Book Review: Bookmarked for Love by Sarah Monzon

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“Happily ever after isn’t the destination. It’s the journey.” - Bookmarked for Love

I believe that sums up this book perfectly.

Martha Aldridge is not quite forty and still single, but she is content as Little Creek’s librarian in charge of the children’s programs, working alongside her fellow librarians, Haley and Evangeline. That contentment is shaken when her boss tells her her job is in jeopardy unless they secure outside funding. Martha comes up with a plan to ask the one person she knows who could help: Mr. King, her parents’ employer and the owner of a publishing house, even though he once crushed her dreams of becoming a writer.

But when she steps into his office, she is surprised to find not Mr. King Sr., but his son, Julien King, her childhood crush, now all grown up and in charge. Julien makes her an offer she can’t refuse. If she helps him find the next up-and-coming children's author, he will give her the money the library so desperately needs to keep its children’s program running.

This book was fun to read. Generally, stories about older main characters don’t always pull me in, but Sarah Monzon did a wonderful job creating characters who were relatable, experienced, and yet still falling in love for the first time. Martha is charming and dedicated to her young readers. Julien is kind and connects with his employees in an encouraging way.

Martha’s childhood crush grows into a deeper admiration for Julien as a grown man as they work together. She sees the good in him and helps him deal with the crushing stress of his father’s expectations. Julien notices and admires the mature Martha not just for her kindness and beauty, but for her knowledge and compassion. Their reconnecting sparks not only romance but a supportive friendship. It was also fun to catch up with Evangeline and Tai, and Haley and Levi along the way.

Request Bookmarked for Love at your local library, preorder it at most retailers, or find it for sale on Amazon.

While you can read Bookmarked for Love as a standalone, I think it is most rewarding to read it after the first two books.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Sarah Monzon and Bethany House. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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Book Blurb:

Can a jeopardized children's library program spark a partnership that saves their careers but costs them their hearts?

When children's librarian Martha Aldridge learns about budget cuts that will not only put her out of a job but also shut down the library's children's programs, she's determined to raise the funds needed to save both. The good news is, she knows just who to ask for a large donation on the library's behalf. The bad news? She swore she'd never step foot in his office again. 

Julien King has been groomed to one day run his family's publishing empire, and now he must prove he's ready to take the helm by turning around the company's languishing children's imprint. That wouldn't be a problem, except he doesn't know the first thing about children's literature. But when Martha waltzes into his office, he sees an opportunity and makes her an offer she can't refuse. He'll give her the money she needs for the library in exchange for her help in acquiring a best-selling manuscript that will resurrect the dying imprint. The longer they're forced to work together, however, the more they come to realize their jobs may not be the only thing on the line.