Review: Cute but a little overdone
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 12 21, 2013
**This review was written for Book Bliss book blog. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review**Book Description: The icing on her Christmas cake! Christmas is the season the Gingerbread Café was made for…but owner Lily couldn’t be feeling less merry if she tried. She’s spent another year dreaming of being whisked away on a sleigh-ride for two, but she’s facing festive season alone – again. And, just to give her another reason to feel anything other than candy-cane perky, a new shop across the road has opened… Not only is it selling baked goods, but the owner, with his seriously charming smile, has every girl in town swooning. But Lily isn’t about to let her business crumble — the Gingerbread Café is the heart of the community, and she’s going to fight for it! This could be the Christmas that maybe, just maybe, all her dreams – even the someone-to-decorate-the-Christmas-tree-with ones – really do come true!Review: 3 starsGeneral: Overall this was a cute holiday story. It had all the wonderful elements needed in a traditional holiday romance. The story didn't feel hindered by the shortened format. However, I didn't connect with any of the characters. As always first person writing and myself is tricky combination because I don't connect as well. This is an instance where as cute as the story was, I was unable to invest in anything that was occurring. I wasn't in a rush to finish the book but I did care to finish it. But I did think the world building was well done and loved that it was a bakery  versus store Christmas story as I'm yet to read one on that backstory.Characters: Lily- Lily was a combination of very entertaining and overdone for me. She is feisty and independent. But so are many heroines in today's romances. Her chemistry with Damon felt real but not completely as burning as I like in my romances.Damon- Damon was a traditional hero. I would have liked some more time with him from his perspective. He is lonely as well as charming to an extent and would have been fun to delve into his character more.