The Bookshop of Secrets is a very well written book. Great plot, characters and setting. Love bookstores and this one is fantastic. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

This book grabbed me from the beginning especially the fact that Hope had been in the foster care system as a child. I wanted to cheer for her to have connections with people and those who would love her for who she is. The added bonus of her loving books was icing on the cake. I loved the characters of Ronan, Ulysses and Mags. This was a great read and a definite page turner!



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

What reader doesn’t enjoy a dusty old bookshop and a mystery? Author Molly Rushmeyer’s debut will have you looking for your own Dusty Bookshop to wander in.

Hope has a lot of healing to work through and that doesn’t happen easily. Ronan is dealing with his own need for healing. Can they help each other? The author doesn’t shy from tough subjects such as alzheimer’s and human trafficking, but handles them carefully. Just be aware in case of triggers.

I think Rushmeyer did a bit too much of telling us what was happening instead of showing us, but for a debut she did a good job of writing characters you’ll cheer for. Give it a read. You’ll be glad you did.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

This book had a good story line. The characters were good. A woman who has been victimized in the worst way. Holly. A man whose dad has belittled him. Ronan. Holly is on the search for the books her mother had left for her when she died. Holly was only a child at the time. As she searches, she runs into all kinds of obstacles. Holly has given herself only two months to find the books at the bookstore where she works. Then its time for her to move on as she doesn't stay in any one place long.

The book seemed to drag to me. When things were happening, I was interested. Then it would start to drag, and I would lose interest and find myself skimming. There was too much soul searching that was going on over and over again.

I was given this book by Love Inspired Trade via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Things I enjoyed:
*Lots of book quotes & book titles mentioned in story
*Religious principles woven throughout story.
*The mystery of finding the books and solving the puzzles and riddles in the scavenger hunt.
*The family & friends Hope found in Wanishin Falls.
*The way Hope and Ronan worked together because of their similarities.
*Lots of action in story.
*How the author described life after having a traumatic experience and how the memory and pain become a part of who you are

Despite all the heavy subjects woven into the story, I enjoyed the story very much. The only thing that bothered me was that the journal entries weren't really distinguished between the storyline. Sometimes that got a bit confusing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Book Review

““But give me a book aged to perfection in one hand, a cup of hot oolong tea in the other, and I’ll be there till the sun turns cold…”

Unpopular opinion: I’m not a Hallmark love story fan. Don’t come at me 😅 But this Love Inspired book is a must read for both bibliophile and Hallmark movie lovers, featuring an idyllic bookstore, a restored lighthouse, and a quest for hidden family treasure cloaked in secrecy.
Meet Hope Sparrows, an orphan searching for the books her mother left her, and Ronan Barrick, a local with scars and a family history he’s trying to overcome. Can they find the missing books and clear his family’s name without sharing too much of their hidden past?

I picked this ARC from NetGalley (in exchange for an honest review) purely by the cover alone and I don’t regret it!

Let’s hear it in the comments: What’s your favorite love story of all time?

#bookreview #bookreviews #loveinspired #lovestory #smalltown #netgalley #booklady

Interesting mystery based on family secrets, I was invested in Hope and her journey from the start, and drawn in more and more at each twist and turn!

Let me start by saying this isn't my typical read BUT I didn't know that until I started it.

I anticipated contemporary literature featuring family legacy and secrets with the added fun of a treasure hunt and, while there were definitely aspects of that, what I found was a bit more Hallmark-ish style romance.

What worked for me:
*the treasure hunt component was fun and partly what kept me going through the story.
*Ulysses and Meg. Their characters were just so well done and endearing. You'd have to be cold hearted not to love them.
*the small town setting, complete with local lore and a lighthouse.
* the friendships and support that grew throughout the story. I love the community feel, the friendships, and would love a little more of that in my life. It felt compelling and attractive.

What I struggled with:
*I'm not sure how I would have done it differently but the romance felt to expected for me but I'm not much of a romance reader. If you like Hallmark style romances, I bet this wouldn't be your complaint.
* Both main characters - Hope and Ronan - were broken individuals. That's what makes the story, right? At times, though, it felt like a competition of who was more broken. For example, Ronan's big struggle was the accident in which he lost his leg. That's a big deal. It felt a bit "extra" when talk of his ex-fiance became a part of his story, especially when it wasn't really used to impact the story being told.
* While this is a Christian book, I felt like the references to faith and God came off as preachy rather than being natural. The truths they talk about were definitely fitting for the story and to the characters, it just didn't feel natural.

This was a new author for me and she's now on my list of favorites. I loved this book. Wonderful story and great characters. Looking forward to more by this author.

From the moment I read the title of this book, I was drawn in. 'Bookshop', 'secrets'? Oh yes, this seemed right up my alley. Right way as I began to read, I was drawn into this story with it's captivating characters. It was beautifully written and so full of emotion and I found myself wanting to read on. It touched on some really tough topics, and at points wasn't an easy one to read for that reason.

Unfortunately, a little over halfway through reading this one, I found myself dealing with my own emotional issues. As such, I found I had to step away from this one for a bit, not because of anything against the story itself, just finding myself not in the proper headspace for this story. What I had read was absolutely fantastic, just not what I needed at that moment. I look forward to going back and finishing up this fascinating story once I'm in a better place to do so! Overall, this was a beautifully written story and one that I'd certainly recommend.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

I adored this book! The characters were so endearing and there was enough mystery to keep my interest throughout. I loved how the author wove in a love of books- perfect for nerdy readers like me! I give this book a hearty five stars!

Hope and Ronan, the perfect couple...I like to read any books that deal with bookshops or libraries and this one did not disappoint. Hope starts out as a character that you are unsure of, but Mollie Rushmeyer slowly unfolds Hope's story and you find yourself trying to discover Hope's secret. When Rushmeyer reveals Hope's secret, it leaves you shly unsure of your own feelings as you realize that there are many Hope's out there. Hope and Ronan and the mystery of Wanishim Falls is a wonderful story. I really enjoyed watching Hope and Ronan discover their inner strength and how they start to care for one another. This is a really great book!

The Bookshop of Secrets is an emotional and heart-warming book about family, friends, and forgiveness.

As many of you know by now, I am a sucker for any book that takes place in a bookshop. I stumbled upon this book on NetGalley and knew I needed to read it. I hadn’t realized that this book was a romance with a focus on faith and God. Not something you would know from its description. I didn’t mind all the religious references in this book; I felt it fit really nicely with the story. But I should let readers know that if you don’t like books that deal with religion, then, The Bookshops of Secrets isn’t for you.

Overall, I loved this story, it tugs at your heartstrings at just those right moments, and the romance between Hope and Ronan is slow and sweet. Mollie’s writing has tremendous emotional depth, and the characters in this book feel so real and raw. I just felt connected to them and wanted to learn more about them. Even though this is a religious romance, the story and the characters are far from that stereotypical idealistic charming image that often graces romance stories. They all have backstories that are tragic or horrific. The story itself has some dark moments that just stay with you. On that note, I should let you know that there are some triggers around abuse, both sexual and physical, in this story. There is nothing graphic in this book, but the topic of abuse is talked about quite a bit.

Please don’t think this book is all doom and gloom because it isn’t. There are plenty of those charming and heartwarming moments, moments of emotional and spiritual healing, and plenty of literary references that any bookworm will love. I found everything was well-balanced, and I loved the mystery around this hidden treasure.

Hope is one of the characters that just sticks with you. There is a quiet strength to her character that you can’t help but be drawn to. I loved watching Hope interact and slowly open up to the people living in Wasishin Falls. Her journey isn’t easy, and it takes a lot of support from friends, Ronan, and God to help her heal. Ronan has plenty of the qualities that many main male romance characters have, but there is this uniqueness to him that makes him stand out. I don’t know if it’s his past experiences or his faith, but I really just like him. He fit just so well with Hope and the story.

The Bookshop of Secrets is a story that will touch your heart.

Mollie Rushmeyer's debut novel is an unforgettable look at how God shines a light into the dark places and allows hope to rise. She took a subject that many would avoid and gave voice to hurt and pain in such a way that it's impossible not to love this story. Hope is the essence of her name, though she struggles to see herself as anything less than a broken mess. When she sets out with Ronan to find her books, she has no idea what she's about to encounter, or uncover. I loved the depth of this book and how relatable the characters were. Hope could easily have been a bitter, broken soul, but she never quit moving toward finding her own place, no matter where it might be. Ulysses and Mags were the icing on the cake and added some of my favorite moments in the book. Five stars. All the way. I received a copy of this book from the author through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Debut author Mollie Rushmeyer has written a story that was engaging, full of secrets, both of the past and present with a bookish theme.

Hope Sparrow returns to her family’s past, she is determined to find some books that her late mother left for her. They promised a treasure which will give her a fresh start she desperately needs. Hope is running from the past, from a situation she had no control over, that has left her with internal scars, making it hard for her to trust or connect with anyone. But coming to a close knit community doesn't help.

The Bookshop of Secrets is a story of new beginnings, healing the past while at the same time healing in present day. This isn’t just Hope's story, but also of other residents in this town of Wanishin Falls. There have been tragic events in the past that have left scars and hurt feelings for many residents.

This is the author's debut and I think she is off to a great start with a story that was engaging, heartfelt and full of hope. It is Christian fiction that was realistic and authentic. Definitely one I recommend.

My thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

I thought the plot was interesting from the very start. A girl with a scarred past who wants to fade into the background and not set down roots for fear of being hurt again, comes to a new town where she needs the help of others to accomplish her goals before she can pick up and leave again. The author hinted at a treasure, and a treasure hunt. So much of the book had me turning the pages to read more. While the romance was predictable, I didn't see how all the characters were connected until the very end. The author did a great job of weaving a story and family trees so we didn't see every twist and turn coming, only a few little ones perhaps. I did call who the "bad guy" was about mid way through the book, but I will save that for you to find out when you read the book. I love books and reading so I also enjoyed all the famous book references and the fact that they made being a "book nerd' sound like something you want to be, which I think it is! I really enjoyed it and read it in only a handful of days!

Hope Sparrow has mastered the art of outrunning her tragic past, learning never to stay anywhere too long and never to allow anyone control over her life again. Coming to Wanishin Falls in search of her family's history has her on edge, but somewhere in the towering stacks of this dusty old bookshop are the books that hold Hope's last ties to her late mother—and to a rumored family treasure that could help her start over. Only, the bookshop is in shambles, and the elderly owner is in the beginning stages of dementia and can’t remember where the books lie. To find the last links to the loved ones she's lost, Hope must stay and accept help from the townsfolk to locate the treasured volumes. Each secret she uncovers brings her closer to understanding where she came from, but the longer she stays in Wanishin Falls, the more people find their way into the cracks in her heart.

This is the first book I have read by this author but was intriqued by the title and decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did. I love the Christian references in the book which slowly relaxes the heart and mind of the main character. The book is a good example of how someone can overcome their past with the help of friends who love her and are patient with her. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this wonderful story. I highly recommend and will be looking for more books by this author.

⚠️ TW: Many mentions of human trafficking.

About this book:

“A collection of lost books holds the clues to her family's legacy…and her future.
Hope Sparrow has mastered the art of outrunning her tragic past, learning never to stay anywhere too long and never to allow anyone control over her life again. Coming to Wanishin Falls in search of her family's history already feels too risky. But somewhere in the towering stacks of this dusty old bookshop are the books that hold Hope's last ties to her late mother—and to a rumored family treasure that could help her start over.
Only, the bookshop is in shambles, and the elderly owner is in the beginning stages of dementia and can’t remember where the books lie. To find the last links to the loved ones she's lost, Hope must stay and accept help from the townsfolk to locate the treasured volumes. Each secret she uncovers brings her closer to understanding where she came from. But the longer she stays in the quaint town, the more people find their way into the cracks in her heart. And letting them in may be the greatest risk of all…”


Series: Part of the ‘Love Inspired’ book line, but does not seem to be connected to any other book.


Spiritual Content- Proverbs 31:25 at the beginning; Scriptures are quoted, mentioned, read, referenced, & discussed/thought over; Prayers & Thanking God; Singing ‘Amazing Grace’; Many talks about God, trusting Him, hearing Him, feeling broken, & why bad things happen; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Hope doesn’t trust God after everything that’s happened and feels abandoned by Him, but tries praying and talking to God, asking for healing *Spoiler* [She realizes towards the end that what happened to her wasn’t something God did, but the evil in the world did *End of Spoiler* (hide spoiler)]; Ronan thinks that God has been quiet while his failures are loud in his head; Many mentions of God & trusting Him; Mentions of prayers, praying, & thanking God; Mentions of churches, church going, services, sermons, pastors, a couple being called to ministry, & youth groups; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, & those and events in the Bible; A few mentions of gospel music & hymns; A couple mentions of blessings; A mention of a life-sized nativity scene;
*Note: Mentions of a family’s curse & how everyone in town views them differently because of it (Ronan struggles with this *Spoiler* (view spoiler); A couple mentions of legends about a ghost; A mention of living in hell for ten years (Hope).


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, two ‘idiot’s, and six ‘stupid’s; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Being held at gunpoint & threatened (barely-above-not-detailed); Falling into water & being afraid (because Hope can’t swim, twice, semi-detailed); Pain, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (barely-above-not-detailed); Fires & Rescuing someone (up to semi-detailed); Saving someone from drowning & doing CPR (semi-detailed); Hope has a panic attack & recalls someone choking her and pulling her hair (semi-detailed); Hope thinks she is broken & not able to give or receive love (this is due to her captor’s years of abuse, which she knows that she shouldn’t believe his words at all, but still echoes in her mind); Negative thoughts enter Hope’s mind and try to discourage and belittle her; Ronan thinks he isn’t a whole man after losing a limb in an accident & beats himself up over a co-worker’s death (he thinks he should have been the one to die); Mentions of an accident that caused a death & Ronan losing a limb (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Mentions of Hope’s mother’s death from ovarian cancer; Mentions of being held at gunpoint (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of fires, smoke, & someone being trapped in a fire (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of someone almost drowning (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of panic attacks, PTSD, and Hope’s panic over meeting new people; Mentions of beatings & Hope receiving burns and scars for not listening to her trafficker (barely-above-not-detailed);Mentions of vandalism, graffiti, leaving something stinky in a bully’s locker, stealing, break-ins, robberies, & thieves; Mentions of shipwrecks, pirates, & stealing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of trafficked women being used for petty crimes (theft, forgery, & drug possession); Mentions of con-artists, blackmail, & cheating others; Mentions of bullies & being bullied (including Hope being bullied by other foster kids and pushing her into a pool when she can’t swim; Hope says they didn’t know what to do with their anger at their birth parents for abandoning them and they took it out on her); Mentions of alcohol; Mentions of cigarettes, cigars, & smoking; Mentions of lies, lying, & deceit; Mentions of rumors; A few mentions of those who drowned (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of a man being beaten by a group of other men & their plan to hold him for ransom or as a slave; A few mentions of drugs, drug dealers, & women using drugs to cope with a terrible situation; A few mentions of a young man being thrown from a horse and suffering a traumatic brain and spinal cord injury (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of nightmares; A couple mentions of an unwanted tattoo; A mention of the Great Depression; A mention of a possible burglar; A mention of a husband leaving his wife after a miscarriage; A mention of throwing up; A mention of a rabbit being caught in a snare;
*Note: A side character (Ronan’s grandfather) has dementia & we see many parts of him popping in and out of varying degrees of cognizance; Many, many mentions of classic books, characters, & authors; Mentions of songs & artists; Mentions of a brand names (Converse shoes, Ford, Honda, Coke, & Crock-Pot); A couple mentions of celebrities (Gordon Ramsay & Fred Astaire).


Sexual Content- Two palm/hand kisses, a forehead kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, and three semi-detailed kisses (including one that ends with Hope’s body panicking); Wanting to kiss (not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Electricity/Tingles, Warmth, & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to touch & embrace (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes & Winks; Noticing (including a guy’s muscles, barely-above-not-detailed); A slight spoiler, but an important part of this book is that Hope is a human trafficking survivor (an older man convinced 15-year-old Hope that he loved her and to run away with him (telling her sweet words, giving her gifts, and she ignored the red flags about him), but played her and imprisoned her with two dozen other girls; the only details mentioned about what happened are that he sold her body to anyone willing to pay for it, that men used her to satisfy their lust, all of the hands touching her, and she was beaten and abused every day for ten years; Hope was told by those at the women’s shelter (for women who were imprisoned and violated “at the hands of their vile captors and their patrons”) that it wasn’t her fault and that she had nothing to be ashamed of, but she still feels like there’s grime coating her; A few mentions of the young women Hope was with losing the light in their eyes and some of them disappearing; At one point, Hope feels like Ronan was being possessive of her in front of another man and it scares and annoys her, but he was just trying to protect her from a creep); Hope flinches or panics whenever someone tries to touch her due to past trauma (her brain is used to telling her that physical touch hurt, even when it didn’t and she has to tell her brain to stay calm in such cases); Hope doesn’t like the idea of marriage or relationships in general because of her past and doesn’t know what she could offer a man emotionally, spiritually, and physically because of her PTSD and panic attacks when kissed or touched; Mentions of Hope getting a creep vibe from a slimy man & then him suggesting other forms of paying for an item she wants (suggestive tone with innuendos); Mentions of boyfriends, girlfriends, dates, & exes; A handful of mentions of a (historical) woman meeting alone with a man at night and possibly being sold into human trafficking; A few mentions of Hope thinking that men will want something from her in exchange for helping her; A couple mentions of domestic violence; A couple mentions of kisses; A couple mentions of flirting; A mention of a woman thought to be a soiled woman (historical setting); A mention of a woman’s laugh that Hope thinks must have made men drool; Love, falling in love, & the emotions.
*Note: A man asks if Hope is Ronan’s “significant other, wife?” then adds “Maybe I’m a little behind in this politically correct world. No intention to offend you.” but his tone says the opposite; A couple mentions of a miscarriage & a woman unable to have children of her own; A couple discussions between Hope and Ronan about chivalry and Ronan believing that women aren’t the weaker gender, but deserve respect; A mention of a bosom friend.

-Hope Sparrow
-Ronan Barrick
P.O.V. switches between them
352 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars

{ Possibly triggering for those sensitive to human trafficking, panic attacks, and/or PTSD}

Every Love Inspired book I’ve picked up over the years have been cheesy, but typically a cute, easy read. So that’s what I was expecting with this book as well, a light-hearted cozy mystery that focused more on the romance than the mystery parts. That makes it sound like I had the bar set low for this book, but, yes, I guess I technically did because I wasn’t expecting much from it.

“The Bookshop of Secrets”, however, was so not that. There was such a depth to this book that I wasn’t expecting at all. There were hard hitting topics like human trafficking and PTSD but also a lot of faith content and trying to trust God after feeling abandoned by Him. And that’s what made the book feel hopeful even as our main characters are struggling so much to keep breathing and their head above the water. It was that faith content and raw, realistic conversations about God and trusting Him even after terrible things happen that made me keep reading, even though human trafficking is a hard topic for me to read about. But because of the faith content, that’s what made this book feel like there was hope in the story and healing was to come for these characters, which is why I’ve given it a three-star rating for my personal rating.

While I suppose this could be considered a spoiler, it’s revealed shortly into the story, and I believe it’s very important to know as a trigger warning: Hope is a human trafficking survivor. I truly appreciate that the author didn’t go into the details of what Hope went through, but yet at the same time, having Hope’s reactions to different things and her questions in regard to why God would “abandon her” during that time. This book could be trigger for those who have been in similar situations, but I could also see those who are struggling about God after such events feel relatable to Hope’s emotions and maybe even help with healing their own hearts.

I do wish the back-cover blurb would have shared about this important element of the story, though, as a warning for those sensitive to this topic and for younger readers that may pick up this book, expecting a cozy mystery.




*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review.

Hope is finally ready to start again after a long painful past. She heads to Wanishin Falls, Minnesota in order to find books left to her by her mother. When she enters the bookshop Dusty Jackets, she meets Ulysses and Margaret Barrick. Ulysses is in the beginning stages of dementia and does not remember the books Hope is looking for. She agrees to work for them and search for her books while helping organize the book shop. She also meets Ulysses grandson Ronan who has his own struggles. Will she let Ronan help her find her books and the lost treasure her mom used to speak about?

This story starts slow but builds up quickly leading you on a tale of mystery, adventure, and love.

Trigger warning- sex trafficking and abuse is discussed in this book
#TheBookshopofSecrets #NetGalley

Treasure Hunts and Hidden Secrets
This is a wonderful story with heavy Christian faith elements. Hope has led a traumatic life and is scarred inside and out. On her trip to small-town Minnesota, she hopes to recover some books her mom willed to her. But she finds so much more. There are so many layers to this story; family, friends, love, healing, trust, and faith. This is women's fiction at its finest. I hope to read more of this author's work.