Book Review: The Spiced Cocoa Cafe

This past fall I read The Cinnamon Spice Inn, the first book in the Maple Falls series by Harper Graham, and loved it. So when I was sent the next book in the series, The Spiced Cocoa Cafe, I was excited to read it!

The novel brings us back to the small town of Maple Falls during the holidays. Cassidy recently moved to town and is opening a chocolate shop after spending the last few years being formally trained in Paris and opening a shop with her ex. Now she’s in Maple Falls for a fresh start and to make them all fall in love with her chocolate and her infamous spiced cocoa made from a family recipe. Maple Falls goes all out for Christmas, which is perfect for Cassidy since she loves Christmas and is often seen wearing festive sweaters and accessories.

Liam is a life-long Maple Hills resident and one of Zach and Madison’s (from book 1) best friends since childhood. His family runs a farm in town and he recently opened the farm shop across from Cassidy’s chocolate shop. Normally, Liam is fun, friendly, and beloved by the town, but during the holidays he is not at his best because he hates Christmas. And now he has to see Cassidy all the time, which is difficult since he’s attracted to her and she’s the living embodiment of the Christmas spirit. Liam has some tragic memories from Christmastime a few years ago. Coincidentally, Cassidy also has bad memories from Christmas from when she was a young girl, but she has come to embrace and love the holidays despite tragedy.

The two start to become friends, while trying to resist giving into their attraction for one another. Liam doesn’t know if he’s ready to move on and Cassidy made a vow to herself to stay single for a year. But when the two have a playful competition going on against each other in the annual Christmas light competition and they’re trying to find out who is going around town ruining holiday displays, will they be able to keep things platonic?

This was such a cute holiday romance. I loved both Cassidy and Liam. Liam did start to annoy me at times because I felt like any conflict that came up was something that he made up in his head or something that could’ve easily been resolved if he didn’t jump to conclusions or create an issue when there wasn’t one. I guess that makes it realistic since he had some growth to go but still. Even though Liam was being a guy, I guess, I still loved this book and being back in Maple Falls!

Read this if you want a spicy small town holiday romcom with the rivals to lovers trope.

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