Broken

Type A personality Sheridan O'Neil has her priorities firmly in hand, and wildly sexy horse whisperer James Cavanaugh does not figure into them in Wright's lackluster contemporary western. Sheridan, the personal assistant to James's powerful brother, has no desire to rock her stable career boat for a cowboy, no matter how attractive he is. Witnessing her mother's devoted marriage crumble due to the careless whim of her father taught Sheridan that men and love are not to be trusted. But longing glances, fiery lust, and an undeniable connection with James point to her romantic downfall even as she struggles to keep her guard up. Meanwhile, an old Cavanaugh family tragedy underpins the series story line, driving the main characters as well as a multitude of minor ones to various actions and sometimes muddling the central romantic plot. Characters straight out of central casting, a reliance on tired clich%C3%A9s, and overly dramatic responses to most situations result in a forgettable read. (Oct.)