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Delightful Christmas #4
Christmas at the Marshmallow Cafe
When downtrodden checkout assistant Bonnie Green receives a letter from a mysterious uncle, she can hardly believe her eyes.
Gifted a hundred-year lease on a famous cafe situated in the middle of a mythical theme park, Bonnie sets off with her best friend Debbie on an adventure to a hidden valley in the Lake District where they will find new friendship, love, and happiness, all set against the magic of Christmas ... and more marshmallows than they can possibly eat....
Gifted a hundred-year lease on a famous cafe situated in the middle of a mythical theme park, Bonnie sets off with her best friend Debbie on an adventure to a hidden valley in the Lake District where they will find new friendship, love, and happiness, all set against the magic of Christmas ... and more marshmallows than they can possibly eat....
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2020
1405 people are currently reading
1006 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
December 14, 2020
A magically festive read! A lovely story four the Christmas lover - Grinches need not apply. Bonnie is not living her best life. Her husband left her, her kids abandon her, she’s stuck in a job she doesn’t like. The only bright spot in her life is her next-door neighbor and BFF Debbie, a heavy metal loving serial dater half her age. When she receives a letter that she has inherited a café in the Lake District Bonnie figures why not check it out and Debbie is more than happy to tag along. What they find when they reach their destination is a run down Christmasland and a café in need of some TLC. But there is something magical about the place that instantly captivates Bonnie and Debbie. armed with her estranged uncle‘s marshmallow recipes, a colorful cast of characters and a lot of Christmas hope will joy be restored to Christmasland This book was such a festive treat! I had no idea so much went into making marshmallows. Bonnie was a great character and I loved the growth she had throughout this book. Debbie was the perfect sidekick I loved her free loving fickle personality. The author does an amazing job of bringing the village of Christmasland to life. The perfect book to curl up with next to the Christmas tree with a cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows of course!
this book in emojis 🎄🐄🦌☕️🚂🎢🎅🏻
*** Big thank you to the author for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
this book in emojis 🎄🐄🦌☕️🚂🎢🎅🏻
*** Big thank you to the author for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
December 15, 2020
4☆ A Feel-good, Enchanting, Festive Romance.
Christmas at the Marshmallow Café is such a wonderfully enchanting and festive read.
Bonnie is not having the best of times and everything is getting on top of her, and she could do with a bit of a boost.
So when she gets a letter informing her she has inherited a cafe in the Lake District she decides to go check it out with her best friend Debbie.
When she gets there and discovers the cafe she has inherited is in Christmas Land a theme park that has definitely seen better days.
Although it most certainly has plenty of charm and something a little magical about it.
But can Bonnie and Debbie restore the Marshmallow Café to it's former glory and do her late Uncle Proud!
I loved Bonnie and it was so wonderful to see her grow in strength and confidence as she took on the Marshmallow Café. Debbie was an endearing and charismatic character always on the look out for her latest love Conquest but a big support to Bonnie.
Christmas at the Marshmallow Café is a Heartwarming and Feel-good Festive Read, with a dash of romance, a sprinkle of humour, quirky and charming Characters and some scrumptious delights!
If you love festive reads then this book is absolutely perfect for you! It oozes festive delights and magical atmosphere. Christmas land would 100% be on my list of places to visit.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/1...
Christmas at the Marshmallow Café is such a wonderfully enchanting and festive read.
Bonnie is not having the best of times and everything is getting on top of her, and she could do with a bit of a boost.
So when she gets a letter informing her she has inherited a cafe in the Lake District she decides to go check it out with her best friend Debbie.
When she gets there and discovers the cafe she has inherited is in Christmas Land a theme park that has definitely seen better days.
Although it most certainly has plenty of charm and something a little magical about it.
But can Bonnie and Debbie restore the Marshmallow Café to it's former glory and do her late Uncle Proud!
I loved Bonnie and it was so wonderful to see her grow in strength and confidence as she took on the Marshmallow Café. Debbie was an endearing and charismatic character always on the look out for her latest love Conquest but a big support to Bonnie.
Christmas at the Marshmallow Café is a Heartwarming and Feel-good Festive Read, with a dash of romance, a sprinkle of humour, quirky and charming Characters and some scrumptious delights!
If you love festive reads then this book is absolutely perfect for you! It oozes festive delights and magical atmosphere. Christmas land would 100% be on my list of places to visit.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/1...
November 20, 2020
I may have only read two of CP Ward's Christmas novels, but I'm fairly confident in saying they are a keen fan of Christmas, as this is yet another beautifully festive book, set for the most part in the most magical sounding of locations.
After all who wouldn't want to visit Christmas Land, a full time festive theme park, and Bonnie has inherited the lease to the Marshmallow Cafe in the middle of it. Unable to sell as a condition of the lease, she and her neighbour Debbie, go up to the Lake District to have a look.
It turns out Bonnie has been told stories about this park throughout her childhood and its described in the most picturesque of fashions.
Well the reality doesn't quite meet up to the legend, but there is just something rather enchanting about the place, and it leads from Bonnie to really mature and develop as the story progresses. In fact if you compare first page of the book Bonnie to last page of the book, the difference is rather impressive.
But you could say that about Christmas Land too, and there are various heart-warming threads weaving their way throughout this book.
And Debbie is like a breath of fresh air continually, although trying to keep up with which man she may or may not be interested in that day, is a bit trickier!
I adore this authors ability to describe festive locations, and even the making of marshmallow was rather interesting. Even though Bonnie is in her 50s, I'd say this is a coming of age sort of a story, with a fabulous cast of characters and did I mention the setting!! It's idyllic!
Such a pleasurable book to read, I was having a whale of a time reading it, and the mentions of all those marshmallows would have made me the size of a whale too!
Thank you to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily
After all who wouldn't want to visit Christmas Land, a full time festive theme park, and Bonnie has inherited the lease to the Marshmallow Cafe in the middle of it. Unable to sell as a condition of the lease, she and her neighbour Debbie, go up to the Lake District to have a look.
It turns out Bonnie has been told stories about this park throughout her childhood and its described in the most picturesque of fashions.
Well the reality doesn't quite meet up to the legend, but there is just something rather enchanting about the place, and it leads from Bonnie to really mature and develop as the story progresses. In fact if you compare first page of the book Bonnie to last page of the book, the difference is rather impressive.
But you could say that about Christmas Land too, and there are various heart-warming threads weaving their way throughout this book.
And Debbie is like a breath of fresh air continually, although trying to keep up with which man she may or may not be interested in that day, is a bit trickier!
I adore this authors ability to describe festive locations, and even the making of marshmallow was rather interesting. Even though Bonnie is in her 50s, I'd say this is a coming of age sort of a story, with a fabulous cast of characters and did I mention the setting!! It's idyllic!
Such a pleasurable book to read, I was having a whale of a time reading it, and the mentions of all those marshmallows would have made me the size of a whale too!
Thank you to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily
February 28, 2021
This one took awhile for me to get into. Overall it was sweet and fun. But I have issues with the main character portrayed as OLD at 52. Her knowledge of computers, social media, etc. was simply inconsistent with actual times. This was published in 2020, but the main character seemed more like 65-70 based on the way she was written.
But.... the writing also had glorious description of Christmas Land and the quirky characters within the park.
But.... the writing also had glorious description of Christmas Land and the quirky characters within the park.
December 14, 2020
I would like to say a very big thank you to the lovely Rachel’s Random Resources, for very kindly forwarding me a copy of this book, for my Kindle, in return for an honest review.
This was the first book that I have read from this author and I will definitely be coming back for more!
I loved this book and it was gorgeous and festive and full of Christmassy goodness!!
Christmas Land - a full time festive theme park - sounded amazing and I definitely wanted to visit as it sounded wonderful!
The book is very descriptive and I felt myself being immersed in the story and I loved it....
This was the first book that I have read from this author and I will definitely be coming back for more!
I loved this book and it was gorgeous and festive and full of Christmassy goodness!!
Christmas Land - a full time festive theme park - sounded amazing and I definitely wanted to visit as it sounded wonderful!
The book is very descriptive and I felt myself being immersed in the story and I loved it....
December 21, 2020
What a waste. This book is poorly written, and even worse, poorly edited. The one star was given simply because it has a delightful idea behind it. What a waste, as I said.
December 14, 2020
Christmas at the Marshmallow Café is a wonderful light festive read set in the most wonderful sounding place.
Bonnie receives a letter from an uncle whom she hasn’t seen in years, inheriting his lease on a café in Christmas Land. Bonnie heads there with her unlikely best friend Debbie to discover the mythical place her father used to tell her stories of when she was a child.
Bonnie and Debbie are great characters, real and individual, and two people you wouldn’t ordinarily expect to be friends. The support that Debbie provides Bonnie is what turns things around for her. There are a host of exuberant characters that Bonnie discovers at Christmas Land.
Christmas Land sounds like the most magical place on earth! I love Christmas and this sounds like my idea of heaven. The location in which this story is set adds the air of magic that you feel throughout this book.
Christmas at the Marshmallow Café is a wonderful book to escape with this festive season.
I wish I was heading to Christmas Land this holiday season but I’ll settle for a hot chocolate with marshmallows.
Bonnie receives a letter from an uncle whom she hasn’t seen in years, inheriting his lease on a café in Christmas Land. Bonnie heads there with her unlikely best friend Debbie to discover the mythical place her father used to tell her stories of when she was a child.
Bonnie and Debbie are great characters, real and individual, and two people you wouldn’t ordinarily expect to be friends. The support that Debbie provides Bonnie is what turns things around for her. There are a host of exuberant characters that Bonnie discovers at Christmas Land.
Christmas Land sounds like the most magical place on earth! I love Christmas and this sounds like my idea of heaven. The location in which this story is set adds the air of magic that you feel throughout this book.
Christmas at the Marshmallow Café is a wonderful book to escape with this festive season.
I wish I was heading to Christmas Land this holiday season but I’ll settle for a hot chocolate with marshmallows.
October 3, 2020
Another lovely read. This whole series is so sweet, esp in todays world. Its lovely to lose myself in a really excellent story like this one. The marshmallows makes it even better as its my favourite food and the and Lake District is up there on the list of the most beautuful places!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 9, 2024
This was an interesting story about a woman that inherits a café. She takes her young neighbor to visit the café in Christmas Land, to see if she wants to make a go of it. There is some magic to this place. I wasn’t sure if I was gonna stick with the book, but after being halfway through, I wanted to see what was going to happen.
December 11, 2025
Fun book! Beware if you find yourself wanting to escape to a Christmas themed park to eat Marshmallows and drink hot cocoa! I love simple, fun Christmas stories during this busy season. This book fit the bill. I might read or listen to the others in this series. Welcome December!
December 14, 2020
3.5 rounded up. Review to come!
January 14, 2022
Cosy little read, likeable enough characters and a happy ending
December 15, 2022
A cute little cozy read just in time for Christmas.
January 25, 2025
Christmas at the Marshmallow cafe
This is my first time reading. a book by this author. I really enjoyed this feel-good christmas story. Left me wanting to visit.
This is my first time reading. a book by this author. I really enjoyed this feel-good christmas story. Left me wanting to visit.
November 29, 2022
Audiobook. A sweet, fun Christmas tale! Good feeling.
December 14, 2020
Thank you so much to @rachelsrandomresources and the author for my place on the book tour.
I LOVED this book! It had all the festive feels and more! Bonnie does the same thing every day, she works in a supermarket, goes home to an empty house and starts all over again. One day she receives news that her uncle has passed away and left her a famous marshmallow cafe in the middle of a Christmas themed theme Park in the Lake District. She doesn’t know what to do so she goes to have a look and immediately falls in love, but can she risk giving up her job and life for this new venture?
First off, the theme park Christmas land sounds amazing! The descriptions of the scenery and the different things in the park could make me imagine I was there, and it just sounds so festive and magical! I found myself immersed in the story and I absolutely loved the character of Bonnie and her friend, and all of the characters from the theme park.
This was such a warm and fuzzy festive read, set in such a magical place, and perfect for getting in the mood for Christmas! I would love Christmas land to exist and would love to visit! Will look for others from this author as this was extremely well written and very descriptive.
I LOVED this book! It had all the festive feels and more! Bonnie does the same thing every day, she works in a supermarket, goes home to an empty house and starts all over again. One day she receives news that her uncle has passed away and left her a famous marshmallow cafe in the middle of a Christmas themed theme Park in the Lake District. She doesn’t know what to do so she goes to have a look and immediately falls in love, but can she risk giving up her job and life for this new venture?
First off, the theme park Christmas land sounds amazing! The descriptions of the scenery and the different things in the park could make me imagine I was there, and it just sounds so festive and magical! I found myself immersed in the story and I absolutely loved the character of Bonnie and her friend, and all of the characters from the theme park.
This was such a warm and fuzzy festive read, set in such a magical place, and perfect for getting in the mood for Christmas! I would love Christmas land to exist and would love to visit! Will look for others from this author as this was extremely well written and very descriptive.
November 30, 2022
I listened to an audiobook of this and found it to be somewhat bland and I wasn’t keen on the narrator’s voice.
The story has all the right elements for a cozy Christmas story and I’m sure many readers will love it. I liked the fact that the main characters were a woman in her fifties and her best friend - a goth girl who is her neighbour’s daughter.
I also liked the setting of a dilapidated theme park in need of saving and that the main character took it upon herself to learn how to make marshmallows from scratch using mallow plants gathered in a swampy area and her own cocoa from cacao plants. She was not a good cook at all and this was one of the reasons her husband had left her, but she managed to conquer the recipe left by her late uncle who had left her the cafe in his will.
The ending was a little too trite and unrealistic for me but this genre requires warm and fuzzy happy endings so it wasn’t all that surprising.
The story has all the right elements for a cozy Christmas story and I’m sure many readers will love it. I liked the fact that the main characters were a woman in her fifties and her best friend - a goth girl who is her neighbour’s daughter.
I also liked the setting of a dilapidated theme park in need of saving and that the main character took it upon herself to learn how to make marshmallows from scratch using mallow plants gathered in a swampy area and her own cocoa from cacao plants. She was not a good cook at all and this was one of the reasons her husband had left her, but she managed to conquer the recipe left by her late uncle who had left her the cafe in his will.
The ending was a little too trite and unrealistic for me but this genre requires warm and fuzzy happy endings so it wasn’t all that surprising.
December 28, 2023
Bonnie is a middle-aged, divorced, and feels like she’s stuck in a rut. Then one day she gets a letter from her uncle’s lawyer letting her know that she’s inherited Mervin’s Marshmallow Café’s 100-year lease located in the Christmas Land theme park. Once she arrives with her best friend in tow, Bonnie finds the park in shambles and likely to close. Will Bonnie stick around Christmas Land and help try to save the park?
Overall this was a feel-good, festive read. Took me a bit to get into the story, but that was mainly because it was poorly edited. Missing punctuation, characters being misidentified, etc. Part 2 seemed to be better though.
Overall this was a feel-good, festive read. Took me a bit to get into the story, but that was mainly because it was poorly edited. Missing punctuation, characters being misidentified, etc. Part 2 seemed to be better though.
December 26, 2022
It was a sweet little heartwarming story to be reading this Christmas. I was in the mood for a “light, cheerful read”…and I enjoyed that with this book.
Happy New Year fellow readers!
Happy New Year fellow readers!
December 27, 2020
I'm not a person who loves Christmas stories. However, I am a sucker for stories about people taking over some kind of cafe. When I saw this book offered I hoped the joy in the trope overrode my annoyance with the Christmas theme.
Things I Loved About This Book
1. A Middle-Aged Protagonist! I love romances and chick-lit type books with someone who isn't twenty anymore. Bonnie is 52. She was in a bad marriage that has recently ended and her grown children are estranged from her because of it. She's working as a cashier in a grocery store. Her life needs some excitement. She's a great protagonist!
2. It is oh so snarky. I love realistic dialogue and in my world that means sarcasm. It always strikes me as strange if people are too syrupy sweet in fiction. Bonnie has a friend named Debbie who is half her age, likes to party way too much, and wishes she was in a rock band. The two of them together are hilarious.
‘There,’ she said. ‘Mickey D’s. I need breakie.’ ‘I thought you didn’t do corporations?’ Debbie shrugged. ‘I make exceptions for food. The taste alone is punishment enough.’
What I Wanted More Of
1. Logic. This is a cute story. Just go with it. Don't think too hard about how they have been making ends meet or why they haven't been shut down by inspectors. Just go with it and have fun.
2. Recipes. Bonnie inherits a shop that served homemade marshmallows. Specifically it served marshmallows made without gelatin. As a vegetarian, I perked up. Then it talked about there being hundreds of recipes for different ways to make marshmallows without gelatin. I was ready. I was going to make some fancy marshmallows! But there aren't any recipes in the book. I'm still going to Google but these types of books often have at least one recipe at the end so I was disappointed.
If you are looking for a quick fun holiday read I'd recommend picking up this book!
This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story
December 23, 2022
The story was way too long for such a weak plot. Let me rephrase, the plot wasn't too weak, there was just too much in the story bogging it down and diluting the story.
It wasn't just 'let's save the park', it wasn't just a 'let's show that older people can change and be happy', it wasn't just 'a Christmas romance', it wasn't just a mystery. It tried to put all of those in and it was too much the story felt like it went on forever.
I felt like this really didn't need to have the romance. There was not enough interaction between Bonnie and Len to have any actual romantic impact and it was shoehorned in so that it could be considered a Christmas romance to make it easier to sell to an audience.
It most certainly didn't need the mystery it was already too convoluted and long by the time it introduced that element.
Bonnie was an awful character. The entire book she wrings her hands and does the woe is me thing. "I was too frumpy to keep my husband, my children don't love me, I'm old, I'm poor..." constantly throughout the book until it was a numbing mantra. To believe that this character will finally get the chops (out of the blue) to rally the park employees is laughable. Even if it isn't her plan she takes charge like it is.
Debbie isn't a much better character, or she could have been if she was given more page time. All we see is a woman that goes around collecting guys like pokemon and then crying over being too popular. For most of the book, you could swap the two characters and not notice the difference. When she was given a chance to shine she did fine but then she was fitted into a role that went against the character completely.
It felt like the writer suddenly realized, oh I'm out of space for this story I have to end it quickly and blam Bonnie is good at everything, Debbie is now an elf, everything has turned around and the big red bow is being stuck on the package creating a bunch on plot holes that are conveniently being held closed by scotch tape
It wasn't just 'let's save the park', it wasn't just a 'let's show that older people can change and be happy', it wasn't just 'a Christmas romance', it wasn't just a mystery. It tried to put all of those in and it was too much the story felt like it went on forever.
I felt like this really didn't need to have the romance. There was not enough interaction between Bonnie and Len to have any actual romantic impact and it was shoehorned in so that it could be considered a Christmas romance to make it easier to sell to an audience.
It most certainly didn't need the mystery it was already too convoluted and long by the time it introduced that element.
Bonnie was an awful character. The entire book she wrings her hands and does the woe is me thing. "I was too frumpy to keep my husband, my children don't love me, I'm old, I'm poor..." constantly throughout the book until it was a numbing mantra. To believe that this character will finally get the chops (out of the blue) to rally the park employees is laughable. Even if it isn't her plan she takes charge like it is.
Debbie isn't a much better character, or she could have been if she was given more page time. All we see is a woman that goes around collecting guys like pokemon and then crying over being too popular. For most of the book, you could swap the two characters and not notice the difference. When she was given a chance to shine she did fine but then she was fitted into a role that went against the character completely.
It felt like the writer suddenly realized, oh I'm out of space for this story I have to end it quickly and blam Bonnie is good at everything, Debbie is now an elf, everything has turned around and the big red bow is being stuck on the package creating a bunch on plot holes that are conveniently being held closed by scotch tape
October 3, 2020
The manager of the grocery store, Cyril Reeves, scowled as he approached Bonnie Green. She had put on a Christmas music CD in the store and it was only November 4. That was against the rules. By 5:00 she was so glad to be heading home. She stopped at two food places, but both were closed. Defeated, she went home and found nothing enticing to eat. She was drifting off in a chair when her doorbell rang! A neighbor and best friend, Debbie, had brought take-out and a movie to watch while she told of her breakup with her boyfriend whom she hit in the eye with her braids while wildly dancing – she had put ball bearings in her braids to weight them down and keep them straight.
When Bonnie receives a letter in the mail form a lawyer stating her uncle had passed away, leaving her everything, she and Debbie take a trip to see what it’s all about. The whimsical place works its magic and they fall in love with it. A café in the middle of a Christmas-themed amusement park, but there is the potential for so much more. A new beginning, perhaps? Will they decide to stay and make the most of this gift? Or will they return to their dull, listless life back home?
The first thing you’ll notice when reading this book is that the author paints a vivid picture with words that not only make the reader envision the environment but also feel the sadness and hopelessness of the characters as they struggle through their lives. The banter between Debbie and Bonnie as Debbie tries to tell her about her boyfriend breakup was hilarious. So this is definitely a story that will pull the readers into the characters’ world and make them a part of it! It’s an experience, not just the rolling out of a story.
When Bonnie receives a letter in the mail form a lawyer stating her uncle had passed away, leaving her everything, she and Debbie take a trip to see what it’s all about. The whimsical place works its magic and they fall in love with it. A café in the middle of a Christmas-themed amusement park, but there is the potential for so much more. A new beginning, perhaps? Will they decide to stay and make the most of this gift? Or will they return to their dull, listless life back home?
The first thing you’ll notice when reading this book is that the author paints a vivid picture with words that not only make the reader envision the environment but also feel the sadness and hopelessness of the characters as they struggle through their lives. The banter between Debbie and Bonnie as Debbie tries to tell her about her boyfriend breakup was hilarious. So this is definitely a story that will pull the readers into the characters’ world and make them a part of it! It’s an experience, not just the rolling out of a story.
December 14, 2020
This is my first experience with a novel by CP Ward but I’m certain it won’t be my last. For all the festive feels and a completely immersive Christmas experience, I highly recommend this wonderful book which is a sweet as the marshmallows that feature in it.
When Bonnie inherits a 100-year lease on a café in the middle of a Christmas Theme Park (Christmas Land) she fondly recalls family takes of a whimsical and magical place. When she arrives with her friend Debbie, she is greeted by something a little different. Unable to sell the lease on, Bonnie finds potential in the little café, but can she make it work?
The story is just packed full of Christmassy goodness that I am craving right now. The setting is stunning and so festive it’s just magic. I adored being part of the journey to revive the café and make it a success and the only issue I have with this whole novel is that Christmas Land isn’t real.
Bonnie is such a sweet character. She’s had some rotten luck and not been treated the best by the people in her life (apart from Debbie). Best friend Debbie brings humour to the table as well as a heart-warming display of pure friendship. There is a romantic plotline however for me, the highlight was Bonnie and Debbie’s strong and supportive friendship.
This gem is a mixture of hope, romance, friendship all moulded together and placed in a delightful setting. It’s a perfect combination. Get yourself off to Christmas Land for a magical, heartwarming journey.
When Bonnie inherits a 100-year lease on a café in the middle of a Christmas Theme Park (Christmas Land) she fondly recalls family takes of a whimsical and magical place. When she arrives with her friend Debbie, she is greeted by something a little different. Unable to sell the lease on, Bonnie finds potential in the little café, but can she make it work?
The story is just packed full of Christmassy goodness that I am craving right now. The setting is stunning and so festive it’s just magic. I adored being part of the journey to revive the café and make it a success and the only issue I have with this whole novel is that Christmas Land isn’t real.
Bonnie is such a sweet character. She’s had some rotten luck and not been treated the best by the people in her life (apart from Debbie). Best friend Debbie brings humour to the table as well as a heart-warming display of pure friendship. There is a romantic plotline however for me, the highlight was Bonnie and Debbie’s strong and supportive friendship.
This gem is a mixture of hope, romance, friendship all moulded together and placed in a delightful setting. It’s a perfect combination. Get yourself off to Christmas Land for a magical, heartwarming journey.
December 21, 2020
What would you do with the oddest gift ever?
Bonnie Green is having a quiet life on her own. After her divorce, her children choose their father’s side, so the contact is limited to a bare minimum. Also her job as a checkout assistant is not what you would call the most exciting job, especially with a manager in charge like Cyril Reeves… Luckily she has her best friend Debbie, even if they are total opposites.
When one day she receives a letter from a mysterious uncle, she cannot believe her eyes. Suddenly she finds herself gifted with a hundred – year lease on a café in the middle of a theme park. Before she makes any decision, she wants to go to the Lake District to find out what the story is. Together with Debbie she starts this new adventure, where not only special recipes will be found, but also new friendships, happiness and secrets of the past and the mysterious uncle himself.
I was pleasantly surprised with this story. I had no idea what to expect from it, and once I was in it, I found myself smiling all along.
Bonnie is so recognizable in so many ways. She has this normal life, just working and spend time with her best friend. It’s not the super – exciting life that we read in so many books. She is just a random woman, it could have been you or me. She is divorced, but the sad part is that her children blame her for it, and do not see how her ex – husband is the bad one. The fact that her children do not have this much contact with her, and even blame her several things, made me feel so angry towards the children, and it made my heart ache with the injustice Bonnie had to endure.
When she decides to go to see the Marshmallow Café she received as a gift, I was surprised to see what the theme of the park was, and it made me instant happy. Yet immediately after I had this sense of fear. because the state of the park could be the perfect setting of a horror movie! But no worries, it’s not a horror story! 😄
Despite the state of the park, the people working and living there, made me forget about how the park looked like. All the people there were so warm and welcoming. They have their hearts at the right place and are adamant to make the park work again. And all their hopes are now on Bonnie and Debbie.
I loved reading how Bonnie found her place at the park. Even if at the start she was very reluctant to give the Café a worth, she quickly finds herself submerged in the history and the future of the park. And whenever she has any doubts, she could count on Debbie. Debbie made me laugh so many times, with her behaviour! This friendship is proof that opposites attract, even in friendship. Even if Debbie seems like a wild one, she stands by her best friend, helps Bonnie and supports her whenever Bonnie needs a cheer up. And at one moment in the story, she shows just how much she cares about Bonnie, and my respect for Debbie only grew.
This story was beautifully written, with so many lovely people in it. It made me long for Christmas even more. and I was very curious to get my hands on the recipes for making marshmallows and not only! 😄 I found this a wonderful, even magical tale about friendship, hope, a little romance, and finding your place in a place you only dreamed about!
Bonnie Green is having a quiet life on her own. After her divorce, her children choose their father’s side, so the contact is limited to a bare minimum. Also her job as a checkout assistant is not what you would call the most exciting job, especially with a manager in charge like Cyril Reeves… Luckily she has her best friend Debbie, even if they are total opposites.
When one day she receives a letter from a mysterious uncle, she cannot believe her eyes. Suddenly she finds herself gifted with a hundred – year lease on a café in the middle of a theme park. Before she makes any decision, she wants to go to the Lake District to find out what the story is. Together with Debbie she starts this new adventure, where not only special recipes will be found, but also new friendships, happiness and secrets of the past and the mysterious uncle himself.
I was pleasantly surprised with this story. I had no idea what to expect from it, and once I was in it, I found myself smiling all along.
Bonnie is so recognizable in so many ways. She has this normal life, just working and spend time with her best friend. It’s not the super – exciting life that we read in so many books. She is just a random woman, it could have been you or me. She is divorced, but the sad part is that her children blame her for it, and do not see how her ex – husband is the bad one. The fact that her children do not have this much contact with her, and even blame her several things, made me feel so angry towards the children, and it made my heart ache with the injustice Bonnie had to endure.
When she decides to go to see the Marshmallow Café she received as a gift, I was surprised to see what the theme of the park was, and it made me instant happy. Yet immediately after I had this sense of fear. because the state of the park could be the perfect setting of a horror movie! But no worries, it’s not a horror story! 😄
Despite the state of the park, the people working and living there, made me forget about how the park looked like. All the people there were so warm and welcoming. They have their hearts at the right place and are adamant to make the park work again. And all their hopes are now on Bonnie and Debbie.
I loved reading how Bonnie found her place at the park. Even if at the start she was very reluctant to give the Café a worth, she quickly finds herself submerged in the history and the future of the park. And whenever she has any doubts, she could count on Debbie. Debbie made me laugh so many times, with her behaviour! This friendship is proof that opposites attract, even in friendship. Even if Debbie seems like a wild one, she stands by her best friend, helps Bonnie and supports her whenever Bonnie needs a cheer up. And at one moment in the story, she shows just how much she cares about Bonnie, and my respect for Debbie only grew.
This story was beautifully written, with so many lovely people in it. It made me long for Christmas even more. and I was very curious to get my hands on the recipes for making marshmallows and not only! 😄 I found this a wonderful, even magical tale about friendship, hope, a little romance, and finding your place in a place you only dreamed about!
December 1, 2021
Oh...gosh...in SO torn on how to rate this book. The idea/premise...5 stars...I love the IDEA of this book. The execution...2 stars. Honestly...the first 60% of the book should have been 2...maybe 3 chapters at the most. It was quite frankly painful spending so much time with our heroine hemming and hawing about a decision that you already know the outcome of. It was completely pointless and BORING.
So the book basically starts at the 60% mark...and the rest of the book was really ok. Not great writing but it was enough that I enjoyed it. And then the ending...another let down. It just felt so rushed I almost missed it. Like...I blinked and it was over and it just left me feeling super let down because it was like...ok...its the end so let's dump all the good things our heroine has wished for right in her lap with zero build up or time spent enjoying said things. It wasnt satisfying at all.
But...there were some moments where there was real magic. Its there... it's just a shame the whole book didnt achieve what those handful of moments did. I'm not sad I read this...its a really fun and amazing idea that just makes me super happy. The execution just fell short for the most part.
All that to say...3 stars for me.
So the book basically starts at the 60% mark...and the rest of the book was really ok. Not great writing but it was enough that I enjoyed it. And then the ending...another let down. It just felt so rushed I almost missed it. Like...I blinked and it was over and it just left me feeling super let down because it was like...ok...its the end so let's dump all the good things our heroine has wished for right in her lap with zero build up or time spent enjoying said things. It wasnt satisfying at all.
But...there were some moments where there was real magic. Its there... it's just a shame the whole book didnt achieve what those handful of moments did. I'm not sad I read this...its a really fun and amazing idea that just makes me super happy. The execution just fell short for the most part.
All that to say...3 stars for me.
December 6, 2025
I don’t normally write negative reviews but I just want to throw this out there: Maybe it’s just me. I feel like this book was written on a dare. They put 25 people in a room and asked them all to write ideas and throw them in a hat. Then decided just to use them all!
Bonnie is “old” (apparently 52 is ancient and completely out of touch? Kick rocks, CP Ward!). She unhappily works in a grocery store and can’t use a computer, her phone, or cook beyond a microwave.
She inherits the Marshmallow Cafe in defunct Christmas Land. While there, she happens to wade into a marsh, identifies the root of the marshmallow plant, invents a way in dry it and miraculously perfects baking marshmallows and makes hot chocolate from the cocoa plant.
THEN, having no funds, magically becomes a business mogul and leads the charge of saving Christmas Land in two months. I mean it has bears, a roller coaster, reindeer, a wedding, a library and a swimming pool!!!! I can’t even touch on all of it.
Apparently, some people find that a successful read. I did not.
Bonnie is “old” (apparently 52 is ancient and completely out of touch? Kick rocks, CP Ward!). She unhappily works in a grocery store and can’t use a computer, her phone, or cook beyond a microwave.
She inherits the Marshmallow Cafe in defunct Christmas Land. While there, she happens to wade into a marsh, identifies the root of the marshmallow plant, invents a way in dry it and miraculously perfects baking marshmallows and makes hot chocolate from the cocoa plant.
THEN, having no funds, magically becomes a business mogul and leads the charge of saving Christmas Land in two months. I mean it has bears, a roller coaster, reindeer, a wedding, a library and a swimming pool!!!! I can’t even touch on all of it.
Apparently, some people find that a successful read. I did not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2025
This audiobook was pretty good, the woman reading it was easy to listen to, you just couldn’t tell when it was a new character talking.
In the story you meet a woman named Betty, who always talks about how old she is and how she cannot do much. This was where I had a problem, Bonnie is 52 and acts like she is a little old lady, while I am 52 and I don’t consider myself an old lady!
The neat part of the story was that Bonnie was given a diner called The Marshmallow Cafe in Christmas Village.When her and her best friend Debbie head to the town to see the Cafe, they find more than they thought that they would find. You get to follow the adventures of Bonnie, Debbie and the unique residents of Christmas Village.
This audiobook was a different experience, but it kept me company in most of my packing and cleaning of my house, to prepare it for selling!
P.S. I have not been able to read my regular books because of this whole fiasco that I have going on between selling our house and buying a new one!
In the story you meet a woman named Betty, who always talks about how old she is and how she cannot do much. This was where I had a problem, Bonnie is 52 and acts like she is a little old lady, while I am 52 and I don’t consider myself an old lady!
The neat part of the story was that Bonnie was given a diner called The Marshmallow Cafe in Christmas Village.When her and her best friend Debbie head to the town to see the Cafe, they find more than they thought that they would find. You get to follow the adventures of Bonnie, Debbie and the unique residents of Christmas Village.
This audiobook was a different experience, but it kept me company in most of my packing and cleaning of my house, to prepare it for selling!
P.S. I have not been able to read my regular books because of this whole fiasco that I have going on between selling our house and buying a new one!
December 18, 2024
Christmas at the Marshmallow Cafe is a perfect story of finding oneself with help from old friends ... and new ones.
Bonnie learns her Uncle Mervin has passed away and has left her his 100 year lease of the Marshmallow Cafe in the practically defunct Christmas Land Amusement Park (less than 60 guests a day and several rides completely out of commission, obviously for years - one even has a tree growing through the center of the ride!)
Bonnie and much younger best friend Debbie decide to at least see what Christmas Land about, though Bonnie remembers stories her father told her about the amusement park when she was a little girl.
This is a heartwarming story of both Bonnie and Debbie discovering "who they want to be when they grow up." And discovering new friends and more.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. If the Christmas Land Amusement Park was real, I'd definitely want to visit it myself. It's a magical place!
Bonnie learns her Uncle Mervin has passed away and has left her his 100 year lease of the Marshmallow Cafe in the practically defunct Christmas Land Amusement Park (less than 60 guests a day and several rides completely out of commission, obviously for years - one even has a tree growing through the center of the ride!)
Bonnie and much younger best friend Debbie decide to at least see what Christmas Land about, though Bonnie remembers stories her father told her about the amusement park when she was a little girl.
This is a heartwarming story of both Bonnie and Debbie discovering "who they want to be when they grow up." And discovering new friends and more.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. If the Christmas Land Amusement Park was real, I'd definitely want to visit it myself. It's a magical place!
November 21, 2023
This was a fun, festive ilsten. I thought the narrator did a great job. I liked the characters and the setting and found myself buoyed along through the story with the variety of storylines and interesting events. I'd say the book requires a bit of suspension of disbelief, especially the idea that one cacao tree could supply the entirety of cocoa/chocolate needs for the entire theme park, which is implied by their 'local only' policy. Not so sure that would be possible!
The romance elements were sweet but not overwhelming.
I see that it is book #4 of the "Delightful Christmas" series which I didn't realize before I started it, but from reading the synopses of the other books, it appears that each one is a standalone book with different characters, so there's no harm in reading them out of order.
The romance elements were sweet but not overwhelming.
I see that it is book #4 of the "Delightful Christmas" series which I didn't realize before I started it, but from reading the synopses of the other books, it appears that each one is a standalone book with different characters, so there's no harm in reading them out of order.
February 12, 2024
This was my first book by this author and it won't be my last.
We meet Bonnie who is disheartened with her life at the age of 52, she works in her local grocery store and really doesn't enjoy it. She receives a letter from her Uncle, informing her that she has inherited the 100 year lease on a famous café in a Christmas themed park in the Lake District. She is unsure what to do but encourage by her best friend Debbie she calls in sick to work and sets off on an adventure.
The park is not what she remembers from the descriptions her Dad used to tell her, can she help the residents turn the fortunes of the park around? Will she learn more about her Uncle, what secrets did he have and can she embrace life at the park?
I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to seeing what other books this author has written.
Would recommend this book.
We meet Bonnie who is disheartened with her life at the age of 52, she works in her local grocery store and really doesn't enjoy it. She receives a letter from her Uncle, informing her that she has inherited the 100 year lease on a famous café in a Christmas themed park in the Lake District. She is unsure what to do but encourage by her best friend Debbie she calls in sick to work and sets off on an adventure.
The park is not what she remembers from the descriptions her Dad used to tell her, can she help the residents turn the fortunes of the park around? Will she learn more about her Uncle, what secrets did he have and can she embrace life at the park?
I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to seeing what other books this author has written.
Would recommend this book.
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