Texas Bad Boys

The “Bad Boys” in the title of this new anthology in the long-running Brava Bad Boys series is actually a bit of a misnomer. Texas is true enough – all three stories take place in the little town of Silver Gulch. But the heroes of the story, the so-called “Bad Boys,” are, in fact, all examples of fine, upstanding citizens.

However, that’s no reason to avoid the book. The publisher may be trying to capitalize on the bad boy appeal – who hasn’t wanted the James Dean look-alike sitting on his motorcycle? – but there’s lots to be said for nice boys as well.

The plots are intertwined. The three heroines share the same father, from all accounts the ultimate deadbeat. The girls were never introduced to their paternal relatives, and only know their wealthy grandfather through their father and they were told that he wanted nothing to do with them. As each girl grew up with her respective mother in somewhat reduced circumstances, none of them have particularly warm fuzzy feelings towards Grandpa Maddock. So, when they learn that he has died and left them each a sizeable inheritance, they are taken aback. The rules are simple. Each girl gets a piece of property around Silver Gulch and a large sum of money. But they can’t sell the property or get their hands on the money unless they live in Silver Gulch for three consecutive years, starting now. A second complication arises soon after, when it becomes apparent that three men are also intrinsically tied to the three properties and are feeling a little put out.

The stories get fairly predictable from here – but not in a bad way. The close proximity romance is, after all, one of the most popular. These three authors have fun heroines and hot heroes; the stories are enjoyable. There is a not-so-surprising twist, but, to fall into a rather bad cliché, the anthology’s heart is in the right place.