Yours to keep

The feel-good second Man of the Year romance (after Yours in Scandal) turns from politics to the world of professional sports and transports readers to picturesque upstate New York, a departure from Layne's typical portraits of the sparkling New York City elite. This time, only the hero, major league baseball player Carter Ramsey, is well-off. When an injury benches Carter for the season, he heads to his sedate childhood hometown of Haven to recuperate in peace. His plan to stay under the radar proves impossible as his neighbor and former high school lab partner, Olive Dunn, decides to help him get settled, dragging him back into the community. Olive is attracted to Carter, but due to her deep-seated insecurities about her large, athletic body she's resigned to just being friends. But as they work out, practice softball, and plan their high school reunion together, feelings ignite on both sides. Layne throws very few external obstacles in the way of their relationship, which readers will appreciate because Olive and Carter are so obviously peas in a pod. This is a fun, easy romance. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, the Seymour Agency. (Sept.)