Exceptional worldbuilding helps carry a romance needing a bit more heat.
A sheltered, pampered wolf Shifter finds herself falling for a fellow wolf at the bottom of the pack in this opposites-attract paranormal romance.
Julia Martel has lived her life in a bubble. She’s a wolf Shifter who has never shifted, suppressing that part of herself while living a life of luxury in Montreal. The men around her shower her with gifts to keep her compliant and far from the call of the wild. Her Shifter fiance Cassius Despres’ abusive desire to keep her in a gilded cage has stunted her growth as a wolf, leaving her mostly uninformed about pack life and politics. When he tricks her into attending a hunting party in upstate New York instead of the weekend in Manhattan she was expecting, Julia feels surprised and betrayed. Their prey: wolves. But the prey quickly overwhelm the hunting party, and Julia and Cassius are captured by the Great North Pack. Julia is put into the care of Arthur Graysson, the lowest wolf in the hierarchy and one with a dangerous nature he does his best to keep on a tight leash. The developing romance of Julia and Arthur is reminiscent of “Beauty and the Beast”: She’s refined and cultured, while his less sophisticated nature makes him feel like they’re from two very different worlds. It's a relationship in which each has something to learn from the other. Their interactions are a careful dance as Julia and Arthur poke and prod at each other’s vulnerabilities; the scenes of their sparring are the most rewarding in the book, though they’re often pulled up short of an emotional payoff. Vale continues her lyrical and elaborate exploration of the Pack community alongside yet another slow-burn romance—emphasis on slow this time.
Exceptional worldbuilding helps carry a romance needing a bit more heat.Pub Date: July 26, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-473-3
Page Count: 360
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.
A recently dumped librarian finds herself fake dating her polar opposite.
When Daphne Vincent’s fiance, Peter, dumps her, she’s shocked—but the worst part is that he’s leaving her for his gorgeous best friend, Petra, the woman he’d always told Daphne not to worry about. Now Daphne has to move out of Peter’s home and restart her life in the small Michigan town where she’d moved to be with him. Salvation comes in the form of Miles Nowak, Petra’s ex—he has a tiny spare room in his apartment, and he understands what it’s like to wallow in heartbreak. Daphne feels lucky to have her dream job as a children’s librarian, but other than that, she feels adrift and friendless in Waning Bay—and then she and Miles get invitations to Peter and Petra’s wedding. In a momentary lapse of judgment, Daphne not only says she’ll attend the wedding, but tells Peter she’s dating Miles. It would be the perfect way to show Peter and Petra that they’ve moved on…if only it were true. In the grand tradition of fake-dating romances, Daphne and Miles pretend to be in love, getting to know each other while having various adventures and misadventures. Daphne quickly learns that although she’d dismissed Miles as a pothead with a lack of direction, he’s actually a good time—and a loyal friend. But Daphne knows she needs to get out of Waning Bay, so this fake relationship can’t lead anywhere…can it? Reliable bestseller Henry has written another surefire hit that manages to be dramatic, sexy, and fun. Miles and Daphne have chemistry that leaps off the page, and their will-they-or-won’t-they energy propels the story to its satisfying conclusion. Daphne is an immensely likable character, one whose past realistically informs her current relationships. The world of Waning Bay is charmingly quirky, and Daphne’s co-workers at the library are endearing. As always, Henry’s biggest strength is the sharp, often hilarious dialogue that makes the story a joy to read.
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.Pub Date: April 23, 2024
ISBN: 9780593441282
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
PERSPECTIVES
BOOK TO SCREEN
SEEN & HEARD
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