This is a nice festive read, which you will love if you are a dog lover. The book is similar in style to Cressida McLaughlin’s books so if you are a fan of hers, you should check this out. ( )

This book has an absolutely gorgeous cover with sparkly lettering and mouthwatering gingerbread but, getting a hint from the title, we get the impression that this isn't going to be a story full of sparkle and sweetness.

As much as I liked the characters of heart-broken Eve and hunky vet Greg, it was Eve's dog Marmite who stole my heart. When Eve's ex-boyfriend, Liam, broke her heart, she took Marmite as revenge as she knew how much he loved the dog. As the story unfolds, Marmite is pivotal in mending Eve's broken heart and she finds out how much she really does love Marmite after all.

There was a really good will they/won't they going on with Eve and Greg that had me guessing right up to the very end. Eve, understandably, is finding it hard to trust again and Greg has personal issues to deal with. I kept thinking that the stars were about to align but then something happens and I thought fate was perhaps trying to tell them something. I was also wrong in my guess as to whose body part caused the breakup between Liam and Eve, as Rosie Blake had very cleverly drawn my attention elsewhere.

The recipes at the start of some chapters were a lovely addition and give us a hint as to what culinary delight Eve was going to attempt next. I say 'attempt', as Eve is not known for her cooking and you just knew that every time she heads into the kitchen a disaster is ready to strike. Disaster or not, the prawn and leek linguine sounds delicious and I'll be copying out that recipe to try myself, with fully defrosted prawns of course.

This is not just a simple love story; there are surprises and twists with lots of laughs, making it the perfect festive read.

I received this book from the publisher, Corvus, in exchange for an honest review. ( )

A sweet xmas story.

A story about Evie, whose boyfriend cheated on her, xmas is coming up and she just wants to get away. I get that, everything in town reminds her of him, and xmas with family, no. And he was such an asshat with wanting the dog back too. Good riddance.

Greg is the vet in the village she "escapes too". A nice guy, who reads fantasy! Oh, you got me there Greg, I love you, ahem, I mean he was a sweet guy ;) But he is hiding something...

Evie gets her passion back, and with that I mean, she starts to draw again and takes a pottery class. Oh and she obviously meets a cute guy.

Each chapter also starts with a recipe, yum, I always like that.

Friendship, romance and food. What is there not to love. ( )