The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

If you have ever wanted to have a Highland Fling, I have just the book for you. The Bookshop on the Corner features a pastoral setting in Scotland, plenty of intriguing characters, a romance or two, and lots of book talk — always a plus. 

It is pure escape.

The Birmingham library that Nina has worked in for years closes its doors. Ready for a change, she buys a large van, fills it with her own collection of books and books discarded from the closed library, moves to Kirrinfief, Scotland, and opens her own mobile bookstore which she promptly names Little Shop of Happy-Ever-After. She travels from village to village, market day to market day, connecting her customers with just the right book.

Now that she is away from the noise and confusion and traffic of the city, she comes to realize how much the beauty of the countryside appeals to her. It's rich and wild and strange, and yet, she feels at home. 

Nina's best friend Surinder (her mother was on the police force; I laughed out loud!) offers moral support although she lacks the courage to pick up her life and move as well. Nina has a couple of romantic encounters - a poetic one right out of a romance novel, and the other one a little more down to earth. 

The book contains glorious descriptions of flowers and food, dawns and sunsets, weather both calm and dramatic. There are feasts and festivals. One, celebrating Midsummer's Eve was a delight to behold with its huge bonfire, dancing, and drinking to celebrate the solstice.

I quite enjoyed Nina's adventures and was cheering for her risky venture to succeed. I love a story about starting over. Really, who hasn't thought of ditching their current life and creating the one they have dreamed of? 

Fling on!