Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery - Jenny Colgan

I adore Jenny Colgan' books. They're feel-good, heart-warming escapist reading and they never disappoint. I'm always eager to read Colgan's newest book. The latest North American release is Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery.

If you're already a Jenny Colgan fan, you'll be delighted to know that this is the third book in the Little Beach trilogy. Now, you don't have to have read previous books in this series to enjoy this latest - but you'd appreciate the story more if you had.

I adore the (imagined) Cornish town Colgan had used as a setting. Mount Polbearne is (happily) cut off from the mainland twice a day by the tides and is populated by an eclectic group of townsfolk. It's somewhere I could cheerfully live. Polly is the owner of the Little Beach Street Bakery. She, her boyfriend Huckle and pet puffin Neil make their home in a repurposed  lighthouse. Huck is ready to take the next step in their lives, but Polly is hesitant to change the good thing they have going.

Polly is looking forward to a quiet Christmas Day with just Huckle, but of course that's not meant to be. Her friend Kerensa is having a personal crisis, her husband Reuben asks Polly to take on a crazy amount of catering (and truthfully she needs the money), a piece of Polly's past makes itself known and there's trouble between her and Huck. Can all of this be resolved? In time for Christmas? As always, the warmth, friendship and romance elements shine through. Colgan does take on a few heavier topics in this latest - and handles them very well.

Polly is a wonderful lead character - warm, kind, thoughtful and more - just the kind of person you'd love to have in your circle of friends. Huck is pretty much the perfect boyfriend. But it's Neil who takes best supporting player!

Descriptions of baking and baked goods will have your mouth watering. And might be a catalyst for starting your holiday baking! Colgan includes recipes for some of Polly's creations.

This is the time of the year when I enjoy seasonal reading, cosying up with a feel-good read, a cup of tea and a warm blanket. Delightful, inviting and heartwarming, Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery was the perfect start to my holiday reading. In the author's notes, Colgan indicates this may be the last Little Beach book. I'll miss Polly and company (especially Neil!), but know I'll love whatever and whoever Colgan writes next. Read an excerpt of Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery.

"Jenny Colgan is the New York Times-bestselling author of numerous novels, including The Bookshop on the Corner, Little Beach Street Bakery, and Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery, all international bestsellers. Jenny is married with three children and lives in London and Scotland." Find out more about Jenny at her website, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

See what others on the TLC book tour thought - full schedule can be found here.

I received this book for review from HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.