Get over it, April Evans

Blake's endearing and believable second Clover Lake romance (after Dream On, Ramona Riley) puts the enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes to excellent use. April Evans is still reeling from the betrayal of her cheating ex-fiancee, Elena Watson, who left her for beautiful younger artist Daphne Love three years ago, when she's forced to permanently close her failing tattoo parlor. So she's grateful for the stability afforded by a summer job as an art teacher at Cloverwild, an elegant resort that also offers her and her co-teacher room and board in a quaint cabin on the property. Then she learns that her new roommate is none other than Daphne. Though Daphne, who has recently been cheated on and dumped by Elena herself, has no idea who April is and can't understand her hostility, April sees fit to take out years of anger and hurt feelings on the other woman. Meanwhile an amazing opportunity that will allow only one of them to display their paintings in a renowned London museum cements them as professional rivals as well. It's an absolute delight to watch the relationship between these endearingly flawed and dynamic characters gradually evolve as they put aside their differences and bond over their shared love of art. The result is a well-paced, tension-filled sapphic romance that doubles as a celebration of personal growth and healing. (Feb.)

April Evans is falling apart. Her tattoo shop has been running in the red for two years, and she can't afford the mortgage on her home. She hasn't dated since being cheated on and dumped by her ex-fiancée. When the local resort, Cloverwild, asks April to co-teach art classes over the summer, she jumps at the opportunity, closing her business, subletting her house, packing her cats, and moving into a cabin at the resort. Then she finds out her roommate for the summer will be Daphne Love, the younger woman her ex-fiancée chose over April. Daphne has led a sheltered life, going from a strict evangelical upbringing to living with an older lover. When that relationship ends dramatically, Daphne runs to a teaching job at Cloverwild to mourn what was. Finding out she was the other woman in April's relationship horrifies her and explains why April seems to hate her. April's hate quickly turns to empathy, however, then to attraction, and maybe more. VERDICT Blake's second "Clover Lake" book (after Dream On, Ramona Riley) features a queer slow-burn romance and found family. Readers will cheer on the protagonists as they struggle to rebuild their lives and accidentally fall in love.--Heather Miller Cover