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 … 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 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?
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This sweet romance left my mouth watering for Texas BBQ, and the recipes in the back are a bonus!
I thought this book was seriously such a cute read. I loved the togetherness of the small town in this book. I loved how Hutch wore his heart on his sleeved but also had this tough dude exterior to him as well. I liked how Valerie had this self discovery to her she worked hard to keep the goal she set but was also willing to face he new options as well. I liked that this was a good clean read. I have never read anything by this author and I can’t wait to read more from her. This book was a quick read and you can’t go wrong. 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
Great recipes! Thank you. Great bonus after a great read.
A sweet story of a young woman who never set down roots. Her life is turned upside down when she inherits a house. No sex or foul language. Worth adding to your list.
Nice to read a romance without all the sex scenes.
A feel good book family means a lot loved the book
Love the story and the biscuit it was an easy recipe and good
I love it for I read a book everyday
Loved this story! Valerie and Hutch’s story entertained me to the end. In fact I’d like to read more about them! Very entertaining.
Cute, fun read.
Small town charm and unique characters.
I had a hard time relating to the female lead …. part of that is the misleading information that she was returning to a hometown. Last Stand wasn’t her hometown. I can hope and pray that there are such places as Last Stand. I’ve never experienced them. But, I do have my community. It was an interesting story.
On the Market by Audrey Wick is the first book I have read by this author and it will not be the last. It is the first book in her new series The Texas BBQ Brothers. This was a very sweet, fun and clean romance that will definitely make you smile. The characters were well defined and likable. I really enjoyed the small town charm. It was well written and a quick read. I loved reading this book and didn’t want to put it down. Ms. Wick wrote a wonderful story which drew me in, making me forget the world around me and did not let me go until I turned the last page. I highly recommend this book to other reader. The recipes at the end of the book were a very nice added bonus.
Valerie Perry is only in town to fix up and sell her grandmother’s home. She doesn’t have time for distractions. Then a tree falls into her yard damaging some plants, narrowly missing her car and cracking the flagstone in her walkway. Thanks to some big, handsome man who shows up at her door to apologize and offer his help.
Bubba Hutchinson trying to help a friend when the tree they are felling needs to fall on the neighbors property in order to save the neighborhood dog, Nod. How can he explain to the pretty lady that a dog made him do it. She is feisty and sassy and he is attracted to her. He owns a BBQ restaurant and she is a vegetarian. There is no way these two could be attracted to each other. They are too different, right?
I read these books out of order. I read the 2nd book in this series first but I enjoyed both very much. The story was sweet, genuine and full of wonderful characters.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
I really enjoyed Ms.Wicks writing style,she puts you right there in Last Stand Texas with Cole and Hutch making decisions about the future of “The Hut” a bbq restaurant that’s been in their family for generations.The characters are so real and relatable. Love Valerie and Hutch together ,he grew up eating BBQ ribs and Valerie is vegan see how these two people who are so opposite make it work.
Another great addition to Last Stand, TX. Loved the characters and the story of Valerie and Hutch. An who does not like BBQ love the recipes at the end. Great read can’t wait to the next story.
BBQ traditionalist meets intriguing vegetarian. With goodlooking brothers who can cook, a home remodel in shabby chic style, and a downhome Texas feel, what’s not to like? One of the subplots has a little cliffhanger I suspect might play out in the next book of the series. A fun book!
This is the first book in a new series based in Last Stand, Texas. If you have not had the joy of reading any books based in this wonderful fictional town based in the hill country of Texas let this be one to start your collection. In this book we get to meet a family we would see typically around the corner here just about anywhere… Yes I am in Texas myself. A BBQ family. BUT wait there is so much more than that… this family business has been handed to the two sons Hutch and Cole who don’t exactly see eye to eye on running the business. In the mean time back at the smoker Hutch meets vegan Valerie who has inherited her grandma’s house. Fate has a way of lending a hand when one least expects it. What you do when fate steps in is up to you. Hutch and Valerie are from two different worlds and cities but do have that snap, crackle and pop. So does this book and yes Last Stand!
This is a sweet romance that will put a smile on your face, and is the perfect beach read. The progression of Valerie and Hutch’s relationship seemed so cute and natural that it almost felt like we were witnessing the romance of two friends rather than two fictional characters. At first they engage in some light verbal sparring after Hutch fells a tree into Valerie’s yard. It’s definitely some good-natured sparring, and never crosses the line into rude or demeaning. Valerie’s “…ability to dish right back what Hutch was serving was a trait he probably wasn’t used to in women”, and this unique feature of her personality draws him in and won’t let go.
As Hutch attempts to fix her yard after the damage he caused, Valerie sees a sweet side to this barbecue boy, and it doesn’t take long before they both can’t stop thinking about each other. They slowly get to know each other, and open up about personal details of their lives. We never see anything over-the-top sexual, and there are no instances of being pushed up against a wall in a fiery moment of passion. Instead we see delicate kisses in the warm Texas countryside with fireflies flitting about. Soft touches and intimate caresses. We’ve really been provided with a window into the developing relationship between this couple.
The relationship we see between these barbecue brothers was just as interesting as the relationship forming between Valerie and Hutch. They may be brothers, but they’re at odds over the future course of their family’s restaurant. One is steeped in tradition, the other is dedicated to changing with the times. Both have the best interests of their family’s legacy at heart, and yet it causes a rift to form between them in regards to which avenue they should pursue. The combative nature of these two brothers was quite entertaining, and perhaps a bit more focus on them having open and honest conversations about their wishes for the restaurant would have been a delightful addition. We see them have heated arguments, which perhaps highlights the true nature of their relationship rather than one of sweet brotherly affection. Towards the end of the novel they do find a kind of compromise, but just one more scene of them conversing one-on-one in a non-argumentative manner would have been great.
One feature that this novel focuses on at length is the question of what is a home. For Valerie, home is merely a place. It’s wherever you hang your hat for any period of time, and while she’s putting the finishing touches on her grandmother’s house she sees herself as biding her time before she can return back “home” to San Antonio. For Hutch, home is much more significant than the four walls that might surround you. It’s about the community that surrounds you. It’s about the people as much as it is about the place, and this small town of Last Stand is and always will be his home. When he discovers how vastly different Valerie’s concept of home is to his own, he questions if their differences might be more serious than simply the hurdle of physical distance which separates Last Stand from San Antonio. Perhaps their values in life pose more of an issue. However, as Valerie starts to transform her grandmother’s home into one of her own, and this small community also starts to envelop her as one of their own, perhaps her values might be changing to a point where she could envision a future in this small Hill Country town.
We’re back in Last Stand for a new series: The BBQ Brothers by Audrey Wick. While I’ve read dozens of authors from Tule Publishing, Audrey Wick is a new-to-me author.
While there are other books that take place in Last Stand, Texas, this is my first one written with this small, charming town as its backdrop. I adore small-town romances with fun-loving, witty and loyal characters. And this town has an abundance of all.
Valerie and Hutch…..
Valerie is in Town to sell her beloved grandmother’s house. She has two weeks to make the small, charming bungalow sellable and then she is going back to her home and career in San Antonio. There is no way that Valerie want to make Last Chance her permanent home no matter how charming the citizens are. And especially no matter how gorgeous, kind and helpful Hutch is.
Hmmm…..
Hutch is one of the town’s infamous BBQ Brothers. His family owns and operates The Hut, their BBQ restaurant. All though I’m labeling it a restaurant loosely. Hutch and his brother are transitioning to taking full ownership of The Hut from their parents. Hutch is adamant about making the barbeque eatery more than just successful. Only problem with that is he is clashing opinions with his brother on how that should be accomplished. Hutch has a classic (antique, lol) way of thinking. So, while bringing the family business into the future is his most important task, Hutch finds himself drawn to Valerie.
Valerie and Hutch slowly build a friendship before anything else. The build is slow. But only because Hutch is a gentleman. He is patient and understanding when it comes to Valerie. Unfortunately, Valerie was a bit of a snob at first and it took a while before she grew on me. Valerie adored Hutch but she still planned to leave. An aspect of this story I enjoyed was that Valerie came to her own decisions on her own regarding whether or not she would stay in Last Stand. While it was obvious that Hutch wanted her to stay, and he was annoyed with her way of thinking at times, he did not give her ultimatums. I enjoyed the end of the book and how the author tied everything up.
I am liking forward to read Cole’s story next. I’ll have to stalk this author and keep my eye out for that one which is called Off The Market.
This is my honest and unbiased review. Thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂