BIG GIRL PANTIES

A trainer accidentally plays the role of Pygmalion when he transforms a client into a love interest.

The main thing for which people recognize witty, sparkly Holly Brennan is her need for more than one airline seat. Though she’s always been a little fuller figured, Holly has been eating to fill an emotional void since the recent medical diagnosis and subsequent death of her husband, Bruce. When she’s seated next to Logan Montgomery on a plane back home to Englewood, N.J., Holly imagines a silent ride alongside the handsome hunk. But before she knows it, the two are engaged in casual banter. Logan tells Holly about his personal training business and, breaking his usual rule of working only with athletes, suggests taking Holly on as a client. Holly takes to her training like an ugly duckling to water, transforming before Logan’s eyes. Much to their surprise, both Logan and Holly start to see the friendship as something more. Now Holly needs to figure out whether she’s more than just a project for Logan, and Logan has to determine if Holly will ever live up to the hard bodies he usually dates. Can these two put aside their fears long enough to face what’s right in front of them?

A good start by Evanovich, who presents both sides of the story in a romance with imperfect heroes.