Strung Along

Cherry Peak #1

by Hannah Cowan

Love. Sucks.

I don’t know where I went wrong. Whether it was letting a man convince me that suddenly, the things I’ve never wanted are right for me, or if simply believing the best in the person who I wasted three years of my life on was what lead me here.

To Cherry Peak. A small town nestled in the heart of Alberta, Canada.

The hometown of rising country star, Brody Steele.

It only takes one brief encounter to mark him as a broody jerk. An all-knowing, arrogant celebrity with a complex I don’t have the energy for.

But if I truly dislike him the way I’ve convinced myself I do, then why am I always looking for him in crowded rooms? Why are his surprisingly thoughtful gestures melting the wall of ice I’ve stuck between us?

Cherry Peak was supposed to be my fresh start, a place to heal and rebuild. Yet, just as I begin piecing my life back together, Brody’s preparing to leave, as if he hasn’t become a vital part of that journey.

The thought of losing him keeps me up at night. I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to find our footing, or if we were just stringing each other along the whole time.

Genres: Romance, Westerns, Cowboy Romance, Small Town Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

Unknown Binding

First published February 16, 2024

About the author

Hannah is a twenty-something-year-old indie author from Western Canada. Obsessed with swoon-worthy romance, she decided to take a leap and try her hand at creating stories that will have you fanning your face and giggling in the most embarrassing way possible. Hopefully, that’s exactly what her stories have done!

Hannah loves to hear from her readers, and can be reached on any of her social media accounts.

Instagram : Hannahcowanauthor
Twitter, Facebook : Hannahdcowan
Website : hannahcowanauthor.com
Facebook Reader Group : Hannah’s Hotties

Reviews

[Heather Mclarry · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved it up until the end, which was a tad boring in my opinion. otherwise a cute read :)

[Lilyya ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

cowboycowboycowboycowboycowboycowboy 😋

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

hannah’s in her small town romance era and I never wanna leave.


after a particularly shitty breakup, anna decides to move to cherry peak, a super cute small town out of the city to start fresh. cherry peak is where she meets her new friends (I love a girl gang) and none other than brody steele, a country music star healing from an injury.

these two hate each other ON SIGHT. their banter??? pls. however, when anna accidentally texts a pic to a stranger, they decide to keep playing text pals. and it’s brody. the two of them getting to know each other over text and forming their friendship and relationship was slow burn deliciousness.

anna & brody’s banter was probably my fav part. and the acts of service? THE SURPRISE PRESENT BUYING?? brody was perfect even if he was an ultra grump in the beginning.

hannah’s books & characters are always so comforting & cozy to me and this one was no exception. I can’t wait for the rest of this series!

thank you so much for an arc hannah 💖 it’s out now!


read if you like
✨ small town romance
✨ hate to love
✨ secret identity
✨ slow burn
✨ girl gang/found family

[Jen ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that I struggled to finish this book. I tried so hard not to put this on my DNF shelf, even though the urge did arise so many times. There was just something with the writing style that didn't work for me, and I kept losing interest time and time again, so it took me longer hours to finish it than I would've normally taken.

Also, this is a freaking slowburn that I didn't enjoy at all. It felt so dragged out, and the chemistry wasn't palpable enough to make me look forward to seeing them together. I tried extremely hard to appreciate it, but it just didn't work.

Brody (28) came back to Cherry Peak to heal from vocal damage. He's a country singer and has been advised to rest, and he wanted to do that in his small town and also help his grandparents on their ranch. He was grumpy, kind of, because of his health issue but also because his relationship with his grandpa is strained. Two years ago, Brody left their ranch to pursue his singing career, and his grandpa didn't take it well. Since then, they've become distant.

As for Anna, she came to Cherry Peak because she wanted to start over after witnessing her fiance having sex with some other woman in their bedroom.

They've met in a bar where Anna and her two new-found besties dragged her. But Brody thought she was a poser who wanted to get his attention (judgmental prick, but whatever). Little did they know they were already talking to each other through texts. You see, Anna sent her picture to the wrong number (Brody) and has been communicating with him ever since. They didn't exchange real names or any real info, but somehow they've developed a sort of friendship through this.

Anyway, they started on the wrong foot because of Brody's wrong assumption. However, they came to the realization that they couldn't continue to be unpleasant with one another because they lived in a small town, so they decided to have a truce. Then, since they're already civil, one day, Brody offered to drive Anna to her work back and forth since she's not familiar with the place yet. And this arrangement continued for weeks; he basically became her personal driver.😂 Along with this is the blooming of friendship and attraction, and they still didn't know they were textmates.

Brody figured out first that Banana (his texmate) was Anna but didn't tell her right away. After a few weeks, when they attended the same wedding (but separately), she figured out that Bo (her textmate) is Brody. They didn't have any harsh reactions to this surprise; instead, they finally admitted they're attracted to one another and became a couple officially.

Like I said in the beginning, there was just something about the writing style that didn't vibe with me. Sometimes I feel the chemistry and tension between the MCs, sometimes not (mostly, tbh). There were also times when a chapter would finish abruptly and the following one would start with a completely new scene. So instead of an easy flow, readers would've also been thrust into another setting, and this took away my interest and focus from the story (numerous times)

Then the thing that kind of bothers me the most is that Anna has been with her ex for three years. She loved him and was deeply hurt by his infidelity. But within over a month, she finally felt somewhat ready to be with someone. She said that there's no timeline to get over a heartbreak, but the way it was described, I feel like she's way too deep with her ex. So six weeks(???) is still quite a bit of a short time to get over that hurt.

Maybe people do move on so easily, idk. It's just that I feel it's way too soon for her to start a new relationship while she is still on her healing journey. It felt inauthentic and way too fast, but according to her POV, she was doing pretty well despite it being slow and steady. This could be my personal issue, and other readers might feel differently about it. 🤷‍♀️

Anyway, though I don't fully buy the romance, I did like that this story didn't have a third-act breakup. They worked things out, and they communicated openly. Anna didn't let her fears rule her, and Brody has put her as his priority above anything else. It was enjoyable to read how the people surrounding them were also supportive and rooted for them.

Overall, this is not for me. I can't help but feel like I've done a laborious task once I finish this. Honestly, I should've DNF this earlier on.

Anyhoo, while this didn't work for me, I'm sure there are other readers out there who would resonate with it more.


Book info:
- No cheating, owd, breakup
- Non-virgin MCs (h - months, H - years)
- Parental death (past)
- OMD (h's fiance appeared but she kicked him out)
- Small town romance
- Hair-dresser / Country singer
- Found family
- Textmates
- HEA (in a relationship)


PS. I'm not sure what to feel about the H in the second book, because he was a massive prick in this one, and Poppy (h) was such a romantic at heart. They were two complete opposites, so I don't know how it would work between the two of them.

[jada · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love a country singing cowboy with a dirty mouth 🥵

[Linna • linnareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strung Along by Hannah Cowan 🐮

I loved this book! All you need to know is that he buys her a fluffy cow for Christmas and keeps it on his family ranch. Immediate 5 stars. 🥹

I'm kidding, that's not the only reason I rated it 5 stars. However it was one of my favorite moments in the book. Anna decides to move to the small town of Cherry Peak after a bad breakup. She wants a chance to start over completely and the town gives her that. She quickly finds a new friend group and gets to know more people from the town. Including the country music star, Brody Steele, who is back in his small town for a little while. Their first interaction is filled with snarky remarks and they both get the wrong first impression of each other. They keep running in to each other though and they realize that maybe they were wrong about each other. Plus the fact that a wrong number mishap results in them unknowingly getting along more than they thought.

Anna and Brody were just so sweet and perfect for each other. It takes a little bit for them to warm up to each other, but once they do it's obvious they are meant for each other. The way they got to know each other through questions and banter in the text messages was a fun way to see them interact. Plus they didn't know they were talking to the other over texts. Their interactions in person were so different yet they had this inkling that something was so familiar with the 2 people they thought they were talking to. I really liked how this wasn't a huge conflict for the book either. It plays its role and then things move on.

Both of them were going through their own things in life. Brody was struggling with an injury and whether he really wants to return to his life of a country music star after spending time back in town. Anna is finding herself after the end of her relationship. The found family aspect and girl friend group in this added so much to the story.

Overall, very sweet and exactly what I was needing when I read it.

🤠 cowboy
🎤 he’s also a singer
👏🏼 no third act breakup
⛰️ small town
🫂 girl friend group & found family
💕 he falls first and hard
📱 text messages

dual POV
5/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 spice level 🌶️

[Leticia (jerseygirlsbookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It’s all about finding the person whose dreams align with yours, whatever they might be,"
My first Hannah Cowan book. I’ve been meaning to read her work for so long, and you can bet I’ll be coming back for more because there was just so much to love in this one!

"I never knew what I truly looked for in a woman until I met Anna."
After leaving her cheating, asshole ex, Anna leaves everything she knows behind in order to reinvent herself. She moves to Cherry Peak on her own, trying to make something of herself. I loved her strength.

"God, he’s dangerous. Brody Steele is a land mine hidden in plain sight."
Brody is a country star who needed a break and moved back to his small town. At first, he’s kind of annoying, but when you start unpeeling his layers, it’s hard not to fall for him. And I sure did.

"My life in Cherry Peak, Alberta, is a far shot from how it was back home, and that’s exactly what I need right now."
Anna’s in Cherry Peak out of luck (or fate), and she doesn’t know anyone. She seems completely out of her element until she makes some new friends (who are pretty damn awesome, to be honest). When those friends take her to a bar where she meets Brody, he’s anything but nice. Maybe he’s too used to his celebrity status, but he judges her—harshly. And she doesn’t hold back from telling him exactly what she thinks about him.

"17805559540: Yes.
17805559540: What do I have to do to get plus one approval?"
While I loved that this is an enemies-to-lovers situation, there’s something else. When Anna goes into a store to try on a dress for a wedding, she tries to text a photo of herself to the wedding planner, but texts it to another number instead.
And suddenly Banana and Bo are texting each other.

"You moved here to start over, and I moved back to run away. Funny how that works,"
I loved this dichotomy. While Anna and Brody are still giving each other shit—and fighting an intense chemistry—Banana and Bo are weirdly opening up to one another. And you see both relationships develop at the same time.

"Not only did he not deserve you because of what he did, but a real man fights for his woman regardless of whether she’s going to hit you in the crotch with a baseball bat while you try to or not,"
Make no mistake: Brody is grumpy, but he has his reasons to be. What never falters is his devotion to Anna—even when he sticks his foot firmly in his mouth and has to deal with her backlash, it’s clear to see how gone he is for her. And she is just as gone.

"It doesn’t matter to me when I meet everyone. I’m just happy to be here with you."
It was honestly heartwarming to see them falling, slowly but surely. Seeing him unwrap all she’s been through and the way she finally gets through his walls and sees the things he’s been keeping to himself. How she seamlessly fits into his and his family’s lives, like she’s always belonged there. Perfect.

"Touch her and you’ll lose the ability to use your hands again,"
There are obstacles in their way, of course. His career. The media and all the shit they spin. His own label and his commitment to both his career and the people they love. And what I did love? That he’d burn it all down for her. And he’d punch a few people in the meantime too. He should never be sorry about that.

"Her man. Hers, hers, hers. It’s the most important title I think I’ve ever had."
My only issue with this book was the slow burn. I’m all for it, but I need tension, and I don’t think this had enough. I need the will-they-won’t-they, the almost kisses, the almost everything, and I didn’t have that. In fact, when he suggested sleeping on the couch, I was about to throw my Kindle against the wall.

"Banana: What do you have planned, Cowboy? Miss me already?
Me: Missed you from the moment I watched you leave."
On the other hand, the small gestures and the found family in this book meant a lot. The way her friends are there for her every single time. How their families couldn’t be more different, and still they fit. And his present for her… I don’t think real-life men would ever go through that sort of trouble.
The swoon is real with this guy.

"Gettin’ to love you has been the greatest honour of my life."
I enjoyed my time in Cherry Peak and I can’t wait to go back and hopefully see these two again. The singer cowboy who would throw it all away for the city girl, who is more at home on the ranch than she’s ever been anywhere else.

[nikki | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ .]

as a horse girl i will read any/all books with a horse on the cover 🐴

[Jena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just an assortment of cliches smushed together. I liked the soft love interest, but the over the top dialogue and scenarios were so painfully unrealistic that I could not find myself immersed or interested in the story.

[Andrea ☾ [is inconsistently consistant] · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️ Just ok.

This book was so confusing. It swung from concealed misogynistic to oddly progressive every couple of pages, and I can't tell if this is a conservative's take on a 2024 romcom, or if I'm just too much of a feminist to read men like this and think 'oh yeah, hunk' and not 'wtf'.

Also, why do I always find men calling women 'woman' pejorative but 'girl' is ok? They ARE all grown women, it should feel right! But 'that's my woman' gives me *creep, I want to keep you chained to my kitchen* vibes, and 'that's my girl' is more like *oh he's trying to be cute!*. Why does that feel backwards? I hate men for ruining the word 'woman' for me.

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was soooo good oh my god i can’t believe it’s taken me so long to get started on hannah’s books

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5✨️ 2.5/5🌶

Happy Release Day to Strung Along! 💕🤠👢

Hannah, I'm in love and I need all my cowgirls to come on down. Because Hannah wrote one of the sweetest stories that I have read in a long time. A couple that gave me flawless vibes. Although Annalise and Brody are their own, as they experience beautiful moments of true intimacy together. 

Our story starts when Annalise finds herself in the midst of a new ex-fiance. As, my girl, Annalise, knows her worth. She kisses her old life goodbye as she moves to the small town of Cherry Peak. Soon, under some very fun circumstances, she meets Brody. But as Brody comes to find his road back to Cherry Peak, these two have a little misunderstanding. Yet, they give each other a second chance as they keep getting pulled towards each other. However, the clock is ticking as the former city girl and her cowboy discover that their relationship has no expiration date.

Annalise is a testament to anyone who has lost a bit of who they were along the way. I really admired Annalise for how sassy, feisty, and down-to-earth she was. It was so much fun to watch her venture outside of her comfort zone, open her heart as she faced her fears, and see her dreams change. All she needed was a wonderful man, a new place to land, and some fiercely hot cowboy boots. Brody is a country music artist who just exudes sex appeal with his matching guitar and hat. He is a waving green flag; he's caring and considerate while remaining aloof from his notoriety. But when Annalise discovers Brody, there's more underneath. His life is complicated, as he's torn between his obligations and his dreams as Annalise flips his world upside down.

But, my favorite thing about the story was the friendship group; it was refreshing and phenomenal, as Poppy, Bryce, and Annalise had me wanting to pull up a chair. Hannah always does such a great job of showing empowering women throughout her stories, and even more so with these ladies and what they meant to Annalise. As well as catching up with the Hutton family and meeting some of our soon-to-be residents. I already have a feeling this will be my favorite new small-town series.
 
Thank you to Hannah for the ARC and the honor of being on your team. 💕

[jessicakaitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

a cowboy who calls her “sweetheart”

BRODY STEELE book boyfriend material!! This man wanted to take care of her so bad it was PERFECT🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️

Hannah entered her small town era and DELIVERED 👏🏻 I really loved this one and the intro to this small town. Brody and Ana gave frenemies to lovers with a little “you’ve got mail” plot in there. I adored the slowww burn and all the found family vibes!

Hannah’s books always feel like a coming home with cozy characters. The side characters and found family aspect of this book really made it for me!!

I ADORED the importance of female friendships in this! Finding friendships in your 20s is so hard and Ioved the significance of that in this story!

And of course the spice 🔥 BUT this book was so much more than just spicy and hot! I teared up at one point and felt so connected to these characters! Cant wait for what’s next in this series 👀

[amina · Rating 1 out of 5]

i found this book so painfully corny and boring. yeah, there were some cute moments, but even those did absolutely nothing for me. 1 yeehaw from me, sorry.

[Hannah Cowan]

Strung Along is coming February 16th on Amazon and KU!

Tropes:

Country music star
Small town romance
Found family
Acts of service love language
He falls first and HARDER
City girl x country boy
Canadian (Alberta) setting

[Syndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strung along is so so. Lukewarm. I feel a bored in the middle. The chemistry is not strong and bold enough. I feel the main characters are disconnected while trying hard to connect.

3 stars

[The Love Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has entered her small town era and she is here to stay with the start of her Cherry Peak series!

Anna leaves Vancouver after catching her fiancé cheating on her…on her birthday. She wants a place to start over and heal, with fate leading her to Cherry Peak. Rising country singer Brody Steele is back home for a few weeks of rest and the last thing he was looking for was a city girl was not putting up with his grouchy persona. Underneath all that grouch, we find, is a man who is just as lost as Anna but may have finally found his way home.

Anna and Brody deserved the love and friendship they found in each other. So many little moments solidified their bond, which is why I cheered when there was NO third act break up! These two were so sure of each other that breaking up wasn’t an option once they decided on each other, and I was here for it!

Romance aside, I fell in love with the town, Anna’s new besties, and the entire family on the Steele Ranch!

TROPES: small town; country music star hero; he falls first; acts of service; found family; texting buddies (it makes sense once you start the book); fantastic girl group; love after heartbreak

TRIGGER WARNINGS: mentions of parental death

[becca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost closed my kindle so I didn’t have to finish this book, I was not interested at all/was kind of boring

[Kat Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want a cowboy now okay geez sue me

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There aren’t enough words to explain how much I connected with this book. If Anna teaches us anything, it’s that you’re always too much for someone who needs to dull your shine to make themself seem important.

Anna healing herself after a cheating fiancé was so powerful. Healing after heartache takes a toll because you want to over analyze the past and let fear rule your future. Her meeting a solid girl squad to hold her up when she felt shaky was every girl’s dream scenario. A person can’t pick themselves up alone and family and friends who love and support you mean the word. Maddox and Braxton coming to her aid and packing up her stuff was everything.

Brody is an acts of service king. He sets the bar so high I’m not sure how others can compare. He’s stuck in a crossroads where he wants to peruse his career without it affecting his relationship with his grandparents. He wants to be a musician and come home to his family when he’s off. The way he loves is pure joy. He’s truly a good Southern boy whose grandmother raised him right.

This book healed a part of me that was broken, and reading a story so beautifully written that shows there’s a rainbow at the end of every storm deserves all the star ratings.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kejs Reads ❥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRODY MF STEELE🥵🤍

Hannah has once again blessed us with a hot book boyfriend. This had me completely hooked and left me giggling from start to finish. She has a knack for creating relatable characters and swoon-worthy romance.

Annalise is set out to rebuild her life following a break up. She’s not only sweet and beautiful, but also incredibly strong. Throughout her journey, she’s relatable in ways that make you feel like you’re right there with her, navigating the highs and lows of life. I love how outspoken she is. She doesn’t hold back and stands tall.

Brody may come off as grumpy at first glance, but beneath that tough exterior lies a sweet man. When he falls for Anna, he falls hard. It’s the little things he does that really show how much he cares. Also don’t have him fool you. He has a dirty mouth that will make your jaw drop and your cheeks blush.

Anna and Brody fit together like puzzle pieces, completing each other in all the best ways. Their playful banter is just the cherry on top. And we can’t forget their awesome group of friends. This book is sweet, funny and full of heart.

[jenna 💘✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

big thank you to Hannah for the arc!!!

I LOVED this book, I read it in one sitting and enjoyed every single second of it.

I adored Anna!!! She's outspoken, kind, strong, funny, and smart. I found her to be so relatable, very genuine, and all around an easily lovable character. I loved seeing her grow throughout the book and watching her overcome her insecurities. Her depth was great, especially if you have prior knowledge of her family through the Greatest Love series! I admire how open and gentle she was with those she loved, but at the same time fiercely protecting them as well. I loved her!! she just felt super comforting and I want to give her a big hug!!!

Brody, brody, brodyyyyy. I love this man. A quiet, broody, grumpy, sweet man. He's smart, kind, funny, and cares so deeply. I absolutely adored getting to know this man's depth, watching him open up, and seeing him grow. I want to give him a big hug. His personality is so easy to love, he honestly just made me giggle the whole time. He was just the perfect man for Anna. In every way. If acts of service could be a person, it would be him <3

Anna and Brody's relationship is adorable. I love them so much!! The way they both love and care for each other so openly, no matter what comes their way, is so special to me. I loved how well they communicated with each other, giving the other person a space for their opinions/feelings/thoughts, and working through it together. Their banter was so good, their personalities meshed together perfectly, and the TENSION???? YEE DOGGY! the chemistry was bonkers from the moment they met, but it only got better. I love them so much <3 I literally cried at one thing he does for her because I could not handle how SWEET IT WAS. bye.

This is a small-town romance, with a small-town boy x city girl, he falls first and HARD, texting buddies, a musician, and (if it matters) no third-act breakup!

highly recommend this if you're looking for a fast-paced (but not too fast-paced) and easy-to-read, fun lil small-town romance!!! thank you again to Hannah for the arc!!!

[Kristina (currentlybookedout) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strung Along Arc Review 🐮

“𝘎𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯’ 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”

tropes:
🤠 he’s a cowboy
🏡 small town romance
🤳🏻 text pals
🤭 lots of banter
👯‍♀️ girl group
🥹 he falls first and harder
🎤 he’s a country music star
🙅‍♀️ no third act break up

First of all thankyou so much Hannah for letting me reading this early. I’m so glad Hannah is in her small town era because I really don’t want her to leave 🤭

Brody MF Steele. This man has a dirty mouth, acts like a cinnamon roll but really could kill you if you messed or hurt his girl 👀 This man deserves everything. I wanted to give him a big hug, he really deserves the world and i’m so happy he found his happiness.

“𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.”

Annalise my curvy girl. What a beautiful character she is. At the start I wanted to kill her ex but miss girly got her revenge. She truely is the sweetest soul and to see her find her true self again made me so happy for her…you go girl!

Now what better way to start fresh than to go to Cherry Peak and run into the country music star. The banter between these two at the start was absolute perfection. May I also add the way Hannah made these two become text pals was genius.

Braxton and Maddox showing up made me feel so happy. I love these two and it was just so nice to see them in this book, especially being there for Anna when she needed them.

Overall this book just felt like such a warm hug. It was exactly what I needed and i’m so intrigued and excited for book 2! I would so recommend you to pick this one up, Hannah never disappoints 🥰

[Phoebe Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strung Along - ARC Review
♾️⭐️

This book has me in a CHOKEHOLD already💗

Is there anything that Hannah cannot write???? I will answer that for you now… no there isn’t! Everything that Hannah writes has me WEAK AT THE KNEES and it becomes my new obsession, and this book is no exception to this🙊 Hannah is entering her small town romance era and this book is EXQUISITE🤭

Strung along is a small town romance that follows Brody Steele & Annalise Heights, and it has just the most INCREDIBLE tropes:

🤠Country Music Star
🤠Text Pals/Secret Identities
🤠Banter
🤠Acts of Service Love Language
🤠No third act breakup
🤠He falls fast & Harder

Okay, so I am an absolute sucker for a small town romance, they just bring me so much comfort, and strung along gives me all the feels. Honestly, I just want to move to Cherry Peak and be surrounded by the love and friendship that is shown in this book🫠

The secret identity/ text pals trope in this book had me SQUEALING and kicking my feet like a little kid. Just something about it had me feeling all kinds of giddy! The text messages were just written perfectly! And I have included a few of my fave text exchanges in this post. Honestly the banter between these characters is *chefs kiss*

Hannah knows how to write a man that loves their woman wholeheartedly and Brody Steele is no exception to this🫠he is a real country sweetheart😮‍💨🫠 He may be broody Brody to begin with, but he soon becomes an absolute gentleman and would do absolutely anything to ensure that Anna was happy. The acts of service love language is really thriving in this book! And there’s one certain moment/gift that has me sobbing like a lil baby every single time😭

Annalise Heights is honestly so relatable in so many ways and I just absolutely adore her! She hasn’t had it easy in life at all, but moving to Cherry Peak is definitely the best decision she has made! Not only does she meet Brody & his family, but she also meets the two most amazing friends. Poppy & Bryce are the sweetest souls, and the three of them together are true soul sisters🫶🏼 I wanna be their bestie!!!

The way this book is written is addicting. Once you enter the small town of Cherry Peak, you will never want to leave. Hannah’s writing just captures my heart every single time, and envelops me in a world full of love, friendship, found family and happiness.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sooo excited when I found out that Hannah was entering a new writing era, more specifically small town with cowboy!!! 🤸🏽‍♀️🤸🏽‍♀️🤸🏽‍♀️ I love everything miss Hannah writes so I knew I’d love this story!

In the story we meet Annalise Heights (Braxton’s sister from HGM!!), she finds out that her a$$ of a fiancée is cheating on her (on her birthday might I add😤), and ends up leaving her home to start anew in a small town called Cherry Peak. There she meets the famous country singer, Brody Steele (whose family also owns the largest ranch in the town).

They have a different way of meeting one another (text messages…. that’s all I’m gonna say😉) but face to face they can’t stand each other, he’s broody and cold where as she has attitude while also being sensitive. And as they begin to run into each other more and more they become aware that their feelings for each other are undeniable.

Anna and Brody were such a joy to read about, this was such a feel good plot! The town of Cherry Peak and the side characters were so enjoyable to read about!! And the plot of the text messages was so refreshing to see! I’ve never read a book where they had this kind of meet cute so that made me all the more intrigued!

Just overall I love anything Hannah writes, and she hit the mark with her new small town series!! I can’t wait for the rest of the series and what’s to come!🤭❤️

[Tea]

dnf 62% in.

No one should have to be strung along for this. It wasn’t necessarily bad, just so fucking sloooooow. Honestly quite boring too. The author could easily have wrapped up this slow motion show at this point. They’re in love and I could not give less of a shit about the rest of it. I did not care at all for the mc’s, they were flat and boring.

[Melanie Cummins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This really just didn’t hit the way it was supposed to. It didn’t feel Cowboy-ish at all ☹️

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I have a thing where I usually start a new small town series and idk why 95% of the time the first book isn't a big hit for me but then it gets progressively better and better. I'm hoping this is the case, well it probably is.

Still!!! I liked this book a lot, I just didn't give a higher rating not because of the romance that part was chef kiss and I liked the characters, but some parts of the settings irritated me or wasn't like I imagined so I had a hard time getting past that. But I'm more mentalized now.

Talking about our cuties of today's book we have Anna & Brody, AH classic brody because he is grumpy and broody you know and we also have the Anna Banana joke 🤣

Now for really focusing on the romance this made looked like he was making the grovelling that the stupid fiancé never did, he was the perfect gentleman, he literally take I her to work and back from work because she is not used to snowy roads, he is always thoughtful (like every man should be) and well he is a cowboy so you know... And lets say when the book involves one of those fluffy cows you know it is going to deliver something good.

Now I'm not much convinced with Garrison being the MMC for the next book, it's going to take a lot to convince me, lets see...

[Büşra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Böyle sakin kitapları çok seviyorum. Karakterlerin birbirlerini yanlış anlamadığı ve oturup konuştukları, kendince çıkarım yapmadan önce birbirlerine sordukları 🤌🏻

Çok farklı bir olayı yoktu ama çok eğlendim. Ve dinamiği çok iyi geldi bana.
Sevdim 🤍

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just the right level of silliness I needed. We all know I love myself a little cowboy romance and this one delivered hehe ☺️. Vibes were fun and silly and I just need a cowboy now