cover image Next Exit Home

Next Exit Home

Dena Blake. Bold Strokes, $18.95 trade paper (312p) ISBN 978-1-63555-727-5

Blake (Kiss Me Every Day) delivers a by-the-numbers lesbian romance. Harper Sims was thrilled to leave her hometown and focus on her veterinary practice in Denver following her mother’s death. But when her father has a heart attack, she heads back to Blueridge, Colo., to help out at his vet clinic while he recovers. The last thing she expects is to run into her childhood crush, Addison, who now works at the clinic as an assistant. Harper and Addison have been avoiding each other since an unexpected kiss at Harper’s 16th birthday party, before Addison had come to terms with her sexuality. Now Addison has grown up and accepted herself, but she’s still not out to her friends from high school. Despite initially butting heads, Harper and Addison’s feelings reignite as they work together, and Harper helps Addison study for her online classes after hours. But Harper isn’t sure how Addison’s life in Blueridge will fit with hers in Denver, and she doesn’t want to be with someone who’s still in the closet. Despite some cute moments, the couple lacks chemistry, which leaves the story feeling flat. The result is a well-constructed but lackluster romance. (Mar.)