Bright Eyes

May 24, 2004
Former rodeo star Zeke Coulter falls head-over-spurs in love with a talented single mom in Anderson's latest Coulter Family romance (following Blue Skies
). The story starts out when Zeke discovers that his house has been vandalized. He chases Chad, the 11-year-old culprit, to a farmhouse where he spies the comely backside of his new neighbor, Natalie Patterson. Natalie, however, is Chad's mother, and the two get off on the wrong foot when Zeke insists that Chad work off the damage over the summer. An impoverished singer and songwriter, Natalie has more on her plate than just a difficult preteen; she also has a four-year-old daughter and a supper club that's on the verge of bankruptcy. Nevertheless, she and her kids pitch in to help Zeke repair his damaged house. Inevitably, love blossoms between the two, but their happily-ever-after seems less than assured when Natalie is accused of murdering her philandering ex-husband, a villain pulled straight from central casting. The bedroom scenes between the two strong-willed, slightly mistrusting protagonists are sweetly titillating, and Anderson's portrayal of Natalie's uncannily smart daughter is winning. Though conventional in plot and sketchy in setting, this is still a rewarding read. Agent, Steve Axelrod.