A charming opposites-attract tale for fans of romance tropes.
A young woman has 30 days to find true love or she will be forced to enter a passionless marriage of convenience.
Baird’s novel opens as Nell Delaney and her two sisters learn that their family coffee business and cafe are in dire straits. Their mother has brokered a deal with a rival business partner’s wife, Jane Strong. The agreement stipulates that if one of the sisters marries Jane’s son, the Delaneys will be able to retain ownership of the cafe rather than forfeiting it to the Strong family. Though Nell is generally eager to help her family, sacrificing her romantic future to a business arrangement seems too extreme. Nell and her sisters decide that if any of them should land a fiance within 30 days, that lucky woman will be exempt from the arranged marriage. Nell has been eyeing Grant Williams for a long time, and this is the push she needs to pursue him (“Grant was the only man she wanted. He seemed kind and intelligent and accomplished”). Unfortunately, the two have little in common, starting with Grant’s love of the outdoors and Nell’s decidedly indoor lifestyle. As she pretends to adore hiking and camping, Nell falls victim to one humorous disaster after another. Even so, she and Grant begin to grow closer, and her hopes rise that he may be the one. When Grant inadvertently learns about the sisters’ deal, it seems the relationship may be doomed. As readers wait to see whether Nell and Grant can make it work, the clock continues ticking on the sisters’ pact, keeping suspense high. Chock-full of delightful moments of outdoor adventures and interpersonal connections, the story feels like a light romp through small-town America. Although the initial setup of a mother advocating for an arranged marriage feels outdated and unrealistic, it allows for an entertaining tale to unfold. Similarly, the connection between Nell and Grant seems to develop too quickly and without any real substance to support their enjoyment of each other, but they are both likable characters who will endear themselves to readers with their different quirks. Punchy dialogue, flirty banter, forced proximity, mixed signals, and misunderstandings make for a formulaic but successful romance as the story races to its conclusion.
A charming opposites-attract tale for fans of romance tropes.Pub Date: June 28, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-64937-210-9
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.
A recently dumped librarian finds herself fake dating her polar opposite.
When Daphne Vincent’s fiance, Peter, dumps her, she’s shocked—but the worst part is that he’s leaving her for his gorgeous best friend, Petra, the woman he’d always told Daphne not to worry about. Now Daphne has to move out of Peter’s home and restart her life in the small Michigan town where she’d moved to be with him. Salvation comes in the form of Miles Nowak, Petra’s ex—he has a tiny spare room in his apartment, and he understands what it’s like to wallow in heartbreak. Daphne feels lucky to have her dream job as a children’s librarian, but other than that, she feels adrift and friendless in Waning Bay—and then she and Miles get invitations to Peter and Petra’s wedding. In a momentary lapse of judgment, Daphne not only says she’ll attend the wedding, but tells Peter she’s dating Miles. It would be the perfect way to show Peter and Petra that they’ve moved on…if only it were true. In the grand tradition of fake-dating romances, Daphne and Miles pretend to be in love, getting to know each other while having various adventures and misadventures. Daphne quickly learns that although she’d dismissed Miles as a pothead with a lack of direction, he’s actually a good time—and a loyal friend. But Daphne knows she needs to get out of Waning Bay, so this fake relationship can’t lead anywhere…can it? Reliable bestseller Henry has written another surefire hit that manages to be dramatic, sexy, and fun. Miles and Daphne have chemistry that leaps off the page, and their will-they-or-won’t-they energy propels the story to its satisfying conclusion. Daphne is an immensely likable character, one whose past realistically informs her current relationships. The world of Waning Bay is charmingly quirky, and Daphne’s co-workers at the library are endearing. As always, Henry’s biggest strength is the sharp, often hilarious dialogue that makes the story a joy to read.
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.Pub Date: April 23, 2024
ISBN: 9780593441282
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
PERSPECTIVES
BOOK TO SCREEN
SEEN & HEARD
A charming dual-timeline romance about learning from past mistakes.
In Yarros’ latest romance novel, a young woman hires a handsome but infuriating writer to complete her late great-grandmother’s half-finished book.
After her marriage to a Hollywood producer ends in high-profile divorce, 28-year-old Georgia Stanton returns to her childhood home in Colorado. When she arrives at the house where she was raised by her great-grandma—the famous romance author Scarlett Stanton—she finds her mother, Ava, lying in wait. Georgia is in possession of the only unfinished manuscript that her deceased relative left behind, and her own mom wants her to sell the rights so they can get some cash. Georgia succumbs to the pressure and enters a deal in which another author will finish the book’s second half. The manuscript tells Scarlett’s life story, including how she found, and lost, her one true love. Georgia feels strongly that the finished novel must reflect the true events of Scarlett’s life, as difficult as they may have been. Unfortunately, the publishers hire Noah Harrison, a stubborn writer at the height of his career, who has his own fictional vision for the novel’s ending. As Noah and Georgia butt heads, each of them researches Scarlett’s history in England during World War II. As they learn more about Scarlett and Jameson Stanton, the fighter pilot she loved, Georgia and Noah must navigate their own increasingly complicated relationship. With two equally engrossing storylines, this book will draw in even seasoned romance readers. As the story jumps between past and present, the author also alternates present-day perspectives between Georgia and Noah, moving deftly between her characters’ distinct voices. The relationships are well developed, and the love that Scarlett felt for Jameson is especially palpable. Along with the sweetly romantic themes, the book explores several heftier topics, including personal ambition, grief, family discord, and self-esteem. The story has a few digressions that do little to advance the plot, but the main characters are sufficiently engrossing that readers will want to stick with them to the end.
A charming dual-timeline romance about learning from past mistakes.Pub Date: Feb. 23, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-68281-566-3
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK TO SCREEN
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