Christmas Carols and a Cornish Cream Tea by Cressida McLaughlin

Happy publication day to Christmas Carols and a Cornish Cream Tea. I’m thrilled to be opening the Random Things Tours blog tour organised by the lovely Anne Cater for Cressida McLaughlin and Harper Collins. I have read and enjoyed the four previous books in the series, and was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review book five. See my review for the last Christmas book at https://mentoringmumof2bookreviews.home.blog/2020/12/17/the-cornish-cream-tea-christmas-by-cressida-mclaughlin/

Synopsis:

All Meredith Verren has ever wanted is to escape the holiday season without having to wear a Christmas jumper. Her new job at the cosy gift shop in a picturesque Cornish tourist spot is making it impossible for her to maintain her scrooge-like manner.

With their seasonal hampers on everyone’s wish list, Meredith must paste on a smile and fake some holiday cheer. Then she meets handsome new arrival, Finn, who wishes it could be Christmas every day and wants her to feel the same way too.

Can she embrace the holly and the ivy before the decorations are packed away for another year?

My thoughts:

I’m pleased to say that this is another fabulous book by Cressida McLaughlin, full of festive spirit and Cornish charm, and after what happened in England last Christmas with a very quiet and subdued Christmas due to the Covid lockdowns, this is just what readers need to get them feeling ready for Christmas.

Although the book is full of festive spirit, at the start of the story poor Meredith isn’t. A sad event happened on Christmas Eve in her past and it is understandable why Christmas has lost its sparkle.

However her best friend, Anisha and her new friend, Finn are determined to help her find her love of Christmas again. There is also a puppy called Crumble to fall in love with (the best behaved puppy in a book) and a visit to Porthgolow, to meet Charlie and the Cornish Cream Tea Bus.

Initially, I did feel sad that we had moved away from Porthogolow to Port Karadow, but I was quickly swept up into this lovely story about moving forward with life and finding a job that you have a passion for. Great characters, emotional storylines and a festive sprinkle of magic are wrapped up in this book. I’m happy to recommend this fabulous festive book, which should be enjoyed with a hot chocolate or a glass of mulled wine, and a festive scone with jam and clotted cream.

Thank you to Susanna Peden at Harper Collins for the invitation to join a pre-publication Zoom event with Cressida on Tuesday evening (and a copy of the gorgeous paperback book). It was lovely to hear about how the book was written and that there will be three more books in the series.

Author Bio:

Cressy was born in South East London surrounded by books and with a cat named after Lawrence of Arabia. She studied English at the University of East Anglia and now lives in Norwich with her husband David. When she isn’t writing, Cressy spends her spare time reading, returning to London or exploring the beautiful Norfolk coastline.

http://www.cressidamclaughlin.com @cressmclaughlin