This book follows the journey of Connie, a single mum, and her elderly friends to Germany to meet with a date.

Connie is hesitant about online dating after a few unforgettable disasters and decides to follow a check-list of potential partner must-haves so as to avoid any mistakes. Baker Henrich ticks all the boxes, but when Connie meets Henrich's rival William, she starts to wonder if ticking boxes is the answer.

This is a heartwarming story with such lovable characters. You can easily lose yourself in Connie’s journey and learn a lot of lessons about life. Sometimes everything that seems perfect might not actually be real and honest.

Life isn’t all about ticking the right boxes, it’s also about the unexpected events that we are unprepared for, which makes the journey more fun and worthwhile.

The description of the Christmas markets, twinkling lights, hot chocolate, the gingerbread and cakes, are all the elements to make it a great festive read.

Thank You to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for this ARC! ( )

Jo Thomas is an author I know I can rely on. I can pick up one of her books without knowing too much about it with the confidence that I will love it, and that it will have her particular blend of romance and travel combined.

Finding Love at the Christmas Market is a gorgeous wintery and very festive read. As the story begins, Connie is about to drive a group of pensioners from the care home she provides meals for, to visit a Christmas market in a small town in Germany. She's also going to meet Heinrich, the man she's been talking with online. It's clear that everyone is a bit down. Christmas is coming and nobody seems very pleased about it.

In the midst of the atmospheric market setting, everybody starts to grow and find out what they really want from life. Is Heinrich right for Connie? Why does she seem drawn to William and his little bakery? Arguably, the biggest transformation happens to Pearl and the others from the home, who have become too used to sitting alone in their rooms which has made them very lonely.

This is such a beautiful story. Jo Thomas has captured hopes and dreams and poured them into the pages of this book. I must admit to a few tears as Connie helped the residents to achieve their wishes, and I just hoped she would be able to do the same for herself.

As always, the author has absolutely brought the setting to life. Everything from the little alleyway from which Connie peeps as she's waiting for her first meeting with Heinrich, to William's shop with its dusting of icing sugar, the smell of the hot chocolate and gingerbread in the air, the sound of skates on the ice rink, (I could go on!) jumps out almost in 3D. This really is a magical tale full of warmth, friendship, camaraderie, baking and love. As usual when I've read a Jo Thomas book, I want to visit a German Christmas market now!

Finding Love at the Christmas Market is a glorious, romantic, foodie Christmassy delight and definitely one of my favourites by this author. ( )

A wonderful festive story with some fantastic characters played out in a fabulous setting. I know it’s a little early to be thinking of Christmas (it is in my opinion!), but if you’re in the mood for a seasonal, fun and heartwarming read with a winter wonderland sprinkling of romance, you could do no better than go on a merry journey, making memories, with Connie and her ‘posse of pensioners to the German Christmas market. Don’t forget to consume plenty of gingerbread, hot chocolate and gluhwein along the way! Loved it! ( )