Blame it on Texas (Hotter In Texas)

by Christie Craig

[Cocktails and Books]

4.5 stars.

The boys of the Only in Texas PI agency keep getting hotter.

Kindergarten teacher Zoe Adams makes her way to Texas to spend one month investigating whether the strange memories and nightmares she's had since a child are a link to an unsolved mystery from a TV show. While she doesn't want to think that her parents would have lied to her her entire life, she also can't let go of the feeling that she has a part in the unsolved mystery. She didn't plan on hot PI Tyler Lopez's attempts to thwart her investigation or to find herself suddenly the target of some unknown assailant.

Tyler Lopez has sworn off smart women after getting his heart broken one too many times. But after having his breakfast dumped on him by Zoe he admits there is something about her that has him hooked. When she clues him in on why she's trying to contact his rich client, he finds himself believing Zoe's story and determined to protect her from whoever is coming after her.

I love the characters Christie Craig has developed for this series. She has created complex characters that are intelligent, witty, charismatic and who's personalities draw you into the story from the opening paragraph. With Zoe and Tyler we had two people, who's intelligence always seems to be a negative in prior relationships, prove that when you're with the right person it worked.

Zoe understood Tyler on a level no one else seemed to. She knew when to let him stew over an issue and when to push him into a conversation about it. Tyler believed in Zoe when she didn't believe in who she was or where she came from. Even when he doubted bits and pieces of Zoe's story, he still believed in her as a person.

I really enjoyed the secondary romance between Rich and Ellen. They both has such trust issues that you had to wonder if they were ever going to get it together. But when they did, it was great to see two people regain their belief in love.

An excellent second story to the Hotter in Texas series. I'm not anxiously awaiting Austin's story.