cover image A Wedding in Apple Grove

A Wedding in Apple Grove

C.H. Admirand. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $6.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-1-4022-6899-1

Admirand’s small-town series launch lacks conflict but more than makes up for it with raw charm. Fiery redhead Meg Mulcahy needs to let go of her stale hopes for a future with errant pro football player Jimmy Van Orden and open her eyes to the appeal of Dan Eagan, because it’s obvious that the prettiest handywoman in Apple Gove, Ohio, and its new high school phys ed teacher are meant to be. Obvious, that is, to everyone but them. Neither can see anything beyond their own emotional baggage: Dan’s faithless ex makes him reluctant to trust, and Meg stubbornly clings to that on-again, mostly off-again thing with Jimmy. Lucky for them, the town meddlers keep pushing them together. This one is not so much a nail-biter as one to read while the pedicure dries. Agent: Eric Ruben, Eric W. Ruben. (Nov.)