Kategorie: Romance

The Christmas Bookshop – Jenny Colgan

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AuthorJenny Colgan
PublisherLittle, Brown Book Group
Date1 November 2022
EditionPaperback
Pages355
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-13978-0751584226

“Every time the bell dinged, Mr. McCredie would glance up in wonder and surprise, and Carmen would smile secretly to herself and make sure the lovely books were somewhere adults could pick them up and admire them.” (Quotation page 77)

Content

When her mother calls her in August, asking if she will come home for Christmas, Carmen June Hogan, nearly thirty years old, definitely is not ready to discuss a family meeting in Edinburgh at her sister’s new house. There is a simple reason: while her older sister Sofia is a successful lawyer, married, pregnant with her forth child, Carmen still works in the local department store, and compared to Sofia she always feels low. However, just three days later everything has changed, the store is going to close forever and Carmen has lost her job. Sofia of all people has found a new job for Carmen. Edinburgh is busy and shimmering in November, with every shop preparing for Christmas time. All shops but one: an ancient bookshop, owned by eccentric old Mr. McCredie. Without a Christmas miracle, he will lose the shop by January. Could it be Carmen to make this miracle come true and save the bookshop?

Theme and Genre

This Christmas novel is about family, friendship, love, and the charming, vivid Victoria Street in the Old Town of Edinburgh, with colorful shops preparing for the Christmas season and a scent of cinnamon on the air.

Characters

The characters are empathetically developed, their thoughts and acting believable and they all are likeable and entertaining.

Plot and Writing

The story takes place during November and December in Edinburgh and is chronologically told. Especially the everyday chaos and confusion with Carmen and the bookshop in the heart of the events, her ideas and first achievements, but also the cohesion of all shop-owners, visitors and clients are atmospheric and very entertaining to read. At this special time of the year, there is also some magic in the air, which might be useful and needed. I have read novels of Jenny Colgan before and she is one of my favorite authors, when I want cozy, delightful and very British, but this one was going to be my favorite from the very first page.

Conclusion

A perfect, enjoyable Christmas-read, heart-warming, funny and romantic.

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Summer on the Little Cornish Isles – Phillippa Ashley

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AuthorPhillippa Ashley
PublisherAvon Fiction
Date18 August 2018
Editionpaperback
Pages400
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-13978-0008253417

“It was such a lovely name; so evocative and catchy. Who could possibly resist popping into a place called ‘The Starfish Studio’?” (Quotation pos. 68)

Content

The moment Poppy McGregor sees the gallery “The Starfish Studio” for the first time during a holiday week with her boyfriend Dan at the Isles of Scilly; she immediately falls in love because it reminds her of her dreams to one day run a gallery. Now, three years later, Poppy and Dan are taking on the almost closed Starfish Studio on St. Piran´s, just the now it I is only Polly moving to the small island, because Dan has left her just one week ago and is now going to live with Eve. Poppy still is determined to re-open The Starfish Studio, making it successful again. The owner’s grandson, the charismatic, famous nature photographer Jake Pendower, soon is a reliable friend, but he has lost his fiancée four years ago and still mourning and Poppy is sure there never could be more, or could there?

Theme and Genre

A romantic story about art, family, loss, love and new beginnings

Characters

The characters are well drawn and likeable, and who would not love Leo, the headstrong cat.

Plot and Writing

The story is settled on the Isles of Scilly, although St. Piran’s and most of the local places exist only in the author’s imagination, and the storyline is told chronologically. The plot of the novel is an entertaining mixture between funny and thought provoking. The language is enjoyable to read.

Conclusion

A funny, romantic feel-good story, a perfect read to bring summer in your thoughts.  

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The Christmas Wish – Tilly Tennant

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AuthorTilly Tennant
PublisherSphere
Date28 November 2019
EditionPaperback
Pages352
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-13978-0751578010

“Then stop second-guessing all the time and learn to live for the moment. You won’t see any of these people again after this week so who cares what they think?” (Page 174)

Content

Three years ago, Esme Greenwood had left for London, to live with her fiancée Warren. Three months ago she found out that he is married and went back to stay with her grandmother Mathilde at Thimble Cottage in Little Dove Morton, a small village. Soon it will be Christmas when grandmother Mathilde suddenly dies. This makes it easy for Warren to persuade her to come back to him. However, there are still two tickets for a Christmas week in Lapland, her Christmas present from her grandmother, but over-controlling, egoistic Warren refuses. Therefore, one day, when Warrren has left for work, she just packs her suitcase and takes a cab to the airport. Lapland, the place of her childhood dreams, is waiting, together with a fantastic scenery, lots of snow, Santa’s village and some surprises too.

Theme and Genre

A heartwarming, typical Christmas romance, which takes place in Lapland.

Characters

Esme is likeable and witty, but when it comes to Warren, she still believes his promises, and still struggles to understand that Warren definitely is not good for her.

Plot and Writing

The story is romantic, with amazing portrayals of Lapland, Rovaniemi, the Northers lights and traditional Christmas festivities. The main part are the days in Lapland, Esme making new friends with other single travelers, and enjoying spectacular experiences of nature and romantic Christmas sceneries. But there are many, in my opinion too many, pages about Esme thinking about Warren, how much he needs her, still finding new excuses for his behavior and feeling guilty, again insecure and worthless, and this began to annoy me a bit, dimming the Christmassy, enjoyable mood of the story.

Conclusion

An entertaining, romantic Christmas read with lively and impressive descriptions of Lapland in December, but a sometimes-annoying heroine.

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Christmas on the Little Cornish Isles: The Driftwood Inn – Phillipa Ashley

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AuthorPhillipa Ashley
PublisherAvon
Date18 September 2017
EditionKindle
Pages402 (print version)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB074M2H758

“Every piece of tinsel, tree decoration and Santa/snowman/robin ornament they had had been dragged out of storage and used to adorn the rooms, private and public.” (Quotation page 229)

Content

Maisie Samson, forty years old on New Years Eve, which will be soon, is back at the family owned The Driftwood Inn on Gull Island, a small, quiet island, part of the Isles of Scilly. Used to work in a pub, she is now going to help her parents and taking over Driftwood inn. One year ago, everything had been very different, together with Keegan, their baby would be born in summer, but then she lost her baby and Keegan left her too. Business in winter is not easy at Gull Island, cold, rainy, all tourists have left and the staff to. Therefore, when charming Patrick McKinnon from Melbourne asks for a job until March, he seems the perfect solution, almost heaven-sent for Gull Island. Romance is in the air, but also a secret around Patrick.

Theme and Genre

A romantic, seasonal story that takes place on a small Cornish Island around Christmas. Book one of a series of three.

Characters

The characters are likeable, caring, and show a wide range of different persons living on such a small island, trying to make ends meet to earn a living.

Plot and Writing

The main character of the story is Maisie and this is a funny, cozy story about friendship, love, but also problems in a small community, living on a quiet island. Most of all it is a story about the magical Christmas time, and people who know how to come together and celebrate. Not all events are joyful because not everybody wants to keep a tourism that is related to nature and the beauty of this small Cornish island, but to go for modern, sophisticated, expanded tourism. Repeated hints about Patrick’s secret are obviously written to bring more suspense in the storyline, in my opinion not necessary in this kind of pleasant Christmassy story.

Conclusion

A cosy, enjoyable story, likeable characters, lots of Christmas spirit, perfect reading for dark winter evenings around Christmas time.

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The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant – Kayte Nunn

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AuthorKayte Nunn
PublisherOrion
Date6 February 2020
EditionPaperback
Pages384
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-13978-1409190561

“’Ex tenebris lux’, she read, running her fingers over the words. From the darkness into the light.” (Quotation page 356)

Content

When John Durrant takes his wife Esther on holiday in November 1951, she has to leave her son Teddy behind with his nanny and wonders, why they are visiting Cornwall and the rough, far away Isles of Scilly at this time of the year. At Embers Island, they meet Dr. Richard Creswell, an old friend of John, a psychiatrist with modern ideas about curing mental illnesses. But they did not come just for a visit; John leaves Esther in custody at the asylum, hoping that she might recover from her severe depression.

In spring 2018, her new research contract takes Rachel Parker, a thirty-five years old Australian research scientist, specialized on giant clams, from the South Pacific to the Scilly Isles, to study a special clam, Venus verrucosa. When she comes into a wild, raging storm, she is saved by Leah, an artist who lives at Little Embers. In an old suitcase, Rachel discovers six envelopes with touching love letters, all stamped but unsent, and with a name and address on it. She just wants to know, could she still find the recipient?

Theme and Genre

This novel, settled in the wild, beautiful nature surroundings of the Scilly Isles, is about traumas, traditional mental asylums, fate, family, but most of all it is about love.

Characters

We meet three very different women, Esther, Leah and Rachel, each one special and strong in her own way. Also the other characters are very well developed, realistic, believable and likeable.

Plot and Writing

The plot is told in two different alternating storylines, the first is about Esther’s life from November 1951 to spring 1952, the second story takes place in spring 2018. Memories that Esther shares with her granddaughter Eve, as they prepare Esther’s biography together, fill in about the years between. Impressing, vivid descriptions of the beautiful, outstanding nature complete the exciting storyline.

Conclusion

Romance, love and a gripping story, the outstanding surroundings and stunning seascapes of the Isles of Scilly, together with serious topics to think about and reflect, make this novel an interesting, impressive, uplifting, enjoyable read.

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The Christmas Lights – Karen Swan

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AuthorKaren Swan
PublisherPan Main Market Edition
Date1 November 2018
EditionPaperback
Pages480
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-13978-1509838080

“You need to know that your worst moment can turn out to be your best. In every life, there is a defining moment of surrender where you must make a choice to let Destiny happen.” (Quotation page 421)

Content

Just from a scuba expedition on Upolu Island, Samoa, Bo Laxley and her boyfriend Zac Austen now arrive in Alesund, Norway, to pass December and a romantic Christmas in a rural farmhouse, hidden in the breathtaking nature of the fjord. Sharing their free-spirited, exciting life as “Wanderlusters” with more than nine million followers, every step is documented by their own photographer and manager Lenny, and now also Anna Rem, marketing head of Ridge Riders, the famous clothing brand sponsoring their stay in Norway. The price for this dream-come-true life is missing every possibility of privacy and private moments, but with Christmas coming nearer and the more Bo thinks about her daily life, she begins to doubt, if the price could be too high.

Theme and Genre

This Christmas story is about modern Social media, influencers, bringing their personal lives into the public, family, love, hidden secrets, heartbreak and, of course, about Christmas.

Characters

Bo knows that their followers need exciting, perfect pictures of her perfect days with her perfect boyfriend Zac and therefore every step of their risky trekking and climbing tours has to be well documented and immediately shared. As she longs for some privacy, Zac just does not understand her, he is happy with exactly how it is. Their host Signy, ninety-six-years old, after three years in Oslo, when she was young, had come back and never left again. In her opinion, there could be no life richer than hers, surrounded by the breathtaking beautiful nature.

Plot and Writing

The plot switches between two different storylines. The main story takes place in December 2018; meanwhile Signy’s story is set in summer 1936. The vivid description of spectacular Norwegian fjord landscape accompanies both strands. This book is an almost perfect Christmas read, full of love, snow, dark winter days and secrets hidden in a far away and nearer past. There are enough twists to keep the story interesting, but then Karen Swan in my opinion wanted too much, maybe searching for still more different themes and deepness, she brings not only one, but more hidden past dramas into the lifes of her main figures, and for me the story lost some plausibility and feels too intentionally constructed.

Conclusion

Enjoyable Christmas read, making us dream of romantic winter-days, hidden in the beautiful, snow-covered nature of Geirangerfjord.   

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One Wish in Manhattan – Mandy Baggot

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AuthorMandy Baggot
PublisherBookouture
Date2 October 2015
EditionKindle edition
Pages490 (print version)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB013GSVDBW

“In just a few days, she and Angel would be leaving it all behind and travelling thousands of miles across the ocean for Christmas in the Big Apple. Minus temperatures in double figures and streets full of Santas, Michael Bublé music and candy canes.” (Quotation page 12)

Content

Haley Walker lives in Salisbury. Her dream was to become a designer with her own creations, but now, with twenty-eight years, she is a single mother and has just quit her job at a dry-cleaning firm. Her brother Dean, who lives in New York, has invited her and her nine-year-old daughter Angel for Christmas time.

Oliver Drummond of Drummond Global offices has never been fond of strategizing; he is a creator and makes things done.

When Haley and Oliver meet, the charismatic billionaire plays his usual “make a wish game”. Not at all impressed by his money, Haley tells him the secret wish of Angel, to meet her father, whom Haley ten years ago had met in New York, but after one night lost contact. Could Angel’s wish in magical, Christmassy New York come true?

Theme and Genre

This is a romantic, magical Christmas story about family, loss, friendship, love, and the hope and joy of Christmas, when wishes might come true.

Characters

All characters are loveable in their different ways, and special. Who would not like Angel, a funny, sometimes cheeky nine years old, who loves books and never leaves the house without her encyclopedia.

Plot and Writing

The story takes place at Christmas time in New York and has everything readers are looking for in a Christmas novel. Lively descriptions of festively decorated New York, snow-covered Manhattan, impressing skyscrapers, perfectly complete a plot, which shows the right balance between thoughtful and funny scenes.

Conclusion

A magical, cozy, heartwarming Christmas read, perfect for cuddling up in your armchair during this special time of the year.

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Calling Mrs Christmas – Carole Matthews

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AuthorCarole Matthews
PublisherSphere
Date24 October 2013
EditionPaperback
Pages480
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-13978-0751545586

“When I think of all the things I’ve forced myself to do in the last few weeks, I’m just adoring the new, creative me!” (Quotation page 59)

Content

Cassie Smith has been redundant for almost a year now and with Christmas soon coming around she is worried how to get into the happy Christmas spirit when money is so short. Watching adverts on how to celebrate Christmas, she has the perfect idea: there must be people who needed help with all this and who are able to pay for the services rendered. Soon “Calling Mrs. Christmas” is going to be a huge success, many bookings coming in, including lots of baking done by her sister Gaby. When her most important client, the millionaire Carter Randall, invites her to accompany him and his to children on the trip to Lapland, she had organized for them, how could she say no?

Theme and Genre

A romantic Christmas fiction, this story mostly is about all the things needed for an almost perfect Christmas. The main topics are family, friendship, love, and choices that could change a life.

Characters

Cassie Smith loves all the Christmas preparations and is happy with her new business, which would make her a likeable person. On the other hand, she takes on far too much, as she is taken away by her new business. She also takes the help of Jim Maddison, her loving partner since five years, a nice guy who cares a lot, for granted.

Plot and Writing

The story takes place in Hemel Hempstead, during December, the few weeks before Christmas and is told by Cassie as first-person narrator. We read about her new work, the people she meets, about decorating trees, wrapping hundreds of presents, organizing parties and about the amazing Northern Lights in Lapland. There are funny parts, but also situations that make you think about, as Jim works as officer at the Bovingdale Young Offenders‘ Unit. Then, unfortunately, the story changes into something unrealistic, unbelievable, something near modern Cinderella.

Conclusion

Christmas fiction with some lengths, beginning with an entertaining plot that makes us thoughtful too. What follows are twists leading the story of Cassie into something near a modern Cinderella idea, for me too far from reality, almost losing the cozy touch of Christmassy magic, readers look for in a romantic Christmas novel.

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Covent Garden in the Snow – Jules Wake

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AuthorJules Wake
PublisherOne More Chapter
Date20 October 2017
EditionKindle
Pages481 (print version)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB06XRFWHRZ

“From the end of November onwards, stepping out into Covent Garden is magical and as soon as December first hits, it’s positively enchanting.” (Citation page 167)

Content

Mathilde „Tilly“ Hunter loves her work as a make-up artist at London Metropolitan Opera and she is very talented and really qualified for her job.  But to get the career advancement she is hoping for, she needs to be familiar with modern technologies and computers und the new smart, attractive IT director Marcus Walker, who does not feel the vivid magic of the theatre world, has to train her. How could they work together successfully, when Tilly is just joking about her definitely missing computer-gen and for her the old card system is still perfect enough to manage the inventory? Then her life is near to shattering and she has to grow up, open her eyes to her problems and take things seriously.

Theme and Genre

This romantic Christmas novel is about family, friendship, love and life, and about beautiful London during Christmas time when Covent Garden, smelling of cinnamon and mulled wine, if full of lights and joy. An important theme is working with a leading opera company, opera, ballet, artists and the support team behind any performance on stage.  

Characters

The characters are well described, loveable and understandable, and the development of artistic, sassy, but always caring Tilly makes her even more likeable.

Plot and Writing

Tilly, the first-person narrator, tells the story. It takes place in London in the weeks before Christmas. The beautiful, festive atmosphere with snow slowly covering London, as well as the buzzling flair of theatre performances, are described in such a colorful and lively way that, while reading, the related pictures and feeling spring immediately to mind. The mixture between thoughtful and funny scenes guaranties pleasurable reading.

Conclusion

A funny, interesting and heartwarming Christmas story, the perfect read for a relaxed festive season.

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The Holiday Swap – Zara Stoneley

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AuthorZara Stoneley
PublisherOne More Chapter
Date2 September 2016
EditionKindle
Pages338 (print version)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB01DT37Z5W

“She got out of the car, tugged at her suitcase and tried not to grin, because that wouldn’t be fair. She was finally doing it. Finally going.” (Quotation page 52)

Content

Daisy Fischer is happy with her life, her little cottage near Tippermere and her animals. Until her long-term boyfriend Jimmy proposes and she has to admit to herself that she wants more from her life than just stay in the English countryside between house and pub. Florence Cortes, grown up in Tippermere, lives in a comfortable, beautiful apartment in Barcelona, and writes for a magazine, she owns together with her partner Oli, who is also her boyfriend. But one moment changes everything.

Daisy and Florence need a break from their usual life and swap house – for Daisy this means December in sunny, vivid, amazing Barcelona and Florence is looking forward to be back in England, with snow and traditional Christmas preparations. Soon they find out that this Christmas has some surprises waiting for them.

Theme and Genre

This feel good romance is about changes, what-ifs, friendship, Barcelona and rural England, Christmas and love.

Characters

The characters of the story are witty and loveable with their special attitudes.

Plot and Writing

The story develops between England and Barcelona, takes alternating looks how Florence copes with the animals, an enormous dog, horse and hens, the snow, ice and presumptuous Hugo, who used to tease her when they had been children and now is her neighbor. Daisy loves Barcelona, the sunny beach and the vibrant streets from the very first moment. Moreover, there is charming Javier who shows her his Barcelona with breathtaking views and places.

Conclusion

A cozy, funny, heartwarming Christmas read, perfect to relax in a comfortable reading chair and enjoy.

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The Bookshop on the Shore – Jenny Colgan

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AuthorJenny Colgan
PublisherSphere
Date13 June 2019
EditionPaperback
Pages432
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-13978-0751575583

“They went past dark hedgerows and low-roofed outhouses, before The Beeches finally revealed itself. It was the spookiest place Zoe had ever seen in her life.” (quotation page 62)

Content

Zoe, a single mother of four-years-old Hari desperately needs a job and somewhere to live, because she cannot afford her flat in London any more. That is why she comes to Inverness to assist pregnant Nina with the bookshop in the vintage van. There also are the children of her new landlord Ramsay Urquart, two boys, twelve and five years old, and nine years old Mary. Zoe has to look after them in the morning and evenings, until the housekeeper arrives. The children are special, the house, more a castle, is dark and cold, but the nature was just breathtaking and her son Hari adores five years old Patrick. Would Zoe be able to bring about some changes, definitely needed in her new place?

Theme and Genre

Another chick-lit novel with substance and depth, a special genre, the author is famous for. It is about being different from others, about family, motherhood, fathers and children. Books are only a second theme.

Characters

Zoe is likeable, mostly down-to-earth and strong in there own way. We also meet again Nina, still known as the main character from “The Bookshop on the corner”, but she is now quite bossy. The characters are well described with realistic behavior, especially the children.

Plot and Writing

There are enjoyable descriptions of the beautiful Scottish landscape and the old, aristocratic country house, in urgent need of any kind of warmth and renovation. The story is well developed, gripping and has the right touch of romance and wit, but there are other novels by Jenny Colgan, I liked more.

Conclusion

An enjoyable read for cosy afternoons.

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The Vintage Summer Wedding – Jenny Oliver

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AuthorJenny Oliver
PublisherHQ Digital
Date22 May 2014
EditionKindle
Pages384 (Print edition)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB00JBGZJOQ

„It was the feeling of someone taking her life that was already a muddle and giving it a good hard shake. Like she was her own personal snow globe.” (Original citation pos. 1135)

Content

Anna Whitehall and her fiancée Seb are living their upper class live in London and are planning a stunning wedding ceremony. But due to a failed investment, Anna loses her job and all their money. When Seb gets a job offer as teacher at Nettleton High, in the small village where Anna had grown up, he is happy to move there. Anna finds a job in an old antiques shop, Vintage Treasure. A few years ago on her way to become a famous ballerina, she is now asked to train a group of village youngsters for the “Britain got Talent” Show. But there is a new job waiting in New York …

Theme and Genre

This story is about love, friendship, family, failures, hopes, and about decisions.

Characters

Ann has to learn to value things in her life and also be ready and open for twists. Happiness sometimes comes different than planned and expensive designer clothing does not always guarantee a happy life. The characters are loveable and very well described.

Plot and Writing

Even though a kind of Happy Ending is predictable, there are enough twists, to make the story enjoyable to read. Especially to see how Anna learns to value the small village community, and her old friends who still are there for her when problems arise, is interesting. Also funny situations are not missing.

Conclusion

A cosy and enjoyable read with enough romance to finish the book with a smile.

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A Cornish Christmas – Lily Graham

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AuthorLily Graham
PublisherBookouture
Date30 September 2016
EditionKindle
Pages242 (Print)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB01JENDH0I

„As I stood in the still air of the studio, the moonlight entering the window and falling upon the desk, I knew somehow there was something waiting for me.“ (Citation page 68)

Content

Ivy is a children’s books illustrator who has moved together with her husband Stuart from London back to Cornwall, where she grew up. Now that she finally is pregnant she misses her mother, who had died five years ago, even more. When she gets her mother’s desk for her studio, she finds one of her mother’s beautiful Christmas cards, unfinished, a card, Ivy had seen never before.It is going to be Christmas at Sea Cottage, their new home,  and magic is in the air.

Theme and Genre

This is a romantic, heartwarming Christmas story about the strong ties between mothers and their daughters. It is also about friedship and beautiful Cornwall.

Characters

Ivy  Stuart is still missing her mother, but  now that she knows that she will soon be a mother, things have changed and she feels really happy. There too are her friends and the nice old ladies, close friends of her mother. Cloudsea has charming, enjoyable Cornish characters who welcome the reader.

Plot and Writing

A beautifully written, magical story, not only about Christmas, but about life and new chances. It takes place in a Cornish village with beach walks, but also stormy Winter days. The story is told by Ivy, wtitten in the first person.

Conclusion

A magical, romantic book, that takes the reader to a cosy Cornish village. A perfect Christmas read that will make you laugh and cry, but it’s the uplifting feelings that will remain with a smile on your face.

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The Little Perfume Shop Off The Champs-Élysées – Rebecca Raisin

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AuthorRebecca Raisin
PublisherHQ Digital
Date30 March 2018
EditionKindle
Pages251 (Print version)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB00W7Y9VGQ

“Compose the perfect perfume and it will live on like a song, forever.” (Quotation pos. 2765)

Content

Del Jameson has learnt how to create perfumes from her Nan. She had applied for the Leclére Parfumerie competition, was chosen and invited to Paris where the competition takes place. Her mentor is Sebastien, the son of the deceased patriarch Vincent. During the competition, Del has to blend a dream and she is thinking about her dream to own a small perfume shop in New York, but as it comes out, instead of NYC she has created Paris. Would she be able to follow her dreams, but be open to changes?

Theme and Genre

This romantic novel tells us about flowers, scents and how to imbottle feelings into perfumes. It is also about self-confidence, following a dream and about family.

Plot, Characters and Writing

The story is told by Del, the main protagonist, who has to trust herself to create perfect fragrances as asked during the competition. She is lovable and is kind of a perfume whisperer, but still is missing self-confidence when it comes to her own plans and her own life.

The writing style is fluent, paints sparkling pictures of Paris and the Provence and creates magical scents.

Conclusion

A romantic read about the magic of creating perfumes in Paris, the city of love. Perfect for sleepless nights and delightful reading afternoons.

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Bookends – Jane Green

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AuthorJane Green
PublisherPenguin
Date1 June 2000
EditionKindle
Pages370 (print version)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB002RUA4XY

“But as our eyes adjust to the gloom, lit by a solitary light bulb in each room, Lucy and I gasp, because the only thing this place is, it could ever have been, is a bookshop.” (Quotation page 70)

Content

They are friends since University: Cath, Si (Simon), Josh and stunning Portia. While Portia has left to find her own way, Lucy, married to Josh, perfectly fits into the circle. Cath, successfully working for a London advertising agency, has an almost lifelong dream, to open a bookshop including a café and Lucy loves to cook and bake. Together they find a shop that had been empty for a long time, but is just perfect for them. Soon Bookends is open and running. Cath is very close to Si, her best friend, but while Si is trying everything to finally find the man of his life, Cath is sure that she definitely is not made for relationships. Maybe meeting kind, understanding James, their estate agent and a very talented painter, could make her rethink the advantages of her single life. Then Portia is back and with her exciting times.

Theme and Genre

This is not a book about literature and bookshops, but about friendship that lasts from the lighthearted student’s life to the different circle of life of adults who have to earn money, start a family and want to live their dreams. It is about misunderstandings and the fact that dealing with problems is easier if one has friends for support.

Characters

Cath, the main character, is single and happy with it, a little bit messy, but really cares for her friends, especially for Si, as he needs her. She just has to learn to trust herself and take care for her own happiness. Si is the perfect best friend as he loves to go shopping and is very good company. Lucy is an optimistic, loveable person and every character, such as Babysitter Ingrid, is special and well developed.

Plot and writing

This romantic story is written in the first person and told by Cath and is located in Hampstead, London, with interesting, precise descriptions of the surroundings and the urban lifestyle in busy London. There are some foreseeable and some unexpected twists as serious topics are entwined in the story.

Conclusion

A romantic, easy to read story about friendship, love, dreams and life – and about a bookshop. Entertaining, but with some lengths, because main protagonist Cath is just too indecisive in her behavior, with her thoughts circling almost endlessly around her fear to fall on love. I would have enjoyed to read a little bit more about the bookshop, café and its customers.

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The Endless Beach – Jenny Colgan

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AuthorJenny Colgan
PublisherSphere
Date11 January 2018
EditionKindle
Pages448 (Print edition)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB07572Q4M7

„I need to know you, and I need you to know me.“ (pos. 5225)

Content – Book Cover

On the quayside next to the Endless Beach sits the Summer Seaside Kitchen. It’s a haven for tourists and locals alike, who all come to eat the freshest local produce on the island and catch up with the gossip. Flora, who runs the cafe, feels safe and content – unless she thinks too hard about her relationship with Joel, her gorgeous but emotionally (and physically) distant boyfriend.

While Flora is in turmoil about her relationship. her best friend Lorna is pining after the local doctor. Saif came to the island as a refugee, having lost all of his family. But he’s about to get some shocking news which will change everything for him.

As cold winter nights shift to long summer days, can Flora find her happy-ever-after with Joel?

Theme and Genre

This book is part two of a series and it tells again the story and struggles of Flora and Joel, but this time the main part is about Colton and Fintan. One theme are the damages, war does to children. Another theme is foster care. The story is also about how to deal with cancer as a fatal disease. All these topics are embedded in a romantic feel-good-story on the fictional, beautiful island of Mure.

Characters

We meet again the characters known from book one and they still struggle between misunderstandings and feelings.

Plot and Writing

Jenny Colgan is an experienced author with an enjoyable writing style and she knows how to plot stories that are funny and sad in the same time. Even though part one of the series, The Summer Seaside Kitchen, is the first book of Jenny Colgan that could nor really convince me because of the endless misunderstandings that made the reading a little bit boring, I tried to give part two a chance. Again lots of thinking and misunderstandings, together with many – in my opinion too many – very serious themes in a very cozy story, which for me did not work.

Conclusion

A nice read for summer afternoons, a beautiful island, friendly people. A heartwarming story for romantic readers where even tragic ends in happily ever after – for me just too much of everything.

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True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop – Annie Darling

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AuthorAnnie Darling
PublisherHarper Collins Publ. UK
Date18 may 2017
EditionKindle
Pages416 (Print edition)
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-13978-0008173142

“A life without passion is a life half-lived.” (quotation pos. 1706)

Content

Verity Love prefers to be on her own, as she has a problem with crowds of people. Her job as admin of the bookshop “Happy Ever After”, former “Bookends”, fits her well. Tired of friends and family who try to do some matchmaking, she invents a fake boyfriend, but because of a misunderstanding, she has to present a total stranger, as her boyfriend. His name is Johnny and luckily enough, he too needs a girlfriend as company during a season of weddings and birthday parties. Both are happy to just be friends – are they?

Theme and Genre

This romantic novel brings us back to Posy and her bookshop, which is now running, and a success. This time the main character is Verity, the admin and accountant, who is an introvert, having a problem with crowds and is happy to live alone with her tomcat. Maybe this is because she grew up with four sisters and family is an important topic of the story as well as being stuck for years in an unhappy love.

Characters

Verity is special, but with the background of her youth easily to understand. Normally down-to-earth if she gets enough time to stay for her own, Johnny´s personal situation for her is not always understandable, but she wants to help him.

Johnny is smart, good-looking but lost in his unhappy love. For me this character is quite unbelievable in his behavior regarding Marissa. 

Plot and Writing

The story starts with the idea of Johnny and Verity to present themselves to friends and family as couple in love so everybody stops to try any kind of matchmaking. As weeks pass by, the situation gets complicated and there are many misunderstandings between Verity and Johnny. Again, I was not really convinced by the story, but I liked this second book of the “Lonely Hearts Bookshop”-series more than the first one.

Conclusion

A story for fans of romantic fiction that is easy and entertaining to read, sometimes witty but with lengths regarding the endless misunderstandings between the two main-characters.

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The Little Teashop of Lost and Found – Trisha Ashley

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AuthorTrisha Ashley
PublisherBlack Swan
Date29 June 2017
EditionPaperback
Pages496
LanguageEnglish
ISBN-13978-1784160913

“You know you’ve been cooped up writing for too many hours when the weak October sun seems unbearably bright and everything sort of shimmers.” (page 384)

Content

The newborn Alice Rose was abandoned in the Yorkshire moors near Haworth. Her father by adoption loves her and so does Lola, her best friend. She loves to bake and when her father by adoption suddenly dies, she works as a baker and pastry chef, until she finally returns to Haworth, hoping to find the woman who abandoned her. She has bought a little teashop that needs lots of work and renovation until she can start her afternoon tea emporium. But she has found friends who help her – with her teashop and with the research to find out who she is …

Theme and Genre

This is the story about adoption and the questions arising about the real parents, about abandonment, but most of all about having a dream, about friendship, helping together, and about baking (recipes included at the end of the book). The setting in Cornwall gives the reader a holiday feeling and there is enough humor and romance to make this book a perfect summer read.

Characters

Trisha Ashley writes about loveable, quite funny and special persons, easily to be found in small villages. Especially the member of the Giddings family, helpful and welcoming to Alice, warmhearted people, I liked every single person of them. There are two quite stubborn, old-fashioned, witty waitresses, helping Alice to reopen the teashop. Alice, the main character is used to be abandoned, sometimes just because and sometimes by fate. Also struggling she keeps her hopes, dreams and moves on to make things happen. Sometimes sad, but never lamenting, she believes in solutions and maybe wonders.

Plot and Writing

There are three entwined storylines, what makes this book special and gives exciting turns. The story begins with a prologue in 1978, the story of the abandoned baby, told by the woman, who is her mother, between the chapters of Alice today, 36 years old, and her struggles to make a go of the run-down old teashop. The third story is a fairy tale, but with new interpretations, written by Alice, mainly during long nights. Especially this third story is very funny and lets the reader sometimes laugh aloud – as the whole story does. The author has a big sense for creating funny situations and makes the story an enjoyable read.

Conclusion

A story about some bad times, but lots of good times, of friendship, about the comfort of small villages and about delicious baking. Written with a good sense of humor and romance. A book for readers who love settings in Cornwall, bakeries, funny misunderstandings and who enjoy entertaining stories. Perfect for a relaxing and comfortable weekend.

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Spring on the Little Cornish Isles: The Flower Farm – Phillipa Ashley

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AuthorPhillipa Ashley
PublisherHarper Collins Avon
Date19 February 2018
EditionKindle
Pages386 (Print edition)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB07555VLL6

“I mean it but sadly the world doesn’t owe us happiness. We have to go out and find it …”  (original quotation pos. 2864)

Content

Will Godrevy and his twin-sister Jessica, together with their mother Ann, are the owners of the St Saviour’s Flower Farm. Dr Gabriella Carter “Gaby” has a PhD in Poetry, but joins the flower farm but joins the flower farm on St Saviour’s island as a field worker. Feelings are sparkling between Will and Gaby, but she just needed some time for herself, just during the narcissi flower picking season and after that she will travel on, time for her to see other parts of the world. Jess and Adam are thinking about moving in together. But within one day, he leaves the island without explanations. However, there always is the flower farm and life somehow has to go on …

Theme and Genre

A romantic story that takes place on a flower farm on a small island.

Plot and Writing

The story tales place on one of the Isles of Scilly, on a narcissi flower farm. The main characters are likeable, and especially the sparks that fly between Will and Gaby, are described in a funny, humorous way. Hints and twists keep the reader with the story, as we have more than one main character and each of them has own decisions to make, including personal crises. There are some interesting descriptions of planting and growing different kinds of narcissi, as well a about rowing.

This romance is also about family values, trust and friendship. Experiences in the past, lead to some misunderstandings, caused by not-outspoken words. At a certain point of the story, the circling around the same questions and misinterpretations in my opinion lead to some lengths and stop the enjoyable reading flow.

Conclusion

A perfect pre-springtime read in a lovely setting, perfect for an enjoyable, relaxing weekend.

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How To Stop Time – Matt Haig

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AuthorMatt Haig
PublisherCanongate Books Ltd
Date6 July 2017
EditionKindle
Pages336 (Print edition)
LanguageEnglish
ASINB01N9PVQE4

“People you love never die” (original quotation)

Content

Tom Hazard is a history teacher in London and he likes what he does. But what seems to be a normal life, for him does not mean normality at all, because he was born on the third of March 1581, which means that now he is 437 years old. Not that he is immortal, it is only that he is aging very, very slow. In 1890, a doctor had called this condition “anageria”, his lifelong mentor Hendrich calls people like them (and there are more) albatrosses, or just albas.

The problem for people like Tom is that they have to change identity, places to live, before their neighbors are wondering and become suspicious. In 1603 he fell in love with Rose, they got married in 1607 and as she got older, the difference between him and her was even more visible. The 17th century was an especially dangerous period for people being somehow different, but also in our modern times, for Tom there seems to be no place to just live a normal life – but, what if? … what if he falls in love again?

Theme, plot and Writing

This story is much more than “fantasy” and definitely not “science fiction”. It is more a travel through time and centuries, with vivid descriptions of the Shakespearian London and Paris in the “Golden Twenties”. But it is not about time-travelling, as Tom cannot go back into the past.

Written in the 1st person and in chapters, the story is set in nowadays London and Tom thinks and speaks about his life in form of many flashbacks, each chapter heading defines time and location. 

Based on his experiences during more than 400 years, Tom now is ruled by the situation, by the time, by his fears that have grown from the risk of discovery of his special condition and above all he feels his loneliness. Based on his experiences he never wants to fall in love again. Some of his fears and concerns are given rise by Hendrich, who is much older than Tom and who is the Head of the Albatross Organization, who helps Albas with new identities. But Tom during the complete story is and remains a really loveable, often struggeling main character.

Conclusion

The story is enjoyable and entertaining to read, with exciting turns. For readers who like historical fiction and plots in different time settings.

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