In THE BATTLE OF THE BOOKSHOPS, her latest sweet, British, small-town romance, Poppy Alexander makes no pretense about its Romeo and Juliet bones. The main characters, Roman Montbeau and Julia Capelthorne, are from families who have been feuding for centuries. The Montbeaus have come out ahead and live in wealth and splendor that the Capelthornes can only dream of.

Julia, known as Jules, has been in awe of Roman since her teen years when she and her girlfriends had hopeless crushes on the scions of the upper-class locals. What she didn't know was that Roman noticed her, beautiful in a green gown that showed off her titian red hair and sparkling green eyes. And while she works in publishing in London, which she hopes will lead to her dream job --- being an editor --- Jules returns to her small, quaint hometown to help her great-aunt Flo, who has taken a fall.

"Alexander shares the smells of books, new and used, and we can picture the tiny bookstore with its adorable little flat on top where Flo lives with her black cat, Merlin."

Flo runs Capelthorne's Books, which has been in the family for generations. Jules' mother was not the maternal type and had her way too young, so Flo became the de facto mother and father, raising her and providing the love and attention she needed. Now Flo needs the help, and Jules is determined to be there for her.

But times have changed, the books are dusty, and sales are down. And when the beautiful shop across the street is unveiled as a new bookstore, with Roman as the owner, Jules is devastated. There's also the matter of the lease at Capelthorne's that her great-aunt keeps ignoring, a lease that is coming due after 100 years and will hold a nasty surprise.

In the meantime, the attraction and feelings between Jules and Roman ignite and continue to grow. With Alexander's deft touch, both characters become real and likable. We can relate to Jules when she feels uncertain about hanging out with Roman's posh friends. We can empathize with Roman as he struggles with his feelings for Jules and his desire to help his family. We are rooting for them to have their happily ever after, but will it be possible? Or are they indeed star-crossed lovers like their Shakespearean namesakes?

There aren't any stunning twists or surprises here --- just a vision of the Devon coast and the small, historic, picturesque towns that dot the seaside. Alexander shares the smells of books, new and used, and we can picture the tiny bookstore with its adorable little flat on top where Flo lives with her black cat, Merlin. The sea at the end of High Street, the cobblestones, the brisk English weather, the charming cafes and tea shops, and, of course, the bookstores all could very well ignite a desire to travel to England and visit the Devon coast.

But the next best thing is certainly to take a staycation and read all about it. And thanks to Poppy Alexander's delightful descriptions and captivating characters, we can do just that.