SATURDAY, 23 MAY 2020
The Cosy Coffee Shop Of Promises - Kellie Hailes || Netgalley Review

A dream come true?

Mel’s dreams of opening a cosy little coffee shop are finally coming true! She’s determined to serve the best flat whites and crumbly pastries in Devon – and nothing, not even local pub owner Tony or his fancy new coffee machine, will stand in her way.

The trouble is, her mother is coming to town, and Mel’s in desperate need of an instant boyfriend. And whilst Tony might be her business rival, he’s also totally gorgeous and would make the perfect fake fiancé…

A deal’s a deal, surely there’s no chance that Mel could actually fall in love with Tony?









I am always a coffee shop book fan so when i wasn't sure where to turn next in my reading choices i spied this on my netgalley TBR.

Mel has had one dream to settle down in a place where her dream coffee shop can thrive, a place where there is little competition so she doesn't run the risk of having to move on again. So when Tony the owner of the local pub gets a fancy coffee machine she is less than impressed, great - she purposely picked Rabbits Leap because of that reason, no other coffee machines.

So Mel has to come up with a compromise and one that she needs - she will help Tony with the pub - teach him to cook, get him to not use the machine if he will for a few short days pretend to be her fiancee whilst her mother visits. Its only for a few days, what could go wrong? Mel already knows Tony's reputation so there isnt that much hope he will fall in love with her, he doesn't do love. The hard part will be convincing the village.

"She smiled often, but that particular smile, her warm, welcoming full-bodied smile...she only let it loose every now and then, and when she did it could warm the coldest of winds. The stoniest of hearts"
I forgot how much i love the fake fiancee concept in a book, its been a while since i read one and i just think done well they can be wonderful and this was done well. I expected there to be more emphasis on the coffee shop element as you know - the title but what i discovered is the title is more symbolic. The coffee shop is Mel's dream but the story is much more.

Mel is slightly lost and just wants to focus and settle and at first glance she appears feisty, strong willed and has it all together but as you get to know her we discover alot more about her and her past. Why she was so determined to have a fake fiance for when her mother visits. Tony - the barman and fake fiance is so focused on keeping the local pub running he doesn't have time to love anything else. However as he loves it so much he agrees to help Mel as she can help him and hopefully get the pub back from the brink of disaster. I really enjoyed watching the relationship develop as the pair spent time together.

Kellie has written a lovely book, its sweet, funny and in parts infuriating. Its main focus is the two main characters with very little back ground noise from others and i enjoyed that for once. I felt like that way i could really spend time with them both. If you like something nice and sweet. I would suggest you pick this up.

I have read this book in October 2017 but realized I forgot to review it! I remember loving this book a lot! It was short and sweet, and a lot of events is going on in this book. And a nice romance took place. I can't wait to read the second part of this book that I have on my shelf! I loved this book so much that I gave it a 5 stars!

As the title says, it's cosy. It feels like having a chat with old friends. Its a delightful, and delicious, little read with fabulous characters.

I couldn't stop smiling when I finished this book. I kept turning to Kelly and saying, "It just made me happy." I worried that I wouldn't really know where to start or how to write an interesting book review, because I just kept going back to those same few words. Honestly, I simply encourage you to read this sweet book, it was just a delightful read...and it made me happy! :p

Firstly, I can put my hand on my heart and say that I utterly adored our leading lady, Mel. To me, she was flawless. I can't say a bad thing about her. She was heartwarming and endearing, kind and sweet and had a vulnerable quality that made you want to protect her and be her best friend, all whilst she was inspiring you, kicking ass and working hard to make a life for herself and build her dreams. I loved that she could cook and bake too. The moments we got to wander round her café and witness what she had prepared, or what she was preparing, made my mouth water, everything sounded so scrumptious. You can add her café to my list of places I would like to visit. Mel also made me laugh. When she was around a certain sexy barman, I couldn't help but giggle. I liked that she could be sexy and flirt with the best of them, but she herself was often shocked by her thoughts or the words that came out of her mouth.

Speaking of a certain sexy barmen, Tony, was also a joy to read. I just couldn't get enough of the banter between him and Mel. There was the odd little time when I wanted to bang there heads together when they were mean to each other, but I also liked that they challenged each other and forced each other out of their comfort zones; that they had both been in for so long. In addition, Tony also shared those endearing qualities because of the life that he had lead and the obstacles he had been through. I felt for him and really wanted to see him succeed. I could clearly picture his bar the way he envisioned it and so wanted it to become a reality.

The depth to their characters, from Tony, his past with his parents and the current adorable relationship between him and his sister and her kids, to Mel and her past with her Grandma and her Mum, to the current relationship with her Mum, it all simply hooks you. Each character had that charm and special presence on the page, that made me want to be a part of their world each day.

So, if you take our two gorgeous leading characters and put them in a position where Mel is teaching Tony how to cook to save his pub and Tony is pretending to be Mel's fiancé while her Mum is in town, then throw in the fact that they can't seem to stop flirting with each other, yet they often butt heads and don't always like each other, then, add a quaint, cozy and gossipy town and what do you get? A wonderfully, captivating, romantic, funny, sweet and beautiful story, that you must pick up today.

The Cosy Coffee Shop of Promises by Kellie Hailes follows the story of Mel who see's her dream come true of opening a cosy little coffee shop in Devon.
When local pub owner Tony buys a coffee machine for his pub to bring in much needed funds Mel is more then a little unhappy and isn't shy in telling Tony that there is only room for one coffee machine in town and it's hers!!
After their falling out over the coffee machine Tony is feeling guilty and tries to offer an olive branch to Mel and she takes it by asking Tony to be her pretend fiance while Mel's difficult mother is in town!
As the pair attempt to keep up their little white lie it becomes apparent that they both need each other more then would care to admit but they are both carrying baggage from their pasts that they keep letting get in the way as well as their own stubbornness.
Can they overcome the barriers to make their relationship real or where they doomed from the very start?

A lighthearted, funny enjoyable read. I found this book rather predictable but still found myself eager to see if the characters got their happily ever after.
A perfect summer Chic Lit read.

A big thankyou to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review which I have been more then happy to give.

A story based around a coffee shop? I'm all in! I actually don't know what it is i love about these types of books, perhaps the close knit community spirit.
The story has some very funny parts that kept me interested and it is very well written. If you like a good romantic story then i must say you need to give this one a try!

Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book great likable characters and i read the book within a couple of days.

I am a huge fan of books set in cosy little villages, so I have been looking forward to read it.

The Cosy Coffee Shop of Promises is such a cute read and I really liked its small town setting. At first I struggled a bit getting into the story but then really enjoyed the set-up with the fake fiancé. There some really funny scenes and I really enjoyed those bits.

Mel and Tony are loveable characters and there were definitely some sparks between them. The love story was predictable but that didn't bother me at all.

Overall the story was entertaining but there were also some lenghty parts in it. It also failed to catch me completely, there was just something missing.

A bit predictable for any fan of romance... but goodness what a fun ride. Mel and Tony's story was just so fun to read. A bit of drama, a bit of laughter and a whole lot of building romance.

Easy enough read. took a little while to warm to the characters but overall, I liked the book.

There is quite a lot packed into this novel and it is relatively short at only 155 pages.

Mel is living her dream of settling in one place and running a coffee shop and she does not need a man to make her life fulfilled and complete.

That is until she goes into the local pub and sees a brand new sparkling coffee machine.

Tony is trying to do anything that he can to save the pub, that is his main focus. The women seem to never stick around in his world. The pub has become the other woman.

Mel is prepared to do battle with Tony.

Promises are made, but they are heavily weighted one way. With the imminent arrival of her mother who is seeking for the right one, Mel needs a fiance and needs one quick.

A deal is struck, but will emotions and feelings remain out of it?

I enjoyed this novel, it was a very light read. However, I did skim read some of it because it had a predictability about it, not much was gripping me. I think what was missing from this novel was the secondary stories from some of the other characters. It's total focus was Mel and Tony and I felt that they would have been given more depth if we had some sort of interaction with other characters and their lives. Even Mel's mother is not very two-dimensional.

A light read for when you need something to enjoy but perhaps not get swept up in.

I love the blurb to this book "Curl up in The Cosy Coffee Shop of Promises with a late and a scone, the perfect antidote to a grey day! It's so true. It's one of those lovely comfy books that you long for when the weather may be a bit grim or feeling the grind from work.

Mel's dream of opening her own coffee shop have come true. She moved to sleepy Rabbit's Leap in Devon, and is happily running her business selling coffees and cakes to the locals. Until her mother, Hurricane Val, phones to say she's coming for a visit. Mel goes into panic mode. Her mother is a man eater and always trying to set poor Mel up with men. So she decides she needs a fiancé, which is easier said then done since her ex boyfriend, the vet, upped sticks and moved to Africa.

Tony is the owner and landlord of the villages pub The Bullion, and in desperate need of help. He needs someone to teach him how to cook so he can improve his pub menu. Mel spots an opportunity and does a deal with him; she'll ensure he has the best pub menu in the area and give him cooking lessons. In exchange for him to be her pretend fiancé to get her Mum off her back. The only issue is Tony is drop dead gorgeous, he's also the villages resident player. Can Mel resist his charms so she doesn't end up another notch on his bedpost or nursing a broken heart?

The story is an incredibly sweet, cosy, and gratifyingly light read, a lovely choice for when you want a dose of romance. Some of the jesting between Mel and Tony is quite funny. Although it is kind of predictable, you can't help but be captivated.

Ok, onto some nit picking. Although the book is set in Devon (England), I noticed a few words that aren't in common usage in the British Isles. Ute - I doubt many non Aussies/Kiwis would even know what a ute is. They're called pick up trucks in the U.K. I wouldn't know what a ute is either, apart from spending 9 years living in Australia. Sneakers (trainers), gumboots (wellington boots/Wellies/rainboots), cent (penny), bucks (quid/pound), lollies (sweets), and old pubs in Devon aren't made out of wood like in NZ/Oz, but of stone.

Sorry, I know it's a small and (incredibly) picky thing, however it's one of my peeves about authors who are from one country, yet write about another. As much as they think they may have researched and are knowledgeable about the books setting, little nuances can't help but creep in with words, phrases and how things differ from country to country. I guessed the writer was either Australian or New Zealander (she's a kiwi), so this is probably why these words sneaked in. I know this won't bother most people, it's just something I'm funny about as it can distract from the setting.

Saying that, The Cosy Coffee Shop of Promises is a cute little story, readers of chick lit and romance will adore it. Perfect for a quick read, or if you don't want to read anything with a complicated plot. It's not the best chick lit book I've read this year, although I will definitely keep an eye out for more books by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK - HQ Digital, for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Great story and a perfect read for a cold, snowy day. Goes well snuggled up with a big blanket and oversize mug of tea. Looking forward for more stories from Ms. Hailes.

Mel runs a coffee shop and when Tony who runs the Bullion, installs a coffee machine she is disgruntled. They come to an agreement and Tony finds himself agreeing to become a fiance for the duration of Mel's mother's stay. In return she's going to teach him how to cook a new menu to regenerate interest in the pub.

There is a spark of romance running throughout. Mel and Tony are lovely characters and Rabbits Leap sounds a wonderful place to live. The cakes and meals will make you feel hungry whilst reading- and some of the dishes sound very tasty.

A perfect storm of a story with heart, growth and humor, the little Devon town of Rabbit’s Leap has never met anyone like Mel, and the favored son Tony, is more known for his unwillingness to commit to anyone or anything but his pub, his sister, and his two nephews. Mel, in looking for her next place to be, found Rabbit’s Leap intriguing, far enough from the city to keep her mother’s interest low, with a reasonable space to rent for her café and a small apartment. She’s built her life around thinking what her mother would do, and then taking the opposite approach: tired of being always the 3rd or 4th wheel behind her mother’s desires and romances.

A phone call from her mother announcing her impending invasion has Mel at the end of her rope. Hoping to forget her troubles for a moment, she heads to the local pub to drown her sorrows in a glass of wine, when she spots a brand new coffee maker on the bar. Furious that Tony would try to impinge on her business by serving coffee, she does her best to dissuade him. But, Tony bought the machine in a last ditch effort to bring custom to the business. Asking Mel to teach him to cook, updating his menu and giving his pub a chance for increased business, he’s surprised at the response, and agrees to Mel’s conditions: no coffee until the café closes and agreeing to pose as her fiancé for her mother’s visit.

Oh this was a fun read: from Tony’s true enjoyment of Mel’s company and heart, to her struggles with the attraction that she feels for him against her own belief that “people leave”, she’s able to see beneath the ‘ladies man’ reputation that Tony has, to the heart of a man, still dealing with grief from the loss of his father, growing up without a mother, and tied to promises made to keep everything the same. When Val (Mel’s mother) arrives in town, his feelings for Mel are more apparent, because his protective nature takes over, as he hadn’t understood why Mel was so closed off, so guarded, and so insecure.

Beautifully written, Hailes brings a story that is perfectly balanced with characters that come off the pages, and bring their whole selves forward. Issues that are both easy to understand and empathize with, the strong bonds of friends and family, and some growing up moments for Mel, Tony and Val all contribute to make a quick reading and wholly satisfactory story. A wonderful debut, Hailes is certainly an author to watch on my list.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

The Cosy Coffee Shop Of Promises is a really cute, sweet romance following two small town business rivals, turned reluctant allies, who tread the fine line between love and hate until the scales finally tip the initially reluctant pair into a picture-perfect Happily-Ever-After.

In the small rural town of Rabbit’s Leap, local pub owner Tony McArthur is struggling to keep The Bullion, the pub he inherited from his father, afloat. He has a brilliant idea to bring in more customers and diversify his offerings – buy a coffee machine and start selling cups of joe to his patrons.

Local café owner Mel Sullivan is none too pleased when she lays eyes on the shiny new coffee machine sitting on the end of Tony’s bar. Mel’s already dealing with an unexpected, and unwanted, visit from her troublesome mother; she doesn’t need to deal with Tony stealing her struggling café’s few customers.

Before all heck can break out, the two business rivals come to an understanding – Mel will help Tony revitalize his pub, without stealing her customers, and Tony will help Mel keep her mother off her back by pretending to be Mel’s loving fiancé.

Tony and Mel are both surprisingly deep characters with Tony’s family obligations hanging like a weight around his neck and Mel’s troubled childhood causing her to be so closed off to allowing anyone in. Watching the two of them fight the unexpected attraction developing between them and their slow, inevitable slide into romantic feelings really had me investing in their happiness. The burn felt sllloooow though, like I was ready to knock some sense into some heads kind of slow, so I was thrilled when it all worked out. Mel’s mom, “Hurricane Val”, was my least favorite part of the book. She added a lot of depth to Mel and her struggles, but as a character she just had no saving qualities to me, as a mother she was disaster, and by the end I just couldn’t buy any kind of redemption for her.

The Cosy Coffee Shop Of Promises was a nice way to spend a comfy afternoon. Once I got over my initial disappointment that there was only a small amount of time spent in the actual coffee shop (I felt like the vast majority of the time was spent in the bar), I really enjoyed this cozy little romance. I would absolutely read more by this author.

Entertaining quick read (it's really a novella) that's old fashioned in the perspective that Mel needs a fiance to deal with Val (seriously?) That said, it's breezy and you'll like it if you like chick lit. THanks to netgalley for the arc.

Clue's in the title - this is one cosy read indeed! I enjoyed Mel's feistiness and empathised with her vulnerability. There were no great shocks in the story, it was a tad predictable, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it is an enjoyable relaxing read.

The first thing I have to say is that the characters were so much fun to get to know, Mel and Tony had a lot of chemistry even if they were both ignoring it. With both characters determined to keep their businesses running I enjoyed seeing them team up, each with their own agenda. Tony to inject some fresh ideas into the pub and Mel with the sole purpose of keeping her mum off her back. At times I do wish Mel would have stood up for herself more but in a way I can understand her reluctance. Valerie definitely knew how to get around her daughter and make her drop the subject pretty quickly.

This story was family orientated with Tony wanting to keep the pub going for his father and also with Mel having issues with her mum. It's easy to sympathise with Mel over her mum Valerie and how she can be pretty bad at times. Her mother would be hard to ignore and reason with so Mel just goes along with things to keep the peace.

Before I knew it I had sailed through this book, the story is lighthearted but definitely has a fun side too. Oh and can I please try one of Mel's scones? As soon as I heard about them I wished I could try one.

Light hearted and fun with charming characters!

Four and a half stars from me!

Thank you to HQ Digital & Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

4 - "There's only enough room in this village for one coffee machine..." Stars!

Another day, another enjoyable read based in and around a teashop. This time it’s in the sleepy country town of Rabbits Leap, and our owner Mel, has got a bit of a problem with town Publican (and ladies’ man) Tony.

"There’s not a girl in the world who could make me settle down."

See Mel’s business like Tony’s is struggling, The Bullion is approaching bankruptcy and Tony is desperate. After their initial falling out, Tony feeling a bit guilty attempts to rebuild a few bridges, and ends up agreeing to pretend to be Mel’s fiancé, when her mother (un)affectionately known as Hurricane Val blows into town.

"Think of yourself as a little mystery that I would like to solve."

As you would expect manic and mayhem ensues as the pair attempt to keep up the ruse, especially as the town as a whole are just as surprised at their engagement as Mel’s mother is. But our pair find that working together to resurrect the pub, as well as keep Mel's coffee shop ticking over builds a friendship, and offers revelations about their pasts that makes them both start reassessing the whole fakeness of their relationship.

"Don’t be angry for me. Or sad for me. Just be here for me…"

Although still a relatively light read, there was a depth to these characters, both of them are trying to move on with their futures while still holding onto baggage from their pasts, and through the course of the story, each of them reveals a little more of themselves to the other, you start to see that the façade they have for the public is definitely not the full picture. And while one is ready to embrace the newfound feelings and connection between them, the other allows the past and their fears of rejection to push them firmly away.

It was time to embrace a life full of colour. To not let her past darken her future.

I pretty much read this book in one sitting, for me that is high praise in itself. The Cosy Coffee Shop of Promises looks to be the first book by Kellie Hailes, I hope to read more from her in the future.

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was my pleasure to provide the above honest review.