Redeemed by His New York Cinderella

James (The Sweetest Charade) pairs an entitled ad man and an earnest philanthropist in this fast-paced romance set in the glittery New York City charity scene-but fails to, as the title suggests, redeem the insufferable hero. Laurence James Stone's politician parents fostered Kitty Asare for a brief period in high school as a publicity stunt. Ten years later, Kitty, who's gone on to create a foundation that helps children transition from the foster system into adult life, and ad exec Laurence reconnect at a posh fund-raiser and sparks fly. He proposes a mutually beneficial arrangement: he'll give her access to deep-pocketed donors in return for her playing the role of his girlfriend to improve his clients' view of him. Very soon, it's no longer a role. But after Kitty refuses an extravagant gift from Laurence, his cruel side emerges and damages their relationship. Kitty's dedication to making a difference for at-risk youth makes her a heroine readers will root for. Laurence, by contrast, is an exceptionally difficult character to warm to and his casual cruelty to Kitty after a misunderstanding will turn readers off from their relationship. James successfully conjures the luxe atmosphere of Laurence's world, but the fancy trappings can't make up for disrespect. This is one to skip. (Oct.)