After catching her husband in a compromising position, Finley Granger finds herself in a new hell: reentering the dating world. When she moves in with her grandmother, her great-aunt, and their best friend, Finley finds herself surrounded by a trio of well-meaning yet bumbling matchmakers.
In spite of their efforts, Finley only has eyes for one person, and that’s Zeke Masters—the 6’4”, impossibly … impossibly built, and ridiculously good-looking new man in town. Along with her nether regions, Finley’s journalistic spidey-senses tingle as to why he’s on sabbatical from Seattle. Is he on the lam or escaping a bad breakup? What’s his story?!?!
As Finley finds herself reluctantly drawn to the gorgeous IT guy, she can’t help but wonder: should she indulge in a rebound tryst with the mysterious Zeke, or has she finally met her match?
‘Shelf Awareness’ is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book #4 in the Green Valley Library series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
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Shelf Awareness by Katie Ashley is a part of Penny Reid’s SmartyPants Romance World and book 4 in the Green Valley Library series.
Finley and Zeke find each other after both overcoming some hurdles in their respective lives. The small town of Green Valley, Tennessee brings them together.
This sweet romance was packed with laughs, sexy moments, and great life lessons that will touch your heart. The story also shared the powerful bond between Finley and her grandmother Beatrice, her great-aunt Dot, and her godmother Estelle. Their moments amongst each other brought so much joy and hilarity. However, I would say this novel leaned more towards women’s fiction at times. There was romance but it was a very slow burn romance.
Though I would have loved to have chapters in Zeke’s POV, Shelf Awareness was my first read by Katie Ashley and it was a wonderful, well written story. I just needed inside Zeke’s head. He was so mysterious, nerdy, handsome, and sweet. The complete package. Another issue I encountered was the moments of unnecessary and sudden drama but it was quickly resolved. Overall, this novel was a fun and enjoyable read.
I laughed out loud and cheered at the antics of Findley’s ‘Golden Girls’ trio as they helped Findley find a new life in Green Valley. And when it comes to sexy and sweet, Zeke is the jackpot. Don’t miss this hilarious and sweet adventure in the Green Valley Library series.
Not sure why its been so long since I’ve read Katie Ashley but the streak is over now! Shelf Awareness was such a fun and smart second-chance romance.
I really liked Finley. Down on her luck but not out after getting the surprise to end all surprises. She went to the one place she knew in her gut was home. Thankfully she was welcomed with open arms by her grandmother. It was a stroke of luck that there was a job waiting that had her name, and dream, written all over it. Which is how she met Zeke.
Oh my handsome stars, Zeke. What wasn’t to like. In town working on getting some of his own answers. I enjoyed that he was a bit unsteady when it came to Finley. With some late nights working together, their friendship turned into something more. While there was no denying the mutual attraction, he didn’t want to rush her.
I am going to take a moment to brag about GramBea and her two partners in crime; Estelle and Dot. They were the quintessential southern old ladies, bless their hearts. But they were also very spunky and that fire came in handy when Finley found herself in danger. I was caught between panic and laughter with how that scene played out.
From start to finish, Shelf Awareness was a feel-good, laugh out loud, swoon fest. Katie Ashley kept me enchanted by Zeke and Finley. Yes, they were both a little nerdy but perfect for each other. They grew so much throughout the course of the book. Embraced who they were and weren’t with open minds and hearts. And the way they worked together to make what they wanted work, is what true love is all about.
Fun light read!!
I really enjoyed this one! It was super light and funny. A few times I was literally laughing out loud. Finley’s golden girls are freaking hilarious. And Zeke is swoon worthy.
This will be marked as a reread for the future.
Finley’s life takes an unexpected turns after she discovers her husband has deemed their sacred vows worthless. Devastated and angry she leaves her job and her life in Atlanta in her dust as she packs it all into her car and moves in with her grandmother, her Great aunt and her godmother. Life could not be more different. Especially when a new job opportunity arises and the hot IT guy is more than she is prepared for! Zeke is tall, smart, nerdy and all around good guy. Volunteering at the library whilst on sabbatical he certainly has an air of mystery around him. But what is his secret? And will she discover it before she gets too attached?
Some action. Some chemistry. Three spirited well meaning old ladies. Some role-playing . Definitely a story that brought a lot to Green Valley and I enjoyed every minute of it. Finished it in one sitting, not ashamed to say it’s 2 am and I just finished it! Well done Katie Ashley! A five star read for me!
This is the final book in the Green Valley Library series and I’m so sad about that. They can all be read as stand-alones.
Finley moves in with her Gram-Bea and friends hoping to reassemble her life after it kinda falls apart in Atlanta when she finds her husband cheating. She ends up working at the library where she meets Zeke, who is volunteering there, while visiting town.
Good grief, Zeke was one of the hottest nerds I’ve every come across. I just loved him. I loved how he helped Finley to see her worth. They were just great together. Finley’s grandmother and her friends were hilarious–I was snort-laughing more than once. This was just a fun read that I really enjoyed.
4.5 stars
Finley Granger didn’t think she’d be working in a small town library, but that’s what life dishes out sometimes. Moving back with her grandma wasn’t in her plan, but then neither has much of what she’s dealt with in the recent past and she’s doing her best to roll with what she’s facing.
I loved watching the slow burn develop between these two. Finley isn’t long out of her previous marriage and hadn’t been looking to start anything new. But these two big-city personalities connect in the small town setting, causing sparks to fly. Zeke has his own motives for spending time at the library, beyond his IT volunteering, and his story had me intrigued from the beginning.
I loved the entire group of characters. GranBea and her friends are scheming in a way that only old ladies can get away with. Their antics kept me in stitches wondering what they would try to pull next.
This was such a fun read. From the very beginning Finley and Zeke had me pulled into their world. I haven’t read anything from this world before, but getting to know the side characters through this book made me want to dive into more from this group. The folks in Green Valley, and particularly at the library have some stories to share!
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
I can’t wait to read this book!!!!
Shelf Awareness was a great read by Katie Ashley. Finley is newly single after finding her husband in a compromising position. She moves in with her grandmother, great aunt and their best friend and finds herself in the cross hairs of their matchmaking. Unfortunately for them she only has eyes for the new man in town, Zeke. She is confused as to why he is in Seattle. I really enjoyed listening to Finley and Zeke’s story and can’t wait to read more by the author.
You have to read this series. I am so sad that it is over. The characters come to life and make you fall in love with them.
Finley moves in with her grandmother, great aunt and their best friend in Green Valley after finding out her husband was cheating on her. I love the love and interaction that these 4 ladies have with each other and it’s so funny to see their different personalities. True southern ladies.
Finley starts working at the library and there she meets Zeke Masters, a very gorgeous new guy in town who’s helping out at the library as their IT guy. The 2 get to know each other while working at the library and there are some actions at the library that are very hot! But will it amount to anything or does Finley believe it’s a short term rebound while Zeke’s still in town.
It’s a romantic and hilarious story when you add in Finley’s 3 roommates into the mix and you just need to read it to find out what happens but these ladies are funny!
Loved this book. Katie Ashley did an amazing job bringing the heros to life and wove an engaging story that hooked me from the first chapter. Can’t wait to read more of her books.
Shelf Awareness (Green Valley Library #4) by Katie Ashley is a contemporary romantic comedy told in first person, single POV. Although it’s book four in Smartypants Romance’s Green Valley Library series, it can be read as a complete standalone.
When Finley catches her husband cheating on her, she moves from Atlanta, GA to Green Valley, TN to live with her grandmother, aunt, and friend (think Golden Girls). She gets a job at the library and upon meeting their tech volunteer, Zeke, she’s immediately intrigued. Finley doesn’t understand why somebody on sabbatical from Seatle would spend all their time volunteering, and she’s determined to find out what Zeke is really doing in Green Valley. Mix that with her attraction to him, her nosey roommates’ set up attempts, and some slapstick humor that you can see coming from a mile away, and that’s pretty much the gist of this story.
This story was a mixed bag for me. I had difficulty connecting with the characters. There were some amusing moments, but most of the humor fell flat because the way it was delivered made it easy to anticipate. It would have been nice if there was some interaction with characters mentioned from the Winston Brothers series. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but not one of my favorites from the Smartypants Romance authors.
Green Valley, Tennessee, gets more and more interesting every time I dive back into this world of Winston Brothers and the citizens of this southern town, and the fact that readers get to meet so many other charismatic characters from different walks of life makes this a Smarty Pants Romance Series must read.
If I had lost my way in life or faced a life-changing incident that meant a second chance was in order, I would hope I could find a town like Green Valley – one that was welcoming and endearing, regardless of the number of busy bodies attempting to help you in a number of hilarious and ill fated ways. And let me just say that Finley Granger’s grandma, her great aunt, and their elderly friend have nothing but the best intentions, even though they epically fail more than help, but it sure is fun watching these three care enough about Finley to go overboard to help her find her happy. They definitely were a great sense of comic relief and the fact that they were smart as whips and always had a witty retort and colorful commentary at the perfect time.
I have to wonder just how big the Green Valley library is because there always seems to be someone else getting hired or volunteering their services, like IT specialist Zeke Masters, who remains quite the allusive guy for much of the story, not learning much about him until it’s deemed necessary, but it’s the journalist in Finley that requires more information about him, but not just because he’s a mystery or even the perfect rebound from her cheating husband, but he’s a genuinely good man who can be exactly who Finley needs, and even though it takes a bit of time and a heck of a slow burn, when everything is said and done, things work out exactly how they should, making these two big city dwellers, a perfect pair for small town living.
4 Poison Apples
Not so nice hubby; check. Meddling granny and her gang; check. Hunky, mysterious stranger; double check. Shelf Awareness tells the story of Finley, who wants to find herself again, and what she truly wants from life. I’ve enjoyed reading this sweet story.
Finley is living a normal life in the big city of Atlanta with her hubby. That’s until she finds her man doing the naughty with somebody else, in their bed. Finley quickly realizes her marriage is over, and she ‘flees’ to Green Valley to live with her grandmother. Finley wants to calmly make plans for a new life (and nurse her wounded heart), but a nosey granny, great-aunt and a friend make that kind of impossible. Finley isn’t even ready for a new man, but when she meets Zeke, he turns out to be irresistible.
I hate that Finley finds her husband cheating on her, but I love how she handles the situation. She keeps herself together (well, mostly), and doesn’t start begging him to come back. Yes, she’s sad, but it’s mostly because her life takes a very different turn. Deep down inside Finley knew there was something wrong with her marriage, but that doesn’t make it hurt less. Zeke is the perfect guy for her, who makes her feel all the right feelings. I love how Finley tries to be just friends with Zeke, and (not so) miserably fails at it.
Shelf Awareness is the fourth book in the ‘Green Valley Series’ and takes the reader back to the small town of Green Valley and the town library. Finley and Zeke are a good couple and have great chemistry. Other funny side-characters are Finley’s grandmother and her gang; older ladies who don’t act exactly their age. Besides the romance there’s a bit of mystery surrounding Zeke, but most of all this book is about Finley finding her true self.
I love Finley, Zeke and their story. I give Shelf Awareness 4 stars.
I loved this one so much!! I couldn’t put this one down. I loved the characters to pieces. Zeke is a hunky nerd type, sign me up. Add in the humor that had me laughing all through out the book, even up to the end, you have a winning book. Zeke and Finley had great chemistry and their banter was one of my favorite parts of the book. This was a great installment to the Green Valley Library series that I can’t get enough of. Trust me the charterers are going to draw you into this one and won’t let you go until you finish.
Katie Ashley brings us a very sweet romance, filled with engaging, funny characters and events which will bring a satisfied smile to your face. Finley’s return to Green Valley is a new opportunity to reinvent/refind herself, under the lovely, clucking wings of Grambea, Estelle and Dot. Her meeting Zeke is joyous! He is a beautiful character.
A thoroughly enjoyable read!
Can I just say… I’m am loving ALL the Green Valley Library reads in the Smarty Pants Romance Series. Who knew a library in small-town Tennessee could be so fun! LOL.
Katie always takes me on a literary ride that I don’t want to hop off of. I loved this book about a woman- Finley Granger, who is trying to redefine herself and open herself up to the one thing that she now knows was missing in her life… LOVE. After catching her husband in an affair, she decides to move in with her Grandmother, Godmother and Great Aunt. Let the fun begin.
There were moments… OH MY was I ever laughing so hard. I was reading at my son’s football practice and got some good stares. I just couldn’t stop laughing. And HOLY HOTNESS – Zeke Masters ticked off everything I love in a hero. I feel all of us can find a little bit of Finley in ourselves and my heart hurt for her and all that she was going through. But ZEKE!!!! Well, he makes it all better!
A super fun read! Loved it so much. It can totally be read as a standalone – but I highly recommend all the books in the Series!
4.5 stars really. This was a very sweet and easy read. While this is once again set in the library, it actually doesn’t focus on a librarian. Sure, Finley works at a library, but she’s getting a history room ready. And then we have Zeke, who while he is a tech guy, he is volunteering and not an official library tech. But that’s okay, because I still loved both characters! There was so much in this story that made me laugh. In fact Finley’s roommates, her grandmother, great-aunt, and their friend, all remind me of the grandparent characters in the books by one of my favorite authors, Emma Hart. So many funny moments in this one, especially the Ben-Wa ball moment as described in the excerpt below. For the most part it is a pretty simple and as I said, sweet story. But at the end, we get some intense events thanks to Zeke’s father. It was a blast spending the time we did with our librarians we know from the other books, even though there was only a mention or two of the Winston brothers.
Now I’m just eager to read the next round of the SmartyPants Romance books which won’t be till next spring or summer I think. Also, I have lots of thoughts about trying to either fix my one novel I started reworking during NaNoWriMo this year to possibly fit into the Penny Reid world, or else to start a new one so maybe I can get into the library world of this book!
This is the story of Zeke & Finley. Zeke come to Green Valley looking for his father. Finley moves to Green Valley after her marriage falls apart and moves in with her Grandmother, her Aunt and a friend of theirs. She happens to end up with a job in the local library setting up and running the History room of the City and County, and also writing a non-fiction history book about it. Zeke is an IT person and volunteers his time in the library and for whoever else needs it while in Green Valley. Of course they meet and become friends first. It is witty and refreshing between the two of them. There is a bit of action, also.