Sinful

Romance steams up Jackson Hole, Wyo., in this strong contemporary trilogy opener. When Connor Flynn returns after his wife, Molly, dies in a car accident, Eve Grayhawk is reminded of her secret love for him. Unfortunately, their families are mortal enemies, and Molly was her best friend. Connor, who was serving in Afghanistan, has a hard time adapting to civilian life, and his children hardly remember him. Desperate, Connor turns to Eve to see whether she would be willing to live at his ranch and help take care of the kids. Sparks fly, but questions over custody force Eve and Connor to consider more serious legal commitment while they’re still figuring out their feelings and trying to withstand the pressures from their feuding families. Johnston’s effortless storytelling propels the novel forward with plenty of emotional struggle and sizzling sex. (May)