First Bride to Fall

May 23, 2022
Despite an unbelievable premise, the first Majestic Maine romance from bestseller Baird (The Matchmaker Bride) amuses with banter and constant one-upmanship from its hastily matched central couple. Nell Delaney and her two sisters happily work at their parents’ failing coffee shop in their touristy hometown. Upon discovering that their mother has brokered a business deal sealed with an arranged marriage between one of her daughters and a family frenemy who stole a piece of their business and turned it into a global conglomerate, Nell and her sisters each vow to marry elsewhere quickly. Nell’s had her eye on adventure guide Grant Williams since high school and this pact finally gives her the gumption to join one of his hikes and try to catch his attention. Grant falls fast, particularly after foul weather and injury forces the pair to spend time together. But upon discovering Nell’s calculated quest for marriage, Grant vows to make her call off their relationship first, setting up comical (and cringy) camping and cooking disasters as he does his best to make himself seem unappealing. Baird loads the story with classic romance tropes—including a mad dash through an airport—and over-the-top humor. Readers craving some summery escapism will be pleased. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyons Literary.

July 1, 2022
A young woman has 30 days to find true love or she will be forced to enter a passionless marriage of convenience. Baird's novel opens as Nell Delaney and her two sisters learn that their family coffee business and cafe are in dire straits. Their mother has brokered a deal with a rival business partner's wife, Jane Strong. The agreement stipulates that if one of the sisters marries Jane's son, the Delaneys will be able to retain ownership of the cafe rather than forfeiting it to the Strong family. Though Nell is generally eager to help her family, sacrificing her romantic future to a business arrangement seems too extreme. Nell and her sisters decide that if any of them should land a fiance within 30 days, that lucky woman will be exempt from the arranged marriage. Nell has been eyeing Grant Williams for a long time, and this is the push she needs to pursue him ("Grant was the only man she wanted. He seemed kind and intelligent and accomplished"). Unfortunately, the two have little in common, starting with Grant's love of the outdoors and Nell's decidedly indoor lifestyle. As she pretends to adore hiking and camping, Nell falls victim to one humorous disaster after another. Even so, she and Grant begin to grow closer, and her hopes rise that he may be the one. When Grant inadvertently learns about the sisters' deal, it seems the relationship may be doomed. As readers wait to see whether Nell and Grant can make it work, the clock continues ticking on the sisters' pact, keeping suspense high. Chock-full of delightful moments of outdoor adventures and interpersonal connections, the story feels like a light romp through small-town America. Although the initial setup of a mother advocating for an arranged marriage feels outdated and unrealistic, it allows for an entertaining tale to unfold. Similarly, the connection between Nell and Grant seems to develop too quickly and without any real substance to support their enjoyment of each other, but they are both likable characters who will endear themselves to readers with their different quirks. Punchy dialogue, flirty banter, forced proximity, mixed signals, and misunderstandings make for a formulaic but successful romance as the story races to its conclusion. A charming opposites-attract tale for fans of romance tropes.

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