For Butter or Worse

Bitter rivals discover a sizzling connection in this sparkling romance from La Rosa (The Big Redhead Book). Perfectionist Nina Lyon, a gourmet chef and cooking game show host, has a reputation to recover after her cohost, charming but impulsive restaurateur Leo O’Donnell, calls her “Nasty Nina” on air. Though they can barely tolerate each other, the pair have a symbiotic relationship: their bickering keeps viewers engaged and Nina uses Leo to balance out her public perception, while Leo uses Nina to elevate his chain Italian restaurants. But when Leo accidentally addresses Nina by her unsavory nickname again during a live taping, she furiously quits on the spot—and both of their businesses immediately plunge into chaos. Scrambling, Nina’s publicist pitches a fake relationship with Leo as a mutually beneficial solution that will unite their warring fans and save their restaurants. Nina and Leo reluctantly agree, and what begins as a business decision deepens into something unexpected. La Rosa expertly lays the foundation for their romance, allowing readers to see the good in each character separately before they learn to see it in each other. Witty and lighthearted, with plenty of tender moments to keep readers invested, this work gets the enemies-to-lovers trope right. Agent: Jessica Errera, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (July)