A book review of The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston. A novel full of charm, romance and mystery by Paula Brackston set in the English. Magical realism, historical fiction and time travel fans will love this.
"Brimming with charm and charisma...Fans of Outlander will rejoice!" - Woman's World
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The One With The Chatelaine!
This post is my personal, honest review of The Little Shop of Found Things!
The Little Shop of Found Things
A Novel by Paula Brackston
I love antiques and my travels often lead me to small towns with shops where treasures from years past await. Each with a story and history of their own, looking for a new home. It so happens sometimes that you find treasure walking through contemporary stores as well.
On a trip such as this, to the local Barnes & Noble bookstore, I saw the gorgeous cover of The Little Shop of Found Things. The title grabed my attention immediately. The concept of a little shop and found things sounded so charming that I needed to know more. I often say that I buy only things that speak to me, so finding a book featuring a character who has a gift of connecting with antique items was intriquing.
The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston is a wonderful blend of historical fiction, magical realism and mystery, which makes it a fantastic pick for Books, Babes and Life book club.
We are all about embracing and living LIFE to the fullest and this story is the perfect fall read, promissing a travel through time, romance and charm.
So without furter ado, here is our October 2022 Book Club Pick.
Happy Reading!!!
Book Synopsis & Details
- from the publisher
New York Times bestselling author Paula Brackston's return to her trademark blend of magic and romance is guaranteed to enchant..
An antique shop haunted by a ghost.
A silver treasure with an injustice in its story.
An adventure to the past she’ll never forget.
Xanthe and her mother Flora leave London behind for a fresh start, taking over an antique shop in the historic town of Marlborough. Xanthe has always had an affinity with some of the antiques she finds. When she touches them, she can sense something of the past they come from and the stories they hold. When she has an intense connection to a beautiful silver chatelaine, she has to know more.
It is while she’s examining the chatelaine that she’s transported back to the seventeenth century, where she discovers an injustice in its history. The spirit that inhabits her new home confronts her and charges her with saving her daughter’s life, threatening to take Flora’s if she fails.
While Xanthe fights to save the girl in 1605, she meets architect Samuel Appleby. He may be the person who can help her succeed. He may also be the reason she can’t bring herself to leave.
With its rich historical detail, strong mother-daughter relationship, and picturesque English village, The Little Shop of Found Things delivers a heartfelt page-turner.
Book Details:
Title: The Little Shop of Found Things
Author: Paula Brackston
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Print Length: 416 pages
Publication Date: October 16, 2018
Genres: Magical Realism, Historical Fiction & Time Travel
Where to Buy: Bookshop; Amazon; Barnes & Noble
The Story - A Spoiler Free Review
If there ever was a story that I knew right away I would love, Paula Brackston's The Little Shop of Found Things, had to be it. From the first to the last sentence this page turner had me entralled. The book starts with Xante and her mother moving to a charming town in the English countryside, where they are to open an antique store.
During an auction Xante finds an antique chatelaine that she feels a connection with and it is that connection that takes her on a journey she could have never imagined. Told in a dual timeline, this thought provoking tale, examines the connection between past and present. It reminds us that history is all around us and things we take for granted today were once someone's idea, dream or creation.
"What can be imagined can be brought into being."
Paula Brackston, The Little Shop of Found Things
I absolutely love historical fiction, so I knew that I would very much enjoy the bits set in the past, but I really loved the present day parts more than expected. Charming town, lovely community, neighbors becoming frends and the string connection between a parent and a child. New beginnings are never easy but we see theese two women raise up to the challenge and start a life among new friends in a place they can call home.
Add to that a mysterious garden shed build centuries ago, a ghost, an antique with a message, a handsome stranger living in the 7th century and a mission that may just turn out to be life or death. The reader is drawn into the lives of the characters and becomes a witness to their struggles, joys, love and sorrow. And just like Xante, we are whisked away on an emotional journey we will not soon forget.
"After all, are we not measured by the way in which we treat the most vulnerable members of our society?"
Paula Brackston, The Little Shop of Found Things
About the Author and What to Read Next
PAULA BRACKSTON is the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch's Daughter and The Little Shop of Found Things, among others. Paula lives with her family in the historical border city of Hereford in the beautiful Wye valley. When not at her desk in her writing room, she enjoys long walks with the dog in a sublime landscape filled with the imprints of past lives and ancient times. - from the publisher's web page
Book Recomendations for Fans of The Little Shop of Found Things
If you loved The Little Shop of Found Things I am sure that just like me you can't wait to find out what happens next. The good news is that there are three more books in the series to date that are just as mysterious, romantic and heartwarming.
Published in October 2019. Available in hardcover, paperback and kindle editions. Buy Online:
Published in December 2020. Available in hardcover, paperback and kindle editions. Buy Online:
Published in November 2021. Available in hardcover, paperback and kindle editions. Buy Online:
Final Thoughts
I personally really enjoyed this story and look forward to the next books in the series. Besides the fact that it has to do with antiques which I love it proved to be quite romantic, heartwarming and entertaining. I am not a fan of ghost stories in general but in this case there was so much I liked about the premisse that I felt that it was worth my time. Still that was my least favorite character.
I loved how the author handled a sensitive topic like arthritus. It is not often that we read about some autoimmune disorders or how they affect everyday life and I am glad Paula Brackston explored that condition. Many reviews mention that this is a story that will keep you reading well into the night and I can say that was certainly the case for me. Unexpected, rivetting read filled with surprises that will have to heading to the closest antique shop looking for treasures of your own.
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