The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop - Takuya Asakura

 

Description

For fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, What You Are Looking for Is In the Library, and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop comes an enchanting novel that will linger in your heart long after the last page is turned.

As the last petal falls, the final page is turned…

Welcome to The Cherry Blossom Bookshop, a haven for book lovers that only appears during the fleeting cherry blossom season. Nestled amidst the bloom of delicate petals, you’ll find a sanctuary for those burdened by regrets and past sorrows. Here, Sakura, the mysterious young owner, and her wise calico cat, Kobako, patiently await the arrival of souls in need of solace and healing.

Told over four seasons, each visitor to the bookshop holds a book that bridges their past and present, guiding them towards understanding and acceptance. Within the antique charm of the shop and the soothing aroma of freshly brewed coffee, Sakura and Kobako help their guests confront their lingering sadness through the power of stories, enabling them to move forward with renewed hope.

Review

I admit to being drawn to the cover of this book, and that fact that it has Bookshop in the title and set in Japan. Unfortunately it didn't quite hit the mark with me.

As a fan of the books mentioned in the description I felt sure this would be a great read. It started so well and it really did seem to be a book that came at the right time for me. As I read on I felt a little bit of sameness as the next customers arrived at the Bookshop. I got to around half way through and it really wasn't keeping my attention. I did finish reading the book but it wasn't the magical read I was expecting it to be. Towards the end there is a little twist and that reignited by interest.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.

Body Count - Julie Mae Cohen

 

Description

Saffy Huntley-Oliver returns in the long-awaited sequel to Julie Mae Cohen's blockbuster thriller, BAD MEN.

Bad men beware . . .

Serial killer Saffy Huntley-Oliver's life is going great.

She's got a fabulous new boyfriend, Jonathan. She has literally got away with murder. And now that she's no longer single, she can get back to her favourite hobby: killing bad men.

Particularly Sir Thomas West, a children's TV star who truly deserves to die.

But there are a few little snags. For one, her beloved sister Susie is still dating that insufferable Finlay. For another, Sir Thomas has a very large bodyguard. And Jonathan himself has given up his job investigating true crime, despite all the tempting corpses that Saffy keeps putting in his way.

All of this would be easy to ignore in the flush of new love. Except Saffy's never been in love before, and it's weird. She's having difficulty separating romance from homicide. Especially when someone discovers Saffy's secret hobby and starts sending Jonathan coded messages about her crimes.

Is someone trying to break them up? Or trying to hunt her down?

Review

When I finished Bad Men I wished for a second book - and here it is!

The thing about the first book, was that with Saffy being a serial killer she could not get a serious boyfriend, but this book changes all that. Jonathan who we met in the first book is now staying with Saffy and well things are looking good (if slow) on the relationship front. However, Saffy still knows a few bad men that need to be ended.

There is more of the backstory to Saffy and her sister Susie in this book and a lot more emotional insight into Saffy. At first I was starting to think I wasn't enjoying the book as much as the first one, but then things got really interesting and I kept finding myself thinking - how is she going to get out of this.

As with the first book the humour is very dark and there are obviously things the bad men have done, although not too many details are given. With Johnathan receiving clues about Saffy's crimes and him being a true crime investigator will he finally realise who Saffy is?

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC and the invite from  Bonnier Books UK to review this book.