Holding The Reins

Silver Pines Ranch #1

by Paisley Hope

To hold the reins idiom; metaphorTo be in charge of, to be in complete control of; yourself, a situation, people or all of the above.

Cecilia “CeCe” Ashby is finally escaping the toxic relationship that has consumed her entire adult life.. She returns to her hometown of Laurel Creek, Kentucky and her family’s equestrian ranch unsure of what the future holds. It’s time to move on, she just has no idea where to start.

Nash Carter is the newly retired superstar of the Dallas Stars, Laurel Creek’s hometown hero, local business owner and notorious bachelor. He’s also the unofficial fourth sibling in the Ashby clan.

It’s been years since his days of tormenting and protecting CeCe with her older brothers Wade and Cole, but when CeCe returns to town unexpectedly and needs a job, he knows he has to have her and not entirely for business.

In fact, Nash can’t seem to take his eyes off of his best friend’s much younger, vulnerable little sister and it seems she’s been staring right back.

Despite the many self-proclaimed reasons why they would never work, the fire between them ignites and they form a little pact of rules before jumping into the flames.

As ‘just one night’ turns into many, Nash quickly learns that where CeCe Ashby is concerned his typical rules simply don’t apply. Now he has to figure out if he can push his past trauma aside enough to have the life he never expected to want. A life he’s both terrified to live and terrified to lose.

All he has to do to have it all? Take a deep breath and let go of the reins.

Genres: Romance, Westerns, Cowboy Romance, Small Town Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook

362 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2024

About the author

Paisley Hope is a USA Today and Sunday Times Bestselling author of spicy contemporary romance. Her books are full of found family, dreamy settings, swoony moments and happily ever afters. She also writes darker romances that will keep your pulse racing.
Paisley spends all her free time with her husband and kids. She loves to bake, garden and travel.

Reviews

[Marianna Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hot and filthy with a side of yeehaw

[Heather Mclarry · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75! This was cute! Nash is iconic

[Lilyya ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

“I love you so much it consumes me. but I want it all. I want you, in every way.”

❦ age gap
❦ small town
❦ found family
❦ ex hockey player
❦ cowboy romance
❦ brother’s best friend

i think this novel would work perfectly as plate cleaner. it was cute but nothing did really grab my attention. i had a hard time trying to connect with the main characters and that’s mostly why it took way longer than usual to finish this book. but if you want an easy read with a good amount of toe-curling scenes this is the perfect read for you!

many thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

——————
let’s go🤠

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I love this woman like I’ve never loved anyone or anything. I love her more than the sun on my face rising over the mountain, the feel of fresh ice under my skates, or hoisting that cup over my head. I love my little firefly like I have no other option, and the truth is maybe I never have.”

I don't usually ride into this genre (pun 100% intended), but Holding the Reins by Paisley Hope roped me in from page one and left me smiling like I'd just won a blue ribbon at the county fair.

This story has everything I didn’t know I needed, a charming ranch setting, lovable characters and the kind of emotional warmth that sneaks up on you and gives you a big, heartfelt hug. There’s a certain wholesomeness to it all that feels like coming home, even if, like me, your version of “home” doesn’t usually include horses or cowboy hats.

Paisley Hope writes with such an easygoing charm that I found myself grinning more often than not. It’s not overly saccharine or predictable either, it’s just the right amount of sweet, with a dash of sass and a good helping of heart.

I might not be galloping (see what I did there) into romances every day, but when I do, books like Holding the Reins remind me why I should do it more often. Pure, feel good escapism that left me genuinely happy. Yeehaw!

I Highly Recommend.

Side note: I’ve just ordered an embarrassing number of books like this one because apparently I’ve been sucked straight into the romance vortex. I thought I was just visiting... turns out I’ve packed a bag, bought property, and applied for permanent residency. Please send help, or more recommendations.

[ivy ꕤ [mental health break]]

ꕥ pre-read . ݁₊ ⊹ . 👒
i got this arc a while ago (10 months 😭) and i'm finally picking it up now 🙂‍↕️.

[buket · Rating 4 out of 5]

me when the ex-hockey-player part-time-cowboy brother’s-best-friend crawled to her as an apology

[maria]

ᝰ.ᐟ pre-read: ᯓᡣ𐭩୭˚.

arc time!!!
this is my first time reading a cowboy romance and this one has a lot of good reviews, I’m excited🤭

[aeryn rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

1⭐️

To say I was bitterly disappointed by this book would be the understatement of the year. What the fuck did I just read...

I could not stand the characters in this book whatsoever. The only exception would be the occasional moments from Nash, mainly in the very beginning of the book. CeCe was so bland and boring, the familial side characters did not have enough screen time, and nobody had any redeeming qualities. There was nothing special or unique about anyone in here. They were shallow and empty at best. Nash had his sweet, soft moments with CeCe and I was able to enjoy that part of him. If only it weren't for the over-sexualized and weird comments he would make that made me cringe so hard I was laughing and covering my face out of embarrassment.

Look, I'm not against a book with a lot of spice. I think that some books do it really well...
This was not one of them.
The spice was SO over the top and wildly cringey. This book would have been so much better had it not been for the spice taking over the actual plot I THOUGHT we'd get when the book first started. It had potential. REAL POTENTIAL! This book could have been so perfect had we focused more on the familial aspect and the small-town vibe.

Let me set the scene....
This grown man made several comments about how he viewed CeCe as this SISTER he felt the need to always protect. Okay, you with me? SISTER. Words straight out of the book. In the literal next sentence he was talked about how sexy she was and how badly he wanted to fuck her. He would always refer to her as this "little girl" and it sounded so. Disgusting. To call someone you're non-blood related to as your little sister and then proceed to sexualize her as if that didn't happen was just...the only words I can come up with is just gross and disgusting.

AND THEN (oh yes, there's more), when CeCe got absolutely hammered and was sick on the bathroom floor from over-drinking, this man talks about how hot it would be if he fucked her in her current state. YES. He talked about badly he wanted to fuck her and show her "who she belongs to" while she is vomiting in his bathroom completely inebriated while he holds her hair back. I was left speechless. Literally disgusting behavior.

I don't know if the rest of the series is like this, but I have no interest in continuing regardless. This book completely put me off and would ruin the enjoyment I could have had from the other books. There's no redeeming from this. All either of them talked about was how hot each other was and who was gonna fuck the other first. I do not in any state of mind recommend this book. I wanted to love it as cowboy, small-town romances are some of my favorites ever. THIS? Absolutely not. Genuinely don't even know if I want to donate this once I clean my shelves out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

➼𝒫𝓇𝑒-ℛ𝑒𝒶𝒹:

Starting a new cowboy romance series because I can't get enough of them 🙂‍↕️🩷

[naz · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝑵𝒂𝒔𝒉 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅’𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓, 𝒗𝒖𝒍𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌.”

A retired hockey player turned part-time cowboy AND the brother’s best friend trope? PLS I'M HERE FOR IT! 🏒🤠

This book gave me everything I needed and more!! The author did NOT hold back she gave us bread and left NO BREAD CRUMBS!

The story follows CeCe, who returns home after leaving her fiancé to start fresh in the small town where she grew up. And guess who’s still around? Her brother’s best friend, Nash Carter a recently retired hockey player who now helps out at the family ranch. He’s been like family for years, but with time as they both age like fiiiiine wine, CeCe starts to wonder if there’s something more between them. DUUUH THERE’S A TON MORE. 😏🔥

I’m obsessed with cowboy romances🤠 , and this book just proved why. Nash is the ultimate small-town protector who will do anything to keep CeCe safe even if it means throwing punches at her ex-fiancé (which was tooootally necessary, btw). Both CeCe and Nash have that "I’m trouble" vibe, and their chemistry made this such an entertaining read. The banter? Yes. The tension? IMMACULATE. And let’s not forget the classic “touch her and you’ll regret it” moment; a classic trope that never gets old! 🥵

Holding the reins isn’t just about their sizzling attraction; it’s also about digging into their pasts, facing old wounds, and navigating the complexities of falling for someone who’s technically off-limits. Their romance is messy, layered, and anything but simple and that’s EXACTLY why I loved it.
💗🌾🐴

Tropes
✨ best friend's little sister
✨ small town
✨ cowboy romance
✨ found family
✨ secret hookups
✨ boss x employee (ish)

Thank you DellRomance & Netgalley for giving me an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
i'm actually starting to read it NOW because i want a cowboy romance #moodreaderstruggles
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚🤠 i miss reading about cowboys thank you netgalley for my eARC can't wait to dive in!

[rei ‧₊˚✩彡]

pre-read:

going back to my roots because my last read was underwhelming :(( hoping so hard for this book to not let me down because it might put me into a slump if another book fails me 🥲

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*

3.75 out of 5 stars!

The moment I saw the cover of this book, I was captivated—it was clear I was in for a great read.
With each new installment, the covers in this series keep outdoing themselves, becoming more stunning every time.

As for the story, it delivered all my favorite tropes and then some. For a debut novel, it was absolutely impressive. The character dynamics, dialogue, and setting were all beautifully crafted, pulling me into the world completely.

I can’t wait to continue with the rest of this series!

Would you look at this gorgeous cover!! *heart eyes*

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

”Her eyes meet mine, time stops and she smiles at me, breaking me, reducing me to nothing more than hers.”

after dealing with a breakup from her former fiancée, Cecilia moves back to her family’s home town ranch in Kentucky. Nash is a close friend of Cece’s family and after retiring from playing hockey, he now runs a few businesses in town while also helping Cece’s oldest brother Wade with the horses on their property.. ok part time cowboy🤠. since Cece and Nash have known each other for a long time, there’s a sense of mutual trust and care that they have before things even go further with them that i really appreciated. i felt that the focus on grief and trauma were handled realistically and it made me connect to the characters more as individual people.

”We’re not a phase. We’re the exact opposite of a phase. We’re always. I’m going to follow you everywhere you go for the rest of this life. And then, I’m going to follow you into the next.”

➸ Cecilia - she’s a bit wild, protective and doesn’t back down, but she’s also dealing with the grief of losing her father who was basically the glue that held everyone together. she always took the time out to consider other’s point of view while also still prioritizing herself and her own needs and that’s something i love to see! plus her relationships with all of her family and the way she comforted/supported Nash was the sweetest thing on the planet.. my Nashby heart🥹💜.

➸ Nash - mister Carter, excuse tf outta me!! 😮‍💨 i have to emphasize how down bad i was for this man and his filthy mouth.. i’ve fallen and can’t get up🧎‍♀️. i really just loved him in general tho, especially with how he constantly looked out for Cece and protected her for literal YEARS. his whole situation with his parents was hard to read and the fact that he was so close to Cece’s dad too made it worse. but Nash learning to not let his fear stop him from having the life he desperately wants with Cece was my absolute favorite.

“If you’re struggling, you’re living. You have to hold some peace in that,”

another great thing about this book was how the characters dealt with the eventual conflict. they have their initial impulsive reactions, but they do communicate with eachother openly when they felt ready which made them so easy to root for. i also loved Cece’s brother’s Wade and Cole, along with her friends Ginger and Olivia. i can’t wait to read the next books in this series with the glimpses i got in here🤭. if i gotta mention some negatives it’ll mainly be in my struggle to stay fully invested the whole time— it took me forever to read this and im an epilogue hater so i didn’t love that either, but otherwise i did enjoy this!

ready for my first cowboy romance (i think? idk lol)

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Part Time Cowboy Full Time Dirty Talker ✨'s

Holding the Reins is such a fun and dirty read! I loved this small town, brother's best friend, secret dating, and found family romance so much. The story follows Cece who after 8 years moves back to her hometown after discovering her fiance cheating, and Nash, her older brother's best friend, and former hockey playboy turned small town golden boy. Nash was so sweet and gone for Cece, I love how he was so desperate for her and willing to do anything to make her life easier. The found family was so well done and I thought it was perfect how Cece and Nash both had their own separate grief to work through. For a debut book, I think Paisley Hope did phenomenal, the story was fleshed out and flowed well, I do think the writing and plot could use some minor tweaking but beyond that, the romance and steam were so good. Nash is an absolutely feral dirty talker and let me tell you the man delivered EVERY TIME!

[bookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

➸ 3.75/5 stars

The book kicks off with CeCe, who’s fed up with her cheating boyfriend in Seattle. She breaks things off and decides to head back to her small hometown to start fresh. On her first day back, she reconnects with her brothers’s best friend, Nash, and can’t help but notice how insanely hot he is (can’t blame miss girl) imo it’s not a heart shattering story or a favorite of mine but it was so fun I binged it in one setting before bed.

“I would love her with my whole heart every day until death took me. And even then, I'd move on to the next life and find her there, because a love like ours isn't limited by space or time. It's eternal."

۫ ꣑ৎ ┊ Cecilia Ashby -
Honestly, I don’t have much to say about her. She’s a sweet, down-to-earth character who cares deeply for her family, and she’s nice—nothing wrong with her, but nothing that stands out as exceptional either. She’s relatable and grounded, Nothing special but you know what’s special? Her man. 🤭

۫ ꣑ৎ ┊ Nash Carter -
He’s a whole vibe. I mean, this guy is yummy. He's the kind of guy who makes you weak in the knees just by existing. But it’s not just about his looks—Nash is like a small-town superhero. The dude juggles so many jobs, i felt overstimulated on his behalf 😭 (in the best way possible). He’s a part time cowboy since He’s owns a ranch, he used to play in the NHL, now he coaches hockey, and he owns a bar. All of that, right in their small town. he’s got too much going on—but somehow, it just makes him even more hot. You know when I see this sign :



every time I see it I go “thank god” 😍

so yeah Business Nash? Backwards ball-cap-wearing Nash? bar Nash? Cowboy Nash? Hockey Nash—they’re all so yummy—each version of him is a total heart-throb. He’s also protective as hell, and I love it. He’s always been the one scaring away all guys from CeCe since high school, making sure no one crosses her. Plus, he helps out her mom in secret, which just made my heart melt. and the way he treats CeCe? Swoon. He treats her like a queen, and honestly, I’m happy for her (I’m jealous). But, let’s be real—the absolute hottest version of Nash is in bed.

"I have another rule of my own," he says.
I nod. "Okay?"
"I'm always in control," he growls.

yes please. please control me next🧎‍♀️

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i had the BEST time rereading this!! i somehow loved cece and nash even more the second time around <3
~~~~~~~
YALLLLLL SMALL TOWN ROMANCE IS SO BACK 😩

i cannot get over how good this book is, it took me straight out of my reading slump. i couldve easily read 200 more pages of these two!!!

i was giggling and kicking my feet the whole fucking time, oh my god the chemistry between nash and cece was INSANE, i have truthfully gotten really bored of smut scenes lately and theirs MY LORDDDDD, the bourbon?! THE CRAWLING 😮‍💨 the way the anticipation and sexual tension was built up for them was holy wow. i was getting frustrated for them before they finally said fuck it 😂

every last bit of this story was just phenomenally done to me, i have been craving the hell out of a cowboy small town romance lately and adding in an ex nhl player with a heart of gold on top of it?! yes fucking please 🤭

i really dont have any coherent thoughts other than do yourself a fucking favor and read this one bc nash and cece are superior

[Emily G · Rating 1 out of 5]

This MMC was a walking red flag I feel like Cece needs a restraining order.

I don’t think a 4-5⭐️ prediction has ever gone so wrong for me, which is a shame as I was super excited for this.

This book felt like a bunch of tropes had been jammed into a book with no alignment or editing. The writing was mediocre at best and overall just felt like a copy of another popular cowboy romance.

I can appreciate what the author was trying to achieve but this really wasn’t for me - the MMC actually concerned me at times and made it feel more dark romance than lighthearted southern-hockey fun.

Thankyou to the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[RLbooks (in and out) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars and a long review, sorry lol

I’m always going to love taking a chance on a debut author and then finding a book that has heart, excellent characters, and great promise for future writing. Some parts of Holding the Reins worked wonderfully for me and some I struggled with a bit. You can tell that the author loves her characters and is setting up this small town to have several future romances and I do think that as she refines her writing, she’s going to be an even stronger storyteller.

The book begins with Cece (h) coming home to her small town in Kentucky from Seattle, after she’s left her cheating fiancé. The opening is her being chased by her BFF’s grandma, who rescued Cece’s vibrator when it fell out of her luggage. What made that scene funnier is how the author chose to have everybody find out about it (at one point Cece asks if there’s a tin can and string set up around town for how info flies around and I died laughing). Cece’s dad passed away a few months prior and as she moves home, she's figuring out what her life looks like now, but she’s got her momma, two brothers, her niece, and a girl gang that are a trip. She also has Nash (H), her brothers’ best friend, and honorary other member of their family. Nash retired recently from the NHL and has a couple of businesses going around town keeping him super busy, while also being very present in the community and in Cece’s family. And though he used to help tease her with her brothers, grown up Nash and grown up Cece want to do a different kind of teasing, despite the possible consequences.

Written in first person, dual POV. Tiny ow moments (h thinks H still dates around like he did in high school and college, but he doesn’t, however he does go on one date while crushing on the h, to try and be with someone more “appropriate” - he spends the date talking about h and then ends the date going to her rescue and forgetting about the ow so it was irritating but also kind of not; h also gets jealous a couple of times thinking about ow he might be hooking up with that he’s not) and small om moments as well (h’s ex is on page a couple times being an ass but he still wants her back and there’re a couple of times also that H loses his mind over om being interested in dancing with h), and neither are virgins (H has been celibate for 19 months *cheers* and h had been with her ex for eight years).

Nash Carter was fire with his jealous/possessive moments, some really hot “my/mine” talk, his equally hot dirty talk, his sweet and caring moments (y’all, he braids her hair back when she’s feeling sick and ties it off with f’ing dental floss cause he doesn’t have a hair tie), and his wonderful nature that made him want to give back to his community. Full package right there (along with an apparently *ahem* large other kind of package). He was emotionally challenged, but it was because of past trauma related to the loss of his parents, so it was hard to hold it completely against him…I also could have done without him constantly thinking of how tiny Cece was.

Cece was also lovable with her intelligence, sassiness, and spark. She was fun when she was pushing Nash’s buttons, but also amazing when she was with her friends or family. I reveled in the moments when she was shown different facets of Nash than what she had pictured too. Which she gets lots of opportunity to see when she starts working for him and because she keeps ending up in his bar with her friends.

Cece certainly wasn’t one dimensional, but I felt Nash did stand out more though since Cece had more to discover about him, while she was more of an open book to him. Also there was a hefty amount of steam in this book and I was there for it (just fyi for my fellow readers who aren’t fans of degradation - there’s one scene with 2 words used that’s super brief but it made me pull up for a moment personally and do a word search, but it’s just those 2 uses).

I did find the writing needed some work but at least there were only a few typos. Sometimes there was floating dialogue where I wasn’t sure if the last person who spoke said something or a new person and transitions between chapters/POVs was sometimes confusing. This is me being nitpicky though and I know it, but I have friends on here that I think might feel nitpicky about it too.

It would have been great if there was more of a catalyst for why Nash and Cece saw each other differently. I was glad this wasn’t a pining situation but it also felt very lust-based at first kind of out of nowhere since they'd seen each other as adults, though always knew the other was attractive. Or if there was a slightly longer timeframe than the couple of months this was. I also couldn’t understand why the details of what happened with Nash’s parents took so long to share. There wasn’t a mystery to it, but it took the reader til 60% to know the facts and it drove me a little crazy with the hints. The scene itself was impactful, it just would have worked better for me if some of the info had been shared earlier and then the rest of the scene played out as is. Pacing in general was slightly off though, but that might have also been because of the timeline.

The timeline is a point that I was seriously confused about. Some milestone moments are given for context and I was still confused. For example, why it took her so long to leave her fiancé once she suspected he was unfaithful, I was surprised how quickly Nash got himself settled back in the area (unless I misunderstood that timing, which brings me back to my concern), and the timing of the events of this story seemed to both fly by and take weeks at a time. There’s a reference at one point that they have time for an event they were planning, that was seriously huge on a short window since I thought they only had a month, then weeks passed, but they still somehow had time for additional arrangements.

Still, this book was packed with small town goodness, funny and sweet side characters, and a sweet romance. The third act conflict was emotional and frustrating, but also had me cheering for Cece not wanting to accept less than she deserved a second time. Even if Nash was there with her but couldn’t use his words well. Her brothers made a stink, but weren’t as awful as they (and I) feared. Plus, Nash shows up in a great way. Then the ending was so amazing. Some of the middle of this story might have been a bit of a valley for me, but the ending was so damn strong. A proposal that had me tearing up and an epilogue seven years later of them married with kids and just adorableness. I’ll definitely check this author out again.

[Delaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute & quick read!

[lorena ♡ (semi ia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh, to date my tattoed brothers' best friend and ex-hockey player ―now hockey instructor/bar manager/cowboy (yes, the man has three jobs and barely sleeps)―, who my family adores and is so terribly in love with me he pictures us in the most domestic scenarios, says and thinks the sweetest things about me, and crawls to me to apologize after fucking up.

[patrycja ୨୧ ‧₊˚ · Rating 1 out of 5]

— 1 ★
⤿ time of death: 64%

⭑𓂃 ⌗ some lovely quotes that made me want to bang my head against the wall :)

"why are you looking at me like that? is it because you just fucked me into a dizzy stupor with your ginormous dick?"

"your freight train of a cock just assaulted me."
"you asked for it, rae."

"I can bring you breakfast."
"I think it's the least you can do after abusing me vagina then leaving without a trace into the morning fog."
"apologies to your pussy. I will grovel before her with danishes and croissants."

these quotes say...more than words ever would.

⟡ — pre-read !

another day, another random book 😝

[Belle Terese · Rating 5 out of 5]

you guys aren’t ready for what i’m about to say. hold on to your cowboy hats. there’s a new man in town and he’s taking ALL THE OTHER COWBOY MMC’S OUT! 😫😫🔥😭🙌🏼🙌🏼💖💖💖💖. nash carter…you might arguably be, the best small town mmc ever written??! i never thought i’d say that when i started this book.

i don’t even know where to start with this review. i picked this up yesterday before i had to shoot some content and i DIDN’T WANNA PUT IT DOWN!! genuinely, it immediately had me in a chokehold and i couldn’t stop thinking about it all day. this whole world and family are so gorgeous you will fall in love with them from the very first page.

now…how do i tell y’all that i had an out of body experience reading this book. THIS FKN MAN YALL 😫😭🔥 like i’m not playing AROUND. not only is this man a words of affirmation fella but ACTS OF SERVICE TOO!! my man my man my MAN. seriously he’s just so incredibly special (as was CeCe, i love you girly 🥰) but i just couldn’t get enough. and y’all… you’re genuinely not ready for the spice. i’ve read spicy small town before. but let’s just say i read a scene in this (of which there are MULTIPLE!!!), that has made it onto my roman empire list. i can’t talk about it or i might get sent to the psych ward.

if you love a small town, brothers best friend, boss x employee, forbidden romance that feels so authentic and original, look no further. i loved this SO MUCH. 5⭐️ and 4🌶️ because i will NEVER BE THE SAME!! bring on book 2!

enjoy my thoughts while reading:

- tropes: small town, brothers best friend, ice hockey player, age gap, guy falls first, boss x employee, acts of service, words of affirmation

- IMMEDIATELY. this is hilarious 😂

- i love ginger she’s gonna be my fave

- need ginger and cole’s book like i need air to breathe and im 27 PAGES IN WTF 😫🙌🏼💖

- i’m literally kicking my feet in the air like a little girl i love this SO MUCH 😭💖

- the guitar string bit is KILLING ME i love this family already 😂😂

- acts of service mmc, we love to see it

- “TOUCH HER AGAIN AND I’LL FUCKING BURY YOU” IM ALIVE IM SCREAMING 😫🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

- the SPICE holy WHAT 🔥🔥🥵

- might have just found my be fave quote of all time

- little firefly is so cute 🥹

- SHE MADE HIM CRAWL?!?!?! HOLY SHIT. INSTANT 5⭐️. INSTANT NEW ROMAN EMPIRE SCENE

- yep that got me. i’m crying so hard

[nadine (semi ia) · Rating 1 out of 5]

meh

[Laura Greenhalgh · Rating 3 out of 5]

don’t be deceived these cowboy books with the cute little covers, they are SPICY. nash?? SIR i - 🥵

this was short, sweet and super spicy 🌶️

[Marie]

DNF at 66%

This sounded like a good time but really wasn’t for me.
The cringey writing style, the nonexistent plot, the red flag of a mmc… Just some of the things I disliked about this story, I could go on.

The sex scenes took me out you guys. Idk maybe I’m too old for this over the top ridiculously unrealistic stuff but like come on..

Also brother’s best friend remains the worst trope out there, I stand by that.



Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd honestly like to do research on all these people who give everything five stars. Like seriously? this story was beyond less than mediocre. Are they all just sucking up to authors or what on earth is going on?

[bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I love being a woman!!!! (Who reads small town cowboy romances with crawl to me moments)

[Kiara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A former NHL player turned part-time cowboy wrapped in the brother’s-best-friend trope? Of course this called to me.

Did it deliver? Mostly—though it definitely had a few “huh?” moments.

👢The Set Up

Fresh off a cheating fiancé and still grieving her dad, CeCe heads home to Laurel Creek — where she’s immediately greeted by her best friend’s grandma waving a very personal item in public, and reminded that everyone in this town is basically “connected through cans and string.”

CeCe wants a reset, a breath, a beginning… but once she’s home, old connections start to feel different. And the line she never expected to cross suddenly looks a lot blurrier.

🏒 Nash Carter

Nash is the heart of this story. He’s grief-carved, guilt-driven, and holding himself together with work: running the bar, coaching kids’ hockey, and helping on the ranch. He’s fire and gentleness in one package — throwing punches when someone disrespects CeCe, dirty-talking like it’s a second language, then braiding her hair with dental floss when she’s drunk.

Peak “touch her and you’ll regret it” energy, balanced with tenderness.

Despite the cowboy marketing, he reads more like a hockey player rebuilding his life. The cowboy element is present but secondary — I’m guessing the siblings’ books will lean more into the ranch setting.

👗 Cecilia Ashby

CeCe’s grief arc didn’t land as deeply as it could have; I found her most compelling in relation to others rather than in her own storyline.

Her chemistry with Nash, her bond with Mama Jo, and especially her friendships bring her to life. The “Not Angels” girl gang is a highlight — Ginger in particular steals every scene with her bold, meddling, loyal energy.

☀️ Thoughts

The romance is unapologetically spicy. Their first time together spans four chapters (23–26) and switches POVs. The chemistry is real and the filthy banter delivers, but sometimes the heat overwhelms the heart. I found myself wishing for more balance — fewer steamy scenes, more quiet emotional moments.

That’s why the fishing scene with Nash and Rocco worked so well: sweet, funny, grounded, and not reliant on steam. It gave me something to root for beyond physical attraction.

My main critique is the pacing near the end. Time starts to blur, with weeks and months passing unclearly, and the final stretch loses some of the momentum built earlier. What felt like a solid 4-star read drifted into repetition instead of development.

The writing is easy to fall into, but the audiobook elevates it. Thomas Oakley is Nash — his narration nails that tortured, protective charm.

🌾 Final Take

A fun, steamy small-town romance with a hero worth melting for. The imbalance between heat and heart keeps it from fully sticking the landing, but if you love found family, protective heroes, and spice with a capital S, you’ll enjoy the ride.

Tropes / What to Expect

👨‍👧‍👦 Brother’s best friend
🏒 Former NHL player
🤠 Part-time cowboy
🏞️ Small town
💼 Boss x employee
🙊 Secret hookups
⏳ Age gap (8 years)
🔥 Plenty of spice
💗Found family

Silver Pines Ranch Series
1. Holding the Reins — 3 ⭐️
2. Training the Heart — 3 ⭐️ ( My review )
3. Riding the High — TBR
4. Freeing the Wild — TBR
5. Chasing the Fire — TBR

[MikaylasBookNook · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Was it amazing? No. Was it cute at times? Definitely.

[McKenna · Rating 1 out of 5]

i was born with two eyes and i have unfortunately used them to read this

[micky :) · Rating 2 out of 5]

You guys it breaks my heart but I have to DNF😭💔 I literally said this is the best cowboy romance I’ve ever read in the beginning, and now I just can’t finish it it fell so hard. So rip.