Soul searching

Bestseller Sage (the Rebel Blue Ranch series) makes an impressive first foray into the paranormal with her Sweetwater Peak series launch. Photographer Collins Cartwright has communicated with ghosts her whole life--but recently, every ghost she sees has been ignoring her. Between jobs and short on cash, she reluctantly heads home to Sweetwater Peak, Wyo., where her twin sister, Clarke, gets her a temporary gig and a place to stay with local upholsterer Brady Cooper. Brady had abandoned a stressful career as a software engineer for a gentler life in Sweetwater Peak using skills taught by his grandfather. He's attracted to his beautiful new house guest, but worries for her sanity when he hears her talking to herself in her room--until Collins informs him that his house is haunted and he gradually comes to believe her paranormal stories. A subplot about a shady developer circling Collins's parents' antique shop brings the budding couple closer as they work together to stop the deal. Ghostly backstories, elements of supernatural mystery, and sensual romance keep the pages flying. Sage proves adept at switching genres. Agent: Jessica Watterson, Sandra Dijkstra Agency. (Sept.)

After years on the road as a photographer, Collins Cartwright reluctantly returns to her small hometown of Sweetwater Peak, as her twin sister, Clarke, has alerted her to a developer trying to buy their family's historic home and business. Collins is also grappling with personal loss: a crisis of confidence in her photography and the mysterious fading of her ability to communicate with ghosts. Clarke arranges for Collins to stay with Brady Cooper, a reserved newcomer to Sweetwater Peak. Brady and Collins couldn't be more different. She's spirited and daring; he's guarded and methodical. However, their unlikely pairing brings out the best in both. As Collins helps Brady adjust to small-town life, he becomes an unexpected anchor in her own journey to rediscover herself. But just as their bond deepens, someone from Brady's past resurfaces, threatening not only their fragile connection but the Cartwright family's future. Together, Brady and Collins must confront what, and who, they're willing to fight for. VERDICT Sage (Wild and Wrangled) introduces a compelling cast of characters in a heartfelt story that fans of Elsie Silver will adore. Perfect for readers who love opposites-attract romances with emotional depth.--Ashli Wells