Review: 'Snow Angels, Secrets & Christmas Cake' by Sue Watson (2014)

For Tamsin Angel, Christmas is always the biggest and best… chic parties and a little showbiz sparkle are a must. This year though, things aren’t going quite as planned… 
With bailiffs suddenly at the door and her husband nowhere to be found, it looks like Christmas just got downsized. Moving into her sister’s one-bedroom flat, she wonders whether things will ever be the same again. 
After losing her husband on Christmas Eve, Sam Angel has rebuilt her life around her son Jacob and her new business – The White Angel Bakery. She’s also found herself a very handsome, loving boyfriend, but is struggling to let go of the past. 
  Thrown together with a sprinkle of Christmas magic, Sam and Tamsin might just learn a little more about each other – and themselves. But when disaster strikes at the bakery, will they be able to save the day in time for Christmas?   Today I have a review of another lovely Bookouture 2014 Christmas novel for all of you! Sue Watson's 'Snow Angels, Secrets and Christmas Cake' was released on the 17th of October 2014 and promised to be a festive book to get us all in a Christmassy mood. Before I picked up this particular title, I was already familiar with Sue Watson's work. Earlier this year I got the chance to read and review her novel 'Love, Lies and Lemon Cake' (click here to read my review), which I ended up really enjoying. I was curious to pick up another one of this author's reads and kept my fingers crossed I would enoy it (and luckily I did!).   Tamsin and Sam Angels are sisters but also complete opposites of each other. Tamsin is married to a really wealthy man and worries most about the brand of shoes she's wearing and whether she will host the best Christmas party in the neighbourhood. Sam, on the other hand, is a down-to-earth single mum to her son Jacob, who runs her own bakery and lives in the small apartment above it. When it becomes clear Tamsin's husband has been making a big mess of the family's finances, Tamsin is suddenly left without a home, a husband and without any money. She moves in with Sam, just until she's able to get by on her own two feet again. But will the Angel sisters be able to live together, without minding each other's business too much...?   'Snow Angels, Secrets and Christmas Cake' is another wonderful novel by Sue Watson, and without a doubt my favourite of her works so far. The book focuses on sisters Sam and Tamsin Angel, who are both fascinating and well-drawn characters, and I loved how the story was told from both their perspectives. Tamsin loves everything glamourous and feels like her world has come to an end when she's no longer wealthy. I know this sounds a bit shallow, but somehow Sue Watson managed to make sure readers would instantly warm to Tamsin, because I loved her just as much as I loved Sam, who is a bit calmer and more down-to-earth. When the sisters are kind of forced to live together, they really bond with one another and I really enjoyed reading about this. Tamsin needs to learn to stand on her own two feet, while Sam needs to learn how to open her heart again to another man. They help each other and I just honestly couldn't get enough of them and their story.   Sue Watson really tried to make this a festive read; her amazing Christmassy descriptions of decorations and yummy treats at Sam's bakery made it feel like Christmas straight away; a feeling which a true festive December novel needs to give its readers, if you ask me. Sue Watson's writing style was really easy to read and comfortable; well-paced and detailed enough to keep my attention at all times. I don't really have anything negative to say about this book; it was quite simply a wonderful Christmas read! 'Snow Angels, Secrets and Christmas Cake' is a delightful, warm, festive story which is the perfect read for chick lit fans to pick up this holiday season; I loved it!   Rating:9/10   For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads   Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.