The Best Man Plan

Burton (Ignite on Contact) kicks off her Boots and Bouquets series with an irresistible blend of sweetness and heat. Two days before Erin Bellini plans to be married at her family’s Oklahoma vineyard, her fiancé, Owen, breaks up with her via email. Owen and Erin’s mutual best friend, veterinarian Jason Callum, has pined for Erin for years and tries to be there for her in the aftermath of the breakup. Erin sees an opportunity to hook up with Jason as revenge against Owen, but Jason refuses to be Erin’s rebound. Their slow transition from friends to lovers as Erin’s heart heals and she realizes she was envisioning forever with the wrong man is satisfying and steamy. Erin is an appealing, resilient heroine (who’s also not above dressing a puppy in a tutu), and empathetic, attentive Jason will make romance readers swoon. A solid cast of supporting characters, especially Erin’s sisters Honor and Brenna, round out the story. The one sour note comes in the late reveal of Owen’s unbelievable reasoning for breaking his engagement, but the charm of the rest of the tale more than makes up for this bungled revelation. This is a treat. Agent: Kimberly Whalen, the Whalen Agency. (June)