Review by Booklist Review
Disappointed when her mother and boyfriend don't show up for a work party in her honor, Natalie is devastated to discover that they both died in a plane crash on their way to the party. As Natalie struggles through her grief, she also struggles with the problems her mother left behind: a bookstore in financial trouble and Natalie's grandfather Andrew, co-owner of the shop, who is in no shape mentally or physically to take over the business. Though Natalie wants to sell, for her grandfather's sake, she quits her job and moves back to San Francisco to operate the bookstore. Before her death, Natalie's mother had contracted with a handyman to fix up the shop and building. Peter "Peach" Gallagher is more than a contractor: he is also gorgeous, a caring father, and a bookworm. As Natalie navigates the complicated world of being a small-business owner and a caregiver, she finds herself relying on and growing closer to Peach. Though not as deeply moving as The Oysterville Sewing Circle (2019), Wiggs' latest is a cute, lighthearted book for those looking for a breezy read.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
After her mother dies in a plane crash, Natalie Harper leaves her predictable job and life in Sonoma Valley to take care of her ailing grandfather and her mother's San Francisco bookshop. Unfortunately, the building is crumbling, the bills aren't being paid, the taxes are in arrears, and her grandfather's health is worse than she knew. However, Natalie feels more alive than she has in years and doesn't hate her job, so she vows to make it all work out. Wiggs (The Oysterville Sewing Circle) hits another home run with a heady mix of women's fiction and romance. Her sophisticated prose filled with quaint book and author quotes tells the delightful tale of an accidental, reluctant bookshop owner, her beautiful yet unconventional family, and the historic San Francisco building they've lived and worked in for over a century. VERDICT An unputdownable, true book lover's book that fans of women's fiction, slow-burning romance, and the novels of Nora Roberts and Kristin Hannah will love. [See Prepub Alert, 12/16/19.]--Debbie Haupt, St. Charles City-Cty. Lib. Dist., St. Peters, MO
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
With her promotion to vice president of digital inventory at a Sonoma winery, Natalie Harper finally has the financial security she's always wanted, but a sudden tragedy sends her home to rescue her late mother's charming bookstore. Once in San Francisco, Natalie moves back into her childhood home, an eclectic set of apartments above the bookshop, a home she shares with her grandfather Andrew, who is suffering from dementia and other mysterious ailments. Blythe, Natalie's mother, loved books, but she was not a savvy businesswoman. Natalie arrives to find unpaid bills and back taxes. Housed in the historic Sunrose Building, the bookshop certainly has stories of its own to tell: Originally a saloon and brothel, it was eventually bought by Natalie's great-grandparents, who converted it into a home and apothecary. Luckily, "hammer for hire" Peach Gallagher shows up. Strong and gorgeous, the contractor catches Natalie's eye, and he certainly is drawn to the curly-haired proprietress. But Peach doesn't date clients, and Natalie is gun-shy from her previous relationship. Plus, she's already met Peach's adorable little girl, Dorothy. Natalie isn't about to break up a marriage, but she doesn't know Peach is actually divorced. Wiggs skillfully manipulates the stock in trade of a master romance novelist as she orchestrates Peach and Natalie's inevitable love story. To challenge Peach, enter Trevor Dashwood, a gorgeous and wealthy children's book author, whose books have already won Dorothy's heart. Hosting a book signing with Trevor might help the store's bottom line. Meanwhile, Natalie, Peach, and Andrew find historical artifacts hidden in the Sunrose building's walls. Will it be enough to save the store? A gentle love story perfect for anyone looking for love amid personal, family, and financial crises. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
