cover image Wild at Whiskey Creek: A Hellcat Canyon Novel

Wild at Whiskey Creek: A Hellcat Canyon Novel

Julie Anne Long. Avon, $7.99 mass market (384p) ISBN 978-0-06-239763-8

Long’s second foray into contemporary romance (after Hot in Hellcat Canyon) continues to impress with sparkling prose, witty scenes of small-town California, and meaningful romantic conflict. Glory Greenleaf’s lifelong love for Eli Barlow was damaged when Eli arrested her brother for meth transportation. Eli earns professional commendation for the arrest, but it destroys his budding romance with Glory. Her money woes restrict her choices; trapped in Hellcat Canyon with a bad image, she can only find happiness through sharing her passionate music with adoring audiences. Both Eli and Glory attempt to move on romantically, but their unresolved issues lead only to repeated frustrating encounters with each other. A scheduled concert of big names brings them and the whole town together, and the cascading events that follow lead to both hope and despair. The ending of this sweet tale surprises and satisfies. Agent: Steven Axelrod, Axelrod Agency. (Dec.)