Review: Found at the Library by Christi Snow

Found at the Library
Author: Christi Snow
Reviewer: B.
Rating: B+

What I’m Talking About:

Writing science-fiction novels might keep him mostly single, but that dedication has brought Robert McIntyre a great deal of success. He’s a little self-absorbed, maybe, but, when his muse is talking, and the deadlines are looming, he figures it’s to be expected. But, when he gets the chance to redeem himself after a bad first impression, he falls for the gorgeous man who’s upended his world more than he ever thought possible. If only holding on to him could be so easy.

After many years of loving the books that his dyslexia prevented him from reading, Tommy Garrett has made a place for himself creating a different kind of art out of the pages themselves. It may not be the way he wanted things to be, but with the help of his collection of audiobooks, all of those other settings and characters have come to life for him anyway. Although falling for an author was never part of his plan, nothing could have prepared him for the quirky sci-fi writer who (literally) broke into his life and turned it inside out.

I thought Mac and Tommy were both very interesting characters from the beginning of Found at the Library, and they became even more so as the story progressed. While I’ve often heard that being involved with someone who earns their living in a creative profession carries with it the potential for a variety of issues, Ms. Snow illustrates some very difficult ones here. Initially, their professions—as an author and artist, respectively—make Tommy and Mac perfect for each other. Despite their mutual need to withdraw from all forms of human interaction when they are working on a project, they are generous and considerate of the other’s obligations and needs, and seeing the way they cared for one another was my favorite part of the story.

That’s not to say that things are always easy between the two. In fact, their relationship does not begin well at all. Despite an obvious and immediate physical connection, they manage to thoroughly offend one another and generate a startling amount of ill will in the process. Of course, that they do have such an undeniable carnal attraction makes the next few chapters quite a lot of fun. And since neither man is very good at expressing himself verbally, I found it especially endearing that they are best able to do so through their artistic endeavors.

In almost every case, I found Tommy and Mac’s story to be sweet and charming, as well as uplifting; my only real disappointment being Tommy’s reaction to an unpublished story Mac had written after their disastrous first encounter. At that point, they hadn’t gotten to know each other at all, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that that the punishment was a little too harsh for the crime. Mac didn’t handle the situation very well, either, though, and there’s no denying that this conflict did set them on the path towards a wonderfully happy ending.

Found at the Library is an endearing, often funny story about finding love where you least expect it. In some ways, it is also a cautionary tale, and Mac and Tommy learn that first impressions, not to mention jumping to conclusions, can be dangerous things. While the main characters are opposites in many respects, there’s no denying that they are also a perfect fit for one another. I’m so glad that I was able to read this new series from Ms. Snow from the beginning, and I have no doubt that I’ll follow it to the end.

My Rating:  B+ Liked It A Lot

About the Book:

His entire life, Tommy Garrett has dealt with self-doubts. He thought he’d conquered the majority of them until a chance meeting with an author brought his illiteracy to the forefront…again. Growing up with un-diagnosed dyslexia has left Tommy barely able to read, but books are his Nirvana. Now he spends his life creating art dedicated to the love of those “untouchable” items.

Robert McIntyre, Mac, is a best-selling, highly celebrated author. But his point of view has become a little bit too narrow…until Tommy opens his eyes. That chance meeting has changed everything about his world. He has no idea how to find the beautiful man he met, and offended, at the library book sale. But when he does, Tommy’s life is in crisis-mode. It’s the holidays and Mac can’t just standby when Tommy needs help, whether Tommy wants it or not. 

Two artistic men. One shared passion for books.

Release Date: October 13, 2015
Publisher: self-published
Series: Found #1
ISBN: #978-1517629144
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ, m/m
Format(s): paperback (226 pages), e-book
Book Source: Author

Purchase Info:
Found At the Library (Found #1)