It Had to Be Him

There’s something eminently satisfying about the bad-girl-makes-good story at the heart of Baumann’s contemporary romance debut, which is set in the small, insular hamlet of Anderson Butte, Colo. Meg Anderson is the mayor’s youngest child and has always been known as a troublemaker. Whenever a prank was pulled or a cow was tipped, all roads led back to Meg, much to her father’s dismay. After several years in Denver, 28-year-old Meg returns to prove herself, two-year-old daughter in tow. Josh Granger broke Meg’s heart when he walked out on her shortly before their daughter was born. Now that he’s finished a stint working undercover for the FBI, he’s desperate to get back together with Meg, but she may have other ideas. With the perfect balance of lighthearted humor and true emotion, the story flows through a variety of unexpected twists and turns, culminating in a splendidly crafted moment of imperfect but meaningful redemption. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. (Apr.)