Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This tantalizing slow-burn contemporary romance from Wilson (The Chemistry of Love) follows aspiring film-score composer Jane Wagnerback to her small hometown of Patience, Ohio, to fill in for her librarian mother while her father recovers from a heart attack. Jane's shocked to find the community in disarray, bankrupted by an embezzling ex-mayor, and sets out to boost both the local economy and residents' morale by inviting movie star Nick Haddon to appear at the town's annual harvest festival. Bad boy Nick must polish his reputation to save his tanking career, and his publicist thinks Patience is a good place to start. Sparks fly when Nick and Jane meet, but Jane, who has intensely low self-esteem stemming from past heartbreak, struggles to believe that playboy Nick's interest is sincere. Meanwhile, Nick is tired of getting everything handed to him, so he's willing to work to prove his love. Wilson dangles intimacy between these two like a carrot just out of reach, keeping the pages flying. Readers will easily fall for Nick, who's genuinely a nice guy despite his reputation, but may find Jane's unrelenting self-doubt exasperating after a while. Still, Wilson nails the small-town setting, complete with nosy but well-meaning residents, and delivers a sweet happy ending. This is a treat. Agent: Sarah Younger, NY Literary. (July)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Jane Wagner finds herself in charge of the fall harvest festival in small-town Patience, OH. After a recent scandal, the town is in desperate need of money, and the festival is their best chance. The plan? Get Hollywood hunk Nick Haddon to visit and drum up some tourism. Jane never expected it to work--but the next thing she knows, Nick Haddon is on her doorstep, along with a documentary film crew that plans to follow his every move. As soon as Nick gets to know Jane, he realizes he likes her, a lot. And he's set on making sure her event is a success, no matter what. Author Wilson (The Chemistry of Love) gives readers a fun and flirty story of a small-town girl and a big star. The instant connection might be a bit too much for some readers, but the banter between the couple, as well as the town members, makes this a delightful read. VERDICT A highly recommended purchase for libraries where contemporary romances and rom-coms are popular.--Amanda Toth
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