I've never read a Lilac Mills book before. I wasn't familiar with her writing style or the genre she falls into. This book was very CLEAN. Like rated PG, Hallmark Channel, your tweens/teens can read this clean. Not even a fade to black for intimate scenes. It's not typically what I'd go for, but it was a Christmas read and I tolerate the PG books since Christmas romances are my kryptonite.

That said, this was a decent Christmas read. I did find that it dragged and was a bit too long. The whole premise behind a traveling Christmas (and year-long) shop was a bit far-fetched. Maybe that's a thing across the pond? I've certainly never heard of it here in the U.S. So while it was creative, the sustainability of that was questionable, just like Seren believed for the longest time.

I loved Seren's enthusiasm for all things Christmas. Her joy was infectious. She was certainly more patient and understanding than I could ever be when it comes to difficult people. Is it really hard to get a grocery store job there that she had to hold onto one that made her unhappy for so long as if it were her only lifeline? They're a dime a dozen here in the states, so maybe that's another location thing that doesn't make sense to me. I honestly didn't like that part about her. We've all had jobs we hated, but when it's a minimum wage job, is it really worth your mental health to continue to deal with a difficult boss?

Daniel was adorable. I loved how 'all in' he was with his relationship with Seren. He never pushed her and gave her time and space, but he was always there for her. He does screw up royally in the end and it annoyed me to no end that he'd be that stupid and not bother communicating with the girl he supposedly loved. He fixes things, but he should have done a lot more groveling in my opinion.

I wish we had more of an epilogue that showed us into their future. I'd have love to seen how the shop was doing, how Daniel liked his job, how Nelly & Erwin were faring at the home, and what their family looked like now.

I didn't know Ms. Mills was a British author. I mean I guess the "Cosy" in the title should have clued me to that. I'm decently familiar with British English, but I have to say, there were way too many British-only words in this book for my American English self to understand. Some were so out there that Wikipedia/Dictionary on the Kindle couldn't even tell me the meaning. Even in context, I was confused by a handful of words. So for those American English speakers, just know that you may find yourself scratching your head as to what a word means as you read.

Oh I adored this book. It is feel good, romantic, adorable and joyful. It is filled with everything you can love about the Christmas season, snow, food, family, friends, father Christmas, Christmas fair and love. When Serens aunt Nelly who lives in a nursing home wants to buy a gift for a new 'inmate' she is stuck as to what to buy him. Sure there's the usual chocolates, sweets, drinks, socks and slippers but where's the fun in that. Nelly can't really get out and about again, to go to the shops and let's not talk about Christmas shopping on the internet. What Nelly really would love is for the gifts to come to her. And so seren and Nelly both have the idea of a travelling van. Seren mentions it to here father when she gets home after getting disappointed that there isn't a facility nearby that would be able to go to her aunt's nursing home. On a whim Serens dad buys an old ice-cream van that he sees and asks the local car convert man to transform it into a travelling gift shop. When Serens finds out what is going on she is in two minds. Yes she feels underappreciated and overworked in her day job and yes she would love to give this a go. But is she really the right person and will she really be able to make a profit out of this. And so entails Serens journey with her travelling gift shop and her story of finding love at Christmas time.

It is a heart warming enjoyable read that will leave you smiling from ear to ear. I loved it.

Lovely Christmassy read, great character and low stress storyline. Perfect for the season of goodwill!

love a festive read and this didn’t disappoint!
this is the dream job who wouldn’t love a mobile christmas shop!
like book follows the ups and downs of Seren as she faces the daily drudge of a boring job until great aunt nelly gets involved and the fun begins. throw into the mix a little romance and you have a festive treat!

The book itself is a bit bumbly and choppy at times, but this works out really well because the characters' lives are the same, so it lends a tone of authenticity. Each of our main characters is at a crossroads, trying to reconcile what they had envisioned for the future with what it now the present. While it is set at Christmas, this is a story that could occur at any time of the year...the holiday additions just lend it an air of added coziness. Overall, a feel good story for the holiday season!

So excited to read/review this book! Full review to come… I love Christmas themed books and this looks like such a sweet story. I think it has such a great and cute concept to bring joy to those who can’t get out to get it themselves. Having family in personal care homes ai could relate so much to this and wish an option like this would be available.
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While bringing joy to others, can these two Christmas helpers also find some for themselves?

Seren’s great aunt Nelly hates being in a care home, especially around Christmas when Seren learns that Nelly and the other residents can’t enjoy the simple pleasure of browsing for gifts in the shops. So what if Seren brings the shops to them?

Converting an ice cream van into a gift shop, Seren travels around Tinstone to help out the less mobile. On her journeys, she keeps bumping into a reluctant – and handsome – Father Christmas, who has been roped into helping out this festive season.

But running her own business comes with risks and surprises that Seren's not sure she's able to tackle. Has she bitten off more than she can chew, or will her travelling Christmas shop provide some much-needed festive cheer for the residents of Tinstone?

A delightfully heartwarming and funny festive romance for fans of Rebecca Raisin and Sue Moorcroft.

It's so much fun getting into Christmas books for this year already.
Christmas books are fun and uplifting, well if they are by Lilac Mills they are.
Seren's great Aunt Nelly hates being in a care home, especially because of her limited mobility.
The one time Seren and her father took aunt Nelly out shopping with her wheelchair it made for a very long and tiring day for all.
While Seren is pondering Nelly's suggestion of she wants the shopping to come to her there's the brilliant idea of converting an ice cream truck to a portable Christmas shopping van.
It's not all smooth sailing but when it's done lots of people are so impressed with the Cosy Travelling Christmas Shop. Throw in the warm,fuzzy holiday season,a little snow and gift wrapped gifts and a fun and unexpected holiday romance. It wouldn't be the holidays without the latest Christmas read by Lilac Mills which I recommend to you!

Pub Date 01 Sep 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This was the first book I have read by this author and won’t be my last

This was such a cosy and lovely read and the perfect escapism over a very hot weekend to be reading about snow and festive treats. My Christmas in July has now spilled over into august and loved the delights that this book has to offer it had lots of romance, friendships and quirky characters with the added sparkle on top of the goings on of the cosy Christmas
Travelling shop and was a definite feel
Good read which I think would make a perfect hallmark Christmas
Movie

This was so cute! A wonderful romance, filled with witty banter, delightful characters, and just enough steaminess. A must read for romance lovers! A beautiful Christmas romance!

I couldn't make it past the first chapter. I tried to but I kept losing focus because the beginning did not grip me. I wish the book had a better beginning to make me more invested in Seren's story.

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found the start quite boring. Decently compelling story and the cover is beautiful.
I found the main character too people pleaser and that put me off a little

Wow wow wow. This is my kind of book. Snow, Christmas , interfering Aunts , a retirement home, a lovely love story, bad x’s and a painful boss. Never mind an ace Christmas shop. You have to read it and a hot gardener thrown in as well. Read it.

I absolutely loved this read from Lilac Mills!

Great aunt Nelly lives in a care home and doesn't like the fact of not being able to shop properly, not a fan of online ordering as we all like to be able to look and feel what we are buying, so what a fab idea of having a shop visit the care homes.

Seren is just the woman for the job when her dad buys her an ice cream van to convert, what a genius plan or not?

My first Christmas book of the year and I throughly enjoyed it, we have a mixture of ages, wit and wonderful friendships all rolled into this festive read.

This is the first book I have read by Lilac Mills. I am so glad that I picked it to read. (I am drawn to books by the covers and titles!) This is exactly the type of story that I love. Her characters are created so lifelike, that I definitely cared about them immediately. They have jobs that are very relatable, a worker in a grocery shop (and trying to establish a traveling Christmas shop) and a free-lance gardener (and sometimes fill in for Santa).

My favorite genre is romance and I especially like a friendship to romantic partners theme. Also, I adore stories that include characters of the older generation! All my favorites were checked off with this book!

I totally enjoyed every moment that I spent in this wonderful world that Lilac Mills created. It definitely is an uplifting and inspiring festive romance story, as stated in the title. I look forward to reading Ms. Mills other books.

A huge thank you to Canelo Escape and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

ThAnks to NetGalley and Canelo for the opportunity to read The Cosy Travelling Christmas Shop by Lilac Mills. Very enjoyable and a perfect Christmas feel good book.

Lilac Mills + Christmas = is there more of a perfect combination? Maybe throw in a glass of gin or a warming hot chocolate.

I instantly felt a kinship with Seren, our protagonist - I too would keep Christmas decorations up all year if I could; I mean, I am reading this in 30 degree August. I also found her a real delight, she comes across very well, she’s very human and feels like she could be a friend or a sister. And as for Daniel, he’s definitely a dish. I know there’s no pictures, and he’s just a figment of an imagination, but he sounds like a very lovely chap.

I really liked Seren’s aunt Nelly and Daniel’s grandad Edwin. They reminded me exactly of the elderly people in my late grandmother’s care home. They’re going through difficult times that come with ageing, but they’re having fun with it and they just seem so cute and I’d read a book all about them any day of the week.

I find Christmas books just have the power to fill you with warmth, almost like a hug, and this is no difference. It contains all my favourite bits of the festive season: present buying, wreath making, Christmas markets, family, friends and love.

A real fun, sweet, entertaining, cosy read, perfect for any time of the year, but I expect it would hit even harder nearer the end of the year, filling you with ultimate Christmas cheer.

Seren's great aunt Nelly hates being in a care home, especially around Christmas when Seren learns that Nelly and the other residents can't enjoy the simple pleasure of browsing for gifts in the shops. So what if Seren brings the shops to them?
Converting an ice cream van into a gift shop, Seren travels around Tinstone to help out the less mobile. On her journeys, she keeps bumping into a reluctant and handsome Father Christmas, who has been roped into helping out this festive season.
But running her own business comes with risks and surprises that Seren's not sure she's able to tackle. Has she bitten off more than she can chew, or will her travelling Christmas shop provide some much needed festive cheer for the residents of Tinstone?
Really enjoyable read totally recommend thank You NetGalley And Canelo
I just reviewed The Cosy Travelling Christmas Shop by Lilac Mills. #TheCosyTravellingChristmasShop #NetGalley