Begin Again

Having lost her husband and child in a tornado, smalltown waitress Maisie Scott tends to avoid personal connections. But when veterinarian Ryan Tucker, new to his practice and to Pleasant Valley, Ind., sits at her counter to enjoy apple pie, Maisie%E2%80%98s heart skips a beat. Ryan has reservations about starting a new relationship after his fianc%C3%A9 left him, but sees something special in Maisie and determines to gently woo her. In a scant 100 pages, Maisie overcomes her fear of commitment by adopting several animals, going to bed with Ryan, and buying a house, while Ryan deals with possibly having fathered his ex-fianc%C3%A9's son and caring for his injured best friend. Newton (Stolen Hearts) keeps the story moving at such a brisk pace that despite experiencing character-building life dramas, Ryan and Maisie seem more like sketches than real people. Like cotton candy, this story is sweet but offers little substance. (Aug. 2013)