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!
Hutch Crowley is well-liked in the small resort town of Mangrove—he’s got
friends in his new neighbors, he’s the owner of the town grocery, and he’s
building a community center—but he’s still unlucky at love. Every man he’s
attracted to is either taken or simply not interested, including his best friend,
Mike Rojas.
When Mike came to Mangrove two years ago, Hutch gave him a job and a place
to stay in his guesthouse, where Mike has remained ever since. Despite the
rumors circulating about them, Hutch knows Mike is straight and looking for the
right woman. But his friends disagree, and after some hints to the contrary, even
Hutch finally has to admit that maybe the rest of the town sees something he’s
been missing. If Hutch wants to spend each sultry sunset with the man of his
dreams, it might be time to figure out what’s going on with his best friend’s
heart.
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