His sister's best friend wasn't supposed to upend his life like this...
Ashley was a thunderbolt to Travis's quiet, steady eat, sleep, tend the ranch and grow the family assets. She found her way under his skin and when she left three weeks later, she took his heart with her.
Travis has never felt a connection to anyone like he's felt with Ashley, but he allowed time, circumstances and a foolish decision to tear them apart. Now there are decades between them, thousands of miles, and though life has led them in very different directions, Travis's sister engineers a second chance.
Ashley has never forgiven Travis for what he did, but as she helps him overcome the loss of his wife and loves his twin boys like her own, it's becoming clear that Travis isn't the problem at all.
I'm not sure how I feel about this one....Travis was a coward IMO and I really didn't like that when there came a time to choose, he chose the easiest option instead of the right one...
We also dont get enough backstory on Melanie ( dead wife), but what we get does not make her sound like the great person he describes. I mean she blackmailed him into marrying her...she said you either marry me or I'm moving away with this baby...like that's blackmail😅 then she miscarried early on and she finds Travis emails to Ashley and says he has to choose...so why the fuck wouldn't he have chosen Ashley🤯
I also don't like how Ashley, towards the end, tried to make it partially her fault with what happened.
So 2.5 I am not satisfied stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I was browsing kindle unlimited selection looking for books to satisfy my angsty romance sweet tooth, specifically tagged, ' baby with ow' and I must have dnfed a bunch before I came across this book. It was just what I was looking for, plus the characters were over 40 which was a big plus to me.
Also the usual plotline wasnt used. The usual child with ow plotline is: mmc and fmc are in their teens or early 20s and 20 in love. Then mmc gets drunk and accidentally sleeps with ow in a one night stand which * shocked gasp* leads to a baby on the way. Extra points if its someone the fmc knows like a rival or their so called best friend. Then out of obligation they marry. Years later after they divorce the mmc chases after * his one true love*
This one doesn't follow that exact plotline although it does involve the fmc being the one true love getting away and settling and having a family in the mmcs part. but managed to keep my attention,I could sympathize with the characters and I rooted for them to end up together.
Tropes: ❤️ baby with OW ❤️ Cowboy MMC / Western Romance ❤️ Brothers best friend ❤️ Age gap ( she's was 9 years younger then him so in her early 20s and he in his 30s when they met). ❤️ Single Father ( 2 twin boys preschool sge) ❤️ Small town romance ( set in rural Montana) ❤️ widowed mmc ( its been 3 years since his wife died ) ❤️ Second Chance romance ( its been 20 years since they saw eachother) ❤️ Cheating involved ( The mmc and fmc were never physically involved but he strung her along after he was married to OW) ❤️ Secret relationship ( even her best friend didn't know they were together for years)
The fmc meets the mmc when she goes to his Montana Ranch with her best friend ( he's her brother). Hes almost a decade older then her and they fall madly in love. They start a long distance relationship when she goes back to her hometown to finish her grad degree. They call and write every day. She makes plans to do her dissertation in Montana so they can be together. They tell Noone about their long distance relationship.
The problem is the mmc decides ( without telling the fmc) that she deserves a better life then he can provide for her as a rancher. He says yes to a lical woman who really loves him and after she gets pregnant ( she loses the baby) they marry. Problem is ..He's still calling and writing the fmc like nothing has chsnged..his wife finds out and gives him an ultimatum to stop stringing along the fmc.
However he doesnt...its not until the fmc sees a wedding invitation on her friends fridge that she freaks out and confronts him...meanwhile she's been in this Secret relationship for 4 years and planned to move to Montana within 3 months.
So it takes alot of groveling to make up for what the mmc put the fmc though and at times I both sympathize and hated his character..I was glad to see the fmc wasnt a doormat.
Id definitely recommend the book for an angst and drama fix.
This is s great follow up to the first book! I have been looking forward to Ashley and Travis for forever! The tension 🤌🏻🤌🏻 so glad they got their second chance!
Dear Lord! This story... My heart... It was worth waiting for Ashley and Travis's story with all of its heartache, angst, and oh, so much hope.
The reader follows the journey of Ashley and Travis who are brought together by fate but kept apart by bad decisions and misunderstandings. Travis is a gorgeous, stubborn, and vulnerable man who runs a successful ranch in Montana. Ashley is a smart, sassy, and opinionated woman who is determined to make something of herself and not follow in her mother's footsteps. The story is told through past and present narratives, giving us a glimpse into the lives of the characters over several decades.
I can't tell you how many times I wanted to knock some sense into both Travis and Ashley. They were both afraid of getting hurt and making the wrong choices, which led to years of wasted time and missed opportunities.
Travis is controlled, pigheaded, and insecure and I chuckled as Ashley deliberately baited him and made him blush. I admire the fact that he respected Ashley's wishes and held out for so long. The sexual tension was amazing! He is such a wonderful single dad who fucked up royally and, believe me, nobody hates him more than himself for losing the woman he loved most in the world. My heart was ripped open by his grief, and his desperate fight to get Ashley back was so worth the amazing ending.
Ashley impressed me so much. The minute she stepped onto that ranch she owned it. She wanted to work scooping horse shit and birthing cows. She had been raised on a dairy farm with four brothers so she knew hard work. I loved her confidence, her compassion, and her kindness. These traits make her excel in her career. And her sense of humor is priceless! I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud at her funny quips and comebacks. But most precious was watching this once-broken woman walk back into Travis's life forgiving him and loving him and his boys like they were hers.
The supporting characters are superb. From Lana, Travis's loving sister and Ashley's best friend, to Aiyana, Travis's wise and all-knowing housekeeper. Ashley's brothers are a hoot and her Dad is a man any lucky girl could hope to have. Not to mention Lana and Mark from Book 1 appear with some problems and surprises of their own. Last but not least, Tristan and Timmy are the sweet little boys who tied it all up in a bow!
What I loved most about this book was the way it made me feel. The author did an excellent job of creating relatable, flawed, yet incredibly likable characters. I found myself rooting for Ashley and Travis, even when they were making mistakes, and I was so invested in their story that I couldn't put the book down until I knew how it ended.
I highly recommend this incredibly romantic and unforgettable read. A great start to my new year!
Thank you to Ms. FitzGerald for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Twenty-one years ago, Ashley accepted her best friend's invitation to enjoy time together at Lana's family ranch. Ashley had plans for her life that didn't include falling in love with Lana's brother. Travis had plans, too, knowing that Ashley would always have his heart. However, life took him in a different direction. Still, Ashley and Lana have always stayed friends. And there are times when it's easier to help your best friend's heart heal than your own. If Ashley and Travis have a second chance, will they take it, or will their timing always be out of sync?
I loved this novel! Erin Fitzgerald's writing is captivating. Ashley and Travis tell their story in alternating chapters. With the turn of each page, the reader feels the depth of their experience when they met, the twists and turns of their lives, and all the emotions that followed.
Another highlight of the author's writing of this series is revisiting some scenes from Book 1 but now reading the events and circumstances through the perspectives of Ashley and Travis.
Now it's your turn to armchair travel to Montana! A slow-burn, second-chance romance awaits you. I suspect this may become a reiteration during each review for the series, as I mentioned something similar at the end of my review of Book 1. I really liked Book 1, the love story of Mark Branson and Lana Webb, and I was enthralled by Book 2. It's the perfect new release to read to celebrate romance and love during Valentine's month.
ARC Something Broken Author: Erin Fitzgerald ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) This is an ARC review for Something Broken which is the second book in the Wolf Mountain Ranchers Series. If is to be released on January 12th. Something Broken has 392 pages, and these are interconnected stand-alone novels. This book is centered around Travis and Ashley. Travis is Lana’s older brother and he has two twin boys and is still mourning the loss of his wife Melanie, who died giving birth to the twins. While he’s grieving Melanie a huge part of him feels guilty, because he was never able to get over his first love… Ashley. Ashley has loved Travis since she went to her best/friend Lana’s house one Summer. It was the best Summer of her life that ended up getting her heart broken. I loved Travis and Ashley’s story. I loved Ashely's character, she's a strong girl with an “I don't need a man” mentality. She's funny, witty, and strong-willed. Travis is a grumpy cowboy, who loves his kids more than life, and Ashley just as much. I thought the story line was amazing and well thought out. I loved the back ground story of Travis and Ashley, but I loved that there was still a good bit of the book telling the after as well. This is one of those books that just makes you feel cozy inside and has a heartwarming happy ending! Some of my favorite quotes from the book are; ~ “You really are something,” I said, shaking my head. ~ “Stubborn ass. But he made me feel like I was... everything. ~ “Damned frustrating woman,” ~ “Your caveman is showing,” ~ “Stop making me laugh, woman. I’m trying to focus here.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Tropes: Single dad Slowburn Best friends brother Second chance Small town Possessive MMC
Review: ‼️POSSIBLE SPOILERS‼️
I was given this ARC in return for an honest review 🤍
I honestly don’t know what to say about this book except wow! Something Broken did not disappoint ❤️ It was a page turner from right from the start!
I absolutely loved Ashley and Travis in the first book so couldn’t wait to read this! These two are by far my favourite couple in the series so far 😍 They’ve been through a lot and had a long journey to finally find their true love but it was so worth it and I’m glad they’ve found their happiness with each other!
I absolutely love a book with dual POV - getting to see the characters figure out how they’re feeling and then confess their feelings in their own way makes me so happy.
This book has a lot of trauma healing, a bit of miscommunication and a whole lot of love ❤️
This one is for the people who love second chance, small town, best friends brother romances!
ARC REVIEW- If you read the first book, you understand how highly anticipated this has been. You could feel the tension between Ashley and Travis ready to snap in book one, and boy, does the SLOW burn continue in this book! Tropes include: single dad, found family, slow burn, “mine,” second chance, best friend’s brother, and trauma healing. I wanted to crawl into these pages and knock some sense into both characters at multiple points, but the ending was worth it.
While reading book 1 the entire time I just kept thinking about how I wish I had known what happened with Ashley and Travis. Well, now I know. This is a standalone, but I would very much recommend reading book 1 Something Lost about Mark and Lana first as it's one twisty ride with a lot of stuff that happens and there is a big chunk of the 2nd half of this book 2 that you might get confused with if you don't know what's happening at the same time but over with Lana and Mark. I LOVE how these books are basically the same story from different points of view. Like, everything going on in Something Broken is happening at the same time as Something Lost, just a different couple.
Let's get back to Ashley and Travis. Man, oh, man the predicament that Travis finds himself in because of his own doing is crazy! Honestly, coming into this book with the little background I got in book 1 really helped with understanding Travis' side which allowed book 2 to focus a little more on Ashely. Ashley, who is a goddess among men, is the most caring, empathetic, amazing person who is able to overcome her own issues and put aside her own trauma for the people she loves. She really was put through the ringer and came out happy and with everything she'd ever wanted in the end. It made my heart happy.
I docked this 1/2 a star only because in the entirety of Ashley and Travis' relationship they never once had sex with each other. I mean, if you love angst, this. is. the. book. for. you. It's 20 years of angst before the good stuff. They're not virgins, but it takes so damn long for them to get together I was a little doubtful if their relationship could actually have been as strong as it was over all those years without it, but, hey, not sure if that's a me thing.
-BFFs older brother -Second Chance -It's Always Been You -Overcoming Trauma -Mental Health Rep (soooooo much) -Late In Life Love (40s and 50s) -Single Dad -Possessive MMC -Small Town -Sloooooooooooooooooow Burn
This series is seriously climbing the ranks at light speed to becoming my favorite. I can't wait to dive into book 3 and see where we get taken to next.
Thank you, Erin, for an ARC of this and these are my honest opinions.
I still have to recover from this book. I'm already saying that for me she surpassed the first one a thousand times if it could be surpassed but Erin did it... Let's talk about Ashley and how much I adored her. I loved how confident she was, how compassionate she was, and how kind she was. But one more thing I loved her sense of humor! I don't know how many times I laughed while reading it and had to stop reading. How can you not want to go into the book and embrace this amazing woman, once broken but at the same time capable of forgiving and loving not only Travis but also his boys...this is one of those books where the secondary characters are amazing for example Aiyana but also Ashley's brothers are amazing to read and imagine. Not to mention Tristan and Timmy are the sweet little boys who have brought everything into a circle. I love this author because she manages to create very real characters but at the same time, precisely because they are real, even imperfect, they are likeable. I have always been a fan of Ashley and Travis and I was personally involved I absolutely had to know how it ended... Erin I love you.... As always not 5 stars... But 10.
"Holy shit, Ash." I choked on the exclamation as she emerged from the bathroom, her glossy dark hair flowing down her back in soft waves. "It's not safe to take you out looking like that." She knew exactly what she was doing and her smile was slow and sly; seductive. "I'm not worried. I have a big, strong cowboy to keep me safe." It was possible she'd need to be kept safe from me, but I didn't tell her that."
I will never stop thanking Erin Fitzgerald for reaching out to me about her small town cowboy romance books. This one completely blew me out of the water.
I already fell in love with Travis and Ashley throughout book one, so to get an in-depth perspective of their story was absolutely amazing. I found myself just falling more and more in love with them.
I actually really enjoyed seeing book one from Travis and Ashley's perspective, too. I'm not usually the biggest fan of books that do that, but with this one, you become so invested with each character, and there's always something new to blow your mind. 🤯
"What I have with you is not what I had with her. I loved her by choice - with you I have no choice. It's never been work, it's just inevitable. I can't fight you."
You get: • Bestfriends brother • Virgin FMC • Spice • Small town cowboy romance • Second chance • One bed • Single Dad • Slow burn • It's always been you
This book will be released tomorrow! So you have one day to read the first one because both are amazing reads! 🤗
"Little by little the man I'd know - and one I hadn't - was coming back to me. He was gentler than he'd been all those years ago, quicker to laugh, patient, kind and generous. I liked this Travis even better than I'd liked the old version, the emotional maturity and comfort in his own skin something that was plainly new to him."
I loved this story! Having already read the first book in this series, I was hooked and desperate to read Travis (MMC) and Ashley’s (FMC) story in “Something Broken”. It was so good! I particularly enjoyed how feisty Ashley was in the flashbacks to their first summer, which drove Travis crazy. Their story is one of love, lust, broken trust, trauma, sadness, and healing spanning years. This book overlaps with the first one in the series (Something Lost) and I would recommend reading these books in series order. The authors writing style is great and makes the story easy to follow. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series! I highly recommend this series to lovers of cowboy romances with grumpy alpha MMCs and feisty FMCs that know what they want and will ultimately do whatever it takes to get their man.
Second book in the Wolf Mountain Rancher Series, it crosses over the same time frame as Something Lost but from Ash & Travis's POV.
Ashley is the one that got away but after Travis loses his wife, Ashley comes to help him care for his two young sons & ends up falling in love with them but can she forgive Travis or will her stubborn pride keep them apart.
This story is heartbreaking 80% of the time but has such a eagerly awaited ending. Travis & Ashley are the love that came to soon & nearly destroyed destiny itself. Life really played with this couple, making them work even harder to find theirselves back in each others arms.
"I was yours then, I'm yours now - I'll always be yours."
I had some difficulty with the timing at the beginning but eventually worked it out. I think it might have been better to read the first book before this one. I loved Ashley's connection with Lana and Timmy and Tristan.
Something Broken by Erin FitzGerald tells the story of Ashley, a farm-raised woman with a go-getter attitude as she becomes a city dwelling, educated, trauma therapist and Travis, a surly older man with his own baggage taking care of his family’s ranch and his younger sister. The story follows them both in character changing chapters over a 20ish year span of time filled with ups and downs, pains and pleasures. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ This book was absolutely, beautifully written! It took me on such a journey where each time I thought there would be a resolution or happy ending, instead there was another twist or bend in the road. Ashley and Travis were so fully developed and I feel like I spent almost equal times loving them and being frustrated with them as the story unfolded. However, in the end, after the epilogue, I was still wanting more. The locations of the story were well defined and easy to imagine. The pacing of the story was phenomenal. And the side characters’ stories enhanced the overall feel of the book. Ashley and Travis will live in my head for quite some time to come. Thank you to Erin FitzGerald for the ARC and the opportunity to get lost in their world.
After reading Something Lost, I was really looking forward to reading Travis and Ashley’s story. We knew that they had a second chance story but this was way better than I had expected. The dual PoV and the back and fourth between he past and present time means the story slowly unravels and we get to watch them fall in love with themselves again. They learn to forgive themselves as well as each other, and they get the HEA that neither of them ever thought possible or that they thought they were worthy of.
I may have enjoyed this even more than Lana and Mark’s story 🤭 which I didn’t think I would. And I definitely cried several times.. this is a sign of a good book to me as I was fully immersed.
I recommend you read this if you like; slow burn, second chance, older main characters, grumpy cowboy, city girl, best friends brother, single dad, possessive MMC, feisty FMC
This was kindly sent to me by Erin, for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Ive been anxiously waiting for Ashley and Travis’ story since Something Lost 😍 Ashley is the poster for “strong independent woman that doesn’t need a man.” Travis was set for life with Ashley, even when life continued on without her. I love that they finally got their second chance, and that Travis had to prove his apology. As happy as I am that they got a happily ever after, the twins got theirs too 🥹 I think the only thing I would change would be maybe a little more of present day, or maybe shorter chapters with a little more back and forth between past and present. I’m a sucker for when things finally fall into place, and I really enjoyed this read!
Thank you to the author for providing a free copy for an honest review 🩵
The second book in the Wolf Mountain Ranchers Series, Something Broken by Erin Fitzgerald 🤠
Summary (without spoilers) 📖 21 years ago Ashley showed up to her best friend Lana’s family ranch needing a break from graduate school. Those three weeks would end up changing her life and breaking her heart. It’s present day and Travis, Lana’s brother, is going through the motions just to survive the day. He never expected to be a widowed father to twin toddlers. Mourning his wife while raising two toddlers and running a large ranch leaves no room for a love life. To be honest, he couldn’t imagine ever having the opportunity to love again. That is, until he opens an email from the one girl who stole his heart two decades ago. That girl also just happens to be his sister’s best friend, Ashley.
Is their love strong enough to withstand the 20 years of baggage? Will Ashley be able to ever forgive Travis for breaking her heart? Is Travis able to open up and let Ashley stitch his broken heart back together? Read their story to find out!
My Thoughts 💭 Erin has a way with making her character’s relationships so realistic and complex! Many times in books I find myself saying “that’s not realistic at all”, which is sometimes nice to have a break from reality. But, I personally love being able to relate to the characters and their “realness”.
When I read “Something Lost”, I fell in love with Ashley and Travis’ complicated relationship. I was floored to find out that they were stars of book two!
Ashley is such a strong female MC but deep down just wants to be loved. I love her wittiness and ability to make Travis blush at an instant. My favorite scene of hers was when she was delivering a calf, that was the moment I fell in love with her 😍!
Travis is your typical grumpy single dad, but to be honest, it’s totally valid. He’s been through a lot with his wife passing away during child birth. He feels guilty for not only that, but the fact that Ashley has been his one true love this entire time. He has a lot of internal dialogue and self doubt. I just wanted to see him happy 😭.
Dual POV is my favorite to read because I love getting the different perspectives. Erin improved that by also going back and forth with present and past, to give readers the entire picture. No detail was left out and I really appreciate that! I also enjoyed seeing scenes from book one being revisited but from Ashley and Travis’ perspectives! This was an easy five star review for me!
Erin, thank you so much for the ARC opportunity. This was a great read to start my 2024 reading goal! ♥️
Something Broken is available 01/12 on Amazon! Check it out!
𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 is the 2nd book in the Wolf Mountain Ranchers series by Erin FitzGerald, featuring a second chance romance for Ashley and single dad, Travis. He decimated her heart 20 years ago, when he chose someone else, now here they are at a crossroads. Can they both move beyond the misunderstandings, insecurities, and pain from the past in order to become the family they were always meant to be, or are they destined to be the one who got away forever?
Oh, my heart! These characters were so flawed, yet immensely likable. I wanted to smack them and hug them both at different times in the book!😂 The whole miscommunication trope usually irritates me so much, but in this case, the emotions and the story were so complex that I just couldn’t stop reading! It’s amazing how one decision or series of tiny events can so profoundly alter multiple lives. Ashley lost so much over her adult life, and yet, she had such a massive capacity for love that just oozed out of her in her selflessness, as she tried to help Travis, as she bonded with his adorable boys, and as she always showed up for Lana, and even Mark. While she did have some issues to work through, she was such a strong woman. I would be in the corner in the fetal position if I’d been through what she had, but she pushed on!
Now Travis and I have a complicated relationship. I love him now, but as the book unfolded, I definitely had beef with him for awhile.😂 As far as their romance… This book redefines Slow Burn!! Holy Angst and Tension for sooo long!! However, when they finally fully gave in, it was fire!!🔥🔥 I also loved seeing some of the stuff from Lana and Mark’s book from new perspectives!! We also got more fabulous supporting characters that were tons of fun in Ashley’s dad and brothers. I’m super curious about them. Luckily Something Gained, the third book, releases, 4/16/24, so everyone will get more of the Wolf Mountain Ranch characters soon!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Travis Tyson is your typical rough & gruff, no nonsense rancher whose typical day consists of strict routine...sleep, eat, work! That is, until his little sister Lana shows up with her best friend Ashley Benson for a few weeks to come stay at the ranch. Routine obliterated!!
Ashley is a spitfire! She is wild, uninhibited, opinionated, knows her way around the ranch better than some of the hired hands and doesn't back down to anyone. I absolutely loved her spirit and sass from the start! Travis didn't know what had hit him when she came storming onto the scene and even though he didn't show it outwardly, he was a goner. Their physical attraction & sexual chemistry were off the charts! This one is a spicy read!
There was so much packed into this nontraditional love story which made for a very well rounded & dynamic read. Not only do you get an all encompassing second chance love story that stood the test of time spanning over a twenty year time period involving the main characters, there's fully immersive stories taking place around them involving several of the side characters as well. They had to overcome past hurts, emotional traumas, heal old wounds from multiple sources and just transition through a full healing process before they could learn to trust again & everything could fall into place the way it was meant to be. You were rooting for it to happen way sooner than it did but everything had to happen in its own time frame. I loved watching that personal growth transformation within each character which was a slow and steady process but that made it much more satisfying once it finally took place!
I'd like to thank the author for giving me an advanced copy to read and review. This is my honest opinion. This was a new to me author but I will definitely be reading more!
“Do people like us really deserve a happily ever after, Ash?” “You mean when we worked so hard to get in our own way?”
You can look forward to 💖 Second Chance Romance 🏡 Small Town Setting 🫢 Tons of Miscommunication 🧘♀️ Mental Health Rep 👨👦👦 Single Dad 👯♂️ Best Friends Brother 📚 Part of a series, can be read standalone
The book follows Ashley and Travis as their romance unfolds over the span of two decades! They meet when Ashley comes over to spend a summer at her best friend’s ranch in Montana. There she meets Travis, her older brother for the first time and there are instant sparks. However, due to multiple unresolved issues and past trauma on both sides, it’s takes both of them twenty plus years, extensive therapy sessions, a divorce and a miscarriage each to finally find themselves together.
I adored the plot and the writing style of the author. The setting and the storyline was definitely very immersive, helped along by the fact that I read most of this book while vacationing at a country resort in San Antonio! However, I did find the characters a bit irritating, bordering sometimes on being immature even in their 40s and 50s. The miscommunication tropes used in the book, while being exasperating to read, are all too real. I appreciated the positive representation of therapy and how it can truly help relationships mature. I also loved the way the author did not wield it as a magic wand solution, but did her best to showcase the time and commitment it takes to truly be successful. The pacing of the story started to taper off about 3/4th of the way through and the book could maybe have been edited down a bit. Overall, This story and these people could most definitely exist in reality. The only unrealistic part is possibly the HEA.
I can’t decide what book I like better. Book 1 or Book 2. I was always rooting for Ashley and Travis since we were first introduced to them in book one. This book was the perfect book to tell their story.
I love how this book is written, a lot of moments are kind of a retelling but in Ashley and Travis way from book 1.. all the events but in their POV. I had read book 1 a few months ago so I had forgotten a bit but reading this book made me remember and tied the events all together.
This book broke my heart, I teared up a few times because I felt all the emotions throughout the book. I loved learning about the two and how everything has started between them, their pasts , troubles and bumps along the way.
I love Ashley’s characteristics she is a bad ass babe, can do all the “manly” stuff , smart as hell, sassy but yet still has a gentle and kind sole. One of my favourite things about Ash is that she can put her own feelings aside and play into her “professional roll” and care and help others. Travis is a great character too , enough though he is a stubborn dumb, dumb and I could’ve smacked him a few times LOL. I believe this book has a lot more “spicy” scenes and details which I enjoyed as a spicy book lover.
Overall I think this is a great edition to the series, as well as great choice for book 2 ! It ties in so well. Some scenes are a bit slower and longer, but I appreciate being able to read the POV from this end and learn all the details of what happened through out. I believe this series can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading it as a series as everything ties together better.
Thank you again Erin for sending me the book! I can’t wait to read book 3 -5 !!
Ashley spent the weeks before heading off to grad school with her best friend Lana on Lana's family's ranch. During that time, Ashley and Lana's brother, Travis, had a very brief romance. Despite how Ashley and Travis both felt for each other, they ended up being ripped apart. Twenty years later, Lana sets them up with a second chance, but Ashley still hasn't forgiven Travis for what he did all those years ago. As Ashley helps Travis deal with his grief of losing his wife, she realizes that maybe Travis isn't fully to blame for them still being apart. Can Ashley and Travis work through what tore them apart all those years ago so that they can finally get their chance at happiness?
Something Broken is one of those books that I find it very difficult to write a review about. This book is very emotional, angtsy, and heartbreaking. I found that for a majority of the book, both of the MCs were very unlikable. They were grown adults but acted very childish. I found them both to be toxic for each other. It's one where I didn't find myself rooting for their HEA because I didn't think they needed to be together. I also didn't feel the chemistry between Travis and Ashley because they spent so much time arguing. About 75% through the book, both Travis and Ash got their crap together, started acting like 40 and 50 year olds, and got their mess figured out. I definitely enjoyed the vibe on the last 25% of the book. By the end of the book, I found myself liking these characters more and could see where they could work as a couple. The writing of this was great, but unfortunately, this story just wasn't for me.
Something Broken is the second book in the Wolf Mountain Ranchers Series. Though you can read Something Broken as a stand alone without being terribly lost, I recommend reading Something Lost beforehand. This will allow you to have a better understanding from the very beginning of the setting and characters.
Similar to the first book in this series, Something Broken is a second chance, age gap, Rancher Romance. If you read the first book in the series you already got a big chunk of Travis and Ashley, and already know the structure of this story. This book fills in all the questions I had about Travis and Ashley's relationship from book 1. I really enjoyed getting the back story at the same time as learning the current situation. As with the other books I have read from Erin FitzGerald, you get an angsty second chance romance, slow burn, that spans a very long period of time. The time gaps are not just in the flashback and current timeline, they encompass the "current time" also.
I knew from book one that I liked Ashley, but within the first couple chapters of this book I fell completely in love with her, and she is now my inspiration to better myself! I could not get enough of her confidence, and hard working attitude. It took me a little longer to accept Travis and his broodiness, but eventually he bored his way into my heart as well.
HIGHLY Recommend this book to Romance Readers, especially Contemporary Romance readers, Cowboy Romance Readers or those that like a fabulous back story with their romance reads!
I don't understand why this series hasn't gotten more buzz than it has! It's a beautiful series.
Erin Fitzgerald has this amazing way of writing down to earth characters that just pull you into the story. If you were raised in a small, country town like I was, then you can easily recognize someone in each of these characters. They're very relatable.
𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 is Book #2 in Erin's Wolf Mountain Ranchers series. These can totally be read as standalones. The events that occur in this book coincide with Something Lost. So it's easy to follow along.
I've been dying to read Travis's story since Something Lost. I've had a soft spot for him and my heart went out when his wife passed, leaving him to raise their two sons. Ashley, Travis's sister's best friend shows back up after years. They had a brief fling back in the day, before his wife. True love never leaves. It has a way of returning.
Travis and Ashley had a love that was soo pure and warming. Just like any other couple, they had their ups and downs. There were several moments I wanted to bop Travis in the head because of his unwillingness to put in the effort needed to sustain a relationship. But the two struggled with their own demons. Travis with his boys and being a good father and Ashley's lack of trust toward him. When these two came together, it was like the puzzle pieces fit in place. All was right in the world.
If you love a good, cozy romance novel about two people finding their way back to each other, then this is for you!
Something Broken by Erin FitzGerald 🐴☀️🌳 BOOK REVIEW!
FIVE FREAKING STARS! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 STARS
Honestly, I knew two chapters in this would be a five-star read for me. It takes a special book to lock you in so quickly. I read this book in just under 48-hours on my Kindle as a Kindle Unlimited read. I read before bed, I read while dinner was in the oven, and I read at work (shhhhh!).
Right off the bat, the slow burn was so desirable and tangible between Ashley and Travis. Hot damn. I loved every second of it. Those two were fated mates who fell in love practically at first sight.
This second chance romance saw Travis and Ashley through the years of hardship and heartbreak as the two grew together, then apart and then slowly found their way back to each other in the most romantic and heart-warming way possible. Travis with his twin boys, (Tristan and Timmy) finally gained the mother they deserved all along after their birth mother Melanie died.
Shout-out to the glue that is their housekeeper, Aiyana, whose quick wit keeps the household together and everyone on their toes with her watchful eye and motherly care for everyone she looks after under the household’s roof.
Anyways, off I go to read my ARC of Book 3, of the Wolf Mountain Series, Something Gained, which is Emily and Jacob’s story. It is available on April 16! My review is coming VERY soon!
Something Broken is a very emotional read. It features the epic, heartbreaking love story of Ashley and Travis. They have an instant connection, one that tethers them together, at least emotionally, throughout two plus decades despite the distance between them, her ambition, his betrayal and seemingly insurmountable hurt. Their story is told in duo points of view with flashbacks to different points in their lives from the time they met over two decades ago to the present time.
This book offers an illustration of the adages the heart wants what the heart wants, and love can be painful. When they first met during her visit to his family’s ranch, Ashley and Travis clashed. She came to visit his sister, her best friend, but ended up stealing his heart. Hot tempers, cold glares and distant demeanors soon changed when both Travis and Ashley admitted their attraction for the other. They restrained their passion for each other to passionate kissing knowing that she would be leaving to pursue her education. It would be a years long endeavour, but she was determined to achieve her goal of being a psychologist in the shortest time possible. Contact between them came down to frequent emails, phone calls and the occasional in person visit. It was the time spent apart with no physical contact that eventually broke them apart. An argument, a betrayal, and then a secret between them shattered their trust and their connection for years. Both struggled to keep moving forward in life, their hearts never being able to shut out the other, holding on to the pain and the dreams they once had for a future together.
In the present, both are no longer with someone else. Travis is now a widower with twin boys and Ashley has just left a long time relationship that never brought her the happiness she was desperate to find. Now that she has found her own semblance of happiness, his sister is attempting to bring together again. Travis and Ashley are both older, wiser and seemingly available, but guilt, hurt and trust issues stand between them. Can they let go of the past and reach for love and each other again? Will they ever find their happily ever after together?
I highly recommend this wonderful book! I also recommend that you have some tissues near by as you read Travis and Ashley’s mesmerizing story.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩: -He Falls First -Age Gap -Single Dad -Best Friend’s Brother -Second Chance -Stern, Grumpy MMC -Accomplished, Driven FMC -Vicious Slow Burn
My rating: ★ ★ ★ ★.5
Whew! I must say, though, that it was well worth the wait. I did not anticipate this book to be everything that it was! The story of Ashley and Travis is such a beautiful emotional rollercoaster—it evokes so many different feelings, including hope, happiness, love, heartbreak, and angst. The narrative of Travis and Ashley began twenty-one years ago, when they were first connected by fate or by Ashley's best friend Lana, who also happens to be Travis's younger sister. Travis is a beautiful, tough, and successful man who runs his family's ranch. When Ashley, a self-assured, wise, and sassy woman, enters his life, he pushes her out because of a poor choice he made that he never thought he could undo. However, more than 20 years later, everything will soon change. This narrative alternates between the present and the past, and I must say that Erin is a fantastic storyteller! There's a strong sense of realism throughout, and these characters are very well written and developed. They're likeable and alluring, yet they have flaws. Everything about the story was described so well! It's definitely a slow burn, but the journey following Ashley and Travis's story is well worth the wait. I had a great time reading this book.
Something Broken is the follow up to Something Lost in the Wolf Mountain Ranchers series. This book follows Travis and Ashley's story. Ashley is Lana's best friend and Travis is Lana's older brother. The two meet when Ashley comes to Lana's family ranch for a summer visitor. Travis and Ashley end up having an undeniable attraction to each other. But Travis is afraid he would hold Ashley back from the life she has been dreaming about. Flash forward several years and Travis is a single dad of twin boys, running the family's ranch and Ashley has become a therapist living in DC. Fate has thrown these two back together but can they overcome the past hurt and traumas to find their happy ending.
This was a roller coaster of a story with each facing different past traumas and poor decisions. There is such tension and attraction between Ashley and Travis. But I loved how each took the time to focus on their mental health and personal journeys before really pursuing a relationship.
Besides the romance, I loved how Ashley developed such a great relationship with Travis' boys. I also loved the housekeeper and how she didn't miss much lol Ashley and Lana also have a great friendship throughout the book.
Towards the end of the book, there is a little bit of yelling scene amongst Ashley and her family and that wasn't my favorite. It kind of felt out of place.
But overall, I really enjoyed this one and can't wait to read the next book in the series.