Sweet Occasions by Linn B Halton

What They Say:

Katie’s relationship has had more than its fair share of problems. After a difficult few years things begin to pick up and Katie finally realises her dream of opening up a bakery. Sweet Occasions specialises in novelty and celebration cakes, plus the most inspiring range of cupcakes anyone could possibly ask for!

Utilising her passion and skill helps to inject happiness back into her life, but it’s short-lived as things begin to fall apart. The reality is that you need to run a business with your heart AND your head. Help is at hand in the shape of her partner, Steve. He has the necessary experience, but does Katie want to tie herself to him financially, as well as personally?

Then one rainy, wintry day a bedraggled customer steps inside the door to order a cake … 

Sometimes a turning point centres around one single moment in time: sometimes it takes two Christmases and three birthdays …

A heart-warming story that deals with many of life's most difficult issues: being a single dad when a relationship falls apart, the impact of life-changing illness, dealing with the loss of a loved one ... and the search for a soul mate.

What I Say:

I would like to thank author Linn B Halton and LLH for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and review. 

I love the cover with the cake cases and the cake stand, who wouldn't love a piece of cake or a cupcake?

We meet Katie as she is about to close up her shop Sweet Occasions when I stranger walks in, he is wet through after being caught in a storm.  Katie feels sorry for him and helps him dry out..

Adam is having a day from hell, on the way to visit his Grandmother he had a flat tyre and got caught in the storm whil trying to change the tyre...

Linn tells the story in sections from both Katie and Adams POV, the first section is Christmas when Adam had broke down, the next is months later.  Each section is around Adam ordering a cake from Katie and the contact this brings.

The chemistry between the pair sizzles off the page.  The only ones that don't see this is Katie and Adam.  Katie is in a relationship with Steve, although unhappy she isn't sure how to get out of it after what had happened previously.

Adam is single at this time with a 8 year old daughter and she is his priority.  Plus with Adams sense of honour, he would never deliberately split up another couple.

I loved how Linn shows you snapshots of each of the main characters life and that the books was set over  2/3 years, Linn writes really great characters and I really loved them.  My favourite is Adams Grandmother Gracie, she really was the sweetest old lady you could meet and really cared about Adam and his daughter Lily.

This is a really sweet (excuse me but where there are cakes I couldn't resist) and beautiful story.  Linn makes you love and care about each character.

About The Author

Life is a journey; it seems long but in reality it flashes by in a series of moments and memories. I have found that age does bring a kind of ‘wisdom’. Hopefully I have learnt lessons over the years from the mistakes I have made and the personal tragedies and triumphs that have littered the path I chose to wander. Were there shortcuts on the way? Very often there probably were, but whether I recognised them or simply sidestepped them, unwilling to be deterred from the path I had in my sights, I can’t honestly say. What I do know is that the path I have travelled is my path, chosen by me, unique and often obscure, reflecting personal traits I cannot hide; for they make me the person I am today.

Sharing ones’ written work is a dual edged sword; bitter sweet. It can feel as if you are baring your soul and you have to trust that the people you end up sharing those words with, will understand that. The more you write, the wider the audience you seek. When I write my aim is simple; I seek to strike a chord in the reader’s heart. So many books have inspired me throughout my life and the joy of reading and becoming entranced in a story that unfolds before my eyes, will always rate higher than chocolate on my ‘secret pleasures’ list.