Christmas at the Borrow a Bookshop - Kiley Dunbar

 

'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?

Purchase Links

AMZ: https://amzn.to/39v0coN

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3QpSgpj

Apple: https://apple.co/3Oewbs0

Hive: https://bit.ly/3HI1olz

My Review:

The second visit to a series with a premise every book lover dreams of – being able to run their own book shop. After reading The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday by Kiley last year, I was excited to return and especially at Christmas.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading the first book, this can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend you do read The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday too. Magnus comes into the community we got to know and love, he is an extraordinary character and it wasn’t his idea to come; he soon meets another new member of the community – Alex, who has her own reasons for being around. Their connection is instant but events unfold that mean things do not run smoothly, and when stormy times hit damage is done to more than just local shops and homes.

Clove Lore, it’s locals and the community feel is so special, not matter the set back they pull together to make things work. Magnus and Alex are welcomed with open arms and the village works its magic yet again.

I think the best thing about this book is the whole cast of characters, the community feel and that friendship and camaraderie is a main feature. These books are so well written, you feel like you are there amongst them all. The story moves along nicely, we learn more about so many of the characters in this book.

I am looking forward to seeing what comes next! I wish I could be whisked away to take over the bookshop for my very own holiday. 

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.

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: http://www.kileydunbar.co.uk/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI8wM4Fmkbyg4S_XGSnfUCA

https://twitter.com/kileydunbar

https://www.facebook.com/KileyDunbarAuthor/

The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday - Kiley Dunbar

 

The Fully Booked Bookshop Café invites literature lovers to run their very own bookshop … for a fortnight.

Spend your days talking books with customers in your own charming bookshop and serving up delicious cream teas in the cosy café.

Bookworms, what are you waiting for? Your holiday is going to be LIT(erary).

Apply to: The Fully Booked Bookshop, Down-a-long, Clove Lore, Devon.

Jude Crawley should be on top of the world. She’s just graduated as a mature student, so can finally go public about her relationship with Philosophy professor, Mack.

Until she sees Mack kissing another girl, and her dreams crumble. And worse, their dream holiday – running a tiny bookshop in the harbour village of Clove Lore for two weeks – is non-refundable.

Throwing caution to the winds, Jude heads down to Devon, eager to immerse herself in literature and heal her broken heart.

But there’s one problem – six foot tall, brooding (but gorgeous) Elliot, who’s also reserved the bookshop holiday for two weeks…

As Jude and Elliot put their differences aside to run the bookshop, it seems that Jude might be falling in love with more than just words. Until she discovers what Elliot is running from – and why he’s hiding out in Clove Lore.

Can Jude find her own happy ending in a tiny, tumbledown bookshop? Or is she about to find out that her bookish holiday might have an unexpected twist in the tale…

My Review:

This is just every reader and book lovers dream – the chance at running a bookshop complete with sweet treats! Where can I sign up? I would absolutely love it. My mind was running wild before I even turned the first page.

Jude is a great character – I really was on her side from the start and just hoped she had the best time in Devon and in the bookshop. She’s in need for some direction in life and thinks some time away following a dream might help, even if she’s doing it alone.

Arriving in Clove Lore, Devon, is quite an experience and full of interesting characters and locals. She soon finds that her alone time isn’t quite as she imagined. Elliot crashes into Jude’s life and although he is clearly hiding something, he balances her out and helps her in ways she doesn’t realise at first. They may have a rocky start but the chemistry is there from the moment they meet.

I enjoyed the story and seeing both characters work through their issues. I enjoyed the locals and would love a return trip to hear more of their exploits, plus see what other magic the bookshop could weave.

Nicely written with some fun, lighted moments as well as more heartwarming scenes too. A pleasurable way to spend a few hours. 

Purchase Links

AMZ: https://amzn.to/30a8F8w

Kobo: http://bit.ly/308giMP

Apple: http://apple.co/3q8A4Ch

Author Bio:

Kiley Dunbar writes heart-warming, escapist, romantic fiction set in beautiful places.

Kiley also works as a senior lecturer, teaching creative writing at the Manchester Writing School. One Winter's Night is shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Comedy Novel Award 2021.

Social Media Links:

'Kiley Dunbar Author Book Page' on Facebook
website and newsletter: http://www.kileydunbar.co.uk/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI8wM4Fmkbyg4S_XGSnfUCA

https://twitter.com/kileydunbar

https://www.facebook.com/KileyDunbarAuthor/