Tagline: Jake's hoping for a quiet day after a long week of work, but a noisy bookstore owner--and their unexpected chemistry--derail his plans.
Stream of Consciousness Observations: I love how that first paragraph tells us Jake is in construction work and he lives above a storefront.
"Scowling, he banged on the door..." - Ah, this is a "hate-to-love" story.
"...self-consciously patting the messy knot of curly auburn hair piled atop her head." -- Nice physical description.
"Lily beamed a smile into Jake's frowning, handsome face..." -- Okay, there's also the grumpy sunshine trope.
"Then one of her too-large leather work gloves slid off her hand and hit the floor with a soft thud." -- Not sure what the purpose of this was. To show he's gallant, despite is mood?
Love the cat regarding him with "studious boredom."
"He's always a grump till he warms up to you." -- Sounds like Jake! LOL
OMG, a romance bookshop??? YES PLEASE. I am now kicking myself for not thinking of this as a setting for a Woman's World story.
I love the heroine's bubbly sunny energy.
The selfie prep is darling. You can see Jake's stony wall crumbling.
"Don't smile because we're the grumpy-sunshine trope!" -- Aha! Told ya!
"You got it, sunshine." -- Perfect ending to a perfect story. Well done, Ms. Dusseau!
