Title: Shelf Awareness Author: Katie Ashley
Series: Green Valley Library #4
Release date: November 19, 2019
(Sub)genres: Contemporary Romance
Buy: Amazon US ~ Amazon UK
Rating:
I received this book from Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
After catching her husband in a compromising position, Finley Granger finds herself in a new hell: reentering the dating world. When she moves in with her grandmother, her great-aunt, and their best friend, Finley finds herself surrounded by a trio of well-meaning yet bumbling matchmakers.
In spite of their efforts, Finley only has eyes for one person, and that’s Zeke Masters—the 6’4”, impossibly built, and ridiculously good-looking new man in town. Along with her nether regions, Finley’s journalistic spidey-senses tingle as to why he’s on sabbatical from Seattle. Is he on the lam or escaping a bad breakup? What’s his story?!?!
As Finley finds herself reluctantly drawn to the gorgeous IT guy, she can’t help but wonder: should she indulge in a rebound tryst with the mysterious Zeke, or has she finally met her match?
‘Shelf Awareness’ is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book #4 in the Green Valley Library series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
Not so nice hubby; check. Meddling granny and her gang; check. Hunky, mysterious stranger; double check. Shelf Awareness tells the story of Finley, who wants to find herself again, and what she truly wants from life. I’ve enjoyed reading this sweet story.
Finley is living a normal life in the big city of Atlanta with her hubby. That’s until she finds her man doing the naughty with somebody else, in their bed. Finley quickly realizes her marriage is over, and she ‘flees’ to Green Valley to live with her grandmother. Finley wants to calmly make plans for a new life (and nurse her wounded heart), but a nosey granny, great-aunt and a friend make that kind of impossible. Finley isn’t even ready for a new man, but when she meets Zeke, he turns out to be irresistible.
I hate that Finley finds her husband cheating on her, but I love how she handles the situation. She keeps herself together (well, mostly), and doesn’t start begging him to come back. Yes, she’s sad, but it’s mostly because her life takes a very different turn. Deep down inside Finley knew there was something wrong with her marriage, but that doesn’t make it hurt less. Zeke is the perfect guy for her, who makes her feel all the right feelings. I love how Finley tries to be just friends with Zeke, and (not so) miserably fails at it.
Shelf Awareness is the fourth book in the ‘Green Valley Series’ and takes the reader back to the small town of Green Valley and the town library. Finley and Zeke are a good couple and have great chemistry. Other funny side-characters are Finley’s grandmother and her gang; older ladies who don’t act exactly their age. Besides the romance there’s a bit of mystery surrounding Zeke, but most of all this book is about Finley finding her true self.
I love Finley, Zeke and their story. I give Shelf Awareness 4 stars.
Except
As Zeke worked on uploading the census records, I hoisted one of the many boxes from the Henderson’s donation onto the table. It kicked up an epic dust cloud. I reached inside to pluck out one of the moldering tomes of historical literature. Wrinkling my nose, I fought the urge to sneeze. Instead, I cleared my throat. When it still felt like I had swallowed a wad of sawdust, I coughed. And that was my grievous mistake.
The force of the cough dislodged the Ben Wa ball, sending it into an epic downward dive. Yes, ladies and gentlemen the Ben Wa ball had left the building. Whirling away from Zeke, I used my hand to try an inconspicuous crotch shuffle to send the ball back to its point of origin. What happened next was truly against the laws of motion. Because the universe apparently hated me, the ball escaped the confines of my thong. As it started its descent down my thigh, I squeaked and clamped my knees together.
“Are you all right?” Zeke asked behind me.
I threw a glance at him over my shoulder. “Uh, yeah, I . . .” Okay, I had no idea how I was going to get out of this one. It wasn’t like I could say, “Well, here’s the thing. The Ben Wa ball I was using to strengthen my pelvic floor muscles to keep my vagina healthy for the D just slipped out and is about to make a very unhappy trail down my leg.”
“I think a bug bit me or something.”
“Oh no. Want me to take a look?”
“No!” When Zeke’s eyes widened at my outburst, I said, “Sorry. I’m okay.”
“If you’re sure.”
“Totally.”
“I think I might’ve found something interesting for your research.”
The only thing I was interested in at the moment was getting the Ben Wa ball out of my pants without Zeke seeing it. “Oh?”
“I definitely see some Native American female names.”
Damn him for being enthusiastic about my research. The last thing I wanted to do was walk the couple of steps back over to him while trying to keep a Ben Wa ball from rolling down my pants leg. Since I couldn’t see any other way out of it, I nodded. Gritting my teeth, I started shuffling over to him.
When I started lurching like Frankenstein’s monster, Zeke tilted his head curiously at me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yep. Totally fine,” I muttered.
Just as I reached his chair, my knee shifted because of what I imagined was panic sweat overtaking me. As the ball became dislodged, I bit down on my lip to keep from squealing again. There was no saving the ball now or my humiliation for that matter.
As soon as it plopped onto my shoe, I flung my foot, sending it ricocheting into the desk. Of course, it’s size caused it to make a tremendous ching-ching noise, which in turn caused Zeke to rip his attention away from the screen. “What was that?”
“What was what?” I questioned innocently.
He furrowed his brows at me. “You didn’t hear that noise?”
“Uh, no.” Plastering a smile on my face, I said, “I’m sorry. I was just so into what you were saying.”
Ignoring my response, Zeke quickly assessed the area around us. After I’d flung the ball away, it had come to a rest to the right of his desk chair. When he bent over to examine the ball, I inwardly began screaming noooooo while at the same time cursing Estelle for even bringing the Ben Wa ball into my orbit.
Since the universe hadn’t tortured me quite enough yet, Zeke picked up the ball. “Interesting,” he murmured as he twisted it between his fingers.
I decided it was best to play absolutely and completely clueless in this situation. “What is it?” Silently, I prayed he wouldn’t respond with, “It looks like one of those sex balls you shove up your cooch.”
“I don’t know. Maybe a part off one of the desks or chairs. I should probably give it to maintenance, so they can check all the furniture in here.”
Oh hell no. Without a second thought, I snatched the ball out of his hands. Since I did it rather abruptly, Zeke’s surprise was apparent on his face. Waving my free hand dismissively, I said, “Don’t bother yourself with that. I’ll take it to them.”
“Thanks, Finley.”
After wheezing out a breath, I replied, “You’re welcome.” I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. “I’ll go do that right now.”
I didn’t bother waiting for Zeke to reply. Instead, I power walked right out of the history room. I’m sure if he was watching me he would have been puzzled at my miraculous recovery, considering I’d been limping earlier.
At the first trash can I could find, I deposited the Ben Wa ball. It seemed abundantly clear that neither I nor my vagina were quite ready to handle the responsibility.
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