Stay with Me

In this solid spin-off from her Monroes series, Bennett (Lost in You) revisits the small town of Haven, Ga. Corporate climber Olivia Daniels returns from Atlanta to sell her childhood home and her estranged father’s business, a local airport. She’s stymied by sexy pilot Jax Morgan, her father’s loyal protégé and devoted single dad of adorable four-year-old Piper. Jax intends to continue his mentor’s legacy and refuses to sell his half of the airport. When Olivia’s girlfriends suggest a joint business venture refurbishing the airport, the two opponents seek common ground; however, the sparks flying between them prove distracting. Supporting characters provide strong friendships and amusing subplots, including Jax’s sheriff friend giving Olivia’s lawyer friend a speeding ticket that leads to testy flirtation. Bennett’s repeated restating of her protagonists’ priorities (her promotion, his daughter) and their apparently irreconcilable conflict (“Livie was wanting to go one way, and he wanted to go another”) slows the narrative’s pace, but the convincing chemistry between the lovers builds to playful, humorous sex scenes and touching domestic moments. Readers will hope for Bennett to continue telling Haven’s love stories. Agent: Elaine Spencer, Knight Agency. (Apr.)