Whispers in the Reading Room by Shelley Gray
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Lydia’s job at the library is her world—until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.
Just months after the closure of the Chicago World’s Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.
Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.
Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn’t merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.
Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks-the man so many people fear-is actually everything her heart believes him to be.
My thoughts:
Whispers in the Reading Room is an enchanting tale of mystery and romance! Shelley Gray captured my attention on the very first page and held it steadfast until the end. The following passage opens the story and describes how I feel about this novel.
“She still remembered the expression on his face last week when he’d finished and closed the last tome. He’d looked pleased and just a bit melancholy. She knew those dual feelings well – the satisfaction of completing a well-written piece of literature while also coming to terms with the fact that those few moments of pure bliss would soon be replaced with a longing for more.”
Gray’s characterization is excellent and one of the things I love most about this novel! Lydia Bancroft and Sebastian Marks are unique, complex characters; each struggling to discover who they really are and where they belong. Their contrasting personas make for a captivating story, one that carefully and cleverly unfolds with each turn of the page.
I loved Whispers in the Reading Room! I have been remiss in not reading the first two books in this series, but that is an oversight I will soon remedy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Blog Tour:
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Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. A native of Texas, she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Colorado and taught school for ten years. She and her husband have two children and live in Southern Ohio.
Connect with Shelley: website, Twitter, Facebook
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