After one toxic relationship too many and more failed jobs than she can count, spirited Scarlett Finch has lost her sparkle and doesn’t think she can face this year’s festive season. The last thing she expects is to land a Christmas job at Glenbriar’s Little Station Bookshop, especially not thanks to a slightly unhinged older woman with a parrot, a pug, a wild imagination, and some crackpot ideas for displays – not to mention a flair for making unexpected decisions, like hiring Scarlett without telling the owner.
Widowed dad-of-three Lloyd Miller is just trying to keep life on track. Between moving house, juggling his day job, and preparing to take over the bookshop from his retired mum, the chaos inside the shop is the last thing he needs, particularly when it includes Scarlett, the woman he shared a no-strings summer fling with… and hasn’t stopped thinking about since.
While Glenbriar twinkles with Christmas lights, both Scarlett and Lloyd are haunted by their pasts, drawn together in their present, and uncertain of their future.
A bookshop full of anonymous wishes might just give them the courage to make their own – but with neither convinced they deserve a second chance, it’ll take more than festive magic to open the book
on a new romance. They can’t change the past – but they can still choose how the story goes.
Margaret Amatt is a bestselling Scottish author, professional daydreamer, and certified chocolate addict. She’s been making up stories for as long as she can remember – some of them even made it
onto paper (and, tragically, onto floppy disks that no computer can read anymore).
After two decades of writing in secret, she finally unleashed her first novel on the world in 2021, kicking off a ten-book series set on the stunning Isle of Mull.
But why stop there? She’s also the creator of The Glenbriar Series, where romance, small-town drama, and a pinch of spice keep readers coming back for more. This series is still going strong, with more books planned!
Margaret has spent her whole life in Scotland’s breath-taking Highland Perthshire, despite her entire extended family coming from the Glasgow area. Her books are romantic and emotional, sweet and funny, and each one can be read as a standalone, but long-time readers know the joy of familiar faces popping up, adding to the chaos.
So, if you love relatable characters, sizzling chemistry, and plenty of banter, you’re in the right place – just don’t blame Margaret when you stay up way too late reading just one more chapter.
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My thoughts: If you’re looking for a fun romance with a bit of Christmas sparkle, you can stop now. Set in Scotland, in a small town called Glenbriar, this is a funny, charming love story with plenty of festive fun. Scarlett gets a job at the bookshop, after accidentally accepting one from Eunice, who works there, with her pug and parrot (the pug makes another appearance later, thankfully the sweary parrot doesn’t). Hired properly, Scarlett starts to make the shop more appealing, with new displays and decorations.
The owner, Lloyd, has taken over from his mum and isn’t really thrilled to do so. He’s got a lot on his plate – three bereaved children, a new house, his other job, and an interfering mother. He needs plenty of help, and even though his past fling with Scarlett makes things a bit awkward, he’s actually really pleased she’s happy to stick around and keep the shop running.
As Christmas comes to town, the pair realise they still have a lot of feelings for each other, but Lloyd’s kids aren’t so sure, and his mum still doesn’t really like Scarlett. Can they all be reassured and won over before the 25th or is love not allowed this year?
It’s cute, fun, jolly and funny, what more could you ask for? Some hot chocolate? Definitely get that going for reading time!
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 