A Little Town in Texas (Crystal Creek)

A LITTLE TOWN IN TEXAS by Bethany CampbellBethany Campbell's A LITTLE TOWN IN TEXAS continues the saga of stories centering on Crystal Creek, Texas. In this book, the town is up for big changes when a huge corporation headed by Brian Fabian decides it wants to buy up tons of Texas land to create a brand new housing development. Crystal Creek is known for being a sleepy little Texas town that hasn't changed in decades, and the people are happy about it. With a new housing development threatening to bring in more people, it spelled an end of an era. Kitt Mitchell was once a resident of this small town, but left years ago for New York and a career as a reporter, never once looking back. She had a secret she wanted buried, and had no desire to return to her hometown, despite the fact that Nora, her favorite person in the world, was still living in Crystal Creek. Now, as a reporter and writer, Kitt is asked to travel back to Crystal Creek to find out what she knows about Fabian's plans for this small town. It's big breaking news, and her boss promises her a big promotion if she can pull this off. Knowing that she has ties to Crystal Creek is no mere coincidence that she was asked to go. Her boss knows she may have a way to get to the news-breaking story first.In the mean time, Mel Belyle, a lawyer who has lived under the wings of Fabian for as long as he can remember, is asked by Fabian to help secure more land from the town's residents. It's his job to do what Fabian asks, no questions, and he feels he owes everything to this very successful man for who he is today. Mel has his own secrets that he's buried long ago, and he has also moved on from Crystal Creek and now lives in New York.Kitt and Mel's worlds collide at the airport, both of them not knowing who the other is. Kitt figures it out soon enough, but it takes a phone call at the airport restaurant where they are sharing a sandwich for Mel to figure out she's the enemy. However, both cannot deny that there is a spark between them, no matter what side of this issue they are on.Kitt and Mel do their research, and although they start out on opposite sides of this battle, they start questioning what is really right for this small town. Would a new housing development bring in more people, thus creating new jobs and growth? Would this be detrimental to the town and change it forever? Or is change good, as some people always say? A LITTLE TOWN IN TEXAS was a well-written harlequin superromance by prolific Bethany Campbell. Several subplots are followed in the book, including sibling rivalry between Mel and his brother Nick, the secret that has kept Kitt from returning home to Crystal Creek, as well as the main issue of development in a traditionally old-fashioned small farming town. I was not disappointed with this book, and feel it was one of the better harlequin romances I have read this past year.

The redhead entrances Mel Belyle from first glimpse with her elfin face and fast pace. Her spitfire ways spark his interest, even after he learns that Kitt Mitchell used their fortuitous, accidentally meeting to pump him for information. Their immediate attraction, however, will be thwarted when they arrive in Crystal Creek and find themselves at cross-purposes. Unfortunately, Mel is on a mission to buy land in Crystal Creek for development, and on a personal vendetta against his brother for defecting to the other side. As a reporter, Kitt is returning to Crystal Creek after a long absence to get the story for a New York magazine. Both are equally determined to learn more about the other, but each conceals painful secrets that it would take an act of God to reveal. They both best be careful, however, because a flood is coming. As Crystal Creek continues to confront necessary change, A LITTLE TOWN IN TEXAS picks up with Mel's story. Fans will recall his brother's abdication to the citizen's of Crystal Creek's side in "I'll Take Texas", part of last summer's RETURN TO CRYSTAL CREEK anthology. Mel's entrance brings clashes of loyalty to both family and ethics, resulting in an emotional read as the town becomes divided against itself. Author Bethany Campbell's understanding of the necessities of progress and the weakness of human nature lends the novel a marvelous complexity, especially as the sassy Kitt takes on the overly confident Mel, who hides surprising and endearing vulnerabilities. A satisfying afternoon's read, A LITTLE TOWN IN TEXAS comes very highly recommended.

Brian Fabian wants more land in and around Crystal Creek, Texas allegedly for development purposes. He is angry with his traitorous former lawyer Nick Belyle who joined the opposition preservation side. Brian sends Nick's ruthless brother Mel to Crystal Creek to complete the mission.New York based Exclusive Magazine sends staff writer Kitt Mitchell to Texas Hill County to cover the story because she was originally from Crystal Creek (though she keeps that item as the smallest print font on her bio). Mel refuses to speak to her about his role as he is under a clause of silence. So she works around him with interviews among the divided townsfolk and sets out to use her wiles to get Mel to open up to her. As they fall in love, Kitt and Mel must decide between their respective careers and their significant other with danger making it imperative to choose correctly.Change is inevitable, but that often leads to many people struggling to adapt especially when it feels wrong. To some townsfolk plus this reviewer the adage, if it is not broke don't fix it seems apropos;, but other locals and my spouse would insist on an evaluation to see if things can be improved. Bethany Campbell cleverly handles that theme in the latest visit to Crystal Creek. The townsfolk as usual remains consistent to previous tales and the lead couple are a charming duet. An intrigue subplot takes the reader somewhat away from the prime debate, but the audience still receives a powerful modern day story focused on both sides of the change argument.Harriet Klausner