Guest Review: Mistletoe and Mulled Wine at the Christmas Campervan by Caroline Roberts

Christmas feels like a real gift for Lucy this year. Her cosy coastal cottage is starting to feel like home, her new pizza business is getting the locals ‘All Fired Up’, and she can’t wait to spend it with her new flame Jack, the charismatic owner of the Cocktail Campervan.

Winding along the snow-dusted Northumberland coast for a whirlwind of Christmas markets and celebrations, Lucy and Jack can’t resist stealing a few kisses under the mistletoe. But there’s a twist in their romantic tale when Lucy’s ex turns up in the village. As her past closes in, Jack becomes increasingly distant. And Lucy worries he’s holding back a few secrets of his own . . .

Review: This is Book 2 in the Cosy Campervan series from Caroline Roberts, following on from The Seaside Cocktail Campervan, by the same author. Although this book contains the same principal characters as the previous one, each can still be enjoyed as a standalone. I certainly enjoyed the first book in the series, and looked forward to learning more about these characters and their unusual food vans. 

This story takes place a few months after the first book in the series, and Lucy and Jack are now a couple. With Christmas fast approaching, both are in demand at events, Lucy with her pizza horse box and Jack with his converted VW campervan from which he serves cocktails, mocktails and other beverages. Things are going well until Lucy’s ex, Liam, appears on the scene, hoping to win her back. Jack doesn’t take kindly to this, and their relationship becomes strained. Add to that a few problems with the winter weather and a growing concern that Jack may be keeping something from her, and Lucy’s festive spirit is subsiding fast.

I very much enjoyed this second story in the series. It was nice to be able to catch up with Jack and Lucy, and, of course, Lucy’s adorable Dachshund Daisy. There are some wonderfully descriptive visits to the beaches of the Northumberland coast where the three of them go for long walks; I could almost feel the sand under my feet and the sea spray on my face. Lucy and Jack take the food vans to many different types of venues showcasing the natural beauty of the area. Naturally, there is lots of scrumptious food and drink being prepared and consumed as all sorts of food vans gather at the various events they attend. In addition, the village where Lucy lives is home to a coffee shop that serves mouth watering cakes. This is definitely a book to be read with accompanying snacks to prevent a rumbling stomach. Even once you have finished with the story, the author has thoughtfully added some recipes for festive cocktails, sweet treats and even Lucy’s Christmas dinner-themed pizza. I would not hesitate to recommend this book; it can’t fail to fill the reader with Christmas cheer.

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