Book Review: Nevermore Bookstore by Kerrigan Byrne and Cynthia St. Aubin

About the Book:

Title: Nevermore Bookstore

Author: Kerrigan Byrne and Cynthia St. Aubin

Series: Townsend Harbor #1

Publication Date: March 28, 2022

Publisher: Xpresso Books

Synopsis: Cadence “Cady” Bloomquist knows two things for sure: First, shelving books at her shop, Nevermore Bookstore, totally counts as cardio. Second, staying late every Thursday night to take a certain mysterious customer’s order is not the same as waiting by the phone for some man.

Until.

Until the calls with the man who identifies himself only as “Fox” last for hours, and become the highlight of her week. Which leaves her to wonder, if his jagged velvet voice can kindle her fire over the phone, what sort of alchemy might it inspire if they met in person?

There’s nothing Roman Fawkes wants more than the brilliant, beautiful bookstore owner, but Roman Fawkes knows it can never happen. Secreted in his mountain hideaway high above sleepy little Townsend Harbor, his hermit’s existence shields him–and those around him–from the pain of his past.

Until.

Until one of their weekly calls is interrupted by a break-in, and Fawkes is powerless to protect the woman who has become his one link to the world. Orchestrating a trap for the fool who dared harm her, Fawkes finds himself not just ensnared, but beguiled by her. Now so close to Cady, he discovers she’s fallen for “Fox”, and yet he’s unable to reveal her heart’s desire is closer than she thinks.

Can Fawkes resist the temptation to get between Cady’s covers, knowing they’ll never have a happily ever after?

LINKS:   Goodreads   |    Amazon

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My Review:

First of all, I want to live in Nevermore Bookstore and hang out with all of the people who frequent it. I never pass on a chance to read a contemporary romance set in a bookstore, and Nevermore Bookstore sounds charming. I also loved Cady. She’s such a great protagonist. She’s so upbeat and positive even though she’s going through so much. She’s mourning the loss of her beloved aunt, and she suffers from a chronic illness and chronic pain. She’s also fighting to keep a floundering bookstore afloat. Cady has a lot on her plate, but she is kind, generous, and selfless, and she never gives up fighting for the people and things she cares about. She’s pretty remarkable, and her introspection is admirable.

Then there’s Fox, Cady’s love interest. I so rooted for Fox, even though I didn’t love how he watched Cady from afar. It was a little strange and stalkery but totally understandable considering his PTSD and how debilitating it was for him. And his backstory is dark and made it almost impossible for him to be indoors. Throughout the whole book, I kept hoping he would get the help he needed because he was struggling on his own.

Cady and Fox have great chemistry, and though they both have a lot to work through and figure out, I was hopeful that they’d find a way to be together. I feel like they really understood each other, and I love that their relationship began with phone calls and book talks. I also loved when Cady called Fox out for pushing her away. She makes him face some hard truths, and, in turn, she faces her own. Their relationship has major grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and their romance is pretty steamy. That phone sex scene fogged up my kindle! lol

The story is not as light and fluffy as the cover suggests. it deals with some heavier topics like PTSD, chronic illness, small-town politics and greed, and financial stresses. However, these topics are balanced well with the comical banter, small-town charm, interesting secondary characters (especially Kevin Costner, the cat!), and the romance. And the ending is fantastic – so swoon-worthy and sweet, and Fox and Cady show how deeply they care for each other.

Thanks to NetGalley and Xpresso Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The romance.

• Cady!

• The bookstore.

Favorite Lines:

Sometimes passion was a whisper, other times a roar. This time? It was a storm.

Their kiss was not a reunion, but a revolution.

I’m not afraid of pain. I’m afraid of letting it keep me from living.

Tropes:

• small town
• grumpy/sunshine