Home at Chestnut Creek

In Drake’s sweet second Chestnut Creek romance (after The Last True Cowboy), a woman flees to a place to hide from the past, and instead finds a possible future. Nevada has spent her adult life running from a cartel that she accidentally stole from; she’s certain they want to kill her. To protect others, she doesn’t let anyone get too close to her. She temporarily holes up in her friend Carly’s small town of Unforgiven, N.Mex., but knows she’ll need to get on the road again soon. While working for Carly, Nevada meets Joseph, a Navajo local. Joseph also has a past that’s difficult to face; to avoid it, he focuses on dedicating himself to his people, including only dating Navajo women. When they can’t keep from falling for each other, he questions his dating rule. Nevada knows that running away is the only way to save him from being threatened by the cartel, but she can’t bring herself to leave his side. Readers will be turning pages to find out whether Joseph breaks through Nevada’s defensive snark in time to find love. This fast-paced romance has just enough suspense to give it spice. The finished book will contain an additional novel by Carolyn Brown, not seen by PW. Agent: Nalini Akolekar, Spencerhill Associates. (July)