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Mari Jane Law lives in the UK and loves cats and chocolate – and books, TV series and films that make her laugh. Through her writing, she discovered she could make other people laugh too. She hopes those who buy or borrow her work have as much fun reading it as she had in writing it.
She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme and The Society of Authors.
Love & Misdirection is the third story in the Love & Mishaps Quirky Romantic Comedy Standalone series. This is a bittersweet story with a heartwarming ending filled with humour to lighten the poignancy in the characters' lives. If you longed for a child that was impossible to have and discovered an abandoned baby, to what lengths would you go to, to adopt that baby? This was my starting point, and I wove the story around this premise using the world I’d already created as well as introducing some new characters. The plight of children who don’t have the best start in life is a major theme – and one that is close to my heart.
If you like a cast of characters whose lives and plots intertwine in unexpected ways, bringing surprises and twists to the main plot, and have the story told through more than two points of view then you’ve come to the right place!
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
Love & Misdirection by Mari Jane Law is a heartwarming romantic comedy that delivers a delightful blend of humor, romance, and emotional depth. At the center of the story is Harmony Payne, a woman whose life has been marked by heartbreak and loss, including the end of her musical career and the painful discovery that she can't have children. Just as Harmony begins to rebuild her life, she finds an abandoned newborn, reigniting her desire for motherhood. She meets James Traffurth, her grumpy yet intriguing new neighbor grieving the loss of his wife and child. Despite their differences, Harmony's and James’s lives intertwine unexpectedly, leading to a fake engagement that both complicates and propels the story forward. Their dynamic is filled with witty banter and touching moments as they grapple with emotional baggage while slowly realizing they might need each other more than they initially thought.
What sets Love & Misdirection apart is its skillful balance of lighthearted humor and deeper emotional themes. Mari Jane Law artfully weaves moments of laugh-out-loud absurdity, like Harmony’s well-intentioned but often chaotic approach to life, with more serious topics such as loss, grief, and the yearning for family. The secondary characters—ranging from troubled children to nosy social workers—add depth to the story without overshadowing the central romance, creating a read that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Law's unique voice brings freshness to the rom-com genre, and Harmony and James’s journey from misdirection to genuine connection are reminders that sometimes love finds you when you least expect it.
