"solid contemporary romance"
Forty-year-old Philadelphia librarian Ally Sheffield has
always been comfortable living a single lifestyle even
after fifteen years of celibacy and four years without a
date. However, her feelings abruptly change when she sees
Philadelphia Philharmonic conductor Aleksi Kullio.
Suddenly, Ally feels in love though she never met her
idol. From contented abstinence Ally knows desire and
wanting to thank this music maestro. Someone conducts pranks at the library that includes
olfactory overload. As the librarians wonder whom and why,
Ally volunteers to serve as archivist at the Philharmonic
where she meets her beloved. The married Aleksi flirts
with her even while his wife looks up poison references.
When Aleksi uses her to "steal" a Copland score, she tries
to turn the tables with the help of Beethoven, the Feds and
her boss Gordon Albright, who loves Ally. THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM OF LOVE is a solid contemporary
romance with a touch of intrigue. Ally is a fine
protagonist whose sudden awakening to the male of the
species after years of satisfying spinsterhood is well
designed, believable, and fun to observe. Though Aleksi's
motives never make sense, Josephine Carr provides the
audience with a warm tale of late bloomers finding love. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 4, 2003
For questions about the science of the heart and how it
beats, go to the 616.12's and for questions about the
philosophy of the heart, go to the 700.4's
[ms. pg 223]
Ally Skinner doesn't fall into any category...
Forget those stereotypes about librarians. With long auburn
hair and perfect skin, Ally looks half her age of forty.
And even though she's been celibate for fifteen years, she
doesn't live a monastic life. Ally enjoys the finer things,
like her zippy convertible, ice-cold martinis, classical
music, and her sensuously appointed apartment.
However, like any good librarian, Ally is discreet in
public—and hides her extravagant nature behind a French
twist and sensible clothes. But after last night, even her
most proper attire can't hide the signs—the pink cheeks,
the extra-poufy hair, the bounce in her step.
Ally Skinner is in love.
The heart-palpitating, nausea-inducing, silly,
inexplicable, absurd and pointless kind of love found in a
romance novel. And for once in her life, what Ally needs to
know she can't find in any book—she can only live it...
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