"The British Booksellers" by Kristy Cambron, narrated by Barrie Kreinik, is a captivating tale that combines historical fiction, sweet romance, and mystery. Set against the backdrop of WWI and WWII, this novel weaves together multiple points of view to tell a story of courage and resilience in the face of war.

The characters in "The British Booksellers" are well-developed, authentic, and sympathetic. From Amos Darby's struggles as a war veteran to Charlotte Terrington's journey as a war widow turned bookshop owner, each character brings depth and emotion to the narrative. The relationships between the characters are intricately portrayed, adding layers of complexity to their interactions.

The story follows Amos Darby and Charlotte Terrington as they navigate love, loss, and the challenges brought on by war. As they come together to fight for their bookshops amidst the devastation of the Coventry Blitz during WWII, themes of perseverance, friendship, and sacrifice emerge. The blend of historical events with personal stories creates a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged until the very end.

Barrie Kreinik's narration adds another dimension to the storytelling with her versatile portrayal of various characters. Her ability to bring each character to life enhances the listener's experience and immerses them in the world created by Kristy Cambron.

"The British Booksellers" is a poignant tale that highlights the enduring power of love and literature in times of turmoil. Through its richly drawn characters and evocative storytelling, this novel offers readers a glimpse into lives forever changed by war—and ultimately celebrates the strength found in unity during challenging times.

This story was extremely immersive and engaging, and the narrator excellent. Cambron set the scene, wove the story elements together, and kept me guessing expertly from beginning to end. Amos, Charlotte, Eden, and Jacob - and their worlds of war and Coventry, England - will live on in my heart for a long time after I finish this story. Recommended especially for Anglophiles, bibliophiles, and lovers of hard situations with redemption.

This book is a great retelling of a love story told in two different perspectives. The story was somewhat hard to follow via audio because it jumped between characters and times (some past, some present). I think this book would be better read and then listened to. The overall story and historical fiction is really good, taking place during WWII. The characters are well developed. The narrator was very pleasant to listen to.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for providing me the opportunity to listen to and review an ARC of this novel (audiobook). All of the thoughts and the opinions expressed are my own.

Amos was a tenant farmer. Charlotte was a lady. As children they were inseparable. Then circumstances and Will Holt (the husband to be of Charlotte) would drive them apart. Then WWI comes. Will and Amos enlist. Fast forward to WWII and Amos and Charlotte own competing bookstores. These bookstores are at odds. Charlotte and her daughter Eden are trying to keep up the estate and the bookstore and survive the war. These characters must reconcile the past to survive the present.

This book is a look at the devastation of the World Wars and the people who survived to tell the story. The dual timeline of this book made it a bit hard to follow. I don’t always struggle with dual timelines, but this one was hard for me. This could be due to the fact that both timelines involve a world at war. There were many loose threads that were kind of thrown together at the end. It was an enjoyable read, but not one I would pick up again.

There was no real faith content in this book. Characters did have to overcome their pasts, but God was not really figured into the equation. I feel opportunities were missed. I really don’t see how this could be labeled as Christian Fiction.

The audiobook was well done. The narrator was easy to follow even with the British accent. I do think that this book might be one better read than listened to because of the dual timeline. The one downside was the dates; for some reason when the narrator said 1914 and 1940 it sounded alike.

I would recommend this book to people looking for clean, historical fiction with a touch of romance. I would not recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a book that truly spreads the message of Christ.

Amidst the backdrop of social disparity and the haunting aftermath of the Great War, Amos Darby's improbable bond with Charlotte Terrington defies societal norms. Yet, as the harsh realities of war shatter their youthful aspirations, their paths diverge, leaving Amos to grapple with the scars of battle and the shattered dreams of his past.

The narrative, however, suffers from the proliferation of multiple points of view, diluting the clarity of the plot. Streamlining the perspectives to focus on the two main characters would have allowed for deeper exploration of their inner worlds. Regrettably, the characters remain largely undeveloped, failing to evoke the intended depth of emotion.

Despite being marketed as an "enemies to lovers" tale, the emotional intensity expected from such a premise is noticeably absent. Instead, the dynamic between the protagonists lacks the requisite animosity, resulting in a narrative that falls short of its potential.

Gratitude to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for the opportunity to engage with this work.

I was excited to preview this title. I really loved the description. It did not disappoint. It took me a little bit to get into the book, but by about 1/4 of the way into the book, I was hooked. I thought this was a fascinating story, heartbreaking, hopeful and dramatic. A second chance at love for Charlotte and possibly first love for her daughter Eden, set amidst the bombing of Coventry, England during WWII. There are alternating chapters with flashbacks to WWI and earlier that provide the backstory for Charlotte and Amos. They have a lot of history. Amos has scars that are both visible and invisible. The battling bookstores made this story unique, and what reader wouldn’t love all of the literary references? I also loved how everyone pulled together during this crisis and served those in need. I thought the whole book was creatively done and a compelling read. I really loved the way that Amos's story was revealed with his motivations. It really kept me wanting to know more about their past stories and how they got to where they were now.
The characters were strong, and it was a great plot. 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. It was an excellent story, and I felt it brought in a new prospective that I haven't seen before in a WWII story.
I enjoyed this book and could definitely recommend it to high school students and adults alike. The audiobook was good, and I enjoyed the story through the narrators voice, but it would be an excellent addition in book form to our library as well.
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the arc audiobook preview.

This story weaves in the lives of the characters through both WWI and WWII. The depth of the characters provided a rich reading experience. I enjoyed being able to see their growth and development throughout. Definitely a wonderful read.

This book weaves in multiple characters and stories from different time periods. The first time period is the Great War and the second is World War 2. Sometimes switching time periods and characters can be confusing, especially in an audiobook, but this was so well done that I didn’t get confused at all.

I loved the complicated, sometimes painful relationships in this story. It was complicated, beautiful, and downright messy human relationships. I also loved wanting answers and saving each answer that came. It was so beautifully written and crafted to keep me wanting more and loving the characters more. I just wanted them to be happy and have answers!

It also was wonderful that the main characters loved books. How relatable is that to a book lover? Absolutely loved this one and would read it again.

I was so pleased with this new book by Kristy Cambron! I had little background knowledge of the Forgotten Blitz going to the book, but as all good historical fiction does, it's made me come away with general knowledge and a desire to learn more. I love a good dual timeline, and it suits this book exceptionally well. It's so refreshing to have an engaging romance that I don't have to be worried about the content with every turn of the page. I could sit back, relax, and be swept away by the story. I will absolutely be seeing out other books by Kristy Cambron...soon.

The British Booksellers is a dual timeline novel which spans who of the worst conflicts in human history: the First and Second World Wars. Don’t let that put you off: this is a beautiful story of story of lost love and human endurance during the early decades of the 20th century.
Amos Darby and Charlotte are rival booksellers in Coventry: a city which was subjected to the horrors of the Blitz. Most people outside Britian don’t really know about how the Blitz impacted people in other part of Britain. So, it was fascinating to see an American author writing about the Blitz in Coventry known as “the Forgotten Blitz”.

The story is told from Amos and Charlotte’s point of view: and to say the two had a history together would be a gross understatement. They were friends from childhood, and later lovers kept apart due to the differences in social class and the expectation that Charlotte would marry well. The suggestion of an ancient betrayal lingers between them, poisoning their relationship and forcing the neighbours to become reluctant co-workers during the WW2 timeline when Charlotte is threatened with the possible loss of all she holds dear.

Who betrayed whom, and how? What exactly happened in their past? These are questions which are slowly unfolded in the story their home is thrown into the midst of a German bombing campaign which could devastate the entire city. It naturally forces them to come together for the good of their community: especially Amos who had been living as a virtual recluse for more than a decade.

I am going to state outright here: Amos has PTSD from his time in the First World War. For some weird and inexplicable reason, I am drawn to traumatized characters like him. It might be due to my own traumatic experiences. Either way, I love him and this slowly unfolding story about love lost and rediscovered, forgiveness and people coming together in bad times.
I requested the audiobook from Netgalley and enjoyed the narrator although I might have preferred a British one. Call that my only real quibble. I was not required to write a review and all opinions expressed are my own.

This was such a lovely story. A main storyline with a few underlying ones really helped breakup the heaviness that a historical fiction book brings.

It was surface heavy so I didn't feel like I needed to take a break from listening to it. The characters were distressed and less than perfect so the realism felt closer to real people as opposed to just being characters.

I didn't connect to this book as closely as I thought I would or how other people did but I still think it's a great addition to my historical fiction collection.

The audiobook was good, I think. Nothing spectacular but enough to allow you to escape.

Kristy Cambron's latest The British Booksellers was my first book by her but will not be my last. This story was highly engaging, I wanted to know how all the pieces fit together for the characters throughout the book. The main characters had depth as they struggled to overcome class distinctions, a changing world, and war. The audio was a pleasure to listen to. It had just enough historical content to make it feel as if it was a real story. I loved that it focused on an event during WWII not often talked about in history books. Also the dual narrative that included both world wars really brought to light the challenging times people lived through in the fist half of the 1900s. Highly recommend!

Kristy Cambron’s latest masterpiece, The British Booksellers, seamlessly weaves a tale with forgotten history and timeless themes of forgiveness, love, and resilience against the dual timeline of WWI and WWII. Through skillful narration and rich character development, Kristy Cambron brings to life the entwined stories of Charlotte Terrington, Amos Darby, Eden Holt, and Jacob Cole, revealing the complexities of human nature and the enduring power of hope even in the face of war.

“What defines the human capacity to love? To love meant to accept all—the grit and grief alongside beauty. To endure the harshness of life not with despair, but hope.” ~ Kristy Cambron

From the very first chapter, I was captivated by The British Booksellers’ depths and the characters’ authenticity. None of us are perfect, and true stories are far from fairytales, yet Kristy Cambron’s ability to portray the imperfections of her characters made their journey all the more relatable and poignant. Through pain, grief, and loss, beauty, hope, and love endure!

Currently living through war myself, reading about the strength and compassion displayed by each character toward their neighbors and enemies was encouraging. The British Booksellers is a testament to the triumph of forgiveness and understanding in a world where bitterness and hatred often prevail. Kristy Cambron masterfully entwines these themes with beautiful stories, reminding readers that falling in love is not without challenges but is rooted in integrity and grace.

“Some pain would never go away. Some choices never alter. But if they’d learned anything from the beauty and brokenness of this world together, it was that light always overshadowed the darkness. And home would always be the place she had with him.” ~ Kristy Cambron

Historical fiction lovers will thoroughly enjoy The British Booksellers. Kristy Cambron’s talent for captivating her audience with accurate historical events while imparting valuable lessons is unmatched, leaving readers both enlightened and deeply moved by the unforgettable stories she creates.

“Books are an escape that beckons the reader from the heavy burdens of this world. They can challenge as well as comfort. Entertain and educate. Even save us in ways we’d never expect.”~ Kristy Cambron

*Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with a pre-release copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.*

This was a great dual time line story about WWII. It started off a little slow, but then really hooked me! The author definitely put a lot of research into this book.
I listened to the book on audio. The narrator did a wonderful job. Many thanks to the author, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

So you say, another WWII novel....what else can be relayed? I feel with each reading in this genre, the reader gains a little more depth in the understanding of the time period. In British Booksellers, Kristy Cambron fills the bill. She gives us the "Land Girls." In all my study of WWII, I've never heard of this aspect of the war. Throw in not only the bombings of the city's center, but a widowed Lady in charge of a large estate, trying to keep it secure and keeping the entire community safe, add not one, but two completing bookshops in the mix, a mystery surrounding a "Yank," and a lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers trope, and you've got yourself a very good new WWII novel. Enjoy!

"The British Booksellers" is a heartwarming story of love, and unrequited love. It is set in a time after WWI( and just before and during WWI.I. The story line is interesting and well written. The narrator does a great job. I highly recommend this book.

A dual timeline book that served the story well. This is a sweet read spanning both world wars. The friendship between them is so fun to read. Learned a lot while reading too.

“Books are an escape that beckons the reader from the heavy burden of this world. They can challenge as well as comfort, they can train and educate and save us in ways we'd never expect.”

I listened to the audio version of this book. With only one narrator, the many characters and the dual timeline, it took me a bit of time to adapt and not feel lost. I loved the narrator’s voice and her acting, that was very well balanced, with an effort made on the accents without turning them into a caricature.
I loved the beginning of the story, when Amos and Charly were young, then adults and tenants of rival bookshops. That characters’ background was particularly moving and resonated deeply in me. I loved them both at this point.
The story, though, falls a bit short after that. Quickly, they unite their efforts to help the city of Coventry and its people –and Charlotte’s estate. I wish the “book aspect” would have lasted more, and wasn’t reduced to the token of that book that seals Charly and Amos’ fate more than once (even if, like the watch, it was a nice red thread). Indeed, promptly, the story focuses on the War effort and the complex story between the older MCs. In the end, the only question articulates around Eden, her lineage and why that mysterious solicitor comes from America. I have to admit it wasn’t exactly what I expected, I wished it had been turned a bit more about the bookshops’ storyline than the Estate’s.
That being said, I loved how both timelines interlaced WW1 and WW2, making them mirroring each other, showing the repercussions the Great War had on the survivors. It was particularly well documented and even if I had trouble investing in the characters’ stories I liked how the historical part was dealt with and how the writing (and the narration) made it very immersive.

Rate 3.5/5

Thank you NetGalley,Kristy Cambron and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this historical fiction. I will admit that the start was a bit confusing as the timeline jumped around, but once I understood what was happening it was not a problem. The characters in the novel are genuine, likeable, and believably flawed. Charlotte makes a decision at one point that I am still baffled by, but I guess that's part of being human. This novel provides an excellent description of the Forgotten Blitz on Coventry.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio through NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Perhaps I would have gone to four stars if I hadn't read so many other WWII historical fiction novels in the past decade, but at this point, I've lost count of how many I've read. This novel bounces between WWI and WWII.

Beyond the overdone premise, this book may appeal to fans of Downton Abbey and possibly to Land Girls fans. The class theme was done well. I found the pacing to be about right; the book never seemed to drag. There was a bit of a mystery threaded throughout the story, which was the best part of the novel for me. There were a couple romance storylines, not really my genre, but at least they weren't graphic. I enjoyed the ending, though I didn't care for the epilogue simply because things wrapped up far too neatly. Most of the story felt realistic to me, but not the epilogue, so it didn't really fit.

I listened to the audiobook and one thing I found very confusing for the first quarter of the book or so is that about every other chapter switches between the 1920s and the 1940s. I didn't realize this and was getting confused. Once I understood, I made sure to take note at the beginning of each chapter of where I was on the timeline and the confusion cleared right up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.