4 fun stars! I'm glad I found The library of Lost and Found. It was a wonderful change of pace from ‘serious’ reading. It has mystery, romance, and fun characters. Martha Storm, 60-something librarian has a goal in life - to be indispensable, a "Number One neighbor." Unfortunately, others take advantage of this until....

Phaedra Patrick’s writing is clear and evokes the senses without becoming wordy. “Martha stepped inside the library, closed her eyes and inhaled the earthy, almond scent of the books. If she could bottle the aroma, she’d wear it as a perfume, L’eau de la Biblioteque.” Martha’s friend Suki mixes us English words with great unintended humor.

Stories that Martha wrote as a child are found in a book that her wild and free Grandma Zelda self-published. These simple stories blossomed with multiple layers of meaning, even as Martha’s caregiving life shrunk.

Younger sister, Lilian chastises Martha, "'You're far too old for fairy tales, anyway.' Martha’s shoulders twitched at her sister’s spiky reaction. You're never too old for stories.' The Library of Lost and Found will delight anyone who is not too old for stories.

Unfortunately I DNFed this book because of it's inaccurate portrayal of libraries. While it may just be the difference between American and British libraries, the depiction of the library manager abusing the power of a volunteer is upsetting (of course it's fiction), but the volunteer would never be allowed to check out materials and act as a librarian given the sensitivity of personal information with library accounts. Again while it may be a regional difference, it was off-putting and so I DNFed it.

This is such a lovely heartwarming story that I was unable to part with it until the last page. It is utterly charming and wonderfully written. Martha works as a volunteer at a wonderful library. in a seaside village, She is known as a person who will do anything for others and often spends her time helping everyone else but herself. She always puts herself last and lacks confidence.. She even keeps a journal of how to help others with heroism. She likes to be seen but not heard. She also adores books and all the magic of reading that her library offers her.
Martha recently had to make a decision to give up her boyfriend to care for her aging parents. So her library work is what keeps her moving forward and helping others as she now feels the loss of her one great love.

One day she receives a book with an inscription to her from her grandmother. The inscription is dated after her grandmother had supposedly died! As Martha realizes the stories are familiar Martha begins to investigate and soon she is realizing that more secrets are coming to light ! She had a wonderful connection with her grandmother and hopes to find the answers she is seeking from the book and her investigation into her grandmothers death,

I like the way the author weaves the story between the past , Martha's childhood and present day. Martha‘s grandmother Zelda was her only relative who loved her and they had a wonderful relationship. Soon her details of her life and the clues her Grandmother left her are encouraging her to be her true self and her confidence builds as she finds more and more truth left to her by her grandmother.
I loved this book and highly recommend it for your reading enjoyment. This is a wonderful story of believing in one's abilities and taking chances to broaden your life. Martha is a great charcter to spend time with and I adored the story and how it was so well crafted. I look forward to further books by this author. Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review. Very well done to the author !

I love books about books, and this is a book about a book. Nonetheless, this story, by Phaedra Patrick, was a bit challenging as it centered upon a character so self-effacing as to be almost invisible. She literally buries herself in doing for others; her house becoming a metaphor for her life. Her life changes when she discovers a book, inscribed to her by her beloved, quirky grandmother – several years after her grandmother’s death. Discovering the story of the book becomes Martha’s quest.

I enjoyed this book, although it was not compelling. It did remind me that we have only one life, and it is incumbent on us to live it according to our own values and interests. Resets are possible at any point in our lives.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin – Park Row Publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“The Library of Lost and Found” was the first book that I’ve read by Author Phaedra Patrick. Here’s the blurb:
Librarian Martha Storm has always found it easier to connect with books than people—though not for lack of trying. She keeps careful lists of how to help others in her superhero-themed notebook. And yet, sometimes it feels like she’s invisible.
All of that changes when a book of fairy tales arrives on her doorstep. Inside, Martha finds a dedication written to her by her best friend—her grandmother Zelda—who died under mysterious circumstances years earlier. When Martha discovers a clue within the book that her grandmother may still be alive, she becomes determined to discover the truth. As she delves deeper into Zelda’s past, she unwittingly reveals a family secret that will change her life forever.
As a bibliophile and lover of all bookish things I was super excited to read this novel! It had so many dimensions and layers. It was well developed, and I loved the characters although at times a bit too much was going on with the stories within the story , in my opinion. I loved the family aspect. Overall, this was a good read and I look forward to reading more from this author in the very near future!

* I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I found this book to be very frustrating. I guessed a lot of what was going to happen before it happened, but it was tedious waiting for the author to get around to revealing anything. I found the lead character to be very pathetic. I would say this book is closer to 2 and a 1/2 stars but I'll read it 3 to be nice. I probably wouldn't recommend it though. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book featured a quirky, delightful protagonist. Her internal struggles and external conflicts with others made me root for her from the beginning. I love a book that's about a book. Nicely done!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary digital copy. All opinions stated here are my own.

Martha Storm cared for her aging parents for 15 years before their deaths. She does favors for everyone. She wants to be The Good Neighbor.....the one who is always there to help out, to be kind, to be useful. Her whole house is filled with these favors....laundry that needs to be done, fish and plants that need looking after, items to be repaired, pants to hem.....her whole life is filled with self-imposed obligations to others. Then one book....a book given to her by a stranger....changes everything. Martha recognizes the stories in the book....and goes on a quest to find out how the stories ended up in a book. What she finds out changes not only her view of the past, but her future.

Beautiful story! The Library of Lost and Found is a complex and quirky but heartwarming story about a woman searching for her true place in the world. I loved how the stories Martha wrote as a child were woven in with the book's plot, revealing a deeper meaning. The stories meant so much to Martha as a child....and they come to mean even more to her as an adult as she discovers family secrets and lies, and overcomes them.

This is the first book by Phaedra Patrick that I've read. I'm definitely going to read more by this author. I have added The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper and Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone to my TBR list! :)

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Harlequin via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

The premise of the book was definitely an intriguing one. The book had an uncertainty for me in the beginning but once Martha received the book inscribe to her, that’s when my curiosity piqued and the book took off. From there as the story unfolds, you can’t help but not want to root her.

Martha was definitely a likable character despite her story being a bit depressing at moments. I don’t mean that in a bad way but as you get to know her and where her life is in the present and I say as a result of her past, you want to see her have a happy ending. She was one of those people that gave all of herself because she was so kind but as a result, people just took advantage of that. One of my favorite moments from the book was the moment she said no. When she finally got the courage to stand up for herself, it was such a great moment.

The overall plot of the book from the dedication that Martha found of her grandmother to the shocking revelation that changed her life, really was heartfelt. The storyline surrounding her grandmother really makes you appreciate life in the moment. We get a chance to not only get the present perspective but we get taken back in the past which fills in the blanks and makes an interesting story. The supporting characters complemented the book and it came together good. I thought it was a nice read.

As a librarian, this story made me smile! A heartwarming contemporary book with a splash of mystery. I highly recommend this book.

Martha has spent her whole life being selfless. She gave up love to take care of her ailing parents. She gives up her time and space in her home to help her community with various tasks and uses those tasks to guide her day. She's not sure she has any friends. People take advantage of her and her charity. Frankly, it's hard to read and I felt like reaching in the book to shake some sense into her. Luckily, something happens that sets the wheel in motion for her to discover herself again.

One evening a stranger leaves a book of fairytales on the doorstep of the library where she volunteers. This collection is odd for two reasons. First, it has an inscription signed by her Grandmother to her several years after she died. Secondly, this collection contains stories Martha wrote as a little girl. She is then on a mission to figure out how this collection came to be.

Along the way she unravels some family secrets and rediscovers who she is and what she wants from life. I loved this novel. It has some twists and turns, all of which were not surprising, but it was still so enjoyable. In a lot of ways it reminded me of Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden.

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick. Harlequin, 2019.

I got off to a slow start with this book, I and almost didn’t finish the first chapter. It took awhile to appreciate the writing style and the heroine’s odd characteristics. But by the end of Chapter 2, I was engaged and enjoying it, and then hardly put it down.

Martha is an odd heroine, an unpaid library volunteer with more responsibility than she should have working under the careless direction of a library manager with questionable qualifications and poor ethics. As seemingly random bits and pieces of the story fit together, we become quite fond of Martha. One of the passages that particularly resonated with me involved a situation involving Martha’s mother wishing for a job and money of her own.

Phaedra Patrick is an author new to me. The very appropriate byline on her website is “Curiously Charming Fiction”, which this book is. I warmly recommend it.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Library of Lost and Found by via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a charming touching story . Martha is a a volunteer at her local library doing favors for others all day . Everything changes when she receives a book of fairy tales written by her dead beloved grandmother . As Martha starts to solve this mystery family secrets unravel and she must face some harsh truths . The book changes her life and everyone around her. You will feel yourself pulling for Martha every step of the way .

Recently I had the opportunity to read and review The Library of Lost and Found, the newest book from the author of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper.

The Library of Lost and Found is part whimsical tale, part familial scandal, and part redemption story. It follows a woman named Martha who has devoted her entire self to serving others - to the point of losing herself.

Fortunately, in the course of the novel, Martha finds her gumption. She discovers who she is and takes steps to take her life back. Hoorah! How this happens is through a whimsical series of events. Martha is gifted a book with a dedication written to her from her dead grandmother. However, the date of the inscription is years after her grandmother died. On her hunt to discover the mystery of her grandmother's description in this magical fairy tale collection, Martha learns more about her family than anyone ever knew.

In addition to quirky characters and unique settings, The Library of Lost and Found also contains several portions of these beautifully crafted fairy tales from the special book. It makes the novel feel slightly like a children's book, but in a good way. The tales directly relate to the adult story being told.

All in all, people who love books and books about books will enjoy this steady moving novel featuring a woman who redeems her own story.

Thanks to the author and Netgalley for providing me with this copy to read and review!

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick is a charming novel which emphasizes the power that books and stories can have in our lives, if we let them.

Martha is a librarian who connects much better with the books she reads than with the people she meets. When she comes across a book with an inscription to her from her favorite person, her grandmother who is long dead, she is intrigued, because the book was inscribed long after her grandmother's death. This sends her on a search which uncovers family secrets which will change her life.

A lovely and enjoyable book, which captivated me the moment I opened the ARC and began reading. I would highly recommend it! Thank you to the author, Harlequin and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for my honest review.

I loved this charming novel. Any book about books is usually a book I will enjoy! I also loved watching Martha find her grandmother and her voice.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41860714-the-library-of-lost-and-found

The Library of Lost and Found

Let me start out by saying that I had really high hopes for this book strictly off of how much I loved the dang color of the cover. It is the most perfect shade of pink/coral!!

This book started off really strong for me, I loved the character development of the main character. She was awkward and spunky and it was definitely a book about getting outside your comfort zone and standing tall and not letting people walk all over you. This is definitely a good for someone that constantly says “yes” and doesn’t know how to make time for themselves!

I also liked the way that each different character had an extremely different personality, from the main character, to the book shop owner, to her coworkers, everyone had their own unique personality.

I found this story slowed down a bit for me about halfway thru. I found myself wondering when the real plot thickening of the story would happen and found that only happened really close to the end where I had wished it would have captured my attention a little bit earlier.

All in all, I gave this book three stars. I loved the story line and characters but I really wish that the book had picked up speed a bit so that I didn’t feel like the story’s ending was dragging along. But hey, I still LOVE the cover color!

The Library Of Lost And Found

Martha Storm is a person who lived for doing other peoples tasks. She did not know how to live for herself. This caused her to be taken for granted. Martha is a volunteer librarian in Sandshift. She was on her way to the library for an author signing. As she was near the little library, she saw a man leaving a package. When Martha made it home looking around she saw her home as being full of old clutter. She decided to open the package. She found a old book with a small inscription to her from her dead Nana dating 1985. Nana died in 1982. Martha’s mind start reeling with all kinds of thoughts. There was a business card and a note with the package. Martha was so intrigued she read the book from cover to cover carefully for the age and condition of the book.
Will Martha contact the gentleman who left the book? What secrets will she find? Her Nana alive? If so why was Martha and her sister told she was dead. What family secrets will come to light on this journey? What did the stories her Nana put in the book remind her of?

This book takes you on a journey where Martha learns who she is, and how to let go of the past to start a new beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed this book…Happy reading.

Favorite Quotes:

Martha’s cheeks began to burn. If she touched them with a wet finger they might hiss.

“He said he liked your traumatic reading.” Martha hoped she meant dramatic reading.

“Is it true he was on board that fishing boat, that cat’s-eyed?” “Capsized?”

“We’ll just do a little trim,” Suki said. The bells on her ankle bracelet jingled as she circled Martha, peering into her hair as if she was looking for eggs in a large bird’s nest.

“Sometimes putting things to rest from your past can be catholic.” “Do you mean cathartic?”

I’m having a crustacean section next week.” “A cesarean?” … “The baby is lying in a beach position.” “Do you mean breach?”

My Review:

Ms. Patrick taunted me with her cunning and maddeningly paced story, I reviled this family - they were simply heinous. I enjoyed the cleverly placed use of the levity the amusing quirk of Suki’s poor auditory discrimination and confused vocabulary skills, which helped to counteract and ease the frustrating and prevalent miasma of angst and oppression. I deeply despised the selfish and abhorrent Machiavellian father as well as the mousy mother who allowed it – which was equally as vile, as was the manipulative and favored younger sister. I wanted to administer some foot to posterior therapy to those three. Yet, despite my irritation, I could not stop reading.

I adored Zelda, the colorful and unconventional Nana, although I had no pleasant thoughts for the rest of them - as they were all conniving and disingenuous conspirators. I was taut with tension and grinding my teeth, but I was invested and entrenched, and could not leave my Kindle for more than a few minutes.

I was impatient and greatly annoyed with the spineless main character of Martha for not only rolling over and allowing her continual subjugation but extended her servitude to every Tom, Dick, and Harry she knew. She permitted herself to be treated like a doormat and willingly gave her power away, which is an issue I have very little patience with. Yet, I could not walk away and leave her story hanging.

I was frustrated, bitterly antagonized, and fully vexed; yet I had to see where this aggravating tale was going. I was hooked, intrigued, and ruthlessly curious about a deeply buried thirty-year-old secret about Nana. I am delighted and pleased with myself now for sticking with it, as the last few chapters ushered in a totally unexpected, stoical, laconic, and quietly observant hero, as well as writing so poignant that my vision was inexplicably blurred and an odd wetness seemed to be leaking from my eyes while I simultaneously experienced an uncomfortable squeezing in my chest and the sensation of several hot rocks in my throat. What madness! This was my first experience of the unpredictably wily skills of Phaedra Patrick - she is a crafty one.

This story was a true gift to the reader. Martha feels invisible. She is always showing kindness to others with no recognition. Then one day she receives a book which has been inscribed by her grandmother, who Martha thought died years ago. Martha tackles the mystery and it changes her life.
This story had such a “feel good” quality to it. I really liked Martha and wanted her to be able to change her life.
Many thanks to Harlequin and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.