I loved the beginning of the book where Sarah starts to talk to books as a child. After that as she is grown up it turns into a more romance story and the magical realism seems to disappear. I would have loved for there to be more of it in this book.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

Expecting this book to be about Sarah Dove & her sense that books speak to her, I was surprised to see her take a secondary roll in the story. The Book Charmer is an enjoyable read, one I hope will continue as a series to see where the characters may go. Grace Wheeler comes to terms with her foster mothers Alzheimer's, as well as learning to be a parent to her niece all with a move to a different town & a new job. A cute story, "cozy" if you will. It will be interesting to see if the next book is more about the Dove sisters, vs the towns people & their issues. Thank you to NetGalley & Gallery, Pocket Books for an advance copy in return for an honest review

Grace Wheeler’s life started out difficult, but in her adult years she has established herself as a successful financial analyst in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her elderly foster mother Mama G has been living in a nearby town raising Grace’s eight year old niece Daisy for Grace’s wayward sister Hannah. Three separate events happen in a short period of time that drastically change Grace’s predictable workaholic life. Hannah dies in a tragic accident, Mama G is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and Mama G’s house suffers irreparable damage during a storm. Grace decides she has no choice but to take over the care of Daisy and Mama G, and opts for a clean start in Mama G’s hometown of Dove Pond, North Carolina. No fan of small towns, Grace considers Dove Pond a temporary fix and vows to move the family back to Charlotte as soon as she can. She secures a job as town clerk and moves her family into a dilapidated little house which is owned by Mama G’s cousin.

Despite her internal struggle to remain aloof and distance herself from the townspeople and their activities, Grace eventually finds herself immersed in the charms of Dove Pond. After some resistance, Grace befriends several neighbors who make her feel more at home in the town. One neighbor is Sarah Dove, the town librarian who has some special talents. The Dove women have always possessed some unique mystical abilities, and Sarah’s powers are those of a “book whisperer”, where she can converse with the books in the library. Grace’s other neighbor is Travis Parker, a rough but attractive war veteran who seems to be fighting demons of his own that can rival Grace’s. Grace reluctantly settles into small town life and soon finds herself involved in helping the town in ways that she never dreamed possible.

The Book Charmer is a heartwarming story of an idyllic town whose charm and residents will likely remind readers of Star’s Hollow (Gilmore Girls) or Mayberry (Andy Griffith), with some magical moments mixed in for good measure. Karen Hawkins is gifted storyteller who has crafted a novel complete with very likable characters, a touch of romance, and a fantasy element. This winning combination will capture her reader’s attention and make them feel good… just like a Hallmark movie.

What begins as a story of a small-town librarian and the books in her care who talk to her, turns into a touching story about family, home and heart. While there is a gentle wave of the magical realism wand, this story is a sweet romance or women’s fiction story with characters that you’ll want to meet for coffee and pie.

Sarah Dove is the seventh daughter in her family, and the Dove family was a founding family of Dove Pond, North Carolina. Legend has it that when a seventh daughter is born, portentous changes happen. Sarah hopes this is true because her small town needs help.

Dove Pond could be Mayberry. Shady trees, old homes with character, quaint shops, it’s a g-rated family place. But the town is fading away, and declining. When the prickly Grace moves in to town with her family, Sarah senses that Grace is the help that Dove Pond needs. (One of the books whispered to her and confirmed it!)

Grace needs help. She was a foster child, shuffled from home to home until “Mama G” took in her, and her sister. Grace ends up succeeding and getting a good education and job. But when sadness hits, Grace takes an opportunity to move to Dove Pond with Mama G and her motherless niece Daisy.

Something good needs to happen to Grace, Sarah, the brooding biker guy Trav who lives near them, and the town. Will Grace finally come “home”?

While the magical realism of the talking books with personality was just a light sprinkling of whimsy, the main story of Grace, Daisy, Mama G, Sarah, and Trav, and the business travails of Dove Pond, is as warm as the sun in Dove Pond and as cozy as a swing on a front porch. Enjoyable!

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster for a digital ARC. This is my honest review.

This book is a light cozy romance. Once I realigned my expectations to that reality, I was able to stop criticizing the book for what it wasn’t and begin appreciating what it was.

Based on the publisher’s blurb, I was looking forward to a contemporary literary fiction novel, with deep human drama mixed with elements of magical realism. Maybe not as intense as Isabel Allende or Laura Esquivel, but something along those lines. My thought was that there would be interesting insights from known literary works in distinct voices.

The book was none of that. However, it definitely fit the formula of a cozy romance, right down to the happily ever after ending that you expect in a romance. I don’t read in that genre so I really can’t judge whether it was an above average specimen or not. The author did put a lot of effort into developing a sense of place, so I suspect there will be more Dove Pond books focusing on the other sisters’ talents. I won’t get sucked in by those because I now know what to expect from the series, and it isn’t my cup of tea.

I received this book as a digital advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This storyline fell a little flat for me, both in character development and its advertisement of “magical realism”. There was a lot of potential in the plot ideas laid out, but these ideas were never fully developed. It just felt a little light weight. Thank you for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Grace Wheeler comes to Dove Pond for the sake of Mama G who is suffering from Alzheimer's. She is determined to stay no longer than a year. That is, until Sarah Dove and others in the community get her involved in the town's affairs and her next door neighbor Trav catches her heart. A totally charming look at a town filled with love.

Loved, loved, loved this book! Thank you so much for the ARC. I loved the characters, town, and story. Can’t wait to follow along in these characters’ lives.

While this was not the typical genre I read, I found this story quite charming.
The characters were good and written well, the story unique, and I found myself enjoying this book for the most part.

A book about a small southern town, books and a librarian is right down my alley. All three have been part of my life. I found the book delightful and loved every minute reading it. Thanks for this opportunity.

The Book Charmer is a story of one little girl , and her sister, who is passed from foster home to foster home until they find Mama G. Grace, the main character, goes on to college and a successful career, but gives it all up to come home to care for Mama G. when she becomes ill. They return to the town of Mama G’s birth, where the majority of the story takes place. It is a beautiful and heartwarming tale of what is really important in life...home, family, friends.

I fell in love with this book! It has the trials and emotions of real life - angst, romance, sadness, and joy. The characters deal with real life issues - sisters, family members with dementia, children who have lost parents, war wounds, and the need to make a living while juggling all the pieces. It also has quirkiness - all the diverse characters in a small town - a family of magical sisters, a wacky mayor, and a wise old woman that everyone loves. I was totally charmed by The Book Charmer and you will be too!

Magic. That's what this book was. The story. The characters. The town of Dove Pond. So many emotions experienced in one book and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I'm a huge Sarah Addison Allen fan and Karen Hawkins is right up there with her in style, storytelling and imagination. It was just exactly what it was supposed to be and I am so looking forward to diving back into another magical story crafted around Dove Pond.

Charming is a perfect description for The Book Charmer. This lovely novel tackles trust, pain, and love in the town of Dove Pond, NC.

Grace Wheeler and her sister Hannah have been bounced from home to home. They’re about to land at the one last chance they have before the system will split them up and send Grace to a group home. Mrs. Giano, better known as Mama G, will take a look at them and decide if she’s willing to tackle the demons that rest inside Grace.

All grown up, a bit later, Grace is now responsible for Mama G and Hannah’s daughter Daisy. Mama G is struggling with the early stages of Alzheimers, and Daisy needs a fresh start. Giving up her dreams of success in the financial industry, Grace moves the patched together family to Mama G’s birthplace of Dove Pond. Dove Pond offers a chance for Mama G to be in a place that feels safe, even if it doesn’t afford Grace the job or future she’d intended.

Meanwhile, Dove Pond has its own set of issues. When Grace takes over the job of town clerk, she uncovers a mess that could take the town down. Working with a feckless mayor who thinks his primary job is fishing and glad-handing, and being the new girl in town, she’s about to take on a challenge any bigger than she’s ever had. Will Grace be able to handle the changes? And will she let anyone in to help her?

Karen Hawkins has written such a beautiful novel of love. Grace and Daisy are both somewhat broken, and find themselves in a place of magic in Dove Pond. Neither wants to let anyone in, too many trust issues, but the magic of Dove Pond can’t help but work its way into their hearts. The author deals with the realities of Alzheimers and what it’s like to live with someone you love when their mind is slipping. Also, how the foster system can break and heal those broken by it. She has created a place that anyone would want to pull up stakes and move to.

Not sure if Dove Pond will be a series (it does say book #1) but I truly would love to know more about the town and the residents. Dove Pond will be a place I want to visit again and again. The Book Charmer and it’s hometown have charmed me, as I’m sure it will charm others.

This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com close to publication date.

What a heartwarming story! I loved the character of Grace and adored Sarah!!
I know this is going to be a series, and I can't wait! I need to know about the book!!!
This is what I like to call a quick, feel good read. Thank you NetGalley!!

Simply charming! I want to move to Dove Pond.

My only quibble would be that, with the title character being a librarian, we sure didn't get to spend much time in the library!

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great story. I was hooked from page one. The only thing I disliked was that the book ended. This story could of gone on and on. Hopefully she will continue the story in another book. I enjoyed the characters, the setting and the "books". Definitely a title I didn't want to put down.

THE BOOK CHARMER - Karen Hawkins

Dove Pond, North Carolina - Present Day

The small, friendly town of Dove Pond has the reputation of having great bar-b-que, an Apple Festival that attracts people from all over, and amazing good luck whenever the Dove family has seven daughters. Thankfully, there are seven Dove girls these days because, right now, Dove Pond is in dire need of that luck. Will the magic that inhabits each daughter, especially the seventh one, save their hometown?

Sarah Dove is the town librarian, which is a good thing because books "talk" to her, literally. And the one that has talked the most during her lifetime has been the very old book written by, like Sarah, a seventh Dove daughter back in the early 1700s. Strange things are happening in her home town. Siegfried, a town cat, is doing counterclockwise circles before every store on Main Street. Then Sarah noticed that the flowers in the town planters have been changing colors. They were purple when planted, but every so often they turn different colors. When the town fountain began running again after fifty years of it being broken, Sarah knew something was going to happen. She already knows her town is slowly dying, with stores closing, people moving away to find jobs, and a brief glimpse of the latest budget showing that financial issues are going to crush them. So, when Sarah's books tell her that the new town clerk will be important to Dove Pond, she knows she has to act.

Grace Wheeler has had to leave her lucrative, high pressure job in Charlotte and move to Dove Pond where she will be the town clerk for a miserably low salary. But, with the death of her younger sister, Hannah, and having to take over raising Daisy, Hannah's eight-year-old daughter, not to mention caring for her elderly foster mother, Mama G, Grace has moved them to a rental house in Mama G's home town. The old woman is showing signs of dementia, Daisy is still reeling from losing her mother, despite Hannah's chronic absences, and Grace is coming to terms with being a mother and care-giver. To say she has a chip on her shoulder is putting it mildly. She will stay in town for one year, then move them all to Charlotte where Grace can earn a respectable living. In the mean time, she must deal with a town mayor who puts fishing before Dove Pond, Sarah Dove who is just way too friendly, and a motorcycle riding, macho guy living next door.

Many in the town are well aware that the new town clerk isn't happy to be in Dove Pond. But when she's thrown into the "Social Club" by the mayor to plan the Apple Festival, Grace alienates just about everyone. For Grace has gone over the financial records of the town, and it is on the verge of bankruptcy. Spending money on a, to Grace, frivolous fair just makes no sense. So she slashes the fair budget and sets the town atwitter. Sarah and others understand, but the one thing that puts Dove Pond on the map is that Apple Festival. How will Sarah and friends manage to convince Grace of its importance? Can the Dove family magic overcome everything that is going wrong? The future of Dove Pond is at stake.

Any book that can make me laugh out loud and wipe tears from my eyes is a darned good book. And THE BOOK CHARMER does it all with its beautifully written prose, enchanting, all-too-human characters, and that bit of magic that only books can transcend to readers. It's a Perfect 10 in every way. Do not miss this delightful novel.

I liked this book - the concept is very fun. I only wish the idea of a book charmer would've been used in a slightly different manner than a small town plot/story. I also wish everything had been just a bit 'more' in the novel (more romance, more magic, more diversity). Although there are still a few editing errors, it's a nice enough read, even if I found myself skimming through passages.

Being a librarian's child I had such high hopes and I was severely disappointed. Not only does this book fail to deliver on it's mystical premise, but it also has no real interest to save it, no climax or any particular reason to keep reading. The magical elements are there in the corners, but not in any way a major factor in the story, and everything else in the book is similarly disjointed. The book isn't really about the Book Charmer at all, but about a different character, and just as that storyline is oddly left behind, so are many others. I would love to see a completely new version of this book fixing all of its problems, but as it stands I wouldn't recommend it. :-(