A straitlaced veterinarian and a carefree kid’s party entertainer fall in love while attempting to thwart family matchmaking attempts in this lighthearted rom-com from Young (A Cosmic Kind of Love). Raised by hippies, gig worker Star Shine Meadows is a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants kind of gal. She makes no long-term commitments in her personal or professional life, unlike Rafe Whitman, the driven, handsome vet she meets while playing a princess at a birthday party. Buttoned-up Rafe is Star’s total opposite, but when he offers to pay her a huge amount to play his fake girlfriend and get his domineering mother and sister-in-law to stop setting him up on horrible dates, she agrees. Soon, fake dating turns into real love, and Rafe’s acceptance of Star’s quirks persuades the commitment-phobe to give a relationship a shot. Problems arise when Rafe’s wealthy family object to Star’s lifestyle (unbeknownst to Rafe) and she makes changes to appease them, confusing Rafe and driving a wedge between her and her friends. Will the desires of others destroy what Star and Rafe could have? Young’s take on the fake dating trope is sexy and charmingly unpretentious. This is sure to leave readers smiling. Agent: Lauren Abramo, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 06/09/2023 | Details & Permalink

Ray (Recipe for Love) delivers a fun but slightly underdeveloped contemporary that’s as focused on female friendship as it is on romance. Thirty-something Dylan is expecting a Christmas proposal from her longtime partner, Ace, when he dumps her instead. Devastated and dreading her reentry into the dating scene, Dylan relies on monthly brunch dates with her (equally single) best friends, Brook and Ivy, to keep her sane. During one such get-together, as they share romantic advice and bottomless mimosas, an idea forms: instead of relying on dating apps, the friends will start a “referral program,” taking turns setting each other up with different men in their lives. The ensuing quest for Mr. Right comes replete with comedic mishaps and personal growth as each woman learns about herself in the process. It’s a cute premise, but unfortunately the plot moves slowly, and though the dynamic between the women is endearing, romance readers will be disappointed that none of the romantic relationships feel as fleshed out. It’s not perfect, but Ray’s fans will still want to check this out. Agent: Sara Camilli, Sara Camilli Agency. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 06/09/2023 | Details & Permalink

Williams (the Heart and Soul series) launches her Peachtree Cove series with a pitch-perfect small-town romance focused on forgiveness, second chances, and new beginnings. Successful big-city obstetrician Imani Kemp has no desire to return to Peachtree Cove, Ga., where, as a child, she witnessed her father’s mistress shoot her mother, Linda (who survived). In the aftermath, the small-town gossip mill put Imani and Linda, now divorced, through the wringer. Then Linda, who still lives in Peachtree Cove, announces she’s getting married in a month to a man she just met, and Imani reluctantly returns home, determined to stop the wedding. She’s prepared to face her demons—but she’s unprepared for the attraction she feels to her soon-to-be stepbrother, bartender Cyril Dash. Peachtree Cove has been a haven for Cyril and his widowed father, Preston, in the years since Cyril’s mother’s murder. Cyril has also witnessed firsthand how happy Linda and Preston make each other, so as Imani works to split them up, he works to keep them together. Along the way, their mutual attraction grows into an emotional connection they cannot deny. It’s a joy to watch Imani’s walls fall down, and readers will swoon over sensitive Cyril. The older couple are equally endearing, and the charm of Peachtree Cove only enhances the proceedings. Readers will eagerly look forward to revisiting this quaint community. Agent: Tricia Skinner, Fuse Literary. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 06/09/2023 | Details & Permalink

In Buursma’s diverting second Magical Bookshop romance (after Rose Through Time), a time traveler helps a queer war veteran deal with his past. In 1815, William Chambers returns to England from the Napoleonic Wars both physically and emotionally scarred after the death of his lover, fellow soldier James. He receives a cryptic letter from his best friend, John Easton, asking William to travel to his country estate. John and his wife from the future, Rose, explain that they have found another time traveler, Austin Miller, who needs assistance finding his way back to his present. William agrees to help, burying his attraction to Austin despite encouraging hints as Austin slowly opens up about his painful childhood. After a hunting trip triggers William’s PTSD, Austin convinces William to visit James’s father for some closure. As William and Austin draw closer, however, William’s odious former military commander arrives and attempts to blackmail William over his sexuality. There’s plenty of drama and intrigue afoot, though the time-travel element feels minimized; and since the story is told entirely from William’s perspective, it’s hard to know exactly how Austin feels about navigating the Regency world. Buursma makes good use of Regency social conventions, however, to raise the stakes on the men’s forbidden love. Fans of queer period romances will find much to enjoy. (Self-published)

Reviewed on 06/09/2023 | Details & Permalink

A talented artist and a very proper police inspector team up in the appealing latest Victorian romance from Anderson (Isabelle and Alexander). In 1857 Manchester, England, artist Rosanna Hawkins, a young woman ahead of her time, earns a decent living painting reproductions of fine art for Manchester’s elite. Her latest project is reproducing The Manchester Madonna, an unfinished painting by Michelangelo, the original of which graces the walls of the city’s Art Treasures Exhibition. Inspector Martin Harrison, who’s in charge of the exhibit’s security, quickly becomes enthralled with Rosanna and asks her to attend the exhibition with him on the day of Queen Victoria’s visit. Problems arise, however, when that morning Martin discovers that someone has broken into the exhibition hall and replaced many priceless artworks with Rosanna’s replicas. Though Martin initially believes her to be involved in the thefts—and even has her arrested—Rosanna’s able to convince him of her innocence, offering to work with him to apprehend the true thief. The ensuing romantic escapades of this unlikely duo will keep readers eagerly turning pages. It’s a chaste yet undeniably alluring romance. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 06/09/2023 | Details & Permalink

With this cleverly constructed romance, James (Nothing but the Truth) puts a fresh spin on the concept of a time loop. The night after a handsome stranger kisses Gemma Peters at her best friend’s birthday party, Gemma wakes up to suspect that she’s reliving the previous day. She dismisses the feeling as déjà vu—until she collides with the same handsome stranger at a coffee shop, triggering even more flashes of memory. He introduces himself as Jack and claims the two of them have been trapped in a daylong time loop for a while. Though he remembers every iteration, this is the first time Gemma’s recalled anything about the previous go-rounds. He also has a theory about how they can break free: they must fall in love by the end of the day. Despite Gemma’s incredulity, she develops feelings for Jack as their paths keep crossing and he proves to understand her on a deep level. Meanwhile, she’s challenged to break out of her routine, let go of assumptions about her life, and even confront her estranged father. The focus is more on Gemma’s personal growth than the budding relationship, but Jack and Gemma still make a satisfying couple. This is a cute romp. Agent: Melissa Edwards, Stonesong. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 06/09/2023 | Details & Permalink

The latest charming rom-com from Jaovsky (You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince) adds a mystical twist. Twenty-three-year-old Nolan Baker dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian. At his sister’s wedding, funded by Doop, the cultish wellness brand she works for, he gets a call that could be his big break—but only if he abandons the wedding and gets to the comedy club. He chooses his career over family, leaving everyone outraged at him—especially his best friend turned wedding date, Drew Techler, who had just confessed his feelings when Nolan took off. Reeling, Nolan wishes on the crystals in his Doop goody bag to become “successful, happy, and universally loved”—and wakes up the next morning at 30 with no memory of the intervening years that formed him into a famous albeit mean-spirited comedian. Freaked out, he seeks out Drew, now running a mystery-themed bookstore, who reluctantly agrees to help Nolan get back to his own time. A domineering manager and the looming filming of a Netflix special test Nolan’s efforts to make amends—until a family crisis forces him to choose his career or his loved ones once again. Janovsky has as sure a touch with classic romance tropes as ever, and it’s a joy to watch his flawed hero grow. Readers will be charmed. Agent: Keven O’Conner, O’Conner Literary. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 06/09/2023 | Details & Permalink

Bestselling YA author Carter (the Gallagher Girls series) serves up an irresistible cocktail of danger and passion in her un-put-downable adult debut. A woman wakes up on an icy Paris sidewalk with no memory of who she is and bad guys closing in. According to her enemies, she’s a rogue CIA operative named Alex who stole a critical flash drive from a Russian mobster and now she’s on the run for her life. Run she does—right into the arms of sexy spy Jake Sawyer, who rescues her from her myriad pursuers and informs her that she’s really Alex’s innocent identical twin sister, Zoe. With a Russian gangster and a shady CIA agent hot on their heels, Sawyer and Zoe must jump on and off trains, boats, and bridges to stay alive—and locate the real Alex. Carter ratchets up the danger—and the sexual tension—at every turn, throwing plenty of red herrings across the trail and keeping readers guessing who to trust. Zoe’s sense of humor in the face of danger adds levity, and readers will fall hard for gallant Sawyer. Carter also expertly teases a sequel about Alex, whetting appetites for the next installment. This snappy and suspenseful romance fires on all cylinders. Agent: Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 06/09/2023 | Details & Permalink

James’s clever debut puts a magical twist on the hardships of modern dating. Amy Daniels has a strange ability: upon her first kiss with anyone, she has a prophetic vision of how their relationship will end. She’s always relied on this gift as a guide in her dating life, but with each vision of future heartbreak, she loses hope she’ll ever get a happy ending. She finds comfort in her four supportive high school friends: Charlotte, siblings May and Jay, and Gareth. At Charlotte’s wedding, May challenges Amy to search for her soulmate by kissing three men—and for once, she sees a vision of bliss. There’s just one problem: she’s drunk, and the next day she can’t remember exactly who she kissed or which of the three is “the one.” Is it Tristan, the sensual millionaire with a dark side? Or Ben, the sexy and empathetic young bartender/aspiring screenwriter? What about the third man, whom Amy can’t quite remember? As Amy’s friends band together to help her solve the mystery, James captures the giddiness of new love and the comfort of true friendship. This is a delight. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 06/09/2023 | Details & Permalink

Strong (Husband Auditions) returns to her Love Off Script series with a spirited romance featuring an aspiring screenwriter and the straitlaced cop she’s using for character inspiration. Gemma Bennett first met Karson Zellner when a mix-up brought the police to her apartment and Karson was the first through the door. The two next run into each other when Gemma and her roommates register for the police department’s Citizen’s Safety Academy to do research for their various film projects. Once class gets underway, chaos ensues: during the fingerprinting lesson, it becomes apparent that there’s a warrant out for Gemma’s arrest (it’s actually for her identical twin), and she disrupts a K-9 search with food stashed in her purse. Karson writes Gemma off as flighty and unserious but soon realizes there’s more to the plucky screenwriter than meets the eye, and an awkward infatuation blossoms between them, then turns into something more. Karson’s past gets in the way, however, and the two must trust in God’s providence as they search for a way to be together. Strong’s quirky, delightfully flawed characters charm, and the “opposites attract” conceit swiftly propels the narrative from one comedic mishap to the next. It’s ideal for fans of Pepper Basham and Denise Hunter. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 06/02/2023 | Details & Permalink