China had finally agreed to marry Mike McQuaid- and then he'd been paralyzed in the line of duty. Fully committed, she knows she'll tough it out, no matter how long his recovery might take. But even during this time of crisis, life goes on. And China's mother is making sure of that-by moving in and taking over. much to China's annoyance. The annual chili cook-off sounds like a nice respite from the stress, so China gladly accompanies her wheelchair-bound sweetheart to the event. But tragedy strikes when cook-off judge Jerry Jeff Cody dies of a severe allergic reaction-to a peanut. Everyone knows peanuts don't belong in a bowl of Texas chili...and China knows something suspicious is afoot. Now. with rumors flying about foul play at McQuaid's hospital- and whispered stories about Jerry Jeff's womanizing ways-things are heating up all over...