Win Me Over

Readers who like their small-town romance sweet and hot, with a flavor of Friday Night Lights, will enjoy Michaels's second Hearts and Crafts contemporary (after Start Me Up). Former pageant champion Callie Daniels has a successful bakery and a new gig as the high school dance instructor in small suburban Preston, Mo. When the principal asks her to dance with the football coach, ex-NFL player Bennett Clark, in a local dance competition, Callie assumes she'll have to "whip this old dude into shape." But handsome, athletic Bennett is anything but old-school. The last thing Bennett wants to do is dance, but the opportunity to win scholarships for his players%E2%80%94and to get close to Callie%E2%80%94changes his mind. While Michaels stereotypes her secondary characters, such as Callie's interfering mom and "almost manly" gay best friend (both with hearts of gold), she doesn't pigeonhole the leads. The physically powerful Bennett is vulnerable with his friends and nurturing towards his players, and Callie is no pushover. Their story is as much a treat as Callie's cupcakes. Agent: Sarah Younger, Nancy Yost Literary Agency. (Sept.)