The Ripple Effect: A Novel

(Paperback)

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Description

Burned-out former ER doc Stellar J Byrd can solve any crisis except her own life. But with her financial prospects dwindling, she'd do anything to stay in her beloved, pricey wilderness town-even take a job as a camp physician at The Love Boat, an unspeakably touchy-feely relationship therapy startup. If there are sing-alongs, she's calling in sick. What's worse Her boss is Lyle "McHuge" McHugh, the sunshiny psychologist she's masterfully avoided since their disastrous hookup last year. Hardheaded relationship scorekeeper Stellar plans to dodge his pathological generosity from now until September, but after a scathing article puts McHuge's romantic credibility into question, a fake engagement is the only way to salvage the camp's crumbling public image. It's strictly business . . . but the more closely they work together, the more Stellar realizes her feelings for McHuge are anything but professional. With competitors hard on their heels and trade secrets at stake, they must find a way to marry his softness with her steel to build a business-and a love-that will last past summer's end . . .

Reviews

"A romance that can only have been written by Maggie North - steamy, emotionally nuanced, and wise. THE RIPPLE EFFECT is five star perfection." --Annabel Monaghan, bestselling author of SUMMER ROMANCE

"Funny, smart, and heartfelt. No one writes book boyfriends like Maggie North - I devoured THE RIPPLE EFFECT and fell head over heels for McHuge. I dare you not to fall in love!" --Stephanie Archer, bestselling author of THE FAKE OUT

"A masterpiece as fierce and stunning as the landscape in which it's set, The Ripple Effect hits all my must-haves-- a brilliant woman trying to hold herself together, a strong man moving gently through the world, friendships and relationships in transition, and breathtaking natural beauty. Readers will fall into this book the way Stellar and McHuge fall in love--with arms and hearts wide open." --Sarah T. Dubb, author of Birding with Benefits

"Maggie North is one of my favorite writers! Her books are kind and funny and tender, with prose that stops me in my tracks, twists my heart, and makes me feel every kind of emotion. The Ripple Effect absolutely shines with its immersive descriptions of the Canadian wilderness, the vibrant cast of characters, and the soft, swoony love between Stellar and McHuge. I can't wait to read everything Maggie writes next!" --Naina Kumar, USA Today bestselling author of Say You'll Be Mine

"Maggie North delivers a stunning romance in THE RIPPLE EFFECT. In glorious and heart-wrenching sentences, North gives us Stellar, a fierce, guarded physician who blooms in the sun of gentle psychologist Lyle and the second chance he offers her. This sexy, slow-burn love story is deeply entwined with its breathtaking Canadian river setting; the course it charts will go straight to the center of your heart." --Alexandra Vasti, USA Today bestselling author of Ne'er Duke Well

"Brimming with crackling tension and immersive prose, THE RIPPLE EFFECT swept me away. The fake engagement, burly cinnamon-roll hero, and forced proximity had me turning pages late into the night. Passionate and playful, this story is a testament to loving the softer sides of ourselves." --Alexandra Kiley, author of KILT TRIP

"The Ripple Effect is clever and gorgeous, with characters that feel unique and yet utterly relatable. Maggie North is a singular storyteller who infuses magic into every page." --Tarah DeWitt, bestselling author of SAVOR IT

"Swoon-worthy.. Even the most indoorsy romance readers will enjoy this wilderness-set love story." --Library Journal

Author Bio

MAGGIE NORTH lives in Ottawa, Canada with the man she met in ninth grade, their kid, and a rotating cast of hypoallergenic aquarium friends. Her hobbies include long-distance open water swimming, saving the world, and being relentlessly Canadian. She enjoys being autistic a lot more since she received her diagnosis as an adult. Rules for Second Chances is her first novel.