Ruthless Rival

This addictive enemies-to-lovers romance from Shen (the Sinners of Saint series) kicks off with wealthy teen Arya Roth falling for Nicholai Ivanov, the son of her family’s housekeeper. When Arya’s father, Conrad, discovers their affair, he fires Nicholai’s mother and banishes Nicholai from Arya’s life. During their time apart, Nicholai reinvents himself as hotshot lawyer Christian Miller. Now he just needs one more splashy win to make partner at his firm, and coincidentally, the next case on his docket is a sexual harassment complaint against Conrad, presenting an opportunity for both advancement and revenge. Meanwhile, Arya, now a PR consultant, works to prove that her father is not the predator the world thinks he is. The estranged lovers are thrown back into each other’s orbit—except Arya doesn’t recognize Christian as Nicholai, and the battle line between them sparks an intense love/hate relationship. But what will happen when Arya discovers Christian’s true identity? Alternating between perspectives and timelines, the dramatic tale captures both characters’ intense emotions and undeniable chemistry. It’s sure to have readers hooked. Agent: Kimberly Brower, Brower Literary. (May)