Books & Spoons Review: AN OFFICER AND A MAVERICK by Teresa Southwick

There's something I feel like I should tell you about my review process, before I get to the next review. As you can see, both of them are from Montana, and both of them have Maverick in them... Well, this is not intentional from my part.
Most of the books I read are advanced reader copies, that I get from tour companies, publishers, NetGalley, Edelweiss, or from the authors themselves. Usually these ARCs arrive months ahead, and I put them in my calendar by the title of the book, to the closest date I have free upon books publishing date. The books show up in my kindle with the title name, and often with the email address the book was sent from (for example kindle@netgalley).
By the time I get into the book, most often I don't know the author or genre of the book, the books open with from the beginning of the story, so I don't even have the cover image to go by. So my opinion of the story comes truly from the story, and the coincidence of two same types of books being reviewed close to each other, is completely that, coincidence. Just thought I should point all this out, before getting into the review of the other Montana Maverick.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF DETECTIVE DREAMY

Rust Creek Ramblings

By now, you’ve all heard about Lani Dalton, everyone’s favorite Ace in the Hole bartender. Observed singing and dancing fully clothed in the park fountain on the Fourth of July, she was hauled off to jail dripping wet by dashing detective Russ Campbell. Readers, what would you do if you found yourselves in the strong arms of the law? 

Since then, Lani’s been reluctant to revisit the Case of the Spiked Wedding Punch. Because helping the arrestingly handsome Russ crack the case could risk breaching family confidentiality — and Lani never breaks a promise! So why does Russ keep showing up at the Ace?  We at The Gazette would never kiss and tell, but reports of Lani and Russ’s mutual distrust are greatly exaggerated...

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This story has me chuckling from the beginning, I really enjoyed the authors' humorous way to write the story.
Lani and Russ both haven't been lucky in love, and are avoiding a relationship. The attraction is there, but Russ had gone to lengths to avoid doing anything about it.
Until the night of the wedding, when Lani does everything she can to get arrested, to save her brother, with some interesting results.
That wedding reception has surprising effects on a  lot of the town folks. The punch at the reception was spiked, and people were acting out of character.
The sheriff asks Russ to help to solve the case of spiked punch, and says Loni is the best person to help him.
To be able to do so, they start to pretend to be dating, but that pretense seems awfully real...
I loved the family loyalty, and the close relationship the siblings have. The way Loni's dad, the lawyer, interrogate Loni, was pure entertainment.
Russ and Loni had their hands full, with their jobs, the investigation, and with each other. The connection between them was believable, and the talk of the town. They work on their issues, slowly learn to trust each other, and find a way to communicate with each other. They are fun, adorably sweet, and passionate.
The town folks are not shy at all to get involved in each others business, in any matter. And everyone has their opinion about the spiked punch nearly everyone drank.
Humorous, warm, and delightful story! I enjoyed it, and am looking forward to the next installation in the series, maybe we finally find out, who made the whole town to act so crazy
~ Four Spoons