★De Cadenet, Gia. Give Me a Shot. Dell. May 2025. 320p. ISBN 9780593722763. pap. $18. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

After her sister’s death, Jess is back in the United States, trying to move forward. She decides to start by cleaning out her sister’s storage unit, but when she arrives, she finds a possible ax murderer washing his hands. Mo, a master blacksmith who uses the neighboring unit, is minding his own business when he’s accosted by a panicked, crossbow-wielding woman. Later, when they bump into each other at the local folk school, Jess realizes her mistake and is able to appreciate Mo’s metal-working muscles and how nice he is. Mo has carefully organized his life so as not to trigger his sensory-processing sensitivity. He’s easily overwhelmed and overstimulated and tries to stay away from people in order to maintain his peace. But he can’t stop thinking about the beautiful woman with the crossbow. Soon they begin a relationship, but their growing intimacy creates its own set of problems. This humorous, contemplative romance features realistic, strong, but insecure, characters with relatable flaws and quirks. Jess’s chronic pain and Mo’s sensory-processing sensitivity are key to the story and written with respect. VERDICT De Cadenet’s (Not the Plan) well-written novel is riveting. Fans of romance with depth will clamor for this title.