SULTRY SUNSET is a sweet novella featuring Hutch Crowley, a well-known and well-loved community man in Mangrove, and his friend Mike. For me, Hutch was the real star of this book. Since the story is told from his point of view, I found it quite easy to like him. He owns the town's grocery store and has his fingers in many parts of the community. So when he finds his young, new neighbor outside crying, it isn't strange for him to ask what's wrong. The fourteen-year-old girl spews all the bad mishaps that have been happening in her life so Hutch, gentleman that he is, goes to help her. Since this is the opening scene of the book, I really thought Hutch was going to end up with the girl's father, Mr. Dodd, who is a fireman and is gay too. However, I soon learned that author Mary Calmes had something else planned.

Hutch has harbored feelings for Mike for the two years he's had him live in his guesthouse. Mike has been parading around with other women, making Hutch jealous but when a mishap occurs and Hutch reveals his true feelings for Mike, there's no turning back. The romance has built up until this point, however, I wished we could've seen more of that between Hutch and Mike. I felt like I could've read more about them and didn't want the story to end when it did, so those are signs of a good book. I felt a bit misled with the beginning but even so, it was still enjoyable and sweet. I can never get enough of Mary Calmes' books!