Worth the Wait

June 5, 2017
Foster’s second Guthrie Brothers contemporary (after Don’t Tempt Me) is a tolerable if saccharine standalone that neither surprises nor disappoints. Screwy Louie’s, a diner in sleepy Clearbrook, Ohio, sets the scene for sugar, spice, and a soupçon of suspense as owner Violet Shaw develops a taste for barbecue master Hogan Guthrie’s ribs. Reformed bad boy Hogan gets more heat from Violet than from his grill. Meanwhile, danger lurks for Clearbrook newcomer Brooklin Sweet, but her next door neighbor, sheriff Nathan Hawley, is only too happy to lend a protective hand. Clichéd Midwestern wholesomeness abounds among the characters but doesn’t get in the way of their progressively steamy encounters. Though not all of Foster’s readers will feel that the title fulfills its promise, many will enjoy this slow-moving and uncomplicatedly charming tale. Agent: Steve Axelrod, Axelrod Agency.