Publication Day Push – The Little Bookshop by the Sea by Eliza J Scott @ElizaJScott1 @rararesources @Stormbooks_co #BookReview #PublicationDay #BookBlogger #Micklewick #TheLittleBookshopByTheSea

I first read and reviewed this gorgeous book back in June 2022, I was looking forward to reading future instalments and was delighted to learn that the author had a book deal with Storm Books, who have republished this one with another couple in the close pipeline. I’ve reshared my review below.

I’m grateful to Rachel Gilbey of Rachel’s Random Resources for the tour invite and support and to Storm books for gifting me the advance reading copies. My review contains my honest thoughts.

Synopsis

Welcome to your happy place…

Each morning as bookseller Florrie Appleton cycles along the promenade of her seaside hometown, watching the surfers far out in the bay, breathing in the fresh salty air, she counts herself lucky. She has a small but picture-perfect cottage overlooking the sea, a group of friends she can always rely on, and the job of her dreams at her favourite bookshop. But when tragedy strikes, her little slice of heaven is in danger of being lost forever.

To save the bookshop from closure, Florrie finds herself thrown together with the elderly owner’s handsome grandson, Ed Hartes, who has a habit of making butterflies dance in her stomach. But the only romance Florrie has time for lies within the pages of her favourite novels, and her instincts are telling her to be wary. There’s something Ed’s keeping from her, and she can’t face another heartbreak.

When Florrie stumbles upon a mysterious stash of yellowed letters in the storeroom, it seems Ed isn’t the only one with secrets. The old bookshop is full of stories waiting to be told, and they aren’t only in the pages of the books….

The perfect uplifting, feel-good read for fans of Jessica Redland, Jenny Colgan and Phillipa Ashley.

Purchase Links

USA

Review

The story of Happy Hartes Bookshop and how it got its name was enchanting. I could easily imagine the shop front with eye-catching displays and Gerty, the black Labrador, laying in the sunshine. Florrie is a lovely character, and I took to her immediately. Her kindness may have seemed like nothing, to her, but the impact was clearly huge. I certainly wasn’t surprised by the unexpected situation that is mentioned in the synopsis and welcomed the developments that followed.

Ed takes the role of romantic lead, but he is flawed. His parents have not shown him the love and security that children deserve to receive; choosing to follow a more nomadic lifestyle that has impacted his ability to both settle and receive affection. While I understood that he had commitment issues, I was frustrated by his actions and inability to see what the Happy Hartes Bookshop had to offer, on many different levels.

For me, the story that develops as a result of the visiting poet was perfect. I hadn’t foreseen the connection that he would have to Mr and Mrs H, or to their friend, Miss Davenport, and loved every part of it.

I am convinced that this will be a wonderful new series and already love Florrie’s friends and the atmosphere in the Jolly Sailors. Even Ando Taylor has a softer side which may develop more as the next instalments are published.

Author Bio

Eliza J Scott lives in North Yorkshire with her family and has wanted to be a writer as far back as she can remember. She is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heartwarming stories based on romance and friendship with a generous dollop of community spirit and a hint of humour. She has written and self-published ten novels and has been an Amazon UK Kindle bestseller.

When she’s not writing, Eliza can usually be found with her nose in a book or working in her garden doing a spot of plot wrangling (of the writing variety), and battling against the weeds. The weeds, unfortunately, are currently winning but Eliza is undeterred. Roses are amongst her favourite flowers and she doesn’t need much of an excuse to visit a plant centre where a new rose always seems to mysteriously find its way onto her trolley much to her husband’s astonishment.

Eliza also enjoys having a catch-up with friends over tea and cake, as well as bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off by a visit to a teashop – for yet more tea and cake!