I love this book so much I have to stop and tell someone. I’m glad you stopped by.

Two thirds of the way through and I know I will be looseleft when I turn the last page. Looseleft is one of the many emotionally charged words used in this book. That’s one of it’s fascinating aspects, words.

They also often mention the phrase, Looseleft in the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that concept. A Google search tells me that contrary to my incorrect assumptions this is a real book written by John Koenig, published in 2021.

Looseleft is the bereft feeling of loss at the end of a good book when the characters stay behind and we have to leave to go on without them. This will be a book like that for me. Sad, sad, sad, when it’s over. But glad for the way I expect it to end for the characters.

Harper inherited a thriving bookstore from an aunt she thought hated her. Harper loves books (understatement of the century) but is lacking in social skills (also a gross understatement) and struggles with the responsibilities of a new occupation.

Noah recently discovered he was a father as a result of a brief relationship with someone he hasn’t seen in years. Now he is struggling to learn how to be a dad to his grieving son. Bennie’s life has not been easy since the loss of his dying mother, As a result of his unfortunate experiences there are unexpected pot holes popping up all over their road of life and Noah is grateful for every one of them that Harper is able to smooth over.

Bennie is a sensitive little boy and can read people as well as Harper can, she is very good at it. They understand each other and Bennie’s adoring looks tell the whole world he is smitten with her. Harper would readily but secretly admit it’s mutual.

Complicated is a weak word to use to describe the dynamics going on with the characters. The bumpy relationships work well on so many levels with these three, Noah, Harper, and Bennie. It will be nice to see their relationship work out the way I think it will but not so easy to see my time with them come to an end.

Twice Sold Tales (Bookstrings Book 1)

If only owning a bookstore didn’t mean dealing with people.

No one was more surprised than Harper Brevig when Great Aunt Lorene (not “Lori,” thank-you-very-much) died and left her least favorite niece her bookstore–including a prime piece of real estate in downtown Red Wing, Minnesota.

Making a go of the place shouldn’t be too hard. With her library science degree, she should be set. Then again, the website describing library degrees had said it would teach her excellent communication skills. It had not. Could she get a partial refund?

Still, owning the building should mean crazy-low overhead to offset her less than optimal “book-side” manner.  Ahem. So when yet another huge bill arrives, and she starts getting twitchy about the low bank balance, Harper does the only thing she can think of.

Enter Milton Coleridge. He’d been excited about the possibilities of the store last year, but Harper had sent him packing before he could talk to her about them.  Now he has a chance to make a difference. But she’s right. She’s bleeding money, and it doesn’t make sense!

Milton’s job is to figure out what’s going on, plug the financial leak, and maybe… do a little matchmaking. That dad with the adorable little boy would be good for her… and she’d be good for him. Probably.

A solid five stars in my experience.