Lassoed Love

Wattle Creek #1

by Elle Mariah

In the heart of Wattle Creek, New South Wales, Xavier Mitchell shoulders the weight of generational expectations on his sturdy farmer's shoulders. As the gruff guardian of the Mitchell family farm, he's dedicated his life to the fields, dutifully sticking to tradition while suppressing his own desires. Known as the town's stoic figure, Xavier's world takes an unexpected turn when Isla Thompson, a vivacious veterinarian, re enters his life after years apart. The once-quiet landscape of Xavier's existence is disrupted as he finds himself irresistibly drawn to the fiery allure of Isla, a woman who challenges the very foundations of his structured reality.

In pursuit of her dreams, Isla Thompson escaped the confines of small-town life, earning her place as a successful veterinarian in the city. Fresh from the embers of a failed relationship and haunted by the shadow of her estranged father, Isla returns to Wattle Creek, seeking new beginnings as she embarks on a journey for her career. An unforeseen encounter with Xavier Mitchell, a man from her chaotic past, thrusts her back into a world she thought she had left behind. As Xavier's charm threatens to unravel the fabric of Isla's newfound life, she battles with the unexpected emotions resurfacing from their shared history.

In this quiet town of Wattle Creek, Xavier and Isla must navigate the complications of their intertwined lives. Can they rewrite the narrative of their history, or will the echoes of the past dictate the future of their newfound connection? Step into the fields of passion and surrender to the enchanting dance of love in this poignant tale of rediscovery, second chances, and the enduring power of desire.

Genres: Romance, Westerns, Cowboy Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Second Chance

580 pages, Paperback

Published April 16, 2024

About the author

When she’s not curled up in a cosy corner with a good book and an unhealthy amount of coffee, Elle Mariah is dreaming up swoon-worthy stories filled with raw emotion, witty banter, and painfully relatable characters just trying to find their happily ever afters.

A Creative Arts educator by day, she’s spent the past four years teaching young minds to see the magic in art and literature. But in 2024, she finally took a leap of faith—swapping lesson plans for love stories—and began writing the kinds of books she’s always adored. Now, Elle inspires not just in the classroom, but through the fictional worlds she brings to life, one messy, heartfelt romance at a time.

Reviews

[Ajla Obic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years after moving to the city, Isla buys the local vet clinic & returns home to Wattle Creek. During one of her regular days at the clinic, she happens to run into Xavier Mitchell, a local farmer & the cute boy who used to give her a hard time in high school…

What an amazing debut! Holy moley👏🏼 This book was funny, hot, charming, dramatic, & so emotional, especially the last few chapters. Also, the spicy was spicing🔥😮‍💨 There were so many quintessential romance book scenes like the iconic “fu** it!” scene that had me kicking my feet wildly in the air🤭 I have NEVER read a book where the fmc has the same name as me (even if it’s spelt differently), so it felt weird- like I was reading a “y/n” book & just being a narcissistic & inserting my name everywhere😭but it was also so great too & now this book will hold a special place in my heart because of that🥹🤭

I loved Isla! She was typically shy, quiet & reserved, but where necessary she was so snarky, sassy, badass & knew how to stand her ground. She was also incredibly emotional (same) & had a heart of gold! I loved watching her give Xavier a tough time & bust his balls👏🏼

Xavier was a massive grump & kinda fave “recluse” vibes at the beginning, however Isla brought out his cocky, cheeky, flirty, fun, sexy side🤭 his jealousy, protectiveness & dirty mouth were so hot, & his unconditional support & love for Isla had me crying !! He was just so swoony, so if you’re looking for a sexy Aussie farmer look no further ;)

Isla & Xavier’s dynamic was so addictive😆 Their back & forth bickering & constant bantering was so much fun. There was intense tension & very obvious chemistry, heat & attraction since the beginning. The progression of their relationship felt very natural to me, & I just adored witnessing all the love between all the characters, but especially between Xavier & Isla🥹❤️‍🩹

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞: Australian small town romance, cowboy romance, frenemies to lovers, found family, second chance, curvy fmc, he falls first

Thank you to Elle for this arc in exchange for my honest review💛

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

Lassoed Love ARC Review 🚜🤎
Release: April 16th

“𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚, 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙—𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝙖 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙙𝙙𝙨. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙬. 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧.”

★ ★ ★ ★
🌶️🌶️🌶️

what to expect:
🌾 he’s a farmer
🩺 she’s a veterinarian
🤞🏼 second chance
😏 frenemies to lovers
❤️‍🩹 mental health rep
🏡 small town country romance

@ellemariahauthor you did it, you wrote a book! I’m so freaking proud of you. The amount of emotion and love poured into this book is just incredible. I laughed, I cried, I blushed and above all felt such a genuine love and connection to the characters.

The whole Australian setting and slang just made this book that much better. Reading a book with constant swearing and banter just made it feel so natural and everything felt right. I haven’t read a book based in my state before so this was a nice change.

Isla our FMC is a character I related to the most. With her curves and flaws I found myself relating to her in some situations which is something I admired and could understand how she felt.

Xavier our MMC, good lord this man was something else. Ladies new hot farmer alert 🤭 This man is everything I would ever want in a partner. His care, admiration and appreciation for Isla made my heart feel so warm.

“𝙄’𝙢 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙣, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙄’𝙢 𝙖 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧.”

The side characters in this book omg you guys are going to LOVE THEM!! Not going to spoil an upcoming couple but omg i’m obsessed with these two. The way Elle has set them up i’m honestly so freaking excited for their book.

That epilogue though!? BAWLED my eyes out from then. If you love the sound of this book then i’d highly recommend you to add it to your TBR!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I am so thankful to the author for selecting me to receive an ARC copy of Lassoed Love in exchange for an honest review 💕 I still can’t quite believe this is a debut novel…it was so freaking good!!

The story revolves around Isla and Xavier, childhood school frenemies. Isla left to become a vet and when she returns to Wattle Creek several years later the two cross paths again. Past feelings resurface and challenge them both as family expectations and dynamics take priority.

Elle’s writing style was perfectly paced and kept you guessing. It really had everything I wanted in an Australian rural romance…supportive best friends, loving but frustrating family, small town gossip and slow burn to open door spice 🌶️🔥

The side characters were great and the banter between them all was typical of a rural group of friends who have grown up together (please tell me Imogen and Harrison’s story is next Elle🤞)

I laughed, I gasped and I literally bawled my eyes out while reading this one…Isla and her Dad 🥺😭

Tropes include:
✨He falls first
✨Curvy FMC
✨Mental health rep
✨Frenemies to lovers
✨Chronic illness rep
✨Small town

Please note: this book does come with trigger warnings so please consider those before reading.

[ayla ⋆｡˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

➳ 4.5 stars

“It’s always been you. I’m fucking ruined for anyone else. I’m yours for as long as you will have me.”

@ellemariahauthor wowww, have you done an absolute amazing job for your debut novel. this literally brought out so many emotions within me. i was sad one moment, laughing the next but above all else, i was blushing like crazyyy because holy heck was this steamy 🥵

what to expect:
-farmer X veterinarian
-small town romance
-frenemies to lovers
-he falls first
-found family
-second chance
-mental health rep

xavier was all the things i love in a fictional man, he was broody, protective, possessive (in a healthy way 😌, and isla was so sweet, loving and such a strong fmc that I love to see 🤭

the storyline was so easy to follow but also intriguing and made me want to continue reading! i devoured this story, the characters, literally EVERYTHING 😩

i highly recommend reading this if you are searching for a book that tickles your desire for a country, small town romance (this one is set in nsw, australia 😝)

@ellemariahauthor i’m so excited for this incredible journey you have embarked on, lovely and am so proud of what you have and continue to achieve! bring on book 2 😏

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗨!
𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 (𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 #2) 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 ✨

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost 4 stars

I'd say more not a 3.75 if I'm honest.
The story was cute and I loved both the FMC Isla and the MMC Xavier. The Australian setting threw me a little and some of the terminology unique to Aussies have me pause while reading but is was still a good book.
The only thing I didn't like was the death of one of the family members. It is unfortunate a little to raw for me and hit close to home while I am still grieving so spoiled the story for me. But I'm sure others won't be as affected as I am... I wouldn't have been if it handy hit so personally.
I will still be reading the sequel and will probably continue the series as it is written.

[Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book freaking tore my heart up…but like in a good way. Omg the rollercoaster that Isla and Xavier were on. Frenemies to lovers. Highschool class mates and ended up crossing paths again years later. He falls first and hard! Omg I’m so obsessed with them, so good and so emotional with everything poor isla has to endure. I love the curvy FMC representation we need more of it in the book world. Xavier is such a good man and how he loves Isla, they’re both so amazing! I was not expecting it to be this emotional or tear out my heartstrings the way it did, but it was such a beautiful story. I loved it.

[Briana Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

🌾small town country romance
🌾dual pov
🌾mental health & chronic illness rep
🌾frenemies to lovers
🌾farmer x veterinarian
🌾 he falls first
🌾plus size / curvy fmc

I was so lucky to be accepted to be a receiver of this ARC! Lassoed Love is @ellemariahauthor debut book, and can I say, I loved it!

This is probably the first book I’ve read that’s set in Australia, and I absolutely loved it. The farm vibes, the classic Kelpy 🤌🏻, and the small town vibes that made me feel like I was reading about my own hometown.

@ellemariahauthor writing style is quite easy to follow, and keeps you on your toes as well. Towards the end I was absolutely in tears, feeling the connection between Isla and her father, was such a beautiful moment and interaction. I love the character growth between Isla and Xavier, but also between both of their fathers as well, I think it’s extremely important to show vulnerability in a father, and you wrote it extremely well.

But can I just say, I NEED an Imogen and Harrison book…. Because the tension !!! And Brad and Amelia?! Is there anything there?! Something? Anything, a tiny bread crumb?? I’ll take it. 👀

I cannot wait to see what you have planned, and to watch your writing bloom!

[Tee Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot Australian Country Romance! 4.5 stars.

This debut book by Elle Mariah brings us to Wattle Creek in NSW where the firey Isla has returned to her hometown to run the local Vet clinic. 
She soon runs into gruff yet handsome Xavier who was her high school nemesis and now runs his family farm.

In a small town its hard to avoid anyone for too long and soon Isla and Xavier are forced to confront their past.

A story of love and growth, family and forgiveness, insecurities and grief, strength and loss, this one really tugged at my heartstrings.

The characters are realistic and relatable. The representation of loss and illness hits hard but is respectful.
 
The dynamics of the friend group is really genuine and I would be remiss to not mention that the Spice is on the money!

I really enjoyed reading LASSOED LOVE and I recommend it for any cowboy romance lover. 

Thank you to Elle Mariah for the ARC!

[Niamh Stocker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me feel so many feels!🤭🥰

Xavier is one of my new book boyfriends heh!!

This book made me cry, swoon and cry some more. Isla has been THROUGH IT. My heart was breaking for her throughout the entirety of this book, our boy Xavier never leaving her side was the icing on the cake♥️

From knowing each other from school and seeing them direct their relationship to “more than friends” was beautiful. Xavier adores Isla so much and he would burn down the world for her!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much. Such a beautiful read!!

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Isla, a veterinarian who has just returned to her home town, and Xavier, who is helping run the family farm. The two were frenemies in high school, and are reunited many years later, where they are forced to confront their pasts.

I can’t believe this is a debut novel!! It was really well written.

I absolutely loved all of the Australian slang in this book, I feel like it really makes this book.

There are so many beautiful moments throughout this book.

- Veterinarian x farmer
- Second chance romance
- Frenemies to lovers
- Small town romance

Thank you so much Elle for the ARC of this book, I loved it!

[Kayla Gozzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

So beyond thankful to be selected to be an ARC reviewer for Elle’s debut book! This book was stacked with emotions from laughter, second hand embarrassment and full blown ugly crying! This enemies to lovers, small town Aussie romance was so charming and had me absolutely swooning for Xavier Mitchell, our brooding, dirty mouthed MMC. this book had me absolutely cackling over how Aussie slang was incorporated into this book!

Don’t even get me started on the “fuck it” moment that had me actually dying omg! The angst and tension because Xavier and Isla were next level! There chemistry was just perfect and it had you rooting for them the whole book! And the spiceeeeee oh my!

The story line of this book was just beautiful! The story between Isla and her parents was heart breaking, I felt everything she felt, I was ugly crying while reading it, the pain and shock was so real my heart couldn’t handle it!

There were a few moments where the internal dialogue was a bit cringe and I struggled to read it, I also found that some parts were quite repetitive, I remember reading the exact same sentences multiple times in this book

Overall super cute book!

[Bia]

story:
spice: /5 🌶️

tropes:
frenemies to lovers
farmer x veterinarian
found family
curvy fmc
mental health rep
second chance
chronic illness rep
he falls first
deals with loss/grief
furry friends

tw/cw:

REVIEW COMING SOON…

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

First things first, I loved that this is an Aussie romance because the slang and cursing made me feel right at home immediately.

Elle transports you to Wattle Creek with her incredible ability to set a scene, giving us characters you can’t help but fall in love with, witty banter, steamy chemistry and tension then all of the depth and emotion that comes with Xavier + Isla’s journey from frenemies to lovers.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁: Aussie small town romance, second chance-ish, farmer x veterinarian, frenemies to lovers, found family, he falls first, mental health rep.

Xavier + Isla went to high school together and despite harbouring mutual feelings, they remained in the frenemies category and hadn’t seen each other in years. So when Isla returns to their small town it stirs up old feelings and brings in a wave of entirely new feelings between them that neither of them can deny for long. I really enjoyed the way their shared history was weaved into the story to add to their connection.

Their story isn’t an easy one, as Isla is going through a lot and they encounter hurdles along the way but the way Xavier is so steady, encouraging and supportive of Isla was everything. This man had me melting into a puddle with the way he cared for her.

While I did find this to be a bit drawn out and longer than necessary at times, it was extremely well written and easy to read which meant I was able to devour it within a day. The last 20% of this had me all up in my feels. There were tears, and sniffles, then a whole lot of swoon and kicking my feet giddy.

And a moment for the side characters please, because they were amazing and left a lasting impression, making me excited for what’s to come next in this series!

Please check trigger warnings before reading.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lassoed Love is the first book in the Wattle Creek series, a small Aussie town romance. It follows along in dual pov of Isla and Xavier.

what to expect ♥
💛small town
💛farmer x veterinarian
💛he falls first
💛small town romance
💛mental health & illness

I absolutely adored this book. This story. It was so beautifully written and it had me sobbing 😭

This story was so so well written and I LOVED the Australian setting. I thought it was so fun to read with all of the Australian slang throughout the story 🤭

I thought that Isla and Xavier had quite an interesting history which made their relationship development all the more special and exciting. Seeing their connection go from frenemies to lovers was the perfect amount of slow burn and he falls first 👌🏻

My heart was actually breaking for Isla when everything with her dad went down. I was sitting at my dining table SOBBING. I felt like I could actually FEEL Xavier’s love and support for her, which is a huge thing to feel from a book. The writing in this book is absolutely incredible. The emotions that are conveyed through carefully selected words makes the whole experience of this story so much more special.

If you have not yet decided to read this book, let this review be the one that urges you to BUY IT. It’s absolutely worth a read and it has very quickly become one of my all time favourite books. I LOVED the story and the characters with my whole heart.

[Jessika · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chokehold this book had on me the second I started it... strong.

It was the most authentically Australian sounding book I have read. The swearing? Accurate as f**k!

It had my favourite microtrope: The "fuck it." IYKYK!

All the storylines were woven and written together perfectly. And there was some sensitive and tough topics incorporated.

I need an Isla in my life and be my bestie. She's strong and independent and has a wicked sense of humour!
And Xavier is a man with a heart of gold and is a true country boy.

As with a lot of romance, new relationships are happening at the same time as tough personal events, so someone usually gets pushed away. It's Isla who pushes Xavier away.
Now what I absolutely loved about the resolve of this, is that as they start to talk about it, he didn't just take the apology. No. He explained that he was extremely hurt. He understood why she pushed him away, but he was hurt and in pain because of that too. I liked this because in majority of romances, when its the girl apologising, the guy always just forgives and they carry on.
(And when the guy apologises, the girl always has to carry on and weigh her options etc). So this felt real and we saw more to a MMC than is often seen.

[Bridget W Deen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read many (if any) romance books with cowboys, so to dive into this was so much fun. Add in the Aussie setting and I was heaven. I have a pretty bad potty mouth, so to read a book with so much swearing (all of it totally necessary 😆) was like a warm hug 😂😂😂 Nobody swears like an Aussie!

Isla Thompson was sweet and loving, whilst also being feisty when she needed to be. Xavier Mitchel… well, Xavier is my first cowboy MMC and he holds a special place in my heart 🥵.

There’s grief and heartache, female friendship and a romance that is believable and swoon worthy. The spice was spicing, the banter was bantering and the book was a joy to read.

Also, shout out to Elle and all of her veterinarian research. I was blown away by all of it. It really made Isla as a character feel real as well as her passion for animals.

If you’re in need of a small town romance, jump on this one!!!

Thank you to @ellemariahauthor for the ARC! I can’t wait to see what you accomplish next 🧡🧡🧡

[Apoorva Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always in my Cowboy Romance Era and this book just defines it why. Cowboys/ Ranchers are built different. If I didn’t know any better I would think this book is written by a veteran author but to know that this is a debut I am in an awe with the writing style.

This book revolves around Xavier & Isla who had a sweet and spicy relationship in high school days. Isla moved to the big city but now years later she is back. She doesn’t realise that she will come across Xav again in different circumstances.

I loved the banter in the beginning chapters, the tension between them, the whole alpha-hole thing but most importantly this book revolved around mending familial relationships, grief and moving on.

I loved all the confessions and it turned me into a mushy human because the way Xav loved was loud and clear it was what Isla needed after being hurt and broken and chipped around the edges due to carrying the pain and burden.

My favourite side character was Bradley of course for what he did and I just can’t wait for his book.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lassoed Love by Elle Mariah 🤠

I have a new book boyfriend and his name is Xavier Mitchell.

‘I’ll never get tired of the sight of her. She’s so beautiful. I just want to keep her all to myself.’

What a debut novel! Oh my goodness. This book was a small town second chance romance and it was amazing.

The second chance aspect had me hesitant however, it was done so well. Two high schoolers who met but didn’t get a chance at a relationship cross paths years later and get another chance.

This book broke my heart and had me sobbing but the amount of love bursting out of this book put it back together! I loved the banter and sarcasm/sass. And, the spice was so good!

Tropes:
• second chance romance
• small town country
• he falls first
• dual pov
• chronic illness & mental health rep

I am already looking forward to the rest of the Wattle Creek series and this book hasn’t come out yet 😂

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me all the feels. And it was so good to read an Aussie romance. Xavier is your swoon worthy farmer/cowboy, Isla is the shy girl who's returning to her home town after studying to become a vet.

High school frenemies crossing paths again, two people juggling the ups and downs of life and their feelings for each other. The side characters and friends groups were such a highlight, loved reading all their banter.

If you love a small town/second chance romance, you definitely need to pick this one up.

- small town
- he falls first
- farmer & vet
- frenemies to lovers

"𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓘'𝓶 𝓯𝓾𝓬𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓻𝓾𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓮𝓵𝓼𝓮."

It does have a few sensitive topics, so make sure to check the author's note before going in ❤️

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My DEBUT book! 💛✨
Lassoed Love ropes you in with its heartfelt romance and small-town charm. This fiery story of a mechanic with a protective streak and a bold woman seeking a fresh start delivers all the passion, healing, and irresistible tension you could hope for. A must-read for fans of second chances and electric chemistry!

[Hope Eden]

DNF at 140 pages.

There was wayyyy too much swearing in here. It was like after every word there was a swear word. Almost like the author couldn’t come up with intelligent words to add. There was also too much inner dialogue. The characters barely spoke to each other. I also don’t think putting the Wild West into England works. You wouldn’t find rustic small towns in the UK with amazing scenery. It’s just not realistic. A cowboy romance needs to be set in the USA

[Haze Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

POV: Dual
Tropes: Second Chance, Frenemies to Lovers, Small Town, Vet X Cowboy/Farmer, Sensitive topics please see author notes.

Nicknames: Doc, Princess, Cowboy, Love, Baby
Smut Index 21, 24, 25, 28, 34, 35, 44, 47

Overall
When Elle first announced she was writing a small town romance set in Australia I immediately knew I needed it in my hands.

I’ve read a lot of cowboy/small town romances but this book was an absolute game changer for me. Being set on home turf, I loved how authentically Australian it felt. Everything was perfectly portrayed, the banter, the descriptions of locations, the interactions between characters 👌🏼 It made me feel like Wattle Creek was my hometown.

To my Aussie gals craving a Aussie cowboy the book is for you! For my international gals also wanting an Aussie cowboy, you’ll have fun with this one! & feel free to message me if you need a translator for the Aussie humour 😂

[kaitlyns_library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! But I wasn’t a fan of the “I’m not like other girls” vibe that was at the very beginning.

[Ana Filipa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

[readswith.erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Lassoed Love
Author: Elle Mariah
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

@ellemariahauthor - this was a great read. The language was so authentically Australian it had me crying in parts! 🤭

The letters from her mother had me 😭 Xavier reading it for their vows “To the one who stole our daughter’s heart” ugh, so cute.

I found some parts of the book took focus away from Isla and Xavier, but regardless, I really did enjoy this read and I’m excited to see where Elle’s writing takes her next!
Especially with Imogen and Harrison… the tension! 🫠🫦

• Strong FMC
• Small Town Romance
• He falls first
• Spicy 18+
• Dual POV
• A touch on Mental Health

[bookish.hayls · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful and heartbreaking rollercoaster, especially the last 25 ish %. Every time I composed myself I was in tears again.

What I loved was the Aussie-ness!! The slang and swearing had me laughing! And even though this felt incredibly heartbreaking at times, there was also so much love, fun, spice and banter!

I need a moment to gather myself and put my thoughts into proper words.

Please check TWs.

Thank you Elle for sending me an e-arc.

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25⭐️

I want to start by saying that I think as a debut novel for a new author, in time she will find her groove.

Parts of this book felt unnecessarily long, with chapters and scenes that don’t do much to further the plot but aim to introduce all the characters so the wattle creek universe is primed and ready to go.

A good example of how this is done is Elsie Silver; where you might have one or two paragraphs in one book that introduce a character, and that’s kind of it for them. Then the next book there might be one or two more, and then by the third they have enough air time for you to know that “this is the brother of MMC in book 1”. The length Elle went to, to introduce all these characters just wasn’t needed for this book.

Of all the kisses in the book, there were two toward the end where the MC’s didn’t “crash/slam their lips together”. I could have made it a drinking game at that point lol

As an Australian, it was nice to read a book that is set in Aus. That said, there’s a difference between the dialogue being Australian and a lot of the writing being Australian. Some minor tweaks would open this series up to a much wider population outside of Aus, because the slang and writing was VERY Australian.

I don’t quite know if I think the Alzheimer’s story line was dealt with as best as it could have been - sometimes in these books it feels like authors are just dumping a shitload of issues to pad out pages, but don’t end up giving them the air time needed. For an Alzheimer’s back story, I would have expected more surrounding disorientation in day to day, SOME anxiety from our FMC when that major storm hit and her dad was home alone, more scenes where the Alzheimer’s is really impacting their life. It’s actually totally fine to have a fluffy rom com which is about a small town vet and farmer, without needing more. Even the fathers feuding would have been enough of a micro-story without needing to go to Alzheimer’s.

Will always support Australian authors, and I’m eager to see how Elle grows as an author from this book!

[Chrissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Can I just start by acknowledging Elle Mariah for her debut novel, massive congratulations girl, also a big thank you for selecting me as an ARC reader. This may be the first book I have read that is based in Australia and I fucking loved it, it made it easier for me to relate to the characters and the Australian slang put a smile on my face. Gimmie more Australian romances written by Australian women pls!
This book does come with trigger warnings so please be mindful of those and check before you read.

"There's absolutely no way in this world this man could ever find someone like me attractive."

Firstly, my sweet little Isla, boy has she had a rough go at life leading up to the book, yet still she shows so much strength and resilience. I found Isla so easy to relate to, with her curves and the train of thoughts, I saw myself. In a way this book helped me love myself a little more and taught me not to be too harsh on myself.

Xavier, where do I start? This man is to die for. The way he admired Isla from the beginning had me in awe, and the way he cared for her even more so. This man would give up anything for her and it shows! Also we love a man who understands and expresses his feelings! Hats of the Xavier for standing up for himself and not backing down.

Isla and Xavier are perfect for each other and it shows. Also that epilogue, OMG it had me crying at 1:30am

"She's everything, and I don't plan on letting her go now."

The side characters were amazing. I love a book with good side characters and these guys did not disappoint. I am also exited for future books and couples that may have been hinted at in this book.
I cannot wait to see what unfolds next in this series.

If you cannot tell by now, I love this book to pieces.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes

- Aussie small town romance
- Farmer x Veterinarian
- He falls first
- Found family
- Curvy FMC
- Dirty talking MMC
- All the banter / All the Spice

Lassoed by Love is the first book in the Wattle Creek series. It is a dual POV contemporary Aussie small town romance set in the fictional town of Wattle Creek.

Xavier is a grumpy farmer focussed on his work and land with little interest in anything or anyone else. Isla has returned to her childhood town after taking over the local vet practice.

They had been fascinated by each other since their high school days, but Xavier had some dick-ish friends who used to tease quiet Isla.

When Xavier takes his horse to the vet he discovers Isla has returned and he falls hard.

Isla takes some convincing and has to work through her own issues before realising how good Xavier is for her. And he is the perfect package - strong and supportive through crises.

I really enjoyed the writing and flow of this story. As well as lots of Aussie expressions.

Elle Mariah has created a beautiful group of characters to surround Xavier and Isla. I can’t wait to find out which couple gets the next story.

Thank you Elle Mariah for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Court Head · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see why this is well loved by many as it has the bones to be a great story, I, however, just really clashed with the writing. What I did love was Isla and Xavier’s bickering and banter, especially at the start and they had great chemistry. Oh and there was a truly wonderful, “fuck it” moment, Xavier you go boy. As I said, I thought the premise was good, unfortunately, it felt very over written and repetitive and some scenes had me cringing or skimming. I think it really needed some editing and some research, especially into the Chronic Illness and Medical aspects of the story. Simply my opinion and it’s ok if you don’t agree 🙂