Sail Away with Me

In Fox’s capable third Blue Moon Harbor romance (after Come Home with Me), two appealing people work together to overcome obstacles that have blocked their past romantic relationships. Iris Yakimura works in her family’s bookstore on Destiny Island, near Vancouver, and has never had a real boyfriend. She yearns for an opportunity to fall in love and have a family, but is too shy to approach anyone. When she meets strikingly handsome Julian Blake, a successful musician who fled from the island and rarely returns, she hides her fantasies and does not anticipate anything but casual friendship. Iris is unaware that Julian is also vulnerable and has a secret that has haunted him since his teen years. Julian finds it easy to confide in quiet Iris, and with her help, he learns to acknowledge his past trauma and move forward with his life. Fox handles the serious issue of child sexual abuse with sympathy and candor. The tender romance that develops between the composed Iris and the mercurial Julian, and the piquancy of the small-town setting, help to balance the story’s deep shadows. Readers who don’t mind their romances with a side of heavy conversation will find this a satisfyingly well-rounded offering. Agent: Emily Sylvan Kim, Prospect. (Oct.)