Just a Cowboy and His Baby

Brown’s sixth Spikes & Spurs erotic western romance (after Mistletoe Cowboy) sets up immediate physical attraction between bronc riders Gemma O’Donnell and Trace Coleman. Both plan to win the national buckle in Las Vegas come December. He needs the money to buy his uncle’s ranch, even though his uncle wants to give it to him; her goal is to be the second woman saddle-bronc-riding champion. Thousands of miles and a handful of rodeos separate them from their dreams. On the road, they tumble from her trailer to his in hot scenes, but romance and tension are missing. An episodic stop taking care of kids at a dude ranch pads the book. Gemma’s calls and visit home between rodeos help keep series readers up to date, but new readers will be lost. Brown peppers the story with references to country singers, but even popular lyrics can’t save this rapidly dwindling series. Agent: Erin Niumata, Folio Literary Management. (Dec.)