Satisfaction guaranteed

Business and pleasure collide in various tantalizing ways in this touching and steamy rom-com from Stetz-Waters (Worth the Wait). Selena Mathis feels defeated after a traumatic experience in art school, until Ruth Elgin, the generous but flighty owner of a Portland, Ore., sex-toy shop focused on female pleasure, hires her and gives her a newfound sense of purpose. Meanwhile, Ruth's niece, the steadfast, practical Cade Elgin, manages her free-spirited family's famous New York art gallery. When Ruth dies, the two wildly different women meet at her funeral. Despite their instant attraction, the pair get off on the wrong foot--especially once they learn that Ruth left her struggling shop to both of them, giving them a month to save it from liquidation. Stetz-Waters puts a fresh, clear-eyed spin on familiar tropes with careful attention to detail in everything from grant applications to the anatomy of the clitoris, grounding readers firmly in reality even as they're swept away by the delightfully cozy fantasy of Cade and Selena's burgeoning relationship. Their romance is precious, with well-balanced conflict, hot sex, and a swoon-worthy conclusion. This proves an enchanting must-read for any fan of queer romance. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (June)

A straight-laced New York businesswoman inherits half of a sex-toy shop in Portland, Oregon, from her free-spirited aunt. Cade Elgin seems downright conservative to her artistic family. Her parents own one of New York's most famous art galleries, and although Cade has an eye for discovering new artists, she spends most of her time managing the business side of things. After her Aunt Ruth's funeral, Cade learns she has inherited half of her quirky aunt's sex-toy shop, Satisfaction Guaranteed. The other half was left to Selena Mathis, Ruth's friend and tenant. The shop is in dire financial straits, and even though she knows it's a lost cause, Cade agrees to work with Selena to try to turn it around. Cade has never had much luck with girlfriends or sex, so she finds Selena's sensuality and playfulness hard to resist. Meanwhile, Selena admires Cade's easy confidence and calm demeanor. Selena has her own personal struggles with ex-lover Alex, who wants to get back with Selena after finally leaving her husband. Alex was one of her professors, and after their affair ended, Selena dropped out of art school and burned all her paintings. Determined to stay celibate until she straightens out her life, Selena tries to avoid her strong attraction to Cade while dodging Alex's high-pressure push to reconcile. Cade and Selena are likable characters in a sticky situation, and they respect each other's faults and foibles. Cade learns to let loose while Selena rediscovers her love of painting. Much of the novel's humor derives from the differences between Cade and Selena, but Stetz-Waters never makes either of them the butt of the joke. It's a truly funny rom-com that's full of heat and heart. An engaging, lighthearted novel likely to appeal to all romance readers. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.