Grace Wheeler is stuck. She has the perfect life; job, home, fulfillment. But filial duty calls; she is needed by her orphaned niece and her foster mother, who is showing signs of dementia. The obvious thing to do would be to take them back to the city and resume life as usual, but with adjustments; however, she can’t do that because a sense of place—Dove Pond, North Carolina, where she has always lived--is what ties Mama G to what’s left of her real world. Also, there’s a house they can have there. When Grace proclaims loudly and often that she’s only staying for a year, we know right away that she will fall in love with Dove Pond and stay forever.

I like the cousin who owns the house that Grace, Mama G, and niece Daisy will live in, but she is with us for just a short time before she hops in her RV and drives away. Mentally I am standing on the curb shouting, “Come back! Come back!”

I read this book free and early thanks to Net Galley and Gallery Books. I read the first thirty percent, skimmed, and then read the last twenty-five percent.

Sarah Dove is the town librarian as well as a book whisperer. Books speak to her—literally—and they have decided they like the looks of Grace. Sarah is lonely, and when the books speak, she listens, and she pesters Grace relentlessly as she tries to befriend her. Ultimately it is the Trojan Horse in the form of Daisy that creates the connection Sarah desires. Daisy is going through a rough time and is grieving and acting out; she and Sarah bond over Little Women. (Insert eye roll here.) However difficult she may be, Daisy is actually quite clever, gifted even.

Ohhh goody. My eyes roll again. Fictional children are always so precocious, aren’t they?

Grace’s new next door neighbor, the bad boy on a motorcycle, as well as Sarah’s old flame, who’s come back around, create romantic side stories whose paths are clear from the get-go.

So here’s the thing. I confess that the cozy genre is not my main literary lane. Usually when I find a cozy series that works for me, other cozy reviewers just hate it because it’s too edgy. This story will make a lot of cozy readers very happy. It’s wholesome and has a soothing tone; the narrative voice is charming. I know there is an audience that will eat this up, and when I step away from this cozy banquet, I won’t be missed.

But for me, the story feels formulaic. If I can tell how the main story thread will go, and how some of the side business will turn out, by the ten percent mark, I’m not a fan. The one place I really connect is when the bad boy on the motorcycle gets his hair cut, and I am so sad, because I liked this character and now he’s ruined for me.

So for those of you that want a soothing, wholesome feel-good story you can read in a weekend, maybe this book is for you. If you aren’t sure, consider reading it free or cheap.

It’s for sale today.

Title: The Book Charmer
Author: Karen Hawkins
Publisher: Gallery Books
Series: Dove Pond #1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"The Book Charmer" by Karen Hawkins

My Rationalization:

I really enjoyed reading "The Book Charmer" for so many reasons. It has a little bit of it all from its charm to a touch of pure magic realism. All of the characters [Sarah, Grace, Daisy, Mama G, Trav to name a few] will give you a lift from one thing or thought to another as they intertwined with each other. With Sarah Dove having the gift that books speak to her where she 'places books and readers together' giving them out to the ones that need it. What will happen when this stranger Grace Wheeler comes to Dove Pond with her ailing foster mother and niece? For Grace will this be a just a temporary stopover or will it be a place for her to stop and smell the flowers that are truly there for her? What will the book tell Grace since Sarah books have never been wrong?

If you are looking for a charming delightful read with a little bit of it all from "magic, fun, heartwarming, heartbreaking romance, friendship, family drama, sister, cats, dogs, small town serious dilemma, foster parent, Alzheimer's, PTSD, and I am sure I have left out some more about this well-written story. This is where I say you will have to pick up "The Book Charmer" to get the whole enjoyable story.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an arc of this edition via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is such an engaging book drawing upon the difficulties that life can present to create a picture of how one can not only survive but create a better life. A sort of magic weaves its way into the relationship between Grace and Sarah. On is determined to leave her new home within a year; the other is determined to find a way that Grace will stay forever.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins
Starts out with Dove family and how things work in the town.
Others have moved on and some strange things occur and new neighbors move in years later.
Sarah runs the library and she knows her books will help others as she doles them out...
Grace is raising her deceased daughters child along with Mama G a woman who had fostered the two girls when she was younger-she now has Alzheimer's disease.
Grace left her big paying job to take town clerks position without knowing what all was involved-she's learning along the way about all the committees she's in charge of.
Like how we learn more about PTSD also as Travis suffers from it and is trying to overcome it...
Love all the tips about running the apple festival-such great ideas and with the whole town helping....
Amazing how things come together, magical even.

I have fallen in love with Dove Pond and her citizens, both old and new. Karen Hawkins brings this small North Carolina town and her inhabitants to vibrant life in this charming novel filled with humor, heart, a touch of magic (who among us wouldn't want the ability to converse with the books we love), and satisfying emotional depth. This story, and these characters, really spoke to my heart. This is the first of a series so expect some stage setting as well as introductions to several characters. Also, keep in mind that while the author's previous books were full-on romances, The Book Charmer is more contemporary fiction with a romantic thread. Expect the signature humor and heart that are intrinsic to Hawkins' other books but not as much focus on romance. There are the first tentative threads of a blossoming romantic relationship for Grace but the primary focus of this story is not on that romance. It's more about the inter-twining relationships among several characters, with Grace's family relationships and her new friendship with Sarah taking center stage. That friendship is the bedrock of this book and one that I enjoyed immensely. I'm looking forward to the continuation of their friendship, as well as the evolution of Sarah's romantic journey, as the series continues. And I'm excited for the stories to come for the other Dove sisters as well.

*I Received an advance review copy of the book from Gallery Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my

A charming story of the magical town of Dove Pond, where a book picks its reader and sometimes the flowers change colors. Hawkins does a wonderful job with the magic aspect and the lovable cast of eclectic characters. Just enough without overdoing it. A story of love, hope and second chances. I was a tiny bit disappointed with the ending. I had a smile on my face when I read the line “That’s that, for now” and I was quite happy that it looked like there would be more stories from Dove Pond. Then the page was turned and there was an Epilogue! The ending would have been so much better without the Epilogue. All in all a delightful book and I’m still holding out hope that there will be future books from Dove Pond!

What an adorable story! I had just finished reading a bunch of horror and psychological thriller books and needed a break. This book was the perfect solution! This book is one of those cute little stories with just a touch of the paranormal (I mean...the main character can talk to books...so...). I thought it was a great plot device and helped to move the story along. I love the idea of Dove Pond, I loved the main characters, I loved the main issue and the final resolution. This was just a wholesome, feel good book and exactly what I needed in that moment.

I absolutely recommend this book and I was so excited to realize that it's the first book in a series. You better believe I will be reading all of these ones!

The Book Charmer follows displaced city girl Grace to a sleepy town in the mountains of North Carolina, where she moves to better care for her elderly foster mother, Mama G, who has Alzheimer's disease. Grace's younger sister, Hannah, recently passed away, leaving Grace to care for Hannah's daughter, Daisy. In this charming mountain town called Dove Pond, we meet an interesting array of characters including Grace's new neighbor, Trav, who suffers from PTSD, and Sarah Dove, the town librarian who has the gift of communicating with books. Sarah is convinced that Grace is the one who can save Dove Pond from its economic downturn, but Grace is determined to only live in the town for one year and then return to her busy life in Charlotte, NC. The book follows Grace's transition to life in Dove Pond and all of the relationships she builds while there.

There are many things I loved about this book. First, I absolutely love the setting, especially because I live near where the fictional town of Dove Pond is located. This book is just filled with charm, from its characters, to the setting, to the warm love weaved throughout. I liked the characters and their development and would love to learn more about the Dove family and their special gifts (I'm sure they will be covered more in future books in the series). The story is bittersweet because of Mama G's condition, but it definitely rings true and authentic. My only criticism is that I wanted to learn more of Grace's backstory and life growing up with Mama G, and a few threads felt like they weren't tied up as nicely as I hoped they would be, but again, I am not sure what will be covered in future books in the series.

Overall, a wonderful, heartwarming story that is just as enticing as the gorgeous cover!

When I first started this book I wasn't too sure what to think; because of that, it took me forever to finish it. However, once I got into the book, understood the story and the characters, I simply could not get enough.



The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins was released yesterday, July 30th but I have been attempting to read it for the past few months, thanks to NetGalley. I finished it a few weeks ago and truthfully haven't been able to stop thinking about it.



What drew me to the book initially was that it was about books. I love when I read or watch something related to writing or to books; it makes me feel more connected to the plot and it brings me such an overwhelming sense of joy. Books make me happy, they always have. Books about books make me even happier.



"The Book Charmer" is so incredibly unique that you might have a hard time truly understanding what the book is about and what is happening in the town of Dove Pond but don't worry because once you throw yourself into the book, you'll understand immediately.



Publishers Summary:


Sarah Dove is no ordinary bookworm. To her, books have always been more than just objects: they live, they breathe, and sometimes they even speak. When Sarah grows up to become the librarian in her quaint Southern town of Dove Pond, her gift helps place every book in the hands of the perfect reader. Recently, however, the books have been whispering about something out of the ordinary: the arrival of a displaced city girl named Grace Wheeler.

If the books are right, Grace could be the savior that Dove Pond desperately needs. The problem is, Grace wants little to do with the town or its quirky residents—Sarah chief among them. It takes a bit of urging, and the help of an especially wise book, but Grace ultimately embraces the challenge to rescue her charmed new community. In her quest, she discovers the tantalizing promise of new love, the deep strength that comes from having a true friend, and the power of finding just the right book.



My Thoughts
Throughout the novel, you really get inside the mind of these characters. You're constantly switching back and forth between Sarah, Grace, and one of their neighbors, Trav, who becomes a main focal point of the book. While reading, you start to care for these characters, for Dove Pond, and for everyone to come together to save Dove Pond.



As stated above, the book starts out a little slow but you just have to power through and know that you are going to fall head over heels for it eventually if these types of book are your jam. If not, then you might be bored but you'll figure it out.



I have to say that this was one of the most magical books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I love the quirkiness, the voice of all the characters and the way the plot just seamlessly came together. Dove Pond reminds me a lot of Stars Hollow and the Gilmore Girls universe, with the unique band of characters the town has, and how everyone is always willing to lend a helping hand.



The Book Charmer is just pure happiness and it really is unlike anything I've ever read. It wasn't just fiction, it wasn't sci-fi, it wasn't about witches but in retrospect, it had a little bit of everything. How else could you explain that Sarah Dove could talk to books? Or that her sister was a wizard when it came to teas? There is something in Dove Pond but Karen Hawkins does a really great job at not really telling you outright, leaving the story open and your imagination wanting to run wild.



When I was finished with The Book Charmer, I felt whole but empty at the same time. After falling in love with Dove Pond and the entire plot I felt like I needed more. A quick Google search eased my mind because this is the first in the Dove Pond series from Karen Hawkins so safe to say, I cannot wait for book #2!



Will you pick up The Book Charmer? If you have read it, what did you think?



xoxo

B

A small North Carolina town welcomes a trio of females to their town: the new town clerk, her foster mom, and her niece. The overly friendly town librarian, Sarah, has a unique skill: books talk to her, telling her to whom they should be given. I loved this clever hook, which is the source of the title, but was disappointed that it isn't used to its fullest capacity. Instead, the story focuses on the new town clerk, Grace, and her complicated life. Pleasant read, but is as predictable as a Hallmark Christmas movie. Thanks to NetGalley for providing a preprint.

I LOVED this wonderfully charming and magical book, The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins, Dove Pond is a sleepy southern town where Sarah, a town librarian who can "talk" to books, lives and in one of the Dove Sisters, all of whom possess special "gifts". Grace, a businesswoman, becomes a neighbor of Sarah's when she moves to the town with her neice Daisy and Mama G, who is suffering from dementia. Grace is the newly appointed guardian of her neice after the tragic death of Daisy's mother.

Grace and Sarah become friends after Sarah learns from one of her books that Grace is the key to the town's improvement....Grace is reluctant to get close to anyone because she's got so much on her plate and is dealing with loss and a new start with her neice and Mama G, but she becomes drawn to the town and everyone who lives there. My heart went out to Grace, and I loved Sarah and all of the other characters!

This book really reminded me of Practical Magic, with it's sweetness and magic flair and is a fun, quick read!

4 out of 5 stars for The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins. Thank you to the author and the publisher, Gallery Books, for the opportunity to read and review this lovely book!

I have to admit that I requested Karen Hawkins’ latest novel The Book Charmer from Netgalley solely based on the beautiful cover and the fact that it was clearly a book about books. That combination was irresistible to me, even without having read the synopsis. Thankfully once I settled down and actually read the synopsis, I knew my instinct to select this book was a good one as it’s marketed as a book perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic and Alice Hoffman is one of my favorite authors.

I found The Book Charmer to be a truly magical read in every sense of the word, and although I feel like I could ramble about this book for days, I’m just going to share a few of the things I enjoyed most.


1. Dove Pond. I adore books that are set in small towns and the town of Dove Pond stole my heart right away. It’s a quaint little southern town located in North Carolina. It’s one of those little towns where all the residents know each other and make it their business to know about everyone new who comes to their town. They may seem like busybodies on the surface, but the residents will have your back in a heartbeat if you find yourself in trouble. And yes, the town has its fair share of quirky characters which sometimes made me chuckle, but the sense of community in Dove Pond was overall just truly heartwarming. It’s like one big happy family.

2. Grace Wheeler. The Book Charmer features fiercely independent women as its protagonists and Grace Wheeler is one of them. Grace has moved to Dove Pond and is just taking things day by day, trying to adjust to recent changes in her life that have left her as her niece Daisy’s primary caregiver and in a similar role for her foster mother, Mama G., who is suffering from dementia. The only reason Grace is in Dove Pond is because it’s where Mama G. grew up and doctors have told her that a familiar environment would help Mama G. cope with her deteriorating memories. I loved Grace right away because of her determination to put her family first at all costs and because of her sense of independence. She is determined to leave Dove Pond as soon as she possibly can and has no interest in putting down permanent roots there, including making friends. She just simply doesn’t have the time or energy to devote to that.

(As a side note, I also really appreciated how Hawkins handled writing about someone who is experiencing dementia – how it impacts them and how it impacts everyone around them. As someone who has a family member who is currently suffering from dementia, I found myself nodding my head at what was going on with Mama G. throughout the book. Hawkins handles this subject matter delicately and accurately).

3. Sarah Dove. While Grace is doggedly determined to leave Dove Pond as soon as possible, equally stubborn Dove Pond resident, Sarah Dove, has other ideas. Sarah is the town librarian, which of course endeared her to me right away, because…books! But I also adored Sarah because she was just so adorably quirky. She also has a special gift when it comes to books – I don’t want to say too much about it, but if you’re in Dove Pond and Sarah gives you a book, it’s definitely in your best interest to take it, whether you think you want to read it or not! Sarah also has a gift when it comes to knowing what Dove Pond needs and as soon as she meets Grace, she decides Dove Pond needs Grace. Sarah therefore makes it her mission to make Grace fall in love with the town and its residents.

4. Relationships. At its heart, The Book Charmer is a book about relationships. It has a strong focus on family, especially found families, and on the importance of friendships (whether you’re looking for them or not). And yes, for all of the romance fans out there, there is a hint of a romance in the book as well. I don’t want to say much about that either except to say that Trav, the male love interest, is described as looking like Khal Drogo from Game of Thrones Yes, please! (And you know I of course loved that this book had GoT references in it!)

5. Magical Realism. Sometimes magical realism is hit or miss for me, but it really works in this charming, special little town. This is where the comparison to Alice Hoffman’s books were so apt because Hawkins’ use of magical realism is subtle like Hoffman’s is and really gives you that feeling that those little magical elements could actually be possible.

*******

If you’re looking for a heartwarming read that features a small town setting, lovable characters, and a strong focus on family and friendships, I highly recommend adding Karen Hawkins’ The Book Charmer to your reading list.

Have you ever read a book that hooks you on the first word? You know that feeling that you’ve slipped into another world and are living with the characters, experiencing things with them as you read? That is how I felt reading The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins. The world, the characters, their plight….it was all real to me. A touch of whimsy mixed with the real world problems lays the foundation for this new tale. Centered around two women and their role in saving the town of Dove Pond, The Book Charmer is a perfect, cozy summer read.

The book introduces us first to Sarah Dove, the seventh daughter of the Dove family. It is said that good things happen to the town of Dove Pond when there are seven daughters in the Dove family. Each daughter has her own special gift, and Sarah’s is her ability to talk to books. The books tell her who needs to read them, and Sarah delivers them to those people. As the town librarian, she has access to all the books and most of the town’s residents. One day a book tells her that the town’s new resident Grace Wheeler will save the town, and Sarah’s job is to make sure she doesn’t leave.

Grace recently relocated to Dove Pond. My heart broke for her over and over again. Her sister died just a few months before her move, leaving her 9 year old niece in Grace’s custody. Their foster/adoptive mother has been diagnosed with dementia, which is what prompted the move. Mrs. Giano grew up in Dove Pond, and her doctors are hopeful that living somewhere familiar will help slow the progress of the disease and the confusion that comes with it. Grace is at her wits end. She hopes to stay in Dove Pond only temporarily, but fate has other plans. As the new town clerk, she uncovers that the town is drowning in debt and will soon die if something isn’t done. Grace together with Sarah comes up with a plan to hopefully save the town.

Sarah and Grace are complete opposites. I found myself laughing at times because they are so different. Grace doesn’t trust easily and is a very private person. Raised in foster care, she relies on herself and no one else. Sarah is an in-your-face kind of girl. She’s sweet, everyone loves her. She isn’t used to being ignored which Grace excels at doing. It’s interesting to read their interactions and see how it plays out.

In addition to the friendship, there is a love interest. It isn’t the main focus of the story, but it is there and a few of the chapters are from his perspective. Trav is a former military man, injured in the line of duty. He moved back to Dove Pond a few years before Grace. His father passed away after battling dementia, so he is a help to Grace with Mama G. Their relationship is strained, but sweet to read as it evolves into something with possibility.

Overall I really enjoyed The Book Charmer. It is charming as the title suggests. The whimsy, the small-town charm, and the friendships make this book. If you enjoy women’s fiction and contemporary romance with a lot of heart, I highly recommend it.

Dove Pond is a special town, quirky and magical. The Dove sisters are all thought to have a different "gift" that allows them to help the town thrive. Sarah Dove has the ability to choose books for people just when they need them because the books talk to her.

When Grace arrive in the struggling town with her niece and Mama G, Sarah is convinced she will save Dove Pond from it's recent downturn. First, though, they must make Grace want to help.

With a unique set of characters and an interesting premise, this book is charming and whimsical. It is a perfect feel-good read!

The Book Charmer
Karen Hawkins


Buy This Book
The Book Charmer is a story about a quirky Southern borough filled with eccentric characters and bizarre happenstance which the locals label magic. Fans of droll small town stories will find a lot to love here.

Our tale begins in 2001, when Sarah Dove discovers books can talk. She isn’t completely surprised; after all, she still believes in Santa and the Easter Bunny and she loves books, so why wouldn’t they speak to her? Also, as the seventh daughter of the magical Dove family, she’s been expecting to discover a special talent since birth.

“Every chance their mom got, she proudly pointed out that when the Doves had seven daughters, as they did now, good things happened to their hometown of Dove Pond.”

Sarah’s not sure just how her gift will help the community but she knows that someday her magic will bless the people and city she loves.

While Sarah is busy discovering magic, Grace Wheeler is discovering the art of heartache. Being a foster kid hasn’t worked out very well for her. The “red frost” that drifts above her head means she never has good control of her temper and the end result is that she and her sister have been bounced from foster home to foster home. She’s given one last chance to let the system work and be placed in a family situation with her sibling before she’s sent to a group home. Fortunately, she winds up with Mama G, a lady who sees “the cold mist that followed her” and promises to help dispel it.

Fast forward eighteen years and Grace finds herself back in a difficult situation. After excelling at college and making an excellent living as a financial analyst, she’s had to quit her job to become a full time parent to her niece Daisy and part time care-giver to Mama G, who has Alzhemier’s. Moving to the small town of Dove Pond is a temporary solution to her long term problem. Once she has enough money saved, she intends to take everyone back to Charlotte with her and then get her life back on track.

Fate has other plans, though. The books at the library where she works assure Sarah that Grace is the answer to the dying town’s fiscal difficulties, which is all Sarah needs to spur her to make a friend of the new town clerk. With a bit of coaxing and cajoling Sarah is able to convince Grace to rescue their community. Which actually proves to be the salvation of Grace, for as she struggles to heal her family and preserve her new home town, she discovers the power of friendship, love and the magic that can only be found in a really good book.

The Book Charmer is primarily about Grace’s character growth and how she discovers the joy and charm of small town living. Initially, Grace is your classic fictional career woman – driven, focused, materialistic and somewhat clueless about the humans around her. She loves Mama G and Daisy but doesn’t really know how to talk or interact with them. The denizens of the town, especially Sarah and the other ladies of The Dove Pond Social Club, give her homespun advice, soothing (magical) teas, and emotional support, which – along with a copy of Little Women – slowly help her to realize that all she really wants is “a close family, friends, a simple but full life.” Once she realizes that, her pesky plans to go back to a high pressure job in the city fall by the wayside.

Another person who helps Grace understand her life goals will never be met anywhere but Dove Pond is Travis Parker. He lives next door to her, and initially this serves as a concern. He’s a motorcycle riding, gruff mechanic who looks like Khal Drogo and hardly seems the kind of man who would be a good neighbor for a heartbroken little girl and a confused elderly woman. Fortunately, appearances prove to be very deceiving here, since Travis had been the caretaker for his father, who suffered from dementia in his last years. Travis’ experience with mental illness proves to be a boon as he helps Mama G through several Alzehmeir’s fugues and his brusque demeanor actually seems to be a balm to Daisy’s wounded soul. Towards the very end of the novel, he and Grace begin dating, something which thrills their friends and family who have believed they’d be perfect for each other all along.

Daisy and Mama G are both pretty stock characters for this type of story. Daisy, whose mother left her to be raised by Mama G since infancy, is at first belligerent and angry. She misses her mom but doesn’t really understand why, since her mom was never around. The stress as a result of Mama G’s illness and not understanding exactly what it is cause her to lash out a bit at Grace. Grace had always been a visitor in her life, never before a caretaker, so her fear that Grace will also abandon her makes a lot of sense. As the story progresses, the Dove Pond community works its charm on Daisy and she is able to make friends, and accept that Grace is there to stay.

Mama G is, in her lucid moments, the wise old woman of the tale. She gives Grace sage advice and serves as a catalyst in her relationship with Travis. Mama G’s illness is depicted extremely well and watching her struggles with it are the most realistic and touching elements of the story.

Sarah, Grace’s best friend and an important inhabitant of Dove Pond, was the most difficult part of the story for me. Her magic seems to be more of a deux ex machina than a real ability, and the citizenry of her community are far too accepting of the Dove’s family special-ness to be anywhere near realistic. I’m a big fan of fantasy, urban fantasy and magical realism, but the magical elements of the tale detract from it rather than add to it. They just aren’t written with any acknowledgment of what life would be like for a person who actually possessed magical abilities. Additionally, Sarah’s interactions with Blake, the town sheriff and her future love interest, are infantile and I lost what little interest I had in her as a character after a particularly painful moment when he was asking her about his role in an important festival she was helping to chair and all she could do was swoon and imagine kissing him while he was trying to get the information he needed.

The Book Charmer is one of those books written for a very particular audience. For fans of small town stories and women’s fiction tales that concentrate on the heroine’s growth arc it will be a very enjoyable read.

I couldn't help but choose this book for its title and its cover. Any fellow bibliophile would do the same. The title definitely lived up to its name. If forced to describe it with only one word, charming would be fitting. The town of Dove Pond and all of its quirky residents were easy to fall in love with. It's so nice to read a book where you actually like all of the characters--where there really isn't a villain to hate. But maybe that was the reason that I didn't completely fall for this book--it was almost too sweet.

I found myself speed-reading through the second half of the book because I had essentially become bored with the characters. There wasn't much action to speak of which made the story fall flat for me. It is certainly a quick read and at times an enjoyable story, but there are parts of the story and certain characters I found myself wanting more from. It started out so strong and I was excited to see where the story was headed, but ultimately was disappointed.

I liken it to a beautiful cherry pie--it looks and smells delicious and each bite is so sweet, but there isn't much inside. The inside is a little runny--nothing there to thicken it up. Yes, you're enjoying the pie, but it isn't the best pie you've ever eaten and your not sure exactly what it is but there's something missing. For these reasons, I'm giving THE BOOK CHARMER 3 stars--good but not great, sweet but a little hollow.

Grace left her high paying job in Charlotte for a small town called Dove Pond, with her niece and foster mother in tow. Her foster mother, Mama G, has developed Alzheimer's and needs more care, plus the relocation to her old home might help delay the inevitable. Grace is also now the guardian of her eight year old niece, because her mother has just passed away a few months ago. A fresh start should be what everyone needs, but the surly child has no desire to make friends with anyone but the gruff next-door neighbor with PTSD and a Harley, who Grace thinks resembles Khal Drogo. And Grace despises her new job as town clerk where years’ worth of paperwork lies waiting to be input into a new computer system. Another neighbor, Sarah Dove, keeps coming by to try to befriend Grace. What she doesn't yet know is that Sarah has a magic ability to know what book a person is going to need before they do, because they speak to her. She's not only the town librarian, but a book charmer. And the town’s oldest journal has just insisted that Grace and her family staying are the key to helping the dying town survive.

Very much like Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells or First Frost or The Sugar Queen but with a more bookish bent and a twist on saving the town’s dying businesses. The Book Charmer is a cozy romance set in a small community where families are destined to follow certain patterns, but each with their own magic twist. It’s the perfect read for fans of books, small towns, magic, and romantic comedies.

This book isn’t quite as exciting or engrossing as Sarah Addison Allen’s books, and sometimes feel to be a bit of a slower, more watered-down version of those books, especially since much of the story occurs pre- or post- interesting action. All the juicy parts you want to read in real time are being narrated as past tense, and while this is obviously done to draw out the climax and increase interest, too much of it makes the book become flat and tiresome. But overall a good read for those mentioned above, especially fans of Hallmark-style romantic comedies.

A small town story with a little magic realism. One important part of a story for me is the characters. I have to care for them in order for me to enjoy a story and I am happy to say that I really enjoyed the set of characters in the small town of Dove Pond. The story is well written with a small plot which is still interesting. I really found this to be a quick and enjoyable read.

The Book Charmer is about the small town of Dove Pond and it's close knit community. It's a everyone knows everyone and everything kind of place. Sarah Dove comes from a long line of Dove's who founded the town. Their family is said to bring good luck and each member has a bit of something extraordinary. Sarah, the town librarian, hears books talk. They tell her what books a person needs and she makes sure they receive them. A librarian who can hear books talk is what drew me to The Book Charmer. I am not wholly decided on if the story is reflected in the title since I find myself wanting more of the talking books in the narrative.

Dove Pond is in financial trouble but it is not Sarah who is slated to save it. However, she knows who will. Grace Wheeler is an uprooted city girl who moves into the town temporarily with her foster mother and niece. She becomes an unwilling participant in the town's survival efforts.

Due to the story being told from three perspectives you don't get much of the books talking aspect. That aside it was a cute quick read. I loved Dove Pond even though some of its residents are mighty pushy! I am looking at you Sarah!

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for an e-arc of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review. Cleverly written tale about a girl who can hear books talk! Wonderfully written prose with fun, interesting characters that keep you turning the pages to "The End". Enjoy! 📚