Why Not Tonight

July 23, 2018
In Mallery’s delightful third Happily Inc. contemporary (after Second Chance Girl), an artist tries to help a glassblower rediscover his passion for art and life. At the behest of her boss and in the midst of a dangerous storm, gallery office manager and mixed-media artist Natalie Kaleta makes the long drive up to introverted glassblower Ronan Mitchell’s mountain home. When an accident traps her there for the duration of the storm, Ronan and Natalie end up tiptoeing around a strong mutual attraction. However, both of them have their own pasts to contend with, and neither feels ready for a serious relationship. Orphaned young and desperate for a family of her own, Natalie is considering having a baby and becoming a single mother. An abusive father and the revelation of a painful family secret have left Ronan scarred and set on self-isolation. Together, they decide to keep their relationship casual and fun, but soon they fall in love. Natalie is a charming, funny, and beautifully human heroine, and her chemistry with Ronan is genuine. A wedding destination hot spot in California is the perfect romantic setting for this tender story. Agent: Annelise Robey, Jane Rotrosen Agency.

Tanya Eby's expert narration adds sparks and smiles to Ronan and Natalie's story. Upbeat and happy, Natalie has a silvery laugh along with a light teasing voice that colors her world bright. For her, working with moody Ronan is a challenge. Eby portrays Ronan's moodiness in a gruff yet firm voice. His deep pitch is just right for this famous but somewhat reclusive artist. Depicting the characters' path from friendship to romance hits all the buttons of a fine story. Eby makes the hours spent listening fly by. A.M.G. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

August 1, 2018

Willow Gallery office manager and artist Natalie Kaleta decides that checking up on reclusive glass artist Ronan Mitchell when he doesn't answer his texts is a bit like bearding the dragon in his lair. She ends up as an impromptu guest at his mountainside fortress after her ancient car is crushed in a mudslide, and their perceptions of each other change, sowing the seeds for a different kind of relationship. An outspoken heroine with a positive take on life, a hero who needs to accept and forgive the past, and an offbeat group of family and friends keep the action swift and the various connections on track in a multilayered story that nicely continues the series. VERDICT Soul-crushing revelations and old resentments are tempered by whimsy, sass, and belly laughs in a scrumptiously sexy, playful story from one of the genre's best. Touching, refreshing, and fun. Mallery (When We Found Home) lives in Seattle.

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