The Little Shop of Happy Ever After by Jenny Colgan

When all the libraries are about to close in Birmingham Nina Redmond is at risk of losing her job.  She, along with about 50 others, is expected to apply for one of just two roles which will be available in the new, almost bookless, media centres which will be created. 

When asked what she would really like to do, Nina admits she would like to run her own, small, bookshop. Nina sees a van advertised for sale and the idea begins to grow that she could buy the van and use this as the base for a mobile bookshop.  The van she really wants is for sale in Scotland.  She sets off up north to look at the van and falls in love with the beautiful scenery, and the peace and quiet of the area. 

Now she needs to make the business a success and find herself the man of her dreams.  

I have previously read 'Welcome to Rosie Hopkin's Sweet Shop of Dreams' and have 'The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris' on my bookshelf.  

Lydia Fielding by Susan Sallis

After Lydia Fielding celebrates her 21st birthday on her family farm, Milton Mains in Exmoor, due to her age there is then an expectation that she should marry.  Lydia is being pursued by two young men with whom she has grown up - Gus Pascoe who wants to get his hands on the family farm and Wesley Peters who is from one of the local very strict Methodist families.  Lydia has no current desire to marry anyone.  

Lydia is summons by Lady Maud to help to look after her grand-daughters who are visiting for the summer.  Initially she is nervous about this but soon finds that she enjoys the time spent teaching the girls about the local wild life and teaching them new skills.  

Lydia's brother Alan is forced to marry Wesley's younger sister Marella and this causes further bad feeling between the two families.  Eventually Lydia moves to Bristol to get away and start a new life. 

I think I may have read a previous novel by Susan Sallis many years ago but do not remember which one it was.  This novel reminded me of the style of a Catherine Cookson story. 

Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchan

After over 20 years of marriage Rose Lloyd is devastated when her husband Nathan announces that he has been having an affair and is leaving.  Rose then finds out that the person Nathan is leaving her for is her much younger friend and colleague Minty.  

Rose starts to look back on their life together, how they met and the plans she had had beforehand.  After Nathan has left, Rose has the opportunity to reassess her life and to make some changes of her own.  

The story goes backwards and forwards from past events in Rose's life to her present day situation.  

This is the first book I have read by Elizabeth Buchan.  I would read another of her novels.  

The Sweetest Thing by Cathy Woodman

After her divorce Jennie Copeland decides to follow her dream and buys an old ramshackle house in the Devon village of Talyton St George.  She moves with her three children and plans to set up her own cake baking business. 

The house has been purchased from Guy Barnes, the farmer who lives next door.  This had been his family home which he did not want to have to sell.  

This book is the third in the series about Talyton St George.  The previous two books were about the vets practice, which does also appear in this story.