I am delighted to read another in Eliza J Scott’s Life On The Moors series, Christmas at Holly Tree Cottage. This festive read is perfect for this time of year.
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 LytellStangdale. 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?
Why not take a trip to festive Lytell Stangdale where a warm
welcome awaits and happy-ever-afters are guaranteed?
My Thoughts
This is one of my favourite series, so I was delighted to see that there is another in the series and with a festive feel as well! Romy finds herself back where she was brought up in the Dales, but the reasons for her departure and repercussions from her childhood come back to haunt her. Holly Tree Cottage may have gone through a makeover, but she can still recognise it as the place she loved so much.
If you have read earlier books in the series, you will recognise many of the characters. There is a lovely community in Lytell Stangdale who all welcome Romy back into their friendship groups. Finn’s family in particular are thrilled to see her which is such a contrast to her relationship with her own mother. Meeting again as adults, Romy and Finn realise that they both have baggage from the past but seem ready for some new starts. With drifts of snow and warm welcoming firesides, this is a delightful book to add to your festive reading.
In short: old friends and new beginnings
About the Author
Eliza J Scott lives in North Yorkshire with her family and
has wanted to be a writer as far back as she can remember. She is inspired by
her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heartwarming stories based on
romance and friendship with a generous dollop of community spirit and a hint of
humour. She has written and self-published ten novels and has been an Amazon UK
Kindle bestseller.
When she’s not writing, Eliza can usually be found with her
nose in a book or working in her garden doing a spot of plot wrangling (of the
writing variety), and battling against the weeds. The weeds, unfortunately, are
currently winning but Eliza is undeterred. Roses are amongst her favourite
flowers and she doesn’t need much of an excuse to visit a plant centre where a
new rose always seems to mysteriously find its way onto her trolley much to her
husband’s astonishment.
Eliza also enjoys having a catch-up with friends over tea
and cake, as well as bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off by a visit
to a teashop – for yet more tea and cake!
Thanks to Eliza J Scott, and Rachel of Rachel’s Random
Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
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