The Trouble with Cowboys

Part of Hunter%E2%80%99s (The Accidental Bride) Big Sky Romance series, this stand-alone installment brings readers back to Moose Creek, Mont., and some familiar characters. Horse trainer Annie Wilkerson cannot stand cowboys. After watching her mother get ditched repeatedly by heartthrob ranch hands, she is bound and determined to keep herself and her kid sister out of their love %E2%80%98em and leave %E2%80%98em arms. She seems to have succeeded when she snags banker John Oakley, the epitome of safety and security, and directs her wayward sister toward college and a settled life as a mother. Then flirtatious Dylan Taylor needs Annie%E2%80%99s equine expertise to keep his beloved Braveheart from being put down after the horse goes blind. To make matters worse, Annie needs something from Dylan, too. Their mutual dependency and complicated relationship sets the stage for a story filled with romantic tension, as Annie must choose between the stability John offers and the excitement Dylan arouses. While the ending may seem predictable, Hunter%E2%80%99s well-developed characters and plot twists make for a delightful and inspirational journey. Agent: Karen Solem, Spencerhill Associates (Oct.)