Waterlogged

Murder mystery and lesbian romance jostle in this sweet if lopsided small-town story from Sparks (Starting Over). Jordan Pearce temporarily takes on the role of conservation warden in the Wisconsin town where her dysfunctional family used to vacation after her colleague Deb Ryder goes missing. Herbalist Hanna Quinn, meanwhile, has returned to town to run the local diner and assist the lesbian aunts who raised her while one of them undergoes cancer treatments. When Pearce’s first day on the job leads to the discovery of Deb’s body and reports of a crooked sheriff shaking down tourists with fake fines, the whole town steps in to help investigate. Along the way, Hanna and Jordan fall in love. Sparks builds an easy connection between the two, with the main impediment to their budding relationship being how much else they both have going on. The fact that everyone in this small town is a lesbian goes unexplained but makes for a cozy, escapist backdrop to a story about belonging. Unfortunately, the mystery beats feel predictable and there’s little tension to keep the pages turning. Still, the emotional core of the new relationship, and of the other happy couples that support them, makes this a tasty treat for sapphic romance fans. (Dec.)