** “Benevolence, compassion, and love — bombs will never silence them when we put those virtues into action. Ordinary people like us become extraordinary fighters when we first seek to serve, and love others.” **

Kristy Cambron delivers an incredible dual-timeline novel of fortitude, sacrifice and redemption with “The British Booksellers.”

The story follows the lives of Lady Charlotte Terrington Holt and Amos Darby, a tenant farmer’s son, during both world wars — starting in 1913 and 1940. The tale of two friends who can barely even be friends due to their positions in life, Charlotte and Amos must overcome trials and hurts — personal and literal wars — to find healing, grace and forgiveness.

As Charlotte and her daughter Eden work in 1940 to protect their home on Holt Estate, as well as protecting their community in Coventry, they reconnect with Amos, as well as a strange American bringing a lawsuit to their door. As the German air raids come closer and closer, they must work together to protect their homes, each other and their lives.

Kristy Cambron does an incredible job of researching a very real and devastating event in England, all while spanning the bridge between two generations and creating great characters the reader can’t but help to root for. She brilliantly weaves together their stories and their connections over several decades.

She also offers a number of great themes, like books offer freedom and life (“Books are an escape that beckons the reader from the heavy burdens of this world. … They can challenge as well as comfort. Entertain and educate. Even save us in ways we’d never expect”); having a dream; forgiveness over retribution; the importance of caring for others; and to love through the good and the bad (“To love meant to accept all — the grit and grief alongside beauty. To endure the harshness of life not with despair, but hope”).

A huge theme of the book is dealing with scars — literal, physical, mental, emotional — and the impact they can have on us (“The scars we bear should make us more worthy of understanding, not less”).

Fans of historical fiction, stories centered around the two world wars, and authors like Rachel McMillan, Katherine Reay and Kate Morton will love “The British Booksellers.”

Five stars out of five.

Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

This was a definite miss for me. Drawn in by the book’s cover, I had hoped for an easy, relaxing read but found the text just did not flow. There was a mix of characters which in the early part of book seemed isolated in their own story and jumping between timelines was unsettling. I admit to struggling with this book as it did not hold my attention and gave up half way through. Sorry.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Thomas Nelson for this APC

While this book took a bit to pull me in, once it did, I was completely immersed. The book is a dual timeline story, with most of the same major characters in each timeline. The earlier timeline occurs leading up to and during the First World War, the second during the Second World War. Young Charlotte longs for freedom from society's expectations, including the right to marry outside of one's class. The more mature Charlotte has raised a strong, independent daughter who has many more freedoms and choices available to her. Young Amos Darby, a tenant farmer may not agree with class restrictions, but has more readily accepted them. He is a man who loves books and a man of integrity. The more mature Amos is a man both physically and mentally damaged by the experience of war, a man who seeks to anonymously look out for those he loves while dismissing his own needs and desires.

Please take time to read the Author's Note at the end of the book. As always Cambron has thoroughly researched her setting and its history. It is interesting to see how well she has woven facts into her fictional story. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The British Booksellers from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I’ve never read a book where the split timeline was WWI and WWII, and while it took me a little bit to get used to it, remembering pertinent details from each era, it was a unique and effective way to tell this story.

I enjoyed following the stories of Charlotte and Amos and what each went through.

As their story was slowly revealed, it illustrated so well how one single decision can truly change so much about the future.

I enjoyed reading about the land girls and how everyone pulled together to help each other, even putting aside old grievances for a common goal.

Finding out that this was based on actual events made this story even more interesting.

I enjoy Kristy Cambron’s writing so much and love how she weaves life lessons into her stories that transcend whatever time period she is writing in.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.

In the new historical romance The British Booksellers, Kristy Cambron continues her recent exploration of World War II in The Italian Ballerina and The Paris Dressmaker. The events of this novel occur primarily in Coventry, England, during World War I and the “Forgotten Blitz” of Coventry by German bombers during World War II. Cambron returns also to the themes of grit and beauty, grief and love. Cambron, who won the Christy Award for The Painted Castle, has written numerous bestsellers, and this clean historical romance is not likely to disappoint her fans.
In The British Booksellers, childhood friends from contrasting social stations fall in love and face life-altering decisions about their future. In the later timeline, a surly, broken bookshop owner for the commoners and his rival, the beautiful Lady Charlotte with her bookshop’s peacock-blue reading room and Earl Grey elegance, must face their own decisions about how to stay in business during wartime restrictions and whether they can overcome their differences in order to meet the needs of their local community and the larger British war effort during the bombings and their aftermath.
The dual timeline of this novel permits a pair of will-they-won’t-they romantic possibilities, complete with a love triangle in one of them. This is not obviously a faith-based book, but it does positively portray the place of the local church and the vicar’s leadership in the community. One character seems to have a sincere Christian faith though that is not developed in depth. The author’s faith is most evident in the redemptive character arcs and the theme of unlikely reconciliation and mutual aid among enemies.
While I knew of the Coventry Blitz and that the work of Bletchley Park codebreakers revealed its probability to Churchill, I found personal encouragement in reading of brave men and women overcoming biases and past differences to serve and protect their community in crisis. This is the only novel I’ve read that opens a window into the local experience of that horrific time and the beautiful heroism of Coventry’s people during and after. Cambron also presents the economic and social challenges the nobility faced after World War I and during World War II and the awful pain of PTSD, then called shell shock, recognized in veterans since at least World War I. Vicariously experiencing grit, courage, and resilience in earlier generations has helped me persevere in my own challenges. That grit and intrigue also lends balance to the lighter aspects of the novel.
The background images in my quote graphics depict Coventry, including the ruins of the church and the rubble left by the bombings. Some of the people and places in the book are grounded in historical fact. For example, the John Piper painting of the ruined church immediately after its destruction is real and can be viewed online. The “Author’s Note” and “Further Reading” provide details on a wealth of resources for readers curious to learn more about the Forgotten Blitz.
All in all, The British Booksellers offers a lovely vacation or holiday read for fans of World War I or II fiction. It has elements of Jane Austen’s Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice as well as the television and film series Downton Abbey. I commend this book to fans of bookish film and fiction such as You’ve Got Mail, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Mary Ann Shaffer), The Last Bookshop in London (Madeline Martin), Until Leaves Fall in Paris (Sarah Sundin), The Keeper of Hidden Books (Madeline Martin), and of course for fans of Kristy Cambron’s previous World War II novels. I enjoyed spending time with these characters and their world.
Thank you for reading. My pre-release copy of this book was provided by the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley. The thoughts herein are my own.

Verdict: Loved Kristy’s writing style. Loved the dual timeline. It was a little bit of a slow start for me.

I was so grateful to be an ARC reader for this book. Thank you Kristy Cambron, Net Galley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The British Booksellers by @kristycambron
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book kept me up until 2am to finish it. I think it is Kristy's best novel to date. It is a beautiful marrying between the brightness of love and the darkness of war. It is history, prose, romance, and full of classic book references, sure to make your heart soar.

Fall into a time where young love is destroyed by Duty, selfishness and war. Lady Charlotte knows her own mind. She has dreams that she has every intention of fulfilling; no matter the cost. But when her family brokers an advantageous marriage for her, her plans must change. When she later finds herself widowed and a single mother, can her dreams for her life be rescued before they are threatened again by war?

You'll find:
📚 Dual timelines
📚 Dual POV
📚 Dueling bookshops
📚 Dueling suitors

I just can't get over the feast contained in this story. You might think so many intersecting stories might get too tangled, but here, Kristy forces you to willingly turn the pages to know how it all plays out. I wouldn't describe this story as a mystery, but she keeps the carrot dangled for 95% of the book until we get our satisfying ending.

This story was absolutely stunning and it will be a long time before I can get it out of my head and my heart. ❤️

Thank you to my friends at NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I love anything by Kristy Cambron. Her books are an intriguing mix of complex characters and twists that add depth to the story before me. Her latest, The British Booksellers, was a perfect mix of history, romance, and mystery. And truly, Cambron delivered a plot that left me completely unprepared for the ending twist. I devoured the dual WWI and WWII timeline, the sense of intrigue, and the subtle romance. This book certainly held my attention!

Cambron never ceases to enthrall with her multi-faceted plot and complex characters. She is one author I never miss!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I don’t often read books set during WWI or WWII, but some do still cut through and capture my interest. The British Booksellers is one such novel. Set in two timelines, 1914 and 1940, it depicts how an unlikely love was torn apart by war and how it would take another to potentially reunite them. It’s a long-overdue second chance at love, as well as an ode to appreciating literature and music.

Charlotte and Amos were never meant to be together back in the early 1910s. He was the son of a farmer, and she the daughter of an earl. She was meant to marry someone of her station, and Amos would never have been approved of by her family. Could they have made it work? They never got to find out then: Charlotte went on to marry an earl named Will, just as their families intended. But when Will and Amos went to the frontlines to fight in the Great War, only Amos would return home. And with Charlotte now a widow and mother, and with so much between them, she and Amos never rekindled what they once had.

Fast forward 25 years, and war is upon them again. Charlotte has raised her daughter Eden to be a strong young woman. They run their own bookshop, competing with the bookshop Amos runs. Indeed, he’s little more than a rival to them now, and Eden knows nothing of her mother’s background with him.

While Eden forms a tentative bond with an American solicitor who just arrived in town, Charlotte and Amos are thrown together for the first time in decades. There is so much to overcome, including secrets they’ve each kept about all that happened those many years ago.

One aspect I loved in The British Booksellers is the focus on literature. Both Amos and Charlotte are passionate readers with their own favorite authors and a desire to share books with those around them. I also enjoyed Charlotte’s love for music, specifically playing the cello. Her choice to play—or not play—is a significant theme in her relationships with both Will and Amos.

I also love how strong Charlotte and Eden are here. They are no shrinking wallflowers! They each speak their mind and make important decisions, often taking on leadership roles. The men here, conversely, get a bit more of their emotions on display. I especially appreciate how Amos’s PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and alcoholism are treated here.

Unlike in 1914, when the men made all the decisions and did all the fighting, in 1940, the women in England are shining for their vital contributions to the war effort. Charlotte and Eden do their part, and the men in their lives dutifully follow their lead and instructions. This flipped dynamic is part of how they overcome the regrets of their past.

The British Booksellers is a tender dual-timeline story with two romances, strong characters, and an emphasis on the real and forgotten parts of our recent history. If you want a book that offers a new perspective on the two World Wars, this is an excellent novel to pick up.

I've read some split-time, multiple-point-of-view books that are beautifully done, artfully weaving between time and perspective, giving you just enough information before you switch time-frames… But The British Booksellers just didn't seem to accomplish that for me.

I was constantly confused by lack of clarity, missing details, and what seemed very strange wording. That pivotal moment at Gretna Green left me scratching my head, despite reading it several times. Crucial details seemed to be missing between the Christmas Day Truce gift and the inheritance—I still have so many questions.

Furthermore, I found nothing to indicate an enemies to lovers story—instead we have a love triangle that includes a married woman, which is not an angle I like to find in fiction from a Christian publisher.

Even the bookish references fell flat, like they had been added as an afterthought sometimes rather than being integral to how the characters thought.

The author seems to have a wonderful handle on the history of the time. I felt like I learned more about both world wars, but particularly The Coventry Blitz and the Land Girls. For that, I'm giving the book two stars. But sadly, her storytelling wasn’t compelling or clear enough to make her characters memorable or even personable to me.

I first came across Kristy’s writing a couple of years ago with The Italian Ballerina and found it to be wonderful. Therefore I was quite excited to read her latest, The British Booksellers and I found this to be even more remarkable. Of course there were many things that readily ticked the box for me - historical fiction, two timelines, romance and it involved a bookstore! So imagine my delight when it was all of that and so much more!

‘I was willing to give up my entire world for you, Amos. I thought you were too. Weren’t we to make a new world together, you and I?’

Kristy’s books are special in that they are so detailed and intricate in their plotting (mind blowing if truth be told) but also provide twists and turns that kept me hooked until the last page. She keeps dropping little ‘crumbs’ that will have you following the trail to a fitting conclusion. Charlotte and Amos are in both WWI and WW2 timelines, so the narrative jumps back and forth for that. However, the greater part of the story is dedicated to the WW2 timeline and the focus being the ‘forgotten blitz’, the deadly Coventry bombings.

“Perhaps days like this are exactly why we have books in the world. To remember that not all is lost, even if we find ourselves in the unknown. I like to think we provide a haven for the wanderer. And help him remember he has a place to call home.”

This is the kind of narrative to just lose yourself in for it certainly has it all and I am now a firm fan of Kristy’s writing. It is deeply emotional and pulls at the heartstrings - two wars, two romances, two ways of living (before and during war) that make this book memorable. I think perhaps Kristy’s secret is the little things that are memorable like a book, or a cello, or a pocket watch.

‘… things she’d loved once. The cello, books, childhood dreams, and a farmer’s son who’d shared them.’

This book is not only rich in historical details but equally rich in storytelling with characters that will long be remembered. Kristy Cambron is a wonderful storyteller weaving this epic tale of family drama across the decades.

“War does not change everything; it cannot change secrets of the past.”








This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

The British Booksellers is a historical second-chance romance filled with sweet but challenging relationships, battling booksellers, and that famous British determination in the face of Nazi bombings. The dual timeline allows readers to follow the relationship between Charlotte (Terrington) Holt and Amos Darby from its beginning to the "present" as well as meet Charlotte's daughter, Eden, as she faces off against an American solicitor visiting the Holt estate for mysterious reasons. The secondary cast is fun and fleshed-out (I'd read a book following the Land Girls' lives after the war), the settings are detailed, the history is interesting and terrible, and the lessons on forgiveness, acceptance, and love are easy to understand and relate to. Cambron's latest novel is vivid, realistic, and entertaining and shows how hearts can change even as the world is falling down around you.

This book inspired me because it showcases the human capacity to love under any circumstance. Amidst war, betrayal, and hardship, we have the power to choose love or hate. The dual timeline is crucial as it defines the main characters and their journey. Amos, a farmer's son, believes he has no chance with an earl's daughter, Charlotte, whom he affectionately calls "Charlie." Despite their lifelong friendship, as they mature, the possibility of romance seems unlikely, especially when Charlotte is betrothed to another. Yet, as World War I looms, their lives are transformed, and the full impact of their choices doesn't become apparent until World War II unfolds. Although the story occasionally slows and the writing can be challenging, the characters and the historical backdrop captivated me. As a history enthusiast, I appreciate learning about lesser-known aspects of the World Wars!

The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron was a beautifully crafted story.
This is such a wonderfully depicted story full of courage, unbreakable bonds, love, loss, hope, despair, and kept me engaged from beginning to end.
Cambron's vivid descriptions and rich historical detail bring the story to life. As a reader, I felt as if the characters were real people.
Cambron pays loving attention to character development and historical detail
She did a magnificent job of writing The British Booksellers.

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Amos Darby, the son of a tenant farmer has been best friends with Charlotte, the daughter of an earl since childhood, however, before their friendship can develop into anything more, Amos goes to war and Charlotte marries a future Earl. When Amos returns home from war traumatized by what he witnessed and experienced he opens a bookstore and retreats into his books while Charlotte has been made a widow by the war. She manages her late husband’s estate, raises a daughter and eventually opens a bookstore in Coventry, Eden Books – named after her daughter and becomes a rival bookseller to Amos. By the time WWII arrives, so does a lawsuit brought by an American lawyer that could take everything that Charlotte and her daughter have worked to save.

I enjoyed this fast-paced, heartfelt book. I have read other historical fiction about the bombing of Coventry and this was what intrigued me about this book to begin with. I think the author did a good job of researching this historical event and in my opinion, the book speaks to her historical accuracy. The main characters are likeable and it was a very enjoyable read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson publishers for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

4.5 Stars

The British Booksellers is a heartwarming second-chance romance and a page-turning story of surviving the Coventry Blitz during WWII.

A secret childhood friendship between a tenant farmer’s son and an earl’s daughter blossoms into teenage infatuation until the Great War intervenes. Amos goes to war and Charlotte enters into a loveless marriage. Fast forward twenty-five years and Amos is the reclusive owner of a bookstore and Charlotte, a war widow, owns a competitive bookshop across the street. A solicitor arrives in town and threatens the existence of Charlotte’s bookstore. Amos tries to help from a distance, but and he and Charlotte no longer have a close relationship. When WWI arrives on their doorsteps via the Coventry Blitz, the community including Amos and Charlotte must work together and put differences aside to help Coventry survive.

The British Booksellers is told mainly from the points of view of three major characters: Amos, Charlotte, and Eden (Charlotte’s daughter). With the complicated backstory and a dual timeline, I don’t think that Eden’s point of view benefits the story. I think two main points of view would have been sufficient. Eden’s part didn’t add that much and could have been incorporated with Charlotte’s. This is just my personal opinion and didn’t affect my overall rating.

This story is not a case of two timelines colliding or intersecting. The past timeline (WWI) is interwoven with the present timeline (WWII) like flashbacks and allows us to fully appreciate the situation in which our main characters find themselves. It takes some time to unravel Charlotte’s and Amos’ history and how they ended up as rival booksellers. Why are they estranged? Why are they competitors? What broke their friendship? What happened to their childhood dream of opening a bookshop together? If the two timelines were laid out in chronological order it would tell one complete story. I liked the structure.

Although it might appear so at first, there are no villains here. I enjoyed each character’s arc. The real villain is war (and perhaps the class system!).

One major theme is PTSD. It’s always tragic to realize that WWI and WWII veterans had so little mental health support.

Other thoughtful themes include class differences, friendship, childhood friendship, community, competition, wartime conditions on the homefront, second-chance romance, loyalty, physical injuries, and mental health.

Content Consideration: PTSD, battlefield conditions, bombing

I’m recommending The British Booksellers for fans of compelling and well-told historical fiction with relatable characters and multilayered plots. The war portions are not overly graphic and there is no profanity. The romance is sweet and the friendships are dear. An overall great read that book clubs might enjoy.

Thanks @AustenProse #AustenProsePR @ThomasNelson #NetGalley for a complimentary e ARC of #TheBritishBooksellers upon my request. All opinions are my own.

I love when authors focus on the lesser known parts of history like Kristy Cambron’s latest, The British Booksellers, where she writes about the “Forgotten Blitz” bombings that decimated the English town of Coventry in 1940. With amazing historical details and an enduring love story, I couldn’t put this book down!

The London Blitz is underway, but the Luftwaffe bombers also have their sights set on factories in the countryside. The Holt estate is caught near the crosshairs of the bombings as its residents, Lady Charlotte and her daughter Eden, try to protect their home and the people around them, including a mysterious young American lawyer. They also own a bookstore in Coventry that is at war with the bookstore across the street - owned by Charlotte’s first love, Amos, who bears the scars of his time in the WWI trenches on his face and in his heart and mind. Charlotte and Amos have to decide if love is worth saving - from the German bombs and from past hurts - while Eden has to determine if love is worth the risk of letting her guard down.

This book takes you from the idyllic English country estate gardens to the trenches of the Great War to the rubble of bombed-out homes. I enjoyed learning more about this “Forgotten Blitz” as well as the horrific details of fighting during WWI. If you’re a fan of “Downton Abbey,” you’ll love this story about a forbidden love between “downstairs and upstairs” and a woman’s fierce fight to protect the estate she loves. Plus the sweet love stories make you want to hug the book at the end!

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for my ARC.

#BookReview : THE BRITISH BOOKSELLERS by Kristy Cambron

While I've enjoyed other books by this author, this one took a while to click for me. The historical details were fantastic, but the story itself lost momentum after a promising start.
However, seeing so many positive reviews on Goodreads convinced me to give it another shot, and I'm glad I did!

The author's use of a dual timeline, with one story set in WWI and the other in Coventry, England during WWII, was done well. I wasn't aware of the devastating impact the war had on Coventry, and the book sparked my interest in learning more online. The resilience of the Coventry people was truly admirable. They kept going and supported each other through unimaginable hardship.

Amos and Charlotte’s story was that of a friendship and lost love. It was sad but their personal decisions got in the way of happiness. The slow reveal of the mystery was good. It kept the anticipation until the end. The message of love and redemption were laced throughout the book.

Amos and Charlotte's story, a touching blend of friendship and lost love, explores the bittersweet reality of how personal choices can impact happiness. The slow-burning mystery masterfully built anticipation. It kept me hooked until the very end. Woven throughout the narrative is a powerful message of love and redemption. I can’t wait to read the next book by the author.

Rating: 4⭐
Pub date: 09 April 2024

Thank you toThomas Nelson and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Amos Darby is a farmer and Charlotte is the Lady of the manor. Though deeply in love Amos knew it was not meant to be. Charlotte married well but WWI put paid to any happily ever after. Amos returned scarred, withdrawn and isolated. Charlotte had her hands full with a young daughter, her declining estate, with no funds or hands to work the soil and her bookshop Eden Books.

For such a small village there was another bookshop owned by Amos. Though civil to each other the two kept far apart until the war burst over Coventry with a barrage of bombs and destruction. Putting both forces together seemed a good alternative and Amos proved to be the one Charlotte could trust implicitly. Her hiding four spitfire planes on the estate was not even known to her daughter and the protection of these valuable assets was a big responsibility.

The arrival of a young hot shot lawyer with his claims on the estate added more burdens for Charlotte and Eden who were determined to hang on to the legacy left to them. It didn’t help that the lawyer was of German descent and that Eden and Cole were attracted to each other.

Twenty five years on the attraction between the older couple was deep seated and it took only one upheaval to start again, much to the chagrin of young Eden and the resounding support of everyone else.

The story is one of struggle and survival, fighting against the enemy which destroyed the greater part of this area. The sacrifices made by the common man was immense and seemed to be borne with much bravery. The love stories interwoven added so much depth to the read.

This is a dual-time story that alternates between 1914/WW2 & 1940/WW2. The story follows the lives of Amos, a tenant farmer, and Charlotte, a lady of position, who are close friends at the beginning of the story. A case of "star crossed lovers", fated to only be friends in 1914, they must navigate the ramifications of choices made by themselves and others during WW1. Can they ever become friends again, and maybe even more? Enjoyable read.
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.