All it takes

Proby's warmhearted second Romancing Manhattan contemporary (following All the Way) features two dedicated New York City attorneys trying to balance the needs of their families, their careers, and their growing love. Sienna Hendricks is mourning the death of her beloved grandfather, but she finds comfort in knowing part of his legacy will be the establishment of a public park in the Bronx on a piece of family-owned property. When Manhattan lawyer Quinn Cavanaugh interrupts the reading of the will to announce that his client is contesting ownership of the property, Sienna resolves to prove her grandfather's right to the land. Quinn is determined to protect his client's best interests, but he finds his attention shifting from the case to his new opposing counsel. When the judge orders Quinn and Sienna to work together on tracing the land's rightful owner, Sienna and Quinn find their mutual interest developing into an all-consuming passion, but a sudden twist in the case forces both of them to question where their devotion really lies. Though inconsistent plotting and heavy-handed dialogue prove distracting, there is still plenty of genuine chemistry and devotion between the protagonists. This is a satisfying series installment. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Aug.)

When an attorney discovers there's a question of ownership on some valuable family property, she and the opposing counsel fall in love as they dig into a century's worth of records and uncover information that threatens her family in ways she never expected.When Sienna Hendricks discovers someone is challenging land her grandfather bequeathed to the Bronx for park space, she takes a leave of absence from her city attorney position to research the situation. The challenge consists of a letter asserting that the property was offered as collateral for a loan in 1913, but there is no evidence the loan was repaid. Quinn Cavanaugh represents the claimant, but neither side has proof of ownership, so the judge orders the attorneys to work together to gather information, which means digging through an attic full of Hendricks family records. Sienna and Quinn are immediately attracted to one another, but while the relationship heats up, time is running out. Quinn learns a secret he can't share with Sienna due to client privilege, but it motivates him to help her even more. However, when the case takes an unexpected turn and Sienna learns the secret on her own, her life is turned upside down, and she's not sure how to trust Quinn moving forward. Proby shines in dialogue and authentic, realistic characters, but both the plot and the romance are low on conflict, and those are almost all external, so when Sienna blames Quinn for doing the right thing, she comes across as childish and unfair. On the plus side, checking in with the Cavanaughs from the first Romancing Manhattan title (All the Way, 2018) and cavorting with Sienna and Quinn across New York in unique ways are both special fun.Engaging but uneven. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.