Jeremiah

Legal secretary Collin Galloway’s first encounters with paramedic Jeremiah Stewart are anything but sexy, but they’re drawn to each other anyway in Ellis’s heartwarming contemporary debut, the first in the High Rise series. The two meet by chance when Jeremiah offers to help escort home Collin’s intoxicated best friends, Lizzie and Ryan, after a night out. They continue to run into each other, first when Jeremiah takes Ryan to the hospital after a minor fireworks accident at a Fourth of July party, and later at a café. Though the chemistry between Collin and Jeremiah is instant, they both struggle with whether the time is right for starting a relationship, as they grapple with changes in their personal and professional lives. They grow closer when Lizzie volunteers Collin to help Jeremiah with his job hunt, and closer still when Ryan and Lizzie pull away from Collin, leaving Collin to rely on Jeremiah for support. Refreshingly realistic conflict and an engaging cast bolster the story as the heroes’ growing love for each other pushes them toward making positive changes in their lives. Romance readers will eagerly devour this upbeat contemporary and look forward to Ellis’s next. (Jan.)