When I read number two in the series - Christmas at the Borrow a Bookshop - I didn’t realise it was linked, and so hadn’t read number one, and to be honest, I still haven’t. But it doesn’t really matter. It might have given you a few links to the previous story, but I found it a completely acceptable standalone book. And I can say the same about this one. It’s completely fine to read it on it’s one, but it’s fun to spot some of the connections to the previous one.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Joy as a main character. She was well written, don’t get me wrong, great character creation, but as a person, she didn’t really endear herself to me, but I think that was to do with her gold, guarded nature, she didn’t let me in. She started to win me round by the end, once you know the reasons for her standoffish behaviour. She still wouldn’t be my best friend, but she got there in the end.

But Monty is a gorgeous character. That’s all I have to say on him. 😘

And Joy’s daughter Radia is a wonderful character. She’s so innocent, which is great to see, but privy to an adult situation. She’s excited about everything, warm and friendly, and I think she’s the magic key to opening Joy up.

There are lots of characters left from the previous books such as Minty and Bovis. Like I say you don’t need to have read about them to appreciate them, but it does add a little extra touch when you start recognising people.

I am most certainly still up for a borrow-a-bookshop scheme. Although I’d sign up every week, you’d never get rid of me.

There is something very powerful about books and stories, that not everyone realises, but it’s novels like these that really show that power, especially to people who may not be huge readers.

I slightly preferred book number two, but that’s only because of the Christmas connection - that will always win me round.

Like any good feel-good novel, there are some hard parts. Some adult themes. Some obstacles you have to overcome. And that’s what makes the happy bits even happier, as you know what’s come before.

This series is all I want from life. To live in a small community village, within a bookshop and a handsome man. Is there anything better than that? We’re in 2023 now, surely someone can invent a way to put us into books, because I need to experience Clove Lore for myself.

I’m glad to see this isn’t the end of the series. I did wonder whether it would start getting repetitive, focussing on the same group of people and the same shop, but it’s anything but. It lures you in. You feel a part of this community, this story, this family, and it just keeps getting better and better.

It’s warming and cosy and hopeful and joyful and easy reading. Exactly what you want to lose yourself in after a busy day.

I think this was my favourite in the Borrow the Bookshop series so far. I loved coming back to Clove Lore and meeting all the old friends again and getting to know Joy and Radia was just wonderful. I love how the series mixes the lives of the bookshop borrowers with the restidents of Clove Lore and you learn so much about everyone in every new installment.

In this installment we meet Joy the digital nomad who has been tasked with cataloguing all the books after the big flood of the second book and Joy brings along Radia who is just a ball of sunshine and talks to everyone about everything under the sun. Joy meets Monty whose a fisherman turned chef at the local pub and they hit it off from the start but is Joy ready for a new man in her life?

I loved the setting and the found family trope a lot. I hope we visit Clove Lore again someday.

This was the first book of the series that I've read; it has many references to the others books, but in the end, I could still understand the story.
This was also the first romance that I've read written by a Scottish author, usually, the books I read are written by American ones; I'm saying this because I can understand that I'm used to a writing style and stories that are different from this; to be honest I was going to give it 2.5 stars, but because of that I've decided to go with 3 stars instead.

I really loved the idea of the borrow-a-bookshop, I think is every reader's dream to be able to work in a bookshop like that, and the village is just lovely, a place you just can't not fall in love with.

With that said, I think the main characters, mostly Monty, could have had more background story, you can see some of that, but it's just the surface, so in the end it feels like you don't really know them, it feels like you just view a story, not lived it.
The first half is also really slow, in the whole book there are not many plot twists, but at least in the end, something exciting happens.

I'll recommend this book if you are looking for a light beach read, something you can finish in a day or two, that can keep you company for a little while.

A sweet and cosy story about a woman Joy who has been running from her past . Her ex boyfried and father of her 5 year old daughter was a very controling man . After the birth of her child he disappear from their lives . She works as computer nomad , traveling all over the world . Her new job brings them in Clove Lore at the Borrow-a-Bookshop . While she work at the bookshop she meets chef Monty and sparks fly . Will she give herself a chance to love ?
I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own .

So cosy. Quite comforting. Just the exact dose of what you will need for a weekend to relax with.

This is the story of Joy, a mum of a five year old daughter, trying to find her place and have a peaceful life with her daughter. She’s a tech expert who would be working at the Borrow a Bookshop bookstore. Everything is new for her and her daughter at Clove Lore.

There she meets an ex fisherman, Monty, who she would get close to. It’s their story that’s so cute and comforting at the same time.

It is the story of a community and almost like a found family in the making.

Just get this book when it comes out. The perfect read for a cosy summer evening.

Thank you, Hera Books, for the advance reading copy.

This book was sent electronically to me by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author. Quirky characters come alive on the pages of this novel. The story moves quickly and is unique …borrowing a bookstore… innovative. Curl up in a comfy chair and relax. Enjoy.