A heartbroken doctor flees big-city life only to find that matters of the heart are just as complicated in quaint little Moonflower Bay in Holiday's appealing second Matchmaker Bay romance (after Mermaid Inn). Toronto doctor Nora Walsh hopes a self-imposed two-year stint as a small-town general practitioner will ease her heartbreak over a failed relationship and clear her head. She strikes up a fast, flirtatious friendship with handsome local carpenter Jake Ramsey, a divorcé whose son, Jude, died a year earlier and whose ongoing grief has earned him a reputation as a hermit. Nora and Jake's attraction soon turns physical, leading to passionate sex scenes and confusion about how to label their evolving relationship. The progression of both their feelings and their fears is natural and credible, and Holiday balances heart-tugging romance with low-stakes medical drama and breezy exchanges between the endearing townsfolk. This light, pleasant story is perfect for fans of Debbie Macomber and Doc Martin. Agent: Courtney Miller-Callihan, Handspun Literary. (Aug.)

A Toronto transplant moves to a small town on the shores of Lake Huron and falls in love with a man grieving for his deceased child. Dr. Nora Walsh wonders how her seemingly perfect life turned upside down so quickly. After she discovered her boyfriend was cheating on her, Nora realized she had accommodated his every wish for their life together. Deciding there is nothing salvageable for her in Toronto, she decides to try the life of a small-town doctor for two years; she can rediscover herself and save money toward a down payment on a home. Nora surprises herself by enjoying life in the charming tourist town of Moonflower Bay, and she quickly befriends local woodworker and fisherman Jake Ramsey. Jake has lived in town his entire life, but everyone gives him a wide berth out of respect for his profound grief. Four years earlier his son died of the flu before his first birthday, his marriage broke up soon afterward, and then his mother died of breast cancer. Jake has spent years alone, dealing with the waves of grief that are his constant companion. But something about Nora's warm acceptance unlocks Jake, and he finds himself able to share his feelings of sadness, loss, and guilt. The pacing of the friends-to-lovers plot is perfect: Nora and Jake bond over home repairs and her pet dog, but eventually they enter into a secret "friends with benefits" arrangement. They pledge to keep the entanglement from becoming "romantic"--Jake is convinced that part of him is dead, and Nora intends to leave town. As their emotional attachment deepens, Jake and Nora each have to evaluate whether they are willing and able to take another risk on love. This richly satisfying romance is a heart-wrenching and emotional tour de force. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.