Connie delivers prepackaged meals to the residents of Lavender Hill retirement flats and sometimes she brings self – made cakes as well, stopping by for a chat and a cup of tea. When one of the residents dies, asking for her ashes to be scattered at one of the Christmas markets in Germany, Connie doesn’t hesitate and, together with an eclectic group of the residents, in a minibus, they start the long journey abroad.
But Connie has also her own reasons for going to Germany. Being single, she has been internet dating and she has met The One – at least according to her meticulously run notes Heinrich ticks all the boxes and now she wants to meet him in person. Only she doesn’t know that the trip is going to be full of surprises for all of them. But are they of the nice sort?

The beginning of this book was a little confusing, we were thrown into the whirlwind of actions and information and it took some time before the story set on the right pace and path and we were able to get a picture of who, why and where. There was a great bunch of characters in this story however they all didn’t feel to real or realistic. The group of octogenarians Connie was travelling with consisted of some really colourful and delightful characters, however they lacked in development. Connie herself was a character I couldn’t completely warm to, at the beginning I thought she must be much younger that she was in fact – she seemed too immature for her age. I mean, would you really think, after a bit of chatting on the internet and a brief meeting or two, that you would be immediately engaged to be married?
I also think that the characters were simply a bit overdone for the needs of this story, they were either brilliantly kind and nice or selfish and patronizing, so you really have to hate Heinrich with all the aspects of his life being planned, and love William, the struggling but incredibly fair baker.

The author has beautifully portrayed the old German town where the story is set and I loved her descriptions of the Christmas market – the Christkindlmarkt. They made my heart grow because I know those markets very, very well – living for more than 15 years in Germany I’ve visited some of the oldest and most popular ones and Jo Thomas has truly captured the essence of them. It also made my heart cry, those beautiful and vivid descriptions, because this year, as we all know, there won’t be any Christmas markets because of the Covid pandemy. At least I could immerse myself in Jo Thomas’s gorgeous descriptions of the atmosphere and the surroundings.

This book was, however, for my liking too simple – I mean, it had everything that a book needs, some twists and turns and of course troubles in paradise, but there was not enough depth in it, it was too superficial and predictable, and by predictable I mean not only the end but actually every single scene. And I’ve learnt that I can expect much, much more from Jo Thomas and it makes me sad that her last two offerings showed – for me, at least – a significant decline in quality. Don’t get me wrong, pretty please, it was a lovely, romantic and vividly written love – story, ticking all the boxes – but nothing more.

Nevertheless, do not feel put out by this cynic – as I seem to be in minority and people enjoy this book. Maybe I expected too much, maybe I wanted too much, not sure. I don’t mean that I didn’t like this book, it just didn’t live up to my expectations. But if you need an easy, light – hearted Christmas story that will put you in a festive mood and make you hungry (the descriptions of the food!!!) then don’t look further, „Finding Love at the Christmas Market“ might be this what you’re looking for.

After becoming single Connie doesn’t want to take chances with her heart and starts her online dating search with a tick list of requirements, leading her to Germany.

Taking the group of pensioners she has made friends with through work, they embark on a Christmas visit to Germany. Connie and the group of pensioners throw themselves into the Christmas scene of the markets, the nativity, ice skating and fulfilling each of their own Christmas wishes.

Meeting Heinrich her online date in person is daunting for Connie as they embark on finding out if they are the perfect fit...until she meets William.

When you learn that life and love is not simply a check list that goes to plan, only then do you feel love. With the snow falling will Connie get her christmas wish.

My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for a copy of “Finding Love At The Christmas Market “ for an honest review.
I saved this to read until nearer Christmas , to get me in the festive mood , and it didn’t disappoint.
A feel good read , without any real surprises , but everything worked out just as you hoped it would.
A perfect festive read to cheer you up and take you to a foreign setting even if you haven’t been able to physically do this year !

I love festive themed books so I was sold from the off with this novel. It took me a little while to warm to some of the characters and the story was pretty predictable from early on. That being said it had enough festive cheer to keep me interested and was a great start to my festive reading pile.

This years festive reads have been amazing, in previous years more often than not our teasing seasonal book jackets and our fabulously festive titles lure us in only to find barely a whiff of festivity inside but not this year, they are all oozing the festivity feels including my latest read Finding Love at the Christmas Market by Jo Thomas.

Jo Thomas has really blown me away with her last two novels and has crept up there with my favourite authors. This book is fast paced and packed full of love, friendship, hope and cheer. The descriptive writing style was bad for my waistline, I felt as though I was walking through the market and into the Bakery with our characters inhaling all the sweet heady rich smells from delicious warm gingerbread to the rich sweet hot chocolate all making my mouth water.

The traditional Bakery and the wooden cabins for all the stalls to hold their festive offerings at the market were so enchanting and I am so desperate to visit my first Christmas market now so Covid could you kindly do one now please!

Connie was a wonderful main character with a heart of gold who deserved a real chance at love and to find someone who will cherish her and have the same interests to live a wonderful life together and I enjoyed watching her journey to happiness.

The love and passion Connie and WiIliam both have for baking is infectious and I would have loved to see the masterpiece that they made.

This book ticked all the boxes for me and will definitely be a book I will be gifting to friends this Christmas. I absolutely loved this book and I am excited to see what this author has lined up for us next.

This was definitely a very Christmas feeling story, with a trip to Germany, Christmas markets, ice-skating, snow, gingerbread houses and snow!  Really lovely feeling to the whole book.

Connie works in the UK for a food delivery company that delivers to a retirement home, where she has made friends with the elderly residents, and when one dies she asks for her ashes to be scattered 'somewhere Christmassy in my home country', so with Connie driving the mini-bus a group of the residents end up in a lovely little village in Germany for a break, but also for Connie to meet someone she's been chatting to via an online dating app.

I did find Connie a bit annoying, in that she had a check list for her 'ideal man' and didn't want to veer from it, mainly due to the fact that she'd been taken in by someone previously online and lost all her savings by 'loaning' it to him... and of course not getting it back.  Really?!  She's a 40-something mother and really should  have had more sense.

But the residents were so lovely, and the setting was so Christmassy, there was a really lovely feeling to the whole book and a lovely romance in the end for Connie too, just a warm hug of a book!

EXCERPT: We reach the end of the narrow street and look out on the market square in front of us. It's like a Christmas card, just as I imagined. A quiet town, with tall half-timbered buildings all around, dark wood beams, tiny windows and very pointy red roofs. There are little chalet-type huts all the way around the square and even a carousel with painted horses and carriages. It's beautiful and so peaceful. It actually brings tears to my eyes. Maybe it's tiredness, but suddenly I'm gripped with fear. Part of me wants to turn around and head home. What if Heinrich is nothing like he is on Messenger? What if . . . what if he isn't like I've imagined him to be? What if this is one big mistake, like last time?

ABOUT 'FINDING LOVE AT THE CHRISTMAS MARKET': Residential-home caterer Connie has had one online-dating disaster too many. Hurt in the past and with her son to consider, now she's feeling hesitant. Then one of Connie's residents sets her up on a date at a beautiful German Christmas market - with the promise she'll take a mini-bus full of pensioners along with her...

Amongst the twinkling lights and smell of warm gingerbread in the old market square, Connie heads off on her date with a checklist of potential partner must-haves. Baker Henrich ticks all the boxes, but when Connie meets Henrich's rival William, she starts to wonder if ticking boxes is the answer.

Will Connie's wish for love this Christmas come true, and if so - with who?

MY THOUGHTS: A lovely simple romantic Christmas read, with no surprises. There were things I liked, and things I didn't . . .

There is a lot of dialogue at the beginning, so I found it very hard to get a sense of the characters. Information is doled out in little parcels throughout the story, but it would have been nice to have a little of it at the start.

The author portrays the old German town beautifully, capturing the atmosphere of the surroundings. Particularly enticing were her descriptions of the food! I could smell the spices, taste the hot chocolate made with real chocolate, not the powder! I was busily looking up recipes as I read. The final publication will have recipes included, but as I read an ARC, this section was blank.

I didn't feel that the author had the same dexterity when it came to the characters. None of the characters seemed particularly real to me. There was the potential for some delightful characters amongst Connie's group, unfortunately it wasn't developed. I couldn't connect with Connie at all. She seemed very immature thinking that after chatting online, and a brief meeting, that she would be engaged to be married. The two contenders for Connie's heart are as different as they could be, diametric opposites in fact even down to their appearance, which didn't work for me. I guessed the outcome from the start, which was more than a little disappointing. I would have liked a little more uncertainty in the outcome, some serious will she/won't she moments. Fritz, the deaf dog, had the biggest character of all
- he was definitely my favourite! This read was a little too sweet and predictable for this cynic.

If you are looking for a sweet, Christmas romance, this will swell your stocking.

⭐⭐⭐.2

#FindingLoveattheChristmasMarket #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Hello, I’m Jo Thomas. I write romances about food, love, family and fun and believe every story should have a happy ending. Welcome to my world.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Corgi for providing a digital ARC of Finding Love at the Christmas Market by Jo Thomas for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

A competent but ultimately rather boring christmas story. This is ok for a cosy read but sadly very forgettable. Thank you Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Connie goes to the German Christmas market to meet her online date, and also takes a mini bus full of pensioners, each with their own life stories. Will her online romance bring her happiness?. A lovely story to curl up with on a cold winter's day.

I love a feel good story. Add a christmas theme and I'm sold.
I enjoyed this read. With a quirky cast of characters and quite an unconventional take on the typical romance story, I was captivated by the setting and enchantment of Christmas markets in Germany. Just great for starting to ramp up the festive vibes.

First of all I would like to say thank you to have been chosen to review this book.

This book was a very festive read I could picture myself there in the story loved the storyline was such a feel good story.

I found this to be a delightful festive read with a touch of magical romance. A wonderful read full of interesting characters, I absolutely adored the pensioners so much , the author’s writing style was wonderful really made you feel like you were there. Overall, a wonderful festive read

This book is without a doubt the perfect festive read!.
The storyline was so beautifully plotted it kept my attention from beginning to end.
Jo Watson brought the setting to life in my mind, I could picture myself walking through the little christmas market , this really added to the story for me.
The relationships throughout this book were beautiful. I adored the friendships that Connie had with the residents of the care home, and watching their friendships bloom throughout the book was heartwarming.
And of course, the romantic element was joyous to follow too. Connie has to try and decide between her head and her heart who is better for her, and I have to say that the ending was everything I had hoped for.

A gorgeous, festive read that left me feeling all warm inside. I loved it!

A truly festive read with snow, carols, gingerbread, Christmas markets, skating and Christmas jumpers....with a touch of magical romance.

This heart warming tale has everything needed to take the reader on a virtual trip to a Christmas market, bringing back memories and tastes of markets visited in Christmas's past.

Romance, Christmas memories and great characters spread the real meaning of the festive season.

I really struggled with this book. When I started, it felt too much like I was in the middle of the action, like the book had started at 35 per cent rather than at the beginning. I never got into it from that, unfortunately.

This book is full on festive and it’s wonderful!

Connie and her friends from the residential home take a trip to Germany to visit a Christmas market and for Connie to go on a date that Pearl, one of the residents have set her up on. Whilst they are there they participate in many Christmas rituals.

Finding Love at the Christmas Market is a great book to read to get you in the festive spirit. It is lighthearted and full of fun.

Connie is a great character that many people can relate to. She has gone to Germany to go on a date with Heinrich. Having been burned by online dates in the past she has gone prepared with a checklist.

Connie has to go through a battle of head and heart when she also meets Henrich’s rival, William. Both bakers in a local town that are pitched against each other.

The group of characters from the residential home that Connie takes with her to Germany are a great bunch. They bring different personalities but they’re also got their different reasons for why they have fallen out of love with Christmas.

On their trip to Germany they all find a deeper friendship with each other and remember why it was that they used to love Christmas.

I highly recommend you add this to your Christmas reading list.

Now someone pass me the gingerbread and gluhwein!

Residential-home caterer Connie has had one online-dating disaster too many. Hurt in the past and with her son to consider, now she’s feeling hesitant. Then one of Connie’s residents sets her up on a date at a beautiful German Christmas market – with the promise she’ll take a mini-bus full of pensioners along with her…

Amongst the twinkling lights and smell of warm gingerbread in the old market square, Connie heads off on her date with a checklist of potential partner must-haves. Baker Henrich ticks all the boxes, but when Connie meets Henrich’s rival William, she starts to wonder if ticking boxes is the answer.

Will Connie’s wish for love this Christmas come true, and if so – with who?

I have loved the authors previous books so was excited to read this.

This ticked all the boxes for a feel good Christmas book and lets face it - we all need a bit of magic .

I was transported to the German christmas market with its sights and sounds. Jos' descriptive and creative writing sets the scene and makes it come alive.

Fantastic characters and a array of personalities. A story of finding who you are and what your dream is. Surely its with Henrich who is a great catch….or is it?

A beautiful ,heartwarming and uplifting book. This is bound to have you reaching for a mince pie and hot chocolate.

Connie’s husband left her once their son went off to Uni, and she works at a retirement complex. Some of the residents set her up on a date with Heinrich but it means travelling to Germany to visit a Christmas market. Heinrich ticks all the boxes on paper but can he tick Connie’s “love” box?

I love Christmas, and especially traditional German Christmas markets, so this book was perfect for me. Highly recommended for getting you in a Christmassy mood!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

This is the perfect romantic novel to read at Christmas to warm your heart. It's not just about a middle aged single mother looking for and maybe finding love at Christmas but a whole group of elderly people who for various reasons hate Christmas, rediscovering the love and magic of Christmas.

Single mother Connie has come to know the group of elderly residents in the Lavender Hill retirement flats in England through her job delivering prepackaged meals to them. She also makes cakes for them and always has time to stop for a chat or a cup of tea. Sadly one of their much loved residents has died, requesting that her ashes be scattered at one of the Christmas markets she loved so much as a child and Connie is driving the whole group to Germany in a minibus.

Connie has her own reasons for going to Germany. She has met a lovely German man through on-line dating and has decided to meet him to see if he ticks all her boxes and could be the one she is looking for. He runs a large modern bakery in Germany and as Connie loves baking this could be a good fit for her and as her son who recently started University will be away snowboarding with his girlfriend over Christmas she hasn't been looking forward to Christmas on her own. Most of her group of elderly people also don't enjoy Christmas anymore and miss the warm family Christmases of their younger years.

After checking into their guesthouse in the old part of town Connie and the group find the most delightful Christmas market right outside their door but learn that this this may be its last year as the bigger, flashier market in the new town with fun park rides and modern music is now more popular. To have a future, the owner of the charming little bakery in the old town will need to win the prize money for baking the best cake. Connie's group decide to make this a great Christmas experience by listing all the things they love about Christmas and attempting to fit them all in.

The gorgeous cosy atmosphere of the market in the old town, with the spicy scents and taste of the food and drink for sale, really does bring back the memory of some wonderful Christmas markets I've visited in Europe. I loved the way the elderly visitors rekindled all their memories of happy Christmases spent with their families and wholeheartedly through themselves into every activity. Connie's love of baking also helps to reignite her love of Christmas when she gets to make gingerbread and may just help her to find love and a little bit of magic at the Christmas market.

I have only read a couple of books by Jo Thomas before, but I have enjoyed them a lot. I was invited to read an early preview copy of this book from Netgalley and the Publisher.
I absolutely love reading Christmas books, they are often so warm and cosy. This year especially I think a little Christmas cheer is very much needed.
I love Christmas Markets, I often go to the one in Bath, but this year it is sadly but understandably cancelled.
This book follows the antics of Connie, and the residents of a residential home as they take a trip to a German Christmas Market.
Germany is very well known for its famous Christmas Markets. This book is very evocative, the sights, the smells, the foods. The imagery is very real and provides a much needed escapism.
The elderly characters are lovely and very likeable. The romance is a little unrealistic, but the book is well written and heartwarming. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I am definitely looking forward to reading more books by Jo Thomas.