The Paper House Review

The Paper House

Barbara Josselsohn

 

It was a shop full of wonder; sheets of colorful paper, pots of ink on every surface, and spools of ribbon suspended on gleaming brass hooks. But it was even more magical when it was filled with people. Rumor was that the owner, Tilly, could send letters to long-lost loved ones if you penned them on the long wooden desk…

Everyone on the island would go there, not just to buy writing supplies, but to write these letters. To the people they’d not been able to say goodbye to, to the people they wished would come home. The Paper House was a place for grieving, for remembering, for forgiving.

And now, years later, as Kayla reopens the beautiful front door, and feels the memories of her Great Aunt Tilly come flooding back, it has the chance to become a place for someone who lost everything to finally find herself again.

If only Kayla can find the courage to face the ghosts of the past…

A compelling and captivating novel full of heart, imagination and magic, The Paper House is perfect for fans of The Lost Bookshop, The Glass House and The Keeper of Lost Things.

• • Amazon: https://geni.us/B0H7X72PBNsocial

My thoughts:

This book is a beautiful multi-generational, multi-timeline story centered around The Paper House. Inside The Paper House, people can step back in time to write letters on beautiful stationery, with all of the pens, ribbons, papers, and decorations that they could ever imagine.

 

Yet it's far more than a stationery store, as it's a place to sit and write and be with your community. Even if you're writing to those who have long passed, or who you have no way to send the letter to, the act of writing the letter makes a huge difference to you. 

 

Yet this shop is shrouded in mystery, and the new owner has to figure out what happened, and make big decisions about the future, both for herself and for the store.

 

This story is very well written, yet it includes lots of heartbreak, pain, and regret. It includes wartime stories and general life, and definitely makes me feel like I should have been reading it on paper, instead of an electronic device! Overall a wonderful story, with love, loss, family, friends, and mystery all rolled into one.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy. 

What readers are saying about Barbara Josselsohn:

“A book to be devoured, once you begin you won’t be able to stop until the last page is turned… Heart-warming, feel-good… A must-read… I absolutely loved this.” Page-Turners Book Reviews by Caroline, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I loved this book, it captured my heart from the minute I started reading it… I couldn’t put this down… absolutely brilliant.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I am at loss of words to explain how I felt about this book… Loved… Amazing… A wonderful masterpiece. This book will stay with me for a long time.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Completely stole my heart from the very first page!… absolutely fantastic and had me hooked right from the beginning… perfect, emotional… brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. This book is a stunning, unforgettable read that I will be thinking about for a long time!” heidireadsitall, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I devoured this beauty in a day! Talk about being hooked to a book!… Had me from the first page and didn’t let go!… Will tug at the heart.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Totally enchanting. I was immediately under the spell of the characters… Gorgeous… will capture your heart.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Enchanting… phenomenal… magic… I cannot recommend it enough.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Phenomenal… Grabbed my attention immediately and had me eagerly flipping pages by the end of the first chapter!… There’s so much to love about this story!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Absolutely gorgeous and page-turning… Enchanting… Captivating… I honestly couldn’t get enough! … Spellbinding!” Goodreads reviewer,

 

Author Bio

Barbara Josselsohn

Barbara Josselsohn is an award-winning journalist and novelist who loves crafting stories about strong protagonists facing a fork in the road. Her novels center around second chances, family relationships and, of course, romance. 

 

She is the author of the Lake Summers series set in the fictional town of Lake Summers, nestled in the Adirondacks Mountains, which includes the books The Lilac House and The Bluebell Girls. Before joining with Bookouture, she published The Last Dreamer, a women’s-fiction novel from Lake Union Publishing, along with hundreds of articles and essays in major and regional publications about family, home and relationships. 

 

She lives just north of New York City and enjoys escaping to the beach or the mountains whenever she can. Other than writing, her biggest passion is her family: husband, her three kids, and her indefatigable shih-poo!

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The Work Husband Book Review

The Work Husband

Sophie Ranald

 

You’re just friends that work together. Nothing more. Right?

When Georgia’s boyfriend Sam tells her he’s meeting up with his ex, she’s living every girlfriend’s worst nightmare. Because it’s not just any ex, it’s his first love – the relationship everyone thought would last forever. Convinced she’s one pinot-grigio-fuelled evening away from having to argue custody of their beloved cat, she turns to her work husband for help.

Jamie fixes all Georgia’s work crises (like that time she jammed the printer so badly it started smoking…) so when he suggests faking a romance to make Sam jealous, she’s all ears. After all, he’s already her work husband, how hard can it be to pretend he’s something more?

From flirty texts to a dangerous number of G&Ts in the local pub, Jamie’s declarations of love soon start to get out of hand. Suddenly, Georgia’s not sure her work husband was the best choice to help her keep hold of her (hopefully) future husband.

Georgia has watched enough romcoms to know office romances are not a good idea and, as she soon finds out, even fake ones can be dangerous… Is she prepared for what happens when fake dating turns out to be not so fake after all?

A totally heartwarming contemporary romance, perfect for anyone who has ever thought about crossing the line at work. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Sophie Kinsella and Mhairi McFarlane.

• • Amazon: https://geni.us/B0H741GVVPsocial

My thoughts:

Georgia and Sam have been together for quite some time, live together, and have a happy life. Yet when Sam mentions that he's going to visit his ex but refuses to say any more, Georgia begins to worry.

Enter her good friend and work husband Jamie, who claims that making Sam jealous will bring him back to her. Georgia thinks it's a crazy idea that won't work, but eventually caves when Sam keeps running off to be at another woman's beck and call.

Will the plan succeed or blow up in their faces? Will Georgia pick the right guy and have her Happy Ever After?

I greatly enjoyed this book. I read it quickly, laughed out loud, teared up, and once wanted to throw my e-reader across the room in frustration (I don't recommend this btw!) It was somewhat predictable, as you'll often find with books of this type, but definitely was not what I expected at the end!  

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy. 

Readers are loving The Work Husband:

‘Knocked my socks off in a good way… I sobbed in places, laughed in others… I cringed thinking oh my god. I devoured this book in one sitting.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I could not put this book down! It was absolutely amazing… I loved every minute of it… Amazing.’ Bookish_jessx, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I couldn’t put it down and I read it in one sitting. I loved.’ Emmas_books_and_more, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Brilliant… I couldn’t help smiling.’ _believeinyourshelf, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Charming and laugh-out-loud… perfectly combines workplace banter, fake dating, and heartfelt romance.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Author Bio

Sophie Ranald

Sophie Ranald is the youngest of five sisters. She was born in Zimbabwe and lived in South Africa until an acute case of itchy feet brought her to London in her mid-20s. As an editor for a customer publishing agency, Sophie developed her fiction-writing skills describing holidays to places she’d never visited. In 2011, she decided to disregard all the good advice given to aspiring novelists and attempt to write full-time.

After one false start, It Would Be Wrong to Steal My Sister’s Boyfriend (Wouldn’t It?) seemed to write itself. Four further novels followed, and she became part of the Bookouture family in 2018. Sophie also writes for magazines and online about food, fashion, finance and fitness. She lives in south-east London with her amazing partner Hopi and Purrs, their adorable little cat.

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The Candy Apple Cafe Review

The Candy Apple Café

Honey Haven Book 1

Donna Ashcroft

 

Falling in love can be sweet and spicy… 🍏 🍭🌶️🍏 🍭🌶️ 

 

A fun-loving baking queen with a heart of gold. Her gruff neighbour. A tiny Scottish town. Is this a recipe for love – or disaster? This is the utterly unputdownable spicy Autumn romance you’ve been waiting for! Seasonal spice + hot Scotsman = 🧡 🔥🌶️ 

 

When Izzi pulls up in her battered old car outside The Candy Apple Café, she takes a deep breath and channels her trademark optimism. She’s run away to Honey Haven to escape the mess her life is in right now. Only, she hasn’t bargained on a handsome, broad-shouldered Scotsman appearing out of nowhere and grilling her on why she’s parked there… it turns out the baking work she has lined up is in his gran’s café and he’s her new landlord… 

 

Cameron is immediately rubbed the wrong way by Izzi’s upbeat vibes and yet, his eyes keep meeting hers across his gran’s cake display at The Candy Apple Café. Cameron’s heart beats a little faster every time she looks up at him through those long, dark lashes and there are only so many times Izzi can pretend she hasn’t noticed the way he towers over her, his dark brooding eyes failing to avoid hers… 

 

Then Izzi and Cameron find themselves thrown together to organise the town’s Autumn festival. Planning a spectacular cinnamon-scented event as a surprise his gran, they find themselves pressed up against each other as they work to turn a crumbling castle into the perfect haunted house filled with sweet treats… 

 

But he’s closed off his heart. And she’s only meant to be in town for a few weeks. Will the heat between grumpy Cameron and sunny Izzi dial up a notch? Or will their relationship turn as chilly as the Autumn air in Honey Haven? Snuggle up with a steamy hot drink and bed down with this spicy romance, filled with grumpy sunshine vibes and a dreamy HEA. Perfect for fans of Laurie Gilmore, Harper Graham, and Gilmore Girls! 🍏 🍭🌶️🍏 🍭🌶️ 

Tropes: Grumpy x Sunshine, Small town, Found family, Spicy 

• • Amazon: https://geni.us/B0H7BYFWMCsocial

My thoughts:

 

Izzi has been left with nothing after her aunt dies. No job, no references, no place to live. While going through her aunt's belongings she finds a mysterious letter about a family member that she never knew she had.

 

With nothing to lose, Izzi accepts a temporary job in Honey Haven, a tiny town with a small cafe, in an attempt to find her long lost relative. The job comes with a cabin to stay in, but she was not expecting her landlord to be the grumpy, good looking man that he is.

 

Cameron has been taken advantage of in the past, so he views all newcombers with a very suspicious eye. Yet he keeps being pulled towards Izzi, even though he doesn't want to trust her.

 

Can they come together and be happy? Or are they better off going their separate ways?

 

This story made me so excited for Fall to come! I could smell the baked goods in the cafe, and love the community of Honey Haven. I can't wait for another story from this little town! 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy. 

What readers are saying about The Candy Apple Café:  

 

‘Packed with warmth, cinnamon, sugary treats and autumnal vibes!… A lovely cosy read that has me excited for October days celebrating halloween and drinking chai… Grumpy x sunshine was the icing on the cake! 🍄’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

‘Each page makes you feel like you are walking amongst the cool Fall weather and can smell the delicious aromas coming out of Candy Apple Café!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

‘Had me craving hot chocolate, pumpkin spice treats, and cosy evenings wrapped up with a good book… I had to stop myself from heading to the shop for snacks!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

‘Hooked!… A twist that I did not expect. I could not put the book down and I finished in a day’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

‘I absolutely adored this book! The nostalgic feel was incredible and I absolutely love the fall vibes. If a book has fall vibes, I’m here for it!… I cannot wait to read it again for book club!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

‘Had me reading until the early hours, on my way to work, on my lunch break and on my way home… A page turner… I didn’t want to stop reading’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

‘Pure comfort reading, wrapped up in cinnamon and small-town charm’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

‘I loved this book!!… I wish Honey Haven were a real place!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

‘Addictive, cozy, heartwarming small-town romance’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

‘I loved the community of Honey Haven; rather wish I could live there!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

‘I loved it! Totally here for the drama 🤐😍’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

Author Bio

Donna Ashcroft

Donna has had sixteen books published in total. Four have been in the Amazon top 100 and one even made it to number seven in the UK and US Kindle charts, another made it to number one in the UK, US and AU free Kindle charts. She was also shortlisted for the RNA Debut Romantic Novel of the Year in 2019.

She lives in Hertfordshire, with her own romantic hero, two grown up kids who pop in occasionally and two grumpy cats. She loves a happy ending and is never happier than when she’s escaping into a romance novel or movie.

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