Practice Makes Perfect

February 13, 2023
An introverted florist and a “hot, dangerous” bodyguard dance around their feelings for each other in Adams’s fluffy sequel to When in Rome. Rome, Ken., flower shop owner Annie Walker has always enjoyed her quiet and solitary life, but seeing her brother and future sister-in-law, pop star Amelia Rose, prepare for their lavish wedding has Annie aching for a love of her own. Unfortunately, dating proves difficult in a small town where everyone knows everyone and Annie’s staid reputation precedes her. Enter Will Griffin, Amelia’s former bodyguard and Annie’s longtime crush. Amelia tasks Will with becoming Annie’s “dating coach,” to help her master her “First Date Anxiety” and become more outgoing. The pair grow close over increasingly steamy dating lessons, with Annie learning that Will’s standoffish facade hides a heart of gold and Will realizing that he doesn’t actually want Annie to change a thing about her approach to dating or to life. Though slow-burning, the pair’s chemistry is off the charts, relayed in playful banter and plenty of charged moments. Returning readers will not be disappointed. Agent: Kim Lionetti, BookEnds Literary.

March 1, 2023

Annie Walker, widely considered to be a shy, perfect angel, is ready to find the One. The problem is that her angelic behaviors are viewed by would-be suitors as either boring or strange. What she needs is a tutor--someone who can walk her through the entire dating process and help get her over her own anxiety and other people's misconceptions. Enter Will Griffin, bodyguard to Annie's future sister-in-law, who has returned to town ahead of the upcoming wedding. Will prefers the no-commitments dating lifestyle after having a front-row seat to his parent's dysfunction. But dating advice? That might be a bridge too far. Reluctantly, though, he agrees to be Annie's dating coach and isn't surprised when things start to get steamy. It's realizing there's a way to love that isn't destructive that brings the real shock. And Annie starts to see the void she's been feeling isn't because she needs to settle down, but rather because she needs to learn to live. VERDICT Adams (When in Rome) returns to Rome, Kentucky, with a pair of endearing characters, each stuck in the rut of their past, who need each other to see a different future.--Kellie Tilton

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2023
After accidentally overhearing her date say she was boring, Annie, who runs a flower shop, feels she needs help to become better at dating. Her friends conspire to have Will, a bodyguard for her rock star friend, Rae Rose, help her. The only thing Will likes about Rome, Kentucky, is Annie. But he wants to finish this job and return to the big city. Annie is nothing like his usual type, yet he loves spending time with her. The fun fakeboyfriend trope turns, as it usually does, into a real relationship, and Annie and Will think about their future while addressing their fears of relationships. Annie and Will are both appealing opposites with plenty of chemistry, and Adams' return to Rome and some characters from When in Rome (2022) creates a satisfying arc for readers. While the ending may not be a surprise, it is the perfect conclusion for Will and Annie. Fans of Chandra Blumberg's clever small-town romances may also enjoy this.

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