Long Shot

Jamieson hits her stride in her enjoyable third Last Shot tequila-flavored contemporary romance (after Hot Shot). Reese Kirkwell, a chef recovering from workplace trauma at a high-end Manhattan restaurant, seeks respite in waiting tables at Conquistadors Tequila Bar in San Diego. Cade Hardy, who owns the bar along with two of his Navy SEAL buddies, is unfailingly polite to the one-night stands who pursue him, but Reese still snubs him as a “grade A manskank.” When Sid, the bar’s cook, wants to improve menu items, she first criticizes his efforts and then helps him out. Cade, charmed when he sees Reese playing with her foster dog on the beach and intrigued by her obvious talent in the kitchen, reaches out in friendship, accepting Reese’s growing contribution to the bar’s success. The care and consideration each shows to the other’s psychological wounds undergirds their growing physical attraction, which leads to sweet, steamy sex; however, trust issues run deep, threatening their ability to commit to each other. Reese’s sincere wrestling with her career ambitions and Cade’s unwillingness to sleep with an employee provide convincing conflicts, and Cade’s vulnerability and gruff kindness make him a hero to root for. A sweet Christmas conclusion wraps up this winning tale. Agent: Emily Sylvan Kim, Prospect. (Feb.)