Dreams are for living…
The Bookseller’s Gift
[ About The Bookseller’s Gift ]
Ever since Catherine and her mother Ann opened the doors of their bookshop in a small town on Ireland’s west coast, they have been living their dream. And this festive season promises to be their biggest ever, with a celebrity chef booked for an exclusive book signing. But when some building work leads to disaster, the future of Lissbeg Books is in real jeopardy.
Desperate to hide from her customers how bad things are, Catherine struggles to cope. And as Christmas draws nearer, she realises that dedication to following her dream has meant other parts of her life have been neglected – what will she have left if she loses the bookshop?
Is it too late for her to become a real part of Finfarran’s tightknit community, and possibly find love along the way? As Catherine summons the courage to ask for help from those around her, she begins to hope that maybe more than just one of her dreams will come true before Christmas arrives…
[ My Review ]
The Bookseller’s Gift by Felicity Hayes-McCoy published with Hachette Ireland October 17th. It is Book 8 in the Finfarran series and is described by Cathy Kelly as ‘a festive feast of a novel.’
Christmas in October? Why not. Especially when it’s one set in a bookshop in a small town on the west coast of Ireland. Although this is my first dip into these books set on the fictional Finfarran peninsula, I can tell you that it makes absolutely no difference to the reading experience. I don’t doubt that if you know the series well, you will spot familiar characters as you turn the pages but, for any of you who are newbies like me, I can honestly tell you that you will feel right at home reading The Bookseller’s Gift.
Catherine and her mother Ann are relative newcomers to Lissbeg. Previously, Catherine had been frustrated with her corporate life so, with the encouragement and financial support of Ann, they literally set up shop in Lissbeg with the opening of Lissbeg Books. Catherine and Ann had achieved a certain level of success and were looking forward to a Christmas packed with events, including the book launch for a celebrity chef. When they get conned by a tradesman their livelihood is compromised and chaos ensues. Catherine and Ann are in a panic as they realise the extent of the damage. But the assistance they need comes from a very unexpected and unlikely source.
As the repair work is undertaken, both Ann and Catherine begin to acknowledge that, while they have lived and worked in Lissbeg, they never truly immersed themselves in the community. As the build up to the festive season takes off, both Ann and Catherine make a conscious decision to do better and, as they become caught up in a whirlwind of activity, their eyes are opened to the opportunities on their doorstep.
While Lissbeg Books is the central focus of the novel, we are also introduced to a chef with a conscience, a motivated community, a widower slowly trying to adapt to his new world, an industrious local, an Australian on an adventure and so many more. Felicity Hayes-McCoy creates a believable world with vivid descriptions that make the characters and places seem almost tangible. The Finfarran peninsula is a fictional place but it is very easy to imagine, as its features and characters are very much authentic and in keeping with many a small village in Cork or Kerry on the west coast. The Bookseller’s Gift is a feel-good novel, an uplifting and cosy tale with a festive tone that perfectly captures the spirit of the season.
[ Bio ]
Felicity Hayes-McCoy, author of the best-selling Finfarran series, was born in Dublin, Ireland. She studied literature at UCD before moving to England in the 1970s to train as an actress. Her work as a writer ranges from TV and radio drama and documentary, to screenplays, music theatre, memoir and children’s books. Her Finfarran novels are widely read on both sides of the Atlantic, and in Australia, and have been translated into seven languages. She and her husband, opera director Wilf Judd, live in the West Kerry Gaeltacht and in Bermondsey, London.
X ~ @fhayesmccoy
