A major overhaul would be needed for this rerelease to appeal to modern romance readers.
A tech executive finds herself involved in high-stakes geopolitical espionage—and involved with a newly crowned king—in this rereleased novel by Abrams writing as Montgomery.
Sparks fly when A.J. Grayson meets Damon Toca at her cousin Adam’s wedding; she wonders if she’ll ever see the cryptic art gallerist again, and holds onto the suit jacket he left behind at the reception. When Damon ascends to the throne of Jafir, a fictional island nation that’s proving pivotal in negotiations for a peace deal between the African-Arab Alliance and Israel, A.J. wonders how much of the intense flirtation they shared was real. When she finds out that Adam and his bride, Raleigh, are spies working with an extra-governmental group called the International Security Agency, her sense of betrayal skyrockets. Now, the ISA needs help from A.J., who’s the creator of an artificial intelligence algorithm that only she knows how to use. The upcoming peace talks would make the perfect target for terrorists wanting to maintain instability in the Middle East, and A.J.’s technology could be the key to preparing for a variety of disastrous scenarios. All they need is for A.J. to travel to Jafir and act as a consultant for six weeks, which would reunite her with Damon and put her in several types of danger. This novel was originally published in 2002 and it feels outdated in several ways, AI aside. “Fiery heroine meets domineering hero” was very much the trend in early 2000s romances, but watching Damon dole out barbed insults toward A.J., invade her personal space, and apologize with physical affection doesn’t play well anymore. Needless to say, the situation in the Middle East has also changed dramatically since the novel was written. Formerly out of print, this romantic thriller might have the ability to reach a new audience for Montgomery, but there’s a reason many romance fans look fondly at their books from this era but opt not to revisit them.
A major overhaul would be needed for this rerelease to appeal to modern romance readers.Pub Date: Jan. 21, 2025
ISBN: 9780593439456
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
A charming love story that absolutely radiates warmth.
A single mom winds up fake dating an incredibly wealthy man in her hometown.
Dolly Brick is back in her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island, for the summer to help her dad and disabled brother manage their house and family business. As a 39-year-old single mother with multiple jobs—which now include working at the Brick Fish House—Dolly is always busy. When her mom left their family years ago, Dolly took over caring for her siblings and father and never really stopped. When she runs into Stewart Whitfield after making a shrimp delivery to his family’s mansion, she doesn’t think they could be more different. She’s had to figure out how to do everything by herself, and he can’t even change a tire. That’s why Stewart’s proposal that she pretend to be his girlfriend feels so unbelievable—but it comes with a hefty check that she desperately needs for home repairs. So she becomes the fake girlfriend of Stewart Whitfield (as in, the Whitfields her town is named after; his real fiancée just dumped him and it’s a bad time for him to be single) and experiences what it’s like to walk into fancy buildings through the front door instead of the service entrance. More than the boats and helicopter and expensive dinners, though, Dolly is impressed by what a kind man Stewart is—and how it feels to let someone else take care of her for a change. Soon, their relationship starts to feel more real than fake. Monaghan creates an impossibly winning story with a charming, lovable heroine. Dolly is capable, hardworking, and will do anything for the people she loves. She and Stewart both possess real flaws, and while their relationship begins with one of the most beloved rom-com tropes, their challenges feel like realistic adult obstacles rather than easily solved miscommunications. It’s also refreshing that, even though Dolly must learn to allow other people to help her, she never views her caretaking responsibilities as burdens. She deeply loves her family, and that love carries through the entire story.
A charming love story that absolutely radiates warmth.Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9780593853979
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
SEEN & HEARD
A powerfully strong romance for readers who like their love stories full of torment and passion.
Best friends confront feelings for each other when they take a honeymoon trip together.
Francesca Gardiner and George Saint James have always been best friends—just like Jo and Laurie from Little Women, which they both love. Frankie has a big, complicated family and George was the boy next door who’d moved in with his eccentric grandmother. Their friendship survived childhood, awkward teenage years, and living together as young adults without ever venturing into the romantic—well, except for one kiss, but they don’t talk about that. When Frankie gets engaged to an older professor named Nate, George isn’t happy and a huge fight ensues. Despite his misgivings, George shows up to be her best man, but Nate leaves Frankie right before the wedding with only a cryptic letter. Devastated, Frankie goes to a friend’s house to recuperate, but her honeymoon is already planned and paid for—so she decides to travel to Tofino, a picturesque town on the coast of Vancouver Island, with George taking Nate’s place. Frankie wants to fix her friendship with George, but now that they’re in a romantic suite in a beautiful location, things are more complicated than ever. She’d always thought a relationship would be a bad idea, but she’s slowly beginning to realize they’ll never be able to go back to being kids. Maybe the only way forward involves forging a new kind of relationship. Fortune, the author of romances like This Summer Will Be Different (2024), returns with another love story full of longing and intense angst. The many allusions to Little Women are charming, and Frankie is a delightfully headstrong, feisty character. She and George have explosive chemistry, and Fortune manages to make the “will-they-or-won’t-they” nature of their relationship feel like life-or-death stakes.
A powerfully strong romance for readers who like their love stories full of torment and passion.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
ISBN: 9780593953242
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026
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