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The Bookshop
Even I, who had resisted kicking and screaming, had to admit defeat. Why would love be impressed by the protests of a simple bookseller?
Jakoba has had enough. It is 1999 and she looks back on her life that began at the start of the century. Her arrival was unexpected, but joyfully welcomed, by her middle-aged parents. In a time where a middle-class girl has one destiny, namely to become a wife and mother, Jakoba is allowed to start working at a bookshop. Books become one of the loves of her life. Later she will inherit the shop.
She values friendship, but romance has no meaning for her. She values her independence too much and knows all too well what price women pay for being married.
It is German army photographer Armin who will change the course of her life. Jakoba is forty when she meets him. Armin is almost thirty, and Germany has occupied Holland. It does not matter. For him, she’s the one, and despite her hesitation both because of the war and because she can’t understand what this handsome man sees in her—a plain woman—she has to admit her feelings for him.
Such love has consequences for both of them that will reach far beyond the war and in ways Jakoba could never have imagined.
Publisher's Note: This book has previously been published elsewhere. It has been re-edited for re-release with Totally Bound Publishing.
Pre-Order Date: 29th December 2015
Early Download Date: 12th January 2016 (available exclusively to Totally Bound).
General Release Date: 9th February 2016
https://www.totallybound.com/book/the...
Jakoba has had enough. It is 1999 and she looks back on her life that began at the start of the century. Her arrival was unexpected, but joyfully welcomed, by her middle-aged parents. In a time where a middle-class girl has one destiny, namely to become a wife and mother, Jakoba is allowed to start working at a bookshop. Books become one of the loves of her life. Later she will inherit the shop.
She values friendship, but romance has no meaning for her. She values her independence too much and knows all too well what price women pay for being married.
It is German army photographer Armin who will change the course of her life. Jakoba is forty when she meets him. Armin is almost thirty, and Germany has occupied Holland. It does not matter. For him, she’s the one, and despite her hesitation both because of the war and because she can’t understand what this handsome man sees in her—a plain woman—she has to admit her feelings for him.
Such love has consequences for both of them that will reach far beyond the war and in ways Jakoba could never have imagined.
Publisher's Note: This book has previously been published elsewhere. It has been re-edited for re-release with Totally Bound Publishing.
Pre-Order Date: 29th December 2015
Early Download Date: 12th January 2016 (available exclusively to Totally Bound).
General Release Date: 9th February 2016
https://www.totallybound.com/book/the...
- GenresHistorical Fiction
178 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 9, 2016
10 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Padmos
10 books16 followersWhat’s there to tell about me? I’m a writer, and it has taken me most of my life to admit that, even if writing has been part of my life since forever. I’m a woman, married to the woman who asked me in October 1981 if I cared for a cup of tea… Now we have one marriage, two sons and five cats.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 25, 2017
A very quiet but moving book about love and war. Somehow the story felt very personal, as though the author were describing her own life.
March 13, 2016
The Bookshop is definitely for fans of women's fiction. Seeing as this stunning yet brilliantly well-written novel features a woman and her journey back to her younger life. R.A. Padmos takes us to the character's beginning and all the way back to the present moment in time where the woman is old and sharing her memories with us. The tale is beautiful, sad, and sweet. A strong independent woman who has lived life to the fullest. I enjoyed reading this new book and I highly recommend it to readers everywhere. The journey is inspiring, motivational, and entertaining. Readers won't be disappointed once they open up this story...
February 9, 2016
A truly evocative read.
The Bookshop is a haunting story, unusual and full of memorable characters. The heroine, Jakoba, is an elderly woman reminiscing about her long life which spans almost all of the twentieth century. I found her both fascinating and frustrating in equal measure. And totally awesome.
Less in-your-face erotic than many of the books I read, this is more about the emotional connection than the physical, and is a beautiful love story set against the backdrop of the Nazi Occupation in Holland.
Jakoba tries to do the right thing. She is diligent, law-abiding, dutiful, but with a steely determination and an independence which is always going to prove awkward for a Dutch woman of her era. Despite the obstacles facing career women in the early 1900s Jakoba runs her own business and is prosperous. She has friends, a life. She is content.
Then in 1940 the Nazis march into Holland, and everything changes. Jakoba witnesses the best and the worst of human nature during the harrowing years which follow, and her life will never be the same again.
Armin is the German war photographer who quite simply adores her. Jakoba is older than he is and refuses to marry him (which is why I find her frustrating) but she doesn’t let a technicality like that prevent her from spending her life with him anyway. Branded a collaborator, shunned by many of her friends, Jakoba continues to do what she considers to be right.
This book will appeal to those who like a strong heroine and an equally unmoveable hero. These two are made for each other. The emotional journey which Jakoba takes us on is both epic and intimate. Her story will remain with me for a long time.
The Bookshop is a haunting story, unusual and full of memorable characters. The heroine, Jakoba, is an elderly woman reminiscing about her long life which spans almost all of the twentieth century. I found her both fascinating and frustrating in equal measure. And totally awesome.
Less in-your-face erotic than many of the books I read, this is more about the emotional connection than the physical, and is a beautiful love story set against the backdrop of the Nazi Occupation in Holland.
Jakoba tries to do the right thing. She is diligent, law-abiding, dutiful, but with a steely determination and an independence which is always going to prove awkward for a Dutch woman of her era. Despite the obstacles facing career women in the early 1900s Jakoba runs her own business and is prosperous. She has friends, a life. She is content.
Then in 1940 the Nazis march into Holland, and everything changes. Jakoba witnesses the best and the worst of human nature during the harrowing years which follow, and her life will never be the same again.
Armin is the German war photographer who quite simply adores her. Jakoba is older than he is and refuses to marry him (which is why I find her frustrating) but she doesn’t let a technicality like that prevent her from spending her life with him anyway. Branded a collaborator, shunned by many of her friends, Jakoba continues to do what she considers to be right.
This book will appeal to those who like a strong heroine and an equally unmoveable hero. These two are made for each other. The emotional journey which Jakoba takes us on is both epic and intimate. Her story will remain with me for a long time.
September 10, 2019
Reviewed by Danielle U
Book provided by the publisher
The Bookshop by R.A. Padmos is one the most intriguing military novels that I have laid eyes on...readers will be blown away by one independent woman's story. How she loved her independence so much and then it all changed when one man took it upon himself to show her how much love is. A love that lives on no matter age, distance, or what side one is on, it's something like a weed...once it comes up...it never goes away no matter what you do.
R.A. Padmos is indeed a talented writer. I was immediately sucked into the story. A story about a woman, love, and life choices. The book is told in her point of view. Readers will be taken from the present ad travel back to the woman's very birth and make their way back to the current moment in life. The family the woman had, her friendships, her loss of loved ones, and her decision to not love takes a hold of readers in ways, that will leave them sympathizing, crying, and laughing along...In all of the novels, I have read, I don't believe I have yet met a female character that pulls and tugs and my heart quite like Jakoba had done. Her development into a woman is beautifully told. I loved the journey that R.A. Padmos has masterfully woven for readers entertainment. Readers will get to see this character's love for reading, the ownership of a bookshop where she has worked and the stronghold of life's memories especially that of photographs that take us all back in time to those old days...when we were much younger... The Bookshop is well-written and one that readers don't want to miss. I fell in love with it on the first page, and I highly recommend this magnificent tale to readers worldwide.
Book provided by the publisher
The Bookshop by R.A. Padmos is one the most intriguing military novels that I have laid eyes on...readers will be blown away by one independent woman's story. How she loved her independence so much and then it all changed when one man took it upon himself to show her how much love is. A love that lives on no matter age, distance, or what side one is on, it's something like a weed...once it comes up...it never goes away no matter what you do.
R.A. Padmos is indeed a talented writer. I was immediately sucked into the story. A story about a woman, love, and life choices. The book is told in her point of view. Readers will be taken from the present ad travel back to the woman's very birth and make their way back to the current moment in life. The family the woman had, her friendships, her loss of loved ones, and her decision to not love takes a hold of readers in ways, that will leave them sympathizing, crying, and laughing along...In all of the novels, I have read, I don't believe I have yet met a female character that pulls and tugs and my heart quite like Jakoba had done. Her development into a woman is beautifully told. I loved the journey that R.A. Padmos has masterfully woven for readers entertainment. Readers will get to see this character's love for reading, the ownership of a bookshop where she has worked and the stronghold of life's memories especially that of photographs that take us all back in time to those old days...when we were much younger... The Bookshop is well-written and one that readers don't want to miss. I fell in love with it on the first page, and I highly recommend this magnificent tale to readers worldwide.
April 21, 2016
The Bookshop can be read as a stand-alone but I would encourage and highly recommend reading Unspoken first.
What I loved:
Everything.
The beautiful writing.
The memorable characters.
The sweet but sad love story.
The way this book transported me to a different time and to a different place - easily.
The feelings and emotions this book evoked in me. I felt it all, sad, happy, excited, anxious, curious, lonely, content, unsettled, just everything.
Jakoba. What a great character she was to read about. Jakoba & Armin. Hauntingly beautiful is what comes to mind to describe the love they shared - their story is unforgettable and one that will stay with me long after.
Another amazing read by this author. 5 easy stars!
What I loved:
Everything.
The beautiful writing.
The memorable characters.
The sweet but sad love story.
The way this book transported me to a different time and to a different place - easily.
The feelings and emotions this book evoked in me. I felt it all, sad, happy, excited, anxious, curious, lonely, content, unsettled, just everything.
Jakoba. What a great character she was to read about. Jakoba & Armin. Hauntingly beautiful is what comes to mind to describe the love they shared - their story is unforgettable and one that will stay with me long after.
Another amazing read by this author. 5 easy stars!
April 26, 2016
I received a copy for an honest review. I really liked this story. I felt that I got a glimpse into life during World War II and I have so much more understanding for my grandparents, even though they lived in Canada not Holland.
I liked how the author told the story from beginning to end. There were so many interesting secondary characters along with the two MCs. I felt like I was in Holland in this great bookstore. The story kept me involved all the way through. I love that nothing in this story was perfect or easy. It felt real and I am glad I got to read it. I would definitely recommend The Bookshop.
I liked how the author told the story from beginning to end. There were so many interesting secondary characters along with the two MCs. I felt like I was in Holland in this great bookstore. The story kept me involved all the way through. I love that nothing in this story was perfect or easy. It felt real and I am glad I got to read it. I would definitely recommend The Bookshop.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews