Synopsis: Carmen has always worked in her local department store. So, when the gorgeous old building closes its doors for good, she is more than a little lost.
When her sister, Sofia, mentions an opportunity in Edinburgh – a cute little bookshop, the spare room in her house – Carmen is reluctant, she was never very good at accepting help. But, short on options, she soon finds herself pulling into the snowy city just a month before Christmas.
What Sofia didn’t say is that the shop is on its last legs and that if Carmen can’t help turn things around before Christmas, the owner will be forced to sell. Privately, Sofia is sure it will take more than a miracle to save the store, but maybe this Christmas, Carmen might surprise them all…
Kat’s Rating: 5/5
Kat’s Review: JC books are so reliable and at this time of year when the weather is turning and its cold and horrible there is nothing better than one of JC’s Christmas offerings and this was no exception. We see Carmen in a dead-end job and clearly in a spot where things need to change. When the shop sher works for is closed down and she is made redundant she is forced to make changes she wouldn’t necessarily have made otherwise.
Carmen’s sister Sofia offers to put Carmen up while she agrees to help out a client of Carmen’s. What Carmen doesn’t realise is that she will be working in a bookshop that is pretty much ready to close down. The owner Mr McCredie I just fell in love with. He is old fashioned and hasn’t got a clue, all he knows is that he wants to hide away and he pretty much lets Carmen do what she wants. This is where we get to see Carmen flourish. There are lots of additional characters but the gem of this story for me was the relationship between two sisters.
These kind of books I know are not everybody’s cup of tea, but in all honesty real life can be super boring and stressful and that’s why people fall in love with an age old (but perfectly formed) formula for a feel-good book. JC books always transport me and that’s why I love them as much as I do. For me nothing beaths the Bakery series as the characters are the best but this was a very festive feel-good read.
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