Smitten Book Club by Colleen Coble

Smitten Book Club by Colleen Coble

*I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review!*

Goodreads Rating: 4.16/5

My Rating: 4/5

Goodreads Synopsis: ""Consider that your beau is like a coveted novel whose compelling first lines you've just begun to read." --A Gentlewoman's Guide to Love and Courtship"

At a rummage sale, Heather, a member of the Fireside Book Club, discovers a turn-of-the-century romantic advice book written by a once-famous Smitten, Vermont, resident. When she shares the precious volume with her friends in the club, they find clues about a hidden treasure rumored to be buried in their tiny town.

As Heather, Abby, Lia, and Molly take turns reading the book, each projects onto it her own literary tastes. Heather sees it as a mystery. Abby discovers delicious dashes of Jane Austen. Lia sees in it the idealism of a bygone day. And Molly just wishes they'd made the book into a movie!

One by one, each of the women finds romantic love--often in spite of the historic book's advice. And in searching for the legendary gold, the friends discover the best kind of treasure. The kind that brings hope and healing to each of their hearts.

My Review:  Smitten Book Club is the third book in a series about a charming little town called Smitten, Vermont.  Written as a compilation by Coble, along with Kristin Billerbeck, Denise Hunter, and Diann Hunt, these ladies have woven together a wonderful story.  Four friends come across a book about old love and traditions that was written by a native of Smitten.  As the girls live their lives, dabble in romances, and search for a treasure, they use the guidance found in the book to help guide their lives and decisions they make.

I really enjoyed this story and it proved to be an enjoyable and quick read.  I thought it was interesting how each section of the book, which each focused on a different girl, was written by different authors.  They did a good job of writing in sync together and telling this story.  However, each section that focused on one of the individual girls sometimes seemed disjointed from the rest of the story (only in the respect that it heavily focused on the main character of that section).  I would have liked to see more of each of the four girls in each chapter.  This was a very romantic story where each girl was tested in love.  I didn't read the first two books in the series, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything.  Smitten Book Club can definitely be read as a stand-alone novel.  And this is one book that I will be sure to recommend to my friends!