Coyote Canyon, Book 1
From the publisher:
Sometimes the past we leave behind leads us right where we belong.
Talulah Barclay doesn’t like complications. Unfortunately, they seem to love her. Fourteen years after leaving her fiancé at the altar, Talulah returns to her hometown of Coyote Canyon, Montana, to settle her great-aunt’s estate. As she’d feared, her “runaway bride” reputation is waiting right where she left it, and her ex’s best friend, Brant, isn’t about to let her slip by unnoticed.
Brant has always been a loyal friend, but Talulah’s decision to run isn’t the only thing he hasn’t forgotten. He remembers more about Talulah than he cares to admit. Vividly. And it’s increasingly difficult to ignore her now, especially when they find themselves in close quarters. Talulah has no plans to stay in town after she fixes up her aunt’s Victorian farmhouse, even if the unbridled sparks with Brant give her a good reason to linger. Besides, bailing on relationships is kind of her thing. But a lot has changed since Talulah last turned tail—maybe her heart has changed, too?
Coyote Canyon Series
Book 1: Talulah’s Back in Town
Book 2: The Talk of Coyote Canyon
This is the first book of a new series set in a small town in Montana. Talulah was engaged to be married, but left her groom at the altar and left town. Fourteen years later, she’s back to settle her great aunt’s estate and surprisingly, her ex is still not over her. But when his best friend, Brant, sees her, she knows she is in for a hard time. Her own parents left town shortly after the wedding debacle, and are now doing missionary work in Africa, her father’s dream. Her sister is very pregnant and Talulah is happy to help her out, but pretty much everyone else in town has been gunning for her all these years. Small towns, long memories…
Brant keeps running into Talulah and quickly realizes that the girl he had a crush on in high school is even more gorgeous now. He was able to get past his crush when his best friend started dating her, and there is plenty of anger over how she dumped him. but still, there is something more there. Even after she confesses she is a serial runaway bride, always committing until the last possible moment. Even after his best friend confesses he still loves her and refuses to move on. Fighting those feelings is exhausting, and eventually they both give in. But can Talulah commit to anyone? Is Brant “the one?” So much drama!
Luckily, Talulah is a very likeable character, so I couldn’t help but root for her to find her happily ever after. Brant has the kind of patience she needs in a man, and he is willing to wait for her. And wait he does. There are a lot of laughs along their journey, and of course, the happy ending.
Brenda Novak has become one my favorite authors, in the same realm as Debbie Macomber but maybe not as sugary sweet. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
1/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
TALULAH’S BACK IN TOWN by Brenda Novak. MIRA; Original edition (August 22, 2023). ISBN: 978-0778386179. 368p.
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