Comet Cove, Florida, is all about stars. Star Harbor, Stargazer Point, and a galaxy of space-themed businesses draw more and more famous folks escaping their celebrity lives for a stay in this quiet, quirky town. But when a fishing boat explodes in the Atlantic with a beloved actor on board, the big bang shakes up more than the glitterati.

Fueled on mochas from Bean Me Up, reporter Roz Melander rushes to land the biggest story her beach town has seen in years. Who was aboard the boat? And what caused the blast? Solving the mystery could help her save her family’s struggling Courier newspaper and get her back to her big-city career.

But her annoyingly handsome rival, newshound Alden Knox, is one step ahead of her. A cynical former tabloid scribe, Alden nets scoops for the fluffy Beacon, chasing the VIPs flocking to Comet Cove. And with every quip and quibble he throws at her, he gets on Roz’s last nerve.

As Roz and Alden run after clues, they fall over each other at every step. But when they stumble into danger, they realize someone will do anything to stop them. Teaming up to foil a dangerous enemy might keep them alive, but now they have another problem. One of them has to win. And given their inconvenient attraction, winning might hurt just as much as losing, especially if their hearts get in the way of their deadlines.

Scoop and Scandal is a low-spice funny romantic mystery. This novel contains mild cursing, unabashed longing and closed-door canoodling with lots of giggles.

This is the first book in a new series by Lucy Lakestone, author of the Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries.
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An earlier book by Lucy Lakestone, Desire on Deadline, served as the inspiration and basis for this novel. Locations, characters, and story elements have changed.