Next Door Bad Boy Rancher: Opposites Attract Sweet Small Town Romance

by Ellie Faye

Apparently, I moved next door to the town’s most notorious bad boy
First he fixed my pipes and now, he’s the one fixing my broken heart…

I came to Everwood to forget my past, not fall for the town’s most complicated man.

Mason Carter is all broad shoulders, sharp smirks, and a reputation that whispers louder than gossip.

Of course, I flood the library on my first day.
Of course, he’s the one who shows up with a wrench, calm strength and strong hands that say he’s fixed more than plumbing in his time.

We are supposed to be neighbors.
Now he’s showing up at my door, leaving tools behind just so he’ll come back.


He fixes my things. I bake him pies.
We swap favorite books and stolen glances like it’s normal.

It’s not.
Because somewhere between the teasing and the tenderness, I fall for him.

And then his past shows up.
Loud. Cruel. Full of reminders I can’t ignore.

I finally let someone in—and I think I picked the one man most likely to leave.
What if I’m falling for the only man in town still deciding if he deserves love at all?

82 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 8, 2025

Reviews

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Next Door Bad Boy Rancher: Opposites Attract Sweet Small Town Romance by Ellie Faye is a cozy, heartfelt small town contemporary romance about two neighbors who seem completely mismatched at first but find that connection grows in unexpected places when proximity, kindness, and a touch of playful tension draw them closer together. In this opposites attract story, the bad boy rancher next door (stoic, rugged, and a little wary of new people) meets the heroine, whose warmth and genuine spirit soften fences, open doors, and start to unravel the myths they each have about one another. I enjoyed the dynamic and sweet emotional journey.

What I found most charming about this book is how it captures that small town rhythm where everyone knows each other’s business, barn doors swing wide on summer evenings, and a gruff rancher can learn to smile more easily beside a neighbor who refuses to quit trying to brighten his world. The way the narrative leans into warm, everyday moments rather than big dramatic upheavals made me feel genuinely at ease, like flipping through pages on a lazy afternoon while the sun warms your shoulders.

I could imagine scenes where shared coffee porches slowly turn into tender conversations, and where laughter begins to outnumber silences, which made their connection feel right and relatable. I found this book to be a comforting, satisfying read with chemistry that builds naturally rather than rushing.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I’m giving this book four stars because it promises warm vibes, authentic emotional growth, and a sweet, satisfying romance that gently blooms in the wide open spaces of small town life. It sounds like a lovely pick if you want a tender, low‑drama romance with real heart and characters who feel like neighbors you’d greet with a wave.

[Reene's Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Next Door Bad Boy Rancher 

By: Ellie Faye 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

I love small town romance books and this one hit the spot nicely. 

This book was more about a girl  called Sarah moving to a new small town to start all over again after having a horrific life experience. 

Sarah took on a new job as a librarian, she stumbled across an issue with a broken pipe. She met a guy called Mason who was the owners nephew to come down and fix the broken pipe. 

Mason wasn't happy as he thought it was his aunty doing matchmaking once again, however when Sarah and Mason eyes meet they quickly knew that there feelings towards each other will quickly change. 

Mason showed Sarah all around town, not long after there was a incident that occurred and sparked issues with how Sarah had felt. Mason was there to reassure Sarah that everything is going to be ok and made there attraction for each other even more stronger than what it was in the first place. 

I loved this book, I wanted more of it. Ellie Faye is a new author for me and I'm glad I was able to read this book and I am excited to read more from Ellie Faye.

@reenes_library

[Korkoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything Happens for a Reason -
This is a charming story about Sarah took a chance to start over again in a small town after a cringe incident that left her feelings raw and fate brought her the love of her life when she was in the middle of a chaotic situation. Mason initially wasn’t happy when he was summoned to fix a broken pipe, as he thought it was a matchmaking setup, but his attitude changed once he locked eyes with Sarah.

Mason spent time showing Sarah around town and introducing her to the townspeople, but an incident occurred that rehashed the painful reason she had moved to start over again. Luckily, Mason was able to calm her down and restore her in humanity again, which led to them acknowledging the attraction that was growing between them. This is a delightful, feel-good romance with a small town vibe, that that I believe is well worth reading. This is a new author for me and I am happy to say it’s been a pleasure reading her book.

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

[Caroline Reichardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story of Mason, Sue, and Sarah. Sue was the retired librarian and Sarah took over as Librarian. Mason was Sue’s nephew. This story starts with a bang in the form of a broken water pipe. Sarah’s history is the reason she came to this small town to be the librarian. Mason has a bad boy background and has turned over a new leaf. The chemistry, plot, and writing is fantastic in this story. The author captures the feelings and real life in the world today. I loved the end of this story. I would recommend this book to anyone. Good read. I received a free copy of this book. I am leaving this review on my own.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming story of two lonely people finding each other. Sarah had been hurt by her last two boyfriends and left for a new life in Idaho. Taking a job as librarian in a small town, she did not realize that she would become part of the town. Mason comes to repair a water leak and one look into Sarah’s eyes did it for him. He comes by the library residence daily to check on her and make small repairs. He has been a hellraiser in his younger days and has settled down now but is lonely on the ranch. She stays to herself for fear of being hurt again. The more Sarah and Mason are together, the more they open up to each other and both find the love and closeness they have been searching for.

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall good storyline. It did feel like Sarah had a lot more baggage than really mentioned. She had almost more of an emotional abuse response than was really talked about. It only mentioned two previous relationships but for the way she acted, they must have been constantly down on her. While a short read. I would either lighten up on her previous relationships or go the opposite way and go more into them to make her responses more understandable/relatable.

I did like Aunt Sue’s character. Everyone needs an Aunt Sue.

[Sierra Watson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I get that it is a novella, but it left much to be desired. The idea was a good one! I love a small town librarian and rancher love story. There was both too much information at times and not enough at others. I have questions about their pasts, but know more about her spices and front porch than I care to. The timeline seemed jumpy too. sometimes the story jumped a day, sometimes weeks? It was never clear.

[Joyce Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short book. Sarah is moving to ID to be the new librarian. She is shy and introverted. She was dating someone who broke her heart, then her best friend proposed to her. So she is making a fresh start. When she gets to the library, there is a water leak. Mason comes to fix it. Mason has a reputation of being a player, but he's changed. He is taken with Sarah. They become friends and have to navigate matchmakers in town and old friends who still think he's a player. Short and sweet.

[Marilyn Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

When love disappoints, it can take a drastic move. Getting away was all she could think about. She found a small town who needed a librarian and she moved. She longed for a better life. Small towns, know all about you move faster than you can get settled. Then again, when all goes wrong they are there for you also.

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Next Door Bad Boy Rancher is a beautifully romantic, clean novella. I highly recommend it!

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Sabrina Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet love story. I loved the small town feel and Sarah and Mason were adorable. I’m a sucker for any book with a library too!!

[Rachel Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet librarian and the cowboy looking for a hope and fell in love, so romance. So cute and good storytelling.