The brand new novel from bestselling author Holly Hepburn, perfect for anyone who loves Jenny Colgan, Veronica Henry and Lucy Diamond. A Year at Castle Court is Holly Hepburn's four Castle Court e-novellas collected together as a novel for the first time.
Sadie is a single mum, nursing a broken heart. Her best friend from childhood, Cat, is burned out from working long hours as a chef in Paris. In need of a change, they decide to invest in their dream – running their own handmade biscuit shop in gorgeous Castle Court, a three-storey food court tucked away behind Chester's bustling streets.
They soon discover that Castle Court has its own community – a little haven of delight against the stresses of the outside world. But not everyone welcomes the new business; the patisserie owner is less than pleased by what she sees as direct competition and Greg, who runs the fancy bistro that dominates one end of the courtyard, doesn't think Sadie and Cat have the talent or business acumen to succeed. Luckily, there's support in the form of the delectable Jaren, who owns the Dutch waffle house opposite Smart Cookies, and Swiss chocolate-shop owner, Elin. And if all else fails, the friends can drown their sorrows in Seb's cocktail bar on the third floor!
***Praise for Holly Hepburn***
'A beautiful, indulgent read – full of delicious detail and with enough flying sparks to rival any fireworks display' Cressida McLaughlin
'Fabulously feel-good, funny and fresh, it will sweep you off your feet' Rowan Coleman
'Pure pleasure, a delight from opening credits to closing reel' Julie Cohen
'You'll fall in love with this fantastic new series. Filled to the brim with captivating characters and fantastic storlyines in a gorgeous setting. I want to read more!' Miranda Dickinson
'Warm, witty and laced with intriguing secrets!' Cathy Bramley
++ A Year at Castle Court is the bind-up of the Castle Court e-novellas. If you have already enjoyed the novellas, then you have already enjoyed A Year at Castle Court. For new novellas from Holly, check out her Star and Sixpence series and her Picture House by the Sea series ++
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free for a Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Thank you to Simon and Schuster for my copy of this book. I loved Holly's Star and Sixpence stories so I was very excited to jump into a new world created by Holly.
This story follows Cat and Saide. Cat has just returned from 3 years in Paris as the head chef of a 2 Michelin star restaurant and Sadie is in need of a new chapter after her husband stupidly cheated on her. The two have decided to fulfil a lifelong dream of running their own business. They decide to open Smart Cookies. A luxury biscuit shop, a bit like Biscuiteers in London.
The first thing I have to say is this book had me craving ALL the foods. From fancy iced biscuits to dutch waffles and a hot chocolate I wanted it all. Not so good when you are on your January diet let me tell you. But I ate in moderation (a girl still has Christmas chocolates to finish) and still thoroughly enjoyed the story.
Sadie and Cat are very likeable characters. Cat is a strong woman. She's not afraid to stand up for herself. She's also fiercely loyal. If you are friends with Cat you know she will always be there for you but she will also give you the truth. Sadie is also a strong woman although I think that she would disagree with me on that. Both women have been through a tough time but they have come out the other side and I couldn't help but root for both of them from the beginning of the book.
As well as the two main characters you also have a fantastic cast of side characters. I loved Jaren and his Dutch waffle house. I also really loved the Bus Stop boys too. I loved their contemporary references. They seemed like really fun guys. Adam was also a favourite of mine, I was very intrigued by his bees.
I love Holly's writing and she does an excellent job of making the court seem real. I struggled to take myself away from the court and its characters. I wanted to jump right and visit the chocolatier shop, the patisserie and of course the waffle house. If you can't tell I'm quite a foodie and I love nothing more than a dessert especially if it involves chocolate!
This story and its characters wormed their way into my heart. This is the sort of story that will leave a smile on your face and a warm feeling inside. I loved it and I will miss these characters quite a lot.
