New Orleans Rush

Art and magic mesmerize in this endearing romance by Siskind (Licks). Chicago transplant Beatrice “Bea” Baker walked out on her no-good boyfriend four days into what was supposed to be their grand adventure of moving to New Orleans. Now her signature optimism and artistic inspiration have deserted her. Homeless and suffering from a toxic combination of cold medicine and liquor in a local bar, Bea’s misery is momentarily forgotten when she hits on a new arrival who’s wearing a top hat and cape. Illusionist Huxley Marlow is immediately intrigued by her, and after Bea keys his beloved car (thinking it belongs to someone else), he hires her to work off the damages by becoming his assistant in the failing magic show he performs nightly with his two brothers, following in the footsteps of their father, a legendary magician. For nine years, Huxley has been trying unsuccessfully to live up to his dead father’s larger-than-life legacy, while Bea’s been doing her best to run away from her own past. As Huxley slowly turns into Bea’s knight in shining armor, she recovers her joy. Like Huxley, readers won’t be able to resist falling under Bea’s spell. Agents: Flavia Viotti and Hannah Ekren, Bookcase Literary. (Apr.)