Captive Hearts (Hearts on Fire #2)

Connolly evokes the spirit of early category romances with this short, sweet second Hearts on Fire contemporary (after Racing Hearts). The Woodward, a once-fine London hotel, is Scarlett Woodward’s heritage. Unfazed by its current state of disrepair, Scarlett has big plans for her beloved hotel’s renovation, but her carefully laid plans soon lie in ruins when the kitchen microwave short circuits, creating a devastating electrical fire. Fortunately, further damage is prevented by quick-thinking salesman Evan Cooper, a handsome guest who arrives unexpectedly for a weekend stay—and steals Scarlett’s heart. But Evan has a secret. He is really Ethan Black, CEO of the Noir Group, who plans to acquire the Woodward and turn it into a boutique hotel. What better way to research the property than to go undercover as a guest? What Ethan hasn’t bargained for is his immediate attraction to the hotel’s beautiful owner. Family drama and an unplanned pregnancy pile on the complications. This is fine old-school romance, with a feisty, smart, tough heroine and a vulnerable hero who’s willing to take risks for the woman he loves. (July)