Texas Homecoming

Brown delivers plenty of small-town Texan charm in her second Ryan Family romance (after Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch). After traveling the world with Doctors Without Borders, Cody Ryan returns to his family’s ranch in Honey Grove, Tex., to care for his father, who has multiple sclerosis. When a snowstorm hits and Cody crashes his truck, he finds shelter in the barn of one of his patients. Veterinarian Stevie O’Dell, who also returned to town to care for her mother (who has since died), ends up in the barn, too, after her tires blow out. Stevie’s been avoiding Cody, her high school sweetheart, as she never got over him breaking up with her 20 years before. Even after Cody’s brother Jesse comes to their rescue, the roads back to Stevie’s remain impassable, leading her to crash at Cody’s ranch bunkhouse. Stranded together for several days, their feelings rekindle—but will either be willing to risk their heart? Brown excels at crafting down-to-earth characters, and her magnetic protagonists are bolstered through the tragedies and trials of life with the support of their close-knit community. The idyllic small-town setting and charming couple are sure to appeal to fans of Western romance. Agent: Erin Niumata, Folio Literary. (Jan.)