Wrong to Need You

September 25, 2017
Rai follows her Forbidden Hearts series launch (Hate to Want You) with well-drawn characters and a plot that heats up with the mutual attraction between Jackson Kane and his brother’s widow, Sadia Ahmed. Sadia’s family believes money is the only reason she’s pulling double evening shifts as a cocktail waitress at O’Killian’s Bar; the Kane Cafe, a breakfast and lunch spot that she inherited from her deceased husband, isn’t providing enough for the single mom and her son. She doesn’t tell her relatives that cocktail waitressing also yields a constant stream of no-questions-asked anonymous sex partners. When Jackson returns to Rockville, N.Y., from self-imposed exile, Sadia’s yearning for him, which she’s suppressed for a decade, comes roaring back. As if to further tempt her, he shows up at the cafe, offering to fill in as the chef she desperately needs. Romance and passion grow between them, but the rest of the town still holds a grudge for the fire they believe Jackson started 10 years ago, so if he wants to stay for Sadia’s sake, there are amends to be made. This is addictive reading for fans of family sagas and romance. Agent: Steve Axelrod, Axelrod Agency.

October 15, 2017
Jackson hasn't answered years of heartfelt e-mails from his sister-in-law, Sadie, nor did he come home for the birth of his nephew, or for his brother's funeral. That's how hurt he still is from family betrayal in his youth. But now he returns to see his sister and to be with the woman he loves. Sadie is uncomfortable having her former friend around, even though he takes over cooking at her cafe and makes her life easier. She's attracted to Jackson, and his quiet intensity is breaking through the armor of her independence. Jackson confronts his past so that he and Sadie can create a future. Rising-star Rai's (Hate to Want You, 2017) excellent contemporary small-town Forbidden Heart series radiates intelligence and chemistry. The background of family drama adds dimension to the tender love story. Sadie's sister Jai's rebellion against her family's medical-school expectations is a fascinating subplot. Another excellent addition to the popular second-chance romance genre.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)