Rough Holds

by Wren West

When hitting the reset button on your life feels more like hitting rewind, how do you move forward?

Stevie…..

Did I ever have an actual set in stone plan for my life? No. Did I ever picture being a single mom to the most awesome boy and moving back to Stone Valley with a guilty heart and an uncertain mind? Also, no.

Yet here I am, unpacking in my little rental house and making a plan for downright unfathomable confessions. But there’s no need to head straight for the deep end right away, right? Get settled, get my feet under me, and then tackle the hard stuff.

It’s a solid plan until I run smack dab into the last person I wanted to and he’s staring at my boy like he’s seen a ghost.

I get it, though, since I’m sure to him - that’s exactly what he is.

Brandt…..

Being over thirty and feeling like I’m right back at the starting line of my life is a trip and a half. I’m back home on the ranch I grew up on after thirteen years in the service and everyone around me seems to have life figured out. Then there’s me, trying to pretend like I know what I’m doing.

My best friend Riley and I enlisted straight out of high school but after seeing a folded up flag get handed to his mom, it was time to stop running from the hard stuff and come home for good. But what once felt like a loving and happy place now just feels like loss. I’m an outsider in my own world.

The only thing that’s felt familiar since being back are the unmistakable eyes of my best friend but they belong to the small child I just ran into at the grocery store. Two questions play on repeat in my head.

When did Stevie have a kid? Why is he identical to Riley?

371 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 28, 2025

Reviews

[Abrianna Ware · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book! This entire series has been amazing! Brandt & Stevie were so much fun to read I truly had no clue what was going to happen! I felt like they were perfect for each other! Rough Holds had me laughing, giggling, & kicking my feet! This spice to plot ratio was perfect in my opinion! I also loved the fact there was a huge plot twist that got resolved without feeling rushed! 5/5 ⭐️ Easily for me!

[Sophia Seyfert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! It’s not often where both the FMC and the MMC are wild with tempers., so I liked that change of pace! I really enjoyed how their story played out and with their existing friendship, it was very easy to see their relationship grow into more. I also liked the suspense at the end! I was not expecting the way things went down- and I love to be taken off guard.

Definitely recommend!

[Allison Hait · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dynamic duo is by far my favorite couple that I’ve read about in months. I will never look at a double stuffed Oreo the same ever again.
Also thanks Wren for the tears when Samuel asks Brandt to be his dad. I balled like a baby.
These two will go down as one of my favorites, they’ll be hard to top!

[Carsons.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhh Brandt & Stevie! I absolutely loved them! This was the perfect ending of the Oakley siblings stories! I was waiting on the plot twist and it did not disappoint. The found family vibes are perfection and give so much banter that I was giggling majority of the book! Definite 5/5 read for me!

[Tanya Line · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Stevie !! Love a no nonsense female ! Also love when you can picture the music playing against the scene happening! Such a good book

[Anna Garman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best of the 3 books - can’t wait for book 4 !!!!