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Book Review of The Bookshop on the Corner (Scottish Bookshop, Bk 1)

The Bookshop on the Corner (Scottish Bookshop, Bk 1)
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Helpful Score: 1


As a constant reader, I could hardly wait to start and read this book. It seemed to be the perfect setting. Nina Redmond's library career was shortened by cutbacks in the town library system. Nina is one of those wonderful librarians who can find a book for every reader -- or even non-reader.

Nina decides to sell books from the van she buys and transforms. While traveling from one neighborhood to another, she offers her wares and seems to change the community. Having been in business myself, I found her instant success to be a bit farfetched. Nina is fortunate to be able to find a comfortable barn-home on the property of a rather grouchy landlord.

The odd thing about this book is that the sum-and-total of this book is less than its parts. The story of an introspective, bookish woman emerging from her cocoon to try out life was interesting. However, the men she interacted with were awful. The first man was a foreigner who was attracted to Nina and visa versa. Just before something significant happens between the couple, Nina finds out he has a son and a girlfriend in his home country. Thank goodness, Nina is horrified and reels back. However, she thinks it was all her fault (he didn't tell Nina and she's taking the blame).

Then, the grumpy landlord and Nina get together and have unabashed sex, even though Nina knows that John is still married (though he is getting a divorce and his wife has run off with an interior decorator). John has seemed indifferent and angry with Nina for most of the book. But she decides that he is a sweet soul after all and falls in love with him. What is Nina's problem?

This is the first of three Scottish Bookshop series books, but I don't plan to read the others. Nina is immature and needy. She doesn't need a boyfriend/husband, she needs therapy. Someone that thinks she is to blame when she is treated badly by men, needs help discovering why she is attracted to hateful men.*

* Yes, I happen to be a therapist.