The Virgin’s Guide to Misbehaving

Elise Markham has always been a wallflower. Now that she’s mostly recovered from scoliosis and had the “port-wine” birthmark lasered off her face, she decides she’s tired of life passing her by, but it’s hard to shake her shyness. Finally she gets the courage to proposition Rome Lozada, the sexy bad boy of tiny Bluebonnet, Tex. Rome knows he’s not good enough for Elise, but he can’t resist when she asks him for some “life experience.” While much of the action takes place between the sheets, Rome also emotionally supports Elise when her confidence flags, and respects her boundaries when she hesitates. Elise’s hang-ups about her appearance are endearing at first, but Clare harps on them a little too much. On paper, Rome is also no prize, but he’s focused on reforming himself—a refreshing change from the rough romance hero who needs a woman’s love to tame him—and readers will share Elise’s inability to resist his mix of toughness and vulnerability. (June)