Romantic Hero

A touch of interdimensional magic sets the stage for this fun and heartfelt rom-rom from Greenwood (The Love of My After Life). London-based romance novelist Gertie Bickerstaff is too brokenhearted after her boyfriend leaves her to finish writing the final book in her Bedlam Creek Ranch series, which is due to her publisher in two weeks. Crying in her bathtub isn’t helping, but the unexpected appearance in the real world of the sexy villain of her series, swaggering cowboy River Oakley, just might. Even more surprising, he’s not the bad guy Gertie has painted him as, just an overworked rancher who hasn’t gotten to tell his side of the story. He’s eager to get back to his own reality and thinks the way to do so is by helping Gertie find love, so he volunteers to help her win back her ex by making him jealous. Before long, Gertie, River, and Gertie’s neighbor’s scene-stealing dog, Squish, become close collaborators, and the chemistry blossoms. It’s undeniably diverting to watch River get to know London and compare his world to Gertie’s as she reevaluates what makes a good romantic hero. Witty, winkingly meta, and wonderfully told, this is sure to entertain. (June)