Sunday 12 February 2017

Book Review - The Cosy Coffee Shop of Promises by Kellie Hailes - Fab Firsts - #AroundTheUKIn144Books #Devon



Fab Firsts is my new regular Sunday feature, that is going to be highlighting books that are firsts. When interviewing authors, it will be about their first book, as well as other firsts in their lives. When reviewing books for this feature, there will be a mix of debuts, first books in a series, the first time I read an author, and possibly other firsts depending on what I can think of!

If you are an author wanting to take part in Fab Firsts then please do email on gilbster at gmail dot com and I'll whizz the questions over to you.

I hope you enjoy this look at a variety of hopefully fabulous firsts, while making some sort of dent in my review and paperback TBRs which are my current main focus!

Today I am reviewing Kellie Hailes' debut book, which was only published on Friday. 

Amazon UK
Title: The Cosy Coffee Shop of Promises 
Author: Kellie Hailes
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: HQ Digital 
Publication Date: 10th February 2017
Rating: 4 Stars


Curl up in The Cosy Coffee Shop of Promises with a latte and a scone, the perfect antidote to a grey day!

Mel’s dream of opening a coffee shop is finally a reality! A cosy little place turning out the best flat whites and most delicious pastries in Devon. In the picture-perfect town of Rabbit’s Leap no one can stand in her way – especially local pub owner, Tony. She doesn't care how gorgeous he is, she will not let him steal her customers with his fancy new coffee machine!

There is only room in their small town for one coffee shop…but when Hurricane Val – aka her mother – is due to blow into town, Mel is in desperate need of an instant boyfriend. She can’t face another hunt to 'find a man' and while Tony may be her business rival, Mel can’t help but notice he’d make the perfect fake fiancĂ©…

If they can strike a deal all they need to do is stick to it, no falling in love, no real feelings and definitely no dreams of a happy-ever-after!

Incredibly sweet and light hearted romance, that is set in a small town, with a great name, Rabbit's Leap, and although the overall outcome may have been predictable, from the first few pages, the journey of the story was certainly entertaining. 

I loved seeing Mel and Tony's initial banter, and the way a coffee machine was what caused the pair of them to enter into a relatively odd deal. Mel agrees to teach Tony how to cook healthy food to help turn his pub's fortunes around, and Tony has to agree to not sell coffee from his new machine until after 3pm, when Mel's coffee shop closes. Oh and he also has to agree to be Mel's fake fiancee while her mum is in town!

What a nightmare Mel's mum Valerie is, she really is Hurricane Val! Her one aim in life appears to be to find a man no matter who suitable for herself and also her daughter. She is very good at having constant little digs at Mel, and seems like a bit whirl of energy. 

Tony is trying his hardest to keep hold of his pub which has been in the family for many years. He is committed to making it work, but yet when it comes to women he has a reputation that precedes him, and thus it takes him by surprise, just what spending a lot of time with Mel pretending to be together does to him. 

I sort of liked Mel, she is clearly hurt by something in her past, which along with her frosty relationship with her mother, really contributes to her personality. 

The is only one thing I didn't really get about this book, and that is the title. I was expecting a story where the coffee shop would be at the heart of the story, but really the main building in the village that was featured was Tony's pub, and the cooking involved was more pub food than baking. It was just a small niggle but thought I would mention it in case you had been thinking the same thing! 

I thought that The Cosy Coffee Shop of Promises was a promising debut book, that is a quick, light hearted, easy romance, which I found very entertaining. 

Thank you so much to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

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