Reclaiming Yancy

Debut author Marsden misses the mark with this angsty contemporary. Rancher Mary Anne “Yancy” Delaney is mourning her girlfriend, Trisha, who died of breast cancer. Unable to face another serious relationship, Yancy becomes the queen of one-night stands. Then Dr. Genevieve Lambert arrives to take the post of medical director at the rural Colorado clinic founded by Yancy’s family. At first, Gen is hesitant about getting involved with a womanizer, especially in a small town. But crackling chemistry between the two women leads to a passionate relationship that might just become a romance. Marsden’s basic premise is solid, but the book’s characterizations—of Yancy, Gen, and the supporting characters, including Yancy’s best friend, Roxie, and her mother, Nina—fall flat. There are several hints that Yancy might have very serious health issues, but the payoff is minimal, making the frequent foreshadowing feel unfair to the reader. The tender ending will tug at readers’ heartstrings, but it doesn’t make up for the novel’s flaws. (Mar.)