Book Review: Whispers in the Reading Room by Shelley Gray

About the Book: Lydia's job at the library is her world---until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World's Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn't merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks-the man so many people fear-is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1lujxr6

My Thoughts:  I really enjoyed this book.  It had a bit of everything - mystery, intrigue, romance, and history.  The characters are very well-developed and I love how they are a bit unique from your run of the mill characters that seem to show up in most books.  As an avid reader, I found the setting of a reading room to be quite fitting :)

I enjoyed how the storyline unfolded, however I did feel that the ending tied together a bit too quickly in comparison to the pace of the rest of the book.  I was actually starting to wonder if the story would even get wrapped up in this book and was becoming annoyed that it might have a cliff hanger ending, because I could tell I was nearing the end and yet it didn't seem like it could be over that quickly.  I think the author could have spent a little more time and pages on the ending.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for organizing this tour and providing me with my complimentary review copy.