What do you think?
Rate this book
Cocoa in the Attic
One charming (possibly haunted) inn.
One charming (friendzoned) pastry chef.
And one unexpected reunion.
Seraphina has landed the perfect job as a publicist for a charming (albeit allegedly haunted) inn in a dreamy mountain town. She’s even sworn the only romance-eligible member of the staff to a strict vow of friendship, leaving her free of complicated dating drama. But when her estranged brother walks into her life after twelve years’ absence, her perfect setup crumbles, leaving her uncertain what path to take next. Is it better to keep her heart under guard, where she’s kept it safe for so many years? Or can the Christmas spirit and a friendzone-bound pastry chef convince her to give love and family another chance?
One charming (friendzoned) pastry chef.
And one unexpected reunion.
Seraphina has landed the perfect job as a publicist for a charming (albeit allegedly haunted) inn in a dreamy mountain town. She’s even sworn the only romance-eligible member of the staff to a strict vow of friendship, leaving her free of complicated dating drama. But when her estranged brother walks into her life after twelve years’ absence, her perfect setup crumbles, leaving her uncertain what path to take next. Is it better to keep her heart under guard, where she’s kept it safe for so many years? Or can the Christmas spirit and a friendzone-bound pastry chef convince her to give love and family another chance?
124 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2019
2 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 22, 2019
OK. This was ridiculous. Seriously. I mean, it's completely my bad. I should have known. I knew from the second I purchased it that I was buying a book that was written very poorly. Just looking at the quality of production, publication and writing, I knew it...but Gosh...I was aching for a sweet holiday read and this was short enough that I thought it could satisfy that urge.
Just so we're clear. It didn't. It didn't satisfy anything. There are better harlequin romances out there that could have satisfied that urge. This was a really silly story, with an overly dramatic plot, meant to tick some boxes.
Heroine with a mysterious horrible romantic past? *check*
Heroine travels long distance to take on a job at a deserted inn? *check*
Hot staff member of the opposite sex works there? *check*
Heroine keeps her distance given her horrible romantic past? *check*
Heroine has some family drama and this estranged brother of 12 years suddenly reappears to this deserted inn in the middle of nowhere? *check*
Wait wait, this estranged brother of 12 years is the OWNER of this deserted inn in the middle of nowhere that the heroine very coincidentally decided to work in? *check*
Heroine falls in love with hot staff member and decides to take a risk? *check*
Estranged brother and heroine reconcile? *check*
Estranged brother gets into a serious dramatic almost fatal accident on his way to reconcile with the rest of the family? *check*
Big family Christmas celebration at the end after we're sure the estranged brother survived? *check*
Everyone lives happily ever after and drinks buckets and buckets of cocoa? *check*
Thank you. I'll pass.
Just so we're clear. It didn't. It didn't satisfy anything. There are better harlequin romances out there that could have satisfied that urge. This was a really silly story, with an overly dramatic plot, meant to tick some boxes.
Heroine with a mysterious horrible romantic past? *check*
Heroine travels long distance to take on a job at a deserted inn? *check*
Hot staff member of the opposite sex works there? *check*
Heroine keeps her distance given her horrible romantic past? *check*
Heroine has some family drama and this estranged brother of 12 years suddenly reappears to this deserted inn in the middle of nowhere? *check*
Wait wait, this estranged brother of 12 years is the OWNER of this deserted inn in the middle of nowhere that the heroine very coincidentally decided to work in? *check*
Heroine falls in love with hot staff member and decides to take a risk? *check*
Estranged brother and heroine reconcile? *check*
Estranged brother gets into a serious dramatic almost fatal accident on his way to reconcile with the rest of the family? *check*
Big family Christmas celebration at the end after we're sure the estranged brother survived? *check*
Everyone lives happily ever after and drinks buckets and buckets of cocoa? *check*
Thank you. I'll pass.
November 27, 2019
Biased? Possibly. But I love Spirited Inn, with all its warmth and wood and hidden stories, and I love the characters who are doing their best to let love and light shine brighter than their struggles.
November 29, 2019
A sweet little Hallmark-esque Christmas story. I hope there's a more in-depth novel in the works for these characters!
January 21, 2020
Something about this year makes me want to listen to Christmas music, watch Hallmark movies, and bask in the Christmas season...even before Thanksgiving. It's so weird! I'm not usually like this! But Cocoa in the Attic seemed like the perfect book to get me into the Christmas spirit, and I was totally right.
Quick Thoughts
-Seraphina, our protagonist, has some issues she has to work through. She's a little insecure, very cautious. But she is game to some silliness as well! I loved her wit and fire that was teased out by a very handsome pastry chef...
-SPEAKING OF WHICH Kem is such a perfect Christmas beau! Holy crow, I was fanning myself from their first interaction. He's hilarious and fun-loving, great traits for a book boyfriend.
-The setting is SO cozy!!! Spirited Inn is the most beautiful inn I've ever imagined. Plus all the snow shenanigans. Gave me all the Christmas feels.
-I was surprised to find a second POV in this book (I won't tell you who it is, since I don't want to spoil anything!), and I really like what it added to the story.
Lasting Impressions
I loved the focus on family in this novella. I wouldn't stick this fully in the rom-com genre, since the book's main plot revolves around the family issues Sera and her brother have to deal with. I don't read a whole lot of books that explore brother-sister relationships, but I found the way it was handled in this book was beautiful and touching.
That's not to say I didn't find the romance fulfilling! The attraction between Sera and Kem is instant, but the way their feelings for each other develop is so squeal-inducing. Their banter is to die for.
That's one thing I found really strong about this book is its dialogue, especially between Kem and Sera, but also between the other characters. It felt realistic, but still very fun.
Another thing that stood out to me was how good the pacing was in this novella. Each action or event leads seamlessly into the next, and it never felt rushed. I found myself wanting more, but only because I was so entrenched in the story and setting and characters, not because I was left feeling unfulfilled.
Overall Feelings
I will definitely be pulling this book out every Christmas season—does that say anything? I loved this story. It is fun, touching, and adorable, and I recommend it to anyone needing something fun and uplifting (and swoony) to read during the holiday season.
Quick Thoughts
-Seraphina, our protagonist, has some issues she has to work through. She's a little insecure, very cautious. But she is game to some silliness as well! I loved her wit and fire that was teased out by a very handsome pastry chef...
-SPEAKING OF WHICH Kem is such a perfect Christmas beau! Holy crow, I was fanning myself from their first interaction. He's hilarious and fun-loving, great traits for a book boyfriend.
-The setting is SO cozy!!! Spirited Inn is the most beautiful inn I've ever imagined. Plus all the snow shenanigans. Gave me all the Christmas feels.
-I was surprised to find a second POV in this book (I won't tell you who it is, since I don't want to spoil anything!), and I really like what it added to the story.
Lasting Impressions
I loved the focus on family in this novella. I wouldn't stick this fully in the rom-com genre, since the book's main plot revolves around the family issues Sera and her brother have to deal with. I don't read a whole lot of books that explore brother-sister relationships, but I found the way it was handled in this book was beautiful and touching.
That's not to say I didn't find the romance fulfilling! The attraction between Sera and Kem is instant, but the way their feelings for each other develop is so squeal-inducing. Their banter is to die for.
That's one thing I found really strong about this book is its dialogue, especially between Kem and Sera, but also between the other characters. It felt realistic, but still very fun.
Another thing that stood out to me was how good the pacing was in this novella. Each action or event leads seamlessly into the next, and it never felt rushed. I found myself wanting more, but only because I was so entrenched in the story and setting and characters, not because I was left feeling unfulfilled.
Overall Feelings
I will definitely be pulling this book out every Christmas season—does that say anything? I loved this story. It is fun, touching, and adorable, and I recommend it to anyone needing something fun and uplifting (and swoony) to read during the holiday season.
November 8, 2019
Cocoa in the Attic is a cozy little romance and story of family reconciliation with lots of snow and hot cocoa. I enjoyed the realistic take on how romance actually works--the awkwardness and humor without all the drama. The main characters communicate honestly with each other, and the problems they face don't feel contrived by stubbornness. The setting was really fun as well; I look forward to more stories set in the Spirited Inn. Romance is not my normal genre, but I think this story would make a fun escape that you can finish quickly while traveling by plane or car during the holidays.
Free copy received from author; opinions my own.
Free copy received from author; opinions my own.
November 13, 2019
What a wonderful Christmas story! Ms. Wood has an amazing talent for weaving tales. I loved the cozy wintertime inn, the endearing characters, and the uplifting storyline. Extending forgiveness and moving behind the mistakes of the past are life skills nearly everyone can relate to. Be sure to read this book!
November 28, 2019
Cocoa in the Attic is a great book to get you in the Chistmas Spirit. I loved the realness of the characters and the coziness of the Inn in the mountain town. It's the perfect blend of family, romance, and a fun hint of supernatural.
Read
December 21, 2022If you’re a reader who appreciates clean reads with wholesome, traditional, conservative values, this review is aimed at you! If you’re not that type of reader, you probably won’t get anything out of this review.
This is a very sweet, Prudie-approved Christmas read, friends! YAY!!! I absolutely loved that, although this started out feeling like a simple and straightforward, "I know what's going to happen" Hallmark-movie-style read, it managed to surprise me multiple times along the way. The conflicts were deeper than I expected, the characters had some very real, heavy-duty moments, and feelings tended toward complex and serious. I even teared up in a couple of surprising places that hit me just right I guess, lol. (They were little moments that actually weren't that little, you know?) If you're looking for a festive read that is character-driven, clean, and involves a little romance, this is right up your alley.
Let's do the usual Prudie™ breakdown, shall we? 10 is atomic bomb, 0 is none to speak of.
-> Language: 0/10
None! That's beautiful and refreshing to write in a review, I tell ya.
-> Steaminess: 1/10
If you prefer your romances sweet more so than steamy, this hits that mark. There is no spice in this except for a little tame kissing, hugging, hand-holding, etc. with no explicit accommodating inner dialogue or implication etc.
-> Positive theme(s): 9/10
Found family, reconnecting with family, forgiveness, second chances, taking healthy risks, meaningful friendship, emotional and physical healing, the intentional practice of personal growth, hard work ethic, complementarianism, honesty and trust, vulnerability and developing close connection, consideration of others, teamwork.
-> Political correctness: 0/10
I don't recall anything that gave me a red flag on this.
-> Violence: 2/10
I mean, like, car accidents, some discussion of death, several physical injuries, and maybe some playful threats about physical harm? lol
**I have chosen to refrain from giving star ratings to the work of other indie authors. Just a personal conviction.**
This is a very sweet, Prudie-approved Christmas read, friends! YAY!!! I absolutely loved that, although this started out feeling like a simple and straightforward, "I know what's going to happen" Hallmark-movie-style read, it managed to surprise me multiple times along the way. The conflicts were deeper than I expected, the characters had some very real, heavy-duty moments, and feelings tended toward complex and serious. I even teared up in a couple of surprising places that hit me just right I guess, lol. (They were little moments that actually weren't that little, you know?) If you're looking for a festive read that is character-driven, clean, and involves a little romance, this is right up your alley.
Let's do the usual Prudie™ breakdown, shall we? 10 is atomic bomb, 0 is none to speak of.
-> Language: 0/10
None! That's beautiful and refreshing to write in a review, I tell ya.
-> Steaminess: 1/10
If you prefer your romances sweet more so than steamy, this hits that mark. There is no spice in this except for a little tame kissing, hugging, hand-holding, etc. with no explicit accommodating inner dialogue or implication etc.
-> Positive theme(s): 9/10
Found family, reconnecting with family, forgiveness, second chances, taking healthy risks, meaningful friendship, emotional and physical healing, the intentional practice of personal growth, hard work ethic, complementarianism, honesty and trust, vulnerability and developing close connection, consideration of others, teamwork.
-> Political correctness: 0/10
I don't recall anything that gave me a red flag on this.
-> Violence: 2/10
I mean, like, car accidents, some discussion of death, several physical injuries, and maybe some playful threats about physical harm? lol
**I have chosen to refrain from giving star ratings to the work of other indie authors. Just a personal conviction.**
Read
December 18, 2022Rtc
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews