This book was the perfect combination of cozy and exciting. The characters were memorable and the plot kept me intrigued the entire time! Would definitely recommend.

This author is new to me but I guarantee you I will be reading more of her work. She did a great job of capturing my interest and maintaining it throughout the end of the book.

I highly recommend The Bookshop of Secrets to anyone who wants to be catapulted into a world of mystery.

This was a FANTASTIC story! From the mystery element, to Hope and Ronan and the rest of the characters that round out this story, and the truth that no one is too far for God to reach, this was a beautifully written story. I cannot recommend this story enough!

Hope Sparrow wants to recover her late mother’s books, kept by a friend…owner of Dusty Jackets, a bookshop. Because the owner can’t remember where the books are, Hope stays to help and to search. As she is there, she’s learning far more than the location of the books. It’s mysterious , emotional, and at times, intense. The Bookshop of Secrets is the perfect title for this story by author Mollie Rushmeyer. You won’t want to put it down!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but my opinion is entirely my own.

Hope Sparrow has a lot of secrets. She was orphaned while in elementary school and with a series of foster homes and an older man who took her in, her life has been tragic. She is now on her own trying to connect to her past. She has a letter from her mother that she wrote her before she died. Hope is to go to Wanishin Falls and collect her books from Dusty Jackets, a bookstore where she has left her first edition books with the owner. When she finds them, she is to follow the clues to a family treasure. This seems unbelievable, but she is craving a connection to her family so off she goes. Meeting the owners, she finds out that the man her mother left the books with has dementia and no memory of what happened to the books. It now becomes a hunt for her books and eventually the treasure. Along the way, she meets Ronan, the grandson of the proprietors of the store and they join forces to find first the books, then the treasure.

I want to begin by saying this is a Christian fiction story. There are many references to books, but also verses from the bible and talk of God and faith. I enjoyed this story, with it's adventure type plot. Ronan and Hope both have a lot of issues to deal with. Hope's secrets come out as the story progresses and although they are difficult topics, they are dealt with gently. Hope has been on the run for awhile and she has no plans to settle down in Wanishin Falls, but with found family, she begins to feel like she has found a place to belong. The characters are all well developed and I liked them all. I wanted to wrap grandpa in my arms, he was so fragile. I loved the themes of forgiveness, hope, love, found family, helping others and more. Although I was originally drawn to this book because of the idea of a bookshop containing secrets, I loved that it was so much more. I do recommend this story to those who enjoy a book about books, but also ones who like Christian Fiction. I did a read/listen to The Bookshop of Secrets and the audiobook was well done, narrated by Lesa Wilson. She has a pleasant voice to listen to and I enjoyed both reading and listening to this book.

The Bookshop of Secrets is an impressive debut novel. This well-told contemporary story of family, friendship, redemption, and hope grabbed me the moment I stepped into the small-town Dusty Jackets bookshop and kept me expectantly turning pages as the poignant story unfolded. The characters are complex and realistic. Both the hero and heroine are emotionally scarred by events in their past. Their quest to solve a family mystery leads them on a journey toward healing and learning to trust again. I appreciate the strong faith thread woven throughout the story and the thoughtful and tactful handling of the issues of human trafficking, dementia, and PTSD. Classic literary references added to the enjoyment of the read for this “book nerd”. I totally enjoyed this read and look forward to reading more from this author.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Bookshop of Secrets by author Mollie Rushmeyer is a contemporary Christian mystery novel with a touch of romance. Word to the wise, it deals with human trafficking.

This is the story of Hope Sparrow. She is searching for a fresh start and waiting for books that are hers from her deceased mother. It is also about Ronan Barrick, who wants to make a difference in his hometown. His grandfather, Ulysses, owns the local bookstore where Hope’s books were shipped.

I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. The characters were realistic and conversations sounded authentic. She included twists and turns to keep readers guessing.

I recommend this book for older readers. Young teens are not mature enough to handle some of the issues. There are many good life lessons addressed in this book, making it a good choice for a reading group. It gets a 4 star review from me. A copy was provided by NetGalley, but these are my honest thoughts.

This book was okay. I just don't think it was the right story for me. I can see many people enjoying it though. I didn't like how much religion and God was talked about. The characters were a little bland to me, and I had a hard time finishing the book. I did like some of the characters and the writing style though. I will probably try another book by this author. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

The Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer is an amazing work of Christian fiction. I loved the way books and a bookshop wove into the story. I think the topics dealt with in this book are so important and they are dealt with so well in this book. Solid read overall. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This is a Christian fiction book about a very difficult subject. Human trafficking and a town who holds the past against some of its residents are the subject of the story. Hope and Ronan both have tragic pasts. When Hope come to Wanishin Falls to finds her family's lost books she meets Ronan who is held responsible for the death of a friend when they were children. The story proves that God works in mysterious ways as the two of them befriend each other and help change their pasts. The characters are so real, they could be lifted from news stories. I'm happy to read books that show redemption is possible but are not preachy. A perfect blend.

Title: The Bookshop of Secrets
Author: Mollie Rushmeyer

Ch: 22 plus epilogue

Genre: Contemporary Christian

Rating: 4.5 stars

Publisher: Love Inspired



The Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer is classified as Contemporary Christian, but I have to say there is an indeed a romantic thread at its heart. Hope Sparrow just wants to find the books her mom left her and get a fresh start. Ronan Barrick wants to make a difference in his hometown. But the town doesn’t want to forget his past. His grandpa Ulysses owns the town bookstore where Hopes books were sent. The two must work together on to solve two mysteries one of which involves pirates.


While both Hope and Ronan are imperfect people, they might just be right for each other. And journey together is what makes this a romance as well.


I do have to give a slight spoiler only because it could be a trigger for some readers. And part of it is mentioned earlier enough in the book. Hope is a survivor of human trafficking. A subject that Mollie handles with grace. And quite frankly we need more fiction authors to bring light to this. As fiction environment would allow more readers to learn about it. If the authors write it with tact and grace. This one had me reaching for tissues but I’m glad I read the book.








I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

This novel is set in present day but is influenced by events of the past. Hope Sparrow arrives in the small town of Wanishin Falls, Minnesota looking to collect the books her mother left her when she died. They were held by a friend of her mother's for safekeeping, but Hope has discovered the friend passed away and thus followed the trail to the friend's hometown. The books are part of what Hope has come in search of, but she also remembers childhood stories of treasure and wonders what truth there is to them.
When she arrives at the bookshop, Dusty Jackets, she finds the owners Ulysses and Margaret Barrick unable to locate her books quickly, partly due to the onset of dementia in one of them, and she agrees to stay and help for a place to stay and some payment while they search. With a timeline of two months set, Hope finds herself getting to know the people of the town, and exploring not only her own past, but also her future. Her dreams of owning a combination food and book truck are shared and begin to become real, but she has to decide whether her life will keep her running as she has or whether she can deal with her past and build a future that includes others.
There are other young people here also stuck in their own ways, with expectations and baggage from others defining their present. From the bookshop owners' grandson Ronan to cafe manager Kat, to troubled teenager Tate Morgan, they are all finding their place in the world and looking for community. There is an underlying Christian theme to book that doesn't overpower the plot but plays a role in guiding it.
I enjoyed the story, the book elements and the message of forgiveness and optimism that it held.

Hope Sparrow experienced an abusive life after the death of her mother. Ronan also experienced an emotionally life altering event. These two have one thing in common though....their love of books. I enjoyed their journey as they sought to learn how to love and trust again.

This contemporary novel has a very well developed story line and two very likeable main characters. There is a shocking little twist near the end that I did not see coming.

The novel contains some disturbing topics which some readers may find triggering.

Hope wants to learn where she came from by visiting the bookstore in the town she was born in. Only to find the shop owner with memory loss. The townspeople help her discover her past but can she manage to stay long enough without running away again?

Have you ever connected with a character from the very first page of a novel? I wanted to be Hope right from the very beginning. The way Rushmeyer described her walking into the bookstore, the smell, everything - I was right there. I was sighing with happiness, if that is even a thing lol. I knew, right from that moment, I was going to love this book. And I did.

Rushmeyer writes like a seasoned pro. Not once during this read did I feel like I was reading a debut novel. Her characters are well rounded, her faith theme was beautiful, the plot line held my interest, and the overall feel of the story was fantastic. Plus, book lovers are just going to want to dive into the story. I mean the cover alone does that!! If this is just the beginning of Rushmeyer's writing journey, I cannot wait to see what's coming next. This is another added to my must-have list!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I grabbed this book for the cover. I’ll admit I’m a cover snob. Never even looked at the synopsis. Once I started reading I realized it was a Christian fiction. I haven’t read one of those in quite some time, but I was intrigued.

And then I realized there was a sweet romance as well! Color me extra surprised.

Not only did I get a little bit of Jesus in my book but I also got a little romance as well.

I am so happy I stepped out of my box and tried this book. I have a feeling a few friends will be getting this book for Christmas next year.

This was a new to me author. And if her other books are like this I think I’ll have to see what else she writes.

a story of Hope and with some romance thrown in, it was a beautiful story of second chances at love and it has books, what is there not to love? It was a little slow starting out but it was good!

Well told story that explores human fragilities
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2022
A young woman goes in search of her past in a small Minnesota town along Lake Superior’s shimmering shores. Once there, she learns she’s going to have to do more than look amongst dusty old books to uncover what she's looking for - and that the journey’s going to involve things she’s not subjected herself to for more than a decade – things that make a person whole, like being brave, being seen, and then the kicker, being forced to reexamine her heart - a heart she slammed shut in order to forget. In order to survive.

This post-pandemic debut novel by Mollie Rushmeyer will very likely, like it was for me, be enjoyed by many. But not to be missed in this story is another message and that is just how important humans are to one another. That God designed us to be in relationships. That life is about more than simply existing. It's about reaching back when people reach out. Because we really do need each other.

I absolutely love the premise of this book (and the cover, for that matter). The literary references abound (and in the words of Neal Caffrey from _White Collar_, "she always loved the classics"--applicable to me with this read as much as the main character!). Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, never enough Austen references (is there such a thing as too much?), Anne of Green Gables--there's a classic reference for many a reader here.

The writing seemed a little wordy at times, with enough telling over showing throughout--an admitted pet peeve of mine--I'd be curious to pick up the final version and see what all made it through. (Confession, though, I'm an editor--can't escape my mental editing as I read! No on/off switch here, much as I'd like it when pleasure reading, LOL!) The denouement also felt a bit rushed compared to all the build-up to the climax.

But, still a fun way to while away a few hours, and I enjoyed watching the two MCs' story arcs and growth as characters. Rushmeyer does a solid job at grappling with tough questions of life and faith (and, I will note, human trafficking plays a notable role in this read; I felt she handled it well and suitably addressed its gravitas without going overboard).

Wanishin Falls has enough characters, I could easily see (and hope) the author return to tell some of their stories, too! We shall see!

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Bookshop of Secrets is a very well written book. Great plot, characters and setting. Love bookstores and this one is fantastic. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.