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Riverside Lane #1
La Vie en Mieux
Après s'être fait renvoyer de son job à New York, Amber se retrouve sans un sou en poche. Le temps de faire face, elle accepte la proposition de sa marraine de venir passer un peu de temps dans le village anglais perdu où elle vit. Direction Cranbridge, entre pluie, vaches et champs à perte de vue. Lorsque la jeune femme découvre que le magasin tenu par sa marraine est pratiquement au bord de la faillite, elle espère pouvoir faire quelque chose, le temps de son séjour. Ses talents dans le marketing pourraient bien sauver la petite boutique. Avec l'aide de Josh, l'employé du magasin, elle insuffle une nouvelle énergie. Et peu à peu, alors que le village reprend vie, Amber se surprend à penser qu'elle a peut-être trouvé sa vraie place. Et qu'elle pourrait bien avoir mille et une bonnes raisons de rester...
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2020
927 people are currently reading
1876 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 448 reviews
August 26, 2022
Oh be still my DIY loving heart...Who doesn't like a good makeover story? Fascinated and mesmerised we watch these programs and think we could do as well- just a lick of paint here and there, a few cushions, a fireplace, and a gingham table cloth...Nah, better leave it to experts :)
Seriously, I love this series. It is sweet, relaxing, and heartwarming, like a cuppa on a cold and windy November day. It's all about community spirit and lovely friendships, finding a place where we belong and people we belong with.
Amber Green's parents decided to move to New Zealand, so when she is made redundant by her New York employer, Amber doesn't feel she has a place she can call a home. Her parents are more than happy to welcome her on their brandnew farm, but would like Amber to visit her godmother Cathy who lives in Cranbridge in the middle of England. Cathy has had a few very tough years. First, her husband Todd passed away, then she had to go for cancer treatment. Cathy's son Josh feels their family shop could do with some serious modernising, but his mum, stuck in her grief, stubbornly refuses to change things.
Enter Amber..and what an entrance it is! Some books start with a bang, this one starts with a tumble into the local river...Amber is a lovely, kind-hearted girl and it's impossible not to wish her all the happiness in the world. But is she really just passing through this picturesque village or is there a chance that Amber can help this lovely, peaceful place get a push towards revival?
The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts is the first book in Alson Sherlock's Riverside Lane series which focuses on four friends (Amber, Lucy, Belle and Molly) who live in a little village called Cranbridge. The protagonists are very likeable (although Josh could have been a teeny-tiny bit less grumpy and more proactive) and there's a large cast of secondary characters, including Grandma Tilly (she will steal your heart), Dodgy Del, Stanley and many others- don't worry, somehow it doesn't get overwhelming, you just get a nice glimpse of this supportive community.
It was nice to come back to this series and re-read the first book. And now I'm off to the second book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the review copy.
Seriously, I love this series. It is sweet, relaxing, and heartwarming, like a cuppa on a cold and windy November day. It's all about community spirit and lovely friendships, finding a place where we belong and people we belong with.
Amber Green's parents decided to move to New Zealand, so when she is made redundant by her New York employer, Amber doesn't feel she has a place she can call a home. Her parents are more than happy to welcome her on their brandnew farm, but would like Amber to visit her godmother Cathy who lives in Cranbridge in the middle of England. Cathy has had a few very tough years. First, her husband Todd passed away, then she had to go for cancer treatment. Cathy's son Josh feels their family shop could do with some serious modernising, but his mum, stuck in her grief, stubbornly refuses to change things.
Enter Amber..and what an entrance it is! Some books start with a bang, this one starts with a tumble into the local river...Amber is a lovely, kind-hearted girl and it's impossible not to wish her all the happiness in the world. But is she really just passing through this picturesque village or is there a chance that Amber can help this lovely, peaceful place get a push towards revival?
The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts is the first book in Alson Sherlock's Riverside Lane series which focuses on four friends (Amber, Lucy, Belle and Molly) who live in a little village called Cranbridge. The protagonists are very likeable (although Josh could have been a teeny-tiny bit less grumpy and more proactive) and there's a large cast of secondary characters, including Grandma Tilly (she will steal your heart), Dodgy Del, Stanley and many others- don't worry, somehow it doesn't get overwhelming, you just get a nice glimpse of this supportive community.
It was nice to come back to this series and re-read the first book. And now I'm off to the second book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the review copy.
July 14, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
‘Love may be blind, but it’s marriage that’s the real eye-opener,’ she told him, glancing behind her as the shouting became even louder.
A facelift? The shop needed a full makeover, complete with major heart surgery.
‘It’s going to look worse before it looks better,’ she told Grandma Tilly. ‘Then perhaps I think you’re at rock bottom now, my dear,’ said Tilly, with a wink.
‘I don’t know what’s in it,’ Molly told them, making a face. ‘It’s pretty disgusting, but after a couple of glasses you lose all feeling in your tongue so you don’t care!’ … ‘That punch could strip paint off the walls. Although the wallpaper in here appears to be doing that all by itself.’
I didn’t even have time for a nightcap last night. I think my body’s gone into toxic shock.
My Review:
This was a wryly amusing, sweet, and insightfully written story filled with a full complement of likable, hard-working, and well-meaning characters who were struggling with lives that didn’t turn out as planned while residing in a small rural village that had seen better days. The writing and storylines were easy to follow, engaging, and held my interest with humorous banter, family issues, and a slow-burn romance that did not progress beyond igniting the pilot light until the very last chapter. I admired the characters’ creativity, initiative, and innovations in attempting to save their business and community.
‘Love may be blind, but it’s marriage that’s the real eye-opener,’ she told him, glancing behind her as the shouting became even louder.
A facelift? The shop needed a full makeover, complete with major heart surgery.
‘It’s going to look worse before it looks better,’ she told Grandma Tilly. ‘Then perhaps I think you’re at rock bottom now, my dear,’ said Tilly, with a wink.
‘I don’t know what’s in it,’ Molly told them, making a face. ‘It’s pretty disgusting, but after a couple of glasses you lose all feeling in your tongue so you don’t care!’ … ‘That punch could strip paint off the walls. Although the wallpaper in here appears to be doing that all by itself.’
I didn’t even have time for a nightcap last night. I think my body’s gone into toxic shock.
My Review:
This was a wryly amusing, sweet, and insightfully written story filled with a full complement of likable, hard-working, and well-meaning characters who were struggling with lives that didn’t turn out as planned while residing in a small rural village that had seen better days. The writing and storylines were easy to follow, engaging, and held my interest with humorous banter, family issues, and a slow-burn romance that did not progress beyond igniting the pilot light until the very last chapter. I admired the characters’ creativity, initiative, and innovations in attempting to save their business and community.
October 16, 2021
A cute story
A young girl not having much confidence, visits a family friend on her way to return home which turns win win for her and the friend, blending them together.
A young girl not having much confidence, visits a family friend on her way to return home which turns win win for her and the friend, blending them together.
October 14, 2024
Amber is made redundant from her job in New York. Then she is asked by her mother to go and visit her godmother, Cathy who is her mother’s best friend of many years. Cathy lives in the small village of Cranbridge. There Cathy owns and runs a shop. The village has empty lanes and a lot of run down shops. Hardly inspiring. However, when Amber learns that Cranbridge Stores is in severe financial trouble, she
resolves to use her skills as a window dresser to try and renew interest and save the struggling shop.
Josh is living in Cranbridge with his mother Cathy since his father died and he resents being there. He wishes there was some way he could leave and go back to his stalled career. But he won”t leave his mum to try and cope on her own. When Amber pitches in to help, he ends up helping her try to restore the shop and make it the heart and focus of the village as it used to be years before. Josh is attracted to Amber but she is only staying a short time. Unless she can find a reason to stay?
An enjoyable tale of friendship, family, love and community. It also highlights the way bullying at school can effect a person’s life and destroy their confidence.
I really liked Amber, and Josh, also Cathy and her mother Tilly. Several of the secondary characters of the community are fun.
A bit predictable in parts but still a charming, feel good story that left me smiling.
An enjoyable read.
resolves to use her skills as a window dresser to try and renew interest and save the struggling shop.
Josh is living in Cranbridge with his mother Cathy since his father died and he resents being there. He wishes there was some way he could leave and go back to his stalled career. But he won”t leave his mum to try and cope on her own. When Amber pitches in to help, he ends up helping her try to restore the shop and make it the heart and focus of the village as it used to be years before. Josh is attracted to Amber but she is only staying a short time. Unless she can find a reason to stay?
An enjoyable tale of friendship, family, love and community. It also highlights the way bullying at school can effect a person’s life and destroy their confidence.
I really liked Amber, and Josh, also Cathy and her mother Tilly. Several of the secondary characters of the community are fun.
A bit predictable in parts but still a charming, feel good story that left me smiling.
An enjoyable read.
April 18, 2023
*Amber’s Awakening’
This is a sweet & touching escapism story. There were moments that I was laughing out loud.
This is essentially Amber’s story, she is a window dresser and has been living in America dressing large department store windows. After being made redundant she then decides to travel to New Zealand to where her parents have relocated but stops off in the U.K. to the village of Cranbridge where her Godmother Cathy who is also her mother’s best friend lives.
Amber has always sought solace in her sketchbook. She found it difficult to to make friends as her parents never settled in one place for long so she was often bullied and her self confidence has taken a sharp decline.
So in the village of Cranbridge where her godmother Cathy and son Josh also own a shop that lacks love and its occupants are less than enthusiastic. Amber can automatically see potential. It is also crammed to the rafters, with barely any customers the shop is not far from swallowing them up whole.
Amber is only due to spend a few weeks with them, what to do?
Cathy out of the blue decides to travel to see her best friend Amber’s mum in New Zealand and has finally come to terms with letting Josh make some changes in the shop. With Amber extending her stay what can they do to save the shop? …
The locals are a mixed bag but at the heart of the village when push comes to shove, they prove they are a community
This is a sweet & touching escapism story. There were moments that I was laughing out loud.
This is essentially Amber’s story, she is a window dresser and has been living in America dressing large department store windows. After being made redundant she then decides to travel to New Zealand to where her parents have relocated but stops off in the U.K. to the village of Cranbridge where her Godmother Cathy who is also her mother’s best friend lives.
Amber has always sought solace in her sketchbook. She found it difficult to to make friends as her parents never settled in one place for long so she was often bullied and her self confidence has taken a sharp decline.
So in the village of Cranbridge where her godmother Cathy and son Josh also own a shop that lacks love and its occupants are less than enthusiastic. Amber can automatically see potential. It is also crammed to the rafters, with barely any customers the shop is not far from swallowing them up whole.
Amber is only due to spend a few weeks with them, what to do?
Cathy out of the blue decides to travel to see her best friend Amber’s mum in New Zealand and has finally come to terms with letting Josh make some changes in the shop. With Amber extending her stay what can they do to save the shop? …
The locals are a mixed bag but at the heart of the village when push comes to shove, they prove they are a community
July 20, 2020
A delightful heart warming story about Hope, friendship, and community. Alison Sherlock this was such a treat! Amber is returning home to a small rural town in the UK after losing her job in NYC. The situation is only temporary because after she spends some time with her godmother she is heading to New Zealand to live with her parents who have just relocated there. Josh has returned home after his father‘s death to help in the family’s village shop. Now Amber and Josh both find themselves working in this quaint village shop in need of a lot of TLC both not necessarily wanting to be there. A tractor. A pub. A bridge. A flood. A coffee maker. Locally sourced produce and cheese. A Christmas market. A sweet tale. Loved reading this so much! I so enjoyed Amber and Josh transforming the shop. Loved all the charming quirky villagers who dropped by the shop for a cup of coffee or the newspaper. Loved the wonderful sense of community (I’m betting all these people would wear masks if they were in the middle of a pandemic, just saying). The perfect book to escape into while the world around me seems to get a little crazier every day.
This book in emojis 🚜 🍃 🎃 ☕️ 🍰 ☔️
This book in emojis 🚜 🍃 🎃 ☕️ 🍰 ☔️
May 26, 2020
Also available on the WondrousBooks blog.
The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts is a cute short novel about a woman called Amber who, after getting fired from her job in New York, goes to visit her godmother in England before moving to New Zealand where her parents live. Amber is unsure about where her life is headed, lacks confidence and a sense of belonging to a community. All of that is changed when her godmother takes off on a trip, leaving Amber to help Josh, the godmother's son, in running a small village shop on the brink of bankruptcy.
Some might say that the story is not the most realistic one, but... in all fairness, I did not care while reading it. The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts is heartwarming and touching. It shows the efforts of two people to bring the heart back to a quiet village full of lonely people. There was a romance part, but most of all this book gave me the warm feeling of seeing a community being built. It was lovely following the change of the run down store which in turn revitalized the lives of the many people living in the village but separated from any sort of a society. I really liked seeing characters like Stanley, an old man who goes to the store every day to buy his newspaper and chat a bit with the people there because he doesn't have anyone else, and him ultimately finding a place of belonging through that store.
Amber was also a nice main character. I would not say that the depth was incredible, but then this is just a small feel-good novel, and it was refreshing to actually feel good while reading it. Amber was kind and creative, a bit too shy, but still likable. Josh was similarly sweet and nice, albeit a bit conflicted.
If you're looking for something which can put a little smile on your face, look no further.
(Also, if you have any mild form of OCD, you might find it satisfying. They start with a messy shop full of scattered goods, and end up with a cute little family shop. While they were discussing getting it into shape, I was almost chanting "Do it, do it!", because I couldn't wait to follow the process of the place being fixed up.)
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC.
(Quarantine: Book 17)
The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts is a cute short novel about a woman called Amber who, after getting fired from her job in New York, goes to visit her godmother in England before moving to New Zealand where her parents live. Amber is unsure about where her life is headed, lacks confidence and a sense of belonging to a community. All of that is changed when her godmother takes off on a trip, leaving Amber to help Josh, the godmother's son, in running a small village shop on the brink of bankruptcy.
Some might say that the story is not the most realistic one, but... in all fairness, I did not care while reading it. The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts is heartwarming and touching. It shows the efforts of two people to bring the heart back to a quiet village full of lonely people. There was a romance part, but most of all this book gave me the warm feeling of seeing a community being built. It was lovely following the change of the run down store which in turn revitalized the lives of the many people living in the village but separated from any sort of a society. I really liked seeing characters like Stanley, an old man who goes to the store every day to buy his newspaper and chat a bit with the people there because he doesn't have anyone else, and him ultimately finding a place of belonging through that store.
Amber was also a nice main character. I would not say that the depth was incredible, but then this is just a small feel-good novel, and it was refreshing to actually feel good while reading it. Amber was kind and creative, a bit too shy, but still likable. Josh was similarly sweet and nice, albeit a bit conflicted.
If you're looking for something which can put a little smile on your face, look no further.
(Also, if you have any mild form of OCD, you might find it satisfying. They start with a messy shop full of scattered goods, and end up with a cute little family shop. While they were discussing getting it into shape, I was almost chanting "Do it, do it!", because I couldn't wait to follow the process of the place being fixed up.)
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC.
(Quarantine: Book 17)
July 24, 2023
4 ⭐ = Good.
If you're after a read to make you smile... this might be the one for you.
A lovely setting, that I could clearly imagine. Alongside great characters and a decent plot.
If you're after a read to make you smile... this might be the one for you.
A lovely setting, that I could clearly imagine. Alongside great characters and a decent plot.
July 21, 2020
I was so disappointed in this book…… Disappointed I finished it, disappointed the next book isn’t available to read and disappointed I have had to let go of some of the loveliest characters I have ever had the pleasure to read and care about.
From the moment Amber turns up in Cranbridge it’s clear this isn’t the place she remembers fondly from her childhood. A once thriving community it has become quiet and without soul. The shop is an overstocked mess and the villagers are now preferring the supermarket. But as Amber and Josh set to work transforming the shop a bigger transformation happens in both Amber and the community. Friendships are formed, loneliness is conquered, old bullies are faced and romance is blossoming just as the autumn leaves are falling to the ground.
But as soon as Amber and Josh start making headway with the shop a flood threatens to destroy everything they have worked so hard for. This is just the time for the community to pull together.
What I loved most about this book is the characters. The author really conveyed how loneliness affects them in different ways and how small changes can really make a difference. Amber was an easy protagonist to warm to. Insecure but strangely confident at the same time she slips quietly in to your conscious and you really root for her. Even the smaller characters that don’t appear often have a big impact due to their big personalities and equally big hearts.
With a slow burn romance, gentle pace and some eclectic characters this will wrap you in warmth like one of Grandma Tilly’s blankets. And like Cranbridge stores this had everything I never knew I needed.
P.S I really hope to see Dodgy Del appear in future books as every village needs a character like him.
From the moment Amber turns up in Cranbridge it’s clear this isn’t the place she remembers fondly from her childhood. A once thriving community it has become quiet and without soul. The shop is an overstocked mess and the villagers are now preferring the supermarket. But as Amber and Josh set to work transforming the shop a bigger transformation happens in both Amber and the community. Friendships are formed, loneliness is conquered, old bullies are faced and romance is blossoming just as the autumn leaves are falling to the ground.
But as soon as Amber and Josh start making headway with the shop a flood threatens to destroy everything they have worked so hard for. This is just the time for the community to pull together.
What I loved most about this book is the characters. The author really conveyed how loneliness affects them in different ways and how small changes can really make a difference. Amber was an easy protagonist to warm to. Insecure but strangely confident at the same time she slips quietly in to your conscious and you really root for her. Even the smaller characters that don’t appear often have a big impact due to their big personalities and equally big hearts.
With a slow burn romance, gentle pace and some eclectic characters this will wrap you in warmth like one of Grandma Tilly’s blankets. And like Cranbridge stores this had everything I never knew I needed.
P.S I really hope to see Dodgy Del appear in future books as every village needs a character like him.
June 16, 2020
I like books about small town romance. Following the inhabitants life and struggles. These books make me feel like i am coming Home.And Even though I loved the storyline ,the book became too shallow for me. But thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest review
June 10, 2020
Left me with a smile on my face and a keen desire to read hopefully more Riverside Lane books.
Set during the autumnal months, this is a story that will warm the cockles of your heart, give you a big fuzzy feeling of contentment as you read it.
Set in the village of Cranbridge, it features Cranbridge stores, a one stop shop for anything you may need, well if you actually come into the shop and try to find it!
It's a shop in great need of an overhaul and fast as its struggling. Amber is only intending to be in the village for a few days to see her godmother, but fate conspires to keep her there for a bit longer.
Her first meeting with Josh was rather memorable, and its up to them to try to reverse the shops fortunes, and I loved seeing them working together.
You will have to read for yourself to see just how everything turns out.
I love Alison Sherlock's writing style, her way with words and just lovely stories.
A wonderful story to read curled up by a fire!
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which i have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Set during the autumnal months, this is a story that will warm the cockles of your heart, give you a big fuzzy feeling of contentment as you read it.
Set in the village of Cranbridge, it features Cranbridge stores, a one stop shop for anything you may need, well if you actually come into the shop and try to find it!
It's a shop in great need of an overhaul and fast as its struggling. Amber is only intending to be in the village for a few days to see her godmother, but fate conspires to keep her there for a bit longer.
Her first meeting with Josh was rather memorable, and its up to them to try to reverse the shops fortunes, and I loved seeing them working together.
You will have to read for yourself to see just how everything turns out.
I love Alison Sherlock's writing style, her way with words and just lovely stories.
A wonderful story to read curled up by a fire!
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which i have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
July 22, 2020
The village shop for lonely hearts us a sweet story about loneliness, friendship and community.
This is the first book in a series about Riverside Lane in the village if Cranbridge.
The main characters, Amber and Josh are likeable. The other characters in the village are sweet and added to the story. Being set in the autumn this book us ideal to curl up by the fireside with a hot drink.
This is the first book in a series about Riverside Lane in the village if Cranbridge.
The main characters, Amber and Josh are likeable. The other characters in the village are sweet and added to the story. Being set in the autumn this book us ideal to curl up by the fireside with a hot drink.
March 23, 2023
I listened to this as it was free on audible. It was well read but that was about it!
Predictable, twee, repetitive and just went on and on and on.
So obvious where it was going, so much lip biting and endless DIY!
I wanted to like it but I just can’t understand why anyone would give it a five star rating. I think my two stars is generous.
Predictable, twee, repetitive and just went on and on and on.
So obvious where it was going, so much lip biting and endless DIY!
I wanted to like it but I just can’t understand why anyone would give it a five star rating. I think my two stars is generous.
August 31, 2021
This book is exactly what it is advertised to be and I liked it! Perfectly fine writing and perfectly fine characters. The village and it's inhabitants seem great. However this story could have used a bit of editing.
July 14, 2020
A Sweet Story about Finding Home and Losing your Heart.
The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts is a lovely story about loneliness, friendship, and community.
Amber was a British expatriate in New York, working as a window designer for Saks 5th Avenue. She is very lonely in the big city but finds comfort in her creative work.
When she is fired, and her working visa is revoked, she realizes she has no home to go back to, as her parents had moved to New Zealand.
Lost and a little hurt by the situation, she ends up going to visit her godmother Cathy in Cranbridge, a small and deserted English town. She planned to stay for a few weeks to get herself together before following her parents to New Zealand.
But plans changed when she started to help Cathy and her son Josh to take care of their dilapidated and near-bankrupt shop.
Amber was so talented and yet so full of doubts about herself. Josh was in turmoil, trying to shield his mother from the problems and, at the same time, having a hard time to convince her that things had to change.
The story is lovely. All characters were facing challenges and trying to cope with change. They were good, honorable, relatable, and I was immediately invested in their happiness.
The author inserted some relevant themes throughout the story without overdoing it: senility, grief, illness, bullying, loneliness, and even environmental concerns.
Overall, a romantic and engrossing read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts is a lovely story about loneliness, friendship, and community.
Amber was a British expatriate in New York, working as a window designer for Saks 5th Avenue. She is very lonely in the big city but finds comfort in her creative work.
When she is fired, and her working visa is revoked, she realizes she has no home to go back to, as her parents had moved to New Zealand.
Lost and a little hurt by the situation, she ends up going to visit her godmother Cathy in Cranbridge, a small and deserted English town. She planned to stay for a few weeks to get herself together before following her parents to New Zealand.
But plans changed when she started to help Cathy and her son Josh to take care of their dilapidated and near-bankrupt shop.
Amber was so talented and yet so full of doubts about herself. Josh was in turmoil, trying to shield his mother from the problems and, at the same time, having a hard time to convince her that things had to change.
The story is lovely. All characters were facing challenges and trying to cope with change. They were good, honorable, relatable, and I was immediately invested in their happiness.
The author inserted some relevant themes throughout the story without overdoing it: senility, grief, illness, bullying, loneliness, and even environmental concerns.
Overall, a romantic and engrossing read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2024
A pleasant, light hearted romantic renovations story, set in the sleepy English countryside.
The tone of this book is one of gentle positivity - while not a complex tale, it remains uplifting throughout.
The tone of this book is one of gentle positivity - while not a complex tale, it remains uplifting throughout.
July 3, 2020
Things aren’t going too well for Amber Green. She’s lost her job in New York and, with no working visa, has no choice but to head for home. The problem is, she doesn’t have anywhere to call home anymore because her parents have just relocated to New Zealand. Before joining them there, her mum insists Amber spends time in the UK with her godmother, Cathy, in the village of Cranbridge.
Cranbridge was Amber’s home for part of her childhood but she doesn’t have particularly fond memories of growing up there and, if first impressions are anything to go by, it doesn’t look as though she’s going to have a better experience second time around. Cathy’s shop is packed to the rafters with stock but there don’t appear to be any customers. In fact, the whole place seems to be deserted. Where is everyone? With a very stressed Cathy at odds with her son, Josh, who appears to be in a permanently bad mood, Amber’s relieved that she’s just passing through.
But as the days pass and Amber helps out in the shop, she starts to see beyond the cluttered aisles and the empty streets outside. The store could be the heart of the community again ... if only Cathy could let go of the past and embrace change and if Amber could believe she could make a difference.
What starts as a gentle story of building friendships and a budding romance suddenly picks up pace one stormy night when the river keeps rising and the community faces disaster. I couldn’t stop turning the pages, hoping everyone would be safe.
This is a lovely story of finding yourself and discovering what home means. I loved how Alison described the struggling Cranbridge Stores and could vividly picture the store, the pub opposite, and the lost souls for whom a daily visit to the store was pretty much the only company they had each day. Along with Amber, I could see the potential for trying to turn things around and loved how she and Josh pulled together to save his family business.
So grab yourself a blanket and a hot chocolate (or your sunglasses and a glass of something cold!) and take a trip to the village of Cranbridge to see whether the heart of the village can become the heart of the community once more. Loved it.
Cranbridge was Amber’s home for part of her childhood but she doesn’t have particularly fond memories of growing up there and, if first impressions are anything to go by, it doesn’t look as though she’s going to have a better experience second time around. Cathy’s shop is packed to the rafters with stock but there don’t appear to be any customers. In fact, the whole place seems to be deserted. Where is everyone? With a very stressed Cathy at odds with her son, Josh, who appears to be in a permanently bad mood, Amber’s relieved that she’s just passing through.
But as the days pass and Amber helps out in the shop, she starts to see beyond the cluttered aisles and the empty streets outside. The store could be the heart of the community again ... if only Cathy could let go of the past and embrace change and if Amber could believe she could make a difference.
What starts as a gentle story of building friendships and a budding romance suddenly picks up pace one stormy night when the river keeps rising and the community faces disaster. I couldn’t stop turning the pages, hoping everyone would be safe.
This is a lovely story of finding yourself and discovering what home means. I loved how Alison described the struggling Cranbridge Stores and could vividly picture the store, the pub opposite, and the lost souls for whom a daily visit to the store was pretty much the only company they had each day. Along with Amber, I could see the potential for trying to turn things around and loved how she and Josh pulled together to save his family business.
So grab yourself a blanket and a hot chocolate (or your sunglasses and a glass of something cold!) and take a trip to the village of Cranbridge to see whether the heart of the village can become the heart of the community once more. Loved it.
September 12, 2022
B O O K R E V I E W
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
This was my first ever Alison Sherlock book and it will definitely not be my last! Everything about this book was just so entirely cute and it was a nice and cozy read for me.
After Amber loses her job in New York as a window dresser, she decides to go home to her parents but before goes to visit her godmother in Cambridge. She didn't expect to see Josh, her godmothers son and her childhood friend still there. She later finds out that the lovely village shop owned by her godmother wasn't doing well since her godmothers husband died and her godmother was diagnosed with cancer. She wants to leave as soon as possible but her luggage getting lost doesn't help so she agrees to help with the shop. What she didn't expect was to get closer to Josh once again.
This book was so cute and fluffy! It can be read in any season but I feel like you can never go wrong with reading a sweet romance book in September. This is a very good book if one has just entered the romance department since it's a fast but still light book to read. This was probably the first romance book that I read that really pushed me into reading romance.
I really recommend this book for those who are just starting out in the romance department. It's light, fluffy and overall a very cozy book that would go well with a cup of tea and some biscuits to go with it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
This was my first ever Alison Sherlock book and it will definitely not be my last! Everything about this book was just so entirely cute and it was a nice and cozy read for me.
After Amber loses her job in New York as a window dresser, she decides to go home to her parents but before goes to visit her godmother in Cambridge. She didn't expect to see Josh, her godmothers son and her childhood friend still there. She later finds out that the lovely village shop owned by her godmother wasn't doing well since her godmothers husband died and her godmother was diagnosed with cancer. She wants to leave as soon as possible but her luggage getting lost doesn't help so she agrees to help with the shop. What she didn't expect was to get closer to Josh once again.
This book was so cute and fluffy! It can be read in any season but I feel like you can never go wrong with reading a sweet romance book in September. This is a very good book if one has just entered the romance department since it's a fast but still light book to read. This was probably the first romance book that I read that really pushed me into reading romance.
I really recommend this book for those who are just starting out in the romance department. It's light, fluffy and overall a very cozy book that would go well with a cup of tea and some biscuits to go with it.
June 30, 2020
I wanted to love this book, I really did but I found it very slow paced and I didn't really get into it until I was halfway through. I found the story quite predictable however although I knew the main characters would end up together I didn't really feel the connection growing between them. I did like that the story was about the main male character as much as the female, if not more seeing it took place in his town. I also thought the ending was cute - full circle back to the beginning.
July 16, 2020
I am so happy this is the first book in a new series - the characters in Cranbridge are brilliant and I can't wait to read more about their lives and antics! Mind you, maybe someone should ensure there's a guard rail on the pedestrian river crossing to help prevent Amber and Josh or anyone else falling in in future!
This really is a feel-good read to put a smile on your face, it certainly did on mine. The change in the whole community as Amber and Josh help sort out the Cranbridge Stores is brilliantly portrayed and believable. There's a fantastic mix of characters, most of whom you learn to love, especially as they all come together for both the flood and Christmas market. It is a heartwarming story of community, self-evaluation, using your talents to help others and romance written with Alison Sherlock's usual skill in bringing everything to life within the pages of her books. It is so easy to imagine the characters and setting, the antics and activities as they are so well portrayed. I really enjoyed escaping into this story and can't wait to read more about Cranbridge folk in future. I have absolutely no hesitation in highly recommending this as a delightful read to escape into.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after thoroughly enjoying reading this fantastic read.
This really is a feel-good read to put a smile on your face, it certainly did on mine. The change in the whole community as Amber and Josh help sort out the Cranbridge Stores is brilliantly portrayed and believable. There's a fantastic mix of characters, most of whom you learn to love, especially as they all come together for both the flood and Christmas market. It is a heartwarming story of community, self-evaluation, using your talents to help others and romance written with Alison Sherlock's usual skill in bringing everything to life within the pages of her books. It is so easy to imagine the characters and setting, the antics and activities as they are so well portrayed. I really enjoyed escaping into this story and can't wait to read more about Cranbridge folk in future. I have absolutely no hesitation in highly recommending this as a delightful read to escape into.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after thoroughly enjoying reading this fantastic read.
July 10, 2020
I was delighted to find out that this is the first in a new series as there is so much potential in the village for a whole host of stories. The first one centres around the village store and introduces a whole range of interesting characters. What I liked about the central characters, Amber and Josh, was the way they tried to hide their insecurities. They are both people pleasers and it is their kindness which shines through.
Amber has suffered from bullying in the past and her self- esteem is through the floor. Living in the village and getting involved with the villagers gives her another chance and the opportunity to work out where her home is. You realise that she has been rather lonely in the past but she gradually lets her talent shine through. This is one of those comforting reads for a cosy night in. As you will discover, Amber is not the only character who is ready for a fresh start. Roll on the next in the series so we can discover what happens next!
In short: Home is where the heart is.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book
June 30, 2023
It's a cute story, basically a Hallmark movie in book form, including but not limited to:
-female main character who is ~clumsy~ and nonstop blushing, and who is supposedly an amazing designer for storefronts but really only knows how to decorate with "fairy lights" and leaves
-male main character who is stuck in a small town not living out his dreams, but is heroically taking care of his widowed mother
-a small country shop that is on the edge of being repossessed by the bank, UNLESS THEY CAN SAVE IT!!!
-wise grandmother who gives "knowing looks"
-an overwhelming use of the word "autumnal"
😂😂😂
It's a sweet easy read, but there's not a whole lot to it, which is just fine sometimes!
-female main character who is ~clumsy~ and nonstop blushing, and who is supposedly an amazing designer for storefronts but really only knows how to decorate with "fairy lights" and leaves
-male main character who is stuck in a small town not living out his dreams, but is heroically taking care of his widowed mother
-a small country shop that is on the edge of being repossessed by the bank, UNLESS THEY CAN SAVE IT!!!
-wise grandmother who gives "knowing looks"
-an overwhelming use of the word "autumnal"
😂😂😂
It's a sweet easy read, but there's not a whole lot to it, which is just fine sometimes!
June 20, 2020
I liked this more than I expected. The beginning was a bit slow, and at first Amber is anything but likable but she grows a bit. The village characters were cute and the plot worked well. Felt a tiny bit rushed overall.
Still a good cosy read.
Still a good cosy read.
November 13, 2022
I love quaint little village stories like this one. It makes me feel like the best of humanity can still be found it that smallest of places. While this story is not very complex and very easy to predict the plot it is still a comforting read. The storyline is filled with joy and laughter, heart break, and solace. But most off all it is just a lovely story
December 11, 2025
Amazingggg 🥰
December 8, 2022
I'd say the writing is very often one star. Why did we need to read about the exact materials and props Amber used to give the shop windows a makeover (in the style of 'and then she took a piece of red ribbon and added it to her display') or the precise steps Josh and Amber took towards making the shop more sustainable (sentences such as: 'and they had even started using glass bottles'). Every little step the characters took towards transforming the shop was detailed, to the extent that the book included sentences like: 'Amber looked up a tutorial on YouTube on how to knit pumpkins'. I don't think I've ever read a book that was so mundane. I am all for books that focus on the domestic, but here the pacing was just so slow.
As a whole, the book was badly edited. I can't count the number of times inanimate objects were said to 'jostle for space' next to other inanimate objects, or the number of times a character 'blew out a sigh'. The book has an utter fear of sex (this is to be expected, given the Hallmark-type of genre, and so isn't *really* a point of criticism) and the descriptions of the characters' actions are often entirely bland: 'Josh kissed Amber with passion'. I don't agree that 'showing' is always better than 'telling', but this book could certainly have done with more 'showing'.
Concerning the plot, my major complaint is not that it is entirely predictable - this is to be expected based on the genre - but that it had some mad plot elements in it. It is completely out of character for Josh and Amber to want to expand the shop's customer base on the basis of dishonesty and subterfuge. And it is very difficult to believe that all these bus drivers would be pretending to break down at the shop: completely far-fetched. Not to mention the fact that it is pretty unrealistic that one woman would (more or less) single-handedly be able to combat the forces of secularization, gentrification, and so on, that the book mentions. The focus on sustainability and local products came across to me as if the author had once read a few newspaper articles on these topics and decided to include them to give the book a more 'contemporary ring'. All it led to, in actual fact, was more 'filler' for the book: sentence after sentence on 'glass bottles' and 'locally grown produce'. The book had very little content: a shop that needed a makeover, two people who needed to fall in love, and a tractor. And this was spun out in great, great detail.
What also struck me was that the characters were quite flat and seemed to have very few traits. Amber's backstory was treated as if there was a secret to her past that had to come out, but it was actually quite clear from the start what had 'happened' to her: she had been bullied at school. Which was more or less conveyed to us through the sentence 'teenage girls could be mean', repeated about five times throughout the book. As a result, when the 'secret' was finally revealed to Josh, this was underwhelming, as we already knew about it.
Finally, why do female characters in so many feelgood books do nothing but 'blush' at the drop of a hat? And why do there always have to be male characters that make them 'blush' - and why are these male characters considered to be attractive, and these female characters considered to be relatable? I am all for writing about characters' insecurities, but not in such a gendered way. All this does is present a model of a 'helpless female' falling for the first man that comes along and 'lifts her chin towards him', as these male characters always seem to be doing. I would like it if books presented different, less stereotypical models of femininity, and don't think this is out of the question for the genre.
I have given it two stars as it wasn't entirely without merit. I could quite vividly picture the village in my head, for instance. And I suppose I could understand why Amber wanted to stay living there.
** my main criticism is not directed at the author, but at the editor. I find it a shame that so many books in this genre are badly- or under-edited. With more editing, it could have at least been a decently written, if still entirely predictable, story.
** the quotes are not exact, as I listened to it as an audiobook.
As a whole, the book was badly edited. I can't count the number of times inanimate objects were said to 'jostle for space' next to other inanimate objects, or the number of times a character 'blew out a sigh'. The book has an utter fear of sex (this is to be expected, given the Hallmark-type of genre, and so isn't *really* a point of criticism) and the descriptions of the characters' actions are often entirely bland: 'Josh kissed Amber with passion'. I don't agree that 'showing' is always better than 'telling', but this book could certainly have done with more 'showing'.
Concerning the plot, my major complaint is not that it is entirely predictable - this is to be expected based on the genre - but that it had some mad plot elements in it. It is completely out of character for Josh and Amber to want to expand the shop's customer base on the basis of dishonesty and subterfuge. And it is very difficult to believe that all these bus drivers would be pretending to break down at the shop: completely far-fetched. Not to mention the fact that it is pretty unrealistic that one woman would (more or less) single-handedly be able to combat the forces of secularization, gentrification, and so on, that the book mentions. The focus on sustainability and local products came across to me as if the author had once read a few newspaper articles on these topics and decided to include them to give the book a more 'contemporary ring'. All it led to, in actual fact, was more 'filler' for the book: sentence after sentence on 'glass bottles' and 'locally grown produce'. The book had very little content: a shop that needed a makeover, two people who needed to fall in love, and a tractor. And this was spun out in great, great detail.
What also struck me was that the characters were quite flat and seemed to have very few traits. Amber's backstory was treated as if there was a secret to her past that had to come out, but it was actually quite clear from the start what had 'happened' to her: she had been bullied at school. Which was more or less conveyed to us through the sentence 'teenage girls could be mean', repeated about five times throughout the book. As a result, when the 'secret' was finally revealed to Josh, this was underwhelming, as we already knew about it.
Finally, why do female characters in so many feelgood books do nothing but 'blush' at the drop of a hat? And why do there always have to be male characters that make them 'blush' - and why are these male characters considered to be attractive, and these female characters considered to be relatable? I am all for writing about characters' insecurities, but not in such a gendered way. All this does is present a model of a 'helpless female' falling for the first man that comes along and 'lifts her chin towards him', as these male characters always seem to be doing. I would like it if books presented different, less stereotypical models of femininity, and don't think this is out of the question for the genre.
I have given it two stars as it wasn't entirely without merit. I could quite vividly picture the village in my head, for instance. And I suppose I could understand why Amber wanted to stay living there.
** my main criticism is not directed at the author, but at the editor. I find it a shame that so many books in this genre are badly- or under-edited. With more editing, it could have at least been a decently written, if still entirely predictable, story.
** the quotes are not exact, as I listened to it as an audiobook.
April 30, 2021
4.5 out of 5!😍
May 9, 2021
3.5 stars. It was cute
July 10, 2020
Look, The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts by Alison Sherlock is essentially a Hallmark movie. Not that that’s a bad thing — y’all know I love a good Hallmark movie around the holidays and this would definitely rank among the better ones — but it definitely didn’t hit quite right in the midst of the boiling hot summer.
Amber Green is traveling from New York, where she just lost her job as a window-dresser, to New Zealand, where her parents have decided to become sheep farmers. But on the way, her mother has made her stop in the sleepy English village of Cranbridge to check up on her godmother, Cathy, who runs a store that is on the edge of financial ruin. To her surprise, Amber suddenly feels inspired by the store and the village, kicking into gear to help Cathy save the store — and the fact that her son and co-owner, Josh, is quite handsome definitely doesn’t hurt.
This one has a slow start and a quick end, with lots of internal monologue moments. It’s cute, quick, and sweet; otherwise, a read-and-dump book. The characters are charming and relatable, the plot predictable and you can turn your brain off. I wasn’t particularly impressed, but I also didn’t hate it. I think if I had read it curled up on a blustery cold day, with a mug of hot cocoa, I might’ve enjoyed it more than I did!
Amber Green is traveling from New York, where she just lost her job as a window-dresser, to New Zealand, where her parents have decided to become sheep farmers. But on the way, her mother has made her stop in the sleepy English village of Cranbridge to check up on her godmother, Cathy, who runs a store that is on the edge of financial ruin. To her surprise, Amber suddenly feels inspired by the store and the village, kicking into gear to help Cathy save the store — and the fact that her son and co-owner, Josh, is quite handsome definitely doesn’t hurt.
This one has a slow start and a quick end, with lots of internal monologue moments. It’s cute, quick, and sweet; otherwise, a read-and-dump book. The characters are charming and relatable, the plot predictable and you can turn your brain off. I wasn’t particularly impressed, but I also didn’t hate it. I think if I had read it curled up on a blustery cold day, with a mug of hot cocoa, I might’ve enjoyed it more than I did!
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