A Cowboy to Remember

With the fun, sexy launch of the promising Cowboys of California series, Weatherspoon (the Loose Ends series) delivers a second chance at love story with depth and authenticity. TV chef Evie Buchanan fled Charming, Calif., for New York City after the death of her Nana, her last remaining biological relative. Ten years later, after a rival chef pushes Evie down the stairs, she wakes with amnesia and returns home to Charming to recover. Rancher Zach Pleasant, Evie’s estranged best friend and childhood crush, failed a grieving Evie when she needed him most. But with Evie’s memory of his betrayal gone, he feels like he finally has a chance to make up for his mistake. Weatherspoon keeps Evie’s amnesia from falling into the realm of melodrama, and the tentative but passionate relationship between Evie and Zach is realistic despite the over-the-top trope bringing them together. The almost entirely black cast is rendered with care and cultural specificity, making for a refreshing entry into the cowboy romance genre. This fabulous love story will delight readers. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary. (Mar.)