In the Bookcase A Literary Christmas Challenge 2017 Part I

Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan--Women's Fiction

The description on the back of the book is so wrong and misleading! Here's the best summary I can give without spoilers. Christmas is coming to Mount Polbearne and business is booming for Polly's bakery. She's been so busy she hasn't had a chance to connect with Kerensa in awhile. Polly and Huckle are looking forward to a quiet Christmas together snuggled up under the covers, drinking hot chocolate and watching movies (with Neil of course). The village has other ideas. Not only is Polly expected to donate her baked goods to the village fair on top of regular holiday baking, Ruben wants Polly to cater his Christmas party. Cater for a bunch of demanding rich people? Um no! Then Polly learns some things that make her reconsider the offer while Huckle is urging her to step back, relax, take some time to work on their relationship-perhaps get married and/or start a family. Ghosts from Polly's past creep up until she's forced to confront her demons head on.

Jenny Colgan has a formula and if you like her formula, you'll enjoy this book. As with the others in the series, I had a problem with the relationship drama. I could have done without all that. I was expected a nice holiday story about a village coming together in a storm with some cute Puffin drama thrown in for good measure. This story is set at Christmas and has a theme of forgiveness but lacks Christmas charm. The drama went on longer than necessary and involves marital infidelity, pregnancy and Polly's past. I was interested in Polly's history and her parents' story but thought she was awful to Huckle, who is the world's best boyfriend. There isn't enough Neil in the story to please me. His eeps and antics are what makes this series my favorite of all Colgan's books.

Polly is super annoying in this book. She's over analytical, takes too much on herself and isn't a good friend and girlfriend. She gets guilted into being a good friend through something that is in no way her fault. Kerensa has always annoyed me and here she reminds me too much of Bridget Jones. Ruben is more than a putz. He's a self-centered, rich, selfish jerk and I don't see why everyone loves him so much. Huckle is the best character in this book. I love him! He's the sweetest and the best boyfriend to Polly.

New characters include Ruben's family who are all just awful. Polly's mom plays a big role too. I felt bad for her. She seems to have depression and anxiety that have held her back and given Polly a lot of issues.

It was nice to catch up with the gang and see what is happening in the village but this isn't my favorite of Colgan's books or even the series.