Cady Bloomquist doesn't have it easy right now. Her aunt recently died and left her with the murky ownership dispute over the building that's home to both them and their bookstore, she's in a weird not-really relationship with Townsend Harbor's sherrif Ethan Townsend, and her chronic illness makes existing unbearable sometimes. The only thing that really brings her joy at the moment are the weekly Thursday night phonecalls with Fox, a client who lets her choose boxes over boxes of books for him to read *and* has a voice that's sexier than anything she's ever heard. She definitely has feelings for him, and he seems to have feelings for her, but he claims he can't meet up because of his job. When Cady's bookstore gets broken into, he's right with her though, on the phone. And maybe in more ways than she might realise.
I really enjoyed the bookish-ness of this novel! The references to books and stories all throughout were really fun, and the meta-conciousness of its own genre as spicy romance (and the problems and the freedom that especially sexy romance novels bring to the table) was really nice to see. I also appreciated the way this book and its characters spoke about chronical illness, physical as well as psychological and I think the authors did a great job using both to show their characters' growth. I did cringe at quite a few of the adjectives used in the sex scenes, but that's just my personal taste. In the same vein, I think there's a lot of slang in this story that works well *right* at this moment in time but might seem weird and outdated in just a few years. All in all I really enjoyed reading this and I'd hope there's more to come!

Thank you to Netgalley & authors Kerrigan Byrne & Cynthia St. Aubin for allowing me a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I loved the front cover of the book and the synopsis really intrigued me, I mean who doesn't love a bookstore romance? But I never expected the story to grab hold of me and hang on for dear life, I couldn't get enough of it. I loved the idea of a simple phone call with a sexy sounding stranger with a voice like velvet, suddenly becoming a lifeline for two people that changes everything. There were so many comical comebacks and witty comments that had me belly laughing until my ribs hurt and tears were pouring down my face, it was simply perfect in every way.

Life for Cady Bloomquist was pretty normal as far as normal goes, she ran Nevermore bookstore and did the usual things that girls her age do in their spare time, all until the perfect stranger known to Cady as Fox, calls Nevermore to order some books over the phone, this single phone call starts a domino effect that will change both of their lives forever. Thursdays nights as far as Cady is concerned belong solely to Fox, this man who Cady has never met, but has a voice like velvet stirs something in Cady she didn’t know was there. Will their phone calls blossom into more, will they ever meet face to face or are they destined to stay away from each other?

I honestly couldn’t get enough of this book, I thought it was fantastic and will be highly recommending it to everyone! I’m not usually a fan of romcoms, but this one has changed my mind, I will defiantly be looking into these kind of books more often. I’m really pleased to see that there is a book 2 in this series, so I will be looking to get my hands on that when it is released on 25th July 2023.

I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely WAY different than I thought it would be, but I liked the characters and the general plot line.
Also, there were a lot of twists I wasn’t expecting.
I think a lot of people had tiny issues with fox because he makes some questionable decisions, but also- he’s supposed to be the morally gray hero. Also, he’s clearly dealing with some MAJOR issues. Also, I read that some were annoyed with Cady, but I found her funny and relatable. Also, we love a thicc queen.
While Cady and Fox were wonderful and delightful- the secondary really stole the show for me.
I really hope the next book is Gemma and Ethan because I was feeling it.
Also, Vee and Myrtle are just the best duo since Statler and Waldorf. To be honest, the whole town was an absolute hoot. This coming from someone who grew up in the PNW.

I received an arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Looking for a steamy, grumpy sunshine love story? Look no further than Nevermore Bookstore, written by Kerrigan Byrne and Cynthia St. Aubin!

Cady is the owner of Nevermore Bookstore, a place where she spends her days shelving books and her evenings chatting with a mysterious customer known only as "Fox". Despite their weekly phone calls being the highlight of her week, Cady knows that a relationship with Fox can never happen.

Why? Because Fox, aka Roman Fawkes, has a dark past that has led him to a hermit's existence in his mountain hideaway. But when Cady's bookstore is broken into during one of their phone calls, Fawkes finds himself powerless to protect her.

As the two are brought closer together, Fawkes struggles with his desire for Cady and the knowledge that they can never truly be together. But can he resist the temptation to get between Cady's covers and explore the sparks that have been flying between them?

I'll admit, it took me a few chapters to really get into this Beauty and the Beast retelling, but once I did, I was hooked. Byrne and St. Aubin have crafted a story that's equal parts sexy and sweet, and the chemistry between Cady and Fawkes is undeniable. I wasn't expecting the level of spice that I found within these pages, but hey, I'm not complaining!

All in all, I'd give Nevermore Bookstore 4 stars. If you're looking for a cute and steamy read that will leave you with a smile on your face, this one is definitely worth checking out.

Cadence “Cady” Bloomquist’s shop, Nevermore Bookstore, is what she lives for plus taking the weekly order from a mysterious customer, known only as Fox. Soon the calls last for hours and she begins to wonder what would happen if they met face to face. However, Fox aka Roman Fawkes knows that they can never meet. 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. Yet when one of their calls is interrupted by a break-in, Fawkes decides to protect Cady, even if he has to do it from afar.
Both characters struggle with their own demons. Cady tries her best to be positive, despite the constant physical pain she struggles with and the emotional loss of her aunt. Fox struggles with PTSD and his past prevents him from living a ‘normal’ life. It is these battles, that I had so hoped he would deal with in order to make, this relationship work. This couple have great chemistry if not a little different from your typical romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Nevermore Bookstore is a fun read and a book I found myself not wanting to put down. Did I stay up way too late finishing this book? Yes. Yes, I did, and I don't regret that decision. I found Cady to be a very refreshing MC, while some might call her naive or idealistic I thought she was a character who knows that life sometimes deals you with rotten cards but you shouldn't judge a person for going through hard and difficult times. Personally, I related to Cady a lot, both in her body insecurities and in having a relatively invisible chronic health condition. She is incredibly brave and unwilling to assume darkness in others.

I did find the writing style a bit trying in the beginning but after a few chapters, I was used to it and actually found it added to the feel of the story once you got to better understand the story.
I also love that little bit of mystery about the male lead.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the authors Kerrigan Byrne & Cynthia St. Aubin for providing me with the ARC of this book.

This book had me so excited to read it. The cover is cute and I love the title. It was a let down for me. I just wasn't really interested in the story and the writing was just not easy or fun to read. I DNF'd at at 28%.

Thank you for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to love this book. In fact, I did; at least up until the ~80% mark where the authors - yes, this got passed TWO authors AND an entire editing team - decided to include an Islamophobic line where the terrorists were clearly depicted as Muslims. Never again will I read a book by either of these authors.

Cadence Bloomquist is the new owner of Townsend Harbor’s Nevermore Bookstore. A bookstore in which was never meant to be hers.

Cadence weathers the building pressure with the help of a mysterious customer Fox. A customer that seems to only call on Thursdays but who has a voice that sets her alight.

Fox is a man of little words , and lots of action. Could he be the one to help Cady or will this budding relationship end in hurt feelings and blocked numbers ?

- - -
I read this book cover to proverbial cover in less than a day. I couldn’t get over the quirky characters and all of the drama that came to a climax towards the end of the book. It was a great read

Cady and Fox have great chemistry, and though they both have a lot to work through and figure out, I was hopeful that they’d find a way to be together. I feel like they really understood each other, and I love that their relationship began with phone calls and book talks. I also loved when Cady called Fox out for pushing her away. She makes him face some hard truths, and, in turn, she faces her own. Their relationship has major grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and their romance is pretty steamy. That phone sex scene fogged up my kindle! lol

The story is not as light and fluffy as the cover suggests. it deals with some heavier topics like PTSD, chronic illness, small-town politics and greed, and financial stresses. However, these topics are balanced well with the comical banter, small-town charm, interesting secondary characters (especially Kevin Costner, the cat!), and the romance. And the ending is fantastic – so swoon-worthy and sweet, and Fox and Cady show how deeply they care for each other.

Thanks to NetGalley and Xpresso Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Simply put, this book was not good, and slightly problematic. Cady was annoyingly naive, which ok going by the book suggested timeline shes 21 22 at the oldest does make sense but annoying to me as a reader in their 30s. Fox or Fawkes, whatever you want to call him, is written like the authors had the idea of creating a character like Joe Goldberg but more buff - as he essentially is stalking Cady for most of the book. The phone sex seen was creepy, as was the fact that Cady decided to hop up on it **the minute** she realized her drifter handyman is the same person as her mystery phone sex partner.

The side plot of Cady and Caryn and the sheriff, I just didn't care about, but the old ladies in the book club were fun. Not enough of them in the book.

This book for the first half had me hooked!
I loved the mystery surrounding fox and the relationship that bloomed between cady and fox was super cute!
This book however read more like a murder mystery which I wasn't expecting as I didn't see this in the description may I missed that part.
The spice level in this book was tame but unfortunately those short steamy scenes weren't very well written but I can bypass that as it's not that type of book.
Was this book cute? Absolutely
It did lose my attention half way through.
There seemed to be holes in this story that were never filled but overall it was a cute read and I was glad for the opportunity to read something different

This book had so much potential. I didn’t love it but I also didn’t hate it either. I was expecting more of a supernatural vibe from the blurb but was met with more of a small town drama. I was super confused at first thinking Fox was a werewolf based on his first POV chapter but later realized what was happening. I think it might have been done that way on purpose but might need reworked some to be more easily read. It was pretty funny at points but other times it was pretty ridiculous but it’s hard to find that middle line of too funny and boring.

I loved the PNR references and the ladies from book club they brought some nice side character laughs into the mix but I wish we’d gotten more of Gemma and their friendship maybe in another book? I felt like it was a long read and not a lot seemed to be happening and I got a little bored at points. The ending was great and I wasn’t expecting the little twists and turns. Overall I don’t think I’d reread but it was a nice easy book.

Thanks for the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC

Cady Bloomquist owns the Nevermore Bookstore and lives above it. She loves the place, and was told when her aunt died that it would belong to her. However, the paperwork proving that has been lost and her aunt never got the chance to tell her where to find it. She's doing her best to keep the store afloat, but the building is decaying and she doesn't have the means to restore it properly. Cady also suffers from ankylosing spondylitis, which makes working on the restoration especially difficult.

There is one distraction in her life that she has come to rely on; a man she knows as Fox calls every Thursday evening at 8 and places orders for rare books. He is singlehandedly keeping the store afloat with his purchases. But when Cady finds herself wanting to know more about him and suggests they meet sometime, Fox refuses, and doesn't explain why. Then there is a break in at the bookstore and Cady is injured while on a call with Fox, who calls 911 and heads closer to Townsend Harbor, hoping to protect her from a distance.

So Cady is juggling her illness, the bookstore, the historical building, and her book club when a large, rough looking stranger comes to town. She feels comfortable, safe, even, when he is around. When he won't give her his name, she calls him Bob. He becomes a sort of employee, helping repair the roof and doing odd jobs for Cady. Will she ever discover that he is really Fox? Will she ever find that paperwork and determine, once and for all, that she is the rightful owner of the building?

I loved this book. Cady and Fox are flawed humans who find comfort in each other. Fox's mysterious history through the story was very intriguing, as was the mystery about the bookstore break-ins and the question of who actually owned the historic building. My suspicion of Cady's aunt and about how she came to own the building turned out to be correct, but it's all the little details that I didn't see coming that made me not mind that bit of predictability.

I can't wait to see who makes the next book in the series; Cady's friends are a riot and I am excited to find out what happens next.

I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and am voluntarily sharing this review.

The title and blurb really don’t fit the story. That’s a shame, because I love the title and the blurb, both. The book is a mixed bag, though. I thought I was going to get a book of supernatural bookstore fun, but no. Then I thought I would get a book about a heroine dealing with a debilitating condition, but no, not really this either. I thought maybe the hero “Fox” might turn out to be a werewolf or even a Bigfoot or some other supernatural character. I thought I would have a great sidekick in Gemma, maybe a lovers triangle or a jealous boyfriend. I thought maybe the author was translated because there are some formal language usages that don’t fit with other more causal language usage.

As can be seen, I struggled because of trying to figure out what was going on with this book. I felt like the story could not decide where to land and what story to tell, as if there was no outline or plot map. I felt that loss. Some character re-imagining could be useful- after I got to know them, I really did not care for either main character nor the townspeople. Maybe that’s my frustration speaking.

I think this book could be pulled, reworked, and made great. There are fabulous ideas, but an editor or a writing group needs to work some magic.

Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nevermore Bookstore follows Cady, a quirky bookstore owner who recently lost her aunt whom she was close with. Cady loves all things books, including people that purchase books. Every Thursday, “Fox,” calls Nevermore to purchase books. The weird thing, a weird delivery truck picks them up and he doesn’t have a mailing address or a last name. Cady is falling hard for Fox, but she’s kinda dating the sheriff, Ethan. Did I mention there are some legal issues going on with Nevermore Bookstore and the ownership?

Fox is really Fawkes, but who is he? Why is he kinda suspicious and what is Ethan’s weirdness towards him? Also, Bob?! Anyways, Fox flirts with Cady, but won’t meet her in person.

What happens when Cady is in the face of danger while on the phone with Fox? Who will help her? Also, who is breaking into the bookstore and why are they not stealing things? What’s going on? Cady may be looking for her happily ever after but will she get that?
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I found myself reading and not wanting to stop. I thought this was SO FUN. I really thought Cady as a character; her medical history was heartbreaking but interesting. She is so so strong and didn’t seem to let it bring her down. Fox is great. He’s mysterious and broody. His background is also heartbreaking in every way. I appreciated the discussion of his mental health given his past work history. I would honestly like another book just going through his treatment and life with Cady. I didn’t care for Ethan’s character as he just felt kinda eh, he wasn’t like overly obsessed with Cady and it felt like he gave up too easy.

I also didn’t see the ending coming. I didn’t know what to expect actually but it wasn’t that. I was surprised and that’s all I can ask for.

I overall liked this book. If there was another one in the series, I’d read it! I recommend!

What I thought the story was: fun, quirky, small-town romance with a little paranormal twist and opposites-attract vibes. What I got was an unfocused story with a dichotomous voice between florid prose and modern slang that began in medias res and never looped back around to fill in all the missing details.

The essence of Cady and Fox's story was thoughtful, but it just never came together cohesively for me. I like the characters and the overall idea.

I read an advanced reader copy through Netgalley.

2.5 stars

3.75
I was totally going to overlook this book on Netgalley. I was going to scroll right past it and not give it a second glance. Ok that's a bit of a lie, I was going to go back to it because the title definitely had me hooked but I didn't really think I was going to actually request it. Surprise, I did. Second surprise, I got it. Third surprise, I freaking loved it. Did I completely understand what was going on through a majority of the book? No. No I didn't.

Honestly I truly enjoyed this book. The characters felt real in a very raw way. Cady with her disability (ankylosing spondylitis) and with the familial loss she's dealing with, Fawkes (Fox) with his PTSD and night terrors, and Gemma with her fierce loyalty towards her best friend. I think my genuine enjoyment from this book stems from my obvious love of the book aspect but also from how they fell for each other over phone calls and the flirting over books. I felt myself falling in love with the semi-slow burn romance between the two of them and felt my heart break as both of thiers did and even though there wasn't much sense through the whole thing I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would.

Admittedly a lot of the book didn't make a whole lot of sense. Did he just happen upon Cady's bookstore and decide he was going to order from there? Where is he keeping all of the books since he's sleeping in caves and a tent? I know why he didn't tell her what happened to him in the military but why wouldn't he at least tell her who he really was instead of keeping it a secret? Another slight issue I had with the book was the verbage. Some of the words used didn't feel like they necessarily belonged where they were placed or sounded strange within the sentances. It almost felt as if the author was just using big words to make it seem more intelligent.

This book was a completely solid and extremely quick read for me and I am extremely grateful to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review it early! Look for this book in stores on March 28, 2023!

Nevermore Bookstore by Kerrigan Byrne and Cynthia St. Aubin 🦊

This one just didn't work for me. It's a fun idea, but the whole book I was just kind of weirded out by Fox and never got invested in Cady and his relationship. Plus I know what the authors were going for with the small town quirks, but they felt a little bit too much here.

I didn't mind Cady, she is probably the reason for the 3 star rating and not something lower despite me not liking some choices she made. Fox on the other hand I just found creepy. I'm all for an outdoorsy man that's a bit protective of his girl but he took it to the extreme.

I'm never a fan of a bunch of pop culture references in books either, and felt this one had quite a bit. I also just don't think I followed how the characters thought all that well, it jumps around a lot and let's just say they can be creative with descriptions.

I'll be honest, I am not someone who dnfs books but I will skim read if I'm not really enjoying it. That's what I ended up doing here after I was 40ish percent in and not into it all that much. Give this one a chance if you are looking for something quirky with a little bit of steam.

dual POV
3/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 spice level 🌶️

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

Finished my first ARC! Thanks @netgalley

Nevermore Bookstore by Kerrigan Byrne and Cynthia St. Aubin

Pub. Date: March 28, 2023

I really enjoyed this book. The beginning third of the book is slow to start and there’s no real lead in to the story- it just kind of starts that Cady has been talking to a mysterious stranger on the phone. A relationship has already been established and it would have been nice to see how it all started from the beginning. Later on in the book, you do get a few flashbacks to when they started talking.

The book definitely improves and it left me thinking about it. We all could use a Fox in our lives!

There are many different representations in this book: plus size, lgbtq, disability, mental health and many other interesting characters.

There is definitely some spice that leaves an impression!

I enjoyed this book and I hope you do too!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5