Review ~ Christmas at the Cat Cafe by Melissa Daley

Macmillan
2016

The blurb..

Christmas at the Cat Cafe is the wonderfully festive sequel to Melissa Daley's uplifting tale, Molly and the Cat Cafe.

The Costwolds' town of Stourton-on-the-Hill has its very own cat café. Resident cat Molly, and her kittens, live here in feline paradise, while owner Debbie serves the locals home-made goodies. But even in the most idyllic surroundings, things don't always go to plan . . .

When Debbie's heartbroken sister Linda arrives at the café, Debbie insists she move in. But Linda is not alone, and the cats are devastated with the arrival of Linda's dog, Beau. Sadly, Beau's arrival is not the only bombshell - now Molly's home is also under threat when a rival cat moves in on her turf.

With Christmas approaching, Molly is unsettled, barely roused by the promise of tinsel to play with. Fearing for her feline family she hopelessly stares out of the café window searching for an answer. Only a Christmas miracle could bring everyone together.

My thoughts..

Well after a review yesterday about a dog named Bertie it was only fair to Jaffa to review a story today about a cat named Molly.  So here's himself making sure I didn't renege on the deal... 

Molly the cat shares her life with her five kittens and her owner Debbie who all live together in the delightful Cotswold town of Stourton-on-the-Hill. Together they run the idyllically named Cat Cafe where tea and biscuits are dispensed with love and wisdom. When Debbie's's erratic sister, Linda arrives complete with her dog, Beau, in tow, well, you can imagine just how the dynamics of the cat cafe changes overnight.

What then follows is a delightful tale of how two very different sisters try to come to terms with each other's lives, whilst at the same time, the menagerie of animals who must now all live together under the same roof also need to try to get along as best they can. However, for Molly and her family of kittens this is never going to be easy and with Christmas looming and their comfortable home under threat, a Christmas miracle is going to be needed if they are all to stay together.

The author has written a lovely story with a real Christmas feel to it which I am sure will delight animal lovers. The cat cafe is one of those places where you really wish you could visit and Molly is the purrfect protagonist and wonderful at recounting the story in her own inimitable style.

It also warrants a mention that the book is delightfully presented with a festive cover that really  cries out "open me" and that each delightful chapter of the book is headed by a purrfect black and white line drawing of a cat. I think my favourite has to be the cat with the pot of tea !

This was my first visit to the Cat Cafe and I am sure that it won't be my last. I am hopeful that this talented writer will bring us more of Molly's adventures in future stories.

Best Read With...A Feline Fancy and  Pot of Earl Grey tea..

About the Author

Melissa Daley lives in Hertfordshire with her two cats, two children and one husband. One of her cats, Nancy, has a writing pedigree of her own and can be found on Facebook as Nancy Harpenden-Cat. Melissa was inspired by the Cotswolds town of Stow-on-the-Wold, which provides the backdrop for Melissa's novels.

Melissa Daley talks to Jaffareadstoo about Christmas at the Cat Cafe 

*The Kindle edition of Christmas at the Cat Cafe  is currently on a 99p promotion on Amazon UK

My thanks to Jess at Pan Macmillan for sending  me and Jaffa a review copy of this book.