Book Review: The Little Shop of Found Things – Magic, Mystery, and Time Travel
- Jun 17, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Magic and mystery intertwine in The Little Shop of Found Things, the first novel in Paula Brackston’s Found Things series. Blending time travel, historical intrigue, and a touch of romance, this enchanting story invites readers into a world where the past calls—and some are gifted enough to answer.
At-a-Glance
Tone: Enchanting, mysterious, and gently romantic
Setting: Present day and seventeenth-century England
Genre: Time travel and light romance
Themes: Time travel, destiny, courage, protecting loved ones, the pull of the past
Best for readers of: Magical realism, time-slip stories, atmospheric historical fiction with mystery elements
Book Review of The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston
Paula Brackston's signature style comes to life in her enchanting Found Things series.
Magic meets mystery in The Little Shop of Found Things, a page-turning tale of time-travel, history, and a glimmer of romance.
Starting over is rarely easy, but when you have a special gift for "hearing things sing," running an antique shop becomes a gateway to the past. Travel through time to seventeenth-century England with Xanthe, a likable and interesting heroine who, after touching a chatelaine,* unleashes a series of events that force her back in time in order to keep those she loves safe. A ghost tasks the gifted heroine with saving her daughter in the past, and Xanthe employs newfound detective skills in order to do as the ghosts want, but also survive so she can return to her time.
Vivid descriptions of past and present draw the reader into a unique story worth reading. Time travel is not often on my to-read list, but a few authors have mastered it well enough to keep readers engaged and believing that magical glimpses into the past are possible. Brackston is one such author.
*A chatelaine is a decorative belt hook or clasp worn at the waist with different chains hanging from it that carry keys, charms, or other items.
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Book Information
Genre: Romantic Fantasy/Time-Travel
Pub: Oct 16, 2018
Print Length: 320pp
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format Read: Hardcover
Source: Reader's personal library
Reviewed by: MK
Content Rating: This is a clean read appropriate for all audiences. No Sex; No Violence
Review Disclaimers and Notes: Ratings are only provided for content (sex, violence, language, etc.). As of Aug. 202, we do not give star ratings on this blog, though reviewers may do so on retail outlets and Goodreads. We review and share only those books we have enjoyed and think others will enjoy, too.
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About the Book
The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston
New York Times bestselling author of The Witch's Daughter Paula Brackston returns to her trademark blend of magic and romance guaranteed to enchant in The Little Shop of Found Things, the first book in a new continuing series.
An antique shop haunted by a ghost.
A silver treasure with an injustice in its story.
An adventure to the past she’ll never forget.
Xanthe and her mother Flora leave London behind for a fresh start, taking over an antique shop in the historic town of Marlborough. Xanthe has always had an affinity with some of the antiques she finds. When she touches them, she can sense something of the past they come from and the stories they hold. When she has an intense connection to a beautiful silver chatelaine she has to know more.
It is while she’s examining the chatelaine that she’s transported back to the seventeenth century where it has its origins. She discovers there is an injustice in its history. The spirit that inhabits her new home confronts her and charges her with saving her daughter’s life, threatening to take Flora’s if she fails.
While Xanthe fights to save the girl amid the turbulent days of 1605, she meets architect Samuel Appleby. He may be the person who can help her succeed. He may also be the reason she can’t bring herself to leave.
The story continues with book two in the Found Things series, Secrets of the Chocolate House.
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If The Little Shop of Found Things sparks your interest, consider sharing it with a friend who enjoys contemporary fiction with a touch of paranormal. Explore paranormal romance reads in our archives.
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