Will this Christmas be where all Carly’s wishes come true?

Synopsis

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

It’s December on Castle Street; the fairy lights are twinkling, snow has settled and the festive season is in full swing.

For Carly, the owner of Carly’s Cupcakes, it’s the busiest time of year getting everyone’s Christmas treats ready on time. However with her clumsy sister, Bethany, as a co-worker, it’s proving a difficult task. They say you shouldn’t mix work with family. Maybe they have a point…

As Christmas approaches, Carly is also eagerly awaiting the return of her best friend to Whitborough Bay. Liam has no idea he’s been the object of her affection since their schooldays. After years of pining after him, can Carly pluck up the courage to finally tell him how she really feels by 25th December?

Could a little festive magic make all of Carly’s wishes come true this Christmas…?

A heartwarming, short festive story of friendship and family from bestseller Jessica Redland. You can find out what happens to Carly next through exploring her best friend Tara’s story in Starry Skies Over The Chocolate Pot Café.

This is a new and updated version of Christmas at Carly’s Cupcakes which has been previously published.

My review

Carly is a woman with amazing patience… She has given her sister Bethany a job in her Cupcake Shop, but Bethany causing more havoc than being a real help.
But firing Bethany is not an option, having in mind what she went through…

Silver lining is that she can look forward to the return of her best friend Liam. Since school they have been best friends, and have had many adventures together. And no matter what happened, nothing could break their friendship.
But what Lima doesn’t know is that Carly loves him, and not just as a friend.
Will this Christmas Carly find the courage to speak up?

When someone writes a story taking place around Christmas, you have to be a terrible writer to ruin my happiness!
But what made this story even more precious to me, is that there is so much going on, and that there are topics discussed pointing out the reality of such situations and how important the right help is.

From the very start it’s obvious how much a caring person Carly is. Not many people would hire their brother or sister in the business they have. And how quickly would someone fire a person who is not fit for the job?
Yet Carly is always there with her positivism, giving Bethany chance after chance. And when it’s too much even for Carly, she hides it from Bethany.

And before you start thinking bad of Bethany, just don’t… when I got to know her past and the struggles she is having, I felt a sadness coming over me. What she has been through, and how she is trying to find her place again, it’s a heart-breaking story…

A story about friends with more feelings they dare to admit, is not something we’ve never read about either. But Carly’s and Liam’s story is just too sweet for words. They are sticking together from school, and whenever Carly thinks back on what they did and does the same thing, just in memory of that amazing moment, just adorable!

While I was reading this book, I was longing for winter to come, to make snow angels myself (never made one in my whole life!😱), drinking hot chocolate with one of Carly’s amazing cupcakes!

There were moments that made me feeling down a bit, but after reaching the end, I felt satisfied. The message of not giving up came through loud and clear. I admired Bethany for her strength, even if she didn’t see it herself, I adored Carly’s determination for being there for her sister. I loved the tender sweet moments of the flashbacks.

To cut the chase, I loved every bit of this story, as it gave me more than expected!