Izzy Edgewood is a librarian in the small town of Mt. Airy, NC. After a couple of heartbreaks and far too many blind dates, Izzy has finally met the bookish men of her dreams. Brodie's family owns bookshops in Scotland, where he lives, and chatting with him comes easily for Izzy. Eli, a new professor in town, is an author, and asks Izzy out after meeting her at the library. Talking with Eli is also easy, since he does most of the talking. As her friendships with both men progress, Izzy finds herself torn between her dreams and practicality. If only she could be sure of God's plan for her life. This chaste, contemporary, Christian romance is told primarily through emails and text, with events, emotions, and actions summarized, which creates distance and a disconnect between readers and the likable, if unrealistic, characters. VERDICT Though sweet, this romance from Basham (The Heart of the Mountains) will have trouble finding its audience.--Heather Miller Cover

A long-distance romance anchors this cute contemporary from Basham (The Heart of the Mountains). Izzy Edgewood hasn't had much luck with dating, but she's content with her quiet, small-town life, surrounded by books and her dog. Though Izzy is initially wary of using the online dating profile her cousin made for her, she logs on after an underwhelming blind date and starts corresponding with Brodie, who shares her love of The Lord of the Rings. Believing that he's too good to be true, Izzy suspects her cousin of concocting Brodie and pretending to be interested in her to boost her confidence, but Izzy keeps talking to him and discovers that he's real and lives in Europe. "Life is too precious to hesitate when God offers the opportunity for something even better than what we imagine," Izzy decides, determining to embrace her feelings for Brodie despite the distance between them. When they finally meet in person, it's charmingly awkward, but they develop a strong connection that enables them to navigate the complexities of a long distance relationship and deal with their emotional baggage. Basham primarily tells her story through emails, texts, and dating app messages, a quirky approach that complements the adorable leads. Filled with humor and grace, this is perfect for fans of Denise Hunter. (Nov.)