The Hopeful Hearts Bookshop
(Bonnie Bay #1)
by Debbie Johnson
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“Take a leap of faith and visit our perfect little bookshop by the sea.” Bookshop owner Moira writes the first of many invitations she’ll send out into the world. They’ll find the right people, she’s certain…
Single and in a dead-end job, Kate feels hope spring when an anonymous invitation falls from the pages of a book. Now, she’s standing in a charming Scottish village and trying to ignore the six-four silver fox by her side. He’s got an invitation too, a husky Chicago accent, and dangerously gorgeous sea-blue eyes…
Widowed ex-police officer Brody never expected to be stranded in Scotland with a cute British lady. Her smile might be bewitching… but her attitude? Way too cheerful. And eccentric bookshop owner Moira says they can stay for free, as long as they don’t mind sharing one very cozy little cottage.
That’s the least of their problems. Turns out Moira’s bookshop needs them just as much as Kate and Brody need a fresh start. And with a twinkle in Moira’s mischievous matchmaking eye, things are soon hotting up in surprising ways!
But as they string fairy lights over snug reading nooks and rally the whole community to buy their favourite reads, can Kate and Brody save the bookshop and heal their hearts? Or will their fresh start come crashing down?
From the million-copy bestselling author of the Comfort Food Café series comes a brand-new, totally addictive and feel-good escapist romance with delicious steam and spice. Perfect for anyone who loves getting lost in a book – in more ways than one! Fans of Susan Mallery, Phillipa Ashley and Laurie Gilmore won’t be able to put this down.
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My Rating:
Favorite Quotes:
I’m still half convinced this is going to end with a knife fight and me running for my life, chased by locals wearing goat heads and furs.
‘Are you selling something? Are you from the government?’ She spits the last word out like she’s swearing. Stick this old dame in a trailer in Arkansas and you’d be expecting her to whip out a sawn-off shotgun and chase us away.
I’m more of a coffee guy, but saying that here would be like announcing I worship Satan.
These old buildings are lovely to look at, but they take a lot of caring for. If you stop paying them attention, they get their revenge. Like women.
…then after that, we’ll all meet up in the pub! I’ll be having a large Glenfiddich to celebrate, and Joanne will have a small glass of cyanide to put her in a better mood.
I love my kids dearly, but sometimes motherhood feels like you’re at the zoo, they’re all monkeys, and every one of them is throwing poo at you.
Kate slips her hand into mine, gives me a knee-buckling smile. I realise that I’m not so worried about what can go wrong – more about what can go right.
I know it’s coming, but it’s like a new diet or fitness regime – as long as it starts tomorrow, I can live with it.
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My Review:
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This is was such a fun read I was sad to reach the last page. Thankfully, it is just the first in a series so there will be more volumes and shenanigans in store for these quirky characters. I adored the main characters who were realistically drawn with real-world problems and foibles. The writing style was engaging, polished, wryling amusing, and easy to fall into. I am eagerly awaiting more from this talented scribe who has added a new word to my British Isles word list with bahookie.
About the Author
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Debbie Johnson is an award-winning author who lives and works in Liverpool, where she divides her time between writing, caring for a small tribe of children and animals, and not doing the housework. She writes feel-good emotional women’s fiction and has sold over a million books worldwide. She is published in the USA, Canada, Australia, India, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Korea, Serbia, Russia, and Ukraine. Her best-sellers include the Comfort Food Cafe series, Maybe One Day, The Moment I Met You, Forever Yours, and Falling For You. The Starshine Cove series will be published this year. Debbie’s book Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater was adapted into a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2020.
