Christmas Wedding At The Gingerbread Café

Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Cafe' by Rebecca Raisin is a 2014 Carina UK press publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am so sad this is the last book in this deliciously sweet series. The author really knows how to write wonderful heartwarming and touching stories.  Despite the fact I would love to see the series continue there couldn't have been a better ending. 

When Lily and Damon first met a year ago, things got off to a really rocky start.  But, these two were meant for each other, so now one year later they have decided to exchange vows at the Gingerbread Cafe'.   So romantic!!   Until... the future mother-in-law arrives and Lily find herself vying for Damon's loyalty.  CeeCee once again is at her best although she is going through some problems of her own.  Madcap last minute wedding preparations, Christmas Eve,  snow,  a wedding and few little unexpected surprises make this a wonderful holiday romance.  I have really enjoyed getting to know these characters and they will stay in my heart for a long time to come.   Whatever this author chooses to do next, I'm hoping for a front row seat. Very well done!  5 stars!!

Ok where to start. Firstly thank you for the Netgalley invitation. I was more than thrilled when this arrived in my inbox.

I can't believe that only this time last year I was reviewing the first book in this series. At that point I had only had my blog a few months and was still getting to grips with blogging and tours and such like. I am thrilled a year later to be reviewing the Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Cafe.

Lil and Damon  are sweet as ever. If you think these two were like lovesick puppies in the rest of the series wait til you see them in the run up to the wedding. They really are that dream couple.

Charlie bear is so sweet and I only wish we could see more of her. Her wedding surprise had me in tears it was beautiful.

Damons mum, Olivia, showed up being a bit of a meddler. She clearly wanted to drive a wedge between Damon and Lil and I hated her for it. Poor Lil didn't know what to do for the best. She didn't want to upset Damon but she also didn't want Olivia to push her around. Deep down I think Olivia is old woman missing her only son.

Lil's parents were great. It was odd to see them fitting in to Ashford so easliy as they haven't been in the story at all since they have been away. Lil's Mamma really did make me laugh with her clumsiness.

the girls really were the best friends that Lil could ask for and not only that she was a great friend to them. Letting Cece go when she needed to no matter how much she might have wanted her there.

The wedding was beautiful and the dress, my oh my the dress. I can't even describe how much I loved that dress.

I have a warm fuzzy Christmas feeling inside now. I really can't wait to spend Christmas with my loved ones just like these lot.

Third in the Gingerbread Café series.  This book follows Lil as she prepares for her wedding to Damon.
Lil is busy getting the Gingerbread Café ready for Christmas and her wedding prep including making her wedding cake.  Damon's parents arrive to meet Lil and thinks start to go wrong with the wedding plans.
The whole community get together to ensure Lil and Damon have a very happy day.
Really enjoyed this christmassy, good feeling book.  Looking forward to reading more from Rebecca in the future.

Full of beautiful Christmas traditions and one which will really connect with readers at this magical time of year. Delectable and mouthwatering descriptions and of course a great love story! Easy flow of reading with engaging characters.

An absolutely gorgeous Christmas read. It's the third in the Gingerbread Cafe- but the first one I've read. I didn't feel that I'd missed the back story as it all flowed so well. But I will definately go back and get the other books and any more by Rebecca Raisin.

Lily runs an adorable 'Gingerbread' cafe- where all the locals pop in for cosy chats and tasty treats. She's due to marry her fiance in a matter of days and all the plans and preparations are well under way. Her dress is being made locally and she is going to make a beautiful creation with CeeCee as the wedding cake.

Everything seems blissful until........... her future mother in law rolls into town. She seems to be on some sort of vendetta to stir things up. Why?

This book is full of romance, wonderful friendships,  delightful culinary experiences and wonderful imagery. This wedding is going to be wonderful- or is it?! All I can say is that I really wish my wedding cake had been made by CeeCee.

With many thanks to Carina Uk, the publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this book.

Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Café is the third and sadly final book in the Gingerbread Café series.  It’s a year since they’ve been together and Lily and Damon are busy planning their Christmas Eve wedding. Everything is all set out to be perfect, until Damon’s parents arrive earlier than expected and everything that can go wrong does, can Lily pull it all together before the big day?
After seeing the stunning cover for this book I couldn’t wait to read it and the book itself is every bit as beautiful as its cover. I loved the first two Gingerbread Café books and didn’t think they could be beaten, but Rebecca has done it again, it’s even more wonderful.  As well as Lily, Damon and CeeCee this book also has more background story from other characters such as both Lily and Damon’s parents and Lily’s friends Sarah and Missy as well as little Charlie joining them all just before the wedding. I think having theses extra characters really added depth to the story and made Ashford more of a real place and one I’d definitely want to live in. Sarah and Missy sounded like the perfect girlfriends to have around and share the joy of planning your wedding with.  I really liked the way Damon’s mum Olivia opened up to Lily, as at first when she was trying to meddle I really didn’t like her, I mean why couldn’t she see Lily and Damon are perfect for each other!
Again Rebecca has described some delicious food that just makes this book scrumptious, the description of the wedding cake that Lily and CeeCee was wonderful and I would love to have had a slice. I also think a recipe for butterscotch pie should have been included as this just sounds amazing.
The wedding was simply stunning and Rebecca’s writing really made you feel like you were experiencing it for yourself. The wedding dress sounded like a dream and I would love to wear the same one for my own wedding one day.  The best thing about the wedding was it was very emotional and touching, I was actually crying happy and sad tear as Lily and Damon exchanged vows.  Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Café was the perfect book to end a lovely trilogy. I will really miss Lily, CeeCee and the gang as I felt like I knew them and I’m sad that I have to say goodbye.  I hope there are more books from Rebecca on the horizon.  If you want to share a few hours with a lovely bunch of characters wrapped up in festive cheer than add this book to your collection this Christmas.
Rating 5/5

A pleasant read, but the emphasis on gooey sweets was somewhat distracting.

Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Cafe is the third book of the Gingerbread Cafe trilogy. Lily and Damon are planning their Christmas Eve wedding. There are only a few more days before the big day. Unfortunately nothing goes as planned. This will be Lily's second wedding and she can't wait to marry the man of her dreams, who is the love of her life. She hasn't had the chance to meet her mother-in-law yet and Lily is looking forward to meeting Damon's parents. They arrive earlier to spend a few extra days with their son and his fiancée. At first that seems like a nice surprise, but Lily hasn't counted on an overprotective mother who wants her son to marry someone else. Suddenly a lot of things are going wrong and Lily has to deal with the huge mess. Will she be able to gain back the control over her own life and business again and will she get her wonderful fairytale wedding after all?
When I'm reading Rebecca Raisin's stories about Lil and CeeCee it always feels like I'm meeting with old friends. The warmth of the two previous Gingerbread Cafe books is very much present in this last story as well. I really like Lil's sensitive and caring personality. She fiercely loves and cherishes everyone around her which is a wonderful trait. When she meets someone who doesn't treat her the same way she still tries to see the good in this person. That also means that it sometimes takes a bit longer for her to speak up, but she solves things her own way and I like that. Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Cafe oozes Christmas charm and atmosphere. It's fabulous! The Gingerbread Cafe is warm and welcoming and I will definitely miss it. The same goes for Lil and CeeCee. These two great ladies put a smile on everyone's face. If you want to buy a perfect Christmas gift for someone dear to you, get this trilogy, success guaranteed.

Review going live on blog later this month as part of blog tour www.bookswithbunny.blogspot.co.uk

How would I sum up Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Cafe? Irresistible, delicious perfection! I cannot tell you just how much I loved this, and the other books in the Gingerbread Cafe series. They are simply magical and once I picked them up I was unable to put them back down again. 

Part of me has been dreading reading this book, but purely because I know it is the final book in the series and I don't want it to end. Rebecca has written such great characters who don't feel like works of fiction, they feel like real people who are so kind, and funny, and quirky that I would love to be part of their friendship circle. 

The books are set in a small town where everyone is one big community. There is the cafe, the hairdresser, the book store, and other small stores that make them one big family. I adore all the characters but Lily and Cee Cee who run the gingerbread cafe are my favourites. 

Lily is the main character in the books and we have previously seen her transform into a wonderful lady who has left her past behind her, and found love with Damon. As this book starts we are ten days away from their wedding, and each chapter counts down day by day as the wedding approaches. I love the warmth of Lily's character. She is one of life's good eggs and I can't imagine any reader not wanting her to have a fairy tale ending.

I simply adore Cee Cee. She is one talented baker, but more than that, she is a confidante,  a loving and open person with a knack for seeing what happens to people. She has endured heartbreak in the past, but rather than being destroyed by it she seems to be even warmer and more loving from it. I love how she isn't only a employee of Lily's but is also like a mother figure for her.

I could almost single out all the other characters for various reasons too. Rebecca has an exceptional way of writing characters and settings that feel like a home from home. So down to earth and loving, warm and safe. I adore her writing and will be reading all her books from here on in.

We know that weddings can be tense affairs, with so much to do, and with families coming together often for the first time. This wedding is no exception. As the clock ticks down of course there is drama, both on the practical side, but also emotionally as we meet Damon's parents. His mother Olivia is a force to be reckoned with, and at times I wondered if Rebecca had modelled her on someone I know (I shall say no more!!). 

I could gush about the book all day but I really don't want to give away any of the storyline. I lapped it up and would hate to have read any spoilers. I hope you as a reader enjoy it just as much as I have. 

I have to admit that I pretty much sobbed my way through the last third of the book, and stayed up well past my bedtime totally engrossed, and needing to finish it before I could rest. There are some parts that tugged at my heart strings and had me crying my eyes out with sadness, but equally I was like a  voyuer who couldn't get enough of the love and affection in the book, which had me crying with happiness. 

My Mum is Irish and grew up in a small village on the border of Cork and Kerry. We spent every summer there as kids and it is somewhere I still hanker after to this day. If I could move back there I would, in a heartbeat. It has a small close knit community, where everyone knows eachother, but more importantly, everyone looks after eachother. This is how this series feels for me, and probably part of the reason I am so sad to see it end.

If you love a good series with great characters who you feel part of, and uplifting tales, this is perfect. I would really recommend reading them in order, and particularly leaving this til the last of them.

Thank you to Carina who provided a copy via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Wow! I absolutely devoured this book in no time at all. What a perfect and beautiful ending to such a dreamy story.
Christmas wedding takes us to a year after Lil and Damon first got together. They met the Christmas before when Damon moved to Ashford to open his shop, which sold a lot of similar items to Lil's Gingerbread Cafe across the road. After Lil initially decided to start a war on Damon, she found herself unable to keep it up when his charm took over. That was a year ago, and after some ups and downs they are now awaiting their very own fairytale Christmas wedding.
This last chapter in their beautiful story, starts 10 days before their wedding and follows all the excitement leading up to it.  From a wedding cake fiasco to a nearly chopped wedding dress. Anything that could potentially go wrong, seems to want to have a try. Yet it doesn't seem to stop Lil and Damon from getting to the most exciting, and dream like day they have both been waiting for.  In this part, we get to meet both sets of parents. From Lil's bustling, bundle of energy, mom, and her jolly Dad who can't keep away from all the delectable treats the cafe offers. To Damon's parents, George who seems to nod off at every point and the regal Olivia, who seems to be the only one in Ashford, not as enthusiastic about the wedding.
The bubbly, fun and hilarious CeeCee is back again as Lil's right hand woman, yet this time Cee has her own sad news to deal with, making for some ultra sad moments, among all the sweet ones.
Again, like all the books in this series, my senses were on unbelievable overload. I really didn't think my growling tummy could take any more images of gorgeous food. I was ready to try nibbling on my iPad case, it was getting that extreme. From delicious and totally unique wedding cakes, to the little sweet treats that seem to flow from every available surface in the cafe. I'm not sure how on earth author Rebecca Raisin seems to do it, making the food that she is writing about, so delicious and desirable. Just through words! In every, single, book. She really should be writing menus as well. ;)  I'm also feeling like I want it to be Christmas already, yes, I'm actually saying that in October. That's just how magical the words are in this book. From all the picturesque fluffy snow and traditional decorations all over the cafe, to the people of Ashford getting together, to meet up at their church to sing carols. It's all so inviting and I wish I lived in Ashford! :)
The wedding itself is absolutely dreamy. The detail in the wedding dress, and everything that goes in to what makes it so beautiful is perfection. Lil and Damon are such a sweet couple and their day, even after the ups and downs is incredible. Like every little girls dream.  Now this story wouldn't be complete, with out some part of it wanting to make you cry. Well, I pretty much sniffed and welled up through all of the 2nd half of the book. By the end the tears were free fall. I never normally cry at such sweet books, I actually try not to cry at books full stop. But, I just couldn't stop, at all!! It was ridiculous just how much crying was going on. I'm not going to throw spoilers in to this book, but there is one big scene, everyone will know which it is. Where, I couldn't actually read the words. It was just that sad, but in a really good way!!  So after all the tears and sighing, plus the extremely hungry tummy. I actually feel really sad to leave Ashford and all the colourful and amazing characters that live there. I truly loved this series and this final book was perfection.  An overwhelmingly big 5 stars, covered in all manner of icky ingredients!!

Firstly, I really have to give some appreciation to that cover. Each book in the series has a beautiful cover, but this one takes the crown; it’s simply stunning.

We’re back in Ashford following Lil and Damon in the run up to their Christmas Eve wedding, and it was so lovely to see them as adorably loved up as ever. I loved catching up with every one, particularly the familiar faces of Cee Cee, Sarah, Missy and Chalrie; all of whom I’ve fallen in love with like my own dear friends. Rebecca creates a beautifully festive feeling, which made the welcoming warmth of Ashford even more alluring – I honestly want to move there!

Lil and Cee Cee are rushed off their feet at the Gingerbread Café, with all the wedding goods to make on top of all the usual Christmas treats. It’s well worth it though, as the wedding looks set to be perfect, and everything seems to be surprisingly going to plan.

Then Damon’s parents arrive. His father George is a sweet, older version of Damon, and Lil instantly feels comfortable with him. Her mother-in-law-to-be though, is quite a different matter. She certainly can plaster on a smile and seems to be as sweet as pie, but there’s one too many seemingly off the cuff remarks that are a hitting a little below the belt for Lil’s liking, and she’s instantly put on edge. There’s definitely an icy cool under that seemingly perfect exterior, but what on earth is her problem? It’s obvious to everyone that Damon and Lil are deliriously happy together, so why isn’t Olivia happy for them? Suddenly, Damon and Lil’s relationship is tested like never before, and they haven’t even made it to the church yet.

Having grown so very fond of Ashford and all it’s inhabitants, Olivia’s attitude was instantly unsettling. I felt so protective of Lil and of Ashford life in general, so this unwelcome hostility did not sit well, and I think Rebecca did a fantastic job of building the tension.

I was so sad when I learnt that this was the last of the Gingerbread Cafe books, as it feels like saying goodbye to old friends, but I can’t deny that Rebecca has ended the series on a perfect high. The story is utterly charming, romantic, fun and genuinely moving. This was certainly the most touching of them all; my eyes welled up a few times throughout the story, and by the end I had several tears rolling down my cheeks. It was beautiful. Rebecca’s familiar writing is evocative, inviting and wonderfully descriptive.

5 whole-hearted Christmas Penguins for a book that’s sure to leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, with a healthy dose of Christmas Spirit.

At the very start of book one in Rebecca Raisin's Gingerbread Cafe series. She stated she aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with. I can say that she has succeeded in doing that, and I fell in love with Lil, CeeCee, Missy and Damon from the start of book one and have enjoyed being part of their life over the past year and three books.

Christmas Wedding at The Gingerbread a cafe is a warm, Christmassy hug, full of love and friendship. It's calm and relaxing flow help you relax into a ten-day countdown to Lil and Damon's wedding on Christmas eve. It's quite a quick read and one most will do in one sitting. It's spot on for the read you need over the festive period. It's really good. I did have one major issue with it though and that is the blurb, yet again the blurb gives too much away and takes away the element of surprise that would make this book not really good, but brilliant.

It reads like a sip of heavenly hot chocolate on a freezing cold winters night.   4/5

Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Café has been my most anticipated book to be released since I reviewed the previous books in the Gingerbread Café series back in July. When I read those books, I genuinely believed that this series could get no better but Rebecca proved me wrong with my now new favourite book of the series. Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Café is simply divine, with stunning writing slipping between being utterly romantic, charming and fun-filled and a little emotional. It was great to be back in Ashford, like checking in with old friends and as Rebecca says this will be the last book in the Gingerbread Café series, I have to say that she surpassed herself here with this perfectly fitting ending. 

That I loved this book would be a massive understatement. I wanted to live in it – to be there when Lily, CeeCee, Sarah and Missy are having their girly gossip and catch-up, to spend time at the Gingerbread Café (especially when Lily and CeeCee are baking up some treats) and definitely to attend the wedding of the year! What I adore the most about Rebecca’s writing is how beautifully descriptive and evocative it is. She builds a brilliant, vivid picture of every setting, person and cake. Cake especially as when they’re putting together Lily’s gorgeous wedding cake, it was so easy to imagine it and how it would taste. I’m still dreaming about that wedding cake now, actually. With Rebecca’s writing, I never feel like I’m simply a reader but more like I’m there at the heart of the book, watching the build up to the wedding and everything unfold rather than just being told about it. It’s a book I can feel like I belong in and full of memorable characters that I’d love to befriend. 

We’ve seen the characters grow a lot since the first book in the series and their bond is so heart-warming to read – whether it’s the friendship between the girls or the relationship between Lily, Damon and little Charlie, there’s a massive feel-good factor whenever they’re around. So when Damon’s parents and more specifically Lily’s mother-in-law Olivia turn up, things look set to get a little disrupted. Olivia’s motives definitely don’t seem to fit in with the residents of Ashford and she seemed determined to stir up trouble in the lead up to the wedding. Rebecca did a great job at building up Olivia’s character - a character I may or may not have wanted to strangle at one point – and it kept me hoping for the harmonious nature to return because I wanted, needed, Lily and Damon to have their happy ending. I also loved the introduction of a couple of new characters which hint that maybe Ashford could still have a place in Rebecca’s future books. 

Although Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Café was typically full of humour and happiness, this book felt better-rounded than the rest with some more moving and touching moments too. There was one particular part of this book which I could really identify with and hit me emotionally – but I thought Rebecca’s writing was sublime, as always, and it made this book even more special for me. Everything about this book proves why Rebecca is one of my favourite authors. Like the rest of her books, they’re perfect for pure escapism. Sitting down with some chocolate (or leftover birthday cake in this case) and one of Rebecca’s books is one of my favourite things to do and Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Café is her best book so far and a truly beautiful book to read.

Finally with the third book we get to spend more time in Ashford and what a thrill it was. Ashford seems such a gentle place that I could hardly believe some of the worries that went before the wedding, I had to keep reading to find out if they could be true, but thankfully everything turned out ok with a nice surprise at the end of the book. If you want a comforting read to curl up with some imaginary friends then this is the book for you - you may want to eat more too!

It's hard for me to believe that it has been almost a year since I discovered The Gingerbread Cafe.  It was about this time last year that I had requested Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe from Netgalley.  Due to forces beyond my control, I had to take a break from my blog and missed a bunch of reading. By the time I got to it, it was February.  Then, for Easter, the next book, Chocolate Dreams at the Gingerbread Cafe came out, furthering the story through another holiday. Now the story comes full circle and a wedding is planned. 

I wondered how much of Lily and Damon's story would be left to tell. As it turns out, this is more the story of those around Lily and Damon.  The meeting of the families, sad goodbyes and new beginnings for many in the small town of Ashford, Connecticut.  I was especially happy to see how far Lily has come as a character. She started out a bit flaky and overly emotional, but has matured into a stable, well-rounded woman.  Let's just call it the benefits of the Love of a Good Man. *wink*

All 3 of the books in this series are novellas and they span the space of 1 year. While life continues off the pages of the books, we get the best parts of the relationship: the Meet Cute, Popping the Question, and the Marriage Ceremony. I was pleased with the ending and wouldn't mind visiting Ashford again, this time through the eyes of different character. A 4 star read.

Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Café is one of those rare uplifting books that should become a Christmas reading tradition. It encapsulates everything that the season should be in one feel-good package. The entire “Gingerbread” series is phenomenal and must be read. Rebecca Raisin’s created a masterpiece of romantic fiction by adding her own wonderful compassion and sunny disposition- that makes it is impossible not to fall in love with this book and the series. Five stars is not enough because I will be re-reading every year to start the Christmas season off with.

Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Café by Rebecca Raisin

In brief: It’s finally time for Lil and Damon’s Christmas wedding – but will a meddling mother-in-law, a clumsy mum and a sad chain of events stop the dream couple’s day?
The good: The lovely, cosy feeling that envelopes all of Rebecca’s books.
The not-so-good: So many emotions at the end! Plus, I have far too many ideas for deliciously unhealthy Christmas treats now!
Why I chose it: Thank you to Rebecca Raisin for the ARC – I’m a big fan of your work.
Year: 2014 Pages: 304 (eARC)
Publisher: Carina UK Setting: Ashford, Connecticut My rating: 9.5 out of 10 I don’t know how Rebecca Raisin manages to infuse her stories with love, warmth and friendship, but every story she writes places the reader in an almost tangible world. I was very happy to see character favourites such as CeeCee and Charlie appear again in the third book in the Gingerbread Café series, this time culminating in the wedding of Damon and Lil, who met in the first book. If you haven’t read the series in order, it’s no issue, but there will be spoilers for earlier books if you start with this one. Plus, you shouldn’t deny yourself the fun and warmth of the other two books (not to mention copious mentions of baked sweet treats, which will get you into the kitchen, drooling with delight!)
This book is a little longer than the previous books in the series, which was both a delight (more of the characters and the cosy town of Ashford in winter) and a little bit sad (because I couldn’t read the whole thing in one day). The book’s chapters countdown to what will be a major event in Ashfield this year, the Christmas Eve wedding of Damon and Lil. Both sets of parents are returning home, Charlie’s coming to visit and Lil has a beautiful cake in mind for her and CeeCee to make. Naturally, things don’t go to plan – Lil’s mum brings a new meaning to clumsiness and Damon’s mother is acting like a wicked witch to Lil. Why? Lil doesn’t know, but it’s beginning to wreak havoc with her perfect snow white wedding plans…  There are also some very sad moments for one character – I defy you to read this and not become emotional. Raisin handles sorrow with grace and the happy moments radiate through the page. This is a book where the emotions shine through the page and you can’t help but be affected. It’s a rare gift, but Rebecca Raisin has it in bundles.  The book also gives us an insight into what might be the next book set in Ashford as a new man and his sister move into an old farm just outside of town. What are their secrets? Who is looking for love? I hope to find out soon.
A truly beautiful story, this is one to put you into the festive mood and keep you there for the whole season.

I was given an ecopy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review, which I'm more than happy to do.

I make no secret of the fact that from reading the very first 'gingerbread' book Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe I was hooked.  Rebecca has a beautiful way of writing that you feel like you're reading about real friends and places.  Every book is a drool a minute and not just from the delicious offerings in the cafe!

This latest book sees Lily preparing for 'the wedding of the year'.  She and Damon her fiancé are due to marry on Christmas Eve and Lily is flat out preparing for that, at the same time as running the Gingerbread Cafe with her best friend CeeCee.

Just as in real life, weddings, future mother-in-law's and christmas add a fair bit of stress as well as hilarity and fun to the mix.  I thought each of the two previous  'gingerbread' books was the best and didn't think they could be topped but, this book is special, it far outshines the others.  Although I'm sure the christmas charm and gingerbread treats have blinkered my view (as I'm sure was intended).  It truly is a delicious read that will touch your heart, make you teary eyed then lift you again making you smile.  

Rebecca has poured bucket fulls of charm, love, character and drama into this book.  Demonstrating with ease the power of love, friendship and trust.  When the chips are down the Ashford community rally - each and every character necessary and important to the story.  There is always a reason for our actions although the motivation is not always clear at first as we found out when Lily met her future mother in law for the first time.

If you're looking for a read that will warm your heart, drag you into the story and let the pages wrap around your heart then this and the other books in the series are for you.  It is a sensory book that will make you drool and sniff.  The descriptions are so vivid, smells and tastes seem so real.  It has characters that I'd be proud to call my friends and a town that I'd move to tomorrow.  So head over to amazon and order this book now - you won't be disappointed - I loved it, loved it, loved it.

Great Christmas story, easy read but yet a very believable story line and characters.

Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Café is the final installment in the cute-as-pie romance of Lily and Damon, which began in Christmas at the Gingerbread Café. It's a year on in their relationship and wedding bells are tolling! Everyone is all a flurry in Ashford as plans for our hero and heroine's wedding fall in and out of place.

Both Damon and Lil's parents have come to town. This is the first time either have met their future parents-in-law, and, let's be honest, that's never something you want to do in the middle of planning a wedding. While Lil's parents settle easily back into Ashford, Damon's mother, Olivia, has a lot to say about the town and, most especially, her future daughter-in-law. She's a conniving old bitty that one. She doesn't think Lil is good enough for her son, so she's determined to put a stop to the whole thing.

Olivia is a superb character, in so much as I absolutely despised her. She drives the conflict in Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Café, putting a wedge between our sexy Damon and sweetheart Lil, and building the some fairly dramatic tension. Don't worry though, all is resolved, mostly because Lil is so forgiving (I would not have been! Hah).

There are more delicious cakes and gingerbread and scrumptious goodies to vicariously enjoy in this novel, and I think Rebecca Raisin really took their descriptions to an even more torturously delectable level this time round! My goodness. CAKE!

It's really hard to sum up my feelings about this final installment of what has been such a beautiful journey. By the end I was sobbing - big heaving gasps of wedding-love-baby happiness combined with the sadness of losing book friends. Clearly Lil's leaky eyes are contagious. But seriously, have your tissues handy.

Unlike the first two books in this series, this installment is novel length, which I was pretty excited about. I think the first two work perfectly as novellas, but I had been missing my Ashford friends, and it was good to catch up with them for a little longer this time, especially as I was initially concerned I might be saying goodbye to them after this book. Never fear, though. There are clear suggestions in this one that some excitement may be in store over at Maple Syrup Farm (how cute is that name?) so we may not have seen the end of Ashford yet...

I just love this series. It's got drama and romance, but most of all it's got a more general sweetness and love and happiness that is often hard to find these days.

More please.

CHRISTMAS WEDDING AT THE GINGER BREAD CAFE BY REBECCA RAISIN  THE BLURB  You are invited to the wedding of the year!

Snow is falling thick and fast outside the Gingerbread Café and inside, its owner Lily is planning the wedding of the year. Her wedding! She never dreamt it would happen, but this Christmas, she’ll be marrying the man of her dreams – in a Christmas-card-perfect ceremony!

The gingerbread is baking, the dress is fitted and the mistletoe’s in place – for once, everything’s going to plan. That is until her mother-in-law arrives… Suddenly, Lily’s famous cool is being tested like never before and her dream wedding is crumbling before her eyes.

In the blink of a fairylight, the Gingerbread Café has been thrown into chaos! Lily thought she had this wedding wrapped up, but with so much to do before she says ‘I do’, can Lily get to the church on time – and make this Christmas sparkle after all?
WHAT I SAY  Oh no this is the last book in the gingerbread cafe series i have loved all Rebecca books up to now and wow did i loved this one to. 

The gingerbread cafe is all ways so warm and welcoming i have felt from the first book that Cee cee and Lil were my friend i can see the set out of the cafe in my mind it just sounds such a fab place to work or to go for a nice gingerbread hot chocolate i want to work there As normal i like that Rebecca writes about all the wonderful food . The gingerbread christmas tree just sounded so fab i just wanted to take a look at it . 

The wedding was going to be so fab but there seem to be so many ups and down going down anything that could potentially go wrong nearly did but this does not stop Lil and Damon 

Both set of parents bring to the story a bit fun , selfish ness and happiness. They are full of energy but have got their own idea for this wedding  What going to happen? 

You just feel like you are part of this small community  All the characters were just amazing i just love them all you may cry , laugh and smile with them 

Olivia you will love or hate her i not sure why was she not happy why is she set out to test Lil and Demon relationship so much . I just wanted to go mad at her 

Cee cee is still my favourite character she just a wonderful friend i just think she such a funny lady she so warm and caring she just such a great true best friend . This time of the year bring so much heart ache to her she was so strong my heart when out to her at times .  We get to hear so much about Missy pregnancy the birth should be very soon but now soon ?  We get to hear about all the other character too which i like  Rebecca did a brilliant job of building up the tension to the whole wedding was just so good you felt the wedding nerves for them all . 

The book will pull at your heart strings . I just loved all the dramas  You all got to read this book it can be read as a standalone book but i say please read all the other books first as you too will feel part of this wonderful town of Ashford

I like that Rebecca added a few new character ready for her next book  The wedding day was just so emotional just like the whole book you all got to read to hear all about this wedding of the year  I want to tell you so much more about the plot but i want you to read for yourself you will love it  5 stars again a fab book enjoy reading for yourself  I like to thank net gallery for letting me review this fab book

If you are looking for a simple romance without any drama, this ids the book for you. Lily, who owns and runs the café, is marrying the man of her dreams, also a shop owner in the town.  Their families are arriving for the wedding which will take place on Christmas Eve.  Preparations for the wedding are on-going. In addition, they are still operating their shops, mostly because neither can afford to close down completely, and they will close for a time after Christmas. Lily has never met her in-laws, and her first meeting with them when they arrive does not go as smoothly as they would like.  Her future mother-in-law appears to be the mother-in-law from hell, spouting all sorts of comments that get Lily angry and upset, trying to take over parts of the wedding planning without even consulting Lily or her son.  This is the only drama that occurs in the book and it is settled about half way through. The book is a nice, quiet, easy read for anyone who wishes to get into the holiday spirit and who enjoys romances.  However, I personally would have enjoyed more drama in the story.  Things just seemed to go along too smoothly for me. I have not read any of the other books in the series, but this served as a stand-alone book. There are characters from the other books who are in this one, and little background is given on them, but that does not seem to detract from the story.  The character development is fairly good, though I would have enjoyed more lead up to Lily’s changed mother-in-law, once they got wise to her. It seemed like one page they were enemies, and the next this woman was telling Lily her deepest, darkest secrets. I did enjoy the book, though it was somewhat boring. I have given it four stars for that reason.  I received this from NetGalley to read and provide and honest review.

Title:  Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Cafe

Author:  Rebecca Raisin

Publisher:  Carina UK

Series:  The Gingerbread Cafe # 3

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating:  5

Review:

"Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Cafe" by Rebecca Raisin

Book Description...

"You are invited to the wedding of the year!

Snow is falling thick and fast outside the Gingerbread Café and inside, its owner Lily is planning the wedding of the year. Her wedding! She never dreamt it would happen, but this Christmas, she’ll be marrying the man of her dreams - in a Christmas-card-perfect ceremony!

The gingerbread is baking, the dress is fitted and the mistletoe’s in place – for once, everything’s going to plan. That is until her mother-in-law arrives... Suddenly, Lily’s famous cool is being tested like never before and her dream wedding is crumbling before her eyes.

In the blink of a fairy light, the Gingerbread Café has been thrown into chaos! Lily thought she had this wedding wrapped up, but with so much to do before she says ‘I do’, can Lily get to the church on time – and make this Christmas sparkle after all?"

What I enjoyed about the novel....

This was a wonderful sweet enjoyable beautiful romance that finally come to a end after a year in Ashford. Now, Lily and Damon are finally getting  their Christmas Eve wedding that they wanted being full of their dream of hugs,  love and wow.... a friendship.   

I loved how this author was able to give the reader a beautiful story that leads up to the wedding of Lil and Damon.  There will be the meeting of the parents, a wedding cake fiasco, almost a short wedding dress, illness of a friend, wired actions of the future soon mother in law, some tears to name a few things that will go on as the wedding is coming together.  And let's not leave out the wonderful chocolate gingerbread sweets that are flowing all through the read.  The characters were simply off the chart so well developed, well rounded, well portrayed, colorful and believable which made this story such a fascinating read.  

I don't want to tell anymore  of the well written read other than to say you must pick up this enjoyable novel of "Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Cafe."  Since this is the third series, I would suggest you read the first one....then the second one and then this one in that order.  However, this can be a stand alone read but if you read them all you will really get an enjoyable series by this author. I will say once you start reading from this authors novels  you will find it hard to put down until the end.  In the end you will be left wanting more from the amazing author.

My thoughts

I kindly received Christmas Wedding At The Gingerbread Café in exchange of an honest review by the publisher via NetGalley.

Step out of the winter chill and into the warmth of Ashford, the charming small-town setting for a new holiday read from author Rebecca Raisin. Christmas Wedding At The Gingerbread Café is the third (and unfortunately last) installment in the Gingerbread Café series. I recommend to read all the novellas in order to get the whole wonderful feel for the stories and the characters.

This book is structured as a ten day countdown to Lily's and Damon's upcoming wedding on Christmas Eve. Lily can't wait to marry the man of her dreams. When Damon's parents turning up in Ashford (earlier as they were supposed to), unfortunately nothing goes as planned anymore. It seems like someone wants to sabotage their wedding. Lily has to deal with a huge mess. The venue has been cancelled, the dressmaker changed the wedding dress and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Will Lily be able to sort everything out and celebrate her wonderful fairytale wedding she ever wished for?

Christmas Wedding At The Gingerbread Café was a great romantic story that will get you in the mood for the holiday season. This is the perfect book to read sitting by the fire place with a cup of cocoa or coffee, while it's raining or snowing outside. Christmas Wedding At The Gingerbread Café is truly special. It will touch your heart in a way no other christmassy book has done, and will have you believing in the magic of true love! As a fan of Rebecca Raisin's books, she has written another book that simply made me ride the emotional roller coaster. I was captured from the very first page.

Rebecca Raisin ended the series in such a wonderful way, I had goosebumps everywhere and teary eyes. Lily and Damon are amazing characters. I totally envy them. They have such a romantic love for each other that you just want to be them. I also loved the introduction of a couple of new characters which gives us a few hints of Rebeccas upcoming full length novel Secrets at the Maple Syrup Farm out March 2015.

If you are in the mood for a truly heart-warming, emotional tale of how two people found their forever love, then Christmas Wedding At The Gingerbread Café is for you.

The title of this book tells you everything you need to know about it – there is a wedding, a cafe, baking and Christmas. You can tell before you even start that this book will have you wallowing in sentiment and overflowing in feelgood feelings. The author’s challenge is to create a readable book which doesn’t overdose the reader with sugar – I think that she succeeds but it comes very close in places.

Apparently this is one of a series of books set at this cafe – I haven’t read the others and it didn’t make any difference to me as I understood the book and its story very well without prior knowledge. Lily and Damon are planning a wedding for Christmas Eve. In the last ten days leading up to the wedding in a number of things begin to go wrong and it looks like it may not come off after all or if it does that it may not be the wedding of Lily’s dtreams. There isn’t much more to the story than that and many of the little disasters and catastrophes which occur are rather contrived and slightly unbelievable – it is like the author had to think hard of things that might get in the way of the wedding but not actually prevent it going ahead altogether.

You need to go with the flow with this book and not examine the plot or details to carefully. The story ambles along rather than rushes to the end and there are no shocks or surprises at all along the way. The whole book is completely predictable from the beginning but nonetheless it is a very pleasant read and I defy you to get very close to the end without tears.

Having been warned by the title you are pretty sure what to expect here – this is a sentimental story and there is little in the way of tension or drama. It is, however, a gentle and pleasing read and the wedding at the end lives up to your expectations. The author even throws in a few recipes at the end just in case you want to emulate the characters in the book.

I might have preferred something with a little more depth, complexity or tension but to be fair that is not what the author has written here and nor what the title and the synopsis tells us. Given that she has decided to write a sentimental and warmhearted novel about food, weddings, family and Christmas then she has succeeded admirably. I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley.

I love a good cafe book, i love a good christmas book - bung these two together and well i was gonna request this wasnt i? I was beyond excited about this, then realised that was part of a series, and i kinda wish i had the knowledge of the backstory. That been said, i still read it and it was still lovely despite that, i just think it would of gone in its favour to have read the others.

So we meet Lily, in the run up to her big day to her mr wright, the story counts down the days until the big day as we all set about preparing for it. The cake, the dress all of it, along with meeting families, and running a busy cafe day to day. Throw in a pesky mother in law to be and well we have a book full of drama.

The book teaches us the importance of been with family and friends, and surrounded by cake at christmas, and for me - its the finest way to spend it. This was a wonderful, lighthearted heartwarming read that made me feel content and cosy. It was simplistic with enough drama to perk up the story.

This was one of my most favorite Christmas reads of 2014. It was the first book in this series I had read by the author so I had to purchase the others.

I would like to thank Tay at Chicksthatread and Rebecca Raisin for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for fair on honest review.

We are back in the sleepy town of Ashford just in time for Lily and Damons wedding but as you can see things the best laid plans do always work that way.

I've struggled for weeks about what to write in my review because I really don't want to give too much away, so let me just say there are tears of happiness, tears of sadness, accidents and misunderstandings but all this wouldn't do this really wonderful sweet book justice.

As in previous reviews, I love Lily and Damon but the stand out character for me is always CeeCee.  We get to meet some new characters, both Lily and Damons parents.  Becca who is going to be working in Missy's salon, and the hot and broody Clay from Bec's next book, even a Jo gets a mention, excited to say the least is an understatement.  This book has everything you could want from a Christmas read, I cried (Christina Perry's Thousand Years), I laughed at certain parts or the story with CeeCee and then we have a lovely wedding.

I've become quite good friends with Bec over the space of the last Twelve months and I am sorry this is the last of Lily and Damons story (I keep nagging her to write more), what I would say to anyone is read this series of books you won't be disappointed. 

The other thing I have seen is other bloggers have commented that the blurb gives away too much and have taken away stars for this, it's abit harsh as Bec didn't write the blurb and I don't think it does giveaway too much Ashford rocks!