All-American Cowboy

Crush’s small town contemporary debut is amusing, interspersing rural pig hijinks with classic country/city romance in Holiday, Tex. Charlotte “Charlie” Walker’s only source of funds is managing a historic honky-tonk, Rambling Rose. Upon the death of the Rose’s owner, Sully, the property is bequeathed to his grandson, New Yorker Beck Holiday, who never even met Sully. From their initial meeting, when Charlie uses her dusty truck to pull Beck’s shiny SUV out of a ditch, their attraction and compatibility is clear, and the romance is hindered mostly by Beck’s real estate shark father, who opposes it at every turn. Beck’s search for family and emotional connections, which Charlie possesses in abundance, complements his desire for Charlie, while Charlie’s painful past and long-denied need for intimacy are eased by Beck’s generous nature. Last-minute mischief enlivens the expected yet charming climax. The southern Texas town has a glaring lack of Latino characters, but this story is otherwise recommended for readers hoping for an idyllic portrait of isolated country life. Agent: Jessica Watterson, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (July)