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University Square #3
Bookends
The life of university librarian, Amari Foster, life is neatly cataloged. Work, home, and securing a future for her daughter are her focus. Hard-edged and handsome, she manages her private life with ruthless precision, cutting ties, and maintaining distance to protect her battered heart.
Plumber Thalia Makris has given up her dream of long-term love after a series of bad relationships. Desperate to have her own business, Thalia fills her days working overtime and her nights with fantasy novels.
After a chance encounter leaves both women wanting more than a one-night stand, they find themselves on the precipice of love. Will they take the plunge?
Plumber Thalia Makris has given up her dream of long-term love after a series of bad relationships. Desperate to have her own business, Thalia fills her days working overtime and her nights with fantasy novels.
After a chance encounter leaves both women wanting more than a one-night stand, they find themselves on the precipice of love. Will they take the plunge?
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2021
12 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Murphy
27 books92 followersBrenda Murphy writes short fiction and novels. She loves tattoos and sideshows and yes, those are her monkeys. When she is not swilling gallons of hot tea and writing, she wrangles two kids, two dogs, and one unrepentant parrot. She reviews books, blogs about life as a writer with ADHD and publishes photographs on her blog Writing While Distracted.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 6, 2022
I liked how the author "packed" quite a "punch" into this novel. At the core it is a lovely and believable romance where esp. Amari has to overcome her past. Other themes are well interwoven into this romance (which can be read as a stand-alone), e.g. single parenting with a beautiful secondary character, abusive parents. The u-haul comes maybe a bit too quick at the end.
The sex is hot and part of the romance. I esp. loved the subtle humor of the smooth butch faltering and rescued by her femme. And the femme as a plumber ::))
What was not so great: the proofreading and many mangled Latin sentences including one of my favorite Latin poems (this was more like medieval-style American-Latin with a lot of local vernacular). Not cool.
The sex is hot and part of the romance. I esp. loved the subtle humor of the smooth butch faltering and rescued by her femme. And the femme as a plumber ::))
What was not so great: the proofreading and many mangled Latin sentences including one of my favorite Latin poems (this was more like medieval-style American-Latin with a lot of local vernacular). Not cool.
September 13, 2021
A perfect book cover. From their initial meeting through Hit Me Up, I hoped for a HEA...both lead characters are slightly flawed and scarred (with push/pull aspects) not looking for a long relationship. My mind's eye showed Amari (librarian) as a "top" but soft, dapper butch constantly worrying over her daughter Brianna and Thalia (reluctant plumber) as a "bottom" sometimes switch, femme and occasional sub. Both of them enjoyed reading and Thalia's dream is to open her own bookstore leaving the world of plumbing behind. This storyline was well rounded, threaded with the right amount of angst, sex, then realization and opening up of our duo to love but also interlaced with the sensitive aspects of physical/mental abuse and autism without overwhelming a beautifully written plot. A side cast in Brianna, Cora, Sally and Yvonne was nicely fleshed out and I thought therapy dog Lucy added an excellent touch.
Highly recommend this book which is firmly on my re-read shelf. Thank you Ms. Murphy for adding to my reading pleasure.
I rec'd a copy from the author, however this is a totally voluntary, unbiased review.
Highly recommend this book which is firmly on my re-read shelf. Thank you Ms. Murphy for adding to my reading pleasure.
I rec'd a copy from the author, however this is a totally voluntary, unbiased review.
September 15, 2021
The book starts off with a bang, a Hit Me Up hookup, not to be repeated but then a random encounter sets up the story.
The MC’s Amari and Thalia both carry deep emotional scars and are not looking for love but sometimes you just can’t run away from it.
Amari, the dapper librarian, with an autistic daughter Brianna, who adds so much to this story.
Thalia the Plumber, trying to break away from her family and set up her dream of owning a book store.
I found this story very emotional, it’s got angst and trauma but most of all it has love.
Also, when I first saw the cover, I wondered what it all meant and after finishing the book, it is perfect.
I highly recommend this series.
October 12, 2021
It was interesting to see how a quick, more or less anonymous, app-based hookup could turn into more in this novel. The two main characters meet at an out-of-town hotel and then part, not expecting to ever see each other again. However, fate intervened and they come in contact again and again. Then it takes off from there.
Both, but especially Amari, have some difficult things to get over, which make their encounters rocky. There’s a lot of back and forth between the two – will they or won’t they have their happy ending? The addition of Amari’s daughter helped humanize everyone in this book. I thought Brianna was well portrayed as someone on the spectrum who has difficulties with other people, both children and adults. Bookends has some sweet scenes and some hard ones as things progress in both the women’s lives. The world building and the character growth was wonderful. This is one of the books that I read quickly because I really want to know what will happen and can’t put it down until I find out.
Both, but especially Amari, have some difficult things to get over, which make their encounters rocky. There’s a lot of back and forth between the two – will they or won’t they have their happy ending? The addition of Amari’s daughter helped humanize everyone in this book. I thought Brianna was well portrayed as someone on the spectrum who has difficulties with other people, both children and adults. Bookends has some sweet scenes and some hard ones as things progress in both the women’s lives. The world building and the character growth was wonderful. This is one of the books that I read quickly because I really want to know what will happen and can’t put it down until I find out.
October 14, 2021
3.5 ⭐
April 27, 2022
This book was a nice slow-burn read. It was not a book about BDSM or the lifestyle. The first scene at the very beginning of Chapter One makes an allusion to bondage and a tryst between the two women. That was it for Domme and sub. Their respective lifestyle choices weren’t mentioned again for the rest of the book. I bought the book and read it based on the idea that there would be Dominance/submission or ongoing bondage. Except for the first scene allusion the rest of the book is entirely vanilla.
I liked the book anyway. The author does a good job with the overall story and there is a nice HEA to finish the story off.
I liked the book anyway. The author does a good job with the overall story and there is a nice HEA to finish the story off.
July 18, 2025
It's a great book with a lovely storyline and character developmnet. There goes a lot of angst during the story, and some of the errors in communication are done repeatedly. Also I was a but confused, it starts with a kinky sexdate, with a light dominance-submission play, when I catched that correctly, but I didn't got the same vibe later on, except one time, and it was a reason for more drama. Since it was something important for both MC's, I missed the resolution on this issue.
October 7, 2021
High Angst
The reason I gave this book 4 stars is because it felt as if the couple was apart more than together. The scenes between them felt rushed and not authentic. I have read the other books in the University Square series and it didn't have the same vibe. I will read the next Installment by Brenda Murphy if there is one.
The reason I gave this book 4 stars is because it felt as if the couple was apart more than together. The scenes between them felt rushed and not authentic. I have read the other books in the University Square series and it didn't have the same vibe. I will read the next Installment by Brenda Murphy if there is one.
September 14, 2021
Another One
Great addition to the series. I loved it. Makes me want to know more about Sally and Yvonne 's story. I would like to read more about Thalia as well to know if her mom talks to her again and if she ever makes it to Greece.
Great addition to the series. I loved it. Makes me want to know more about Sally and Yvonne 's story. I would like to read more about Thalia as well to know if her mom talks to her again and if she ever makes it to Greece.
October 17, 2021
More!
University Square only has three corners - a square has four! We need a Book 4, please, Brenda Murphy! A terrific story … a terrific series! Murphy’s characters are engaging, sympathetic, and well-developed. More, please … more, please …!
University Square only has three corners - a square has four! We need a Book 4, please, Brenda Murphy! A terrific story … a terrific series! Murphy’s characters are engaging, sympathetic, and well-developed. More, please … more, please …!
September 27, 2021
Excellent.
I loved Bookends. A great continuation of the University Square series. I loved the close relationship between Brianna and Thalia.
I loved Bookends. A great continuation of the University Square series. I loved the close relationship between Brianna and Thalia.
September 16, 2021
Great characters! Murphy has created two very complex characters with many side characters just as interesting and extremely enjoyable. I love how the power dynamics between them shifts back and forth. Oh, trust me, I give no spoilers so you’ll have to read it to understand.
And I have to give Murphy a shout-out for the character of Brianna. I love her development and presentation of the character. Outstanding, IMHO.
To say that Murphy tackles some tough topics and situations within is not enough, she navigates them skillfully, in my opinion. Just read her content warning, but I didn’t find anything that was too much at all. No spoilers allowed.
The story took me by surprise at times, pleasantly I might add. The pace of the story kept me so engaged I found it difficult to have to put it down. I think you’ll enjoy another of her University series stories, I certainly did! Just sayin’.
And I have to give Murphy a shout-out for the character of Brianna. I love her development and presentation of the character. Outstanding, IMHO.
To say that Murphy tackles some tough topics and situations within is not enough, she navigates them skillfully, in my opinion. Just read her content warning, but I didn’t find anything that was too much at all. No spoilers allowed.
The story took me by surprise at times, pleasantly I might add. The pace of the story kept me so engaged I found it difficult to have to put it down. I think you’ll enjoy another of her University series stories, I certainly did! Just sayin’.
September 18, 2021
I really loved this addition to the series. Amari and Thalia are great together and I love how real Thalia is with Brianna.
Grief is difficult and it’s hard to move on and give someone new a chance at Love again.
The World building and characters are great in this series and this book. I would definitely recommend it to my friends.
Grief is difficult and it’s hard to move on and give someone new a chance at Love again.
The World building and characters are great in this series and this book. I would definitely recommend it to my friends.
March 17, 2022
Great book
I really enjoyed this one. The MCs were great and likeable. Brianna the daughter of one MC was fabulous. Her character was beautiful. The story line was good and kept me wanting to read. Definitely recommend. This is a new to me author and I’ll be reading more of their books
I really enjoyed this one. The MCs were great and likeable. Brianna the daughter of one MC was fabulous. Her character was beautiful. The story line was good and kept me wanting to read. Definitely recommend. This is a new to me author and I’ll be reading more of their books
November 15, 2021
I love the “University Square” series for its diverse characters. Brenda Murphy has the rainbow plus a sexy character that is disabled. This book also introduces a character who is neurodiverse. Nevermind the Square has a plethora of culturally diverse people living there.
Check out the rest of my review at Phoebe's Randoms. Link in bio
Check out the rest of my review at Phoebe's Randoms. Link in bio
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews