Falling for the Rancher

by Heather Scarlett

Cassie



Homecoming queen, rodeo princess, and girlfriend to the captain of the football team. My life was perfect. Except I knew the truth—my family was a mess since my older sister ran away and the pressure on me to be perfect was greater than ever. I just wanted to barrel race and win ribbons, not live up to my parents’ impossible expectations.

I’d kept it all together until the unthinkable happened—my perfect boyfriend broke up with me the same night the news my sister had eloped was made public and the carefully curated world I’d built crumbled to the ground. I found myself in the corner dive bar I hated—but anything was better than showing my face at my usual hangout.

The last person I wanted to see became the only person who accepted me. Liam looked past the perfect image to see me and the feeling was intoxicating.



Liam

Ready to blow off steam on Friday night, I sipped beer at my favorite hangout, only to have the most conceited girl in town fall into my lap, literally. I detested Cassie and her perfect hair, perfect body, and perfect pedigree. She was too good for me, and we both knew it.

Yet, when the lights came up at closing time, it was Cassie’s hand on my thigh and her pouty pink lips brushing mine. Never one to turn down a bad idea, I let myself get caught up in the moment.

One night turned into a summer of secret hookups until I couldn’t deny that I had fallen for the one girl I couldn’t have. Summer turned to Fall and secrets came out.

62 pages, Paperback

Published May 28, 2025

About the author

Heather Scarlett writes small town romance for readers who crave the warmth of Gilmore Girls charm, the wild beauty of Montana skies, and the sun-drenched magic of California wine country. Her stories are rich with tender moments, swoon-worthy chemistry, and cozy settings that wrap around you like your favorite sweater. Expect flirtation, heart-melting emotion, and family sagas where second chances are guaranteed. If you love the scent of fresh-baked pie, the sparkle of vineyard sunsets, and the comfort of coming home, Heather's feel-good romances deliver happily-ever-afters that linger like a perfect kiss.

Reviews

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐s Appearances are everything to her family, but maybe not to her...

Cassie Cody appears to have it all  to everyone in Wildwood Falls. She's the most popular girl in town, was both a former Rodeo Princess, and Homecoming Queen. Joey, once the captain of the football team, is her boyfriend. Then, in one night, her world crashed down around her ears. Her younger sister eloped with her bull rider boyfriend. Her father wants the elopement kept secret so it won't hurt his chances in the upcoming election. Shortly after that news, she found Joey at the bar where they were supposed to meet, only he was with someone else.

Liam Rainger knows Cassie from the rodeo circuit where he was a bull rider. He freely admits to himself that she's gorgeous, but she's also the most conceited female he's ever known. That dislike didn't stop him from knocking out Joey for publicly humiliating Cassie at the bar. Nor did it stop him from following her to make sure she's OK. He's surprised to learn that although he doesn't like her, he does enjoy the banter that goes on between them.

He takes her for a drink at a bar in a section of town she's probably never ever stepped foot in. The bar is a bit rundown, has a jukebox but no dance floor, and draws an older, mainly beer-drinking clientele. When a song plays that her parents used to dance to in the living room when she was a child, it nearly breaks her. She had thought that she and Joey would have that type of love where they, too, danced in the living room.

When she's too drunk to drive herself home, he takes her to his place. When it finally dawns on them that sniping at one another is their love language, they start secretly dating. But soon that isn't enough. Is the town, especially her parents ready for that? It's time to find out...

I received an ARC of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Rosanne Medill · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful ebook just full of sparks. This outstanding author can add another 5⭐️ winner to her resume with this ebook. Cassie is always the perfect daughter until she finds her boyfriend cheating on her. Liam has always thought Cassie was so uppity and perfect ànd he thought he didn't like her but he just couldn't not come to her rescue when she was crying. They have such intense chemistry of hate and love. But after a date will they find that they are a missing piece of a puzzle or will their differences cause them not to fit? Can Cassie trust that Liam isn't playing with her due to her past relationship? Does Liam finally admit that his picking on Cassie in the past was really him flirting with her and showing he cared for her? I can guarantee that you won't want to put this one down. You'll love it. I sure did.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short enemies to lovers story. When Cassie catches her boyfriend coming out of the bathroom cheating on her with another woman, she flees the bar. On the way out she runs smack dab into a hard body. She hears the man say, you bastard and then the sound of a fist hitting a face. Liam had witnessed the whole thong and though he and Cassie weren’t friends, he felt bad for her and felt protective. A sweet story with realistic characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining cowboy short romance story that I enjoyed reading. This hate to love romance was about Cassie a rodeo queen from a prominent family who caught her long-standing boyfriend cheating as he leaves the bathroom at the Demin Dreams club and Liam a rodeo cowboy who punches her boyfriend and goes to console her. What occurs as they go out drinking that night and afterwards was an engaging story with likable characters with chemistry in this romantic story. I'd received a copy and volunteered to read and review.

[Marichus Real · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassie is about to have the worst day of her life. Her sister just eloped and to make matters worse, she caught her boyfriend cheating on her.
Liam can’t stand Cassie, but when he sees her nearly crumbling down after what her cheating boyfriend did, he can’t stay away from her.
This was a story about two people who disguised their true feelings into something different.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liam takes Cassie home when she’s at a low point with her long-term boyfriend cheating on her and the scandal of her sister eloping. They start to date but her family doesn’t approve because he’s not from the right family. That isn’t resolved at the end of the story and I love you comes out pretty quick after he thought she was a snob and couldn’t stand her.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has given us a wonderful enemies-to-lovers story that pulls us into the lives of Cassie and Liam. The heartwarming story keeps us turning the pages with animosity, connection, revelations and realizations.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bonnie Theel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short but enjoyable read. Cassie and Liam couldn't stand each other. When her boyfriend cheated on her, Liam was the only one there for her. Could this possibly turn into something good?

I received a free ARC, and this is my honest opinion.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling for the rancher was Liam and Cassie’s story. One night turned into a summer of secret hookups. Is he falling for the one girl he can’t have? Summer turned to Fall and secrets came out. It was an entertaining read. I got a copy of the book and voluntarily leaving my review.

[T.I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked reading this story. The characters and storyline are very entertaining, and enjoyed them very much. Totally worth the read.