The Ranch Between Us: A Small Town Clean Romance

by Ann Smith

She came back to claim her inheritance. He gave her a reason to stay.

After the passing of her estranged grandmother, Ivy Hart never expected to return to Oak Hollow—let alone as a bride. But the will is to claim the inheritance tied to her childhood home, she must marry a local and stay for one full year.

Luke McAllister is the last person she imagined standing at the altar with. A widowed rancher with quiet eyes and calloused hands, he’s also her former best friend—and the only man who ever truly saw her. For him, the arrangement offers a lifeline for his struggling ranch and a bit of stability for his young daughter.

What begins as a transaction slowly shifts. Shared breakfasts, soft glances, laughter in the fields. Ivy starts to see that the land isn't the only thing worth holding on to.

But when the year ends, they’ll have to walk away, or risk their hearts on something real.

Sometimes love grows exactly where you least expect it—rooted deep, and meant to stay.

The Ranch Between Us is a clean, wholesome, standalone short story, perfect for all readers seeking heartwarming love stories without explicit content.

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 24, 2025

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ranch Between Us is a sweet second chance for Luke, a father and widower and his friend from when they were younger Ivy.  Ivy’s Grandma Bea had passed and she was named as the main heir to her property.  Bea put a clause of to marry a resident of Oak Hollow and remain there for a year to gain the inheritance.  Ivy talks Luke into making a contract out with the lawyer to “be married in name only on paper” and live together with separate rooms, separate finances, and sharing of chores and to review their decision in six months.  Luke was still grieving his deceased wife for the last few years.  Emma his daughter takes up with Ivy as she missed the love of a mother.  Slowly over time Emma bonds with Ivy and asks her often if she is going to stay.  Luke starts to smile again and Emily notices it.  They can’t believe that Ivy would leave her fancy interior decorating job in the city to come back to the small town she once was pulled away from by her parents to put her with nannies instead of Grandma Bea.  Bea left letters in different places telling Ivy this was her home, and she had always known that Ivy would come back.  She passed on wisdom to Ivy through these letters which helped Ivy to make her decision.

[RoseVE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roots and Home

Emma Hart had a successful career in decorating high end homes and businesses in San Francisco and New York. When she received a phone call from a lawyer in her grandmother's small town that she had passed away and had left everything to her, she agreed to go there. One surprise was that her grandmother, Bea, had placed a stipulation that if she wanted to keep her inheritance, she must live there one year, and she was to marry a local man. She made arrangements to be a live-in "helper" for her old friend, Luke and his adorable daughter, Emma. She easily fit in with the ranch life, loving the quiet slower pace of life. She was surprised that she didn't miss her former city life. Luke and Ivy grew stronger, breaking down walls of grief and loneliness. This is a story of second chances and placing strong roots in a ranch and a town. And a second chance at love for both. It was a great story, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Charmaine Nouwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ranch Between Us: A Small Town Clean Romance story of Luke and Ivy...A single dad rancher and his ex-bestfriend and now his bride..Ivy went back home to get her inheritance when hergrandmother passed only there is a problem she need to get marry to a local guy and stay there for a year,enter her former bestfriend,single dad rancher whos having trouble with his ranch,so they decided to help each other,only their marriage of inconvenience turned real as the days goes by.. A heartwarming,lovely,sweet and wonderful read..

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

[Tami Willard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can be read as a standalone. A widower with a young daughter and more work than he can handle. A grandma desperately wanting to help her find where she belongs, even if it's beyond the grave. An inheritance that comes with a catch that she's not sure she wants.
Friends to strangers to marriage of convenience?
Small town meddling
Fear of loving and losing.

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

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

She left long ago but now is back to fulfill the wishes of her grandmother’s will. He is a widowed father and her childhood crush. Will she stay long to satisfy the terms of the will or she go back to her city life, will their contractual marriage turn into something real? I found this story very endearing. Loved the characters and their journey. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by booksprout.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This romance book is going to have you booked solid while you’re reading about Luke and Ivy. Ann has done a wonderful job writing this story and the characters are very well written. This book is one I recommend you read because nothing is better than a cowboy romance book like this one right here.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy Hart and her former best friend, widowed rancher Luke McAllister and his young daughter Emma's story about a in name only marriage that turns into so much more. The story grabbed my interest from the start and did not let go until they got their happy ending. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet, old friends each need a favor and work out a contract but before long, the end of the contract gets here, Luke and Ivy fall in love. Not the fireworks kind of love, but the kind that just walks up on you. This book deals with grief, single parents and new relationships and enjoying the simple things.

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet romance. It is delightful and charming. Small town versus big city life. Which will she choose? A young girl is at the heart of the tale. Thanks to Booksprout for providing a copy. My review is voluntary.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved that this story really focused on Luke, Ivy and Emma. They were surrounded by a fun and loving town, but they were the stars. The simple everyday stuff that quietly builds the best bonds.

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

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very easy to read clean romance. Childhood bestfriends separated and reunited as adults.
I enjoyed several aspects of this book.
💚Letters from a lost loved one
💛Cute kid
💜Small town VS development

I must admit my favourite part of the story was the epilogue. It was so sweet.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. We got romance, humor, conflict, marriage of convenience, a will with restrictions, and a few twists. Why would someone have these requirements?