Smitten Book Club by C.C; K.B; D.H; D.H

Description

At a rummage sale, Heather, a member of the Fireside Book Club, discovers a turn-of-the-century romantic advice book written by a once-famous Smitten, Vermont, resident. When she shares the precious volume with her friends in the club, they find clues about a hidden treasure rumored to be buried in their tiny town.

As Heather, Abby, Lia, and Molly take turns reading the book, each projects onto it her own literary tastes. Heather sees it as a mystery. Abby discovers delicious dashes of Jane Austen. Lia sees in it the idealism of a bygone day. And Molly just wishes they'd made the book into a movie!

My Review

This was my first time visiting the town of Smitten and I must say. I wasn't sure how these four wonderful authors were going to write this book together, but when I saw they each wrote an individual story I was interested to see how it would come together. 

Heather DeMerrit, a single mom always ready and willing to help her friends. That’s how it all began, the treasure hunt would never had taken flight had it not been for Heather's determination to follow Chambers love advice book. But when it comes to trusting the man she once loved, and still loves, she hastily runs in the opposite direction. Not ready to be humiliated and heart broken by him again. 

Abby Gray, worker at Smitten library and has seemed to catch the eye of a very handsome bachelor. His adventurous lifestyle has her crawling back to her shell but daydreaming for something more. When she finds out her father sent him to deliver a message, she discovers he could be the very angel to help spread her wings and fly. 

Elliana Burton, a kindergarten teacher with a lot of love and compassion but when her best friend from childhood comes back to Smitten with his five-year-old daughter, she doesn't know what to do. With a little help from her mother (loved her!) she boils it down. Let him go and try to move on (miserably) or tell him her feelings and mess up their friendship forever? But even that is put aside when she hears he isn't going to celebrate Christmas with his daughter, hiding her from the haunting memories. But Elliana won’t let the shadows of the past snuff out the spirit and true meaning of Christmas that brought so much healing to the world and to their hearts. 

Molly Moore, recent widow and single mom and Smitten expeditions owner. After her husband dies in a firefighter accident, she’s left with the mess he left behind. The business is drowning and she has no clue what she’s doing. On the very strand of failure, hope comes walking in with an offer of help. Her rival competitor offers to assist her, training her and looking over her books. But what happens when he spends money that she doesn't have? And what about the secret treasure left by her late husband’s great grandmother Pearl Chambers gold mine? If only they could find it she would make it. Except, her growing feelings towards her rival has begun to fill her heart more than any gold could ever fill.  

I really loved the quotes from the Gentleman Guide to Love and Courtship. I wanted a full copy of my own and share it with my friends! Even just for a good laugh or discussion topic; a lot of it was true and accurate. 

The only thing I maybe disliked were some parts felts a tad too rushed in between when it was running so smoothly I didn't want it to end! In the end though I wished each story could have been written into full-length novel. I guess I’ll just have to go back and read the other two, which I highly recommend anyway. Otherwise you won’t know the characters as well and you will feel a bit tossed in the middle of it all, like I did. It was a great book though and I wish Smitten was a real town cause I would move there tomorrow!

BookLook Bloggers provided this book to me for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review as part of their BookLook Bloggers Program.