The Bookworm and the Cat’s Meow is a romance with mature characters, a bookstore, and pet rescue/adoption.

The Bookworm and the Cat’s Meow by Jeanine Lauren

Genre/Categories/Setting: Women’s Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Animal Rescue, Bookstore, Small Town

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My Summary of The Bookworm and the Cat’s Meow:

Thanks @BookSirens for a complimentary e ARC of #TheBookwormAndTheCatsMeow upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Lance retires from his plumbing business after his divorce and takes ownership of a bookshop in charming Sunshine Bay. Along with the business, he discovers that the previous owner has made a commitment to a local pet shelter to support and facilitate cat adoptions. Lance hates cats and experiences an unpleasant first encounter with Raven, the woman who owns and operates the shelter. How will this forced partnership work out?

My Thoughts:

Setting

A story set in a bookstore is fun! Add the quaint small community of Sunshine Bay, and it’s delightful. Lovely descriptions help us feel light neighbors and friends.

Tropes

In the romance genre, we know that we’ll be getting a HEA, but the journey provides the entertainment. This story relies on tried-and-true tropes like “dislike at first encounter to lovers” “grumpy meets sunshine,” and “forced working relationship.”

Characters

I appreciate likable characters even if one is rough around the edges at first. Lance is a softie at heart and Raven is compassionate and devoted to animal adoption. It’s also a nice change of pace that Lance and Raven are mature characters who get their second chance at romance after bitter past experiences.

Recommending The Bookworm and the Cat’s Meow

I recommend The Bookworm and the Cat’s Meow for fans of gently told “later in life” romance and animal rescue/adoption. At 256 pages, this story can be read in one cozy evening. There’s minimal drama and no profanity. Closed-door romance. I will note that the story seemed to end abruptly after the HEA. I remember feeling surprised that it was over and wishing for a little more. This book is part of a loosely connected series (connected by loation) and can be read as a stand-alone.

Related: You might also enjoy Something of Note and Repositioning by the same author.

My Rating:  3.5  Stars

Meet the Author of The Bookworm and the Cat’s Meow, Jeanine Lauren

Jeanine Lauren is a USA Today bestselling author who writes women’s fiction and sweet romance that celebrates friendship, love, community, and second chances.

Though Jeanine has been writing most of her life, many (okay, almost all) of her words have been for her day jobs, term papers, volunteer work, or used to make endless ‘to do’ lists she rarely looks at.

In 2019, Jeanine finally published the first book in her Sunshine Bay series -Love’s Fresh Start – followed by several more, and is now writing as fast as she can, trying to make up for lost time.

To find out when Jeanine’s next books are coming out, join her mailing list.

Jeanine lives in the lower mainland of British Columbia, Canada, not far from the fictional town of Sunshine Bay where most of her characters live.

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QOTD:

Is this romance on your TBR or have you read it?

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