Sweet Talk

Sweet Talk is a book in the Montana Mavericks series, written by Jackie Merritt. Reed Kingsley, part of the well-respected Kingsley family in Rumor, Montana, is the small town’s fire chief, handsome and heroic, and attractive to every female breathing. So what does he want with veterinarian Valerie Fairchild, not his usual type of date, trying hard to fly under everyone’s radar? Val is determined to put him off: the last thing she needs is a relationship: getting attached to anyone is a bad idea with her history. But Reed is determined. This is a sweet romance that suffers from rather too much repetition: Val falls into bed with Reed, then wakes to regret and sends him off with angry words. She does this multiple times, which wears just a bit thin. Reed is the sort of man any girl would want, so Val’s rejection of him without explanation tries his patience and that of the reader. There is also a background mystery involving a fire and an in-law of Val’s who is wrongfully imprisoned. Not Merritt’s best effort. 3.5 stars