Everywhere and Every Way

March 7, 2016
Probst (Searching for You) creates her own spin on HGTV’s Property Brothers with her sensuous contemporary, the first of three romances about three feuding brothers who inherit their father’s luxury contracting business. Caleb Pierce has long been estranged from younger brothers Tristan and Dalton. But when their father dies, he throws the brothers for a loop with the terms of his will: they must work together for a full year and show a profit in order to inherit. In walks Morgan Raines, a home designer working with an A-list celebrity couple—and she’ll stop at nothing to get the Pierce brothers to build that dream house. Sparks fly between Morgan and Caleb after he agrees to do the job, and resentment soon turns to grudging admiration, then deep lust. But it’s not clear whether Morgan and Caleb can successfully mix business with pleasure. Probst tugs at the heartstrings with feisty Morgan, strong and silent Caleb, and an array of appealing supporting characters. Readers will root for Caleb and Morgan’s quest for happily ever after and will eagerly await the next in the series. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary.

April 15, 2016
Property Brothers meets Divine Design in a contemporary romance with high-stakes family drama. Builder Caleb Pierce has long been estranged from his two younger brothers, but now they must work together to revitalize their father's luxury contracting firm, turning a profit in one year or losing their inheritance. In Probst's (Searching For You, 2015, etc.) new Property Brothers-inspired trilogy, each brother will get his own book, with all six main protagonists unobtrusively introduced in the first installment. Morgan Raines is a successful, high-end home designer who swoops into town and uses her influence and Pierce Brothers Construction's financial straits to coerce Caleb into building a show home for her celebrity clients. A straightforward heroine who loves her job, Morgan excels at the stereotypically male skills associated with building a house and running a business. What begins as an enemies-to-lovers story morphs quickly into a fairly low-conflict romance. Both Morgan and Caleb are ambitious perfectionists with a need for control, but the cool, composed Southern belle is more reluctant to give in to the sexual attraction and growing emotions between them. They admire and respect one another, and the romance builds through predictable but fun encounters and, of course, mutual lust. Probst focuses on the Pierce brothers' long-simmering resentments, stoked by their father's divisive parenting style and their lack of closure over their mother's mysterious death five years earlier. Caleb's character arc is complex, as he must accept his role in the family estrangement in order to be a better brother and co-owner. However, the emphasis on Caleb and his family detracts from a fully realized portrayal of Morgan, making some of her decisions seem abrupt and unmotivated. Probst's fans will enjoy the unusual setup of her latest romance even if it lacks surprises.

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