The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off by Carolyn Brown

When the queen of cowboy romance tries her hand at women’s fiction, you’d better watch out cause you’re in for a laugh a minute, as well as feelings of family strength.

Author Carolyn Brown takes readers back to Cadillac, Texas, in her latest release, THE RED-HOT CHILI COOK-OFF. It’s almost time for the prestigious Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off in Cadillac, but gossip in the town is about to get hotter than any chili ever created.

Carlene Lovelle, co-owner of Bless My Bloomers lingerie shop, is heartbroken when she finds a pair of sexy bikini underwear in her husband Lenny’s briefcase. Her heartbreak turns to anger when she recognizes the garment as one she created for a customer at her shop. The stuff hits the fan when Carlene goes to confront Lenny at the car dealership and discovers his secretary is the customer who bought the red silk lingerie from her.

After doing a tap dance on a new car in the dealership, Carlene files for divorce and moves into her shop. She knows the best way to seek revenge against Lenny is to break his winning streak at the chili cook-off. With the help of her mother, her two aunts, her two cousins (who are also her business partners), and a host of friends, the Red Hot Bloomers are the first women’s team to ever enter the chili cook-off.

What follows is a mad cap adventure filled with food poisoning, halo snatching, simmering romance, cat fights (animal and human), and a whole lot of praying. The ladies are determined to win the cook-off despite the fact that not a one of them can cook. While the three cousins may not be agreeing at the moment, no one takes on one without the other two.

The characters are zany, but realistic with traits and faults readers can relate to. Brown captures the feel of small town gossip and the strong bond of family and friends. She deals with a woman scorned in ways that will have you crying from laughter. Brown has a knack for writing humor with a southern flare. The story quickly pulls you in, holds you spellbound as revenge is contemplated and leaves you wanting more of this whacky journey when the cook-off ends.

THE RED-HOT CHILI COOK-OFF is a fast pace, energetic escapade about romance gone wrong and the women determined to set it right in their own unique style. When Carlene and her family are done, things will never be the same in Cadillac again.

The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off by Carolyn Brown, Sourcebooks Landmark, @2014, ISBN: 978-1402287039, Paperback, 320 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

Thanks for stopping by today. Don’t you just love a book that makes you wish you knew the characters in real life?