Elodie (Ellie) is a thirty-something woman who is used to the red carpet, but would much prefer to be reading. Her younger brother Teddy is in love with actress Louise, who isn’t interested in him. Their mother Dorothea is very pushy and rather intimidating and bossy.
When Ellie sees a newspaper article announcing Willow Grove library is at risk of closure, she decides to apply for the job of head librarian and try to save it. After all, that would be much closer to her dream job than working for her mother’s media empire, where it’s all about profit. But she doesn’t want to be recognised as the face of Astor. She needs a less glamorous look…
Being readers, we will all relate to the power of books and the need to keep libraries open. There are so many things in Ellie’s character that I relate to. She realises the importance of libraries as a venue for people to meet people too and how important that social interaction is for so many.
As well as Ellie being a wonderful character (We’d definitely be mates in real life!), I also really loved Harry the homeless man and Alfie the autistic eleven-year-old child (and as the mother of a daughter with Aspergers, I can tell you the autism is described perfectly). Then there’s Finn, the local journalist, who’s really rather lovely…
This is the first book by Rebecca Raisin that I have read, but I really enjoyed it and it won’t be the last. It’s so heart-warming and beautiful. It’s an easy read, but one you want to stick with to find out what happens to the characters you quickly come to care about. I recommend it 100%, you won’t regret it!
BLURB
Elodie’s Library of Second Chances
An uplifting story about fresh starts, new beginnings and the power of stories, from the bestselling author of Rosie’s Travelling Tea Shop!
When Elodie applies for the job of librarian in peaceful Willow Grove, she’s looking forward to a new start. As the daughter of a media empire, her every move has been watched for years, and she longs to work with the thing she loves most: books.
It’s a chance to make a real difference too, because she soon realises that there are other people in Willow Grove who might need a fresh start – like the homeless man everyone walks past without seeing, or the divorcée who can’t seem to escape her former husband’s misdeeds.
Together with local journalist Finn, Elodie decides these people have stories that need sharing. What if instead of borrowing books readers could ‘borrow’ a person, and hear the life stories of those they’ve overlooked?
But Elodie isn’t quite sharing her whole story either. As the story of the library’s new success grows, will her own secret be revealed?
Purchase Links
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elodies-Library-Second-Chances-heart-warming-ebook/dp/B09YH6YXR9
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Elodies-Library-Second-Chances-heart-warming-ebook/dp/B09YH6YXR9
Amazon Aust: https://www.amazon.com.au/Elodies-Library-Second-Chances-heart-warming-ebook/dp/B09YH6YXR9
Author Bio – Rebecca Raisin writes heartwarming romance from her home in sunny Perth, Australia. Her heroines tend to be on the quirky side and her books are usually set in exotic locations so her readers can armchair travel any day of the week. The only downfall about writing about gorgeous heroes who have brains as well as brawn, is falling in love with them – just as well they’re fictional. Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with. People with big hearts who care about relationships and believe in true, once in a lifetime love. Her bestselling novel Rosie’s Travelling Tea Shop has been optioned for film with MRC studios and Frolic Media.
Social Media Links –
https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaRaisinAuthor
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