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The Widow's Vow by Rachel Brimble #Review #PublicationDay

  Today's historical fiction takes us to Victorian England and Bath. Published by Boldwood  today on December 16th, A Widow's Vow is the first in the Ladies of Carson Street saga series by Rachel Brimble.   From grieving widow... 1851. After her merchant husband saved her from a life of prostitution, Louisa Hill was briefly happy as a housewife in Bristol. But then a constable arrives at her door. Her husband has been found hanged in a Bath hotel room, a note and a key to a property in Bath the only things she has left of him. And now the debt collectors will come calling. To a new life as a madam. Forced to leave everything she knows behind, Louisa finds more painful betrayals waiting for her in the house in Bath. Left with no means of income, Louisa knows she has nothing to turn to but her old way of life. But this time, she'll do it on her own terms – by turning her home into a brothel for upper class gentleman. And she's determined to spare the girls she sa...

Christmas at the Borrow a Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar #Review

 


Today we are returning to Devon, to the fictitious village of Clove Lore which is loosely based on Clovelly. This is the second in the Borrow a Bookshop series by Kiley Dunbar.  Christmas at the Borrow a Bookshop was published on September 1st by Hera. You can read my review of The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday here.

 'Tis the season for finding love… and the perfect book

With just two weeks until Christmas, everything in Clove Lore should be perfect. But the latest holidaymaker to the Borrow a Bookshop is feeling far from festive…

Icelandic ex-bookseller Magnús Sturluson might be surrounded by love stories in the Bookshop, but he’s nursing a sadness that not even fiction can fix.

When Alexandra Robinson finds herself stranded in Clove Lore, she finds a safe place to hide from heartbreak. After all, all that’s waiting for her at home is a cheater boyfriend and the memories of her parents. As Alex finds herself embraced by the quirky village community, she finds her tough exterior thawing – and as she grows closer to Magnús, she finds an equally soft heart under his gruff shell.

It seems that Clove Lore is working its magic once again – until a great flood on Christmas Eve brings devastation in its wake. It’s up to Magnús and Alex to batten down the hatches and help bring the village back together again, while also introducing the locals to the Icelandic tradition of the jólabókaflóð – Yule book flood – where families and friends gather on Christmas Eve to exchange books and read together.

But can Magnús and Alex truly rescue the ruins of the village, and salvage their Christmas spirit? Or is there another complication lurking even closer than they thought?


 My Thoughts

Anyone who loves books will love the idea of spending two weeks in a bookshop in an idyllic village in Devon. I thoroughly enjoyed the first in this series so when I saw that Christmas going to be added to the mix, I was delighted. I wasn't disappointed. Magnus is the latest inhabitant of the shop and when he arrives you know that he must have a sad story in his back story. Will the bookshop weave its magic? Magic certainly seems to be in the air when Ale is swept ashore like a mermaid washed up from the sea. Both of these sad people have their own story and both are looking for some hope.

    All the inhabitants we met in the first story are here to be reacquainted with. Some are eccentric and quirky but they are all welcoming and warm. As the festive season gets nearer, anticipation in the village grows. However, there are storm clouds on the horizon and Winter is setting in. This is a warm and uplifting read, just right to snuggle down with. May you find it in your Christmas stocking!

In short: beautiful Devon and beautiful books 

About the Author


Kiley Dunbar writes heart-warming, escapist, romantic fiction set in beautiful places, with One Winter's Night being shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Comedy Novel Award 2021.

 

Kiley's five novels include: The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday (May 2021), One Winter's Night (September 2020), Summer at the Highland Coral Beach (2020), Christmas at Frozen Falls (2019) and One Summer's Night (2019).

Social Media Links –

'Kiley Dunbar Author Book Page' on Facebook

website and newsletter: www.kileydunbar.co.uk 

You tube   |  Twitter

 Book links:  Amazon UK   |  Kobo     |  Apple  |  Hive 

Thanks to Kiley Dunbar, Hera and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources  for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

Catch up with these great bloggers!

 



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