The Lansing House: Part 1

by Lenica Badenhorst

Asher Fitzgerald returns home after nine years in the army. He’s an ex-army sniper, a rancher and the town’s very own hero.
Maggie Conroy moves to Two Bear Meadow with her infant daughter, Melody. Her past is a well-kept but dark secret that she’s running from.
Asher and Maggie meet by chance and he is charmed by her beautiful smile even after getting hit by a broom. On the ranch, Maggie gets acceptance from the entire Fitzgerald family and she finds herself living in Asher’s house after a car accident.
Once Maggie’s secret is revealed, Asher finds himself in the woods, his own PTSD clouding his mind. His rash anger leaves him with blood on his hands and a suspect in a murder investigation.
Life on the ranch shows Maggie what family is all about, the people that complete you and the absolute faith that good will triumph over bad.
‘The Lansing House’ offers a glimpse into the lives of two people that may have never met under different circumstances. Maggie learns to trust and Asher learns to forgive. Fighting for love is the best reason to fight at all. Asher must survive and keep his head above water when it turns out that everything he believed to be true, never was.

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 27, 2025

Reviews

[Elena Marshall · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ending absolutely ruined it

I would have given this book five stars if it wasn’t for the last chapter. I won’t spoil it, but it was absolutely bullshit. I won’t bother reading the second book, and if you choose to read the first I’m sure you’ll understand why.
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Vague spoilers ahead: I get that not every story has a happy ending, but this one?? Not even poignant, not thought provoking, not offering a story with a character set to mourn. Just utter bullshit. This author really had a gem, but chose the trope of (actual spoilers ahead)
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“It was all in his head”????!?? I get it, PTSD is an awful thing, but to have this story with him navigating it, finding peace in his loved ones, them encouraging him to do the healthy thing and try to seek counseling, all this beautiful story, and they just ended it with the most pathetic, unimaginative choice. The whole next book is premised on a different woman who apparently comes to the ranch to escape her abusive ex and may fall in love with Asher. Literally the same exact story line. Why not offer that to one of his brothers? Make the story even remotely, by one tiny iota different? I’ve never been so severely disappointed in a book, and I’ve put plenty in my DNF. What a beautiful story absolutely ruined by a thoughtless plot device. I’m glad I didn’t purchase this book in person, otherwise I might have torn the last chapter out and ignored the existence of book 2.

[Allyssa Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

heads up

I’m giving this book five stars because I truly did enjoy it and it was a great story…until the last chapter. You can’t just erase everything at the end like that! I mean come on! Read this in two days was so excited thinking maybe there would be more about the other brothers or Eden in the next book just to read the last chapter and POOF the whole story is gone. Books make you go through lots of emotions but I never thought the end of one could actually make me angry. I can’t read the second one. Asher fell in love with Melody and I can’t watch him do it with someone else. I’m going to pretend the last chapter doesn’t exist.

[Andrea Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this book while scrolling through Tik Tok and didn't regret it. Absolutely loved this small town romance and fell in love with the family and characters. Never expected that ending though!!! I hope she continues this series

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DO NOT read chapter 77! my heart is broken!

First off I loved this book till the end. I do not know what the author was thinking!!!! She could have made a whole series on the Fitzgerald family but it’s ruined. Maggie and Melody are a figment of his imagination!!!!

[Rachel Sabol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book...but goodness didn't like the very last chapter...77... I'm happy to leave it at 76... Had hope of it being a series of books following the family and their romance journeys...not so much.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book however the end is Stupid!! Doesn’t flow with book 2 at all. I got 3 chapters in and stopped reading book 2

[Shernelle Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic

This book kept me on my feet wanting more I loved it can’t wait for book 2 hope it is also good♥️♥️♥️💯

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this on a FB advert and my word it is absolutely amazing. I read it in under 2 days and as a FT working mum of 4 that’s an achievement, I could not put it down.

[Lamora B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow

This was a good read... I was not prepared for the ending!! That was a plot twist! Now I need to read book 2!

[Christine Stutzke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am so mad with this book!! I wish I never read it. How? Why? What the heck? I can't even believe this. I wish there was a disclaimer or something. 300 pages of a damn dream? Ugh.

[jennifer welsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

the ending just got me!

I rarely cry but this book was emotional !!!! The en just blew my mind ... I hope it's just as good in the second book!

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was great until the last chapter. It ads nothing to the story and kind of ruined it frankly. I was excited for book 2 to be about another sibling.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent

The book was very good up until the end! The ending canceled out the whole story line! I probably won't read part 2.

[Maxine Neilsom · Rating 5 out of 5]

just omg

I dunno guys but I didn’t put this down unless I needed to. I loved every second of it even though it’s totally pg which honestly was a nice change of pace.

[Rebecca Layne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot twist at the end. I was like wth but actually enjoying it still in part 2. I read on any stories!

[Jordan Lindall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t even know what to say. Biggest plot twist of the century. Are you joking me? I knew it was too good to be true, but I still didn’t expect it.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What!?

Good read. Leaves you wanting more. Did not see that ending coming. Onto to part 2 of The Lansing House.

[Jennifer Wudyka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally thrown for a loop

This is an amazing read. I'm all in. Let's go number two. Asher and Maggie what a story. I'm so confused but im hooked.

[Brianna E · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow

Great story , everything flowed beautifully all the stories came together perfectly . I was very shocked with the ending . Now to read part 2 !

[Maria Moreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

Nice to read a book so wholesome and romantic. Very much worth ready. Couldn’t put it down read it in less than a day!

[Susan Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story with a stupid ending.

[Karn Bahrami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story

I really enjoyed this book, the love and warmth between the characters was incredible, but that ending really floored me!

[Holly Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was such a great book until the last chapter. I moved on to book 2, but it wasn’t the same. I would have given this 5 stars if the ending had been different

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, the end threw me for a loop.