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Sterling Ridge #1
Somewhere We Belong
WELCOME TO STERLING RIDGE!
Somewhere We Belong is book 1 in The Sterling Ridge Series.
Single mom Nova is a big city hair stylist in a small town while raising her five year old daughter.
Until fate brings her and her sexy neighbors close together.
Be ready for a neurodivergent cowboy, a tattooed grumpy mechanic/cowboy, a young doctor who knows what he wants, a cute pig who wears tutu’s and a gossip network like no other.
***Please read content and trigger warnings before reading!***
Somewhere We Belong is book 1 in The Sterling Ridge Series.
Single mom Nova is a big city hair stylist in a small town while raising her five year old daughter.
Until fate brings her and her sexy neighbors close together.
Be ready for a neurodivergent cowboy, a tattooed grumpy mechanic/cowboy, a young doctor who knows what he wants, a cute pig who wears tutu’s and a gossip network like no other.
***Please read content and trigger warnings before reading!***
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 29, 2025
443 people are currently reading
1221 people want to read
About the author
Mandy Muse
23 books397 followersMandy Muse writes spicy adult romance. Born and raised in Texas, she is a stay at home mom with an imagination that has always left her daydreaming. When she is not writing, she is trying to keep three kids from playing with her laptop and keep them from learning how to read, so she never has to explain what mommy writes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
May 20, 2025
3.5 ⭐
Single mom Nova finds love with her three hot neighbors after an accident brings them closer together.
Their story is sweet and spicy, and I absolutely adored how much Colt, Theo, and Atlas loved and took care of Nova's daughter, Sol.
Cannot wait for more of this series!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
⛰️ neurospicy cowboy, grumpy mechanic, + town doctor
⛰️ single mom
✂️ poly romance (MMMF)
⛰️ small town
✂️ neighbors to lovers
⛰️ hurt x comfort
✂️ reverse age gap
Single mom Nova finds love with her three hot neighbors after an accident brings them closer together.
Their story is sweet and spicy, and I absolutely adored how much Colt, Theo, and Atlas loved and took care of Nova's daughter, Sol.
Cannot wait for more of this series!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
⛰️ neurospicy cowboy, grumpy mechanic, + town doctor
⛰️ single mom
✂️ poly romance (MMMF)
⛰️ small town
✂️ neighbors to lovers
⛰️ hurt x comfort
✂️ reverse age gap
May 30, 2025
I REALLY wanted to love this book. I saw one of my fav booktokers recommend it weeks ago and I anxiously awaited its release.
The idea of the book and plot sounded amazing, but it fell so flat.
There were grammar mistakes, typos, and plot holes galore.
The author told us way more of the story than we were actually shown. The story jumped around a lot, there were flashbacks in the middle of no where that left me saying “huh?” And having to go back thinking I missed something because they were so awkwardly placed.
There was like zero depth to the characters, I finished the story feeling like I knew nothing about any of the men or her.
Their “love story” was flimsy at best. As I said earlier it lacked depth, like it was kiddy pool shallow. There is no great love story, tension, longing, relationships… like nothing.
The FMC is a damsel in distress multiple times, the guys “help” her multiple times, they have sex a few times. Then BAM it’s over.
I’m a why choose girly, I’ve read 100’s and I can tell you, while yes she technically is with them all, this was not why choose. This was a story about a single mom getting saved by 3 men who have sex with her.
The end.
The idea of the book and plot sounded amazing, but it fell so flat.
There were grammar mistakes, typos, and plot holes galore.
The author told us way more of the story than we were actually shown. The story jumped around a lot, there were flashbacks in the middle of no where that left me saying “huh?” And having to go back thinking I missed something because they were so awkwardly placed.
There was like zero depth to the characters, I finished the story feeling like I knew nothing about any of the men or her.
Their “love story” was flimsy at best. As I said earlier it lacked depth, like it was kiddy pool shallow. There is no great love story, tension, longing, relationships… like nothing.
The FMC is a damsel in distress multiple times, the guys “help” her multiple times, they have sex a few times. Then BAM it’s over.
I’m a why choose girly, I’ve read 100’s and I can tell you, while yes she technically is with them all, this was not why choose. This was a story about a single mom getting saved by 3 men who have sex with her.
The end.
November 6, 2025
4/5 stars
4 on the spice scale
4 on the spice scale
May 30, 2025
Too Many Inconsistencies, Plot Holes, and Senseless Drama
I really tried to stick with Somewhere We Belong, but unfortunately, the story just couldn’t hold together. There are glaring inconsistencies throughout the plot, characters making decisions that contradict earlier actions, and entire subplots that seem to vanish without explanation.
On top of that, the amount of drama packed into this book is overwhelming—and not in a good way. It felt like conflict was constantly being added just for the sake of it, with no real buildup or payoff. Instead of deepening the story, it just made everything feel chaotic and disconnected. Most of the drama didn’t even make sense in the context of the characters or the plot.
I pushed through almost the entire book, hoping it would all come together in the end, but I had to DNF at 92%. When a story is still this disjointed that late in the game, it’s hard to believe a satisfying ending is possible. Disappointing, especially because the premise had real potential.
I really tried to stick with Somewhere We Belong, but unfortunately, the story just couldn’t hold together. There are glaring inconsistencies throughout the plot, characters making decisions that contradict earlier actions, and entire subplots that seem to vanish without explanation.
On top of that, the amount of drama packed into this book is overwhelming—and not in a good way. It felt like conflict was constantly being added just for the sake of it, with no real buildup or payoff. Instead of deepening the story, it just made everything feel chaotic and disconnected. Most of the drama didn’t even make sense in the context of the characters or the plot.
I pushed through almost the entire book, hoping it would all come together in the end, but I had to DNF at 92%. When a story is still this disjointed that late in the game, it’s hard to believe a satisfying ending is possible. Disappointing, especially because the premise had real potential.
June 2, 2025
4.25 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ Somewhere We Belong☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★
⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°｡ 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´
🎶 He says everything I need to hear, and it's like. I couldn't ask for anything better 🎶
Nova (h), a single mom is doing her best to start fresh in the quiet town of Sterling Ridge while raising her five-year-old daughter. She’s focused, independent, and not looking for love. But fate has other plans—and they come in the form of her gorgeous, complicated neighbors. When unexpected closeness turns into more, Nova finds herself tangled in something deeper than she ever expected.
─── .¸✿¸.•❤•.❀• THOUGHTS¸•❀.•❤•.¸✿¸.⋆ ───
[Theo]
I felt so seen by his character. As someone who gets overstimulated a lot and worries about being too much, Theo was very much me. I love how the others knew his tells and when to gently push—just enough so he wouldn’t bottle things up. As someone who does the same, it meant a lot to see Theo surrounded by people who genuinely want to love and care for him. He’s got the best people around him, people who support him without pushing past his limits. They respect his boundaries but still know when he needs a little nudge. And aside from that—Theo knows what he wants and he goes for it. He’s vocal about his feelings, and while yeah, he kissed Nova before talking to the group, it’s so Theo. He feels things deeply and can’t always hold it in. He’s such a sunshine character and doesn’t even realize it 💌 He loves so much. He’s the best boyfriend and partner to Atlas, Colt, and Nova… and honestly, such a good stand-in dad for Sol. He cares, and you can see it in everything he does. The way he’s gentle, thoughtful, and yeah—a secret freak in bed. If there’s one thing Theo’s gonna do, it’s take care of his people. Need a ride? Need food? Need someone to pick up your daughter? He notices and just does it, without expecting anything in return.
[Colt]
Colt was definitely the hardest one to warm up to, but now I adore him. It’s always the broody ones that end up being the biggest softies 🤍💌. He’s a total sweetheart underneath all that gruff. He went through a lot emotionally growing up—with a single mom and some deep trauma—and he ended up projecting that onto Nova. It wasn’t fair, and he knew it. He apologized, and it took time for her to trust him again. He had to work a little harder for it. That said, none of that took away from how sweet he was with Sol. Even when he didn’t like Nova—or pretended not to—he still showed up. It was all there in the way he acted, even before he was ready to admit how he really felt. He was hard on her and hurt her feelings, but Nova pushed back—she showed him he couldn’t break her. And when she finally snapped and lashed out, he knew he’d messed up. The tension between them after that? Yeah, everyone felt it. The truth is, he didn’t want her in their home because he wanted her. And he hated that. Hated how she made him feel—vulnerable, pulled in, out of control. But no matter how much he tried to keep his distance, the feelings were already there 💌❣️.
[Atlas]
He really kickstarted everything when he asked Nova and Sol to stay with them while Nova healed 🤍. And keep in mind—he had barely even moved back to town, but he was already thinking about her whenever he’d visit Colt and Theo. He was just as interested as the others, and being a doctor gave him the perfect excuse to be extra attentive. He’s such a provider 🩺💌—comforting, steady—but he’s also super soft and submissive when it comes to his boyfriends. I love this man. He’s a total sweetheart and deserves the world. It honestly saddens me that he didn’t get to chase his dream of doing research. You can just tell he let it go so he wouldn’t have to leave again, like he didn’t want to risk messing up the life they were building together. That’s who he is, though. He loves hard, and he’ll always do what he needs to for his family and to protect their peace.
─── .¸✿¸.•❤•.❀• OVERALL¸•❀.•❤•.¸✿¸.⋆ ───
MY LOVES. 💗 MMMF excellence!!! I’m such a sucker for the single mom trope, and I adore when the boyfriends… boyfriend. 😭💞 These are my babies. My whole heart. I love them so bad.
☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ Somewhere We Belong☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★
⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°｡ 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´
🎶 He says everything I need to hear, and it's like. I couldn't ask for anything better 🎶
Nova (h), a single mom is doing her best to start fresh in the quiet town of Sterling Ridge while raising her five-year-old daughter. She’s focused, independent, and not looking for love. But fate has other plans—and they come in the form of her gorgeous, complicated neighbors. When unexpected closeness turns into more, Nova finds herself tangled in something deeper than she ever expected.
─── .¸✿¸.•❤•.❀• THOUGHTS¸•❀.•❤•.¸✿¸.⋆ ───
[Theo]
“They look good in our home,” I said, as we walked up to Atlas.
“Yeah, they do,” Atlas said, with a dopey look on his face.
“Is it too soon to ask her to move in?” I blurted, kind of joking, but not. I looked at Atlas who smirked and Colt who looked a little unsure.
I felt so seen by his character. As someone who gets overstimulated a lot and worries about being too much, Theo was very much me. I love how the others knew his tells and when to gently push—just enough so he wouldn’t bottle things up. As someone who does the same, it meant a lot to see Theo surrounded by people who genuinely want to love and care for him. He’s got the best people around him, people who support him without pushing past his limits. They respect his boundaries but still know when he needs a little nudge. And aside from that—Theo knows what he wants and he goes for it. He’s vocal about his feelings, and while yeah, he kissed Nova before talking to the group, it’s so Theo. He feels things deeply and can’t always hold it in. He’s such a sunshine character and doesn’t even realize it 💌 He loves so much. He’s the best boyfriend and partner to Atlas, Colt, and Nova… and honestly, such a good stand-in dad for Sol. He cares, and you can see it in everything he does. The way he’s gentle, thoughtful, and yeah—a secret freak in bed. If there’s one thing Theo’s gonna do, it’s take care of his people. Need a ride? Need food? Need someone to pick up your daughter? He notices and just does it, without expecting anything in return.
[Colt]
“She doesn’t like to be seen crying,” she whispered, after I knelt down. “Mommy worries about a lot of things.”
“Why do you say that?” My chest constricted as I realized Sol and I saw everything.
“All my friends have dads, and I think they help mommies not be so sad.”
Colt was definitely the hardest one to warm up to, but now I adore him. It’s always the broody ones that end up being the biggest softies 🤍💌. He’s a total sweetheart underneath all that gruff. He went through a lot emotionally growing up—with a single mom and some deep trauma—and he ended up projecting that onto Nova. It wasn’t fair, and he knew it. He apologized, and it took time for her to trust him again. He had to work a little harder for it. That said, none of that took away from how sweet he was with Sol. Even when he didn’t like Nova—or pretended not to—he still showed up. It was all there in the way he acted, even before he was ready to admit how he really felt. He was hard on her and hurt her feelings, but Nova pushed back—she showed him he couldn’t break her. And when she finally snapped and lashed out, he knew he’d messed up. The tension between them after that? Yeah, everyone felt it. The truth is, he didn’t want her in their home because he wanted her. And he hated that. Hated how she made him feel—vulnerable, pulled in, out of control. But no matter how much he tried to keep his distance, the feelings were already there 💌❣️.
[Atlas]
“Stay with us,” Atlas said, turning to look at me. “I can keep an eye on you, and we can help you with Sol.”
He really kickstarted everything when he asked Nova and Sol to stay with them while Nova healed 🤍. And keep in mind—he had barely even moved back to town, but he was already thinking about her whenever he’d visit Colt and Theo. He was just as interested as the others, and being a doctor gave him the perfect excuse to be extra attentive. He’s such a provider 🩺💌—comforting, steady—but he’s also super soft and submissive when it comes to his boyfriends. I love this man. He’s a total sweetheart and deserves the world. It honestly saddens me that he didn’t get to chase his dream of doing research. You can just tell he let it go so he wouldn’t have to leave again, like he didn’t want to risk messing up the life they were building together. That’s who he is, though. He loves hard, and he’ll always do what he needs to for his family and to protect their peace.
─── .¸✿¸.•❤•.❀• OVERALL¸•❀.•❤•.¸✿¸.⋆ ───
MY LOVES. 💗 MMMF excellence!!! I’m such a sucker for the single mom trope, and I adore when the boyfriends… boyfriend. 😭💞 These are my babies. My whole heart. I love them so bad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2025
The concept of this one was great. Three guys in a long term relationship fall for their single mom neighbor, happily ever after, yada yada yada.
We've got:
🤠A Neurodivergent Cowboy
👨🏻🔧A Tattooed Grumpy Mechanic
👨⚕A Young Small Town Doctor
🐷A Cute Pig in a Tutu
⭐1½
This book is in desperate need of an editor! Not just got the grammar, sentence structure, and typos, but for the continuity. The book regularly disagrees with itself paragraph to paragraph. This is all tell no show. And we are given way too many, completely useless bit of information.
Nova (the single mom) is annoying as all get out. She refuses to ask for help, and assumes everyone will leave her because "they always do" but we don't get shown any of that. She falls from her roof and fights tooth and nail to let the guys help her and her kid.
Instead of a third act breakup there's all this seeming random events thrown in at the end to add to the drama. But it all came totally out of left field. Also, the author threw in every single character in her other series into this book - didn't matter if it made sense or not.
Finally, I don't spend time around children, but I really struggled to believe that's how a 5 year old talks.
I probably should have DNF'd it, but I was hopeful.
We've got:
🤠A Neurodivergent Cowboy
👨🏻🔧A Tattooed Grumpy Mechanic
👨⚕A Young Small Town Doctor
🐷A Cute Pig in a Tutu
⭐1½
This book is in desperate need of an editor! Not just got the grammar, sentence structure, and typos, but for the continuity. The book regularly disagrees with itself paragraph to paragraph. This is all tell no show. And we are given way too many, completely useless bit of information.
Nova (the single mom) is annoying as all get out. She refuses to ask for help, and assumes everyone will leave her because "they always do" but we don't get shown any of that. She falls from her roof and fights tooth and nail to let the guys help her and her kid.
Instead of a third act breakup there's all this seeming random events thrown in at the end to add to the drama. But it all came totally out of left field. Also, the author threw in every single character in her other series into this book - didn't matter if it made sense or not.
Finally, I don't spend time around children, but I really struggled to believe that's how a 5 year old talks.
I probably should have DNF'd it, but I was hopeful.
May 27, 2025
Loved it
🤠A neurodivergent cowboy
👨🏻🔧A tattooed grumpy mechanic/cowboy
👨⚕A young doctor who knows what he wants
🐷A cute pig who wears tutu’s
🗣A gossip network like no other
⛰️Why Choose
✂️MMMF
⛰️Single Mom
✂️Small Town
⛰️Hurt/Comfort
✂️Close Proximity
⛰️Cowboys
There was a lot going on in this story, so I'm going to break it down a bit.
The MMCs:
Theo, our neuro sparkly cowboy, was my favorite. His self-perception was heartbreaking at times, but it was beautiful to see how Nova, Sol, and the others embraced him and gave him what he needed. Colt is the classic grumpy secret cinnamon roll. He's untangled a lot of childhood trauma, though some still lingers. Atlas is the youngest and the doctor so he's the nurturer with his own tragic past. We get touching glimpses of how all their friendships with Nova and Sol evolved over time.
These three are already an established poly couple, reuniting now that Atlas has returned after finishing his medical degree. It almost felt like a book two. We get hints of their past together, which made me wish we had a prequel to flesh it out more. The pacing sometimes felt a bit rushed because of this.
The FMC:
Nova is a fiercely independent single mom to Sol (who is absolutely sunshine in tiny human form). Sol is the glue that ties everyone together, and the love these four characters share for her is palpable. Nova has to learn how to accept help which is something she’s not used to and her backstory, which we only get later in the book, is intense and could’ve been more effective if introduced earlier.
The Plot:
So. Much. Happens. Especially to Nova. It felt like an endless string of events, which unfortunately pulled focus away from giving the main characters the depth they deserved. At times, it felt like I was missing context or background that would've grounded the story more.
All that said, I still really loved this book. The epilogues, with their big time jumps, hit me hard and left a lump in my throat. I'm excited to see where the rest of the series goes!
Thank you to Mandy and The Author Agency for the ARC!
🤠A neurodivergent cowboy
👨🏻🔧A tattooed grumpy mechanic/cowboy
👨⚕A young doctor who knows what he wants
🐷A cute pig who wears tutu’s
🗣A gossip network like no other
⛰️Why Choose
✂️MMMF
⛰️Single Mom
✂️Small Town
⛰️Hurt/Comfort
✂️Close Proximity
⛰️Cowboys
There was a lot going on in this story, so I'm going to break it down a bit.
The MMCs:
Theo, our neuro sparkly cowboy, was my favorite. His self-perception was heartbreaking at times, but it was beautiful to see how Nova, Sol, and the others embraced him and gave him what he needed. Colt is the classic grumpy secret cinnamon roll. He's untangled a lot of childhood trauma, though some still lingers. Atlas is the youngest and the doctor so he's the nurturer with his own tragic past. We get touching glimpses of how all their friendships with Nova and Sol evolved over time.
These three are already an established poly couple, reuniting now that Atlas has returned after finishing his medical degree. It almost felt like a book two. We get hints of their past together, which made me wish we had a prequel to flesh it out more. The pacing sometimes felt a bit rushed because of this.
The FMC:
Nova is a fiercely independent single mom to Sol (who is absolutely sunshine in tiny human form). Sol is the glue that ties everyone together, and the love these four characters share for her is palpable. Nova has to learn how to accept help which is something she’s not used to and her backstory, which we only get later in the book, is intense and could’ve been more effective if introduced earlier.
The Plot:
So. Much. Happens. Especially to Nova. It felt like an endless string of events, which unfortunately pulled focus away from giving the main characters the depth they deserved. At times, it felt like I was missing context or background that would've grounded the story more.
All that said, I still really loved this book. The epilogues, with their big time jumps, hit me hard and left a lump in my throat. I'm excited to see where the rest of the series goes!
Thank you to Mandy and The Author Agency for the ARC!
June 3, 2025
Somewhere We Belong by Mandy Muse
I have been following and reading Mandy Muse's books for a long time now, so it is safe to say that I love and enjoy her writing and books. I love that her books or ploy romances have some great spice in them. Somewhere We Belong was no exception to that. This book is about a single mom in a small town where our next-door neighbors are three hot cowboys who are all in polyamorous relationships.
This book was heartwarming and so sweet. This is one book where I was yelling at Nova to go to therapy, but I loved watching Nova grow and learn to love and trust people will show up for her. The communication abilities of the three men were fantastic, and I loved the emphasis they all placed on having concerns and past problems that they discussed to improve their relationship. I also loved how much Theo, Colt, and Atlas all loved Sol (Nova's Daughter), and she was happy.
And Mandy's muse can write some great spicy! From sex on the back of a motorcycle to their ravenous group scenes! I had a great time reading this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for some hot, queer, small-town, poly romances. This needs to be read this summer!
What to expect:
Poly Romance MMMF
Single Mom
Small Town
Hurt Comfort
Cowboys
Close Proximity
Thank you to Mandy Muse for the ARC to read and review!
I have been following and reading Mandy Muse's books for a long time now, so it is safe to say that I love and enjoy her writing and books. I love that her books or ploy romances have some great spice in them. Somewhere We Belong was no exception to that. This book is about a single mom in a small town where our next-door neighbors are three hot cowboys who are all in polyamorous relationships.
This book was heartwarming and so sweet. This is one book where I was yelling at Nova to go to therapy, but I loved watching Nova grow and learn to love and trust people will show up for her. The communication abilities of the three men were fantastic, and I loved the emphasis they all placed on having concerns and past problems that they discussed to improve their relationship. I also loved how much Theo, Colt, and Atlas all loved Sol (Nova's Daughter), and she was happy.
And Mandy's muse can write some great spicy! From sex on the back of a motorcycle to their ravenous group scenes! I had a great time reading this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for some hot, queer, small-town, poly romances. This needs to be read this summer!
What to expect:
Poly Romance MMMF
Single Mom
Small Town
Hurt Comfort
Cowboys
Close Proximity
Thank you to Mandy Muse for the ARC to read and review!
May 25, 2025
I love single mom romances and then throw in why choose, I'm all for it. The way Theo, Colt and Atlas loved each other was so amazing. Adding Nova and Sol was perfect. They all loved and cherished them both so much. Nova had her reservations because of her ex. The men showed her so much love and support, and didn't push anything.
When a tragic accident happens, they come together stronger.
When a tragic accident happens, they come together stronger.
January 29, 2026
OH WOW!
This is my first novel by Mandy Muse! It was so good!
Trying to acclimate to new partner has its awards and it’s challenges but when there are four in the relationship plus a little girl, an extended family who like to give their opinion and a small town, where there are no secrets it is more than challenging but sounds like a nightmare. However, it was thoughtfully written where the characters had talent and flaws, positive and negative emotions and fears.
This a story of four becoming a family as they navigate their new relationship and the book is filled with love, romance, high jinx and of course steam as this group gets their HEA!
This is my first novel by Mandy Muse! It was so good!
Trying to acclimate to new partner has its awards and it’s challenges but when there are four in the relationship plus a little girl, an extended family who like to give their opinion and a small town, where there are no secrets it is more than challenging but sounds like a nightmare. However, it was thoughtfully written where the characters had talent and flaws, positive and negative emotions and fears.
This a story of four becoming a family as they navigate their new relationship and the book is filled with love, romance, high jinx and of course steam as this group gets their HEA!
May 25, 2025
I absolutely loved this bunch. This is my 1st book by Mandy Muse but it won't be the last. I will definitely be reading more of her books. I do love me a why choose when her boyfriends are also boyfriends! I loved the twist in this book the the 3 boys were already the established relationship and Nova and Sol (the daughter) came in to finish the family. I do love a strong woman and an amazing mom and Nova was that and more. I can't wait to see if more books will come in this series.
June 9, 2025
Tatlı, 🌶️❤️🔥, ve çerezlik bir kitaptı. Ben biraz daha derin bir şeyler bekledim ama yine de eğlenceliydi. Zaten erkek karakterler en başından kadından etkileniyordu. 🙂↔️
Sol ile yani Nova’nın kızıyla iletişimi çok güzeldi hepsinin. Found family olayı da tatlıydı. 🌈
Sol ile yani Nova’nın kızıyla iletişimi çok güzeldi hepsinin. Found family olayı da tatlıydı. 🌈
May 31, 2025
Review: I’m not sure what is in this book but I need it for the rest of my life!! This book had a little bit of everything and did not disappoint! Theo (a neurodivergent cowboy), Colt (grumpy mechanic), and Atlas (the doctor) are some really hot boyfriends! Nova is a single mom to the sweetest little girl Sol! When Nova found her confidence and took what she wanted was so great! These men fought for her every step of the way will never stop! You can feel the connection coming off the page. Blanche is probably my favorite character! She is a great meddling old lady!
Tropes:
•Small Town
•Why Choose (MMMF)
•Hurt/Comfort
•Single Mom
•Cowboys
•Close Proximity
•Multiple POV
Rating: 5⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Quote: “Thank you for loving me and thank you for showing me love isn’t dependent on what I do for you, but that you love me no matter what. I… I might not always do things the right way, but I’ll always try and be the best for you.”
Tropes:
•Small Town
•Why Choose (MMMF)
•Hurt/Comfort
•Single Mom
•Cowboys
•Close Proximity
•Multiple POV
Rating: 5⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Quote: “Thank you for loving me and thank you for showing me love isn’t dependent on what I do for you, but that you love me no matter what. I… I might not always do things the right way, but I’ll always try and be the best for you.”
May 31, 2025
This started out pretty good for me. I liked the characters and the story had great potential. But the more I got into the book, the more I figured out that this book wasn’t for me.
I wasn’t a big fan of the writing and some of the book felt too unrealistic for me. There were also some relationship dynamics that I wasn’t a fan of.
Anyways, just because this wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean it’s not for you. ❤️
Tropes and stuff:
❤️Why choose
❤️MMMF
❤️Small town
❤️Single mom
❤️Hurt/comfort
❤️Cowboys/ranch life
🌶️Open door
I wasn’t a big fan of the writing and some of the book felt too unrealistic for me. There were also some relationship dynamics that I wasn’t a fan of.
Anyways, just because this wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean it’s not for you. ❤️
Tropes and stuff:
❤️Why choose
❤️MMMF
❤️Small town
❤️Single mom
❤️Hurt/comfort
❤️Cowboys/ranch life
🌶️Open door
May 18, 2025
The one where Mandy Muse made me cry over and over and over again. Yep she did that all over. Broke my heart and fixed it back but the message in me went back again and again. Read it again. Broke my heart again. Got it fixed. Read it again, broke my heart and fixed. It was a cycle. It was a vicious cycle and I did it all because of Mandy. I love it so much so so much.
Nova , with Altas , Theodore and Colt and sweet lil Sol. They make such a beautiful family. But that was so not the case at the start. This MFMM romance is so beautiful ,talk about small town, cowboy, on the spectrum, doctor romance , it keeps you on the edge.
This story took me on a journey, seriously it has all the small town vibes, nosy towns people who want to know what's going on, a precocious sweet girl who wants her mum to be happy and three delicious men who want to make the said mum happy.
Ah one of my top reads for 2025 and i make no bones about it. I loved it so much. The 4 MC's bring in such different vibes and emotions that you won't know what pulled you in and kept you in Sterling Ridge. I need more from Sterling Ridge.
Mandy you are awesome, I love you.
Nova , with Altas , Theodore and Colt and sweet lil Sol. They make such a beautiful family. But that was so not the case at the start. This MFMM romance is so beautiful ,talk about small town, cowboy, on the spectrum, doctor romance , it keeps you on the edge.
This story took me on a journey, seriously it has all the small town vibes, nosy towns people who want to know what's going on, a precocious sweet girl who wants her mum to be happy and three delicious men who want to make the said mum happy.
Ah one of my top reads for 2025 and i make no bones about it. I loved it so much. The 4 MC's bring in such different vibes and emotions that you won't know what pulled you in and kept you in Sterling Ridge. I need more from Sterling Ridge.
Mandy you are awesome, I love you.
May 25, 2025
This was a nice book. I really liked the characters, they were all cute and I liked the ND rep too. I like how they slowly just got together and had these little crushes and so on. The relationships between them all are sweet and supportive, it’s good vibes.
However, I think I was really missing some more development or internal dialogue or something. The writing itself was sort of straightforward and flat to me. Things that I can see were meant to be emotionally deep just didn’t hit. There were some pacing issues for me as well, some parts felt a bit disjointed or moved on quickly. So, I just couldn’t fully get into it.
Despite that, it did keep the pages turning as I wanted to know how their relationship would unfold and develop. I think the characters were the most compelling part to me - I really liked Theo and Sol the most and so kept reading for the two of them really. Colt was sweet as well. There’s quite a lot of things that happen in the plot over the span of the book, so there’s something new to keep your interest every now and then. Some of what happens is a little over the top for me, but it was entertaining and got me a little emotional at one point as well.
This is a fine why choose book with a nice setting and good characters. Writing style/prose is big for me and my enjoyment of books, but if writing style doesn’t bother you too much then you could very well enjoy this one as the plot is fun and characters are good!
3/5 ⭐️
I received an advance copy of the book and have left my honest, influence-free review
However, I think I was really missing some more development or internal dialogue or something. The writing itself was sort of straightforward and flat to me. Things that I can see were meant to be emotionally deep just didn’t hit. There were some pacing issues for me as well, some parts felt a bit disjointed or moved on quickly. So, I just couldn’t fully get into it.
Despite that, it did keep the pages turning as I wanted to know how their relationship would unfold and develop. I think the characters were the most compelling part to me - I really liked Theo and Sol the most and so kept reading for the two of them really. Colt was sweet as well. There’s quite a lot of things that happen in the plot over the span of the book, so there’s something new to keep your interest every now and then. Some of what happens is a little over the top for me, but it was entertaining and got me a little emotional at one point as well.
This is a fine why choose book with a nice setting and good characters. Writing style/prose is big for me and my enjoyment of books, but if writing style doesn’t bother you too much then you could very well enjoy this one as the plot is fun and characters are good!
3/5 ⭐️
I received an advance copy of the book and have left my honest, influence-free review
June 1, 2025
3.75/4 ⭐️
I'm a huge fan of Mandy's books, Ours, which I highly, highly recommend if you love an ex's dad, and best friend's dad, spicy af, MMF, BDSM contract romance; to this day, it forever remains living rent free in my head! 😮💨😮💨
I was so excited when Mandy announced that she was writing a small town why choose romance series! There aren't many contemporary romances that combine small-town charm, all the broody cowboy vibes, with a why choose dynamic, so this book was an absolute delight to read.
I absolutely love when the boyfriends have boyfriends, and in this story, we’re treated to three gorgeous and genuinely lovable men: Atlas, Colt and Theo. They are not only happily in a relationship with each other but also secretly crushing on their beautiful neighbour next door. Their bond was so wholesome and heartwarming. I really enjoyed getting to know each of them individually, seeing how they cared for and supported one another, and then seeing their relationship expand with Nova, too in such a tender way. I loved the guys together, but I would’ve loved to see more of them once they’d actually got together, like a flashback; just a bit more depth to their relationship, because they really were great together. I also would’ve liked to see them explore more of their dynamic as they entered into a poly relationship with Nova.
Nova, the single mom next door, is doing everything she can to raise her adorable daughter, Sol, on her own. She has been constantly juggling work and parenting, something that doesn't go unnoticed by Theor, Colt and Atlas. She’s resilient, loving and fiercely devoted to her little girl. What really melted my heart was how Atlas, Colt and Theo each developed their own connection with Nova, not just romantically, but emotionally, and how sweet they all were with Sol and the nicknames that they had for her, it was just so cute.
Thank you kindly to the author agency and Mandy for the e-arc, I can’t wait for what’s in store for the rest of the series!! 💛
Tropes
✨ MMMF romance
✨ Small town
✨ Single mum
✨ Hurt/comfort
✨ Mental health rep
I'm a huge fan of Mandy's books, Ours, which I highly, highly recommend if you love an ex's dad, and best friend's dad, spicy af, MMF, BDSM contract romance; to this day, it forever remains living rent free in my head! 😮💨😮💨
I was so excited when Mandy announced that she was writing a small town why choose romance series! There aren't many contemporary romances that combine small-town charm, all the broody cowboy vibes, with a why choose dynamic, so this book was an absolute delight to read.
I absolutely love when the boyfriends have boyfriends, and in this story, we’re treated to three gorgeous and genuinely lovable men: Atlas, Colt and Theo. They are not only happily in a relationship with each other but also secretly crushing on their beautiful neighbour next door. Their bond was so wholesome and heartwarming. I really enjoyed getting to know each of them individually, seeing how they cared for and supported one another, and then seeing their relationship expand with Nova, too in such a tender way. I loved the guys together, but I would’ve loved to see more of them once they’d actually got together, like a flashback; just a bit more depth to their relationship, because they really were great together. I also would’ve liked to see them explore more of their dynamic as they entered into a poly relationship with Nova.
Nova, the single mom next door, is doing everything she can to raise her adorable daughter, Sol, on her own. She has been constantly juggling work and parenting, something that doesn't go unnoticed by Theor, Colt and Atlas. She’s resilient, loving and fiercely devoted to her little girl. What really melted my heart was how Atlas, Colt and Theo each developed their own connection with Nova, not just romantically, but emotionally, and how sweet they all were with Sol and the nicknames that they had for her, it was just so cute.
Thank you kindly to the author agency and Mandy for the e-arc, I can’t wait for what’s in store for the rest of the series!! 💛
Tropes
✨ MMMF romance
✨ Small town
✨ Single mum
✨ Hurt/comfort
✨ Mental health rep
June 4, 2025
2⭐️
It’s been a while since I angrily finished a book… or even left a negative review, to be honest. But this one left a weird taste in my mouth and an overwhelming urge to warn others about what they’re getting into.
This isn’t my first book by this author. And while her previous ones had similar issues, I was hoping things would improve. Unfortunately, it feels like they’re only getting worse. 🤦🏽♀️
Now, let’s be clear—the tropes were right up my alley:
• Why choose?
• Single mom
• Cowboys
• MMMF (⚔️)
• Neurodivergent rep
I was sold.
But I’m begging you—don’t let those tropes fool you. This book is 80% inner monologue from each character, with so much over-explaining and repetition it felt like running in circles.
The number of times we’re told Theo (the neurodivergent main character) had a hard childhood made me want to roll my eyes into another dimension. I got it the first time. I didn’t need to be reminded every other chapter.
And then there’s the excessive character introductions—most of whom have zero impact on the plot. They seem to exist solely as cameos from past or future books.
Exhibit A:
Did we really need an entire page about the quiet regular at the bar who “doesn’t talk unless spoken to”… only for him to never be mentioned again? Clearly a setup for another book.
Exhibit B:
The sister. Is her name Iris or Izzy? (And don’t tell me one’s a nickname—they’re the same number of syllables.) Her arranged marriage subplot made zero sense. Did she lose the farm or not? What even was that arc?
But the final strike? The Spanish.
I don’t know if the author is Hispanic or not, but please—for the love of all things literary—stop.
The characters are Hispanic from the start, but they speak zero Spanish for most of the book (which is fine!). Then, in the last 20%, they’re suddenly bilingual and have apparently always spoken Spanish at home? 🙄 And not just that—bad Spanish.
Conveniently, they only speak it when they’re yelling. Of course.
I could say more… but honestly? I just want to move on and never think about this book again.
It’s been a while since I angrily finished a book… or even left a negative review, to be honest. But this one left a weird taste in my mouth and an overwhelming urge to warn others about what they’re getting into.
This isn’t my first book by this author. And while her previous ones had similar issues, I was hoping things would improve. Unfortunately, it feels like they’re only getting worse. 🤦🏽♀️
Now, let’s be clear—the tropes were right up my alley:
• Why choose?
• Single mom
• Cowboys
• MMMF (⚔️)
• Neurodivergent rep
I was sold.
But I’m begging you—don’t let those tropes fool you. This book is 80% inner monologue from each character, with so much over-explaining and repetition it felt like running in circles.
The number of times we’re told Theo (the neurodivergent main character) had a hard childhood made me want to roll my eyes into another dimension. I got it the first time. I didn’t need to be reminded every other chapter.
And then there’s the excessive character introductions—most of whom have zero impact on the plot. They seem to exist solely as cameos from past or future books.
Exhibit A:
Did we really need an entire page about the quiet regular at the bar who “doesn’t talk unless spoken to”… only for him to never be mentioned again? Clearly a setup for another book.
Exhibit B:
The sister. Is her name Iris or Izzy? (And don’t tell me one’s a nickname—they’re the same number of syllables.) Her arranged marriage subplot made zero sense. Did she lose the farm or not? What even was that arc?
But the final strike? The Spanish.
I don’t know if the author is Hispanic or not, but please—for the love of all things literary—stop.
The characters are Hispanic from the start, but they speak zero Spanish for most of the book (which is fine!). Then, in the last 20%, they’re suddenly bilingual and have apparently always spoken Spanish at home? 🙄 And not just that—bad Spanish.
Conveniently, they only speak it when they’re yelling. Of course.
I could say more… but honestly? I just want to move on and never think about this book again.
May 23, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
Thank you to Mandy Muse and The Author Agency for the ARC opportunity - I loved the characters and world which has been created.
This is such a nice story of relationships. The relationships between the three MMCs is so loving, thoughtful and kind. A perfect example of mature relationships with adults who know each other, care for each other and want what is best for each other. Think mature conversations and examples of mutual sacrifice to ensure that everyone is happy.
The story is all about the three MMCs starting a relationship with Nova, the FMC but there are wider relationships that are beautifully covered in this story. Sibling relationships and how they change over time, mother-daughter relationships and how they have to change as children get older, friendships as well as romantic relationships.
I would have happily just read this book if it focussed on those but there are additional events that take place to keep you entertained as well.
If you want to read a why choose but want it to be more mature and less dark than is typical then this would be an excellent book to try.
🌶️🌶️.5
Thank you to Mandy Muse and The Author Agency for the ARC opportunity - I loved the characters and world which has been created.
This is such a nice story of relationships. The relationships between the three MMCs is so loving, thoughtful and kind. A perfect example of mature relationships with adults who know each other, care for each other and want what is best for each other. Think mature conversations and examples of mutual sacrifice to ensure that everyone is happy.
The story is all about the three MMCs starting a relationship with Nova, the FMC but there are wider relationships that are beautifully covered in this story. Sibling relationships and how they change over time, mother-daughter relationships and how they have to change as children get older, friendships as well as romantic relationships.
I would have happily just read this book if it focussed on those but there are additional events that take place to keep you entertained as well.
If you want to read a why choose but want it to be more mature and less dark than is typical then this would be an excellent book to try.
May 23, 2025
As a single mom, Nova must figure out how to raise her daughter all on her own so when she stumbles into Sterling Ridge she didn’t expect her hot neighbors to come to her rescue whenever she needed help .. and did I mention there’s three of them?! From the start Theodore had my heart but as I got to know Colt and Atlas more it was so hard to choose just one. I loved the building of their relationships with her and Sol because each provided something different. Although, without giving too much away - one of my favorite moments had to be when Nova actually knew just what Theo needed to help him stay calm during a particular situation. 🥹 So not only were the guys what Nova needed, but she was what they needed as well. I was happy for her and Sol to finally find a place where they felt comfortable and safe.
May 28, 2025
3.5⭐️
⛰️Why Choose
✂️MMMF
⛰️Single Mom
✂️Small Town
⛰️Hurt/Comfort
✂️Close Proximity
⛰️Neurodivergent Cowboy, Ex-Con Mechanic, Doctor
✂️Multicultural Representation
Atlas, Theo, and Colt have been together for a few years now. They're happy with their dynamic and ecstatic that Atlas is home for good after finishing his residency. So when they all realize they have feelings for the stubborn, single mom who cuts their hair, nobody is sure how to approach the topic.
There are a lot of true insecurities, relationship struggles, and real-world conflicts happening in this story that the polycule have to overcome. Still, they get their happily ever after and I enjoyed the extended epilogues to see where life took them beyond the book.
⛰️Why Choose
✂️MMMF
⛰️Single Mom
✂️Small Town
⛰️Hurt/Comfort
✂️Close Proximity
⛰️Neurodivergent Cowboy, Ex-Con Mechanic, Doctor
✂️Multicultural Representation
Atlas, Theo, and Colt have been together for a few years now. They're happy with their dynamic and ecstatic that Atlas is home for good after finishing his residency. So when they all realize they have feelings for the stubborn, single mom who cuts their hair, nobody is sure how to approach the topic.
There are a lot of true insecurities, relationship struggles, and real-world conflicts happening in this story that the polycule have to overcome. Still, they get their happily ever after and I enjoyed the extended epilogues to see where life took them beyond the book.
May 30, 2025
Somewhere We Belong by Mandy Muse
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Somewhere We Belong is a tender, emotional journey wrapped in heat and heartache. Each character brought something different—different wounds, different wants—and watching those pieces slowly fit together made for a beautiful, bittersweet story. The chemistry was undeniable, and the spice was perfectly placed, never overshadowing the emotional core.
There were moments where I found it a little tricky to keep track of everyone, and part of me wished the story had dug just a little deeper in certain places. But even with that, I was pulled in. I cared about these characters. Their pain felt real, and their growth felt earned.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Somewhere We Belong is a tender, emotional journey wrapped in heat and heartache. Each character brought something different—different wounds, different wants—and watching those pieces slowly fit together made for a beautiful, bittersweet story. The chemistry was undeniable, and the spice was perfectly placed, never overshadowing the emotional core.
There were moments where I found it a little tricky to keep track of everyone, and part of me wished the story had dug just a little deeper in certain places. But even with that, I was pulled in. I cared about these characters. Their pain felt real, and their growth felt earned.
May 31, 2025
Guys. This book. 🥹
Mandy Muse absolutely demolished me with this book. I adore the way Mandy writes and how easily the story flows along. She brings Nova, Atlas, Theo, Colt and sweet Sol to life in the most perfect way.
This story also is based in Colorado so you know that had me sold 🫶🏼 You meet everyone right away and the dynamic is not that of a usual #whychoose story - it just makes so much sense though. It couldn’t have happened any other way!!
I don’t want to spoil anything but here are some things of note: #singlemom #smalltowngossip #theyareboyfriendsfirst
Mandy Muse absolutely demolished me with this book. I adore the way Mandy writes and how easily the story flows along. She brings Nova, Atlas, Theo, Colt and sweet Sol to life in the most perfect way.
This story also is based in Colorado so you know that had me sold 🫶🏼 You meet everyone right away and the dynamic is not that of a usual #whychoose story - it just makes so much sense though. It couldn’t have happened any other way!!
I don’t want to spoil anything but here are some things of note: #singlemom #smalltowngossip #theyareboyfriendsfirst
May 27, 2025
This was such a cute MMF small-town romance! The relationship between Theo, Atlas, and Colt was lovely. They were already in a relationship when we met them, and you could feel the love pouring from the page. Then, when Nova was added to the mix, it worked really well, especially seeing how fond they all were of her daughter, Sol, too.
I would have preferred more spicy scenes, but the ones we had were pretty good.
I look forward to reading future books in this series.
I would have preferred more spicy scenes, but the ones we had were pretty good.
I look forward to reading future books in this series.
June 19, 2025
this one was good. I absolutely loved that she was a single mom and how much they all helped her when she needed it. I love how stubborn she was because it just made it so much better when she finally let them in. this one was a good and quick easy read. I’m excited to start reading more of this author.
May 27, 2025
This was such a fun read! Mandy writes some of my favorite why choose romance books so I was very excited to dive straight into this one!
Expect >>>
MMMF
Single Mom
Small town
Close Promixity
Cowboys
Expect >>>
MMMF
Single Mom
Small town
Close Promixity
Cowboys
June 3, 2025
honestly a big loving family! the definition of loyal, showing up for moments big and small and embracing your feelings.
sunny sunshine sundae had those men wrapped around her finger and her mum couldn’t help falling for them if she tried.
sunny sunshine sundae had those men wrapped around her finger and her mum couldn’t help falling for them if she tried.
June 7, 2025
i’m sorry but this was awful
January 25, 2026
“Now I had so much love that sometimes it didn’t feel real and I needed to remember that I deserved this. I deserved to be loved just like everyone else.”
― Mandy Muse, Somewhere We Belong
adorable why choose
― Mandy Muse, Somewhere We Belong
adorable why choose
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