Sarah Grunder Ruiz is a writer, educator, and karaoke enthusiast. Originally from South Florida, she now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with her husband and two children. She holds an MFA in creative writing from North Carolina State University, where she now teaches First-Year Writing.
Old Flames and New Fortunes (2024) (Moonville, book 1) Sarah Hogle "Heartwarming and utterly enchanting, Old Flames and New Fortunes had me under its spell from page one. Hogle grounds the story with real emotional weight while letting her fantastical elements flourish, and the result is nothing short of magical and testament to the idea that, although life might not turn out the way we plan, there's always room for hope, love, and miracles."
Mrs. Nash's Ashes (2023) Sarah Adler "Mrs. Nash's Ashes is delightfully a fun and utterly romantic debut. I was charmed by Millie, Hollis, and the titular Mrs. Nash from page one. Adler has it all - fresh characters, fabulous writing, and enormous heart. I can't wait to read what she writes next."
Kismet (2023) Becky Chalsen "An atmospheric exploration of love, family, and sisterhood, Kismet is an utterly luscious debut. Keep this one in your beach bag for those sweltering summer days!"
Two Wrongs Make a Right (2022) (Wilmot Sisters, book 1) Chloe Liese "Chloe Liese's Two Wrongs Make a Right is both a high-heat romantic romp and a tender examination of what it means to find love on your own terms. Readers are sure to fall in love with Bea and Jamie as each comes into their own with the help of the last person they ever expected. Fun, feisty, and vulnerable, Liese does so much right in this irresistible opposites attract romance."
The Beach Trap (2022) Ali Brady "The Beach Trap is both a celebration of sisterhood and an unflinching examination of how where we come from shapes who we become. Ali Brady isn't afraid to let Kat and Blake muddle through their mess, be it the mistakes of their family or the literal mess of the beach house they've inherited, and gift readers with an uplifting tale that shows how, with a little elbow grease, the baggage of our past doesn't have to define us. With an HGTV-worthy plot, heaps of family drama, and a side of romance, The Beach Trap hits the nail on the head when it comes to the perfect summer read. Don't forget to pack this one in your beach bag!"
Weather Girl (2022) Rachel Lynn Solomon "As funny as it is vulnerable, Weather Girl depicts a moving portrait of finding love while living with mental illness without skimping on the laughs. I forecast rom-com readers will be utterly charmed."
The Roughest Draft (2022) Austin Siegemund-Broka and Emily Wibberley "Searingly insightful and achingly romantic, The Roughest Draft is a sweep you off your feet celebration of love and creativity in all its mess. Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka plunge readers into the world of co-writing with a depth and vulnerability that is sure to delight and fascinate."
