Caught Up in a Cowboy

Marts (Catching the Cowgirl) spins an appealing story of love rediscovered in her newest Western-themed contemporary. When Rockford “Rock” James left the small ranching town of Creedence, Colo., to follow his dream of being a professional hockey player, he broke the heart of his high school sweetheart, feisty Quinn Rivers. Nine years later, after suffering a severe concussion on the ice, Rock returns home to recuperate and falls back in love with Quinn, who’s ably navigating single motherhood. He also gets along well with her brainy, charming eight-year-old son, Max, the result of a rebound one-night stand shortly after their breakup. Both Rock and Quinn are starting to let their guards down and dream of a future when Max’s thoroughly unlikable deadbeat dad, Monty, returns to town. Quinn’s justifiably suspicious about his motives, but Rock wonders whether he’s impeding the reunion of a family. Marts throws in a few twists along the way, some more believable than others but none too distracting. The ending is no less satisfying for being thoroughly predictable. Marts’s fans will enjoy this tender tale. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, Seymour Agency. (May)