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 surprise advocate in Cole, whom she did her best to ignore in school. Seven years has only made Cole more appealing, but … 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?
more
A wonderfully entertaining read. The characters and storyline are easy to relate to.
This is the 2nd in the Texas BBQ Brothers series. I enjoyed this one so much that I am now reading the 1st one. This is Quinn and Cole’s story. Quinn works for the local library as a program director and is in charge of the summer reading program. When she comes up against some opposition from the city manager, who is a creep, Cole swoops in to save the day.
Cole and his brother, Hutch, own the local BBQ joint, The Hut in Last Stand Texas. Cole and Quinn knew each other in school but she was the bookworm and he was a jock. But, now, several years later, there just might be something more.
This was a pretty clean story with some serious sweet romance. Even though you get the idea that Cole is a tough guy, he has a gentle and protective side, especially when it comes to Quinn.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
I really enjoyed reading “off the market” you get to know Cole Hutchinson and see his sweeter side.Ms.Wicks books are so relatable you feel like you’re right there in Last Stand Texas at the hut eating BBQ right off the pit.
I was so happy to get my hand on this book after reading the first book in the series. The brothers are back and they are still “fighting” on who’s right in the battle of business, they have that love, hate relationship most siblings have…. I really was glad to get to read Cole’s story and what a big heart he had. I loved Quinn and her feistiness yet her heart of gold for all things books and kids. The author leaves you hungry for both food and for more in the end that’s for sure. I liked how in both books in the series the author added her personal touch of recipes you read about in the book. I loved that this story was a clean read and suitable for all. This book was truly one you feel like you are catching up with friends and you can’t wait to see what’s happening next. Grab this quick read you won’t regret it. I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a review and have given my honest opinion
A sweet romance with small town charm.
I really enjoyed the first of the Texas BBQ Brothers books, so I couldn’t wait to get this one in my hands. Cole and Quinn’s story is really special. They are total opposites who are thrown together by unusual circumstances. Cole is one of the owners of the popular BBQ joint in Last Stand called The Hut. Quinn works in the library as the director of special events. When Quinn’s first summer reading event takes a turn for the worse, Cole, who stopped by to pass out free meal coupons to the kids, takes over for the original guest speaker by telling funny jokes to the children. I think I fell for Cole at that moment. In the first book, he seemed to be all about business and not much else. So, this was a fun and sweet side to see.
The relationship between Cole and Quinn took some time to develop. Even though they knew each other in school, they weren’t friends back then. So, when they did become friends, they stay just friends for quite a while. But once their relationship changed to romantic, there was no holding back. Then, there was this one hiccup that almost ruined it all. I enjoyed seeing how they worked through it to find their happily ever after.
The author created characters that seemed so real, I could almost picture them living and working in my town. Her story telling had me flipping the pages through to the end and it was hard to close the book at the end. I liked these characters that much. There is also a cute library cat who was a fun addition to the story. Even though this book can be read as a stand-alone, I would recommend reading On the Market first so you get to know the characters form the start.
Off The Market by Audrey Wick
4 Stars.
Off The Market is book two in the Texas Barbecue Brothers series. I’ve had the pleasure of reading the first book as well. This book is Cole’s story and shows how love can be in front of you all along but until you start to look at things/life with a new (or maybe just a slightly altered) perspective you don’t realize that.
Quinn is the town’s program director at Last Stand’s library. Her job isn’t permanent; there will be an evaluation after a six month period of Quinn’s employment. Well, the book starts off at the beginning of summer which means Quinn has less than two months left to show the town council that her job is important to the community, to the children of Last Stand. Unfortunately, there are several things that go wrong, painting Quinn in a less than impressive light. These circumstances were beyond her control. However when the town is of the opinion her position at the library is a waste of money, Quinn finds herself worried that she is going to lose her job. If that happens, will she have to leave town to find work? Leave her family? And what about Cole?
Cole is truly the hero in this romance. A real gentleman. He comes to the rescue for Quinn on more than one occasion. And once he quickly realizes he wants more than friendship from Quinn, Cole is all ‘hands on deck’ to prove to her that they belong together.
I will say the build up was a bit slow in this book. This book is a clean, sweet, romance and I enjoyed it. That said, while Quinn and Cole were sweet together, there was a lack of passion between them. The build of their becoming a couple was a bit slow and I think if I felt the chemistry between them grow stronger, I probably would have rated this book higher.
This is my honest and unbiased review. Thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂
Full of small town drama and town politics. I liked the sweet building of their romance. Likable characters that you root for and a community that comes to rally for Quinn and the library. This is the first book I’ve read by Audrey Wick and I’m eager to read book 1 – On the Market. I enjoyed the bonus recipes at the end of book and have made two of them so far.