Smokin’ Hot Cowboy Christmas

A big-city fashion designer falls for a cowboy firefighter in Redford’s lackluster seventh Smokin’ Hot Cowboys romance (after Cowboy Firefighter Heat). Belle Tarleton hopes to turn her new Wildcat Bluff County ranch, the Lazy Q, into a dude ranch and home base for Lulabelle & You, her successful line of women’s western wear. Belle plans to debut the revamped ranch with a Christmas party—leaving just six weeks to complete renovations. Hoping to ingratiate herself with the hostile townsfolk by hiring locally, Belle enlists handsome rancher and firefighter Rowdy Holloway—unaware that Rowdy’s in on a conspiracy to run Belle and her “crazy dude ranch idea” out of town. But when Rowdy meets Belle, he is taken aback by her beauty and heart and has second thoughts. Caught between his obligation to the town and his growing feelings for Belle, Rowdy feels like “the unluckiest cowboy alive.” Interference from the Buick Brigade—a group of meddling older ladies—and the drama surrounding a missing cow enliven the otherwise dull romance. And the abrupt, disappointing ending means readers never get to experience Christmas day in Wildcat Bluff County. This isn’t one to live long in the memory. Agency: Elaine English, Elaine P. English Literary. (Oct.)