Wild love

A city girl flees to a small town to escape her heartbreak in Accardo's cute, cozy debut. Ex-lawyer Sydney Walsh abruptly abandons her New York City life after walking in on her boyfriend in bed with someone else. Distraught, she seeks temporary refuge at her mother's apartment in the small mountain town of Pine Ridge, N.Y. There she meets Sam Kirkland, the irresistible local mechanic. Their instant attraction is impossible to ignore, but Sydney's still recovering from her breakup, and Sam's mysterious past with an ex-girlfriend continues to affect his present, preventing the pair from acting on their raw attraction. Sydney distracts herself by helping out at her mother's struggling bookstore, with the fragile hope that saving the store will help her rediscover her sense of purpose. She brings plenty of fresh ideas to the project, and the winsome townspeople are eager to support her--Sam included. In fact, despite their better judgment, the pair find it impossible to stay away from each other. Accardo brings her characters to life through careful attention to detail and well-thought-out backstories. Sydney's and Sam's believable baggage and palpable chemistry make for a deeply satisfying slow-burn romance. Agent: Eva Scalzo, Speilburg Literary. (May)