Evan is rodeo cowboy, a single father, and best friends with Brooks. His eight year old daughter travels the circuit with him and she is the light of his life. Too bad her mother is the dark. Evan knows that having Chay with him on the road inhibits having a life outside of fatherhood, especially when Evan has to hide the fact that he leans more towards persons of the masculine gender. Especially if that person is Brooks, but Evan will do nothing to ruin his relationship with Brooks or his life with Chay even if that means sacrificing his love life.

Rough, rugged cowboys, tender fathers, protective grandmothers and a cold hearted witch of an ex-wife make Sparkle and Shine a fun read. Evan is as tough as they come; he rides the rodeo circuit and cowboys up when necessary. But he has a big soft spot when it comes to his daughter Chay, a very precocious little girl. Brooks was probably my favorite of all the characters, a man who wants Evan but has been biding his time; they’ve been best friends forever. I liked having the outside view of the relationship and knowing that each man struggled with similar demons. Should they or shouldn’t they make a move, how will the other react, etc. The ex -wife, Sandra, gives women a bad name. That woman was a cold hearted snake of the lowest kind. Julia Talbot has written a lovely little book to enjoy on a hot summer day.

Reviewed by: Hayley