Cordial Enemies: Women’s Fiction Romance

Previously published as Cordial Enemies by Aria Chastain.

When the men in your life have let you down, is it possible to trust one enough to fall in love?

Bailey Preston has her walls up extra high around men. As a sales executive working for a company that makes an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic bottles, most of her work colleagues and clientele are men. And as a black woman, her work experiences include men who overlook her, underestimate her, or make things awkward by seeing her as a potential romantic interest.

But none of this deters Bailey from her commitment to winning as many contracts with beverage producers as possible. Her only obstacle is Liam Johanson, a sales executive at a company that also sells environmentally friendly beverage packaging products. Speculation from both of their companies about who copied whom has fueled their rivalry for years, but Liam’s first impression was what ignited her hatred for him.

When Liam goes along with Bailey’s impulsive decision to get away from a can’t-take-a-hint client, she thinks he might not be as awful as she thought. In fact, she might have misread him since the beginning. Eager to confirm this new theory but knowing they shouldn’t be seen hanging out together, they meet up at various volunteer events, testing the line between friend and foe. But Liam can be squirrelly; sometimes available at the drop of the hat and sometimes randomly disappearing without notice. Despite their growing connection, Bailey will need to uncover whether or not Liam is a guy she can really trust.

Cordial Enemies will appeal to readers who enjoy a mix of the personal growth and emotional journey seen in women’s fiction and the rivals-to-lovers trope of romance.