Ten Good Reasons

Sparks are ignited when workaholic marketing guru Lia McCabe persuades grieving world-sailor Evan Bentacourt to captain his ailing estranged brother Drew's catamaran during Sandy Cove, Calif.'s whale-watching season. Lia has Drew's interests at heart, but she's also committed to taking important clients out on the boat in hopes of satisfying her demanding boss. Lia's life is further complicated by her commitments to be in three upcoming wedding parties, with the attendant need for the right pairs of shoes, when she barely has time for her cat or her absentee boyfriend. Christopher (The Red Bikini) deftly incorporates serious matters, such as a natural tragedy and the deaths of Evan's first wife and their son, without veering into maudlin waters. Readers will cheer for reserved Evan and overwhelmed Lia to make themselves vulnerable to one another, and will wholeheartedly believe in their romance. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency (Apr.)