I was fortunate to receive an advance review copy of one of Kiley Dunbar’s enchanting stories set in her fictional village of Clove Lore. If you’ve not yet visited, this would be the perfect time to be transported to this wonderful community and let the weight of the world melt away. If you’d like to read my earlier reviews of this series, you can follow these links: The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday and Christmas at the Borrow a Bookshop.
For full disclosure, I received an advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. You can read my thoughts below.
Synopsis
Can she write her perfect love story?
Austen Archer is on her dream solo bookselling holiday, the new ‘borrower’ at the Borrow-A-Bookshop in Devon’s Clove Lore. While she has always loved poetry, her words have dried up since being fired by her last boss, bestselling author, Callista Flyte, a year ago.
Austen distracts herself with the Borrow-A-Bookshop, as well as her flirty online exchanges with an anonymous Parisian bookseller. Hiding from the world, Austen doesn’t notice that wedding planner, Patti, is falling for her – and is too afraid to admit that she feels the chemistry too.
But as Patti and Austen grow closer, culminating in a magical day at the wildflower meadow, can Clove Lore work its customary magic and bring the two together? And will Austen find the confidence to risk her heart and write again?
Review
I have several book destinations that I would love to visit, and Clove Lore is certainly one of them. I just love the residents and the way newcomers seem to dissolve into the very essence of the place as though they were always there.
In a nutshell, this Devonshire village plays host to the Borrow a Bookshop, a place where bibliophiles can move in for two weeks and immerse themselves in the joys of running a bookshop. There have been some fabulous predecessors, and I was more than ready to read about Austen’s story and discover how she would fare with the quirky community.
If you’re familiar with the previous book, you may have already picked up a clue about Austen just from the synopsis. Of course, there’s more to this story than a simple girl-meets-girl, as there is the added intrigue of a romantic figure working in a Parisienne bookshop and all the romantic elements that come as part of that package.
Of course, there are other stories happening in the background my favourite one was the gentle romance finding its way into the heart of Mrs Crocombe, Clove Lore’s very own matchmaking ice cream lady. There was also the gossip mill that surrounded the new arrivals at The Big House and the new residents now living in one of the newly opened apartments. Jasper and Estee bring some intrigue into the mix and a real emotional conflict for Sam, who is juggling multiple jobs including the family laundry service, which is becoming onerous as she fights to protect her Mum’s business.
As usual, my review is spoiler-free, but I can promise that this is a wonderful book which I absolutely loved. The characters are so beautifully drawn that I could actually picture each of them making their way up and down the steep streets around the village. I cannot recommend this book more and truly hope you will enjoy it even half as much as I did. Easily a 10-star read, although I’m restricted to 5.
Author Bio
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.
She’s a Scot living over the border in North England and an academic, so it’s really Dr Kiley. She loves meeting her readers on social media.
Social Media Links
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