Blog Tour - The Little Bookshop on the Seine

Today I'm participating in the Winter 2020 Blog Tour for Harlequin Trade Publishing's Women's Fiction release, The Little Bookshop on the Seine.  Many thanks to the publisher and author who provided a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

TITLE: The Little Bookshop on the Seine

AUTHOR: Rebecca Raisin

PUBLISHER: HQN

PUBLISHING DATE: January 7, 2020 (originally published in 2015)

FROM GOODREADS: 

When bookshop owner Sarah Smith is offered the opportunity for a job exchange with her Parisian friend Sophie, saying yes is a no-brainer—after all, what kind of romantic would turn down six months in Paris? Sarah is sure she’s in for the experience of a lifetime—days spent surrounded by literature in a gorgeous bookshop, and the chance to watch the snow fall on the Eiffel Tower. Plus, now she can meet up with her journalist boyfriend, Ridge, when his job takes him around the globe.

But her expectations cool faster than her café au lait soon after she lands in the City of Light—she’s a fish out of water in Paris. The customers are rude, her new coworkers suspicious and her relationship with Ridge has been reduced to a long-distance game of phone tag, leaving Sarah to wonder if he’ll ever put her first over his busy career. As Christmas approaches, Sarah is determined to get the shop—and her life—back in order…and make her dreams of a Parisian happily-ever-after come true.  

MY THOUGHTS: So I think my run with romance may be nearing the end.  I can honestly say that for a genre I don't pick up often, I've really struck gold with some of my recent choices.  However, my dark soul is craving something heavier. 

Sarah lives in a small town where she owns and operates her own bookshop.  She is friends with Sophie, who lives in Paris and who was recently jilted by her boyfriend.  Sophie proposes to Sarah that they switch places for a while so Sophie can get away and Sarah can visit the city of her dreams.  Although it's totally out of character, Sarah jumps at the chance.  After all, her boyfriend is a traveling reporter and they can get together in Paris just as easily as her hometown.  Sarah knows she's in for a change when she arrives, but she has no idea just how hard a transition the switch will be.

So first of all this book is about people who love books and bookshops.  What more is needed right?  Well, there could have been a dog, but at least there was mention of a few cats who resided in the Paris shop.  Because Sarah is used to running her shop in a small town with no outside help, she does have trouble initially managing a bigger shop and suddenly being a boss.  There's also the issue of her boyfriend, who isn't visiting or calling as much as he did originally.  I liked Sarah as a character.  She showed a lot of growth during the novel and goes from someone who wants someone to sweep her off her feet just like her famous romance novels, to someone who realizes she can make herself happy on her own. 

The book is also full of additional quirky side characters.  I enjoyed seeing them interact with Sarah and thought their side tales added interest and intrigue into the novel. 

My only real complaint about the book is that I want to know more about some of the other people.  We get some insights as to how Sophie is doing in the US, but not a lot.  And it makes it seem like Sophie is fitting right in and having no trouble with the switch while Sarah is struggling.  Since this book is part of a series, I do believe this may come out in future installments.

So overall, The Little Bookshop on the Seine was a fun book which I could best compare to a cozy mystery without the mystery.  I am sure people who love books about books and bookshops will want to give this one a chance.

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rebecca Raisin is the author of several novels, including the beloved Little Paris series and the Gingerbread Café trilogy, and her short stories have been published in various anthologies and fiction magazines. 

You can follow Rebecca on Facebook, and at
www.rebeccaraisin.com