Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop

by Rebecca Raisin

When you are Festive Flora, you have your almost dream job of assistant-cashier at Deck the Halls Christmas Emporium, you are dating adventurous poet Luke, and you are living in your best friend Livvie’s spare room, what could possibly go wrong? Well, for Flora, everything—all at once!

Flora is accused by various boyfriends of being eccentric, and she is. She’s passionate about the Christmas spirit and wants everyone to feel the same way. She is also kind and generous with a tendency to speak and act before she thinks. Flora is never “good enough” according to her parents’ standards. She and Livvie, who also had a difficult home life, received love and support as children from Flora’s Nan. At her house they created wonderful Christmas memories.

Livvie decides that the solution to some of Flora’s problems is “a Christmas van, like a pop-up shop.” Thus Flora becomes a Van Lifer and heads to Lapland, “the home of Santa Claus,” to sell all things Christmasy with Hallmark movies being the blueprint for her future: a meet-cute with a good looking young man, conflict between the two, followed by romance and a “happy ever after.”

The story pretty much follows that pattern as she meets some nice, helpful people along the way, but also has to deal with a group of jealous “mean girls” who apparently never developed emotionally past high school. The love interest is Collom, the handsome manager of the Christmas market, a never smiling loner who is passionate about ecology, not Christmas. Flora takes on the task of turning Collom from a Grinch to a believer in the Christmas spirit. She has to complete this goal before the Christmas market closes down for the season and they all go their separate ways.

Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop is told from Flora’s point of view with dialogue interspersed with Flora’s thoughts which she sometimes wonders if she has spoken aloud. Whoops! Author Rebecca Raisin succeeds with another romantic comedy, sure to have you turning the pages to see if Flora’s next zany idea will win Collom over—to love Christmas and maybe Flora too. Along the way she has some embarrassing moments that will keep you in stitches, ranging from stage fright to being a naked Britisher in a Finnish sauna.

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins (HQ) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Romance, Women’s Fiction, General Fiction (Adult)

Notes: 1. This is the third in a series about Van Lifers, but stands completely alone from the first two.

2. Despite the Christmasy, festive atmosphere of this book, there is a surprising amount of foul language used casually throughout the book.

Publication: October 28, 2021—Harper Collins (HQ)

Memorable Lines:

It’s not just about holding down a job, it’s that my whole life keeps imploding at every turn. My parents think I’m on a desolate road to nowheresville.

“I probably sound unhinged, but what if we all lived as though our life were a Hallmark movie? What if we took chances, and said what we thought, and believed that true love would find a way, no matter what? What if we were honest about our feelings, knowing that it would all work out in the end? Then the world would be a better place!”

They give me those polite smiles that mange to convey they have absolutely no idea what I’ve said but they’ll tolerate me talking to them in halting Finnish because at least I’m giving it a go.

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.

Oh, what a breath of fresh air Rebecca Raisin's books always are. I always seem to read one of the Van Lifer's stories when I am in a reading slump and Flora and Connor's story was the same as Rosie and Aria and fell, again, exactly when I needed it most. I absolutely loved Flora's take-no-crap attitude compared with the grumpy Connor love interest. This breath of fresh air is exactly what is needed rounding out a this year and heading into a new year and I 100% recommend every single one of the Van Lifer novels but definitely Flora's story for the holidays.

I love Christmas and reading about a Christmas shop in a campervam is right up my street. I have always wanted to own a travelling craft shop so this was so nice to read about.

I laughed out loud several times in this book and it made me smile a lot too. The frosty beginning to Connor and Flora's friendship was really quite amusing and I was looking fotward to seeing what happened with them all the way through.

I loved the sense of community and there are so many lovely characters.

This was a fantastic Christmas read. I've read a few of Rebecca's books before and they always leave with me with a lovely warm feeling and thus gave me the festive feeling as well.
It was a nice change to read a Christmas book set in Lapland. I don't think I've come across one in the same setting before and I love reading about 'van lifers'. That aspect immediately makes the story more interesting to me. Flora was a brilliant main character, I straight away wanted good things for her and her enthusiasm to drag Connor into her Christmas world reminded me of how over enthusiastic I get about Christmas every year!

Definitely one to recommend for this Christmas

You know how most books/movies have a very capable heroine whose best friend is a bit eccentric albeit happy in her very endearing eccentricities? Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop by Rebecca Raisin twists that notion and has the heroine being the eccentric one whose life revolves around Christmas because that’s when she always felt the happiest.

Flora is definitely having a bad series of days. Her boyfriend dumps her because she is a bit too much. She loses her job when her kind-hearted ways miff her boss. And, her very best friend is going to America when her skin care line is picked up and successful.

What does Flora decide to do? Pursue a dream.

Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop is a fun, light-hearted book. Romance comes in when Flora is devastated that Connor hates Christmas. How can anyone hate Christmas? As Flora tries to enlighten Connor to all that is good about Christmas, she also is beginning to fall in love.

While Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop felt a bit quickly written compared to Raisin’s last novel, it is still a lovely upbeat read, very timely.

I receieved an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A festive treat.
I've fortunately read Rebecca Raisin's works before and thoroughly enjoyed them, I expected this one to be no different and was pleased to be right.

What a fabulous idea a travelling Christmas shop is. Fan's of Christmas can reunite her in this cosy book to discover such wonderful treats in Lapland, the possible home of Christmas. There is plenty of cultural references such as the sauna's and the wonderful and fascinating Northern Lights, always a treasure to see but also to read about and with all that to boot, there is little surprise that there is hardly any time for romance, but at the forefront of this story it shows us what is really important at Christmas, and you can't put a price tag on that.

Even though Flora has had the best of luck and life has thrown her some curveballs along the way, this is one book that feels like a warm hug as we pedal into Christmas spirit at full speed, this book could just be what you're after!

With thanks to Netgalley for my FREE ARC in return for my honest review!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me access to this book for an honest review.

4⭐. I saved this book for this time if year on purpose, and it definitely helped to make me feel festive. As with all of the other Van Lifer books, reading this has made me want to get out, travel and explore.

I enjoyed the characters and the building of the relationship throughout the book. However, I am dropping it a star as I feel the main antagonist could have been a rival for reasons other than jealousy over a love interest.

Rebecca Raisin is fast becoming an auto-buy author for me

A travelling Christmas Shop - fabulous. Add in a 'van life' element and some romance and this is a great story. I really enjoyed being transported into this Norwegian story and disappearing into Flora's world during my bedtime read. A recommended read.

‘I’m a self-confessed Christmas tragic and if I could live like it’s Christmas all year round, then I would.’

I am a big fan of Rebecca’s Van Lifers series - I have read the Tea Shop and Book Shop editions of course! So I was highly anticipating her latest offering at this time of year, a Christmas Shop van! So if you are in any way a fan of Christmas look no further for this book is full to the brim with good festive cheer!

‘It’s my interpretation of the true meaning of Christmas. It isn’t about gaudy festoon lights, or maxed-out credit cards, the forced proximity of family members who don’t get along. It’s about finding someone who makes you feel like it’s Christmas every day. Someone who finds joy in the simple things’

Flora's Travelling Christmas Shop is absolutely delightful and everything you could expect in Lapland! I loved the cultural inclusions and various customs (yes naked sauna trips were a LOL moment!) - not to forget the amazing Northern Lights. Rebecca’s wit and charm oozes like hot chocolate from all her vibrant characters. Poor ol’ Flora, searching for her Hallmark movie moment! The dialogue is fun and the friendships engaging. The requisitory romance is there but not front and centre … this book is all about Christmas in all its many shapes and forms. Flora is obviously an over-the-top Christmas fanatic and even those of us who love this time of year may find that too much as it sometimes comes across as childish - but then you tell yourself, this is what this time of year is all about. You can’t help but want things to flow for this flawed character.

‘So, it’s my love of all things Christmas you find so offensive?

This book is sure to bring a smile to your Christmas preparations this month as it will leave you feeling warm and happy inside. So fire up those Christmas lights, put that carol playlist on, grab yourself a hot drink (‘make yourself a pot of strong tea.’ ‘That’s your answer to this … this malady?’ ‘For now. We’re British, it’s what we do’) and spend some time in Lapland with Flora and her van.

‘Christmas or Hanukkah or any seasonal occasion at this time of year, it’s as though the world pauses for that infinitesimal amount of time - smiles get wider, hope abounds and joy is found in the simplest of things, like listening to carols, or popping a cracker and donning a paper crown. It’s an enchanting time of year’











This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Flora's Travelling Christmas Shop is like a Hallmark Christmas movie on wheels! A sweet and festive romance between merry and bright, Flora and Grinch, Conner, brimming with magic holiday cheer! You'll want this in your holiday reading stack!

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the eARC!

Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop by Rebecca Raisin, another @netgalley book. Flora is Miss Christmas, She loves everything about Christmas and even works in a Christmas shop. Unfortunately everything in Flora’s life doesn’t go to plan and she loses the job at the Christmas shop, she is dumped by her boyfriend and her best friend is moving overseas. With the help of her best friend Flora decides to buy a camper van and and head to Lapland, to sell Christmas decorations and to hopefully have her ‘Hallmark film’ moment. This book comes across as a simple and unassuming book and in many ways it is and that’s part of it charm, yet it’s more than that. Flora right from the beginning is endearing, loveable and funny. The shop she works at, at the beginning reminds me of the Xmas shop in the film ‘Last Christmas’, and I could definitely see this being a film. I love everything about Flora’s character, she has this passion for Christmas and everything she does she heads feet first into and thinks later, she speaks her mind, yet underneath all that she’s just as vulnerable as everyone. There’s almost a childlike innocence about Flora and she wants everyone to have the same passion for Christmas as she does, regardless of age and she sets out to prove it to Connor. I like that throughout the book Flora and her best friend refer to Flora’s trip as a ‘Hallmark movie’, it’s like the characters and even the author don’t take them self to seriously and again this is very endearing. Although as a Christmas book you can expect it to be predictable and it certainly is predictable I think this is part of this books charm because I think for me I started to think that Flora was someone I knew and praise should go to the author for that, for making Flora’s character familiar and so loveable. As a reader I was right behind Flora’s character wanting all her Christmas wishes to come true. I also think because it was such a light and fluffy, get under the duvet with a hot chocolate Christmas read that it balances out the predictability of the story and because I wanted Flora to succeed in everything she put her mind to I forgot how predictable it was.

It’s that time of year when I binge read all of my Christmas books and this one was a fun, enjoyable read.

Flora is obsessed with Christmas and works in a Christmas emporium - her life is perfect. However, her best friend announces she is moving to America and then Flora loses her job. Following a chat with her friend, Flora decides to open her own Christmas shop - a travelling Christmas shop in a van. And she’s going to Lapland to do it, as this is the home of Christmas.

There are no convoluted plot twists and no surprises, this is, after all, a lightweight romance novel. Flora is chaotic and naïve and could have easily slipped into annoying, however, she was funny enough to be likeable.

A great Christmas novel.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel in lieu of an honest review.

A lot of things happening in Flora’s life and nothing seems to be good. A little slow to start but it creeps up slowly. Not really the typical Christmas time seeking love story of where boy meets girl and they fall in love. It’s more like a girl travels overseas to sell Christmas products, finds herself in minute amount of trouble due to a trouble maker - green eyed monster - who likes to get what she wants girl. Flora makes some friends who help her with the local grinch called Connor who for some reason hates Christmas. Flora and her new friends do their best to change the grinch, so does Flora manage to Tame the Grinch. It’s like reading a festive story about Scrooge and the Grinch without the ghosts.
#FlorasTravellingChristmasShop #NetGalley
I received a complimentary copy of this book from HQ, HQ Digital via NetGalley for my honest review of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own thoughts, feelings and viewpoints of the book.

This book was simply a Christmas delight. The unlucky in love and work Flora takes her chances in a new career involving Christmas (of course) and the results are both funny and heartwarming.

Another perfect book to read in the run up to Christmas or if you're a Christmas lover like myself, it's perfect at anytime of year. I hope there's a follow up as I'd love to read more about Flora and her adventures.

This book is a must read this Christmas. Especially if you are like me and adore the festive season.

Flora adores the Christmas period and is happy to share her cheer with everyone, even if they don’t appreciate the season. She has to work hard in this book to get certain someone to feel the same way she does.

This is the first Rebecca Raisin book I have read and I really liked it, this one is so evocative of Christmas time, it made me want to put up my tree instantly! She does such a good job of bringing her characters to life, I really liked Flora and her attitude. Plus a visit to Lapland is now on my to do list!

A perfectly pleasant Christmas romance but nothing particularly special or memorable. I loved the setting of the Lapland Christmas market and the characters were fun but the plot was a little unbelievable and the ending a bit abrupt. Perfect for a cheery read on a cold December day.

Today, we're hauling out the holly and untangling those Christmas lights as we play host to a stop on the latest Rachel's Random Resources tour! It features a festive addition to the almost-a-series collection of titles from author Rebecca Raisin. They are loosely connected in the sense of wandering spirits seeking a place to call home, and they do share back with either characters or their experiences, but whether you've read them all or are simply reeled in by today's holly jolly selection, you're in for a great story and won't be lost like a snowflake in a snowstorm.

Have you ever wished your life could be like a Hallmark Christmas movie? You know, a heroine looking for a new start in a charming, quaint town, where she happens into a meet-cute she can't identify, develops feelings she can't quite name as does the other party of the meet, obstacles appear that are deftly knocked down, and then one final big hurdle and BOOM...romantic outlook clear and happily ever after straight ahead! Yeah...a life like that where you could live ALL OUT all the time and not worry about if things will work out because without a doubt they will...that would be the life. So...why can't you live that way? Why can't it all work out? Is it silly to pin our hopes and dreams on something that may seem like a stretch to many, but could simply be out of reach do to a lack of faith on our part? Am I asking too many questions because, yeah...I too would love to live that way, but lack the yuletide influenced confidence to do so? Maybe...but I bet I share that sled with many, now back to the book...

Flora is a doll! She is unapologetically HER in everything she does and that's FANTASTIC! She's a great person with a bad track record in work and love, but it's not for a lack of trying. The former...she helps too many people, much to her own detriment; the latter...she doesn't want to compromise herself for someone else. Neither was something I could fault her for, so when she embarked on this new stage in her life, I was right there rooting her on. I couldn't think of a better solution to her problems, and with the friends she has, as well as the ones she makes, she's definitely on the way to a brighter future, come what may. That come what may comes in the form of a "Norse god" type man that would give the Grinch a run for his money, and yet is connected with one of the biggest holiday events in their area. Go figure. The run-ins he has with her range from straight aggravation to heart flutter moments, with a few embarrassing ones in-between, but in the end...there's the hope for a reformed man, there's the chance of a wish granted, and a candy cane sweet ending that is fit for the season.

Start your holiday reading early and get to know the true meaning of Christmas from festive Flora...as she opens hearts one encounter at a time.

A beautiful Christmas love story set in Finland.
Flora is such a likeable character, down on her luck, just wants to see the best in the world and loves Christmas.
Connor is the perfect grinch turned Christmas elf. Quite literally.
I loved the characters such as Raakel and Hanne who helped the story along.
The setting was wonderful, lapland, aurora borealis, snow!
I always think a Christmas story is like a Hallmark movie and so this referencing its likeness of one so frequently throughout made me smile.
Well written, a warm winters hug in a book.

I thought this was a cute and festive book, but maybe not as good as her other books. I loved the setting of Lapland and thought it sounded like such a magical place to spend a Christmas. I thought the main character was quirky and fun. I wish there had been a few more obstacles to her van life though, just to make things a little interesting. It seemed like everything happened so quickly. It also seemed as though the entire book was Flora trying to change Connor and yet he liked her just the way she was. That just rubbed me the wrong way. I didn't sense any chemistry between them and didn't think there was any relationship development. It was just an okay story.