Winter Kisses at Roseford Cafe

Roseford #2

by Fay Keenan

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 Cafe, 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...

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Contemporary

Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2022

About the author

Fay Keenan lives and works in Somerset. When Fay is not chasing her children around or writing, she teaches English at a local secondary school. Fay writes ‘heart thumping romantic fiction’ and likes to cover subjects of interest in her novels, including UK Parliament, the Air Ambulance and the international cider making industry. Her novels explore relationships, country living and hopefully have a good sprinkling of escapism, too!

Reviews

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect festive story to kick off Christmas reading season! Lucy is a single mom and café owner living in a small lovely town. Lucy is so excited to find out that Finn Sanderson her high school crush who she thought she’d never meet is filming a movie in her small town. and she is rendered speechless when he comes into her café for a cup of coffee. but Finn is not your stereotypical star. He is down to earth and humble. Lucy ends up catering for the movie set allowing fin and her to form a connection. but is Lucy ready to be involved with a celebrity? really liked both Lucy and fin, and wanted things to work out for them. Also, really enjoyed all the secondary characters in this charming town. the town itself really was a character, somewhere you’d want to go visit especially at Christmas time. loved the Christmas fair, all the festive Decour, and, of course the snow. A heartwarming, sweet story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

*** Big thank you to Boldwood for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Lucy meets her teenage crush, she feels like all her dreams have come true at once! The sleepy village of Roseford has been ‘invaded’ by a film crew and Hollywood is now on her doorstep. From helping out with last minute catering, to spying the scenes being filmed near her cafe, Lucy is inevitably drawn to Finn’s company. But, pursuing a relationship is dangerous. Finn has an army of fans and they are incredibly protective of their heart-throb, especially as he is filming with his old partner from a previously successful television show. As the attraction grows, should both just ignore their feelings for the sake of protecting themselves from the public eye and nasty trolling?

A sweet, festive read from Keenan, I enjoyed returning to Roseford. Some of the characters were featured in this story from the first book, but hardly so, making this an easy novel to read on its own. However, I think the separation did impact my enjoyment of the plot because I wanted to see more of the previous characters. Afterall, a lot of emphasis is placed on Roseford being a small place to live, so I was expecting the characters to cross paths more often. On the other hand, it was quite refreshing to follow a different circle of characters, especially as Lucy and her friend Serena were quite contrasting.

I liked how the story explores the pressures of social media and how it has such a massive impact on our decisions. Whilst this is in relation to Lucy and Finn’s relationship, the emotional toll that comments had on the characters was really evident. Lucy’s behaviours alter in order to protect herself and her daughter; naturally she doesn’t want such a fledging relationship to be chewed over by the press and fans. It was quite sad at times, (not massively so!) because Lucy eventually recognises that she is putting a bunch of critical strangers beyond her own happiness. I wonder how many people can relate to this?

There is plenty of Christmas cheer in this plot and I loved the Christmas market that is described. With snow and romance, this certainly was a warming story. Furthermore, I enjoyed how the story moved on from December to add an extra element to the relationship between Lucy and Finn. It was not concluded just in December and I enjoyed seeing Roseford at a different time of year.

I’m keen to return to this series and wonder what is next for the characters. I hope the next story is a little bit less predictable but I did like the romance theme between Lucy and Finn. Their relationship is believable and cute, which I think makes it ideal for the festive season. It is a well-written story and has likeable characters all throughout.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok but not great. A fairly decent read with some saccharine characters. Everyone just seemed to have it too easy in this book. The introduction of so many side characters took more away from the story than it added. It felt at times that Lucy had forgotten she had a daughter to take care of, which is always an odd thing.

A quick but not quite festive read.

[Karen Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this book stole my heart. It is a beautiful story of will they won't they.

I'm no stranger to Fay's writing and each one I read is as beautiful and addictive as the last.

A perfect Christmas read that you can read all year round and will warm your heart and fill you with the right amount of Christmas spirit.

I loved Montana and Finns friendship, the way they looked out for each other was beautiful.

Without doubt a well deserved 5⭐️

[Gmr]

Definitely no false advertising here...it WAS a great Christmas romance!

Go ahead. Admit it. At some point in you life, you had a celebrity crush. Most fade with time, but how often do you actually get the chance to turn them from fond daydreams into reality? Our leading lady, Lucy, gets to realize that dream, and yet not simply as a wish fulfilled from once upon a time, but as an even better version because it's REAL. Finn was the object of her desires, and had a stroke of luck getting into the business he's in, but fame can get old, especially when everyone thinks they know you because they've seen your work. This Christmas, even the star of the show gets a special wish...to finally be seen for who he is beyond the movie star status. Now don't get me wrong, there are awkward meet cute moments, and a few times of utter embarrassment as well, but all's well that ends well, right?
*fingers crossed*

One of my favorite parts, occurs closer to the end, when characters are facing their fears, and you're on pins and needles to see if they can make it through...of course the surprise moment there was a fab fit as well, but something about showing the other person that they matter most, just gets me right there. 💓 Definitely a potential couple worth taking a chance on this reading season, or any time you're in the mood for a little celebrity and everyday Jane sort of romance. It felt real enough with the complications that cropped up along the way, but despite the good reasons behind staying apart, you won't be able to help rooting for them to make it back together again.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books just happen to be set during the festive season – this one really was a totally full-on Christmas experience, and I must say that I loved every single moment. There’s snow aplenty, the most wonderful Christmas fair where you can smell the spices in the mulled wine and taste the mince pies (while browsing the stalls to find the perfect last minute present…), skaters on an impromptu ice rink, a family Christmas dinner, tinsel and sparkling lights everywhere – and a film crew at Roseford Hall making a Christmas movie for Filmflix.

Lucy, running the cafe in the quiet picture postcard Somerset village, is particularly excited about the arrival of the film’s stars. The male lead is Finn Sanderson – as a teenager she had his poster on her bedroom wall (and she might just have a t-shirt with his image on the front too…). So when he pops into the cafe one night on his way back to his room at the village pub, she’s so overcome that she can hardly speak to him (other than accidentally and embarrassingly telling him that he’s gorgeous…). But she slowly gets to know the man rather than the film star – and he really is the loveliest man, but with a few complexities to his past that make him considerably happier keeping his private life out of the spotlight and living as ordinary a life as he can.

His co-star in the film is Montana de Santo – in the days when they starred together in the TV drama High School Dreams they were known as FinnTana, something that’ll make the film they’re now making a guaranteed smash hit. So, as the relationship between Finn and Lucy builds, they need to keep it quiet – and not only because of the film, but also because of her worries about the impact of any publicity on her young daughter. But word does get out – a couple of photographs on social media, and the storm of on-line abuse that follows – and they very reluctantly accept that any kind of future together is going to be completely impossible. But that, of course, isn’t where it ends – and the author tells the rest of the story far better than I ever could.

But as well as the romance at the book’s centre – and it’s one of those you entirely believe in, with a really special chemistry between them both – there was so much else about this book that I loved. The setting, Roseford itself, just couldn’t possibly be more perfect for a Christmas romance – it’s vividly and beautifully described, and I just wish it was possible to book a room at the Treloar Arms for my own Christmas escape (I’d even be happy to take my turn on the karaoke…). The supporting characters are every bit as engaging as Finn and Lucy, beautifully drawn, their stories nicely woven in – some of the villagers will, of course, have been introduced in the first book in this series, but that really didn’t matter one bit as they very quickly became my friends too.

But perhaps the loveliest thing of all about this whole book was how it made me feel – there’s just such a tremendous warmth to it that wraps itself around you as you read, and you so desperately want Finn and Lucy to have their unlikely happy ending. I was totally unable to put it down, and read it in one glorious sitting – and even if the sun might be shining next time, I’m really so looking forward to my next visit to Roseford. This book was just absolutely gorgeous – go on, add it to your Christmas reading list straight away!

[Lottie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect Christmas rom-com- I loved it.

It was a great comforting read and with really likeable characters and I couldn’t put it down - the perfect piece of escapism!

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly but adorable. Easy holiday read.

[Patricia Rupell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were likable, and the story kept my interest. I really liked the cozy, Christmassy feel. I would have liked to have gone a little deeper into a couple of the back stories, but all in all, a really good read.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Fay's work for a few years now. I love the way in which she writes such entertaining romantic stories with a generous serving of humour too. I read the synopsis of 'Winter Kisses At Roseford Cafe' and it certainly sounded like the fun and light hearted read that I have come to expect from Fay Keenan. Well it was certainly all that and so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Winter Kisses At Roseford Cafe' but more about that in a bit.

I absolutely loved the character of Lucy Cameron and I warmed to her from the very start. In fact I even ended up feeling as though she had become a friend of mine and I felt all protective of her. She is a lovely young woman, who is the hardworking owner of the Roseford Cafe and a mother to her little girl. Back in the day when she was a teenager , she had a huge crush on a certain Finn Sanderson, who starred in one of her all time favourite television series. Finn ends up going to Roseford to film a festive film and Lucy cannot believe it. Even better is the fact that Lucy ends up being roped in to cater for the film crew. There's definitely a spark between Lucy and Finn and I kept everything crossed that Lucy and Finn would get together and live happily ever after. What happens? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves as I am not going to tell you.

As with all of Fay's books, I was drawn into this story from the very start. I knew that I would find it rather difficult to put the book to one side for any length of time. To say that reading 'Winter Kisses At Roseford Cafe' became addictive is a huge understatement. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I would become so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the different characters that I would still be sat there reading several chapters and maybe an hour later. This story was one of those stories that stayed with me whether I was reading it or not. I became desperate to find out whether or not Lucy and Finn got their 'happy ever after endings'. The more of the book that I read the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. All too quickly I reached the end of 'Winter Kisses At Roseford Cafe' and I had to say goodbye to Lucy and to Finn. I found 'Winter Kisses At Roseford Cafe' to be a hugely entertaining, fun, festive and amusing romantic read.

'Winter Kisses At Roseford Cafe' is superbly written and then some but I have come to expect nothing less from Fay Keenan. Fay has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Fay's books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. I hope that makes sense. I love the very vivid and realistic way in which Fay describes her characters as she makes them seem just as real as you and I. I always find that the sign of a good book is when I become far too involved with the story to the extent that I 'talk' to the characters as if they could hear me. That's exactly how I felt with 'Winter Kisses At Roseford Cafe'.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Winter Kisses At Roseford Cafe' and I would defintiely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Fay's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick Summary: A sweet encounter romance

My Review: Winter Kisses at Roseford Cafe by Fay Keenan was a beautiful love story.

About the Book: When Lucy meets her teen dream, Finn, she is gobsmacked. When they strike up an easy rapport with one another, she is amazed. When they share a mutual interest in exploring what's happening between them, she is overcome. When they fall into a sweet encounter (that proved to be quite inevitable), she tipped into a heart-first haze of happiness. Is she willing to fight for what she wants for her future, or will she settle for just a few stolen kisses?

About the Characters: I loved the cast of characters.

Lucy - Despite her fears, she was a fighter. Her life course showed that she was a survivor. I liked that she tried to parent smartly. Overall, her intense feelings for Finn proved themselves to be stronger than her concern about being in the spotlight.

Finn - I adored him. He, too, was a survivor. I loved his sensitivity. My heart broke for him, with regard to his insecurities. Even with them, however, he was stronger than he realized. His willingness to face one of his fears in a head on way showed his strength of character.

Simon - He was a great character. He was endearing. I was hoping he would find a love match in this book. I would totally read his story. His character is the type of lesser that becomes a greater.

Mateo and Montana - They were true blue friends. I was glad that they were there for Finn in the past and in the present.

Serena - I really liked her. She was a great forever friend to Lucy. Her character went in a completely different direction than I thought. I was glad that she found her joy. Although, I honestly thought that she and Simon would have a magical encounter.

Megan - She was a sweet, little boo bear. I could feel her energy leaping off the pages when she was present. I loved how she was so accepting of Finn.

Favorite Scenes: The First Kiss, The Ice Skating Adventure, The Hotel Heart-to-Heart, and The Karaoke Confession

My Final Say: I would totally recommend this book. It was such a romantic love story. Readers who enjoy breakup to makeup stories and stories about overcoming fears will love this book.

Other: I am so glad that this was my first read of the new year. It was satisfying.

Rating: 4.25/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Status/Level: 💗

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley, who provided access to digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own and have been voluntarily submitted.

[Book Escapes Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a magical story filled with warmth and romance. Single Mum and Café owner, Lucy, along with her best friend, Serena, shared a teenage love of the same tv drama, High School Dreams, starring Finn Sanderson and Montana de Santo. So, imagine their excitement when they discover that a Christmas Movie is about to be filmed in Roseford, and it will star the couple, often known as FinnTana, as their names have become forever linked.
Lucy becomes tongue-tied when she eventually comes face to face with Finn, but there’s an almost instant connection between the pair. Of course, nothing can happen as the movie is reliant on the FinnTana hype to perform well when it is launched. As Lucy and Finn get to know each other, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep their feelings secret, especially when a couple of compromising photos appear on social media. The ensuing social media abuse results in Lucy applying the brakes to their blossoming romance. Lucy’s number one priority is protecting her daughter, Megan. She will not risk her being exposed to internet trolls.
I do love it when a book creates the romantic connection early in the story. The only downside to that format is that the lovers rarely find an easy path to happiness. Although there is a happy ending, it’s not easily won.
It was lovely to catch up with other Roseford residents, Stella, and Lord Treloar, but even better to get to know Lucy, Megan, and Serena. Fay Keenan’s storytelling helps the reader to escape to Roseford and imagine being part of the lovely village. I could clearly picture the Christmas market and almost taste the mulled wine.
As you may know, I enjoy casting an imaginary movie when I read and with the High School reference, I immediately thought of Zac Efron. However, a few pages further and I was reminded of the late Corey Monteith and was thrilled to discover that Fay Keenan was inspired by him. Following the Glee thread, it should be immediately obvious that I imagined Naya Rivera as Montana.

[RomanceByTheBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winter Kisses at Roseford Café is a delightful Christmas romance.

Winter Kisses at Roseford Café was such a cozy, charming read! In this book, we meet Lucy, a single mom who runs her own cafe and lives in a quaint English town. There is excitement in the air because a Christmas movie is being filmed in their town and Lucy’s teenage superstar crush, aka Finn, is one of the lead actors. During the filming, Lucy and Finn’s paths keep crossing, and they both feel the chemistry between them. But dating a superstar has its drawbacks, and Lucy has to decide if being with Finn is worth dealing with all the media attention.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s a fun, fast read with a lot of heart. I found myself laughing, sighing, and cheering as I read this story. Fay created this charming Christmas story that also tackles some pretty series issues. I could tell that Fay put a lot of thought into how she would incorporate these issues to ensure that she addressed them properly and with care. Reading the behind-the-scenes of filming a Christmas movie was fun and made me want to sit down and binge-watch the Hallmark channel.

I don’t think there was a character that I didn’t like in this book. There was this nice blend of diverse characters that added some depth and uniqueness to the story. They all just fit together and helped move the story along. Lucy and Finn are sooo sweet together. The scene where Lucy and Finn first met was hilarious, and I am sure I would be stumbling over my words like Lucy did if I met my celebrity crush (cough…Henry Cavill….cough). The uncertainty and shyness that was between them, especially from Finn, made their character and relationship more realistic and relatable.

Oh, I also hope Fay writes a book about Simon because his character just charmed my socks off.

Winter Kisses at Roseford Café is a romance book that will get you into the holiday spirit.

Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...

[Lisa's Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you love Christmas Romance Movies? It won't be long before the Hallmark channel and others are playing non-stop Christmas movies. This charming book lets you see one of these movies from the actor's side. In an English village sits a beautiful manor that's too expensive for the royalty to live in, so it's rented out for things like movies productions. A Countess for Christmas is being filmed with a couple of actors who were teen idols a decade ago.

So, when these stars, Montana and Finn, show up in Roseford it's almost too good to be true. Two women in Roseford, who were in love with the actors, can't believe that they are actually in the small town. Lucy owns a small cafe and Serena is her good friend. When Finn comes to her cafe, she is overcome with nerves and they are both attracted to one another. Over time Finn asks her out for drinks.

Lucy realizes that actors never stay around and so she tells him goodbye. Serena has a romantic gay relationship with Montana. Lucy and Finn both miss each other, but seem to realize this type of relationship isn't practical. But, then Finn and Montana come back to town for the premiere. What happens next?

I love the sweetness of the Hallmark Christmas movie: twinkle lights, snow, Christmas market. But, this one also has non-graphic sex scene and a little cursing.

Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. 

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a massive fan of Christmas romance and this really hit the mark, I mean there’s snow, Christmas markets, mulled wine, as you read it’s like you’re surrounded by Christmas and I could almost see the Christmas lights and tree in my living room as I read.

The romance itself is of course the heart of the story and it’s so lovely, sweet and completely believable and full of chemistry, our leading lady and gentleman, Lucy and Finn are just gorgeous characters, their are old faces that drop in too however don’t worry if you have’nt read any of the previous books it won’t a real difference, this can totally be read as a stand-alone without you feeling like you’re my missing anything.

The story is so engaging , probably the prefect Christmas romance , the descriptions of Roseford are beautiful, you really want to go visit or move there and I can’t wait to go back. This book just made me smile, laugh, feel all gooey inside and made me want to put my Christmas decs up now. Want a heartwarming Christmas romance, then look no further than this magical wintery delight from Fay Keenan.

Thanks to Boldwood Books, Fay Keenan and Rachel’s Random Resources for a free copy in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own and freely given.

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winter Kisses at Roseford Cafe by Fay Keenan

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

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 Cafe, 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.

My Opinion

For me this was a lovely festive read and is a great book to begin the festive season. This is not my first book by Fay and I can safely say that it will not be my last as she writes such sweet stories. All of the festive descriptions had me ready to decorate my house and go looking for a Christmas market.

Fay Keenan has written a lovely Christmas book about a welcoming village with a lot of festivities. An ideal book to read with a blanket and hot chocolate.

Rating: 4/5

[Julie Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a great fan of Fay Keenan’s lovely novels and I’ve just finished Fay’s super new offering - and what a great one it is too. Winter Kisses at Roseford Cafe is the absolute book to snuggle down with at Christmas. Actually, to be fair, at any time. Fay has such a marvellous way with words – she weaves a great story and there’s no putting the book down – the reader needs to know what is going to happen next.
So, we have the perfect setting for a great story – a village that we all wished we lived in, Christmas, a café, a touch of Hollywood and, of course, romance.
It felt a bit Notting Hill to begin with (one of my favourite films), with Lucy in her café playing the part of William Thacker in his bookshop, if that makes sense. We have Finn instead of Julia Roberts (can’t remember her character’s name) and you just know you’re in for a treat. I loved the way Fay created the main protagonist: Lucy is very practical, very down to earth and her daughter has to come first. The actual first meeting with her teenage fantasy in real life was crafted cleverly and beautifully, and I was dying to know whether she was going to end up with Finn. Fabulous story and one that I was eager to get to bed with every night (always, for me, the sign of a great book!)

[Pam Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having enjoyed New Beginning at Roseford Hall and anticipated the next in the series, I was delighted to read this festive story. It is such an inclusive village and just right for the festive season, full of snow, Christmas markets and mince pies! Lucy is a likeable character who is building up her business and at the same time, taking on the role of single parent to her daughter. You certainly feel for her as she tries to juggle all the different parts of her life and have to admire her independent spirit. There are some lovely characters in the story and some familiar ones at that.

When Finn arrives in the village, you realise that there is an air of escapism about the tale which I enjoyed. Finn is certainly leading man material but with a self- deprecating side and maturity which adds to his appeal. There are some lovely festive scenes. I especially enjoyed the ice skating interlude and the festive markets. This story certainly won't disappoint and is not the last visit we make to Roseford- I hope!

In short: Endearing festive romance
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winter Kisses at Roseford Café is book 2 of 3 in the Roseford series.
I love this author's writing; her rom coms are so much fun to read. A perfectly festive book for a relaxing escapist read day. Fans of happy endings and feel-good books will love it.
Lucy is a cafe owner and while on location actor Finn meets Lucy and a romance starts.
I enjoyed Lucy's character she seemed friendly enough. Christmas wishes must come true as a catering order causes her to meet up with Finn. Amidists the sparkling falling snow and the falling temperatures things are heating up with Lucy and Finn as a once in a lifetime chance at a romance with her teen heartthrob. I also liked Finn's character, he did seem sincere in wanting to date Lucy and not just pass his time while on set. There was a bit of angst in the book and I thought they may break up from it but it got squared away. The Rosewood Cafe sounds like a very lovely place to go, I do believe I'd enjoy it. Relaxing stories of romance, friendship, and family that you're going to love!

Publish date October 13, 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely, contemporary romance
Where stardom doesn't spoil the chance
What starts off as a teenage crush, its true,
Turns into something so much more for one or two!

A movie crew come into Roseford where
They are to film a Christmas movie there.
The stars are two folks who
Were teenage crushes for a few!

At the Café, Lucy is asked to help out the crew
By providing meals on set for a day or two.
This gives her the chance to discover
More about Finn, her teen dream lover!

With snow around and Christmas near
Will this prove to be a time of good cheer?
There are twist and surprises as the story unfolds
And secrets are revealed and finally told.

The small community, the villagers and the schemes
Together make you believe in the dreams.
With festivities, fun and laughter, too,
Making this a festive read I recommend to you!

For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
It's such a gorgeous festive read and this is my honest review.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an engaging book.

Amazon synopsis:
So when she gets the opportunity to escape to the country for a year, it seems too good a chance to miss. In the beautiful Somerset countryside, the majestic Roseford Hall has been painstakingly restored and is now ready for its grand opening. And as the writer in residence, Stella gets to see it all – from the rowdy resident peacocks, the hidden secrets of the Hall, to befriending the Lord of the Manor himself.

At the other end of Roseford, single father, Chris Charlton is facing his own refurbishment woes. Rocked by a tragedy two years previously, his plans for crumbling Victorian wreck Halstead House are as stuck as he is.

As Roseford Hall prepares to welcome a new era, and Halstead House’s future is under threat, Chris and Stella find themselves drawn to one another. Can they finally leave their pasts behind, and will Chris and Stella be able to embrace their new beginnings together – or apart…

[Piper]

Christmas season. I believed Lucy to be self-assured, knowledgeable, and unable to quite accept that her teenage dream boy was truly in the hamlet. Alex came off as the complete antithesis of what you may expect a famous actor to be like, and he was really nice. Perhaps my favourites were Serena, Montana, and Simon. It was easy to follow and had good flow. I thought you really got to know each character, and it was obvious how they were all connected. Overall, a fantastic read. enjoyed this romance read a lot. The location was lovely, and the descriptions helped you picture yourself there! I liked how all three of the relationships developed and survived. Hopefully, there will be a sequel. Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

[Samantha Vickers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness!!!!! What a book.

This is a story of a single cafe owning mother who lives in a small town in the south of England. When a film crew descends on the village to film an upcoming Christmas movie Lucy is more concerned than excited about how much of an inconvenience it is going to be to have them around. Not even the thought of her teen celebrity crush Finn being in close proximity can do anything to cheer her up, that is until she meets him face to face!

I love love loved this book so much. It gave me such a warm feeling and I felt like I was watching a hallmark movie!

All the characters were loveable, nothing about the whole thing was unbelievable.

I was so upset to get to the end of this book, I wanted it to last forever. I will be re-reading this again before Christmas

[mrsljgibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my Kindle, in return for my honest review.

This book was perfect and Christmassy and a sure fire way of helping you to get into the festive spirit.
Everything about this book seems to yell ‘Hallmark Christmas movie’, it was wonderful and definitely scratched my Christmas itch!!
Lucy and Finn were great characters and I loved getting involved in their storyline and gasping at their will-they-won’t-theys!! I also loved all the side characters and thought that they all really added to the story too.
This book was a perfect, festive, heartwarming story and I loved every second of it…….

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having reviewed a lot of Fay Keenan's books, I was really looking forward to this but I found the beginning incredibly slow with too many mentions of the village pub, and also too many characters introduced at once. I did, however like the characters of Lucy, Megan, who I thought was cute and realistic. Serena was a fun friend.

Fay Keenan does a good job of creating a village atmosphere but I found that at least six chapters into the book and there were too many mentions of food and getting the event ready.

I did persevere with this book and it got better.

Thanks to Fay Keenen, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources
in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

3.5 stars

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas book about a Christmas movie...the perfect pairing!

Can you imagine meeting your teenage crush and falling in love with him all over again, only this time for real?

Encapsulating everything Christmassy from the skating rink to the Christmas fayre, this was the perfect festive read and I loved my visit to Roseford. The characters are all warm, friendly and engaging. It it felt like saying goddbye to friends for another year and I didn't want the book to end.

Heartwarming, feel-good festive fiction that leaves you with that warm fuzzy feeling inside.

Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story set in Somerset village during the festive season. The believably created Roseford community is immersive reading, and the festive activities and weather make it wonderfully wintery. I like Lucy, she is realistic, and you want her to succeed in her business and romance. Finn and his film star persona make this a lovely escapist read. Lucy finds she likes the man behind the name, but his celebrity status causes problems that seem impossible.

It's a lovely story about village festivities, friendship and romance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Patrice Gotting - #prdgreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed this one, I was completely swept up in the world of Finn and Lucy!

Lucy lives in the village of Roseford and runs a successful cafe, between running that and running around after her young daughter Megan she doesn’t get a lot of time to herself!

When she hears that the stars of her favourite programme as a teenager will be in Roseford filming a Christmas movie to be released next year, she’s secretly hoping that she’ll get a glimpse of Finn Sanderson the rather dishy actor who’s posters decorated her bedroom walls (and every other teenage girls too!)

I don’t think either of them was quite prepared for what would actually happen whilst he was there..

Finn and Montana together shows that things aren’t always as they seem on tv & that real friendships really can withstand the test of time and anything that is thrown at it.

Throw in a strong female friendship, a sassy little girl who just says what she thinks and a supportive ex partner and this book really did have it all.

A fabulous will they won’t they romance that will have you laughing, swooning and holding your head in your hands in equal measure.

The perfect book to sit and enjoy this festive season!

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

The continued comments about Vancouver and Canada were neither funny nor accurate.

The relationship of the female M.C with alcohol in the middle of the climax was uncomfortable, out of character, and rather unlikely.

On more than one occasion, I was confused about having already read a conversation or action. Had I somehow managed to go back several pages in an e-book without knowing?
Alas, there were simply some nearly identically written passages throughout the book.
Have discovered that do not enjoy a book that feels as if it is gaslighting me.

[Abbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. This was a cute Christmassy romance between a kind-hearted café owner and her teen crush, who comes to her small hometown to revive his career by filming a cheesy Christmas movie. It all ties up very neatly, there isn't much conflict and overall it's just very sugary sweet. I was quite bored through the middle section when not much was happening, which is what knocked it down a star. Also, the reunion where he sings karaoke to her? Incredibly cringe-inducing, but overall it does what it says on the tin and definitely put me in a holiday mood!