4.5 magical ⭐️S!

Sarah Dove is the librarian of Dove Pond, but she is no ordinary librarian. Books are more than just objects to her: they live, breathe, and sometimes they even speak. Her gift is to place each book in the hands of the correct reader. But, recently they have been whispering about the arrival of Grace Wheeler. If the books are right, (and they haven’t been wrong yet!) Grace, the new town clerk will be the savior of this financially strapped, dying town.

But, Grace only plans to stay one year, and she doesn’t have room on her plate for any more demands on her time. She has arrived with her foster mom, Mamma G, who is suffering from dementia, and her niece, Daisy, who has just lost her own mom, and is now being raised by her Aunt Grace.

The book opens with a prologue, one chapter introducing you to Sarah Dove and her gift-(all the Dove Sisters have one) and one chapter introducing you to how Grace and her sister Hannah, come to live with Mamma G.

The story then alternates between the point of views of Grace, (who is the actual main character of this book), Sarah, (my favorite chapters!) and Trav, the next door neighbor who suffers from PTSD, and needs some healing of his own.

You know the kind of book that makes you sad when it ends, because you don’t want to say goodbye to the characters? This is one of those books.

The kind that makes you wish you lived in this town, and were blessed to have these people in your life.

I wanted to know more about how Mamma G broke through to Grace and Hannah when they came to live with her. I want more of Sarah Dove. And, I want to know what happens in the next chapters of all of their lives!

Fortunately, this is just book one in the Dove Pond series, so this isn’t Goodbye...it’s just goodbye for now!

Favorite quote: “Love can’t cure a broken heart, but it can hold the two sides together while they heal” ❤️

Hurry up and write the next installment, Ms. Hawkins! I am watching for its release!

Recommended for you if you love books with quaint towns, and charming characters who make you smile and cry-this installment will be available to read on July 30, 2019!

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC of The Book Charmer! The title says it all about this book! It was charming! I found that this book is the perfect summer contemporary with magical realism. I absolutely loved this book, and it surprised me how much I loved it. It deals with many topics like friendship, grief, love and family matters. It also has a small town setting, which I adore, and magical books that talk! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a light, fast paced, magical read!

There is warm-hearted magic in the small town of Dove Pond and it is all because of the Dove family. The current custodian of the town is librarian Sarah Dove, who lets books talk to her, tell her who needs them and what she should do, cryptically, of course. Who know what will happen when Sarah follows their orders, but it is always for the good of the town and especially the people who live there.

Lately the books have talked about a stranger coming to town, Grace Wheeler, who has her hands full with her orphaned niece and elderly mother who suffers from worsening dementia. For Grace, Dove Pond is just a temporary stopover, a place to re-group and get her bearings, but the books say otherwise…and Sarah knows the books are never wrong.

THE BOOK CHARMER by Karen Hawkins is a delightfully charming and quirky tale of finding inner peace, a place to grow roots and learning to stop and smell the roses. Fun, heartwarming, heartbreaking and sweetly romantic, this read will fit into your beach bag perfectly as the unusual citizens of Dove Pond worm their way into Grace’s heart, as well as any reader who wants a little sunshine in their lives!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Gallery Books!

Series: Dove Pond - Book 1
Publisher: Gallery Books (July 30, 2019)
Publication Date: July 30, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Comedy/Fantasy
Print Length: 368 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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I loved this book! It is not usually my go-to genre so I'm happily surprised that it was such a good read. It is very heartwarming as the protagonists have a very troubled background and for, Grace, also a very troubled present day that at times the troubles seem insurmountable. The magic of the Dove family is just delightful. I wish I had a Sarah to hand me some books. I truly liked the people of DovePond, even the ones that were not so likable. This felt like the first book in a series and I'm hoping for more books about the Dove Family and Dove Pond.

This is a new author for me, but I fell in love with this book. According to many reviews, the author is similar to Sarah Addison Allen, in her writing, which is another new-to-me author. The small town story of Sarah and her magical ways swept me in right away. Growing up books for Sarah was her life. As the town's librarian, she uses her magical abilities and finds readers for every book. The book starts slowly as we are introduced to many people but then takes off about the end of chapter 9. Overall, the story is full of love, determination, and friendship, with a bit of magical realism thrown in the mix. Highly enjoyed this book and can't wait to revisit Dove Pond in future books of this series.

The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins is that book that reminds every childhood reader of the magic of books. Summers spent with imaginary friends. I remember books talking to me; okay they still do, but not the way they talk to Sarah Dove. From the first sigh of remembrance in the first chapter I was hooked. Hawkins leaves some decidedly loose ends, so I hope that we get to return to Dove Pond soon. This was the perfect summer read, lazy and heart-warming.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins was a very sweet novel about small town life, a librarian who can hear books talk, and a woman in the “sandwich generation” trying to balance caring for her mother with dementia and her suddenly motherless niece, after the death of her sister.

Since this book featured a librarian who hears books whisper the names of people who need to read them (a cute, magical element to the series) and the struggles of living with a loved one with dementia, this book was almost made for me (a librarian with a dad who has dementia). Even though the book presents a sort of “dementia-lite” with a sweetly confused woman (those who have dealt with dementia know it is not-so-much a sweet disease), I still connected to the story and felt like to book was a gentle escapism.

The story starts out slowly, which was my main criticism, with childhood backgrounds of the two main female characters, Sarah and Grace. I love that the main relationship of this book was a female friendship, rather than a romance. Though there is a romance side plot, that the reader can see coming, it takes a lot of reading to finally get there. The romance isn’t just a cute part of the story, it ties in with one of the main plots, so I thought it was well done, though predictable.

Another prominent plot in the book is the fate of the small town, and how the newcomer to town, Grace, can help save it. This plot didn’t interest me much in the beginning, but I came to appreciate it in how it helped connect Grace to the people in the town, who I genuinely came to like.

I think this book will be a series, which I am looking forward to reading in the future (including a short story that is sort of a prequel/sequel that came out in June and I already read). It felt very much like a cozy mystery, but without the mystery part (unless you count flowers that mysteriously change colors).

I did receive this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I recommend it for anyone looking for something light and fun, but with characters that you will come to like. It is a great palate-cleansing book to read in between more serious or challenging books.

The Book Charmer, by Karen Hawkins, is a sweet summer read featuring a small town setting, a bookish protagonist, and a cast of memorable characters.

Set in the struggling southern town of Dove Pond, it follows Grace Wheeler as she makes the transition from working in the city to living in the country in her new role as caretaker for her adoptive mother and niece. Dove Pond is also home to bookish protagonist Sarah, the town librarian who has the peculiar magic of hearing books speak to her. When Grace, her adoptive mother (who is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s) and her niece (now in Grace’s care after her mother’s death) arrive, Sarah gets a special message from the books - that Grace will help save Dove Pond.

A story of perseverance, love and family in the face of challenges, with a dash of magic - The Book Charmer will appeal to fans of women’s fiction and magical realism. It’s a treat of a summer book, perfect for the beach or poolside reading.

*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can't wait to return to Dove Pond for book 2 in this wonderful new series. Karen Hawkins has created a quaint unusual town that relies on a hint of magic to keep the town prosperous. Sarah is the town librarian and hears the books whisper about who needs to read them. She makes sure the books get into the right patron's hands. When newcomer Grace arrives at the library the books are all interested . Sarah and Grace learn they must team together to save the town from the mismanagement of the mayor. I haven't read many of Karen's books because she seems to write in the historic fiction genre but this one is spot on for a current day story. She reminds me of Sarah Addison Allen with the touch of magic that you so dearly want to be true. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

3.5 stars.

Usually I am not a fan of magical realism but this was a sweet story that I enjoyed. It is a story of a small town that is struggling to survive like so many towns in our country today.

This is a story of friendship when one needed friendship and community. It was a story of a woman who needed a town and then town needed her. This was a light quick read that I enjoyed. I will check out future books by this author.

A lot of my patrons - generally the middle-aged or senior women - ask for "nice books" to read. This is definitely a Nice Book: the writing is pretty average and the story is fairly predictable, but in a warm and wholesome way. It's not award-winning literature, but it's a comforting kind of book about friends and a community coming together. Good for fans of Sarah Addison Allen.

I loved this book. The Book Charmer is quirky, hopeful and heartbreaking. The Dove family have special powers. Sarah is the town's librarian and the books "talk" to her. She hears them in her head. They will tell her who needs them at certain times. She has a sister who is really good at making teas just right for a person but won't work on a different person. Another sister who is really good with plants. The flowers on main street will be yellow one day and in a few hours will turn to purple or red, depending on the mood of the town or people standing near them. Grace brings Mama G, her foster Mother and her niece Daisy to Dove Pond so that Mama G can have a little bit of more time while the Alzheimers starts to eat away at her memories. Grace only wants to stay a year but soon Dove Pond and the citizens get their claws into Grace and makes her realize what she is missing in a family and community. The Book Charmer was such a good book and will will be recommending it to all my friends.

This book was just what I needed. A sweet book with a touch of magic, romance, wonderful friendships, and the reminder that life can be bitter sweet. It was as if the book chose me. ;)

If you are a fan of Sarah Addison Allen, or books like Chocolat by Joanne Harris or Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel, this book might be one you enjoy. I recently found out that this genre is called Magical Realism. A touch of magic in the book, but never an out and out call out to being a witch. I think this genre could appeal to a more broader readership than Fantasy, although I love both types of books.

Karen Hawkins wrote about a town similar to mine, and many across the nation. One that is full of good people, but is still slowly dying. Hawkins focuses a lot on character development which is what makes this story so good. You get to know the townsfolk and want to root for them to succeed in their personal lives as well as reviving the town to its previous splendor.

Hawkins also explores a lot of issues that many people have gone through, including suicide, child abandonment, foster care, having to change careers to be a caregiver, and dementia. I always find it appealing to read about issues that I’ve experienced, and see how others deal with it, to know that I’m not alone in the struggle. And although I said this is a sweet book, it really does pack an emotional wallop.

I highly recommend, The Book Charmer, and am looking forward to reading more in the series, including the eNovella, Love in the Afternoon, which introduces the Dove Pond NC series.

What's not to enjoy about a book about books? While I did enjoy it, the book wasn't quite what I expected.

The small-town setting is charming (and reminded me a bit of Stars Hollow in "Gilmore Girls"), and I love how Sarah wants to help save it. The story is told via two POV characters: Sarah and Grace, two strong female leads. I connected with Grace a bit more. I did find the story very slow to start out (about the first half). I appreciated the fact that the romance angle in this one wasn't a huge part of the story, but I have a feeling that may change in upcoming books. There was a lot of overdetailing that slowed the pace on a number of occasions, especially near the beginning. The epilogue was perhaps the best part. Overall, the story is full of love, determination, and friendship, with a bit of magical realism thrown in the mix.

Although the books, and the book charmer herself, didn’t seem to be the primary focus of this story, this was a cozy, magical read. The small town setting of Dove Pond and its interesting, quirky characters gave it a warm homey feel. I especially liked Grace and her ‘family.’

I did shed a few tears in parts and felt the treatment of Mama G and her battle with dementia/Alzheimer’s was caring and empathetic. Hawkins clearly researched or experienced this devastating illness.

My primary quibble is that the books aren’t really center stage as the title leads you believe. I love the concept of books “speaking” to someone and wish it had been further developed.

I have never read Karen Hawkins before, but it sounds like this is quite a departure from her romance novels. This is the first of what promises to be a fun series.

Sarah Dove has a gift (all of the Dove sisters do!). Books speak to her, they tell her who needs to read them, they don't tell her why, but they are never wrong. As the town librarian, she places books and readers together. Then one day a book tells her about the arrival of Grace Wheeler. The books whisper to Sarah that Grace will be the one to save the town and return it to its former glory.

Grace Wheeler and her sister Hannah bounced from foster home to foster home until they were placed with Mama G. There they found a home and Grace discovered the joy of reading and a connection with Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Now an adult, Grace has quit her job and moved to Mama G's hometown of Dove Pond to care for Mama G and her niece. Both who desperately need her. Grace has no intentions of making this town her own. She plans to stay a short time before heading back to the city. But the books, Sarah and the townspeople have other plans.

I did not want to put this book down (so I didn't). It had so many things going for it: a librarian who found the perfect books for each reader (actually the books choose the readers), a strong female lead who was strong and vulnerable at the same time, Mama G (man, did she have me crying), a wounded vet, a little magical realism and likable (even lovable) characters. This is the first in the series so here I am doing a happy dance.

This was the perfect summer read for me. At times light and fun, other times it touches on serious issues - PTSD, Alzheimer’s, and grief to name a few. But it also touches on finding a family, being a friend, love, human connections, being part of a community, starting over, taking chances and letting people in. I didn't want to put this book down. I was absorbed in the story and even though it is a little predictable it did not affect my enjoyment of the book in any way. The Book is called “The Book Charmer” which is Sarah, but the book is more about Grace and her family. I have a strong feeling that Sarah will be the focus of the next book (fingers crossed). I wanted a little more at the end. It did feel as if the book ended a little abruptly but there was an epilogue which tied some things up. There will be more books in the series so I know there will be more to come with the quirky enjoyable characters.

Thank you to Gallery Pocket Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is one of those books perfect for Summer- it creeps in on you slowly, like a wave going back and forth, until suddenly you realize you are knee deep and don't want to leave! Grace is a character we can all relate to, and as more and more of her story emerges, you understand her actions perfectly. But you can't count on kids or a quirky town to not work their magic, can you? By the time you finish this book, you'll want to move to Dove Pond to!

Sweet story! I mean it y'all, if this doesn't become one of those sappy sweet Hallmark Channel programs, I'll be sorely disappointed! It'll be published July 30 and has been chosen as a July Library Reads title.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Another wonderful read! Writers have been on fire lately! I adored this book so very much. The character of Sarah was just so amazing I related to her and her passion for books and stories so very much she expressed all the feelings all true bookworms feel about books the joy and the help they can give us in our life. The way a friendship blossmed between Sarah and Grace and the way they were both able to learn from each other was so enjoyable to read about. True honest friendship between women where we can learn from each other and cheer each other on is so amazing and so wonderful to read about these characters and this charming small town just seemed to leap right off the page and just ooze sweetness and warmheartedness I wish this was a real place I could go visit! A fantastic read I think every booklover would enjoy!

I feel as though I'm about to review this book unjustly for two reasons: 1) I read it directly after The Bookish Life of Nina Hill which I absolutely adored so nothing is really going to live up to that; 2) The ARC was so full of errors, typos, etc. that it was almost painful to read and really trying.

That said, this book was alright. Very sweet and touching but definitely feels like a set-up for a series and not enough meat on its own. It's called The Book Charmer and yet, the main character was not the book charmer, who actually wound up being more of a supporting cast member. And, it did not have nearly enough to do with books for a title like that. There was a touch of magical realism, but not enough for my taste if you're going to go there. The main character, Grace Wheeler, was one to root for and I did enjoy her short story arc including her relationships with her niece and adopted mom and her adaptation to living in a small town and all that entails. The book dropped off at the end without getting into her romance, although it was implied, and that was a little disappointing also.

I'd say if you like cozy/clean stories that are sweet there is nothing not to enjoy here.