(LITTLE BEACH STREET BAKERY 3): CHRISTMAS AT LITTLE BEACH STREET BAKERY.

CHRISTMAS AT BEACH STREET BAKERY by JENNY COLGAN.

It's Christmas in the Cornish coastal village of Mount Polbearne - a time for family, friends and feasting.

Polly Waterford loves running the Little Beach Street Bakery. She's at her happiest when she's creating delicious treats and the festive season always inspires her to bake and knead something extra special for the village residents. In fact, the only thing she loves more than her bakery is curling up with her gorgeous boyfriend, Huckle. This Christmas should be their best one yet, but life doesn't always go to plan ...

When Polly's best friend Kerensa turns up with a secret that threatens the life Polly and Huckle have built together, the future begins to look uncertain. Then a face from Polly's past reappears and things become even more complicated. Polly can usually find solace in baking but she has a feeling that's not going to be enough this time. Can she get things back on track so that everyone has a merry Christmas?

- Back Cover Blurb

This story is about one particular Christmas, but it actually starts with a very Bad Thing happening the previous spring.

- First Sentence; Chapter One

It was true, though, that as the weather had turned colder, Neil was quite happy to eep until the door was opened, then march in and settle himself down cosily in front of the stove for a snooze. He seemed more or less entirely unfussed about his longer-term prospects.

- Memorable Moment; Page

SOURCE ... A charity shop buy.

READ FOR A CHALLENGE? ... Late in signing up this year and unable to even begin to estimate what level I'll be able to attain I'm never the less participating in this year's Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge details of which can be found here.

MY THOUGHTS ... As the author explained in her 'Dear Reader' letter at the beginning of the book  'If  you are new to these stories, honestly you don't need to know very much ...'

Though actually the third (and 'probably' last) book in the series this works well as a standalone novel in that the characters, the previous plots, the setting are all briefly outlined in this foreward from Jenny Colgan. Then there is enough filling in of past events throughout this Christmas instalment that you feel yourself a newcomer to Mount Polbearne (the tidal island in which the books are set) with a local filling you in on what's been happening since Polly and her boyfriend, Huck, moved into the lighthouse.

Despite the book beginning with 'a very Bad Thing happening the previous spring' things quickly become altogether more festive and Christmas At Little Beach Street Bakery turns out to be one of the more Christmassy books that I have read recently ... something that is born out by the book's gorgeous cover.

A story of the usual family and friendship but its also a story of the danger of secrets, of new beginnings; of not letting the baggage that we all of us carry drag you down, of living with the consequences of the choices you make. Oh! And there's a Christmas miracle ... of sorts. Oh! And recipes; there are some mouthwatering festive treats begging to be made (details in the back of the book). Oh! And there's a adorable puffin called Neil even though we don't get to hear nearly enough of his cute 'eeps for my liking.

OK there's marital infidelity and a certain amount of angst seeped in part way through but for the most part its a light, fun, fluffy read and what better time than Christmas for a bit of fluffiness?