​Bookshop Adventures: BoonsBoro

Eliza with her Turn The Page Bookstore haul!

​Alright, here it is, the “official” trip report for my visit to BoonsBoro!

First of all, there are going to be more of these category of post I’ve decided. Mama Bookworm and I have come to an agreement that we are going to make it a point to find the hidden bookshops and libraries of the world during our travels. We have another trip planned for November… I wonder what we’ll find there…

For now, BOONSBORO! Wow! If you follow my book reviews you’ll know I made sure to read the Inn BoonsBoro trilogy prior to my trip and what a difference it made. I made sure to visit each place from the books; Inn BoonsBoro, Gifts Inn BoonsBoro, Vesta Pizza, Turn the Page Bookstore, and even Dan’s Restaurant and TapHouse (MacT’s in the book). Each of these places were imbued with their own spark of life and had character of their own. Of course I visited a few non-book places; Josie's on Main, Cronise Market Place, and Olde Homestead next door.

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There are plenty of bookshops and small towns in the world… so why is this one important? For many reasons, for one, BoonsBoro is older than the state I live in and drips history. Bloody battles were fought, cemeteries are dotted around the country side, and the architecture transports visitors to another time when they cross city lines. All of the people are friendly and inviting with an easy going attitude and have no problem chatting over their wares or lives while you browse. Everyone has an interesting story to tell with their own spin on the small town and what you should stop to see. As if that wasn’t enough already, Nora Roberts (author extraordinaire) and her family own quite a few of the businesses within the city.

I can’t raise my hand and say I have read every book NR has written (guilty, only six) or that her writing will live on forever in a Shakespearean manner, but I can tell you she’s a woman to admire. She’s published hundreds of books, is the number 1 NYT bestseller and if that’s not enough, she supports her roots in BoonsBoro by giving back to the community. Nora Roberts is an inspiration. Her success, her drive, and her commitment to her craft have landed her a spot in nearly every bookstore.

For the real nerdy bookworm, the different rooms in the Inn BoonsBoro are names, decorated, and accessorized after well-known literary couples. Each room have its own signature scent (with “blank page” unscented also available) and across Main Street in the Inn Gift Shop where visitors can buy their own bottles of their favorites. At Turn the Page there’s also a table of Honeysuckle scented products for those who know the books. I bought a bar of soap and can’t help but smell it every time I pass it.
 
While Mama Bookworm and I spent only a few hours in BoonsBoro, we walked away with books, goodies, and an adventure to tell. I’m not sure what my life goals are yet when it comes to writing. “Published” is a good first step, but no matter what dream I choose to chase, I’m glad there are people like Nora and her family to inspire me. 

Do you have a favorite bookshop or library? Do you think we should visit it and feature it, share the location in the comments and let's get going!