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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, ...
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The Country Escape by Jane Lovering #Review

 

The Country Escape by Jane Lovering was published on September 1st by Boldwood Books. 


Welcome to the idyllic country retreat of Christmas Steepleton, and let Jane Lovering whisk you away with the most heart-warming, romantic and comforting read of the year.

Leaving London and her ex-husband Luc behind, Katie and her 14-year-old daughter Poppy move into their very own, very ramshackle cottage near the village of Christmas Steepleton on the Dorset coast.

Harvest Cottage has been unloved for many years, so the job of bringing it back to life is a slow and expensive one. So, with funds running low, Katie jumps at the chance when a film company asks to use the cottage as a location.  But even as things are looking up, as harvest time passes and autumn chill starts to bite, the prospect of a cold winter in the country is daunting.

Some light relief comes from new friend Gabriel, so different from Katie’s exuberant but arrogant ex Luc. Will their friendship blossom into something more romantic, or will the reality of a tough country winter send her and Poppy scurrying back to the comforts of town?

Let Jane Lovering spirit you away to the perfect country escape, far away from the bustle of the city. Just right for fans of Emma Burstall, Fern Britton and Kate Forster.


                                                                                     My Thoughts

How refreshing that Katie's country cottage should be as far from an idyllic, cosy dwelling as you could get. It is rundown, full of woodlice and spiders, dusty and generally in need of some TLC. Katie can see beyond this but first, she needs to gather some cash together. In the meantime, she appreciates how it seems hidden away, completely off the beaten track. Katie is taking a time out from her past life. You come to understand why she feels like this as the story unfolds.

    There are some great secondary characters. Katie's daughter and friends add some humour. Some seem to be able to see beyond the surface and realise how vulnerable Katie actually is. Gabriel is not your run of the mill male lead character. He has a sensitive and vulnerable side and you can believe in him. Through Gabriel and Katie, you see the effects of childhood traumatic events on the adults and come to understand why Katie is so protective of her daughter. With quirky characters and some poignant moments, this is a great read and well worth it.

In short:  A heartwarming read

 

                                                                                About the Author


Jane Lovering is the bestselling and award-winning romantic comedy writer who won the RNA Novel of the Year Award in 2012 with Please Don’t Stop the Music. She lives in Yorkshire and has a cat and a bonkers terrier, as well as five children who have now left home.

You can follow Jane here:  Twitter  | Facebook |  Website   |  Bookbub

Book links: Amazon UK 

Thanks to Jane Lovering, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

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