Book Review: Christmas at Holly Tree Cottage by Eliza J. Scott

I’m so incredibly happy to be welcoming Eliza J Scott back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Christmas at Holly Tree Cottage, the latest in the Life on the Moors series. 

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?

*****

It’s been a few years since Romy has visited the village of Lytell Stangdale -her family’s past has been the main reason for staying away. However, when she sees her old family home being advertised as a holiday let, she decides that it’s maybe time to go back.

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you will know I am a big fan of Eliza J. Scott. Therefore, I was so excited to be invited onto the blog tour for her latest book, Christmas at Holly Tree Cottage.

The cover is so pretty and festive. I love it.

It was so lovely to be back in Lytell Stangdale and to see some familiar faces. It felt like I was visiting family. This time, the story focuses on Romy and Finn.

I wanted to give Romy a big hug. She’s struggling with a lot of family trauma and I feel she would be relatable to many people.

Finn… oh, Finn is just wonderful Finn. He is also dealing with issues that make him feel believable and I wanted both him and Romy to be OK.

The supporting cast is, for the most part, brilliant. I wanted to send one person in particular away. When you read this book, you’ll know what I mean.

The plot offers many twists, turns and revelations and the biggest issue was that I once again had to say goodbye to this village and its residents because the story ended. This novel has enough Christmas feeling to have you smiling and singing Christmas Carols all day long.

Christmas at Holly Tree Cottage (a place I want to live in by the way,) is a warm story full of love, humour and family. It tells us that it’s never too late for second chances and the things you fear may not be as bad as they seem.

If you have a Christmas book list, I really hope you add this novel to it. It’s wonderful.

About Eliza J Scott –

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!

Say hello to Eliza via her Amazon UK page, Amazon US page, her website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Bookbub.

Christmas at Holly Tree Cottage is book nine in the Life on the Moors series and was released in November 2024.  Click to buy on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.