What the Librarian Did by Karina Bliss

Skeptic scale: ♥♥♥♥

Vintage-clad librarian gets it on with jaded, alpha-hole, ex-rocker dude. I thought I would totally hate it. But I totally, TOTALLY loved it. 

He: Earring wearing, ex-rocker and basically a stuck up jerk for most of his famous life. He had been a substance abuser and a womanizer and a wearer of purple boots. He's in New Zealand, in retirement and to escape from his rollicking LA life of dissipation.

She: A goody two shoes librarian who's got a big secret. Ohhh. I WISH I could tell you the secret. But I CAN'T because it's such a good one and I want everyone to read this book.

Conflict: They do NOT get along well. She thinks he's stuck up and he thinks she's lame. They're both right, of course. But then they spend some time together and it's sparky and hot, and super fun.

What I loved:
1) SO funny. The characters play off each other wonderfully. And it's not the cheesy way you'd expect with all the jokes at her expense (school-marmish, dowdily dressed librarian?) with him coming across as a rakish tease. The insults fly both ways and it's awesome.

And honestly even though the H is described as arrogant, he is actually hilarious about it. Supremely confident but aware of his shortcomings the way we wish all our men would be.

2) There are some intense themes (feelings of abandonment, self-discovery, family struggles) but it's all dealt with a light hand and great humor so you don't feel mopey and sad the whole time.

3) I love that the h's focus wasn't ALL about the H. She had this other secret thing she's dealing with and for more than half the book she's pretty focused on that. She recognizes the attraction between them but that doesn't overshadow her own stuff. I really don't like it when authors describe how the heroine is going through this whole life changing thing and then all of a sudden the hero swoops in and all she does is stress over HIM. 

My favorite line: 

"I'll just get my cardigan"

Cardigan? He may not be a hell-raiser anymore but Devin valued his reputation. "Haven't you got anything sexy?"

"Yes," said Rachel. "My mind."  

You said it, sister.

Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie

Skeptic scale: ♥♥♥♥

He: Ambitious lawyer, hell bent on making partner before 40

She: "liberal flake", grew up in a hippie commune, lives to save the world

Conflict: see "He" and "She".

H&h are attracted to one another, they've even dated. But they are just too different in their views - it would never work! So they part amicably, until H needs h's help. He needs her to be his date at a work thing. Oooooh. A work thing, huh? Okaaaayyy.... 

Even with the contrived way they are thrown together for the weekend (he needs her to pretend to be his fiancee so that he can get in the good books of a potential big name client and therefore make his partner-before-40 dreams come true), this turns out to be a sweet little story of how two totally opposite people can be wonderful together.

I loved the way that they both are quite up front about their attraction for one another. They have been friends for a while and they both know the logical reasons they shouldn't work. And I love that there was no overly dramatic scene where one or both throw a tantrum about how this is just not going to work and how they are losing themselves as individuals etc etc. It was all dealt with very maturely and both parties are shown to be willing to adjust and be sensible. 

As an aside - I must revisit some of JC's other books. I have Bet Me and another and I don't remember being transported by them or anything - and from the blogs and other Amazon reviews, it would seem that I am in the minority. Maybe will give them a re-read and see if I change my mind...