This was a an engaging read with heart. Lots of drama, but plenty of humor sprinkled throughout to ease up the tension. Small town romance - with a big, big twist.

Hope Sparrow doesn't know if she's running to or away from something throughout a good bit of this book. She's a woman with many secrets and is determined to keep them. She is in town only long enough to get what she came for and move on.

The people in the town, however, are making this difficult. For the first time in years, Hope is surrounded by people who truly care about her. She's weighing the danger of caring about them as well.

A mystery surfaces that leads her into experiences she never would have thought herself to have. Along the way, she has to decide what or who to trust.

It does have a religious thread running throughout but it's not pervasive in everything in the story. I feel responsible for adding a trigger warning: parts of the book deal with human trafficking. Those parts are not graphic, but the topic is raised several times in the book.

The Bookshop of Secrets
I am not much of a reader of romance novels. They are usually too perfect, too mushy, just not my style. So… I wondered if I would like this novel that clearly had romance as part of the story. But I loved it, mainly because it had rich character development, and some very lovable characters as well as some villainous characters. And it dealt with the sad reality of human trafficking. But I give the author an A+ for not giving too much background on the tragic past of the girl who I found myself cheering for right from the start. And there are the elements of a bookshop, a quirky bookshop, as well as mentions of some of my all time favorite classics. Throw in a mystery or two, along with a rebellious teenager, and it became a winner. The element of life changing faith altering the desires of the main characters was so well done. I will read Mollie Rushmeyer again. I might discover I enjoy romance if written with the same qualities she added to her story. It included a focus on forgiveness, trust, and changes only true faith can bring.

From the first time I saw the cover and read the back cover copy of The Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer, the book went on my to-read list. But this debut surpassed every expectation I had.
Hope Sparrow is a character I liked from the moment she walked on the page. Yes, she holds secrets, but as those ugly secrets are revealed, I just rooted for her to find happiness and healing all the more. Rushmeyer handles some difficult, but very real, subject matter in a way that holds both truth and delicacy for readers as we see Hope’s present-day struggles with her past.

As Hope searches for a treasure she believes her mother left her clues to find, her path takes her to a bookshop in a small Minnesota town. Here she meets (and makes) friends—something she has not allowed herself to have despite the people who have helped her along the way. From the elderly owners of the bookshop, their grandson, and the manager of the local café, the townspeople welcome her into their lives.

The Bookshop of Secrets builds upon the well-paced, character-driven story with the search for the treasure and the revelations of both personal truths and clues to the hunt at just the right moments. Hope (a name the character chose to separate herself from the past) is an apt name because this book is filled with just that—hope for relationships with God and each other, hope for a better life, and hope for a future filled with friendships and love.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

When reclusive, bookish Hope Sparrow alights in picturesque Wanishin Falls on the shore of Lake Superior, she is searching for pieces of her past. Not intending to stay long, just retrieve some family heirlooms and depart, Hope finds herself suddenly employed at a quaint old bookshop. Against her will, she begins to form attachments, especially to handsome, brooding Ronan, the bookshop owners' grandson. When clues to the puzzle of a missing pirate treasure start to fall into place, will Hope and Ronan be able to put their past traumas behind them and work together to solve the mystery? Find out in this warm, witty, and engaging novel about faith, trust, and second chances.

The book was well written, but it wasn’t at all what I was expecting. The “tragic past” mentioned isn’t just something that has been outrun, but it plays a front and center role to Hope’s story. Then you add in Ronan and his own tragic past and it becomes clear that the secrets aren’t the fun to discover kind, but the hard to survive kind.

Weaving through themes of trafficking, family feuds, dementia, old grudges and the fight to rebuild a life the story slowly builds at first and then picks up the pace and intensity.

For all the hard themes, the book is clean and not overly descriptive of sensitive content, which I appreciated. The literary ties the author includes throughout are very well done and engaging to any bibliophile. As I’m a big fan of choosing the right book for the right time I’d describe this as an intense and layered kind of read rather than a light, Sunday afternoon type of novel.

I received a free digital galley of this book for review.

Hope Sparrow recently lost her Mom after losing a part of herself due to her tragic past. Hope travels to Wanishin Falls as rumors of a family treasure surface. The clues to the treasure are hidden in books that have been passed down by her mother and grandmother. The elderly couple who own the bookshop named Dusty Jackets are welcoming and kind to Hope. Ulysses is suffering from the beginning stages of dementia and Mags, his wife, cares for him with tenderness and patience. Their grandson Ronan is protective of his grandparents but finally agrees to help Hope in her search of the 3 books that hide the clues. Will Hope find the books? Is there really a treasure? Why is Hope so guarded? What does Ronan have to do with the fortune? Can two broken people find it in their hearts to leave their painful pasts behind and learn to love again. I definitely will not spoil a thing. To say I was enamored by this novel is an understatement. The synopsis does not capture everything this book has to offer. It sounds like a simple story, but it is not. It has the atmosphere of a small cozy town, a bookshop filled with books and treasures, suspenseful moments, mystery, romance, humor, and some difficult topics. It is a clean book with an undertone of faith. Reading this book felt like being covered in a warm blanket with a cup of tea. I tried to savor every moment, but could not stop turning the pages. I was sad to see it end. I already miss Hope, Ronan, Ulysses, Mags and of course the fur babies Fitzwilliam and Charlotte. This is my top read of 2022. A huge thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:
“The swoosh of leaves on the trees surrounding the back porch of Dusty Jackets was like thousands of tiny books rustling their pages.”

“If she showed her deepest, darkest secret, would light stream into the locked place in the depths of her soul?”

“ Use your love of books to help you. The words are read for a brief time, but we remember the way they make us feel for the rest of our lives.”

In The Bookshop of Secrets I found it all: mystery, intrigue, heartbreak, hope, love and books! This novel truly has it all and while it wasn’t always the easiest story for me to digest it left me with all the feels, and then some.

One sign of a truly wonderful author is when they can grab the reader, if if they are triggered, and have them so transfixed on the story that they push past their pain, and get lost in the narrative. This is the first book I’ve read by Mollie Rushmeyer, and man does she know how to paint a beautiful picture with her words. There is a depressive mood to this story that was instantly felt, but as you read further along, you begin to see the sliver of light that begins to shine brighter and brighter, a beacon of hope, the soothing balm of grace and truth.

In truth, The Bookshop of Secrets was a tough read for me. In a week it will be a year since I lost my grandfather to Alzheimer’s, and while I was reading I received word that another Alzheimer’s sufferer in my family has been put on hospice, the nurses not thinking she’ll make it to the end of the week. No, this isn’t the main focus of this story, but one of the supporting characters is showing signs of this horrific disease, and it was very much a trigger for me, especially right now. Not to mention the PTSD that Hope, the heroine suffers as a result of past abuses. I too have struggled with the same and did find those moments jarring.

Still, I found a kindred spirit in Hope. A fellow lover of books, both of us marked with scars of past abuses, both finding refuge and circumvention in books, and both with dreams bigger than our circumstances. Watching her personal growth throughout the narrative was like a breath of fresh air, showing that we can rise above our past, and rush to a bright future. Hope is aptly named, and that feeling was contagious.

Ronan is the perfect match to Hope and the mystery they share once Hope opens up was a little more than intriguing. The supporting cast is masterful, and I feel in love with each and every one of them right along with Hope. The setting is picturesque, my mind filled with dark academia and rows and stacks of books. I could even “smell” that wonderfully intoxicating smell of old books. This read truly touched all the senses and is completely immersive.

Though there is tough subject matter do not let that deter you. This is a wonderful story that has such a beautiful heart at its core and everything unsavory is handled masterfully. So, grab a copy, get lost in the literary, and enjoy the myriad of literary quotes, mystery, and Hope.

The cover and book shop setting first drew me to this book. It could benefit from some better editing. There is a typo on the first page, and there are several instances of missing words or wrong wording throughout the book. However, I still managed to enjoy the story. I appreciated the real struggles the characters faced. While the main characters made some mistakes, they confessed their wrongdoings and asked for forgiveness.

I loved the fore-edge paintings on the books as clues for finding the treasure. These lovely illustrations on the edges on the pages of the books made an interesting plot device. I first found out about fore-edge paintings several years ago, and the descriptions of them in this book renewed my interest in them.

The bookmobile/cafe felt awkward in this story. Between the messy bookshop, grandpa with dementia, human trafficking trauma, treasure hunt, youth center, and other things happening in the book, it felt like the author tried to pack too much into her first book. The bookmobile stuck out a bit to me. I liked the idea of matching a dish to a book. However, it didn’t seem like a food truck kitchen and bookshelves should go into the same tiny space.

This novel is in a bookshop, Dusty Jackets, in Wanishin Falls near Duluth. Hope Sparrow, not her real name has escaped her life as a woman for 10 years in a human trafficking situation. She can't trust anyone because of this and has a genuine fear of what men could do to her.

She comes to Wanishin Falls to retrieve her mother's old books. She becomes ingrained into the lives of Mags and Ulysses, owners of the bookshop. Through them, she is able to have a roof over her head and a job helping Mags with Ulysses. He has Alzheimer's and she needs the extra help that Hope can provide.

As she tries to find her mother's books, she becomes involved with Ronan, Mags, and Ulysses' grandson. Through him, she is able to get back her books. During their attempts to find out more about her family and how they were connected to the town, they become closer and after awhile she reveals what happened to her in the past.

With Ronan's help and with the help of her faith in God, she is able to become the person she should have always been. She learns to trust again and they are able to figure out what happened to her family and it's secrets.

This is a story that will tug at the heartstrings, the reader can understand the traumas that can deplete the human spirit. I loved the fact that it took place in a bookshop and the care that was taken in describing Hope and Ronan's traumas make this a very readable book.

I give it 4 stars.

When I grabbed this book I thought it was going to be a great romance. I didn’t realize it was going to be just as much of great suspense read as well.

Oh and let’s chat about how it also has some hard topics within it as well. Not only is this book amazing on its own but it also has hard topics like human trafficking thrown in there as well.

The cover of this book pulled me in. And then the story refused to let me go. I don’t know how to tell you about the book without giving things away but just know that this book is amazing and you’re going to need to grab a copy of it now!

You’re going to love all of this book. The characters grab you and won’t let go. The topics are compelling and won’t let you go.

Get this book today! It’s a debut novel and it’s amazing!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Such a good book, drew me in immediately. I love a good story set in a bookshop especially one with an intriguing name like Dusty Jackets. There are so many layers to this story of family, faith, love, trauma, healing, trust and redemption. I love how the characters interact with each other in such a natural way. The story also has mystery, intrigue and plenty of action. It’s the perfect blend of emotional topics and lighthearted and adventure. Looking forward to reading more from this great first-time author.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read for my honest review.

The Bookshop of Secrets tackles the tough topics of trauma survivors and PTSD in a very hopeful and grace filled way. While the author doesn’t sugar coat the effects of trauma, she gives hope that survivors can find healing from their past pain. The characters in the book are so easy to love, and the setting of a small town bookshop is perfect. I love the added mystery the main characters work through. I also loved seeing characters with a diversity of special needs featured as major characters. This is a great read! I look forward to seeing more from both this author and this publisher. This is the second book I’ve read from the new Harlequin Love Inspired Trade line, and I have definitely found another publisher to add to my favorites list!

CW: Abuse, trafficking (mild, not detailed), episodes of elderly with dementia

This captivating novel is a definite win for me! Mollie Rushmeyer has a fantastic writing style that is instantly noticeable from the first chapter and on. It is well paced and filled with an appropriate amount of detail to make you feel like you know the setting and characters. On top of that, the story line and plot are very interesting. Following Hope, we come across a wide variety of characters that each have their own personality and backstory. Slowly, it is revealed that Hope has a dark past that is sucking her under clouds of insecurity and pain. We also find out that Ronan has his own painful background and wants to help Hope in her search for peace and security. He reveals the only way to that is through Jesus, all while promising her to treat her as she should be. This romance is sweet, clean, and inspirational. Throwing in a treasure hunt in the mix added a great suspenseful and intriguing atmosphere. I would definitely recommend this contemporary Christian romance to anyone searching for a clean romance with an adventurous side!

Can they find healing in the secrets of the past?

I have been an avid reader for three decades, I learned to read at a young age and in childhood used to devour children's mysteries by the half dozen every week. So, when I saw the title of this Love Inspired debut novel from Mollie Rushmeyer I was completely intrigued and I knew that The Bookshop Of Secrets wasn't going to remain a secret for long...

I was not sure what to expect when I first opened this book but disappointment was not an applicable word. To start off, this story was filled with great books and great authors, from childhood favorites like Anne Of Green Gables and Little Women to a couple of guys who were some pretty cool Tolkein nerds. There's nothing like reading about good books within a good book! And then there was the family mystery lost to time with clues hidden in plain sight for decades and some tucked away where you would least expect them.

One of the things that I really appreciated about The Bookshop Of Secrets was Mollie Rushmeyer's oh-so-familiar portrayal of watching a grandparent slip away into the ravages of dementia. She handled it well with both sensitivity and accuracy.

Hope was such a great character – as was Ronan. Both of them have been scarred by some really hard things – in life and as the result of choices – but neither of them is destroyed by the pain. Slowly but surely they battle their way into the light of faith and the love of family and friends.

If you love fiction that takes on some difficult topics as it equally entertains and encourages, if you like a good family mystery paired with a slow and sweet romance, The Bookshop Of Secrets might just be up your alley. It's a genuinely good read that will leave you anticipating more from Love Inspired debut author Mollie Rushmeyer...

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

The Bookshop of Secrets is written by Mollie Rushmeyer. I was super excited when I saw this coming up in Love Inspired Trade upcoming publications. I love that they have expanded stories so that you get to know the characters deeper. Hope Sparrow has had a rough life. She lost her mom at a young age, was wooed away from foster care by a dangerous boyfriend. (Trigger warning - the author does touch base on human trafficking and violence, however the way she presents it is a reminder of God's grace and healing). She never puts down roots and when she feels like someone has figured her out - off she goes again.

Ronan's grandparents own the Dusty Jacket book store. He meets Hope when she is working for his grandparents and trying to find books that her mother entrusted to a friend that have possibly made their way to his grandparent's shop. Hope wants to find these books, learn about her mother, and fufill her dreams of having a mobile bookstore and food truck. All of this without letting people get too close.

Enter the small town of Wanishin, Minnesota. A picture perfect small town where everyone knows everyone and the town holds some secrets too. Ronan's family has had a tarnished name for as long as he can remember. He lost part of his leg in an boating accident but relies heavily on God to get him through. Hope starts to let her guard down when she becomes friends with Ronan and Kat (owner of the diner). Will she be able to disclose who she really is? Will something spook her and run her off?

This was such an amazing story! The author crafted her scenes so well I really felt like I was standing in the middle of Dusty Jackets learning about the classics. I love the faith element that the author has placed in her story - and her characters are so well developed.

Thank you to the author, publisher and JustRead Publicity Tours for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

My 2-star review is in the minority here, so take it with a grain of salt. But for this lover of books and readers, this account of books and lovers fell flat.

Hope Sparrow arrives in small-town MN in search of books her mother left her in her will, only to find that the bookstore's forgetful owner, Ulysses, has misplaced them. His wife Mags apologizes, saying he has been suffering from memory loss, but the books are nowhere in sight. Hope is immediately invited to work at said bookstore, Dusty Jackets, until she finds her books. And then she'll be on her way to find the...pirate treasure that is supposedly laid out in the pages.

The grandson of Ulysses, Ronan, is soon introduced as the hero/love interest and the pages are also filled with other townspeople - the ladies of the historical society, the cafe owner and so on. And...so on.

Hope's past is slowly - very slowly - revealed as the story slowly - very slowly - progresses. There are some side missions to recover Hope's books and we also learn all about Ronan's not-so-storied past.

The end of the book - like a bad lifetime movie (and I love lifetime movies) - speeds up at a breakneck pace as Hope and Ronan figure out the messages their ancestors are trying to send.

This is more fantasy than fiction and after a long, slow go of it, I finally skimmed through the end.

Thank you to Netgalley for the preview, this one is not one of this reader's favorites.

4 1/2 stars

Bookstore? Treasure? Romance? I was sold even before I read the first page. There was so much to unfold in this story. Hope had such a tragic backstory that I wasn’t sure how she would find healing within the pages but the author did such a wonderful job of showing the healing power of God’s love in her life.

I enjoyed the air of mystery surrounding the possible treasure with books being the keys to solving it. Tucked into the treasure hunt was a very sweet romance which had me closing the book with a satisfied sigh. Loved it.

There was so much to like about the variety of characters that made their way into Hope’s path keeping her from her goal of getting out of town without forming any attachments. I especially liked her friend Kit and hope that there might be a future book on her story?

I received this book complimentary as a participant of the JustRead tour. I was not required to give a positive review. All of the opinions I have expressed here are honest and my own.

This is a lovely story that could be made into a Hallmark Movie. While there is a definite "Christian" prespective in the story it does not become "preachy". The characters in this book are well developed. Hope and Ronan both have suffered physically, mentally and spiritually! Can these two lost people find forgiveness and a new beginning? With the help of many truly loving people, both of them see that there is hope for redemption from the past!
I enjoyed this book and it was an easy read, yet made you stop and think about your own life and all the "wrong" turns we may have taken.
Redemption is for everyone regardless of the past. The future does not need to be as bleak as we might make it out to be. We just need to learn to trust.

I was given this book as an Advanced Readers Copy for my honest review! #TheBookshopofSecrets
#Netgalley #MollieRushmeyer

Her family's legacy...and her future are hidden in a collection of lost books.

Hope Sparrow has a troubling past, causing her to stay anywhere too long and never begrudging herself to anyone anymore. And after what has happened to her who could blame her? Coming to Wanishin Falls in search of her family's history already feels too risky. But somewhere in the of Dusty Jackets bookshop are the books that hold Hope's last ties to her late mother—and to a rumored family treasure that could help her start over.

Only, the bookshop is in shambles, and Ulysses, the elderly owner is in the beginning stages of dementia and can’t remember where he has hidden the books. To find the last links to the loved ones she's lost, Hope must stay and accept help from the townsfolk to locate the treasured volumes, something that isn't easy for her at all.

Each secret she uncovers brings her closer to understanding where she came from. But the longer she stays in the quaint town, the more people find their way into the cracks in her heart. And letting them in may be the greatest risk of all…

Rating:

★★★★☆

Thoughts

Hope never thought she would be able to do normal things. After being captured and trafficked by King, a man that she thought she loved, for 10 years, the last thing that she wants to do is let someone in. God is a major part of this book, she battles with letting God in after she feels He has forsaken her and allowed all of the bad things that she has endured to happen to her.

As the book progresses you dive deeper into Hope's feelings, understanding why she feels the way she does and how hard it really is for her to go through a "normal" life. This story is very heartwarming and intriguing with a twist towards the end that you will never see coming. I loved it!

*PLEASE CHECK TRIGGERS*

This book deals with SA, human trafficking, and mental illness to include PTSD.

Thank you to the publisher Love Inspired Trade and NetGalley for this ARC to review for my honest opinion. This book releases October 25, 2022.

I love books and reading, so any book that focuses on a bookshop or library is likely to catch my attention.

At the core, this is a story of redemption and healing. Descriptions are vivid and take the reader to Wanishin Falls, smack dab in the middle of an ample amount of suspense and action. Characters are relatable and believable, particularly Ulysses and Mags. The pace is a bit slow, and that did make it hard for me to stay engaged on occasion.