I enjoyed the first book in Jenny Colgan's series about
dedicated bread baker Polly Waterford in Mount Polbeane,
Cornwall. And I absolutely recommend treating yourself to a
read of that one first before going further into
the Little Beach Street Bakery
series. But if this book
about CHRISTMAS AT LITTLE BEACH STREET BAKERY just arrived
in your Christmas stack of books, grab it and start
reading. Remember, baking wholesome food is one of the best
ways to keep warm.
Kerensa, Polly's best pal, is in the family way, and as
December begins she's guiltily hiding a secret. Polly is
considering having a baby with her American fiancé Huckle,
because her mortgage, she owns a lighthouse, and his
beekeeping sales figures don't add up to a big wedding. The
previous year, Polly went to her mother's for Christmas but
this year she'll be on the almost-island, cut off at high
tides. And since she'll be available, can she manage to fit
in a stall at a charity Christmas fair -- or is that
stretching goodwill too far? Her little pet puffin Neil is
cosily in front of the stove, unlike all other puffins, as
the blustery wind, salt spray and frozen hands remind all
people outdoors that they'd rather be indoors, even the
tough old fishermen.
Reuben, Kerensa's cheerful, insanely self-made-wealthy
husband, is a self-centered foil for all the Cornish earthy
goodness. I laughed when the couple show Polly their
elaborate, gadget-filled kitchen, devoid of cooking; the
chef cooks in another kitchen downstairs. To Reuben, the
answer for any problem is throwing money at it, and
throwing parties. But he tries to take good care of his
lovely wife, and is enjoying the prospect of being a
father; making Kerensa feel all the worse for keeping
secrets. Polly stoically supports her friend. After all,
there is nothing else she can do.
As Polly investigates her own missing father, she also has
the burden of her friend's guilt. I feel that it was not
fair of Kerensa to inflict this stress on her friend.
Parenthood is the central theme of this tightly-woven tale,
even to Polly's surrogate parenting of the little puffin.
By extension, she feels a responsibility to the puffin
sanctuary down the coast. I was baffled by the local do-
gooders expecting the shopkeepers to donate a day's worth
of their best handmade Christmas goods sales to a charity.
This just doesn't happen, nobody could lose that trade.
Much more likely that the shops would be asked to pay to
have a stall in the fair. Spot a few seasonal recipes at
the end, and enjoy reading with hot chocolate. CHRISTMAS AT
LITTLE BEACH STREET BAKERY wraps up the series nicely.
It's the most wonderful time of the year… and the
perfect moment to escape to a charming English village! From
the beloved author whose novels are "sheer indulgence from
start to finish" (SOPHIE KINSELLA) comes a delightful
holiday story — funny, heartfelt, romantic and packed with
recipes — perfect for the winter months.
In the Cornish coastal village of Mount Polbearne, the
Christmas season has arrived. It’s a joyous time for family,
friends, and feasting, as decorations sparkle along the
town’s winding streets and shop windows glow with festive
displays. And in Polly’s Little Beach Street Bakery, the
aroma of gingerbread cookies and other treats tempts people
in from the cold.
Though Polly is busy keeping up with the demands of the
season, she still makes time for her beekeeper boyfriend,
Huckle. She’s especially happy to be celebrating the holiday
this year with him, and can’t wait to cuddle up in front of
the fireplace with a cup of eggnog on Christmas Eve.
But holiday bliss soon gives way to panic when a storm cuts
the village off from the mainland. Now it will take all of
the villagers to work together in order to ensure everyone
has a happy holiday.
Full of heart and humor, Jenny Colgan’s latest novel
is an instant Christmastime classic.
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