Amos Darby, the son of a tenant farmer has been best friends with Charlotte, the daughter of an earl since childhood, however, before their friendship can develop into anything more, Amos goes to war and Charlotte marries a future Earl. When Amos returns home from war traumatized by what he witnessed and experienced he opens a bookstore and retreats into his books while Charlotte has been made a widow by the war. She manages her late husband’s estate, raises a daughter and eventually opens a bookstore in Coventry, Eden Books – named after her daughter and becomes a rival bookseller to Amos. By the time WWII arrives, so does a lawsuit brought by an American lawyer that could take everything that Charlotte and her daughter have worked to save.

I enjoyed this fast-paced, heartfelt book. I have read other historical fiction about the bombing of Coventry and this was what intrigued me about this book to begin with. I think the author did a good job of researching this historical event and in my opinion, the book speaks to her historical accuracy. The main characters are likeable and it was a very enjoyable read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson publishers for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

4.5 Stars

The British Booksellers is a heartwarming second-chance romance and a page-turning story of surviving the Coventry Blitz during WWII.

A secret childhood friendship between a tenant farmer’s son and an earl’s daughter blossoms into teenage infatuation until the Great War intervenes. Amos goes to war and Charlotte enters into a loveless marriage. Fast forward twenty-five years and Amos is the reclusive owner of a bookstore and Charlotte, a war widow, owns a competitive bookshop across the street. A solicitor arrives in town and threatens the existence of Charlotte’s bookstore. Amos tries to help from a distance, but and he and Charlotte no longer have a close relationship. When WWI arrives on their doorsteps via the Coventry Blitz, the community including Amos and Charlotte must work together and put differences aside to help Coventry survive.

The British Booksellers is told mainly from the points of view of three major characters: Amos, Charlotte, and Eden (Charlotte’s daughter). With the complicated backstory and a dual timeline, I don’t think that Eden’s point of view benefits the story. I think two main points of view would have been sufficient. Eden’s part didn’t add that much and could have been incorporated with Charlotte’s. This is just my personal opinion and didn’t affect my overall rating.

This story is not a case of two timelines colliding or intersecting. The past timeline (WWI) is interwoven with the present timeline (WWII) like flashbacks and allows us to fully appreciate the situation in which our main characters find themselves. It takes some time to unravel Charlotte’s and Amos’ history and how they ended up as rival booksellers. Why are they estranged? Why are they competitors? What broke their friendship? What happened to their childhood dream of opening a bookshop together? If the two timelines were laid out in chronological order it would tell one complete story. I liked the structure.

Although it might appear so at first, there are no villains here. I enjoyed each character’s arc. The real villain is war (and perhaps the class system!).

One major theme is PTSD. It’s always tragic to realize that WWI and WWII veterans had so little mental health support.

Other thoughtful themes include class differences, friendship, childhood friendship, community, competition, wartime conditions on the homefront, second-chance romance, loyalty, physical injuries, and mental health.

Content Consideration: PTSD, battlefield conditions, bombing

I’m recommending The British Booksellers for fans of compelling and well-told historical fiction with relatable characters and multilayered plots. The war portions are not overly graphic and there is no profanity. The romance is sweet and the friendships are dear. An overall great read that book clubs might enjoy.

Thanks @AustenProse #AustenProsePR @ThomasNelson #NetGalley for a complimentary e ARC of #TheBritishBooksellers upon my request. All opinions are my own.

I love when authors focus on the lesser known parts of history like Kristy Cambron’s latest, The British Booksellers, where she writes about the “Forgotten Blitz” bombings that decimated the English town of Coventry in 1940. With amazing historical details and an enduring love story, I couldn’t put this book down!

The London Blitz is underway, but the Luftwaffe bombers also have their sights set on factories in the countryside. The Holt estate is caught near the crosshairs of the bombings as its residents, Lady Charlotte and her daughter Eden, try to protect their home and the people around them, including a mysterious young American lawyer. They also own a bookstore in Coventry that is at war with the bookstore across the street - owned by Charlotte’s first love, Amos, who bears the scars of his time in the WWI trenches on his face and in his heart and mind. Charlotte and Amos have to decide if love is worth saving - from the German bombs and from past hurts - while Eden has to determine if love is worth the risk of letting her guard down.

This book takes you from the idyllic English country estate gardens to the trenches of the Great War to the rubble of bombed-out homes. I enjoyed learning more about this “Forgotten Blitz” as well as the horrific details of fighting during WWI. If you’re a fan of “Downton Abbey,” you’ll love this story about a forbidden love between “downstairs and upstairs” and a woman’s fierce fight to protect the estate she loves. Plus the sweet love stories make you want to hug the book at the end!

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for my ARC.

#BookReview : THE BRITISH BOOKSELLERS by Kristy Cambron

While I've enjoyed other books by this author, this one took a while to click for me. The historical details were fantastic, but the story itself lost momentum after a promising start.
However, seeing so many positive reviews on Goodreads convinced me to give it another shot, and I'm glad I did!

The author's use of a dual timeline, with one story set in WWI and the other in Coventry, England during WWII, was done well. I wasn't aware of the devastating impact the war had on Coventry, and the book sparked my interest in learning more online. The resilience of the Coventry people was truly admirable. They kept going and supported each other through unimaginable hardship.

Amos and Charlotte’s story was that of a friendship and lost love. It was sad but their personal decisions got in the way of happiness. The slow reveal of the mystery was good. It kept the anticipation until the end. The message of love and redemption were laced throughout the book.

Amos and Charlotte's story, a touching blend of friendship and lost love, explores the bittersweet reality of how personal choices can impact happiness. The slow-burning mystery masterfully built anticipation. It kept me hooked until the very end. Woven throughout the narrative is a powerful message of love and redemption. I can’t wait to read the next book by the author.

Rating: 4⭐
Pub date: 09 April 2024

Thank you toThomas Nelson and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Amos Darby is a farmer and Charlotte is the Lady of the manor. Though deeply in love Amos knew it was not meant to be. Charlotte married well but WWI put paid to any happily ever after. Amos returned scarred, withdrawn and isolated. Charlotte had her hands full with a young daughter, her declining estate, with no funds or hands to work the soil and her bookshop Eden Books.

For such a small village there was another bookshop owned by Amos. Though civil to each other the two kept far apart until the war burst over Coventry with a barrage of bombs and destruction. Putting both forces together seemed a good alternative and Amos proved to be the one Charlotte could trust implicitly. Her hiding four spitfire planes on the estate was not even known to her daughter and the protection of these valuable assets was a big responsibility.

The arrival of a young hot shot lawyer with his claims on the estate added more burdens for Charlotte and Eden who were determined to hang on to the legacy left to them. It didn’t help that the lawyer was of German descent and that Eden and Cole were attracted to each other.

Twenty five years on the attraction between the older couple was deep seated and it took only one upheaval to start again, much to the chagrin of young Eden and the resounding support of everyone else.

The story is one of struggle and survival, fighting against the enemy which destroyed the greater part of this area. The sacrifices made by the common man was immense and seemed to be borne with much bravery. The love stories interwoven added so much depth to the read.

This is a dual-time story that alternates between 1914/WW2 & 1940/WW2. The story follows the lives of Amos, a tenant farmer, and Charlotte, a lady of position, who are close friends at the beginning of the story. A case of "star crossed lovers", fated to only be friends in 1914, they must navigate the ramifications of choices made by themselves and others during WW1. Can they ever become friends again, and maybe even more? Enjoyable read.
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I love a good historical fiction novel, and this book was everything that I could have ever hoped it would be. For me, a sign that a book is a great historical fiction story is when it has you feeling those big, glorious emotions, and this book did that for me. I found myself near tears at times; other times, I was at the edge of my seat, and then there were times when my heart fell in love with the love story Kristy had created. This is a dual-timeline story, and I loved how both timelines unfolded in a manner that complemented each other. One timeline is set during the Great War (1914), and the other is set during World War II (1940). I loved weaving between these two timelines. It made for a great reading experience. We get to spend time in Coventry, a town that was devasted by the bombing that took place during Blitzkrieg. Spending time in this town as all the bombings were destroying it was a heart-wrenching experience. Kristy did a wonderful job at researching these tragic events and bringing these historical facts into her story.

Kristy is really a master at creating a story that is sure to take her readers on an unforgettable journey. There is something so beautiful and powerful about her writing. As a bookworm, I loved the bookish theme in this story. Amos and Charlotte's love for books leaps from the pages. There is also this wonderful message of how powerful books are. Books can be an escape from the horrors that are happening in the world, or they can be a comfort for those who need them. Amos and Charlotte have both lost so much because of the wars, but their love for books remains. This story has so much to offer its readers: romance, friendship, secrets, second chances, mystery, and a bit of intrigue. We get to see how women's roles in society have changed over the course of both Wars and even how the class system changed in Britain.

Overall, this is a wonderful story that is sure to draw its readers in and not let them go until the very end.

Outstanding historical fiction! Juxtaposition of the Great War and World War II-the impact on Charlotte and Amos-is well done and moving. Their thwarted early romance and subsequent rivalry adds emotion to the story. As they ultimately work together to support other Coventry residents through nightly bombings and tragedy, they reconcile their past and move forward. The Coventry Blitz was tragic and its survivors were heroes.

For Amos Darby, son of a tenant farmer, and Charlotte Terrington, daughter of an earl, childhood friendship turns into more as they grow up. However, Charlotte’s parents arrange for her to marry the future Earl of Harcourt, and shortly after they wed, both Amos and Will, Charlotte’s husband, are sent to fight in the Great War. Twenty-five years later, war widow Charlotte, with her grown daughter Eden, and Amos run competing bookstores in Coventry. Eden is determined to preserve the legacy of the father she never met, but when American solicitor Jacob arrives with news of a lawsuit against her, she worries it will destroy everything they have worked to preserve. As Hitler’s Luftwaffe blitz the area, Charlotte, Amos, Eden and Jacob must put aside their differences to save Coventry.

I’m a fan of dual timeline stories, and I liked that these timelines were close enough together that we got to see the two main characters in both of them. The story is published by a Christian company, but the faith is there only as a background entity. It would not put off non-Christian readers. My main confusion with the plot is that <spoiler>I never understood why or how the lawsuit Jacob’s family was bringing against Eden would have ruined the Holt estate. It was money that Eden wasn’t expecting, so it’s not like she had been counting on it to keep the estate running. This plot point didn’t add much to the story and honestly could have been left out without losing much.</spoiler> My favorite part of this novel was the author’s note at the end that described the real-life Coventry blitz during World War II. This book would be best for those who like historical fiction with a dash of clean romance.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this book.

The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron is evocative and gripping. Amos is a commoner who has grown up next to Charlotte, the earl’s daughter. Childhood dreams and fancies grown into real adult feelings that defy societal expectations. Then the Great War comes calling and all plans are pushed aside as duty calls. A dual timeline story that looks back on the histories of Charlotte and Amos in 1914 and how those stories impact Eden, Charlotte’s daughter, and Job, the American solicitor who arrives to deliver notice of a lawsuit against Eden in 1940. Charlotte becomes a wartime widow who devotes her attention to raising her daughter and running her bookshop. Despite the deep love between Charlotte and Amos before the war, they do not reconnect when he returns home. In fact, they become competitor bookshop owners.
The slow build lays the foundation for the gripping tale that unfolds. The last half was impossible for me to put down. The writing is so well done and kept me immersed in whichever timeline was being told. I learned about the complete destruction of Coventry from the perspective of those living the events as well as the loyalty and tenacity of those who survived. The romance is poignant, captivating, and emotional in a way that only Cambron can elicit.
In addition to reading, I had the additional privilege of hearing the story come to life via audiobook narrated by Barrie Kreinik.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

While I own several of Kristy’s books, this is the first time reading one. And immediately fell in love with her writing style, the attention to historical detail, and the beautiful characters she creates.

The British Booksellers contains many of my favorite aspect of fictional romance. She gives us a tender and tragic love story with class differences, a second chance romance, a broody, physically and mentally scarred veteran, and an amazing plot that comes full circle with satisfying and sigh worthy conclusion.

I love the way she presented the foundation of Charlotte’s and Amos’s doomed relationship. Then how the story unfolded with flashbacks, giving us clues as to all that transpired to bring them to the present. I love the redemption arc of a character I was eager to dislike. And then she gave us the sweetest bonus romance between strangers meant to be enemies.

Overall, an outstanding and compelling historical fiction. I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

"...Wayfarers and wanderers, and Coventry storytellers of old...we bring you The British Booksellers."

I had never read a book before by this author, I had heard of her and her books but hadn't had the opportunity to pick one up. This cover and blurb convinced me to make the time for it and wowee! This book is incredible!

This book is definitely a top read of the year. If you like historical anything-this should be on your list to read. The changing timeline going in the past and back to the present was an intriguing way for the reader to discover details about our two main characters. This book is well researched, well plotted and well written.

The side plots felt so much a part of the main story that I feel like I got two books in the package of one. That's a win/win for any reader! This book came full circle and was so complete that I feel like no stone was unturned in it's writing or expectation of the reader.

The romance was sweet, and my feelings were everywhere in this book. If you want your heart to grow ten sizes bigger-again, add this one to your TBR and bump it to the top!

I can't say enough good things about this one! It has definitely earned it's spot on my bookshelf and in my kindle...this is one you'll want in all of the formats, reading friends!

"...war may not change the past, but it could change who we become in the future"

I highly recommend this book for readers who love historical books with a healthy dose of romance and intrigue!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Content: friendships, alcoholism, mild war scenes (mentions of fighting and wounds), romance - kisses only.

With strong characters and an arresting plot, this was a memorable WWII story set in Coventry, England, when the unthinkable happened to devastate this quiet village.
Told in split time between WWI and 1940, the story revolves around the lives of Charlotte Terrington Holt and Amos Darby and their roles in the class system of days gone by. The author takes us back to a time when the whole country banded together to support the war effort by conservation, rationing, uprooting their lives and putting aside long held dreams for a united cause. “Childhood dreams had no place in the real world..”
The author delves into the background connections of Charlotte and Amos to give us the differences between classes and how that perspective changed during wartime. And as times change new romance takes wings. “To love meant to accept all the grit and grief alongside the beauty. To endure the harshness of life not with despair, but hope.”
Blackouts, sirens, Land Girls, loneliness, hidden secrets, surprising connections, second chances, a common goal. All these things and more come together in one emotional tale.
An exceptional story that gives yet another slant on what people went through during WWII on the home front.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*

This was such a beautiful story! I loved the characters, the storyline, and the setting. I will definitely be recommending this book to friends and family who are fans of historical fiction.

I loved this book. It was a little Downton Abbey, Land Girls, and Jane Austin.

Here is the setup: The setting is Coventry, England, with multiple time periods. The story starts before WWI and then goes back and forth between WWI and WWII. Two young people from different classes fall in love. The tenant farmer's son Amos and the Earl's daughter Charlotte are fast friends and dream of owning a bookshop together someday. The Great War and classism make this impossible. In the time of WWII, Coventry has two bookshops, and the townspeople gossip about Amos and Charlotte's feud. The German Blitz comes to Coventry, England, and Amos and Charlotte are pressed to save the town, their family, friends, the manorhouse, and their bookshops.

Kristy Cambron lays this story out in a unique way. It feels like you have many threads to the story that you pick up and pull on to learn the details. You slowly unravel the entire story. The language is formal and feels very Austin-like. It might take a moment to settle into this style, however I found that the slower pace suited the novel. When I finished the book, I missed it. I loved the focus on community, books, and the Land Girls. The Blitz in Coventry is overlooked in history but Cambron tells this story to add to the historical novels that give details to World War II on the homefront.

#kristycambron #thebritishbooksellers #wwI #wwii #coventryengland #booksellers

Taking place between two world wars - WWI and the Coventry Blitz of WWII - The British Booksellers is ultimately a love story with first love, lost love, and second chances. My favorite part of the story was the WWI timeline as the WWII timeline fell flat for me.

It was hard to follow at times and in trying to tell the stories of so many people (Amos, Charlotte, Eden, Will, Jacob) I don’t think any of them were developed enough to really make me care. Additionally, I didn’t really feel any of the characters emotions - the supposed love/hate relationship between two characters and the developing romance between another two. Overall, it was just ok, especially given all the WWII books out there.

The British Booksellers is a story set in dual timelines 1914 and 1940. It tells the story of Amos and Charlotte who are secret friends in their childhood. Amos is a servant boy and Charlotte is the daughter of an Earl. Both care deeply for each other but she is set to marry the future Earl of Harcourt. Alas leading Amos and Charlottes love story to never have a happy ending in 1914. In 1940, both Amos and Charlotte end up opening bookstores across the street from each other. The books tells the story of their relationship, the impacts of war, and the mystery surrounding what happened to keep these two apart for so long! While I felt the story was intriguing, I had a hard time reading this book. I did not feel like the characters development was strong enough for me to care what happened to them. I also found myself getting confused with with the plot. I did love Amos as a character and of all the characters in the novel, I felt the most for him. I also felt the writing really capture what it was like to be in Coventry during the war.
Overall. I rated this book 3 stars. It was just okay for me but I also didn’t regret that I read it. So you could say this book falls in the category of middle of the road. Take it or leave it. If you want a book to scratch your historical fiction itch…then you very much could enjoy this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Historical fiction readers will enjoy this novel set in Coventry, England. As a dual time story, readers will be transported back to WWI and WWII. Charlotte and Amos, both bookstore owners have known each other since childhood. Will this unlikely friendship be given a second chance? Very interesting storyline with a few surprises along the way. Loved the author's note.

"He'd already decided, deep down, if there ever was a boy who'd risk his neck for a girl more than once in his lifetime, over and over again, it would be him for her. All she had to do was ask."

Who doesn't love a story about characters who also love books? The British Booksellers was not at all what I expected. If you know me, you will be aware that I do not like to read the book blurb before reading the book. I prefer, especially when the book is wrtiten by an author I love - a category Kristy Cambron definitely falls under - to just discover the stroy as it unfolds. That being said, I incorrectly assumed these Bookselllers would be passing messages to resisitance fighters through their beloved book pages. A premise I have read before but was not opposed to reading again. This was not that book - it was even better!

It's a story spanning two World Wars, a story of forgiveness, sacrifice and bravely choosing to love your enemy. It's beautifully written and depicts life on the battlefield in the first world war as well as in Coventry in the weeks leading up to The Coventry Blitz, an airborne attack by Germany that loosed 30,000 bombs killing 600 and injuring nearly 1000 others. Otherwise known as, The Forgotten Blitz.

I loved the addition of the Women's Land Army and the bonds of found family the ladies created while serving their country. The story line set during the first World War will stick with me for a long time. It was both heart breaking and beautiful....you'll need to read it to find out what I mean. I also how Kristy tied everything together in the end. I would have enjoyed more development between Jacob and Eden - I wanted to read more! I miraculously pieced together the mystery thread before Kristy Cambron spelled it out for me. I'm becoming a super sleuth! The British Booksellers was a story I didn't want to end and would recommend to readers who love war time fiction and complex relationships.

Read if you like;
Second Chances
Sacrificial Love
England Setting
Split-time Dual POV
Sweet Romance

Thank you, Kristy Cambron, Thomas Nelson and Net Galley for the complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

As someone who has recently become interested in London, this book worked for me. I like learning about historical times through fictional characters. The book has some flaws (slow start, characters hard to get to the point of liking) but overall it's a good read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely