BOOK BLITZ: The Bookseller of Kathmandu (Tales of Kathmandu) - Ann Bennett

A sweeping tale of secrets and survival set against the mystical backdrop of Nepal, and the tropical heat of 1940s Malaya.

In the heart of bustling Kathmandu, Chloe Rai's quaint bookshop is a sanctuary for those seeking solace within the pages of timeworn stories. But when she discovers a collection of letters hidden within the crumbling walls of a forgotten Rana palace, her world begins to intertwine with a narrative from a different time and place.

Penned in the 1940s by a woman named Alice Lacey, the letters tell the story of the Malayan Emergency, a time of turmoil and conflict. As Alice's life becomes intertwined with that of Anil, a Gurkha officer, their bond is tested by the chaos and violence surrounding them. Chloe's discoveries not only reveal family secrets, but also mirror her own struggles in the present. As she delves deeper into Alice's story, she begins to understand the power of the past in shaping the present.

With a rich cultural backdrop and a poignant exploration of friendship, resilience, and truth, 'The Bookseller of Kathmandu' is a beautifully woven tale that showcases the enduring power of storytelling. Join Chloe on a journey through time as she uncovers the truth and learns to navigate the complexities of her own life.

If you enjoy captivating storytelling, then you won't want to miss 'The Bookseller of Kathmandu.' And if you loved 'The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu,' then you will be enthralled by Chloe and Alice's intertwined stories... 

What did I think?

The Bookseller of Kathmandu is the second book in Tales of Kathmandu series but it can be read as a standalone.  I haven't read The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu (but I definitely want to now) to find out more about Chloe's story.  

It's a riveting dual timeline story that transports the reader to 1940s Malaya via letters discovered in a donation of books to Chloe's bookshop in present day Kathmandu.  There is a family link to the historic story as the books belonged to Chloe's husband's Uncle Anil and reading the letters helps Anil's son to make sense of his father's will.

I loved both storylines that had newlyweds in common.  Chloe and her husband Kiran are struggling to adjust to married life in 2018 and Alice has pretty much been sold off to Bruce in 1948 in payment of her father's debts.  I detested Bruce with a vengeance and really felt for Alice having to deal with his abuse on her own in a strange country.  It's no wonder that her head was turned by Anil's kindness.

The way the story unfolds through the old letters between Alice and Anil is completely mesmerising and I loved the settings of Paradise Books and Malaya.  Ann Bennett's beautiful writing transports the reader on a wonderfully atmospheric journey and I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Nepal and Malaya.

Poignant, atmospheric and mesmerising, The Bookseller of Kathmandu is a beautiful historical fiction novel and one I would highly recommend.

I received a gifted paperback to read for the Rachel's Random Resources book blitz and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/booksellerkathmandu

About the author:

Ann Bennett is a British author of historical fiction. Her first book, Bamboo Heart: A Daughter's Quest, was inspired by researching her father's experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway and by her own journey to uncover his story. It won the Asian Books Blog prize for fiction published in Asia in 2015, and was shortlisted for the best fiction title in the Singapore Book Awards 2016.

That initial inspiration led her to write more books about WWII in Southeast Asia - Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife, A Daughter's Promise, Bamboo Road: The Homecoming, The Tea Planter's Club, The Amulet, and The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu. Along with The Lotus House, published in October 2024, they make up the Echoes of Empire Collection.

Ann is also the author of The Oriental Lake Collection - The Lake Pavilion and The Lake Palace, both set in British India during the 1930s and WWII, and The Lake Pagoda and The Lake Villa, set in French Indochina.

The Runaway Sisters, USA Today bestselling The Orphan House, The Child Without a Home and The Forgotten Children are set in Europe during the same era and are published by Bookouture. Her latest book, The Stolen Sisters, published on 29th November 2024 is the follow-up to The Orphan List (published by Bookouture in August this year) and is set in Poland and Germany during WWII.

A former lawyer, Ann is married with three grown up sons and a granddaughter and lives in Surrey, UK. For more details, please visit her website www.annbennettauthor.com

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Giveaway to Win a Paperback copy of Fortune Teller of Kathmandu (Open to UK and Europe only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK and Europe entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Win a Paperback copy of Fortune Teller of Kathmandu (Open to UK and Europe only)

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BLOG TOUR: Booked for Summer - Kathryn Freeman

A love story she didn't see coming…

When book lover Jade Taylor applies to manage the Little Bay Book Shack on Nantucket Island over the summer, the last thing she needs is the distraction of billionaire resort owner, Liam Haven.

But things take an unexpected turn when Liam becomes Jade’s boss – a man who only reads contracts for pleasure…

In a bid to save the bookshop from being absorbed into the Haven resort, Jade is determined to teach Liam that there’s more to life than acquiring real estate. And if she can make him realise happily ever afters do exist, might she be able to save the island’s bookshop in the process?

 

What did I think?

Booked for Summer is Kathryn Freeman's latest romcom and it is filled with romance and books.  A book with books in it is always going to pique my interest and I enjoyed my virtual trip to Nantucket Island.

I loved the main characters of Jade and Liam, although not at first I have to say.  Jade's enthusiasm for running the bookshop is infectious so it's no wonder that she quickly makes friends as soon as she sets foot in Nantucket.  After a misunderstanding at the ferry crossing, Jade meets Liam and their attraction to each other is plain to see.  Of course, they both have their own hangups and neither of them are looking for anything long term...

The wonderfully drawn colourful characters pull this story along perfectly as well as the plot to close the bookshop.  What???  Close the bookshop?  I thought Kathryn Freeman wrote romcoms not horror stories!  I just loved how the whole community came together to fight for a common cause, which also happened to be them all ganging up on Liam as he owns the resort.  I really felt for him as there's a good reason why he wants make his resort the most exclusive on the island but he is a little blinkered because of it.

Flirty, charming and fun, Booked for Summer is an entertaining and enjoyable book that transports the reader across the Atlantic to the picturesque island of Nantucket.  It's a fabulous summer read.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

A former pharmacist, Kathryn now writes romantic comedies. Feel good books that are sexy and sweet, funny yet heart-warming. Mr Right Across the Street won the RNA Award for Romantic Comedy in 2022. 

With a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), the romance in her own life is all in her head. Then again, his unstinting support of her career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links 

Twitter: @kathrynfreeman1

Facebook: facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Instagram: kathryn.freeman_author

Website: http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk 

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Bookmagnet Best Bookish Buys: Postscript Books

I've only recently discovered Postscript Books so I thought it was worthy of a best bookish buy post as they have loads of brand new books at discounted prices.  Postscript Books is a family run business that was established in 1987 and they have a free monthly catalogue (produced in the UK on paper from sustainably managed sources) as well as a website.  Delivery is free when you spend over £25 and their packaging is eco-friendly.

July catalogue

Click here to order a free catalogue featuring over 400 books from multiple fiction and non-fiction genres.

Postscript very kindly offered to send me a couple of books so I could share my shopping experience and I have to say that I was very impressed from order to delivery.  The website is easy to navigate and there are so many books I could have ordered, so I could easily spend £25 to take advantage of the free delivery offer.

So, what did I order?   I decided to order a book from three different categories: contemporary, crime, thrillers & mystery and historical.  

In contemporary, I chose The Snow and the Works on the Northern Line by Ruth Thomas that was published in 2021 and was priced at £3.99.  

My choice in the crime, thriller & mystery category was A Bitter Remedy by Alis Hawkins that was published in 2023 and was priced at £4.99.  

In historical fiction, I chose The Murder of Harriet Monckton by Elizabeth Haynes that was published in 2019 and was priced at a bargainous 99p.

So I got three books for under £10 without even leaving my home!  Bargain!

Postscript Books is a Bookmagnet Best Bookish Buy and a great bookseller for some bookish retail therapy.  Go on, treat yourself to some new books!

BLOG TOUR: The Bookshop Ladies - Faith Hogan

Bestselling Irish writer, Faith Hogan, has created another gripping saga of friendship, betrayal and secrets in this story of a widow in search of answers to a shocking confession by her dying husband.

Joy Blackwood has no idea why her French art dealer husband has left a valuable painting to a woman called Robyn Tessier in Ballycove, a small town on the west coast of Ireland, but she is determined to find out.

She arrives in Ballycove to find that Robyn runs a rather chaotic and unprofitable bookshop. She is shy, suffering from unrequited love for dashing Kian, and badly in need of advice on how to make the bookshop successful.

As Joy becomes entangled in the daily dramas of Ballycove, uncovering the secrets behind her husband's painting grows increasingly challenging. When she finally musters the courage to confront the truth, her revelation sends shockwaves through the tight-knit community she's grown to love.

 

What did I think?

Faith Hogan is one of my favourite authors and I didn't think I could love one of her Ballycove books more than I already do and then she goes and writes one set in a bookshop.  As well as books, it is of course filled with drama, secrets and the wonderful Ballycove community spirit.

I had tears in my eyes before I had even finished the dramatic prologue as Joy's life changed forever in the blink of an eye.  Not only does Joy have her own grief to deal with, she is rocked by a confession her husband made with his final breath.  Joy leaves her home in Paris and sets of to Ballycove in Ireland to hand deliver a painting that her husband has bequeathed in his will.

Joy is rightfully angry but her anger vanishes almost instantly the moment she steps inside the bookshop owned by Robyn Tessier.  Robyn assumes that Joy has come to volunteer for work and Joy is too polite (and a little shellshocked) to set Robyn straight.  It's not ideal to start a friendship with secrets and it gets harder to find the right time to be honest as time goes on, but I could tell that Joy's heart was in the right place and that Ballycove had a firm grip of Joy's heart.

The wonderful community of Ballycove once again plays a huge part in the story and it was lovely to see some old faces that I have come to know and love over the years.  The Bookshop Ladies is a standalone novel though, so you don't need to have read any of the other books to enjoy it.

A book set in a bookshop is a book lover's dream and The Bookshop Ladies is a wonderfully heartwarming and engaging read.  There are books aplenty to delight the bookworms among us but it's the characters who leave a lasting impression on the reader in this very highly recommended read.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Bookshop of Second Chances - Jackie Fraser

Set in a charming little Scottish town, The Bookshop of Second Chances is the most uplifting story you'll read this Winter, by a hugely talented debut author.

 

Thea’s having a bad month. Not only has she been made redundant, she’s also discovered her husband of nearly twenty years is sleeping with one of her friends. And he’s not sorry – he’s leaving.

 

Bewildered and lost, Thea doesn’t know what to do. But, when she learns the great-uncle she barely knew has died and left her his huge collection of second-hand books and a house in the Scottish Lowlands, she seems to have been offered a second chance.

 

Running away to a little town where no one knows her seems like exactly what Thea needs. But when she meets the aristocratic Maltravers brothers – grumpy bookshop owner Edward and his estranged brother Charles, Lord Hollinshaw – her new life quickly becomes just as complicated as the life she was running from...

 

An enchanting story of Scottish lords, second-hand books, new beginnings and second chances perfect for fans of Cressida McLaughlin, Veronica Henry, Rachel Lucas and Jenny Colgan.

What did I think?

Novels set in bookshops are like catnip to booklovers so I just had to read Jackie Fraser's debut: The Bookshop of Second Chances.  I think it's very hard to place The Bookshop of Second Chances into just one genre as it is something so different that it feels like romance for realists and chicklit for older chicks.  

Thea is 44 years old, so she's just a wee bit younger than me, and it's so refreshing to read a novel with a middle aged lead character.  Although we still have our insecurities, I think the older you get, the less you care about what people think of you and I love that Thea is often very forthright.  Thea has nothing left to lose after losing her job, her husband and her home in close succession, so when her Great Uncle dies and she inherits his cottage in Scotland she doesn't think twice about upping sticks to live north of the border.

The little town of Baldochrie is just what Thea needs to lick her wounds and find herself again.  Her neighbour is Lord Charles Mactravers and Charles' brother Edward owns the local bookshop.  I wished I could have visited Edward's bookshop and Jackie Fraser granted that wish by transporting me there through her beautifully descriptive words.  A true booklover, Edward keeps his shop quite dark to protect the books and it reminded me a little of Black Books (from the TV show of the same name), only a lot neater.

As potential suitors for Thea were laid out before the reader, I was reminded of Pride and Prejudice.  As she's not looking for a man, Thea is very Lizzie Bennet when fending off unwelcome advances with her forthrightness and Edward is SO Mr Darcy: brooding, grumpy and unfriendly.  I don't know whether or not it was intended, but I think Jackie Fraser's debut novel is a wonderful retelling of Pride and Prejudice for the 21st century.  I've probably made Jackie Fraser's day by comparing her to Jane Austen!

Wonderfully uplifting, The Bookshop of Second Chances is a booklover's dream and a fabulous debut from Jackie Fraser.  It is so beautifully written with a sprinkling of humour throughout and it will appeal to so many readers, leaving a smile on the face of everyone who reads it.  

Many thanks to TeamBATC for sending me a beautiful paperback to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Beach Reads Book Club - Kathryn Freeman

Welcome to the Beach Reads Book Club. Where love is just a page away…

When Lottie Watt is unceremoniously booted out of her uptight book club for not following the rules, she decides to throw the rulebook out the window and start her own club – one where conversation, gin and cake take precedent over actually having read the book!

The Beach Reads Book Club soon finds a home for its meetings at Books by the Bay, a charming bookshop and café owned by gorgeous, brooding Matthew Steele, and as the book club picks heat up, so too does the attraction between Matt and Lottie.

If there’s anything Lottie has learned from the romances she’s been reading, it’s that the greatest loves are the ones hardest earned. 

A love letter to chicklit, romance, romcoms, whatever you want to call them!

What did I think?

Well this book turned out to be a breath of fresh air and as it's about a book club set in a book shop it's the perfect read for book lovers.  I loved it and read pretty much the whole book with a smile on my face so I must say a huge thank you to Kathryn Freeman.

Lottie's experience of the book club in her local library is precisely what puts me off book clubs: reading a book that somebody else has chosen and then having to discuss it.  I love books but speaking about them in front of people is my idea of hell.  Lottie isn't the only book club member to find that they're not having as much fun as they'd hoped so when Lottie decides to set up her own book club she already has a couple of founding members.

A book shop café is the perfect location for Lottie's book club and owner Matthew Steele provides the sexual tension as a brooding Mr Darcy style love interest.  Lottie is an electrician (and her surname is Watt which is rather amusing) so there's more than a few sparks as she is drawn to Matt but both of them have been hurt in the past so they're each reluctant to make the first move.

If all book clubs were like this one, I wouldn't mind joining!  Although I'd be the size of house with so much gin and cake!  I loved every single character as each one is brought to life through Kathryn Freeman's wonderful writing.  I have to say that my favourite character was Lottie's dog Chewie and it just shows the depth of character portrayed that he is so multidimensional without having the ability to speak.

You're always guaranteed a smile with a Kathryn Freeman book and The Beach Reads Book Club is no exception.  It's perfect escapism and I picked up one or two book recommendations along the way so it's a book lover's dream.  So cut a slice of cake, pour yourself a (large) gin and tonic and pick up a copy of The Beach Reads Book Club - you won't be disappointed.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

UK.Bookshop.org

About the author:

A former pharmacist, I'm now a medical writer who also writes romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it's the reaction to a sexy hero. 

With a husband who asks every Valentine's Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), any romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links – 

Website:  http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1

Follow the tour:

The Bookshop of Second Chances - Jackie Fraser

Set in a charming little Scottish town, The Bookshop of Second Chances is the most uplifting story you'll read this Winter, by a hugely talented debut author.

 

Thea’s having a bad month. Not only has she been made redundant, she’s also discovered her husband of nearly twenty years is sleeping with one of her friends. And he’s not sorry – he’s leaving.

 

Bewildered and lost, Thea doesn’t know what to do. But, when she learns the great-uncle she barely knew has died and left her his huge collection of second-hand books and a house in the Scottish Lowlands, she seems to have been offered a second chance.

 

Running away to a little town where no one knows her seems like exactly what Thea needs. But when she meets the aristocratic Maltravers brothers – grumpy bookshop owner Edward and his estranged brother Charles, Lord Hollinshaw – her new life quickly becomes just as complicated as the life she was running from...

 

An enchanting story of Scottish lords, second-hand books, new beginnings and second chances perfect for fans of Cressida McLaughlin, Veronica Henry, Rachel Lucas and Jenny Colgan.

What did I think?

Novels set in bookshops are like catnip to booklovers so I just had to read Jackie Fraser's debut: The Bookshop of Second Chances.  I think it's very hard to place The Bookshop of Second Chances into just one genre as it is something so different that it feels like romance for realists and chicklit for older chicks.  

Thea is 44 years old, so she's just a wee bit younger than me, and it's so refreshing to read a novel with a middle aged lead character.  Although we still have our insecurities, I think the older you get, the less you care about what people think of you and I love that Thea is often very forthright.  Thea has nothing left to lose after losing her job, her husband and her home in close succession, so when her Great Uncle dies and she inherits his cottage in Scotland she doesn't think twice about upping sticks to live north of the border.

The little town of Baldochrie is just what Thea needs to lick her wounds and find herself again.  Her neighbour is Lord Charles Mactravers and Charles' brother Edward owns the local bookshop.  I wished I could have visited Edward's bookshop and Jackie Fraser granted that wish by transporting me there through her beautifully descriptive words.  A true booklover, Edward keeps his shop quite dark to protect the books and it reminded me a little of Black Books (from the TV show of the same name), only a lot neater.

As potential suitors for Thea were laid out before the reader, I was reminded of Pride and Prejudice.  As she's not looking for a man, Thea is very Lizzie Bennet when fending off unwelcome advances with her forthrightness and Edward is SO Mr Darcy: brooding, grumpy and unfriendly.  I don't know whether or not it was intended, but I think Jackie Fraser's debut novel is a wonderful retelling of Pride and Prejudice for the 21st century.  I've probably made Jackie Fraser's day by comparing her to Jane Austen!

Wonderfully uplifting, The Bookshop of Second Chances is a booklover's dream and a fabulous debut from Jackie Fraser.  It is so beautifully written with a sprinkling of humour throughout and it will appeal to so many readers, leaving a smile on the face of everyone who reads it.  

Thank you to TeamBATC for sending me an early copy to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Away for Christmas - Jan Ruth

Jonathan Jones has written a novel. Losing his job a few days before Christmas means the pressure is on for his book to become a bestseller, but when his partner drops her own bombshell, the festive holiday looks set to be a disaster.

When he's bequeathed a failing bookshop in their seaside town, it seems that some of his prayers have been answered, but his publishing company turn out to be not what they seem, and when his ex-wife suddenly declares her romantic intent, another Christmas looks set to be complicated.

Is everything lost, or can the true meaning of words, a dog called Frodo, and the sheer magic of Christmas be enough to save Jonathan's book, and his skin?

What did I think?

Just the thing to get us in the Christmas spirit is the latest novella from Jan Ruth, although the main character is more of a grinch than a jolly Santa Claus.  That's why I liked him!  I wasn't sure what to make of Jonathan Jones at first: he's an accountant who wants to swap numbers for letters and become an author.  His idea of keeping warm when it's cold outside is to wear two sweaters - give this guy my number, it's like looking into a mirror!

When Jonathan loses his job at the same time as his partner quits her job, it looks like Christmas isn't going to be much fun.  Add to this Jonathan's struggles with his publisher, who seem to forget he even exists, and even the coldest heart would start to feel sorry for him.  Things start to look up when he becomes the surprise new owner of a charming but neglected bookshop where he finally sheds his accountant skin and takes a few risks that could see all his dreams come true.

A book with books in it is always going to get a big thumbs up from me - it's definitely a book for booklovers.  I could virtually smell the books in Beachside Books and I knew it would be a place where I could spend hours browsing the shelves.  I loved Jonathan's dreams of becoming an author and taking risks which would be completely against his nature.  To see him evolve from an unhappy accountant to a much happier person at the end was well worth it.

Although it has Christmas in the title, it's not too Christmassy so you could definitely read Away for Christmas at any time of the year.  Whenever you read it, I know you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Lost for Words - Stephanie Butland

THIS BOOKSHOP KEEPS MANY SECRETS . . .

Loveday Cardew prefers books to people. If you look carefully, you might glimpse the first lines of the novels she loves most tattooed on her skin. But there are some things Loveday will never show you.

Into her refuge - the York book emporium where she works - come a poet, a lover, a friend, and three mysterious deliveries, each of which stirs unsettling memories.

Everything is about to change for Loveday. Someone knows about her past and she can't hide any longer. She must decide who around her she can trust. Can she find the courage to right a heartbreaking wrong? And will she ever find the words to tell her own story?

It's time to turn the pages of her past . . .

What did I think?

Lost for Words is a book lover's dream as it is a novel set in a bookshop.  I expected a bit of lighthearted chicklit but couldn't have been more wrong as it goes so much deeper than I expected.  Loveday with her unusual name is such a unique character that you can't help but take her straight to your heart, and of course envy her book-filled surroundings!

My attention was captured right from the start as Loveday finds a book on the pavement - surely someone hasn't thrown a book away so it must have been dropped inadvertently. She puts up a notice in the window of the bookshop where she works, hoping that the owner will come in to claim it.  This is how she meets Nathan, who opens up a new world of poetry, friendship and possibly something a little more.  Loveday just has to realise that not all men are like creepy stalker Rob who keeps pushing flowers through her letterbox. Thankfully Nathan perseveres, and I was cheering him on from the sidelines as Loveday fell under his spell.

Loveday is such a spiky character but I absolutely adored her; she doesn't mix well with people and she doesn't know how manipulative and mean they can be.  Along with Loveday and Nathan, bookshop owner Archie and Loveday's scatty colleague Melody all found a place in my heart, leaving me in floods of tears at the end of this outstanding book.

Beautifully written, with completely 3-dimensional and well developed characters, Lost for words is a book that I will remember fondly for many years to come.  A highly recommended read.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

The Little Bookshop on the Seine (The Little Paris Collection Book 1) - Rebecca Raisin

La Vie En Rose

Bookshop owner Sarah Smith has been offered the opportunity to exchange bookshops with her new Parisian friend for 6 months! And saying yes is a no-brainer – after all, what kind of a romantic would turn down a trip to Paris…for Christmas?

Even if it does mean leaving the irresistible Ridge Warner behind, Sarah’s sure she’s in for the holiday of a lifetime – complete with all the books she can read!

Imagining days wandering around Shakespeare & Co, munching on croissants, sipping café au laits and watching the snow fall on the Champs-Élysées Sarah boards the plane.

But will her dream of a Parisian Happily-Ever-After come true? Or will Sarah realise that the dream of a Christmas fairytale in the city of love isn’t quite as rosy in reality…

A deliciously feel-good Christmas romance perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson and Julia Williams

What did I think?

There is just something so very magical about this book - it really made me feel like I could see, smell and experience Paris from the comfort of my living room.

Sarah is quite comfortable in her little bookshop in sleepy Ashford, USA.  She has her friends across the road in the Gingerbread Cafe (an earlier book of Rebecca Raisin's) and her boyfriend is on the road trying to make a career for himself as a reporter.  Then her friend Sophie in Paris has a bust up with her boyfriend and asks Sarah to swap bookshops.  This is where the fun begins!

Sarah isn't the most confident of ladies and I though she did brilliantly well to get to Paris on her own in the first place.  She barely speaks French and the trains are a nightmare but she finally makes it to Sophie's bookshop and it is heaving with people!  Sarah dives straight in and helps out, quickly realising that her idea of dreamily wandering around Paris was indeed a dream as she doesn't get a spare minute in Sophie's bookshop.

I loved Sarah's love of books.  Her flinching as a reader cracks a spine on a book (me too!) and calling them her book babies.  Sarah's knack of matching readers to books was a lovely idea and I could almost smell and feel the books, so much so that I wanted to hop on a plane to Paris to find this wonderful bookshop for myself!

There are some lovely little stories within this book - the famous author who visits the bookshop every day to write and to be near his unrequited love and the mystery of the money going missing from the till.  All will be revealed in the pages of this gorgeous book.

I felt that Sarah really gained confidence throughout the book although she gave her boyfriend one too many chances, in my opinion.  I really didn't trust Ridge throughout the book, I felt he was messing Sarah around and was living a single life while he was away. Spending one day with her in Paris was atrocious, he might as well have not bothered at all.  I'm sure Sarah and Ridge will appear in another book but I get the feeling that they are not meant for each other.  Perhaps I am wrong...my opinion did change slightly towards the end but my suspicions had already been raised and no satisfactory explanations were forthcoming!

There are such wonderful sparkling characters in this book that I couldn't help but smile as I read it.  I loved Sarah's visits to The Little Antique Shop Under the Eiffel Tower which left me eager to read the next Little Paris instalment but, in the meantime, I hopped over to Amazon to pick up Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe.

This is my first Rebecca Raisin book and I loved it.  Her style of writing is almost dreamlike and sparkly which will bring a smile to everyone's face.

I received this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: The Little Bookshop on the Seine

As the nights draw in and Christmas is just around the corner, I am thrilled to be part of The Little Bookshop on the Seine blog tour with a guest post from Rebecca Raisin giving us a taste of Christmas in Paris.  To experience more Christmas in Paris, make sure you read The Little Bookshop on the Seine and please remember to check out my review of this gorgeous book.

La Vie En Rose

Bookshop owner Sarah Smith has been offered the opportunity to exchange bookshops with her new Parisian friend for 6 months! And saying yes is a no-brainer – after all, what kind of a romantic would turn down a trip to Paris…for Christmas?

Even if it does mean leaving the irresistible Ridge Warner behind, Sarah’s sure she’s in for the holiday of a lifetime – complete with all the books she can read!

Imagining days wandering around Shakespeare & Co, munching on croissants, sipping café au laits and watching the snow fall on the Champs-Élysées Sarah boards the plane.

But will her dream of a Parisian Happily-Ever-After come true? Or will Sarah realise that the dream of a Christmas fairytale in the city of love isn’t quite as rosy in reality…

A deliciously feel-good Christmas romance perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson and Julia Williams

The Little Paris Collection:

The Little Bookshop on the Seine

The Little Antique Shop under the Eiffel Tower

The Little Perfume Shop off the Champs-Élysées

Also by Rebecca Raisin

The Gingerbread Café trilogy:
Christmas at the Gingerbread Café
Chocolate Dreams at the Gingerbread Café
Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Café

The Bookshop on the Corner
Secrets at the Maple Syrup Farm

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AmazonUS 

iBooks 

Nook 

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Now wrap up warm for the guest post and get a little taster of Christmas in Paris!

Christmas in Paris

Could there be anything more romantic than spending Christmas in Paris? Snow dusting the naked trees along the bank of the Seine, the river swelling gently as you stroll hand in hand? The Champs-Elysees is adorned with flashing fairy lights, lighting up the inky nights. Lovers can seek out the Christmas markets full of mouthwatering French food, and handmade arts and crafts.

Mid November Santa’s Village opens in Saint Germain des Prés in the Latin Quarter and its once again full of unique gift ideas, and Christmas inspired food! You’ll hear the happy shrieks of children as they ride the Christmas carousel, and do take a moment to visit Saint Nic himself, and make a few Christmas wishes!

Last Christmas visitors were able to ice skate 57 metres above Paris, on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower! I think bumbling around on slick ice with the heady view of Paris all around would be nothing short of miraculous! There’s also lots of other outdoor ice skating rinks set up over winter, so get your skates on…

Anytime is a good time to cruise down the Seine on a boat, champagne glass held aloft, but it’s even better at Christmas time for the Christmas lights tour! The boats are decked out with decorations, and Christmas carols play chirpily. Wave to passing strangers, who can’t help but smile at a boat full of merry makers!

Take in a concert! Visit the Notre Dame for an evening of classical music! Or any of the many churches around Paris. I just have to hear the notes of the organ ring out and I blubber away…could just be me though, so beautiful!

Paris, and France is a foodie heaven, and more so at Christmas when the chocolate shops and patisseries go all out for some festive fun! It’s only fair you try them all and make sure they’re the right present for someone special! Eat, drink, and be merry in the city of love!  

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About the Author

Rebecca Raisin

is a bibliophile. This love of books morphed into the desire to write them. She’s been widely published in various short-story anthologies, and in fiction magazines, and is now focusing on writing romance. The only downfall about writing about gorgeous men who have brains as well as brawn is falling in love with them – just as well they’re fictional. Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with. People with big hearts who care about relationships, and, most importantly, believe in true, once-in-a-lifetime love.

Follow her on twitter @jaxandwillsmum

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaRaisinAuthor

Website rebeccaraisin.com