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Lucky River Ranch #5
Ryder
Not yet published
Expected 7 Apr 30One hard fall in the rodeo ring.
One maddeningly gorgeous cowboy.
One chance at love she swore she'd never take.
Billie Wallace has spent her whole life trying to prove she's more than the Wallace Ranch's "wild" only daughter. All she wants is a shot at barrel racing―and a purpose beyond crunching numbers in her daddy's office. But when her very first run ends in disaster, Billie lands flat on her back with Ryder Rivers―her childhood crush, her brother's best friend, and the town's notorious heartbreaker―hovering over her.
In all the years she's known him, Ryder has never entertained Billie's shameless flirting. But after her fall, he's suddenly everywhere―showing up to help her when she's hurt, staring at her across the honky-tonk when she's trying to move on with a bronc rider, and encouraging her to explore her dream career.
Before either can really register what's happening, their partnership sparks into much more than just dust and arguments.
Late nights turn into stolen kisses. Stolen kisses turn into something that feels dangerously like forever. Ryder swears he's not the staying kind, but the way he looks at Billie like she's the only woman in the world makes everyone start to wonder if he's ready to stop running…
One maddeningly gorgeous cowboy.
One chance at love she swore she'd never take.
Billie Wallace has spent her whole life trying to prove she's more than the Wallace Ranch's "wild" only daughter. All she wants is a shot at barrel racing―and a purpose beyond crunching numbers in her daddy's office. But when her very first run ends in disaster, Billie lands flat on her back with Ryder Rivers―her childhood crush, her brother's best friend, and the town's notorious heartbreaker―hovering over her.
In all the years she's known him, Ryder has never entertained Billie's shameless flirting. But after her fall, he's suddenly everywhere―showing up to help her when she's hurt, staring at her across the honky-tonk when she's trying to move on with a bronc rider, and encouraging her to explore her dream career.
Before either can really register what's happening, their partnership sparks into much more than just dust and arguments.
Late nights turn into stolen kisses. Stolen kisses turn into something that feels dangerously like forever. Ryder swears he's not the staying kind, but the way he looks at Billie like she's the only woman in the world makes everyone start to wonder if he's ready to stop running…
416 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 7, 2026
23 people are currently reading
19502 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Peterson
36 books5,388 followersJessica Peterson writes romance with heat, humor, and heart. Heroes with hot accents are her specialty. When she’s not writing, she can be found bellying up to a bar in the south’s best restaurants with her husband Ben, reading books with her adorable daughters Gracie and Madeline, or snuggling up with her 70-pound lap dog, Martha.
A Carolina girl at heart, she fantasizes about splitting her time between Charleston and Asheville, but currently lives in Charlotte, NC.
A Carolina girl at heart, she fantasizes about splitting her time between Charleston and Asheville, but currently lives in Charlotte, NC.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 17, 2025
read this one early and y'all are NOT READY for Ryder Rivers!!!
November 6, 2025
alpha read
YALL ARENT READY!!!!!!!!!!
YALL ARENT READY!!!!!!!!!!
Read
December 11, 2025Beta-full review to come 🤠
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a perfect book for Ryder and also to wrap up this family's story! Now all the Rivers boys have found their happy place with incredible women ❤️
I loved Billie, she was such a firecracker! And very relatable with trying to please her family.. So it was amazing to see her get what she wants and find her happiness.
It was also heartwarming to see Ryder heal and find his person in Billie. They make the cutest, funniest couple ❤️
Such a great story to wrap up the Rivers boys, they will always have a special place in my heart 🥹
Also! The first chapter has to be the cutest backstory for our couple! I was smilling so hard all the way through reading it ❤️
I loved Billie, she was such a firecracker! And very relatable with trying to please her family.. So it was amazing to see her get what she wants and find her happiness.
It was also heartwarming to see Ryder heal and find his person in Billie. They make the cutest, funniest couple ❤️
Such a great story to wrap up the Rivers boys, they will always have a special place in my heart 🥹
Also! The first chapter has to be the cutest backstory for our couple! I was smilling so hard all the way through reading it ❤️
February 18, 2026
I LOVED THIS
Full review coming soon✨✨
Full review coming soon✨✨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm gonna get straight into this review because I loved this book so much.
First off we have the characters. I absolutely loved Billie, she was a woman that was not afraid to get what she wanted and I love that in a book like this. However, she also had depth she wasn't just a sibling of a bunch of cowboys, she had an actual backstory behind her and we learnt so much about her in the first chapter of the book. She just felt so real and wasn't afraid to speak up about what she wanted or who she wanted. Next we have Ryder. I'm saying it right now. He is one of my favourite MMC'S from a romance book, ever. He was perfectly developed through the whole book. He knew what he wanted but was afraid to get it. He showed emotion which most MMC'S in romance books don't, most only care about getting the girl. Ryder cared about so much more than just getting the girl. Just like Billie he had an actual backstory and one that wasn't ridiculous.
Now we have the book itself. This book was so wonderfully structured and it has my favourite thing of all time. NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP. When I thought this book couldn't get any better, it did. The plot was amazing, most of the spice scenes were tied in perfectly with the plot and I didn't have to stop and think once about what was happening as I knew because everything was perfectly explained. This book was absolutely stunning. It was tied up perfectly with a pretty pink bow. This book truly deserves it's five star rating and one more parting thought. THE WORLD IS NOT READY FOR RYDER RIVERS.
First off we have the characters. I absolutely loved Billie, she was a woman that was not afraid to get what she wanted and I love that in a book like this. However, she also had depth she wasn't just a sibling of a bunch of cowboys, she had an actual backstory behind her and we learnt so much about her in the first chapter of the book. She just felt so real and wasn't afraid to speak up about what she wanted or who she wanted. Next we have Ryder. I'm saying it right now. He is one of my favourite MMC'S from a romance book, ever. He was perfectly developed through the whole book. He knew what he wanted but was afraid to get it. He showed emotion which most MMC'S in romance books don't, most only care about getting the girl. Ryder cared about so much more than just getting the girl. Just like Billie he had an actual backstory and one that wasn't ridiculous.
Now we have the book itself. This book was so wonderfully structured and it has my favourite thing of all time. NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP. When I thought this book couldn't get any better, it did. The plot was amazing, most of the spice scenes were tied in perfectly with the plot and I didn't have to stop and think once about what was happening as I knew because everything was perfectly explained. This book was absolutely stunning. It was tied up perfectly with a pretty pink bow. This book truly deserves it's five star rating and one more parting thought. THE WORLD IS NOT READY FOR RYDER RIVERS.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC 👌
🤠 cowboy romance
💋 brothers best friend
🔥 fiesty fmc
🩷 friends to lovers
🫶 found family
😍 emotional healing
🔥 spicy
🪞 mirror scene
After a fall, Billie and Ryder - childhood crushes and good friends end up spending more time together as she heals. Friendship blossoms into something deeper thanks to Billies energy and shamless flirting. Ryder isnt sure he is cut out for relationships though as he is still grieving and dealing with loss. He lost himself in the process but Billie brings him back to life. I loved how supportive Ryder was of Billies career change too 👏
Classic friends to lovers story from Ryder and Billie. I liked this one, i would recommend even though friends to lovers is probably my least favourite trope.
The spice was decent, I enjoyed the truck and mirror scene 🔥
Billie was sassy and likeable as a character and I loved how we saw the emotional growth from Ryder.
Im not sure i fully understood why Colt was so against the pair but enjoyed the lack of 3rd act breakup.
🤠 cowboy romance
💋 brothers best friend
🔥 fiesty fmc
🩷 friends to lovers
🫶 found family
😍 emotional healing
🔥 spicy
🪞 mirror scene
After a fall, Billie and Ryder - childhood crushes and good friends end up spending more time together as she heals. Friendship blossoms into something deeper thanks to Billies energy and shamless flirting. Ryder isnt sure he is cut out for relationships though as he is still grieving and dealing with loss. He lost himself in the process but Billie brings him back to life. I loved how supportive Ryder was of Billies career change too 👏
Classic friends to lovers story from Ryder and Billie. I liked this one, i would recommend even though friends to lovers is probably my least favourite trope.
The spice was decent, I enjoyed the truck and mirror scene 🔥
Billie was sassy and likeable as a character and I loved how we saw the emotional growth from Ryder.
Im not sure i fully understood why Colt was so against the pair but enjoyed the lack of 3rd act breakup.
February 22, 2026
OMG what a way to end the series. thankyou so much to Quercus books & jessica peterson for the ARC of this book <3
I’ve had the pleasure of arc reading the last 3 books in this series and have had the best time at Lucky Rivers Ranch with these 5 brothers.
This final instalment was EVERYTHING, Ryders growth and the way he deals with the loss of his parents is such a bitter sweet journey to read. But the way him and Billie are there for one another, was perfect.
Billie, ah my sweet girl, she is everything. Ryders, best friends little sister, she’s a fire cracker, always joking and flirting and has had a crush on Ryder since they were kids. Their story is addictive, sweet and oh so sexy.
I cannot wait for this to be out in the world come April. And the end OMG just you waiiiitttt
“my little hellion”
“Cowboy, I’m gonna make you mine”
“You’re a fucking brat, you know that?” SCREAMS
“You want trouble?…. Then get the fuck over here”
I’ve had the pleasure of arc reading the last 3 books in this series and have had the best time at Lucky Rivers Ranch with these 5 brothers.
This final instalment was EVERYTHING, Ryders growth and the way he deals with the loss of his parents is such a bitter sweet journey to read. But the way him and Billie are there for one another, was perfect.
Billie, ah my sweet girl, she is everything. Ryders, best friends little sister, she’s a fire cracker, always joking and flirting and has had a crush on Ryder since they were kids. Their story is addictive, sweet and oh so sexy.
I cannot wait for this to be out in the world come April. And the end OMG just you waiiiitttt
“my little hellion”
“Cowboy, I’m gonna make you mine”
“You’re a fucking brat, you know that?” SCREAMS
“You want trouble?…. Then get the fuck over here”
Want to read
November 18, 2025Yeeeha
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews