Tastefully Texas: A Contemporary Western Romance, the first in the “True Hearts of Texas” series by K.S. Jones is a fun read with a culinary twist. The story takes place in modern day Texas.

Mia Ellis is summoned back to her hometown of Legacy, Texas. Her mother was injured in an automobile accident and after her discharge from the hospital will need home care. It couldn’t have come at a worse time. Mia was scheduled to participate in a New York culinary apprenticeship program. When she left the small town of Legacy to attend culinary arts school in Houston, she left for good. Her heart was broken over the break-up with her high school sweetheart. All her close friends had left town. Nothing would entice her to return except this emergency with her mother. Hopefully, the date for her apprenticeship program can be rescheduled.

Jace Farr is heir to the Farr Reaches Ranch, a large cow-calf operation. But it’s tough going. Ranching isn’t what it used to be. He was only nineteen when his father died, and since then he’d made some wrong decisions. Not only that, he’d never gotten over his total blunder with Mia, his girl friend. They were meant for each other—anyone could see that—but he’d blown their chances.

When Mia arrives in Legacy she feels totally out of place. She settles her mother back at home, but soon realizes she needs to earn money to help pay the bills. It’s only temporary. Her New York position is on hold and as soon as her mother can take care of herself, Mia will resume her culinary dream. But in the meantime, the only job she can find is as a dishwasher in an out-of-the way bar and grill. When the owner realizes she can cook, her world changes.

In their small community, it was inevitable that she’d run into Jace. They find their flames suddenly reignited. But Jace is consumed with his struggling ranch, and Mia is just putting in time until her mother is back on her feet before she follows her dream in New York. They live in separate worlds now. Or do they?

I enjoyed Tastefully Texas. It’s a fast-paced story with a message. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the vast Texas hill country. The author does a good job of showing the various personalities of family and friends. The story held my interest through to the last page.