The Horseman

From the moment Mandy Morris lays eyes on the small town of Pigeon Hollow, she knows it’s the perfect location for her the new reality TV series she is developing. Now all she has to do is get the consent of Jared Gordon, operator of the Gordon Equine farm. However, this is a lot easier said than done as Jared is dead set against the TV series. But, he certainly has a fierce attraction to Mandy, one she reciprocates. But can this big-city girl and this small town man find happiness together when there are so many contentious issues standing in the way?

Cat Johnson introduces readers to Pigeon Hollow in The Horseman. It’s a sweet romance that, while playing upon several stereotypical city versus country clichés, still manages to create a memorable and fun romance. Mandy and Jared’s attraction is blinding but I think Ms. Johnson handled their differences in a way that was true to their personalities.

The Ballplayer

When Lizzie Barton turned eighteen, she gave her virginity to the man she’d been in love with her whole life, Cole Ryan. Unfortunately, dreams have consequences as Lizzie discovered. Ten years later, Cole is back home in Pigeon Hollow. His pitching arm is used up and he’s been forced to give up his great passion, baseball. But he’s hoping that being home in Pigeon Hollow will help him reconnect with Lizzie, and maybe figure out why she broke up with him all those years ago. But there are a few surprises in store for Cole that are curveballs to say the least.

While somewhat formulaic, The Ballplayer still has some great and loving moments between Lizzie and Cole. Ms. Johnson imbues their love with a truly heartfelt tenderness, making the romance shine through some of the standard clichés.

The Deputy

Pigeon Hollow deputy Bobby Barton is not happy about the reality TV show being filmed in town. In fact, he’s livid, and that’s only partly because he has a camera following him around all day. The other part of the problem is associate producer Christy Dunne. She’s one woman he’d love to handcuff, but fraternizing between the cast and crew is off limits. Passion can’t be denied though and soon Christy and Bobby are a part of the TV show in ways they never expected.

The Deputy is easily my favorite of this anthology. The chemistry between Christy and Bobby is smoking, they joke, jest and flirt in a believable and magnetic way, and it’s obvious how much they care about each other, even from the beginning. Add in some amusing police calls and Cat Johnson rounds this anthology out with a bang.

Smalltown, U.S.A. is a sweet and spicy anthology. Though there are some clichéd moments, the characters are engaging enough to make the reader forget some of the humdrum plot devices. For a truly touching contemporary romance, I would heartily recommend Smalltown, U.S.A.

Reviewed by: Sarah W