Our Debut Book - The Book Lover
Ruth Hardaway has had one passion all her life: books. For the last thirty years she's devoted her life to her store, The Book Lover, trying to bury her painful past. But now the store is in jeopardy, and the past is catching up with her.
Lucinda Barrett has lost everything in a life shattering betrayal. Desperate, she goes after one last dream - to be an author. Alone and broke, she embarks on a thousand mile journey, from bookstore to bookstore, eventually landing on Ruth's doorstep. Ruth takes Lucy under her wing, championing her book and even offering her refuge at a nearby lake cabin. She wants one small favor in return, for Lucy to keep an eye on her son, Colin, who's recovering from a war injury.
As the two women grow closer, Lucy strikes up an unlikely friendship with Colin. And she begins to think of Ruth as the mother she's always wished for. For Ruth, Lucy is the one person she can confide her secrets. Or so she thinks.
As each woman begins to face her past, and the repercussions that still haunt her today, happiness finally seems within their grasp. But neither has any idea that their toughest decisions lie ahead. Or that their friendship is about to fall apart - because of a little white lie.
Booksellers are raving about The Book Lover!
"Oh what a feast for book lovers! McFadden mines bookstores, writers' lives, publishing, and the rocky terrain of the human heart with equal grace and aplomb. The Book Lover is wise, knowing, and totally wonderful." -Caroline Leavitt, NY Times Bestselling Author of Pictures of You
"I've always found some character or situation in Maryann McFadden's books that reminds me of me and mine - this time she even nails my life as a bookseller!" -Betsy Rider, Otto's Books
"A compelling story of love, loss and survival." -Tom Warner, Litchfield Books
"Book lovers everywhere will love this story!" -Beth Carpenter, The Country Bookshop
"Heartfelt and richly woven, Maryann McFadden's latest tells the story of love lost - and found again in an unexpected place. It's a valentine to book lovers." -Sarah Pekkanen, Author of These Girls