No Ordinary Christmas

Calhoune (Hiding in Alaska) serves up a charming Christmastime story of small-town society and second chances in her Mistletoe, Maine, series launch. Lobster-loving librarian Lucy Marshall is happy in her hometown—but when the town’s famous son, who also happens to be her ex-boyfriend, returns to film his latest movie, her equilibrium is knocked askew. Dante West has found international success as an action hero, but he’s always felt guilty about how he left town—and who he left behind—eight and a half years earlier. He forges a tentative truce with Lucy by donating to the library and using it as a shooting location. Seeing each other every day on set, feelings reignite—until a misunderstanding lands Dante in the hot seat and threatens to derail their rekindled romance. Calhoune’s pitch-perfect hero and heroine will have readers rooting for a happily-ever-after, and endearing secondary characters—especially Lucy’s younger sister, Tess, and Dante’s mother, Mimi—add appealing depth. Given Calhoune’s storytelling skill and snappy dialogue, readers will be thrilled with the promise of visiting Mistletoe for many books to come. Agent: Jessica Alvarez, BookEnds Literary. (Oct.)