I feel like this cover truly captures so much of the story in one elegant scene. Grace, the heroine, is in the wonderful bookshop where she learns to love books (as we all do). And the backdrop reflects the ongoing war as she is reading letters from her best friend the man who has stolen her heart, both of whom are deployed.
I’ve always been a lover of history and have grown up reading historical fiction. Writing this book has been the most incredible experience. I absolutely lost myself in research and enjoyed it so much. I came away with an amazing appreciation for the men and women of London who endured the Blitz and fought to maintain their unflappable optimism, even in the darkest of times.
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Inspired by the true World War II history of the few bookshops to survive the Blitz, The Last Bookshop in London is a timeless story of wartime loss, love and the enduring power of literature. August 1939: London is dismal under the weight of impending war with Germany as Hitler’s forces continue to sweep across Europe. Into this uncertain maelstrom steps Grace Bennett, young and ready for a fresh start in the bustling city streets she’s always dreamed of—and miles away from her troubled past in the countryside. With aspirations of working at a department store, Grace never imagined she’d wind up employed at Primrose Hill, an offbeat bookshop nestled in the heart of the city—after all, she’s never been much of a reader. Overwhelmed with organizing the cluttered store, she doesn’t have time to read the books she sells. But when one is gifted to her, what starts as an obligation becomes a passion that draws her into the incredible world of literature. As the Blitz rains down bombs on the city night after night, a devastating attack leaves the libraries and shops of London’s literary center in ruins. Miraculously, Grace’s bookshop survives the firestorm. Through blackouts and air raids, Grace continues running the shop, discovering a newfound comfort in the power of words and storytelling that unites her community in ways she never imagined—a force that triumphs over even the darkest nights of war-torn London. Already up for pre-order and will be available in ebook, paperback, hard cover, large print and audio. |
