Maybe This Once

The third and final installment of Sullivan’s Rock Bottom Love series (after Get Lost with You) is a return to form, providing big feelings and small-town comforts. A viral video of Charlie Ashford’s negative reaction to a shocking announcement from her famous mother costs her a counseling job at a prestigious wellness center known for its discretion. Seeking an escape from her unwanted notoriety, she leaves Los Angeles for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where she takes a room at the Get Lost Lodge and a job teaching at a local community college. As a confirmed city girl, Charlie is surprised how much she enjoys the slower pace of small-town life—and how much she likes Grayson Keller, Get Lost Lodge’s owner. For his part, Grayson is finally over his painful divorce and undeniably attracted to Charlie, but he knows she’s likely only visiting for one semester and doesn’t want to get too attached. The meddling of the extended Keller family soon pushes the two together, however. Series fans will enjoy checking in with favorite characters, and the story hits all the expected beats cleanly. It’s a solid finale. Agent: Frances Black, Literary Counsel. (Feb.)