If the Shoe Fits

May 20, 2013
In Mulry’s sweet follow-up to A Royal Pain, a British peer falls hard for an American businesswoman. Devon Heyworth is the younger brother of Max, the Duke of Northrop. He meets entrepreneur Sarah James at Max’s wedding in England, where she’s the maid of honor. While instant mutual lust ensues, Sarah makes it clear to Devon that their whirlwind romantic weekend is a onetime “utterly delightful, fabulously sexy, wonderful fling.” But they can’t forget each other, and when Devon travels to Chicago for business, he and Sarah reconnect. Misunderstandings thwart their budding romance, and Devon and Sarah’s globetrotting lifestyle adds a modern fairy-tale element. As Sarah reveals her insecurity about meeting her father’s expectations while succeeding as an independent woman, Devon proves that his playboy exterior hides both smarts and heart. The romantic tension entices the reader from the very first page and never flags. Agent: Allison Hunter, Inkwell Management.

June 1, 2013
Despite being warned against him in no uncertain terms, American luxury shoe designer Sarah James is attracted to the compelling Devon Heyworth, younger brother to a duke, and decides to pursue a short-lived affair with him. Sarah, maid-of-honor in her best friend's wedding, meets Devon, best man and younger brother to the groom, who happens to be a duke. Attraction flares between the two, and Sarah decides to have an uncharacteristic affair with him. Given the man's love-'em-and-leave-'em reputation, plus the fact that he lives in London and she's in the U.S., Sarah feels the decision is pretty risk-free. So she is stunned when Devon pursues her to the States and shocked at her own intense reaction to him. She's too busy to fall hard for anyone and too inexperienced to trust such combustible emotions. After all, how could a world-famous playboy fall so quickly and ardently for her? Vulnerable and skeptical, Sarah is unsure of both of their emotions and chooses to let a misunderstanding come between them. Devon, meanwhile, proves to be significantly more than anyone gives him credit for, and Sarah is newly attracted to his enigmatic choices. The two must navigate their very real insecurities, as well as their sudden and explosive attraction and emotional connection, which neither of them has ever experienced nor believed possible. The path is fraught with dramatic misunderstandings and breathtaking reconciliations, but ultimately, love conquers all in this modern-day fairy tale that has a few flaws but none that can ultimately smother the wit, style and romantic high notes the book offers. Both flirty and intense, and combining a luxury fashion setting with the English aristocracy, this love story will elicit many a contented sigh among romance fans.

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June 1, 2013
When the nineteenth Duke of Northrop marries, his younger, carefree brother, Devon, is the best man. Sarah James, an American who owns a fashionable shoe company, is in the bride's party. Devon is looking for a good time, and Sarah is looking to rid herself of her virginity. But their no-strings-attached, let's-just-have-some-fun weekend turns into something else as the two of them realize their mutual attraction is more than superficial. However, like many modern romances, theirs is interrupted by miscommunications, misunderstandings, and things left unsaid. That's when Sarah's formidable grandmother, Letitia Fournier, joins forces with the redoubtable Dowager Duchess of Northrop to put a stop to this foolishness and get Sarah and Devon back on the right track. This sexy, sparkly story, with its witty dialogue and likable characters, is a fun, lively read. Readers will also seek A Royal Pain (2012), the first book in Mulry's contemporary series about American women marrying British royalty.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)