Don’t even get me started on how cute this book was! Well, actually do – because that’s the point of my whole-book-reviewing-blog thing!
Alright, let’s get started. First, let me share with you the summary of this book:
Robin McKay is determined to save the struggling Animal Shelter and head her hometown’s local Christmas event. but when plans go awry and Nate Ashford, Robin’s former best friend, are factors at play, will her Christmas wish come true?
If that doesn’t sell you, let me tell you, this love story is as sweet and adorable, if not even more-so, as the dog on the front cover! Christmas with Cocoa is a charming tale of two driven people, who are equally as passionate about their jobs as they are their faith. Just because it’s a Christmas story, don’t let that stop you from picking it up! After all, shouldn’t we be celebrating Christmas all year round?
Reading about the small, fictional town of Believe, Nebraska made me reminisce about my own experiences growing up near such small towns. I often reminisce and look back fondly at my days spent “on the mountain” as we called it, or “out in the countryside” with family and friends (Yes, even in Northern California, there are rustic landscapes and small towns!).
Something I loved most about these characters and the story was how real it all seemed (maybe that’s because the author based Believe, Nebraska on her own Nebraskan town!). I enjoyed reading about their family game nights, their banter, and the things that made them seem like an actual family, and not just characters who only lived once on the page. I related so well to the cold nights juxtaposed with warm hugs from loving family and friends, laughing and smiling until the day’s end. Even rushing about frantically to buy last minute Christmas gifts – we’ve all been there, and it was endearing to read about, to say the least!
Piper and “Cocoa!”
Another fun aspect about this book was the animals! One of the focal points of the story is, of course, the animal shelter where the two main characters and love interests of each other work. I think we all know that I love animals (cue photographic spam of my baby Australian shepherd, Piper, who’s not such a baby anymore). They have such quirky and adorable personalities, and are just so easy to love. That love translated on the page, and I liked reading about all of the personalities of the animals, and the attachment they had with the “two-legged” characters. Again, the whole of this book was so relatable.
One of my favorite parts of this book, was the way the characters prayed. Like all of us, they often had their shortcomings and forgot to pray and go to God first when that was all they needed. But when they did pray, they prayed fervently. Like the saying goes, when two people grow closer to God, they will eventually grow closer to each other! I don’t think I’ve read any other book that does such a good job of portraying this as Christmas with Cocoa does. Like I’ve said before, relatable, and touching and poignant!
“However, when one is not in harmony with God, things get more complicated and hairier than they have to. I suggest you take some time to pray. Really pray. Ask God to give you the study materials for this particular test. Heck, ask Him to give you the answer sheet.” Cleopatra Margot, Christmas with Cocoa
It may be a Christmas story as sweet as sugar candy left in Christmas stockings, but like those sweet treats left behind by Santa, I think it can be enjoyed at any time of year, and it’s message can most definitely be shared in any season of life!
I highly recommend that you go out, support an author, and pick up a copy of Cleopatra Margot‘s FIRST solo novel and FIRST contemporary project. I can’t wait to see how she grows in the genre and what other works she releases in the future! She also has a website, so if you’d like to head on over there, sign up for her e-mailing list, and receive any and all future updates about her writings, be sure to do that by clicking HERE. #SupportGoodBlogs #SupportGoodContent
That’s all for this week, everybody! Until next time,
*Disclaimer – While I did receive a copy of this book as a gift from the author in exchange for an honest review, this in no way affected my opinions. All the thoughts shared on this novel are my own, and I do not receive any compensation for leaving a positive review.
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