Reviewer: Tina Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson
Series: Comfort Food #2
Publication Date: September 23, 2016
Pages: 187
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Series Rating:
The brand new Christmas romance from best-selling author Debbie Johnson and the follow up to ‘Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe’.
The Comfort Food Cafe is perched on a windswept clifftop at what feels like the edge of the world, serving up the most delicious cream teas; beautifully baked breads, and carefully crafted cupcakes. For tourists and locals alike, the ramshackle cafe overlooking the beach is a beacon of laughter, companionship, and security – a place like no other; a place that offers friendship as a daily special, and where a hearty welcome is always on the menu.
Every year when the holiday season rolls around I am always on the look-out for some new books filled with that festive vibe to get me in the spirit of the season. After reading the synopsis for Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson, I figured that this novella would be right up my alley, seeing that I am a sucker for those quirky, feel-good kind of holiday stories.
I am also one of those readers who is a self-proclaimed “cover snob”. If the cover of a book doesn’t reach out and make me immediately want to pluck it off the shelf, I am very likely to skip it altogether, no matter how good that book might be. I am a complete pushover for a beautiful cover. It is my humble opinion that any book worth reading should have a captivating well thought out cover that reels the reader in from the first glimpse. That being said, the cover for this book does just that – with it’s brightly colored mug topped with a billowy pile of whipped cream and set against a snowy background it practically screams “holiday”.
Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe is the story of two very different sisters. Growing up, Laura has always been the “good” sister, while Becca was more of the problem child. Now adults, Laura is slowly recovering from the untimely death of her husband and building a new life for herself and her two kids in Dorset. She decides to reconnect with Becca and invite her for a visit at her new home, although she knows that Becca is not a fan of the holidays.
Having never read anything by author Debbie Johnson before, I didn’t know what to expect. What I found was characters that were unconventional, endearing and fun. I admire the fact that she shows us that a person’s flaws are what makes us interesting and that people do not need to be wrapped in perfect packages to be memorable. The charming Comfort Food Cafe provides the perfect backdrop for this cozy, holiday novella. I found myself totally captivated by the festive atmosphere.
Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe was a fun way to kick off my annual holiday book-fest. It is a delightfully quick read that should definitely put the reader in that “Christmas” kind of mood.