In Her Boots

Dell’Antonia (The Chicken Sisters) returns with a lively tale involving a famous globe-trotting author’s struggle to save her inheritance. Rhett Smith, 40, whose book The Modern Pioneer Girl’s Guide to Life has inspired hordes of women to travel alone, leaves Argentina and the wreckage of a breakup to take over the family farm in Bowford, N.H., after her grandmother’s death. On the way, Rhett stops in New York City to see her best friend, Jasmine, and do an interview on the Today Show. At the studio, she’s surprised to sees her 20-years-estranged mother, Margaret Pearl Gallagher, as a fellow guest. Panicked, she switches places with Jasmine. When Rhett and Jasmine arrive at the farm, keeping up the charade, Margaret is there, too, and explains she owns half of the farm and plans to sell it to the local college. Rhett’s dream of revitalizing the property into a modern working farm depends on whether she can buy her mother’s half, but an accident scuttles her loan. Meanwhile, Rhett reconnects with a former boyfriend and reflects on her complicated relationship with Margaret. Dell’Antonia offers an affecting take on damaged relationships, while keeping things light with descriptions of spunky farm animals and the quirks of rural life. The author’s fans will love this. Agent: Caryn Karmatz Rudy, DeFiore & Co. (July)