Romance with a perfect blend of light mystery and strong female representation.
An independent bookstore owner finds herself torn between two sexy, secretive men.
At 35, Zora Dizon can’t imagine anything lacking in her life. She’s a successful Black woman, owner of the indie bookstore Opus Northeast, and she lives in Maryland with her best friend, Emma, and her sassy Granny Marion. With a slew of author events up her sleeve and dreams of duplicating her store throughout the D.C. area, Zora has no room in her busy schedule for a man, despite Granny’s insistence on having great-grandbabies. The only guy Zora would dedicate her time to is her author crush, Lawrence Michaels. Lawrence is the brains behind a bestselling mystery series and even has a few film adaptations in the works, so Zora is amazed when he agrees to do a reading at her store. At the event, Zora meets Lawrence’s best friend, high school teacher Reid Hughes, as he grumbles to himself throughout the Q&A. Zora is shocked by Reid’s rude behavior, but she can't help but be charmed by his friend. Lawrence is bold and charismatic, if not a little egotistical—and she agrees to go on a date with him. But when Lawrence bails on an event at Reid’s school and suggests Zora give a speech in his stead, she can’t help but notice how good Reid smells or how attractive he is when he talks about writing. When Zora starts seeing both men, she can’t decide between the smooth charmer or the down-to-earth intellectual, although both men shut down whenever she mentions Lawrence’s mystery series. Zora knows she can get to the bottom of whatever they’re concealing, but will she lose them both in the process? McCoy’s romance is genuine and sexy, and Zora’s drive for honesty makes her a relatable heroine. The two handsome leads are not the true scene-stealers of McCoy’s novel, though—that’s Granny Marion, whose suggestive quips and sage advice will keep you hooked till the last page.
Romance with a perfect blend of light mystery and strong female representation.Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 9780778333524
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
A wonderfully cozy and warm romance in a cold, snowy setting.
Opposites attract when meteorologists are forced to work together during a massive snowstorm.
Local television news reporter Delilah Stewart is beloved in Baltimore for her sunny personality whether she’s delivering the forecast or doing a feature at the aquarium while wearing a turtle costume. Radio weather and traffic reporter Jackson Clark is not so keen on her; she’s silly and chaotic (and always does a terrible parking job in their shared lot), whereas he likes to have plans and structure for everything in his life. When a major snowstorm is predicted, their bosses decide the pair should report together from the mountains several hours outside the city where the storm will hit first. They soon realize they have more in common than expected, and Delilah even helps calm Jackson’s anxiety and bring out his fun side. Attraction grows, and the cozy, snowy lodge is the perfect place for secret kisses. But when they return home to family drama and busy work schedules, it becomes more complicated to find their way back to each other. Bubbly, good-natured Delilah is an absolute gem of a character; she’s unapologetically full of warmth and kindness, but there’s more to her beneath her smile. Parts of her life are messy, sad, and difficult, yet she chooses to put her best foot forward even when self-doubt creeps in. Lovable Jackson has his own share of hardships in life, and when the couple become vulnerable and open up to each other, their mutual support and care is tender and beautiful. Conflict comes more from outside factors (some that feel underdeveloped) than from their relationship, but their personal growth feels well-earned, while humor and spice are deftly woven into this charming tale.
A wonderfully cozy and warm romance in a cold, snowy setting.Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
ISBN: 9780593953143
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
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
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