Smitten Book Club: A Review

I’m thrilled to be among the bloggers kicking off the Smitten Book Club virtual tour today. I really enjoyed the previous works in this series: Smitten and Secretly Smitten, so I was excited to read their latest release. This was an enjoyable, heartwarming collaboration written by four talented and successful authors of inspirational romance.

About the book:

The century-old Gentlewoman’s Guide to Love and Courtship is no ordinary book club choice. But for the little book club in Smitten, Vermont, it might be their best pick yet!

The thick, leathery tome Heather pulled out of the dusty cardboard box was definitely coming home with her. Not only was The Gentlewoman’s Guide to Love and Courtship an appealing curiosity by virtue of its title; it was also written by Smitten, Vermont native Pearl Chambers, a local gentlewoman from three generations back.

Little did Heather know the repercussions this little curiosity would have on her and her friends’ romantic exploits.
When Heather and her fellow book club members begin passing the book around, their respective interpretations are unleashed on their respective love lives . . . for better or for worse. Is it a mystery? An idealist fantasy? An intimation of Jane Austen? As romantic love finds its way to each woman, the Guide proves itself both surprisingly prescient and hilariously irrelevant.

What’s more, a handwritten inscription indicates that the arcane book might hold the only extant clues leading to buried gold—exactly what one of the members needs to keep her house. How could they not go treasure hunting?

In this remarkable collaborative novel, besties Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Denise Hunter, and Diann Hunt tackle the tale of the Gentlewoman’s Guide by writing for one book club member apiece. Smitten Book Club is a hopeful, hilarious story of friendship and healing, written by friends for friends.

My personal review:

While I certainly hoped to read clean, heartwarming romance when I started this book, I also enjoyed the theme of friendship interwoven through the whole story line. Their book club wasn’t so much about reading (Molly much preferred the movie version, anyway) but about their relationships with one another. These women were strong, vibrant, active members of the Smitten community who were always willing to lend a helping hand. Yet they held one another accountable and wouldn’t let anyone give up when things got tough. Each faced issues and wrestled with flaws that seemed plausible yet were a perfect match for the hero/love interest in the story. The heroes in these four stories were absolutely swoon-worthy. I thought the librarian and the adrenaline junkie was an excellent match … a fantastic pairing of opposites.

While my favorite tropes like reunion romances and opposites attracting made appearances, there were also some unique plot developments that made the book even more enjoyable. The quotes by Pearl Chambers were hysterical and the subtle quest for the hidden treasure kept me reading because I just had to know where it was so cleverly stashed.

If you’re looking for an inspirational, satisfying story set in a small town with unique characters and heartwarming romance, then Smitten Book Club is one you don’t want to miss.

Thank you to the publisher, Thomas Nelson, for providing a complimentary digital edition in exchange for an honest review. A special thank you to Litfuse Publicity Group for including me in the virtual tour.

Can’t get enough of Smitten? I’ve got great news! The fun is just beginning. There’s an opportunity to win a Kindle HDX, host a book brunch and attend a Facebook party. Details are on the right, in my sidebar.

If you’d like to connect with other fans of Smitten, you can visit any of the blogs promoting the book this month. Stop by, leave a comment and make a new friend. A list of all the blogs on the tour can be found here .

Thanks for stopping by. Smitten Book Club is available now from your favorite bookseller.