A lot like Christmas

Things get stickier than fruit cake when a transient holiday fling sparks lasting love in Snow's delightful second Blue Moon Bay novel (after A Lot Like Love). Vivacious 29-year-old bakery owner Jessica Connolly has had every detail of her wedding planned out since childhood--she's just missing the groom. All of her recent exes have gone on to marry the next woman they date, making her doubt she'll ever get her own chance to be a bride. Enter 39-year-old Mitch Jameson, who returns home to Blue Moon Bay, Calif., for the month of December after years away with Doctors Without Borders. When he notices Jessica, their 10-year age difference does nothing to deter him from asking her out. He's honest about what he can offer her, given his plans to leave again on Christmas Day, but their temporary tryst gets complicated when their emotions get involved. Can they figure out how to join their lives without creating resentment? Though some of Jessica's antics along the way come off as immature, Snow makes up for it by filling her small town with well-shaded characters, strong neighborly ties, and heaps of holiday spirit. This cute, cozy outing is sure to please. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Agency. (Oct.)

In Snow's latest romance, a 29-year-old woman finally meets the perfect guy, but his wanderlust may be an insurmountable obstacle. Jessica Connolly loves living in Blue Moon Bay, California. She's surrounded by friends and family, and she operates a successful bakery in the center of town. She's constantly baking cakes for other people's weddings, including those of multiple ex-boyfriends, but she worries she'll never have reason to create a cake for herself. Then one day, Dr. Mitch Jameson walks into her bakery, recently returned from a Doctors Without Borders trip to Cambodia. With his movie-star good looks and engaging personality, it seems like he'd be a great catch for anyone, but Jess knows better; she's been friends with Mitch's younger sister, Lia, for years, and she's well aware that Mitch never sticks around in Blue Moon Bay more than a few weeks at a time. Even so, as he picks up his family's Christmas order, sparks begin to fly. Jess isn't surprised when he mentions that he'll be leaving town on Christmas for his next assignment. Even so, their chemistry is undeniable, and when he asks her to dinner, she accepts. As they grow closer, Jess worries she's setting herself up for heartbreak. Meanwhile, Mitch wonders if it's time for a change to his nomadic lifestyle. Told alternately from both perspectives, the story effectively follows both Jess and Mitch as they dive deeper into a relationship, each one reevaluating their own beliefs and goals. Although both characters are eminently likable, they also struggle with anxieties that are more complex than the novel's accessible, upbeat prose would initially suggest. The story also delivers steamy sex scenes and a well-rounded cast of charming supporting characters. However, it also leaves multiple intriguing plot threads dangling without resolution. Still, the narrative's insightful exploration of self-sacrifice, self-doubt, and personal evolution is sufficiently compelling to keep readers satisfied. A warmhearted holiday love story of baked goods and new beginnings. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.