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The Travelling Shops #3
Flora's Travelling Christmas Shop
‘Tis the season for mulled wine, mince pies, and magic under the mistletoe…
Flora loves Christmas more than anything else in the world, so she’s gutted when her Scrooge-alike boss fires her from Deck the Halls Christmas emporium. But now she finally has a chance to follow her dreams – and what better place to start than the home of Christmas?
Before she can say ‘sleigh bells’, Flora’s on her way to Lapland in a campervan-cum-Christmas-shop. She can’t wait to spend her days drinking hot chocolate and taking reindeer-drawn carriage rides, but something Flora didn’t expect was meeting Connor, a Norse god of a man who makes her heart flutter and snowflakes swirl in her stomach. There’s just one problem: Connor hates Christmas.
Can Flora convince Connor of the joys of Christmas – and will she find a festive romance along the way?
The perfect Christmas romance for fans of Debbie Johnson, Holly Martin and Jenny Colgan.
Flora loves Christmas more than anything else in the world, so she’s gutted when her Scrooge-alike boss fires her from Deck the Halls Christmas emporium. But now she finally has a chance to follow her dreams – and what better place to start than the home of Christmas?
Before she can say ‘sleigh bells’, Flora’s on her way to Lapland in a campervan-cum-Christmas-shop. She can’t wait to spend her days drinking hot chocolate and taking reindeer-drawn carriage rides, but something Flora didn’t expect was meeting Connor, a Norse god of a man who makes her heart flutter and snowflakes swirl in her stomach. There’s just one problem: Connor hates Christmas.
Can Flora convince Connor of the joys of Christmas – and will she find a festive romance along the way?
The perfect Christmas romance for fans of Debbie Johnson, Holly Martin and Jenny Colgan.
304 pages, Paperback
First published October 28, 2021
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November 22, 2022
Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop by Rebecca Raisin is a 2022 HQ Digital publication.
If it weren’t for bad luck, Flora would have no luck at all. After yet another break-up, another lost job, and with her best friend moving away, Flora is urged to start her own Christmas themed business, living ‘the van life’.
It’s a great idea! She could be her own boss- so she couldn’t get fired, right? So, she heads off to Lapland with big plans to follow the Hallmark Movie guidelines, hoping she’ll not only be a great businesswoman, but will find true love, too…
Flora’s love of all things Christmas could give Buddy the Elf a run for his money, but she runs into big trouble when she meets Connor. She’s more than a little attracted to the man, but there’s this one teeny, tiny hitch…
Connor despises Christmas!
I wasn’t sure, when I started reading this book, if I was going to be able to withstand Flora’s OTT obsession with Christmas, and her strong personality. She was a little annoying, to be honest, especially for a quiet introvert.
But then we meet Connor, and I knew right then we were going to have a fantastic ‘opposites attract’ romance, and that it was going to be worth sticking around for. Not only that, but I’ve also loved this author for years, and I couldn’t imagine not being charmed by one of her books- especially one with a Christmas theme!
As it turns out, there is no better setting for a holiday story than Lapland!! If your holiday spirit needs a boost, then this book will absolutely do the trick. This an adorable holiday romance, and Rebecca Raisin did a fabulous job of creating holiday magic powerful enough that even nonbelievers can't resist it.
Overall, I ended up loving this story, and the homage to Hallmark Christmas movies, was a nice touch, too!
This is my first official Christmas romance of 2022 and I’d say this was the perfect book to kick off the holiday reading season!
4 stars
If it weren’t for bad luck, Flora would have no luck at all. After yet another break-up, another lost job, and with her best friend moving away, Flora is urged to start her own Christmas themed business, living ‘the van life’.
It’s a great idea! She could be her own boss- so she couldn’t get fired, right? So, she heads off to Lapland with big plans to follow the Hallmark Movie guidelines, hoping she’ll not only be a great businesswoman, but will find true love, too…
Flora’s love of all things Christmas could give Buddy the Elf a run for his money, but she runs into big trouble when she meets Connor. She’s more than a little attracted to the man, but there’s this one teeny, tiny hitch…
Connor despises Christmas!
I wasn’t sure, when I started reading this book, if I was going to be able to withstand Flora’s OTT obsession with Christmas, and her strong personality. She was a little annoying, to be honest, especially for a quiet introvert.
But then we meet Connor, and I knew right then we were going to have a fantastic ‘opposites attract’ romance, and that it was going to be worth sticking around for. Not only that, but I’ve also loved this author for years, and I couldn’t imagine not being charmed by one of her books- especially one with a Christmas theme!
As it turns out, there is no better setting for a holiday story than Lapland!! If your holiday spirit needs a boost, then this book will absolutely do the trick. This an adorable holiday romance, and Rebecca Raisin did a fabulous job of creating holiday magic powerful enough that even nonbelievers can't resist it.
Overall, I ended up loving this story, and the homage to Hallmark Christmas movies, was a nice touch, too!
This is my first official Christmas romance of 2022 and I’d say this was the perfect book to kick off the holiday reading season!
4 stars
October 8, 2021
I've been absolutely loving Rebecca Raisin's books featuring Van Lifers, so when I spotted this latest book, featuring a travelling Christmas shop, I knew I would fall in love with it fast.
And that would be the understatement of the year, it's the most wonderful time of the year, and the book epitomises that feeling.
I'm also a sucker for a Hallmark Christmas movie, so absolutely adored Flora's best friend Livvie, persuading Flora to live her life as though it was a real life Hallmark movie, and with every scenario that comes up in Lapland, they manage to liken it to various Hallmark tropes and plot points - which I thought was so clever and I found myself loving their conversations.
Plus it's a great philosophy to live your life by, and Flora is a wonderful leading lady. She has a tendency to speak before she thinks, which leaves her to struggle to hold down a job, but she loves all things Christmas and has always wanted to visit Lapland, so when it's suggested she becomes her own boss and perhaps create a pop up Christmas shop, she takes it one step further and finally gets to Lapland.
And I just loved everything about the massive Christmas spectacular market she becomes a part of, I could picture it so clearly and would have loved to jump on plane to join all of the characters there.
And our love interest in a rules loving, bit of a Grinch, who just happens to be the manager of the market, and has a funny and memorable meet cute with Flora.
I just loved the the interactions between Connor and Flora, they continually made me smile.
Well the whole book really made me smile, and feel rather festive. I'm starting to think I'd love to live in a van and sell things and travel continually (but I don't drive, and think I'd feel claustrophobic rather fast). I definitely need to add Lapland onto my bucket list, so many fabulous activities are mentioned that I would love to experience.
It's another fabulous book from one of my favourite authors, and definitely a top festive read for this year!
Thank you to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
And that would be the understatement of the year, it's the most wonderful time of the year, and the book epitomises that feeling.
I'm also a sucker for a Hallmark Christmas movie, so absolutely adored Flora's best friend Livvie, persuading Flora to live her life as though it was a real life Hallmark movie, and with every scenario that comes up in Lapland, they manage to liken it to various Hallmark tropes and plot points - which I thought was so clever and I found myself loving their conversations.
Plus it's a great philosophy to live your life by, and Flora is a wonderful leading lady. She has a tendency to speak before she thinks, which leaves her to struggle to hold down a job, but she loves all things Christmas and has always wanted to visit Lapland, so when it's suggested she becomes her own boss and perhaps create a pop up Christmas shop, she takes it one step further and finally gets to Lapland.
And I just loved everything about the massive Christmas spectacular market she becomes a part of, I could picture it so clearly and would have loved to jump on plane to join all of the characters there.
And our love interest in a rules loving, bit of a Grinch, who just happens to be the manager of the market, and has a funny and memorable meet cute with Flora.
I just loved the the interactions between Connor and Flora, they continually made me smile.
Well the whole book really made me smile, and feel rather festive. I'm starting to think I'd love to live in a van and sell things and travel continually (but I don't drive, and think I'd feel claustrophobic rather fast). I definitely need to add Lapland onto my bucket list, so many fabulous activities are mentioned that I would love to experience.
It's another fabulous book from one of my favourite authors, and definitely a top festive read for this year!
Thank you to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
October 29, 2021
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
No one could love Christmas more than Flora. If she could spend all year being in festive cheer she would. She even wears festive clothes, has shoes with reindeer on them, and has her dream job working at Deck the Halls Christmas emporium.
That is until everything starts to go wrong for her. Her best friend and roommate announces she is off to America and she is fired from her job for being too kind. Depressed about what to do next, her friend gives her the idea to start her own Christmas shop from a van, but Flora takes it to the extreme and decides that is a great idea but she is going to open her van store in Lapland, the home of Christmas.
If you love Christmas and festive reads you are going to love this book. It screams Christmas the whole way through and I’ve never met anyone who loves the festive season anywhere near as much as Flora does, thank goodness. I like Christmas from 1st December-25th December, then I’m happy not to hear it mentioned for another twelve months.
The book is joyful, the characters adorable, and as it is mentioned once or twice in the book, that Flora’s life could pass for a Hallmark movie, as she goes on an adventure to a place she has never been before and meets a real hunk who she is at loggerheads with from the minute they meet, one who hates Christmas.
Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop will put a smile on your face, especially at all the witty moments. It will leave you feeling warm and happy inside. It is a book to read when you need a pick-me-up or to get you festive ready. So sit by your twinkling tree and float off to freezing cold Lapland with Flora and her van.
No one could love Christmas more than Flora. If she could spend all year being in festive cheer she would. She even wears festive clothes, has shoes with reindeer on them, and has her dream job working at Deck the Halls Christmas emporium.
That is until everything starts to go wrong for her. Her best friend and roommate announces she is off to America and she is fired from her job for being too kind. Depressed about what to do next, her friend gives her the idea to start her own Christmas shop from a van, but Flora takes it to the extreme and decides that is a great idea but she is going to open her van store in Lapland, the home of Christmas.
If you love Christmas and festive reads you are going to love this book. It screams Christmas the whole way through and I’ve never met anyone who loves the festive season anywhere near as much as Flora does, thank goodness. I like Christmas from 1st December-25th December, then I’m happy not to hear it mentioned for another twelve months.
The book is joyful, the characters adorable, and as it is mentioned once or twice in the book, that Flora’s life could pass for a Hallmark movie, as she goes on an adventure to a place she has never been before and meets a real hunk who she is at loggerheads with from the minute they meet, one who hates Christmas.
Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop will put a smile on your face, especially at all the witty moments. It will leave you feeling warm and happy inside. It is a book to read when you need a pick-me-up or to get you festive ready. So sit by your twinkling tree and float off to freezing cold Lapland with Flora and her van.
November 18, 2023
Still enjoying my Christmas reading binge, I discovered this quirky, funny, and sweet story about Flora and her journey into a whole new world. The book is woefully brief and inadequate but does introduce the primary storyline. What it doesn’t say is that along with getting fired from her dream job at a Christmas store for being kind to a child whose mother just died, Flora also gets dumped from her latest boyfriend for her love of all that is Christmas.
She also learns that BFF and roommate, Livvie, is expanding her skin care business into the US and is going to LA. So, being jobless, homeless (she lives rent free at Livvie’s) and boyfriend less, Flora decides to move to Lapland Finland to live the travelling van lifestyle and sell Christmas decorations and gifts. In Lapland, Flora quickly immerses herself into the van lifestyle by living in a van life community. Kind of like those tiny house communities and lifestyles. Unfortunately, the van life community doesn’t take to her very well, especially the community manager, Connor, who after two unpleasant occurrences, finds her annoying, quarrelsome, and just a little scary. Connor is a 6ft+, Norse God (Flora’s words, not mine) with an Irish accent and a hatred for all that is Christmas.
Most of the story is all about Flora assimilating to the van life and community, convincing Connor that the magic of Christmas is real, and trying to convince herself that Connor is and/or is not the perfect man. There was one passage where they are deciding on the perfect Christmas movie. For Flora, it’s the Will Ferrell Elf movie and for Connor it’s Die Hard 1. LMAO!!! Hubby and I have a similar disagreement every year when we have a Christmas movie night. Hubby is big of White Christmas/It’s Wonderful Life/Miracle on 34th Street fan and I’m more the Die Hard 1/Bad Santa/Scrooged fan. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy sweet, family movies though – I do. I just need to be in the mood for it. Anyway, the ending had me totally cracking up!
I’m having mixed feelings about this story, the MC, Flora, as well as my rating of the story. Flora’s snarky attitude, antics and shenanigans were amusing and entertaining and had me cracking up at times, especially the ending. However, I found her, as well as Livvie’s, obsession of turning Flora’s trip/adventure into a Hallmark Christmas romance story (literally) a bit tiresome. Throughout the whole book, they kept deliberating on how everything that was happening was in accordance with the perfect Hallmark Christmas romance blueprint. Good grief!!! While I too, occasionally, enjoy a good Hallmark Christmas romance story, this was a bit much for me at times. I guess if I could give it 3.5stars, I would. Up until this very moment, I hemmed and hawed about whether or not I would round up or down.
She also learns that BFF and roommate, Livvie, is expanding her skin care business into the US and is going to LA. So, being jobless, homeless (she lives rent free at Livvie’s) and boyfriend less, Flora decides to move to Lapland Finland to live the travelling van lifestyle and sell Christmas decorations and gifts. In Lapland, Flora quickly immerses herself into the van lifestyle by living in a van life community. Kind of like those tiny house communities and lifestyles. Unfortunately, the van life community doesn’t take to her very well, especially the community manager, Connor, who after two unpleasant occurrences, finds her annoying, quarrelsome, and just a little scary. Connor is a 6ft+, Norse God (Flora’s words, not mine) with an Irish accent and a hatred for all that is Christmas.
Most of the story is all about Flora assimilating to the van life and community, convincing Connor that the magic of Christmas is real, and trying to convince herself that Connor is and/or is not the perfect man. There was one passage where they are deciding on the perfect Christmas movie. For Flora, it’s the Will Ferrell Elf movie and for Connor it’s Die Hard 1. LMAO!!! Hubby and I have a similar disagreement every year when we have a Christmas movie night. Hubby is big of White Christmas/It’s Wonderful Life/Miracle on 34th Street fan and I’m more the Die Hard 1/Bad Santa/Scrooged fan. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy sweet, family movies though – I do. I just need to be in the mood for it. Anyway, the ending had me totally cracking up!
I’m having mixed feelings about this story, the MC, Flora, as well as my rating of the story. Flora’s snarky attitude, antics and shenanigans were amusing and entertaining and had me cracking up at times, especially the ending. However, I found her, as well as Livvie’s, obsession of turning Flora’s trip/adventure into a Hallmark Christmas romance story (literally) a bit tiresome. Throughout the whole book, they kept deliberating on how everything that was happening was in accordance with the perfect Hallmark Christmas romance blueprint. Good grief!!! While I too, occasionally, enjoy a good Hallmark Christmas romance story, this was a bit much for me at times. I guess if I could give it 3.5stars, I would. Up until this very moment, I hemmed and hawed about whether or not I would round up or down.
November 28, 2022
They say bad things come in threes, right? Well then, Flora’s due for some ‘goodness’ coming her way right about now.
Flora Westwood has just become hopelessly single, soon-to-be homeless and now jobless within days of each other! There’s something else you should know about Flora - she’s Christmas obsessed. In fact, if she “could live like it’s Christmas all year round, then [she] would!” It’s this very fact that is her saving grace.
Looking for a festive read? A quick read that will ignite the joy of Christmas? Let Rebecca Raisin steep you in the sights and smells of the holiday season as she writes to remind us of the importance of finding our tribe, of holding out for what we deserve, and of keeping the magic within us alive. Her in depth exploration of what it means to be a late bloomer will touch your heart.
“Late bloomers know instinctively they have to wait for the magic to happen. And a magical life takes time. You can’t rush magic now, can you? So you let nature take its course and ignore those who try to dull your sparkle.”
We could all do with a Nan sharing advice such as this, couldn’t we?!
It’s thanks to all the years of tutelage in Nan’s kitchen that Flora digs deep and learns to appreciate what makes ‘Festive Flora’ unique - a palpable merriness that radiates from her and a contagious excitement that she shares with everyone she meets.
You’ll need to read about how she trades in all her disappointments for a Christmas van shop and joins the Van Life movement.
I especially loved (1) Flora’s friend’s advice that ‘no change can happen without some sacrifice; this is the bridge to Van Life, and you have to cross it.” and (2) “Operation-Make-Him-Believe.”
I’m thankful I’ve found “someone who makes [me] feel like it’s Christmas every day” and “someone who finds joy in the simple things.” I hope you have, too.
This is the third book in the Travelling Shops series and it can be read as a stand-alone. Rebecca Raisin has captured the essence of Christmas in this wonderful and festive read.
Flora Westwood has just become hopelessly single, soon-to-be homeless and now jobless within days of each other! There’s something else you should know about Flora - she’s Christmas obsessed. In fact, if she “could live like it’s Christmas all year round, then [she] would!” It’s this very fact that is her saving grace.
Looking for a festive read? A quick read that will ignite the joy of Christmas? Let Rebecca Raisin steep you in the sights and smells of the holiday season as she writes to remind us of the importance of finding our tribe, of holding out for what we deserve, and of keeping the magic within us alive. Her in depth exploration of what it means to be a late bloomer will touch your heart.
“Late bloomers know instinctively they have to wait for the magic to happen. And a magical life takes time. You can’t rush magic now, can you? So you let nature take its course and ignore those who try to dull your sparkle.”
We could all do with a Nan sharing advice such as this, couldn’t we?!
It’s thanks to all the years of tutelage in Nan’s kitchen that Flora digs deep and learns to appreciate what makes ‘Festive Flora’ unique - a palpable merriness that radiates from her and a contagious excitement that she shares with everyone she meets.
You’ll need to read about how she trades in all her disappointments for a Christmas van shop and joins the Van Life movement.
I especially loved (1) Flora’s friend’s advice that ‘no change can happen without some sacrifice; this is the bridge to Van Life, and you have to cross it.” and (2) “Operation-Make-Him-Believe.”
I’m thankful I’ve found “someone who makes [me] feel like it’s Christmas every day” and “someone who finds joy in the simple things.” I hope you have, too.
This is the third book in the Travelling Shops series and it can be read as a stand-alone. Rebecca Raisin has captured the essence of Christmas in this wonderful and festive read.
October 28, 2021
so CUTE, sunshine x grumpy grump
it’s giving santa x grinch fanfiction and i love that, this is the exact premise of a hallmark film i’m sure
someone contact vanessa hudgens or lucy hale this is something they’d be in film wise
it’s giving santa x grinch fanfiction and i love that, this is the exact premise of a hallmark film i’m sure
someone contact vanessa hudgens or lucy hale this is something they’d be in film wise
December 26, 2021
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
It’s time to spread some Christmas joy thanks to Rebecca Raisin’s latest yuletide treat, Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop. Full of merriment, joy, wonder and plenty of laughs, Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop is the perfect read this holiday season!
Rebecca Raisin’s latest festive treat sees title character Flora at a loss when she is terminated from her position at the Deck the Halls Christmas Emporium. But this loss proves to be a blessing in disguise, as it finally allows Flora to follow her dreams and embark upon an exciting new adventure! So, Flora packs her bags and she set off on a road trip to Lapland in a campervan which she has transformed into a Christmas shop. Flora is excited about her new business venture and she can’t wait to explore the delights of icy Lapland. The tides change for Flora when she encounters a handsome man named Connor and the attraction Flora feels towards this man is immediate, but there is one major obstacle standing in the way of this possible relationship. Connor dislikes Christmas with a passion! Will this holiday romance flourish or fizzle?
A most chipper read from the opening page to the final paragraph, Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop is the perfect story to carry you through the holiday season. I’ve enjoyed a number of books in the past by Rebecca Raisin, so I was looking forward to delving headfirst into this jovial Christmas inspired tale. As I expected, Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop delivered on all fronts. It was a joy to spend time with this book over the festive period.
A contemporary romance with a yuletide twist, Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop was a fun, witty, engaging and warm hearted tale. Lead character Flora was a humorous and likeable main protagonist. I really enjoyed following Flora’s remarkable Christmas journey. Raisin adds a great initial complication to Flora’s life, which serves to immediately hook the reader into this appealing woman’s Christmas adventure. I was interested to see how Flora would overcome her employment troubles and if her crazy business idea (I loved this set up) to travel to Lapland in a campervan come Christmas shop would take off. With plenty of mishaps, problems to overcome and cultural/language barriers to keep things interesting, Rebecca Raisin’s 2021 holiday tale offered plenty of Christmas cheer.
Raisin successfully brings her setting base to life, thanks to her authentic and colourful descriptions of Lapland. With an emphasis on the unique cultural community of this northern hemisphere locale, it is easy to imagine oneself experiencing the sights of this must-see destination. I know this tale made me crave a visit to this dream-like locale one day in the future. With travel an impossibility right now, I thoroughly appreciated living my life vicariously through lead character Flora on her risky Lapland undertaking.
There are plenty of amusing characters added to the mix in Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop. Each adds spice and flavour to this bright tale. Raisin populates her novel with some memorable cast, both secondary and primary. I loved getting to know these figures and my heart went out to dashing lead Connor. Raisin is a confident writer in the romance department and Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop displays her prowess in this genre thanks to her festive love story. After a few chuckles and some very enjoyable Christmas feel good moments, it was a little sad to leave this one for a family celebration!
If you are still embarking on a round of holiday reading, I can recommend Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop.
Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop is book #108 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge
It’s time to spread some Christmas joy thanks to Rebecca Raisin’s latest yuletide treat, Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop. Full of merriment, joy, wonder and plenty of laughs, Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop is the perfect read this holiday season!
Rebecca Raisin’s latest festive treat sees title character Flora at a loss when she is terminated from her position at the Deck the Halls Christmas Emporium. But this loss proves to be a blessing in disguise, as it finally allows Flora to follow her dreams and embark upon an exciting new adventure! So, Flora packs her bags and she set off on a road trip to Lapland in a campervan which she has transformed into a Christmas shop. Flora is excited about her new business venture and she can’t wait to explore the delights of icy Lapland. The tides change for Flora when she encounters a handsome man named Connor and the attraction Flora feels towards this man is immediate, but there is one major obstacle standing in the way of this possible relationship. Connor dislikes Christmas with a passion! Will this holiday romance flourish or fizzle?
A most chipper read from the opening page to the final paragraph, Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop is the perfect story to carry you through the holiday season. I’ve enjoyed a number of books in the past by Rebecca Raisin, so I was looking forward to delving headfirst into this jovial Christmas inspired tale. As I expected, Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop delivered on all fronts. It was a joy to spend time with this book over the festive period.
A contemporary romance with a yuletide twist, Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop was a fun, witty, engaging and warm hearted tale. Lead character Flora was a humorous and likeable main protagonist. I really enjoyed following Flora’s remarkable Christmas journey. Raisin adds a great initial complication to Flora’s life, which serves to immediately hook the reader into this appealing woman’s Christmas adventure. I was interested to see how Flora would overcome her employment troubles and if her crazy business idea (I loved this set up) to travel to Lapland in a campervan come Christmas shop would take off. With plenty of mishaps, problems to overcome and cultural/language barriers to keep things interesting, Rebecca Raisin’s 2021 holiday tale offered plenty of Christmas cheer.
Raisin successfully brings her setting base to life, thanks to her authentic and colourful descriptions of Lapland. With an emphasis on the unique cultural community of this northern hemisphere locale, it is easy to imagine oneself experiencing the sights of this must-see destination. I know this tale made me crave a visit to this dream-like locale one day in the future. With travel an impossibility right now, I thoroughly appreciated living my life vicariously through lead character Flora on her risky Lapland undertaking.
There are plenty of amusing characters added to the mix in Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop. Each adds spice and flavour to this bright tale. Raisin populates her novel with some memorable cast, both secondary and primary. I loved getting to know these figures and my heart went out to dashing lead Connor. Raisin is a confident writer in the romance department and Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop displays her prowess in this genre thanks to her festive love story. After a few chuckles and some very enjoyable Christmas feel good moments, it was a little sad to leave this one for a family celebration!
If you are still embarking on a round of holiday reading, I can recommend Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop.
Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop is book #108 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge
December 15, 2021
I found this book a bit disappointing. Even though it is full of Christmas cheer and follows the conventions of a Hallmark Christmas film, I found the protagonist irritating and the travelling a bit lacking.
Yes, you have got to approach this book with the expectation that the story is predictable. However, I think this adds to the charm of the story and Raisin creates a narrative that is both warm and inviting. Single, jobless and imminently homeless, Flora takes it upon herself to travel to Lapland and sell Christmas wares at the local market. From buying a van to make her life nomadic, Flora’s journey is full of adventures as she encounters many faces along the way. To be honest, I found most of the supporting characters more interesting and delightful than Flora herself, who has a massive tendency to witter on with lengthy thoughts that over-analyse everything as she gets carried away with even the simplest of tasks.
When Flora eventually arrives at the Christmas market, she meets friends and enemies: some of the traders want to make it difficult for Flora, including the dishy manager, Connor. It takes Flora’s determination and warmth to succeed and I loved watching how she charms even the Scroogiest of characters to believe in Christmas. This was definitely an appealing part of the narrative.
Combined with Flora’s incessant chat, I also found the lack of travelling to be disappointing. Once Flora has arrived at Lapland, there is no more travelling. Even though she is living out of her van, the most travelling she does is in the local area. Raisin vividly describes the setting, including the beautiful Northern Lights, but I think I was expecting Flora to set up shop in lots of different locations, rather than this single market. I think this would have added more variety to the plot and piqued my interest in this Christmas read.
True, Flora’s warmth is catching and I enjoyed watching her at the market. Once I got beyond her long dialogues, I was entertained by the lengths she was prepared to go to ensure Connor enjoyed Christmas. I found I was not convinced by their eventual relationship, maybe because the build-up felt mostly absent in the story. He is a pleasant character, but I thought a little obvious and predictable in his actions.
This is a sweet story and great for Christmas. It is quite formulaic so I think this will appeal… especially if you are after a Christmas read that you can dip in and out of during the festive rush! For me, I was hoping for a bit more travel, less chat and a more unpredictable plot.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Yes, you have got to approach this book with the expectation that the story is predictable. However, I think this adds to the charm of the story and Raisin creates a narrative that is both warm and inviting. Single, jobless and imminently homeless, Flora takes it upon herself to travel to Lapland and sell Christmas wares at the local market. From buying a van to make her life nomadic, Flora’s journey is full of adventures as she encounters many faces along the way. To be honest, I found most of the supporting characters more interesting and delightful than Flora herself, who has a massive tendency to witter on with lengthy thoughts that over-analyse everything as she gets carried away with even the simplest of tasks.
When Flora eventually arrives at the Christmas market, she meets friends and enemies: some of the traders want to make it difficult for Flora, including the dishy manager, Connor. It takes Flora’s determination and warmth to succeed and I loved watching how she charms even the Scroogiest of characters to believe in Christmas. This was definitely an appealing part of the narrative.
Combined with Flora’s incessant chat, I also found the lack of travelling to be disappointing. Once Flora has arrived at Lapland, there is no more travelling. Even though she is living out of her van, the most travelling she does is in the local area. Raisin vividly describes the setting, including the beautiful Northern Lights, but I think I was expecting Flora to set up shop in lots of different locations, rather than this single market. I think this would have added more variety to the plot and piqued my interest in this Christmas read.
True, Flora’s warmth is catching and I enjoyed watching her at the market. Once I got beyond her long dialogues, I was entertained by the lengths she was prepared to go to ensure Connor enjoyed Christmas. I found I was not convinced by their eventual relationship, maybe because the build-up felt mostly absent in the story. He is a pleasant character, but I thought a little obvious and predictable in his actions.
This is a sweet story and great for Christmas. It is quite formulaic so I think this will appeal… especially if you are after a Christmas read that you can dip in and out of during the festive rush! For me, I was hoping for a bit more travel, less chat and a more unpredictable plot.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2021
I just couldn’t enjoy this one. Flora was whiny and dim witted. After all this time ruining food and baked goods why not at least try to learn how to cook something basic without poisoning your guests? It’s not cute Flora. Neither is driving around in the arctic wearing Christmas onesies. They are not warm.
The romance was not believable at all. I’m not sure how someone so eco conscious like Connor could be expected to fall for a vendor of cheap Christmas baubles. Makes no sense. Also for someone who loves Christmas so much Flora should know that Die Hard is certainly a Christmas film.
One of the things that struck me odd about this book set in Finland is how everyone everywhere that Flora encounters speaks perfect slang filled English. Even the kids at the hospital. Just seems a bit odd to me. I get that these escapist romances take place in other countries but they usually explain the language barrier, of which Flora seemed to have none
The most infuriating part of the book was Flora telling Connor that god wouldn’t have given him broad shoulders if it wasn’t for carrying his future children around. Yes she said that. How unbelievably tacky.
The romance was not believable at all. I’m not sure how someone so eco conscious like Connor could be expected to fall for a vendor of cheap Christmas baubles. Makes no sense. Also for someone who loves Christmas so much Flora should know that Die Hard is certainly a Christmas film.
One of the things that struck me odd about this book set in Finland is how everyone everywhere that Flora encounters speaks perfect slang filled English. Even the kids at the hospital. Just seems a bit odd to me. I get that these escapist romances take place in other countries but they usually explain the language barrier, of which Flora seemed to have none
The most infuriating part of the book was Flora telling Connor that god wouldn’t have given him broad shoulders if it wasn’t for carrying his future children around. Yes she said that. How unbelievably tacky.
October 27, 2022
Flora likes everything Christmas from the sparkly baubles, onsies, and quizzing people on Santa's reindeer. Who doesn't want to rock a Christmas onsie while driving on a long road trip!
I really liked Flora’s quirky personality and van life seemed to be a great fit for her. She definitely made a life altering change in packing up her life in the UK to set up a van Christmas shop in Lapland. When down on luck for romance and jobs, why not make a crazy change.
Of course like many other romances, enter tall handsome eco-loving Conner that is definitely not in the Christmas spirt and likes following the rules (no giant Gingerbread houses allowed). Flora trying to get Connor into the Christmas spirit leads to some pretty funny moments and romance. He was definitely a bit of a wounded bird that didn't want to let people in, including Flora.
I loved the setting and quirkiness of this book. I liked that it made fun of typical Hallmark movie romances, but the mention of that was a little bit much at times. Some more movie references could have been added instead ("Mean Girls" and "Elf" were good references used).
After reading some pretty dark/heavy books, this was the perfect light, fun, and cozy holiday book that I needed!
Thank you to Harper Collins for providing me a copy of this book for my honest review.
I really liked Flora’s quirky personality and van life seemed to be a great fit for her. She definitely made a life altering change in packing up her life in the UK to set up a van Christmas shop in Lapland. When down on luck for romance and jobs, why not make a crazy change.
Of course like many other romances, enter tall handsome eco-loving Conner that is definitely not in the Christmas spirt and likes following the rules (no giant Gingerbread houses allowed). Flora trying to get Connor into the Christmas spirit leads to some pretty funny moments and romance. He was definitely a bit of a wounded bird that didn't want to let people in, including Flora.
I loved the setting and quirkiness of this book. I liked that it made fun of typical Hallmark movie romances, but the mention of that was a little bit much at times. Some more movie references could have been added instead ("Mean Girls" and "Elf" were good references used).
After reading some pretty dark/heavy books, this was the perfect light, fun, and cozy holiday book that I needed!
Thank you to Harper Collins for providing me a copy of this book for my honest review.
November 10, 2021
Review
If I ever win the lottery, I'm buying a campervan that I can enjoy with my boys because that is what Rebecca does to me everytime I read one of her travelling stories. I've got the other two books in this series but they are complete standalone books.
I loved Flora. I consider myself to be Mrs Christmas' sidekick so I instantly warmed to Flora and her love for the festive season.
I devoured this book within 24 hours, it made me feel warm, cosy and full of love. There has been a book by Rebecca that I've not enjoyed.
If you've not read anything by her before, you are definitely missing out.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If I ever win the lottery, I'm buying a campervan that I can enjoy with my boys because that is what Rebecca does to me everytime I read one of her travelling stories. I've got the other two books in this series but they are complete standalone books.
I loved Flora. I consider myself to be Mrs Christmas' sidekick so I instantly warmed to Flora and her love for the festive season.
I devoured this book within 24 hours, it made me feel warm, cosy and full of love. There has been a book by Rebecca that I've not enjoyed.
If you've not read anything by her before, you are definitely missing out.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 10, 2022
Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Physical Book
Date Published: 11/15/22
Author: Rebecca Raisin
Publisher: HarperCollins
GR: 3.92
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from HarperCollin and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
My Thoughts: This was the most delightful story!! Flora and Connor’s story was absolutely adorable. The story is narrated by Flora, in her POV. This is book no. 3 in The Travelling Shops series. This can absolutely be read as a standalone as aI have not read the prior two books and was able to keep up with no issues. The chapters are short, so it’s easy to stop and pick back up. Flora tends to speak before thinking, she’s extrinsic, she LOVES Christmas, has a kind heart, and has not connected with others well, with the exception of her bestfriend. Connor has fears to be vulnerable, rough exterior, but deep down, he is a caring, kind person. Flora shows up immediately violating the rules, unbeknownst to her, and they conflicted from the outset. I have read a few Christmas novels over the last month or so, but none have screamed Christmas like this one. This story just made me happy. Amazing characters, Christmas, and a budding romance, just makes me happy. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, and creatively done. The author’s writing style was complex, crisp, flowed well, funny, swoony, and kept me engaged. The paperback releases next week. If you like Jenny Colgan, you will love this one.
🏷
.
.
#whatimreading #booklover #bookworm #bookpic #bookstagram #fiction #booksoninstagram #reviewer #bookfriends #bookrecs #goodreads #bookishgirl #2022bookgoals #bookpost #Book-Reviews #netgalley #romance #romcom #christmas #holidays #holidayromance #tistheseason #thetravellingshops #enemiestolovers #florastravellingchristmasshop #rebeccaraisin #harpercollinspublishers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Physical Book
Date Published: 11/15/22
Author: Rebecca Raisin
Publisher: HarperCollins
GR: 3.92
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from HarperCollin and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
My Thoughts: This was the most delightful story!! Flora and Connor’s story was absolutely adorable. The story is narrated by Flora, in her POV. This is book no. 3 in The Travelling Shops series. This can absolutely be read as a standalone as aI have not read the prior two books and was able to keep up with no issues. The chapters are short, so it’s easy to stop and pick back up. Flora tends to speak before thinking, she’s extrinsic, she LOVES Christmas, has a kind heart, and has not connected with others well, with the exception of her bestfriend. Connor has fears to be vulnerable, rough exterior, but deep down, he is a caring, kind person. Flora shows up immediately violating the rules, unbeknownst to her, and they conflicted from the outset. I have read a few Christmas novels over the last month or so, but none have screamed Christmas like this one. This story just made me happy. Amazing characters, Christmas, and a budding romance, just makes me happy. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, and creatively done. The author’s writing style was complex, crisp, flowed well, funny, swoony, and kept me engaged. The paperback releases next week. If you like Jenny Colgan, you will love this one.
🏷
.
.
#whatimreading #booklover #bookworm #bookpic #bookstagram #fiction #booksoninstagram #reviewer #bookfriends #bookrecs #goodreads #bookishgirl #2022bookgoals #bookpost #Book-Reviews #netgalley #romance #romcom #christmas #holidays #holidayromance #tistheseason #thetravellingshops #enemiestolovers #florastravellingchristmasshop #rebeccaraisin #harpercollinspublishers
January 10, 2023
A nice Christmassy relaxation book.
I have read a lot of books by this author and have enjoyed them all.
Christmas vibe perfect for when you want to let go of the stress and get away from it all.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
I have read a lot of books by this author and have enjoyed them all.
Christmas vibe perfect for when you want to let go of the stress and get away from it all.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
December 24, 2022
My feelings summed up in emojis after listening to the cutest and most wholesome Christmas love story ever: 🥹❤️🎄
November 1, 2021
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.
Hilarious, romantic, and utterly charming, FLORA'S TRAVELLING CHRISTMAS SHOP by Rebecca Raisin in Christmas on a plate with some extra magic for good measure.
Flora's career and her love life never seem to quite work out but that was before she started working at a Christmas emporium and before she started dating a poet. Everything is looking up in Flora's world. Until it isn't. Single again and jobless, Flora knows that she has to make some changes in her life but she's just not quite sure how, when her best friend has the perfect plan. Flora should buy a camper van and set up a travelling Christmas shop, as Flora adores Christmas and lives it to the full. Flora loves this idea and takes it one step further by travelling to Lapland to set up her business - what better place to have a Christmas shop than in the home of Christmas itself - and it isn't long before she has set off on an adventure of a lifetime. Meeting fabulous new friends (and a few foes along the way) are all part of Flora's exciting new life but when she meets Connor, Flora feels something for him that she has never felt before. But there is one huge problem - Connor hates Christmas. How could things possibly work out between them when they are so very different? Or could Flora's magical Christmas spirit show Connor that love is nothing to fear?
I absolutely loved this story and there is one reason why: Flora. She is sweet, funny, compassionate, fiery, and completely unpredictable which makes her even more loveable. As I read about the Christmas market, I could see it so clearly and wanted to hop on to the next flight to Lapland, it was that appealing. The camper van community and beauty of friendship truly shone throughout this story and while I didn't plan to read this book in one sitting, I just couldn't make myself put it down.
FLORA'S TRAVELLING CHRISTMAS SHOP definitely needs to be gracing our screens someday as it would make the perfect Christmas movie, and as always, I cannot wait to read more from Rebecca Raisin who is one of my favourite authors in this genre.
Hilarious, romantic, and utterly charming, FLORA'S TRAVELLING CHRISTMAS SHOP by Rebecca Raisin in Christmas on a plate with some extra magic for good measure.
Flora's career and her love life never seem to quite work out but that was before she started working at a Christmas emporium and before she started dating a poet. Everything is looking up in Flora's world. Until it isn't. Single again and jobless, Flora knows that she has to make some changes in her life but she's just not quite sure how, when her best friend has the perfect plan. Flora should buy a camper van and set up a travelling Christmas shop, as Flora adores Christmas and lives it to the full. Flora loves this idea and takes it one step further by travelling to Lapland to set up her business - what better place to have a Christmas shop than in the home of Christmas itself - and it isn't long before she has set off on an adventure of a lifetime. Meeting fabulous new friends (and a few foes along the way) are all part of Flora's exciting new life but when she meets Connor, Flora feels something for him that she has never felt before. But there is one huge problem - Connor hates Christmas. How could things possibly work out between them when they are so very different? Or could Flora's magical Christmas spirit show Connor that love is nothing to fear?
I absolutely loved this story and there is one reason why: Flora. She is sweet, funny, compassionate, fiery, and completely unpredictable which makes her even more loveable. As I read about the Christmas market, I could see it so clearly and wanted to hop on to the next flight to Lapland, it was that appealing. The camper van community and beauty of friendship truly shone throughout this story and while I didn't plan to read this book in one sitting, I just couldn't make myself put it down.
FLORA'S TRAVELLING CHRISTMAS SHOP definitely needs to be gracing our screens someday as it would make the perfect Christmas movie, and as always, I cannot wait to read more from Rebecca Raisin who is one of my favourite authors in this genre.
October 31, 2021
Sadly, I only made it to 50% of this book. I loved Raisin's previous work, so I thought this would be an easy book to read and love, and perhaps with a different main character, I would have enjoyed it more. Unfortunately, Flora is such an awful character that I cannot force myself to go on. Flora is selfish and manipulative. She gaslights herself into believing everything wrong in her life is someone else's fault and won't own up to any of her mistakes. Her best friend doesn't help in this deluding at all. If you can't hold a relationship, can't keep a job, and live in someone's spare bedroom rent-free, at some point, you need to grow up and own up to the fact you're the common denominator in all your problems.
Flora is incredibly rude to Connor, and then she acts like he's the one being rude. I think the author was trying to go for comedic, but there is no way anyone in their right mind would think the way Flora treats him is endearing. And after I've named everything above, what sort of appeal could she possibly hold for him? She's downright toxic. Frankly, I don't want to continue reading to see how that's going to stretch.
Flora is incredibly rude to Connor, and then she acts like he's the one being rude. I think the author was trying to go for comedic, but there is no way anyone in their right mind would think the way Flora treats him is endearing. And after I've named everything above, what sort of appeal could she possibly hold for him? She's downright toxic. Frankly, I don't want to continue reading to see how that's going to stretch.
January 1, 2022
A fabulous Christmas read. Flora joins Van Lifers and sets up her Christmas shop with manager Connor and interactions to come. Mention of well known Christmas movies make it truly a Christmas book. This book is not just set at Christmas time. It is all about Christmas. Enjoy this light fun hard to put down read. First time reading this author and highly recommend!
November 28, 2021
Let me just start with stating that I've read Rosie's Travelling Tea Shop and my main problem (among many more) with this book was the fact that Rosie opened a tea Shop in her van and just randomly parked at Glastonbury Festival, with like zero preparations, without reserving a spot 3746 years before the event, without any health and safety permissions etc.
This has changes in this book - there were some preparations (sort of), reserving a spot at a Christmas Market in advance, etc. So yay, that's a plus.
Overall I liked this book more than Rosie, but I don't think it deserves more that three stars. Unfortunately, yet again, the romance is lukewarm at best. Things that Flora's doing that are supposed to be charming were just cringe.
Also don't get me started about main antagonist being a bad bitch just because she was jealous of a man's affection. It's 2021 and authors are still using "I'm a mean girl bc I claimed that boy mentally first" trope. Like, come on. There are hundreds of ways to put an antagonist in this story - she could have been selling similar merchandise, or idk, she could have bees Star Seller 10 years in a row now jealous of someone new stealing the crown and glory. But noooo, why make an effort when it's easier to just write a jealous airhead that will make anything to get a man.
Ok, I was about to give this book 3 stars, but while I was writing this review I've decided to give it two, just because the thing mentioned above just made me so angry.
Anyways it's not the worst Christmas book out there, but it's also not great.
I received this book from the Publisher in an exchange for an honest review
This has changes in this book - there were some preparations (sort of), reserving a spot at a Christmas Market in advance, etc. So yay, that's a plus.
Overall I liked this book more than Rosie, but I don't think it deserves more that three stars. Unfortunately, yet again, the romance is lukewarm at best. Things that Flora's doing that are supposed to be charming were just cringe.
Also don't get me started about main antagonist being a bad bitch just because she was jealous of a man's affection. It's 2021 and authors are still using "I'm a mean girl bc I claimed that boy mentally first" trope. Like, come on. There are hundreds of ways to put an antagonist in this story - she could have been selling similar merchandise, or idk, she could have bees Star Seller 10 years in a row now jealous of someone new stealing the crown and glory. But noooo, why make an effort when it's easier to just write a jealous airhead that will make anything to get a man.
Ok, I was about to give this book 3 stars, but while I was writing this review I've decided to give it two, just because the thing mentioned above just made me so angry.
Anyways it's not the worst Christmas book out there, but it's also not great.
I received this book from the Publisher in an exchange for an honest review
November 10, 2021
Oh this book was so perfect to read this time of year ! A must read for anyone who loves Christmas themed books!
In this book we have the wonderful Flora ! I wish I had a person like Flora in my life or was even her! She is so great to read about, an extremely likeable character and a very realistic and relate one too ! She loves Christmas..and when I say she loves it she really loves it! When she gets fired by her Scrooge like boss she sees it as a chance to finally follow her dreams. Naturally as a Christmas lover she starts following her dream in Lapland, is there perhaps going to be abit of romance for Flora in magical Lapland?
This book was so easy to just sink into as you read it , I found myself totally envying Flora at certain points in the book, but she was a delight to read about. The book flows effortlessly throughout and it is so easy to devour this book ! I can't get enough of the authors writing style , she drew me in straight away and didn't let me go until the last word...even then I still wanted more!
In this book we have the wonderful Flora ! I wish I had a person like Flora in my life or was even her! She is so great to read about, an extremely likeable character and a very realistic and relate one too ! She loves Christmas..and when I say she loves it she really loves it! When she gets fired by her Scrooge like boss she sees it as a chance to finally follow her dreams. Naturally as a Christmas lover she starts following her dream in Lapland, is there perhaps going to be abit of romance for Flora in magical Lapland?
This book was so easy to just sink into as you read it , I found myself totally envying Flora at certain points in the book, but she was a delight to read about. The book flows effortlessly throughout and it is so easy to devour this book ! I can't get enough of the authors writing style , she drew me in straight away and didn't let me go until the last word...even then I still wanted more!
October 16, 2021
I was really looking forward to reading this book and I’m glad to say it didn’t disappoint me at all. A perfect book to read on Christmas Eve tucked up under a blanket with a drink of hot chocolate. This sweet book really hit the spot and I highly recommend this one. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
June 28, 2022
This was a delightfully festive read. Flora buys a camper van and heads off to Lapland and the van lifer's Christmas market. Her van is perfectly Christmassy and I loved every page. Full of hot chocolate, romance, magical experiences and a real feel good read.
December 25, 2022
Flora is truly dreadful. I NEVER not finish books and I just could not get through this. Flora sucks.
December 16, 2021
The fall/winter season always demands for a romantic book (at least for me !). I always have my go to author Debbie Macomber to read in December. Her books generally fill me with warmth and love which is what the season is all about !. I saw this book on my friend's goodreads time line and I decided to give this a try. I hadn't read anything by Rebecca Raisin before and this seemed like a good book.
Flora is all about Christmas. She loves the festival and everything that denotes Christmas with all her heart. Unfortunately, her do good nature ends up with her losing her current job. Her best friend Livvie, with whom she is rooming is also moving to a different shore for better prospects. Flora decides to be her own boss after pep talk from Livvie and as a part of that plan, she buys a camper van and turns it into a Christmas shop and heads out to the Christmas market in Lapland (home of Santa Claus). Connor, the manager of the market and Flora dont get on the well initially. When Flora learns that Connor doesnt believe in Christmas or the spirit of Christmas she takes it on herself to stage a intervention to turn him to a believer. How did Flora pull it off and did she find her "one and only" in the "Norse god looking" Connor is the remaining story
Its a nice romantic story with vivid descriptions of Lapland, Aurora lights and the camper vans itself. For me, the book started off very well initially but faded a little in between. Phone calls between Livvie and Flora which streched for few pages was an overkill.The author could have cut short on that. Apart from that this book is a breezy read.
My rating for this book a 3.25
Flora is all about Christmas. She loves the festival and everything that denotes Christmas with all her heart. Unfortunately, her do good nature ends up with her losing her current job. Her best friend Livvie, with whom she is rooming is also moving to a different shore for better prospects. Flora decides to be her own boss after pep talk from Livvie and as a part of that plan, she buys a camper van and turns it into a Christmas shop and heads out to the Christmas market in Lapland (home of Santa Claus). Connor, the manager of the market and Flora dont get on the well initially. When Flora learns that Connor doesnt believe in Christmas or the spirit of Christmas she takes it on herself to stage a intervention to turn him to a believer. How did Flora pull it off and did she find her "one and only" in the "Norse god looking" Connor is the remaining story
Its a nice romantic story with vivid descriptions of Lapland, Aurora lights and the camper vans itself. For me, the book started off very well initially but faded a little in between. Phone calls between Livvie and Flora which streched for few pages was an overkill.The author could have cut short on that. Apart from that this book is a breezy read.
My rating for this book a 3.25
December 1, 2021
Cute,adorable, light and funny, giggle inducing funny read!
Perfect for when you need to beat those blues and especially at this time of the year!
Flora loves Christmas; she revels in everything to do with the season. Her current job in a Christmas emporium seems like a dream and she believes in spreading the cheer far and wide. She also says exactly what she thinks and believes in testing her compatibility with guys by asking them Christmas based questions the first time they meet!
A breakup, losing her job and her best friend moving to a different continent, all happening one after the other, have her wanting to do something to shake up her life.
Needing to be her own boss, she decides to purchase a van which she will turn into a Christmas shop and go to Lapland in Finland where there is a Christmas market.
While she is delighted to be amidst so much Christmas cheer in a place that is all about her favorite festival, she is stunned to meet Connor with the 'Norse God looks', who runs the market but scoffs at the fuss about it, calling it a commercial ploy and a drain on the environment which he is passionate about. Flora is determined to change his mind and get him to understand and enjoy the joy and spirit that she feels.
Flora is large hearted and happy go lucky and completely hilarious. Nothing can get her down for too long and she sees the humour in everything. Her reactions are fun and her interactions with Connor that leave him stunned even more so.
A read that makes you laugh and leaves you feeling very happy.
Perfect for when you need to beat those blues and especially at this time of the year!
Flora loves Christmas; she revels in everything to do with the season. Her current job in a Christmas emporium seems like a dream and she believes in spreading the cheer far and wide. She also says exactly what she thinks and believes in testing her compatibility with guys by asking them Christmas based questions the first time they meet!
A breakup, losing her job and her best friend moving to a different continent, all happening one after the other, have her wanting to do something to shake up her life.
Needing to be her own boss, she decides to purchase a van which she will turn into a Christmas shop and go to Lapland in Finland where there is a Christmas market.
While she is delighted to be amidst so much Christmas cheer in a place that is all about her favorite festival, she is stunned to meet Connor with the 'Norse God looks', who runs the market but scoffs at the fuss about it, calling it a commercial ploy and a drain on the environment which he is passionate about. Flora is determined to change his mind and get him to understand and enjoy the joy and spirit that she feels.
Flora is large hearted and happy go lucky and completely hilarious. Nothing can get her down for too long and she sees the humour in everything. Her reactions are fun and her interactions with Connor that leave him stunned even more so.
A read that makes you laugh and leaves you feeling very happy.
December 24, 2021
The adorable cover totally drew me in but I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I absolutely adored this Grinch/Sunshine British love story set in Lapland. Full of humour and Hallmark movie vibes, this was the perfect feel-good Christmas romance I didn’t know I needed. Great on audio and available on @scribd. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Sarah Morgan’s The Christmas escape or Christmas at Frozen Falls by Kiley Dunbar.
December 21, 2022
Flora is such a likeable character. Her narration is funny, light and incredibly easy to read.
There were some elements that were a tad unbelievable but if you can get past those it was a delightful read.
4/5.
There were some elements that were a tad unbelievable but if you can get past those it was a delightful read.
4/5.
December 30, 2022
This was a lovely festive read but it was very slow going. It didn’t really have much going on in it, if you know what i mean. The characters where likeable apart from Aine. She did get on my nerves a bit.
March 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Library Book 📕
Flora, who has trouble keeping a job, decides to join the van-life movement and travels to Lapland, Finland to sell Christmas items. She has a run-in with a real life Grinch at the campground, only to find out he’s the manager and everything she wants to do has to go through him. Can she get his heart to grow three sizes?
Flora, who has trouble keeping a job, decides to join the van-life movement and travels to Lapland, Finland to sell Christmas items. She has a run-in with a real life Grinch at the campground, only to find out he’s the manager and everything she wants to do has to go through him. Can she get his heart to grow three sizes?
December 29, 2022
The E-Arc Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop was kindly provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This has not altered my opinion of the book.
I was 4% into this e-arc before I noted how much I already disliked the main character. I found her so far from mature and she seemed to lack retrospective abilities. This sadly continued throughout the entire novel, I didn’t feel like she grew much as a person. She kept being surprised at facing consequences for her own actions and choices, which got on my nerves to the point where I started hating the book for it, which was really sad. She did not respect boundaries or rules at all, and she acted as if the world owed it to revolve around her.
The example I can think of to include, which does not contain spoilers to anything, is that at one point she gets to go dog sledding with a man and his huskies. She asks if she can pet the dogs and he tells her no, because they are working animals currently at work. She then proceeds to pet a dog when he turns his back. Later we learn she petted a lot of the dogs and even went so far as to remove the harness from one of the dogs in order to better pet it. It is worth mentioning that the man did not get angry, nor did she get any consequences for this, but I found it ricidulous that neither of those things happened because I was fuming! It is not funny or quirky to ignore boundaries and do something you were told explicitly not to do!!!
Rapid fire of some other things that bothered me:
- I also hated how Flora, our main character, insisted on changing the male love interest, whilst also being constantly told by friends that she did not have to change for a man. I’m sorry???
- Flora did not solve a single of her own problems, couldn’t she at least have figured something out on her own? She felt so passive because of this.
- I could not think of a single reason why the male love interest should have been interested in or intrigued by Flora.
- The author repeatedly called mulled wine glögge, which I have not been able to find exisiting in either nordic language. I have never heard a single person from Scandinavia call it that, and the book is supposed to be set in Finland. (This wasn't that big of an issue but it annoyed me a lot lmao)
- The male love interest is consitently described as a Norse god, but he is Irish?? I was so ready for a Finnish love interest.
- One of the characters consitently remarked how the love story was following the Hallmark blueprint, which I found a huge mistake to push down our throats, it just made it even more obvious how the story simply followed a script and things happened for no good reason other than to further the plot or give the main characters time together.
I’m so sad to not have enjoyed this holiday romance, it sounded so lovely from the synopsis. But, take it from me, if the personality of the main character sometimes gets on your nerves and ruins books, steer away from this.
I was 4% into this e-arc before I noted how much I already disliked the main character. I found her so far from mature and she seemed to lack retrospective abilities. This sadly continued throughout the entire novel, I didn’t feel like she grew much as a person. She kept being surprised at facing consequences for her own actions and choices, which got on my nerves to the point where I started hating the book for it, which was really sad. She did not respect boundaries or rules at all, and she acted as if the world owed it to revolve around her.
The example I can think of to include, which does not contain spoilers to anything, is that at one point she gets to go dog sledding with a man and his huskies. She asks if she can pet the dogs and he tells her no, because they are working animals currently at work. She then proceeds to pet a dog when he turns his back. Later we learn she petted a lot of the dogs and even went so far as to remove the harness from one of the dogs in order to better pet it. It is worth mentioning that the man did not get angry, nor did she get any consequences for this, but I found it ricidulous that neither of those things happened because I was fuming! It is not funny or quirky to ignore boundaries and do something you were told explicitly not to do!!!
Rapid fire of some other things that bothered me:
- I also hated how Flora, our main character, insisted on changing the male love interest, whilst also being constantly told by friends that she did not have to change for a man. I’m sorry???
- Flora did not solve a single of her own problems, couldn’t she at least have figured something out on her own? She felt so passive because of this.
- I could not think of a single reason why the male love interest should have been interested in or intrigued by Flora.
- The author repeatedly called mulled wine glögge, which I have not been able to find exisiting in either nordic language. I have never heard a single person from Scandinavia call it that, and the book is supposed to be set in Finland. (This wasn't that big of an issue but it annoyed me a lot lmao)
- The male love interest is consitently described as a Norse god, but he is Irish?? I was so ready for a Finnish love interest.
- One of the characters consitently remarked how the love story was following the Hallmark blueprint, which I found a huge mistake to push down our throats, it just made it even more obvious how the story simply followed a script and things happened for no good reason other than to further the plot or give the main characters time together.
I’m so sad to not have enjoyed this holiday romance, it sounded so lovely from the synopsis. But, take it from me, if the personality of the main character sometimes gets on your nerves and ruins books, steer away from this.
December 27, 2022
Author: Renecca Raisin
Page counter: 261 pages
Published date: 28th October 2021
Genre: Romance Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Christmas Story, Holiday Fiction
Rating:⭐⭐⭐
SYNOPSIS:
Flora loves Christmas more than anything else in the world, so she's gutted when she's fired from Deck the Halls Christmas Emporium. But now she finally has a chance to follow her dreams... and what better place to start than the home of Christmas?
Before she can say 'sleigh bells', Flora's on her way to lapland in a campervan- cum- Christmas- shop. She can't wait to spend her days drinking hot chocolate and taking reindeer- drawn carriage rides, but somthing Flora didn't expect was meeting Connor- a Norse god of a man who makes snowflakes swirl in her stomach. There's just one problem: Connor hates Christmas.
MY THOUGHTS:
This book was fast paced and the storyline was good it just wasn't what i was expecting it to be i thought i was going to read more about her selling in the van not a romance filled book. I did enjoy the ending of where she spent christmas day. I rated this book 3 out of 5 wasn't for me.
Page counter: 261 pages
Published date: 28th October 2021
Genre: Romance Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Christmas Story, Holiday Fiction
Rating:⭐⭐⭐
SYNOPSIS:
Flora loves Christmas more than anything else in the world, so she's gutted when she's fired from Deck the Halls Christmas Emporium. But now she finally has a chance to follow her dreams... and what better place to start than the home of Christmas?
Before she can say 'sleigh bells', Flora's on her way to lapland in a campervan- cum- Christmas- shop. She can't wait to spend her days drinking hot chocolate and taking reindeer- drawn carriage rides, but somthing Flora didn't expect was meeting Connor- a Norse god of a man who makes snowflakes swirl in her stomach. There's just one problem: Connor hates Christmas.
MY THOUGHTS:
This book was fast paced and the storyline was good it just wasn't what i was expecting it to be i thought i was going to read more about her selling in the van not a romance filled book. I did enjoy the ending of where she spent christmas day. I rated this book 3 out of 5 wasn't for me.
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