In Green Valley, Tennessee everybody knows everybody, but nobody knows Sabrina Logan.Sabrina has been hiding in plain sight for years. Living her life inside of books, dutifully helping her family, and hoping no one will notice her. So far? Mission accomplished!Yet when sexy—and distrustful—sheriff, Wyatt Monroe returns to town with his daughters, he definitely notices the quiet librarian … librarian everyone else overlooks. The single dad can’t seem to shake thoughts of shy Sabrina. Without quite understanding the impulse, Wyatt makes his mission finding her again, so he can . . . well, he’ll just have to reckon with that later.
What Wyatt discovers is a woman who trusts too easily, but who’s afraid to live. Trust doesn’t come easily to Wyatt. But living? That’s never been a problem.
And he’d sure like to show her how.
‘Crime and Periodicals’ is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book #2 in the Green Valley Library series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
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This is my first Nora Everly book, and it won’t be my last. Nora Everly was on my radar before, but as an avid fan of Penny Reid, I am reading all of the SmartyPants Romance novels as they are released, so this is the first book of Nora’s that I’m reading.
Sabrina is a shy librarian, helping to raise her niece and nephew, and basically laying low in the Green Valley Library. She’s sweet, shy, smart and sassy with those that she knows.
Wyatt grew up in Green Valley, but left when he was younger and just returned to town as a single dad and new sheriff. He encounters Sabrina for the first time in a long time when he pulls up on her stopped on the side of the road and offers assistance. Wyatt is the ideal man for Sabrina. He’s patient, understanding, a loving father, and an overall good Green Valley man.
Even though Wyatt asks Sabrina out right away, it takes a while for her to make up her mind to even date him, and their relationship is a definite sweet slow burn. It develops every organically, and they both really get to know each other and complement each other well.
The side characters, including a couple of Winstons, some other Green Valley residents from other SmartyPants novels, and the children in Wyatt and Sabrina’s lives, add to the story and enhance the overall tell.
The audio is also really enjoyable, narrated by Reagan Boggs (a new-to-me female narrator) and the always amazing Chris Brinkley.
This is my first read of Nora’s and her writing was good. I think there’s a bunch of us who can relate to Sabrina. Wyatt is a swoony single dad. It was cute to see their relationship evolve and of course theres other obstacles in the plot where Wyatt rescues Sabrina.
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I’ve been enjoying the Green Valley Library so darn much, we’ve definitely been getting quite the dosage of a few of the Winstons throughout the Smartypants Romance universe and I love it forever. Nora Everly is a new to me author and I just about devoured this read in one sitting.
Sabrina was as shy as they come, an introvert true and true and I completely understood her anxiety when it came to meeting people. I loved her character and her devotion to her sister’s kids especially Harry. You will hands down fall in love with him.
Wyatt, you are the ultimate book boyfriend and I will love you forever. His patience and understanding of Sabrina was seriously EVERYTHING. He definitely understood her better than most and I was here for all of his ways to win her over.
Crime and Periodicals was such a solid read and great addition to this series. I loved that it was a single parent romance on both sides and that the relationship with all the kids have with one another was a major highlight for this book.
What a great first read by Nora!
**I RECEIVED A COMPLIMENTARY READER’S COPY FROM SOCIAL BUTTERFLY PR FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. THIS DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR CONTENT OF MY REVIEW**
Nora Everly
There are times in life when the care of others is more important than your own issues. For Sabrina – taking care of family is second nature. Since her sister passed away, Sabrina helps her father raise the children that were left behind with their mother’s death. Sabrina’s nephew Henry needed a tad more care than the teenagers, due to his autism. This sacrifice Sabrina was making with her own life was never a factor. Who wouldn’t love their niece and nephews like their own??
During a breakdown that Henry was having on the side of the road, Sabrina crosses paths with Wyatt. The local Sherriff knew exactly how to assist Sabrina with the turmoil that Henry was going through. Wyatt’s act of chivalry touched the bookworm far more than she wanted, but it was hard to ignore how amazing the man in uniform was with children. If that knowledge wasn’t the main reason to give Wyatt a second glance, Sabrina learns that two of her favorite children at the library are Wyatt’s daughters.
As Sabrina and Wyatt feel an immediate attraction, the duo knows that whatever they feel comes after the care of the children. Wyatt has no problem expressing his desires to Sabrina, but it’s harder for the librarian to accept that someone desires her so deeply. While the shy and caring librarian is timid about the attraction, Wyatt is slowly bringing Sabrina out of her shell. Where will the attraction lead when so many little souls hang in the balance of this blooming romance?
Prepare yourself for another trip to Green Valley!! Crime and Periodicals is the latest release in the Green Valley Library series by author Nora Everly. This return to the Pennyverse will treat readers to a closer glimpse into the lives of some very interesting residents in this Winston inspired town.
Sabrina works at the local library, and has always managed to fade into the background. Once Wyatt notice the beauty – the sparks began to fly. EVERYTHING about these two characters pulled me into their journey. One thing I will admit – the KIDS in this story seemed to steal the show. Wyatt’s daughters and Sabrina’s nephew were written with such amazing curiosity. Wyatt and Sabrina’s road to romance was one that shouldn’t be missed!! A great addition to the Pennyverse that was woven with the previous books in the series!!
***5 ‘Boop’ Stars***
Oh. My. Heart.
This one just filled it with so much goodness, it’s crazy…
It also has me dying to go out and buy a bunch of MAC lipstick…but probably not AS important as how much I adored this book.
Crime and Periodicals gave me all the swoony, dopey grinning until my cheeks hurt, twitterpating moments until my heart overflowed and I really didn’t it to ever end.
I adored Sabrina and Wyatt. Ab-so-freakin-lutely ADORED them. Sabrina, no matter how she sees herself, or how she believes others see her, is such a genuinely good and compassionate woman it’s hard not to love her and I loved watching her grow as the story progressed. Wyatt…okay, not only is he an amazing father, but simply book boyfriend goodness. He is just a good man who isn’t afraid to just be himself and go after what he wants.
Wyatt and Sabrina’s journey to their HEA was all kinds of fun. It was slow burn, adorkable, swoony worthy goodness. I simply loved them together. I loved their bantering and how they truly saw who the other person was to their very souls and reveled in it. There were a few hiccups along the way, but with the help *cough* interference *cough* of their friends and family, they worked through it all and I loved how things ended up for them.
Simply put. I loved everything about this book. The writing was engaging, the pacing good and I enjoyed the dual first person POV’s. And the characters. You all know I love me some well written secondary characters and this one is chock full of them…Mak, Henry, Mel, Ruby, Weston, Willa, Everett, Pop…so amazing and the appearances of the Winston’s were just icing on the cake. I’m starting to sound like a broken record…so if you’re looking for something sweet and swoony, with a dash of drama on the side, and unique characters you’ll want more of, then this is a definite must click!
~ Copy provided by Social Butterfly PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
Ok….man, I’m not sure where to start…I absolutely, totally, 100% LOVED this book. Sabrina is possibly one of my favorite characters ever. Her awkwardness is so relatable and endearing. I loved that we got to see her grow and participate in the world, and not just observe it (I’m so guilty of doing the same). Her love for her niece & nephews is so strong you can just feel it coming off the pages. And Wyatt….I love him. He is so swoon worthy. Like Sabrina, you can feel his love for his daughters. These two together are just magic!!
I am a sucker for certain tropes, and when those tropes get thrown into one book, how can I resist? This book is a single dad romance, a woman taking care of her siblings, small town romance, friends to lovers romance… I think you get my point.
I really enjoyed these characters. All of them, side characters included, are full of life, regrets, and self confidence. Everything about this band of characters screamed a winner throughout the book.
This author is new to me and pretty new to the author scene. She definitely is one to be watching and reading. I foresee many more great books coming from her in the future.
This was fantastic!
I love stories where the heroine is quiet and shy, and this one was awesome!
You instantly fall in love with the heroine and love the hero for her.
And seeing the hero interact with the kids…
**swoons**
I just want to first start off by thanking Smartypants Romance for introducing me to another “new to me” author! Nora Everly, you have a new fan! I will be stalking you (respectfully, of course!) shortly!
I fell in flove hard with Wyatt and Sabrina.
Sabrina is adorkable! I think most gals have a bit of her in her. She is painfully shy and understandably has some anxiety issues. Her past is ripe with heartbreak and she has learned to adapt to that. But she is also ferociously strong and brave when it comes to her family. Sabrina is a character I totally admire and want to be best friends with!
Oh my me Wyatt, how swoony can a hero be?!? He was everything that Sabrina needed and didn’t even know! He too has some scars from his past and he has responsibilities that sometimes override his wants and needs but he comes through brilliantly for both his family and for Sabrina!
This story gave me all the feels!! I laughed, I got a bit misty, I swooned like heck and I got angry at what Sabrina had to put up with!
I am so loving this world, it was wonderful to see other characters in Green Valley make an appearance!
Get your hands on this! You won’t be sorry, you are gonna fall in love too!
Everyone of the Green Valley Library Series authors have brought something new and authentic to this series, and it gives me that ‘contented sigh’ feeling. Wyatt and Sabrina come from very different circumstances and it was wonderful that they could grow and find their happiness together with their families too. Harry was a delight in this story, and Mel and Mak just brought joy.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I love it! This is one of the Spartypants Romance novels, written in the existing world of Green Valley created by Penny Reid – part of the Pennyverse. The characters and the story are wonderfully written; I loved library assistant Sabrina, and Sheriff Deputy Wyatt. Divorced Wyatt has two of the cutest little girls, and has returned to Green Valley to raise them with help from his mom, and support from his brothers. Sabrina is terribly shy, and is helping her dad raise her nephews and niece, including the youngest who is autistic. Sabrina has decided to change her life, and this story weaves that struggle in with her developing romance with Wyatt.
Nora Everly authentically brought Penny Reid’s Green Valley community to life around her new characters and story. I enjoyed glimpses into community life, especially appearances by Penny Reid’s existing characters. Some like Jackson James played a significant role, while others like the Winston brothers and their families added a level of delight to the book! (Who doesn’t want to see more of the Winston family, including Sienna, and especially their growing families!!)
This book was a delight, and while I think fans of the Winston Brothers series will definitely enjoy it, I recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance. I know I’m looking forward to reading more from Nora Everly.
I’m smiling and I feel good after finishing my second read of Crime and Periodicals. I really like these characters and am sad to see the story end. I hope to get some time with them in upcoming Green Valley Library books. Nora Everly gives us everyday people in a small town who meet and fall in love, then figure out how to blend their families to make one. It’s a very common tail but this is so much more with the rich story of their tender romance and the small humans that depend on them.
Sabrina and Wyatt both have serious family responsibilities as single parents. A chance meeting on the side of a mountain road has set them in each other’s path and they are forever changed. Wyatt is a Sheriff’s Deputy in Green Valley and comes to Sabrina’s aide when her nephew is having a really bad day. He’s a solid good guy who’s smitten by her shy nature and beauty while she so obviously loves this kid who is melting down. His empathy is very attractive as is his ability to relate to young Harry in his spot on the spectrum. His charms are farther revealed when we meet his two adorable little red headed girls. Sabrina is already a friend to his girls from their visits to her story time at the library.
Sabrina is innocent in all the adult ways having spent most days with her nose in a book to avoid people. Her almost crippling shyness has kept her from town and any meaningful relationships beyond her family to whom she is fiercely loyal. Her assistant librarian position is perfect for her to hide in plain sight among the stacks. Being rescued by Wyatt feeds her romantics heart and sets her on an mental whirlwind of fantasy and speculation about the handsome deputy. She’s delightfully quirky with her Harry Potter fashioned expletives, for Filtch’s sake, and her chocolate addiction.
I was completely invested in Sabrina conquering her mental walls and falling in love. She had to want something more than she was afraid to reach for it, and by employing her therapists everyday living advice she’s getting everything she’s dreamed. Her bravery mantra is just adorable. What would Sienna Diaz do? Sabrina’s mental musings are hysterical. It’s even funnier when she inadvertently says some of them aloud. A chance encounter with the Winston men has her near catatonic though her mental gymnastics where priceless!
Wyatt is a true gentleman and all around good guy. Moving home with his daughters after his divorce and raising his girls while being a deputy consume all his time. Thank goodness for his family because it truly it takes a village. Wyatt is all kinds of swoony and romantic. He’s going to the top of my book boyfriend list.
The family surrounding this couple are all worthy of their own stories. Her niece and nephew, Ruby and Weston are living through their own teenage angst. I look forward to some Ruby and Cletus deviant shenanigans. Sabrina’s bestie Willa has blown back into town with scars, tattoos and secrets. Wyatt has a trio of handsome brothers and a bossy mother to keep him afloat with his sweet girls.
I’ve got heart eyes for this romance. Thank you, Nora Everly!
Overall Grade: +
“I finally wanted something more than I feared.”
Fearful. Anxious. Introversion. All of these words could easily describe the heroine of Nora Everly’s newest book, Crime and Periodicals. Sabrina is indeed all of these traits, but, as we find through her journey towards love, they are only a small part of her. Instead, what we (and she) find out is we can be more than what we’ve always been. Through her journey, in this sweet romance, we learn that love can help us conquer anything, even the parts of life that scare us the most.
Crime and Periodicals is the next SmartyPants Romance book. It’s set in Green Valley, Tennessee in Penny Reid’s Winston Brothers universe. Sabrina is a local librarian’s assistant. She has spent a large portion of her life ferreted away in her home due to her introversion/shyness. Her niece and nephews along with the library have been the sole focuses of her life, but she has decided to work to overcome her anxiety about the bigger community at large. She meets Wyatt, formerly of Green Valley, but who left for college and other pursuits. He has returned to Green Valley, a local sheriff’s deputy and single father to two young girls. The life he lives now isn’t the life he dreamed for himself when he was younger, but he’s happy with it nonetheless. He and Sabrina meet when Sabrina’s nephew, Harry, has a meltdown on their drive home from his school. Worrying over him, Sabrina pulls to the side of a mountainous road to soothe him. Wyatt and Jackson, another deputy, come upon her and decide to help her. Wyatt drives her down the hill so that she can continue to care for her nephew. They are instantly attracted to each other. Unfortunately, Sabrina is very shy and fairly awkward with him. Thankfully, Wyatt finds it endearing, and it makes him feel protective over her. It also raises his interest in her more. Over the course of a week or so, Wyatt finally secures a date with Sabrina, who gradually begins to open up to him. However, Wyatt’s life is complicated as a single father, and he worries that his life will cause problems for a potential relationship with Sabrina. Will Wyatt and Sabrina find a future together, or are their lives too complicated, forcing them apart forever?
Sabrina is this charming heroine of contradictions. She is equal parts shy, sexy, bold, and fearful. What makes her likable is her acknowledgment of those contradictions. She never tries to be more. Her progression and growth make her this multi-dimensional heroine, and she is the best part of the book. She’s all of us who have ever felt awkward and different, and she is meant to show us the need to push ourselves beyond our fears and anxieties. Ultimately, it’s her resiliency and her tenacity to change that should inspire all of us towards personal growth.
Additionally, Wyatt is the prototypical hero. He is everything you love in a hero: handsome, masculine, compassionate, and an amazing single dad. His life isn’t what he dreamed in his youth, but he is contented with it even with the complication of a disinterested ex-wife. This is his real complication. Yes, he’s a single dad, and that seems like it could be his issue to contend with. Instead, it’s his worry over his daughter’s absentee mother and his ability to fill her place that wreaks havoc for him. That being said, he recognizes quickly that Sabrina would make a wonderful partner and mother, and there is very little undoing between these two. They have clear chemistry; it flies off the page. There are only mild times of tension within the development of their relationship that sometimes makes him feel like a two-dimensional character in contrast to Sabrina’s layered characterization.
What I find most lovely about this book is (1) its placement in the Green Valley canon, and (2) its use of difference to suggest that we can live with fears and anxieties but we cannot fall prey to them. We must keep growing and trying to overcome them. Every time a SmartyPants Romance book is published, I’m excited. I love Green Valley. Even its more annoying residents are overcome by the decency of the rest. Reading Wyatt and Sabrina’s love on the page was comforting and sweet. They are really, really sweet together. Sabrina is innocent, so this reads like a first love story in all its beauty. Most importantly, however, is Crime & Periodical’s theme: love as a means to overcome. It is easy to see that theme resonate through Sabrina and Wyatt’s journey, but it is also found in Harry’s development through his autism, her former best friend, Willa’s return to town, and Sabrina’s nephew Weston’s ability to move beyond his break up. I’d like to think that Nora Everly is challenging us to consider our own fears and allow love to help us beyond them. It seemed to work for Sabrina, and I’d like to think it would work for the rest of us.
Absolutely adored this story! I think it’s my favouite Smartypants Romance story so far. It was so sweet, really amusing, and a little bit spicy, too!
“Something about her shyness drew me in. She was like a mystery and I wanted to solve it.”
Sabrina Logan is crippled by shyness and anxiety. She looks like a hot Snow White and has no clue of her effect on the opposite sex. If she’s not hiding in the library, she’s hiding at home. She avoids people as much as possible. Her life consists of books and her family, especially her nephew, Harry. She’s super cute in her belief that she’s invisible, but she’s far too beautiful to be unseen.
“I was beginning to develop suspicions that he was as nice as he was hot. And that made him just like a unicorn. A total keeper.”
Wyatt Monroe is a single dad with two daughters. He’s been back in Green Valley for a few months but the first time he meets the hot librarian is by the side of the road. He can tell that she’s super shy but he finds her utterly adorable and he definitely plans to get to know her better.
“I’d never had a kiss like that in my life. It had laid me bare.”
Gah! This story was everything! Sabrina is a dorky, knockout of a woman who’s so shy that it affects her life. However, I loved her little pep talks to herself (she really made me laugh out loud) and her determination to push herself out of her comfort zone and start to really live a little. I loved her devotion to her family and how fiercely she protected them. Wyatt is beyond swoony!! I loved his patience and persistence with Sabrina. I loved his manner with his daughters and how he treats them with sensitivity and fun, and gives them so much love and support. Sabrina and Wyatt were a match made in heaven and I didn’t want to stop reading about them! Thoroughly recommend this book!
So sweet! I love how inclusive this book is!
This book was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed her writing. It will not be my last by her and I can’t wait to go check out her backlog.
Wyatt was the kind of hero I love. He was kind, understanding, patient, passionate, and handsome. He was a true southern gentleman and I fell in love with him as soon as I met him. Sabrina is shy and adorable! Watching her grow, overcome her fears, and let love in was pure joy. Their relationship was the perfect ride.
The secondary characters helped to drive this story so well. They added to the main story line and never once distracted or took away from it. Sabrina’s niece and nephews, Ruby, Weston, and Harry, were smart, funny, and adorable! Wyatt’s daughters, Mak and Mel, were so cute, sweet, and understanding.
The only reason I couldn’t give this story a full five stars was there were some storylines that were mentioned, that I thought might turn out to be important and it felt like they were left a little too open ended for my personal preference.
Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.
Another amazing Smartypants romance! Crime and Periodicals is the second standalone in the Green Valley Library Series.
“This was what love should look like.
A wide-open soul—bared so it could shine in the dark.”
Sexy, single dad sheriff, cute, shy librarian, add in some awesome kiddos and sign me up! This one checks all the boxes.
“I was a shy hermit, prone to fits of anxiety. I was a hot mess of insecurity and doubt, wrapped up in a cozy blanket of fear.”
The story is smart, sweet and funny… just like Sabrina! And Sheriff Wyatt is definitely a hero to swoon over! Yum!
-5 Stars!-
“I used to look for answers in books when I was too afraid to live my life. Books were full of helpful facts, even fiction. But if you weren’t pairing your reading with living then the facts were useless.”
Green Valley Librarian Sabrina Logan takes shyness and social anxiety to a whole new level. After too many tragedies, she has retreated into her books while devoting her life to taking care of her family. Hiding in the stacks, she thinks she’s invisible, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“You do realize that when you’re out and about with your head in a book or the clouds or wherever you keep it when we’re in public that other people can see you? You’re not invisible because you refuse to pay attention. You’re not really hiding. You look like a hot Snow White. Believe me, everyone notices you.”
“Everyone” includes hot single dad/sheriff’s deputy Wyatt Monroe. There’s an instant attraction between the two, but Wyatt has to coax Sabrina out of her cocoon in order to give that attraction a chance to grow into something more. Both have to determine whether a shot at love is a worthy gamble given the children who are relying on them. Watching this relationship bloom and grow was beautiful.
Crime and Periodicals was my first introduction to author Nora Everly’s writing. It’s a sweet small-town romance with several easy-to-love characters and not a lot of angst.
3.5-3.75 stars. Aww, this was a sweet book. How many times can I say sweet in this review? Crime and Periodicals is Sabrina and Wyatt’s story. Sabrina is a shy, twenty seven year old virginal librarian. She is helping her father raise her niece and nephews after her sister died. She became their mother figure at seventeen, which left her with two kids and a newborn, and no time to have much of a personal life. Her youngest nephew also has autism. Wyatt is a sheriff’s deputy in town and a single dad of two daughters. They meet and right away there is mutual interest and attraction. They both pursue a relationship with very few issues to overcome.
This story was simple, low angst and a little on the slow side (but not enough to bother me). It was very sweet with near-instalove but also a slow burn on the physical side. Sabrina was very innocent, shy and almost too sweet at times. Wyatt was pretty much a perfect guy. There is a suspense storyline, but it was not too suspenseful. The book was totally safe too. I do think it was a little too one tone, but overall it was just an easy, sweet read!
Overall, this was a fun, entertaining read. It was my first book by Nora Everly, but will definitely not be my last.
Sabrina is the shy, sweet assistant librarian at the Green Valley library. She is raising her sisters kids, Harry has been hers since the day he was born, and it’s all she has time for. She can’t stand crowds and avoids town like the plague. Until the day she meets Deputy Sheriff Wyatt Monroe on the side of the road and she can see herself talking to him, maybe even giving herself to him like she never has before. It’s instant. She has never had that happen before. Even Harry, mid meltdown let’s him in, and that never happens. Though change for her is something that will take time and work. Will Wyatt give up his pursuit before she can let herself trust him? Wyatt has two young daughters that come before everyone else. They need to be put first, especially with the way their mother treats them, but Sabrina is under his skin and he can’t stop thinking about her. Can they make it work? Will love give them a second chance at the family they both want? Your gonna have to read it to find out! It’s a little emotional and tragic, definitely sweet and charming as is the Green Valley nature, and it definitely does Penny Reids world justice. Loved it, could not put it down, well done!
I loved this book. It was sweet and inspiring. I definitely recommend this book, this series, and this author.