Can the man who saved the day win her heart?

Quinn LaFayette is in her inaugural year as library special programs director of Last Stand, but when the kickoff performance for the children’s summer program goes terribly wrong, she has to save face as well as her job. She has a surprising advocate in Cole, whom she did her best to ignore in school. Seven years has only made Cole more appealing, but Quinn is determined to resist the sparks that fly between them because they are too different.

Restaurant owner Cole Hutchinson is no bookworm, but thanks to his fast-thinking antics, he ends up saving the day at the library and earning Quinn’s praise in the process. He’s tempted to seek more, but he’s juggling plenty of female attention from gracing the June edition of Modern Texas magazine featuring barbeque. Cole’s not interested in revisiting a woman from his past, but there’s something about Quinn that he can’t quite ignore.

Can Cole prove that opposites really do attract?

Titles in The Texas BBQ Brothers series include — On The Market – Off The Market –

(This series is part of the Last Stand, Texas group of connecting series.  (think Marietta, Montana– Tule Publishing’s other large set of somewhat connecting series set in a fictional town.  A listing of the connecting series and their stories can be found on our Last Stand, Texas page)

Title:  Off the Market
Series:  The Texas BBQ Brothers #2
Author:  Audrey Wick
Genre:  Small Town Romance
Published:  August 13, 2019
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4.5 stars

OFF THE MARKET is the second story in The Texas BBQ Brothers series, part of the connecting set of series that make up Last Stand, Texas.  It “could” be read as a standalone, but then you’d miss getting to know all of these characters from the beginning – and besides, ON THE MARKET is one heck of a good story you shouldn’t miss.  In my opinion.

Quinn and Cole have known each other in a way since high school but their friendship is mostly on the surface, friendly nods and such.  That is until Cole is sent by his brother to do some giveaways at an event Quinn is giving for the children’s summer reading program at the library where she is in charge of special programming.  A job that many in the town don’t think is really necessary.  It’s up to Quinn to prove them wrong, but that’s not going according to plan at all.  When this first gathering starts going sideways Cole steps in to save the day – and they each begin to look at each other a bit differently.  Plus, it doesn’t hurt when his brother and his girlfriend begin to play matchmaker for Cole and Quinn either.

I enjoyed watching this couple work their way to each other through misunderstandings, the actions of others, and maybe a bit of stubbornness as well.  Their romance starts off as a slow burn and gains speed as their attraction grown, and they acknowledge their feelings.  I fell in love with CC, the library cat and enjoyed catching up with old friends from the first book.  If you love a good romance between unlikely people, a small town that plays a strong part in the story, and a couple to like and hope for their happy ending – then you’ll want to pick up OFF THE MARKET.  I had fun, and I believe you will, too.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story.  It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Available in paperback and for the Kindle