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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
Finley Granger returns to Green Valley after she catches her husband cheating on her to live with her GranBea and two elderly friends (think Golden Girls). She gets a job at the library where hunky Zeke Masters is volunteering at updating the library's computer systems.
This book just didn't do it for me. I'm not a fan of slapstick, and much of the humor here was the written form of pratfalls. You could see the setups coming a million miles away. I prefer humor where a sentence catches me by surprise, real nose-snorting laughs. I can't even with the Ben-wa balls. #obvious
I never warmed up to Finley. She seemed to get over the whole husband cheating too fast for someone who had just been planning a pregnancy with him. I found it weird that over the course of the book she became coarser in her speech - not because I care about some swearing, but because she's living with three old church-going Southern ladies. By the end of the book, she sounded like she was hanging out with the Iron Wraiths.
Zeke seemed like a nice guy but since the whole story is in Findley's POV, he's more of a cipher. The big mystery wasn't all that secret (spoiler: you just had to ask him).
Also, and this was a big no-no for me. You don't put something like Jenn is coming to a party and Cletus is going to play there and NEVER HAVE THEM EVEN SHOW UP! I mean, just a scene where Jenn brings a banana cake or Cletus imparts some pearls of wisdom. I mean, come on.
I've enjoyed most of the Smartypants Romance books, but this is one of the few misses.
This book just didn't do it for me. I'm not a fan of slapstick, and much of the humor here was the written form of pratfalls. You could see the setups coming a million miles away. I prefer humor where a sentence catches me by surprise, real nose-snorting laughs. I can't even with the Ben-wa balls. #obvious
I never warmed up to Finley. She seemed to get over the whole husband cheating too fast for someone who had just been planning a pregnancy with him. I found it weird that over the course of the book she became coarser in her speech - not because I care about some swearing, but because she's living with three old church-going Southern ladies. By the end of the book, she sounded like she was hanging out with the Iron Wraiths.
Zeke seemed like a nice guy but since the whole story is in Findley's POV, he's more of a cipher. The big mystery wasn't all that secret (spoiler: you just had to ask him).
Also, and this was a big no-no for me. You don't put something like Jenn is coming to a party and Cletus is going to play there and NEVER HAVE THEM EVEN SHOW UP! I mean, just a scene where Jenn brings a banana cake or Cletus imparts some pearls of wisdom. I mean, come on.
I've enjoyed most of the Smartypants Romance books, but this is one of the few misses.
Sweet story.
Honourable Hero, non man-whore.
Heroine gets a divorce at the start of the book.
Bit slow burn.
Small ex drama from his ex.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
Secondary characters and previous characters and couples feature.
HEA.
Epilogue.
Honourable Hero, non man-whore.
Heroine gets a divorce at the start of the book.
Bit slow burn.
Small ex drama from his ex.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
Secondary characters and previous characters and couples feature.
HEA.
Epilogue.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a good job. I enjoyed the H/h and secondary characters. I enjoyed the storyline.
This was a decent, fun reading experience. There were parts I really enjoyed, mostly the sides characters and the library setting. However this book has a lot of problems. It also has a lot of potential that isn't explored which made it a disappointing read.
It's obvious the author tried to fit some diversity into the story. It's there but it's superficial. There's a Native American character and three gay characters but there no follow through, no reason that these characters exist this way. They could have been any other race or sexuality and it wouldn't have made a difference to the story. I want diversity in my books so I can learn something new and have a different experience from my own, that didn't happen here. These characters are superficially diverse but that was never explored on a personal level for the character.
The other big bummer about this book is the inconsistencies. One of my book club friends pointed out that the hero is described in one spot as 6'3" and in another place as 6'5". It's supposed to be a spin off of the Winston Brothers series by Penny Reid and while it's set in the same town, it doesn't have the feel of a Penny book. There's some humorous spots but they felt forced and the romantic relationship didn't have an appropriate amount of build up - it came too easily for them, without much tension.
Because this series is written by many different authors, the books are all over the place in their quality and writing styles. I'm not enjoying it much because each book is so different from the previous one. I'll keep going only because I'm reading them with my book club.
It's obvious the author tried to fit some diversity into the story. It's there but it's superficial. There's a Native American character and three gay characters but there no follow through, no reason that these characters exist this way. They could have been any other race or sexuality and it wouldn't have made a difference to the story. I want diversity in my books so I can learn something new and have a different experience from my own, that didn't happen here. These characters are superficially diverse but that was never explored on a personal level for the character.
The other big bummer about this book is the inconsistencies. One of my book club friends pointed out that the hero is described in one spot as 6'3" and in another place as 6'5". It's supposed to be a spin off of the Winston Brothers series by Penny Reid and while it's set in the same town, it doesn't have the feel of a Penny book. There's some humorous spots but they felt forced and the romantic relationship didn't have an appropriate amount of build up - it came too easily for them, without much tension.
Because this series is written by many different authors, the books are all over the place in their quality and writing styles. I'm not enjoying it much because each book is so different from the previous one. I'll keep going only because I'm reading them with my book club.
3.5 stars. Sweet story with some laugh out loud funny moments. Hot scenes and no stress.
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Shelf Awareness by Katie Ashley is the 4th book in the Green Valley Library series from Smartypants Romance. Each book in the series can be read and enjoyed as stand alone.
Shelf Awareness tells the story of Finley Granger and Zeke Masters. Finley is in Green Valley to start fresh from her divorce. She moves in with her grandmother, her aunt and her godmother and lands a job at the Green Valley Library. Zeke is in Green Valley on sabbatical. He spends his free time volunteering as IT support for the library when he's not busy searching for his birth parents. They have instant chemistry and become fast friends but Green Valley isn't Zeke's permanent location and Finley is trying to find herself since her divorce.
Zeke swept a hand to his heart. "Ooh, you're talking nerdy to me with your character knowledge."
This was a sweet and fun romance. Finley has some self-esteem issues but overall she's friendly and honest. Zeke is a charming nerdy gentleman. Zeke helps Finley embrace and accept herself and helps her step out of her current comfort zone. There were many ridiculous and funny moments from sex talk with her aunt to a certain tumble down a hill. However, I had two major let-downs in the book, the first was the fact that there are no POVs from Zeke. He was such a great character and his lack of view point made him fall flat a little, I wanted into that sexy nerd brain of his lol The second being that I wasn't really feeling the actually chemistry between Zeke and Finley. The intimate scenes were all right but seemed rushed in my opinion.
Holy hell. A good- looking, successful man was quoting Shakespeare. That was it. I could die happy because my life was now complete. Could there possibly be a limit to this man's attractiveness?
Overall I think Shelf Awareness is a nice addition to the Green Valley universe. With friendly faces, it fits right into this beloved Penny Reid universe.
Shelf Awareness by Katie Ashley is the 4th book in the Green Valley Library series from Smartypants Romance. Each book in the series can be read and enjoyed as stand alone.
Shelf Awareness tells the story of Finley Granger and Zeke Masters. Finley is in Green Valley to start fresh from her divorce. She moves in with her grandmother, her aunt and her godmother and lands a job at the Green Valley Library. Zeke is in Green Valley on sabbatical. He spends his free time volunteering as IT support for the library when he's not busy searching for his birth parents. They have instant chemistry and become fast friends but Green Valley isn't Zeke's permanent location and Finley is trying to find herself since her divorce.
Zeke swept a hand to his heart. "Ooh, you're talking nerdy to me with your character knowledge."
This was a sweet and fun romance. Finley has some self-esteem issues but overall she's friendly and honest. Zeke is a charming nerdy gentleman. Zeke helps Finley embrace and accept herself and helps her step out of her current comfort zone. There were many ridiculous and funny moments from sex talk with her aunt to a certain tumble down a hill. However, I had two major let-downs in the book, the first was the fact that there are no POVs from Zeke. He was such a great character and his lack of view point made him fall flat a little, I wanted into that sexy nerd brain of his lol The second being that I wasn't really feeling the actually chemistry between Zeke and Finley. The intimate scenes were all right but seemed rushed in my opinion.
Holy hell. A good- looking, successful man was quoting Shakespeare. That was it. I could die happy because my life was now complete. Could there possibly be a limit to this man's attractiveness?
Overall I think Shelf Awareness is a nice addition to the Green Valley universe. With friendly faces, it fits right into this beloved Penny Reid universe.
Unfortunately, I just didn't connect with these characters in any way that sucked me into their story. I didn't dislike them but I never felt invested in them either.
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Sweet story.
Honourable Hero, non man-whore.
Heroine gets a divorce at the start of the book.
Bit slow burn.
Small ex drama from his ex.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
Secondary characters and previous characters and couples feature.
HEA.
Epilogue.
Honourable Hero, non man-whore.
Heroine gets a divorce at the start of the book.
Bit slow burn.
Small ex drama from his ex.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
Secondary characters and previous characters and couples feature.
HEA.
Epilogue.
Have you ever thought you had your whole together and then reality hits like a freight train? That’s what happens to Finley. Which is how she ends up back in Green Valley.
Finely is one of the characters that I immediately wanted to get her happy ending. She is written in a way that even though she has been through this awful thing, she is strong and you just want her to get her happy ending.
Zeke oh Zeke... tall, dark, handsome... mysterious I mean, what is not to love. On top of that an intelligence to match. Swoon.
Overall a throughly enjoyable read. I mean great characters, wonderful storyline and fantastic writing! Get a copy today you won’t be disappointed!
Finely is one of the characters that I immediately wanted to get her happy ending. She is written in a way that even though she has been through this awful thing, she is strong and you just want her to get her happy ending.
Zeke oh Zeke... tall, dark, handsome... mysterious I mean, what is not to love. On top of that an intelligence to match. Swoon.
Overall a throughly enjoyable read. I mean great characters, wonderful storyline and fantastic writing! Get a copy today you won’t be disappointed!