The fourth installment in Moyer's marvelous Lucy Hatch series (after Heartbreak Town
) is as refreshing as an icy cold Coke on a hot afternoon in northeast Texas. The fortunes of cowgirl Lucy Hatch have been up and down since her husband, singer/songwriter Ash Farrell, lost his recording contract and hightailed it home to Mooney, Tex. (pop. 990), to reunite with Lucy and son Jude. Not that Lucy doesn't appreciate his renewed commitment (and his handyman abilities), but she knows he has plenty of problems, and his creative block isn't helping things, nor is the fact that Lucy's job at a flower shop is in peril. Also complicating matters is the whirlwind arrival of Lucy's pregnant stepdaughter, Denny Culpepper, a rising country star who caught her husband cheating on her. Lucy and Denny realize their lives are falling apart, and pulling together means accepting change and, sometimes, making hard decisions. Austinite Moyer captures smalltown Texas life with a sure touch, offering insights about how families survive. (Feb.)
