Book Reviews

Angel In A Book Shop by RJ Scott at Love Lane Books

Genre Gay / Contemporary / Erotic Romance
Reviewed by Serena Yates on 26-December-2014

Book Blurb

What happens when a broken man has to trust in the impossible?

Chapter One is an antique book shop and is the last tangible thing Josh and his mom have left of his dad. Nestled in a quiet square a few steps from London's St Pauls Cathedral, it is boarded up with whitewashed windows and no new stock. The place is a sad reminder of loss and it has to go, but destroying a business that has been in his family for generations is not a role Josh is looking forward to.

Michael is the owner of Arts Desire, the shop next door. With his rainbow pride mugs and his sunny positive outlook he is the complete opposite to what Joshua thinks he needs in his life.

But, when Josh and Michael become friends, Josh learns that finding true love starts with making big decisions, and that everyone deserves their own Christmas miracle sometimes.

 

Book Review

‘Angel in a Book Shop’ is a truly wonderful, sweet, and heartwarming story about the healing power of love. The fact it takes place in a quaint little antique bookstore and contains a supernatural element are part of its charm, and wonderful additions to a story full of mystery and deep emotions. But for me, the strength of this novella lies in the characters who, each for a different reason, need love and understanding so very badly. Neither of them know what true love is, and both of them learning about it as they go provided me with an adventure of the very best kind.

Joshua has suffered some major blows in his life. He lost his job, for one thing. The details of what happened slowly emerge as the story unfolds, and his shame about what he did is deep enough to make anyone despair. The other blow to his mental and emotional well-being is the loss of his father, which means Joshua is now in charge of deciding what happens to the aptly named “Chapter One” bookstore his father used to run. It has been in the family for generations, and I really enjoyed watching Joshua slowly delve into the books, the customers, and what running an antique bookstore really feels like. Of course, seeing him meet and get to know the owner of next door’s shop, with its artsy collectibles and very different ambiance, was just as much fun.

Michael is a mysterious being. His past history and thoughts, interjected at the beginning of each chapter, read like entries in a diary and gave me a gradually growing understanding of who he is and what is at stake for him now that he has met Josh. On the surface, Michael looks like the total opposite of Josh, but deep down, he is just as lonely and in need of someone to be his one and only as Josh. Michael has some interesting powers, but all of them pale in the face of the decision he has to make. Love can be truly miraculous, and nobody knows that better than Michael.

With two men facing a major decision, wonderful secondary characters, and great emotional depth, this story grabbed my attention and held it through all the ups and downs and multiple twists. The epilogue was one you don’t want to miss! If you like stories about love and miracles, if you enjoy a Christmastime setting with the touch of the supernatural, and if you’re looking for a read that is sweet, deeply emotional, and with the power to make you smile, then you will probably enjoy this novella as much as I did. I loved it!

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format ebook
Length Novella, 129 pages/32200 words
Heat Level
Publication Date 12-December-2014
Price $3.49 ebook
Buy Link https://www.lovelanebooks.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13&products_id=75