2017

About the author

Katherine Garbera is a USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 novels, which have been translated into over two dozen languages and sold millions of copies worldwide. She is the mother of two incredibly creative and snarky grown children. Katherine enjoys drinking champagne, reading, walking and traveling with her husband. She lives in Kent, UK, where she is working on her next novel.
 

Reviews

[Dash fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆ Captures the Essence of Christmas, Family and Romance.

Christmas at the Candied Apple Café was simply a joy to read. I was swept along with the Romance, Passion and Magic of Christmas, it was emotional, Funny and was about creating firsts and learning to love again!

When Mads walks into the Candied Apple Café preparing to talk Iona and her 2 friends/ business partners Cici and Hayley into going into partnership with him and his hotel business he never ever thought that Iona would become someone very special and capture his and Sofia's heart!

Mad's is a single parent Dad to the adorable 6year old Sofia.
His wife Gill passed away the year before leaving him heartbroken, and facing life with Sofia alone was daunting.

Mad's feels terribly guilty for opening up and letting Iona into their life.
But there is something very magical about Iona, and Mad's knows the sizzling chemistry between them might not just be because of the Christmas Spirit!

Iona, who was so deeply involved in the Candied Apple Café she never had time for finding love, especially as she was left heartbroken when her fiancé left her for her brother.
Iona is scared of getting hurt again so puts her guard up.
Iona hasn't had it easy growing up and her strained relationship with her father only pushes her further towards Sofia.

For me Sofia stole the show!! She was so adorable. So grown up for a 6year old with a huge heart. Iona and Sofia's relationship was so special and heartwarming.
Iona came along, when this little girl needed her the most.

Can Iona rescue Mads and Sofia or is it really just the magic of Christmas?
Can she ever Truly trust another man again?
Can Mads ever learn that's it's ok to move on and get rid of the guilt and anger inside?

You will just have to read to find out!!

Be prepared to be swept away with the spirit of Christmas, scrumptious mouth watering delights that will leave your tummy rumbling, have your heart melted by Sophia, the passion and Romance that will leave you wanting more!

Katherine has created some memorable Characters that will melt your heart
And I can't wait to read more of Katherine's work.

I received this book from the Publisher in which I voluntarily reviewed for the Blog Tour.

My Review is also on my blog website and there is also a fab giveaway :
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2017/1...

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Festive, heartwarming, and romantic!

Christmas at the Candied Apple cafe is set in the idyllic New York City in wintertime and takes us into the lives of two main characters. Iona, a young woman who is hardworking, thoughtful and ready to find the one; and Mads, a grieving, single father who prefers to remain focused on raising his daughter than risk loving and losing once again.

The prose is light and smooth. The main characters are thoughtful, feisty, and endearing. And the plot sweeps you away into a winter fairytale complete with a beautiful, independent princess, a handsome, scarred prince, family, friendship, loss, heartbreak, true love, and a charming, little girl who will steal your heart.

Christmas at the Candied Apple Cafe is a perfect holiday read.  It's entertaining, uplifting and will have you believing in the magic of Christmas, and dreaming of warm, cozy fires, hot chocolate, and scrumptious chocolate delights!

Thank you to Katherine Garbera for providing me with a copy in an exchange for an honest review.

All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas is coming to Fifth Avenue and the excitement is high for all as we look forward to the upcoming holiday season. The snow is softly falling and the Christmas lights are twinkling. Is that chocolate I smell wafting in the air? It is indeed and it's coming from the Candied Apple Cafe, mmmm! This is the first Christmas for Hotel boss Mads Eriksson and his six year old daughter, Sophie since his wife and her mother passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. They have lost their belief in the magic of Christmas. Like a lot of men think,Mads believes he is not to show his grieving and act like he is over her death but he's really not! When he meets Iona can she help thaw his heart and show them the magic of Christmas and help a sweet little girl,who needs a mother, heal as well? Enjoyable holiday read.
Pub Date 10 Nov 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperImpulse for a review copy in exchange for my honest review

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted a cozy Christmas-read but ended up disappointed and.. still not in the mood for Christmas?

She'd been torn between wanting to be her own woman and rejecting her demanding father and that need for his approval.

Let's talk about the story first, because that's the part I did enjoy. It was cozy, romantic and had a heavier touch to it. This was caused by one of the themes being grief.
One of the MC's, Mads, is looking for a way to handle being a single parent after losing his wife to cancer. Surviving the holidays and trying to give his daughter a memorable, happy Christmas aren't easy, especially since his wife died to days after Christmas. Add to that business-woman Iona, struggling with accepting the things she wants and needs in her life.

I never felt like I was really a part of it. I was looking at it from an outsider's POV and this story would've had much more of an impact if that had been different.

Unfortunately, that's not the only thing about the writing that bothered me. Some parts were vague, skipped from one thing to another, jumped from one evening to a day three days after that without clearly stating it.
Honestly, I often found myself quite confused and had to reread parts on a regular basis. It's something I don't like doing, at all, when I'm reading a romance novel.

Tension. Sexual tension. A spark. An explosion. Something. I missed all of that. Yes, the sexual scenes were heated, but it didn't light a spark in me at all. Not getting that is just... such a disappointment, really.

She stood there watching him for a moment before she realized what she was doing and closed the door, locking it and then sinking to the floor and staring at the foyer tiles, telling herself she was okay.

Although it's safe to say that our MC's, Mads and Iona, do change throughout the story, the start and ending felt ridiculously rushed.
I'd seen the ending coming from miles off but I was still hoping it wouldn't be as rushed as it was. Wanting and saying one thing on one page and stating the completely opposite on the next... It didn't feel real and made it seem like the author just wanted to wrap it up and be done with it already.

Conclusion: I liked the idea, the general story but when it comes to the execution... It could've been a whole lot better.

2 / 5

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. I'm not being compensated in any way. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars to Christmas At The Candied Apple Cafe by Katherine Garbera.

What a sweet book this was. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love Christmas romances. I devour as many as I can during the short holiday season. This particular book is my first Christmas read of the season. And I loved it!

The blurb gives you a good idea of the trope. But I can tell you that this book is so much more emotional than you'd think. The heart and soul of this book is fear. Fear of loss, fear of never finding healing or love. Iona And Mads were so perfect for each other. There was no instalove. Although they clearly were attracted to each other, they each were hesitant for different reasons. But their chemistry was impossible to ignore. While I can tell you more, I won't. I found this book emotional, endearing, engaging, and refreshing. This one you will appreciate more if you experience all the feels on your own.

Mads little girl, in my opinion, is the glue to this story. Sofia was adorable. She was a smart girl for her age of six; tragedy having matured her too soon. There were moments in her scenes that broke my heart. That said, Mads, Sofia and Iona not only found love with each other, they found Christmas magic. Truly, if your looking for a sweet, loving story to put you in the holiday mood, I totally recommend this amazing book!

One more thing I'd like to add is how much I was immersed in the Christmas events going on around Mads, Sofia, and Iona. The Christmas spirit is truly alive in this book! Hence why I've already started listening to Christmas music, lol. :)

This is my honest and unbiased review. Thank you for taking the time to read it.

[booksofallkinds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been lucky enough to read so many wonderful Christmas novels this winter but CHRISTMAS AT THE CANDIED APPLE CAFÈ by Katherine Garbera has got to be my favourite! With beautiful settings (I really wish a candied apple cafè existed here in Ireland) and engaging characters, I devoured this book within hours even though I never wanted it to end.

Iona Summerlin and her best friends have worked really hard to make their exquisite cafè such a success but Iona isn't finished yet. Having lived under the shadow of her successful father who is now gone, Iona pushes herself hard looking for the praise that he could never give her even when he was alive. But the cafè is her baby and it makes her happy. But when sexy Mads Eriksson and his adorable little girl, Sofia, enter her life, Iona begins to realise that maybe there is so much more to life than business. But Mads is caught up in his own troubles as this will be their first Christmas since the death of his wife. He is determined to see his daughter happy this season even if he hates it but the last thing he expected to feel was a connection to a woman who is Christmas personified. As Mads and Iona struggle with what seems to be happening between them, they both agree that Sofia is precious and needs to find the spirit of the holidays. And who knows what magic the festive season may weave on those who need it most ...

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! Mads and Sofia are so adorable and it broke my heart as we learned what they had been through and were still going through, with their grief. Iona is such a bubbly, caring person but as we see beneath the always-happy facade we get to see her insecurities and a longing for what she wants from her future. With wonderful festive detail and plenty of romance and misunderstandings to keep you hooked from start to finish, CHRISTMAS AT THE CANDIED APPLE CAFÈ by Katherine Garbera is sure to put you in the holiday mood and will warm your heart to the very last line. A stunning Christmas romance that is a must for fiction fans.

*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly a book that tries its hardest to bring the magic of Christmas in New York to life.

There is a romance in this but to me that was the frustrating part of the book, as I was getting fed up with neither character wanting to admit what was blatantly obvious for half the book to the reader, to each other.

The story that I loved within this book was of Sofia, she is Mads daughter, six years old and unfortunately doesn't believe in Santa anymore. When you hear the reasoning you will understand it, but due to a series of encounters with Iona, she and Mads are determined to bring the magic of the season back to Sofia.

So there are all manner of fabulous festive outings, that show off New York and Christmas to their best. There is a trip to the Nutcracker, there are Christmas markets, and Sofia is also keen to learn about various Christmas traditions.

The other highlight of the book for me was The Candied Apple Cafe itself. I loved all the delicious sounding chocolates and other candy on offer, as well as the friendship co-owners Hayley, Cici and Iona all shared. I remember parts of Hayley's story from The Hot Cop Next Door which I read a few years ago, so it was good to have a degree of familiarity.

I didn't feel lost that I hadn't read Cici's story, so would say this could easily be read as a standalone despite being the third in a series about the friends.

Mads and Iona are both great characters and I enjoyed reading their story. There was certainly some chemistry between them which they were fighting. Both of them are selfless and both just want what's best for Sofia which was lovely to see.

Christmas at the Candied Apple Cafe is an enjoyable story to read in the run up to Christmas and I'm glad I read it.

Thanks to Harper Impulse and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Cora Tea Party Princess · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 Words: Family, Christmas, friendship, love, chocolate.

It was OK and pleasant enough, but the pace and the story jumped around a lot, and it definitely affected my enjoyment and led to a slight insta-love feel to the main relationship. And I just couldn't get behind it. It was sweet, and Iona is a lovely character, but this story just didn't quite do it for me.

It did leave me starving though, the descriptions of food - and especially chocolate - were lush.

[Steffi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bei "Das Weihnachtscafé in Manhattan" hat mich das hübsche weihnachtliche Cover und der Klappentext angesprochen. Mir war nicht bewusst, dass es sich hier um den dritten Teil einer Reihe handelt, was man beim lesen dann zwar ahnt, aber nicht unbedingt stört. Man kann es also lesen ohn die anderen Teile der Reihe zu kennen.

Iona führt mit ihren zwei Freundinnen das Candied Apple Café in Manhattan und die Beschreibungen dieses Cafés sind einfach traumhaft, ganz besonders zur Weihnachtszeit. Bei den ganzen Leckereien, die die drei dort zaubern, sollte man sich auf Hungergefühle und Schokoattacken beim Lesen einstellen.

Beruflich trifft Iona auf Mads und seine Tochter Sofia, die nach einer schweren Zeit und einem großen Verlust kein Fans von Weihnachten mehr sind. Insbesondere die 6-jährige Tochter hat dies sehr schwer genommen und kann daher nicht mehr an den Weihnachtsmann glauben. Ich fand es unglaublich toll wie Iona mit vielen Kleinigkeiten den beiden den Zauber von Weihnachten wieder neu vermitteln will. Dabei entstehen viele schöne Momente und Weihnachtsrituale.

Die Liebesgeschichte darf natürlich auch nicht zu kurz kommen und ist einfach sehr berührend und vor allem romantisch. Ich fand es gut, dass nicht sofort alles gut war und ein Entwicklungsprozess erkennbar war.

Die weihnachtliche Atmosphäre ist dazu einfach zauberhaft und man muss dabei einfach in Weihnachtsstimmung kommen.

[Eva Hechenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich muss ja sagen, dass ich ein absoluter Weihnachtsfan bin und ich mich riesig freue, dass nun schon die ersten Bücher, die Weihnachten aufgreifen, erhältlich sind. So habe ich nun auch aus diesem Grund zu dieser tollen Geschichte hier gegriffen.

Wir sind in New York und treffen auf Mads. Dieser ist ein Hotelchef, hat eine Tochter und steckt in einer Krise. Man erfährt im Laufe der Handlung mehr darüber und zwar hat er seine Frau verloren und dadurch hat man auch absolutes Verständnis für ihn. So trifft er nun auf Iona und die beiden kommen sich näher.

Das Buch fand ich wirklich unterhaltsam. Es war sehr emotional zu sehen, wie Mads versucht sich zu ändern und nicht mehr so verschlossen zu sein. Die Autorin hat die ganze Sache aus meiner Sicht sehr langsam angehen lassen, was aber sehr passend war. Irgendwie fand ich es auch ganz niedlich, wie Mads und seine Tochter interagieren. Wirklich sehr schön. Die Autorin hat auch die Beziehung von Iona und Sofia, die Tochter, sehr toll aufgebaut. Man merkt zu Beginn, wie Iona sich nicht ganz sicher ist, ob sie einen Mann mit Kind will oder nicht. Allerdings finde ich die Chemie zwischen den beiden einfach wirklich harmonisch.

Das Setting in New York ist sehr schön gewählt. Es wurde von der Autorin klasse beschrieben und auch die Stimmung, die vor Weihnachten herrscht, wirkte auf mich zum greifen sehr nahe. Ich muss sagen, dass ich mich schon dezent in Weihnachtsstimmung befinde. Auch gewisse Details wurden beschrieben, wie die Baumzeremonie beispielsweise.

Die Charaktere haben mir sehr gut gefallen. Iona und Mads, aber auch seine Tochter, waren liebevoll beschrieben und ich konnte die Handlung von diesen sehr gut nachvollziehen. Einfach nur toll. Ich würde auch beide als sympathisch bezeichnen und auf mich machten beide auch einen sehr netten Eindruck, obwohl Mads zu Beginn etwas miesepetrig wirkte und ich etwas brauchte bis ich mit ihm warm wurde.

Die Schreibweise war sehr locker und flüssig. Die Autorin schreibt sehr emotional, aber ich war zugleich auch wirklich gefesselt, denn ich finde die Geschichte wirklich faszinierend. Die Weihnachtsstimmung in der Geschichte ist vorhanden und das fand ich wichtig bei einem Buch mit diesem Setting. Der Handlung konnte man gut folgen, denn alles war sehr gut verständlich.

Das Cover gefällt mir gut, obwohl ich mich über mehr Weihachten sehr gefreut hätte.



Zur Autorin:
Katherine kann sich nichts Schöneres vorstellen, als zu schreiben. Jedes Buch gibt ihr die Gelegenheit, die unterschiedlichen Verhaltensmuster der Menschen hervorzuheben. Leidenschaftliche Liebesromane zu verfassen, bedeutet für sie die Verwirklichung eines Traumes.

Quelle: Verlag


Fazit:
4 von 5 Sterne. Emotionale Geschichte, die toll unterhaltsam ist. Klare Kauf – und Leseempfehlung.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally I read cozy mysteries, but once in a while I like to read a Christmas romance and this fit the bill.
I loved the title and the picture, then of course I became captivated by the story and the characters.
Iona has a good life and seems very content, but one thing is missing, a family to call her own.
Meeting Mads and his daughter Sophia put a sparkle in her eye, but Iona isn't sure this relationship will work.
There were so many great moments in this story and the family traditions that everyone shared was heartwarming.
I'm really glad I took a chance on this book, it was well worth the read.
This is sure to please readers of any genre.

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meine Meinung:

Cover:

Dieses Cover schreit förmlich nach einem angenehmen und entspannten Leseabend. Es wirkt winterlich, strahlt Wärme aus und untermalt den Titel des Buches perfekt.

Schreibstil:

Die Geschichte ist sehr leicht zu lesen und angenehm geschrieben. Die Charaktere sind sehr authentisch und ziehen uns schnell in ihren Bann. Besonders gut hab ich die Stimmung empfunden, das weihnachtliche, wie es beschrieben wurde, konnte man regelrecht fühlen, riechen und schmecken und man kam selbst bereits beim Lesen in Weihnachtsstimmung. 

Weihnachten - das Fest der Liebe aber auch die Zeit der Wunder und so kommt es einem auch hier vor. Die Geschichte geht unter die Haut, berührt das Herz und rührt ganz leicht zu Tränen. Eine romantische Story, die einfach Spaß gemacht hat zu lesen. 


Charaktere/Story:

In wenigen Wochen ist Weihnachten und auch in New York herrscht bereits besinnliche Stimmung. Doch nicht jedem ist nach Weihnachten zu Mute.. Iona, die Besitzerin des Cafes ist voll und ganz in Weihnachtsstimmung und hat auch ihr Cafe dem entsprechend hergerichtet, Mads Eriksson dahingegen, der Chef des Hotels, ist nicht nach Weihnachten, denn es ist das erste für ihn und seine Tochter ohne seine Frau und die Mutter der Tochter.. kann ein gebrochenes und trauerndes Herz in der Zeit der Wunder wieder zu neuem Lebensmut erwachen? Man würde es Mads wünschen, denn er ist ein toller Vater und trauert aber noch sehr um seine verstorbene Frau.



Euch erwartet eine authentische Geschichte, die so villt auch irgendwo gerade statt findet.. für Leser von Romantik absolut richtig.

Fazit:

Die Geschichte passt perfekt in die weihnachtliche Zeit. Euch erwarten in den Straßen New Yorks eine romantische und schöne Story, die euch für einen kurzen Zeit den Stress der hektischen Zeit vergessen lässt. Natürlich weiß man zuvor schon wie die Geschichte in etwa enden wird, ist ja ein Liebesroman, aber die Handlung ist gut aufgebaut und klar strukturiert.

Das Weihnachtscafe in Manhatten ist eine schöne Story die einem die Vorfreude auf Weihnachten vergrößert. Das Leben ist nicht immer perfekt und verläuft nach Plan, jeder hat seine Last, seinen Verlust, seinen Schmerz und seine Sorgen und so ist es auch hier. Für Mads und seine kleine Tochter ist es das erste Weihnachten ohne die Mutter und Frau und doch taucht da eine Frau auf, Iona, die Besitzerin des kleinen Cafes und villt geschehen ja gerade zu Weihnachten Zeichen und Wunder, die man einfach so hinnehmen soll...  ♥♥♥♥♥

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Pandora Black · Rating 2 out of 5]

trop rapide au final, et puis vers la fin il se comporte comme un CONNARD, grrrr. heureusement la gamine est choupette.

[Madame Misc · Rating 1 out of 5]

Leider abgebrochen. Noch nie ein langweiliges Buch gelesen 🙈 Auch der Schreibstil hat mir gar nicht gefallen :(

[Lola]

I DNF'd this book at 31%

I got a free copy of this book through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

The pretty cover and the main character who owned a café was what grabbed my attention when I first heard of this book. Unfortunately when I started reading the book didn't grab my attention. I kept reading, hoping I would get into the story more once I got further in the book, but at 31% I decided to DNF. I just wasn't enthusiastic about reading the book and while it might get a 3 star rating if I finished, I just didn't feel like this was a book for me.

I struggled with the writing style for this book, for some reason it just didn't click with me. The writing felt clunky at times, it was confusing at other times and the story just didn't feel like it ran smoothly. Too much details in one place and not enough in another. There were scenes where some small pieces of information seemed to be missing and it just didn't read right to me.

There was also an issue with the main character brother being called Nico sometimes and other times Theo. Although the copy I received was an ARC, so I hope that will be fixed in the final version. On the topic of her brother, I felt like there was a bunch of backstory there. But more in the sense that it felt like there could've been a whole book before this one about his romance. But as far as I know this is a standalone. And for a standalone I would've liked a bit more depth into her emotions and details so I could get a better grip on what happened. She seemed upset with her brother, but I didn't really feel it.

I liked the ideas of the characters, but never felt like I fully connected with them. I seemed unable to care about them and that made it hard to get into the book. I felt like I never fully got to know Iona, we did got these pieces of information, but I never really felt like I got insight in what she really felt or thought. I often like kids in books, but Sofia sounded like an adult to me most of the book and I had hoped to like her more than I did. Mads was still mourning the loss of his wife, which just made me sad and I didn't feel his romance with Iona.

I also had trouble visualizing the café and other settings. I wouldn't have minded a bit more description. Another thing that still puzzles me is why the café is called the Candied Apple Café as they mostly sell chocolates, but that might be something that gets revealed later in the book. I did like the idea of the café and how the main character was responsible for the marketing.

To summarize: Sadly this book didn't work out for me. I decided to DNF the book at 31% as I didn't really feel enthusiastic about reading anymore and didn't care about the characters or what happened next. I didn't feel the Christmas magic or the city come alive. I was unable to visualize the café or the setting. The writing style didn't work for me, some scenes didn't read smoothly to me and in other scenes I felt like some additional details or information could've been added to make it read smoother. I liked the idea of this book and the characters, but it didn't come alive for me and I didn't care about the characters or felt their romance. I don't think it's a bad book, but it just didn't work for me.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it’s fair to say this was going to be an obvious book choice for me. As most people who know me understand, NYC is my favourite place and I have spent a fair amount of time there, so I have experienced the whole ‘holiday’ season from Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and then New Year!

Christmas at the Candied Apple Café is just delightful. Iona is a typical redhead, quirky, sassy but with a softer side, she has had her share of family hassles and throws herself into the running of the cafe. Mads is the boss of the hotel company wanting to invest in the business. When they meet to discuss financial aspects there is more to it than just a deal going on, the first tiny spark of interest is ignited.

But true to form in a good love story nothing is simple! Mads is recently widowed, he lost his wife the previous Christmas and is left alone caring for young daughter Sofia. Due to the circumstances and time of year Sofia has understandably lost all belief in the magic of the season or belief that Santa will bring anything she asks for. After all he couldn’t cure her mom.

This poses a huge problem for Mads, he has no idea how to deal with a grieving little girl. Luckily Iona takes her under her wing and the pair form a natural bond, it is so cute to watch them unravel the mystery of the festivities and Iona deserves a medal for her patience with Sofia. As she opens up and becomes absorbed in all the new traditions it really pulls at the heart strings.

Mads kinda falls under the spell of Iona as well but even though they have a few ‘moments’ he doesn’t feel able to commit again. I adored the main characters (Mads is hot) as well as the friends and close family. The writing flows easily, I found it particularly fascinating because I knew the places mentioned, Radio City and The Rockette’s (it’s brilliant by the way!) the Bryant Christmas market, etc I didn’t need much persuading to visualise all the wonderful shop displays, the buzz of the crowds, the chestnuts roasting on street corners.

If you want a perfect pick me up to whisk you away and join in the story of love, hope and wonder then Christmas at the Candied Apple Café will do just that this holiday season.

My only slight niggle is wholly personal .. I couldn’t realistically believe that a young father would be keen to embark on a new relationship less than a year after his wife’s death. Perhaps the circumstances are just too relevant to me at the moment and I don’t wish to detract from the brilliant story which otherwise I really did enjoy.

Thanks to the author, publisher, netgalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

[Kaisha (The Writing Garnet) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a truly festive treat this is! I have never been to America, let alone going to America for the holidays, yet with Katherine Garbera's stunning descriptions of New York, I felt like I was there amongst it all. Seriously magical!

Poor Mads and his little girl haven't exactly the most wonderful year due to the death of Mads' wife. Not only did Sofia lose her mum, she also lost her ability to believe. Honestly though, can you blame her? She's lost her mum, the last thing she is going to believe in is Santa. However, I adored how Iona (their neighbour) tried to help them create new traditions at a time which harbours devastating memories.

I absolutely loved the Christmas element to this book, including the Candied Apple Cafe itself. The community spirit from the Iona's colleagues and her customers just made my heart soar with joy. If I was met with people like that every time I walked into a shop, I would be one VERY happy lady.

Unfortunately, I do have a little irk with the romance part of the storyline. Now whilst I fully appreciate that sexual scenes in a book need to be kept respectful and not border on a blue movie style, I really do wish that certain words weren't used during those intimate scenes as it made an otherwise hot under the collar scene, lean more towards a grimacing scene. Personally for me, I didn't find it believable.

Apart from that, I think the Christmas element made the book stand out big time. My favourite character was Iona as she just oozed class, sass and had a heart of gold.

Such an enticing and magical read to curl up with this Christmas.

Thanks Harper Impulse.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a charming book. It did start to get me into the Christmas spirit. Although, I did not fully envelop the holidays like I wanted to with this book. I was looking for a Hallmark movie. Yet, I will say that I did like the characters in this book. As far as little children go in stories, Sofia was sweet but she made me sad at the same time. The fact that she had lost her Christmas spirit was sad. She was still young enough to believe but after the death of her mother; her father felt like the truth was the best for Sofia. So she really had no stake in the game when it came to Santa. By the end of the story, Sofia did have her faith restored. However, when I am reading a holiday story, I want it to be cheerful and not sad. I will hand it to Iona that she did do her best to help Sofia.

Speaking of Iona. She had an cheerful and inviting personality. She is the type of person that I would hang out with. Mads was not bad. He just came off as stiff in the beginning and therefore, he was the last one that I warmed up to. Regarding romance between Iona and Mads; it may have been there but I didn't really feel it. Well not the way that I hoped to. I wanted to see the sparks fly and I didn't really get that from Iona and Mads. Yet, if readers are looking for a charming book without a lot of romance and a quick read, then they may consider checking this book out.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this book.

Ik was verbaasd dat het maar een kort verhaal bleek te zijn. En ondanks het feit dat het kort is, heeft het alle aspecten rondom een romantisch kerstverhaal. Het is niet gehaast, mist geen details maar heeft ook geen overbodige details.

We volgen Iona die haar eigen 'candied apple cafe' heeft. Wat een businessdeal moet worden, loopt uit tot romantiek. Heerlijk om te lezen hoe dat vorm gegeven wordt en het niet verbloesemd wordt met teveel romantiek of fantasie. Sommige dingen in het verhaal zijn zoals ze in het echte leven ook zijn en dat maakt het verhaal net jets mooier,

Ik heb hiervoor ook al een kerstverhaal gelezen dat heel anders was. Beide verhalen hebben me op een andere manier geraakt, beide blijven erg mooi! En ondanks dat het nog geen kerst is, zijn romantische verhalen rondom kerst altijd leuk om te lezen :)

[Sue Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for the Perfect book to put the "Magic" back into your Christmas - look no further. The amazing story of how Mads and is daughter Sofia struggle to find meaning to the Holiday after the loss of his wife and her mother last Christmas, I was drawn right in and stood right beside them Needing to find that reason to celebrate. And then we step into the Candied Apple Cafe and meet Iona and their incredible journey of Hope begins. Funny, heartbreaking, and fall-in-love perfection. What an Outstanding Christmas story - one of my very favorites. Could not put it down!
And the gorgeous cover really is an inspiration to open the pages and meet this lovable cast of characters.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...

I have been lucky enough to visit New York on several occasions but top of my holiday wish list is to see New York at Christmas and this book has made me even more desperate to get there!!

I loved the whole book from the cover to the last page.  The story was well planned and really well executed – I loved the characters, they made the book come to life for me, it was an excellent read.  The atmosphere created was great and I love reading about places that I have visited as being able to envisage where they are and to feel that I have visited the places in the books or could have walked the same streets as the characters.

A magical read – made me feel all warm and festive – 5 stars!!

[Gawelleb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Une histoire de reconstruction moins qu’une bluette de Noël ! Je pense que si l’intrigue s’était passée dans une autre chronologie et un temps plus long, je l’aurais beaucoup aimé. Les aspects qui m’ont dérangés ici (les coups de blues, les hésitations et la peine de Mads) auraient été plus faciles à apprécier mais j’ai du mal à comprendre (et accepter)... pas en un mois. En plus j’ai eu un peu de mal avec Iona ... maintenant c’est un tome 3 et je n’ai pas lu les précédents et je pense que ce n’est pas sans conséquences.
Sinon pour une fois, il y avait une gamine choupette !!

[Kirstie Ibrahim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh what a wonderful Christmas love story.

First time I've read anything by Katherine Garbera but I will be looking for more.

I love the Candied Apple Store and all the characters. The two main characters, Iona and Mads, are both workaholics that are hiding their loss and loneliness behind work. The addition of Sofia adds to the whole Christmas family feeling. This was a sweet quick read that even had me shedding a few tears!

[Traci Westling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had wanted to read this a few years ago & finally took the plunge & boy am I glad I splurged & bought the beautiful PRINT COPY ! This was a refreshing read I enjoyed this holiday season &I’m a sucker for a widowed father as well as chocolate so this was a win win!! Delightful & heartfelt! Highly recommend this !

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich wollte ein weihnachtliches Buch lesen und hab mich von dem Cover anlocken lassen. Tatsächlich hab ich eine große Portion Weihnachts-Feeling bekommen, denn in kaum einer anderen Stadt als New York, werden die Festtage so ausgiebig zelebriert. Die Autorin hat es geschafft mich den Zauber spüren zu lassen. Mehr als einmal hab ich große Lust gehabt, im Candied Apple Café zu sitzen um einen winterlich gewürzten Kaffee Latte zu genießen.

Die Geschichte zwischen Mads und Iona ist sicher keine neue Idee, aber sie wird bezaubernd erzählt und ist perfekt eingebettet in den Weihnachts-Zauber des Big Apple. Ich mochte alle Protagonisten auf Anhieb, auch wenn ich nicht immer alle Gedankengänge nachvollziehen konnte. Aber es gehört einfach dazu, dass sich die Menschen selber Steine in den Weg legen, sonst gäbe es kaum etwas zu erzählen. ;o)

Wer Lust hat, sich ein bisschen von der viel zu kurzen Weihnachtszeit zurück zu holen, kann Das Weihnachtscafé in Manhatten von Katherine Garbera problemlos auch jetzt noch genießen.

[Shina · Rating 5 out of 5]

☃️ Christmas at the candied apple cafe ☃️

Sweet little read perfect for the Christmas season...I am a christmassy kindof person. I bought this book for my Christmas read. But I couldn't finish reading it...so,I finished it now.

✏️This Christmassy story got moving immediately around three friends, their family, their business partner, and his 6- yr old kid...

✏️ Business Women Iona, who is with her two besties, running a chocolate shop in NYC. Iona wears her heart on her sleeves and she's highly intelligent.

✏️ Mads, the CEO of the hotel chain. He is a widower, who grieves for his wife.And,I love all the moments he shares with his daughter. His company offered an Business opportunity to Iona, to have their chocolate sold within a small group of luxury hotels Worldwide.

✏️ After his first meetup with Iona, at her Candied Apple Cafe. They share a lot of deep and exciting moments as well as, the Chemistry between them is on fire. And there is still his grief and it kindof stands between them.

✏️ In this type of Novel the end isn't the point. We all know boy gets girl in the end. The art is in the imaginative way this is achieved, or even better ,the careful description of the emotional pulls back and forth as the couple decide if they can each make the commitment given their individual emotional baggage.

✏️The characters are all well written and likeable especially the little girl Sofia.She was the sweetest lil thing. It was a lovely tale...

✏️ Katherine garbera is awesome. The Christmas elements made the book stand out big time. An outstanding Christmas Story..

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iona Summerlin has her hands full running the Candied Apple Cafe with her two friends. Christmas is approaching and the shop is thriving, so much so that a large company has shown interest in investing. Iona’s personal life, however, has not been going quite so well, but she is happy in her work and looking forward to the festive season.

Mads Eriksson is the hotel boss who has the job of sealing the investment deal. Christmas will be a sad time for him, it will be the first year alone with daughter Sofia since his wife passed away. He tries so hard to balance his family and work life but something is missing. Mads is so busy trying to be both mother and father to the six year old that he fails to actually recognise the little girl’s true feelings. When Iona strikes up an unexpected relationship with Sofia, it doesn’t take long for her to see that the child is hurting.

I liked the character of Iona, she had a tough business mind yet an incredibly soft side emerges as the story progresses. Mads is a lost soul, trying to hide his pain by working too much, and trying his best to restore some happiness into Sofia’s life. For me, the little girl who was feeling lost and lonely, but desperately trying to put on a brave face for her papa, just stole my heart.

Curl up with plenty of delicious snacks ( the descriptions of truffles and gingerbread will have your mouth watering!) and devour this heartwarming and beautifully written story, about the true magic of Christmas.

Thank you NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kitsu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reiche Leute machen reiche Leute Dinge. Nur eben zur Weihnachtszeit.

Und noch ein bisschen von "Oh wir sind jetzt Geschäftspartner. Oh was für ein Zufall, wir sind ja seit Monaten Nachbarn. Ach wie lustig, wir sind ja auf die selbe Party eingeladen." und ein wenig von "Ich vermisse Mommy so sehr - oh guck mal Papa die Frau ist lustig, kann sie meine neue Mommy sein?". Nope, thank you.

[aki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hotelchef Mads Eriksson kann sich von der Weihnachtsstimmung, die schon seit längerem in der Stadt herrscht, einfach nicht anstecken lassen. Noch viel zu sehr ist er in seiner Trauer um seine Frau gefangen. Es ist das erste Weihnachtsfest ohne seine Frau und seine sechsjährige Tochter Sofie hat den Glauben an Weihnachten längst verloren.
Immerhin hat der Weihnachtsmann ihr ihre geliebte Mutter genommen.
Beruflich trifft Mads schließlich auf Iona. Sie betreibt ein kleines Café in Manhattan, mit dem sie sich ihren Lebenstraum erfüllt hat.
Schon bald verbringen sie auch außerhalb ihrer beruflichen Zusammenarbeit etwas Zeit miteinander. Mads Herz beginnt etwas zu tauen und auch Sofie schließt Iona sofort ins Herz.
Aber reicht das, um an ein kleines Weihnachtswunder zu glauben?

Weihnachten in New York. Ich gebe zu, dass sogar ich mir schon vorgestellt habe, wie es dort sein könnte.
Dieses Buch trägt dazu bei, dass ein Stück Fernweh in mir erneut erwacht ist. Die Atmosphäre, die Katherine Garbera in ihrem Buch aufgreift, ist unglaublich schön.
Schneeflocken, die langsam zu Boden rieseln. An gefühlt jeder Ecke glitzert es oder riecht nach Weihnachtsleckerein.
Oft hatte ich beim Lesen da Gefühl, die Bilder direkt im Kopf und die Gerüche in der Nase zu haben. Auch in dem kleinen Café, welches Iona mit ihren beiden besten Freundinnen betreibt.
Der Schreibstil ist flüssig und verständlich und lässt einen förmlich durch die Seiten und durch das Leben der Charaktere fliegen.

Iona und Mads waren mir zwar durchaus symaptisch, aber ich hatte leider auch das Gefühl, dass diese Anziehungskraft zu schnell passiert.
Ich möchte nicht sagen, dass es unrealistisch gewirkt hat, aber ich hatte das Gefühl, dass die beiden sich bloss so schnell wie möglich nahe kommen, damit die Chance auf das Weihnachtswunder gewahrt wird.
Natürlich gab es auch diese ewige Hin und Her, weil einer dem anderen nicht das bieten kann, was sich der andere wünscht. Manchmal konnte ich es nachvollziehen, manchmal war es aber auch einfach nur nervig.
Gerade bei Mads war ich oft unschlüssig, wie ich sein Verhalten deuten soll. Er trauert um seine ehemalige Partnerin, er trauert um die Mutter seiner Tochter und das macht ihm oft genug einen Strich durch die Rechnung.
Gerade auch, weil ich das Gefühl hatte, dass er diesen Verlust nie wirklich aufgearbeitet hat, sondern einfach irgendwie hingenommen hat.
Irgendwann wird schon eine neue Person in sein Leben treten, die all diesen Schmerz in ihm in Luft auflösen kann.

Mein Herz im Sturm erobert hat - wie bei manch anderem Leser mit Sicherheut auch - Sofie. Sie ist einfach ein liebes und goldiges Mädchen, auch wenn sie mir manchmal schon ein wenig zu erwachsen vorkam.
Für eine sechsjährige, die vor nicht mal einem Jahr ihre Mutter verloren hat.
Ihre goldige Art hat es mir leicht gemacht, sie zu mögen. Ihre Art, wie sie versucht hat, die Vorweihnachtszeit richtig kennenzulernen, mit all ihren Bräuchen und Traditionen.
Sie war einfach Zucker pur.

Das weihnachtliche Flair in New York hat mich zwar durchaus ein wenig ins Träumen versetzt, aber im allgemeinen konnte mich das Buch leider nicht so sehr begeistern, wie ich es mir erhofft hatte. Hauptsächlich die vielen Traditionen und Bräuche haben mich sehr fasziniert und die Art und Weise, wie Sofie darauf reagiert hat.
Ihren Vater und Iona hat sie dabei auch oft angesteckt, aber es hat eben bei mir nicht den richtigen Funken überspringen lassen.
Es ist ein Buch, dass sich gut für zwischendurch eignet, aber gerade in Punkto Mads hätte ich mir ein wenig mehr Einblick in seine Gefühlwelt gewünscht. Ein wenig mehr in den Teil seines Lebens, der sich um die Trauerbewältigung kümmert, denn diesen hat die Autorin scheinbar vergessen.