Thoroughly entertaining and witty, with a nicely judged mix of genres.
Two secret agents must pretend they’re married while investigating strange phenomena in this second installment of a paranormal romance series.
In Bishop Takes Knight (2019), Henrietta “Rhett” Bishop began work at New York City–based Redclaw Security—not, as she thought, a detective agency but one devoted to protecting shape-shifters. The agency also tracks down powerful, dangerous artifacts possessing technology that is too advanced for 1955, and maybe of extraterrestrial origin. Rhett and Dr. Peter Knight, a brilliant British scientist, are the only non–shape-shifting staff members and also share a romantic attraction (plus one “toe-curling kiss”). Now, the budding relationship has stalled. This puts the two in an uncomfortable position when they’re assigned to pose as a married couple, the better to investigate odd, possibly artifact-related occurrences (including UFO sightings and a death from spontaneous combustion) in deepest suburbia. The case does give Rhett a shot at redemption, and she has a few cards up her sleeve, such as a devoted shape-shifting dog/velociraptor. As Rhett and Peter investigate housewives, neighborhood kids, golfers, backyard barbecuers, and other suburban denizens, they’re also stalked by a thief who’s after their gizmos; meanwhile, their mutual ardor grows. One way or another, there will be fireworks. Dean again cleverly combines SF, a detective story, and romance in a way that works on all levels. Rhett is an engaging narrator; she’s brave, adventurous, and caring, with a strong sense of humor: “The neighborhood scene was idyllic. I didn’t trust it one bit.” She’s a good match for Peter, whose genius with engaging, quirky gadgets matches her investigative zeal. The mystery keeps surprises in store, providing an unexpected and satisfying resolution. The novel does have a few anachronisms (“I’m about to make Rian Stirling an offer for my services he can’t refuse”) but not enough to diminish readers’ enjoyment.
Thoroughly entertaining and witty, with a nicely judged mix of genres.Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2021
ISBN: 979-8-69-194795-7
Page Count: 303
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A heartfelt look at taking second chances, in life and in love.
Two struggling authors spend the summer writing and falling in love in a quaint beach town.
January Andrews has just arrived in the small town of North Bear Shores with some serious baggage. Her father has been dead for a year, but she still hasn’t come to terms with what she found out at his funeral—he had been cheating on her mother for years. January plans to spend the summer cleaning out and selling the house her father and “That Woman” lived in together. But she’s also a down-on-her-luck author facing writer’s block, and she no longer believes in the happily-ever-after she’s made the benchmark of her work. Her steadily dwindling bank account, though, is a daily reminder that she must sell her next book, and fast. Serendipitously, she discovers that her new next-door neighbor is Augustus Everett, the darling of the literary fiction set and her former college rival/crush. Gus also happens to be struggling with his next book (and some serious trauma that unfolds throughout the novel). Though the two get off to a rocky start, they soon make a bet: Gus will try to write a romance novel, and January will attempt “bleak literary fiction.” They spend the summer teaching each other the art of their own genres—January takes Gus on a romantic outing to the local carnival; Gus takes January to the burned-down remains of a former cult—and they both process their own grief, loss, and trauma through this experiment. There are more than enough steamy scenes to sustain the slow-burn romance, and smart commentary on the placement and purpose of “women’s fiction” joins with crucial conversations about mental health to add multiple intriguing layers to the plot.
A heartfelt look at taking second chances, in life and in love.Pub Date: May 19, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-9848-0673-4
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Jove/Penguin
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2020
BOOK TO SCREEN
PERSPECTIVES
A warm and winning "When Harry Met Sally…" update that hits all the perfect notes.
A travel writer has one last shot at reconnecting with the best friend she just might be in love with.
Poppy and Alex couldn't be more different. She loves wearing bright colors while he prefers khakis and a T-shirt. She likes just about everything while he’s a bit more discerning. And yet, their opposites-attract friendship works because they love each other…in a totally platonic way. Probably. Even though they have their own separate lives (Poppy lives in New York City and is a travel writer with a popular Instagram account; Alex is a high school teacher in their tiny Ohio hometown), they still manage to get together each summer for one fabulous vacation. They grow closer every year, but Poppy doesn’t let herself linger on her feelings for Alex—she doesn’t want to ruin their friendship or the way she can be fully herself with him. They continue to date other people, even bringing their serious partners on their summer vacations…but then, after a falling-out, they stop speaking. When Poppy finds herself facing a serious bout of ennui, unhappy with her glamorous job and the life she’s been dreaming of forever, she thinks back to the last time she was truly happy: her last vacation with Alex. And so, though they haven’t spoken in two years, she asks him to take another vacation with her. She’s determined to bridge the gap that’s formed between them and become best friends again, but to do that, she’ll have to be honest with Alex—and herself—about her true feelings. In chapters that jump around in time, Henry shows readers the progression (and dissolution) of Poppy and Alex’s friendship. Their slow-burn love story hits on beloved romance tropes (such as there unexpectedly being only one bed on the reconciliation trip Poppy plans) while still feeling entirely fresh. Henry’s biggest strength is in the sparkling, often laugh-out-loud-funny dialogue, particularly the banter-filled conversations between Poppy and Alex. But there’s depth to the story, too—Poppy’s feeling of dissatisfaction with a life that should be making her happy as well as her unresolved feelings toward the difficult parts of her childhood make her a sympathetic and relatable character. The end result is a story that pays homage to classic romantic comedies while having a point of view all its own.
A warm and winning "When Harry Met Sally…" update that hits all the perfect notes.Pub Date: May 11, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-9848-0675-8
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
PERSPECTIVES
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
