Busting Loose

November 11, 2013
Murray’s third Muldoon family contemporary (after Bucking the Rules) shows hidden depths to Bea, the youngest Muldoon sibling. Bea plays at being the helpless ditz so well that everyone in Marshall, S.Dak.—especially her sister, Peyton (familiar to readers from Taking the Reins)—underestimates her. But when she walks into her vet’s office, Morgan Browning sees past her “simpering starlet” act and promptly hires her as a receptionist. With Morgan’s support, Bea thrives, but she still longs to go back to L.A. and restart her faltering acting career. The chemistry between Bea and Morgan is explosive, and while Bea tries to treat it as a casual affair, Morgan showers her with affection and attention in hopes of keeping her in Marshall. The love scenes are fun and energetic, but Morgan’s willingness to rely on Bea and his ability to see through her facade are the strongest aphrodisiacs. Fans of modern westerns will love this tender romance with elements of family drama. Agent: Emmanuelle Morgen, Stonesong.

December 15, 2013
Actress Bea Muldoon played a soap-opera slut on TV until her character was killed off and she went home to the troubled ranch she owns with her brother, Trace, and sister, Peyton. Bea, with her designer shoes, doesn't quite fit in withthe ranching community, until she brings her spoiled rescue Boston terrier to the vet. Dr. Morgan Browning may have a way with dogs, but his office-management skills are nonexistent, so Bea steps in and answers the ringing phone. Soon she is taking care of appointments and organizing Morgan's time. With the animal shelter Morgan runs alongside his veterinary practice bursting at the seams, Bea organizes a pet-adoption event and revamps Morgan's website. She also discovers that she can't keep her hands off him and the feeling is mutual, and they consummate their attraction on any available surface. Murray's deft, sexy, breezy romance is entertaining and enjoyable even for readers who haven't read the first two books in the Roped and Wrangled trilogy (Taking the Reins, 2012; Bucking the Rules, 2013).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)