It Started with a Kiss

Adair (Chasing I Do) launches a series with this cozy romance combining mountain adventures and medical complications. Avery Adams vowed “to live out loud” after her kidney transplant, but her new job as coordinator at Sequoia Lake Lodge keeps her away from real thrills. With an eye on becoming an actual guide, she finds joy in fulfilling wishes for sick friends. She shakes up her quiet life when she impulsively kisses a stranger—who turns out to be Tyson Donovan, the long-absent son of her boss. He’s returned to Sequoia Lake, Calif., to discover that his father’s been having memory problems and the lodge is in disrepair. Tyson puts aside the lingering rift over his brother’s death and tries to save the family business. Adair successfully blends in various health dramas without letting them overpower everything else. Her characters shine, especially Avery, who exhibits total competence and clearheaded drive at every turn. The few real road bumps for Tyson and Avery’s relationship appear very late, but the plot surrounding the lodge’s future keep readers engaged. This promising start suggests strong possibilities for future tales of the residents of the Sierras resort town. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Feb.)