With Love from Wish & Co

Darke (The Lost Love Song) charms with this multigenerational love story underpinned by an exploration of the joys, challenges, and complexity of gift giving. When boutique gift shop owner Marnie Fairchild accidentally mixes up two presents she’s picked out on behalf of her best client, Brian Charlesworth, for his wife and mistress, respectively, the mistake has catastrophic consequences for both Brian’s family and Marnie’s bottom line. Brian’s adult son, Luke, is crushed to discovers that Marnie was the real genius behind his father’s spot-on gifts to his family these past few years. He confronts her, accusing her of “emotional fraud” and spurring Marnie to reevaluate the ethics of selecting gifts on behalf of clients, especially when it enables infidelity. When the teenage daughter Luke never knew he had reaches out to him, however, he needs Marnie’s help to make a meaningful connection, setting the two on a path to romance. But what happens when their budding relationship threatens to derail Marnie’s quest to salvage her business and save Brian’s marriage? Darke moves seamlessly among multiple points of view, justifying the leisurely pace with lovely prose, a meaty plot, and fleshed out characterization. Readers will have no trouble rooting for these flawed but lovable characters to learn, thrive, and find love. [em](Aug.) [/em]