I am delighted to return to Helen Rolfe for her latest contemporary romance, The Little Village Library which was published on February 6th. You can read my reviews of some of her other books here: Christmas Miracles at the Little Log Cabin | Christmas at the Little Knitting Box
It
takes a village...
Cloverdale
is known for its winding roads, undulating hills and colourful cottages,
and more recently, its Library of Shared Things. Need a ladder, a hedge
trimmer or a waffle-maker?
You can borrow it from the Library of Shared Things.
Single dad
Adam is doing a good job of raising his daughter, Zoe, whilst burying
his past and moving forwards. When he agrees to run a mending workshop
at the Library, new friendships
start to blossom.
Jennifer is
a volunteer at the Library. When her younger sister Isla moves back to
Cloverdale after their mother dies, Jennifer finds herself wondering
whether Isla is hiding something.
And when
Adam's daughter Zoe makes a startling discovery, it's time for the
people at the Library of Shared Things to pull together and help one
family with its biggest challenge
of all.
This is a
novel with community at its heart. It's about the kindness we can find
when we least expect it and the bonds we can form when we're not even
looking.
The Little Village Library is a heartwarming story about kindness, community, and new beginnings, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley and Rachael Lucas
My Thoughts
There is a tremendous sense of community in this novel, which does not just come from the setting in the Library. The inhabitants of the village have their own stories too, but you come to appreciate that though they may be very different people, they all have a sense of fellowship in common. Adam, Viola, Jennifer and Viola all have some deeply buried secrets which are hinted at quite strongly. There are some dark issues hidden in the past and you are left for much of the story trying to figure out exactly what has happened. Nevertheless, despite the seriousness of past events, you do not lose the warmth of the story as Adam's family begin to settle into the village.
I particularly enjoyed getting to know Isla and finding out what was at the bottom of her relationship with her sister. She is a breath of fresh air in the village. Jennifer seems to be the lynch pin between all the characters and you get a good sense of how alienated she is at the beginning and anxious to reconnect with her family and friends. The relationships between the parents and the children/ teenagers add another layer to the stories and there are some wry observations on 'life with a teen'.
In short: A delightful read with a solid heart.
About the Author
Helen J Rolfe writes romantic
fiction and contemporary women's fiction and enjoys weaving stories
about family, friendship, secrets, and community.
Location
is a big part of the adventure in Helen's books and she enjoys setting
stories in different cities and countries where she thinks her readers
might like to escape to.
Helen J Rolfe also writes for Orion Books under the name Helen Rolfe.
Born
and raised in the UK, Helen graduated from University with a business
degree and began working in I.T. This job took her over to Australia and
it was there that she finally turned to what she loved and studied
writing and journalism. She spent a while freelancing for women's health
and fitness magazines, volunteered with the PR department of a
children's hospital where she wrote articles and media releases, and
eventually began writing fiction in 2011. And now, she thinks she may
just have found her dream job.
Helen currently lives in Hertfordshire, UK, with her husband and their children.
You can follow Helen here: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Thanks to Helen Rolfe, and Tracy Fenton of Compulsive Readers for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
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