Meet Eudora Welty, better known as Dora. Dora is 35 years old, single, unemployed, and living in L.A. Everything in her life has fallen apart, except for her love of books. When things get tough for her, she escapes into a book and lives in that world for days at a time. Dora's family and friends worry about her, but she insists she's happy. That is until she meets a handsome man who works in her local bookstore. She dreams about having the courage to talk to him.

Dora grew up with an alcoholic mother and an absent father. She sees herself turning into her mother between her drinking and her book escapism. This is the last thing Dora wants, so she decides to take control of her life. Dora confronts her fears and ghosts of her past. In the mean time, love falls into her heart without warning. But is it love, or just an intense literary connection?

Readers will love the numerous references to famous authors and books scattered throughout this novel. This book was a delightful read that I devoured on a rainy Saturday afternoon. I found myself relating to Dora's idea of complete bliss, doing nothing but reading for hours on end. Dora's story reads like a conversation with a close friend. At times readers will think Dora is a real person and your heart will go out to her.

The word bibliophile is used to describe someone obsessed with reading and collecting books. In this day and age, I feel people use this term to describe anyone who reads ''too much'' to their tastes. Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack defend the closet bibliophile and show there is no shame in being a complete bookworm.

Dora's character is intelligent, passionate, and insecure. She isn't running around town with hunky men driving BMW's. She's hiding out in her apartment with her books. Dora wants a man who shares her love of books and truly loves her with all his heart.

Will Dora find the perfect man or will she settle for less? Will Dora finally get her life together and survive living in L.A.? LITERACY AND LONGING IN L.A. is a delicious literary feast that all bibliophiles will be sure to enjoy.