Friday 4 May 2018

Book Review - Natural Born Readers by Victoria Connelly

Amazon UK
Title: Natural Born Readers
Author: Victoria Connelly
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source: Author supplied copy
Publisher: Notting Hill Press
Publication Date: 26th September 2017
Rating: 5 Stars


Ben Stratton and Bryony Nightingale. Everybody thought they’d be together forever. But, when Ben leaves the small market town of Castle Clare to travel the world, Bryony is heartbroken, seeing his departure as the ultimate betrayal.

Throwing herself into her work running the much-loved children’s bookshop, Bryony determines to forget Ben and to start dating again. But Ben doesn’t make it easy for her, sending her postcards filled with his love and posting her foreign editions of all the great romantic novels from the countries he’s travelling through.

Then, after six long years, the unexpected happens and Ben returns, determined to win Bryony back. But will she forgive him and does he have the courage to tell her the truth about why he left her?

I can't believe I have taken around 6 months to get around to reading the this third book in The Book Lovers series, given how much I loved the first two and how much of a book lover that I am too.   I felt right back at home in Castle Clare amongst the wonderful Nightingale family. 

If this is your first visit to this series, then not to worry as it can easily be read as as standalone as it focuses on a different member of the family to the other two, but I would recommend you go read them anyway as they are all fabulous. 

Bryony runs the Children's book shop, and has never forgotten her first love Ben, who has just returned after six years of travelling the world.  However although deep down in your hearts you know how you want the book to end, the characters seem rather obstinate, and the journey of reaching that end point is anything but smooth. 

We get to see how the rest of Bryony's family is progressing with their stories, but the storyline that I enjoyed the most was Flo and her great nephew Sonny. I loved everything about Flo and her menagerie of animals. 

If I uttered trumpets, donkeys and doctors in the same sentence while laughing at the memory  of the situation in the book, I bet you couldn't work out what I am referring to, but I can assure you when you get to that you will know just what I mean. 

There is something just so warm and cosy about the writing in this small town romance, featuring this family of book lovers that have the most marvellous multi generational sunday lunches, and all seem to look out for and love each other, and are all  delighted that Ben is back from his travels, while feeling guilty that they want to see him despite knowing that Bryony never got over him.  

I loved every moment of this heartwarming story, and at times I completely lost track of where I was while I was reading it. I was very lucky not to miss my stop and hadn't even noticed when my tube went underground!  Thoroughly enjoyable, Natural Born Readers gives hope for all bookworms that you may meet a book loving soul mate eventually.  

Thank you to Victoria Connelly for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 


2 comments:

  1. This book sounds sweet. Much to like about a book-loving family. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds wonderful. I will have to pick the series. I can see that it is included in Kindle unlimited. Fantastic review .

    ReplyDelete

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