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Review: The Librarian's Rake by Z. Allora

Opposites might attract, but is acting on that attraction wise?

Librarian Tristan Cooper can’t steer clear of sexy, motorcycle-riding bad boy Phillip—the man is hot—but Phillip is bound to find quiet, bookish Tristan boring, like all Tristan’s boyfriends. Tristan yearns to explore his wild side, the part of himself he’s only allowed into his fantasies, and maybe rakish Phillip is just what he needs to feel free.

Sexperienced hairdresser Phillip is more of a believer in happy endings than happily ever afters. Experience has taught him not to hope for more—until he meets sweet, vulnerable Tristan, who seems genuinely interested in his heart. But Phillip can’t trust enough to see himself as a man Tristan might want for more than a night.

With the help of a pair of matchmaking grandfathers, Tristan and Phillip might find the courage to step beyond their comfort zones and discover what has been missing from their lives….


This book was adorable, sexy, fun and full of UST! It was the perfect curl up with the dogs and enjoy a romance on a Sunday kind of read.

The meet cute between Phillip and Tristan is a bit two fold. We get the first almost meet as Phillip is on his motorcycle at a light admiring a Lamborghini and its driver. When he tries to compliment the driver, he gets a cold stare and a window rolled up. When Phillip arrives at his granddaddy Conrad’s house and meets Thomas Cooper his granddaddy’s friend he is introduced to Thomas’s grandson who was delivering his hot Italian car and Mr. Sexy Asshole gets a name. Tristan is nothing like the first impression Phillip got of him in the car and when he learns Tristan is the Librarian and needs a ride back to the library, Philip offers him a ride.

So Tristan is a librarian who loves his job and is the best at it. Just the movie nights and the way he reads to kids is enough to melt this reader’s heart. Phillip is a stylist who also loves what he does and even helps Tristan update his look and offers his services in other ways. Platonically, of course, but only on the surface.

Oh but these two were so adorable. I love that we get both POV’s so we know of the first impressions the men have of one another and we know exactly how their lives are lead. We need to know this because while Tristan leads what he imagines to be a boring life and was recently left by his boyfriend of two years because he wasn’t adventurous enough in bed, he wants to spice up his life. And while Phillip is the king of Grindr hookups and thinks he’s nothing better than being on his knees being a “catch and release” sort of guy, we also know he’s had his wedding tuxedo picked out since High School. But both men are stuck in what they think should be their life until the find the spark, warmth and connection that begins immediately and is fueled by small touches while watching Benny and Joon in the library.

Once Tristan confesses he wants Phillip to show him how to be more wild and free and Phillip sets out to help him any way he can. I love stories like this. Where the one helps the other “better” themselves to attract other lovers only to want him exactly how he is but does it out of friendship. While these two become fast friends, they also have unbelievable chemistry. OMG! The UST is yummy in this book. Phillip and Tristan are totally into one another but when Tristan has trouble exerting what he wants lets his low self-esteem run his actions.

Phillip is determined to show Tristan how worthy he is and that his exes were morons so after one hell of a sexy shopping trip and moments in the dressing room, Phillip finally gets Tristan out to a club for dancing. Of course, Tristan only wants to be with Phillip and finally gives in and lets his feelings be known which leads to a sensual dry humping session and first kiss. Wow. Yeah, that was something and it only gets better from here.

I really loved this story. It was lovely to watch both men want so much and know they are in the perfect place to have it all but afraid to go for it. Tristan is worried about voicing what he wants and what he feels and Phillip is convinced he’s only good for hookups that use him so when real emotions show up, when fucking turns to making love and when the realization true love may be lost; the men figure it out and the good stuff happens.

Though this is short, we do get a full story with Phillip and Tristan and my first thought about getting a librarian and a bad boy came true… in the library. Yup. There is library sex in this and it is hot.
The grandfathers were a blast to have as match makers and I would actually love a snippet into their relationship to see what it really is. Monique and Chris were great friends to Philip and I hope they figure their mess out. But really, I feel for Phillip and Tristan and liked that we got them months after they decided to be together and that last moment was so them.




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