Someone to Hold: Westcott, Book 2

Balogh follows Someone to Love, in which orphaned Anna Snow discovered she was an earl’s daughter and an heiress, with the deeply emotional riches-to-rags tale of Anna’s half-sister, Camille Westcott, whose loss of status was Anna’s gain. At first Camille was devastated to learn that her father had not legally married her mother, making her an illegitimate commoner. Now living in Bath with her grandmother and younger sister, Camille decides to quit moping and take a teaching job at the orphanage where Anna grew up. Her attempts to deal maturely with her reversal of fortune are frustrated by the presence of Joel Cunningham, the orphanage art teacher. Sparks of temper and romance fly between them, but Joel struggles to squash his feelings for his friend Anna and give Camille a fair chance. When old flames and old hurts reappear, both Joel and Camille must decide between safety and courage. Balogh exhibits a fine understanding of how unmet expectations, painful father issues, and identity struggles can both restrain a person and lead to liberation. This Regency romance dives deeper than most and will satisfy fans and new readers alike. Agent: Maria Carvainis, Maria Carvainis Agency. (Feb.)