Wow, another charming, heart-warming reading experience! Every book of Rebecca Raisin’s I have read so far has been a winner and this one is no exception. In fact, I think it is even a notch higher as although this is a romantic comedy, it is jam packed with serious deep relationship experiences and useful wisdom. There’s lots of amazing witty dialogue, and an eclectic mix of friendly characters that round out this story beautifully. I was constantly nodding my head in agreement with the comments, advice and directions these people went. So without doubt, I truly enjoyed the unforgettable ride on The Last Stop on the Winter Wonderland Express There’s a real richness and maturity in this novel’s content and presentation. The settings are so well described, I felt transported to each location on route. There’s plenty of action too and the plot has some alluring twists.
On Audrey’s wedding day, she has a case of the massive jitters but It seems she is not alone. For her fiancé Miles abandons her before she even makes it up the aisle to the altar. He disappears leaving her shocked, hurt and embarrassed. How could she not know this was coming? She didn’t! Worse still, he does not talk to her and tell her what is going on. He just evaporates. It is only a few days to Christmas and her longed for luxury honeymoon must be dealt with. Feeling confused and heart-broken, she decides to take the ten day romantic train ride alone. But she does not want anyone there to know she has been jilted. So while on board, the facts get a bit murky. She implies her ‘husband’ has died tragically so the sympathy flows from those around her. Quickly she discovers she is not the only one alone as there are a number of single people on the trip. And this group of sad lonely hearts bond and draw close. They pitch the name of their group as The Unlucky in Love Travel Club. What follows is an interesting exploration of how people deal with grief, heartbreak and disappointment. Plus wonderful friendships are made in their moments of need. This journey even brings love into the lives of some—including Audrey. A certain travel journalist named Jasper is full of surprises and their friendship erupts into something more but it is a slow dance with romance for these two. Yet beautifully rendered by the author.
I loved all the quirky, witty, warm characters and their intriguing stories. The whole reading experience was a delicious treat. Rebecca Raisin has delivered another top notch romantic comedy full of depth, desire, dreaminess and delight. Who wouldn’t want to take the Winter Wonderland Express to Paris, Stockholm and end up in Lapland staying in an igloo gazing up at the Northern Lights! This fun, moving, uplifting story contains wonderful resolutions. It teaches that although your life may not go as planned and you could end up on a different path than expected, the detour could lead to glorious surprises, endearing friendships and unexpected soul-mate love. As Audrey finds out, everything happens for a reason! 5 wintry Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
