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  • Published: 24 March 2026
  • ISBN: 9781496752581
  • Imprint: Kensington
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 320
  • RRP: $45.00

The Big Fix




Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard meets The Fall Guy with Ryan Gosling in a modern blend of screwball action and romantic attraction when a case of mistaken identity lands a college professor on the run with a mysterious—and dangerously hot—fixer . . .

Now in paperback for fans of Ally Carter, Elle Cosimano, and Sara Desai!

Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard meets The Fall Guy with Ryan Gosling in a modern blend of screwball action and romantic attraction when a case of mistaken identity lands a college professor on the run with a mysterious—and dangerously hot—fixer . . .

Now in paperback for fans of Ally Carter, Elle Cosimano, and Sara Desai!

When bookish Penny Collins reluctantly lets her sister drag her to an estate sale at a neighbor’s house, she’s hoping for a little diversion rummaging through dusty antiques. Instead, she ends up in a public squabble over candlesticks with the deceased owner’s nephew, Anthony—right before a dead body tumbles out of a closet.

Penny’s plan for the summer involved finalizing tenure at the university where she’s a computer sciences professor. Instead, she’s suddenly on the run with a man she barely knows, scaling walls, evading bullets, and accidentally stabbing henchmen. It seems the wrong people have got it in their heads that she’s Anthony’s girlfriend and, by association, in possession of something they desperately need—and will do anything to get.

As for Anthony, he has a top-secret occupation as a fixer, but a recent fix went dangerously awry, and now he and Penny are dodging both a ruthless billionaire and the FBI. And it’ll take all of Penny’s plentiful savvy and common sense, in addition to Anthony’s particular set of skills, to survive long enough for her to see the next semester . . .

  • Published: 24 March 2026
  • ISBN: 9781496752581
  • Imprint: Kensington
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 320
  • RRP: $45.00

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Praise for The Big Fix

Praise for The Big Fix:

"Holly James delivers everything you could want in this action-packed romance! I was simultaneously on the edge of my seat, wondering what comes next, and swooning over the delicious sexual tension. This is a genre-bending adventure perfect for those of us who couldn't get enough of Scandal. " —Falon Ballard, author of Change of Heart

"The Big Fix truly has it all: gripping action, page-turning suspense, laugh-out-loud humor, swoon-worthy romance—even dead bodies falling out of closets! Holly James has outdone herself with this wildly entertaining romp of a novel." —Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot

"Fans of the Finlay Donovan series will adore The Big Fix, with its endearing heroine and perfect blend of light-hearted suspense, screwball comedy, and ‘hot hitman next door’ romance (um, yes please!). James will have you cackling all the way through this madcap romp, as her characters journey from secretly subversive suburban streets to high-end playgrounds for the rich and famous." —Ashley Winstead, author of Midnight is the Darkest Hour

“A case of mistaken identity leads to danger and unexpected love in this entertaining contemporary…James keeps the twists coming, leading readers on a fast-paced thrill ride complete with a ruthless villain who will do anything to stop Penny and Anthony in their track. Readers who like their romance to come with plenty of action will be pleased.”Publishers Weekly

"There's a sizzling romance that leaps off the page, but this is no ordinary rom-com—there are hired fixers, a dead bodyguard, and a million whodunnit moments that you won't want to miss! Go grab this and hold on tight, you're in for some wild fun!" —Erin La Rosa, author of The Back Track

“James blends romance, suspense, and humor in her latest outing… Humor punctuates the suspense, while likable characters will keep people reading.  James shines when it comes to contemporary romance.” Library Journal

"Ray Donovan meets Netflix’s Hitman with a dash of everyone’s favorite enemies-to-lovers dynamic. An un-put-downable whirlwind of romantic thrills, James’ witty characters breathe life into this genre mashup of hilarious chaos. From meet-cutes to shake-downs, James’ expertly woven plot doesn’t miss a beat." —Mandy McHugh, author of It Takes Monsters and Chloe Cates Is Missing

"This fast-paced, entertaining romp is the perfect mash-up of action, adventure, and flirtatious banter, with an unlikely duo whose magnetic chemistry is impossible for anyone to ignore (for better or worse!)." —Lindsay Hameroff, author of Never Planned on You

“This is a bit of a mix of screwball action and romantic suspense, and it’s perfect for fans of a reluctant action heroine, high stakes comedy, and a dangerous man with a heart of gold.” —Under the Covers Podcast

“We’ve got fugitives on the run…we’ve got mistaken identities…This is a fun cover! It’s giving me Kristen Bird’s A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem…love it.” —Chapter and Converse

“Entertaining…Recommend The Big Fix to friends who enjoy light-action with a dash of cozy love.” —LitBuzz Book Hive

“The perfect summer escape – a propulsive plot with genuine stakes, characters who can’t help but root for, and a satisfying romance that develops alongside the genres.” —BookClub, Community of Literary Buffs

Praise for The Big Fix:

"Holly James delivers everything you could want in this action-packed romance! I was simultaneously on the edge of my seat, wondering what comes next, and swooning over the delicious sexual tension. This is a genre-bending adventure perfect for those of us who couldn't get enough of Scandal. " —Falon Ballard, author of Change of Heart

"The Big Fix truly has it all: gripping action, page-turning suspense, laugh-out-loud humor, swoon-worthy romance—even dead bodies falling out of closets! Holly James has outdone herself with this wildly entertaining romp of a novel." —Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot

"Fans of the Finlay Donovan series will adore The Big Fix, with its endearing heroine and perfect blend of light-hearted suspense, screwball comedy, and ‘hot hitman next door’ romance (um, yes please!). James will have you cackling all the way through this madcap romp, as her characters journey from secretly subversive suburban streets to high-end playgrounds for the rich and famous." —Ashley Winstead, author of Midnight is the Darkest Hour

“A case of mistaken identity leads to danger and unexpected love in this entertaining contemporary…James keeps the twists coming, leading readers on a fast-paced thrill ride complete with a ruthless villain who will do anything to stop Penny and Anthony in their track. Readers who like their romance to come with plenty of action will be pleased.”Publishers Weekly

"There's a sizzling romance that leaps off the page, but this is no ordinary rom-com—there are hired fixers, a dead bodyguard, and a million whodunnit moments that you won't want to miss! Go grab this and hold on tight, you're in for some wild fun!" —Erin La Rosa, author of The Back Track

“James blends romance, suspense, and humor in her latest outing… Humor punctuates the suspense, while likable characters will keep people reading.  James shines when it comes to contemporary romance.” Library Journal

"Ray Donovan meets Netflix’s Hitman with a dash of everyone’s favorite enemies-to-lovers dynamic. An un-put-downable whirlwind of romantic thrills, James’ witty characters breathe life into this genre mashup of hilarious chaos. From meet-cutes to shake-downs, James’ expertly woven plot doesn’t miss a beat." —Mandy McHugh, author of It Takes Monsters and Chloe Cates Is Missing

"This fast-paced, entertaining romp is the perfect mash-up of action, adventure, and flirtatious banter, with an unlikely duo whose magnetic chemistry is impossible for anyone to ignore (for better or worse!)." —Lindsay Hameroff, author of Never Planned on You

“This is a bit of a mix of screwball action and romantic suspense, and it’s perfect for fans of a reluctant action heroine, high stakes comedy, and a dangerous man with a heart of gold.” —Under the Covers Podcast

“We’ve got fugitives on the run…we’ve got mistaken identities…This is a fun cover! It’s giving me Kristen Bird’s A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem…love it.” —Chapter and Converse

“Entertaining…Recommend The Big Fix to friends who enjoy light-action with a dash of cozy love.” —LitBuzz Book Hive

“The perfect summer escape – a propulsive plot with genuine stakes, characters who can’t help but root for, and a satisfying romance that develops alongside the genres.” —BookClub, Community of Literary Buffs