Like Adrian in They Met in the Library, I’ve always loved libraries. A huge place full of books you can borrow and read for free, what’s not to like? I like the quiet, the relaxed atmosphere, and the special scent a room full of books give off.
The library where Adrian works is modeled on a library in my old hometown, a place I used to visit a lot, especially when I was a kid but up in my adult years, too. But when I moved to Malaysia, I didn’t go there for years. Until last year when we went back to the tiny town because my husband had a meeting, and I decided to go wait for him in the library.
The first thing that hit me when I entered was the scent. I recognized it in my bones and was instantly comforted by it. That familiarity paled a bit when I realized they’d rearranged since I was there last. I wandered to the poetry shelf … or at least where the poetry shelf used to be and was met with ALL THE DVDs. That made me a bit disgruntled.
My dream is to one day have my own library. A room with floor-to-ceiling shelves, stuffed full of poetry books, my favorite M/M Romance books, lots of Shakespeare and Jane Austen, and anything else that tickles my fancy. It’s going to be complete with a big, comfy armchair, a small table where I can put my tea (or wine) while reading, and if I’m really lucky, a fireplace. And hopefully, the scent of that room will one day be as deeply ingrained in my bones as the scent of my childhood library.
But until that dream comes true, I just store my books wherever I can fit them, just like Adrian. I haven’t resorted to the fridge yet, though 😊
BLURB:
Adrian, book-lover extraordinaire, adores his job at the small community library. He gets to share his passion with other people and help them with all book-related questions and issues. When a big, hulking man walks into the library, looking terrified, Adrian’s skills are tested in a completely different way.
Manne’s relationship with books is uneasy, to say the least. He’s dyslexic and events in his past have made him fearful of books and turned libraries into his worst nightmare. But when the quirky, bowtie-wearing librarian steps in to help, the experience turns positive.
Their banter is easy and their chemistry instant. But can an accidental meeting turn into something more? Can someone who has trouble reading ever fit into the life of a man whose passion is the written word?
