cover image One Hot Summer

One Hot Summer

Melissa Cutler. St. Martin’s, $7.99 mass market (384p) ISBN 978-1-250-07186-6

Remedy Lane, the child of famous actors, was Hollywood royalty and a successful wedding planner until a scandal wrecked her career. She abandons Los Angeles for Dulcet, Tex., where being the special-events manager at luxury resort Briscoe Ranch Resort is her chance for redemption. But trouble keeps finding her, including an escaped elephant on a golf course, a runaway melon at a summer party, and a fire at the resort. Throw in sexy fire chief Micah Garrity, who makes it clear he has no use for a California princess, and sparks are inevitable. The attraction between the two is sizzling, but Remedy’s willingness to look past Micah’s chip on his shoulder about rich people is baffling. Micah can’t get over her outsider status, even as his friends and town eccentrics warmly embrace Remedy and she grows into a strong woman. Micah’s hero complex is tedious, and the eventual kick in the pants he receives for being a condescending jerk is extremely satisfying. Once he recognizes his imperfections, it gets easier to root for him and Remedy to get their happy ending. Agent: Jessica Alvarez, BookEnds. (Apr.)