A woman and a man who hated each other as high school students reconnect years later in Munton’s romance novel.

Olivia Knight becomes aroused massaging the back of a well-built man at her part-time spa gig in her hometown of Shell Grove, South Carolina. To her shock, he turns out to be Ben Crawford, “the person who had made her school days a living hell, and whom she had vowed to loathe for the rest of her days.” Olivia’s father ran off with Ben’s mother 12 years earlier, leaving the kids to endure the scandal. Ben left Shell Grove to join the Marines and has returned to become the town sheriff. Olivia is helping to run the local B&B co-owned by her aunt, Rita, and her father, who lives nearby but whom she has avoided since the scandal. Ben is also attracted to Olivia; when he temporarily moves into the B&B and the couple interact there, sparks ignite into flames. They engage in a hot sexual affair that both begin to realize has deeper meaning. Ben’s alcoholic father, who also still lives in town, reveals Ben’s involvement in the scandal, prompting a new estrangement and, ultimately, meaningful reconciliations. The narrative presents a compelling throughline of the couple’s intense physical connection, from their “walnut war” (pelting nuts at each other as teens) to encounters of mutual pleasure that include spanking and restraints as adults. Their psychological issues are also effectively presented, including Ben’s fear of turning out like his father and Olivia’s mental blocks against the past—as Ben observes, “you couldn’t see past your own pain long enough to realize that everything isn’t always so black and white.” This lively and sexy enemies-to-lovers tale is the second entry of a planned Shell Grove series.

A nuanced tale of mature love evolving out of teen trauma.

In this small town, two colleagues butt heads and hearts.

Mia Sparks loves Shell Grove, South Carolina, almost too much. She grew up there, has deep ties to the community, and found respite in her hometown after her divorce from her high school sweetheart. But Mia is restless; despite a college degree, she’s never had a career that sticks, and so far, her guest-relations position at The Sapphire, Shell Grove’s new resort, has involved fishing dead squirrels out of the pool. Enter sexy-as-sin Aiden Beaumont, with whom Mia has an eventful first meeting and can’t stop thinking about. The only problems? Aiden is Mia’s boss’s boss, and, as owner of The Sapphire, he’s public enemy No. 1 among the Shell Grove old guard, who are convinced a high-profile resort will ruin the simplicity of their beloved beach town. When Mia sees the potential in increased tourism and proposes creative solutions to get the entire town onboard, Aiden sees the potential in her—in both the boardroom and the bedroom. But for a small-town girl and a high-powered businessman, love can be complicated—even more so when a burgeoning new venture is also on the line. Can Mia and Aiden truly have it all? This is the first in the Shell Grove romance series from prolific author Munton, and there’s a lot of potential here. Quirky characters abound, from a trio of 60-something gossips who run the Southern Sisters Salon to Mia’s pals Maggie and Finn, best friends with romantic tension that everyone but them can sense. Shell Grove is a character in and of itself, with beautiful beach settings, Southern charm, and a clear sense of community. It’s no wonder businessmen like Aiden want to capitalize on the locale and why its loyal residents are so resistant to a big resort. Finally, Mia and Aiden have sizzling-hot chemistry, demonstrated many times over the course of the book, as well as their own believable personal and relationship obstacles to overcome.

Sweet and sexy; an ideal beach read.