First published 2005
Maggie Coleman opens the doors of Sunbridge ranch for a Fourth of July barbecue, hoping to unite her fractured family under the Texas sky. The Austin empire that her grandfather Seth built before the war now rests in her hands, and she wants to restore the family bonds that have frayed over the years. But her relatives arrive carrying grudges and secrets that threaten to explode in the summer heat. Maggie plans to divorce Cranston Tanner while navigating her relationship with her bitter son Cole, who resents her authority. Her feelings for another man could alienate her family entirely. Cole wages war with his cousin Riley, who stands to inherit Sunbridge, while Maggie's daughter Sawyer faces heartbreak and an approaching crisis. When Maggie's sister Susan returns home, the celebrated musician must confront the most difficult challenge of her career. The barbecue becomes a battlefield where old wounds reopen and new conflicts emerge, testing whether love can survive the pressures tearing the Coleman family apart.
Genres: romance, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Austin, Sunbridge Ranch, Texas
Period: Fourth of July
Audio CD · Brilliance Audio