Review: A role-playing romp after hours at a train museum.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 16, 2013
Talk about a fun ride! I loved this novella from start to finish. Mandy is a young professor seeking tenure  who is thrown into the role of mother when her sister and her brother in law die in a car accident, leaving her the sole custodian of their 4 month old son, Josh. Juggling a demanding career and an even more demanding toddler, Mandy allows herself only one escape per month, a role-playing date with a guy she met on an internet dating site who insists she always come in costume, never share personal information, and meet him on various train cars displayed at a local museum. Tyler is quirky and sexy and way too young for Mandy, but she can't stop going on their unusual dates, even though there are like a million red flags.It's clear Tyler has a secret, but Mandi can't guess what it might be. Heck, she doesn't want to guess. She doesn't want to ruin what they have, however bazaar it is. She needs her monthly escape with Tyler, and she suspects he needs it too. But when their personal lives intersect and Tyler pretends he doesn't recognize her, everything changes. Mandy wants more. She deserves more. She's crazy for wanting more when it's obvious Tyler doesn't. She might be a wee bit conflicted. So sue her. She's stressed and sleep deprived and should not be held responsible for poor decisions, especially when her heart keeps overriding her brain.I loved watching Tyler's mystery unfold. I loved how he sometimes fell apart with Mandy, how the role-playing sometimes dissolved and his genuine passion for her showed through. He's a man smitten, but for his own personal reasons, he won't let himself have Mandy in the real world. Seeing these two characters trust each other with their secrets touched me deeply, and Ruthie Knox's trademark smart humor shines throughout.