Shifting between the changing dynamics in class at the outset of WWI and the drama of the Coventry Blitz in WWII is a love story that endures across time. Charlotte and Amos are star crossed lovers who can’t bridge the difference in class. And are thwarted by war and society. Decades later, as Charlottes daughter Eden grapples with responsibilities and the appearance of a stranger amidst the nightly air raids. Can their love sustain them as they deal with betrayal, secrets, and the bombings.? Excellent narration bring the story to life!

I adore historical fiction books ... especially if they are focused on WWII. This one actually covers WWI and WWII. The dual timeline was so well done and the characters richly developed. You will fall in love with Amos Darby and Lady Charlotte Holt. And getting to know second characters, Jacob and Eden adds to the story. You will experience multiple points of view and timelines and a wide variety of characters. That sometimes made it difficult for me to keep focused. But the end result is worth the effort. Traveling through the pages and the experiences of both World Wars will have you flipping the pages and devouring the story. While presented as Christian fiction, this is not in-your-face. The characters attend church and have Christian morals. However, I do not think it would offend someone who is not a fan of Christian fiction.

A story of hope, social hierarchy, betrayal, resilience, death, hope, loss, and redemption, you will find this a tale that you will appreciate. A different view from most WWII historical fiction books that I read, this will demonstrate the endurance and dedication of those caught in the crossfires of war.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

The bones of the story were good and interesting but the format of a dual timeline with only small bits of each character focus and time was so abrupt and disjointed. You couldn’t get into each part of the story before you had to switch gears again but when you returned it was at a further point in the story, and I had to both struggle to remember where I was but also infer into the gaps. It felt like riding in a car and hard-pressing the gas, then slamming the brakes, only to repeat it again.

The characters felt inconsistent to me as well, especially Will and Amos. They would be portrayed one way at one point - Will being awful or good, Amos being gossiped as “a beast” tho I never understood why - and then be completely different at other times. I could never figure out if I liked or disliked either of them. And the whole feud thing never made sense to me even when it Charlotte mentioned it at the end. But maybe in the disjointedness I just missed it.

I think the intention was to create mystery and intrigue but when that happens so ambiguously and in tiny bits, I feel like it becomes more work to read it than is enjoyable, at least for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

Historical fiction has long been a favorite genre of mine. I love reading about this particular era of time this book took place in, and especially ones set in England at this time. This book was no disappointment and simply a delight to read. I felt like I was reading a PBS masterpiece series, and this book gave me the same Guernsey Literary Potato Pie Society feels in all the great ways. Just made me happy and I enjoyed every minute from beginning to end. I enjoyed the back-and-forth timelines that told the stories of the two main characters and how it all wove together so well. Thank you Netgalley and McMillan Audio over the ARC of this audiobook..

The British Booksellers was the fifth book I had the pleasure of reading by author, Kristy Cambron. Since I had enjoyed the other books I had previously read by Kristy Cambron I was excited to read this one. The British Booksellers was both moving and heartfelt. The British Booksellers was based on real events. Kristy Cambron masterfully portrayed the years that led up to World War I, the hardships and difficult decisions the soldiers who fought so bravely and courageously during that war had to make, the physical and emotional scars that remained with the soldiers that survived World War I and the impact that World War II had on the majority of British civilians. Kristy Cambron took the liberty of writing The British Booksellers in a dual timeline that alternated between 1915 and 1940 but the book actually spanned the years from 1908 through 1948. I listened to the captivating audiobook of The British Booksellers that was narrated by Barrie Kreinik, one of my favorite narrators. Barrie Kreinik was able to skillfully distinguish between the male and female characters. Her performance was everything I expected from her and more.

The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron explored the lives of Lady Charlotte Terrington, who grew up and led a very privileged life as the daughter of an Earl and Amos Darby, the son of a tenant farmer, whose life limited his aspirations. Although, Charlie, (a nickname Amos bestowed upon Lady Charlotte) and Amos were born into two completely different worlds, they formed a friendship that was based on mutual respect and trust. Everything about their friendship was easy and appreciated but because of their class distinctions they were forced to keep it hidden. Lady Charlotte and Amos shared a love for treasured books and often shared the books they had read with each other. As children, they made a pact to open and run a bookstore together one day. Their friendship eventually evolved into something much more than either had ever imagined or saw coming.

Twenty five years later, both Charlotte and Amos realized their dreams of owning a bookstore but separately, not together. So much had occurred in each of their lives that had come between them and dissolved their friendship and closeness. Charlotte owned and ran her bookstore, Eden Books, named after her daughter, and Amos had his bookstore, Waverly Novels, that just happened to be directly across the street from Eden Books. Amos had enlisted and fought in World War I and returned a changed man. His outward scars were just a reminder of the emotions and pain he carried in his heart, dreams and daily thoughts. Charlotte and Amos had become competitors and avoided contact with each other at all costs now.

When Britain declared war against Germany in World War II, Charlotte and Amos were forced to leave their ill feelings for each other behind. Charlotte was forced to seek Amos’s help in helping restore her estate. The two bookstore owners also became involved in warning, helping and rescuing their neighbors from the relentless air attacks of the German planes that unmercifully attacked their homes and businesses. Would Charlotte and Amos be able to find their way back to each other through all the destruction and devastation around them? Would they be granted a second chance of being able to rekindle the romance they had once shared? How would Charlotte’s daughter, Eden, feel about Amos and Charlotte and the discovery of the past that they shared?

I learned so much about the Coventry Blitz or the Forgotten Blitz as many refer to it and the Robin Nests by listening to The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron. It was commendable how Kristy Cambron portrayed the ordinary citizens that resided in Coventry and how they banned together to help each other through the turbulent series of bombings that obliterated so many of their homes and businesses and then afterwards in the rebuilding. Her research for the events that occurred during this period was impeccable. I have read several books that explored the roles of the Land Girls but was happy to learn the stories of the ones who came to help Charlotte and Eden with their land. The characters in The British Booksellers were all skillfully portrayed and so believable. Charlotte and Amos were my favorite characters but I enjoyed learning about some of the secondary characters as well. Also masterfully executed in The British Booksellers were the themes that included plenty of secrets, disappointments, friendships, the effects of war both physically and mentally, the acts of sacrifice, class distinctions and their role in life choices, mother/daughter relationships and second chances. Kristy Cambron included an author’s note after the conclusion of The British Booksellers that should not be missed. It was very informative and interesting. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron and highly recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction books.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction Audio for allowing me to listen to The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read a Kristy Cambron novel in a few years, but I know when you read historical fiction by her, you're sure to get an amazing story, and The British Booksellers did not disappoint! A dual timeline story set in WWI and WWII, I quickly became invested in the characters, and I grew to love them. The audiobook narrator did a great job. For audios, I write down the dates and characters of the two timelines so I can easily follow the story.

I highly recommend you check out Kristy's blog for the historical background of this novel!

I received this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
#netgalley #TheBritishBooksellers

The British Booksellers will grab your attention and leave you turning pages into the night. This is a sweeping romance, spanning more than three decades and two world wars.

This lovely book reads like an epic love story. Amos and Charlotte are kept apart by class, expectation and, ultimately, war. Amos is a tenant farmer’s son who falls head over heels for an earl’s daughter, at a time when such a union was unthinkable. Nevertheless, Charlotte returned his feelings with her whole heart, until she’s forced to marry a neighboring earl, knowing that the union will not be a love match.

Then the onset of World War One changes everything, with Charlotte’s husband and Amos sent to the front. Amos returns horribly wounded outside and in and shuts himself away. But fast forwarding a couple of decades and World War Two pulls him from relative safety and back into Charlotte’s life.

This was a beautiful book, the later story against the Coventry blitz, designed to cripple the British munitions effort. The city itself was decimated in places, but the resilient residents held strong and prevailed. This is an event I know well as my own Mum was a little girl during this season, and lived in Coventry. Cambron is deft in weaving real history with two distinct love stories. About 75% of the way through I realize quite how clever this writer is with a truly stunning detail that seemed small until I grasped the significance. All I can say is ‘bravo.’

I received a copy of The British Booksellers from the publisher via NetGalley, I also grabbed the audiobook. The narrator did a good job. The views are my own.

Giving this book a neutral rating. I was not able to get through it. It just didn’t grab my attention, but I also only got about 10% of the way in before giving up. I may try again in the future, but did not start off interesting enough for me to continue at this time.

I am going to leave my original review above, but continue here with an update. I am a mood reader, and the first time I picked up this book, I just wasn't feeling it. However, I was given an audio ARC a few weeks later, and upon listening to the book in full, I can happily update that I give this book 5 stars. The story is absolutely heart warming and once I started listening, I couldn't stop - I finished this book in one day. My heart hurt at so many places, especially for Will of all characters, but in the end, I was happily surprised with how everything worked out. The author wove the perfect threads of connection from the very beginning. I highly recommend this book if you like historical romances that are suspenseful in light ways.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for a ARC of this audiobook.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this book. Kristy Cambron is a new author to me and I am excited to check out some of her previous novels. I love historical fiction and have read a lot of WWI and WWII novels, so I like when a book covers a little known aspect of the war. I really knew nothing specifically about the Coventry Blitz, so really enjoyed learning about it through the plot and the author's note at the end. This is a dual time novel following the main characters through WWI and WWII. The book is thoroughly researched, the characters well developed and plot engaging and well paced. I also loved the narrator, Barrie Kreinik. She did a wonderful job engaging the listener in the story and conveying the characters' emotions and feelings. Historical fiction fans will not want to miss this one!

Historical Fiction at its best. Travel back between 1914 and 1940, before WW1 and during WW2 in England. How do lives on an Estate change through these wars. The setting of a bookshop drew me to this book and the characters have a deep love of books but the main part of the story is how lives are changed due to class and war. The narrator did a great job. The characters were flawed and believable. I would highly recommend this book to those interested in WW2 or historical fiction with a bit of romance thrown in.

Title: The British Booksellers
Author: Kristy Cambron
Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Length: Approximately 11 hours and 18 minutes
Source: Thank-you to NetGalley for the audiobook review copy. Thank-you Thomas Nelson and Austenprose for the review copy of the physical book.

Do you like to read books about bookstores or libraries? I love to visit both, and I enjoy reading books about them.

The British Booksellers is a dual timeline novel set during WWI and WWII. In the pre-WWI timeline, there is a love triangle. Amos Darby is a farmer’s son and is in love with Charlotte Terrington, an heiress. Will Holt is the Earl’s son and also in love with Charlotte. Charlotte has been promised in marriage to Will, but what happened to her relationship with Amos? What happened to Will? In the WWII era, Charlotte and her daughter Eden ran a bookshop in Coventry. Across the street is their bitter rival, Amos Darby and his bookshop. When a mysterious American comes to town with a legal case against Eden, will all the secrets of the past come out?

My thoughts on this novel:
• I really enjoyed the dual timeline and how they perfectly went together. The events of the past were finally revealed at the end of the WWII era to explain what was happening at the time.

• The story was told through multiple points of view.

• It was interesting how the trauma of WWI (the Great War) had ripple effects that impacted the next generation that were then at the forefront of WWII. It’s always said to me that there was not any help for soldiers who suffered from PTSD.

• The Coventry blitz was devastating. Afterwards, the Germans termed a new term in modern warfare: Coventrieren which means “to devastate or raze a city to the ground.”

• The build-up to the blitz was also nail-biting as bombs started to fall, the finding of hidden German paratrooper gear, and questions on whether the American lawyer is really an American or a German spy.

• I liked the addition of the land girls to the story and how they came to town to help run the Holt estate.

• I really enjoyed the characters in this novel. I particularly enjoyed that when I thought a character was not a good person like WWII era Amos, or WWI era Will, the story grew deeper, and more complex as you learned more about each person and that there was more to them than met the eye.

• This story was also about forgiveness, second chances, and moving forward with life after a devastating occurrence.

• It was interesting how the differences between classes was strict before WWI, but had eased by the time of WWII.

• I listened to this book on audiobook. Barrie Kreinik was a wonderful narrator, and I especially enjoyed the voice acting.

• I enjoyed that this novel had both a second chance romance as well as an enemies to lovers romance.

• This novel was a clean read.

• Author Kristy Cambron included a great author’s note that explained her inspirations and the real history behind this novel.

Overall, The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron is a compelling historical fiction novel with engaging characters and a great dual timeline plot. I highly recommend it.

"You carry an emergency book?
""Doesn't everyone?" She shrugged. ..."Books were as necessary to us as oxygen."

There were so many elements to this novel that made it such an enjoyable read. The dual timeline is split between WWI with a forbidden romance involving an earl's daughter Charlotte, and a farmer's son Amos, and WW2 with the same couple competing against each other as booksellers. It's a novel of second chance romance for two people who think a chance for happiness has been stolen from them by social expectations, war, and past mistakes. The very worst happens when the Nazis target their town of Coventry, but its this tragedy that makes them realize how precious life and love are. This was such an enjoyable read! I appreciated the author setting the novel in Coventry, as I was not familiar with the devastation of the blitz that occurred there.

A cozy historical fiction spanning both world wars and a second-chance romance. This story came together well, and I hadn’t known much about the Coventry Blitz prior to reading (although this book will inspire you to take a deep dive into this part of WWII history). Despite covering two wars, it was a charming read. I found myself rooting more for Eden, rather than our main couple, Charlotte and Amos!

This is a wonderful audiobook narrator, highly recommend reading in audiobook format!

*Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

I would personally recommend starting this book at regular speed or a slower on if you usually listen to books sped up. It is quite well done and the narration is wonderful but there is a lot going on that is essential at the beginning and missing it could make things confusing!

The story itself is just incredible. My heart wept and grieved for what was lost and soared for this second-chance love story that takes place across two timelines. Amos and Charlie’s (Lady Charlotte) story is full of longing, bravery, and heartache. These two were secret childhood friends, who didn’t let the difference in their stations stop their affections from growing. But life and society expectancy did their best to thwart their dreams at every turn, and just as they hoped to make their escape for their love, the Great War ripped them apart. Now 25 years later and another war to face, Amos and Charlotte are at odds as competing bookshop sellers. Charlotte is a war widow and has a grown daughter, while Amos seems intent on staying a grumpy hermit. With the Germans blitzing Coventry nearly daily, Amos and Charlotte must come together to help their community through, and maybe find that their love can bloom again.

I particularly loved the way the author, Kristy Cambron, wove the past and present together. It’s like looking through an old family photo album and hearing all the stories behind the pictures. While the book is mainly about Amos and Charlie, it’s also about Eden, Charlotte’s daughter, and a mysterious American solicitor who threatens everything she holds dear.

The audio narration was magnificent. Barrie Kreinik has a melodic voice and draws you into the story. Many thanks to @kristycambron @austenprose and @thomasnelson for the physical copy of the book and for having me be apart of this tour. Also thanks to @netgalley and publisher for the early audio copy to listen to in exchange for my review.

My friends read this book if you love:
📖 Great War & WWII setting
📖 Downton Abbey/ Upstairs Downstairs/ You’ve Got Mail vibes
📖 Slow Burn/Enduring Love
📖 Rich Historical Details

1914 and 1940 England

Beautifully written time slip novel with both threads set at the beginning of world wars. The cover is lovely and perfect for the story it holds. And a novel with a nod to booksellers...happy sigh.

Amos and Charlotte are the main characters in both threads. In 1914, they are young and in love. Their class differences make their match unlikely, but love isn't boxed in by such constraints. Until it is.

In 1940, Amos and Charlotte are competing booksellers that don't speak to each other. As war once again ravages England, will they get their second chance at love?

Stellar job by narrator Barrie Kreinik. My only complaint is that "1914" sounds so similar to "1940" causing this reader to be initially unclear which time period was starting.

Another winner by the talented Kristy Cambron.

This historical fiction novel taking place in Coventry, England, is full of action, intriguing characters and romance. With events occurring over WWI and WWII this well-researched dual-timeline account leading up to the “Forgotten Blitz” was such a page-turner. I was anxious to see where the multi-generational characters would end up. I appreciated the layers of beautiful language and the clever unfolding of events while also being clean. I will definitely be visiting Cambron’s other writings as soon as possible! The narration of this audiobook was also very appealing with the ability to capture all characters well.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC.

Edit; I read this amazing story and then listened to it audibly. These are my thoughts on the Audible version. I absolutely loved it. The narrator did a fantastic job. It was like watching a movie in my minds eye as she performed the narration. She handled each character masterfully and brought the book to life for me each word at a time. Well done!!

“Everyone is something to someone. Remember that. The scars we bear should make us more worthy of understanding, not less.”

I absolutely loved this book. Kristy Cambron has written a new classic in historical fiction. This tale of war and love from both the Great War and World War II had me spellbound. Second chance romance, split time periods, mystery, wounded hero, and a strong heroine make this book a must-read. Add in a second romance with a satisfying ending, and it's a 5 star read for me.
*I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers and this is my honest opinion.

Captivating historical fiction by Kristy Cambron. I enjoyed every minute of "The British Booksellers ". The narration was terrific! I highly recommend this audio book!

A dual timeline epic historical fiction framed by WW I and WWII. Cambron writes strong characters and an ode to the value of books. I have read a lot of WWII historical novels, so I found the historical details rather familiar, however, I am sure for some others this will be new and interesting.


Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for an audio ARC.