The Corner Bookshop by Crystal Walton : Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

A girl with a storybook heart. A boy who’s a closed book. And an off-limits relationship jeopardizing a deal that could break them both.

Battling to keep her bookshop open is not how Maddy Ellis envisioned spending the holidays. Nor is figuring out what to make of the hard-to-crack stranger she has to stop growing attached to before he leaves town. But when secrets tied to her family’s legacy get tangled up with her mission to make Mr. Scrooge fall for Willow Creek, the cost of mending others will test the very faith her own heart is fighting to hold on to.

Nate O’Connor isn’t sure which will kill him first. Small-town claustrophobia or tripping in shoes he has no business trying to fill. If it weren’t for a promise to his brother, he would’ve spared himself the pain of dredged-up memories and avoided this trip altogether. It gets complicated enough when his clients ask him to keep a secret from their daughter she doesn’t deserve to be hurt by. But when Maddy’s hopeful heart is determined to heal his wounded one, a business deal quickly becomes the last thing he’s worried about losing.

As dangers threaten Maddy’s safety and the pressure of keeping secrets erupts, Nate must risk facing the past that broke him before the countdown for saving Maddy’s future runs out.

For fans of Mandi Blake and Kimberly Rae Jordan, let the Love in Willow Creek series be the next sweet small town romance you can’t put down.

The Author

Crystal received her bachelor of arts from Messiah College in PA, married her exact opposite in upstate NY, and earned her master of arts from Regent University in VA, where she currently resides with her husband and two sons.

She writes small-town inspirational romances with humor, broken characters, and emotional plots full of grace and hope. Her Home In You series includes Write Me Home, a RONE Award finalist, and Begin Again, a Readers' Favorite Gold Award winner. When her hands aren’t full with her little blue-eyed heroes, she's delving into the wonder of words, supporting her green tea habit, or laughing over movie quotes with her husband.

Connect with Crystal on Facebook at @crystalwaltonwrites

Book Review

The Corner Bookshop is the second book in the Love in Willow Creek series. While the couple from book one does make an appearance, this could absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone as well. 

If you love smalltown romances with a bit of a Hallmark vibe--- but with some added emotion and danger mixed in too--- this one is definitely going to be right up your alley. When Nate arrives in Willow Creek to check out a B&B for his and his brother's business, the last thing he expects to find is a connection with the daughter of the B&B owners' daughter. Maddy is definitely the sunshine to his grumpy demeanor and is determined to make the mysterious newcomer fall in love with smalltown life... but he might just fall for more than the town. These two had a really sweet chemistry and a wonderful slow burn that I couldn't help but enjoy. Mixed in with all that small town charm, we get so much more--- family secrets, overcoming trauma from a difficult childhood, an unexpected danger, and a beautiful message of trusting God's plans. There was so much going on in this emotional story... and I enjoyed every moment. The hint of suspense will keep you at the edge of your seat, but the overall vibe still feels cozy and hopeful. Once again, the author did a great job of setting up for the next story and I find myself very much looking forward to the next trip back to Willow Creek. 



You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4kuzah2