BLUFFTON, S.C. - s4story -- Melinda Copp's new book, COMPLICATIONS IN PARIS (ISBN: 978-1-964546-03-2), is a historical romance novel that explores the meaning of a "good" marriage during an era of rapid social change.

In their five-star review, Reedsy Discovery calls it, "A thought-provoking and realistic story of two people who need to overcome their assumptions to find happiness."

COMPLICATIONS IN PARIS follows Diane Talbot, an American in Paris who desperately wants to stay that way. Instead of returning to Woollett, New York, she and her sister didn't get on the boat. Now, nearly a year later, their father's fiancée and her stepson—at Daddy's behest—have come to Paris to bring them home. When they surprise Diane in a compromising situation with French party boy Guillaume Allard, she improvises and claims they're engaged.

It's the perfect plan. As long as she can convince her family that she's getting married and has established herself in Paris, they can't take her home. The best part is that Diane won't really have to get married—not to the man her father wants or to Guillaume.

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Handsome and charming Guillaume barely knows Diane. But she's fun, and he owes her a favor. He goes along with the fake engagement, but that's a decision he soon regrets.

As Diane and Guillaume spend more time together, the ruse gets harder to perpetuate, and her family gets more involved. Soon, this perfect solution is far trickier than anticipated, and their feelings for each other have grown so complicated that it can only be love. Ultimately, they're forced to face an impossible obstacle to their happily ever after: he wants a lifelong commitment, and she believes marriage is a trap best avoided.

COMPLICATIONS IN PARIS is the second book in a series of historical romance novels set in Belle Époque Paris. Kirkus Reviews called the first book, LOVE AND THE DOWNFALL OF SOCIETY, "A fine tale for readers who enjoy love stories with modern sensibilities in old-fashioned settings," and they featured it in the November 15, 2024 print issue of their magazine.

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Melinda Copp is a writer based in Bluffton, South Carolina. Her work has been published in newspapers, magazines, and literary journals, including HuffPost, The Rumpus, and The Petigru Review. She regularly writes about books for the Post and Courier. She has an MFA in creative writing from Goucher College and a BS in journalism from West Virginia University. Subscribe to her free monthly email newsletter about books, culture, and life at https://www.melinda-copp.com/newsletter.

Review copies of the book are available, and the author is available for interviews. For more information about the author and the book, visit https://www.melinda-copp.com/.