Close to You

Debut novelist Isaac sets her comic romance in her native New Zealand, where the filming of the blockbuster Lord of the Rings fantasy trilogy has spawned a small tourism industry. Tour guide Allison Shire is a Tolkien specialist with a Ph.D. from Cambridge and an odious husband, Derek, to whom she is bound until a court can resolve the conundrum of Derek’s bigamy. In Allison’s latest tour group is Jackson Gregory, an entrepreneur whose company went bust when his girlfriend made off with proprietary secrets, and who is now assisting his wealthy great-uncle Louis, a Tolkien fanatic, in hopes of attracting new investors, despite Jackson’s ignorance of all things hobbit. It’s a terrific setup, and Isaac unrolls the tangle of interests smoothly, giving readers two strong and flawed romantic protagonists. As the two come to acknowledge their attraction, their pas de deux is uneven, with some complications and adversities (how many injuries can a romantic hero sustain?) stretching belief. Isaac showcases a strong romantic sensibility and clever plotting in this tale of love on the set. Agent: Chip MacGregor, MacGregor Literary Agency. (Apr.)