The author of acclaimed children's and YA series, Santopolo became an adult author with the New York Times best-selling The Light We Lost. (Plus, there's a movie coming.) Here, Nina, whose father owns New York's high-end Gregory Hotels, has been raised to care deeply about her family's reputation. But a secret she learns when her father dies has her questioning not just him but all the men in her life.

Nina Gregory loves her work as a speech writer on the charismatic Rafael's political campaign. She looks up to him almost as much as she does her father, owner of the fashionable and luxurious Gregory Hotels. Nina's family name and legacy mean everything to her, and she's always tried to live up to his expectations for her life, even when they don't jell with her own beliefs. When her father dies, family secrets change the way Nina feels about everyone important to her, including her father, her fiancé Tim, and even the handsome Rafael. Nina must decide what really matters: going her own way or letting her family choose her future. Children's and YA author Santopolo's second novel for adults (after The Light We Lost) takes a fascinating look into the lives of New York City's superwealthy and political elite. Nina is a thoughtful and likable character who's forced to make life-defining choices that will keep readers enthralled. VERDICT This breezy read is full of drama and romance, but at its core is a story of family and self-identity that will please women's fiction fans. [See Prepub Alert, 8/27/18.]—Kristen Calvert, Dallas P.L., TX

Santopolo follows 2017's The Light We Lost with a heartfelt story about life, love, and taking chances in the aftermath of loss. Thirty-something hotel heiress Nina Gregory loves her job as speechwriter for New York mayoral candidate Rafael O'Connor-Ruiz, and she loves her boyfriend and lifelong best friend, Tim Calder. But she adores her father, Joseph, and as cancer weakens the once-vibrant man, Nina treasures the time they have left. When Joseph finally succumbs to his illness, the devastated Nina must pick up the pieces and take the reins of the Gregory Corporation. Nina soon discovers that her father, who revered the Gregory legacy and lived life in the spotlight, was hiding secrets about his company and her mother, who died when Nina was a child. A potent—and mutual—attraction to Rafael complicates things further. Nina's self-discovery is bolstered by the strong women in her life, and her struggle to accept her larger than life father as a flawed man will resonate with readers. This is a charming and sexy crowd-pleaser. (Feb.)