Christmas At The Borrow A Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar

 

Clove Lore is a quaint village on the Devonshire coast. The local bookshop is the latest addition to the staycation holiday trend, people pay to run the bookshop and the attached cafe for two weeks. Just before Christmas Magnus Sturluson turns up for his two week stay. Magnus isn't really looking forward to his holiday as it was a gift to him and his now ex-girlfriend. Rather than waste the holiday Magnus decides that a break from his troubles at home in Iceland might be what he needs. Unexpected events take place when a young woman is rescued just off the coast.

It seems very strange reading a book with Christmas in the title in July, this type of book would normally be set aside for a December read. Thankfully the Christmas aspect of this book isn't too over the top. There's not even any snow (despite the cover illustration) but there is a very different kind of weather. And who can resist a book about books.

Magnus is an engaging character, he has all the qualities you'd want from a romantic hero. Tall, broad (he is from Iceland after all) and brooding. As we get to know more about Magnus we begin to understand his "man of few words" nature. Not only is he healing from a broken heart but he's also devastated by the loss of his business, a bookshop in Reykjavik. The holiday at the bookshop was a joke gift from his brother before he lost his business.

The romantic aspect for Magnus is Alex Robinson, the young woman rescued in her damaged boat. Alex is from a small Cornish village and having discovered her boyfriend and best-friend together she simply ran away from home. Unfortunately conditions at sea damage her boat and she ends up in the Devonshire village. I struggled to empathise with Alex. As a result of circumstance Alex drifted into her job and her relationship. She isn't happy with the direction of her life but continued to drift, allowing others to make decisions for her. The part I really struggled with was the fact that once she was rescued she wasn't willing to share any information with the people around her.

The best part of the story is the setting. The village of Clove Lore and the eccentric inhabitants sound magical. I'd love to stay a few nights at the Siren's Tail pub, salivate over the different flavours of ice cream from Mrs Crocombe's shop or simply spend hours perusing the shelves in the bookshop.

The conclusion is pretty much as you would expect from romantic fiction, Magnus and Alex end up together after fate has tried everything in it's power to keep them apart. The bookshop now awaits it's next guest.

Christmas At The Borrow A Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar will be published on 1st September 2022 in paperback and ebook format. My thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for a review copy.