Stud in the Stacks

4.5 stars

If you're looking for adorable and cute: look no further.
I will admit to being sucked into this one because he is a librarian, which I mean... how can you not want to read about a guy who digs romance novels and helps people find the books they want?? Granted how his job works isn't really how it is done IRL, but you can't get everything right. (LOL in what world would someone working reference do Storytime regularly??)

But, it is a sweet, cute, and the chemistry between them is natural. Also, I laughed so much. Oh, and I also picked up a ton of recommendations for OTHER romance novels to check out. It was also fun to see mentions to other books – shout out to Bro Code!

What I didn't realize is this book is interconnected with other books. So yes, it can be read as a standalone NO PROBLEM, but the couple in Mister McHottie is mentioned frequently and their road to romance is hinted at. I don't feel like I missed out on reading this one first, although I'm definitely going back and reading Mister McHottie before heading to Charming as Puck, in which the hero is given screen time in this one so I'm excited to see his story.

NOTE: This coming year I have set a challenge for myself of reading one book a week that takes me out of my comfort zone. A book that may include one (or more) tropes (scenarios) that I avoid like the plague. Cheating. Older women/younger man. OW drama. Just to name a few. Nothing is off limits. I am taking a HUGE step out of the box I usually live in and charting a course into the unknown (HaHa). My reviews for these books will differ from my usual as I will focus more on whether the author wowed me despite it having content I avoid. That said, I will go into each book with an open mind and an open heart and who knows, maybe I will discover a new favorite author on the way!





So honesty first. I had NO idea when I signed up for this one it involved an older woman/younger man plot. Had I known I would never have signed up. I wish authors would make a note in their blurbs when a book contains a trope that isn't the “norm”. Just a quick this is an older woman/younger man story would go a long way in helping readers avoid things they have no interest in reading. This would be especially helpful for ARC readers since we don't have the benefit of reading reviews before we sign up for a book. OK, public service announcement over onto the review...


~THIS BOOK INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING TROPES (SCENARIOS) I USUALLY AVOID~ (don't click if you don't want the book spoiled!!)
-- Older Woman/Younger Man  


~WRITING - PLOT - PACE~
I found this one to be very well written. It was perfectly paced. The plot was engaging and kept me turning the pages. It was SUPER hilarious as well. That said, I think this book would have worked better had less time passed. Twenty years seemed a bit long for a grown intelligent woman to have bully hangups from high school. I also think it would have worked better had the heroine been the same age as the hero. Obviously, the whole “babysitting” angle wouldn't have worked, but it would have made the heroines behaviors less eye rolling and head scratching. 


~HERO~
The hero of this book was PERFECT. He was sweet. He was sexy. He was funny. He was smart. He was kind. He reads romance novels. He lives with his Nana. He wasn't a manwhore. He was just a totally lovable and endearing hero. I wish romance books had more heroes like Knox. He carried this book to a 3.5-star rating that is for sure.


~HEROINE~
I didn't hate Parker TOO much. That said, she acted a bit bipolar at times. One minute she was a babbling idiot and the next she was a straight up bitch. The fact that she was eight years older than our hero would usually have me not finish a book lickidy split but Parker acted WAY less mature than our hero. That made it easier for me to pretend they were at least the same age (lol). Although I didn't find her overly annoying, I did find her insecurity a bit confusing. The woman is thirty-eight years old but is still hung up on things that happened two decades ago? Not to mention her reasons for not wanting kids?? Let us just say she came off a bit mentally challenged at times and leave it at that.





~SIDE CHARACTERS~
There was a nice cast of secondary characters. I assume some from previous books. I loved Parker's friends and Knox's Nana. I also really want Parker's brothers to get books of their own.


~HEAT LEVEL~
Low to medium. No sexual intercourse until 60% in but there was good sexual chemistry and the sex scenes were suitably hot.


~ANGST LEVEL~
Low. I didn't find this very angsty and there was no OW/OM drama.



~IN THE END~
I enjoyed this one overall. Like I mentioned above the hero and humor carried this book to a 3.5-Star rating. The age difference didn't overly bother me as it wasn't talked up a lot and the heroine acted younger most of the time which made it easier to pretend she wasn't eight years older. Unfortunately, the heroine of this one was also a pretty big disappointment. She came across like an immature idiot half the time and an over the top bitch the rest of the time. Still, I enjoyed it enough I will give this author another chance to WOW me. So this one ended up being a bit of a mixed bag.