Crossroads by Devney Perry

3.5 Stars

I met West Haven when I was eight years old. He taught me to play poker when I was nine, and we made paper airplanes together when I was eleven. He kissed me when I was sixteen. He was the best part about my family’s summer vacations to Montana. He was the boy who stole my heart. I was twenty-three when life ripped us apart.

Years later, I’m breaking my vow and returning to the ranch, not as a guest but its new owner. West might want me gone, but even he has to admit the only way to save his family’s legacy is with my help.

It’s not easy working side by side and facing those old memories. But this situation is only temporary. We’re at a crossroads. And as long as I don’t let myself fall in love with West Haven again, maybe this is our chance to put those ghosts to rest. Maybe this time we’ll finally be able to say goodbye.

I enjoyed this one a lot but Indy was a lot and West deserved better. The story flowed nicely and was well developed. I loved learning about their history when they are kids and what led to their separation. Once they met up as an adult it was interesting to see how they grew and worked so well.

Book 1 Haven River Ranch

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Blood Sweeter Than Honey by Chiara Forestieri

2 Stars

Gideon

After leaving the military and an all-too-violent past behind, I craved nothing more than solitude—a peaceful life carved out under open skies and green pastures. So, when the local sheriff asks me to take in a mysterious woman, I’m far from thrilled. I’ve spent the last five years celibate and untouched by romance, surrounded only by honest work and the gentle souls of the animals on my ranch. Yet with every moment I spend in Winnow’s presence, some unseen cord winds tighter inside me, drawing me toward her. Soon enough, the urge to protect her—truly care for her—settles deep in my bones, impossible to ignore. I’m starting to believe I was made for this woman—and she, for me.

Winnow

After surviving a war and a traumatic past, I was endowed with the Duchy of Cerulia—thrust into a life I never wanted, bound by a duty I never chose. I’ve been shackled between the urge to walk away and the aching need to give my people the peace they’ve long been denied. It doesn’t take long for the weight of responsibility to wither my soul. So when a rare chance for a vacation appears, I seize it—only for everything to go horrifically awry.

Just when I think all hope is lost, the universe rewrites my path in the most unexpected way, and I find myself with nowhere to go but into the arms of a gruff cowboy—my soulbound.

There were so many tropes in this book. It was too many and made it hard to read. The SA and torture scenes were talked about but not really addressed or resolved. I almost DNF so many times reading this book because it didn’t make sense.

Part of Fated to the Cowboy

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My Deal with the Cowboy by Lainey Winters

3 Stars

HATTIE

I’ve been second choice my entire life. To my own mother, and even to my best friend, who chose my witch of a step-sister over me a decade ago. When I left Willow Ridge, I never thought I’d return. But my mother wants me back to see her golden child get married, and I can’t help but be a little curious about the best friend I left behind…especially when he offers me a deal I can’t refuse.

CASPER

I’ve been in limbo for the last ten years after doing something that should have protected the girl I love…instead, it sent her packing, and I haven’t seen her since. But she’s back, and her family is still as horrible as ever. So, I fake being her boyfriend to give her a break. But neither of us plan for what happens next…

I wanted more with this book. Hattie’s family was just horrid but I needed more info to better understand everything. It might have been included in a previous book but I have only read this book. I did like how Casper and Hattie came together and got their HEA.

Book 5 Sterling Brothers Ranch

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Stealing Hearts by Lex Martin

3.5 Stars

A marriage of convenience might save his ranch, but will it break her heart?

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love Rhett Walker, which is complicated since he’s ten years older and my brother’s best friend. After a falling out, we didn’t speak for years—until today, when he found me sleeping in my car, threw me over his shoulder, and dragged me “to safety.”

He’s grumpy and overprotective and even more handsome than I remembered. I’m shocked to learn he’s in trouble. Someone is sabotaging his ranch, which is thirty days from foreclosure. He needs a loan from a friend who won’t extend the funds unless he’s married. Only Rhett’s now a single dad with no plans to fall in love again.

When his brother suggests I marry Rhett for health insurance so I can rehab an injury, my first reaction is hell no. I can’t afford to catch feelings for someone who won’t see me that way.

But spending time at the ranch reminds me how much is at stake—the family business, the welfare of Rhett’s children, and the happiness of a man I’ve always longed for.

Rhett says we’ll keep things platonic in private, even though I’ll be sleeping in his bed. He refuses to mix business with pleasure.

Except when the lights go out in his bedroom, our chemistry is too explosive to contain.

Would it be so bad to fall for Rhett? Or will he steal my heart all over again?

One thing’s for sure—the clock is ticking on our divorce.

Rhett was just so freaking stubborn about Paige and caused all sorts of problems in their relationship. I loved Paige so much. She had so much working against her besides the injury. Having a crush on her husband was minor compared to everything else. The pacing in the book was spot on and it kept me reading. Pulled me out of a reading slump. The reason for knocking it down from a 4 was the will they/won’t they got old very quickly.

Book 1 Wild at Heart

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Chasing the Wild by Elliott Rose

4 Stars

I’ve always done what was expected of me. Layla Birch, the good girl.

Forced to grow up too fast. To take care of everything myself. I had a plan. Only, I didn’t count on him. Colton Wilder. The cowboy nearly twice my age. He’s my dream man. One who takes care of me, gives me a job, and makes my pulse thud harder every time he comes near.

My ex-boyfriend’s father.

The nights are long and cold on top of this mountain. As the snow grows thicker and the tension builds between us, we’re both inching closer to a line we shouldn’t cross. Each day, it grows harder to resist the man who looks at me with longing in his eyes. It’s tempting to forget about being the good girl for once. No one would find out. Would they?

Super spicy romance with a younger/older relationship. I loved how it played out and how MMC waited for her to finish school before claiming her. He knew how important her education was and even though it killed him to wait for her it was so sweet how he did.

Book 1 Crimson Ridge

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That Feeling by Alexis Winter

3 Stars

I've broken wild horses that were easier to tame than Brooklyn Dyer.
The moment she conquered my mechanical bull in those tight jeans and that ridiculous tourist cowboy hat, I knew she was trouble.

The kind of trouble you spend all night praying never ends and a decade trying to forget.

But Monday morning brings a punch to the gut I never saw coming—she's sitting across from me at our family brewery's board meeting. Not just as some new hire, but as our social media director with plans to make me the damn poster boy for Slade Brewing.

I've spent 37 years mastering this ranch and my emotions—I don't need some city girl with marketing schemes and dangerous curves dismantling both.

Yet here I am, shirtless on my horse while she snaps photos, thinking about how badly I want to bend her over my saddle.

I told myself not to give in, but those full hips and that attitude of hers make me want to misbehave.
She's a defiant little thing that needs to learn a lesson about teasing a man like me.

She’s one of those girls alright—Mysterious, driven, all kinds of sexy.

Just when I let my guard down, her ex appears with a ring, I discover she's carrying my child, and a bullet meant for someone else nearly ends it all.

They say a cowboy's greatest strength is knowing when to hold on tight and when to let go. But with Brooklyn, I'm beginning to think some feelings are worth fighting for—even if it might destroy us both.

This is a generous 3 stars because it was an interesting take on age gap. I skimmed some as there is a huge pacing issue. They were all in within the first half of the book and Brooklyn does end up pregnant almost immediately after they hook up. I also was not a huge fan of Brooklyn. She was too … brass is the best word I can come up with. She was almost bratty in her attitude but not in a good way. She goes in planning on manipulating Tyler to get what she wants, and it rubs me the wrong way. The rest of the book is about other dramas in the community. I did like the writing style so I will probably pick up something else and see if they are better.

Book 1 Slade Brothers

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