Seduced by Sunday

Bybee hits the mark in the sixth installment of the Weekday Brides series (after Taken by Tuesday), providing readers with a smart, sophisticated romance between a spirited heroine and a prim hero. Val Masini runs an “überprivate” Florida resort. Sassy Meg Rosenthal arrives there with a “date,” celebrity Michael Wolfe. Meg’s show of affection for Michael puts a damper on Val’s instant attraction to her; little does he know that Michael is gay and Meg is merely there to provide cover. Soon, casual encounters heighten the sexual tension between Meg and Val, but after they share a delicious kiss, someone blackmails them with photos of the tryst, threatening to show that Meg and Michael aren’t really together and feed rumors about Michael’s sexuality as well as undermining the resort’s no-photos reputation. Bybee whisks the lovers to Italy and then back to Florida before separating them. Though the many twists and turns sometimes overwhelm the romance, Bybee always comes back to the passionate and intelligent characters at the heart of this entertaining read. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel and Goderich Literary Management. (Apr.)