Romy switched her gaze from the Labrador to the man standing in front of her, her heart almost leaping out of her chest. ‘Oh, I…er…oh!’ Butterflies started fluttering around her stomach in a frenzy. She’d know those bright blue eyes, the colour of the forget-me-nots, anywhere.
Christmas at Holly Tree Cottage is a heartwarming love story.
It’s Christmas time in Lytell Stangdale! When Romy Stainthorpe sees Holly Tree Cottage staring back at her from the pages of a magazine, she’s sure it’s a sign. The quaint property is situated in Lytell Stangdale, a village in the heart of the North Yorkshire Moors. Her time there is steeped in happy memories of carefree days with the moorland wind blowing through her hair. And not just that, it’s where she had her first kiss and where she first fell in love.
It was her perfect place, where she felt most at home. Until her family’s hasty departure years twenty-one years earlier. Since that day, Romy has never been back, but the cottage has regularly crept into her thoughts. And now it’s available to rent for the festive season…
Could it be the perfect getaway Romy needs to get her life back on track, not to mention escape her friends’ well-meaning attempts at matchmaking since her divorce from Russ?
Local farmer, Finn Tindall is struggling to navigate the first Christmas since his ex-wife took herself and their sons to live in the US. He’s thrown himself into his work at Castlegate Farm and rarely ventures out, unable to face the pitying glances thrown his way. His only company is his loyal black Labrador Ted.
Convinced that fate is talking to her, Romy heads back to a snowy Lytell Stangdale. Once there, she’s thrilled to see the village is looking Christmas card-pretty and has embraced the festive period. The only place where there’s no Christmas cheer is Finn’s heart.
It doesn’t take long before Romy and Finn’s paths cross, setting long-hidden emotions stirring once more. Suddenly Christmas doesn’t seem so gloomy after all.
Could this be the exciting fresh start each of them deserves?
Will Finn and Romy decide their second chance at love is worth fighting for? Or will the obstacles put in their way make them think it’s time to say goodbye?
I love Eliza’s books. They are a beautiful blend of Hallmark cheer with a splash of realism. I was instantly absorbed in this story. Eliza tugged at those heartstrings right from the beginning. You could feel Finn’s pain and sadness leap from the pages when he realized his ex-wife was moving to the States and taking their sons with her. My heart was breaking, and I just wanted to hug this man. I felt invested in his story right away.
Overall, this was a delightful story. It had everything I wanted it to have. There were plenty of fluffy, light, laugh-out-loud, swoony, and dramatic moments. The ending gets really juicy with drama, which had me frantically turning the page to see how everything would turn out. This story is told from Romy and Finn’s POVs, and I enjoyed seeing inside both characters. They are both likeable characters. They are dealing with their own struggles and emotional baggage. I love watching these two reconnect. You just know when two characters are meant to be together, and that was the feeling that I got with Finn and Romy. I really enjoyed these two and loved how their time together helped heal past hurts.
Christmas at Holly Tree Cottage is a sweet second-chance small-town romance with a lovely Christmas twist to it.
Thank you, Rachel Random Resources for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
