Unraveled

Redford Ranch #3

by M.J. Hendrix, Ariel Hendrix

Dolly Redford has had a crush on me for as long as I can remember.
My best friend’s little sister–the forbidden fruit–is the one temptation I’ve spent years avoiding.
And now she’s living under my roof.
Her brothers asked if she could stay with me while they tracked down the man threatening her. So, I did what any good friend would do.
I lied. I told them she’s safe with me.
But nothing about Dolly has ever felt safe.
I had no idea it was her on that anonymous dating app… not at first.
Now that I do, I can’t stop imagining what she’d look like tied to my bed, and I can’t stop spending my nights describing it to her.
If her brothers ever find out, they’ll never forgive me.
When I inherited Moonlight Ranch, I planned on living and dying here, alone. That plan starts unraveling when I find myself opening up about my traumatic childhood and crashing her dates.
When the threat on her life turns out to be someone connected to me and Dolly’s heart problems take a turn for the worse, I’m faced with the very real nightmare of getting everything I thought I always wanted—which could mean losing her forever.

This is a slow-burn, brother’s best friend, morally gray cowboy romance. Please check trigger warnings.
This is book three in the Redford Ranch series. All books can be read as a complete standalone, but the best reader experience would be to start with book one, Untamed.

Genres: Westerns, Dark Romance, Romance, Forced Proximity, Cowboy Romance, Contemporary, Small Town Romance

404 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2026

About the author

Mj also goes by Ariel. She's a native Texan who lives in Hawaii with her dreamy husband Justin and two kiddos.
She can't resist pairing a damaged heroine with a southern gentleman who manages to tear down her walls one brick at a time. The men in her books will open every door and carry every bag, just like Justin does.
She's eternally indebted to her writing, which rescued her from the darkest place she has ever been.
Her lifelong dream is to one day write all her books in a house by the sea, with a wine cellar that's never empty and her imaginary characters somehow becoming her real-life friends.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

best one so far

I was hesitant going in, because the characters played a little immature on the earlier book, but this wasn’t bad. I enjoyed their dynamic. I enjoyed her ability to embrace her femininity and the honesty of how trauma can linger with you for years. I also LOVED the subtle way that they shut. down. misogyny. Sure he can be a handsome, old fashioned cowboy. But he can’t be pushing backwards views. HERE FOR IT.

The subplot was a little dull. But that letter at the end ripped the heart out of my chest. Oof.

Very interested in both stories to come.

[ugel · Rating 5 out of 5]

O taip , trope geriausias draugas ir sesuo. Suskaityta per kelias dienas, nes labai labai patiko visas vibe, plot twistas, mmc morally gray, spice. Krizenau iš tam tikru vietu....Žodžiu love it🧡
Dolly ir Sam yra pažįstami jau daugybę metų. Jinai visada jautė simpatiją Sam, tačiau šie jausmai niekada nebuvo abipusiai. Bėgant laikui, Dolly blaškėsi tarp noro judėti pirmyn ir vilties, kad vieną dieną Sam galbūt pajus tą patį... Mergina turi auksine širdi ir dėl mylimu žmonių jinai padarys viską, o dar ji dievina knygas ir skaito...🫠 Hmm žinom ką skaito🤭😏 Tai šitas dalykas dar labiau pavergė širdį dėl jos🩷. Sam turėjo įveikti daugybę traumų ir sielvarto. Jo vaikystė nebuvo lengva, o buvo tiesiog siaubinga, kol viena diena jo nesurado seneliai.... Nuo to karto pasikeitė viskas. Ir kai po senelio mirties, vėl tenka iš naujo atrasti save....🥺 Dolly ir Sam santykiai ta visa trauka, nu negaliu kaip gerai buvo.🔥🥵Tiesiog skaičiau ir sedėjau išsišiepus😏 Tai šitai daliai negaila tu 5⭐️

[Allicia Latini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unraveled By: Ariel Hendrix

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

🌻Morally grey cowboy
🐂Forced Proximity
🌻Found Family
🐂She falls first, he falls harder
🌻Spicy Lessons
🐂Brothers Best Friend
🌻Grumpy x Sunshine

⚠️CHECK TW⚠️
Attempted S.A.
Childhood abuse/trama
Murder
Cage fighting
Loss of a loved one


“For all the girls who need their attitude adjusted by getting tied to a bedpost once in a while by a broody cowboy.”

“Because I knew if I let myself lover her, that’d be it. I know my whole world would revolve around her. She is the rising sun. She owns me. I’m bound to lose her someday because life is full of pain and heartbreak and loss. But at least I got her for as long as possible. And I’lol never take her for granted once she’s mine.”

This is the third book in the Redford Ranch series. If you love dark cowboy romance’s. This book was Sam and Dolly’s story. Sam is Dollys older brothers Beat Friend, and what is scarier than having 4 older unhinged overprotective cowboy brothers? Being there only sisters love interest…. 😂. She tries basically her whole life to get his attention, and he makes her think he is ignoring her while he is secretly always watching and wanting her. This book made me laugh so hard at times, Spice is there but not to much. I cannot wait for the next one to be released.

[Krystal Betten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Story line is absolutely amazing and there’s the perfect amount of spice. I think this may be my favorite book in the series! I love the tropes in this book and how it is semi-relatable to everyone who could read it.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
“She bakes and reads, and that’s really about it” that was unnecessary

[Theresa Keener · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam & Dolly 🥹🥹 I loved their story. Dolly being the only Redford girl was constantly protected by her brothers, & her brothers best friend 🫣 I can’t wait for the 4th book to release!

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Kari Wachter · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
This book was soooooo good for a cowboy romance. Even better than the first 2!! 🌶🌶🌶

[Catie Fickin · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5

Can’t go wrong with a brother’s best friend trope. I was somewhat annoyed with Sam in the beginning because of how he treated Dolly, but the moment there was a real threat, he finally stepped up. I loved watching their relationship develop from tension and frustration into something protective, emotional, and genuinely sweet. The chemistry between them kept me hooked, and once Sam got his act together, I couldn’t stop rooting for them. Overall, this was such an entertaining and emotional read, and Ariel Hendrix did a great job balancing the romance with the drama

[HotGingerMama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sizzling Hot!
MJ / Ariel Hendrix has delivered another knockout with her newest book in the Redford Ranch Series. This book is my new favorite!

Set primarily against the backdrops of Moonlight Ranch and Redford Ranch, this story is a masterful blend of the "brother's best friend" and "forbidden fruit" tropes.

The tension between Sam and Dolly is electric. Sam is the ultimate protector—a rugged cowboy who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty to keep Dolly safe.
His internal struggle is intense; his loyalty to his best friend makes him think Dolly is off-limits, creating a delicious, high-stakes pining.

WARNING- The romance scenes in this book are incredibly hot. ❤️🔥
Sam is a true cowboy through and through, and let’s just say he knows exactly how to use a rope on the ranch, and in the bedroom! If you like your heroes skilled with their hands (and their gear), Sam will definitely be your new book boyfriend.

What truly made this book special was the emotional "Hurt/Comfort" dynamic. I loved the sweetness of Dolly baking for Sam and nursing him after his fights. But the stakes get real when Dolly’s heart defect comes into play. Seeing this tough, "rope-handling" cowboy become a tender caregiver when Dolly's heart struggles added a layer of vulnerability that made me fall in love with them as a couple.

With non-stop plot twists and "touch-her-and-you-die" energy, this is a must-read.
It’s sweet, it’s gritty, and it is seriously spicy!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Grab a cold drink!)
Tropes: Brother's Best Friend, Cowboy/Ranch Life, Hurt/Comfort, Slow-Burn, Kink-lite (Rope work).

[Sidney Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow Sam Seymour. I loved him. And dolly was a literally angel.

Things I want to remember…

I exhale, the sinking weight of hopelessness starting to creep in as the fight ends. My grandfather had a heart attack and passed away tonight. Physical pain is the only way I know how to cope with the emotional trauma of losing the man who saved my life and raised me from the age of seven. I’m drunk as shit. Duke’s little sister’s fine ass is feeding me cake. Is life really even that bad? Not right now, it’s not. Dollface is looking tastier than she ever has—not that she’s ever looked bad. I’ve called her sis for as long as I can remember to remind myself that she’s my best friend’s little sister and solidly off-limits. I just orgasmed in front of ten people. On Sam Seymour’s lap. Who gave enough fucks about Cain Dixon to want revenge for his death?” Cash says, leaning back against his chair. My pulse spikes. “You want us to pretend we’re dating?” The hair on the top of my arms rises. “Just try it. Respond to a few messages. After you’ve talked for one week and sent at least one hundred messages, the app will reveal the photos of the other person.”Holden clears his throat. “I got two more letters. One of them was served certified mail from a lawyer’s office in Austin. I’m being sued for wrongful death for the murder of Cain by a woman who’s claiming to be Cain’s former long-term partner. Apparently, he supported her financially, and she was raising his child.” He pauses, tapping the cigar gently on an old-fashioned ashtray. “The second was addressed to Dolly. It appears to be from the original sender of the letters sent to me. This one targets her much more directly.”“We got another note. This one was tied around Oyster’s neck with a pink ribbon.” Oyster is the yellow Lab that belongs to the Redfords. “Until they are, she needs to be with you. Make a pallet on the floor or something. He threatened to torture her. There was another picture. This one was from the farmers market.” I haven’t heard Holden sound this afraid in years, not since his wife was kidnapped and held hostage by her own father. “Yeah, about damn time. And, Sam? I might not be as against it as Duke, but I’d really prefer if you don’t fuck my little sister while we’re dealing with this shit. That doesn’t mean I’m saying no for forever. Just not right now. I’ll call you tomorrow.”Dolly wants to sext Ropes. She doesn’t know he’s me. This is … unethical, at best. Gross and perverted, at worst. Possibly my death sentence. I can’t see clearly due to the sweat dripping down my face and the shadows creeping into my vision, but I’d swear on everything that the face etched with rage belongs to none other than Dolly’s little boyfriend, Benny. There’s no way Sam is Ropes. No. Fucking. Way. It can’t be Sam that I’ve been talking to this whole time. The driver’s door opens up, and Ben hops out of the vehicle, holding a bouquet of flowers. I sigh in relief. The tingling sensation crawling up my neck doesn’t ease. “You can’t actually believe that I’m not completely ruled by you. You have to know how … miserable and pathetic and … fucking destroyed I was, seeing you with him, over and over again.”“It was a shell casing—from the same kind of gun Holden killed Cain with.” I freeze, my water midway to my mouth. “And it had Dolly’s name written on it in black Sharpie.”Instead, I see Ben. “Hey, beautiful. What are you up to? Didn’t know you were into heavy metal.”Holden steps forward again. “Cain was your father?” Ben’s chest is heaving with his attempt to breathe. “I think I might die. I can’t breathe. I need a doctor.”“It’s Stanley. Stanley Harken. I was raised in foster care.”I took care of Stanley for seven months until they found my grandparents. I begged the social worker to let me bring Stanley with me. I cried for months after leaving that house. It was a miserable hellhole with kids going in and out constantly and a foster mom who took on way too many at once for the money. “Her heart monitor. It’s been going erratic the past few hours, but since you got here, it’s evened out.”“Matthews! He works here sometimes!” He gargles. “He’s a daily ranch hand.” I loosen my grip, staring at him. “Matthews is your uncle? On Cain’s side?” He nods, shaking his head and crying. “He was Cain’s half-brother. And he’s the only family I have. He took me in when I aged out of foster care. He bought me a truck.”“Was it worth it to you? To kill an innocent man and leave two boys as orphans in the process?” His eyes shine bright in the headlights of the truck as he moves to the side so his voice isn’t muffled by her hair. His gaze moves to me. “I know he doesn’t regret taking a father from his kids, but you will regret this … son.” My hand shakes. I stare at him, at the eyes that look too familiar. He grins. “So you didn’t know? I guess I’m not surprised your shit-hole grandfather never told you.”Him shooting Matthews not once, but twice with his bow. Him diving into ice-cold water and swimming to me. Him carrying me to safety, using his body heat to warm my shivering frame. Between accidentally telling her I love her while buried inside her, to the condom breaking, to her brother showing up to kick my ass, I might be the one about to have a heart attack. My vision is still blurry, but I think I see Holden grabbing a branding iron out of the back of the truck. When we finally make it around the corner of the house, Pops is in my backyard, coaxing a fire to life in my stone firepit. Holden drops the brand down into the flames. He’s grinning at me now too. “When’s the wedding?”“And Cain’s other kid? What’s happening with the lawsuit?” I ask, still keeping my voice low to avoid killing the positive holiday vibe. Cash takes a drink of his water before answering, “We were going to discuss it with you later on, but we’re thinking about settling by offering to buy the mom a little house up in Montana, near Triple T. It’ll be cheaper than a lawsuit would be. Then she can live there with the boy, Stanley can work and help support them if he wants to, and maybe all three of them can move on and forget about what happened to their sperm donor back in Texas. “Sterling has a wife now,” Duke blurts out. Six pairs of eyes swing to look at him. “What?” I gape at him. Duke waves a hand in the air. “It’s not a big deal. He called me the other day and told me he married her to help her out. She was pregnant and needed health insurance to afford to have the baby.”

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Que alguien le regale un kilo de amor propio a Dolly.

[olivia ྀི · Rating 3 out of 5]

In case you missed it, he has reddish-brown hair. Lol.

This one is kind of good if you REALLY suspend your disbelief and read it with a “what the hell, sure?” attitude.

The whole dating app thing was stupid though. In my personal opinion, this should’ve been established within the first few chapters rather than randomly introduced halfway through the book because the second Sam realises it’s Dolly, it immediately becomes weird. And he realises it’s her in less than a chapter. Mind you, he’s actively piecing together that she’s only on the app to get over her crush on him. Like… hello? Feels predatory lowkey idk. To note: Dolly previously dated an older Cain Dixon, who tried to rape her, specifically to get over Sam, so Sam then taking advantage of her on the app in any way made even less sense to me. She wasn’t mad enough when she found out imo. Like she lets him give her head instead of idk being angry.

Honestly, if the author had kept the whole thing anonymous from the beginning, it would’ve worked so much better. The connection would already be established, and Sam’s internal conflict about having to sever it once he realises who she is would’ve actually felt justified. Instead, the whole thing just made me feel icky. The sexting, the eagerness to open up to each other, all of it. Especially when they had both agreed this was supposed to be casual and anonymous. Why are we suddenly sharing our deepest traumas and emotionally connecting? WEIRDDDDD.

Example: “It ended up with the guy dying because he had forced himself on me and my brother killed him.” Why would she say this? 😭😭😭 Like girl, you don’t know him!

Also the way this dating app works…😭 And apparently this dating app works like this: “And it makes sure to connect to your social media so that any relatives are ruled out automatically.” DMPO. 😭 What kind of dating app cross references your entire family tree before letting you sext?

I think this entire series, and honestly the author’s writing in general, has a tendency to write for the trope rather than letting the plot actually develop with the troped as an aid. There’s very little depth because once you strip away the trope, there isn’t much underneath it. This book is basically best friend’s little sister and that’s it. It tries to add depth with Sam being an orphan, Dolly being sick, and then the whole stalker/suspense subplot, but every single one of those elements felt underwhelming, flat and weak.

It’s not terrible if you’re willing to turn your brain off and just go, “what the hell, sure,” and have fun, but if I actually stop and think about what’s happening? Yeah… no. 😭 Still my favourite book in the series though.





Spoilers
The stalker being Ben, who is actually called Stanley, who is also Cain’s long lost son, who is also not twenty five but in fact nineteen and has been using a fake ID, who was also in foster care, which means he has ties to Sam… 😭 And then Stanley has an uncle, Matthews, on Cain’s side, who ends up kidnapping Dolly because he’s a ranch hand that works with them. Apparently these brothers clearly don’t background check anyone they employ, despite always being involved in fucked up shit.😭 I’m irritated asf.

Seriously, what the hell have they been doing this entire time whilst allegedly “looking into it” and trying to find leads? Nothing, clearly because the connections were literally right there, and the enemy was closer than they thought.

And then, because apparently we haven’t reached the limit yet, this Matthews man ends up being Sam’s biological dad, who abandoned him. 🧍‍♀️Like… what? Bro. How many secret family connections can we possibly squeeze into one subplot?

Mind you, we find all of this out in the last five chapters. So Sam never actually gets to sit with the fact that the baby brother he desperately wanted his grandparents to adopt as a kid grew up to want to torture his new girlfriend, he himself killed his own biological father, and Dolly never actually gets to sit with the fact that she was almost raped again. Like… these are not small revelations you can dump in the final five chapters and then move on from. 😭 Pya speed running trauma.

And now you expect me to read Duke’s book, where it seems his love interest is in a toxic, potentially abusive relationship with her ex-husband… yeah, no. 😭 The track record is already showing me that this author cannot handle topics like that with the care or responsibility they require, so I’m going to pass. Love Duke though.

[_kenzie_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

3/5🌶️
•brothers bestfriend
•grumpy x sunshine
•she falls first. he falls harder
•forced proximity
•small town
•cowboyyy
•good with rope 🙂‍↕️
••••••••••
ARC REVIEW!
happy release day🥂

Ariel never disappoints❤️ i’ve loved her writing and her stories from the very beginning. seeing her growth has been amazing.

damn i missed the Redford brothers. i want them all….at the same time😝
Sam and Dolly were everything. the sexual tension made me blush from the very beginning. the coffee cake scene ? ayo. that was hot!

Dolly: i adore her so much. she has a heart of gold and would do anything for the people she loves. i loved watching her really find herself especially sexually, after everything that happened to her. her love for books made me love her even more. the stuff she reads? yep, we’d be besties for sure. also loved how she didn’t take anyone’s shit. i loved her so much

Sam: where do i sign up to be the one he uses his ropes on? he is a SEXY, broody ass who ignored his feelings for Dolly for yearsss!!! that forced proximity did its thang💅 he was so protective & he does not take anything lightly when it comes to her. that man worships the ground she walks on. binge watching the twilight series for her? shut the actual fuck up. and on top of that going to forks? no, i’m crying.
——these two were perfect together.

•••••••••••
fav quotes 🐂🤠

“You have to know, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to prove that I deserve you”

“I’ll do anything to make you mine.”

“Because I knew if I let myself love her, that’d be it. I knew my whole world would revolve around her. She’s the rising sun. She owns me”

“And I’m madly, deeply, stupidly in love with her.”

“I still think you deserve better, by the way, but I doubt you’ll find a better man who’s just as violently protective as I am. So, in that case, if you let me be your violently protective guard dog for the rest of our lives, I’d really like to beg you to make me the happiest man in the world and do me the honor of becoming my wife”

[Sara Rodríguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where could I start? First of all, I can't tell you how happy I'm we're getting a book under Ariel's name it fills me with so much joy💖

Onto the book, when I tell you I devoured this book it's the understatement of the year, I normally take between 1 to 2 weeks to finish a book because I'm a slow reader (compared to must of people on booktok) but I finish this in like 3 days.

I was not expecting at all how addictive this book was going to be for me.

Dolly was such a relatable character for me because of how scared she was with intimacy, her loving for baking and her love for books. I loved how she is such a strong woman and how she never let herself be bossed around by basically no one.
Ngl for a moment I was like "yeah girl, get over Sam, he's done nothing but ignoring you" Aaaand then we get to Sam's side and the whole coffee cake happen and I just wanted to punch him so he admitted what he felt for her.

I loved the hole Ropes and Red thing, the way they both trusted each other "without knowing" well technically true in a beginning haha, but dang they really wanted to do some stuff and how they were to say it on those texts.

I do have to say I did saw coming that Ben would be the one sending the letters and stuff but boy I didn't expect who we was working with and what he's relationship was with Sam, either of both, I did also expected Dolly being taken but seeing Sam doing all that he did for her, even with her brother's around, I loved that.

Honestly Sam's story really moved me, I was so happy when he finally let himself be happy and accepted his part of the Redford family, I really hope to see them in next books as side characters and have them still be happy and hopefully already married.

Thank you so much Ariel for keep letting me be part of your ARC team, I can't wait for the next one❤️.

[Harley · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐/5
Spoiler-free summary phrase: A brother’s best friend romance where Sam, the mystery, and the found family vibes steal the whole show.

Line that reveals the core tension: "You can't actually believe that I'm not completely ruled by you."

Spoiler-free thoughts: Sam completely carried this story! You can feel every part of his emotional journey, especially with how unhinged he is as a cage fighter and how much he is trying to hold himself together. What worked so well about this brother’s best friend setup is the mix of tension, yearning, and the sense that something meaningful is pushing him to grow. Dolly, though, was not my favorite FMC. She stays strong in the middle of the mystery and the chaos around her, but I did not see much growth from her, which made it harder to stay invested in her side of the dynamic. The five-star rating really comes from Sam, the mystery element, and the found family moments that gave the story its emotional weight.

Spoiler-y thoughts: Sam’s arc is the heart of this book. His darkness, his instability, and the way he tries to be better without losing the raw edges of who he is made him incredibly compelling. You feel the shift in him after the major event, and the way that shift mixes with the brother’s best friend tension gives the story so much emotional pull. Dolly, on the other hand, remains steady but static. With four protective brothers and an unhinged love interest orbiting her, she holds her ground, but the lack of real growth kept me from fully connecting with her or with them as a couple. The mystery thread adds movement and suspense, and the found family moments with her brothers deepen the emotional landscape in a way that really worked for me. But truly, it is Sam who gives the story its depth and heart.

[Maddie 📚💓⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ One of the best morally gray cowboy romances I’ve read. Sam and Dolly were so good together💗🥹 Sam had a lot of trauma, grief, and sadness he was dealing with. From having a horrible childhood to trying to continue living whilst his grandfather passed away. Life wasn’t easy for Sam. Dolly has always had a crush on Sam that was never reciprocated. As time goes on Dolly is torn between moving on and holding out hope that one day Sam could potentially feel the same. Dolly had a past of her own. I felt for them both and the things they had to suffer through. I enjoyed the found family aspect of it all. Dolly and her four brothers treated Sam like he was a part of the family. They were there for him always and supported and loved him🫶🏼 I liked how we were introduced to each of Dolly’s brothers and got to know them. It was so cute to hear their love stories and get clues on what the rest of the series would be about. Dolly and Sam had such fantastic chemistry🤭💓🥰 The first scene that they had together was filled with hot tension and breathtaking emotion. I will never look at coffee cake the same ☺️ Their relationship evolved wonderfully. The crazy stalker that Dolly had was so concerning. I loved how protective Sam was and how serious him and her brothers took her safety. The forced proximity was a perfect addition to this book. I also liked how much Dolly loved cooking. She was really passionate about it and it made her so happy! I loved that once Sam and Dolly let things go further she made him work for it. I liked how he learned to open up and be completely honest about the way he felt and the things he experienced. This was the perfect balance of plot, spice, character development, and romance 🙂‍↕️🤍 I definitely can’t wait to continue this series 🫶🏼🩷😍

[Crystal LoCicero · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

“But you made me a promise. And if I am going to ever meet my perfect asshole Prince Charming, I want some experience.”

Brother's best friend...She's had a crush forever...

This series is really hit or miss for me. I loved book 1 and really got excited for all the characters stories. Book 2 wasn't for me. And book 3(this one) was good but still felt a little off. I think there was so much going on and things felt a little rushed.

I love Dolly, she is fun and sweet mixed with a tiny bit of sass. I love that she was determined to get some experience and live a little. Sam was that typical...not good enough and deserves to be alone forever kinda guy. I loved his friendship with Dolly's Brother's.
The couple was building some chemisty when they were texting anonymously. It was sexy and fun. But when the finally decided to do things for real it felt rushed and the tension disappeared.
The suspense aspect was fun and twisty. I liked it.

There were just so many things that felt unfinshied... like the ex- gf never ran into new couple and gave drama or attitude? Weird. And the letter at the end...I wanna know how they took it?

Overall. I liked parts of this alot. And it was set up for me to be super interested in the last 2 Brother's stories. So I will read the next one when it comes out.

[Angie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!!! I LOVED IT!! I don't message author's much about their books but I messaged Ariel TWICE because I was so shocked and loved it so much!

Dolly Redford and Sam Seymour have known each other for years. Dolly has had a crush on him since she was eleven but he's her brother's best friend. Sam has tried for years to avoid her and think of her as a "sister". Now someone is sending notes to the family ranch threatening her life. Her brother's ask Sam if she can stay at his ranch until they can find out who is threatening her.

What sounds like a good idea quickly has Sam realizing that he wants more with Dolly. But what would her brother's think if they knew the type of thoughts he is having over their baby sister?
Sam and Dolly both end up on a dating app and don't realize that they are talking to each other. Dolly is hoping to find someone to help her get over her crush. When Sam realizes who he's talking to he doesn't say anything to Dolly. When Dolly sends a selfie that leaves little to the imagination Sam can only think of tying her to his bed with his rope. Once he has a taste of her he will stop at nothing to make sure she is safe.

This book has so many jaw dropping moments. There were super sweet moments as well. Each of the Redford brothers have a way of making my heart melt.

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3 | 🌶️ 2

This one was a bit of a mix some very good moments, a few very meh ones. There are heavier themes woven through, so definitely check the content warnings before diving in.

When Dolly’s life is put in danger, she’s forced into close quarters with her brother’s best friend and childhood crush… who’s always acted like she doesn’t exist. Naturally, because nothing says romance like mutual pining and terrible communication.

The forced proximity delivers though. The high-tension moments between Dolly and Sam are so good. Those little charged scenes do an excellent job of building anticipation.

That said… thank god for character development, because Sam’s breadcrumbing got irritating fast. Even with his POV giving us insight into his inner turmoil, the whole wanting her while actively rejecting her thing kept poking at Dolly’s insecurities in a way that was more frustrating than swoony. It was a relief when he finally started opening up and sharing his past.

I just wish we’d gotten more of those softer moments from both of them. Their relationship jumps from 0 to 100 pretty quickly, and a little more slow, tender build would’ve made the emotional payoff hit harder.

Not my favourite in the series, but still a solid, enjoyable read.

[Alexandra Vaverka · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️

And we are back on Cowboy romance…but with a darker side. One of my favorite fictional places, Redford Ranch. And it’s based in Texas which is my home state and I’m a little partial.

If you haven’t read book 1 and 2, I highly recommend it but these can be read as a standalone. I absolutely love this series and they’re different from the typical Cowboy romances. There is a dark aspect to these cowboys and I love it!!! Dolly is a sweet as pie FMC and she’s been crushing on Sam since he started hanging around her brothers. Now I love a childhood crush to lovers theme. Obviously she’s been off limits for him courtesy of her brothers…but they send her right into the lions den and the tension could be cut with a knife.

This had such a big build up and is full of mutual pining. These 2 are prob my favorite couple out of the series just because of the tension and yearning between them. And he watches Twilight with her with 0 complaints??? Swoon. 🥺🥺
********************

Also, note to the author (mild spoiler), I love how Ben got a happy ending. He deserved it and I appreciate the efforts that were made to heal his character. 🫶🏻

#unraveled #redfordranch #arielhendrix #cowboyromance

[Livy dow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I KNEWWWWWW IT. 😭🔥

OMG I KNEW I WOULD LOVE SAM. I KNEW IT. From the second he was introduced in the Redford Ranch series, I just had a FEELING about this man, and I was absolutely right. 😂🫠

Ariel Hendrix, you really gave me the broody, morally grey, emotionally damaged cowboy I was waiting for and then expected me to act normal about it?!

Absolutely not.

Sam and Dolly??? I WAS OBSESSED.

Dolly has had a crush on Sam for YEARS. He’s her best friend’s little sister’s forbidden temptation, he has spent years trying to stay away from her and now she’s literally living under his roof.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG? 😂👀

EVERYTHING.

And then we add the anonymous dating app?!

I AM SORRY??? 😭🔥

The fact that Sam is unknowingly talking to Dolly, flirting with her and getting completely wrapped up in this anonymous woman… only to find out it’s HER?! The woman he has been trying not to want for years?!

I WAS SCREAMING.

The slow burn was SO GOOD. The tension. The stolen moments. The flirting. The forbidden aspect. The fact that Sam knows exactly how much trouble he is in and STILL keeps going.

Sir, you are supposed to be protecting her, not falling completely fucking head over heels for her. 😂🫠

And honestly, Sam was EVERYTHING I wanted him to be.

[Noelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

OBSESSED

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I see you ARIEL HENDRIX❤️

I’ve been reading Ariel Hendrix since the very beginning, and as someone who has read all of her books, Unraveled honestly feels so special. You can see how much her writing has grown, while still keeping that emotional pull that made me fall in love with her stories in the first PLACE. 💗
This book is full of emotions. The writing feelings in such a natural, effortless way—you don’t just read this story, you sink into it. Her writing style is smooth, immersive, and easy to get lost in. 📖
The tropes were chef’s kiss: slow burn, emotional healing, inner struggles, deep emotional connection, and perfectly built tension. And let’s talk about the romance because it had the best mix of spicy moments 🌶️ and cute, soft scenes 🤍 that made me smile, kick my feet, and stay up way too late reading.
“I know, beautiful. I love it. I love you" THAT GOT MEEEE❤️‍🔥
What I loved most was the balance—heavy emotions mixed with warmth, tenderness, and growth. The relationship felt real, earned, and beautifully written❤️❤️

Straight to my favorites 📖💕

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am SUCH a sucker for Brother’s Best Friend romance and Ariel delivered with Dolly and Sam.

Dolly’s loved Sam forever, and Sam knows. He might have also felt the same for her but my lips are sealed!

The chemistry between the two of them was 🔥🔥🔥. The boat scene… the texting…. The cinnamon bread… he watches the Twilight series with her…ROPES.. knotting… did I mention ropes? She also asks for some… um… teaching…Since she’s never done much before 😈

There is nothing that Sam wouldn’t do for Dolly and he’d protect her at all costs, no matter what. Especially after the trauma she had gone through.

I don’t want to give the entire story away but trust me.. if you love found family, bestie girlfriends, strong male friendships, sweet but sass heroines, touch her and d*e vibes… suspense..you’ll love this book!!

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will confess i DNF Unraveled as of this moment, and i have no intentions to read the fourth book (Duke’s story). Dolly’s story felt even more forced than Cash’s, if that is even possible, and didn’t have anything really going to keep me invested in the book. I made it to around page 100 and decided that was it for me. The only plot line was Dolly and Sam’s “forbidden” attraction, which didn’t make much sense because in the previous book at least, Cash clocks their attraction and seems like he is fine with it. So in Dolly’s book, when all the brothers ship only her off for some reason, its confusing when they all put pressure on Sam to “not touch their sister”, but yet seem to secretly be ok with them crushing on each other? It’s just confusing and doesn’t make the “forbidden” aspect very genuine in my eyes

[Mack in the Stacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ || 3🌶️
I am seriously so obsessed with this series.
I have been dyyying for Dolly’s book because she’s truly the best and it didn’t disappoint.
Sam is HIM. Once he figures his shit out and decides he’s done pretending, man oh man, he turns into THAT MAN.
Only slightly obsessed with them.
This series truly is filling that itch in me that needed an equal amount of danger, romance, and a cowboy who will do anything and everything for his woman!
Foaming at the mouth for the next book!

🐎 cowboy
🤠 brother’s best friend
🚫 forbidden romance
🏡 small town
💕 she falls first, he falls harder
⚠️ romantic suspense
🛡️ protective hero
🎯 high-stakes danger
❤️‍🩹 medical vulnerability
🩹 trauma / healing

[Victoria Horne · Rating 4 out of 5]

he calls her Baby Red 🫠

I really enjoyed the characters and overall story in this one. The plot kept me engaged, and I found myself wanting to keep reading to see what would happen next.

I especially liked the dynamic between Sam and Dolly. The brother’s best friend tension, the protective cowboy vibes, and all of the slow-burn moments between them made it easy to root for their relationship. Sam had plenty of “touch her and die” energy, but there were also some softer moments that made me love him even more.

The suspense kept things interesting, and Dolly’s storyline added an emotional depth that made me even more invested.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with great characters, good tension, and a story that kept me turning the pages.
⭐️ 3.5 stars

[Amber Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Redford siblings,and each and every installment of their family’s ranch saga. Their relationships are so rich and full of angst,protectiveness and an endearing sibling bond that makes me so emotional and happy while reading their individual stories.
Dolly has had a rough go of it,and life hasn’t been any simpler for her brother’s best friend, Sam.
Their love Story was a long time coming and I’m so pleased that Ariel Hendrix has given us a tension filled slow-burn that develops into a lasting relationship full of heat and heart.
This was a perfect way for Dolly’s story to be written and I truly loved it.

[Bookmom1213 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam and Dolly’s story is pure, addictive tension from the very first page. The forbidden pull between Sam, he is a fiercely protective, emotionally scarred ranch owner, and Dolly who is his best friend’s little sister. He has liked her for years but at the same time he ignored her for years because of “bro-code”. Dolly has far more strength than anyone gives her credit for, makes every interaction crackle with intensity. Dolly has always had a crush on Sam. If you like slow-burn obsession, raw vulnerability, violently protective and high-stakes danger, this romance delivers an unforgettable emotional punch that lingers long after the final page.

[Booked on Lattes · Rating 4 out of 5]

POV: Dual
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

I’ve been loving this series and this one might be my favorite yet! Dolly is the one sister in a family of rough cowboy brothers so it was bound to be good.

While I loved how Dolly was this tiny ball of fire and personality, I especially loved Sam and his quiet strength and my heart really hurt for him. Dolly and him are so cute together and I think this is one of the more spicier books from Ariel!

If you’ve read the other two books, the you will love seeing the family all together throughout the book, working to solve the mystery of Dolly’s stalker. This book has the perfect amount of darker suspense and romance!