Accidentally in Love

A summer fling amid the hard work of the Chicago festival scene quickly becomes complicated in Jackson’s latest, after The Accidental Pinup. Grumpy, stressed-out Samantha is dealing with health issues, an overwhelming workload, and the unexpected reconnection of her parents, all while being admired from afar by Russ, a sexy aspiring chef trying to find his place in the world. They decide to have a no-strings-attached relationship as they spend time together working at Chicago festivals before Russ leaves town in the fall. Sam and Russ both have more baggage than an airport during the holidays, but Jackson makes the main characters so real that their hesitations and hang-ups feel realistic rather than contrived for drama. The novel is a bit of a slow burn, but patient readers will be fanning themselves over the chemistry between Sam and Russ, particularly once their fling gets going.