First Bride to Fall

Despite an unbelievable premise, the first Majestic Maine romance from bestseller Baird (The Matchmaker Bride) amuses with banter and constant one-upmanship from its hastily matched central couple. Nell Delaney and her two sisters happily work at their parents’ failing coffee shop in their touristy hometown. Upon discovering that their mother has brokered a business deal sealed with an arranged marriage between one of her daughters and a family frenemy who stole a piece of their business and turned it into a global conglomerate, Nell and her sisters each vow to marry elsewhere quickly. Nell’s had her eye on adventure guide Grant Williams since high school and this pact finally gives her the gumption to join one of his hikes and try to catch his attention. Grant falls fast, particularly after foul weather and injury forces the pair to spend time together. But upon discovering Nell’s calculated quest for marriage, Grant vows to make her call off their relationship first, setting up comical (and cringy) camping and cooking disasters as he does his best to make himself seem unappealing. Baird loads the story with classic romance tropes—including a mad dash through an airport—and over-the-top humor. Readers craving some summery escapism will be pleased. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyons Literary. (July)