Nevermore Bookstore by Kerrigan Byrne and Cynthia St. Aubin [Review]

Nevermore Bookstore (Townsend Harbor #1) by Kerrigan Byrne and Cynthia St. Aubin
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 23, 2023

Townsend Harbor
1. Nevermore Bookstore - Paperback | Kindle
2. Brewbies
3. Bazaar Girls
4. Star-Crossed
5. Sirens

Kerrigan Byrne
| Website | Amazon |

Cynthia St. Aubin
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

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?

Thoughts on Nevermore Bookstore: A quirky bookstore with a quirky proprietress and a brooding man who thinks he has nothing to offer Cady. Cady thinks differently, mind you, but Fox has some deep scars that keep him from seeing that he's exactly the person Cady needs in her life.

But before we talk about Fox and his issues...Townsend Harbor has a WHOLE LOT of personality. Beyond the off beat shops and people who run them, there's some underhanded things going on, a little crime when circumstances line up correctly, and a few secrets that I'm sure some people would prefer remain hidden. Somehow, Cady is right in the middle of all of it even though she's just trying to run her inherited bookstore and keep a low profile.

That said, Cady's idea of keeping a low profile is to run a sassy book club, do her best to always be kind, and try to keep her chin up even when things are starting to look a little bleak. Which, come to think of it, IS pretty low profile. So, hey. There you go.

As for Fox, he's protective, a little damaged, and Cady has somehow become the most important thing to him in a fairly short amount of time. So when she's in danger, he goes into big protective mode and does his level best to keep her safe even though he doesn't think he's any good for her. Which just goes to prove what a good heart he has under all his scars and brooding stares.

A little danger, a few secrets, a sassy group of ladies running their respective shops, a man who needs a little TLC and a lady who very much wants to be the one giving it to him. YESSSSS. Now bring on the sheriff. I'm ready to see him get all befuddled by someone.