Making Waves: Beach Lane, Book 1

Moore’s charming contemporary, which launches the Beach Lane series, follows two unlikely lovers along the road from ambition and lust to romance and marriage amid a whirl of wealth and luxury. Dakota Hale makes up for her awful mother’s chaotic, privileged life by being the excessively responsible and dependable owner of Premier Service, a concierge service for wealthy New Yorkers with Long Island beach houses. Dakota has everything under control—until she’s swept into an affair with her newest client, handsome businessman Max Carr. They split up after a couple of months, but when Dakota discovers she’s pregnant, the odd couple reconnect and decide to marry. Their unexpected decision is greeted with malicious gossip and family and business awkwardness, and they also have to sort out their own feelings. The posh setting is vivid and the pace is deliberate. This plot-driven story of independent lovers determined to resist drama and societal expectations will resonate with romance readers, especially those who are also fans of reality television. Agent: Emily Sylvan Kim, Prospect Agency. (May)