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“[A] delightfully tropey rom-com . . . This is a sweet confection.”—Publishers Weekly
Ellie Greco wishes she weren’t stuck in Milborough. For a few brief, shining years, she escaped her hometown to pursue her dream career—designing beautiful, elaborate costumes for theater—until her father's death five years ago called her home to run the family's decades-old deli. Yes, she loves the place, but she’d always thought she was meant for more exciting things than stocking the right tinned fish. But when Ellie hears that a local landlord is planning to rent to Mangia, the glitzy gourmet food department store, the very existence of Greco’s Deli is suddenly in jeopardy.
She tries to plead her case to Theo Taylor, scion of the property management firm that is about to put her out of business, but their meeting goes from bad (it’s not her fault he’s infuriating) to worse (no one expects the ceiling to literally fall in).
With Theo out cold, Ellie panics and claims to be his fiancée . . . and almost passes out herself when amnesia means Theo seems to actually believe her. Soon, the effects of the head injury wear off, but Theo proposes that their “engagement” stick around. If they manage to convince enough people, they might both get what they want: an end to the Mangia deal. Ellie doesn’t trust him (after all, if Theo Taylor wants it, how can it be good for her?) but seeing no other option, she reluctantly agrees.
And miraculously, the fake engagement seems to be working—even Ted, Theo’s shrewd, cold father seems convinced—that is, until Sam, Theo’s ex-fiancée, reappears on the scene. Not only does she see through their ruse, but she proposes an arrangement of her own, forcing Ellie to decide between a blossoming friendship, her family legacy, and the burgeoning romance she frankly never asked for.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
April 30, 2024 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780593722978
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780593722978
- File size: 7275 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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January 1, 2024
Gagnon, who writes crime and YA fiction, turns to rom-com with this fake-engagement, enemies-to-lovers story. Ellie meets real-estate scion Theo Taylor when her family deli is at risk of closure and accidentally ends up pretending to be his fianc�e. The arrangement, oddly, seems to work, until his ex shows up. Prepub Alert.
Copyright 2023 Library Journal
Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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February 12, 2024
With this delightfully tropey rom-com, Gagnon (Scenes of the Crime) introduces Ellie Greco, who returns to her hometown of Milborough, Mass., from New York City to run her family’s decades-old deli after the death of her father. Upon learning that Taylor Property Management is planning to make a deal to entice an upscale Italian grocer to town, Ellie sets out to stop the scheme before it can put the deli out of business. Her meeting with Theo Taylor, son of the property management firm’s CEO, ends in disaster, however, when a freak accident lands Theo in the hospital with a head injury. A panicked Ellie tells the EMTs that she’s his fiancée so she can stay with him—only for Theo to wake up with amnesia and believe her lie. Theo’s memory soon returns, but he proposes they maintain their fake engagement to stop his father from going through with the grocery deal, believing that Ellie will have more sway as Theo’s fiancée. Fake dating gives rise to attraction and intimacy, and Gagnon expertly combines humor and tenderness as this unlikely couple discovers hidden depths in each other. This is a sweet confection. Agent: Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary. -
April 1, 2024
A small-town deli owner strikes a deal with a handsome real estate mogul when her family's company is threatened by a food department store. When Ellie Greco left for New York with dreams of costume design, she never imagined that five years down the line, her life would consist of deli meat, indecisive elderly patrons, and more deli meat. But when her father died and Ellie volunteered to take over the family business back in Milborough, Massachusetts, any plans she had of couture fell by the wayside. Then Ellie learns about Mangia: a new Italian food mega-market heading to town with enough charcuterie baskets to put Greco's Deli out of business for good. It turns out that Ellie's former high school classmate Theo Taylor is leading the project on behalf of his tycoon father. With Theo's trust fund and his all-business manner, he couldn't be more different from Ellie, but she's willing to do just about anything to save Greco's--even if it means buddying up with the enemy. Then, when a construction accident leaves Theo with temporary amnesia, Ellie fibs to his nurse and pretends to be his fiancee. What starts as a good-natured ploy to assess Theo's concussion turns into way more than Ellie bargained for once he regains his memory. It turns out that Theo doesn't want to build Mangia, which will destroy the historic buildings he'd love to preserve. If they stay "engaged," Theo can save the buildings, and Ellie's deli will remain unscathed...because, of course, what man would put his future wife out of work? If Ellie and Theo can prove their "love" to Mr. Taylor and the rest of Milborough, their ruse might just work. Gagnon's latest novel has a trope for every romance lover: fake dating, amnesia, and even an ex thrown into an already complicated jumble of feelings, and yet it all works just fine. Gagnon's characters are vulnerable and motivated, and there are just enough steamy scenes to keep you rooting for a delicious happily-ever-after. A delectable romance.COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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