cover image Beautiful Sinner

Beautiful Sinner

Sophie Jordan. Avon, $7.99 mass market (368p) ISBN 978-0-06-266659-8

First crushes get a second chance in Jordan’s explosively sexy second Devil’s Rock contemporary western romance (after Beautiful Lawman). Reporter Gabriella “Gabby” Rossi returned to Sweet Hill, Tex., to help her grandmother; as soon as her work is done, she’s heading back to Austin. Not even Cruz Walsh, the high school hottie she could never forget, is going to change her mind. Gabby’s no doormat, but she still struggles with self-esteem issues stemming from high school bullying, while Cruz tries to rebuild his life after serving time for a crime he didn’t commit. Gabby’s boss insists she get the scoop on Cruz’s story, despite his refusal to be interviewed. Gabby wants to further her career, but not at the expense of Cruz’s happiness. Jordan is brilliant at creating vivid descriptions and using flashbacks to connect the lovers. Old wounds reopen, jealousy reigns, and skeletons burst from the closets, while the foreplay is hotter than Texas summers. Cruz and Gabby are tremendously likable, together and separately, and their unknowingly mutual crush and deep emotional bond will place this masterpiece at the top of any romance reader’s list. Agent: Maura E. Kye-Casella, Don Congdon Assoc. (Oct.)