Wallflower Rosemary Fillmore has never endeavored anything more than a good book, a cool glass of sweet tea, and a cat to curl up in her lap after a long day of teaching teenagers how to dissect literary masterpieces. Dowdy and shy, hardly anyone in her quaint southern town of Vallantine, Georgia, knows she exists, and the only time she has an ounce of confidence is if the world is a fictional one.

So, when three of her star students suddenly start to show an interest in her personal life or lack thereof, she wonders what on earth the girls are after. Or why. And how it involves a certain town librarian. Because she hasn’t exactly agreed with how he’s been running the beautiful landmark into the ground since taking over, and frankly, she’s been more than a little upset about it. Besides, he is probably the sole person more awkward than herself, despite how kind or understatedly handsome he may be.

As the only living descendant of the original town founders, saving the Vallantine Library from destitution falls on Sheldon Brown’s shoulders. And he’s failing. Miserably. The one-hundred and forty-year-old historical building, erected by his ancestors, has been in near ruins for a decade, and the state of the library system is declining.

What he doesn’t need adding to his burden is giggling teenage girls hanging out between the stacks, spying on him, and asking silly questions about their teacher. Even if the woman in question is Rosemary. Pretty, sweet, and utterly endearing Rosemary, who he’s been attempting to ask on a date since forever.

Except he’s chronically gotten the impression she doesn’t approve of him or his attempts to save the library. But then a mishap one night and a strange challenge from an unlikely source will change everything, and he wonders if perhaps two introverted bookworms can get a happy ending, after all.

Titles in The Heart of Vallantine series include — A Thousand Moments —♥—

NetGalley

Title:  A Thousand Moments
Series:  The Heart of Vallantine #1
Author:  Kelly Moran
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  June 7, 2022
Publisher:
My Rating:  4.5 stars

I had such fun with the novella, A Thousand Moments that introduces us to The Heart of Vallantine series.  Rosemary and Sheldon might have a quick storyline to get us started on this series, but it packs a powerful emotional punch without a doubt.

Two unlikely candidates to fall for each other are the quiet, bookish, wallflower Rosemary and the awkward town librarian (and owner of the falling down library building) Sheldon.  She’s convinced her future involves books and cats, he would love to ask Rosemary out but his clumsy ways seem to only annoy her.  Plus, Rosemary isn’t exactly a fan of how Sheldon’s let the library crumble around him.  While this couple might know each other on the surface, the fact is that they’ve not tried to get a bit below the top layer of their personality to the real people hidden inside.  They’ll both be a bit surprised… eventually.

I adored Dorothy, Scarlett, and Rebecca aka The Bookish Belles.  Even as teens these girls could see that Sheldon and Rosemary were perfect for each other.  So, they set out to do a little matchmaking, a dramatic make-over and sat back to watch the sparks begin.

This couple has a fun romance ahead of them, well, once they get over their shyness and preconceived ideas about each other that is.  One storm will change so much… and I’ll let you find out what happens next on your own.  I have loved Ms. Moran’s paranormal romances and I was very glad to find just a touch included in A Thousand Moments, just the right touch in fact.  The groundwork is being laid to continue this series (I always enjoy knowing what came before), and now the wait for the next release in The Heart of Vallantine series.  If you love a good, solid romance with a touch of whimsy, laughter, awkwardness, and two people finding their perfect match then you’d enjoy Rosemary’s and Sheldon’s story.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent. I was not financially compensated for this review and no expectation of a positive review was promised.*

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