Angel in a Book Shop by R.J. Scott

ANGEL IN A BOOK SHOP by R.J. Scott

 

Pages: 108

Date:  December 26.2014

Grade: 4.5

Details: Received from Love Lane Books

            Through Love Romances and More

E-book

The blurb:

“What happens when a broken man has to trust in the impossible?

Chapter One is an antique book shop and is the last tangible thing Joshua Blakeman and his mom have left of his father. Nestled in a quiet square a few steps from London's St Paul’s Cathedral, it is boarded up with whitewashed windows and no new stock. The place is a sad reminder of loss and it has to go, but destroying a business that has been in his family for generations is not a role Josh is looking forward to.

Michael is the owner of Arts Desire, the shop next door. With his rainbow pride mugs and his sunny outlook, he is the complete opposite of what Josh thinks he needs in his life.

But, when Josh and Michael become friends, Josh learns that finding true love starts with making big decisions—and that everyone deserves their own Christmas miracle sometimes.”

My thoughts: 

I adored this Christmas story. Angel in a Book Store had all the ingredients to not only make this a perfect read for the time of year but to make it a wonderful read, regardless of when you might find yourself picking it up. What’s not to love about a book featuring two men, both in need of finding love and both having good reasons to be wary about their feelings and the future?

Poor Josh has been through so much when he first visits his deceased father’s bookshop and meets Michael. Between bad decisions when it came to his love-life, a scandalous departure from the bank he worked for, and the secrets he keeps from his mourning mother it is no wonder he has a hard time keeping it all together and faces panic attacks whenever his emotions get stretched too far.

From the first time Josh meets Michael there is a connection between the two men, although Josh is initially reluctant to acknowledge and subsequently embrace it. Watching Josh as he moves from trying to resist the pull he feels towards Michael to almost desperate to push things forward was beautiful and mesmerizing.

The reader knows more about Michael than Josh does. Short paragraphs at the start of each chapter give us an insight into Michael, his history, his thoughts and his feelings. I loved this aspect of the book and the manner in which it allows us to gradually learn more about the mystery that is Michael. When a book is written solely from one perspective I often find myself wishing I could have known more about the second protagonist. In this book I knew enough about Michael to fall for him and understand why Josh fell in love. The fact that the reader is aware of Michael’s doubts and fears – even if Josh isn’t for most of the book – enhanced my reading experience greatly.

For a relatively short story, Angel in a Book Shop is wonderfully complete. We really get to know the two characters, are given a clear picture of their world, their thoughts and their background. At no point did I find myself wishing I knew a more about one thing or another. The beautiful words and vivid descriptions turned reading this book into an almost sensual experience.

Angel in a Book Shop was my first book by R.J. Scott and I’m looking forward to reading earlier (as well as future) books by this author.