The Keeper of Stories meets The Lost Apothecary in this evocative and charming love story full of mystery and secrets. Gorgeous descriptions of Paris and Dublin transport you to another world - a book to truly escape into.
The rainy streets of Dublin on a cold winter's day were no place for a young boy to dawdle unless that very same boy had his nose pressed up against the window of the most fascinating bookshop. Lights twinkled inside and the colourful covers called to him, promising stories of adventure and escape. The lady inside spotted him and waved him in.
She smiled to herself. Opaline's Bookshop was a magnet for little boys and girls.
'What does Opaline mean?' he asked, pronouncing it with far too many syllables.
'Opaline is a name.'
'Is it your name?'
'No, I'm Martha.'
She could tell that he wasn't satisfied with that as an explanation.
'I can tell you a story about her, if you like? She didn't like school very much. Or rules.'
'Or doing what she's told?' he suggested.
'Oh she especially didn't like that,' Martha smiled conspiratorially.'Here, I'll make us some tea. A good story always begins with tea.'