Excerpts-

• From the cover Chapter One 
  
  Annie
  
  
  I am convinced dating was created by an evil villain to torture humanity. Dramatic? Not in the least. For introverts like me with social anxiety, the process of dating is equivalent to waxing your
  bikini line. Menstrual cramps on day two of your cycle. An emergency dental procedure you weren’t expecting—and guess what: they’re fresh out of novocaine.
  
  “Again, I’m so sorry about the beer,” I say to the man sitting across from me.
  
  “It’s fine,” he says in a clipped way that means it’s absolutely not fine.
  
  This is not going well. Not that it has ever gone well for me in the past, but this time it really isn’t. I think turning a man off in the first ten minutes of a date is my new record. Because John, the man sitting across from me with a sopping-wet, beer-stained polo and khakis from the drink I accidentally knocked across the table onto his lap, looks ready to bolt. Can’t blame him.
  
  Why did I think I could do this? It’s been years since I dated, and even back then I never liked it much. I’m a person who avoids attention at all costs. Who can’t think of a single thing to say when a man sitting across from her is intently staring at her.
  
  Again, I ask myself, Why are you here, Annie?!
  
  Oh right. It was the brownie. Well, first it was the realization that even after opening the flower shop my mom had always dreamed of, the nagging something-is-missing feeling still pesters me. So I decided it’s time to put a plan in motion to settle down with my perfect someone—because that’s the only box left unchecked in my life. And since I’ve been drooling over John (the man my sisters and I always refer to as Hot Bank Teller), I thought he might be the perfect candidate for the job.
  
  The job in question has very strict criteria based on the bursting-with-love marriage my parents had. One, he must live in town and have roots here in Rome, Kentucky; two, he must have a stable job; three, he must be kind and also be supportive of my career; and four, he must want a family.
  
  Those are the only things that matter to me.
  
  So the last time I went to the bank to deposit a check, I used up my Once-a-Year Extroverted Moment and asked him if he’d like to go out sometime. He miraculously said yes, and I spent the next week recuperating from the stress and anxiety I suffered in asking.
  
  Anyway, when I proposed meeting somewhere a little outside of Rome to have fresh scenery (and keep our nosy, single-stoplight town out of my business), he suggested Peppercorn, a nice restaurant about thirty minutes away. And when I looked it up, Yelp said this place has an excellent giant brownie. It doesn’t get better than that.
  
  The dessert is literally the only reason I’m still sitting here on this painfully awkward date.
  
  I wish I could text my sisters right now and ask them what to do. But that requires them actually knowing I’m on a date, which would open me up to the sort of attention I’ve been trying to avoid.
  
  The very minute my sisters find out about my quest to find a husband—everyone else will know too. I would really hate to have Mabel (the woman who’s like a grandma to me) attempt to set me up with every eligible bachelor she knows. So I’m keeping it a secret—like most things in my life.
  
  The only reason I’m pushing through my terrible social anxiety now is because I’m fully confident that marriage is the Thing that’s...

Reviews-

• 

  February 13, 2023
  An introverted florist and a “hot, dangerous” bodyguard dance around their feelings for each other in Adams’s fluffy sequel to When in Rome. Rome, Ken., flower shop owner Annie Walker has always enjoyed her quiet and solitary life, but seeing her brother and future sister-in-law, pop star Amelia Rose, prepare for their lavish wedding has Annie aching for a love of her own. Unfortunately, dating proves difficult in a small town where everyone knows everyone and Annie’s staid reputation precedes her. Enter Will Griffin, Amelia’s former bodyguard and Annie’s longtime crush. Amelia tasks Will with becoming Annie’s “dating coach,” to help her master her “First Date Anxiety” and become more outgoing. The pair grow close over increasingly steamy dating lessons, with Annie learning that Will’s standoffish facade hides a heart of gold and Will realizing that he doesn’t actually want Annie to change a thing about her approach to dating or to life. Though slow-burning, the pair’s chemistry is off the charts, relayed in playful banter and plenty of charged moments. Returning readers will not be disappointed. Agent: Kim Lionetti, BookEnds Literary.

• Jorjeana Marie portrays Annie Walker, a down-to-earth flower shop owner who is ready to find love in Rome, Kentucky. Handsome and flirty Will Griffin, portrayed by Will Peters, is back in town to be pop star Amelia Rose's bodyguard. After having a particularly bad date, Annie decides she needs a dating tutor, and Will steps up to the challenge. Annie's innocent and fun femininity is flawlessly portrayed by Marie, who makes it easy for listeners to relate to this lovable character. Peters brings out Will's masculinity. The delightfully flirty lines between these two love interests come to life in the narration, making Sarah Adams's latest novel an intriguing romance. D.Z. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
• 

  June 10, 2024
  

  Adams (The Cheat Sheet) transports listeners to Rome, KY, in the second installment of her heartwarming "When in Rome" series. This time, the Walker sibling taking the lead is good-girl Annie. Annie has a successful career and a close-knit family, but she knows exactly what her life is missing: marriage. Unfortunately for the socially anxious introvert, dating is akin to torture. Enter Will Griffin, all-around bad boy and bodyguard to Annie's starlet sister-in-law. Though Will is far from marriage material, he can surely teach Annie the skills she needs to meet her match, as long as they remember that their flirtation is a rehearsal and not reality. This charming romantic comedy is full of amusing, amiable characters. Narrator Jorjeana Marie is a perfect match for the angelic Annie, while Will Peters sounds a bit mature for the restless rebel Will. Nevertheless, the pair gives a delightful and engaging performance of the banter-filled dual narrative. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a steamy contemporary romance about a ne'er-do-well newcomer and a small-town sweetheart. Recommended for fans of Amy Lea, Dylan Newton, and Lynn Painter.--Lauren Hackert

  Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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