At First Dance

Patricia (Spellbound Stories Trish)

Heartwarming, swoony, poetic!

-Popstar FMC/Farmboy MMC
-Dual POV
-Spice
-Epilepsy Rep
-Small town

I loved this romance, so swoony and sweet. I loved seeing Ivy’s personal growth and finding her voice, and I loved seeing Rowan work to accept a little change and let people in!

Renee Harless’s writing was beautiful! I really felt like I was there.

Overall this romance felt so sweet, caring and soft- there was banter, drama, emotions, spice - all the things!

Highly recommend for any romance lovers!

2,921 reviews119 followers

Rowan and Ivy…love absolutely love these two. His grumpiness and her heart just fit.

Their story is a rough one with many bumps but so worth it as you see these two find their way. Both are at a standstill waiting for the world to show them the way when they have a fateful meeting and nothing will ever be the same again.

Absolutely love how these two balance each other out. Experiencing their growth and love was beautiful and a perfect addition to this amazing series!

Lisa Slone

190 reviews7 followers

October 15, 2025

This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. It was so different from At First Flight that I kept double checking to see that it was part of the same series. I expected book 2 to be about a different character, but I love the way Renee went into the family and started their stories even though the family members weren’t huge stars in AFF.

Ivy is a pop star on the run from life, just trying to return a jacket to her paparazzi picture boyfriend when her car goes kaput. Rowan (the brother of AFF’s FMC) is a quiet cowboy on his way home who can’t leave a damsel, or a pop star, in distress and wouldn’t you know his ranch has a quaint little guest house where Ivy can stay.

Their story is just beautiful but even more than that, Renee wrote some of the most beautiful descriptions I’ve ever read. Usually when description is more prevalent than dialogue I get bored, but I found myself highlighting passages and lines not because they were funny/sexy/quirky things the characters said, but because the way her words were woven together just reached in and wrapped around my heart.

Rowan is also a lot different than the typical cowboys I read in romance books and I adore him. He is quiet and stoic and just so supportive in every way. He knows who he is and while there are some things that he learns and changes about himself, you can tell he is just so strong in who he is as a man. Ivy is the same way and even though she goes through much more growth than Rowan, I could feel her inner self coming through pretty quickly.

The whole time I was reading this I was imaging it as a movie starring Josh Duhamel and Dianna Agron. Both of them are soft and sultry but naturally beautiful humans. Ugh. Let’s make it happen universe.

hannahwells.books

313 reviews16 followers

At First Dance

Pop Star x Cowboy
Ex-Boyfriend’s Brother
Small Town
Slow Burn

Ivy Quinn is a Nashville Pop Star, bright lights and being “on” is all she knows. When she finds herself stranded in Coral Bell Cove, the last thing she expects to find is solace in the small country town and the cowboy that calms her storms.

My thoughts:
Ivy completely unravels Rowan in the most tender way. This slow burn smolders and makes this book impossible to put down.

Oh, the way I fell for this man. Life has hardened Rowan Wright, he’s a tough as nails cowboy with a guarded heart. I’ve said it a million times, there’s nothing better than seeing a guarded man fall in love and Ivy brought this man to his knees.

There has never been a more perfect pair, Ivy and Rowan’s chemistry immediately pulled me in. Their relationship builds in the most beautiful way – the tension and pull were heartfelt and genuine. Their relationship felt real, authentic, and earned.

Renee Harless was made to write small town romance. At First Dance left with me all the warm fuzzy feelings and with the biggest smile.

Thank you Renee for allowing me to read Rowan and Ivy's story early.

Vanessa

703 reviews56 followers

September 21, 2025

Renee Harless does not disappoint in giving us all the feels in the second book of the Coral Bell Cove series. We get a grumpy cowboy that has a fear of letting people in after being burned and left behind and a pop star looking for some peace and quiet but also not having to be on at all times. Ivy and Rowan are what the other needs and more. They take us on an emotional rollercoaster that will have you on the edge of your seat hoping along with them. I could not put it down and was instantly hooked. I can’t wait for what is to come in this series.

Shaylee

169 reviews15 followers

October 13, 2025

Ivy is a pop star finds herself stranded in Coral Bell
Cove, its a blessing in disguise for her. Ivy needs a breather from her career. Rowan is a cowboy in a small town who finds Ivy stranded on the side of the road. They aren’t supposed to work but the heart wants what the heart wants. 🤭

This was my first book from Renee and I loved it. I absolutely loved the characters, especially Rowan. He’s a tough cowboy that happens to finally find the person he can let in. This story is swoony and sweet. I can’t wait for the rest of the series!

Thank you Renee for the arc copy!!

Erin Lewis

6,267 reviews220 followers

September 22, 2025

4 Star Review At First Dance (Coral Bell Cove #2) by Renee Harless

I love stories set in a small-town Coral Bell Cove, Virginia so was excited to jump into At First Dance.

This is Rowan Wright and Ivy Quinn’s slow burn love story and it was a fabulous read.

Ivey brings sunshine into grumpy cowboy Robin’s life. She is a whirlwind, and she also happens to be his brother’s ex which causes additional complications.

Can these two overcome the past and in doing so find happiness?

Elizabeth Mazzie

172 reviews6 followers

Ivy and Rowan are two completely different people that find love when they least expect it. Ivy is a pop star from Nashville that shows up in Rowan’s small town when she gets stuck in a ditch. She is there because she is bringing something back to his brother. When they met, Rowan is just a grumpy cowboy that brings her to a wedding he is on the way to. While they are there, she tells him that she needs a place to stay and he offers her is guest cottage. She takes him up on the offer and she feels at home. While she is there, she helps him around the farm and they talk and he helps her find herself. She starts writing while she is there and she also starts breaking through Rowan’s grumpy shell.

She then leaves after a few days to meet with her reps. But she soon finds that she can’t be there and she wants to go “home” back to Coral Bell Cove. After she is there for a while and they start to really develop their feelings for each other and are starting to show it. The longer she is there the more at home she feels and like she belongs there. She has to make her way back to Nashville to deal with some things and they make a promise to remember what is important and that they are going to be there for each other. This holds true when she needs him the most, and thinking about him gets her through. When she returns home, she sees what he has done around the farm, that branches off her vision she had. She surprises him when she arrives home, and she sings for everyone that is there. As time goes on, their relationship grows and develops. They help each other find themselves and soon they can’t be without each other. They belong together, and everyone is starting to notice the changes in both of them, for the better.

I really enjoyed this book. I like that even thought it was about music star, it wasn’t the main focus of the storyline. It played some part in it, but it was more of her finding herself and where she belongs and learning to be proud of herself. This book is well written, brings you into the story and it flows well together. I couldn’t but it down and fell in love with this grumpy cowboy and music star!

Notyourmomsshelf

602 reviews7 followers

This was a great story of both an FMC and mmc finding themselves in each other. all Ivy needed was quiet from the fame she never enjoyed and she found her match in Rowan. He was quiet, calm, and sturdy. And Ivy was a breath of fresh air for Rowan. She pushed him to see that his dreams are obtainable. I really liked their dynamic and that they were always a safe space for each other. I wish I read book 1 before reading this just so the storyline would have flowed a tad easier. But still a great read.

Haley Ara H.

605 reviews94 followers

This was such a sweet and emotional addition to the Coral Bell Cove series! I loved Rowan and Ivy!! This was both a tender slow burn and quite insta-lovey, but somehow it just worked. I thought this was very adorable and heartfelt!

Unapologetically Bookish

325 reviews14 followers

October 23, 2025

4.25

Oh my gosh, the descriptive, poetic writing in this book was so beautiful!! I loved all the ways the writer found to describe the most everyday things and then turn them into vivid portraits and moving lyrics. Loved it!!

Oh the stillness and solidness of Rowan. To find a man like this …I don’t know if there are men like this IRL lol. I loved how he stayed. How he was solid for her. Still. I loved how he didn’t push, didn’t demand even though he wanted to. How he knew that she needed space, needed to breath, and he let her. I loved how he showed up in the little things like coffee in the morning and mason jars of tea. How he saw her, heard her.

I loved how Ivy stood up for herself. After years of being pulled and pushed and forced into a “thing” instead of the human begin she was, she learned to form boundaries. To demand more for herself. To say no. And to choose what she wanted. I loved how she wanted to stay well before she said it out loud. How she wasn’t afraid to be real. Or to go, even though Rowan was a man who stayed. I melted at her song lyrics, ugh they hit me right in the chest. So sweet!!

This is a perfect “finding home” story. For both of them. They found their center, their calm in the storm 😏.

The stage!! The song!! Omg the quiet intimate proposal!! Ugh, loved it all!!

Grumpy MMC
Finding home
Small town
Forced proximity

Kayla M

116 reviews3 followers

September 30, 2025

This was a cute small town romance and I loved reading about how thoughtful and caring Rowan was!
Thank you for the arc!!

Paula

593 reviews260 followers

September 24, 2025

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐞-𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤

Even though “At First Dance” is technically set in the summer, for me it has all the autumn vibes. I’m sorry Renee Harless, but it’s true. I could feel the nostalgia and the slow pace of the wind blowing, the rains announcing a forthcoming visit, the pumpkins growing in Rowan’s farm… I could hear the fallen leaves crispy under Ivy’s feet as she walks back to the little cottage in the property. And why is it? Because, dear Renee, you decided to give us comfort simply by making Rowan share a hoodie with Ivy so she would feel his autumn scent all the time.

This book might be my newest favorite amongst all of Renee Harless’ books I’ve read so far. This is the only one of them that feels simple and nice. Rowan might be the reason, he’s just a farmer, a man with a simple, yet fulfilling life. Not a billionaire, not a genius, not an overworked CEO. He’s your milkman, your wood cutter, your seller at the farmers market… he lives in comfort because he needs very little to feel comfortable, and he devotes himself to others at the same time. This is exactly what I like in a man, small gestures and trust.

Both Rowan and Ivy have reason to be insecure about their own choices, they feel that everyone else have weird or unrealistic expectations towards them, each of them their own way. Whether it is true or not, that’s how they feel. Scared, prudent, and sometimes too shy to take a step. However it is not what they feel when they are together, both find reassurance, trust and determination in each other, they find the strength that they feel they lack in each other because they support each other from the first time they meet. And their love story develops from there, from a place of security, comfort and trust. They are so good to each other that they know the belong together even before realizing that they are in love. Especially in the case of Rowan who falls first and falls harder, the angst, the longing and the lack of self esteem in regards of not feeling worthy of her when she’s telling him that he’s the one she needs in every possible way but verbally. I loved how broody he is, I loved him pining for her whenever she was away. This is, because of all that, a story made of small moments, of little details and slow dancing in circles around the farm. The real problem is how to let the world know that this is their safe place while at the same time keeping it just for themselves, the only place and the only person with whom they can be true to themselves, to be who they really are and no one lets them be.

Ivy deserves this place, this man and this moment to be herself, for she has played the role of the superstar until she felt like a broken doll, dancing to her mother’s tune. She’s actually so sweet and so so far from the sexy pop princess idea, that the contrast is really shocking. But only Rowan can see that.

I wish there were more books like this nowadays, books to enjoy falling in love with the characters slowly but surely.

read_in_2025

Amy

1,532 reviews36 followers

September 24, 2025

“When you’re with me, it’s like I can breathe. Like the chaos shuts up for five seconds.”

At First Dance is a tender, charming slow-burn romance that finds its magic in the quiet moments between two people whose lives couldn’t be more different. Rowan is a gruff, solitary cowboy rooted in routine, while Ivy is a high-profile pop star whose every minute is scheduled, leaving her little room to breathe. When Ivy seeks refuge from the chaos of fame, she ends up staying with her ex’s brother—Rowan—and the unexpected chemistry that simmers between them is quietly captivating.

“You’re the person who made me say out loud the things I only let myself think when nobody’s watching. Let me…be the guy who stays. Let me prove it slow.”

Their connection unfolds like a delicate waltz, full of tension and restraint. Drawn to each other like magnets, Rowan and Ivy resist the pull, each carrying emotional scars that make vulnerability feel dangerous. Rowan, still healing from past heartbreak, has built walls to protect himself. Ivy, always seen as a brand rather than a person, is stunned by Rowan’s ability to truly see her. In each other, they discover the kind of understanding and care they’ve been longing for—something that makes them feel whole.

“She saw something in me before I saw it in myself. And perhaps that’s what real love is—someone who believes in your best parts even when you’re terrified they don’t exist.”

What I loved most was how deeply they supported one another, offering unconditional care and acceptance. Despite their contrasting worlds, they fit together in a way that feels destined. Their journey is emotional, intimate, and beautifully written, with characters so well-developed you can’t help but root for them.

“I can live in your world if you can live in mine.”

At First Dance is another standout in this series—an emotionally rich story that lingers long after the final page. Watching Rowan and Ivy make space for love in their lives was a joy, and I’m already counting down the days until the next installment.

Bookishlyhaley

368 reviews14 followers

September 30, 2025

At First Dance is the second book in the Coral Bell Cove series. It follows Ivy Quinn and Rowan Wright.

Rowan is a grumpy cowboy with a fear of letting people in. He has a past that causes him to have his walls up so high but the more time he spends around Ivy the more his walls start to crack. He is playful, quiet, patient, kind, thoughtful, protective and guarded. This man is such a cinnamon roll and it could not be more fitting. I love that he never tries to change anything about Ivy and is one of her biggest supporters.

Ivy is a pop star who appears to have it all until she comes crashing into Coral Bell Cove longing for quiet. She is tired of having to be on all the time with people in the industry and longs to find meaningful connections as well as a place to call home. She is sassy, kind, curious, passionate, funny, bright and playful. I love that she helps Rowan learn to communicate what he is thinking instead of shutting down and going quiet. She also helps push him towards his dream and believes in him even when he doesn’t believe in himself.

They had such quirky and flirty conversations right from the start. Let me tell you, I have not laughed so hard in a while. I loved their interactions especially when a calf named Butterscotch was involved. Their connection ran deep and only intensified over the course of the book. Even though they couldn’t be more different they found they both longed for quiet and found a home in each other. I found their relationship felt organic, real and authentic.

I can’t wait to see what happens next in Coral Bell Cove!

You will enjoy this book if you like the following:
- Small town
- Cowboy x popstar
- Ex-boyfriend’s brother
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Slow burn

Thank you so much, Renee Harless, for the gifted copy!

arc

Tara

108 reviews1 follower

Alana Lewis-Haynes (Smut Lover Reviews)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ARC Review⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

At First Dance swept me away from the very first page. Ivy Quinn isn’t just running from the chaos of fame. She’s searching for a piece of herself she lost somewhere along the way. A broken-down car in Coral Bell Cove feels like the universe pressing pause, and when Rowan Wright shows up, steady and cautious to his core, the sparks are quiet but undeniable.

Rowan absolutely stole my heart. He’s anxious, hesitant, and terrified of choosing wrong, yet so deeply yearning for more. The way he approaches Ivy, like he’s relearning how to live, how to trust, how to hope, was achingly beautiful. He doesn’t have to be the unshakable one with her, and watching him figure that out felt like witnessing something raw and real.

Renee Harless writes with a kind of restraint that makes every scene sink deep under your skin. I found myself stopping just to savor her words. Lines like:

“Heat is honest work—the kind that gets in your shirt and insists you do something with your hands.”

The imagery is so vivid, you don’t just read it, you feel it. Even if you're never experienced the heat that rolls off an open field in person, the way she describes, in detail, without showboating, place you there like a silent observer.

This is more than just a romance about a famous woman and a cowboy; it’s about letting yourself slow down, facing fear without shutting down, and choosing love even when it feels like the scariest risk of all.

If you love emotionally rich small-town romance with lyrical writing and characters who break you open before piecing you back together, At First Dance belongs on your TBR.

Marni Ortiz

3,494 reviews73 followers

September 28, 2025

Cowboy 🤠, Ex Boyfriends Brother and Small Town Romance . Have you ever picked up a series that just sucked you right in , in ways you never would have expected ? That had you falling in love with each and every character / couple from the very first book and where you found yourself completely immersed in the world the author has created ? That had the ability to make you feel so many different emotions you never saw coming? Everything from smiling and laughing out loud , to crying like a baby to actually being speechless at times and screaming outta pure frustration during others . That had you cheering so freaking hard from start to finish,? Well Renee Harless’s Coral Brell Cove Series is so quickly becoming that series for me and we’re only on book # 2 . I just adored Ivy and Rowan so so much. Their story was so beautiful and so emotional, yet sweet and steamy as well . These two could not be more opposite Rowan because a Grumpy Cowboy who so clearly is not looking for love . And Ivy a pop star with a sunshine personality . I loved watching them fall for one another. Watching them overcome the obstacles in their way . On top of that, the. Angst , the humor , the witty banter , the drama , the family and friendships, the love , the passion, the moments that were so heartwarming and heartbreaking they literally pulled on all my heartstrings. Oh I quickly I ended up devouring this fantastic romance
a few seconds ago

Nicole

549 reviews5 followers

January 8, 2026

Ivy is a popstar looking for an escape. Finding herself on the side of the road with a broken down car, she is rescued by a broody cowboy, who happens to be the brother of the man she��s been fake dating because their publicists said so. When he recognizes that she needs a quiet place to land, he offers her the use of the cottage on his farm. As she starts to join him on his daily chores, they find a quiet rhythm, and Ivy soon starts to wonder whether she truly can have more than life in the limelight.

Rowan has always been the steady brother, living a steady but quiet life on the farm, guided by routine. When Ivy comes into his life like a summer storm, he finds himself needing something he’s never trusted himself to want before. Scarred by the one in his past who chose to leave, Rowan is torn between not wanting to be the one to hold her back when she has to leave, and being worth her choosing to stay.

I wasn’t sure I could fall as hard for another CBC couple, but Ivy and Rowan just had something special about them. While Rowan might seem strong and steady on the surface, he holds such vulnerability inside, and Ivy has spent so long being what others expect of her that she has forgotten to figure out who she is on her own. Watching them build a strong foundation before they could ever start anything romantic reminds us that love takes time, and sometimes you can say more with shared time than you can with shared touches.

Alexandra Trachsler

140 reviews8 followers

Read

October 28, 2025

“Sunglasses are nowhere in sight, which means those eyes are. They’re not the icy camera blue I’d braced for; they’re warmer, stormier. The summer sky decides whether to rain or bless you.”

“The part where you hovered near enough to catch me if I fell and then acted like you didn’t. The part where you watched me like I was a storm you wanted and feared at the same time.”

This book was so sweet! And a lil spicy👀🤭 a pop star w/epilepsy and a grumpy cowboy from a small town! I absolutely loved their love story and the way Rowan is so gentle w/ Ivy! The way Rowan became Ivy’s safe place absolutely melted me and had me swooning! Obsessed with the camp idea and i was so excited when Rowan actually started it! Bailey was absolutely favorite side character! I love how much the town came to care for Ivy and how she stood up to her mom! The way Ivy was able to connect w the little girl who also had epilepsy was so sweet and it really showed how there are always people out there with the same conditions as you and you may not even know🥹 I myself don’t have epilepsy but I know people that do and it is absolutely a scary thing! I love it so much when medical conditions are recognized in books and feel like it provides such a connection to people with those conditions! This book was so so good and I didn’t want to put it down! Absolutely will be reading more books by this author! Plus the book has a cute baby cow? Absolutely a win!😍

455 reviews5 followers

September 26, 2025

*Thank you to Renee for providing me with an ARC for an honest review!

I don’t know what Renee put in this book but I could not put it down. She wrote an absolute masterpiece that made my heart constantly skip a beat. The chemistry between Rowan and Ivy was obvious the moment they met. I was drawn in and obsessed with them. The quick comfort and safety they found in each other was something so special.

Ivy didn’t feel human anymore and struggled to find her voice in the sea of so many. The quiet safety she discovers in Rowan's farm helps bring her back to life. My heart constantly broke for Ivy and the struggles she was dealing with. I loved how quickly she bonded with this little town and its people. She belonged there from the very moment she got there. Rowan is a steady and hardworking man who had his own struggles with his past. The way he took care of Ivy was the most beautiful thing in the world. He is quite honestly the definition of acts of service.

This was an outstanding story of two people who wanted to find their safe place. They both wanted to love better regardless of what they had been through. Rowan and Ivy worked so hard at their love and this became one of my favorite books. The way that Renee wrote this story is what I would call art.

BookAddict

2,120 reviews211 followers

Pop star Ivy Quinn is headed to return a jacket to her mediaship “boyfriend" when her car goes into a ditch. Along comes mediaship's brother, Rowan Wright to the rescue. Ivy ends up staying in Rowan's guest cottage and finally finds the peace and tranquility she's been searching for. Part of it is being away from Nashville and her controlling manager/mother, but part of it is the gentle farmer with a fierce loyal streak.

Reading this one is like taking a vacation in the country, away from all the busyness of life. Where music is courtesy of the nighttime insects and joy is found in watching something you planted grow and thrive. Ivy's spending time at Otter Creek Farms allows for healing the past and personal growth. For and finding the person who matches you, understands your heart, and knows how to let silences speak.

Kudos to this talented wordsmith for the chance she took with a unique, distinctive narration style. it's beautiful, distinctive writing that sets an emotion all its own – placid, peaceful, and profound. If you like a romance that goes deep emotionally while still being lighthearted, witty, and steamy, you’ll want to plan your visit to Coral Bell Cove and Otter Creek Farms right away.

ReadonReader

2,691 reviews8 followers

Ivy and Rowan’s story was a beautiful one that grips the reader’s attention from the start and has you smiling throughout with how amazing these characters truly are. Ivy is famous and when she has reached her limits needing a break to step away from the chaos that comes with fame, she heads to Cora Bell Cove. On her way there she gets a flat and Rowan is the one that steps in to help her, not knowing the connection they seem to have. Rowan is broody, quiet, and likes things done the way they should be never really wanting it to change, but he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders and when Ivy comes into his life, she turns it upside down. These two are utterly perfect for each other by being exactly what the other needs to not only be there for them, but to show them it’s ok to lean on someone. The cute ways they show they care really steals your heart and the way they seem to balance each other out is perfect. I love this series and it seems to get better and better, I can’t wait to see what’s next.

"I've never been the subject of a song before. Didn't know it would feel like that" "Like maybe I'm not so bad at being loved after all." (Oh Rowan you stole my heart here)

Books_and_coco

302 reviews1 follower

💜 At first Dance - ARC Review 💜

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

At First Dance is the second book in the Coral Bell
Cove series, and it delivered exactly what I was hoping for: a heartfelt, small-town romance with a slow burn that feels earned !

Rowan is your classic grumpy cowboy : quiet, guarded, and carrying the weight of his past. He’s not quick to trust, but I liked seeing those walls slowly come down as Ivy stepped into his life. Ivy, on the other hand, is a pop star in need of rest and space away from the spotlight. I appreciated how she brought warmth and energy into Rowan’s world while also finding her own sense of peace in Coral Bell Cove.

The romance builds gradually, with tension that simmers from their very first meeting. It’s not rushed, which makes their connection feel genuine. I also enjoyed how their differences balanced out, his steadiness against her spark.

Overall, this was a sweet, slow-burn romance with just the right amount of angst. A lovely addition to the series and I’m definitely curious to see what comes next in Coral Bell Cove !

Thanks a lot to @renee_harless for this ARC !

Jessi

800 reviews24 followers

At First Dance was so full of longing and heart between two people who couldn't be more perfect for one another. Rowan and Ivy both grow so much and love with their whole hearts.

Rowan has just been going through the motions of life for years. My heart broke for him. He hides behind farm work and stays away from feelings. This man was hurt badly so I didn't blame him for being cautious. But he has so much to offer! Not only does he have an amazing heart, but he's so attentive and caring. Watching him lower his guard and be vulnerable with Ivy was everything.

Ivy has been living in the spotlight as a musician for most of her life. Her mother, if you can even call her that, treated her like a possession instead of a human. Watching Ivy learn to take control of her life and just breath was so amazing. I love how strong she was! The fact that she kept showing up for Rowan, even when he tries go push her away, was seriously beautiful. She helped him to see that his ideas and dreams were possible.

The slow burn was epic! These two dance around their feelings but when they finally give in? All the feels.

ARC review.

Liz

2,213 reviews15 followers

A slow burn romance between two complete opposites neither of whom were looking for love, but it found them none the less. Cowboy Rowan Wright liked his life as it was, the routine, the peace and quiet and his family, just keeping things simple. To Ivy Quinn that sounded like bliss and when her car broke down in Coral Bell Cove it almost felt like fate was telling her something, but her real life was in the spotlight, not on a backwoods farm not forgetting the added complication that Rowan was actually her ex’s brother.

If you’re looking for a romance with all the feels and emotions, then this is an author for you. Ivy and Rowan’s story was beautifully written and were characters you can’t help but fall in love with. Ivy was so lost and searching for something to ground her which she finds in Rowan. With him she found a partner who cared about her and not the star everyone wanted, and in return she helped him want to live again not merely exist like he’d been doing after being hurt in the past. Together they completed each other like two halves of a whole. And as for the setting of Coral Bell Cove, it made the perfect background for their romance.

Bina_and_Books

174 reviews

September 26, 2025

ARC Review

Love knockes at your door in the strangest way, unplanned and unexpected

“You walked into my life like a damn wildfire. And i have been burning for you ever since”

“He wasthe place i didn’t know i needed until I finally came home”

This book is a beautiful small town love story between a rancher and a singer, she crash lands on him and he falls hard

Rowan is a cinnamon roll with a golden heart he is carrying loving passionate and heartbroken from the past

Ivy is a singer running away from the hustle and bustle of the city to shut down her brain she falls in rowan’s lap without knowing he is her savior

The characters development for both of them was amazing even in the short span you aee them change and make like changing decisions
He takes care of her in every aspect cooks for her makes her coffee, she gets sick and gives her a bath need i say more🤭

She is volnauble with him, he plays on her heart strings like a song, the spice was top notch and i didnt expect it they truly complete each other without being a burdn, she pushes him towards his dreams amd hope, for sure in my heart Rowan and Ivy are a match made in heaven

Amy Kent

59 reviews3 followers

This slow burn, small town romance was a delightful read! I loved several things in this book, including the descriptive way Harless strings the characters and their stories together.
Ivy and Rowan’s relationship is so relatable; they started off as friends with a lot of attraction to each other. In time they both realized they wanted more than friendship with each other. One of many things stuck out to me that could be applied in real life- they both needed to work on themselves, they both had some baggage (who doesn’t?). Also, Rowan provided her with a safe place, a home, literally and emotionally; she did the same for him in ways that he needed. She filled a spot in his life, encouraged him to follow his dreams, and encouraged her just as much, even if that meant doing long distance for some time. They had a lot of phrases between the two of them, that only they and the readers would know about. Like “Say the part that matters.” and their cute little porch light thing. Love little stuff like that!

*Thank you Renee Harless for putting me in Ivy and Rowan's world a little earlier! I appreciate it so much!

Payton Box

1,553 reviews22 followers