I love a Christmas romance and can read them at anytime of the year, especially at the end of the summer when I’m counting down the days to Christmas! Christmas at Carly’s Cupcakes was a lovely warm and cosy read. Carly owns her own cake shop and employs her younger sister Bethany alongside her. Unfortunately Bethany is not really able to help with the intricacies of the cake decorating work that are the major orders coming into the shop. In addition Bethany has not long been recovering from being stabbed at her previous place of employment, so is very down on herself and her ability to do things. In addition to trying to meet all her Christmas orders Carly is supporting Bethany as a Bridesmaid at her up an coming wedding to Joshua.
This is a wonderful novel about family and friends and the love and support they provide and that if we really want something special for Christmas it might actually happen..

This book is so cute and festive! I loved the characters, the festive theme and the beautiful relationships in the book. Jessica Redland is very much a feel-good author and one to watch.

This was a really easy read all about Carly running her own cake shop and the issues she has with her younger sister. Story line was predictable but who doesn’t love a happy ending on a Christmas backing.

Lovely feel good book. Had me hooked from the beginning. Lovely characters. Good plot. The book was very well written and flowed well.

This will make a lovely festive read layering the year

Christmas at Carly’s cupcakes by Jessica Redland

A lovely well written tale from Jessica with great character a helpful sister who can be a bit of a liability in Carlys shop.

This book is a great mix of twists and turns there are quite a few sensitive issues in this book that are dealt with beautifully and the characters are wonderful. The struggles and lovely relationship of the sisters brought laughter and tears throughout this book. Great read. 4.5/ 5

Another lovely Jessica Redland book and great to be back in Whitsborough. Carly is a lovely character and you take to her instantly so are rooting for her happy ending from the start. Great warmhearted Christmas story that you won't be able to put down

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

This is the perfect Christmas read. I love books set in bakeries or cafés and this was a fantastic version. You'll find yourself reaching for a cupcake in no time.

I loved the relationship between Carly and her sister Bethany. It felt like such a realistic sibling relationship.

It also has a gorgeous childhood friends to lovers story.

I loved the addition of a character who had served in the military, and I felt their struggles with PTSD was portrayed wonderfully.

Great story, really easy to get into, everything you could expect from a Christmas book.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Carly runs her shop with help from her sister Bethany. Bethany is a bit of a liability in the shop but Carly is always helping her, building her confidence. Liam is the person who has always built Carly up. They have been best friends for years but nothing more, however Carly wants more but is scared of losing their relationship.

This book is another feel good read as we see Carly struggle to admit her true feelings while helping her sister to believe in herself more.

A great read.

Christmas at Carly’s Cupcakes

by Jessica Redland

A sweet holiday tale with some sibling troubles, an upcoming wedding, PTSD, and friends who could be so much more. Those are the threads found in Christmas at Carly’s Cupcakes by Jessica Redland, Carly started a cupcake business four years ago. Her much younger sister Bethany has been working for her, but she is klutzy and prone to mistakes that are costly. Carly and Bethany are both wondering if the cupcake shop is a good place for Bethany, but Carly is driven to take care of her sister who is also second-guessing her upcoming marriage. Meanwhile, Carly starts to realize that her very long-term best friend, Liam, on a tour in Afghanistan, is possibly the love she has been denying herself.

There are several unexpected twists as the countdown to the wedding and Christmas draw closer. You’ll enjoy watching the tangled threads unravel as you read this charming story and root for the likable characters to solve their problems.

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Category: General Fiction (Adult), Women’s Fiction

Publication: August 13, 2020—Boldwood Books

Memorable Lines:

And there it was—the exact moment I realised I’d been in love with my best friend for years. Nobody else I’d met had held my interest because Liam already held my heart and I’d never even realised it.

As I stepped out of the front door, I inhaled the delicious aroma of chimney smoke. I loved that smell. There was something about real fires that was so intrinsically Christmassy. I paused for a moment to look up at the white lights strung between the shops, like stars in the inky sky. It was the beautiful simplicity that made them so enchanting to look at.

I felt a pang of guilt again that I’d worked beside her for months and had been too busy to notice when the laughter had ceased until it became too late.

Oh, this is such a lovely book with a wonderful feel to it. I found myself giggling some moments & brushing tears away at others as the touching re-telling of the story featuring Carly & her sister, Bethany, worked its festive magic.
A story told many times before but in such an enjoyable way full of warmth and featuring interesting, well-formed characters: Carly and Liam were brought together having spent five years being mercilessly bullied at school, forming a true & firm friendship. Eventually as the two grow older, eighteen year old Carly realises her feelings run deeper than friendship but can’t bring herself to declare her love to Liam. Years pass, Liam has joined the army while Carly opens up a cake shop, yet their friendship is ongoing. There have been so many missed chances until Carly decided there comes a time when it’s time to take a deep breath and take a leap of faith. Liam is home from Afghanistan for Christmas and this story is based during the run up to Christmas, both before and after Liam returns. Interspersed between Carly’s story is that of her sister, Bethany, younger and unable to find a career path that is right for her she is trying to overcome a deeply traumatic experience. Bethany’s storyline is written in a sensitive and thoughtful way. Despite it featuring some heavy issues Bethany’s storyline is handled in a way that does not detract from the overall lighthearted feel to the book, striking a balance between not bringing the overall feel down but also not being flippant about things.
A lovely book full of friendship, family and romance (and cake!) sparkling with Christmas magic.

This is the perfect book to read around christmas time! The setting is really christmassy with snow and decorations, the story is sooo magical and adorable and the characters are so nice! This book is about sisterhood, entrepreneurship, bullying, friendship and of course love! The romance in this book is so nice! I absolutely adored this part! So if you are looking for a nice christmas romance, you can pick up this book! You won't be disappointed!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Boldwood books for my Copy of Christmas at Carly's Cupcakes by Jessica Redland. It published August 13, 2020.
I devoured this sweet book! I absolutely am a sucker for books set in any sort of cafe/bakery/eatery, and this book really delivers! A cake shop? Everything sounds so delicious.
I really related to Carly, as I also had a best friend who was in the military that I loved! Another thing I really liked about this book is how delicately it treated PTSD. I feel like the author has a lot of compassion for and understanding of it.
I cannot wait to read more from this author! I definitely recommend this!

This is a lovely, Christmassy story, with everything you would expect from a festive read. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Christmas at Carly’s Cupcakes was another book by Jessica Redland that I loved. A great escape from the current situation that hooked me in from the first few pages. Throw in a Christmas book and it’s a win win for me. Hard to put down, I had to keep reading to find out how it would finish and read in one day. I loved it.

This was such a delightful, fast read between Carly and her younger sister, Bethany. I absolutely adored both of these characters; Carly was the calm sister who had it all together, whereas Bethany was the hectic sister who never believed she could do anything right and labelled herself a failure at every giving time. This is my first time visiting Castle Street and I couldn't have felt more a part of the community.

I loved this book so much, I read it in the space of just a couple of hours. It was a gorgeous, festive read, filled with delicious cupcakes, hot chocolate and just the right amount of romance between Carly and her best friend, Liam. Jessica really just nails it every single time with her stories, I absolutely can not get enough. I'll see you on the other side with my review on Tara's story in Starry Skies Over The Chocolate Pot Cafe!

Its always nice to revisit somewhere you have previously loved and this is the first part of my reviews of christmas on Castle street.

Christmas at Carly's Cupcakes is a wonderfully festive delight that makes the reader feel welcomed, warmed and part of the commnity.

Carly has two christmas wishes this year, 1. that her sister Bethany can see she isnt a failure and have the wedding of her dreams and 2. for her best friend Liam to come home for christmas. Thats all she really wants, and i dont think she is actually asking for that much. Whilst she waits to see what christmas will bring Carly throws herself into her work and cakes galore but with her sister a newly hired member of the team, things are proving a little tough.

All Bethany has to do is look at a cake or even a small patch of icing and its like it explodes in the kitchen, she should not be near it. However Bethany has had a tough time lately and already feels like a failure and Carly is worried about letting her go so battles through. Yet Bethany is holding more in than anyone realises.
Carly is also battling her inner turmoil and feelings for Liam and she doesnt know if he feels the same, but after a swift talking to she decides this christmas is the time to tell him.

I loved this little festive read, it had the perfect dose of cupcakes, hot chocolate and fairy lights with romance bubbling under the surface and emotional family connections. Its one to start off the festive season with. If you like your romance with snowflakes and cupcakes, this is the one for you.

I came across Jessica’s books a while ago and enjoyed them from the start. Jessica has an interesting writing style , the reader is drawn in from the start and the reader almost feels like she is part of the story. The only problem is that real life is put on hold as you escape into 5he book.
I feel like Castle Street in Whitsborough Bay is a real place, Jessica’s descriptions are that impressive!
The book is beautifully written, great main characters and a book you don’t want to end ! I would recommend this book to anyone
Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Jessica for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Wonderful heartwarming story. Good strong characters and a nice storyline. Lovely easy reading, great for getting into the Christmas spirit.