This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

I have not read any books from the Willoughby Close series, but I enjoyed this book and had no issues at all. Olivia James is the owner of a small tea shop/cafe. Olivia's mother recently retired, moved into her own place and gave the shop to Olivia. She is trying to increase business by adding cupcakes to her offerings. One day Simon Blacklock stumbles into the shop and ends up buying a cupcake, in fact he buys one every day. He is a bit shy and quirky and it doesn't take long before Olivia finds herself looking forward to his visits. As they get to know each other the attraction builds but something is holding Simon back.

I enjoyed this book, but it does have some heavier subject matter in a book whose cover makes it appear to be cutesy. It has enough Christmas in it for this season of festive reads, but there is more to it. It has some heartbreaking moments, but it ends on an upbeat heartwarming storyline. Olivia and Simon are such likable characters and their meeting and getting to know each other was sweet and not rushed. Both of them have issues in their lives that are sad, but sharing them makes them stronger. A sweet story overall, with important issues.

A good holiday story! Struggled a bit with some of the British lingo. I like that she writes real people with real problems.

The story is about Olivia James, a singleton approaching forty, who bakes for her living, and seems to have nothing other than the bakery and flat, a mother who isn't the same since she moved into a retirement centre, a few female friends and a psycho cat called Dr Jekyll - I had one of of those so can relate to the unpredictable moods and behaviour.

Olivia has thrown herself into keeping the bakery going, but is also wondering if the bakery is all she will ever have, when Simon Blacklock enters her shop. She is instantly aware of her attraction to him.

I was expecting a light, whimsical, Christmas romance but instead found the story rather slow-paced as it tackles difficult subjects such as depression and dementia - and does this very well - along side Olivia's romantic hopes for a future with Simon. Whilst Olivia is an interesting and realistic character, I didn't really warm to her or Simon, and I didn't feel invested in their story.

Cupcakes for Christmas is a well-written and plausible happy ending story, but not the uplifting romantic story I was expecting.

I read a bunch of Christmas novels towards the end of this year, and this one wasn't my favorite. I felt like it was trying to do too much and to tackle too many topics at once, and there was no real character development. I don't regret reading it, but I think it is a bit forgettable.

This was a really sweet book. And absolutely PERFECT to get you into the Christmas spirit! It's just what I needed to get me even more excited for Christmastime. This was a short and easy book to get through, but still managed to cover some serious topics. I think everything was handled really well. This definitely could've been way more fleshed out but I know that's not the intention of the book. This was super cute and such a quick read!

Can a woman who lives on the sidelines finally be the star of her own romance? Olivia James runs a tea shop and bakery in Wychwood-on-Lea where she helps all of those around her find their fairy tale endings, while she is alone and questioning the choices that she's made. When she meets Simon Blacklock, a new repeat (and handsome) customer, she begins to let herself imagine the type of life she could have if she is willing to risk it all for love. I loved the characters and the author's descriptions of the village and Olivia's confections.

Olivia has taken over the teashop in Wychwood-on-Lea from her mother when she retired and is determined to make it a success. Just before Christmas she decides to do a promotion of the twelve days of cupcakes which turns out to be a success and one new customer that it brings in is Simon who she feels an instant rapport with. Simon is a music teacher who left his previous school under a bit of a cloud but can he open up to Olivia and is there any sort of future possible for them?

It is lovely to be back in the Willoughby Close village and to hear Olivia's story. At the start of the book Olivia is feeling a bit lonely and that she has been left behind a bit, especially with the problems that are starting to emerge with her mother, and so you are really rooting for her to find some love

Cupcakes for Christmas

Olivia James runs her mother’s cafe in a cosy little village in the Cotswolds. Her friends are all joyfully settled down with partners and families and Olivia finds herself wondering whether she’ll have her ‘Happy Ever After’ too? Cue a handsome stranger wandering into Olivia’s shop and by extension into her life and things are never quite the same again. But he has a dark secret... will Olivia be able to deal with this AND Christmas at the Cafe?

This is definitely one to read to get you into the Christmas spirit. It’s deliciously festive and a warm fuzzy feeling sort of book. Just right if you’re looking for an easy read over the holidays.

I was initially wondering how much I’d enjoy this book as I hadn’t realised that it is part of ‘The Willoughby Close’ series however I needn’t have worried as any gaps in background were succinctly filled in by the author and I didn’t at all feel like I had missed out. That having been said, I will definitely be looking up the previous titles when I’m on the look out for another cosy, feel good saga!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Tule publishing for providing me with an ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.

This was just okay for me. The writing isn't bad, but the spelling of words like "colour" and "neighbours" just name a few, took me out of the story. I know that's common spelling in other countries, but where I'm not used to seeing it, it would cause me to reread things. Olivia is an okay character, and I felt for her with the issues with her mom. Simon wasn't a strong character in my opinion, and I wasn't a fan of his secretiveness. I don't like a single POV, I would rather be able to get both sides of the story. The ending was sweet though, and the characters get their HEA.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

This was a lovely little Christmas romance story with likeable main characters and plenty of cupcakes. Olivia runs a teashop in a nice little Cotswold village but starts to feel like she’s a supporting character in the lives of her friends. But then the quirky and kind Simon enters her teashop, and suddenly things get more exciting.

It seemed to take a while for the romance aspect of the story to really kick in but this is tied to the personalities of both of the main characters and worked well. I really liked how Olivia’s concerns about her mother added to her personal journey and relationship with Simon, and how Simon has his own problems too. During the story they form a lovely relationship in which they really support each other.

The ending seemed a little rushed, but overall it’s a great story about more than just romance; I could really feel the love.

Cupcakes for Christmas is a lovely, cozy Holiday story. When I saw the cover and read the synopsis I couldn’t help wanting to read it. I dove into the book with a blanket and a cup of tea and it was just what I need to enjoy the holidays.
It is a simple, yet profound story that you can read easily and fast and that will certainly give you a warm feeling. I loved reading about cupcakes and pastries, and I really liked Olivia, especially her relationship with her mom, and how, little by little, she started changing her mind about love. I liked Simon too, and the secondary characters were interesting too. I definitely want to read the other books by Kate, not only the next in the Return to Willoughby Close series but also the previous ones that talk about Alice, Ellie and Olivia’s other Friends.
The book is not only about cupcakes and an emerging romance, it also talks about other important topics and I appreciate finding that type of thing in a book. I enjoyed the whole book and really liked the ending. Overall, I highly recommend it, especially for the holidays if you want something warm and cozy to enjoy while drinking tea or eating some baked goods.

My Rating:

3.5

Favorite Quotes:

It had been a lovely surprise to find unexpected friends in a village where a single woman pushing forty was considered a bona fide spinster, someone who should invest in a plaid wheelie bag and a tabby cat.

“You are grossly undercharging, then. Cupcakes the size of a small rodent go for nearly five pounds in London.” “What an unappealing comparison,” Olivia returned with another laugh. “And this isn’t London, it’s the Cotswolds.”

“He’s a bit of a crazy cat.” Which was an understatement. “He’s called Dr Jekyll.” “Ah. The name says it all, really.”

She smiled, or tried to, but she felt strange inside, like part of her had just developed a hairline crack that was surely getting wider and wider.

My Review:

I am decidedly irresolute and uncertain in how to rate this one; I kept waiting for the story to arc and climax and was still waiting upon completion of the tale. The writing and premise were thoughtfully executed and somewhat pensive, although not at all unpleasant. Serious topics and pertinent real-life issues were presented and handled in an informative and insightful manner. The storyline was relevant and realistic, although slowly paced, and featured a gentle and sweet soul named Olivia, who was a cubby bakery owner nearing forty with the dawning awareness of being left behind as her friends were moving on and progressing in their lives, while she wasn’t. Which, naturally, was disconcerting and causing her some restlessness and introspection. In addition to the hideously fatal blow to her ego of realizing she was nearing forty alone, her elderly mother began displaying alarming symptoms. A bright spot on her landscape was a somewhat disheveled yet personable man she dubbed “the cupcake man,” who periodically appeared in her bakery near closing. Although his light was not always bright, he quickly became important and worth the extra care and concern. I greatly appreciated the occasional hits of levity and wit, such as Olivia’s capricious cat who was aptly named Dr. Jekyll.

I did score a new addition to my Brit Word list with bolshie, which Mr. Google informed me was British informal and meant deliberately uncooperative. But one thing I still just cannot seem to wrap my tiny pea brain around was their Christmas tradition of fish pie. I fear I may have scorched the little green legume while allowing that to rattle around my cranium.

Cupcakes for Christmas is ostensibly about a baker, her shop, and a new special someone who comes in to buy cupcakes. But really it’s about the fear of loneliness and sadness that may drape over people during the holidays. While the story wasn’t a sad one, we see through Olivia’s eyes the challenges that Christmas brings for some. We also see how acceptance, love, and the Christmas spirit can help bridge the gap between two lonely hearts.
https://randombookmuses.com/2018/12/25/review-three-christmas-book-reviews-the-christmas-wish-christmas-at-the-chalet-cupcakes-for-christmas/
Honest review in exchange for a copy from NetGalley.

3 stars — Well, I ended up disappointed. This one just didn’t follow any formula I know, and I ended up feeling like I was slogging through the reading. Part of that is that the writing style isn’t a good match for me…it felt a bit verbose, and that’s not to my personal taste. Which is not to say it was badly written, I just have a low tolerance for that. It was also a very slow romance, and since we only had Olivia’s POV, it was very confusing and frustrating as well. Honestly, at times it felt more like women’s fiction than romance.

This book tackled some interesting topics, but they left me feeling kind of down at the end of it. It tackles a few mental health issues, including Olivia’s mother getting older, and it did so in a very realistic way. Which isn’t a bad thing, but sometimes I want my fiction to have a bigger, clearer reward, and that was missing for me. The same for the other mental health topic tackled, which I can’t go into without spoilers.

Olivia was a character I liked, but never really connected with. I’m not entirely sure I can pinpoint why, but I just never really empathized with her the way I should have. Which is not to say I didn’t feel for her struggles with loneliness and the changes in her life, but only to a degree I guess.

As for Simon…well, I wanted to love him, but I just didn’t know a lot about him since we never got his POV, and he really wasn’t in the story enough. He was adorably awkward and dorky, and I was drawn to that. But he was also cryptic and unreliable, and so it made it hard to connect.

And as such it made it hard to invest in their romance as well. I wanted to, but I just didn’t. There were some great sweet moments, but it just wasn’t enough. Perhaps if we’d gotten some answers earlier on and saw Olivia and Simon working through that, it would have worked for me more.

So yeah. A lot to say that it was okay, but only okay.

Stevie‘s review of Cupcakes for Christmas (Return to Willoughby Close, Book 1) by Kate Hewitt
Contemporary Holiday Romance published by Tule Publishing 25 Oct 18

I’ve read and enjoyed Kate Hewitt’s Lake District romances, as well as several of the women’s fiction novels she’s written under a different pen name. Up until now, however, I hadn’t delved into her Cotswold romance series. Christmas this year, however, sees the start of a new series, revisiting the location of the previous series and, not unexpectedly, quite a few of the characters from that series also. There’s always room for some new folk too, of course, which always promises to be helpful for new readers unfamiliar with previous goings-on in the setting.


Olivia James is the village baker and tea shop proprietor, having taken over the role when her mother retired and moved from the village into sheltered accommodation. Olivia is determined to make the business a success, rather than simply letting it tick over as her mother did, especially as she worries what costs she’ll incur should her mother’s memory problems continue to worsen. Encouraged by one of her regular customers, the teenage daughter of a friend, Olivia decides to expand her experiments with cupcakes into a themed promotion in the run-up to Christmas, and hopefully attract more new visitors to the shop.

The first of these turns out to be Simon Blacklock, a musician and music teacher, newly arrived in the village and staying with his sister, while he settles into a job at the local school. Although Olivia is attracted to him from the start, she is wary, especially when one of her friends warns her that Simon left his previous school under some kind of a scandal. While the book dealt sympathetically and accurately with the mental health issues experienced both by Simon and by Olivia’s mother, I did feel that these topics were a little too serious to be tackled adequately in a holiday novella and that the whole story would have been better suited to a full-length novel. I also had a few issues keeping track of the various couples Olivia socialised with, although I assume they would all be very familiar to readers of the series from which this one has been spun off.

All in all, not my favourite of either this year’s crop of Christmas stories or of the Kate Hewitt stories I’ve read, but I’m prepared to try the next in the series, in spite of my issues with this one.

Grade: C

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

This is the first book I have read in the Willoughby Close series. I enjoyed the story and was surprised to find I have another two books in the series in my TBR stash.

Olivia James had taken over her mother Tina`s tea shop a year earlier. The shop was called Tea On The Lea in the Cotswold village of Wychwood On Lea.

Olivia was struggling when her best friends daughter Mallory suggested she held a 12 days of cupcakes promotion. On the first day of the promotion a stranger came in and bought a cupcake, they flirted a bit and Olivia discovered his name was Simon Blacklock. Simon promised he would come in every day over the 12 days to buy a cupcake.

Simon came in again the next day but didn't come in again for a few days. When Olivia mentioned Simon to her friend Harriet she explained he was a music teacher in the area. Harriet mentioned there was a rumour Simon had moved to the Wychwood On Lea after a problem at his old school. Annoyed Olivia told Harriet she didn't want to hear any rumours and wanted to hear the truth from Simon.

When Simon next came in the shop he asked Olivia to come to the local Carol concert to hear him play the oboe. Simon played wonderfully and he arranged to meet Olivia after the concert. However after the concert a woman and a little boy went to Simon and Olivia left dejected.

Meanwhile when Tina went to hospital after a severe burn the nurse referred her back to her GP for cognitive tests. The tests showed she was having memory problems and was referred to a memory clinic. Olivia was shocked but Tina said she realised she was losing her memory and a diagnosis would be a relief.

This was an unusual festive read because it was lovely in parts mixed with pathos. The descriptions of the early stages of Alzheimer's were heartbreaking. Also Simon`s depression when he can be fine for months until something drags you down again.

On the lighter side Olivia`s cupcakes sounded divine and made my mouth water. I would of loved to have attended the mulled wine, christmas quiz and carols night at Tea On The Lea.

I liked Olivia who was self sufficient with a great group of friends on Willoughby Close. She was close to Tina all her life and didn't realise she was lonely until she met Simon.

I look forward to catching up on the previous books in Willoughby Close.

An absolutely blissful setting - a teashop in the Cotswolds and delicious cakes! It really sets the scene for a wonderfully cosy read. Romance is in the air but will the secrets in the past be overccome to provide a happy ever after.
There are some very touching moments and some more serious issues are also explored. I love Christmas books and I'm really glad that this one joined my festive reading list. I always enjoy Kate Hewitt's books and this onewas a real winner

This was sweet and light but I had trouble connecting with Olivia because so much of her character was based on being an extra in other people's romances. If you've read the Willoughby Close romances you will probably enjoy this look at Olivia getting her Happily Ever After. #CupcakesForChristmas #NetGalley

A few weeks ago, I finished reading Cupcakes for Christmas by Kate Hewitt. This was my first time reading a book by this author, and it did not disappoint! I thoroughly enjoyed this book! This book was probably the most authentic and genuine look at romance (especially for a woman in her late 30s) in any novel I’ve read, Christmas or otherwise. Many Christian romance novels have wonderful, feel-good stories but in the end are just very unrealistic. This book was very realistic. (Note: I would not categorize this as a Christian novel, although there was mention of church etc. However, there were no sex scenes, no bad language, etc.) Although it was a sad aspect of the book, the author included parts about Olivia being slightly pudgy, Simon’s depression, and Olivia’s’ mom’s diagnosis and struggle with dementia/Alzheimer’s. This book did not gloss over those things, yet had many positive aspects. And I loved the part about the baking, and all the wonderful cupcake flavors and designs Olivia came up with! I definitely recommend this book - but be sure to have a kleenex nearby!

Another thing I really personally enjoyed about this book is that it was written by a British/Welsh author who used a fair amount of British words - some of which I had never heard of before lol! I love British things so I didn’t mind this. I either looked up the words or tried to figure them out based on context.

Apparently this book is part of a series! I had never heard of it, but the top of the book cover says “Return to Willoughby Close.” I googled it and sure enough there is a whole series of books featuring Olivia’s friends who are mentioned in this book. I think that Cupcakes for Christmas is the last book in the series, but I was still able to enjoy the book without having read the other ones. It definitely would have made a bit more sense with info about the other characters if I had read the other novels, so I would recommend reading this series in order if possible.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.