Given a back-room computer job when the beloved Birmingham library she works in turns into a downsized retail complex, Nina misses her old role terribly - dealing with people, greeting her regulars, making sure everyone gets the right books for their needs. Then a new business nobody else wants catches her eye: owning a tiny little bookshop bus up in the Scottish highlands. No computers. Shortages.
Out all hours in the freezing cold; driving with a tiny stock of books... not to mention how the little community is going to take to her, particularly when she stalls the bus on a level crossing...
Jenny Colgan is one of my top 5 authors and I look forward
to diving into her fictional worlds with each book she releases. When I read
the synopsis for her latest release The Little Shop of Happy-Ever-After, I knew
this was going to be an exciting read because it featured a book business!
Our heroine is the endearing Nina, she has worked in her
local library for years but now with the current changes she is given a
computer job but her heart and soul is in working with books. When she sees an
opportunity to start her own business selling books on her very own book bus
she takes the opportunity with both hands and embarks on a complete change of
life.
There are going to be so many book lovers wishing they were
Nina after reading this book. I was so envious of Nina not just because of her having
her own book van business but even having the courage to just leave everything
behind and make a completely new life for herself, this really had an effect on
me and I wish I had the courage that her character had!
Nina has set up her new life in Kirrinfief in Scotland where
the community spirit is still strong with everyone pulling together to help out
and everyone knowing each other’s business which gives the book a cosy and
welcoming feel. As we have come to expect from Jenny Colgan’s novels there is
also a charming romance which although it was quite predictable what the
outcome would be Nina’s love life it still had its ups and downs.
Nina also had a little helping hand from little Ainslee a
teenager who seemed reluctant to come on to the bus but who actually had such a
love for reading. When Ainslee’s little brother Ben kept turning up at the van
looking very unkept Nina soon got the feeling that something was amiss with the
two of them and Nina being the soft hearted character she is, takes it upon
herself to try and find out what is going on and what she uncovers was not what
I had been expecting and it covers a topic that is all too realistic now days
and it is quite sad to think that people are still in this position but Jenny
and her character Nina deal with this topic in a positive and careful way. I actually
found I was more interested in Ainslee and Ben’s story than I was by Nina’s
romance.
This was another uplifting and charming storyline, it didn’t
quite match my love of The Beach Street or Cupcake books by Jenny, but it was
still a wonderful read that had me hooked. I am pretty sure we can expect a
follow on to this book and I would love to catch up with Nina to see how things
have progressed for her and Ainslee.
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