cover image Sweet Summer Sunset (Coldwater Texas #3)

Sweet Summer Sunset (Coldwater Texas #3)

Delores Fossen. HQN, $7.99 mass market (384p) ISBN 978-1-335-04106-7

Fossen’s third Coldwater Texas contemporary (after Hot Texas Sunrise) falters with the decision to base its central relationship on nothing more than hot sex. Eden Joslin, the anonymous writer of the Naughty Cowgirl Talks Sex blog, fears that divorcing her philandering husband will leave her without material. She goes even higher on the Coldwater gossip ladder after sharing an impromptu kiss with playboy bull rider Nico Laramie, her childhood best friend. Nico had only kissed Eden as a way to get back at her ex, but soon one kiss isn’t nearly enough. The arrival of Nico’s 16-year-old foster sister and her cranky, uptight guardian makes things more difficult all around, since Nico needs to prove he won’t be a bad influence on his sister, who has a scandalous secret of her own. There’s a lot going on in the small Texas town that distracts from Nico and Eden’s relationship, so there’s no real development other than jumping into bed; it seems like they hardly talk about what’s happening or why they want it. This installment will mostly suit series fans for whom Coldwater’s various dramas are the real attraction. (July)