February 19, 2024
This scorching contemporary from Cunningham (Penetration Testing) follows workaholic hotel manager Genevieve “Gen” Raymond, who lives by the mantra “Diligence. Ambition. Drive” and owes her entrepreneurial spirit to her overbearing mother, Lissette. After overseeing the successful opening of a new Tropics Hotels location in Panama City, she’s on track to the promotion of her dreams. First, however, comes a long-overdue two-week vacation in Colón, Panama, where she hopes to turn her sensual daydreams about her driver and crush, Adrián Nicolas, into reality. The sexual tension is very much mutual, and as they embark on a fling, Gen permits herself to let go, explore the beaches, immerse herself in Panamanian culture, and maybe even open her heart. Adrián, too, used to put work above all else, but after a personal tragedy, he’s reevaluated his priorities—and he hopes to remind Gen of what she’s been missing while focused on her job: namely self-care and human connection. Will Adrián and Gen be able to reconcile their values and find lasting love? Cunningham makes the answer to that question believable and swoony, showing how Gen and Adrián balance each other out. The off-the-charts chemistry and gorgeous tropical setting will make this a hit with romance lovers and armchair travelers alike.
May 3, 2024
Cunningham's (A Turn in the Air) latest takes readers from the laid-back beaches of Panama to the busy boardrooms of South Florida and back. Genevieve Raymond has spent her life trying to live up to the example set by her mother, a renowned Black entrepreneur and mentor. Hovering dangerously close to burnout, Gen schedules herself a two-week beach vacation after finishing her latest big project. There, she meets local Adri�n Nicholas. A healthy work-life balance is paramount to Adri�n, who realized its importance the hard way after a family tragedy. Though their long-term goals seem incompatible--she is on track for a big city promotion, he's devoted to his small hometown and family business--the chemistry the two of them share is undeniable. Can Gen and Adri�n have a future that lasts beyond a vacation fling? VERDICT Cunningham's characters struggle with a plethora of real-life issues( grief, guilt, chronic overachievement, and the impact of gentrification), which makes their story feel both relevant and highly relatable. Their romance has plenty of steam as well.--Rebecca Moe
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