Borison (Business Casual) enchants in this delightful contemporary that pairs a burned-out radio host and a luckless-in-love single mother. Mechanic Lucie Stone’s precocious 12-year-old, Maya, decides that her mother is lonely and calls Baltimore radio host Aiden Valentine’s dating advice show, Heartstrings, hoping to find her a date. After Maya passes the phone to a blindsided Lucie, she and Aiden have a frank on-air discussion about love that immediately goes viral, leading to a radio cohosting gig for Lucie. Soon, half of the eastern seaboard is rooting for Lucie to find her happily ever after, with many of the show’s callers trying to set her up. After a few disastrous dates, however, Lucie begins to understand that the love she seeks may be right in front of her. Lucie and Aiden are perfectly imperfect together and will have eager readers rooting for their romance. Quirky supporting characters—especially Lucie’s dramatic ex-husband, Grayson, and his new husband, Mateo—add depth, while Borison’s skillful plotting keeps the pages flying. This first-rate tale will resonate with true romantics. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 12/06/2024 | Details & Permalink

For this homey queer romance, Reid (the Game Changer series) sends retired Toronto pro hockey star Adam Sheppard to Nova Scotia to attend his former teammate Riley Tuck’s father’s funeral—but his real purpose is to “fix” Riley’s broken heart. Seventeen years ago, when they were roommates and lovers, closeted Adam made it clear that “he’d never feel the same way as Riley did.” Now divorced from his wife and out as gay to his friends and family, Adam hopes to win back the one who got away. As Adam works his way back into Riley’s life by helping out at the sporting goods store Riley inherited, Riley invites Adam to stay with him. The guys grow closer, taking another shot at romance and hoping that “maybe this time it could be wonderful, instead of devastating.” Reid peppers her hopeful story with cozy scenes, such as a trip to a farmer’s market and dinner with Riley’s queer friends. These moments show Adam becoming more comfortable with being gay and finding the courage to come out publicly. Even more swoon inducing is the work Adam puts in to mending the hurt he caused Riley in the past. These two are sure to win fans. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 12/06/2024 | Details & Permalink

Bestseller Cast (the House of Night series) kicks off the Towerfall series with this expertly genre-blended romantasy. Chicago marketer Hannah is trapped in a loveless relationship and on an—admittedly stalled—“self-help journey” when she stumbles upon a tarot shop and decides to venture in. A bizarre encounter with the fortune teller working there leaves her rattled—and soon thereafter she’s transported by a tarot card to the fantasy world of Towerfall, which is governed by figures from the major arcana. There she meets alpha male protector Kane, whose help she needs to survive the machinations of the Tower and the Empress—and hopefully get home in one piece. Cast’s sumptuously detailed worldbuilding combines themes from the tarot deck with elements of Regency romance, striking a perfect balance between fantasy and love story. The heroine makes some frustrating and unmotivated decisions and hero Kane’s grizzled warrior shtick can be a bit much. Still, their chemistry is spicy and intense, and a cliffhanger ending will leave readers eager for more. It’s a promising start. (Jan.)

Reviewed on 11/22/2024 | Details & Permalink

Four demons walk into a bar to kick off this spicy and irreverent paranormal romance from Ascher (Sanctuary of the Shadow), the first in the Hell Bent series. Prince of hell Asmodeus, Ash to his friends, has been cursed for millennia not to see color, taste food, or feel emotion. The only pleasure left to him is music. Then he and his brothers go on a jaunt to the human realm, where he meets a woman who breaks through that curse. Aspiring musician Evangeline “Eva” Gregory lives a sweet, simple life. She works at a jazz bar to pay the bills and spends her free time with her cat, her boy-crazy best friend, and the grand piano that came with her apartment. But Ash awakens a passion in her she didn’t know she was capable of. The pair enter a sizzling relationship, with Ash able to experience sensation again in Eva’s presence, albeit only for short bursts. Unfortunately, he and his fellow demons are on the run from hell, and if he stays too long at Eva’s side, it will put her in danger. The fast-paced plot is complemented by quirky characters and passionate references to the jazz greats both protagonists adore. Readers will eagerly anticipate the next verse in Ascher’s series. Agent: Brent Taylor, Triada US. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 12/06/2024 | Details & Permalink

At the start of this whimsical rom-com from Ballard (Right on Cue), workaholic heroine Campbell “Cam” Andrews comes across as irredeemable. She’s late and horrifically rude to her blind date with pediatrician Ben Loving, insisting she knows they aren’t compatible and she’d rather just answer work emails for an hour while they sit and eat in silence. This ruthless professionalism is how she made partner at her law firm by 34—but at what cost? The next day, Cam is shocked to magically awaken in the picturesque town of Heart Springs, a locale straight out of a Hallmark movie, right down to the friendly but meddling neighbors. The waitress from her blind date is there to inform her of the three tasks she must complete to return home: find a career she has a passion for, become a valuable member of the community, and experience true love. Thankfully, it turns out that Ben is there to help her achieve these goals. It’s a clever riff on the classic small-town romance aesthetic and, though it takes a bit too long, it’s gratifying to watch Cam grow into a better person. Readers willing to stick with her through her transformation will be rewarded. Agent: Kimberly Whalen, Whalen Agency. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 12/06/2024 | Details & Permalink

Caffery (Olympic Enemies) delivers a mild, motorsport-themed enemies-to-lovers romance. Champion racecar driver Kian Walker gets the bad news that his teammate is out for the season—and the worse news that arrogant rookie Harper James will be subbing in. Kian dismisses Harper as “an absolute devil on the circuit... better known for his partying and seduction techniques than his skill on the track,” but Kian is Harper’s hero, and he can’t wait to race with him. Their dynamic gets off to a prickly, banter-filled start as Harper enjoys needling stick-in-the-mud Kian. After giving a disastrous joint interview to the press, the guys must undergo media training and try to get along. But it is only after Kian helps Harper through a bout of food poisoning that the teammates reach détente. Soon afterward, things get unexpectedly physical between them, leading both to realize that their “sexual chemistry thrives on... being competitive.” Unfortunately, Harper is a commitment-phobe and Kian is eyeing retirement, which may throw a wrench in their budding relationship. There’s not much drama here to get hearts racing, but it’s enjoyable enough to watch these two overcome their differences. This is a welcome addition to the growing subgenre of Formula 1 romance. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 12/06/2024 | Details & Permalink

Naymon makes a promising debut with this contemplative contemporary whose sensitively drawn characters express themselves through poetry. Feeling stifled by her advertising job, Leigh Simon is both delighted and nervous to upend her life by moving from Boston to the North Carolina mountains for an MFA program in poetry. The “Taylor Swift–enthusiast sorority-girl Ohioan” doesn’t fit her own preconceived notions of what a serious poet might look like, but her high school crush–turned–fellow graduate student Will Langford does. Leigh is torn between scorning his pretention and longing for his approval. As their rivalry intensifies, they each work to parse the meaning from every line the other writes—wondering which pieces are about them. Their forced proximity necessitates more trust, and they slowly open up about what drove them apart after high school and help each other cope with complicated family lives. Naymon keeps the poetry accessible, and it’s a lot of fun reading between the lines to understand the protagonists’ true feelings. Second-chance romance fans will find this hits the spot. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 12/06/2024 | Details & Permalink

This humorous but far-fetched second-chance romance from Hameroff (Till There Was You) finds self-proclaimed “job-hopping flake” Ali Rubin leaving a chef gig in New York City to try her hand as a wedding planner in Baltimore. Eager to prove she’s no longer the impulsive college student who got a matching tattoo with a charming one-night stand during her study abroad in London, she hopes to wow both her family and her new boss with her plans for the wedding of the scion of the renowned Black-Eyed Susan hotel. Ali is stunned when she runs into her British fling, Graham Wyler, at her favorite café in Baltimore. Despite immediately rekindled sparks, Graham is oddly hesitant to flirt, confusing Ali—until she discovers that his grandfather owns the Black-Eyed Susan and he’s the groom in the wedding she’s designing. It’s a marriage of convenience as a favor to a friend, but that doesn’t stop Ali from feeling betrayed. Though the romantic tension between the leads is sweltering, their path to a happy ending is beset by melodrama, culminating in a grand romantic gesture that feels unearned, especially in the face of Ali’s earlier proclamation that grand gestures don’t equal true love. The comic banter and plentiful pop culture references keep the pages turning, but the love story falls flat. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 12/06/2024 | Details & Permalink

Former frenemies agree to a friends-with-benefits arrangement in Williams’s high-drama third Peachtree Cove contemporary (after Waiting for Friday Night). Since Peachtree Cove, Ga., won a best small-town award, business at Tracey Thompson’s bed and breakfast has been booming. Though the hype boosted her bottom line, Tracey prefers to stay under the radar, having grown up as the talk of the town due to her parents’ many scandals. But when her husband cheats with and impregnates Tracey’s assistant, she’s pulled back into the rumor mill. To make matters worse, it’s Brian Nelson, Tracey’s judgmental high school frenemy and current flower supplier, who uncovers the affair and breaks the news. Tracey’s friends encourage her to prioritize herself while waiting for the divorce to be finalized, so she looks for a lover—and she’s shocked when Brian volunteers, hoping to explore his long-held crush. Then Brian’s ex-wife returns, claiming her child is his, and Tracey finds herself facing yet another scandal. Is her budding romance with Brian worth the risk? Williams ramps up the familial drama, adding tension to the heartwarming romance, and Brian’s gentleness postdivorce is especially endearing. Series fans will be pleased. Agent: Tricia Skinner, Foreword Literary. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 12/06/2024 | Details & Permalink

Transporting readers to a gaslamp world, Burgis (the Regency Dragons series) unfurls an enchanting fantasy rom-com. After the sorceress Saskia overthrows her murderous uncle and usurps the throne of Kitvaria, she’s viewed by her people as a terrifying witch. She’s really just trying to protect them, however, especially as her kingdom teeters on the brink of war with a neighboring empire. She would much rather concoct powerful new spells in her laboratory than deal with court politics. When dark wizard Fabian shows up on her doorstep, she assumes he’s come to fill a vacancy in the castle’s messy magical library and hires him without a thought. But Fabian is no mere librarian: he’s the very archduke who’s supposedly trying to invade Saskia’s land. Fabian himself is on the run from his traitorous father-in-law and was hoping to find asylum in the much-feared kingdom of Kitvaria. As mutual attraction simmers between the two heads of state, Fabian’s disguise wears thin, but revealing his true identity may very well start a war. Burgis keeps the pages flying while impressively balancing political intrigue, slow-burning romance, and comic relief. Readers will be enchanted. Agent: Molly Ker Hawn, Bent Agency. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 11/29/2024 | Details & Permalink