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| London, England – Present Day A few years ago, Erin Connolly lost her best friend Bonnie to cancer and her death still haunts her. Every so often Bonnie shows up in Erin’s visions. Why? Because Erin felt guilty about not seeing Bonnie much while she had dealt with chemo. At the funeral, Erin ran into their former high school friend James Parr. She and Bonnie had broken off the friendship with James years ago, but apparently, he had been there for Bonnie while Erin had been absent. In the present day, Erin is struggling to survive—between hating her job and life, as well as her guilt about Bonnie. After dramatically quitting her job, she decides to clear out her cache of books but accidentally gives away to a book swap depository a book that holds a dear memory of Bonnie. It even has Erin’s notes in the margins. After realizing her error, she goes back to see if the book is there, and it isn’t there for a few days. It eventually does show up but with additional notes from someone who then suggests a new book for her to read. This goes back and forth. They are literally writing questions and answers back and forth in the margins of the books. Yet, they haven’t met. Who is Erin’s mystery man? I suspect you already know the answer. It turns out that THE BOOK SWAP is the debut book by Tessa Bickers and it’s an emotional read that keeps readers engrossed. Erin is affected by several things, from her best friend’s death to her tenuous relationship with her family. She is living in London, sharing a flat with a guy who sometimes uses her for sex. Unsatisfied with her job, she quits. But she has to pay the rent, so she looks for employment, yet she still feels unsatisfied. Deep down, readers will sense that she is looking for guidance from above as to what to do next. Meanwhile, Erin is enjoying the little flirtation she has going on with her mystery man. Halfway through THE BOOK SWAP, James realizes it is Erin, and he is stunned. All he has ever wanted from her was for her to understand what happened—and for her to forgive him. He wants their friendship back. But does he want more? James is going through his own upheaval. His mother has manic episodes every so often, which means he needs to take time from his job to help his father take care of her. He doesn’t really like his job, except it pays the bills. James would rather be a writer and partway through, he finally starts in earnest the novel that has been percolating in his head for years. He was bullied as a teen, and it was Erin and Bonnie who befriended him. That is until they thought he had lied and betrayed Erin. Will he get the opportunity in THE BOOK SWAP to explain and get forgiveness from Erin? THE BOOK SWAP is told from both Erin’s and James’s points of view, so readers learn early on about what is happening with the book swapping. They take their time working their way back to each other, but it isn’t an easy road. Erin and James have issues to figure out, and big in their agenda will be making explanations to each other. Don’t miss the drama and emotion waiting for readers in THE BOOK SWAP. Patti Fischer |
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THE BOOK SWAP – Tessa Bickers