I’m trying hard to think of anyone who wouldn’t like this book. The recipe is seasonal and scrumptious. A kitten named Snowball is frequently seen getting into scrapes and plotting catly mischief as she, in all innocence, tries to bring two great young people together. Whether she’ll succeed or not, she’ll still steal hearts in SNOWBALL’S CHRISTMAS.

Snowball lives at Weber Haus, a Victorian B&B full of character (for which read stuck windows, creaking stairs and chipped kitchen cupboards). Miss Tilly Weber is the owner, and they are based just far enough out of Braunfels to have to drive anywhere they need to go. Emily Diemer is the baker and cook, and the enterprising kitten first stows away in her bag, so she’s on hand when Emily meets Tilly’s nephew, Lukas. As a pro photographer working for Geographic International, this young man is doing okay, but he’s never home, always off on assignment. Therefore Lukas wasn’t aware that Tilly’s help mostly moved on to other towns, the inn is deteriorating and Tilly has stubbornness down to an art.

I found Emily a lady after my own heart, up at five thirty each morning to get started, never still, doing DIY jobs and deliveries as well as her usual cook repertoire. Emily wants to open her own bakery, which would be easier in the town centre, but she can’t arrange starting finance. Thus, seeing Lukas waltz in and start putting repairs on his own bill - through the building contractor Daniel Aarons, who makes it plain he’s always fancied Emily – just makes her more aggrieved than she has a right to be, not being family. Emily tells Lukas if he really wants to help, for the two weeks he’ll be here, he should get up at the same time as her and pitch in with running the inn.   

The imp of a kitten thus has plenty of chance to play matchmaker ahead of the rushed few days of Christmas. But there are some situations not even a kitten can fix. Then again, she does look adorable in snowy photos.

This is an up to the minute romance which I find suitable for all the family. The inn, which I enjoyed exploring, comes across as a character in its own right. If you don’t enjoy SNOWBALL’S CHRISTMAS by Kristen McKanagh, I believe you could apply for a job vacancy playing the Grinch.

Book Summary