Anything But Sweet (Sweet, Texas)
Everyone in Sweet, Texas, is thrilled to see Charlotte Brooks and her reality-TV makeover crew roll into town except for Reno Wilder. He wants his deceased father’s hardware store and everything else in Sweet to stay exactly as it has always been. At first, Reno interferes with the show by hiding shipments and refusing to help. Charli is ready to work makeover magic on six sites, including the store, but ends up making over Reno. She is also sorting out her own trust and commitment issues as the daughter of a stern military man. The feisty, sensual exchanges between Charli and Reno bring humor and chemistry to Terry’s fun small-town romance. Vivid descriptions of the remodeling work at the senior center and candy store are especially appealing. Supporting cast members, including Reno’s mother and brothers, add color and dimension. This is the first novel in Terry’s Sweet series, which is likely to be popular with fans of Susan Andersen and Rachel Gibson. --Amy Alessio