Almost Ready

Back to Silver Ridge #6

by Claire Cain

When a wounded florist and a reluctantly helpful brewery owner fake an engagement, they’re Almost Ready.

Between managing my flower shop and preparing for wedding season, I don’t have time for a relationship. Not that I’d want one after the terrifying failure that was my last attempt drove me to start a new life in this small town.

But when that past saunters into my happy place, this little corner of the world I’ve carved out for myself to find peace, and pushes me to get back together with him, I don’t freeze. I act.

I pull John Wallace off the street and call him my fiancé despite never exchanging anything other than barbs and irritated words with the man. And before I know it, John and I are playing at an engagement, not just for my out-of-town ex, but for the entire small town where we live, including his adorable parents.

Despite the fact that he drives me insane with his nice guy, friends with everyone vibe, he is stupidly handsome and might as well be wearing a sign that says, “Danger to Dahlia.” I’m not about to fall for this man and he’s made it clear he has no interest in me… until the lines blur a little too much and I’m not sure we’re faking anything anymore.

Just a look from him can set me on fire, and incredibly, I mean that in the best way. Everything he’s done for me suggests maybe there’s something good between us. But in the midst of lying to my family and everyone I know thanks to the mistakes in my past, I can’t think about a future with anyone… can I?

Almost Ready is John Wallace and Dahlia Price's love story and the finale of the Back to Silver Ridge series — a fake engagement, closed door small town romance.

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 20, 2023

Reviews

[Suzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last book in this wonderful series, and I can’t think of a more beautiful way to end it. John and Dahlia’s story gave me ALL the feels and I loved it so, so much!

They’ve butted heads and antagonized each other in previous books, but that quickly changes in Almost Ready as John steps in and helps Dahlia during a really difficult moment. Seeing their attraction and relationship bloom was a complete delight!!

I loved how sweet and vulnerable John was, and how protective he was of Dahlia. He’s such a cinnamon roll hero—my favorite kind! And Dahlia is such a sweetheart and a true romantic at heart. I adored how she put everyone in a romance book trope! I really loved her strength and resilience after discovering what she’s experienced in the past.

It made my heart happy to have the characters from the previous books make appearances, and to see how blissfully in love they are with their sweethearts. After reading each book, they genuinely feel like good friends and I love seeing each of them get their HEA.

This can be read as a standalone, but reading the previous books will make it a richer experience.

CW: The heroine has been in a relationship with an abusive ex and encounters him again in the book. It doesn’t go into detail and is handled with great sensitivity and empathy.

Many thanks to the author for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Lissa Ruck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved John & Dahlia's fiery, sweet,caring, loving,swoony story!!!

[Abby Huffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

John & Dahlia

Sigh, how I absolutely adored this one! John & Dahlia are heart melting together and I love them so much. What an absolutely beautiful story!

[Moni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. Although this is the 6th & final book in the Back to Silver Ridge Series, it's a standalone & you don't have to read the others first. I strongly encourage you to read Almost True, where we get a hint at John & Dahlia's romance. Also, I just love that book. Characters from the previous books appear but the author gives enough context so you won't feel lost if you haven't read them, though you will want to read those stories as well. I was anticipating John & Dahlia's story since the previous book & it didn't disappoint at all. The book's blurb is straightforward & do pay attention to the author's note at the beginning of the book. This is a great fake engagement dual pov romance about two people accepting the love they deserve.

Because of her last relationship, Dahlia has closed herself off from dating. She's focused on keeping her flower shop thriving. When her ex's reappearance threatens her peace of mind, she asks John to pretend to be her fiancé. Although her & John have always clashed, he doesn't hesitate to help her. While Dahlia is still wary & trying to let go of her natural response to trade barbs with him, she begins to truly see who John is for herself. From her friends, she knew he was a good man but now she's experiencing it. & her romantic side, which she has kept hidden, can't help but to flutter at the thought of what if when thinking about John. What I loved about Dahlia was how she was doing her best to move forward with her life. While she still had some fears & disappointments, she was strong & became stronger as she realized she was loved.

Like Dahlia, John has closed himself off from seriously dating. That doesn't mean he's a playboy. He's just not interested in getting hurt again. His last relationship left him with doubts making it difficult for him to trust anyone with his heart again. However, that doesn't stop him from being a nice guy & wanting to help others out. When Dahlia is in need, he understands how serious her request is for her to ask him. While they aren't enemies, they've been antagonistic towards each other & tried to steer clear of the other's way. As John begins to spend time with Dahlia, he does his best to show her that she has people who care for her & that they could be friends. As those feelings of friendship grow into something more, John wonders if Dahlia could be the one for him. John is the absolute sweetest & worthy of the cinnamon roll title so it's impossible not to love him. I loved how caring & understanding he was. &, of course, his small gestures were touching.

Because they both have their own problems regarding love & they are fake engaged, the romance is a closed door slow burn. For those wondering, although it's a closed door story, they stick to only steamy kissing. As someone who loves slow burn, I was more than satisfied. But, even if you aren't that huge on slow burn, you will still appreciate the development of Dahlia & John's relationship. After all, they spent a couple of years being not so friendly to slowly becoming friends & learning to trust each other. Them learning to trust each other & the way that it changed them individually was one of my favorite things to read. Aside from their romance, I love the supportive friends that Dahlia had. While Dahlia's ex & her family bring conflict to the story, it isn't anything that is overwhelming. Also, I love the way that Dahlia & John resolve it. There is nothing for me to dislike about this book, except the fact that it ended. Dahlia & John's story was a beautiful one that made me shed some happy tears & made my heart happy that I read it. It was an excellent conclusion to the series & readers will definitely love it.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! I’d tack on an extra star if I could. I enjoyed it so much! There’s a smidge of enemies-to-love, but they aren’t really that awful to each other in their, “loosely hostile acquaintanceship, but in a nice way”. It quickly moves into a fake relationship (to protect Dahlia from her ex), and during the course of that a friendship develops. All while their natural attraction builds. John, a helper by nature, is just the kind of good, thoughtful, and sweet guy that everyone needs in their lives. “‘…she’s not perfect. She’s real. I don’t need or want her to be perfect, because every part of her is beautiful to me - the good, bad, and messy. I want the whole of her, not just the prettiest parts. I want her petals and her roots, her leaves and her thorns. I want it all.’” (Swoon. Definitely highlighted some beautiful passages in this book.) And Dahlia is resilient, fighting her way to independence, success, and happiness after escaping an abusive relationship. And with a family actively trying to drag her back into the mire. I loved both characters. Their interactions were fantastic. Some great kisses too, of course. To me, this book felt like it was more a sum of all the collected moments rather than being defined by one or two big events. I liked that. The resolution and then epilogue are wonderful. I’m so glad that the author carried the story through that far and I loved how it all went down. This story has a lot of crossover with the other books in the series, specifically in characters, so I’d encourage reading the whole series in order, but this book can standalone as a great story itself, if preferred. This is a closed door book with some mild innuendo. There are a few instances of mild language.

[Mimi Dyer]

Dahlia Price left Devon, her abusive fiancé, three years ago and relocated to Silverton, Utah. Now he stands outside her florist shop to claim the prize he won at a charity event a few days ago. Only that is not the real reason he is in Silverton - he has come to reclaim her, courtesy of her family who divulged her guarded location. But luckily, John Wallace, ex attorney turned brewer, happens to walk past and Dahlia hauls him into the store and introduces him as her fiancé.

Exit Devon, but not forever because he is the best man at her sister Rose’s wedding, which is being held at The Silver Ridge Resort in Silverton, so Dahlia begs John to continue with their charade for a while longer. And, lo and behold, as they tell both families about their “engagement,” they find themselves more and more attracted to each other, despite their history of snarkiness and the baggage both bring to the equation.

What a complex beginning! Claire Cain’s warm, smooth writing style combined with exquisite character development and precise attention to detail explain why she is so revered by readers far and wide. While I, an Army brat, was first attracted to her novels of military life and love, I fast came to inderstand that she tackles difficult issues, in this case, abusive relationships, with care and consideration. And I love how she weaves in characters from the previous five books from the Back to Silver Ridge Series. It’s like a warm homecoming, and I look forward to the next work by this incredibly gifted author!

I received this book as an ARC reviewer and voluntarily leave my honest opinion.

[Angeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so sad to see this series come to an end but this was a great book! Almost Ready is the 6th and final book in Claire Cain’s Back to Silver Ridge series. John and Deliah had so much tension and chemistry and I was excited to read how the story would turn out.
John and Delilah were so fun to read about and I love how they cared for each other. They grew to love each other and they grew to see past each other’s walls. I loved reading about them falling for each other and standing up for each other. John and Delilah both had to see what it would look like to let others in. I love the growth of the characters.
Delilah was running from a bad relationship and it made her wary but she learned to stand up for herself. I love how John helped me but how Delilah grew in her own way. John was jaded about love and wary of trusting others but as he helped Delilah, he let her in. They were just so cute together.
The romance was sweet and I loved seeing old characters. One of my favorite parts of these past few books is reading about the ladies getting together and chatting. The side characters always add to the book. I am sad to see this series end but I am excited to see what else Cain will write. I would definitely recommend Almost Ready. Almost Ready is a closed door contemporary romance.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

[Rhondia Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve read any of the Silver Ridge books you will likely remember Dahlia and John. They have one of those inexplicably antagonistic relationships. They have mutual friends who can’t quite figure it out either. In Almost Ready we finally learn why they are oil and water.
This book started a little slow for me. I recall being disappointed in the first few pages but I can’t say why. After all, the dastardly Bad Guy, Devon is right there in the opening scene. But Devon isn’t the only bad character. Poor Dahlia has a stable of them. And every time these influences rear their ugly heads, Dahlia strikes out at John. So his voluntary role in this drama is unexpected.
Almost Ready is filled with sweetness in opposition to inexcusable behavior. John and Dahlia are each know for their kindness to others, just not to one another. Turns out they weren’t ready before now. John sees Dahlia differently, or maybe he just stops denying how amazing she is. Nothing in her past prepared Dahlia for the real John. She’s never know this level of devotion or had a guy serve her as he does. Sigh. He is pretty great and she’s finally getting it…
Don’t miss Almost Ready. Maybe even binge read the series! I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Joyce Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dahlia was in an emotionally abusive relationship, but her parents loved her ex and didn't believe her when she explained what he had been doing. 3 years later and she has moved out of state and made a life of her own with some good friends. One day her ex shows up and begins manipulating her like he did in the past. John happens to be walking past her flower shop and she drags him in and explains that he is her fiance.

John is shocked when Dahlia drags him inside the store. He and Dahlia have not had a very close friendship. They have typically tried to avoid each other the past 3 years. John was hurt by his ex-fiance and made to feel that he wasn't good enough.

They pretend to be fake engaged to get through Dahlia's sister's wedding where the ex is the best man. I loved this book. Claire Cain dealt with the issue of emotional abuse so well. You got to see the healing taking place in Dahlia and in John. I loved how John treated Dahlia with such care. He is just a good guy.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dahlia is finally happy or reasonable so she's rid of her awful abusive ex Devon running a flower shop she's done with love for at least a little while because her last romance left her with emotional scars and lack of trust. But that ex is sneaky and won't go away easily he even got her family to tell him we're she's gone now Dahlia needs and instant fiance to put distance between her ex and her obnoxious family and her sisters wedding and unfortunately for her John fits the bill her sometimes enemy of 3 years. John is happy to help he's the sunshine to Dahlia's grumpy character but behind all there snark lies a secret that they didn't plane on they never saw coming love. These two are sugar and spice they fit once they see each other as more then enemies and even though I haven't read all the books in the series I'm definitely going to now.

I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Virg · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet conclusion to this series! Claire always brings out the heartwarming, gooey feelings, and John & Dahlia's story is no different! They don't have the best impressions of each other in the beginning, but John steps up as Dahlia's fake fiance, no questions asked, so of course I loved him from the start.

They've both got baggage in their pasts that make them feel less than worthy of love, but show each other they're perfect just as they are. I so loved the theme of loving because of & through imperfections! John's definitely a cinnamon roll & just the sort of strong yet vulnerable man Dahlia needs after all she's been through. Talk about swoony speeches—this man comes through with the words of affirmation!

I loved all the fun little glimpses into other couples from the series, too!

Steam: closed door

[Bonnie Blackledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked reading this novel by Claire Cain. It brought me back to Silverton, a place I had visited in previous books she has written. I enjoy coming back to the familiar – a place where I recognized people, businesses, and the general atmosphere of the town.
The story starts when Dahlia grabs John from the sidewalk in front of her flower shop so she can pretend he is her fiancé. She needs to do this because her former boyfriend, Devon, has come to town and he won’t leave her alone. Cain does a good job of making him totally annoying, and John provides a welcome contrast.
I enjoyed the difference between Dahlia’s past and her family’s support of her ex with the openness and love that she gets from John’s family. I loved how John’s mother emphasized that being imperfect actually makes one a better person. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delightful book in a sweet series! Readers of other books in the Silverton sagas will enjoy the appearance of many previous characters, all living out their happily ever afters. I've wanted a book about Dahlia and John Wallace since their first heated exchange and this book does not disappoint. Their forced/fake engagement with elements of an enemies-to-lovers arc is a satisfying read with so many heartfelt, gentle, and delicious moments. I love the small town feel of Silverton, where female friendships are paramount, men aren't afraid to feel their feelings and love their women, and the local economy supports a fabulous bakery and Mexican restaurant. This book works as a stand alone or as the culmination of a fantastic, escapist series. Highly recommend!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. At first I could not imagine how's these two were going to work it out because they were at each other's throats. Although as they started to open up and let the other past their walls they developed a connection. You could feel the raw emotions and the love that was growing between the two. So many times I would reread sections but it was just so wonderful. John was there for dahlia and knew just what she needed to lift her up. Such true love. This book goes to show that even enemies can find true love in each other. So glad Dahlia parents believe her in the end about her ex and that John was willing to stand up for her. This book is definitely a read. I want to reread it for sure.

[Karen Brasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

So glad Dahlia and John finally were able to have their story. Though there is some mild language, for the most part this is a clean romance. Dahlia had escaped an abusive relationship. When her ex finds her she pulls the first guy she sees walking by into the shop and claims he is her fiancé. That guy happened to be John Wallace. John had a bad breakup with his ex and never plans to date but he sees Dahlia needs help getting rid of the guy in her flower shop. When she announces him as her fiancé, he goes along with it. Then the whole town gets involved after she comes to him about going with her to her sisters wedding. Will this be another fake fiancé to wedded bliss story? Guess you should read to find out.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dahlia has a flower shop and loves it. Everything is going great until her abusive ex-boyfriend shows up. She sees John out on the street, whispers to him to just go with it, and introduces him as her fiancé. Her and John have been enemies up to this point. Derek, the ex, doesn’t want to believe it, but he does leave. Dahlia doesn’t say anything to John, she just wants him to leave also. Then things start to change with Dahlia and John and they become friends. Lots happen with Derek. He doesn’t want to take no for an answer from Dahlia. What will happen? I received free book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carla Dau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this entire series

Clair Caan’s characters in this series are unique in personalities; past histories with pains-families-dreams .. The powerful love and determination of the strong women and men they choose is a very different journey for each of them. It often feels they will never get there .. but they do and it is amazing to read it! She deals with very difficult topics - abuse, miscarriage, self worth and more. Her dialogue is snarky, engaging, challenging and unique in every character. Love is always the theme. Treat yourself! I can hardly wait to read about more of these characters in the next series 💕

[erica.reads.a.lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great enemies-to-lovers/fake engagement book! Daliah and John put their worst foot forward the day they met, not because of each other, but because failed past relationships had come to haunt them that morning. Unfortunately, the affable guy who never met a stranger and the always-supportive friend Daliah stayed at odds for years. But when Daliah‘s ex showed up, it was John who slipped into the role of fake fiancé to protect her. I loved watching these two imperfect people recognize and love the imperfections in each other. As always, it was fun to see characters from the earlier books in the series show up to lend support and give advice, whether it was wanted or not!

[Denice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story so much, Claire had a note about the difficult content to start with, and it was difficult to read such sad things but the way that she covered it was wonderful. I loved seeing how Dahlia was able to move on from the abuse by leaving it, getting counseling, finding a great support system and making such great friends. I love the outstanding man that John is and his willingness to help her event though they didn’t start with the best of friendship. I loved the engagement scene. This is such a fantastic story, I loved it so much! Great end of a great series.

[Kitty Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

There have been a handful of times in my life where I have read a book and was compelled to go back and read a scene over and over and over again. This is one of those books.
It isn’t a quick light read, instead expect to laugh and cry and grit your teeth and relax with a sigh. The characters are extremely 3 dimensional and the story is gripping. And there are some seriously swoon worthy quotes. Now, time for me to reread it again!

[CAH - malphrusc · Rating 5 out of 5]

💕You know a book is good when it evokes an emotion…but when it evokes several emotions it becomes truly wonderful. This book was TRULY WONDERFUL…I smiled as John and Dahlia began to grow closer together and had tears when they were finally brave enough to put words and actions to those feelings. It is kind of amazing when an author can pull you in to such a sweet storyline to remind you what you love about love….well done! I highly recommend! 💕

[Kathy Winchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

John and Dahlia…sigh…what an enemy to HEA story this was! Great cast and storyline…although early in the book I was thinking “what in the world am I reading?” Things picked up and leveled out to an enjoyable make you smile and sigh read! I’ve got to go read the entire series! This was a great first read from a new-to-me author…thanks for a the opportunity! I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved John and Dahlia's story. Their whole dynamic together as a non-couple, or in this case, fake fiances, was just beautiful to read, and as the story progresses, so do their feelings for each other, from enemies to friends to lovers. I have a penchant for the enemies-to-lovers trope as much as the next bookworm, romantic out there, so this one fit right up in my alley. Love the feels of this book and how it made me feel!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great story

This one had me engaged right from the start. You don’t need to read the others in the series, but they sure help to set the stage for their relationship. I loved just how good a guy John was. He was so well written and what a nice change from the traditional alpha MMCs. Though I’ve never been in her situation, I was able to relate to Dahlia’s experience and was cheering her on as she grew and came back into herself. A great read!

[Nati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dalhia and John had been butting heads since the firts time they met three years ago. But when Dalhia needs a fake fiancé to keep her exfiancé and her family at bay at her sister wedding John does not hesited to help her. Can they fake fiancé trope be real or will their feelings scare them away? Lovely story

[Abby Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review

Almost Ready
(Back to Silver Ridge #6)
By Claire Cain

Description
Romance.

🌷Enemies to lovers.
🌷Fake dating
🌷Small town.
🌷Closed door romance.
🌷Dual POV

This is my first book by this author.

Almost ready is the 6th book in the Back to Silver Ridge series, can be read as stand alone or in a series.

I absolutely enjoyed reading this story, it's a true enemy to lovers' trope. Expect to laugh and cry.

I will be going back and reading the rest of the books in the series.

I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks, Claire Cain, for a digital copy of this book.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice finish.
Another good clean romance. John and Dahlia’s story. Thought maybe Bruce would be part of this series, but apparently his book begins another series. Most likely will read that, too. These are relaxing reads. I had thought that the ex might have caused a bit more trouble, as he was quite the arrogant idiot.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

John was a lawyer in Silver Ridge and decided to open a brewery.
Dahlia moved to Silver Ridge and opened up a flower shop.
John & Dahlia always butted heads. Then one day she needed his help. They manage to work together and find out that they actually like each other.
Another sweet romance.
I will miss this series! I loved all of the books and all of the couples, family, and friends.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had 10 stars for this wonderful romance!! I absolutely loved it! It is so cute and emotional, with a truly heartwarming storyline.. Adorable characters! This romance just made my heart melt..

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fate certainly stepped up for Dahlia when John is walking by just as she needs him to help deal with her ex. Claire Cain gives us just the correct mix of fake engagement craziness, unwilling attraction, abusive ex that must be dealt with and growing friendship. I truly enjoyed this story.