Fascinating and engaging book reviews and encouragement you'll want to read.
Author:deanne01
I am an avid reader and reviewer. I am open for review requests please contact me at Cnnamongirl at aol dot com. I work with big name publishers and indie publishers alike. I am on launch and street teams and have MANY NetGalley and GoodReads reviews up. I love all animals and I am a vegetarian. Thank you for joining me here.
410 pages original publication date April 18, 2022 republished July 4, 2023 Berkley publisher
About The Book
A grumpy farmer and a no-nonsense social media influencer have another chance at love in this charming romantic comedy.
Evelyn St. James isn’t the kind of woman you forget. Beckett Porter certainly hasn’t. One incredible weekend in Maine, and he’s officially a man distracted. He’s not unfamiliar with hot and heavy flings, but Evie wove some sort of magic over him during their tumble in the sheets. He can’t stop thinking about her laugh. Her hand pressed flat against his chest. Her smiling mouth at his neck.
So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he is…confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a global phenomenon. When Evie disappears again, Beckett resolves to finally move on.
But Evie, who has been feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly dissatisfied with life online, is trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was happy: Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with.
Several months ago, I got my introduction to B.K. Borison’s book while reading Lovelight. The book is phenomenal, and I couldn’t wait to read In the Weeds and am so glad I did. Grumpy meets Sunshine in In the Weeds. Beckett Porter is in charge of Lovelight Farms, you could call him Mr. Grumpy. Evelyn St. James is a social influencer; traveling is just another day on the job. She doesn’t particularly enjoy it anymore; the likes and comments online just don’t give her the excitement it used to. I absolutely loved the dynamics between Beckett and Evelyn. She’s quite a distraction to him after meeting. He’s had a few flings, not really caring if they come or go. When Evelyn hits the scene, this changes his perspective tremendously. He wants her in his life but with her leaving and returning several times, can he trust her to stay put? One of the most sensual books I’ve read in quite a while. Can he convince her true “happy place” is with him on the farm? This series is my happy place for sure, I just love it. I’m looking forward to reding the next in the series, Mixed Signals. That’ll be up soon for me. Can’t wait to see what else she’ll come out with.
Pub date 4 July 2023. I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About The Author
Amazon bestselling author B.K. Borison is fueled almost entirely by coffee and spends her days with imaginary characters doing imaginary things. She lives in Baltimore with her little family, including her giant dog.
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/authorbkborison
Give your smile to others, you’ll get one in return. Thanks for stopping by.
I haven’t had a chance to do these extras on the blog for quite a while. I’m hoping to find time to do these more often now again. Hosted by Reading is My SuperPower here.
Today I am featuring The Ocean in Winter by Elizabeth de Veer.
And the first line is
Sunday, March 2, 2014 Riley
I am hurtling through Massachusetts at a rate of speed I cannot understand; the wind blows my cheeks, but it does not feel cold.
About The Book
The lives of the three Emery sisters were changed forever when Alex, eleven at the time, found their mother drowned in the bathtub of their home. After their mother’s suicide, the girls’ father shut down emotionally, leaving Alex responsible for caring for Colleen, then eight, and little Riley, just four. Now the girls are grown and navigating different directions. Alex, a nurse, has been traveling in India and grieving her struggle to have a child; Colleen is the devoted mother of preteens in denial that her marriage is ending; and Riley has been leading what her sisters imagine to be the dream life of a successful model in New York City. Decades may have passed, but the unresolved trauma of their mother’s death still looms over them creating distance between the sisters.
Then on a March night, a storm rages near the coast of northeastern Massachusetts. Alex sits alone in an old farmhouse she inherited from a stranger. The lights are out because of the storm; then, an unexpected knock at the door. When Alex opens it, her beautiful younger sister stands before her. Riley has long been estranged from their family, prompting Colleen to hire the private investigator from whom they’d been awaiting news. Comforted by her unexpected presence, Alex holds back her nagging questions: How had Riley found her? Wouldn’t the dirt roads have been impassable in the storm? Why did Riley insist on disappearing back into the night?
After her mysterious visitation, Alex and Colleen are determined to reconcile with Riley and to face their painful past, but the closer they come to finding their missing sister, the more they fear they’ll only be left with Riley’s secrets. An unforgettable story about grief, love, and what it means to be haunted, The Ocean in Winter marks the debut of a remarkable new voice in fiction.
The award-winning author’s brand-new Sunflower Café Mystery series, set in small-town Kansas, features a twenty-something advice columnist turned café manager and sleuth, her loyal Yorkie, farm-fresh produce—and murder. Will appeal to fans of Charlotte Hubbard, Molly Jebber, Susan Lantz Simpson, and Kelly Long.
Twenty-something Sissy Yoder never imagined herself running her Aunt Bethel’s café, but her help is needed, so she’s making a go of it. And she must admit that life in tiny Yoder has been anything but dull–she’s already solved one homicide—after being named the prime suspect in the case! Enjoying a peaceful respite after all that excitement, Sissy just wants to write her advice column, hang out with her loyal Yorkie, Duke, and procure some of local farmer Walt Summers’ scrumptious “To Die For” tomatoes for the Sunshine Café’s menu. But when the unsavory Summers–resented by just about everyone in town–turns up murdered in his garden shed, it’s up to Sissy to roll up her sleeves, dig for some clues, and weed out the culprit . . .
“A promising new sleuth whose lovable dog and incipient love interest combine nicely with Lillard’s trademark Amish lore.” –Kirkus Reviews
My Thoughts
A Murder of Aspic Proportions is the second book in the A Sunflower Café Mystery series. Sissy Yoder finds herself running her Aunt Bethel’s Cafe, but she also finds herself super sleuthing. Yoder, Kansas has all the small-town charm, a popular cafe, a fierce produce competition to produce the best tomatoes, but one thing it has that’s not charming is a murder needing solved. When a tomato grower, the most unliked man is town is found dead no one seems too surprised. There are many in the town who could have had a reason to do him in. When a young Amish woman admits to the crime Sissy finds herself taking the law into her own hands and trying to find out if she really did it and who she’s trying to protect. I loved Duke’s character, he’s Sissy’s tiny dog with a huge personality. The ending of the story was surprising and quite funny. I recommend reading these in order. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery and I hope this series continues.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Amy loves nothing more than a good book. Except for her family…and maybe homemade tacos…and nail polish. But reading and writing are definitely high on the list.
Born and bred in Mississippi, Amy is a transplanted Southern Belle who now lives in Oklahoma with her deputy husband, their genius son, two spoiled cats, and one very lazy beagle. Oh, and don’t forget the stray kitty that has taken up residence on her front porch. ^..^
When she’s not creating quirky characters and happy endings, she’s chauffeuring her prodigy to guitar lessons, orchestra concerts and baseball practice. She has a variety of hobbies, but her favorite is whatever gets her out of housework.
Amy also writes contemporary romances under the pen name Amie Louellen.
An award winning author, Amy is a member of RWA and ACFW. She loves to hear from readers. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest. For links to the various sites, check her website: http://www.amylillardbooks.com.
379 pages October 11,2022 publication date Random House publisher
About The Book
When a young woman finds herself lost and at a crossroads, one last gift from her brother just might give her another chance at life and at love in this epic holiday romance from the author of Always, in December
“Heartbreaking, romantic and full of warmth . . . waterproof mascara recommended!”—Sarah Morgan, author of The Christmas Sisters
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: PopSugar
Sometimes the best gifts in life are the ones you don’t expect.
Cassie and Tom lost their parents at a young age and relied on each other—as well as a community of friends—to cope. They were especially close with Tom’s best friend, Sam, who always made sure that Tom and Cassie were surrounded with love. But, twenty years later, Cassie has lost Tom as well. And in a way, she’s also lost Sam; over the years they’d drifted apart, and now the man she always had a crush on is someone she doesn’t even recognize anymore.
She’s never felt more alone.
Then Cassie finds an envelope with her name on it, written in Tom’s terrible handwriting, and she knows immediately what it is. It’s the first clue in the Christmas scavenger hunt that Tom made for her every year; he’d promised her for months that this year’s would be the grandest one yet. At first, she’s too scared to open the envelope—what if she can’t figure out the clues without his help? Or what if she does figure them all out and her last connection to Tom is gone?
Tom’s present sets Cassie on a heart-wrenching and beautiful journey that will change her life—if she lets it. And as she travels from London to the Welsh mountains to the French countryside, she reconnects with old friends, rekindles a lost love, and, most important, rediscovers herself. But once she’s solved the final clue, will she be brave enough to accept the gift her brother has given her—and the love it’s led her to?
My Thoughts
One Last Gift is Cassie’s story, but it is also Tom’s story. Cassie and Tom are siblings with Tom being the oldest. Sadly, they lose their parents at a very young age and are sent to live with an aunt. Being that Cassie is younger she doesn’t want her aunt but her mother, which is of course understandable.
Tom is Cassie’s buffer, her so to speak protector in life, comforting her during sad times when he himself is going through turmoil but he doesn’t show it. As you could imagine the siblings are close in their relationship. For quite some time Tom and Sam have been best friends, nothing they wouldn’t do for each other. You know what they say about wanting to date your brother’s best friend, but Cassie doesn’t heed this and makes her feelings known to Sam during a skiing trip. Sam seems to reciprocate these feelings, but he brushes off her feelings and she is really hurt.
With how nice of a guy Tom is you really become attached to him and then to find out he passes away in an accident is devastating. Understandably Sam is beside himself with grief with his best friend gone and Cassie blames him for not being able to help him and that just piles on the guilt. I enjoyed seeing the witty banner between Sam and Cassie when they aren’t at each other’s throats.
The one really neat thing is each year at Christmas time Tom sets up a treasure hunt for Cassie to solve and the clues get harder each year. It was such an emotional time reading as she goes through the clues and solves them. The clues take her to places outgoing Tom knew she would have never gone on her own and they have her doing things she wouldn’t have had the courage to do.
The book is very encouraging but yet very emotional. In a way it’s as though Tom is still here in a small way giving Cassie the encouragement and pick me up, she needs. Such a fabulous book. I recommend this to everyone needing a quiet moment of reflection and a dose of encouragement.
Pub Date 11 Oct 2022 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About The Author
Hello, I’m Emily! If you’ve found this page then welcome, and thanks so much for showing an interest in my writing.
I have written three books now, which feels surreal! My latest novel is Love, Holly in the US and The Christmas Letter in the UK. My books always revolve around the Christmas period, but span the course of a whole year and more. They also deal with love – and grief, in one way or another. I think I put a part of me in every book – as I’m sure every author does – and my newest book is no exception. The main character – Holly – often does the wrong thing for the right reasons, and that is a situation I’ve found myself in! And with three sisters myself, writing about the sister love – and difficulties – in this book felt personal at times!
My other two novels are One Last Gift – a story of finding yourself when you feel that’s impossible, and of the love between siblings – and Always, in December. As my debut novel, it will always be one close to my heart. Whilst very different from me, the protagonist, Josie is suffering with a grief that I know all too well – losing a parent/parents at a young age, and having to carry that grief into adulthood, long after it’s supposedly ‘gone away’. I lost my mum when I was seven, and I still think about her even now, in my thirties – and that’s something that Josie and I share. Max, too, is suffering his own kind of grief, and that’s something that he has to learn to deal with. But whilst the novel is about grief, and learning to live with that, it’s also about falling in love, and about learning to be brave, even when your life doesn’t feel quite right yet – even if it feels like it will never quite be right!
I wrote my first two novels in a glorious house in Chepstow, living with my sister and my two nieces. My third book I wrote on the English coastline in Cornwall – so I consider myself very lucky!
If you read any of my novels then thank you, and I really hope you enjoy! If you want to get in touch then I’d love to hear from you – I’m on Twitter and Instagram under @EmStoneWrites!
Have a wonderful day. Thanks for your visit today.
Rosa Larkin is down on her luck in London, so when she inherits a near-derelict corner shop in a quaint Devon village, her first thought is to sell it for cash and sort out her life. But nothing is straightforward about this legacy. While the identity of her benefactor remains a mystery, he – or she – has left one important legal proviso: that the shop cannot be sold, only passed on to somebody who really deserves it.
Rosa makes up her mind to give it a go: to put everything she has into getting the shop up and running again in the small seaside community of Cockleberry Bay. But can she do it all on her own? And if not, who will help her succeed – and who among the following will work secretly to see her fail?
There is a handsome rugby player, a sexy plumber, a charlatan reporter and a selection of meddling locals. Add in a hit and run incident and the disappearance of a valuable engraved necklace – and what you get is a journey of self-discovery and unpredictable events.
With surprising and heartfelt results, Rosa, accompanied at all times by her little sausage dog Hot, will slowly unravel the shadowy secrets of the inheritance, and also bring her own, long-hidden heritage into the light.
My Thoughts
I started out reading tired and not really feeling like reading. In a short amount of time, I was smiling and quickly had gotten into the book. Though we may have hard times, like in the book look on the bright sunshiny side and things will turn out well. I loved the characters and the setting. I’ve read other books by this author, so I was looking forward to reading this and it’s a true gem. It’s so charming that I recommend it to all. I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Author
Nicola May is a rom-com superstar. She is the author of sixteen romantic comedies, all of which have appeared in the Kindle bestseller charts. The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay became the best-selling Kindle book in the UK, across all genres, in January 2019, and was Amazon’s third-bestselling novel in that year. It spawned three sequels, followed by the hit Ferry Lane Market trilogy. She is now published in 15 languages.
Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by today.
352 pages October 5,2021 publish date Kensington publisher
About The Book
Tucked away inside an old lighthouse in Beacon Harbor, Michigan, bakeshop café owner Lindsey Bakewell is ready to make her first Christmas in town shine bright. But her merry plans crumble fast when murder appears under the mistletoe…
With the spirit of the holidays wafting through the Beacon Bakeshop, Lindsey thinks she has the recipe for the sweetest Christmas ever—winning the town-wide cookie bake-off. Unfortunately, striving for a picture-perfect December in Beacon Harbor is a lot like biting into stale shortbread. Low on staff and bombarded by visits from family, Lindsey can barely meet demands at work, let alone summon the confidence to face fierce competition…
Self-appointed Christmas know-it-all Felicity Stewart is determined to take the top spot in the bake‑off, and she’s not afraid to dump a little coal in everyone’s stocking to do it. Just as the competition heats up, everything falls apart when the judge is found dead—and covered in crumbs from Lindsey’s signature cookie!
Solving a murder was never on Lindsey’s wish list. But with her reputation on the line during the happiest time of the year, she’ll need to bring her best talents to the table in order to sift out the true Christmas Cookie culprit.
My Thoughts
Beacon Harbor, Michigan, idyllic because of its new bakeshop cafe inside the lighthouse with the most delicious variety of Christmas cookies around. Bakeshop owner Lindsey Bakewell is doing everything right and has an outstanding customer base but is she also hiding something when her cookie is the one found in the hand of the murder victim? With business booming a few days before Christmas and supplies in the display cases running out daily, she simply can’t keep up even though she is known as the best baker around. When she gets word of a Christmas cookie bake off competition, she knows she must join in. After all what cook/baker doesn’t want to prove they’re the best at their craft? Boy was the competition judge a slimeball! He flirted and more with the ladies in the competition and they thought they’d win because of it. This competition really pits the competitors against one another, and they take it very seriously.
Now when the judge is found dead under the mistletoe with a note on him and Lindsey’s competition cookie in his hand it seems pretty obvious who his killer is. There are a lot of suspects and Lindsey is out to super sleuth her way out of this one, she can’t have her reputation going down the drain. This kept me guessing as there were so many who would have had a reason to do this to the judge I found out as I was reading.
While this was a cozy mystery that I really enjoyed, I also enjoyed reading about all the Christmas baking as well. The many, many varieties of sugary delicious treats kept me reading and imagining myself making some of these for holiday treats. I enjoyed this book a lot and will read the next in the series soon.
Pub Date 05 Oct 2021 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About The Author
Cozy mystery author, Darci Hannah, is a native of the Midwest and currently lives in a small town in Michigan. Darci is a lifelong lover of the Great Lakes, a natural wonder that inspires many of her stories. When Darci isn’t baking for family and friends, hiking with her furry pals, Ripley and Finn, or concocting her next cozy mystery, she can be found wandering around picturesque lakeside villages with her hubby, sampling baked goods, and breaking for coffee more often than she should.
Darci’s books include:
MURDER AT THE BEACON BAKESHOP 1st in the Beacon Bakeshop Mystery Series (Kensington 2021), CHERRY SCONES & BROKEN BONES (Midnight Ink 2019), CHERRY PIES & DEADLY LIES (Midnight Ink 2018), THE ANGEL OF BLYTHE HALL (Ballantine Books 2011, 2nd edition by Piffle & Bombast 2016), THE EXILE OF SARA STEVENSON (Ballantine Books 2010)
Krystle has always yearned to live a different kind of life, so when she hits the jackpot, quite literally, she’s over the moon. At last she’ll get the chance to live in a gorgeous house, drive the car of her dreams and maybe even track down that elusive soulmate at last! It all sounds perfect – but can reality ever live up to your dreams?
My Thoughts
The Lottery Win by Rosie Green is number 28 in the Little Duck Pond Cafe series. This one focuses on twins Krystle and Carrie but mostly Krystle. The book is short, a novella length one. This doesn’t affect the story though as there’s quite a fun story packed into fewer pages. The sisters have made a pact with each other to share their lottery winnings with each other if they would win it one day and never thinking they actually would. After Carrie wins, she splits it with twin Krystle. Now Krystle is having financial difficulties and this win is just what she needs to straighten things out, or is it? In some ways the win is just what she needs but she’s not good with money and hurriedly buys frivolous things. When others know you have money you also attract unscrupulous people. I could feel Krystale’s many emotions from her despair at owing so much money to her fear when the money loaner comes after her, the bewilderment when a possible romantic connection is not who they seem to be and her joy when things are finally looking up. Money doesn’t buy happiness; real relationships is where the happiness is. This little book packs a punch and I’ll be looking forward to more in this series.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Rosie’s series of Little Duck Pond Café novellas is centred around life in a country village cafe. ‘The Cheesecake Challenge’ is out now. Look out for ‘A Kiss under the Stars’, out in August 2023.
Welcome back to Little Woodville. Visit old friends and new in this super, summer escapist read. Morgan Rosewood finds herself at a crossroads in her life after returning home to Forget-Me-Not Cottage to care for her ailing mother. She and boyfriend Ronan, had plans, big plans, but all these hopes and dreams are put on hold when Morgan’s mum suddenly dies. Morgan’s emotions are in turmoil but she sets about the task of clearing the house and running her late mother’s vintage market stall. Nate Greene has his own reasons for staying away from Little Woodville. Nate needs to reconcile his past and tackle the long overdue task of decluttering the place he once loved – his abandoned wood workshop, filled to the brim with his creations. He secures a stall at the local market to showcase his wares and it isn’t long before the workshop reignites the passion he once shared with a special person. Thrown together Morgan and Nate have their own personal battles to overcome. Can the beautiful little Cotswold village teach two lost souls what matters, and more importantly, will it give them each something they didn’t come here for? Love…
A wonderful story of coming to terms with loss, learning to love, family and village life from bestselling author Helen Rolfe.
My Thoughts
I really was drawn to the cover of the book, it’s so beautiful. I am thinking I would love to go there for a little r and r. I just love Helen Rolfe’ books. They are the perfect escapist reads and I try not to miss any of them. A little cottage in the beautiful setting of the Cotswolds sounds so ideal. Summer at Forget-Me-Not Cottage is part of the charming, Little Woodville Cottage Series of which it is the second book. Christmas at Snowdrop Cottage is the first book and here is a link to it Link. It came out last year in July. In Summer at Forget-Me-Not Cottage, you will be welcomed back to Little Woodville with open arms. Visit old friends and make new in this new summer escapist read. The heart of the book is family and how important it is. The book is so lovingly written, the characters friends you could easily and comfortably laugh with over a cup of tea. I’ll be on the lookout for more books in this series.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Helen Rolfe is the author of many bestselling contemporary women’s fiction titles, set in different locations from the Cotswolds to New York. Most recently published by Orion, she is bringing sixteen titles to Boldwood – a mixture of new series and well-established backlist. She lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and children.
301 pages June 20,2023 publication date Bethany House publisher
About The Book
Can they risk giving in to the attraction between them while their lives are on the line?
If widowed seamstress Nell Armstrong has to make one more pair of boring chaps for the cowboys in her tiny Wyoming town, she might just quit the business altogether! So meeting Brand Nolte, a widower struggling to raise three girls on his own, seems like her dream come true. Brand has no idea how to dress the girls properly, and Nell finally has a chance to create beautiful outfits while also teaching the girls to sew.
But Nell is much more than a seamstress, and the investigative skills and knowledge she picked up alongside her late lawman husband soon become critical when a wounded stagecoach-robbery survivor is brought to town. As danger closes in from all sides, Nell and Brand must discover who has a target trained on them before it’s too late.
“A richly detailed adventure that captivates till the end.”–Publishers Weekly on Forged in Love
My Thoughts
The Laws of Attraction is the second book in the Wyoming Sunrise series. Mary Connealy writes with such authenticity; you could see the things in the book actually taking place. I’ve never been to Wyoming, but I would really love to visit there. The way she describes it, so beautiful with wide open spaces for that cowboy roping and riding. Mary writes cowboy stories, that’s one thing you can count on in her books along with an intriguing story you’ll find very hard to put down. Thrown in you’ll always find robust adventures and a bit of lawlessness. I must commend Wyoming; it was a first in many things including giving women the right to vote and it also had the first public county library. Nell, our female main character is a real go getter, she’ll stand up to anyone and will pitch in and do any job needed of her including being the first women to do many jobs formerly done by men. Now that’s a forward-thinking woman. Nell Armstrong is a widowed seamstress; she’s brought beautiful material with her to make the loveliest of dresses but with her hands full making chaps for the cowboys she really can’t. When Brand Nolte’s daughters are made fun of in town, they tell him, and he knows it’s time for a change. See, he’s a widowed father with three lovely girls but he really is lost when it comes to knowing how to dress and style their hair. Nell is happy teach the girls to sew and she’ll make them some feminine dresses while they work for her paying off the cost of the dresses. The more time Nell spends with Brand and his daughters it has her thinking falling in love again may not just be a fading memory. I really enjoyed seeing Nell as such a forward-thinking woman for her time period. I just loved the sisters’ characters as well, especially Samantha. Samantha is the oldest and a very smart girl. Maybe we will see her story in a book sometime. I know I’d enjoy this.
Pub Date 20 Jun 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is independently publishing a contemporary romantic suspense series called Garrison’s Law, book one is Loving the Texas Lawman. Her new historical series, High Sierra Sweethearts begins with The Accidental Guardian. She is also the author of these series: Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Wild at Heart, Cimarron Legacy, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages and Sophie’s daughters, and has many other books.
She is a two-time Carol Award winner and has been a finalist for the Rita and Christy Awards. She’s a lifelong Nebraskan and lives with her very own romantic cowboy hero. She’s got four grown daughters and four spectacular grandchildren.
Find Mary online at:
Her website: maryconnealy.com
Her blog for aspiring writers: Seekerville
Her blog for lovers of western romance: Petticoats & Pistols
Sign up for her newsletter at maryconnealy.com/newsletter
Mary is on Facebook at facebook.com/maryconnealy
And Twitter at twitter.com/maryconnealy
Enjoy your weekend and thanks for stopping in today.
‘As the soldiers arrived on our sandy beaches, a brave young girl hid beautiful leather-bound books. She risked her life to protect the secrets of this island and save the man she loved. I want you to find the books, dear Francesca. Her diary holds the first clue, take it, and uncover her incredible story…’
As golden sunlight shimmers across the crystal-clear water, Francesca arrives on the tranquil Italian island of Santa Caterina in search of precious rare books. She quickly discovers she was invited by the island’s mysterious owner, alongside handsome local book collector Thiago, to unlock a secret spanning generations. Together, they learn the books were hidden during the Second World War by Helèna, the daughter of a bookseller, who sacrificed everything to save the island’s treasures from the Nazis.
With only Helèna’s diary to guide them, Francesca finds herself growing closer to Thiago, with his deep blue eyes and sun-kissed curls. As they curl up under the stars, piecing together clues in the gentle, rose-scented breeze and retracing Helèna’s steps on the quaint cobbled streets, Francesca begins to wonder if she can finally open her heart to a new beginning…
But when an unbelievable act of courage and a heart-breaking secret in the final pages of the diary shatters everything she and Thiago thought they knew about Helèna, Francesca realises the remarkable wartime story of love and sacrifice has the power to change both of their lives forever.
An unforgettable and emotional story of bravery, love and secrets from the author of Amazon No.1 bestseller The Italian Villa and million-copy bestseller, Watch Over Me. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Victoria Hislop, and The Letter by Kathryn Hughes, readers will be absolutely hooked on The Bookseller’s Daughter.
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My Thoughts
Such a beautiful story. What happens when you fall in love with the competition? After a broken engagement Francesca needs to get away from the memories and what could be better than going off to the exotic location of Italy? Asked to go there by her boss she is to purchase a rare and very valuable book from a collector. She is not the only one though who wants this book, a handsome young man is also after the same book. Arriving at her destination she is made aware this will be like a treasure hunt she and Thiago, the Italian collector, will have to locate the manuscripts using clues written about in an old diary. In this time slip we get to experience the diary of Helena a young girl who lived on the beautiful Italian island of Santa Caterina during WWII. She has hidden the manuscripts to ensure their safety during the Nazi invasion. I enjoyed reading both time periods equally. The descriptions of the island and the search has an almost mystical quality to it that I enjoyed very much. Helena and Francesca’s story are similar in the sense that they both fall in love with who you wouldn’t expect them to. The words just flowed as I read, and I had such a hard time putting this down. Such unexpected twists and turns in this book I just loved it.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Daniela Sacerdoti is the author of the bestselling Glen Avich series which has sold over one million copies in ebook to date, Sacerdoti’s debut novel Watch Over Me was named the eighth bestselling Kindle book of all time in 2015, when she was also ranked as the eleventh top-selling Kindle author. She lives in a small village in the middle of nowhere, with her Scottish husband, two children, a Cocker spaniel and a foundling kitten (who was definitely a witch in a past life).
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