Book Review - Jane Lovering's The Little Teashop of Horrors

The Little Teashop of Horrors is one of those oh so rare reads that I didn’t want it to end. If I could analyse why I couldn’t put it down I’d say, in this case, it’s the characters and the writer’s voice that are so appealing.

Amy and Josh are two very flawed people with some rather nasty back-story, especially, Josh, who went straight to my heart. Amy, rather plump and no beauty, is certain guys will only look at her if they think they can get into her knickers. And Josh? A beautiful Heathcliffe figure who prefers to live in clapped-out old van (that really only has a roof) because he can’t stand being cooped up.

The two are such rounded characters that I felt I wanted to talk to them, to become friends (with Amy).

But Ms Lovering had me from the first when one of Josh’s hawks (he’s a bird-handler at the 18^th century manor house that is open to the public) takes off for the hills during one of his displays and Josh’s reaction is, ‘Oh bugger’. Amy, who works in the manor’s teashop, has to wear 18^th century clothes is kind, sweet and gets herself into all kinds of troubles, from the trivial but hilarious way her mop-cap’s elastic slowly loosens around her head and the cap pops off, to coming down the dank stairway after visiting the boss where she scares the living daylights out of a boy from a visiting school-party. The boy’s convinced she’s a ghost and thereby starts a chain of events that lead the reader on until he/she reluctantly reaches the last page where all the loose ends are neatly tied up.

But the main question is whether spooked (no pun intended) Josh will ever be able to shake off his awful past and realise that Amy is perfect for him.

An excellent read that kept me on tenterhooks all the way through and made me want to find Skillex and take him home with me (except Josh wouldn’t allow it).

This is a definite 5 star read.

Links: Amazon uk

            Amazon.com

             Kobo