February 1, 2023
Things don't change in the small town of Redford, GA. It's why editor Jess turned down a big-city job, went freelance, and moved back. Meanwhile, big-city finance guy Carter has never been to Redford, even though his grandfather Jasper told him countless stories about the town and its quirky residents. After Jasper's death, Carter visits Redford for the first time and learns that his grandfather has left $10 million to the people of Redford--with a catch. Only two Redfordites can take home the money, after winning a series of challenges for which they have each been assigned a partner. As events unfold and Carter thinks the game is rigged in his favor, he falls for Jess and begins to worry that the secrets he bears will hurt her and drive her away. The attraction is mutual, but Jess knows that she has no future with Carter, since his real life is in Atlanta. Or is it? VERDICT Bursting with charm and humor, this novel from Waldon (From the Jump) is unputdownable, and readers will clamor for more stories set in Redford.--Heather Miller Cover
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February 15, 2023
Residents of a small Georgia town compete for $10 million. Waldon's third romantic comedy is the first that doesn't hinge on travel--the author works as a flight attendant--but it's full of other popular rom-com tropes. There's a plucky small-town girl: Jessica Reid, a freelance book editor who gave up New York City to stay close to her dad in tiny Redford, Georgia. She meets a handsome stranger from the big city: Carter Barclay, a financial wizard in Atlanta. A mutual attraction threatens their carefully constructed lives: Should they get together when they don't live in the same place? The story begins with the death of Jasper Wilhelm, Carter's grandfather, a beloved but eccentric philanthropist, whose funeral has lured Carter to Redford. Jasper has concocted a unique solution to the question of who will inherit his millions: His will stipulates the entire town will be split into pairs to compete in a series of challenges, and whichever team earns the most points will win a life-changing $10 million. Sounds easy, but Jasper himself has paired everyone off, and almost no one is happy with their partner. Jess finds herself paired with her sworn enemy, Nikki Loughton, who is still mad that Jess kissed her boyfriend in high school. Carter is sure he's being set up to win, but Jess has other plans, no matter how sexy he is. Waldon has a solid sense of humor, and her characters are engaging; even Nikki turns out to have unexpected depth. Jess and Carter's will-they, won't -they romance is never in doubt (their magical night in a leaky rowboat is a romantic and comedic highlight). A ham-handed side plot in which Jess' dad suddenly announces he's sick and may be dying feels unnecessary, but despite that puzzling misstep, romance fans should enjoy playing this game to the end. A lighthearted romp for fans of romantic comedy about the benefits of working together for a community.
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February 15, 2023
The small town of Redford, Georgia, is a tight-knit community in which everyone knows each other's name, family, and business. Jessica Reid has lived there all her life, apart from her college years spent in New York, where she cultivated her love of reading and writing. Now living back in her beloved hometown, Jess works as a romance novel editor, living a comfortable small-town life, with her dad just down the street. When a cherished member of the community passes away, leaving his multimillion dollar fortune in the hands of the two lucky townspeople who win the elaborate, days-long competition he orchestrated, Jess finds herself questioning her devotion to the town and its devotion to her. With Carter Barclay, the grandson of the mastermind behind the games, added to the mix, the romance editor finds herself on a romantic if obstacle-filled journey of her own. Fun, wholesome, and, at times, poignant, Waldon's third novel, following From the Jump (2022), will have readers falling in love with Redford and the diverse group of characters who call it home.
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