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Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes

(Camille Carter #1)

Lindsey Paley (Goodreads Author)

3.97 · Rating details · 39 ratings · 16 reviews

When all-round buttercream princess, Millie Carter, becomes stranded at Craiglea Manor Cookery School, she believes her chance of enjoying a merry festive season is over.

The village of Aisford is Christmas-card perfect, but Millie hates it - she hates the snow, her freezing fingertips, and being forced to look like her Aunt Marjory in a mud-splattered wax jacket and welli ...more

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Kindle Edition, 178 pages

Published June 15th 2015 by Purple Heather Publishing

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3.97 ·

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· 39 ratings · 16 reviews

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Nov 03, 2016 Irena rated it liked it

If you know me for some time now, you are probably familiar with my weakness for festive reads and gorgeous covers.
Just one look on this cover and it will be crystal clear why I decided to read Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes.

Although I enjoyed this story, in my opinion the only festive thing about it is it’s cover, and the fact that our main character stays snowed in in the village of Aisford.

We can’t deny that cakes and Christmas go hand in hand together, and there are a lot of food and cake in ...more

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Jan 03, 2016 Elaine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adult, adventure, authors-to-look-out-for, christmas, contemporary, cooking, detective, favorites, funny, mobster

I’d heard good things about this book via twitter and succumbed to temptation and obtained a copy - and I’m so glad I did! This is one of those rare stories where the author is a true artist, a virtuoso of the first order, using descriptive vocabulary to paint vivid images of scenes and scenarios in the reader’s imagination. Not only that but the plot is brilliant - I definitely didn’t foresee events having the twists revealed near the end! (Sorry, I definitely don’t want to give spoilers away s ...more

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Oct 28, 2016 Charlotte rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs, blog-tours, reviewed-on-blog

Review originally posted on Wonderfully Bookish.

I really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this book. I really have to be in the right mood to read a chick-lit book. Luckily, I was in the mood for something lighthearted and easy to read. That’s exactly what this was! It was so nice to read a book that I didn’t have to concentrate too much on.

The story follows Millie, who loves to bake. Her sister Nicole’s father-in-law is in hospital, and she must go to France to look after him. Review originally posted on Wonderfully Bookish.

I really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this book. I really have to be in the right mood to read a chick-lit book. Luckily, I was in the mood for something lighthearted and easy to read. That’s exactly what this was! It was so nice to read a book that I didn’t have to concentrate too much on.

The story follows Millie, who loves to bake. Her sister Nicole’s father-in-law is in hospital, and she must go to France to look after him. Nicole is supposed to teach a cooking class at Craiglea Manor Cookery School, but asks Millie to take over for her. However, when Millie arrives at Craiglea, the winter weather is worse than ever. The class is cancelled, leaving Millie stranded.

Millie hates the wintry village in the Lake District. She’s used to living in the South of France, surrounded by sunny beaches and palm trees. I couldn’t disagree with Millie more – the cute village in the Lake District sounds like my idea of a dream! The descriptions of the location, the family-run cafe and the homely village pub made me want to pack up and move there for Christmas.

Throughout the book, we’re introduced to a group of characters who all live in the village. I liked all of them! I don’t think there was a single character I didn’t like! They all got along so well and it really emphasised the friendly community feel of the village. Often, in chick-lit books, I can find the characters a bit bland and boring. In this book, there were some twists that made the characters the very opposite of boring. They all had their secrets and their hidden sides, and it made them seem more real and believable.

As for the ending, I wasn’t expecting it at all. The last 30% or so of the book suddenly took a turn that I did not see coming, and I couldn’t put the book down until I finished it! I’m not going to tell you what happens, though. If you want a shock ending that completely changes the whole feel of the story, you’ll just have to read it yourself… ...more

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Sep 11, 2016 Susan rated it really liked it

I have been loving the writing from authors based out of the UK lately. I especially enjoy when the books they write incorporate food and Christmas, my favorite holiday. To me there is nothing better. “Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes” by Lindsey Paley is my latest find, and it is simply delicious! I think you will enjoy this wonderfully crafted story.

“Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes” is not your average romance. In fact, I would venture to say that it has a sprinkle of intrigue, a dash of adventur ...more

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Nov 01, 2016 Whispering Stories rated it really liked it

Camille Carter – Millie, is on her way from her home in France, to the UK, to spend time with her sister and family for Christmas. On route, Millie gets a frantic phone call from her sister stating that they can’t be there as an emergency has come up. She also needs Millie, who is a chef, to take on a luxury Christmas cookery school for her at the prestigious Craiglea Manor, as she has no-one else to turn to.

Reluctantly Millie agrees, but things don’t quite go as she is expecting them to, especi ...more

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Sep 18, 2016 Rachel Gilbey rated it really liked it

4.5 Stars

I've been meaning to start this series for a while, as the titles all sound so delicious and up my street. Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes is the first book in the Camille Carter series, and is a very entertaining story, with some surprises along the way.

Camille Carter or Millie as she is known, has lived in the South of France for three years and much prefers the sun to snow. However she has agreed to come back to England, for Christmas this year. Due to a set of circumstances, there a ...more

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Oct 24, 2016 Rebecca If Only I Could Read Faster rated it really liked it

Shelves: blog-tour

I need to be honest, I have absolutely no idea what I was thinking when I decided that I would read Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes. I don’t ‘do’ chick lit. If I’m honest I’m probably a little bit snobbish about it.

So I started the book with rather low expectations. But I do not mind admitting that I was wrong, very wrong. I really, really enjoyed reading Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes, the characters were interesting and believable. I often thought that the outcome was very obvious, but it wasn’ ...more

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Nov 10, 2016 Lynsey James rated it it was amazing

I love a good Christmas romance and this book delivers on every level. To say that Millie Carter is a fish out on water in Aisford is a pretty big understatement! Usually found in the south of France, she agrees to spend Christmas with her sister in England, but ends up reluctantly taking her place as cookery demonstrator at Craiglea Manor Cookery School instead. I loved the descriptions of Craiglea Manor and the village of Aisford, they both sounded like lovely places to spend the festive seaso ...more

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Nov 07, 2016 Petra Q rated it it was amazing

What a fabulous book! Lindsey Paley very quickly became one of my favourite authors! I adored Camilla Carter and her Christmas escapade! Who wouldn't want to spend the festive season holed up in a splendid manor house in the heart of Lake District?

Well, Camilla ( Millie ) Carter had a different idea about her Christmas break until she arrived at the snowed under and very charming village of Aisford where is met not one but two rather dashing men and a bunch of welcoming residents.

So for the next ...more

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Nov 04, 2016 Rachel rated it it was amazing

First of all I have to talk about the setting of the book I felt that it was pretty perfect. The writing was descriptive and I could see myself right there. I have always wanted to visit The Lake District so this book made me want to visit even more. I fell in love with Craiglea and I totally agree with Millie the library sounds amazing! Definitely don't read on an empty stomach as the gorgeous descriptions of food will make you ravenous.

I thought the characters were well written and I really en ...more

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Oct 24, 2016 Agi rated it liked it

Shelves: 2016-releases, 2015

"Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes" is the first book in the Camille Carter series and I was very intrigued by the synopsis - I've no idea why but I like stories about such Scrooges because usually they end with them changing their mind totally, and it's brilliant. Moreover, it mentions butter cream icings and something about being stranded because of snow, and so I thought, oh yes, it is for sure a story for me.

Our main character, Camille - or Millie - Carter much more prefers sun to snow, but she
"Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes" is the first book in the Camille Carter series and I was very intrigued by the synopsis - I've no idea why but I like stories about such Scrooges because usually they end with them changing their mind totally, and it's brilliant. Moreover, it mentions butter cream icings and something about being stranded because of snow, and so I thought, oh yes, it is for sure a story for me.

Our main character, Camille - or Millie - Carter much more prefers sun to snow, but she's just landed herself a job running a cookery course in a manor house in England. There is the whole set of circumstances that led to this situation, including a cheating boyfriend, and a sister asking for a favour. But Millie was of course totally unprepared and she arrived in the middle of a snow storm, dressed in a cardigan, without a coat or winter boots. Promising beginning, no? But it is not the end of her troubles yet, oh no, it's rather a beginning, as when she arrives she learns that because of the weather the course has been cancelled! And because of the weather she is stranded at the manor house for the weekend!

The author introduces us to a whole bunch of characters which, in a novella with 178 pages, could have been confusing, but this time Lindsey Paley has brilliantly managed it. I didn't have any problems to recognize who is who and to whom they belong, and it's really a big brownie point for the author. They are all well drawn and they all are so very different, which makes the story this tad more interesting and colourful, and all of them had their own stories, which they of course tell, and some of them are heart - breaking, some of them incredibly uplifting, and actually it requires a real talent to squeeze this all in a novella. Millie seems to be a tough cookie but she also has a softer side to herself. She also seems to be a very prone - accident girl, always ending in the wrong place, usually outside and freezing to death. We have many male characters in this story, some of them more pleasant, some of them less

Millie is a chef, so there are some very delicious food descriptions and it's like a real heaven for all the food lovers. But be aware - don't read it when you're hungry :) When Millie is in rush she cooks and bakes and the food she creates looks and sounds incredibly mouth - watering. I was waiting for some recipes at the end of the book, as it usually happens when there is so much cooking in the story but, sadly, not this time.

The author has for sure a great imagination and she can write some very descriptive scenes and yes, I like winter, but I do like summer more, but after reading this story I can't wait for a real, white winter to come.
However, my own, biggest problem with the book was the fact that I had a feeling that the book itself doesn't know what it wants to be - a romance, a nice story about a girl with delicious food in the background, a drama, crime... Because there was all of the above mentioned and somehow it just didn't work together in my opinion. It started as a story about Millie, telling her history and showing how she adapts to the new - and very accidental place she found herself in - and it was OK, but then, suddenly, totally out of the blue there was this very unexpected and very too far - fetched ending including guns, shoots, police and drug smugglers. And I thought, WTF? How come? Why? I think it would much better work in a full - length novel, as here it looks like the author just didn't have time and enough space to develop an idea or two of hers and nonetheless she added it to the story but for me it felt as if there were two different stories. I also had a small problem with the characters, especially with Millie at the beginning, and with Fergus - I just couldn't understand their approach, as I didn't see any reason for them, especially Fergus, to be so arrogant, so hot and cold blowing, and I also didn't understand where this antipathy was coming from and why was he so - I don't know: jealous? of Millie if he disliked her so obviously? Something just didn't sit together here and made me feel a little too confused for my liking. The drama was also far too far - fetched for my liking and when Millie - again! - left the house in her rage I just couldn't help but roll my eyes.

Altogether, it was a twisty and turny story with a great potential and I am very sorry that I didn't love it as much as I hoped for. But there is a festive feeling to it, it has some funny moments, as well as some poignant ones and personally I am waiting to read the next book in the series.
...more

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Oct 29, 2016 Grass monster rated it really liked it

I just adore the front covers of the Camille Carter series, they are so bright and welcoming.
In the first book of the series, we meet Camille Carter, known as Millie. Millie lives in France and after discovering that her french chef boyfriend has been cheating on her, she decides to go home to England for Christmas and stay with her sister. Sadly at the airport the plans go pear shaped as her sister and family are called away to a family emergency at her in laws. Millie now faces Christmas alone I just adore the front covers of the Camille Carter series, they are so bright and welcoming.
In the first book of the series, we meet Camille Carter, known as Millie. Millie lives in France and after discovering that her french chef boyfriend has been cheating on her, she decides to go home to England for Christmas and stay with her sister. Sadly at the airport the plans go pear shaped as her sister and family are called away to a family emergency at her in laws. Millie now faces Christmas alone until her sister tells her she was due in the Lake District to host a luxurious cooking course at a manor house. As Millie is a chef she really cant say no and decides to help her sister out.
As Millie arrives in the Lake District in her summer clothes and flip flops ready for sunshine she is much mistaken and is actually standing in the middle of a snow storm and frozen to the bone.
When she arrives at the empty manor house and meets Sam, the business manager, and Fergus, the estate manager, she is told the cooking course has been cancelled due to the weather conditions and with the phone lines down and a bridge collasped she wasnt informed and now has no way to leave the manor. Millie just has to suck it up and stay until the roads start to clear so she can get home in time for Christmas.
As Millie settles in and starts to make some mouth watering food, she realises things might not be as bad as she first thought. Although this is not too focused on Christmas, it is very wintery. I loved the descriptions Lindsey gave of the Lake District when Millie arrived, I actually felt that I was in the storm with her. Everything sounded so beautiful and I had a chuckle at Millie falling over a few times. We also meet some lovely other charactors in the story and it binds them all together for this wintery treat. With a hint of romance too.
I really enjoyed the first installment of the series, it certainly made me get the hot choclate and cream out. I am looking forward to the rest of the books in this series.

...more

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Oct 28, 2016 Claire rated it liked it

Shelves: 2016-reads, arc-copy, chick-lit, romance, christmas

This review originally appeared on BrizzleLass Books.

Millie is in a never ending rough patch, her parents died a few years ago, then her boyfriend cheated on her with a waitress in the restaurant they jointly owned, having moved to France for a fresh start and job her new boyfriend and boss has done exactly the same thing with one of his waitresses. Deciding to visit her sister for Christmas she returns to England only to find an emergency with her Sisters in-law’s has her returning to France.

He ...more

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Oct 23, 2016 Alison rated it really liked it

With the deluge of ‘Christmas’ books available at this time of the year I am likely to miss some gems or get totally overloaded and want some sunshine! However this one has been on my TBR for a long time so I delved in.

Millie did in fact live in France with the wall to wall sunshine, wearing only shorts, t.shirt and strappy sandals she arrives in England during a hefty snowstorm .. shock number one for Millie. She has recently split from her chef partner and comes ‘home’ to visit her sister for ...more

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Jul 06, 2015 Lisa rated it really liked it

I love Lindsey Paley’s work. I love that each story is a little virtual visit for this American Anglophile to Great Britain. I enjoy her characters. This first submission in the Camille Carter series is no exception. She even made me miss winter with her summer release.

Chef Millie is one raw dough woman, missing that essential ingredient that would create the perfect recipe of life. Trouble is, she keeps trying all the wrong additions and making messes. Fleeing from tragedy to heartbreak to hea ...more

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Nicki rated it liked it
Dec 02, 2015

Apr 23, 2017 Brooke rated it really liked it

Although this was more chick lit than the cozy mystery that I had expected, I very much enjoyed this book! The characters were interesting and the description of the Lake District at Christmas was the perfect setting. So happy that I stumbled upon this book!

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