Does love just like the Christmas movies happen in real life too?

Synopsis

Hollywood comes to Roseford, as Christmas wishes really do come true…

The sleepy Somerset village of Roseford is the temporary home for the cast and crew of the latest Christmas movie, and there’s an excitement in the air that can’t be ignored. When Lucy Cameron, the owner of Roseford Café, is asked to fulfil a last-minute catering order on set, she can’t believe her luck.

Lucy’s erstwhile teenage crush, Finn Sanderson, is the star of the film, alongside his glamorous co-star, Montana de Santo, with whom he has been linked on and off the screen, and their sprinkle of stardust around the village is intoxicating.

With Christmas approaching and the snow starting to fall, Lucy’s path keeps crossing with Finn’s, and she starts to get to know the man behind the movie star. As her feelings grow, so too do Lucy’s reservations about even considering becoming involved with someone so well-known. And when Lucy becomes the centre of a social media storm, her fears seem to be justified.

Are happy-ever-afters just the preserve of romantic Christmas movies, or could Lucy and Finn star in their very own, real-life festive love story…

Revel in the perfect country Christmas romance from Fay Keenan, just right for all fans of Julie Houston, Cathy Bramley and Holly Martin.

My review

Lucy Cameron, proud owner of Roseford Café, enjoys living with her daughter in the Somerset village of Roseford.
And when she is asked for a last – minute catering order on the set of the latest Christmas movie, actually filmed in Roseford, Lucy cannot believe her luck.
Especially because the star of the film, Finn Sanderson, is Lucy’s teenage crush. While the world is hoping that Finn and his glamourous co – star Montana de Santo will get together in real life again, Lucy slowly gets to know the man behind all that glitter and glamour. And slowly she starts to fall for that man. But will Lucy’s reservations hold her back to fall completely in love and do happy endings only life in the movies? Or will Lucy and Finn live the perfect love story for real? 

First of all, it was a real joy to return to Roseford. I truly enjoyed the first book in this series so obviously I had to read this book too. While it’s not mandatory having read book one, as this can be perfectly be read as a standalone, why would you skip the chance to fall even more in love with Roseford? 

But back to this book and this story, that made me even love the place even more than before! 

Lucy is a single mother, loving her life. And even if she doesn’t have a man in her life, she doesn’t see this as a missing part.
She loves her Café, she adores her daughter and she is a great friend, and has also great friends. 

I found it refreshing that even if she is divorced from the father of her child, the relationship is still very amicable. Too often when divorced people are depicted in any kind of story, often things didn’t go well, and even turned into a real hostile divorces.
While in this case, both parties realize that it wasn’t working for them but they still care for each other, and look after each other, even when they are on different continents.
But this isn’t about Lucy’s divorce, but  about a total new love interest! 

I think it’s safe to say that everyone has had a teenage crush or dreamed about a movie star and imaging a whole love story around it.
But with growing up, we know that no matter how much we wished as a teenager for that dream to come true, the odds are almost non – existing.
And I love reading stories where the impossible is made possible! 

Finn is just so perfect… even with his imperfections! He may have the perfect looks, but the more we get to know the real Finn, the more I started to fall for him too. He has had his own demons to fight, yet I admired how he was able to turn his life around for the better.
And seeing this kind, gentle man doing a ordinary things, even with some perks of being a star, made me swoon all over the place. 

In this book the author manages to let the readers completely comprehend the struggles both Lucy and Finn are facing.
Suddenly Lucy finds herself being in a media storm, and she is not sure that that is the life she wants to live. She has feelings for Finn, she doesn’t deny them, but how can she live with the fear of never being left in peace? Especially when she also has her daughter to think about…
I could completely comprehend her thoughts, even if I cannot imagine being in that position myself. 

And Finn, he has finally found someone he has fallen in love with, but he quickly realizes that he was in a state of wishful thinking when he thought they would be able to keep their peace.
For someone in the business, it’s easier to live with camera’s pointed at you the whole time, making it also harder to comprehend that such a way of living is not for everyone. 

What made me love this story even more, and perhaps a even a little bit less ( because I think a whole book could have been written about them too), was the other love story. I am not going to give anything away about this one, I want you to discover it yourself but it made me feel even more gooey seeing that romance blossom, showing the reader that loves comes in different shapes and forms. 

If it’s not clear by now that I absolutely adored reading this book, I will make it very clear: I ADORED IT!
The story shows us that love never comes when and how we expect, but with daring to take that step, daring to give it a chance, daring to open up, and with a swoon – worthy grand gesture, you can get the most wonderful love story of your life.
And in a wonderful setting as Roseford, who needs a Christmas movie when you can have it all in this marvellous tale?