Emma's Review: The Hopeful Hearts Bookshop by Debbie Johnson

Reviewed by Emma Crowley

Single and in a dead-end job, Kate feels hope spring when an anonymous invitation falls from the pages of a book. Now, she’s standing in a charming Scottish village and trying to ignore the six-four silver fox by her side. He’s got an invitation too, a husky Chicago accent, and dangerously gorgeous sea-blue eyes…

Widowed ex-police officer Brody never expected to be stranded in Scotland with a cute British lady. Her smile might be bewitching… but her attitude? Way too cheerful. And eccentric bookshop owner Moira says they can stay for free, as long as they don’t mind sharing one very cozy little cottage.

That’s the least of their problems. Turns out Moira’s bookshop needs them just as much as Kate and Brody need a fresh start. And with a twinkle in Moira’s mischievous matchmaking eye, things are soon hotting up in surprising ways!

But as they string fairy lights over snug reading nooks and rally the whole community to buy their favourite reads, can Kate and Brody save the bookshop and heal their hearts? Or will their fresh start come crashing down? 

Book Link: Kindle

Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy of The Hopeful Hearts Bookshop to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.

It’s been quite some time since I have read anything by Debbie Johnson but this new book, The Hopeful Hearts Bookshop, the first in the new Bonnie Bay series reminded me just how much I enjoy her writing. It gives echoes of the Comfort Food Café series which I adored and virtually inhaled every book so gripped and entranced was I. As I got these vibes and enjoyed the story so much I know future books in the series will be just as good if not better. This truly was a delight to read from start to finish with a wonderful feel good tale at its centre that you will give you that warm glow inside as the story unfolds. I mean who couldn’t fail to love a book set in and around a bookshop but the main message of the book and the aim of bookshop owner Moira was just fabulous and so heartwarming. This really was the perfect slice of escapism, and I hope it finds its way to many readers.

The prologue introduces us to Moira who resides in the coastal village of Bonnie Bay in Northern Scotland. She runs The Edge of the World Bookshop with her grandson Robbie. The bookshop emits old school cosy vibes with its crammed bookshelves, stacks of books and a very random approach to organisation but is filled with cosy nooks and alcoves where people can come browse, read and relax. It’s almost as if it is a library and community centre where everyone is united by the magic of storytelling and the written word where the joy of reading and friendship is always celebrated. Chatter, companionship and warmth is what you’ll find behind the doors of the bookshop but things are changing for Moira following the death of her fisherman husband Angus. She misses him desperately and needing to take her mind off things she initiates a project that she had talked over with Angus. Moira, writes cards and hides them in various books hoping they will find their way to the right person at the right time The cards are filed with words of wisdom and an invitation to visit the bookshop. Moira hopes someone might find them and have their world changed. The words and advice that Moira writes are so profound, deep and meaningful and they really do strike a chord with the reader.

Fast forward four years later and we are introduced to Kate who lives in London and works as an office temp. Kate is so down on herself as her ex-husband has left her broken in so many ways. Her self esteem is at an all time low and she constantly says that she feels useless and invisible. It was evident that Kate wasn’t in a great place and it was awful to read about her thinking of herself in that manner. Her life has become so small with her social circle virtually non existent. Life has quite simply become hard and not filled with joy and happiness the way it should be. On a wet day she finds herself stumbling into a bookshop. Picking up a book on Scottish stone circles out slips a card with beautifully written words and an invitation to come and heal at Moira’s bookshop. Kate was destined to pick up that book and despite some initial misgivings she decides to venture to Scotland. After all they do say nothing ventured nothing gained. I thought it was brave of Kate to take the leap as four years had passed so who knew if the offer still applied. But it was like a calling to her, the wake up call she needed in her life that something had to change and radically because god knows how things would work out for her if she had continued in the manner she was getting all too accustomed to.

So of course given the title features hearts there must also be a male protagonist and he comes in the form of Brodie, an American who has come to Britain to see his daughter Shannon start college. Brody is a lost soul following the death of his wife and the loss of his job in the police force. These two roles defined him and without them he feels a lesser of a man. He feels so alone and trapped in suffering and he is scared to go back to the family home in America that no longer contains a family. Deep down he knows he needs to stop hiding behind Shannon and the memories of what was once and find his new place in the world but that is incredibly difficult and challenging. Inside the book Shannon has given him Brodie finds a card from Moira. Again as with Kate the words speak to him and he decides to detour to Scotland as he hasn’t much to lose. To be honest as much as I enjoyed reading about Brodie and his backstory I felt it was Kate that I connected more with but that’s not to say that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy how the two characters intertwined the further the story developed as they worked together and in turn let it potentially spill over into something else.

An awkward encounter sees Brodie and Kate getting off on the wrong foot but it did provide some comedic moments it has to be said. As they arrive in the village anticipating what lies ahead they are shocked to see the bookshop closed and in a state of disrepair. What could have happened to Moira in the intervening years since the cards were first written and sent out into the world? What follows is a gorgeous story of renewal, community, companionship, the union of lost souls and the uncovering of what happened with Moira and how she is fixed now, the details of which I won’t go into. It’s clear though that something needs to be done the question is are Brodie and Kate the ones to do it and in the process can they help heal each other also? Restoration, working together as one and as part of a community, seeing the good through the bad, not accepting that you have run out of choices, battling through the pain and not disappearing from your life are all themes that slowly and magically start to unfold. A sense of comfort and camaraderie and romance begin to develop as they battle to turn around the fortunes of both Moira and The Edge of the World Bookshop. Through this wonderful process both Kate and Brodie’s heart start to rebuild as truths are confronted and advice and good times are shared.

I really enjoyed how everything developed as the story progressed at a lovely pace. The themes explored and messages conveyed were genuine and inspiring and the feel good factor continued to rise and rise as the chapters flew by. It was clear that the author was enjoying the writing just as much as I was enjoying reading it and I was just glad that there would be more to come from the stunning setting and the brilliant characters, I definitely have no hesitation in recommending this captivating, refreshing and gratifying book. It’s a story that will make you happy and content and is perfect to spend a few hours with curled up on the couch.