inspirationalley's review against another edition
4.0
I've read a few Portia Macintosh books and they never disappoint. They are light, easy reads that put a smile on my face and have me looking forward to the evening when I can curl up with and read.
Love and Lies At the Village Christmas Shop revolves around two main characters, Ivy and Seb. Ivy is running a year-round Christmas shop when Seb turns up intent on buying the land it operates on and developing a holiday village. Ivy is horrified and determined to fight against his plans, but despite this finds herself attracted to Seb.
Ivy is gloriously imperfect, and that's part of her attraction. She assumes many things and gets them wrong. She makes mistake after mistake but is honest enough to admit to them and correct any harm she's done. Seb is the perfect gentleman but is he prepared to compromise on his plans to ensure that Ivy sees him as the person he really is?
The book is amusing, with relatable characters and a perfect Christmas read with a storyline that would make a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Love and Lies At the Village Christmas Shop revolves around two main characters, Ivy and Seb. Ivy is running a year-round Christmas shop when Seb turns up intent on buying the land it operates on and developing a holiday village. Ivy is horrified and determined to fight against his plans, but despite this finds herself attracted to Seb.
Ivy is gloriously imperfect, and that's part of her attraction. She assumes many things and gets them wrong. She makes mistake after mistake but is honest enough to admit to them and correct any harm she's done. Seb is the perfect gentleman but is he prepared to compromise on his plans to ensure that Ivy sees him as the person he really is?
The book is amusing, with relatable characters and a perfect Christmas read with a storyline that would make a Hallmark Christmas movie.
tashas_bookcase's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bc7ate9's review against another edition
3.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I didn’t love this book like others by the same author. It didn’t make me laugh and was extremely predictable. Very xmassy, though - and a quick read.
softstarrynights's review against another edition
3.0
I was gifted this book by a friend as a Christmas Eve read, as part of a fledgling tradition. I usually try to finish it in a day so I was excited to see that this one was so short, around 230 pages or so. Love and Lies at the Village Christmas Shop is a contemporary rom-com following the owner of a year-round Christmas shop and a developer who wants to buy the land. As a fluffy romance, there's no doubt that it succeeds and MacIntosh is great at slowly building their relationship with great subtlety. I think the title makes it sound a tad more dramatic than it really is as there was definitely room for more lies and miscommunication between the protagonist and her love interest. However, as a short, fluffy, Christmas read it was an easy one to curl up with and read from the first page to the last page.
poppy31's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
anjasshelf's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
clarab12's review against another edition
5.0
This is one fab Christmas story! I fell in love with Seb and Ivy and really wanted the best for them both. Plus all the mentions of cinnamon lattes and gingerbread truffles have left me very excited about making lots of Christmas goodies!
This is the first book I have read by this author but I have since found that this isn't the first book in this series. Even so it can be read as a stand alone. Now I can't wait to read more!
This is the first book I have read by this author but I have since found that this isn't the first book in this series. Even so it can be read as a stand alone. Now I can't wait to read more!
ndjrpgs's review against another edition
2.0
I quite liked this christmassy chick-lit but Ivy was too much for me. Especially in the end I wanted to scream at her! So irrational and the same train of thought a hundred of times. Poor Seb is really too good for her. However I liked the setting and the town of Marram Bay and would read something set there again.
annie_clark's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
chelton's review against another edition
5.0
Ivy loves Christmas, which is good since she’s the proud owner of Christmas Every Day, a shop where it’s—well, Christmas every day. However, while she adores running the store in her mother’s memory, sales have been slumping and bills are piling up. Everything changes when a mysterious businessman, Seb, waltzes in and spellbinds the tiny town of Marram Bay, promising new holiday homes and a bustling economy. All he has to do is knock down the Christmas business and he’ll have the perfect spot. But Ivy won't let her shop go without a fight, even if Seb is ridiculously charming.
There’s nothing quite as quaint as a Christmas store and author Portia MacIntosh pulls out all the stops to ensure Christmas Every Day is deeply alluring. Christmas trees in every corner, baubles in every cranny, and bit of a cheeky Santa all make an appearance in this festive story. Moreover, Ivy is running her dream business, passed down from her deceased mother, raising the stakes and making her completely compelling. Ivy is a hardworking, delightfully jolly woman who grounds the entire story and gives it its heart.
This is not to suggest that the rest of the cast is slouching. What good is a Christmas read if it doesn’t have quirky secondary cast? Holly, Ivy’s twin sister, hates Christmas and needles Ivy about her lack of love life. Gaz, a trained actor and professional Santa, doesn’t totally understand workplace etiquette. Then there’s rest of the town, which struggles with wanting a change for the village while also not wanting to betray Ivy. It’s a series of plots that expertly intertwine into the perfect present.
Of course, then there’s Ivy’s main foil, and MacIntosh deserves extra praise for her handling of the slick Seb. His appeal is apparent and his actions are realistic and understandable while remaining completely frustrating. It’s an impressive execution, leading to a desire for Ivy’s business to succeed, Seb’s to fail, and their obviously budding romance to blossom—each thing contradicting the other. The end result, though, is something deeply satisfying.
This is a perfect Christmas read, blending the romance, nostalgia, and confusion so abundant in the season. In a way, MacIntosh has crafted a book that feels like I imagine Christmas Every Day would. It’s brimming with expertly packaged holiday cheer while holding an underlying warmth and tenderness. Simply, it’s pure love.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpress.com/
There’s nothing quite as quaint as a Christmas store and author Portia MacIntosh pulls out all the stops to ensure Christmas Every Day is deeply alluring. Christmas trees in every corner, baubles in every cranny, and bit of a cheeky Santa all make an appearance in this festive story. Moreover, Ivy is running her dream business, passed down from her deceased mother, raising the stakes and making her completely compelling. Ivy is a hardworking, delightfully jolly woman who grounds the entire story and gives it its heart.
This is not to suggest that the rest of the cast is slouching. What good is a Christmas read if it doesn’t have quirky secondary cast? Holly, Ivy’s twin sister, hates Christmas and needles Ivy about her lack of love life. Gaz, a trained actor and professional Santa, doesn’t totally understand workplace etiquette. Then there’s rest of the town, which struggles with wanting a change for the village while also not wanting to betray Ivy. It’s a series of plots that expertly intertwine into the perfect present.
Of course, then there’s Ivy’s main foil, and MacIntosh deserves extra praise for her handling of the slick Seb. His appeal is apparent and his actions are realistic and understandable while remaining completely frustrating. It’s an impressive execution, leading to a desire for Ivy’s business to succeed, Seb’s to fail, and their obviously budding romance to blossom—each thing contradicting the other. The end result, though, is something deeply satisfying.
This is a perfect Christmas read, blending the romance, nostalgia, and confusion so abundant in the season. In a way, MacIntosh has crafted a book that feels like I imagine Christmas Every Day would. It’s brimming with expertly packaged holiday cheer while holding an underlying warmth and tenderness. Simply, it’s pure love.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpress.com/