To celebrate Christmas in a place that mattered so much…

Synopsis

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 review

Romy Stainthorpe hasn’t been looking forward to Christmas for a long time. The relationship with her mother isn’t an easy one, all because of events that took place twenty – one years ago. Events that changed Romy and Romy’s vision of family and life in general. Ever since, nothing has been the same for Romy, and more than ever, Romy needs a getaway. And could there be a clearer sign that seeing Holly Tree Cottage in a magazine? The cottage is not just a random cottage, but the cottage that was in her family’s hands until those events many years ago. Yet that cottage holds so many lovely memories, as Holly Tree Cottage in Lytell Stangdale was the only place where Romy truly felt at home. And where she fell in love for the first time too. Seeing that the cottage is available during the holidays, Romy cannot let the perfect opportunity pass. Even if she is terrified of returning to Lytell Stangdale, to be reminded of everything and everyone Romy left behind in a haste, with a not so great reputation of her family. But could it be that the people of Lytell Stangdale are more than excited to have Romy returning where she belongs? And that her crossing paths with her first love and local farmed Finn Tindall would be perfect to let old wounds heal?

I have to admit something terrible… being an avid reader, made me forget about Life on the Moors. But, I also have to say, once I returned, it felt like I never ever left! And I immediately felt, just like Romy, back home.

Sometimes, in books there are sad characters. Characters that have been through a lot in the past, things that have marked them, making the course of their present and future change. And that is exactly what happened to Romy. Because she is a sad character, in the sense that twenty – one years ago, Romy was this young, cheerful, happy woman, and her whole life got disrupted, not by her fault at all, yet scarring her terribly…

I am not a believer of signs, or messages being sent somewhere, somehow. But a sign is exactly what Romy gets, because what could be the odds of her going through exactly that magazine where a picture of Holly Tree Cottage is? So for Romy’s sake and the sake of the story, I was willingly putting my own skepticism aside.

It’s not immediately clear what happened twenty – years ago, what made Romy and her family get away from the cottage and the village and not returning at all, and also causing an even bigger rift between Romy and her mother. So while I was eager to get to know those bits, I was more eager to get to know Romy better.

And despite what happened to Romy in the past, it’s clear that not only the cottage itself, but also Lytell Stangdale is her home, the place where she truly belongs. It warmed my heart to read how easily Romy adapts to the quieter life, how easily everyone welcomes her (back) home. And most important, how there are absolutely no signs of resentment, but only love for Romy. Because that is exactly what Romy needs to feel around her, love.

I liked it to have also the very important flashbacks, making me understand not only Romy better, but also her relationships while staying at the Holly Tree Cottage. We see the depth of the friendships, making is easier to understand the acceptance of Romy’s mistakes of the past, and the love that is still there. But also understanding her relationship with Finn was very enlightening.

Finn, who has also been through many changes, and is still processing everything that is still happening. My heart broke for him, as he is very heartbroken with the move of his lads. He is not only an amazing person, but a very loving and caring parent. He is the kind of father that only wants the best for his children, even if that means breaking his own heart during the process.

As a real romance – lover, I was hoping that Romy and Finn meeting again would ignite that old love again. But while it was lovely to see the pair growing closer again, despite some hurdles, it was just heartwarming to see how smoothly their friendship returns, how easily they understand and comprehend each other and are there for each other.

Romy’s return to the cottage just felt right from the start like Romy’s found her family again. Everyone is happy to see her, making Romy feel happy too, something she hasn’t been feeling for a long time.

In this wonderful, sweet, amazing book, we see how a place that isn’t your actual home, can feel like your home. How it can make you feel where you truly belong and let you heal from all your heartaches. But it’s not only a place that can make you feel like that, it is also the kind, generous, forgiving and ‘hearty’ people that make you feel like the best version of yourself. Eliza J. Scott manages perfectly to make you understand that no matter how heartbroken you are, surrounding yourself with love can ease the most painful aches. And this with people that we as a reader already know, in a beautiful setting AND Christmas. What more can you possible want? 😊