Festive And Heartwarming....
Festive and heartwarming romantic fiction for Christmastime or anytime. Will Connie find love for Christmas? Set amongst the delightful and atmospheric German Christmas markets and with a cast of colourful and warm characters this is a relaxing, escapist read.

Wow Jo, you’ve done it yet again. Transporting me to a different place, this time to the German Christmas Market with its warm aromatic Gluhwein washing down the most amazing cinnamon laced Lebkuchen. I could actually picture myself with Connie and her friends dressed in a wonderfully thick, brightly coloured Christmas jumper just loving the build up to the most perfect Christmas ever. So make yourself a cup of velvety smooth hot chocolate, add a splash of Asbach Brandy and devour this amazing book by a very talented author. Thank you for the journey x

I like reading about Christmas way before December and this book beautifully captures the atmosphere of German Christmas markets.
Connie the heroine is a warmhearted and caring person who wants to make Christmas happier for the elderly residents of a residential home. (I liked the OAP characters as well. )
Connie is very cautious when trying to find love, but the story suggests that you shouldn't always keep to the "tick list" in life.
A warm, romantic story that I can recommend to everyone.

I devoured this in one sitting - hot chocolate with marshmallows in hand despite the heat - it's that type of book. Its perfectly festive and set in German Christmas Markets. and with festive baking competitions. It'll just get you in the mood even though christmas this year is likely to not be as festive. However, this book will definitely be re-read once the advent calendar is up.

I loved this book. I was a bit edgy at the start as it felt like a book for an older person to read but I was so wrong, and really glad that I persevered with it.

Connie was a multi-layered character and the story didn't go the way I thought it would. I think the whole concept of taking Elsie and her friends to Germany was a great one and led to a very different kind of story.

Having been to Christmas markets in Germany, I thought that this book was very well written and encompassed the spirit perfectly, and even the time-keeping and keeping everything regimented by Heinrich.

I feel that I can taste the gingerbread (I can feel myself being told off by William) as it is being cooked and the way that it became a character by itself.

This is definitely on my top recommended list for Christmas!

If you are looking to escape to a German Christmas market and while away a few hours on a cold winters day then this book is for you. Light the fire, make your hot chocolate and snuggle down under a blanket. This is an easy read, feelgood, festive book with a nice cast of characters and a somewhat predictable story.

I would recommend it to romance fans who like a happy ever after.

Yet another brilliant book from Jo Thomas!! It was so relaxing to read, but found myself in tears one minute, & then extremely happy the next!!
Such a sweet romantic book, for ALL ages!!
It makes a nice change to read something as joyous, (if that's the right word??) as this book, especially at a horrible time like we're all going through at the moment!! If I'm honest, I didn't want it to end!!!

A nice story if somewhat far fetched in the details . Seemed to be rushed what was meant to be a week in the story results in a huge amount of events.

The book begins with several OAP’s setting off on a coach trip to the German markets. Connie, who is driving the coach, is set to meet Heinrich who she has been chatting to online. There is lots of humorous banter within the group, which sets a warm, friendly tone. Having read previous Jo Thomas books, I knew this would be an enjoyable read and wasn’t disappointed.
Although the main theme of the story is about Connie and her hopes of finding love with Heinrich who ticks all the right boxes in the list suggested by her son, it’s enjoyable reading about all the characters and their support for each other. Descriptions of the German markets are vivid and welcoming, and make you wish you are there with the group, enjoying the delicious bakes in the wonderful surroundings.
Although Connie has a strict list of the qualities her new partner must have, she wonders whether to just follow her heart, and you empathise with her indecision.
I became completely absorbed in the book about Christmas time, friendships and hopes for the future.

I love the idea and the setting for this book but sadly this one didn't grab me. I'm glad so many other readers loved it though as I don't like to leave a negative review. It just didn't gell with me but nothing that I can put my finger on, just personal taste I guess.

A wonderfully Christmassy book to get the reader in the mood nearer the time. Has all the elements for a cosy winter read or, as Jo puts it so rightly, 'Alchemy'. Uplifting with some wonderful characters especially the pensioners that Connie, the main character, takes with her to Germany to rediscover the magic of Christmas plus of course romance. Lovely evocative writing capturing the magic of German Christmas markets with the contrasts between the more commercialised tinsel town ones with the more homely genuine ones. Anyone who has experienced genuine smaller Christmas markets will appreciate the differences.

A little predictable but joyously so if you want a fix of snow, gluhwein, hot chocolate with Asbach, cinnamon and gingerbread lebkuchen, especially when we can't experience these delights first hand, this is the book to immerse yourself in. One of Jo's best.

Jo Thomas has written a magical read..Connie and her friends come alive there is a wonderful Christmas market a group of friends who are so warm caring.A book I cuddles up with and could not stop reading smiling.# netgalley #randomhouseuk

This book was fantastic! Jo Thomas has a particular skill of writing about foreign climes and making you feel like you are actually there, in this case drinking the Gluhwein!

At the start of the book we are introduced to Connie with some of the residential home residents at which she is the caterer. She is taking them on a bus to Germany to visit the Christmas market, as well as meet a gentleman she met whilst online dating.

She has a strict list she wants him to tick all the boxes on, will he put a tick in every box?

I loved this book from Jo, I genuinely did feel like I was in the bakery shop with them.

A very enjoyable and at times emotional read, perfect for snuggling up on a December Sunday afternoon with.

Really enjoyed this festive read. Connie is likeable and relatable and you really empathise with her and the challenges of online dating, families and the risks. Her gang of friends / ‘old people’ are a lovely complement with all of their back stories, and also really likeable.

What a lovely read, ticked all my boxes anyway. A book that makes you want to shout out to Connie to open her eyes and go with her inner feelings. Loved the setting and the characters. A really relaxing read that makes you give a huge contented sigh as you close the book at the end. Well written, moves along nicely and surely there should be a follow up book about how the little shop becomes even more successful.

Anyone who has tried internet dating will have a tick list, even if it’s a subconscious one. Connie has a list as long as her arm! But is that enough? Would it be better to have no list, and just look out for that illusive spark instead?
Set in a gloriously Christmassy German setting, this story is rich and delicious, and doesn’t disappoint.

A brilliant book by author Jo Thomas. She never failed to make me happy. Her words in the book filled me with the goodness of love, and the descriptions transported me right into the middle of the German market.

Connie was unsuccessful in finding love. Supported by her elderly friends she decided to meet up the new love interest in Germany. All the seniors too joined her.

Worderfully warm characters, a sweet plait, this book was a light delightful read, just appropriate in the present times.

Jo Thomas' books are the best therapy to make me happy

I LOVED this book. It was just the sort of escapism I needed. I loved that Connie’s friends were people she’d encountered and turned into friends. I love how she turned their lives around - especially the ending with the residential flats - it really gave me a warm glow

The main (And secondary) characters were all really likeable. I really liked Connie’s personality and how we got to know William bit by bit. I didn’t like Henrich but I thought he was written well!!

I loved the setting of the Christmas markets and the feud between the two

In fact I loved it all. It was a perfect read to cheer me up !! .

I love a Jo Thomas read, and this is no exception. The Christmas market was brought to life in the pages and I could almost smell and taste the gingerbread and hot chocolate. This book tells the history and stories of such wonderful characters, and I laughed and cried with them all through their trips down Christmas memory lane.
Jo Thomas writes with such empathy and you feel all the emotions the characters go through - Connie's trust issues and her reliance on her list made me want to give her a hug and remind her that instincts are to be followed to be alright in the end.
This is a wonderful Christmas read and one I'll be recommending to everyone.

What a beautifully written Christmas book. Full of the sights and smells of a German Christmas market

The story begins with Connie driving the residents of Lavender Hill retirement flats to Germany to scatter the ashes of a former resident. Connie has also arranged to meet the man she has been communicating with on an online dating site.

The book is full of Christmas memories, hot chocolate, gingerbread and friendship. Add a bit of rivalry with a touch of romance and you have the recipe for The perfect Christmas Read