Most eligible A novel

Engel's bumpy debut finds journalist Georgia Rose going on the popular dating show Love Shack hoping to boost her freelance journalism career by writing an exposé about the producers. She needs to stay on the show long enough to get her story, which means making a genuine play for the attention of the lead, tennis pro Roland Marchetti. This plan hits a speed bump when she realizes that the show's new host is her former one-night stand, country music star Rhett Auburn. Now Georgia must juggle her investigation, her play for Roland's hand, intra-contestant politics, and her lingering feelings for Rhett. There's plenty of reality TV drama to keep the pages turning, but Engel doesn't make the most of her fun premise. Georgia spends too much time concealing her secrets from the people around her and not enough time actually investigating; indeed, most of what she uncovers, she stumbles upon by chance. The romance too is given short shrift, taking a backseat for much of the novel before abruptly ramping up. Second-chance romance fans will be especially frustrated that they never get a clear flashback to Rhett and Georgia's first meeting, making their present-day rekindling feel somewhat unmoored. This disappoints. (Jan.)

DEBUT Music journalist Georgia is one of the contestants on the newest season of Love Shack, the most popular reality dating show in the country. However, she's not there to win the heart of tennis superstar Roland Marchetti; instead, the undercover journalist hopes to expose the show's toxic executive producer and land the reporting job of her dreams. Her cover story is almost jeopardized when the new host of the show turns out to be country singer Rhett Auburn, a former Love Shack lead and the one-night stand whom Georgia hasn't been able to stop thinking about. Georgia is busy successfully faking a romance with Roland for the cameras, but her chemistry with Rhett is still there. She can't let their real romance blow her cover before getting her story. VERDICT While Georgia and Rhett's relationship is a bit underdeveloped, Engel's fast-paced, witty debut is a great addition to the reality-TV romance genre. Perfect for fans of One To Watch by Kate Stayman-London and If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy and a must-read for all Bachelor devotees.--Whitney Kramer