The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams

Dove Pond #4

by Karen Hawkins

A brand new novel in the “sometimes whimsical, often insightful, always absorbing” (Shelf Awareness) Dove Pond series that follows a gifted historian investigating the mystery of a love story lost to time. When an antique tin of love letters is found hidden in her family home, noted historian Tay Dove rushes home to Dove Pond to investigate. Tay is still reeling from a romantic betrayal, so she’s relieved to refocus her energies on her latest a biography of her great-great-grandmother Sarafina, a star reporter who began her career in Dove Pond in the late 19th century before abruptly leaving town. Tay believes the letters could be the key in solving what happened, but they only add to her questions—especially when they reveal a forbidden love affair with William Day, a wild youth who took part in a notorious train robbery. Some answers might be found in eighty-year-old Rose Day’s bookshop, which doubles as a town archive, but Rose is curiously resistant to give Tay access. Just when Tay thinks she’s reached a dead end, she finds an unlikely ally in Rose’s grandson, Luke, a fellow puzzle lover. Together, they set out to uncover what really happened all those years ago…and find the truth behind a love story that could be more precious than gold. Perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Allison Allen, The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams proves that adventure is always waiting to be found, especially within the pages of a book.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Books About Books

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 2, 2024

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Hawkins writes novels that have been praised as touching, witty, charming, and heartwarming. A native Southerner who grew up in the mountains of East Tennessee where storytelling is a way of life, Karen recently moved to frosty New England with her beloved husband and multiple foster dogs. The Dove Pond books are a nod to the thousands of books that opened doors to more adventures, places, and discoveries than she ever imagined possible. To find out more about Karen, follow her at:
FACEBOOK • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM • PINTEREST

If you'd like to keep up with Karen's crazed and hectic schedule, win free books, find out about her coming releases, or just want to engage in some easy on-line snooping, sign up for Karen's amazing newsletter!

Reviews

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the Dove Pond series after reading and loving, The Book Charmer, which remains my favorite book in the series. I enjoy the sense of community, romance, and family that Karen Hawkins creates in her books. I also enjoy her writing, the characters she creates, and getting to know the Dove sisters. All the Dove sisters have a special gift! In The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams, Tay has returned to her hometown and to her sisters. She has recently suffered heartbreak and is using this time work on her biography of her great-great-grandmother Sarafina. She turns to Rose Day and her wonderful bookshop which also serves as the town's archives. It is there that Rose's grandson; Luke agrees to help her with her research....

While I enjoyed this book, it was my least favorite out of the series. But I did enjoy how The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams delves into the past with Seraphina and a young man named William and the present day with Tay and Luke doing their best to uncover the truth about what happened all those years ago. I did find this book to be charming and heartwarming.

What shines through is the relationships, the sense of community, the sisters, and Karen Hawkins’ lovely writing.

Well written, well thought out and charming.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Obsidian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I just feel disappointed. I used to really love this series. If you are looking for a romance, go elsewhere. The relationship (in the current time) was a lot of not seen at all until the very end. The plot as it were was boring and I saw it coming miles and miles away. I just don't know. I love magical realism, I don't know why Hawkins has gotten so boring with this series and the Dove sisters. Having multiple points of views in her books is really not working. And then the romance not being front and center has hurt the series too. I imagine she has at least 3 more books since there's 7 Dove sisters.

"The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams" follows Tay Dove who returns home after a romance ends. She's a historian/researcher who comes home to focus on her great great grandmother Sarafina and a puzzle she left behind for her daughter. When Tay starts researching, she reluctantly joins up with Rose Day's (a bookstore owner) grandson, Luke.

Look there are more points of view going on, we get Tay, Rose, Luke, and Sarafina's. It took more almost two weeks I think to just get through this one. I really didn't care about any of the "plot". The flow was awful from beginning to end. I think adding in Sarafina's point of view added nothing to the book. Rose's point of view was not welcomed at all. I wish that Hawkins would at least just focus on the two romantic leads (though they really were not in my opinion).

The other Dove sisters pop up, but they felt like weird characters that Hawkins did not know what to do with it. It was odd. I just don't know. This felt like a filler book to me.

The ending was not a surprise. I do think it was nice to see Zoe and Grace again.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serafina Dove. Taylor (Tay) has come back to Dove Pond to do some research on this woman who was a pioneer in reporting horrid conditions of child labor in New York. Her sisters have found a tin box filled with cards and letters, and Tay has come to investigate and see what she can learn. Tay has inherited an amazing gift: whenever she touches someone’s handwriting, she gets a flash of the world through the author’s eyes at the exact moment their pen or pencil crossed the page. Included with that flash is an unvarnished glimpse of their location, feelings and thoughts.

Tay had decided that one’s ancestry is important. That “family records teach us where we came from”.

Then there’s Rose, who owns a bookstore. There’s her grandson, Luke, “easy on the eyes” but whose eyes are locked on puzzles and games and gizmos and technology as he helps out at the bookstore. There’s Kat, who absolutely loves books and everything about them.

I read this EARC courtesy of Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster. Published August 27, 2024

[Pat Chrivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dove Pond adventures are the best.

[Susan Viscusi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is absolutely amazing! As the characters surround themselves around 7 sisters, this is the 4th book in the series, so I'm hoping 3 more books are in the works! Excellent captivating story!

[Avree Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brought back that similar charm of book one, and had a good mystery at its center that kept me engaged. However, I did not care for the multiple POVs in this one. Especially Rose, who would have been fine simply as a character for our MC to engage with. I’m not even sure we needed Luke broken out as his own POV, but I enjoyed his character. I did enjoy aspects of the dual timeline involving Seraphina. Overall, a good cozy read! Or listen, rather. ;)

[Mich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great series about the Dove sisters. You probably should read in order. Enjoyable. Lighthearted feel good read.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading "The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams," which is the fourth book in the Dove Pond series by Karen Hawkins. It's also the fourth book of hers that I've read. The story follows Tay, who returns to Dove Pond to investigate intriguing information about Sarafina Dove, only to discover more than she anticipated.
I thoroughly enjoyed delving back into the Dove Pond series and continuing the saga of the sisters. This book, like the previous three, offers captivating characters, a charming setting, and a mystery that Tay is determined to solve, with a little bit of help, of course.
I found myself staying up late just to continue reading this book. If it weren't for real-life responsibilities, I would have finished it even sooner, as it's a real page-turner. While I did see the plot twist coming, it was still exciting to see how they solved the puzzle.
I was particularly fond of the ending. [SPOILER ALERT] I appreciated that while there were hints of romance throughout the story, it wasn't the main focus. Don't get me wrong—I loved Luke and I'm a fan of romance, but for Tay's story, I think it was important not to entirely center it around romance.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams is the first novel I have read in this series. I have read Karen Hawkins’ book just not from this series. I have been missing a great series if this book is any indication. The Dove Pond series with The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams included is a whimsical contemporary romance series. Well-written with complex characters both past and present.

Tay Dove comes home because of a family find but she actually needs to be there to help with a romantic betrayal that has left her reeling. Family is big in this story as well as past loves, lost loves and new loves. A mystery and a love story all rolled into one. The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams is the fourth book in the Dove Pond Series, but I had no problem jumping into the series with this book. Now I want to read the previous books too.

[Karina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoiler full rant. I usually enjoy this series 😫 but the stakes were beyond low this time around, so much so that the most exciting things that happen are a fall from a tree & a fall into a fountain.
The love interests don’t so much as hold hands this time around, but that’s okay because I think they’re actually blood related in some way… I don’t understand that choice.
The David/William thing is obvious from the first introduction of David because he’s said to be a mysterious man who came out of nowhere with a lot of money… duh.
I just hate this book the more I think about it. The Tay/Richard storyline just fizzled when there could have been a more exciting scene of her getting her dues, but there’s a phone call then her lawyer fixes it in a blink & you’ll miss it kind of way.
Arguably, Tay might have the coolest power, there’s so much more I wanted to see, and the romance factor was missing, which seemed to be an integral part of this series til now.
I’m just annoyed.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite of the series so far. I loved Tay, who slowly learns how to stand up for herself through the novel and finds her place is in Dove Pond, not Boston. I also enjoyed her interactions with Luke and getting to visit with the Doves of the previous books, but, for me, the best part was the mystery behind the box left behind by Sarafina and following the clues to the secret she left behind. I look forward to the next one in the series

[Miki · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Hallmark movie in print. No, thanks.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed this whole series by Karen Hawkins. They've all been fun so I was eager to read The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams too! Each of the 7 sisters of the Dove family have a special, magical gift. Tay's gift works when she's reading something written by someone else and when she touches the writing she can see and feel what they did. That really comes in handy as she and Luke seek to find answers about his relative William Day. Probably not my favorite of this series, but still very enjoyable.

I read/listened to the audio version and loved all the different voices that each narrator did.

Great little mystery and sweet, easy romance between Tay and Luke.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 27 August 024

[Hannah Stob · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet story! Absolutely loved this installment in the Dove Pond series 😍

I loved the subtle mystery to this story, the clues and riddles weren’t over the top and fun to try to figure out.

I absolutely love how Karen Hawkins writes her love storylines, they are slower but feel very genuine. I loved Tay and Luke’s relationship and the way they opened up to each other.

I can’t wait to see what comes next!!

4.5 stars rounded up; only because I loved the Book Charmer best! 🥰

[Jacque Ayala · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book. The plot was intriguing with the added interest of a treasure! It has a variety of characters that are interesting enough to add to the whole plot. The main characters are very likeable and to me seem "real" with the exception of their gifts. Although those gifts from the Dove girls make it magical in a sense. It was a solid book! Enjoyable. I will be reading "Book Charmer" next from this same author. ☺️

[ME · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best of the series! Nothing about this series is cookie cutter to start with and each one is a fresh adventure. This one was wholly satisfying! Suspenseful, but not fraught with unrequited romance and mooning about. It was just really fun. Except Rose, who was a complete pill. Love the series. Love this installment (plus a nod to the genre's Queen, SAA!!).

[Gerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so enjoying this series! I hope there are more to come, as this one was the fourth Sister's story and there are seven Sisters. I've also read the two novellas and enjoyed them. I enthusiastically recommend this series: Bits of magic, dashes of romance (and I'm not big on the romantic genre), and quirky characters.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as charming as the rest of the Dove Pond series. Has a lot less magic realism and romance. Character development is lacking. Some plot holes in the "mystery." Feels like the author rushed through the story. Still an enjoyable, easy read.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice change of pace from my current mystery reads. Trickled in w some romance, a “feel good” book

[Suzanna Strauss · Rating 4 out of 5]

So mysterious I lurved it

[Sharon Brink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the mystery, trying to solve clues, and romance, both current and from the past, all in the setting of a wonderful bookshop.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully warm read that I couldn't put down. I will be reading the rest of the series. Wholesome!

[Diana Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book hard to stop reading it I loved it

[Kelly Pantaleoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story about life and love and lies and truth and how solving a secret can help you find out who you really are.

[Hannah⚡️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[JASARA HINES · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute small town, scavenger hunt type novel. not much to it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a sweet little mystery with some magic and romance like the rest in the series.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun easy read. Little bit of mystery, love story x 2, and fun.

[Sara Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute mystery book

[Katrenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75. I enjoyed the story and figuring out the secret message. I was glad Tay found the backbone to stand up for herself where her ex was concerned. Luke was my favorite character.

The narration was a little hard to listen to. It needed a softer touch.