Swept Away

Best-selling author Connealy (Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages series) has made a name writing madcap romantic Westerns, and this new series, Trouble in Texas, will add to her list of successes if the first installment is any indication. Floodwaters sweep Ruthy MacNeil far downstream and into the life of Lucas Stone, a man on a mission to reclaim his stolen ranch near Broken Wheel, Tex. Luke—with help from his friends, all Regulators (men who kept order at Andersonville Prison during the Civil War)—wants to take back his family’s S Bar S Ranch from Flint Greer, a bully who beats his wife and doesn’t mind killing. Luke and his friends proceed with their plan, which includes rescuing Greer’s wife and taking Greer and his men into custody. But Luke’s strategy doesn’t play out as planned, either with reclaiming his ranch or with steeling his heart against the hard-working and beautiful Ruthy. Connealy’s style is fast-paced and spritely and sure to keep drawing fans. Agent: Nathasha Kern, the Natasha Kern Literary Agency. (Mar.)