A Cosy Christmas at Bridget’s Bicycle Bakery: The only feel good, festive Christmas romance you need–brand new from the bestselling author! (The Carrington’s Bicycle Bakery, Book 1)

Great read,enjoyed

‘A Cosy Christmas at Bridget’s Bicycle Bakery’ is quite a mouthful of a title. It is a spin-off from Alex Brown’s ‘Carrington’s’ series of romantic comedies set in the picturesque seaside town of Mulberry-On-Sea.At thirty-four Bridget Carrington has recently become a widow following the sudden death the previous year of her beloved husband, Ted. She is now raising their three children alone. Faced with financial difficulties, she accepts her in-laws offer to live rent free at their former holiday home, a fisherman’s beach house in need of some repair.Bridget and Ted had lived in Mulberry when young though had moved away after their marriage. Bridget loves to bake and dreams of one day opening her own bakery. Will that dream come true? Still, who can resist freshly baked bread and pastries? The descriptions were yummy.This was a very sweet, uplifting novel that also addressed the subject of bereavement. While difficult at any age, when someone is as young as Bridget there is also the question of whether to seek a new relationship. Naturally there’s a suitable candidate in town though Bridget is conflicted about whether it’s appropriate given her love for Ted.Urging her to take the plunge is her mother, Patty. She comes across as a bit of a caricature: loud and brassy. She is constantly urging Bridget to join the ‘Sugar Daddies R Us’ dating website and snag herself a millionaire like she did. Seriously!The novel concludes with a few recipes, including how to make your own sourdough starter.Overall, this was a lovely slice of Christmas-themed escapism. A sequel has already been announced for next July, ‘A Summer Holiday at Bridget’s Bicycle Bakery’.3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Good story

I haven’t read the previous books in the Carrington’s series, but Alex Brown is a favourite author, so I decided to read this one, and go back and catch up on Carrington’s later.I loved the seaside location of Mulberry-On-Sea, and the beach house. I really liked the sense of community, and the friendships (old and new) that Bridget starts building. The whole book feels lovely and Christmassy too.I really enjoyed the story, it felt like Bridget, and her children, were finding their feet again. I liked that there were lots of dogs, and the Bicycle Bakery concept was great.I also enjoyed the beginnings of a romance. It was necessarily quite tentative, but lovely nonetheless.You definitely don’t need to have read the previous Carrington’s books to enjoy this one. Though complete in itself, this feels like the first volume of a longer story, so I hope that we’ll get to see lots more of Bridget and her friends in A Summer Holiday at Bridget’s Bicycle Bakery.Overall, this was a lovely, gentle story of new beginnings. Of family, friends, and romance.I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

Oh how I would love to live near the sea & Mulberry -on -Sea it would be perfect, it has everything I like . I just loved this story & the way Alex writes , makes you feel like you are there and know all of the characters , you go through all the emotions with them . I could visualise sitting on an evening near the fire pit all wrapped up looking out to sea , drinking hot chocolate , listening to the waves & looking up at the stars , so peaceful . I wanted to be in Bridget’s cosy kitchen the smell of that bread , just wanting to smother it in butter that melts , and know the hot butter would drip down my chin but it would be worth it ! All that baking made me hungry . But most of all I loved the story of Bridget , Jack & the children it really tugged at my heart , and all the Christmassy things ; making this my perfect first Christmas read this year , Thankyou Alex , I’m going to treat myself to some Ho Ho Ho knickers too

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Alex Brown deserves five stars for this book. It’s fantastic.Bridget is moving back to her hometown of Mulberry on sea with her children. Bridget has been forced back when her husband and childhood sweetheart Ted dies suddenly. This has left Bridget in a bad way emotionally and financially with no choice but to accept the offer of living in Teds parents beach house.Bridget loves to bake and very quickly the locals discover her amazing bread and so Bridget’s Bicycle Bakery is born. The family start to heal in the arms of the community.Jack is the chief in the local pub and meets Bridget in a compromising position which leads to a rocky start in their friendship.As their friendship grows so does the bakery and Olly, Oscar and Freya come back to life as they accept the new life without their dad.I have read all Alex books and it’s been a while since I read The Carringtons Series and this one takes me right back. (You don’t need to read the others first)Thank you Harper Collins Uk and NetGalley and of course Alex for an early copy of this I loved it.

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, 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.

Good book