A romance with a scattered but charming plot and lovable characters.
Romance blossoms in surprising places in this novel, which follows a divorced woman who returns to her hometown.
Even though Cassie Linden’s home in New York City isn’t that far from her childhood house in Connecticut, she hasn’t been back to see her father in a while. Between her job as a lawyer and the disintegration of her marriage, Cassie’s been too preoccupied to realize that her dad’s been slipping mentally. As soon as she walks back into his house, though, “the nagging fear of dementia trailed her from room to room.” Since Cassie’s mother died of Alzheimer’s, even the slightest sign of forgetfulness sends her into a panic, so she’s quick to move back in temporarily, start organizing his house, and tend to his beloved bee hives. Enter professional beekeeper Glenn Marsden, whose impressive knowledge of the fuzzy insects and fit physique immediately stir Cassie’s admiration. It’s been eight years since Glenn’s wife walked out on him and their little girl, leaving the beekeeper to navigate life as a single father. Cassie is the first person in a long time to set his heart buzzing, but the timing couldn’t be worse; his ex has suddenly reappeared in town. Meanwhile, in addition to worries about her elderly father, Cassie has her own roadblocks to romance. Her son was suspended from college, and an unrelenting real estate developer is plotting to turn Cassie’s family home into a soulless housing tract. Avellar’s novel can start to feel like Cassie and Glenn are simply checking things off a laundry list of obstacles to their inevitable relationship (with very abrupt tonal shifts; some are deadly serious and others rather lighthearted). Still, while the storyline is a little diffuse, it’s hard not to fall for both Cassie and Glenn. Avellar excels at making her two leads both charming and relatable—thanks, in part, to her well-crafted dialogue that conveys both their bumbling beginnings and simmering passion. (The various family dynamics are also smartly observed.) Avellar’s subtle story of bees, illness, and suburban real estate may not continually sizzle, but her keen characterizations may just sweep readers off their feet anyway.
A romance with a scattered but charming plot and lovable characters.Pub Date: Dec. 30, 2025
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 326
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A thoughtful and pensive tale with intelligent characters and a satisfying romance.
A promise to his best friend leads an Army serviceman to a family in need and a chance at true love in this novel.
Beckett Gentry is surprised when his Army buddy Ryan MacKenzie gives him a letter from Ryan’s sister, Ella. Abandoned by his mother, Beckett grew up in a series of foster homes. He is wary of attachments until he reads Ella’s letter. A single mother, Ella lives with her twins, Maisie and Colt, at Solitude, the resort she operates in Telluride, Colorado. They begin a correspondence, although Beckett can only identify himself by his call sign, Chaos. After Ryan’s death during a mission, Beckett travels to Telluride as his friend had requested. He bonds with the twins while falling deeply in love with Ella. Reluctant to reveal details of Ryan’s death and risk causing her pain, Beckett declines to disclose to Ella that he is Chaos. Maisie needs treatment for neuroblastoma, and Beckett formally adopts the twins as a sign of his commitment to support Ella and her children. He and Ella pursue a romance, but when an insurance investigator questions the adoption, Beckett is faced with revealing the truth about the letters and Ryan’s death, risking losing the family he loves. Yarros’ (Wilder, 2016, etc.) novel is a deeply felt and emotionally nuanced contemporary romance bolstered by well-drawn characters and strong, confident storytelling. Beckett and Ella are sympathetic protagonists whose past experiences leave them cautious when it comes to love. Beckett never knew the security of a stable home life. Ella impulsively married her high school boyfriend, but the marriage ended when he discovered she was pregnant. The author is especially adept at developing the characters through subtle but significant details, like Beckett’s aversion to swearing. Beckett and Ella’s romance unfolds slowly in chapters that alternate between their first-person viewpoints. The letters they exchanged are pivotal to their connection, and almost every chapter opens with one. Yarros’ writing is crisp and sharp, with passages that are poetic without being florid. For example, in a letter to Beckett, Ella writes of motherhood: “But I’m not the center of their universe. I’m more like their gravity.” While the love story is the book’s focus, the subplot involving Maisie’s illness is equally well-developed, and the link between Beckett and the twins is heartfelt and sincere.
A thoughtful and pensive tale with intelligent characters and a satisfying romance.Pub Date: Feb. 26, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-64063-533-3
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Review Posted Online: Jan. 2, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019
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
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