I’m here today for the tour of The Hopeful Hearts Bookshop by Debbie Johnson. This is the start of the new “Bonnie Bay” book series. If you read me, you know I don’t read too many romances, but I do like a gentle, happy story/romance occasionally. I loved the premise of this story, where folks mysteriously find an invitation in a book and they are drawn together. I am thankful to Bookouture who sent me the audio of this book as my ARC never arrived. It was ably narrated by Josh Wichard and Lucy Paterson. I was in the middle of enjoying it during my commute when it must have archived due to Pub Day as it disappeared from my NG shelf and I was unable to finish it. I trust there is a happy ending!!

“Take a leap of faith and visit our perfect little bookshop by the sea.” Bookshop owner Moira writes the first of many invitations she’ll send out into the world. They’ll find the right people, she’s certain…

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?

From the million-copy bestselling author of the Comfort Food Café series comes a brand-new, totally addictive and feel-good escapist romance with delicious steam and spice. Perfect for anyone who loves getting lost in a book – in more ways than one! Fans of Susan Mallery, Phillipa Ashley and Laurie Gilmore won’t be able to put this down.

About the Author:

Debbie Johnson is an award-winning author who lives and works in Liverpool, England, where she divides her time between writing, caring for a small tribe of children and animals, and not doing the housework. She writes feel-good emotional women’s fiction, and has sold more than 1 million books worldwide. She is published globally in many different languages, and her books include the best-selling Comfort Food Cafe series, the popular Starshine Cove series, Maybe One Day , The Moment I Met You and Forever Yours . Her publishers include One More Chapter (HarperCollins), Orion (Hachette), Storm, and Bookouture (Hachette).