Cissie Rogers is a typical, frumpy and sexually frustrated small town librarian. Her library is her life, and at thirty-two, she went back to live with her grandmother, Nana. Cissie's world never changes, she is very organised and doesn't do change well. She reigns supreme over her domain until the fateful day when gorgeous, sexy mayor Boone Braddock informs Cissie that her library will merge with the next town's. To add insult to injury, the new proposed site is a former tattoo parlour in a strip mall! Cissie is livid at the outrage and intends to do whatever it takes to save her library.

They say an author makes her first impression with the first paragraph, but Kieran Kramer may have written the best opening lines in history. The trope for TROUBLE WHEN YOU WALKED IN is probably as old as the first dowdy librarian but the writing is as new as tomorrow! Ms. Kramer is an exceptionally gifted writer, but with TROUBLE WHEN YOU WALKED IN, her prose shines as never before. How complex a character could a dull librarian be? Think of the sun hitting ever facet of a prism! Kieran Kramer's writing shines brighter than the moon, the sun, and the stars combined.

TROUBLE WHEN YOU WALKED IN features magnificent characters, so well rounded that Ms. Kramer might as well be the first author to write a story about a spinster, a golden boy, and a spunky grandmother. Nothing happens quite as we expect. No one behaves according to how we think they will, and it's simply because we don't know Cissie and Boone, who reveal their true nature as the story unfolds. Nothing is far-fetched, but it just goes to show that a reader should not make assumptions as to how a character should be; every character remains true to itself, it's just that the reader didn't know yet. Kieran Kramer reinvents the spinster trope with her superlative writing and boundless ingenuity. The dialogues sound perfectly genuine, while being witty and in tune with the characters. TROUBLE WHEN YOU WALKED IN is a magical, whimsical, lyrical tour de force; a modern fairy tale. Character development is spectacular, and there are totally unexpected plot twists: Boone has a secret that has defined his life nearly forever and many unforeseen plot twists happen because of that secret.

TROUBLE WHEN YOU WALKED IN is funny, charming, sweet, sexy, sensual, uplifting -- without anything being overdone, shallow or sugary sweet: everything is perfectly balanced, funny, tender and stirring. TROUBLE WHEN YOU WALKED IN is a clever story with some of the most dazzling writing I have ever seen! This review could have been very short, I could have simply written: just read TROUBLE WHEN YOU WALKED IN.

Book Summary

She's a woman of her word.

Cissie Rogers likes to do everything by the book. Literally. The town librarian in Kettle Knob, North Carolina, she's determined to preserve the future of literature-and the library's romantic legend-for her patrons. It's not easy when the mayor himself, Boone Braddock, wants to close the library down. There's only one way for Cissie to put a stop to him: By running for mayor herself!

Is he a player-or does he mean business?

Boone is Kettle Knob's favorite son, a champion athlete and stellar football coach with deep local roots. Cissie will need more than a savvy slogan and a pair of three-inch high heels to stand a chance at the polls. But what about the campaign that's underway in her own heart? What began as professional rivalry has transformed into a simmering attraction that neither contender can ignore. Could it be that the keeper of the town's card catalog and the legendary football hero are ready to team up...and write their own storybook romance?