An unrequited romance and a rare book . . .
That phrase is a perfectly fitting description of The Bookseller's Promise. But if you think that description sums up the whole story, I'm here to tell you that it's not even close.
Yvonne Wilson is on a mission to acquire an extremely rare book, and she finds out that an Amish bookstore actually has the book. However, when Yvonne contacts Jake Lantz, the bookstore owner, she is shocked when he informs her that the book is not for sale. Because Yvonne is not one to give up, especially where a large payout is involved, she decides to travel to Indiana so that she can speak directly to Jake and get him to change his mind.
Jake owns the bookstore that had been his grandfather's, and Eva Graber has worked with him ever since she was fifteen years old. While Eva would like Jake to see her as more than just his employee, he seems a tad bit slow in the romance department and doesn't quite get the message. And that is where a story about an unrequited romance and a rare book begins. It's also the beginning of how Yvonne, Jake and Eva's paths cross and merge together, which create a beautiful story.
While I loved Jake and Eva right from the start, I struggled with feeling the same way about Yvonne. However, as I got to know the three of them better, I completely changed my mind about Yvonne. Then when a curve ball was thrown into the story, the three characters took over my heart completely.
The Bookseller's Promise is a true gem of a story. Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop. I wanted Jake and Eva to find each other, but I really wanted to know what was in that special book. Author Beth Wiseman flawlessly blended the themes of romance, intrigue, and faith throughout the story, and she did so in a way where the themes perfectly complement each other and do not overshadowed one another. It was a perfect combination as is, but it became even more perfect with some unexpected events that added so much more depth to the story and made me say, "Wow! I did not see that coming!" I highly recommend you read it for yourself and when you do, you'll understand why.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.