This is a romantic tale of love that is kindled in the past and left to burn in the present reminiscent of Outlander. It is about time travel and redemption.

Xanthe opens up an antique shop with her mother who is burdened with chronic pain. Xanthe is a beautiful girl with a unique ability to feel emotional ties to objects but is unaware of a ghost who wants Xanthe's help to save her daughter from a certain fate that will require travelling back in time. The catalyst is a beautiful chatelaine brooch that Xanthe bids for in an auction and will be the portal to the early 1600s.

I have been a Paula Brackston fan since reading The Witch's Daughter. The Little Shop of Found Things is the magical beginning to a new series and I can't wait to read the second book!

I love a time slip, and this one is fantastic. The characters are easy to root for, and I loved the story.

I absolutely loved the premise of this story: that a person can have an emotional or physical connection to inanimate objects or places. Xanthe realizes this affinity as a child as she learns the history and provenance of antiques that her mother sells. After relocating to an English village, Xanthe feels a connection to a beautiful silver chatelaine she finds at an auction. As she learns more about it, and the village in which she lives, she discovers the chatelaine is connected to a spirit that inhabits her home and who wants Xanthe to save her daughter in the 17th century. Xanthe learns she can travel in time and finds herself in 1605, trying to save a young maid from death.

She meets architect Samuel Appleby who helps Xanthe in her quest. But, can Xanthe leave Samuel behind?

I adore quaint English villages with their quirky residents. I enjoy stories with elements of magical realism that mix in with the everyday. I love a story that compels me to continue reading and The Little Shop of Found Things did just that. It was a little haunting with some suspenseful moments and it was charming and romantic in others. I found the juxtaposition of Xanthe traveling to and from 2018 to 1605 fascinating.

The descriptions were quite detailed and I found myself skimming some passages, but the story flowed well and kept me engaged. This is first in a series and I'm looking forward to more.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston.

After a rough divorce, Flora, and her daughter Xanthe move to London for a fresh start, opening an antiques shop in an older part of London, But Xanthe has a trick up her sleeve, the ability to make connections to previous owners of the antique, simply by touching it. But what has always been a power that has brought connection and joy, has turned into one of fear, when she is recruited by a woman who is haunting the house to travel back in time to save her daughter. Should Xanthe refuse, her mother's life could be at stake.

The best way I can describe this book is completely fine. It's got an interesting enough story, it's got romance, the time travel aspect and history are interesting. But it was still just fine. I never found myself on the edge of my seat. Perhaps it was just a bit too long?

I always enjoy Paula Brackston books. They are a charming escape from the chaos of modern life for the characters and the reader. I did not love this one quite as much as her past books more focused on witches than time travel, but it was still enjoyable. I will definitely be continuing with the series.

Really loved this story and I am looking forward to the 2nd book in the series. I would put this in the paranormal romance - literary fiction categories I like time travel stories and this one did not disappoint.

Another disappointing read. I thought I would really enjoy the story line, but the plot was so slow and just full of details that were not necessary.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I feel bad that I cannot provide any more positive feedback.

What a great find this book was! A little mystery, a little adventure, a little romance! I really enjoyed my time with these characters and didn't want it to end - the sign of a fantastic story!

I don't usually read "time travel" books but I'd heard so many great things about this book that I decided to give it a try. The story started kind of slow and I began to question my decision but when Xanthe makes her first journey to the past, I was hooked. The idea for the book was pretty clever. I love antique stores and I'm always intrigued by the history of particular objects. In all of my visits to antique stores, I had never heard of a chatelaine and had to google it to get an idea of what it looked like. The chatelaine is fascinating and beautiful. The story is part mystery, part historical fiction, and part love story. I really loved the connection between Xanthe and Samuel and the romanticism of love spanning centuries. I really hope Xanthe visits Samuel again in future installments.

A must read for fans of historical fiction, real life drama, and time travel. I love books that look at antiques and the way they bridge our present and the past. This book's inclusion of an historic love interest and the conflict it causes for the present day heroine grabs the attention of the reader and doesn't let go till the very end. While The Little Shop of Found Things may be a bit of an easy read for some, it has enough depth to provide a good bit of literary fun for all.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this early copy,

It was a magical and well-written start to the series.

I enjoyed this novel and the magic it brought along with the suspense. Im always a fan of magical realism, and I enjoyed the journey the book took me on. While this wasn't a fast paced book I did find myself caring about the characters and wanting to continue reading in order to find out what happens next.

Xanthe and her mother, Flora have an antique shop in Marlborough. Xanthe has a special gift of being able to touch an antique object and experience a sense of the past and the story the antique holds. One day she feels a connection to a beautiful silver chatelaine and knows she must purchase it and find out more. What she discovers is that the chatelaine has a dark and twisted past that resulted in a young woman's death. To make matters worse, the ghost of the mother of the young woman comes to Xanthe and implores her to change the past, using the chatelaine to send Xanthe back to the 17th century.

This novel is slow to start, but if the premise and the themes appeal to you, I encourage you to give this booka chance.

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I finally got around to reading this, and after about 50 pages, I was hooked. I loved the time travel, the mystery, and the romance aspect of it. The characters were great and I wonder what’s next for the characters.
Xanthe has a few character traits that I found slightly irritating. One, was her refusal to share the details with anyone... just trust someone already. Two, you’re not dead, don’t let a ghost take advantage of you that way, just threaten to leave.
Other than that, I really enjoyed it and I’m excited to read the next installment when it’s released.

Having recently finished “The Little Shop of Found Things” by Paula Brackston , I am happy to have had the chance for the preview; thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press!

I really enjoyed the story line of time travel. The co-owner of an antique shop has the ability to glimpse the past of certain objects that "sing to her" and is able to travel back in time to help solve dramas and mysteries related to the specific item. This story kept my interest and I am looking forward to the next book in this series, Secrets of the Chocolate House!

When Xanthe touches certain objects, she can tell something about their past. When she and her mother buy an antique shop, she is attracted to a chatelaine in an auction even before touching it and must have it despite its price. Unfortunately, her compulsion is being driven by a ghost, Mary, from the 16th c who demands that Xanthe travel back in time to save Mary's daughter or Xanthe's mother will pay the price.

I suspect people who like Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, will enjoy The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston. Unfortunately, I never made it through even the first Outlander book so... Still, The Little Shop is well written albeit a tad slow and I managed to finish it. However, there were times it was a struggle especially when it deals with the young woman Xanthe's gone back to save who is more than a little annoying. There is little tension in the story except when the ghost is present and, honestly, I just thought that Xanthe should trade the chatelaine for an Exorcist and be rid of her and her frustrating offspring. As to the mystery of why the girl refused to do anything to help herself, well, turns out this is the first in a series and I guess the answer will be in a future book but I doubt I'll be reading it.

My recommendation: if you like historical mysteries with time travel, ghosts and romance, this might just be right up your alley. Otherwise, I suggest you skip it.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

I received this ARC through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley.com, to St. Martins Press, and to Netgalley.com for this opportunity.

Xanthe and her mother, Flora, left London and headed for Marlborough for a fresh start on life. They've decided to follow Flora's passion and start their own antiques shop. Xanthe has a gift when it comes to finding special treasures. Sometimes a certain antique sings to her. It tells a story and sometimes it begs for help. She finds a chatelaine that is special and, while holding the piece, she is transported to the seventeenth century. There she finds a girl that needs to be rescued and only she can save her. Xanthe struggles to fit into the world in 1605 where the dangers are different than present day. She meets Samuel who slowly finds a place in her heart and she doesn't know how she can ever leave him behind.

This was an excellent book. It isn't my typical genre and it took a bit for me to adjust to the writing style so it was slow moving at first. I came to adore Xanthe, Flora, Samuel, Liam, and all of the other wonderful characters in this book. I hated for it to end and I'm moving right on to the next book in the series. Highly recommended.

Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to read this book! I appreciate the kindness. <3

The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston is the first book in a series that promises to be a success in the time travel genre. Mix adventures, history and romance, new beginnings for our protagonist, who accidentally discovers that, using his ability to hear that some objects "sing" to tell his story and threatened by a ghost, he can travel in time to correct an injustice and save an innocent girl from the gallows.
I think that this book will be enjoyed by readers who have liked the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, although I think their only common point is time travel.
I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Mrs. Brackston for allowing me to travel in time with the protagonist and witness her adventures.

Book Review: The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston

How do I describe this book? Fantastical, magical and thought-provoking. Fans of Outlander, Highlander & Quantum Leap will love this book. Luckily for me, I love all three of those shows. The dual timelines allow the main character to jump between the past and present. The Little Shop of Found Things has elements of fantasy, magic & historical fiction woven amongst a beautiful love story.

Bravely, Xanthe is trying to save someone's life. Obviously, there’s a lot at stake. Although some parts seem a bit wordy, I thoroughly enjoy this book. 

THE VERDICT

I am Really Into This book! I love that Paula Brackston really gives readers a first-hand account of each character's thoughts. With this style, I feel I can connect with the characters more.  The Little Shop of Found Things is a solid 4.5 stars rounded to 5 for me. 

Special thanks to Paula Brackston, St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for providing my copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.