The Talk of Coyote Canyon - by Brenda Novak (Paperback)

Book #2 in the Coyote Canyon series by Brenda Novak, reminds me of children behaving badly. Too bad they're all adults. I read the first book in this series and it was OK. I was hoping the second book would be a bit more fleshed out with some character depth. At the beginning of the book, petty jealousy and anger was the driving force. Ellen doesn't like her father Stuart, his nephew Hendricks, or her step-mother Lynn, they don't like her either since she's taking business away from them. Moving forward, there is an issue with an online date and all that involves, Ellen beginning to change her attitude toward Hendricks, and trying to find out who sabotaged the well she drilled. So much busyness. As a enemies to lovers trope, it kind of works. In this book, the whole family seems to be the enemy and they are making their way to friendly as the book ends. Leo and Zeus were perfect! I loved every scene they were in.

This book deserves more than five stars because it is so many different genres neatly packaged into one unputdownable book. It includes romance, mystery, a few thrills, suspense and romance. I know…romance is twice because it is the prevalent genre for the book. Ellen Truesdale is a rebel with a heart for finding trouble and avoiding relationships. Wounded deeply as a child by her absentee father and his new wife, she has chosen to get her revenge by establishing her own well-digging business to rival his, in the same small town that Stuart Fetterman is located. In her quest for justice for past wrongs, Ellen ends up finding more trouble than she bargained for, with a disloyal employee, vandalism of a new well that she put in and an online date that didn’t turn out well for her. In other words, Ellen is bringing a lot of unhappiness all along her way in Coyote Canyon. I really enjoyed getting to know Ellen and was sad when the book ended. She is a quirky character who is multi-dimensional, vulnerable and determined, strong and dependent all rolled up into one small delightful package. When Hendrix Durant, a man she has sworn to hate forever, turns up to help her in her difficulties, she is wary and learns how to appreciate his honestly and his abilities. The love story is original and compelling as the two of them are not exactly a match made in heaven. I appreciated the complicated plot, the relatable characters and the way the story gave me all of the high and low feels of an emotion-filled book. But what I liked best were the lessons that the book taught about acceptance, forgiveness and trust as well as disappointment and rolling with the punches even when they are coming too fast to keep up. The book has lots of action and plenty of wit in the dialogue, so it is a winner in every category possible! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”