Sometimes you have to be brave and take a chance...a Christmas in London.


If you are a foodie, you will get hungry with this descriptive romance. Louisa Graham has her life planned until a young man enters the bakery where she works and falls in love with her cinnamon rolls. Noah a young cooking show assistant is enamored with Louisa and when an opportunity arises, he asks her to come on a cooking show that will be airing a Christmas special in London. This becomes Louisa's big break not only in her cooking career but in her love life as well. A romance begins to cook between Noah and Louisa as they deal with feelings and emotions that have been sided because of career goals.

Noah's producer Kate becomes the center of a romance of her own when her old flame runs into her in London where they spend a few days together. The two romances reflect irony and tension as romance becomes the main course.

I would consider this a light read in that the characters were very one dimensional but the sights and sounds of London were glamourized and the food was mouth watering.

A Special Thank You to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

Christmas in London, by Anita Hughes, shares the story of Louisa, a New York City baker with dreams of her own pastry restaurant, and the adventures that befall her when the assistant producer for the Baking with Bianca Show comes running into the bakery where she works seeking a substitute dessert for the show when the snowball cupcakes that were planned were burned to a crisp. He takes two trays of her special cinnamon rolls that he declares are the best he's ever had. The next day he is back begging Louisa to come to London with the show's production crew to substitute for Bianca. It seems she is allergic to one of the ingredients in the cinnamon rolls and it will take time for all the swelling and effects to subside.

Like a Christmas dream come true, Louisa finds herself in London staying at the Claridge House and preparing for a special Christmas dinner that will be recorded there. She gets along well with Noah and Kate Crawford, the show's producer. And Louisa is very excited about the opportunity to work along side famous pastry chef Digby Buntin. What she isn't happy about is the rivalry that seems to exist between Noah and Digby when it comes to her. In fact, Louisa and Kate find themselves in that same position, only Kate's two fellows came out of her past.

An interesting romp through the week before Christmas with delightful goodies and unexpected happenings. I did enjoy this book and do recommend it.

My Disclaimer:

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book. I am voluntarily providing an honest review in which all opinions are fully my own. I am not being compensated in any way.

~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review

What it’s about…

Louisa bakes cinnamon rolls as she closes down the bakery at night. But she forgot to change the sign to CLOSED and in walks a determined customer. Noah is a prop director for a baking show and he needs some pastries for the show…NOW. Cameras can’t roll without something yummy to focus on.

Now, Noah needs a pastry chef. And he already knows Louisa makes the best cinnamon rolls in the world. So he tells her to pack her bags and meet him at the airport for a week in London to do the Christmas show. Trying to plan for every possible crisis, Louisa packs her bags and heads for the airport.

While Louisa’s mind is firmly focused on the food event, the men seem to have Louisa on their minds. Noah has warned her about the dangers, but can’t seem to avoid them himself. Digby is putting on a great act for her, but Noah is sure he’s up to some very dirty tricks.

And now Kate is getting into the swing of the season. They broke each other’s hearts all those years ago. Can Trevor and Kate get it right this time around or will Trevor shy away again? Will he give Kate a chance to make her stance clear?

Let the magic of London dressed in its Christmas best put you in the mood for the season and love when you read this contemporary holiday romance!

Technical Tidbits…

The cover is lovely and certainly catches the eye in a cool and serene Christmas scene.

The storyline is wonderful. The two couples trying to work out their problems and enjoy their holiday in London. But I had the strangest feeling very early on that I had read it before. Could it have been published somewhere else before?

The characters were quirky and fun and felt like real people we got to know and care about. You wanted to tell Louisa what a rat Digby was right from the beginning. You wanted to give Trevor a shake and tell him to put a little more steel into that spine of his.

The pace was really good. It was more than a stroll, but less than a brisk walk.

The tension kept building, like a wave, ever higher. Excellent job.

And this is where you STOP if you don’t want to see any SPOILERS…

The good, the bad, and the ugly…and how much it lit up my life… ✰✰✰✰✰

I was so excited to get the invitation to read this book. I’ve loved all of Anita’s books that I have read. So, I was looking forward to this one, too. And I wasn’t disappointed, either. Ms. Hughes’ writing was her usual sterling quality with lots of local-color which in this case is London done up for Christmas. My head was full of Christmas carols, flickering candles, red bows on green wreaths, starry skies, and such.

And both relationships went back and forth quite a bit. Louisa and Noah were so cute. She was so focused on baking, that she almost missed the fact that Noah was interested in her as a woman. That’s what almost got her in trouble with Digby. She didn’t think that he was after her as a woman until it was almost too late. Good thing Digby turned out to be a sloppy drunk and she could pour him into a bottle and leave him in a corner upstairs until the calvary showed up.

With Kate and Trevor, it was quite different because of their shared background. At first, Kate simply didn’t want to spend any time with him, but couldn’t seem to help herself. Then she relaxed and started to enjoy herself a little bit. Drumroll, please. Then, of course, they run into too much shared history and he spoils things. Trevor takes off without allowing Kate to say anything by way of explanation or defense. Not that she’d done anything wrong. What happened had been done to her without her permission. Trevor held her accountable unfairly. She gives him one last chance, which is more than I would have done. Each time, he had blamed her without allowing her to defend herself in any way and run without letting her say a word.

Well, everyone ended up HEA and that’s what we want to see. So, mission accomplished.

Recommended

Looking for another Christmas cozy? I loved the beautiful cover of CHRISTMAS IN LONDON by Anita Hughes. This novel has a contemporary setting and plenty of romance, although perhaps too much for some? Two young women, one a chef and the other a TV producer, head to London for a holiday show and while there encounter some rather immature men. Despite drama and conflict, the story itself could be more engaging, but the food, shopping, and evoking of London at the holidays is great – escapism and pure fun!

I feel like I gained 10 pounds just reading this novel. This is a great foodie lover novel if you are into that sort of thing.

Foodie lit is a new phenomenon for me but one that my tastebuds love and my waistline doesn’t. I love how charming novels like this are and I am surprised how much I loved the food element….needless to say, I devoured a roll of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls while reading this book….#sorrynotsorry.

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.

Set during London’s most festive time of year and filled with delicious food, Christmas in London is about love and friendship, and the season’s most important lesson: learning how to ask for and give forgiveness (summary from Goodreads).

This is my second Anita Hughes novel and I have to say, she is growing on me as a writer. Last year I read Christmas in Paris and enjoyed it but for some reason I liked this one better. I have never read any of her other books that aren’t Christmas in nature, but after reading this one, I am interested in the others as well.

There is something about London that just screams CHRISTMAS. Maybe because it’s the home of A Christmas Carol….maybe it’s the Christmas goose, who knows but to me, London is home to Christmas. This book captured the cozy feel of Christmas in London and added to it with the delicious food and charming romance.

This book got me into the holiday spirit. I wanted every single cake that the author described. I often sat there reading with my mind screaming ‘GIVE ME ALL THE FOODS!’. I loved how descriptive her writing was and how it made me feel like I was right there with the characters. Hughes doesn’t just highlight the food, but the city and charm radiate off every page.

I want to be there. Like now. All holiday season.

Hughes captures the feel of Christmas in London and everything about this book made me long to be there too.

Other reviewers weren’t as convinced with the romance as in her other books, but I would have to differ from their opinions. I actually found the romances perfectly fine. A little bland maybe and cliche but for the most part I didn’t feel like they were unconvincing. I mean, aren’t so many holiday romances a little cliche? Why knock this one for being similar in nature? I personally felt like there was a lot to enjoy in this holiday read……a satisfying and charming romance, splendid location, and food to die for!

If you are looking for a holiday read to help get your geared up for the holiday season, don’t miss out on this one!

Book: Christmas in London by Anita Hughes

Kindle Edition, 288 pages
Published October 3rd 2017 by St. Martin’s Griffin
ASIN B06XK6QW67
Review copy provided by: Publisher/Author in exchange for an honest review
This book counts toward: NA

Hosted by: NA
Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 4 out of 5

Genre: Contempo lit, romance, chick lit, women fiction, holiday lit

Memorable lines/quotes:

Ugh! I requested this book for the cover and a little something to get me into the Christmas mood.

I read the whole book and still not sure why. A story of two women, one a pastry chef, Louisa, and one a television producer, Kate. Louisa was a huge dingbat with big ambitions. Kate wasn't as bad. I guess Kate kept me reading.

They both had two men after them. Stupid men. Why either of the ladies would bother with them, I have no idea.

I guess the biggest part of the enjoyment I somewhat felt was Googling the images of the places that they visited in London. That really added to my reading pleasure.

A dingbat, a lost woman and 4 stupid men.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Christmas in London is a sweet story of a hard working woman saving for a bakery who gets her chance to become famous and find love. It has a nice Christmas feel to it and who doesnt love a rags to riches kind of story.

There are several problems with the book however that make it not the most engaging. One is that the male characters are just terrible. They are petty, controlling, whiny and prone to massive mood swings. It is hard to want the women to end up with them because they are unlikeable.

Also the story doesnt seem to have much of an ending where you hear about what happens after the events in London. It really could have done with a "One Year Later" kind of epilogue.

I selected this book because of the description: London and Christmas, two of my favorite things. My Library has purchased three copies of the print version of this book and well as the eBook version. All print copies of the book are currently checked out in our Library system.

A charming Christmas read. Now, I want to visit London during the Christmas season.

Beautiful cover on the book. Sadly this book wasnt for me. I just couldnt get in to it sorry

Anita Hughes writes for the reader who wants to escape. No matter if you’re reading Hughes’ beach vacation novels or her holiday books, you’ll remove yourself from reality, suspend your disbelief, and enjoy a ride through luxury.

In Christmas in London, baker Louisa gets whisked away to London by television show producer Noah. She and her cinnamon rolls are needed for filming a Christmas special with a handsome, charming, world-famous chef and cookbook writer.

When I read Hughes, I just latch on to the main character and forget my real life. In London, I got to wake up to the smell of coffee and pastry, buy fancy new clothes, take walks with the cutie pie producer, take cooking classes with the famous chef (and hang out in a mansion with him), and live the tv star life for a week… not to mention get a happily ever after (and watch a new friend get one too).

Not a bad way to spend 288 pages.

Christmas in London by Anita Hughes is an image rich Christmas romance story which starts us off in the bakery where Louisa Graham is working. An accidental leaving of the 'Open' sign on after hours leads Noah to her shop to procure some last minute pastries for the cooking show he works on. When the secret ingredient causes the show's star to have an allergic reaction he drafts Louisa to join him for a whirlwind trip to London to substitute as the baker on the show. The description and imagery that Ms. Hughes provides is very detailed and really gives you a feel for both place in London and Christmastime.

During the story an additional romance is developed between the producer, Kate, and an old college acquaintance, Trevor. What I liked best about this book was the settings and the food, I would have appreciated maybe a focus on one couple at a time with deeper and more complex character development though.

Overall, if you are looking for a Christmas time story with detailed descriptions of food that will make you hungry, a London setting that will make you want to hop on a plane, and a multi-romance book, then Anita Hughes' Christmas in London is a book I would recommend.

(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

I thought I would LOVE this book. I mean, I’m an unabashed Anglophile—Love Actually is my favorite movie, for crying out loud, and that takes place IN LONDON, AT CHRISTMAS—but I really disliked this book. In fact, I seriously struggled to finish. I’m a big fan of chick lit when it’s done right...it wasn’t done right here. The two main characters, Louisa and Kate, are so ridiculous, and say so much dialogue that NO ONE would say in the real world. It was like, “Here, let me tell you my innermost thoughts on everything. And I’ve only known you five minutes.” So unrealistic. And the men! Get these children some therapy, or at least a very binding restraining order. The setting was lovely, I’ll give the author that...I did feel like I was in London. But beyond that? Skip it.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this to me for my unbiased review.

Christmas is here during the summer! I enjoyed everything about this book, except that samples of the food were not included (or even sniff samples)! The story flowed easily and once I began reading, I didn't want to put the book down. You can feel the chemistry between Louisa and Noah, as well as Kate and Trevor. You wish for happy endings all around. A delightful, poolside Christmas read that has me in the holiday spirit!

Louisa is a talented pastry chef working long hours in a New York bakery. She loves creating delicious goodies including making pastries from other countries.

One night, a man named Noah comes into the baking pleading with Louisa to allow him to buy the cinnamon rolls she had just made for the next morning. He needs them for a cooking show that is being filmed this evening. Everyone on the set is impressed and loves the cinnamon rolls. But one key person on the set is allergic to the nutmeg and has a reaction that causes her lips to swell. Now, Noah is asking Louisa to be the replacement for this person in London where they will film Christmas Dinner at Claridge’s. World-wide top chefs will be there preparing Christmas Eve dinner at the famous restaurant.

Upon arrival in London, Louisa is given a lovely suite at the hotel and beautiful clothes to wear. Oh, but she just wants so much to see the sights and taste the local food.

Noah has a tight schedule for Louisa and she will also be working with Kate who is Noah’s boss and the producer of the cooking show.

Kate attended university at St. Andrews some years ago with Trevor Skylar. Now, he is married to a wealthy woman who is related to the Queen. Kate and Trevor were very close back then. Now, Trevor and his wife are separated. As Kate and Trevor see more of one another while in London, they reminisce about the fun times they had and remember that they were at one time very much in love.

The story follows the days leading up to Christmas with lots of descriptions of the beautiful places in London and the delicious food. We see Kate and Trevor attend a cocktail party at Kensington Palace and Louisa hobnobbing with famous chefs. Oh, but love is never far behind.

I enjoyed this book very much and the descriptions of everything made me drool to be right there along with the characters. Anita Hughes writes beautifully and I love her books.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Really enjoyed this view of London during the holidays. The story was an escape-love stories that you wanted to work out. The storyline was fun and the details were vivid. After reading this book I wanted to run to the store for the ingredients to make homemade cinnamon rolls and learn how to make all of the goodies that Louisa made. I also need to seriously consider booking a holiday trip in London.

Noah is in a bind. His star on his cooking show has had an allergic reaction and cannot get to London to film. He manages to capture Louisa (in more ways than one). She agrees to be an understudy and Noah whisks her off to London, at Christmas course. Kate is the producer of the show. While she is in London she runs into more than one old flame!


Right off the bat, you need to be warned! DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU ARE ON A DIET! The food in the book is mouthwatering!

There are two storylines in the read, Noah and Louisa and Kate and Trevor. Noah and Louisa are just learning about each other and everything is fresh and new. Kate and Trevor have been here before. There have been some past hurts which they need to overcome.

I just love the characters in their story. Trevor is my favorite. He is a smart, charming introvert! He and Kate have a lot to work through. Noah is also a super sweet guy. He just needs to be a little more confident. He gets there in the end.

The setting is so freaking amazing!! The sights and sounds of London peel through this book. I LOVED reading about London at Christmas. I do not know why, but I have never even considered London at Christmas. But now it is on my BUCKET LIST. Oh and the awesome pastries and the smells of famous recipes…oh MY!! I think I gained 10 pounds just reading this book!

This is A charming and enchanting read! It is the perfect book to get you into the Christmas spirit. (In October no less!)

I received this novel from the publisher and Netgalley for a honest review.

I chose this book because the description of Christmas in London intrigued me, and I wasn’t disappointed in that aspect. The author does a spectacular job of describing the area; the details are so good that I could visualize much of it. I also enjoyed the bits and pieces about the royal family.

The characters on the other hand were disappointing. The two main characters are Kate and Louisa. The relationship between Louisa and Noah in many ways mirrors the past relationship Kate had with Trevor, a young man from her college days, who has reentered her life. (The relationship between Trevor and Kate is revealed through present circumstances and reminiscences about their college days.) Noah and Trevor are not upfront upfront about their feelings for the two females, instead they behave badly by pouting and getting upset when either female brings up another male in conversation. Over a five day period, both couples have constant tiffs that lead to someone walking away. To think that there could possibly be a happily ever after for any of them is ridiculous even though they all say they fell in love in this period of time!


Trevor is so recently separated from his wife that his house guests aren’t even aware of it, and yet he manages to sneak away for days on end, stay at a hotel and take Kate to dinner every night. Kate starts out protesting about going out with him saying it’s not a good idea, but she does anyway. By about the 3rd date, Trevor plans a dinner in his hotel suite. Kate at first says it’s not a good idea, (this happens on EVERY date) then the two of end up in bed. This is not actually a surprise since Kate won’t stick to anything she says, and of course the author has to throw in that sex scene somewhere. Right? Even if it made this particular character come across as even more wishy-washy than she already seemed to be. The next day, Kate is wondering if Trevor will want her to move to London, or if he will move to New York. How does that happen?

Louise at least doesn’t jump into a relationship as fast; however, she is also dealing with the pouting boyfriend who runs off all the time. The annoying thing about Louise was that she accepted this job, received a trip to London, a gorgeous suite to stay in, beautiful clothing and fancy meals, but she thinks she can do whatever she pleases, wandering off and not staying with the schedule she has been given. I found her behavior to be unrealistic for a young professional who is goal oriented.

I don’t typically read a lot of romance books. Maybe they are all like this. If you like to read about people who love drama, this might be for you. If the author would like to leave these characters behind and come up with a book with the recipes that she mentions, and pictures of London at Christmas, I'd definitely be interested!

Sweet story, with a fun and interesting premise. I enjoyed experiencing Christmas in London from Louisa's perspective, and the author has a unique voice. Unfortunately, there weren't any indications of scene breaks or appropriate transitions between the flashbacks/backstory and present events, so it was very difficult to navigate the timeline of events between the characters. The romance between the characters lacked depth and I grew weary of the male characters being melodramatic and not showing up, stomping off angry, etc. The novel started out strong but I quickly lost interest.