What can I say Phillipa Clark writes fabulous stories, she pulls at your heart strings as she weaves stories with mystery, romance and awesome characters in such lovely settings and I have been looking forward to this book since I read book one and was not disappointed, come along and meet Harriett and her daughter Olive as they start fresh in Rivers End.

Harriett Main is given a building in the beautiful coastal town of Rivers End as part of her divorce settlement she is heart-broken over the sudden decision by her ex-husband and also the guilt of not being more attuned to what was happening with her daughter Olive but she is now going to fulfill a lifetime dream of opening her very own bookstore, being a librarian this is going to mean so much to her.

Harriett purchases a box of old books to start a special corner in her bookstore, but when they discover an old diary Harriett tries to return it but the previous owner refuses to take it back she says read it or burn it, Olive is keen to read it although Harriett is hesitant but they decide to do so and what they discover is the story of three teenage girls from 1961 who organize a treasure hunt for another young girls birthday, they decide that they will read it slowly and follow the clues and do the treasure hunt.

As they follow the clues things are fun at the start but then they unfold a tragedy and both Harriett and Olive are pulled emotionally into this journey, as the mystery unlocks they soon feel that some of these young girls are still living in Rivers End and maybe they are customers of the bookstore. By opening up the past it will open up pain and heartbreak but it could also encourage healing that will help all of those involved.

There is a lot going on Harriett and Olive are welcomed into the small town and they are getting to know everyone really well and Harriett is seeing what her past was like especially when she meets chef Brock Salisbury, but will the diary and the treasure hunt pull them apart or push them together?

I loved this one so much, yes Phillipa Nefri Clark is a favourite author and a must read author but there is a reason for that her stories are beautiful with so much feeling her characters are very easy to get to now and as with series catching up with past friends is always fabulous.

I do highly recommend this one, it is a page turner.

My thanks to the publisher Storm and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read The Bookstore at River's Edge by Phillipa Nefri Clark. Charming and heartwarming with characters I enjoyed spending time with.

Easy fiction read, that I enjoyed a lot. Yet as the story unfolded I found myself wanting/not wanting to read on. The books multiple threads are a treasure trove of love and hurt waiting to be experienced. Heart warming, and heart breaking in equal measure. All intricately tied together by the author. Thank you to Storm Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

I absolutely love Phillipa Nefri Clark and I can't say that enough!! As always I enjoyed the characters and their realistic reactions to situations. This book gives you a little mystery, adventure and romance. It makes this a perfect book to sit down with a cup of coffee and read, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in advance for my honest opinion.

This was a very sweet mystery story. It’s got a small town full of only nice people, and a new bookstore that is instantly popular and full of business. (Having lived in a small town myself, this feels wildly mythical) The characters really grow and learn about themselves. The dialogue was very odd in many places. Maybe it’s just that this isn’t my normal genre?

Harriet Main and her daughter Olive were only a few days away from opening their new bookshop. Harriet was still sad from her marriage break up and subsequent divorce six months prior, plus the guilt she felt at what Olive went through in Melbourne. The coastal town of Rivers End was a peaceful place, and her long-held desire to own a bookshop was coming to fruition. Working with Olive was the icing on the cake. And making friends in her new town a bonus.

When Harriet and Olive bought a few selections of old books from various homes around the area, they had no idea one of the items at the bottom of a box would bring a heartbreaking past to their door, and friendships would be cemented. Following a treasure hunt as it had been written by three teenagers back in 1961 was at first fun, until it wasn't. Harriet and Olive had a mystery on their hands, one they were curious enough to search for answers to...

The Bookstore at Rivers End is the 2nd in the Temple River series by Aussie author Phillipa Nefri Clark and it was exceptional. Catching up with characters from Rivers End in past series - Christie and Martin (and the gorgeous dog) among others - plus mention of the yacht, Jasmine Sea made me smile. Ms Clark has an amazing talent of linking her books, just slightly, with any new series she writes, and for readers of her work, it feels like catching up with friends, time and again. I'm thoroughly enjoying this series, and am really looking forward to the next. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

1960's adventure gone wrong brought back to light👭👭: moving😪

I really liked this story, told in two time periods, set on the southern coast of Australia. It's more women's fiction than romance, focused mostly on family connection and friendships. The part of the book focused on four young girls involved in a treasure hunt that has a sad end was the storyline I found the most moving. The teen friends were so creative and excited about the adventure they put together for a younger sister's birthday, totally unprepared for its effect on their young lives.

The story of present day changes for newly divorced bookstore owner Harriet and her university-age daughter Olive was good as well. There's some romantic interest for Harriet and the mother-daughter connection strengthens as the pair work closely building their new business and place in the community while putting their heads together over a mysterious diary acquired with a used book purchase and the questions it raises.

I read the first novel in this Temple River series as well but I don't believe it was that closely linked. The two are definite stand alones; no cliffhanger here and the ending actually ties up several loose ends about identities, family relationships and precious artifacts that are introduced throughout the novel.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the novel; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am quite surprised that I haven’t come across any of this author’s previous books. Set in dual timelines, we have the present day and a diary from 1961 where clearly something bad has happened. The relationship between Harriet and her daughter Olive was delightful and it was lovely reading about their bookshop and their personal development. The teenagers in 1961 were trying to do the right things, but life went awry. The portrayal of a small country town was well done, and the power of books and community was also important. This book is perfect for curling up and having a good long uninterrupted read. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a copy to read and give my thoughts on freely.

This was a lovely cosy read set in a charming river town in Australia. I haven’t read part one in this series but found it very easy to follow and feel it can be read as a standalone novel.
It is a heartwarming story following Olive and her mother Harriet, each on a healing journey and looking for a fresh start. For Harriet, this means fulfilling a lifelong dream and opening a bookshop. Olive proves to be of invaluable help and the pair begin a journey of self-discovery, finding strength in each other and forming new friendships in their new home town.
The author describes the characters and events with such detail you can easily imagine the settings, the emotions feel real, and I want to visit the bookshop! The dual timeline is easy to follow and the characters are well developed – the community dynamic feels very authentic. There’s an element of mystery and a sweet romance, along with the growing bond between mother and daughter. I enjoyed this book, perfect for a lazy day or holiday read, and will definitely be looking for more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and the author for an advance reader copy for review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review The BookStore at Rivers End by Phillipa Nefri Clark. All opinions are my own.

This novel is actually the second in a series, Temple River Series, that takes place in Australia. It can absolutely be read as a standalone though. Mother and daughter (Harriet and Olive) move and start a new life after a divorce changes lives. The move has Harriet opening a bookstore, making friends in the small-town community, and meeting a possible love interest. While this may be the main plot of the book, there are many subplots that also take place. A diary is found while purchasing books for the store which intrigues both of the main characters. This diary comes along with a treasure map and clues that guide Harriet and Olive throughout their new hometown as well as keeps their minds active while getting over the distance of the ex-husband/father that has left them behind. Along the way they get to solve a mystery from the past.

I enjoyed this one as a nice easy cozy read. Heartfelt moments were definitely found as well as some sorrow. I would definitely pick up more from this series. I enjoyed very much the set-up of starting a bookstore and I'm sure more of the series will bring new characters and more businesses to Rivers End. This one can be purchased now from your preferred bookseller.

Newly divorced Harriet and her daughter, Olive, move to River's End and open a book shop.

Among some donated books is a diary written by an unnamed person.

The more the mother and daughter delve into the diary, the more interested they become in finding out who it belonged to. I also became invested in finding out what happens.

I enjoyed the characters and their realistic reactions to situations. This felt like a story that could actually happen. I do like that in a book.

This is the second in a series. I did read the first one but do not think it is necessary to read it before this one. One thing both books have in common is that the title's might suggest a bit of a "fluff" book. By fluff book, I mean a book without much substance. That is certainly not the case with these books. There is much more to the books than one might expect if you have never read this author.

Thanks to netgalley and Storm Publishing for the arc.

Harriet and Olive find a diary among some old books they bought. Caught up in the diary’s story, they try to piece together who’s who.
I really enjoyed this book. Dual timelines are always my favorite. It has some nice light romance which added to the story.
Looking forward to more in this series

Book two in the River's End series - could be a stand alone read, as well.

Recently divorced, Harriet, and her daughter, Olive, move to River's End to start over - and start a book store. Something Harriet longed for for years. While out purchasing books from estates, she discovers an old diary that leads her and Olive on a hunt to discover what happened to the author. The townspeople are all connected to the story, and their personalities are great. An enjoyable story!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Harriet and her daughter Olive move to River's End to set up a bookshop after her divorce from her husband, who has left to travel the world. Amongst secondhand books that they purchased for the store they come across an anonymous diary from the 60s giving details of a treasure hunt. Using a dual timeline between present day and the 60s the story of a treasure hunt comes to life.
The dual timeline worked for me, you follow the story from the viewpoint of the author of the diary and then now as Harriet and Olive try to follow the clues and discover who the girls in the diary were. The bookstore becomes a success, certainly one I'd love to visit, and also the community of River's End. The story does build up to a climax and then give an excerpt from the next book in the series, one that I'm certainly looking forward to reading.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book

After Harriet Main’s husband Jason receives a terminal diagnosis and survives, he decides he is going to live life to the fullest, and apparently without his family. Harriet and her adult daughter Olive need a new beginning after the past few months and open a bookshop in the small town of Rivers End.

The town welcomes Harriet and Olive with open arms and is very supportive of their small business. While searching for inventory for their small used book section, the women stumble upon a personal diary. They try to return it to the owner, but she doesn’t want anything to do with it. Slowly Harriet and Olive try to solve the mystery of the diary filled with initials rather than names. The diary describes a treasure hunt created by three teenagers in the 1960s. As they slowly retrace the decades old treasure hunt, they uncover far more than they bargain for, and in turn learn a lot about their new friends in their small town.

As Harriet and Olive work to heal their hearts and find peace in their new town all while figuring out the mystery behind their found diary. The relationship between mother and daughter is heartwarming, and the mature romantic relationship is not only believably, but wonderfully not “cheesy”. The Bookstore at Rivers End is part hallmark movie, part mystery, and fully enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and the author Phillipa Nefri Clark for the advanced copy of the book. The Bookstore at Rivers End is out on January 11th. All opinions are my own.

A beautiful dual timeline book. I loved the mother / daughter relationship that we were drawn into as we also followed the intriguing diary and treasure map left in a box of old books. The web of connections was wonderfully woven. So emotional.

I usually enjoy dual timeline stories and this one was no exception in many respects. I really liked Harriet and Olive, and the way they found new strength and purpose following a difficult time by setting up a new bookshop in Rivers End, a small town in Australia. I also liked the 1960s timeline.
The blossoming romantic storyline was lovely, and I enjoyed the way Harriet came to handle her self-centred ex.
I was less keen on the modern-day treasure hunt, as I felt it was the least interesting and most implausible part of the book. Other readers may well feel differently about this aspect - it just wasn’t my cup of tea personally.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for approving this ARC. This book has so many of my favorite elements: mother/daughter bonding, mystery, relatable moments, and romance.
The main characters, Harriet and Olive, embark on a new path in their lives and the adventure unfolds. The setting could not have been more perfect to me: they open a bookstore blocks from the beach! In the process of buying their inventory, they come across some old and questionable materials and the quest for answers to the mysterious items begins (they even use a whiteboard for clues!). I really enjoyed reading about these two rediscovering themselves in their new surroundings. This is the first book I've read from Phillipa Nefri Clark and now I'm a fan. I loved this book and I would give it 10 stars. Needless to say, I will be purchasing a hard copy of this treasure and reading the first book in this Temple River series.

I really enjoyed this tale. It felt realistic. The double timeline and connections with the present kept me interested, and as the story went on I really began to care for the characters. The coastal Aussie setting added to the allure of the story.

Recommended. I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being given freely.

The Bookstore at River's End by Phillipa Nefri Clark is a thoroughly engaging book, made fascinating by the bridging of timelines and the mystery of what happened during a treasure hunt decades before. It is in turns entertaining, romantic, and tragic, making for a book that I simply could not put down until the end.
The author has penned a truly brilliant tale that brings out all of the emotions. She sweeps the reader along with her realistic characters in modern day and their stories of personal growth as they unravel the story of four girls and who they grew up to be. The setting of small town Australia is vivid, the budding romance is sweet, the family relationships are complex, and it all adds up to a fantastic reading experience.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
I was fortunate to receive an ARC of #TheBookstoreatRiversEnd from #NetGalley .