Debut novel by Tricia Heggeness earns Hollywood Book Review Excellent Merit recognition
(Isstories Editorial):- Los Angeles, California Feb 6, 2026 (Issuewire.com) – Not My Bachelor by Tricia Heggeness is a character-driven contemporary novel that intertwines romance, family revelation, and personal loss against the contrasting backdrops of Manhattan and Southern California. The story follows Rina Spencer, a 27-year-old freelance writer from New York, who travels west to spend time with her terminally ill mother. What begins as a family-centered visit soon becomes a turning point that reshapes Rina’s understanding of love, identity, and truth.
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During her stay, Rina forms an unexpected bond with Marcus Granger, a former law student selected as one of six contestants on a romance reality television series filmed next door to her sister’s home. As the show unfolds on camera, a quieter, more authentic connection develops off-screen between Rina and Marcus. Their friendship deepens while both navigate emotional crossroads–Rina facing grief and unresolved family history, and Marcus confronting the artificial nature of televised romance.
The novel’s emotional stakes intensify when Rina’s mother reveals a long-buried secret: Rina’s father, believed to have died during the September 11 attacks, may not have perished as the family was told. This revelation sends the Spencer siblings on a search for answers while Rina struggles with conflicting loyalties, personal values, and emerging feelings she believes she must resist.
Not My Bachelor has received the Hollywood Book Review Excellent Merit designation. In its review, the Hollywood Book Review praised the novel’s layered character development, emotional authenticity, and thoughtful exploration of love, loss, and human connection. The review highlighted Heggeness’s ability to place characters in morally complex situations that reveal personal values and deepen reader engagement.
Author Tricia Heggeness, now residing in La Quinta, California, brings a reflective and human-centered approach to her debut work. Not My Bachelor marks her first published novel and establishes a strong foundation for future fiction centered on emotionally resonant storytelling and complex relationships.
This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.
