The Booklover's Library

This book seems to be a sequel to another book with the same kind of plot, but the two books were written by different authors.  In The Booklover's Library, Emma has to find a job even though she is barred from working because she has a child.  Her widowhood means nothing in this situation.  She tells the manageress of the subscription library that she does have a child, but she's running out of money and needs the work.  Because she and her father ran a bookshop, she is hired because she knows how to recommend books to the patrons.  

After her training, she is allowed to help B-list subscribers and has to move her way up to working with A-list subscribers.  She does an excellent job of working with the patrons and learning their idiosyncrasies.  Mr. Beard says he does not like mysteries, but that's all he'll read.  Mrs. Chatsworth comes in and talks incessantly but will read a wide variety of books. 

There is a mystery within the library where books are being mis-shelved.  No one knows who is making the mistakes but one of the assistants insists that it is one of the workers not paying attention.  Because this novel takes place during World War II, there are a lot of reasons for the books being out of place that wander through my mind. I laughed out loud when I found out the true cause.  I love that Madeline Martin worked that into her plot.  There is a bit of romance in the book, but it is not the over-arching topic.  The best part of the plot is the relationship between Emma and her daughter, Olivia.  Emma had a hard time allowing Olivia to go to the country for her own safety.  Olivia had just as hard a time leaving home and leaving Emma, to the point she ran away from where she was staying to go back to Emma.  

This is a five-star book with two thumbs up and a homemade jumper a size too small. 

Harlequin Trade Publishing provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.