The Canal Boat Cafe Christmas

by Cressida McLaughlin

Summer Freeman runs the charming Canal Boat Cafe, moored in the picturesque waterside village of Willowbeck serving up warming hot chocolate and scrumptious signature brownies to locals and walkers alike.

She and handsome wildlife photographer, Mason, have fallen head over heels in love and when Summer gets the chance to join a canalside Christmas fair, she hopes this will give them a chance to take things a step further. Along with their cute dogs, them embark on a magical journey through meandering waterways, all the way to the scenic beauty of Little Venice.

This will be a trip like not other and with Christmas just around the next bend, almost anything could happen...

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Chick Lit

310 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

I grew up in London surrounded by books and with a cat named after Lawrence of Arabia. I studied English Literature at the University of East Anglia and live in Norwich with my husband David.

I'm a total book nerd and my TBR pile is out of control. I would quite like to be a ghost hunter, and I'm a huge fan of a fictional hero.

When I'm not writing, I spend my spare time reading, returning to London or exploring the beautiful Norfolk coastline.

I love hearing from readers, so please get in touch if you have a question or if you just want to say hello.

Reviews

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

I enjoyed this canal boat getaway to little venice in london. The scene she sets really made me want to go to one of these floating markets! Sounds very unique and exciting. I didnt read the first book but thats ok because we are able to jump right in and enjoy this second book without getting lost.

278pages in this one. Split into two parts.
The characters are ok. They lack in depth and most of people within this fell quite flat. Sadly. The story between the main characters was ok and i did enjoy what summer was trying to do❤
How the story plays out for that is really cute. Anything realated to the canal and Christmas set up i thought was nice and cosy.
The lights and food had me interested and i could picture how lovely it would all look.
To live on one and work from it as a cafe over christmas does sound quite a treat tho.

[Emmkay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect for a sick-in-bed New Year’s Eve. Cressida McLaughlin writes the gentlest, lowest conflict (eg. That’s a funny noise, will a pipe freeze in the cold? Answer: no) little romance novels, filled with descriptions of food, dogs, and in this case, narrowboats. It was all I was up for, and was just right.

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The weak storyline wasn't helped by the fact that I hadn't read the previous books in this series so bits of it made no sense. Not sure I will bother.

[Tracy Larner-Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely easy, festive story, but it felt a bit different to the usual ones, due to being set on the canals. I really enjoyed it! 4.5 🌟

[Linniegayl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a continuation of characters first introduced in an earlier book. The setting is definitely appealling: a canal boat in England. The boat serves both as our main character Summer's home (although she mostly sleeps on her boyfriend Mason's boat) and as a cafe.

it's getting close to Christmas, and Summer has some major plans for the holiday. However, things get turned upside down when someone she met in the previous book invites Summer (and Mason if he wants) to go to Little Venice in London for the pre-Christmas festivities in the canal.

I'll admit the group of roving longboaters (not sure exactly what to call them) were my least favorite part of the previous book, so I wasn't excited to learn they would be appearing again, and that Summer would consider dropping everything and head to London for five weeks with her boat.

This one was okay for me, but definitely not great. I think it would be pretty meaningless if you hadn't read the previous book.

[Pauline Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely cosy story puts you in the mood for Christmas. Excellent story.

[Dawn Witney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Canal Boat Cafe Christmas is a great book to read on cold, wintery days. There are lots of warm hugs, mugs of hot chocolate and delicious bakes to brighten your mood. Although I am late to this party, I enjoyed meeting up with Summer and Mason and their friends Claire, Jas and Ryder to cruise along the waterways to Little Venice to spend a week taking part in a canalside Christmas fair in London before cruising back to Willowbeck for Christmas. As you would expect, Cressida weaves her Christmas magic with fairy lights and delicious descriptions of gooey salted caramel cake and cinnamon and almond macarons that made my mouth water. Summer hopes this trip will enable her to take things a step further with Mason, but she hasn't reckoned on an uninvited guest shattering her confidence and realises it's time to face up to her fears or risk losing the one thing she wants more than anything else. I enjoyed the twists and turns of this story and the beautiful descriptions of life on the canals in winter—a great way to escape on a cold February day.

[Diana Jaques · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cressida Mclaughlin dedicates this book 'To anyone who believes in the magic of Christmas', after reading just this line I was hooked.

I will tell you this, once I had finished this book I immediately wanted to pack up my things, buy a canal boat and open my own cafe at Christmas.

Everything you want from a Christmas book, the tingly feeling, the excitement, the festiveness, Mclaughlin gives it you all.

The book starts in a little village called Willowbeck and ends in the Little Venice of London.
Summer Freeman and her handsome boyfriend Mason travel along the canal surrounded by the buzz of Christmas. Sweet treats and hot drinks are provided to those who pop in along the way.

When they hit London, the Christmas spirit invades them and their lives change for the better.

Wrap up buy the fire with a nice mug of hot chocolate and some festive Christmas treats as Summer and Mason fill your Christmas with love.

[Jan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story skipped along OK but it was obvious that the setting of a narrowboat was used to draw readers in and it glossed over the fact that resources are limited on a narrowboat. It never once mentions them filling the water tank at a water point and yet this is a cafe boat where washing up will take a lot of water. The references to the characters having a shower on board are regular throughout, perfectly possible on a narrowboat of course but not if you don't stop to fill the tank equally regularly.
Conveniently overlooked as this story is too lightweight to have such detail.
Oh, and the constant politically correct references to "The Helmsmen and Helmswomen" what a ridiculous mouthful of vocabulary. The person who steers a narrowboat is called a "steerer" a gender neutral term. I won't be tempted to read any more in the series.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought this would be a nice little cosy read for Christmas time. For me it was barely ok but disappointing and frustrating as it really went no-where, nothing much happened and when you thought something was about to happen - the book ended. I can't be bothered wading all the way through the next book to find out and then probably be left with another "cliff hanger" if you could even call it that? A bit more character development would have added some interest and at least having one significant thing happen would have meant it was not a wasted read. Maybe if you've read the series from the start you already know the characters? If so then it's not a stand alone read and should probably be sold as a set. I liked the idea of life and trading on a canal boat, great theme that could have also been developed more.

[Sarah Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Cressida's books and was looking forward to reading The Canal Boat Cafe Christmas. This Christmas special continues the story of The Canal Boat Café. We join Summer and Mason who have decided to take the Canal Boat Café to London for Christmas. Summer wants to take their relationship further and is making plans to propose to Mason. However, when a face from Mason's past reappears and the canal freezes over, it doesn't seem that things are going to be as straightforward as Summer hoped.

I really enjoyed this story. Summer and Mason are great characters and I liked the plot. As someone who proposed to her husband, I found this a good plot twist. A great cosy festive story, just what we all need.

[Hayley Marsland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved being back at The Canal Boat Cafe.

Summer Freeman is really starting to make a success of running The Canal Boat Cafe in beautiful Willowbeck, and her relationship with handsome wildlife photographer Mason Causey is going from strength.

They get the chance to join a canal side Christmas fair, all the way along the waterways, to little Venice in London.

Over the next few weeks, Summer and Mason, discover it's going to be a trip like no other, where practically anything could happen, which it inevitably does !

Obviously I'm not going to give anything else away, but I really do hope Summer and Mason's story continues further in the future.

[Sarah Hills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it's now April it was lovely to go back to the canal boat cafe this time at Christmas. Cressida's books make enjoyable reading akin to a warm hug. It was lovely to catch up with Summer and Mason and their dogs. This time they are off to London - little Venice to be precise for a week of pre Christmas trading. However there are more adventures afoot and you get to learn more about Summers' friends too. I have read this book in a day - only 274 pages so just the right length.
Lovely characters, great story lines - a book that will make you smile.

[Debbie Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this Christmas book, it was lovely to catch up with Summer, Mason and their pooches again all in lovely festive setting. I love the whole canal boat community and the way the books make you feel you are part of the story. It had such a gorgeous sense if place too and I especially loved the scenes set in Little Venice and London. Such a gorgeous ending too, I loved every bit of this book

[chloé · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remembered there’s a book that comes before this that explains the character’s and the main relationship about three chapters in, so before that was a little confused/found it slow. I think it’s one of the few books I’ve read where the plot is truly meaningless but it was cute and cosy and I now want to visit Little Venice in London! Excited to get my teeth into the next Christmas themed book :)

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow and wow Cressida McLaughlin has done it again.

I absolutely loved the first book in the series and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was lovely to catch up with old characters and meet new ones.

I loved catching up with Summer and Mason and following on their story.

I couldn’t put this book down, it was such a heartwarming read and offered pure escapism.

I would love a follow on from this book. I would 100% recommend reading Cressy’s books if you haven’t.

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, although it's a Christmas book, I read it in the middle of January and it's more of a "winter" story I think. A follow on to the Canal Boat Cafe, all the familiar characters are there, along with their narrowboats. I loved this story, gives you a nice warm feeling inside as you escape to the lovely surroundings of both Cambridgeshire and Little Venice in London.

[Kimmy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how wonderful that I can visit the Canal Boat Cafe again! A nice, light, easy read building on the storyline from the previous books- showcasing friendship and romance. I bought this book to read over Christmas but forgot about it in my TBR pile, didn’t stop me reading it and feeling the festivities of Christmas in January. I finished this book feeling uplifted and full of Christmas joy.

[Steph – BookSirens ‘R’ Us · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something inherently lovely about the series. I like how the author continues to combine a bunch of emotions lightheartedly in what is a fun holiday read. This time around, along with romance, we have some travel, the spirit of Christmas, and an overall feel-good vibe that makes this a must-read for the season.

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy read for the festive season, I just wish there was more of a plot! I always lean towards romantic chick lits at this time of year but this one lost points for me due to the pacing; it was far too long and the story just appeared dragged out. I guessed the twist early on so even that felt a little flat; overall it was an okay read but nothing groundbreaking.

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Cressida McLaughlin stories and this is no exception. A lovely mixture of romance, fun, coffee and Christmas was just what I needed. The relationship between Summer and Mason is magical, and it was great to meet some of the other boat owners again. Just brilliant.

[Hannah Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your typical March read but I did start it on a snow day! A very cosy, festive story to give you all the warm fuzzies. 4 stars as I felt some points were rehashed too many times throughout the book.

[Sue de Boeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

And now I’ve finished the sequel to the canal boat cafe and I’m glad that it lived up to expectations. A thoroughly cosy read and all relationships resolved to my satisfaction. I’m going to read more by Cressida McLaughlin.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Christmas book. Very Christmassy 🥰 haven’t ready the rest of the series but didn’t really spoil my enjoyment

[Jenna Coyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this sequeal will warn you starts at Halloween which made it loose a star but still fun festive read

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit safe and predictable. Pleasant but forgettable.

[Mandy Marr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely easy reading

[Jay Urquhart-pettifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, nice twist

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been a sweet read, but it wasn’t as good as the previous book in the series I read.

[Gloria Mitchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite a good story though to me it did drag on a bit towards the end of the book But finished reading it too the very end