Fate had not been kind to Harmony Payne, a caregiver at a children’s home in Westbridge. After beating cancer, she had to grapple with the pain of losing her unborn child and being dumped by her fiancé. It did not help that she lost her music career too. She has little to look forward to until she finds an abandoned baby on the children’s home doorstep one night. Harmony bonds with the baby at first sight. She wants to adopt the baby, but there is one big problem; Harmony is single. However, she has a secret crush on her new handsome neighbor James Traffurth, and he might be the perfect “partner in crime” to help her get Patience if he agrees to her plan. She wants James to pretend to be engaged to her but only in front of the social worker working on Patience’s adoption. James had not looked at another woman since his wife’s death until he met Harmony. He jumps at this opportunity to get close to her. Will they end up together? Will Harmony adopt Patience? Find out in Mari Jane Law’s Love & Misdirection.

The author weaves an intriguing plot featuring a dynamic and fascinating cast. The descriptions brought the scenes to life, making me feel like I was next to the characters in every scene. Mari Jane Law has a knack for making the scenes tremendously dramatic, giving the story a witty backdrop. This had me hooked, turning page after page. The down-to-earth depictions of the characters' emotions allowed me to connect with them. The story sheds light on one of the biggest problems people face living in the twenty-first century, or perhaps since the age of intelligence for mankind, fighting moral battles. When backed into a tough spot where honesty is not enough to get you something you want so badly, would you lie, compromise, and sacrifice for it? And if you did, would that make you a bad person? Perhaps not when it involves love and pure intentions. Lovers of contemporary romance novels won’t peel their eyes off Love & Misdirection until they’ve turned to the last page.

Everything in Harmony’s life, good and bad, has led to her living and working in a children’s home. She loves and cares for every child that comes through, and staying busy keeps her mind from wandering to places she doesn’t want to revisit. However, Harmony allows herself to hope when a baby is left on the doorstep one night with little but her name. Could Patience be her chance to have a child of her own? Meanwhile, James moves into the cottage across the road with his 11-year-old son Tim. Having suffered the terrible loss of his wife and youngest son, James is hoping for a fresh start, to heal his relationship with his son and live without reminders of what their lives should have been. After a disastrous first meeting, it seems unlikely that James and Harmony will ever be more than neighbors. That is, until the interference by the children has them feigning an engagement, devised to make Harmony a better candidate for adopting baby Patience. The question is, where do they go from there? Love and Misdirection by Mari Jane Law is a compelling story of love, loss, and healing.

Love and Misdirection is an extremely enjoyable book. It deals with some pretty difficult themes, including grief and trauma, but as these are skillfully woven into a story so full of love it’s practically bursting at the seams, it mostly remains bright and lighthearted, although there are some deeply emotional moments. The plot moves at a steady pace but isn’t rushed, giving the reader pause to reflect on what’s happening while Harmony, or one of her fellows, is processing it in the narrative. Every one of the colorful characters has something that they contribute to the story, however big or small. Whilst they each undergo their own personal development, they also develop together as a group, working toward a common goal. I thoroughly enjoyed Love and Misdirection. It’s engaging and entertaining, but also at times thought-provoking and deep. Mari Jane Law expertly incorporates this juxtaposition throughout, never forgetting the difficult things, but not allowing them to take over. I found it easy to read, but difficult to put down, always feeling the need to know what would happen next, and repeatedly getting lost in the story, delighted by every twist and turn. I recommend this book to fans of romance or anyone looking to dip their toe into the genre.

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.

Love & Misdirection by Mari Jane Law is a quirky romantic comedy that delves into the lives of two individuals grappling with personal tragedies. Harmony Payne, reeling from a series of losses, discovers an abandoned newborn, reigniting her hopes of motherhood. To increase her chances of adoption, she concocts a plan to involve her new neighbor, James Traffurth, who is still mourning the loss of his wife and child. Set against the backdrop of Bristol, England, their fake engagement leads to unexpected complications as they navigate their emotional struggles, ultimately questioning if love and happiness can blossom from their misfortunes.

Author Mari Jane Law excels in weaving humor in between the serious themes of this dramatic tale, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. There’s plenty of witty, realistic dialogue and humorous, vividly described situations to provide levity amidst the heavier topics of loss and grief, striking a perfect balance that keeps readers invested in the story and the characters at the heart of it. Harmony and James are relatable, flawed, and described in emotive detail, and sensitive subjects from their lives such as childlessness, loss, and the quest for family are dealt with in such an authentic and respectful way. By exploring the characters' emotional landscapes alongside these difficult themes, Law invites readers to reflect on the complexities of motherhood and the impacts of past traumas in a really meaningful and relatable way. Overall, Love & Misdirection is a compelling and entertaining drama that I would not hesitate to recommend.