Too soon for adiós

A woman reconnects with her family, her Mexican roots, and her own desires in this heartwarming tale from Chavez Macias (Big Chicas Don't Cry), but the story walks an uneasy line between romance and women's fiction. Unemployed, debt-ridden 29-year-old Gabby Medina, an aspiring chef, struggles to keep her life together after her mother's death--until Raul, the biological father that Gabby has never met, turns up for her mother's memorial with an offer: Gabby can live in her late grandmother's house rent-free while fixing it up to sell. Gabby agrees, moving to small-town Sonrisa, N.Mex. Her relationship with Diego Paz, the town's mayor and go-to handyman, gets off to a rocky start, but as they work together on home renovation, Gabby opens up to Diego and falls for both him and his town. Then a job offer forces Gabby to choose between following her heart or sticking to the path she previously envisioned. Chavez Macias gracefully handles themes of loss and grief but shortchanges the romance in the process; Diego and Gabby's bland relationship is an afterthought rather than a focal point. Gabby's personal growth keeps the pages turning, but readers looking to swoon should skip this one. Agent: Sarah Younger, NY Literary. (Mar.)