Fake it till you make it

London (Consuming Logan) takes readers to a quaint small town in this adorable series launch, introducing locals with big personalities and their lovable scene-stealing pets. When Amarie Walker's ancient car breaks down, leaving her stranded in Service, W.Va., she discovers that fate has landed her in a great place to start over after leaving her cheating fiancé. Though she's unable to update and print a resume, she lands a job with local veterinarian Eli Calvary through sheer force of will, insisting she can help save his family business with her savvy understanding of digital marketing and social media. The grouchy and technophobic Eli is attached to his late father's analog systems, but he reluctantly takes on Amarie with some encouragement from his mother, Leah, who sees Amarie's potential. A relentless matchmaker, Leah also sees the possibility of a love connection for her closed-off son. Amarie soon wins over the entire town--and she'll have readers just as invested as she grows into the most confident version of herself. Obstacles arise when Amalie's ex-fiancé shows up alongside Eli's ex-wife, but for the most part London keeps things light. The cast is majority Black, making this a welcome addition to the predominantly white small-town contemporary romance canon. London is sure to win fans. Agent: Latoya Smith, Art House Literary. (Apr.)Correction: A previous version of this review incorrectly identified the book as the author's debut.

A city girl moves to a small town for a fresh start and falls for the veterinarian trying to save his family's business. Amarie Walker hightails it out of Washington, D.C., after her ungrateful fiance cheats on her again. It's time to take her Black girl magic elsewhere and focus on passing her nursing exam. She winds up in the mountain town of Service, West Virginia, and accepts the one open job for for miles around, as an assistant at the veterinary clinic. Eli Calvary is trying to keep the business he inherited from his late father afloat. Without his say-so, his mother tries to help by starting a silent auction for romantic dinners with one of the three Calvary brothers to raise money. Adding to Eli's stress, certain neighbors are sniffing around his property just waiting for him to go under. To keep them at bay, he pretends Amarie is actually a wealthy investor. Their business partnership may be fake, but the feelings that begin to develop between the pair are very real. To make a go of it, though, they have to face their exes and make decisions about their future goals. Service oozes small-town charm and the whole Calvary family is a delight. It's easy to understand why Amarie becomes so enamored. As readers learn more about her and Eli's pasts, it becomes clear just how well they suit each other and how good Service is for both of them. This heartwarming story boasts a strong sense of community, light spice, and laugh-out-loud banter. An enjoyable series kickoff in a lovable town. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.