Breaking His Rules

The hero of this captivating and charming contemporary romance, blond Brit Ashton Lyle, is a self-described playboy who uses a list of 10 rules to keep hookups from turning into romantic relationships. All of that goes out the window after he encounters Terra Ellis at a Detroit restaurant. When he comes up behind Terra, a street-smart black woman who grew up in a tough Detroit neighborhood, to ask her for her phone number, her fighting instincts kick in and she breaks his nose. Naturally, they’re inseparable after that. She also tries to keep things casual, mentioning neither that she owns a popular bar (Ashton thinks she’s a waitress there) nor that her awful ex, Marcus, keeps badgering her for money; but when Marcus does something unthinkable, Terra and Ashton realize they can’t let their pasts ruin their present. Mann blends comedic elements and tight emotional drama with the delicate developing romance. Readers who get past the clunky opening will find this a solid and enjoyable story. Agent: Sara Megibow, Megibow Literary. (Apr.)