story craft

The Bookshop of Secrets

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction (Christian)

Format: eArc

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Cautions: Tough topics, in addition to PTSD, human trafficking, grief, and family trauma include foster care issues, dementia, and violence.

Favorite quote: “”Throughout history, food is what brings people together at the end of the day. They laugh—they share. A meal helps people celebrate or commiserate, as the case may be. Food is community.”

Review:

As a lover of books and a good mystery, of course, the idea of a mystery centered around a bookshop intrigued me. The story was simple, and straightforward, and dealt with tough topics but didn’t get too heavy or detailed. At times, I felt like the characters probably could’ve moved forward a little quicker than they did, but for the most part, this was an incredibly enjoyable read.

The bookshop and its owners—Ulysses and Mags—are some of my favorites in the entire story. You’ll have to read it and fall in love with them yourself, but Mags and Ulysses’s romance is heartbreaking and endearing. That’s all I’ll say about it. Oh, and you book lovers, watch out for Ulysses’s wit and wisdom. Tate was a welcome surprise, and Kat’s sass will leave you wishing for a friend like her. But Hope and Ronan, at our story’s center, teach us to hope, to love again, to trust—and that building trust takes time.

Rushmeyer tells a tale of friendship, generations old secrets that have wiggled their way into the present, pirates and treasure, and rare books worth a pretty penny themselves.

Though Rushmeyer touched on issues like PTSD, human trafficking, grief, and family trauma and drama—she did so delicately, with grace and respect. Yet, handling them delicately didn’t mean Rushmeyer painted over the ugliness of our world; she shared a realistic picture without being graphic.

If you’re in the mood for a read that’s neither heavy nor light with a hint of mystery and romance, check this one out!

My take:

Trust dismantled can feel irreparable, and nothing seems safe. Yet, in His goodness and kindness, God meets us even there. He invites us to trust again through His love and through the love of people who are the hands and feet of Jesus.

*I was given a copy of this book for free. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.