17. Lizards Hold the Sun

By Dani Trujillo (255 pp)

Penname is going to be on a book festival panel with Dani and Tashia Hart (next review) next weekend (May 30-31, 2026) so I made sure to read one of each's book before I meet them. This book perfectly captures the intoxication of falling in love -- where you can't keep your hands off each other and you are entranced by the littlest details about the other person. Xiomara is an archeologist and she travels from her desert home to Bunchberry, Canada to work a a big cultural preservation and museum project. Calehan in an architect and loves his native community but feels kinda trapped and has an opportunity for an adventure in Spain. Romance ensues and they need to decide where they need to be and if they can be together. Recommend.