Love by the Book

Inspirational fiction author James (Love on a Dime) returns to offer her love-struck fans another romance, this one featuring the pampered Melinda Hollister and her deceased sister's dashing brother-in-law, the bachelor Nick Bryson. Melinda is rather spoiled and fun-loving, while Nick is overly somber and serious. The two have nothing in common except for a grand devotion to their orphaned niece, three-year-old Nell. As co-guardians, the two must find a way to overcome their disagreements for the sake of Nell; overcome they do, by agreeing to marry for the sake of convenience. That's not exactly the happy ending either of them envisions, as scheming relatives and money problems threaten their union from the start. James does a tidy job of writing characters who are believable and whose circumstances are plausible; her growing fan base won't be disappointed, even if there isn't a great deal of depth in the story itself. (July)