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bethanystone13's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
moireach's review against another edition
5.0
Warm and cozy like a hot chocolate in front of the fireplace on a cold winter evening. A lovely story of love, family and new beginnings. A bit predictable but very enjoyable.
lee25's review against another edition
3.0
[b:The Book Lovers|25941409|The Book Lovers (The Book Lovers, #1)|Victoria Connelly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441334079l/25941409._SY75_.jpg|45839707] was an okay romance novel. While there really is't anything wrong with it, I didn't love it either... It was just "okay."
3beansbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable read!
This was a lovely story and I would recommend it to others. I will definitely read the other books in the series. :)
This was a lovely story and I would recommend it to others. I will definitely read the other books in the series. :)
stephbookshine's review against another edition
4.0
*I received a free ARC of this book with thanks to the author and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
The Book Lovers is a lovely sweet romance novel, with the added bonus of lots and lots of books!
Callie has just come out of a bad marriage and has fled London for the Suffolk countryside, to lick her wounds and focus on her writing. Distractions loom however, in the form of three delightful bookshops, two handsome locals, and an irresistible family of Nightingales!
Don’t get me wrong – I liked Callie immensely – but the Nightingale family really stole the show here, and I suspect the author feels exactly the same way that I do about them, seeing as how they return in the rest of the series to tell their own stories, one at a time. The Nightingales are loud, warm, loving, chaotic and are book fanatics! What’s not to love! But they also each have their own distinct personalities and quirks and they clearly all have secrets to tell and background stories to explore.
In this story we follow Callie’s introduction to the family and their three – THREE! – wonderful bookshops: one for secondhand and rare books; one for new books; and one for children’s books… all independently run. It’s no wonder Callie spends more time looking for books than love. Still, it appears that love is determined to find her anyway, in the form of two very new different suitors and a tenacious ex.
What I enjoyed most here (other than books and Nightingales) was the gentle realism of the plot and the building character relationships. Rather than opting for lots of miscommunications (which always make me wonder how they get on once together, if they can’t even talk to each other!) or dramatic misunderstandings, the characters spend time together, chat about their interests, get to know each other.
That’s not to say that we don’t see some excitement! There is plenty of drama and conflict, with bad penny exes, inner battles with shyness and fear of being hurt, bloody gifts on a doorstep, and even a missing person or two. But all of it is framed by a warm, cosy glow of happy family and small village (with three bookshops. Did I mention the bookshops? I would move there in a heartbeat!) that keeps the reader enthralled in a happy, easy-reading bubble throughout.
Definitely recommend for sweet romance lovers and book lovers, and whilst I generally only fit one of those categories, I will make an exception and admit I cannot wait to continue with this series and find some Nightingale happy-ever-afters!
Callie Logan should never have married her publisher. That’s where it had all begun to go wrong for her. She’d been perfectly content to be single, happily writing her books in her rented flat on the outskirts of London and going out with friends each weekend, but then Piers Blackmore had appeared on the scene, praising her children’s book to high heaven and simultaneously sweeping her off her feet.
– Victoria Connelly, The Book Lovers
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/04/11/blog-tour-the-book-lovers-victoria-connelly/
The Book Lovers is a lovely sweet romance novel, with the added bonus of lots and lots of books!
Callie has just come out of a bad marriage and has fled London for the Suffolk countryside, to lick her wounds and focus on her writing. Distractions loom however, in the form of three delightful bookshops, two handsome locals, and an irresistible family of Nightingales!
Don’t get me wrong – I liked Callie immensely – but the Nightingale family really stole the show here, and I suspect the author feels exactly the same way that I do about them, seeing as how they return in the rest of the series to tell their own stories, one at a time. The Nightingales are loud, warm, loving, chaotic and are book fanatics! What’s not to love! But they also each have their own distinct personalities and quirks and they clearly all have secrets to tell and background stories to explore.
In this story we follow Callie’s introduction to the family and their three – THREE! – wonderful bookshops: one for secondhand and rare books; one for new books; and one for children’s books… all independently run. It’s no wonder Callie spends more time looking for books than love. Still, it appears that love is determined to find her anyway, in the form of two very new different suitors and a tenacious ex.
What I enjoyed most here (other than books and Nightingales) was the gentle realism of the plot and the building character relationships. Rather than opting for lots of miscommunications (which always make me wonder how they get on once together, if they can’t even talk to each other!) or dramatic misunderstandings, the characters spend time together, chat about their interests, get to know each other.
That’s not to say that we don’t see some excitement! There is plenty of drama and conflict, with bad penny exes, inner battles with shyness and fear of being hurt, bloody gifts on a doorstep, and even a missing person or two. But all of it is framed by a warm, cosy glow of happy family and small village (with three bookshops. Did I mention the bookshops? I would move there in a heartbeat!) that keeps the reader enthralled in a happy, easy-reading bubble throughout.
Definitely recommend for sweet romance lovers and book lovers, and whilst I generally only fit one of those categories, I will make an exception and admit I cannot wait to continue with this series and find some Nightingale happy-ever-afters!
Callie Logan should never have married her publisher. That’s where it had all begun to go wrong for her. She’d been perfectly content to be single, happily writing her books in her rented flat on the outskirts of London and going out with friends each weekend, but then Piers Blackmore had appeared on the scene, praising her children’s book to high heaven and simultaneously sweeping her off her feet.
– Victoria Connelly, The Book Lovers
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/04/11/blog-tour-the-book-lovers-victoria-connelly/
dcgw's review
5.0
Lovely
I love books, so I obviously loved this one! It explains so succinctly about the love of books and their place in our lives. A truly enjoyable stroll through the countryside, with some interesting adventures. A nice ending too.
I love books, so I obviously loved this one! It explains so succinctly about the love of books and their place in our lives. A truly enjoyable stroll through the countryside, with some interesting adventures. A nice ending too.
jessbookishlife's review
4.0
This was the first novel I have read of Victoria Connelly and the fact that it was a series surrounded with books made me so excited.
In this novel we follow author Callie Logan as she gets a new fresh start in Owl Cottage, in the tiny village of Newton St Clare. And of course we get to met Sam Nightingale, the charming owner of Nightingale’s bookshop, as well as the amazing Nightingale family.
And if one handsome guy wasn't enough, we also get to met Leo Wildman. Although I'm usually not a love triangle kind of person, I was so curious to see what Callie would do and say. I truly enjoyed every moment of her interactions with Leo and Sam.
As we follow Callie and get to me the village and the people that lived there, I found myself transported to the story and to that moment in time. I had fun, it was the kind of book I will reread in the future, on a rainy Sunday, with a cut of tea and a cozy blanket, because it made me feel warm, happy and excited about each page and each scene.
Someone once asked me what kind of scenery I most enjoy to see in the book. The answer is this book. I love book series that happened in a small town because I can relate to it, the know everyone and everything kind of feel, the close relationships. Another thing I love it the fact that we follow a family through out the four books, and from someone that comes from a very big family, I love stories that have relatively big families, many cousins, many siblings, I don't care.
Speaking of families, the Nightingale family was such an amazing family to read about. I felt connected to them, as if I was part of their close circle. And I couldn't wait to read the next book to learn more about them.
Overall, it's an easy read of a romance novel. A very good book to open up a new series, and to get to know the author too.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Victoria Connelly for the eCopy of this book, and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
In this novel we follow author Callie Logan as she gets a new fresh start in Owl Cottage, in the tiny village of Newton St Clare. And of course we get to met Sam Nightingale, the charming owner of Nightingale’s bookshop, as well as the amazing Nightingale family.
And if one handsome guy wasn't enough, we also get to met Leo Wildman. Although I'm usually not a love triangle kind of person, I was so curious to see what Callie would do and say. I truly enjoyed every moment of her interactions with Leo and Sam.
As we follow Callie and get to me the village and the people that lived there, I found myself transported to the story and to that moment in time. I had fun, it was the kind of book I will reread in the future, on a rainy Sunday, with a cut of tea and a cozy blanket, because it made me feel warm, happy and excited about each page and each scene.
Someone once asked me what kind of scenery I most enjoy to see in the book. The answer is this book. I love book series that happened in a small town because I can relate to it, the know everyone and everything kind of feel, the close relationships. Another thing I love it the fact that we follow a family through out the four books, and from someone that comes from a very big family, I love stories that have relatively big families, many cousins, many siblings, I don't care.
Speaking of families, the Nightingale family was such an amazing family to read about. I felt connected to them, as if I was part of their close circle. And I couldn't wait to read the next book to learn more about them.
Overall, it's an easy read of a romance novel. A very good book to open up a new series, and to get to know the author too.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Victoria Connelly for the eCopy of this book, and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
_livs_library_'s review
4.0
Cute book! A bit slow but nice for a chill morning getting ready to which is what I’ve done for the past few days. Always love VC’s work.
teresat's review
5.0
The Book Lovers is a favorite blanket and a cup of tea on a cool crisp autumn day. I love books and felt much the same sentiments as the characters. There, also, was a cheeky bit about a certain "sexy book" that many readers (this one included) look upon with disdain. Loved that! All in all a sweet and comforting read, one that just makes you smile. Can't wait for book 2!!!