I enjoy Alison's writing and this book has stayed with me for several reasons; not only is it well-written but the story is set in a village shop that faces financial ruin. I can totally relate to the story and the characters as the reader is immersed from the start. The subplot of Amber's parents is also insightful, reminding us that sometimes what we need is not what we think want and is often closer to home. All in all, a lovely story that will transport you to a sleepy village. After New York though, will it be enough to keep Amber there?

This was a wonderful switch up from the style books I normally read! I have not had the pleasure of reading anything by Ms. Sherlock prior to this book, but I fully intend to watch for more books by her now that I've experienced her style. The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts was a feel-good type story. It was an easy read that I found really worked for me this week with all of the stress and appointments I was dealing with. It was easy to read in a doctors office, or while waiting at the pharmacy drive thru to pick up a med.

I loved when Amber faced her inner demons when she was presented with the very person who was her biggest bully in school. I think we could all relate to the feelings the author described as Amber faced off with all of her insecurities through this book. It felt totally right when she was finally faced off with the biggest one of all. I also loved when Josh worked thru all of his levels of negativity in how he faced the world. The characters were all really well developed, and the deep level of descriptions made it easy to truly feel like a part of the village. I felt fully immersed in the story!

I fully recommend this book for anyone seeking a simple feel-good type story with a very sweet ending. It's not really a romance story, although there is a touch of romance in it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Boldwood Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I bloody love Alison Sherlock. As always, she definitely delivers with exactly what I'm looking for in a romcom novel and I'm so glad to not be disappointed by another author! I'm eagerly awaiting her next installment!

I couldn’t stop smiling while reading Alison Sherlock’s adorable, enchanting and uplifting new novel, The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts.

Amber Green had the world at her feet. She had a successful job in New York, great friends, financial security and a life most people would envy – until she lost it all. Back in England, Amber isn’t exactly looking forward to visiting her godmother in the sleepy village of Cranbridge. After all, when you are used to living in the city that never sleeps, a small rural town is hardly going to measure up, yet little does Amber realise that she is about to find everything that she has been looking for in Cranbridge…

The empty streets full of rundown shops hardly inspire confidence in Amber, however, when she learns that Cranbridge Stores owned by her godmother Cathy and her son Josh are under threat, she thinks she can use all the skills she has learnt in New York to help them out. The former window dresser is going to make sure that Cranbridge Stores do not go down without a fight – and it looks like her plans to rescue the ailing shop might be working. As weeks go by, Amber discovers that Cranbridge has rescued her and brought her out of the doldrums and given her a reason to get up in the morning and not feel like her life ended because New York is no longer home…not to mention the fact that the more time she spends with Josh, the more she finds herself falling for him…

Amber thinks she has found a reason to stick around in Cranbridge, but when disaster strikes, she begins to wonder whether there is a place for her in Cranbridge after all … or whether her destiny lies further afield?

A fun, emotional and feel-good romantic tale sprinkled with hope and humour, Alison Sherlock’s The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts is a brilliantly written tale of community, the ties that binds and unexpected blessings that is simply perfect for snuggling up with.

Witty, heart-warming and so addictive readers will not want to put it down, The Village Shop for Lonely Heart sparkles, delights and entertains from beginning to end.

Favorite Quotes:

‘Love may be blind, but it’s marriage that’s the real eye-opener,’ she told him, glancing behind her as the shouting became even louder.

A facelift? The shop needed a full makeover, complete with major heart surgery.

‘It’s going to look worse before it looks better,’ she told Grandma Tilly. ‘Then perhaps I think you’re at rock bottom now, my dear,’ said Tilly, with a wink.

‘I don’t know what’s in it,’ Molly told them, making a face. ‘It’s pretty disgusting, but after a couple of glasses you lose all feeling in your tongue so you don’t care!’ … ‘That punch could strip paint off the walls. Although the wallpaper in here appears to be doing that all by itself.’

I didn’t even have time for a nightcap last night. I think my body’s gone into toxic shock.


My Review:

This was a wryly amusing, sweet, and insightfully written story filled with a full complement of likable, hard-working, and well-meaning characters who were struggling with lives that didn’t turn out as planned while residing in a small rural village that had seen better days. The writing and storylines were easy to follow, engaging, and held my interest with humorous banter, family issues, and a slow-burn romance that did not progress beyond igniting the pilot light until the very last chapter. I admired the characters’ creativity, initiative, and innovations in attempting to save their business and community.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. This was a charming, sweet read. Even my inital reading of the description had me feel excited for a feel-good, cozy read. I'm a sucker for a small town romance. I love Alison Sherlock's writing style, her way with words and just lovely stories. This is a great read for a summer evening or early fall by a fire.

I was delighted to find out that this is the first in a new series as there is so much potential in the village for a whole host of stories. The first one centres around the village store and introduces a whole range of interesting characters. What I liked about the central characters, Amber and Josh, was the way they tried to hide their insecurities. They are both people pleasers and it is their kindness which shines through.

Amber has suffered from bullying in the past and her self- esteem is through the floor. Living in the village and getting involved with the villagers gives her another chance and the opportunity to work out where her home is. You realise that she has been rather lonely in the past but she gradually lets her talent shine through. This is one of those comforting reads for a cosy night in. As you will discover, Amber is not the only character who is ready for a fresh start. Roll on the next in the series so we can discover what happens next!

In short: Home is where the heart is.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

Jetting in from New York, Amber finds a run-down village, a heartbroken owner and a son at his wit's end. Amber has her problems too. She' s without a home and out of work but still feels she can help.

A sense of community pervades this story which deals with loss and learning to let go. There are gentle romance and second chances and plenty of drama too.

This is a character-driven story with relatable characters. Amber is immature in some ways, yet she is courageous and used to working outside her comfort zone. Josh is loyal but also resentful of his situation. Together they find a way forward that helps those they care about, the village and find love too.
This book is a heartwarming and uplifting start to a promising series. I can't wait for the next one.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

My first read by this author but definitely not my last. A cosy, uplifting tale, full of community spirit and heart.
The story is based in the wonderful sounding village of Cranbridge, revolving around its inhabitants and the focal point - Cranbridge stores; one of those one stop shops that has everything and anything you may (or may not actually) need.
The store is past it’s best in some ways, it needs a declutter, a clean an overhaul but there is a reluctance to make changes. Something needs to change soon as they need to start making money to survive.
Amber was working in her dream job in New York. After being made redundant she decides to head to her parents via a pitstop to visit her godmother in Cranbridge. After a memorable reintroduction to Josh, her Godmothers son, can she use her creative skills to do some good?
It’s a story with ups and downs, some drama and a host of characters that you will take to your heart.
It’s well written by Alison Sherlock, it flows nicely and is a quick read. I will look forward to a return visit in the future to see what other adventures await residents of Cranbridge.

An excellent summer read that made me smile and feel good. The plot is engrossing and enjoyable, the characters well written and the setting is lovely.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This is an uplifting, easy-to-read novel about self-discovery, family, community and seizing the day.
Amber and Josh are our main characters, both very likeable. They are both at something of a crossroads in their lives. Together they make a good team and are united in their wish to revitalise the ailing shop which is central to the village. People would lose much more than just somewhere to buy groceries and newspapers were it to disappear.
The authors creates a wonderful sense of place. She really understands what makes small communities tick, and how very vulnerable they actually are in a misguided age of ‘bigger is better’.
Refreshing, thought-provoking and entertaining, do read this lovely story.

Amber Green lost her job in New York and because she is only in the USA due to a work visa she needs to go back to England, but going to her parents' house is not an option because they went to New Zealand she ends up doing a stop at your godmother's house before going to the same destination as your parents. Her godmother owns Canbridge Stores, which is in need of a makeover and when Amber is able to use her designer skills there, she may have found a place to call home.

Amber is one of those characters that has a very active circulatory system, turning red with every compliment she receives, it surprised me enough that she was still very attached to the bullying she received in her teens, because she is already walking towards her thirties (time for a therapy she already had, right?).

As much as the book already brings an experience of the future couple as a domestic couple, I believe that the book is more about the people of the village and the store than their relationship, but I liked their homy side, even the "chich-lit" fun scenes are more homy (especially when it comes to the red tractor on the cover !!).

Josh's mother's resistance to renovating the store at the beginning of the book was a nuisance, but it was a good thing that she gave them both the freedom to improve the tile. Because Amber is a designer on the area, she comes up with ideas for even using simpler materials, and I read thinking that the stores out there could be more charming and cozy than they are.

The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts shows the good side of small towns, which is the sense of community and being able to count on neighbors for anything without worries, and that a well-engaged community prevents people from feeling alone.

The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts by Alison Sherlock is the 1st book in the Riverside Lane series. Amber Green lost her job in New York, so she goes to visit her godmother, Cathy, and her son Josh. Amber is surprised by the condition of her store and the town. Amber was a window dresser in New York, and she offers to help Cathy and Josh. Cathy has not been herself since her husband died, and wants no changes, but both Amber and Josh knows it needs help. I really enjoyed this romance, along with the changes that everyone goes through. This book really was a feel good story, that I highly recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this novel so much I just wanted to crawl between the pages and live there, in the picturesque village of Cranbridge with all these lovely characters.   Warning - This will be a very gushy review.  This is such a heartwarming, cosy novel and it's every but as delightful as it sounds.

When Amber returns to visit her childhood home, she reconnects with her Godmother Cathy and her family.  Cathy owns the run down Cranbridge Stores and is on the verge of having to sell.  The whole town is forgotten and empty.  Can Amber and Cathy's son Josh make changes enough to save the business?  Can the broken hearts of Cranbridge Stores ever be mended?

 The whole setting of this novel was so quaint and vividly described.  The small village that is suffering due to big brands is such a real issue faced by local businesses and this novel really gives an insight into how that affects families and local business owners.  The store itself reminds me of an old fashioned American store seen in small towns on the TV and I fell in love with it straight away.       

The characters bring a variety of personalities to the story and all (apart from one) are adorable.  The main protagonist Amber is hiding a lot of insecurities and this heavily impacts her confidence and her sense of belonging.  Josh is broken, worried about the family future and missing the life he had he has no idea where to turn or how to sort out the mess that they seem to be in.  Cathy is grieving and struggling to move forward as well as uncertain about her own future.  Throw in a quirky bunch of villagers and you've got a bunch of characters who find a special place in your heart and settle there. 

  The worst thing about this novel is that it ended - I wasn't ready for it to and I wanted more from the village and the characters.  I am however consoled by the fact that it is book 1 in the Riverside Lane series so more to come - Yay!

Highly recommended cosy and uplifting read - perfect!

Look, The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts by Alison Sherlock is essentially a Hallmark movie. Not that that’s a bad thing — y’all know I love a good Hallmark movie around the holidays and this would definitely rank among the better ones — but it definitely didn’t hit quite right in the midst of the boiling hot summer.

Amber Green is traveling from New York, where she just lost her job as a window-dresser, to New Zealand, where her parents have decided to become sheep farmers. But on the way, her mother has made her stop in the sleepy English village of Cranbridge to check up on her godmother, Cathy, who runs a store that is on the edge of financial ruin. To her surprise, Amber suddenly feels inspired by the store and the village, kicking into gear to help Cathy save the store — and the fact that her son and co-owner, Josh, is quite handsome definitely doesn’t hurt.

This one has a slow start and a quick end, with lots of internal monologue moments. It’s cute, quick, and sweet; otherwise, a read-and-dump book. The characters are charming and relatable, the plot predictable and you can turn your brain off. I wasn’t particularly impressed, but I also didn’t hate it. I think if I had read it curled up on a blustery cold day, with a mug of hot cocoa, I might’ve enjoyed it more than I did!

Absolutely delightful read, I was hooked from the start and found myself smiling as I read. I loved that it wasn’t all about the romance, but also about friends, family and community. Such a lovely read for escapism at the moment, also shares some important messages about what’s truly important, great read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Special thanks also goes to Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources who organised the blog tour for this book. 3 stars

This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me but I did end up enjoying it overall. I've come to realise that wholesome village romances really warm my hopeless romantic soul. The romance didn't take centre stage as much as I expected, but I appreciated seeing the friendship and respect between Amber and Josh grow into something more. It was a very slow burn and at times I admit that I wanted to shake them both and scream: be adults and actually talk to each other about your feelings instead of jumping to conclusions! ...But I'm glad they both got their HEA in the end.

The story was quite slow to start and since it is character driven, the negative head space our MCs are in initially slowed it down a bit. At one point I questioned whether I was really enjoying it but as I kept reading, I found that the characters had wormed their way into my heart, and I think that in large part had to do with the community vibes. I love it when a group of people come together to support each other and offer friendship to those who normally struggle to find it. The characters weren't overly quirky but their banter had me chuckling and seeing the friendships, not just between the MCs but with others in the village grow, was really heartwarming. This book had a lot of those vibes going for it. While I wasn't crazy about Amber and Josh, I really liked that they were easy to identify with. I saw plenty of myself in both of these characters and so seeing their transformations was quite satisfying and filled m with hope. That said, I do wish that Amber's growth happened more as a result of her own self-belief and self-confidence, rather than mostly because Josh believed in her.

The writing was mostly okay although I found many instances of repetition that made me feel as if I was reading around in circles and at a point I got quite frustrated with it. I also thought that the way characters spoke at times felt stiff and overly formal, although I don't know if maybe that was just how I read it; but it would throw me off because it seemed out of character and the modern day vernacular. I think I would've enjoyed this a lot more had I not always been jolted out of the setting by the writing and character speech. But like I said, there were other aspects that kept me reading on and I'm glad I stuck through to the end!

The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts is a sweet, heart-warming read.

The central character is Amber who leaves her dream job at Saks and her life in NYC when her Visa expires. Her plan is to move to New Zealand, where her parents have recently moved, to get a fresh start. On the way, she stops at a small village in England called Cranbridge, to check on her godmother, Cathy, who is recently widowed and in ill health.

Cathy’s son, Josh, moved back home from London to help his mom when she became ill. She runs a little shop below her apartment that is in jeopardy of going under. There are many fond memories tied to this shop and she is reluctant to make the necessary changes to save it.

This is a story about love; loss; grief; the power of friendship; and the human need to belong. I enjoyed it so much and hope that the author plans to continue the stories of these delightful characters.

A great read, the story of Amber and Josh

Amber is only in the village to visit her godmother Cathy, who has recently been ill. She ends up being roped in to helping Cathy's son Josh run the village shop. Both of them secretly want more, but will they admit it?

Some great characters in the village!

I’m thrilled to share my review for this uplifting new book by Alison Sherlock. Thank you to Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the digital proof copy – my thoughts are my own and not influenced by the gift.

Synopsis:

After losing her job in New York, Amber Green isn’t looking forward to visiting her godmother in the sleepy village of Cranbridge. With its empty lanes and rundown shops, it’s hardly a place to mend her lonely heart.

But when Amber discovers that Cranbridge Stores, owned by her godmother Cathy and son Josh, is under threat of financial ruin, she realises that her skills as a window dresser might just be able to help save the struggling shop.

When disaster strikes, Amber and Josh must unite to save both the shop and the village from flooding.

Can Cranbridge Stores become the heart of the village once more?

And as the village begins to come back to life, perhaps Amber will discover a reason to stay…

My thoughts:

This is the first book I’ve read by Alison Sherlock and it won’t be the last. This is a book about finding the right place to be, which may not be the one you originally planned.

I live near to the Cotswolds, where the book is set and this book was a lovely escape from the current anxious world that we live in. Amber and Josh are both looking at their lives to see why their intended career paths have changed so much. As they work together to modernise the shop and to help out the local community during a flood, they start to discover that they may have more in common than they expected.

This was an uplifting read during the global pandemic – a book to curl up with for a ‘virtual hug’. I enjoyed the community spirit of the book and the gentle humour of the characters. I hope we will be able to visit Cranbridge again in future books.