Louisiana Saves the Library ~ Emily Beck Cogburn

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (January 26, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1617739936
• ISBN-13: 978-1617739934

Purchase a copy here.

For Louisiana Richardson, desperate times call for crazy-like-a-fox measures. As the new librarian at Alligator Bayou Parish's struggling library, she's returning to her Southern roots and facing trouble hotter than fresh cornbread out of the oven. Somehow, she's got to draw readers back in and prove the library is still vital--even as domineering parish board head Mrs. Gunderson plans to shut it down for good. If that means Louise has to resort to some unconventional methods--like outrageous inter-library Zumba classes, and forming a book club that's anything but Oprah-approved--well, it wouldn't be the first time she went out on a limb. . .

Soon Louise is doing everything she can to rally the whole community. Before she knows it, she's sparking welcome changes--and uncovering surprising secrets--throughout her new town. And between glasses of sweet tea, bowls of mouth-watering gumbo and the warmth of a tantalizing new love, the newly single Southern mom might find a life she never imagined--and a place to finally call home.

My take on this book:

I am a sucker for an interesting cover and that's just what drew me in with Louisiana Saves the Library, but once I started reading it was the people of Alligator Bayou and the characters of Louisiana and Sylvia that kept me reading! The main character Louisiana (Louise) is a single mother of two whose life is a bit chaotic. When she loses her job at the local college she finds herself, along with her friend Sylvia taking a job at what seems to be a long forgotten, sort of washed up library in Alligator Bayou. It doesn't take long for the pair to shake things up within the library, and actually breathing new life into not only the library but the community as well. But when someone decides they want the library shut  down it will take the entire community to save it!

Along with the story of the library there is also the story of Louise and the changes she is going through. Her role as a single parent is about to change when her dead beat husband finally decides he wants to be a part of the children's lives which forces Louise to not only interact with him but the woman that he left her for as well. The story of Sal was quite interesting and while the romance was there it really was the community feel that I got with this book that made it a winner for me.  A very enjoyable, easy to read, and connect with story that had all the elements that I enjoy. From the small town feel with a really quirky cast of characters to a herd of chihuahuas it was a great little read that I hated to see end. I do think that a few of the other characters have their own stories to tell, and I for one would really love to read a story revolving around Sal's sister Betta. 

Another great book borrowed from my local library.