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The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander #Review

  The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander was published by Avon Books on September 25th.  A charming literary-themed novel about a young woman determined to save her great-aunt’s beloved bookshop from extinction by the shiny new competition—which also happens to be run by the handsome son of her family’s rivals. The cute, seaside town of Portneath has been the home of Capelthorne’s Books for nearly a hundred years… The shop, in the heart of a high street that stretches crookedly down the hill from the castle to the sea, may be a tad run-down these days, but to Jules Capelthorne, the wonky, dusty world of literary treasures is full of precious childhood memories. When her great-aunt Florence gets too frail to run it alone, Jules ditches her junior publishing job in London and comes home to make the bookshop’s hundredth birthday a celebration to remember. Jules quickly discovers things are worse than she ever imagined: The bookshop is close to bankruptcy, ...

The First Date by Zara Stoneley #Review

We are back with Zara Stoneley today for her latest romcom, The First Date, whichj is published by One More Chapter on June 25th. I always enjoy her books and you can read my reviews of Bridesmaids here , The Wedding Date here and Four Christmases and a Secret here.

Right place.

Right time.

Wrong guy …


After breaking up with her childhood sweetheart, clueless dater Rosie has found herself in a boyfriend-drought. So when she finally swipes right on a guy who seems interested, she can’t wait to meet up in person.

Until she’s left standing alone. In a bar. Stood up.

Enter Noah. Confident, funny … and a serial first dater. Offering to give Rosie a crash course in seduction, this could be just what she needs. Until her matchmaker turns out to be the best date she’s ever had – and Rosie wonders if she wants the fake dates to be the real ones after all …

A hilarious, heartwarming romantic comedy about what happens when the wrong guy turns up at the right time, perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Mhairi McFarlane.
From the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Date!


My Thoughts

This is a fun read which is light and fast paced. I enjoyed the banter between Rosie and Noah which takes a gentle prod at so-called dating advice. Rosie has some issues to settle in her mind and can't help but measure the men she meets against her father's behaviour. Her relationship with her mother is another dimension, especially as you get to see what she actually feels about her 30 year marriage. 

    There are plenty of light-hearted scenes to keep your attention. Both Noah and Rosie have friends who add some colour and give you a little insight into their characters.  Interestingly, I did find the first chapter a little difficult to get into but once it had started, I felt swept along. For entertainment and escapism, give it a try!

In short: A romcom with plenty to offer.
 
About the Author

 Zara Stoneley is the USA Today bestselling author of 'The Wedding Date'.

She lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.

Born in a small village in the UK, Zara wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. After many (many) years, and many different jobs, her dream of writing a bestseller came true. She now writes about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hopes that her tales make you laugh a lot, cry a little, and occasionally say 'ahhh'.

 Zara’s bestselling novels include 'Bridesmaids', 'No One Cancels Christmas', 'The Wedding Date', 'The Holiday Swap', 'Summer with the Country Village Vet', 'Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage' and the popular Tippermere series - 'Stable Mates', 'Country Affairs' and 'Country Rivals'.

You can follow Zara here: Website | Twitter | Facebook 
| Instagram | Bookbub| Amazon Author Page

Book links: Amazon UK

Thanks to Zara Stoneley and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 
 
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