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Second Chance Ranch #1
Want You Back
When Maverick Lovelorn left town, it almost broke me. I’m determined to not let his return do the same.
Then
In high school, Maverick and I were best friends. Inseparable. We shared everything from video games to camping adventures to a first kiss that shattered everything I knew about myself. Our first love was sweet and true and not nearly enough to keep Maverick on the ranch he hated.
Now
Twenty years later, Maverick’s back in town to sell the ranch he’s inherited. As the sheriff, I know losing the ranch will devastate the county. The area needs Maverick to stay. As a single dad with far more than my own heart on the line, I need him gone. Rekindling our friendship would be a Grand Canyon-sized mistake. But then we kiss, and every old feeling comes rushing back.
Now What?
My heart wants Maverick, but my brain knows he’ll leave again. How can I ask him to stay somewhere with so many painful memories? He might be healing day by day, but I struggle to trust in second chances. Is there a way for us to ride off into the sunset together?
Want You Back is book one in a new small-town Colorado cowboy romance series from beloved author Annabeth Albert with Yellowstone meets Schitt’s Creek vibes. It features the return of a ranch owner’s son and the sheriff who never forgot him. Mature main characters, high school friends with feelings to adult lovers, steamy reunion romance, hurt/comfort, found family, and big feels with a standalone HEA guaranteed!
Then
In high school, Maverick and I were best friends. Inseparable. We shared everything from video games to camping adventures to a first kiss that shattered everything I knew about myself. Our first love was sweet and true and not nearly enough to keep Maverick on the ranch he hated.
Now
Twenty years later, Maverick’s back in town to sell the ranch he’s inherited. As the sheriff, I know losing the ranch will devastate the county. The area needs Maverick to stay. As a single dad with far more than my own heart on the line, I need him gone. Rekindling our friendship would be a Grand Canyon-sized mistake. But then we kiss, and every old feeling comes rushing back.
Now What?
My heart wants Maverick, but my brain knows he’ll leave again. How can I ask him to stay somewhere with so many painful memories? He might be healing day by day, but I struggle to trust in second chances. Is there a way for us to ride off into the sunset together?
Want You Back is book one in a new small-town Colorado cowboy romance series from beloved author Annabeth Albert with Yellowstone meets Schitt’s Creek vibes. It features the return of a ranch owner’s son and the sheriff who never forgot him. Mature main characters, high school friends with feelings to adult lovers, steamy reunion romance, hurt/comfort, found family, and big feels with a standalone HEA guaranteed!
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2025
368 people are currently reading
453 people want to read
About the author
Annabeth Albert
110 books3,754 followersFrequent tweeter, professional grammar nerd, and obsessive reader, Annabeth Albert is also a Pacific Northwest romance writer in a variety of subgenres.
Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.
Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
May 19, 2025
~3.5~
Good news first:
~ Maverick and Colt are solid characters who showed a range of emotions.
~ I love second chance stories.
~ I'm a sucker for horses and cowboys.
~ Plenty of hot lovin'.
~ The author did not shove future MCs in our face; there were hints here and there, but Albert showed remarkable restraint considering this is the first book in a series.
~ Make-your-heart-melt epilogue.
On to the not so good:
~ The 13-year-old girls (Willow, Colt's daughter, and Hannah, Maverick's niece) felt generic. They are both even-keeled, helpful, serious, and get on famously from the second they meet. Which, okay, I'm sure 13-year-old girls like that exist. I haven't met one yet but whatever. Even so, there was just no drama or angst at all. It was perfect to the point it didn't feel real.
~ Raise your hand if you saw the side plot with Maverick's sister coming from page one. Yeah, me too. Speaking of which,
~ The first part (Now and Then) was boring, especially the "then" parts. I dislike flashbacks as a general rule, and the ones here didn't add much to the story.
~ Mav and Colt's reunion was a bit too easy. I was glad they weren't holding grudges over something Mav did as a rebellious teen but still expected more tension.
I have high hopes for the second book though. Tight-jeans-wearing, cookie-baking twink from L.A. and grumpy, not-at-all-gay, silver-fox foreman? Yes please.
Good news first:
~ Maverick and Colt are solid characters who showed a range of emotions.
~ I love second chance stories.
~ I'm a sucker for horses and cowboys.
~ Plenty of hot lovin'.
~ The author did not shove future MCs in our face; there were hints here and there, but Albert showed remarkable restraint considering this is the first book in a series.
~ Make-your-heart-melt epilogue.
On to the not so good:
~ The 13-year-old girls (Willow, Colt's daughter, and Hannah, Maverick's niece) felt generic. They are both even-keeled, helpful, serious, and get on famously from the second they meet. Which, okay, I'm sure 13-year-old girls like that exist. I haven't met one yet but whatever. Even so, there was just no drama or angst at all. It was perfect to the point it didn't feel real.
~ Raise your hand if you saw the side plot with Maverick's sister coming from page one. Yeah, me too. Speaking of which,
~ The first part (Now and Then) was boring, especially the "then" parts. I dislike flashbacks as a general rule, and the ones here didn't add much to the story.
~ Mav and Colt's reunion was a bit too easy. I was glad they weren't holding grudges over something Mav did as a rebellious teen but still expected more tension.
I have high hopes for the second book though. Tight-jeans-wearing, cookie-baking twink from L.A. and grumpy, not-at-all-gay, silver-fox foreman? Yes please.
May 13, 2025
I liked an awful lot about this book, the majority of it in fact was a wonderful second chance romance with people learning how to move on from past hurts.
The only thing that stopped me giving it 5* was that I felt like I'd read a lot of similar elements which this narrative incorporated in Annabeth's previous books.
Plus I've never seen Yellowstone or Schitt's Creek, so comparisons to both those TV series' meant nothing to me and didn't really add any clues to look out for while reading - if that makes sense?
The bones of this story though is a beautiful relationship which the reader gets to see in flashbacks to the past when Maverick and Colt were teenagers, through to the present time nearly 20 years later, when both have been through an awful lot in the interim.
What is done superbly well though, as is pretty much always the case with Annabeth's characters, is the conversation! These men have a lot of water under the bridge, a lot of hurt to deal with, both between them but also from events and circumstances in the past.
But they don't sulk, they don't hide behind snippy attacks or misunderstood words, they talk, they explore their fears, they talk about their hopes, the disappointments of the past, the realities of the present.
Along the way, they both learn to open up and risk being hurt again, to be vulnerable, to adjust to new possibilities and it's this which makes the first of the Second Chance Ranch books a success.
There are also plenty of interesting characters surrounding both men and the secondary storyline about Maverick's sister Faith is also handled with care, and I also loved both teenage girls who play important roles without ever taking over the story.
The bonus scene (available to newsletter subscribers) is a lovely way to add a little extra without being necessary and I am very much looking forward to the second book in the series too, which will be about Maverick's foreman Grayson and his best friend from California, Adler.
#ARC kindly received from the author, I am voluntarily leaving a review.
The only thing that stopped me giving it 5* was that I felt like I'd read a lot of similar elements which this narrative incorporated in Annabeth's previous books.
Plus I've never seen Yellowstone or Schitt's Creek, so comparisons to both those TV series' meant nothing to me and didn't really add any clues to look out for while reading - if that makes sense?
The bones of this story though is a beautiful relationship which the reader gets to see in flashbacks to the past when Maverick and Colt were teenagers, through to the present time nearly 20 years later, when both have been through an awful lot in the interim.
What is done superbly well though, as is pretty much always the case with Annabeth's characters, is the conversation! These men have a lot of water under the bridge, a lot of hurt to deal with, both between them but also from events and circumstances in the past.
But they don't sulk, they don't hide behind snippy attacks or misunderstood words, they talk, they explore their fears, they talk about their hopes, the disappointments of the past, the realities of the present.
Along the way, they both learn to open up and risk being hurt again, to be vulnerable, to adjust to new possibilities and it's this which makes the first of the Second Chance Ranch books a success.
There are also plenty of interesting characters surrounding both men and the secondary storyline about Maverick's sister Faith is also handled with care, and I also loved both teenage girls who play important roles without ever taking over the story.
The bonus scene (available to newsletter subscribers) is a lovely way to add a little extra without being necessary and I am very much looking forward to the second book in the series too, which will be about Maverick's foreman Grayson and his best friend from California, Adler.
#ARC kindly received from the author, I am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 20, 2025
3.5 stars rounded down because there wasn’t much original about it.
I loved the time of them being teenagers which is very rare for me when books have flashbacks. I enjoyed a good protection of the story but I never really felt that Colt opened up to Maverick. He seemed to just be there, not believing in their relationship while Maverick was all in. The sex scenes were so boring too!!!! Yawn!
This was very predictable too and nothing original happened. I don’t always gel with this author but I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I loved the time of them being teenagers which is very rare for me when books have flashbacks. I enjoyed a good protection of the story but I never really felt that Colt opened up to Maverick. He seemed to just be there, not believing in their relationship while Maverick was all in. The sex scenes were so boring too!!!! Yawn!
This was very predictable too and nothing original happened. I don’t always gel with this author but I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
June 7, 2025
Perfectly fine read. Past relationship isn't my favorite trope, and while it was light on the angst, I thought the reunion was a little too easy. I liked it enough that I'll probably read the next book, but didn't wow me.
June 15, 2025
C+ / 3.5 stars
Annabeth Albert opens her new Second Chance Ranch series with a small-town, second-chance romance between two best friends who reunite after more than twenty years to find that the spark that ignited their youthful love affair has never faded. Want You Back has a lot going for it and I enjoyed reading it, but I’ve read this story many times before and can’t honestly say there’s anything about this one that makes it stand out from the pack.
Maverick Lovelorn and Colt Jennings are best friends despite their very different backgrounds. Maverick’s family founded the town that is named after them and runs the ranch that has been theirs for generations; Colt lives in a small house with his mother and siblings and money is tight, but where Cole is loved and cherished, Maverick’s father is cold and overbearing, seeing him merely as an extension of himself and constantly going on at him about his obligations and responsibilities to the ranch he will one day inherit. The boys bond over losses – Colt’s dad, the town sheriff, was killed in the line, and Maverick’s mother and elder brother died in a plane crash, which has turned his father even colder and harsher towards him. Maverick longs for the kind of warmth shown him by Colt’s family, but which he never receives at home.
His friendship with Colt is the one thing that makes life bearable, and late on Prom night, that friendship turns into something else. Maverick has known he’s gay for a while, but hasn’t told Colt for fear of losing his friendship, and Colt has been worrying about the fact that he doesn’t think about sex all the time like most other boys his age and wondering if there’s something wrong with him. When he and Maverick kiss for the first time, something drops into place, and Colt finally understands what all the fuss is about.
They both know it can’t last, though. Colt knows how miserable Maverick is in Lovelorn, and his friend has never made a secret of the fact that he’ll be out of there as soon as he can. His dad expects him to go to university in Colorado, but Maverick is off to ULCA, and although it will devastate Colt to let him go, he encourages it, knowing Maverick will never be happy if he stays.
More than two decades later, Colt, now the town sheriff himself, pulls over a driver doing way over the speed limit, and is shocked to see Maverick at the wheel. He knows that old man Lovelorn has recently passed away, but still didn’t expect that would prompt Maverick to return to the place he’d been so desperate to get away from. But here he is, looking as handsome as ever as he tells Colt he won’t be around for long and that he and his sister, Faith, have only come to the ranch to make arrangements to sell it.
Which, it turns out, they can’t do for a year, owing to a clause in their father’s will. Furious, Faith immediately sets out to find a lawyer who can find a way for them to sell quickly, whilst Maverick, who doesn’t really want to stick around either, decides that perhaps spending some time in Lovelorn might not be that bad after all. The attraction he and Colt felt for each other all those years ago is as strong as ever, so maybe they can take advantage of the situation and take some time to explore it properly.
Want You Back is a low-angst, feel-good romance featuring engaging characters who behave like the mature adults they are and know how to have difficult conversations. There are no ridiculous misunderstandings and they communicate openly about past disappointments and future hopes, discuss their expectations, own their fears and allow themselves to be vulnerable to one another. Both men have to decide whether the risk of being hurt again is worth a second chance at love, and while there’s a bit of uncertainty surrouding Colt’s belief that Maverick isn’t going to stick around for good, I liked watching him work through those worries and coming to believe Maverick means what he says.
On the downside, this is so much a low-stakes story as to be an almost no-stakes one. I liked that Colt and Maverick moved on with their lives after Maverick left and that they aren’t holding any grudges over the way things ended between them, and I liked watching them learning about each other’s lives as they are in the present. But while there’s a bit of external drama around something that happens to Faith later in the book, there’s no question mark over whether Maverick will stay or not, and thus no real tension in the story.
As always in Annabeth Albert’s books, the characters are well-drawn and relatable, and I appreciated the pertinent commentary about small-town economics, about what would happen to Lovelorn should the ranch be sold or closed. The two teenaged girls – Colt’s daughter, Willow, and Maverick’s niece, Hannah – are real teenagers with clearly defined personalities rather than plot-moppets, and they play an important part in the story but don’t overwhelm it. It can be hard to like Faith, who is often headstrong and selfish, but she has demons of her own to fight, and Grayson, the ranch’s quietly competent foreman, is on hand to steer Maverick in the right direction.
This has been a difficult book to rate, because I’m a big fan of Annabeth Albert’s and it always pains me to assign a low-ish grade to a book by an author I like, but Want You Back just didn’t hit the spot for me. It has a lot going for it – mature communication, warm, friendly vibes and engaging characters – but overall, it was just too bland for my taste. I freely admit this is probably a case of ‘it’s me, not the book’ though, and I’d imagine that anyone searching for a sexy, low-stress romance will enjoy it.
Annabeth Albert opens her new Second Chance Ranch series with a small-town, second-chance romance between two best friends who reunite after more than twenty years to find that the spark that ignited their youthful love affair has never faded. Want You Back has a lot going for it and I enjoyed reading it, but I’ve read this story many times before and can’t honestly say there’s anything about this one that makes it stand out from the pack.
Maverick Lovelorn and Colt Jennings are best friends despite their very different backgrounds. Maverick’s family founded the town that is named after them and runs the ranch that has been theirs for generations; Colt lives in a small house with his mother and siblings and money is tight, but where Cole is loved and cherished, Maverick’s father is cold and overbearing, seeing him merely as an extension of himself and constantly going on at him about his obligations and responsibilities to the ranch he will one day inherit. The boys bond over losses – Colt’s dad, the town sheriff, was killed in the line, and Maverick’s mother and elder brother died in a plane crash, which has turned his father even colder and harsher towards him. Maverick longs for the kind of warmth shown him by Colt’s family, but which he never receives at home.
His friendship with Colt is the one thing that makes life bearable, and late on Prom night, that friendship turns into something else. Maverick has known he’s gay for a while, but hasn’t told Colt for fear of losing his friendship, and Colt has been worrying about the fact that he doesn’t think about sex all the time like most other boys his age and wondering if there’s something wrong with him. When he and Maverick kiss for the first time, something drops into place, and Colt finally understands what all the fuss is about.
They both know it can’t last, though. Colt knows how miserable Maverick is in Lovelorn, and his friend has never made a secret of the fact that he’ll be out of there as soon as he can. His dad expects him to go to university in Colorado, but Maverick is off to ULCA, and although it will devastate Colt to let him go, he encourages it, knowing Maverick will never be happy if he stays.
More than two decades later, Colt, now the town sheriff himself, pulls over a driver doing way over the speed limit, and is shocked to see Maverick at the wheel. He knows that old man Lovelorn has recently passed away, but still didn’t expect that would prompt Maverick to return to the place he’d been so desperate to get away from. But here he is, looking as handsome as ever as he tells Colt he won’t be around for long and that he and his sister, Faith, have only come to the ranch to make arrangements to sell it.
Which, it turns out, they can’t do for a year, owing to a clause in their father’s will. Furious, Faith immediately sets out to find a lawyer who can find a way for them to sell quickly, whilst Maverick, who doesn’t really want to stick around either, decides that perhaps spending some time in Lovelorn might not be that bad after all. The attraction he and Colt felt for each other all those years ago is as strong as ever, so maybe they can take advantage of the situation and take some time to explore it properly.
Want You Back is a low-angst, feel-good romance featuring engaging characters who behave like the mature adults they are and know how to have difficult conversations. There are no ridiculous misunderstandings and they communicate openly about past disappointments and future hopes, discuss their expectations, own their fears and allow themselves to be vulnerable to one another. Both men have to decide whether the risk of being hurt again is worth a second chance at love, and while there’s a bit of uncertainty surrouding Colt’s belief that Maverick isn’t going to stick around for good, I liked watching him work through those worries and coming to believe Maverick means what he says.
On the downside, this is so much a low-stakes story as to be an almost no-stakes one. I liked that Colt and Maverick moved on with their lives after Maverick left and that they aren’t holding any grudges over the way things ended between them, and I liked watching them learning about each other’s lives as they are in the present. But while there’s a bit of external drama around something that happens to Faith later in the book, there’s no question mark over whether Maverick will stay or not, and thus no real tension in the story.
As always in Annabeth Albert’s books, the characters are well-drawn and relatable, and I appreciated the pertinent commentary about small-town economics, about what would happen to Lovelorn should the ranch be sold or closed. The two teenaged girls – Colt’s daughter, Willow, and Maverick’s niece, Hannah – are real teenagers with clearly defined personalities rather than plot-moppets, and they play an important part in the story but don’t overwhelm it. It can be hard to like Faith, who is often headstrong and selfish, but she has demons of her own to fight, and Grayson, the ranch’s quietly competent foreman, is on hand to steer Maverick in the right direction.
This has been a difficult book to rate, because I’m a big fan of Annabeth Albert’s and it always pains me to assign a low-ish grade to a book by an author I like, but Want You Back just didn’t hit the spot for me. It has a lot going for it – mature communication, warm, friendly vibes and engaging characters – but overall, it was just too bland for my taste. I freely admit this is probably a case of ‘it’s me, not the book’ though, and I’d imagine that anyone searching for a sexy, low-stress romance will enjoy it.
May 12, 2025
Ibwas feeling a bit bittersweet when Annabeth finished the mount hope series. I was sad it was over but excited at the possibility of getting a new series with more stories and people to love. And this one, it started on a good foot and is full of possibility for the future.
On one hand we have Colt, who tends to put others in front of himself and he lost his high school sweetheart in doing so. Then we have Maverick, who had to put himself first to save himself from under his father's thumb and now needs to put others first to find his happiness and home. It's a very sweet story and I'm really excited by the characters we'll see in the next book.
On one hand we have Colt, who tends to put others in front of himself and he lost his high school sweetheart in doing so. Then we have Maverick, who had to put himself first to save himself from under his father's thumb and now needs to put others first to find his happiness and home. It's a very sweet story and I'm really excited by the characters we'll see in the next book.
September 30, 2025
It's been a while since I really enjoyed one of Albert's books, but this was really nice! I enjoyed the second chance trope between these long lost high school friends who ended up spending nearly twenty years apart. Both MCs are relatable and fully fleshed out characters, as were many of the supporting cast. I really liked the flashbacks to how Maverick and Colt ended up being separated. Probably my favorite parts of the book. Low angst, but still emotion filled.
May 9, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Ooof. WANT YOU BACK had me all up in my feels last night. Between the story and the storm, my emotions and anxiety were all over the place. I woke up this morning emotionally hungover. So yeah, I loved WANT YOU BACK. Love the tears if I get an HEA in the end, and we did!!
Two unlikely best friends find their second chance when Maverick returns home to his family ranch and reconnects with the town sheriff, Colt.
This story packs a punch with family trauma, loss, addiction, grief, and leaving your first love behind only to come back 20 years later and find them again.
There were many times during this story when I became a crying mess. Mav & Colt seemed to always find their way through all of it, though. Maybe it's a family trauma thing, but both of these main characters were drowning in family expectations. Mav, to be a carbon copy of his dad and take over the ranch. Colt, to "be the man of the house" and prioritize his mom and siblings over everyone else. A person can't live that way for long. You have to have boundaries.
It's hard knowing the right thing to do. Both mcs struggled with this throughout the story.
These characters weren't perfect by any means. But they had the biggest hearts, and I loved seeing them get their HEA.
WANT YOU BACK is out May 15th. If you're looking for mature-ish mcs and a ranch style setting packed full of family drama, look no further!
Ooof. WANT YOU BACK had me all up in my feels last night. Between the story and the storm, my emotions and anxiety were all over the place. I woke up this morning emotionally hungover. So yeah, I loved WANT YOU BACK. Love the tears if I get an HEA in the end, and we did!!
Two unlikely best friends find their second chance when Maverick returns home to his family ranch and reconnects with the town sheriff, Colt.
This story packs a punch with family trauma, loss, addiction, grief, and leaving your first love behind only to come back 20 years later and find them again.
There were many times during this story when I became a crying mess. Mav & Colt seemed to always find their way through all of it, though. Maybe it's a family trauma thing, but both of these main characters were drowning in family expectations. Mav, to be a carbon copy of his dad and take over the ranch. Colt, to "be the man of the house" and prioritize his mom and siblings over everyone else. A person can't live that way for long. You have to have boundaries.
It's hard knowing the right thing to do. Both mcs struggled with this throughout the story.
These characters weren't perfect by any means. But they had the biggest hearts, and I loved seeing them get their HEA.
WANT YOU BACK is out May 15th. If you're looking for mature-ish mcs and a ranch style setting packed full of family drama, look no further!
May 30, 2025
Maverick and Colt were super cute, I’m a sucker for childhood friends, but this one had the added flavour of a second chance with Maverick leaving Lovelorn for 20 years before returning.
Very low angst, with a great set of side characters, including Colts daughter Willow, and Mavericks niece Hannah made this one a very easy, sweet read.
Very low angst, with a great set of side characters, including Colts daughter Willow, and Mavericks niece Hannah made this one a very easy, sweet read.
July 10, 2025
Maverick is back in the small Colorado town because his Dad died. Colt is the Sheriff who pulls him over for speeding.
As we learn, these two were an item 20 years ago, and as they are thrown together, they get close again.
We see the family, the issues come into play, and the young girls play a big part of this tale. Maverick's sister is drinking too much, so he takes care of his niece, and Colt has a daughter from a marriage, but raises her alone now.
The girls hit it off, and Maverick and Colt get back to the deep feelings they had years ago.
We watch all of the events, humor and romance.
The epilogue is sweet !
ENJOY !
=======
As we learn, these two were an item 20 years ago, and as they are thrown together, they get close again.
We see the family, the issues come into play, and the young girls play a big part of this tale. Maverick's sister is drinking too much, so he takes care of his niece, and Colt has a daughter from a marriage, but raises her alone now.
The girls hit it off, and Maverick and Colt get back to the deep feelings they had years ago.
We watch all of the events, humor and romance.
The epilogue is sweet !
ENJOY !
=======
August 20, 2025
Sweet, sappy, romantic, spicy
Everything I needed atm
Everything I needed atm
May 20, 2025
3.5
Nice story about coming home and second chances. It was cool watching these two find their way back to each other. Watching them build love and family. I love how well they work together. The best part was the Demisexual rep. I love how C talked about feeling like an outsider when all his friends were into girls and how he simply wasn’t. For any gender. That he only got that way for his two friends. I totally understand that. I was and still am baffled when folks talk sexual attraction. So thanks for the rep.
I did give a lower rating because something felt off. I guess I wanted C to fight more for the relationship. He was Luke warm it felt like at times. I get he was hurt but M was too yet he was doing most of the fighting.
Also in the day of 2025 there is absolutely no excuse for a not more diverse group. To write books about inclusion but not be inclusive is baffling to me. Do better.
For future me:
Dual pov
Demi rep-no spice until some kind of relationship is established (which this Demi girl needs. Characters don’t need to be Demi I’m just not good with hook up first books)
Needs diversity
No cheating/sharing
While there is grieving of past partner that isn’t the focus of the book.
No om/ow drama
Nice story about coming home and second chances. It was cool watching these two find their way back to each other. Watching them build love and family. I love how well they work together. The best part was the Demisexual rep. I love how C talked about feeling like an outsider when all his friends were into girls and how he simply wasn’t. For any gender. That he only got that way for his two friends. I totally understand that. I was and still am baffled when folks talk sexual attraction. So thanks for the rep.
I did give a lower rating because something felt off. I guess I wanted C to fight more for the relationship. He was Luke warm it felt like at times. I get he was hurt but M was too yet he was doing most of the fighting.
Also in the day of 2025 there is absolutely no excuse for a not more diverse group. To write books about inclusion but not be inclusive is baffling to me. Do better.
For future me:
Dual pov
Demi rep-no spice until some kind of relationship is established (which this Demi girl needs. Characters don’t need to be Demi I’m just not good with hook up first books)
Needs diversity
No cheating/sharing
While there is grieving of past partner that isn’t the focus of the book.
No om/ow drama
June 9, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
This is a sweet, second-chance romance for Maverick and Colt, who’ve met each other, again, at the moment they could actually connect. Colt’s a bit nervous to come out–he didn’t in high school and he’s demisexual, so he hasn’t sought another partner since becoming a widower. He’s kind of nervous how his constituents will take a sheriff with a same-sex partner, but he’s more nervous about his family, and if they might be upset. That said, the Jennings clan has loved Maverick from his childhood and are not sad to gain him as an official family member. It takes a bit of time for these guys to get past their issues of abandonment for Colt, and reluctance to set down roots for Maverick, but they do reconnect in all the old–and some new ways. It’s sweet, rolling back in time through some heavy flashback moments, and watching them move into their present-day conundrums, which mostly boil down to: will Maverick stay?
Read Veronica's review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
This is a sweet, second-chance romance for Maverick and Colt, who’ve met each other, again, at the moment they could actually connect. Colt’s a bit nervous to come out–he didn’t in high school and he’s demisexual, so he hasn’t sought another partner since becoming a widower. He’s kind of nervous how his constituents will take a sheriff with a same-sex partner, but he’s more nervous about his family, and if they might be upset. That said, the Jennings clan has loved Maverick from his childhood and are not sad to gain him as an official family member. It takes a bit of time for these guys to get past their issues of abandonment for Colt, and reluctance to set down roots for Maverick, but they do reconnect in all the old–and some new ways. It’s sweet, rolling back in time through some heavy flashback moments, and watching them move into their present-day conundrums, which mostly boil down to: will Maverick stay?
Read Veronica's review in its entirety here.
May 9, 2025
3.5 rounded to 4
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Want You Back is the first book in a new small town series by Annabeth Albert. A second chance between childhood best friends and first loves. Maverick and Colt are grown men now whose lives have changed so much but the one thing that hasn't changed is their connection and the love they carry for each other. A romance set on a ranch with two charming tween girls, horse riding, a just one tent situation, steam, demi rep, over coming family trauma, and a happy ending. I'm excited for more books set at the Second Chance Ranch.
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Want You Back is the first book in a new small town series by Annabeth Albert. A second chance between childhood best friends and first loves. Maverick and Colt are grown men now whose lives have changed so much but the one thing that hasn't changed is their connection and the love they carry for each other. A romance set on a ranch with two charming tween girls, horse riding, a just one tent situation, steam, demi rep, over coming family trauma, and a happy ending. I'm excited for more books set at the Second Chance Ranch.
May 30, 2025
3.5 stars for an okay book. This has a very familiar storyline as a second chances book. It dragged for me in places when I was waiting for something exciting to happen which it didn’t. I love second chances story but this one didn’t do it for me. I didnt feel chemistry between them.
Read
May 19, 2025DNF at about 33%. The characters' actions didn't line up with their internal monologues and I found it unpleasantly disorienting. Inconsistent characterization.
June 6, 2025
Nett, aber nichts, was für mich super herausstechen würde. Solide Geschichte mit vielen Then Kapiteln. Irgendwie les ich gerade viele Geschichte mit Rückblicken.
dnf
August 26, 2025DNF @ 4%
My bad for not reading the synopsis
My bad for not reading the synopsis
November 5, 2025
Rating: 4/5 🌟
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Characters: Colt and Maverick
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Characters: Colt and Maverick
September 1, 2025
4.5 stars.
Quite a poignant read about young love, loss, and longing. The story weaves together the past and present, as Mav and Colt, former friends, reconnect after two decades apart. There's a nostalgic feel and a wistfulness as they rekindle their connection, and the unresolved feelings between them simmer just below the surface. Both are overwhelmed by what could have been and what might still be.
Colt, who was left behind by Mav when they were teenagers, is shy of hooking up again, remembering the pain he experienced the first time round. However, he finds himself getting involved once again through his daughter and her friendship with Mav's niece.
Both guys are vulnerable, especially Colt, but events in the book not only bring them closer, but give Colt the impetus to put himself first for once, and not the family who have become totally dependent on him.
It's ultimately a heart-wrenching read but hopeful tale of second chances and the enduring power of love. The ending was lovely and nicely set up the second book in the series.
Michael Dean is such a talented narrator. He beautifully brings Calf and Mac to life. There's so many emotions in this story, and Michael navigates them all successfully.You could feel the love between the two guys.
Quite a poignant read about young love, loss, and longing. The story weaves together the past and present, as Mav and Colt, former friends, reconnect after two decades apart. There's a nostalgic feel and a wistfulness as they rekindle their connection, and the unresolved feelings between them simmer just below the surface. Both are overwhelmed by what could have been and what might still be.
Colt, who was left behind by Mav when they were teenagers, is shy of hooking up again, remembering the pain he experienced the first time round. However, he finds himself getting involved once again through his daughter and her friendship with Mav's niece.
Both guys are vulnerable, especially Colt, but events in the book not only bring them closer, but give Colt the impetus to put himself first for once, and not the family who have become totally dependent on him.
It's ultimately a heart-wrenching read but hopeful tale of second chances and the enduring power of love. The ending was lovely and nicely set up the second book in the series.
Michael Dean is such a talented narrator. He beautifully brings Calf and Mac to life. There's so many emotions in this story, and Michael navigates them all successfully.You could feel the love between the two guys.
November 9, 2025
"When Maverick Lovelorn left town, it almost broke me. I’m determined to not let his return do the same".
This is a "small-town, second-chance romance" between two best friends who reunite after more than twenty years, only to find that the spark that ignited the love affair of their youth, has never faded. Want You Back has a lot going for it and I love Annabeth Albert's work and I did so enjoy reading it,
Maverick Lovelorn, (love that name), and Colt Jennings are best friends despite them having very different backgrounds. Maverick’s family had founded the town that is named after them, and they run the ranch that has been theirs for generations. Colt lives with his mother and siblings, where money is tight, but where Colt is loved and cherished. Maverick’s father is unimaginably cold and overbearing. You will absolutely hate him. He only sees Maverick as an "extension of himself" and is constantly going on at him about all his obligations and responsibilities to the ranch he will one day inherit. Maverick and Colt form an early bond built on their losses...Colt’s dad, who was the town sheriff who was killed in the line of duty, and Maverick’s mother and older brother who died in a plane crash, making his father even colder and harsher than before. Maverick longs for the kind of warmth that is shown him by Colt’s family but that he never gets at home.
His friendship with Colt is the one thing that makes his life bearable, and late on Prom night, that friendship turns into something much, much more. Maverick has known he’s gay for quite some time but didn't tell Colt for fear of losing his friendship. Colt has been worrying about the fact that he doesn’t think about sex all the time like most of the other boys and wonders if there was something wrong with him. Then he and Maverick kiss for the first time, and everything falls into place. Colt finally understands what it's all about. However, they both are almost sure that it can’t last. Colt knows how miserable Maverick is in this town. His friend has never made it a secret that he’ll be gone as soon as it's possible. His father expects him to go to the university in Colorado, but instead he's off to California, to ULCA. Being the friend that he is. Colt encourages him, knowing Maverick will never be happy if he stays. Two decades go by before the friends and almost lovers are reunited.
This is a low-angst, feel-good romance with totally engaging characters. There are no misunderstandings, and the two men communicate openly about past disappointments and future hopes. They discuss their expectations, their fears, and allow themselves to be vulnerable. Both men have to decide if the risk of being hurt again is worth a second chance at love. While there’s a bit of uncertainty surrounding Colt’s belief that Maverick isn’t going to stay around for good, it was interesting watching him work through those worries. I liked that Colt and Maverick moved on with their lives after Maverick left and that they aren’t holding grudges over the way things ended between them. It was also good seeing them learn about each other’s lives in the present time. You never get the idea that Maverick won't stay so there is no real tension in the story.
As always in Annabeth Albert’s books, the characters are well-drawn and relatable. I’m a huge fan of this author, and this book has a lot going for it...mature communication, warm, friendly vibes, and engaging characters...so no one will be surprised that it gets 5-big, bright, beautiful stars. Anyone searching for a sexy, low-stress romance will enjoy it, just remember that it's a pair of hot, sexy men. I believe this is a three-book series. I know I have book #2.
This is a "small-town, second-chance romance" between two best friends who reunite after more than twenty years, only to find that the spark that ignited the love affair of their youth, has never faded. Want You Back has a lot going for it and I love Annabeth Albert's work and I did so enjoy reading it,
Maverick Lovelorn, (love that name), and Colt Jennings are best friends despite them having very different backgrounds. Maverick’s family had founded the town that is named after them, and they run the ranch that has been theirs for generations. Colt lives with his mother and siblings, where money is tight, but where Colt is loved and cherished. Maverick’s father is unimaginably cold and overbearing. You will absolutely hate him. He only sees Maverick as an "extension of himself" and is constantly going on at him about all his obligations and responsibilities to the ranch he will one day inherit. Maverick and Colt form an early bond built on their losses...Colt’s dad, who was the town sheriff who was killed in the line of duty, and Maverick’s mother and older brother who died in a plane crash, making his father even colder and harsher than before. Maverick longs for the kind of warmth that is shown him by Colt’s family but that he never gets at home.
His friendship with Colt is the one thing that makes his life bearable, and late on Prom night, that friendship turns into something much, much more. Maverick has known he’s gay for quite some time but didn't tell Colt for fear of losing his friendship. Colt has been worrying about the fact that he doesn’t think about sex all the time like most of the other boys and wonders if there was something wrong with him. Then he and Maverick kiss for the first time, and everything falls into place. Colt finally understands what it's all about. However, they both are almost sure that it can’t last. Colt knows how miserable Maverick is in this town. His friend has never made it a secret that he’ll be gone as soon as it's possible. His father expects him to go to the university in Colorado, but instead he's off to California, to ULCA. Being the friend that he is. Colt encourages him, knowing Maverick will never be happy if he stays. Two decades go by before the friends and almost lovers are reunited.
This is a low-angst, feel-good romance with totally engaging characters. There are no misunderstandings, and the two men communicate openly about past disappointments and future hopes. They discuss their expectations, their fears, and allow themselves to be vulnerable. Both men have to decide if the risk of being hurt again is worth a second chance at love. While there’s a bit of uncertainty surrounding Colt’s belief that Maverick isn’t going to stay around for good, it was interesting watching him work through those worries. I liked that Colt and Maverick moved on with their lives after Maverick left and that they aren’t holding grudges over the way things ended between them. It was also good seeing them learn about each other’s lives in the present time. You never get the idea that Maverick won't stay so there is no real tension in the story.
As always in Annabeth Albert’s books, the characters are well-drawn and relatable. I’m a huge fan of this author, and this book has a lot going for it...mature communication, warm, friendly vibes, and engaging characters...so no one will be surprised that it gets 5-big, bright, beautiful stars. Anyone searching for a sexy, low-stress romance will enjoy it, just remember that it's a pair of hot, sexy men. I believe this is a three-book series. I know I have book #2.
May 15, 2025
FR- Alors alors.... alors j'adooooooooooore les romans d'Annabeth Albert et j'ai bien entendu adoré ce roman en particulier.
J'ai passé un excellent moment de lecture avec Want You Back et on est vraiment pas passé loin du coup de coeur.
Annabeth Albert nous livre ici ce qu'elle fait de mieux.
Want You Back est une histoire de seconde chance. Une histoire d'amour qui traverse le temps et les contraintes familiales. La relation entre Maverick et Colt est d'une force et d'une douceur qui ne peuvent que nous toucher. J'ai adoré alterner entre le présent et le passé et découvrir ce qu'il s'était passé entre Maverick et Colt.
Bien que les sujets abordés soient difficiles, Annabeth Albert nous évite la surenchère de drames.
Avec Want You Back, l'auteure aborde des thèmes prenants comme le deuil, des parents abusifs, le sacrifice de soit. J'ai adoré que Maverick et Colt communiquent assez facilement et réalisent ensemble qu'il était temps d'avancer. J'ai beaucoup aimé l'ambiance qui se dégage de ce roman. Que ce soit dans l'univers lié à la vie dans un ranch ou dans les relations entre les différents personnages.
Hannah et Willow apportent aussi beaucoup à l'histoire, que ce soit dans leur relation d'amitié ou dans celles qu'elles entretiennent avec leurs parents.
La relation entre Maverick et Colt se reconstruit doucement mais surement, comme une évidence. J'ai aimé que, comme lorsqu'ils étaient adolescents, ils soient toujours présents l'un pour l'autre et se comprennent et communiquent facilement.
En résumé, un très très bon premier tome d'une série dont j'ai hâte de lire la suite.
ENG-So well well well...well when I loooooooooove Annabeth Albert's novels, and I obviously loved this one in particular.
I had a wonderful time reading Want You Back and it was almost a real favorite.
Annabeth Albert delivers what she does best here.
Want You Back is a story of second chances. A love story that transcends time and family constraints. The relationship between Maverick and Colt is strong and sweet, and it can't help but touch us. I loved switching back and forth between the present and the past and discovering what happened between Maverick and Colt.
Although the topics covered are difficult, Annabeth Albert avoids over-dramatization.
With Want You Back, the author tackles gripping themes like grief, abusive parents, and self-sacrifice. I loved that Maverick and Colt communicated easily and realized together that it was time to move on. I really liked the atmosphere that emanated from this novel, both in the world of ranch life and in the relationships between the various characters.
Hannah and Willow also bring a lot to the story, both in their friendship and in the relationships they have with their parents.
The relationship between Maverick and Colt is slowly but surely rebuilding, as if it were a given. I liked that, just like when they were teenagers, they were always there for each other and understood and communicated easily.
In short, a very, very good first volume in a series whose sequel I can't wait to read.
J'ai passé un excellent moment de lecture avec Want You Back et on est vraiment pas passé loin du coup de coeur.
Annabeth Albert nous livre ici ce qu'elle fait de mieux.
Want You Back est une histoire de seconde chance. Une histoire d'amour qui traverse le temps et les contraintes familiales. La relation entre Maverick et Colt est d'une force et d'une douceur qui ne peuvent que nous toucher. J'ai adoré alterner entre le présent et le passé et découvrir ce qu'il s'était passé entre Maverick et Colt.
Bien que les sujets abordés soient difficiles, Annabeth Albert nous évite la surenchère de drames.
Avec Want You Back, l'auteure aborde des thèmes prenants comme le deuil, des parents abusifs, le sacrifice de soit. J'ai adoré que Maverick et Colt communiquent assez facilement et réalisent ensemble qu'il était temps d'avancer. J'ai beaucoup aimé l'ambiance qui se dégage de ce roman. Que ce soit dans l'univers lié à la vie dans un ranch ou dans les relations entre les différents personnages.
Hannah et Willow apportent aussi beaucoup à l'histoire, que ce soit dans leur relation d'amitié ou dans celles qu'elles entretiennent avec leurs parents.
La relation entre Maverick et Colt se reconstruit doucement mais surement, comme une évidence. J'ai aimé que, comme lorsqu'ils étaient adolescents, ils soient toujours présents l'un pour l'autre et se comprennent et communiquent facilement.
En résumé, un très très bon premier tome d'une série dont j'ai hâte de lire la suite.
ENG-So well well well...well when I loooooooooove Annabeth Albert's novels, and I obviously loved this one in particular.
I had a wonderful time reading Want You Back and it was almost a real favorite.
Annabeth Albert delivers what she does best here.
Want You Back is a story of second chances. A love story that transcends time and family constraints. The relationship between Maverick and Colt is strong and sweet, and it can't help but touch us. I loved switching back and forth between the present and the past and discovering what happened between Maverick and Colt.
Although the topics covered are difficult, Annabeth Albert avoids over-dramatization.
With Want You Back, the author tackles gripping themes like grief, abusive parents, and self-sacrifice. I loved that Maverick and Colt communicated easily and realized together that it was time to move on. I really liked the atmosphere that emanated from this novel, both in the world of ranch life and in the relationships between the various characters.
Hannah and Willow also bring a lot to the story, both in their friendship and in the relationships they have with their parents.
The relationship between Maverick and Colt is slowly but surely rebuilding, as if it were a given. I liked that, just like when they were teenagers, they were always there for each other and understood and communicated easily.
In short, a very, very good first volume in a series whose sequel I can't wait to read.
May 10, 2025
When the Lovelorn town and ranch patriarch in a small Colorado town dies, his two children come home hoping to sell the ranch. But now they’ve found there are some complications.
Maverick Lovelorn couldn’t wait to get away after graduation, and he built his own life in California and never came back. There was no love lost between Maverick and his father, but leaving his best friend and first love, Colt, was the hardest part.
Colt Jennings has deep roots in the town. He’s a legacy sheriff, single dad, and widower, and he never got over Maverick leaving. And even though he’s glad to have Maverick back, he’s also scared to allow himself to get close to him again, knowing he will leave again. But the more time they spend together, the more their connection, their friendship, and chemistry rekindle. But Maverick has a life outside of the town of Lovelorn, and Colt is never leaving.
As they fall back into friendship and physical exploration, it gets harder for Colt to keep his guard up. But there’s always that fear about when Maverick will eventually leave. Maverick is also going through some changes and has some other worries besides himself.
This is a first love and best friends to lovers, second chance, hurt-comfort, small town, found family romance. Both characters had dealt with loss and pain. They also both have teen girls and families that need support.
Could there possibly be a way for them to have a future where one of them isn’t giving up something that they love?
I honestly really liked both of these guys. Colt is just the calm, steadfast, community-involved, good guy who takes care of everybody before himself. And Maverick is introduced both as a teen and adult as more angry, bitter, broken, and impulsive. It seems like life has always knocked him down, and the only real support and care had been from Colt. But it wasn’t enough at the time to keep him rooted in Lovelorn, and sent him running to California. But now he is starting to see different possibilities and priorities. He will have to figure out what his real dreams are, and if there’s a chance to make them happen and for him to finally be truly happy himself and be able to give Colt what he has always wanted. But they will also have to be willing to fight their demons and fears to have a chance of it happening.
I am looking forward to more in this series since the next book has already been teased and I like the idea of this couple.
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Maverick Lovelorn couldn’t wait to get away after graduation, and he built his own life in California and never came back. There was no love lost between Maverick and his father, but leaving his best friend and first love, Colt, was the hardest part.
Colt Jennings has deep roots in the town. He’s a legacy sheriff, single dad, and widower, and he never got over Maverick leaving. And even though he’s glad to have Maverick back, he’s also scared to allow himself to get close to him again, knowing he will leave again. But the more time they spend together, the more their connection, their friendship, and chemistry rekindle. But Maverick has a life outside of the town of Lovelorn, and Colt is never leaving.
As they fall back into friendship and physical exploration, it gets harder for Colt to keep his guard up. But there’s always that fear about when Maverick will eventually leave. Maverick is also going through some changes and has some other worries besides himself.
This is a first love and best friends to lovers, second chance, hurt-comfort, small town, found family romance. Both characters had dealt with loss and pain. They also both have teen girls and families that need support.
Could there possibly be a way for them to have a future where one of them isn’t giving up something that they love?
I honestly really liked both of these guys. Colt is just the calm, steadfast, community-involved, good guy who takes care of everybody before himself. And Maverick is introduced both as a teen and adult as more angry, bitter, broken, and impulsive. It seems like life has always knocked him down, and the only real support and care had been from Colt. But it wasn’t enough at the time to keep him rooted in Lovelorn, and sent him running to California. But now he is starting to see different possibilities and priorities. He will have to figure out what his real dreams are, and if there’s a chance to make them happen and for him to finally be truly happy himself and be able to give Colt what he has always wanted. But they will also have to be willing to fight their demons and fears to have a chance of it happening.
I am looking forward to more in this series since the next book has already been teased and I like the idea of this couple.
July 13, 2025
Twenty years ago, in small-town Colorado, Colt and Maverick became friends. They were inseparable through high school. But then one night, Maverick challenges Colt to kiss him... and the two of them spend the rest of senior year making out. But their real world problems come between them. Maverick's mother and older brother passed suddenly some years before, and his father turned mean and bitter, riding Maverick and his older sister Faith hard, trying to force their family ranch into them, somehow. Colt, on the other hand, had become the de facto man of the family after his deputy father was killed in the line of duty. His large family includes his mother and her sisters, as well as several younger brothers and sister of his own. Then on graduation night, things come to a head. Maverick has an awful argument with his father and tells him he's leaving for school in California. His father responds with "get gone." That night, Colt tells Maverick he's has no interest in going with him, he plans to say close with his family in town.
Twenty years later, Colt stops a car speeding through town, and to his surprise, it's Maverick. The two haven't seen each other since graduation night and both have lived lives. Not only is he the town Sherriff, Colt married a girl from their high school class, they had a now 12 year old daughter Willow, recent lost his wife (never explicitly stated how), but he continues to be the go-to man for all his family's problems. Maverick supported himself through college, and wound up with a successful career in hospitality management and design, updating hotels and homes with a couple reality series. He also married a fellow designer, and their troubled marriage bled through into the series as they fought and divorced- not amicably. Now between shows, he's home with his sister Faith in order to sell the ranch after their estranged father passed. Faith brings along her own 12 year old daughter Hannah, and all hell breaks loose when Maverick and Faith discover their father set up his estate so they can't sell the ranch for year.
As the summer passes, Hannah and Willow become best friends, Colt and Maverick slowly circle around each other again, and Faith begins drinking heavily as she seaches for a way to break the will.
What didn't work in this: Faith, Hannah and Willow weren't developed as characters at all. Neither of the girls were distinctive. The flash back chapters were unnecessary. We get Cole and Maverick's backstory well enough otherwise. I never really bought either of the main characters as a couple either. One minute they're being wary of each other, the next they're fucking like rabbits. There was a lot of internal monologuing but not enough character growth.
I found this fairly middling, not great. Quick read, if you don't get bogged down in the details.
2.5 stars.
Twenty years later, Colt stops a car speeding through town, and to his surprise, it's Maverick. The two haven't seen each other since graduation night and both have lived lives. Not only is he the town Sherriff, Colt married a girl from their high school class, they had a now 12 year old daughter Willow, recent lost his wife (never explicitly stated how), but he continues to be the go-to man for all his family's problems. Maverick supported himself through college, and wound up with a successful career in hospitality management and design, updating hotels and homes with a couple reality series. He also married a fellow designer, and their troubled marriage bled through into the series as they fought and divorced- not amicably. Now between shows, he's home with his sister Faith in order to sell the ranch after their estranged father passed. Faith brings along her own 12 year old daughter Hannah, and all hell breaks loose when Maverick and Faith discover their father set up his estate so they can't sell the ranch for year.
As the summer passes, Hannah and Willow become best friends, Colt and Maverick slowly circle around each other again, and Faith begins drinking heavily as she seaches for a way to break the will.
What didn't work in this: Faith, Hannah and Willow weren't developed as characters at all. Neither of the girls were distinctive. The flash back chapters were unnecessary. We get Cole and Maverick's backstory well enough otherwise. I never really bought either of the main characters as a couple either. One minute they're being wary of each other, the next they're fucking like rabbits. There was a lot of internal monologuing but not enough character growth.
I found this fairly middling, not great. Quick read, if you don't get bogged down in the details.
2.5 stars.
May 29, 2025
Solid 2.5 stars rounded up.
There wasn't anything particularly bad or amazing about the book. I liked the emotion between Maverick and his dad in the flashback chapters, but I wish that same intensity of emotion carried through the romance. Maverick and Colt didn't really pine much for each other before getting back together nor did they really play the "Maverick's leaving at the end of the year" conflict enough, which made the stakes feel pretty low. There was no animosity or passion in their actions since they were very level headed and talked through the issues/didn't even really have any. You'd think that Colt would be more mad at Maverick coming back just to leave or Maverick would be more conflicted about leaving again since his dad wasn't around anymore, but neither was the case.
Colt's daughter, Willow, and Maverick's niece, Hannah, were nearly interchangeable imo and Maverick's sister, Faith, was decent as a plot point, but I wish the third act climax revolved around both Maverick and Colt as opposed to Maverick and Faith. There was even a setup for Colt pushing Maverick away that was interrupted by Faith's accident.
Also, both MCs family conflicts felt underdeveloped. Maverick started off strong with his antagonistic relationship with his dad, but the weird sadness he randomly shows when he thinks about his mom and dead brother felt very disconnected. I'd have liked to have seen more mention of their impact in his life (like flashbacks to when they were alive) because as it is, we only see him sad for their deaths decades ago, but we don't know what they mean to him because it's never defined outside of the fact that they were family. Similarly, Colt feeling responsible for making sure his family was well cared for (at his expense) never came up aside from his mom asking him to fix things around her house. Him saying no to her at the end there and establishing boundaries was fine, but since the problem was never really became an issue. There wasn't a time when the need to help his fault came into conflict with a personal desire really. I wish there was something like a big event in Maverick's life that he wanted to be part of but it was the same day Colt promised to do something for his family to really show that battle between his sense of responsibility towards his family versus his personal wants and desires.
That's kind of the story of this book really. Interesting concepts that had potential, but a lack of emotion or conflict holds it back from being anything other than ok.
There wasn't anything particularly bad or amazing about the book. I liked the emotion between Maverick and his dad in the flashback chapters, but I wish that same intensity of emotion carried through the romance. Maverick and Colt didn't really pine much for each other before getting back together nor did they really play the "Maverick's leaving at the end of the year" conflict enough, which made the stakes feel pretty low. There was no animosity or passion in their actions since they were very level headed and talked through the issues/didn't even really have any. You'd think that Colt would be more mad at Maverick coming back just to leave or Maverick would be more conflicted about leaving again since his dad wasn't around anymore, but neither was the case.
Colt's daughter, Willow, and Maverick's niece, Hannah, were nearly interchangeable imo and Maverick's sister, Faith, was decent as a plot point, but I wish the third act climax revolved around both Maverick and Colt as opposed to Maverick and Faith. There was even a setup for Colt pushing Maverick away that was interrupted by Faith's accident.
Also, both MCs family conflicts felt underdeveloped. Maverick started off strong with his antagonistic relationship with his dad, but the weird sadness he randomly shows when he thinks about his mom and dead brother felt very disconnected. I'd have liked to have seen more mention of their impact in his life (like flashbacks to when they were alive) because as it is, we only see him sad for their deaths decades ago, but we don't know what they mean to him because it's never defined outside of the fact that they were family. Similarly, Colt feeling responsible for making sure his family was well cared for (at his expense) never came up aside from his mom asking him to fix things around her house. Him saying no to her at the end there and establishing boundaries was fine, but since the problem was never really became an issue. There wasn't a time when the need to help his fault came into conflict with a personal desire really. I wish there was something like a big event in Maverick's life that he wanted to be part of but it was the same day Colt promised to do something for his family to really show that battle between his sense of responsibility towards his family versus his personal wants and desires.
That's kind of the story of this book really. Interesting concepts that had potential, but a lack of emotion or conflict holds it back from being anything other than ok.
June 7, 2025
This was an interesting twist on a second-chance romance. Maverick and Colt were each other’s first real loves, but they never admitted that. They fooled around on the down low while in high school, but were also best friends, so nobody questioned the amount of time they spent together. This author always does a great job of including nuance to her characters’ sexuality. The LGBTQIA+ term isn’t a cut-and-dry pigeonhole of a person’s identity and sexuality. While Maverick realizes he is gay from a younger age, things aren’t so clear for Colt until much later in his life.
There is a lot of past trauma for both characters to deal with in this book. Mostly Maverick. Colt has already done the work and is confident in himself and his community, as a person and as a father. Maverick left town as soon as he could and never looked back, meaning he never dealt with his relationship with his father and the way he was raised. Now, Maverick is thrust back into things when he must come home after his father’s death. His sister and niece also have to return to town and he figures out his sister is following the same path as their father had with her drinking, leaving his teenage niece feeling unseen and unsafe.
When it comes to Colt and Maverick, I loved their rediscovery of each other. Their chemistry is fantastic, and Colt is beyond patient with Maverick while he works through what he is going to do. Since this is a first-in-series, there is some setup to do. While interesting, it could also weigh things down a bit. Colt’s daughter and Maverick’s niece were cute but a bit too easy for their age. Yet I adored how Maverick didn’t hesitate to always do right by his niece.
I enjoyed this story. It didn’t blow me away, but it gave me lots of warm-fuzzies. I’m more looking forward to the story of some side characters that were in this book, though. It seems Maverick and some of his West Coast friends are going to be stirring things up in his small hometown for a while.
There is a lot of past trauma for both characters to deal with in this book. Mostly Maverick. Colt has already done the work and is confident in himself and his community, as a person and as a father. Maverick left town as soon as he could and never looked back, meaning he never dealt with his relationship with his father and the way he was raised. Now, Maverick is thrust back into things when he must come home after his father’s death. His sister and niece also have to return to town and he figures out his sister is following the same path as their father had with her drinking, leaving his teenage niece feeling unseen and unsafe.
When it comes to Colt and Maverick, I loved their rediscovery of each other. Their chemistry is fantastic, and Colt is beyond patient with Maverick while he works through what he is going to do. Since this is a first-in-series, there is some setup to do. While interesting, it could also weigh things down a bit. Colt’s daughter and Maverick’s niece were cute but a bit too easy for their age. Yet I adored how Maverick didn’t hesitate to always do right by his niece.
I enjoyed this story. It didn’t blow me away, but it gave me lots of warm-fuzzies. I’m more looking forward to the story of some side characters that were in this book, though. It seems Maverick and some of his West Coast friends are going to be stirring things up in his small hometown for a while.
May 15, 2025
This is the first book in the Second Chance Ranch series. This is the story of Maverick and Colt Jennings. The two were best friends in high school but Maverick left to find his future and Colt remained in town. The story jumps between now and then in the beginning of the book. Maverick and his sister have come back to the family ranch because their father has passed. He was a miserable, grumpy and overly critical man. Both Maverick and his sister left home as soon as they were able. As there is no love lost, they both plan to immediately sell off the ranch and the land. Colt is the local sheriff and a widower. He and his teenage daughter have a lot of family around to help him. He wants Maverick to keep the land as it is a cornerstone for the towns survival. But all the resentment and horrible memories of the ranch ensure that is not an option. Until of course they read the will. It seems their father was trying to control their life from beyond the grave. It is impossible for either of them to sell for one year and they have to live on the ranch. While Colt is happy that he gets to see his old friend again, he is worried that he will become too attached again as he knows that Maverick is planning on leaving as soon as the year is over. This is their story. I enjoyed this book. It is written well and easy to read. You can understand how each of them feels even though it seems like they are at cross purposes. It is not a smooth ride while they try to figure out what their future will look like. I received a complementary advanced review copy of this book from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
June 4, 2025
Enemies to Lovers, Loved it❤️
This is Annabeth Albert at her best. Small town, hurt/comfort, relatable characters, second chance romance, a heartwarming story.
Maverick Lovelorn and Colt Jennings were best friends at high school and became more but even that couldn’t stop Mav from leaving Lovelorn, the town his ancestors founded and the name of the ranch he grew up on with his cold father and sister Faith. As soon as he graduates he runs off to California. Colt couldn’t envisage leaving with him. His father died when Colt was a teenager and he promised his dad he would help his mom with his two sisters and two brothers. To Colt family was everything.
Fast forward twenty years and Mav is heading back to Lovelorn as his father has died. He is meeting his sister at the ranch with the intention of selling asap only even from the grave his father had the last laugh. His Will stated that they could not sell the ranch for a year and they had to live there. As he hits the town he is stopped for speeding by the town’s Sheriff, Colt.
Both have moved on with their lives, both have been married, Colt widowed and Mav divorced, and there are definitely still feelings between them but it took Colt years to get over Mav leaving and he can’t risk his heart again especially as Mav and Faith are hiring lawyers to find a loophole in the will. Colt also has his thirteen year old daughter Willow to think of.
This book is about past hurts, bad memories and a second chance at love, helped along by Colt’s daughter Willow and Mav’s niece Hannah who become best friends. I really liked Grayson the ranch manager and Mav’s friend Adler from California was a good addition.
I’m now looking forward to the next book in the series.
This is Annabeth Albert at her best. Small town, hurt/comfort, relatable characters, second chance romance, a heartwarming story.
Maverick Lovelorn and Colt Jennings were best friends at high school and became more but even that couldn’t stop Mav from leaving Lovelorn, the town his ancestors founded and the name of the ranch he grew up on with his cold father and sister Faith. As soon as he graduates he runs off to California. Colt couldn’t envisage leaving with him. His father died when Colt was a teenager and he promised his dad he would help his mom with his two sisters and two brothers. To Colt family was everything.
Fast forward twenty years and Mav is heading back to Lovelorn as his father has died. He is meeting his sister at the ranch with the intention of selling asap only even from the grave his father had the last laugh. His Will stated that they could not sell the ranch for a year and they had to live there. As he hits the town he is stopped for speeding by the town’s Sheriff, Colt.
Both have moved on with their lives, both have been married, Colt widowed and Mav divorced, and there are definitely still feelings between them but it took Colt years to get over Mav leaving and he can’t risk his heart again especially as Mav and Faith are hiring lawyers to find a loophole in the will. Colt also has his thirteen year old daughter Willow to think of.
This book is about past hurts, bad memories and a second chance at love, helped along by Colt’s daughter Willow and Mav’s niece Hannah who become best friends. I really liked Grayson the ranch manager and Mav’s friend Adler from California was a good addition.
I’m now looking forward to the next book in the series.
May 17, 2025
Annabeth Albert has a new series, and it's set in a small Colorado town called Lovelorn, specifically the ranch that shares the same name (there's a name change much later in the story, but when you read the book, you'll get why). Want You Back is a second chance romance and it's the first in the Second Chance Ranch series. Maverick Lovelorn and Colt Jennings were best friends that became each other's first love when they were teenagers. But love and friendship wasn't enough for Maverick to want to stay in the town his forefathers founded. Two decades later, he's back and all he and his older sister want is to sell the ranch their father left behind as quickly as possible. However, his father's last wishes and being around Colt once again change whatever plans Mav had--but will that plan include a future in the one place he wanted to leave with the only man who's ever felt like home?
When it comes to small town, hurt/comfort M/M romances, Annabeth Albert has proven time and again that she knows her stuff. She doesn't throw in drama for the sake of drama, and her main characters are difficult not to, at the very least, like. I'm not a reader who requires the MCs in a second chance romance to be pining away for all the years they were apart, or even worse, for them to be stuck in a holding pattern, not being with other people throughout the separation. I appreciated that Mav and Colt did move on, with both having been married, albeit those marriages having ended differently for each. Hannah and Willow, Mav's niece and Colt's daughter, respectively, were my favorite supporting characters, with Grayson, the ranch's foreman, Adler, Mav's good friend, and Faith, Mav's older sister, being notable ones. Want You Back was a 4.5-starred read, and I want more.
When it comes to small town, hurt/comfort M/M romances, Annabeth Albert has proven time and again that she knows her stuff. She doesn't throw in drama for the sake of drama, and her main characters are difficult not to, at the very least, like. I'm not a reader who requires the MCs in a second chance romance to be pining away for all the years they were apart, or even worse, for them to be stuck in a holding pattern, not being with other people throughout the separation. I appreciated that Mav and Colt did move on, with both having been married, albeit those marriages having ended differently for each. Hannah and Willow, Mav's niece and Colt's daughter, respectively, were my favorite supporting characters, with Grayson, the ranch's foreman, Adler, Mav's good friend, and Faith, Mav's older sister, being notable ones. Want You Back was a 4.5-starred read, and I want more.
June 11, 2025
There’s something everlasting and deeply gratifying about second chances —especially when they’re wrapped in denim, dust, and the slow burn of unresolved feelings. WANT YOU BACK delivers all the emotional depth and cowboy grit you'd want in a second chance M/M romance, with little to no angst but enough tension to keep you eager.
Set against the backdrop of a prolific Texas ranch, this story reunites Maverick and Colt, former young lovers whose paths were split years ago by heartbreak, fear, and a choice neither could undo. When Maverick returns home after nearly two decades away—older, wiser, and still very much in love—they're both forced to confront everything left unsaid.
What makes this novel shine is its emotional authenticity. The characters aren’t perfect—they're wounded, proud, and sometimes maddeningly stubborn. But their chemistry? Off the charts. The intimacy between them feels earned, layered with history and hesitation. It’s not insta-love; it’s love rediscovered, rekindled slowly like a fire that never quite died.
The writing captures the setting beautifully—wide-open plains, starry nights, and the quiet ache of loneliness that only wide skies can magnify. The ranch work, the town gossip, the whiskey-soaked confessions in a small town —all of it feels honest and lived-in.
If there’s a flaw, it’s only that the pacing in the middle sags slightly as both men wrestle with the past (and sometimes each other) a bit too much. But the payoff is worth it. The final chapters are tender and cathartic, delivering not just a romantic HEA, but an emotional one.
Set against the backdrop of a prolific Texas ranch, this story reunites Maverick and Colt, former young lovers whose paths were split years ago by heartbreak, fear, and a choice neither could undo. When Maverick returns home after nearly two decades away—older, wiser, and still very much in love—they're both forced to confront everything left unsaid.
What makes this novel shine is its emotional authenticity. The characters aren’t perfect—they're wounded, proud, and sometimes maddeningly stubborn. But their chemistry? Off the charts. The intimacy between them feels earned, layered with history and hesitation. It’s not insta-love; it’s love rediscovered, rekindled slowly like a fire that never quite died.
The writing captures the setting beautifully—wide-open plains, starry nights, and the quiet ache of loneliness that only wide skies can magnify. The ranch work, the town gossip, the whiskey-soaked confessions in a small town —all of it feels honest and lived-in.
If there’s a flaw, it’s only that the pacing in the middle sags slightly as both men wrestle with the past (and sometimes each other) a bit too much. But the payoff is worth it. The final chapters are tender and cathartic, delivering not just a romantic HEA, but an emotional one.
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