WWW.PUBLISHERSWEEKLY.COM 49Review_FICTION
Felice
Kathleen Bittner Roth. Zebra, $7.99 mass
market (376p) ISBN 978-1-4201-4208-2
Forbidden romance between the heiress
to a shipping fortune and a Cajun man
drives Roth’s beguiling Bayou Bad Boys
series debut (after Josette). In 1859, Felice
Andrews returns to New Orleans after
years abroad accompanied by Mayhew
Rutherford, Marquess of Ainsworth, who
intends to ask her father for permission to
marry her. Upon arrival at her brother
Michel’s shipping office, Felice encounters
René Thibodeaux, the man who broke
her heart three years before and now
works for Michel. The attraction between
Felice and René
reawakens as
Felice assists her
brother with the
company’s
bookkeeping.
Though René
is proud of his
business
accomplish-
ments, having
risen above his
humble beginnings as the illegitimate
son of a voodoo priestess, he still believes
that Felice is too good for him. But as the
relationship between Felice and Mayhew
crumbles, Felice seeks solace in René’s
arms and discovers that their time apart
has not lessened the fire between them.
The world of antebellum New Orleans is
well-rendered and immersive, and will
draw readers in from the very first page.
With its strong heroine and themes of
enduring love, this sweet story will appeal
to fans of historical romance who want a
break from Regency England. Agent: Jill
Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. (May)
The Trouble with Hating You
Sajni Patel. Forever, $14.99 trade paper
(352p) ISBN 978-1-5387-3333-2
Patel’s fast-paced romp of a debut offers
a peek into the vibrant Indian-American
community of Houston, Tex., introducing
a self-assured heroine striving for inde-
pendence from the traditional expectations
of her family. Biochemical engineer Liya
Thakkar is perfectly happy as a single
woman. She has a devoted group of best
friends, a new promotion at work, and no
problem finding casual flings when she
wants them. When her family tricks her
into attending a matchmaking dinner, she
embarrasses herself and her parents by
fleeing—only to later discover her would-
be suitor, Jay Shah, is the lawyer assigned
to save her company from closing, and
they’ll have to see much more of each
other. Despite their awkward first
meeting and ongoing bickering at work,
the chemistry between Liya and Jay is
clear to everyone around them. But the
headstrong pair will both have to learn to
be vulnerable before they can trust each
other. Readers will root for Liya as she
struggles against community gossip and
the weight of disappointing the people
who should love her unconditionally. The
enemies-to-lovers arc is classic, but the
cultural specificity Patel brings makes
this rom-com feel fun and fresh. Agent:
Katelyn Detweiler, Jill Grinberg Literary
Management. (May)★ The Tourist Attraction
Sarah Morgenthaler. Sourcebooks
Casablanca, $14.99 trade paper (400p)
ISBN 978-1-7282-1048-3
A grumpy diner owner and an adven-
turous waitress on her first vacation in
years develop unexpected feelings in
Morgenthaler’s thoroughly entertaining
debut. Graham Barnett hates running the
Tourist Trap, his popular Moose Springs,
Alas., establishment famous both for the
gimmicky menu items (“Growly Bear”
drinks and “reindeer dogs”) and Graham’s
surly behavior, which the wealthy visitors
to the nearby resort find inexplicably
charming. He would much prefer to
spend his time working on his chain saw
sculptures. But as soon as he locks eyes
with the “adorably dorky” Zoey Caldwell,
who’s saved up tip money for years for a
two-week Alaskan adventure, Graham
puts aside both art and business to spend
time with her as
her tour guide.
Though their
relationship
hits an early
hurdle when
Zoey mistakes
a chainsaw-
wielding
Graham for a
murderer and
kicks him in thegroin, the chemistry between the two
builds at a satisfying pace. Morgenthaler’s
descriptions of the scenery are majestic,
and her delineation of the friction
between the townspeople and the tourists
is well done. The quirky supporting
characters, including a truck-humping
moose, add charm. This sweet, funny tale
is sure to win Morgenthaler many fans.
Agent: Sara Megibow, KT Literary. (May)The Banty House
Carolyn Brown. Montlake Romance, $12.95
trade paper (324p) ISBN 978-1-5420-1881-4
Brown (The Family Journal) throws
together a colorful cast of characters to
excellent effect and maximum charm in
this small-town contemporary romance.
The elderly Carson sisters—Kate,
Connie, and Betsy—have turned the
Rooster, Tex., brothel they were raised in
into a safe haven for the lost and down-on-
their-luck passing through town. Their
home, dubbed the Banty House, proves
a godsend for pregnant 19-year-old
Ginger Andrews, a former foster child
from Kentucky trying to get as far away
from her past as possible. Not only do the
sisters provide her a bed, they introduce
her to the first man she can count on:
handyman Sloan Baker, a young army vet
who’s fighting demons of his own.
Brown’s skillful plotting and deeply felt
characterizations enrich the young couple’s
road to their inevitable happy ending,
exploring along the way Sloan’s crippling
survivor’s guilt and orphaned Ginger’s
childhood in the foster care system. But
there’s plenty of joy and laughter, too,
both in the birth of Ginger’s child, and
the sisters’ unexpected vices: Connie
smokes, Kate makes moonshine, and
Betsy grows pot. This first-rate romance
will delight readers young and old. Agent:
Erin Niumata, Folio Literary. (May)Relatively Sane
Whitney Dineen. 33 Partners, $12.95 trade
paper (354p) ISBN 978-1-09-064332-2
Dineen pulls readers back into the
absurd world of the Masterson family in
this side-splitting sequel to Relatively
Normal. Party planner Cat Masterson
moves home from New York to buy and
renovate her family’s Central Illinois
farmhouse and rekindle a romance with
childhood friend Sam. But Cat has for-