You are in for a real treat with this book.
There are a few books in the Comfort Food Cafe series but they can be read as a standalone. I have read a couple of them and always get excited to return to Budbury. The fact that the books are set in Dorset is a big bonus for me as I grew up going on holiday there and will visit whenever I can. I love the warmth that the story gives off and you truly feel part of the family. This story has a different person for each chapter and you really feel close to the family and friends adding to that lots of tasty food and romance. You are in for a real treat with this book.
Delightful, uplifting, heartwarming and totally addictive – you must read this book.
I hadn’t read any of the previous books in this series and I wasn’t expecting too much from this book, but I loved it. I want to live in Budbury. This is a book to read on a stormy day when you can sit in front of a warm fire with a nice cuppa and just enjoy. It’s as cosy as a warm snuggly blanket. I liked the characterisation and the Katie’s backstory gave a depth to her character that I hadn’t been expecting. I thought her depiction was spot on. Her son, Saul, is a little darling. This is a great book and I will definitely be reading the rest of the series now. This one can be read (and thoroughly enjoyed, as I did) as a standalone story. I can’t wait to find out more about the other characters.
Katie Seddon escapes to the coastal village of Bradbury with her son Saul. She has managed to keep herself to herself until this fateful Christmas when she things change....
I really wanted to like this book, and whilst it had it's good points - some great characters and an interesting storyline it just didn't engage me. Perhaps because it is the latest in a series, this time focusing on Katie Seddon who has moved with her son to this coastal village. I couldn't quite keep up with the introduction of characters already known to other readers and the story didn't quite capture Christmas for me. But for those who enjoy the series, I'd imagine they'll enjoy it.
Good story but you really need to read the books in the right order to understand what is going on.
Since she was a small child, Katie Seddon has made a habit of running away. Now living with her young son, Saul, on the Dorset coast, she is once again fighting the urge to flee. On the surface, she has settled in well and has a lot of friends, but she still seems unable to let anyone get too close. This is understandable, up to a point, as she has been deeply scarred by her upbringing. However, Katie takes it to such extremes that it becomes unbelievable and self-destructive. Were it not for her son, she probably would have taken off again, but even she can see it would be harmful to take him away from the life he loves.
It was only after I had finished reading A Gift from the Comfort Food Café that I discovered it was part of a well-established series; this explained why I found it so difficult to work out who all the people were. The story is well written, but I found Katie almost too irritating to read. Saul is my favourite; he makes up for his mother’s shortcomings and everyone loves him. The book deals with some fairly serious subjects in a realistic and sympathetic way, but you really need to read the books in the right order.