Tough Luck Cowboy

In this sweet and engrossing second Crossroads Ranch contemporary (after Second Chance Cowboy), a divorcée winds up in the arms of her ex’s best friend. Chef Lily Green has sold her half of the restaurant she shared with her ex-husband, Tucker, but she can’t bring herself to leave central California. Even accidentally accepting the job to cater his upcoming wedding doesn’t faze her (too much), until she realizes she’ll have to work closely with his friend Luke Everett, a rancher and rodeo rider. Luke and Lily have always been like “oil and water” despite a promising meet-cute at a line dancing joint three years ago. Once they set their bickering aside, Luke proves to be both protective and supportive of Lily, but she has trouble trusting their newfound harmony. Both are insecure and worried about the future, particularly Lily, who can’t understand why an already injured Luke would risk his life for one last try at making the national bull riding finals. This series installment can be comfortably read as a standalone, and Pine makes it easy to care about the Everett brothers and the women they love. Agent: Courtney Miller-Callihan, Handspun Literary. (Sept.)