Loved the setting and the details and the focus on food. That is the only thing that kept me reading as the characters were very dull and felt half committed.

Christmas in London by Anita Hughes

My favorite part about this book with the descriptions of London and London sights. Other than that, I found it very hard to get through because I just didn't care about the characters. I also found the writing style not to my liking. There were some odd metaphors, and the sentence structure was repetitive. I've heard great things about Anita Hughes's work, which is why I keep trying her books (those lovely covers and appealing locations always get me), but I've really struggled to find enjoyment in her books thus far.

This was kind of fun. Set in my home town of London. You've got to love it just for the location.

But it also let me down. I was really routing for this book.

It's a nice christmas book and yes there is romance.
I've given the book 3 stars. Reason her description of London. The author obviously done her research and it was wonderful to read.

Hey, it also has desserts.

Enjoy!

This is a sweetly told tale that gives a fun glimpse into the Christmas season in London. The character development is somewhat lacking, which keeps the story on the surface without much depth. The male characters overreact in nearly every situation: storming away, calling things quits, doubting the female characters' abilities to make decisions for themselves and basically acting like children. Yet the women come back to them time and again, forgiving the "misunderstandings." Both love stories could have been much better with more light-hearted humor and less drama, as the beautifully described London scenery and fabulously detailed food scenes made for a lovely, unrealized holiday tale.
Louisa Graham is a baker in New York City with aspirations to open her own bakery someday. As she's packing things in for the night, a harried young man named Noah comes in and pays top dollar for every last cinnamon roll she has just taken out of the oven. The next day, Noah returns. The rolls were for a famous baking television show and while they were delicious, the star was allergic to one of the ingredients and now they are in a jam. They want Louisa to step in for a cooking segment in London. The show's producer Kate runs into her old college flame when they land in London. As the two begin to spend time together, they try to figure out whether there's still something there for them to start over.

Really liked this book - described lots of locations I wanted to then visit! Liked the stories that all wove together.

WHAT DID I THINK OF CHRISTMAS IN LONDON BY ANITA HUGHES?
When I think of the books I’ve read by Anita Hughes (three this year, FYI) one word comes straight to mind: escapism. Christmas In London is another escapist romp from Hughes and really has me wishing I was in a different income bracket. The experiences described in this book are exquisite but also made me feel slightly broke. Still, sometimes it’s nice to read a book and just let your mind wander to the luxurious lives other people live.

Christmas In London is a story that follows two young women – Louisa and Kate. Louisa is a baker in New York City who dreams of opening her own dessert focused restaurant someday. When an emergency forces production assistant Noah into the bakery Louisa is working the closing shift in, fate happens. You see, Louisa sells Noah the last of her cinnamon rolls and they end up allowing for Louisa to be a substitute star for a cooking show called Christmas At Claridge’s while the actual star, Bianca is out on medical emergency. This is a massive opportunity for Louisa.

Meanwhile, the other star is Kate. Kate is the producer of the show and being back in London ends up reuniting her with an old school friend, Trevor. You see, Kate went to St. Andrews for college. She ends up reconnecting with Trevor and there are sparks. We also get the backstory of what happened between Kate and Trevor in the past.

I’ll be honest and say that I did not entirely connect with these characters. This isn’t about to make my top reads list. However, I loved all of the food descriptions. This book made me so hungry and made me want to skip working out and go straight to dessert. Plus, the descriptions of London shopping and the Claridge hotel came across as so elegant and completely out of my price range, but also, really fascinating.

ON A SCALE OF ONE TO BUDDY THE ELF, HOW MUCH CHRISTMAS SPIRIT DOES THIS BOOK HAVE?
I think that this book had much more spirit than the previous one I read by Hughes, Christmas At The Chalet. The descriptions of the setting and the sightseeing really put me in a holiday vacation mood while reading. There’s also parts where there is Christmas shopping too. So, on the whole, a somewhat spirited book. Good to read on your holiday cruise, or if you’re like me, during the commercials of whatever Hallmark movie you are watching.

Set during London's most festive time of year and filled with delicious food, Anita Hughes's Christmas in London reminds us that love and forgiveness are truly the greatest gifts of all.
It’s a week before Christmas, and Louisa Graham is working twelve hour shifts at a bakery on Manhattan's Lower East Side. When a young cooking show assistant comes in from the rain and begs to buy all the cinnamon rolls on her tray, she doesn’t know what to do. Louisa is just the baker, and they aren't hers to sell. But the show burned the rolls they were supposed to film that day; so she agrees. The next morning, Louisa finds out that her cinnamon rolls were a hit, but the star of the show was allergic, and the whole crew is supposed to leave for London that afternoon. They want Louisa to step in for their annual Christmas Eve Dinner TV special at Claridge's. It’s a great opportunity, and Digby Bunting, Louisa’s famous baking idol, will be there. Even if he does seem more interested in her than her food. And then there’s Kate, the show's beautiful producer. On their first day in London she runs into the skinny boy she jilted at St. Andrew's in Scotland ten years ago. Now he’s a handsome, brilliant mathematician, and newly divorced. Their familiar spark is still there, but so is the scar of how they left things. Kate and Louisa are busy preparing for the show, but old and new flames are complicating their work.
This was a good holiday read. All of the characters were likeable and well-written. It’s perfect for the holiday season. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

This book has Louisa Graham being in the right place at the right time. She is working twelve hour shifts at a bakery in Manhattan the week before Christmas when the assistant for a cooking show barges in after closing and insists he needs to buy the freshly baked rolls that Louisa had just finished to sale the next morning. Initially turning him down, she relents when he offers free publicity for the bakery on the show. The problem is that the star of the show has an allergy to nutmeg, which is one of the ingredients. The next day the assistant returns claiming the rolls were a hit but the star of the show had a serious reaction and the producer now wants Louisa to replace her on the already scheduled trip to London to film a Christmas Eve Dinner TV special at Claridge's. Of course, Louisa jumps at the opportunity. As the story progresses, Louisa meets a chef, Digby Bunting, an idol of hers, begins to develop feelings for the show's assistant and has the opportunity to do some sightseeing. Meanwhile, Kate, the show's producer, runs into an old flame from University and they rekindle their relationship as well.

Christmas in London, by Anita Hughes, is well written and the descriptions of the places made me feel like I was there. I also loved hearing about the various foods prepared and eaten, some that I have never had before. I enjoyed the way the author blended the two stories of romance with the television show and all the other commitments the characters had. The point of view switched back and forth to establish both relationship and was to follow along.There was also some remembering of events from the past in Kate and Trevor's relationship, but again, it was easy to follow. Of course, there was some angst and controversy in both of the relationship stories, but I was satisfied with the way Anita Hughes ended the story. I will definitely look for more stories from this author. I recommend this book to lovers of romance, armchair travellers and lovers of Christmas fiction.

A cute Christmas tale set in the beautiful London!
From the very beginning Louisa and everyone was just a bit too over the top. It seemed like Hughes took all of the cliche characteristics, out them in this book and amplified them.
Christmas in London was nice, but just a bit too much for me.

Louisa Graham is working long shifts at a bakery in Manhattan. But that's ok, because she is so close to her dream of opening up her own restaurant. In walks Noah. He works for a major cooking show and needs Cinnamon Rolls ASAP! When the star of the show gets an allergic reaction and can't make the trip to London, Louisa is whisked off to a five star hotel to film a Christmas special with world famous chefs at the hotel.

Kate is the producer of the show and she runs into a man, Trevor, from her days at St Andrews. He is separated from his wife and it appears they might have a second chance at love. But, will they take it?

I really enjoyed this one. It is predictable, but the author did a good job with giving you bits and pieces at a time. For example, you know something happened to separate Kate and Trevor, but the whole story doesn't come out until the end. I liked how this was basically two romances in one. I also enjoyed how you get Kate and Trevor's story thru flashbacks. Having said all of that, do not go into this book looking for a deep, intellectual read. It's a fluffy Christmas read. The characters do some REALLY stupid, predictable, juvenile things but it all works out in the end. Pretty typical for Christmas romance books. I give it a three out of five.

Thanks to St Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of this book. I've read a few Anita Hughes books and I must say this is her typical writing style.
I find her books, and this one included , as very predictable and fluffy. That being said this was an entertaining holiday book. If you are looking for an easy, quick holiday read I would recommend this book.
I will continue to follow and read Anita Hughes" books as sometimes I just need some escapism!

One of the things I love most about Anita Hughes' books are the locations she chooses for the setting of each one. I love to travel, but my wallet doesn't allow as much as I'd like. So, to curb the desire, I can pick up one of Hughes' books and find myself transported to an exotic location. She has great stories that almost leave me wanting to read more of her books!

I was looking forward to this story. However, this story was not for me. I personally couldn't get into the story or the characters.

I read this novel during the Christmas season...and the story still resonates within me. Beautifully written. Five stars.

This was just what I needed right now! Perfect for the holiday season- humorous, witty characters and an intriguing plot!!!

This wasn't for me. The dialogue was too stilted and I flipped through the book to skim read the story.

Review: Christmas in London by Anita Hughes
When I realized this was by the same author as Christmas in Paris, I probably should have stopped reading it. But I'm a sucker for a Christmas story set in London (or Paris for that matter).

As with Christmas in Paris, the setting is really nice. The author does a great job of describing the city. I've never been to London at Christmas, but it's one of my dreams and the author makes the setting sound magical. However, also like Christmas in Paris, the characters are, for the most part, not like able people and the relationships are not in any way desirable.

There are two relationships happening. One a brand new one, the other a couple reunited after many years apart. The women in the story were okay, but the men - why would anyone want to be with these men? The men are weak and whiny and have no respect for the women. It felt like in the end both women sort of thought, oh well, probably can't do much better, too busy with careers and all that, so may as well settle for these losers. I would have been much happier if both women had decided that the men weren't worth their trouble and decided to ditch them and continue to focus on their careers. I feel like their careers would be much more satisfying. As far as I could tell, there was absolutely nothing appealing about these men. I don't understand why any woman would want them.

As a romance, this didn't work for me, but I did enjoy the glimpse of London at Christmas.

I received a copy of this via Netgalley.

Such a cute holiday romance! Actually we get two romances. A pastry chef from NYC is approached to fill in for a celebrity chef to film a Christmas cooking show in London. Sparks fly with her and the show's associate producer. The executive producer of this special happens to meet her college love while filming the show. We are treated to the magic of London at the holidays. I was able to imagine all of the beautifully decorated streets, and also imagine the tastes of all the sumptuous foods described by the author.
This was just the right book for this hectic time of year. Easy and fast reading with a little tenderness!
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

For me with Anita Hughes books, there is no in between, I either love them or completely dislike them. This one just didn't work for me. There were two female leads - Louisa and Kate. Louisa, I just couldn't understand nor like. Kate was fine, but wasn't enough to overcome my dislike of Louisa.

Louisa is plucked out of obscurity when she is working late in a bakery in New York. She is asked to fill in for a famous chef and fly to London to film a show. Kate is a producer on that show and needs this show to go well to ensure her job. But she will run into her past in London and will have to make some decisions.

Kate was great. I loved the drama she had to deal with and loved seeing through her eyes the behind the scenes of shooting a tv show. She was a strong female character and I could root her on from page one.

Louisa was way too wishy washy for me and all over the place. Her side of the story didn't seem plausible and I just couldn't get into it. I felt like her feelings were all over the place and she just seemed too clueless for me. I like my female characters to be strong and aware of what is going on around them.

So I will still read Anita Hughes books, but I will still be wary of my reading of her.

This way my favorite of all her books, her heroine so are getting surprisingly more relatable. If there was a category called books to
read when you need an escape from world events or things in your life that make no sense, this would be in it...and be sure include a
cocktail/cinnamon roll/proper tea