A rancher ready to settle down. An editor making a career switch. Two people who return to their hometown in Texas—and find love …

Chance Blackstone sowed his fair share of wild oats during his twenties. With his father’s death, however, Chance takes over running his family’s ranch. His sister Kelby has recently married West Sutherland, Chance’s best friend since childhood, and Chance is a bit envious of their domestic bliss, wondering if it’s time for him to find a wife of his own and start a family.

After a decade of working for Liberty House, a New York publisher, Summer Sutherland is forced from her job as a senior editor. Her gut tells her she can write better romances than the ones she’s been editing, so she returns to Hawthorne and gives herself a year to see if she can make it as an author. Drawing from her roots, Summer begins writing a series about a small town in the Texas Panhandle and runs into her teenage crush, Chance Blackstone, the guy who always made her heart race.

Chance never gave Summer a second glance, mainly because she was a couple of years younger and West’s awkward little sister. Now, however, the ruggedly handsome ranch owner finds himself drawn to the talented, independent, grown-up Summer. Chance’s unexpected attention ignites feelings Summer thought she had long buried, and she agrees to kick their budding friendship up a notch and explore the feelings stirring within them both.

As they spend more time together, the spark between them ignites, leading to a deepening connection and undeniable attraction. But when a secret from Chance’s past comes to light, it threatens to ruin their chance at lasting happiness.

Can Summer come to terms with this sudden change and embrace a future with her cowboy—or will this explosive secret extinguish the flame of their love?

Find the answer in bestselling author Alexa Aston’s Hearts and Hooves, the fourth book in Hearts in Hawthorne.