Will she be the secret ingredient to his happiness?

Valerie Perry has just inherited her grandmother’s home in Last Stand, Texas, a far cry in the country from her city life as an organic grocery buyer in San Antonio. Her methodical daily routine suits her just fine, so she aims to freshen up the property, sell it, and take her funds back to the city. She’s only got two weeks during her vacation to make this happen. Now is the time to cash in and get out.

The oldest Hutchinson son, who people around town know as “Hutch,” is a third generation local who is poised to take over the family business with his brother, Cole. The barbeque brothers have very different ideas about the future of their restaurant, “The Hut.” Just when he thought his biggest headache was his job, Hutch meets Valerie and both their worlds are upended. He’s drawn to this fish out of the water, but Valerie’s time in Last Stand has an expiration date. 

Their sweet and saucy styles don’t mix, but can they both find the recipe to a happy future?

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:  On the Market
Series:  The Texas BBQ Brothers #1 – (Last Stand, Texas)
Author:  Audrey Wick
Genre:  Romance
Published:  July 11, 2019
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4.5 stars

I was easily caught up in ON THE MARKET, the first story in The Texas BBQ Brothers series taking place in Last Stand, Texas (which is a small town community much like Tule’s Marietta, Montana slightly connecting line).  Valerie is in Last Stand for a very short period of time while she gets the house she inherited from her grandmother ready to sell.  Her life is back in the city, although memories of Last Stand are slowly returning.  Her introduction to Hutch gave me a smile since that meeting involves a chainsaw.  (I kid you not – *impish grin*)  Soon the obvious attraction between the vegetarian, Valerie and the BBQ man, Hutch is difficult for them to ignore.

ON THE MARKET lays the groundwork for another slightly connecting series that all play out in the community of Last Stand, Texas.  Hutch and Valerie’s story is novella length but it packs a powerful emotional punch as well as introduces us to more members of Last Stand.  I liked the people I met in this first story.  Hutch is refreshingly just himself.  What you see is pretty much what you get, he doesn’t play games.  Valerie is a bit more complex in that she may see the city as “home” she’s beginning to question the true meaning of that word as staying with Hutch becomes more and more of a temptation.

I had fun, and that is the whole point.  I love a small town community and this group of individual series set in this Texas town is exactly the reading experience that I enjoy.  If you love a small town romance, likable and believable characters and secondary characters who charm while waiting for their stories to be told — then you’d love ON THE MARKET.  I’d not hesitate to recommend this story or the series to any Romance reader.

*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