In the mood for a little escape? This story takes the reader to London at Christmas time, where everything looks beautiful for the holidays and love is on the horizon.

Louisa has a moment that could be a dream. While working at the bakery, a man comes in and insists on buying all of her cinnamon rolls for his boss to use on her cooking show. The following day, he comes back and practically begs Louisa to fill in for the cooking show's host since she's fallen ill. Louisa would spend the week in London, all expenses paid.

The other part of the story revolves around Kate and a possible second chance at love.

Cute story. Good escapist fiction (that's a thing, right?) At a time when there's a lot of sadness in the world, it can be especially nice to have a book talking about love, food, travel and the holidays.
I didn't always like the love interests in the story but I enjoyed the story itself and rooted for everyone's happiness.

I got to read an early copy through NetGalley.

Anita Hughes is a beautiful writer who can script plot as great as she can draft descriptions. This book is not only a great story but beautifully crafted.

Christmas, food and London equals my kind of book!

I really enjoyed this one the characters were likeable. Give me any book with Christmas and food and I'm happy!

This is escape fiction at its finest. And definitely my favorite work of this authors to date. Spending Christmas in London at Claridge’s in all of its elegant elaborateness, seeing the sights at Christmas time, shopping at Herrod’s and Selfridges and eating all of that scrumptious and divine food, sigh! I feel like I’ve been there and even though those things are on my bucket list, I may not have to do them now because in my mind I already have.

This book was such a treat for all of my senses, the descriptions of place and thing were so real as to place me right there. I feel like I could fly to London and get out of the cab and find all places and things that were described with absolutely no trouble at all. I’ve always loved that about this author, but I feel like she went above and beyond in this book. I didn’t want to skip a single sentence because I wanted to be surrounded in the places and the Christmas decorations and the store windows and everything that makes London so enchanting during the holiday season. All of it was simply divine.

And then on top of all that splendidness I got to enjoy not one but two of the best storylines and some of my most favorite characters in Louisa and Kate. And the food, oh the food, the descriptions were heaven.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of food and armchair travel and fabulous descriptions that make you feel like you’ve been there and eaten that. It was simply luscious, every page and every word. I loved it!

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thoughts Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

You know that feeling you get when Christmas day nears?

When twinkle lights, draped across anything that will hold still long enough, add some sparkle to the world.

When the face of every child you see is lit-up with anticipation, their smiles stretched wide, their eyes bright and large and round.

When the seasonal smells of ginger and pumpkin and shortbread waft out of nearly every kitchen.

When each meal ends with a warm-from-the-oven cookie or a crisp cranberry tart or a glass of cool and creamy eggnog.

It’s warm – and homey – and happy.

This is how Christmas in London by Anita Hughes made me feel.

Despite the fact that the leaves had just started turning as I read this book in the days leading up to its October 3rd release, it put me in such a holiday mood that I was repeatedly surprised when I looked out my window and found that my lawn wasn’t covered in a blanket in pristine snow.

A culinary fairytale of sorts, the protagonist of this book is Louisa, a pastry chef from New York City who delights in preparing sweet delicacies in the days leading up to Christmas. She thought that she would spend this Christmas as she usually does, whipping up tasty treats in a small New York City bakery. Through a twist of fate, however, Louisa ends up filling in for the star of a popular cooking show in an assignment that takes her to London several days before Christmas.

The plot of this cheery novel was clean and compact and relatively predictable, but still satisfying.


The characters actions were pure and unadulterated and logical and, at times, about saccharine sweet as one could tolerate.


Somehow, when these features combined they produced a book that just felt really good to read. Moving through the pages of this book managed to induce that uniquely contented feeling you usually only get when you share a kiss under the mistletoe or come down on Christmas morning and watch your children open presents.


Hughes accomplished this feat largely through the effective and repeated use of sensory description. As a reader you could easily imagine yourself in the featured settings, allowing you to more deeply connect with the characters.


True, her description of London was a bit more idealized – and less urine-scented – than my actual London experience. But, again, this was a fairytale of sorts. Even my jaded soul and sometimes hardened heart couldn’t help but appreciate the sentiment.


While discussing description, however, I should note that I did have one ever-so-slight issue. I cringed a little bit each time she would describe a kiss – which happened, say, seven or so times in this book. The cause of my shudder – she always made it point to describe the mouth of the other participant in the kiss as “warm.”


One time, okay.


Two times, fine.


Three times, let’s pick some other adjectives.


Despite this minor annoyance, as I approached the end of this book it became clear to me that, as a whole, I really enjoyed it. So, obviously, I started to think critically about what had earned this novel a place in my esteem.

Honestly, it’s not the type of novel I would typically pick up.

Usually, my reading is darker – grittier – more…serious.

After my contemplation, I narrowed it down to one thing:

Around Christmas, I commonly find myself feeling nostalgic for a simpler time. A time even simpler than my own 80s childhood which was filled with Umbro shorts and slouch socks and side ponytails. A Miracle on 34th street (the original) kind of simple.

And this is probably why I liked this novel, because of its simplicity.

It felt pure and uncomplicated and – particularly in the relatively acidic world in which we are currently living – I enjoyed that escape.

So – with cheeks that still ache from all the smiling I did while reading – I give Christmas in London by Anita Hughes a much-deserved, merry 4 out of 5 cocktails.

(3.5) Anita Hughes has way of captivating and transporting readers with her vivid descriptions of the wonderful locations she writes about, and she's done it again with Christmas in London. Not only do the setting descriptions make you feel that you're right there in that moment, but the descriptions of the food are mouth-watering and, oh, so made me wish I was experiencing and tasting everything. This was a fun and delightful quick read with some romances that start to develop between some of the characters. Although, there were times when I wondered whether there would actually be a lasting romance. Of course, I'm not going to tell if there was or wasn't! This book would be fun to read closer to the Christmas holiday sitting next to the Christmas tree and/or a fire with a hot chocolate!!

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Louisa is a pastry chef in a bakery in New York, working long hours, but spurred on by the dream of one day owning her own restaurant specialising in desserts.

One afternoon, just before closing, a man walks into the bakery and tries to buy the festive cinnamon rolls that Louisa has just baked for the following morning. When she explains that they are not for sale, he tells her his dilemma. He works as a runner on a tv show called “Baking With Bianca” and when there was a fire in the kitchen, it destroyed all the cakes that were going to be used for the taping of the show. He explains that Louisa’s cinnamon rolls would be perfect for Bianca to hold in front of the camera.

The following day, Noah returns to the bakery with a proposition that will change Louisa’s life forever, and before she knows it, she’s on a flight to London, in Business Class, and is about to stand in for Bianca (who got an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients in the cinnamon rolls) for the recording of the Christmas special at Claridge’s hotel.

A really enjoyable read, the story was pleasant, and moved swiftly along, the characters were believable, however…the cynic in me, just felt that it was a massive advert for Claridges, but then again, it definitely worked as I shall now be saving up to have Afternoon Tea in the hotel just so that I can re-live a little bit of the romance in the book!

bookmadmum.blogspot.co.uk

When a man, desperate to find replacements for a cooking show where a disaster with the baking has occurred, enters the small Manhattan bakery where Louisa Graham works as a pastry chef, begging to buy all the cinnamon rolls she has made, things change dramatically for Louisa. The next morning, the man returns to report that the rolls were an astounding success, asking Louis if she could substitute for the show’s star chef, who has had an allergic reaction, during the upcoming annual Christmas Eve Dinner TV special at Claridge's in London. At first, Louisa hesitates because she does not want to leave the bakery in a lurch, but soon finds a baker to take her place while she is gone, and agrees. Once in London, things move quickly. Louisa is dazzled by the city, transformed into all its holiday splendor, while, at the same time, being amazed at the chefs who will participate in the TV special, a veritable who’s who in the cooking world. Louisa’s time in London passes in a whirlwind of activity orchestrated by the cooking show and the people she works with and for as well as by the people, famous and not so famous, she encounters. In addition, there are definite undercurrents of romance among show staff as well as Louisa, which only add to the story line, as well as sub-plots that held my interest.

The book is a well done read. I found the characters of Louisa and Noah, the show assistant who comes into Louisa’s bakery looking for something to replace the program’s fare that met with disaster, both well developed and interesting. I enjoyed watching their wonder and amazement as events unfolded. Their growing attraction to each other only added to the story. The descriptions of London during this season, as well as the setting were well done and gave me a good picture of London during the Christmas season, especially the food areas. As I read, I wanted to transport myself there this coming season, though I knew that would be impossible. There were a few interesting, though not-show -stealing, sub-plots that kept the book going and were interesting themselves. I have not read anything else by this author, but enjoyed this one so much I will look out for more by her. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

Unfortunately I didn't finish this one, I couldn't connect with the characters they were too immature for me. I also had some issues with the plausibility of the plot, better luck next time hopefully! I do appreciate the chance, thank you.

As many who follow me know, I'm not much of a "holiday" reader. Don't get me wrong. I've picked up a few here and there, but it's not often. But when my "review boss" asks me to check this out, I couldn't resist. Sigh...I wish I had.

To say that this author knows how to describe in detail would be an understatement. Although I enjoyed the details of London during the holidays, even the gourmet foods being created, it got to be...distracting after a while. Yes, London is breathtakingly beautiful, especially around the holidays. Yes, at times I wish I had "smell-a-vision" to taste some of the described foods (I'm a total food porn enthusiast). But when I have to read about the different clothes, jewelry, flowers, etc in order to get to the story and the "good stuff"...yep, distracting if not down right annoying doesn't cover it.

I found both female characters childish. There really isn't a better way to describe them considering they were pretty self centered and in desperate need of their fairy tale ending. The men were almost worse. For a holiday book, you'd think we'd be reading about all of the romantic things shared and cherished. Nah, not so much in this one. I mean, the sex scenes even lacked some "umph", if you know what I mean. Maybe that's the other reason I couldn't really get in to this. Did we get the little holiday flare and love in the end? Yeah, sure. And if you can make it to the end, you might enjoy it.

reviewed by Chris

Gorgeous Christmas-dessert and visiting-London stuff mixed with rather unappetizing romance plots.

The book had everything on the menu that I found enticing, and the serving was sumptuous, but as I dived in, there came the off-tasting bits and while I wanted to ignore them, I could not do it entirely.

We are offered London & gourmet desserts for the setting and it cannot get more christmassy than that, surely. The cakes described by the author just leap off the page and make this particular reader
drool all over her kindle.
And the wonderful shops, sights and places of London: Claridges, Harrod's, Oxford street, Fortnum & Mason, the Parks, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace - it's all magical and you can't help, but wish to be there... and then there come the romances .... and the enchantment sort of disappears.

It is pretty obvious from the cover blurb that it is a Cinderella-goes-to-the-ball make-believe tale, which I wouldn't have minded at all -all is fair in love and Christmas books, after all- but the love stories were unfortunately bland & unconvincing.

Christmas in London is so well written that I could practically taste all the food as it was described. I wish my local bakery had a Louisa!

The detailed descriptions carry over to London as well. Though I’ve never been there, the areas are so well described that I could picture it easily in my head.

For a fun, mostly lighthearted book to get you started on the holiday season, read this one!

~ I was given an arc of this book in exchange for my personal opinions. - Great Thoughts’ Great Reader’s ninja~

This nicely written quick read will get you in the holiday spirit! Hughes has hit several sweet spots (no pun!) for me- baking and London with her tale of Louisa, a young baker who is given the opportunity to travel to London for a cooking show. Her back and forth with Digby, a baker she idolizes, is emblematic of the tone- light, happy, and well, you know how these things go. But what about Noah? The bonus is that Kate, the producer of the show, runs into her long lost Trevor, who has been carrying the torch for her for 10 years. I liked that this twined two romances with multiple possibilities- it made things more interesting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ArC. Try this one!

Christmas in London yes please! They are two of my favorite things so I was excited to get a book with both!
Louisa Graham is on over load in the Manhattan bakery prepping for Christmas when a cooking show assistant comes in and wants to buy all of the cinnamon rolls. Confused as what to do she lets them go to help save the day for this cooking show. The next day Louisa finds out that everyone at the cooking show LOVED her rolls and they want her to come to London with them to fill in for the star of the show! She is beyond excited esp when she finds out her cooking idol Digby Bunting will be there! And it looks like Digby is interested in Louisa!
Fun Christmas book that I was able to devour in a day! And talk about devouring the food in this had me drooling and wanting snacks. I may have to blame Anita any weight gain that might of happened while reading.

I adored this delightful Christmas book!
The descriptions of all the festive desserts made my mouth water, and I could almost smell them. The beauty of London and the decorations described make be want to visit during the holiday.
It was a predictable love story for two couples with a happy ending and who doesn't want this during a joyous season of love?
I loved it!

There were parts of this book I really loved. I loved the London setting and the descriptions of the holiday decor. I loved the role that food played throughout the book. And I loved Kate and Trevor's story and the premise of Louisa and Noah's story.

That said, there were some things I did not like. The characters, especially the men, seem to overreact to basic situations, they jump to conclusions, and they're too stubborn to allow the female characters to explain themselves. There were also a few instances where there was just too much dialogue and multiple sentences were used to describe the same thing but in different words. Sometimes less is more.

That said this is a very cute book and it's a nice holiday read - it's the perfect thing to curl up and read while enjoying a hot beverage and a tasty treat.

It seems a bit strange to be reading about Christmas with the temperatures outside in the 90s but it didn't take long for me to get into the Christmas spirit in this delightful novel that takes the reader to London with all of it's Christmas decorations and snow and overall beauty.

Louisa is a baker in NYC who ends up going to London to bake with a group of famous chefs for a TV show. Her trip started as a bit of a fluke and she had only a few hours to get ready but she ends up at the beautiful Claridge Hotel in London in a beautiful suite. Since the meal she is cooking will be taped for television, she has an unlimited budget for clothes and gets to tour London so that her reactions can be taped for the show. It's a dream of a lifetime for a young baker whose main goal is to open her own shop. Not only all that but she finds she has a crush on Noah, the assistant on the cooking show and makes a new friend, Kate, who runs into her first love while they are in London.

Not only do we get wonderful descriptions of London at Christmas time, there are also fantastic descriptions of food (don't read this book when you're hungry) and a little romance. It's a fantastic Christmas book to read any time of the year.

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

https://www.goodreads.com/LKBoyd

The desserts were described in detail, as was the excitement of Christmas in London.

The female characters were likeable enough, although I found Louisa a little annoying and naive. The males were bland and dull.

While reading the author would switch scenes in the middle of a chapter with no warning. It made me go back and reread paragraphs because I thought I missed something.

I received this ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. So thank you netgalley and publishers.
This story is about Louisa who is a pastry chef from New York City, she is asked to fill in for a celebrity chef on a tv cooking show that is being filmed in London. Louisa's dream is to open her own restaurant. So, she agrees to go to London to film the show. While in London, Louisa meets other well knows chefs including one who she loves, Digby Bunting. Noah, who is in charge of Louisa during the filming, tries to warn Louisa about Digby's reputation with women, but Louisa doesn't listen and finds herself in a unfortunate situation. Noah is starting to have feelings for Louisa and just wants to keep her safe. There is a second story about Kate, who is the show producer, and her college love Trevor. They haven't seen each other since college. I don't want to give away anything in the book so I'm going to stop my review here :) it was a nice, quick and fluffy read! I mean who doesn't love food, romance and London?!?! :) Loved it! 4.5 stars

An enjoyable Christmas read though I didn't enjoy the Kate story arc as much as I did Louisa's. Including a few recipes would have lend well to the story. I did enjoy the setting, the food descriptions, and the characters surrounding the Louisa story.