Something Wild & Wonderful

This appealing contemporary romance from Kelly (Love & Other Disasters) has Alexei Lebedev meeting Ben Caravalho while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Sheltered Alexei came to the PCT to find a “new version of himself” after his conservative parents cut him out of their lives for coming out as gay. Out and proud Ben develops a growing attraction to “Lex” as their paths keep crossing—including in one memorable scene when the men curl up in a tent together while an animal howls outside. Their relationship becomes definitively romantic when they head into town for a real dinner—and share a real bed—but both fear their fling may only last the length of the trek. When Ben asks Lex to pause his journey and come home to Nashville with him for some family celebrations, Lex reluctantly agrees. The trip is beneficial to both—until Ben gets an irresistible job offer that derails both his plan to complete the PCT and his budding love with Lex. The leisurely pace and heartfelt bond between the guys makes for pleasant, swoony reading. Kelly should win some new fans with this one. Agent: Kim Lionetti, Bookends Literary. (Feb.)