The Cowboy Says I Do

May 11, 2020
Crush (Hot Fudge & a Heartthrob) sparkles in this small-town, friends-to-lovers contemporary, the first in her Tying the Knot in Texas series. Newly elected mayor Lacey Cherish is determined to save the dying town of Idont, Tex., by rebranding it as Ido and transforming it into a wedding destination. Deputy Sheriff Bodie Phillips, Lacey’s longtime friend, is on board, but first wants to figure out why his ethically challenged father and grandfather are moving the family business out of town. Meanwhile, Lacey arranges for magazine coverage of the town’s first wedding, but the bridezilla pulls out at the last moment. Desperate not to lose the coverage, Lacey lies to the reporter: saying the wedding is still on and she herself is the new bride, blurting out Bodie as the name of her fiancé. Bodie agrees to play along, and soon their pretend relationship turns all too real. There’s a surprising amount of intrigue in this quaint small town, including the mystery surrounding the Phillips family business and a subplot about abandoned dogs that readers will be excited to see resolved in future installments. Crush’s skillfully crafted romance is both sexy and sweet. Agent: Jessica Watterson, Sandra Dijkstra Literary.

July 1, 2020
When Lacey Cherish became mayor of Idont, Texas, to redeem her family name, she didn't expect to have to solve an economic crisis. She also didn't realize how close she would have to work with Deputy Sheriff Bodie Phillips, her brother's best friend. Bodie's dad and granddad are closing the warehouse of their import business, the biggest employer in town. Bodie doesn't know why, but he has an inkling something unsavory is afoot. When Lacey decides to rebrand the town as Ido, and turn it into a wedding destination, Bodie gets roped into helping. But soon he's in over his head with both Lacey and his family. With real love on the line, they will both have to decide if family loyalties are more important or if they'll follow their own hearts. This first in Crush's Tying the Knot in Texas series has southern charm, sizzling chemistry, and an adorable rescue dog. Although populated with cookie-cutter characters and a bit obvious, the plot-driven story is fast paced and all the zany antics make it delightfully fun.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)