Cover Image: Starry Skies Over The Chocolate Pot Cafe

Starry Skies Over The Chocolate Pot Cafe

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Another good book from Jessica.

This is Tara’s story of how she ends up living in Castle street and how fate helps her to make a successful business called the chocolate pot. A book about past relationships and how they impact on new relationships and opening up to people.
Loved Tara’s story and can’t wait to see if there is another book in the series.

Was this review helpful?

Having recently read and enjoyed "Christmas at Carly's Cupcakes", I was looking forward to reading Tara's story. Her journey through life has not been easy and she has locked her emotions away, not trusting anyone anymore.

After 14 years her defences are breached, and she starts to open up and live again.

The characters, setting, atmosphere and style tangle together to make a heart stopping read. The longer length of the book allows the characters to be more defined and the setting easy to visualise.

I loved the continuation of the stories behind the shopkeepers in Castle street, and have just bought another book in the series..

Was this review helpful?

Wow! Such a stunning, gorgeous and heartwarming story! Tara was a fascinating, complex character who I found myself drawn to immediately. It was lovely to see her allowing her friends in to her life. One of Jessica’s strengths is her ability to write beautiful friendships and to build up a caring community around the characters that she writes. She certainly takes you on an emotional rollercoaster but you do feel incredibly positive with Tara’s progress by her reaching out to her friends and sharing her difficult past.
Such a lovely Christmas book that I couldn’t put down! I really enjoy this authors work so very much and am already excited to read more from her catalogue of books.

Was this review helpful?

A well written and entertaining book. A well developed plot and characters. I highly recommend this thought provoking book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

Having just read another of Jessica Redland's book and absolutely love it, I was eager to read this one. It didn't disappoint.
It was magical to be transported into Tara's world, her having been only a minor character in the book I'd read previously. I enjoyed getting to hear her back story, something that I'd been wondering about in the previous book.
It was a delighful and relaxing read about a community of people who truly seem to want the best for each other. It is inspiring the way that they support one another and fiercely guard one another's backs.
Thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for the ARC to review.

Was this review helpful?

Christmas has always been a bittersweet time for Tara. With memories of her Mum and Dad before their family was torn apart and she ended up in foster care make celebrating difficult.

Now a very successful owner of two businesses, she is accomplished but lonely. She keeps her friends at arms length and her only companion is Hercules, the house rabbit.

However this Christmas someone from the past is about to re-enter Tara’s life which leads her to question her behaviour, what is the harm of letting people in?

This book is heartbreaking and lovely. I especially like that this is not just set at Christmas time. It spans a whole year in Tara’s life.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again I love Jessica Redland novels and will read anything she writes.

Was this review helpful?

I didn’t know what to make of this book. I was so sure it was going to be a light fluffy read and sure it was in parts but... there is a sub plot based around her sister and her ex husband that was just very uncomfortable for me to read and just felt very misplaced. I actually took a lot longer than usual to finish the book.

I do read books with heavier subject matter but I am usually expecting it and not left feeling blindsided.


I do think the romance in this story was lovely but cosy romance? This isn’t it for me

Was this review helpful?

With the chaos of everyday life sometimes you just need an escape. “Starry Skies Over The Chocolate Pot Cafe” provided me with that today. Running away from the past and focusing on a career only can leave a person lonely. This book explores the options of staying alone and putting oneself out there. As I have come to expect from Jessica Redland, this book was well written with characters that came to life. I found myself giggling out loud in some spots and wanting to cry at others. Great book for a lazy weekend!

Was this review helpful?

This book was quite beautiful. I really enjoyed the evolution of Tara and her back story with her ex husband and foster sister. The only thing I wish is that Jed made more of an appearance alot earlier.

Was this review helpful?

An enjoyable, quick read with a large cast of characters who are all likeable. The ending is a little too sweet but all in all a good story.

Was this review helpful?

This is quite an emotive read dealing with depression, death and foster care but being set in a lovely chocolatey cafe, it gives a festive read. This is part of a series of other books set in the same street in Yorkshire and it's nice to see characters from other books mentioned, but can be read as a stand alone.

Was this review helpful?

Wow Wow Wow. I loved it. A lovely love story. The secret that Tamara had to why she left her husband and family I did not see coming. Nice to have a story where money was not a problem. I loved the description of the cafe and the area

Was this review helpful?

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoyed this feel good read, great characters and of course chocolate.

Was this review helpful?

This was amazing! It was first from this author and I wasn’t sure what to expect but the beautiful starry front cover lured me in. From start to finish this book had me enthralled - and not always for the same reason. I read with my mouth agape about Taras past at the hands of her foster sister, I ached for her loss as she lost her parents and like Jed I saw her loneliness within herself at the Chocolate Pot Cafe; but then my heart soared as she let people in, she healed her heart and found love again.
Jeds back story was equally as heartbreaking and I liked how he saw Tara for herself and recognised a kindred spirit in her. I would definitely love to see another book showing their lives together and hopefully Aaron being a part of it.

This was a simply beautiful read.

Was this review helpful?

A beautiful Christmassy story about being able to let go with a smattering of romance with lovely characters and an easy to follow but well written plot loved it

Was this review helpful?

Not your typical boy meets girl romance, in fact romance is not really the main story line. The story offers encouragement to let go of the past and not let it define the future. Tara has left her old life behind, but has put up walls to prevent more heartache. She comes to realize that she needs to open her heart to new possibilities in life and love.

Was this review helpful?

Another truly delightful read from Jessica, before settling down with this book I would advise you have something sweet and a hot chocolate with you as you will become very hungry hearing about all the delicious sweet treats the Chocolate Pot Cafe has to offer. After reading Christmas at Carly's Cupcake's I wanted to hear more about the other characters and was delighted to return to Whitsborough Bay in this story. Tara's story is a sad one but being in Whitsborough Bay and running a successful Cafe that sells the most delicious sweet treats, she begins to unravel what brought her to the Bay and with the help of some very good friends she realises what she is missing out on and opens up to one of her closest friends. Expect love, friendship, romance and a gorgeous rabbit called Hercules. I didn't want this story to end. I loved it so much.

Was this review helpful?

Another absolutely beautiful and breathtaking read. This is absolutely perfect and I can honestly say that this is my new favourite read by this author.
I am a huge fan anyway but this book is just absolutely spectacular. I have been completely pulled in from the very first page. 
I have devoured this book in just one sitting, I love everything about this book. The characters are utterly stunning and the author has created a perfect setting for this book. 
I'm definitely in the Christmas mood after this book. I am completely ready for woolly jumpers, Christmas treats and twinkly lights. 
This is a definite five star read and I literally have nothing negative to say about this one. It really is top of the list of books by this amazing author.

Public review to follow on blog tour

Was this review helpful?

There were a lot of things I liked about this book; the characters were delightful, the Christmas-time setting made the book feel cozy and heartwarming and I loved reading about The Chocolate Pot Cafe. But there were some times when the traumatic flashbacks Tara had detracted a bit from the cozy Christmas feeling of the book.

Was this review helpful?

Vulnerabilties over previous heartbreaks ie exes make them closed to the idea of love. But romance wins in the end of the day and what a romantic journey. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

Was this review helpful?