By the Book is one of the last Loveswepts, and it is mostly entertaining. It is something of a Cinderella story, and anyone who has ever felt as though they are taken advantage of for their good nature will see themself in this book.

Ellen Webster is a bank teller, and she’s way too nice. After a day in which parking places are taken from under her nose, yielding her place in line at the grocery wins the man in front of her $500, and her friend at the bank thinks she has caught the eye of the cute new guy across the way, Ellen decides she’s had enough. She picks up a booklet at the grocery about getting what you want out of life, and decides to try it out to find some happiness for herself. It begins to work with the cute new guy.

Jonah Blake is the mystery man in town. He opened the camera shop across from the bank and rumors about him abound. Is he a spy working for the CIA or FBI or is he a war hero who is the nephew or son of the owner of the camera shop? No one knows. He has noticed Ellen though, and is attracted to her.

Ellen and Jonah begin a relationship that is honest and fraught with sexual tension. Ellen is being more assertive in her personal and professional life (going after a raise and temporary promotion) and feels things are going well. She’s even trying to help her n’er-do-well, alcoholic brother Felix try to work off a gambling debt.

I really enjoyed Ellen and Jonah’s relationship. There was sexual tension and witty banter, and they started to care about each other right away. They didn’t play games. Ellen helped Jonah through his issues with his father, all the while gaining more and more confidence in herself.

I very much enjoyed watching Ellen become more confident and assertive – especially because I’ve always wanted to be more so myself. Unfortunately, Ellen took a step backward toward the end of the book, however, and started to feel selfish and that wanting more for herself was wrong. While author McComas was likely trying to point out that one person’s actions have effects on others (and to have Ellen realize that her life really wasn’t so bad), having Ellen feel so guilty knocked down whatever progress Ellen had already made.

This book was a perfect, light story that I really enjoyed right up until the end, when Ellen’s guilt over changing herself cast a pall over the entire read. I still recommend this book, but not as highly as I would have otherwise.