Second Chance Romance

Dade returns to quirky Harlot’s Bay (after 2024’s At First Spite) with this amusing rom-com. Molly Dearborn and Karl Dean crushed on each other all throughout high school. Their timing finally seemed right after graduation, but a miscommunication foiled their chance at love and Molly left town heartbroken. Twenty years, one divorce, and a semi-risque career as a monster erotica audiobook narrator later, Molly sees an obituary for Karl in Harlot Bay’s newspaper and returns home for the funeral. But the piece was a misprint; Karl is very much alive and now the foul-mouthed owner of the area’s best bakery. He’s pined for Molly all that time, becoming the number one fan of her audiobooks just to hear her voice. Overjoyed to be reunited at last, Karl is determined clear up past misunderstandings and win her trust with an eye toward forever. Dade peppers the narrative with abundant humor from Harlot Bay’s residents; there’s even a running bit about the town’s dueling sex shops expressing their animosity for each other by commissioning elegant but insulting cakes. Series fans who met Karl as a colorful side character in book one will be especially glad to uncover his hopeless romantic streak. This is a charmer. (Nov.)