A Cosy Christmas at Bridget’s Bicycle Bakery

This was such a cute read perfect to get you in the holiday spirit
Premise
Finding yourself without a home in the weeks before Christmas would break most people, but for Bridget Carrington it’s a chance to start again. Mulberry-On-Sea has always been her happy place and she’s hoping it can work its magic this festive season and heal her family after a difficult year.

Now, as the community wraps Bridget and her children – six-year-old Freya and fourteen-year-old twins, Oscar and Olly – in their warm embrace, she starts to feel like herself again. With a new business, kids who are starting to smile, and the promise of a second chance at love, Bridget’s holiday season might just be a happy ever after…
I loved reading about Bridget and how hard she works to keep her family afloat and the community that rallies around them to get them back on their feet and to have the best holiday ever! Adorable! Loved every minute

This is such a feel good Christmas read! Finding love after losing the love of your life and having move to another city to get back on track for your family. Written beautiful incorporating the children of the story too.

A super sweet and cosy read that i adored, i couldnt stop reading and i didnt want too. I loved the characters, i loved the setting, i loved the plot, i loved the front cover, I LOVED IT

I love this author’s books and this one definitely lived up to expectations.

Bridget grew up in Mulberry-on-Sea and it is where she met Ted, the love of her life. Now having to make a fresh start after Ted's death, she returns to Mulberry with her three children. Bridget needs to provide for her family, so she turns to her love of baking and decides to sell her bread and pastries to the local community. As the community envelopes Bridget and her children into their midst, can this grief-stricken finally begin to heal?

A lovely warmhearted story with a great mix of characters which I thoroughly enjoyed. Looking forward to the next one.

Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter/Harper Collins Publishers Ltd. for a copy of "A Cosy Christmas at Bridget's Bicycle Bakery" in exchange for my honest review.

Bridget Carrington lost her husband over a year ago to an unknown heart condition. He was the love of her life since they were both 17, he had only been 37. Having trouble making ends meet she moves back to Mulberry-On-Sea where she and Ted were from. Ted's parents have a beach house and they were more than happy to have Bridget and her 14 year old twins Oscar and Olly and 6 year old Freya move in. As well as Snuggle and Chewy the guinea pigs and Henry a fun loving retriever.

Bridget's dream was to bake and she soon has more orders than she ever thought possible. Everyone welcomed her back with open arms, grateful to have great bread and mince pies. Bridget meets Jake and while not sure what to do at first, the kids warm to Jake and welcome him into their family.

This book is full of sad moments but even more laugh out loud moments. A truly heartwarming Christmas story.

I loved this! Sad, but heartwarming. Newly widowed mother of three has to sell and move back to home town, moving into her in-laws beach house which has seen better days, just before Christmas. Snow, snowball fights, sledging, bicycles, bread, a good looking man, and the start of a new romance??? Lovely, sad, heartwarming, I had to finish it.

From the first page I knew I would love this book. Written with warmth and humour it has some poignant moments that made me cry but oh so many laugh out loud moments too! A lovely warm-hearted book which took me back to the Christmases of my child hood.

This is a delightful book that left me smiling and my heart full. The perfect book to curl up with on a snowy day with a mug of hot chocolate or mulled wine.

The characters are wonderful, especially the three children who are adorable and sweet. All of the references to Jack and Bridgerton were funny. I like the humour which brought some wonderful and laughable moments. I so easily pictured the first escapade with Bridget and the dog lol. The setting sounds absolutely beautiful and it’s nice to read a book that is full of normal people. The author doesn’t dwell on “looks” and more on the personalities of the characters, although I would like to meet Jack!

I didn’t realize that this is the fourth book in this series and you definitely don’t have to read the others first. This is a great stand alone book that you won’t want to put down. I look forward to reading more books by this author. It was such a treat to read this book and to find myself smiling as I’m reading. A huge thanks to Harper Collins Uk and One More Chapter for the chance to read this lovely book.

Bridget lost her husband Ted; her three kids lost their dad. And they've been struggling financially so when Ted's parents offer their cottage in Mulberry-on-the Sea she can't turn it down. The village is just what they need. She meets Jack on their first night there and that relationship grows slowly. This is very much a feel good novel (just the thing these days!) but it's never saccharine. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I really enjoyed this.

I loved it. Bridget's move to a run down cottage in Mulberry-on-sea turned out to be so good for her. Sad at times especially when she was to find herself homeless just before Christmas but heartwarming when the locals all helped each other. I enjoyed reading how Bridget started her little business making bread for the locals. I really enjoyed how Bridget's second chance at love unfolded. A great read for the holiday season.

My first by this author but I loved this book and her writing. Great characters and easy to read chapters which aren’t too long which I love. Following the Christmas theme Bridget and her 3 children are forced to move and with little income she starts baking for the village. With some predictable twists and turns the story concludes on Christmas Day. Thanks Alex. Brown your publisher and NetGalley. A well deserved 5 stars.

A Cosy Christmas at Bridget's Bicycle Bakery - what a beautiful book. I loved every minute.

It was wholesome, warming and a great tale of overcoming sadness and learning to be happy again.

Bridget was so kind, I warmed to her immediately and I enjoyed that her downfall was bad luck , not her own doing - I always struggle with characters who have created their own mess.

I absolutely adore Christmas books, this was up there with one of the best I have read. I read it as a standalone and it held up well. It left me feeling so content and festive. The recipes at the end were a lovely touch, and I can't wait to try some of them out myself - my very own bicycle bakery!

Another great read from Alex. I’ve read a lot of these books and throughly enjoy every one of them. This one was so sweet and easy to read and I loved the characters. The bickering between the children and all the baking for Christmas. I’m definitely going to find the other books in this series. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Having read of all Alex Brown's previous work I was excited to see a spin off from the Carrington's series. This book introduces Bridget and her family who are recovering from the loss of Bridget's husband.

The descriptions of the bread and treats being baked within this book made my mouth water and at times whilst reading it I laughed out loud and cried so be prepared to run the whole gamut of emotions. A nice touch is the inclusions of recipes at the end of the book too. When I've read a book that I enjoyed as much as this one I love knowing that there is another to follow so I am eagerly anticipating the release of A summer holiday at Bridget's Bicycle Bakery next summer.

If you're in the market for a relaxing, heart warming page-turner then this is the book for you!

What a wonderfully enchanting cosy festive hug of a read!A cosy Christmas at Bridgets Bicycle Bakery has it all in abundance! Friendship,seasonal traditions, Christmas baking, kindness, romance and the most idyllic beachside setting, what more could you possibly want?
Bridget recently widowed,finds herself alone with three children, several animals and rising debts, so decides to take up her late husbands parents offer of using their run down rather dilapidated beach hut, arriving tired and in the dark things don’t get off to a brilliant start to say the least!
However friendly locals, a welcoming community and Bridgets beloved baking all start to help the family deal with their grief, come together,and start living again in the most wonderful place surrounded by memories and friendships which illustrate how wonderfully life goes on and enjoyment can once again be experienced all so magically aided and enhanced by the enigmatic Jack! I feel this book needs a sequel as I so want to find out what happens next!
Perfect reading for the festive season along with a mince pie and a baileys in front of a warm fire!
Thank you netgalley for this early read.

Absolutly loved this book. A big warm hug of a feel good story with relatable chatacters....a story that leaves a big smile on your face.

Following the death of her husband Ted a year ago, and struggling to make ends meet , bridget accepts her in laws offer of moving into their beach house....a little run down and needing some renovation. Bridget moves her twin teenage boys, 6 yr old daughter and the family pets down to mulberry on sea, the seaside town she grew up in.

The first night proves challenging as the key to the front door is lost and Bridget ends showing her christmas knickers to a strange man as she falls in the dunes. This strange man is later revealed as Jack, the extremly good looking, sought after batchelor of the town.

Struggling to make ends meet, Bridget does what she does best....baking and takes samples into the town to see if there is interest in her providing regular orders. Bridgets wares are hugely successful with orders pouring into bridgets bicycle bakery.

As the family slowly settle into their new life they come to terms with Teds death, realising it is ok to move on the residents of mulberry on sea are just the people to help them do this.

A fabulously entertaing read, highly recommend.

Following the death of her husband a year before Bridget has no choice but to move with her young daughter and twin teenage sons back to her home town of Mulberry-On-Sea to stay in her in - laws run down holiday cottage. She enjoys baking and uses it as a way of relaxing, but it also starts turning into a business.
This is unashamedly a Christmas story set in a small community, with a romantic interest. It could be criticised for being too "sweet", however for me that is part of what I enjoy in such stories. I'm reading this at the (hopefully) tail end of the Covid pandemic, in the midst of a petrol panic, with stock shortages in the shops and grotty, autumnal weather, so reading something that is uplifting goes down really well at the moment.
I had previously read and enjoyed the first book in the series, and will now have to go back and read the other books in the series, although this can certainly be read as a stand alone book.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book and I also have pre-ordered it on release.

4.5 *stars*

Thanks to HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for providing and advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a "Christmasy" book!!!
It would have been 5 stars but the first chapter was hard to get into. It was unnecessary, too descriptive. Every other word was just too much for my liking. That's why it will be 4.5 stars from me.

My thoughts:
Finally a good Christmas themed book. Despite the first chapter the rest of the book was amazing. When I was reading it I felt like it's Christmas time already. The snow, the moment of grief, the family relationships, the freshly baked goods and of course Hot Jack! It's a perfectly balanced romance book.

Brief synopsis:
All you need to know: the main point is dealing with grief and how to live your life after losing someone you really love and not feeling guilty/bad about it. But there is a cute romance aspect as well. Timeline is shortly before Christmas and you can definitely feel the vibe of it. And you can't imagine Christmas time without freshly baked sourdough bread, mince pies etc.

If you are looking for a Christmas book, pick this one up!
Thank you!

#NetGalley

This was such a beautifully crafted festive story. Bridget will grab your heart for sure. I love the way that Alex Brown makes her characters seem like friends rather than people on the page.

An enjoyable, cosy perfect read to get ready for Christmas.
Bridget unexpectedly finds herself homeless a few weeks before Christmas, and with the loss of her husband a year previous things are at rock bottom.
A move to an old holiday home in her hometown brings a fresh start both for her and the children and can she and the family rebuild their broken lives and move on.? Lovable, warm, funny characters and plenty of HO HO HO!
I really enjoyed reading this and can recommend it to others, you wont be disappointed.
I was unaware that the author has written other books set around mulberry on sea and Carringtons, I shall have to read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.

I adored this book! It was an easy, uplifting, light – hearted read where nothing, absolutely nothing, went wrong. OK, our main character Bridget and her children didn’t have it easy, but as soon as they arrive in Mulberry – On – Sea, everything is plain sailing. I would normally be probably appalled by this fact, but in this book it gave it such a warm feeling and actually I didn’t want that something happens. I wanted it to happily and joyously drift towards a happy end, with all the characters falling in love and finding their happiness. I don’t like to think it was all a bit too rushed and unrealistic, I’d rather say there was a bit of magic instead, making all fall easily into pieces – it truly felt like stepping into a fairytale where nothing can go wrong and everything can be fixed by a fresh loaf of bread or hot chocolate or something to eat. There was so much positivity in this story BUT – how the author has achieved it, no idea – it doesn’t feel too cheesy or to meh, it simply feels good.

This book was already full of Christmas spirit and festive atmosphere. I’ve been reading it for the last two days, in a beautiful sunny October, but the author has easily transported me into her fictional, snowy world.

“A Cosy Christmas at Bridget’s Bicycle Bakery” is just this – a cosy, wonderful and cheerful read, a great piece of escapism, set in a beautiful place, with gorgeous and vivid descriptions and some brilliantly sounding recipes at the end. A lovely story about new beginnings, friendship, understanding and kindness, peppered with humour. Yes, some may say the book lacked in substance and plot, too gushy and sentimental and I’d absolutely agree with it, but somehow the author has managed to pull it off – so if you are in need of a light – hearted, cosy and unproblematic read – and this is a huge complement – look no further. I’d read this book again and again and I’m excited there is another story about Bridget coming our way.

A Cosy Christmas at Bridget’s bicycle bakery by Alex Brown a festive five-star read. This was number four in the Carrington’s series which I didn’t realise when I first started this, I will go back and read them all as this sounds like a delightful series. I really enjoyed how the characters weren’t rushed to conclusion, they developed naturally, and followed the flow of the story, it was nicely done. The scenes set in this story were sublime, you could imagine yourself by the sea enjoying a festive hot drink and feeling the sea breeze on your face.

Lovely festive feel good book! The storyline and characters are so relatable! Sit back with a cup of hot chocolate and relax with this beautiful story.

When Bridget's husband died of a heart problem unexpectedly she was left to bring up her teenage twin boys Oscar and Oliver and her 6 year old daughter alone then things went from bad to worse when her landlord decided to sell their home. Her in laws had recently moved to Australia and let them have their beach house in Mulberry which was empty although in need of some tlc. Bridget has to start putting everyone's life back together while she finds work and money for her family.
This is a great read filled with the feel good factor and Christmas spirit that leaves a warm glow at the finish .Light hearted and funny in parts.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Bridget returns to Mulberry-On-Sea, after finding herself and her family homeless, hoping to make a fresh start in a place where she’s always been happy. She’s hoping that the magic she felt being here in the past can now be found again and allow them to recover after a difficult year.

As the residents of Mulberry-On-Sea open their arms for Bridget and her children, she begins to feel more like herself again. Her children are beginning to laugh and smile again, and she’s starting a new business. There’s also the flickers of another chance at love,

Will Bridget get her happy ever after…….

Highly Recommend This Book.

If you’re looking for a book filled with love; a novel about family, friends and new beginnings with the added bonus of Christmas then this book is for you. As soon as I started it I knew I was on to a winner with this and devoured every single page. It’s written with such warmth and with some fantastic characters. You are instantly transported to Mulberry-on-Sea experiencing the sights and sounds and can almost smell the freshly baked bread. This book gives you all of the festive feels and I can highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter and the author for the chance to review.

I have enjoyed all the Alex Brown books I've read, and this one was just as good as her others. It was a believable story in a lovely setting, and the first of the Christmas books I plan to read this year. With all that's going on in our world, it was nice to read a comforting book that allowed me to just switch off for a few hours.

I loved this book.
The story was brilliant not slushy like some Christmas books can be.
I liked how Bridget has managed to do all she has done with her children as well as handling her grief over losing Ted but again it's not a book that has u grabbing the tissues but it does leave a warm feeling inside you.
As I was reading it I could smell and taste the home baked goodies Bridget was baking. I can't wait to get this book when it is out. I hope this series is a long one and nothing bad happens.

What a lovely feel good book! I loved it. Can just imagine it being me. And can really imagine Mulberry on Sea! Bridget moves back there with her 3 children to stay in her in laws beach house. Her husband tragically died young. They both lived in Mulberry when they were younger. She meets chef Jack in rather unfortunate circumstances while ‘walking’ on the beach. And every time she meets him it’s never straightforward. It’s lovely how the community comes together when the roads are so slippery with ice and nothing can get through. Luckily Bridget has her trusty bike. Her kids are getting well into helping out with marketing and selling the bread. Oh and firing up a fire pit to sit around in the evening.

Alex Brown is such a wonderful author! Not only does she bring you laughs and joy in A Cosy Christmas at Bridget's Bicycle Bakery, but I found tears of hope. This story takes you on the journey of a mom and 3 kids returning home after a loss of a husband and father. The holidays are such a great time to bring family together while finding hope and joy along the way. I highly recommend this book for a good uplifting holiday read.

Lovely book. Bridget goes back to Mulberry on Sea with her 3 children when her life falls apart. She has a disastrous first meeting with Jack. Bridget then does what she does best. Bakes.

Hurray!! Gorgeous tidings of Christmas joy!!
Loved this Christmas book, brilliant as a stand alone or as a follow-up to the Carrington series.
Bridget is returning home to Mulberry on Sea with her three children and their pets, to live at the Beach House. No spoilers.......its a treat to discover what happens!!
The warmth and depth of Alex Brown's writing is hugely welcome, the characters and descriptions fabulous and inviting.
Highly and hugely recommended- its just fabulous!!
Thank you to NetGalley for the early read of this fantastic book!

This story of a family finding themselves after the loss of a husband/father will have readers rooting for a happy ending. Bridget has always wanted to be a baker and out of desperation to support her three children on her own, she sells and delivers freshly baked breads and treats. The community is amazing and supports each other in a heartwarming way. A new chance for love is available but grief takes time and work. This book will put readers in the mood to celebrate Christmas with love and togetherness.

I love Alex browns books so much and couldn’t wait to read this as so loved the front cover. It’s was full of festive cheer and starting a new life and being happy again after loosing a loved one. Will there be romance or not in store. The village sounds a beautiful friendly village and you feel you are there and can just smell the baking she does especially the bread. A feel good read and wonderful characters and will certainly cheer you up when reading this story. It’s worth more than five stars in my eyes as such a brilliant read.
Bridget has her children and has lost her husband and needs to start a new life so heads back to her childhood village and she hasn’t got much money and turns up in the dark and can’t find the key and everything seems against her as her car is broken down as well. She needs to earn some money and be able to support her children so she bakes her bread and mince pies and starts selling them to people in the village. One person really stands out to her but is he to good looking and she feels it’s to early to find romance again. She wants to settle her children and be happy and she soon starts to this with baking and seeing old friends and new ones as well. But when her children tell her a few home truths and can see things she can’t will she believe them and be happy with the man of her dreams or not and will they all celebrate Christmas as a happy family unit.
Highly recommend this book.

A lovely warm hearted book. It made me laugh out loud and brought tears to my eyes. What more could you ask for. It's Christmas the way we would all like it to be.

Loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

It’s so lovely to take another visit to Mulberry on Sea and Carringtons department store. Following the death of her husband Bridget takes her children to Mulberry on Sea where she grew up and met her husband. She needs a new start for her and the children her way of coping is to bake and with a community like Mulberry she finds herself baking bread and making friends new and old.

Alex Brown has written a lovely Christmassy treat of a read complete with recipes that make me want to start baking. Perfect for the dark winter evenings

A really lovely, festive read! This story of family, love, grief and loss is so well written with likeable characters and a happy ending! A warm, easy, merry read that I’d recommend.

Yay for A Cosy Christmas at Bridget’s Bicycle Bakery! A book that I managed to finish in a whopping 24 hours and deserves to be on my for-a-rainy-day shelf on Goodreads, it bringing a smile to my face when I needed it.

A story with a well-developed main character Bridget for being whimsical about whether or not share her joy and grieve when it comes to her late husband Ted. And her two boys and Freya... and the singing with the funny scene with the 'cheeky fucker.' And her new and old friends, such as Eddie and Vicar Joe.

I'm so glad there seems to be a sequel to Bridget's adventures. I can hardly wait.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

Well, I’ve devoured this gorgeous festive read in one sitting. Alex Brown has again written a brilliant piece of escapism with grief and second chances handled sensitively and warmly. I loved Bridget, Oscar and Olly and Freya completely from the very beginning. The idea of living beachside whilst providing a service to the community sounded like a mini piece of heaven and transported me to Mulberry-on-sea for the festive season. It was great meeting up with old faces from Carringtons too and I can’t wait for the next instalment.

With grateful thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
Having read all of this authors books I was delighted to have an early copy. Stepping back in time to Mullberry - on -sea and the Carrington gang mixed in with Bridget’s new life was utterly fabulous from beginning to end it wasn't all plain sailing but I've a feeling that life is on a totally different level now a really cosy Christmas read I can highly recommend.