The fairy lights are up and shoppers are flooding the snowy seaside promenade. It’s going to be a busy month at Forget-Me-Not Vintage, a magical shop with a warm heart where every item has a story to be told.
With bright red hair and an infectious smile, Dodie is a hopeless romantic and absolutely one of a kind, just like the pieces in her shop.
When Dodie finds a love letter in the pocket of an old woollen coat, she makes it her mission to deliver it to its rightful owner. Following the address, she manages to persuade the handsome but reluctant new tenant, Edward, to help her with her search.
As the story of the letter unfolds, Dodie is there, as always, to pick up the pieces and make things right. But who will be there for her when her own love story needs a helping hand?
Is it too much to dream of a happy ending like the ones in the black and white movies she adores?
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy of A Very Vintage Christmas to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
Fans of Tilly Tennant, myself included, must have been delighted to discover that Tilly had two Christmas books being published this year, the first in the two part An Unforgettable Christmas series being A Very Vintage Christmas. This book was a joy to read from start to finish and certainly epitomises Christmas and the message that accompanies it. Amidst all the hustle and bustle and frantic preparations the message can be forgotten. But here our man character Dodie who runs the Forget Me Not vintage shop in Bournemouth reminds us in a timely manner that it is the season for giving and sharing, for thinking of others and for spreading happiness and Christmas cheer. I flew through the story and was engulfed in all things Christmassy. This story most definitely had the feel good factor in abundance and all the scenes featuring the Christmas markets and the various activities in the town were gorgeous and so well written. The images were so clear in my mind and the sense of Dodie working towards a goal that would bringing contentment, relief, comfort and ultimate satisfaction and resolution made this for a really feel good read wrapped up nicely within the Christmas theme.
Dodie Bright is 28 but likes to spend her time lost in another era as is evident by the treasure trove of clothes and accessories she finds and sells in her recently opened vintage shop. All her life she has felt like an outsider and she battles a myriad of emotions on a day to day basis but with stalwart friend Isla by her side she begins to feel she can weather any storm. This storm is about to come full force upon her. The shop she has dedicated her life to has been broken into and all her hard work has gone down the drain. Combined with the fact precious, irreplaceable pieces have been taken, the business itself is not doing too great and money issues become ever more pressing and always at the forefront of Dodie's mind. But Dodie is a determined person and will not go down without a fight. She kept her troubles secret from boyfriend Ryan and wants to do things on her own. In one way this is admirable but in another I thought why put everything on your shoulders. Why not share the load? It makes the reader question whether Dodie is fully committed to a relationship with Ryan or is there someone better and more suited to Dodie out there?
As it is coming up to Christmas Dodie wants to give her everything and turn the fortunes of the business around but will she be successful? The focus of this book wasn't all on Dodie making a go of the business, I think it would have become boring and formulaic if that had been the case. Instead the discovery of a letter in a coat which Dodie had bought for the shop turns things on its head. The letter addressed to someone named Maggie is full of passion, promise, and emotion written by a man called George who is away fighting in the war. This declaration of love hits Dodie right where it matters and she sets upon a quest to reunite the letter with its intended recipent. In doing so Dodie's life is changed and the spirit of the season, the season of good will is evoked. A spark is ignited in Dodie and she feels it somehow will change her life as she feels the love George had for Maggie gave her an insight into the kind of love she didn't know existed, the love she wants for herself and is not quite sure Ryan can provide her with.
Dodie is now on a mission and she won't stop until she has the answers, in a way she is doing this for herself just as much for Maggie, if she can ever find her, if she is even still alive? If there is a mystery to solve Dodie can't settle until she has done so. A chance encounter brings her into contact with Ed and brings changes and a whole new perspective to Dodie's life. Like Dodie, Ed has had upheaval and upset in his life and when the reasons for this are revealed it is heartbreaking. I felt like Dodie and Ed were like lost souls who didn’t realise they needed each other. The letter is the thing that brings them together as they both search for Maggie. I thought it was great that the issue of the letter was put aside at times and then came back to the fore at the most opportune moments.
Ed did blow very hot and cold in his personality but this was understandable. As Dodie and Ed, against the backdrop of food stalls, ice rinks, carol singers and the Christmas lights, search for answers they begin to find the personal answers they themselves had probably never realised they were seeking. The story was just so beautifully told that it really struck a chord with me and I was rooting for a positive outcome for all aspects of the various storylines. You do get swept away in the romance of it all, it could have descended into pure mush but thankfully it didn't and yes I felt the ending and resolution was purely and simply just perfect.
Dodie's best friend Isla seemed to pop up at strange moments and then disappear. I wondered why she was getting some prominence and then there was no development accept for a phone call with an update. I sensed she was a really good friend to Dodie whose relationship meant a lot to her but why wasn't more attention being focused on her story? Especially considering how significant and life changing the situation Isla found herself in was. It took some time to click with me, and was only finally confirmed towards the end, that Isla will get a book to herself to tell her story. I hadn't realised that A Cosy Candlelit Christmas was Isla's chance to shine and share her story as I hadn't read the blurb prior to reading this story. So there is a lovely connection between the two stories and it was quite clever of Tilly Tennant to do this and it's something I would love to see more of in the future.
The fact that there is not too long a gap between publication of each book is an added bonus and for those who can wait they can read one story after the other. I will enjoy seeing elements of Dodie's story viewed from Isla's perspective and vice versa. I think either story could be read first as there is enough crossover tantalising hints dotted throughout the book but I am glad I have come to know and love Dodie so well first. A Very Vintage Christmas was a gorgeous Christmas story that is a quick, sweet, cosy and uplifting read that didn't disappoint in the slightest. Make sure you don't let this little gem pass you by when you embark upon your Christmas reading this year.
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