Beef Stolen-Off

At the start of Lipperman’s quirky, kitschy sequel to 2011’s Liver Let Die, reporter Jordan McAllister, recently promoted to head food columnist for the Ranchero, Tex., newspaper, accepts cattle rancher Lucas Santana’s invitation to the Cattleman’s Ball. Santana, eager to get publicity for the sagging beef industry, arranges for a hunky cowboy, Rusty Morales, to be Jordan’s date. At the ball, held at a fancy hotel, Rusty suddenly doesn’t feel well and goes outside, where he collapses and expires. Should Jordan, who would much rather be a sports columnist, look the other way and write up promotional recipes for beef, or should she try to figure out who and what killed Rusty? Despite a hokey premise and some silly scenes, cozy fans will have fun. Tasty recipes include Myrtle’s Better than Sex Cake and Beef Daddy’s Banana Pudding. Agent: Christine Witthohn, Books Cents Literary Agency. (July)