cover image Riverbend Gap

Riverbend Gap

Denise Hunter. Thomas Nelson, $16.99 trade paper (336p) ISBN 978-0-7852-4050-1

Hunter (Bookshop by the Sea) kicks off the Riverbend Romance series with an enjoyable contemporary inspirational. Katie Loveland’s on her way to meet her boyfriend’s family for the first time, when she swerves to miss a deer and crashes her car. Luckily, Deputy Sheriff Cooper Robinson passes by and stays with Katie until she’s rescued by the Fire Department. He’s excited at the idea of seeing her again until he learns she’s his brother Gavin’s girlfriend. Katie and Cooper know they shouldn’t be interested in one another, but after Katie is introduced to the family and the two spend more time together, it becomes impossible to ignore the growing attraction. The two begin spending more time together, but, with the current sheriff retiring and Cooper running in the upcoming election to replace him, decide to keep that secret. But everything is threatened after a picture of Katie and Cooper kissing is released, leaving Katie to turn to God for help sussing out where her romantic attachments lay. Hunter delivers a touching story of how family dynamics and personal priorities shift when love takes precedence. Hunter’s fans will love this. (Oct.)