Cassidy is new to the town of Maple Falls. She's sworn off men following heartbreak, but finds herself attracted to Liam, who has his own heartbreak to contend with.
The Spiced Cocoa Café by Harper Graham is the second book in the Maple Falls series. I read the first book in the series, The Cinnamon Spice Inn, back in September (you can read my review here) and fell in love with the town of Maple Falls. If you've read the first book in the series, then you'll enjoy this one as it's very similar. If you haven't read the first book, I recommend doing so, as it will give you a chance to find out what Maple Falls is all about.
As with the first book, the story is all about romance and holiday traditions in the small town. This time around, the action takes place in the run-up to Christmas, and once again, the author manages to make the town sound magical. Cassidy has recently moved to the town and taken over the chocolate shop. One of the traditions is a display competition between some of the shops. Liam runs the farm shop, and after rescuing Cassidy when she is locked out, sparks begin to fly.
This is a classic grumpy/sunshine story, or, given the setting, Miss Christmas/Grinch. Both have their own reasons not to be looking forward to the holiday season, but the attraction is unavoidable, and they're both competitive. Thrown into the mixture is someone who seems to be out to sabotage the whole competition.
The pair are continually thrown together, and each time their resistance slips a little more, the action is incredibly spicy. In time-honoured tradition, obstacles are thrown in their way, with one obstacle in particular looking as if it is going to derail the budding romance completely.
The conclusion isn't a surprise; it's what I expected from the beginning and was hoping for all along. The important question is, are you Team Cassidy or Team Liam? The ending sets up nicely a return to Maple Falls in spring with The Cherry Crush Flower Shop.
The Spiced Cocoa Café by Harper Graham will be published on 20th October 2025 in ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a review copy.
Author Details
Harper Graham lives with her mischievous spaniel in a cozy small town in Connecticut. Her quirky neighbours may or may not have inspired the residents of her Maple Falls series. When she’s not hiking with her daughter, baking her grandmother’s recipes or reading in her favourite coffee shop, Harper can be found writing the sweet and spicy romance stories of her own dreams.
No comments:
Post a Comment