I begin with apologies! My stop is late on the blog tour for One Last Dream For December by Lottie Cardew on behalf of Rachel’s Random Resources. Thanks to both Rachel Gilbey and Lottie Cardew for the ARC of the book to join this tour.
Sometimes, the dream we think we don’t deserve is the one that’s trying to come true…
Esme Blythe has led a nomadic existence for the last ten years, never thinking she fits anywhere, and never feeling she’s earned the right to. But when she moves in above Percival’s, the charming old toy shop in Market Square, Pebblestow, it seems the village is about to weave its signature fairy-tale magic.
Surrounded by wooden toy soldiers, rocking horses, and vintage doll’s houses, not to mention the locals who seem determined to be part of her life – from her endearing grumpy uncle, to warm-hearted co-worker Blodwyn, and smouldering single dad Seth – Esme has to face up to everything she’s been missing, or turn her back on an incredible opportunity.
New friends, formidable foes, and the thrill of a budding romance, conspire to make this the most bittersweet December ever. But when she finally learns the truth about the toy shop’s owner, her elusive benefactor, the mysterious Mr Percival, is it already too late for Esme to change her mind… and heal her heart?
What have I missed? This is my first excursion to Pebblestow, the village in Lottie Cardew’s One Last Dream For December. After reading this book, I just want to go back and read the first in the series. Saying that, I read this one so easily, so there is no been to have read the first. I am just so in love with this village and it’s community that I want to read it.
We meet Esmerelda ‘Esme’ Blythe. She has just moved to Pebblestow and landed the job in Mr Percivals Toy Store as well as living above it too. Being walking distance from her Uncle Samuel who is so supportive to her helps her with her fears of being a newcomer. She finds her colleague in the shop, Blodwyn to be one of the nicest people she has come across too so this is also good for her. Before she realises it she has a bunch of new friends in the village making it their mission to make her feel at home.
Such a magical story. Lottie Cardew seems to have cast a spell on me with her beautiful book. Everything from the village with its traditional toy shop to the characters I instantly took to my heart and everything entranced me. Her characters are even more special to me as she has included neuro diversity. Esme has traits and they are shown to make her a more positive type person, instead of just ‘strange’.
This is close to my heart as my son is neuro diverse too. To make this story even better there is more than one neurodiverse character and I was revelling in this fact alone! We need to see more of this in everyday novels, I would love it. Esme’s friendships and her relationship with her Uncle all gave me such a warm, fuzzy feeling, like a big hug in a book!
The slow burn romance between Esme and Seth is emotional and not without it’s obstacles. If anything brought the tension it was this. I was just hoping against hope this would work out and really had to keep reading with my fingers crossed until I found out.
For me, this is amongst the best romances I have read this year. If you love gorgeous villages with residents who want nothing but the best for everyone, along with a romance that pulls at the heartstrings I do say you should try One Last Dream For December.
Purchase Link https://viewbook.at/LastDreamForDecember
Author Bio
Lottie Cardew writes uplifting, contemporary romcoms set around the picturesque village of Pebblestow, and is an advocate for diversity in fiction.
Regarded as the bossy one at Novelistas Ink, Lottie often subdues the other members if they misbehave (they don’t really) including the popular authors Trisha Ashley and Sophie Claire. She is a longstanding member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, scooping their New Writer’s Award in her twenties under a different pen-name. More recently, Lottie also joined the Society of Authors where as an active participant in the ADCI group (Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses) she interviewed bestselling author Holly Smale in 2021 for the first ever Disability Issue of The Bookseller.
Lottie is diagnosed autistic with suspected ADHD. Her home in North Wales is overrun by husband, not-very-small children, and a ball of fluff masquerading as a Pomeranian, so Lottie frequently takes refuge at her desk.
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Website: https://www.lottiecardew.co.uk/
Facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/LottieCardew.Books
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