Heidi Swain

The Book-Lovers' Retreat is Heidi Swain's first standalone novel and it's an absolute treat of a read. Three friends, Emily, Rachel and Tori, love a book called Hope Falls, as well as the film based on the book. When I say they love it, perhaps it would be more accurate to say they are obsessed with it. As somebody who does rather throw themselves gung ho into favourite things I could identify with their fixation. Getting a chance to stay at the exact same cottage as featured in the film for six weeks is the chance of a lifetime for them, but when Tori has to drop out, Emily and Rachel manage to find Alex to fill her space. It really won't be a problem that they've never met Alex….will it?

What I love about romance novels is that whilst I have a good idea of how things are going to end up, it's what happens along the way and seeing how the conclusion is reached that is so important. After a stormy start to the holiday, the friends settle into a routine and they have some wonderful days recreating scenes from the film. It sounded absolutely idyllic in Lakeside and I now want to go and stay in a pretty cottage with a lake, and visit the waterfall and the local pub and shop. I also loved Em's patchwork creations - what a wonderful idea!

Heidi Swain has created a beautiful setting for this book and a gorgeous story of friendship and love, with the holiday producing epiphanies for all the characters. It's such a heart-warming and delightful story and the scene was set so well that it made me want to step right into the book. There's a full package here that felt like the characters were living a dream and I was living it through them. It just needs a film of this book now (which would be brilliant, by the way!) then it would completely echo the joyous feel of the story. I really loved reading The Book Lovers' Retreat.… (mere)