- Paperback: 400 pages
- Publisher: Harper (17 Jan 2013)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0007488238
- ISBN-13: 978-0007488230
- Format: Kindle Edition
- File Size: 461 KB
- Print Length: 401 pages
- ASIN: B008NZGJAY
Georgie Hart loves her job--running the luxury handbag concession at Carrington's Department store in the pretty seaside town of Mulberry-on-Sea, and treating herself (once too often!) to a red velvet cupcake with buttercream icing in Carrington's café.
But Georgie is thrown into disarray when Carrington's is plunged into a recession-busting makeover, cueing the arrival of femme fatale Maxine, who wields the axe in her immaculately-manicured hands.
It spells a recipe for disaster for Georgie and soon she is fighting not only for her job, but also for the attentions of her gorgeous boss, James. And when hot newcomer Tom arrives, who may or may not be the best thing since sliced bread, Georgie must decide where her loyalties really lie...
This is how I prepared to read
Cupcakes at Carrington's
...be rude not to!
Valentine's Day sits heavily with Georgie Hart, she has bad memories of being unceremoniously dumped two years previously, shortly after Valentine's Day for another woman, and still has the scars to prove it.
She has been single ever since but fills the void with a job that she loves, at Carrington's department store running the luxury handbag concession store in women's accessories (a job that I would LOVE!) and she is super successful at it, not that she'd mind a date for Valentine's Day too! Not only does Carrington's hold a plethora of happy memories of childhood times with her late mother (especially the cafe which is now run by her best friend, Sam) it also holds the friendships which glue her life together.
There are whispers of huge changes within the store, and they are confirmed with the arrival of femme fatale, Maxine, the super skinny, southern belle with the seductive drawl.
Georgie knows straight away that this woman is bad news for the store, and for her...
To me, the strongest theme running through 'Cupcakes' is the strong friendships that help structure Georgie's life.
Georgie and Sam have been friends forever, they are there for each other through thick and thin, and Sam is always on hand with an uber-delicious red velvet cupcake with buttercream frosting and pink glitter sprinkles when times are tough.
Then there is Georgie's GBF (gay best friend) Eddie, his wit and one-liners which are hilarious and I absolutely loved the way his story panned out.
And there is the loveable Ciaran, always there for a chat and a gossip - normally shared on Twitter!
A big part of the storyline centres around Ciaran and the awful Tina's wedding, never a character will you hate more! I loved every word of the expertly written wedding scenes - they were nail bitingly fabulous!
Nice to see karma hard at work!
There are also some equally great supporting characters such as Alfie (Sam's Dad), he's not a huge part of the story but adds to the strength of the girls' relationship, the lovely old Mrs. Grace and Lauren from accounts.
The pressure is really on for Georgie as she has to battle with her kind (and cute!) boss, James, for sales figures, not only to keep her job but as a much needed boost to her desperate finances, but she knows Cruella DeVile (Maxine) is keeping more eagle eyed tabs on her than either James or Tom.
Ahhh...Tom.
The perfect gentleman. Or is he?
When he arrived at the same time as Maxine to head the Fine Jewellery counter he did more than set a few female pulses racing, none more than Georgie's. But she just can't be sure whose side he is actually on.
Georgie has many secrets and much to hide, including her spiralling debt problems and the strained relationship with her father which holds skeletons of its own, and the secret of her father's past threatens to cast shadows over her job at Carrington's.
I found the ending so clever and rewarding, yes - it does have a great ending, with all loose ends tied up nicely (even though it is a TBC...) but it isn't a 'cut and dry - everything is magically solved' kind of ending, it is something Georgie has to work for which is a refreshing change and sends a positive message out to readers!
I LOVED Cupcakes at Carrington's!! It is funny, very on trend, warm and at times quite a tear jerker. Alexandra Brown has the most fabulous sense of humour which translates directly to the reader. Written in the first person it really is like having a sneek peak into Georgie's diary, which makes for a highly entertaining read, and one I will go back to time after time!
