Dear Fellow Reader,

Have you ever read a book that you think might be mis-titled and that the description seems, well, off? That is the way I feel about the following book. I am not talking about books that claim to be like other books. By the way, I hate that. It never fails that I don’t think the books that are compared are anything like each other. I am usually disappointed in the second book that is just like (fill in the blank). Or, for fans of _________, you’ll love __________.

Anyway, The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins is an interesting read. I would just not call it The Book Charmer. Yes, there is a character in the book that feels that books talk to her. And I have no problem with that. It is a very interesting talent for a character to have.  But the book is not mostly about that person. The book is about Grace Wheeler and her life and her move with her Foster mother and niece to the small town of Dove Pond.

Grace is in a transitory place in her life and she ends up in this small southern town. Her whole intent is to leave the town in a year. She has a lot on her plate and she is making it from day to day. She doesn’t need what she considers to be a nosy neighbor telling her that she has to stay and help the town. She isn’t interested in that. She doesn’t need or want friends. She just wants to keep her head above water.

But Grace learns that help doesn’t come at a cost.

I enjoyed the story very much. As I said, I was irritated but don’t let my irritation with this influence your enjoyment of the book. I do have an affinity to books with crazy southern women. I find the characters have charm and they are so interesting. For some reason, southern women seem to have a craziness all their own.

A good summer beach read.

I was given a copy of the book in return for my review of the book.

Thanks for reading!