The Book Charmer Review Part One

 Happy New Year's Eve my bookish friends,

    Hopefully, this New Year brings a treasure trove of new books into your lives. A few days ago I posted on a Facebook group that is dedicated to the avid reader. I explained to them about my blog and my search for the authors that often are overlooked by the trendy authors that have hit their success. The number of responses and suggestions has been more than I could have ever hoped for. I now have enough authors and books to hope to give them a spotlight. If I don't particularly like a book I encourage you to still read it and decide for yourself because these reviews will be based solely on my opinion if it is fiction and if it is nonfiction the authenticity of historical reference. 

Stop Possible Spoilers Alert:

    Now to the good stuff diving into the world of the Book Charmer. This was written by Karen Hawkins and published in 2019 by Gallery Books, New York, NY.  This has 344 pages of story with a nice added addition of a book club guide in the back. I always appreciate these guided questions even though I have never belonged to a book club before. Also, this is the first book of a series and the second book has also been released, Cup of Silver Linings.

    The book's main setting is in the lovely town of Dove Pond, North Carolina. The story starts in the year 2001 but does catch up to the present day. There are three main characters Sarah Dove, Grace Wheeler, and Travis Parker that the story is focused on with plenty of side characters. The side characters give the main characters a well-rounded and realistic feel to them. Each of the characters has past baggage and current issues that they are struggling with. The story touches on sensitive topics such as abandoned children, foster care, drug overdose, and Alzheimer's. 

    When I dived headfirst into this world of Dove Pond I had never heard of this author or story before. I had only discovered it by chance when browsing through my library's book club recommended reading list. One of these days I might actually attend one of the book club meetings but until then I am content with stalking them on their website. What attracted me to this book was the cover and title. The cover has a beautiful cover that would make any bookworm envy. Lol, the old saying is don't judge a book by its cover well I am glad that I have never listened to that advice when it comes to actual books. 

    I will dive further into the actual story in my next post but hopefully, this will give you the curiosity to run and grab this book. In the meantime, the author has a website https://karenhawkins.com/index.php that I would recommend if you want to be kept up with her books that are out and what will be published soon.

Happy New Year, 

Armarius

January Book

 Hello, my bookish friends. Hopefully, the day finds you well and that you have a nice book in your hand or listening to one because I certainly do not judge if you choose to listen rather than read a book. I know there are times that I would rather listen than sit still and read especially if I have chores to do and a dog or two to walk. 

Since we are two days past Christmas and just less than a week from the new year I decided I better start to find the first book of the year to start reading.

Drum roll please [insert here], The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins. Now, Now I know but I thought you said no to "New York Best Sellers". I swear I think that publishers stick this label on every book that they publish in hopes that it will sell more copies just like the "low fat or zero sugar labels" at the grocery store. I have never heard of her or book before yesterday and the title caught my attention. I felt that the title would be a great start to this blog In case if you are not familiar with her or the book as I was not until I happened to stumble upon this little gem yesterday I will include the necessary insert from the book on here for you in case if you want to pick up this book hopefully at your locally owned bookstore. 

Insert from the book; 

"Sarah Dove is no ordinary bookworm. To her, books have always been more than just objects: they live, they breathe, and sometimes they even speak. When Sarah grows up to become the librarian in her quaint Southern town of Dove Pond, her gift helps place every book in the hands of the perfect reader. Recently, however, the books have been whispering about something out of the ordinary: the arrival of a displaced city girl named Grace Wheeler.

If the books are right, Grace could be the savior that Dove Pond desperately needs. The problem is, Grace wants little to do with the town or its quirky residents—Sarah chief among them. It takes a bit of urging, and the help of an especially wise book, but Grace ultimately embraces the challenge to rescue her charmed new community. In her quest, she discovers the tantalizing promise of new love, the deep strength that comes from having a true friend, and the power of finding just the right book.

“A mesmerizing fusion of the mystical and every day” (Susan Andersen, New York Times bestselling author), The Book Charmer is a heartwarming story about the magic of books that feels more than a little magical itself. Prepare to fall under its spell."

Happy reading,

Armarius