Review: The Charm Bracelet

The Charm Bracelet by Melissa Hill

Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 387
Published: January 1, 2013 (in Canada); May 24, 2012 (Kindle)
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Genre: Fiction, Chick Lit

My Rating: 4/5

Summary (from amazon.com):

Every charm bracelet tells a story and Holly O'Neill knows this better than most. Many years ago she was sent one mysteriously, just a single charm attached. Some time later another charm appeared, and the same happened until the bracelet was almost full. Each charm proved significant, as if her anonymous benefactor knew she needed a little bit of magic in her life. So when Holly stumbles across another bracelet - one that somebody else has lost - she recognises a lifetime spelt out through the charms, and knows she must try to reunite it with its owner. Using each charm to help discover more about the bracelet's owner, Holly gradually begins to piece together details of this other charmed life. And her quest leads her somewhere she never expected...

Review:

**NOTE: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher.  However, no compensations were made and this review reflects my honest thoughts and feelings.**

You know that feeling that you get when you look down at your ring finger and see your wedding band?  I imagine that feeling is the same when you are the proud owner of a charm bracelet.  A token from each of your life's events being given a place of honour on a piece of jewelry that you were with all your heart.

Being a true fan of romantic stories and a believer in fate (ever see the movie Serendipity?), I knew that The Charm Bracelet would be a book that was writen just for me and boy, was I ever right!!  From the very first page I felt connected to the story in a way that most books take chapters to do.  It could have been the fact that I have two charm bracelets myself or the fact that Melissa Hill knows how to develop a story that grips you and make you want to keep reading.

The character of Holly was almost too good to be true.  In a day when most lost items, especially those of any value, seem to find their way in to a new home; it was like a breath of fresh air to see someone (Holly) that would go to the ends of the Earth to make sure the owner gets their possessions back.  Holly is a dedicated mother, a devoted employee and an overall wonderful person... someone I would like to have as a friend.  The one thing about the characters in this book was that there weren't that many.  However, that being said, the ones that were part of The Charm Bracelet were very well placed within the story and I found each to be enjoyable, even Karen.

One surprise to me was that the story took place at Christmastime and I was overjoyed at that... I just LOOOVE Christmas stories (hence Holiday Reads 2012).  I was able to see the frost in the air, the snow on the ground and feel the joyousness (?) that is always around throughout the holidays.

Overall, Melissa Hill has hit a homerun with this story and I recommend it to all fans of a true romantic story with a twist of mystery!