Surrender to Sultry

June 17, 2013
Smalltown bad boy Colton Bea ruined his chance for happiness when he seduced the preacher’s daughter, Leah McMahon. Leah fled their home of Sultry Springs, Tex., leaving no trace. After a decade of womanizing, Colt has reformed and is the sheriff of Sultry Springs, and the last thing he expects is to pull over Leah for speeding. She’s returned to take care of her ailing father, and Colt has the chance to make amends—but Leah has a secret that could destroy their chance at reconciliation. It’s hard to buy that Leah would forgive Colton after his terrible behavior, despite her lust for him and his determination to win back his “angel.” Beckett has a finer touch with secondary characters, including Leah’s supposedly estranged father, who in reality supported her all through her absence, and the best friend she left behind, whose fierce sisterly love has never faltered. Fans of Sultry with a Twist and Shot of Sultry will appreciate Beckett’s humor and the reappearance of old friends. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, Seymour Agency.

July 1, 2013
When prodigal Leah McMahon returns to Sultry, Texas, after 10 years, the town is divided about welcoming her back since she ran out on her preacher father and hell-raising but popular boyfriend, Colt. But county sheriff Colt has reformed now, and Leah's father is recuperating from bypass surgery. Since Leah is a nurse, she's just the right one to help her dad, just as, unbeknownst to anyone in Sultry, he helped her leave town when she was in big trouble at age 17. Colt knows nothing about Leah's secret, and since he still loves her, he sees this as his chance to marry her and decides to woo her properly, making up for their missed senior prom and avenging her honor when his rowdy former friends harass her. All the while Leah wonders if Colt will still love her when he finds out the whole, stunning truth about her past. Once again Beckett (A Shot of Sultry, 2013) gives readers a heartwarming story full of Texas high jinks.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)