The Corner Shop

I went into this novel totally prepared to like it. It had such a cute premise! Nothing bad or objectionable in it; it just didn't have much sparkle. The professor was actually kind of a cardboard character, and Lucille's transition from "I'm not sure I can stand this job in this primitive place with this ridiculous man for more than a couple of weeks" to "I wish I was back there...in that lovely house...with that great professor" was just too quick and unexplained. The mystery was kind of halfhearted. Easy, light reading, but not too engaging. Unfortunately.

The smug, insufferable owner of a secretarial agency encounters a client who is a smug, insufferable university professor, and then…. Well, actually I don’t know because I simply couldn’t get through this book. I have adored every other Elizabeth Cadell book — sweet 1950s romances regardless of when they were published — but I couldn’t stomach this one.

Independent Lucille Abbey runs a secretarial agency, and determines to discover why none of her employees can work for Professor Hallam. She meets the professor, sparks fly, a mystery unfolds, and romance ensues (of course, it wouldn't be a Cadell without it). The other characters in the novel are appealing in their quirkiness. The way the author 'grows' a romance is so wonderfully understated. Probably my favorite of the Cadell books I've read, this story would make a great movie by someone like Nora Ephron.

It doesn't quite stick the landing at the end, but I still really enjoyed this one. The characters are amusing.

Delightful sweet old fashioned sort of story. A great escape for me in the midst of chaos. I was whisked away to a kinder gentler time. Lovely.

Charming old-fashioned romance. I've always liked this author, used to read her years ago, thought I'd try another one of hers and enjoyed it it.