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2026 Book 10 - Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane

I would have happily kept reading. I liked the voice and dual points-of-view. Initially I had some trouble parsing the language, but I soon fell into it and loved the turn of phrases. 

Bel is an investigative journalist at a newspaper, and Connor is the new intern. They have to pretend to be a couple for an undercover assignment, and of course develop feelings along the way. The book packs a lot into it, with infidelity, stalkers, Me Too situations, friendships (Side character Shilpa needs her own book.), and the sting operation. Bel and Connor work together to take down a married Mayor, who preys on younger women, sleeping with them and taking secret nudes. They befriend the daughter of one the Mayor’s cronies, who owns the Airbnb where the trysts happen. The plan is to get the Ring footage as proof, but they get busted. The daughter ends up helping them, so that part kind of falls in the laps. Connor and Bel going from enemies to lovers was fun to read. No real spice to the book.  (9)

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