Midnight Ride

The latest cowboy contemporary from Johnson (Thrown), which launches a series set in Oklahoma, packs a powerful emotional punch. Lonely 36-year-old widow Janie Smithwick is struggling to keep her family’s ranch afloat. Tyler Jenkins is a 24-year-old hired hand on the neighboring ranch who’s cutting a swath through the young ladies in town while competing in local rodeos. When Tyler meets Jamie, he’s immediately smitten, and their chemistry is off the charts, but Janie thinks their age difference will eventually tear them apart and tries to hold the handsome fellow at arm’s length. Can Tyler convince her that he’s in it for the long haul? Janie’s plucky, can-do attitude and vulnerability are appealing, as is Tyler’s unexpected depth. With an entertaining cast of secondary characters, this tale will take readers for an enjoyable ride. (May)