Implausible Drivel

This is a new to me author and I decided to give her a try with this prequel novella.  There were two things that made me want to pick this up (1) the title of the series is Lovestruck Librarians (how cute is that?!) and (2) it is set on New Year’s Eve.  I like to read holiday novellas each year, and I liked the idea of a NYE setting instead of Christmas.  Too bad I didn’t get around to reading it until February.  :-/

Penny is a librarian at a little rural library in Maryland.  She is coming off of two bad relationships and her resolution for the new year is to go a full year with no dating so that she can figure out what made her make two bad decisions in a row.  Her coworker has planned a singles night at the library for New Year’s Eve, and then backs out at the last minute roping in a reluctant Penny to run the event.  Jack gets dragged to the event by his mother.  He is a famous author who is reclusive both because of his general nature and to keep privacy for his young daughter.  Penny and Jack start eyeing each other immediately, play the stupid games scheduled for the night, have sex in the children’s section, and somehow fall madly in love in one night.  Bah!

So, the writing itself was ok.  That’s about as far as I can go with praise.  The premise sounded fun, but the way it played out was so ridiculous I couldn’t get on board.  Issues with this book:

1. The instant attraction I can go with.  Especially when you find out that he wrote one of her favorite books.  Of course, Jack doesn’t tell Penny that (and she doesn’t pick up on it for a long time, even though the name is basically the same? to create drama?  because she is an idiot?).
2. The stupid games they had to play were just that – stupid.  There’s this big thing with Penny’s favorite book being Jane Eyre and how romantic it is and I WILL NEVER ACCEPT that Jane Eyre is a romance, no matter how many ‘best of romance’ lists it makes, and no one can make me!!!
3. Sex in the kiddie section.  Whatever.  My only problem with this was that I was picturing my own local library where the kid’s section is glass walls on three sides, so it was a funny visual.
4. Jack is an idiot who thinks he’s found the love of his life after knowing her for like 2 hours and keeps his identity a secret because he wants to test her loyalty to him or something?  I did not understand this in any way.  If you have such trust issues you probably shouldn’t go around hooking up with strangers in public places.  Just some food for thought buddy.
5. Penny feels betrayed that Jack doesn’t reveal his identity and acts like her best friend killed her dog.  Woman, you’ve known him less than 12 hours – get over yourself!

TL;DR – Both characters were stupid and I could not accept that they were in forever love at the end.  I will not be trying other books by this author.