When Bookends owner Lavinia Thorndyke dies, she leaves her bookshop to her employee and friend Posy, who looks forward to changing the shop into a romance-focused bookstore. Unfortunately, along with Bookends she has also inherited Lavinia’s arrogant and gorgeous grandson Sebastian who doesn’t take “no” for an answer. I read this book in two days: it’s funny, entertaining and romantic and it could turn into a good rom-com movie. The setting in London’s Bloomsbury, the hilarious exchanges between Posy and Sebastian, family and friends ready to help at a moment’s notice, these are all the ingredients for an enjoyable read. (NP)
Debut author Annie Darling has kicked off a series set in a quaint old bookshop with The Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts. The summary says: "Once upon a time in a crumbling London bookshop, Posy Morland spent her life lost in the pages of her favourite romantic novels. So when Bookend's eccentric owner, Lavinia, dies and leaves the shop to Posy, she must put down her books and join the real world. Because Posy hasn't just inherited an ailing business, but also the unwelcome attentions of Lavinia's grandson, Sebastian, aka The Rudest Man In London. Posy has a cunning plan and six months to transform Bookends into the bookshop of her dreams - if only Sebastian would leave her alone to get on with it. As Posy and her friends fight to save their beloved bookshop, Posy's drawn into a battle of wills with Sebastian, about whom she's started to have some rather feverish fantasies... Like her favourite romantic heroines, will she get her happy ever after too?" The Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts is out in May 2016.