on March 2012 Pages: 249 Add to your Goodreads TBR shelf. Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N
When the librarian met the rock star...
Is Rachel Robinson the only one on campus who doesn't know who Devin Freedman is? No big deal except that the bad-boy rock star gets a kick out of Rachel's refusal to worship at his feet. And that seems to have provoked his undivided attention. Devin, the guy who gave new meaning to the phrase "sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll." Devin, the guy who somehow becomes wedged between her and the past she's kept hidden for years.
It's up to this librarian to find out firsthand just how "bad" he really is. Because her secret -- and her growing feelings for a man who claims he's bent on redemption -- depend on his turning out to be as good as he seems. Which is really, really good.
“She’s got a secret that’s long overdue.”
This scene from Atonement was, of course, one of the first things that came to mind when I saw the cover of What the Librarian Did. But, to my dismay, the author does not utilize this fantastically cliche scene. Nevertheless, this book is hot.
I am blushing as I type this review post; but YES, I read a Harlequin Super Romance. As I went through one of the handy self-checkout stations at my local library, I convinced myself that this romance novel was probably going to be a DNFer. The synopsis did not sound especially intriguing to me, but the cover and the title were enough to make me risk my prudish and professional public reputation in order to check it out.
In spite of my reservations about reading a novel one would typically find in a grocery store check-out aisle, I really enjoyed the book. Interestingly enough, it was the un-romantic aspects of the novel that I liked best. For a 249 page book the characters were thoroughly developed, and the plot was emotionally engaging and intellectually satisfying.
The story of the librarian and the rock star unfolds in an academic library located off the coast of a suburban New Zealand town. The two MCs are in their mid-thirties and both are experiencing an early mid-life crisis when they cross paths. The author’s writing voice is concise, charming, and witty. The mix of humor, drama, and romance makes for an entertaining book that readers will want to finish in one or two sessions.
The romantic tension between the two main characters is expertly escalated in the first third of the book, but it is not all hugs and kisses and steamy sex scenes thereafter. As each character takes a turn playing hard to get, the motivations behind their actions are revealed and prove to be more complex than the thrill of a game of cat and mouse. The librarian and the rock star are both entertaining characters and proved to be more than one-dimensional stereotypes on the page.
A long story short, this sweet and steamy romance successfully achieved its thematic goal: never judge a book-or a person-by the cover.
Just For FUN:
I love ALL THINGS LIBRARY so, naturally, when I see anything that thematically falls into library culture, I must indulge myself. A few months ago on the blog, I revealed my dirty little ASMR secret here, and wouldn’t you know it? Library themed ASMR videos are all over You Tube. LIFE IS GOOD. Below, I have linked to some of my favorite and some of the quirkiest ASMR Library videos. Enjoy!
Lets start with the CRAY:
Next up, old school:
Time for typing and tingles:
And how could anyone pass up the MEDIEVAL LIBRARY:
Are you a fan of ASMR videos? If so, link me up to your favorites!
on March 2012 
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