Do Me a Favor

A grieving woman finds love in this cozy small-town romance from Yardley (Role Playing). Cookbook ghostwriter Willa Lieu-Endicott is still picking up the pieces after her husband’s recent death when she inherits her great-aunt’s house in Marre Island, Wash. It seems like a good place for a fresh start, but adjusting to single life is challenging. When her handsome neighbor Hudson Clark comes over looking for his lost dog one stormy night, Willa is surprised to feel a spark. Handyman Hudson, a divorced father of adult twins, has long struggled with insecurities about his townie status, having never left the island. Willa hires him to restore her aunt’s house, and Hudson ends up also helping her develop recipes for her new assignment: writing a sex-themed cookbook for a hunky influencer. With each day spent together, it becomes increasingly impossible to deny their attraction, but to move forward with their relationship they must first let go of the past. Yardley’s characters are complex and dynamic, making it easy to root for Willa and Hudson to take the leap of faith toward love. Fans of slow-burn romances and the lovers from different worlds trope will find plenty to enjoy. Agent: Tricia Skinner, Fuse Literary. (July)