West of Forever

Heartstone Ranch #1

by Corinne Michaels

Tristan Stone is off limits.

It doesn’t matter that the grumpy, single dad did nothing wrong. He’s a cowboy and his last name means I’m bound by blood to hate him. My family would never be okay with me having feelings for our enemy.

When he stops—in the pouring rain—because I have a flat tire, the last thing I expect is for him to help me.

I do my best to ignore the water sliding off his hat and how he fills out those jeans. My best, however, is not good enough. Each night I close my eyes and dream of a future we can never have. And after he defends me at the bar and we share a magical dance? It only gets worse.

I know I should forget about him, but when I find him alone one night, I offer up a no-strings attached relationship that we both promise to keep secret. Sidelong glances across property lines morph into clandestine meetings under the stars wrapped up in each other’s arms.

Never mind that our families will never approve or that he told me he can never love again, I crave him.

Soon our no feelings agreement is in tatters, and my heart belongs to that broken cowboy. Will he break it or will he defy them all and choose us instead?

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Cowboy Romance, Westerns, Small Town Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance

384 pages, Paperback

First published June 16, 2026

About the author

Corinne Michaels is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romance novels. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love, and she enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak before finding a way to heal them through their struggles.

Corinne is a former Navy wife and happily married to the man of her dreams. She began her writing career after spending months away from her husband while he was deployed—reading and writing were her escapes from the loneliness. Corinne now lives in Virginia with her husband and is the emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children.


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Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook was so bingeable that I ended up listening to it all in one day! This one follows two rival families who are always messing with each other and their farms. One day when Lark is stranded in a storm with a flat tire, Tristan pulls over and helps take her home and make sure she gets back safely. Then begins them not able to stay away from each other, even though they know their families would need approve. Someone is sabotaging Lark's family's ranch, and they are adamant that Tristan is behind everything. But Tristan is busy taking care of his daughter as a single dad and trying to keep his own family's ranch together. I thought they were so cute as they fell for each other and how Tristan was just such a good guy wanting to help Lark out. Then they start sneaking around...

The family drama was fun and I thought this was the perfect start to a new series!

[Victoria Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

💖💖💖Corinne Michaels has absolutely blown me away with this book!
This was an EASY 6 STAR READ!!!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The banter is hands down some of the best she’s ever written. I literally could not put this book down without being annoyed that real life and adult responsibilities existed 😂

This small town romance delivered everything we love about the genre the town gossip line was working overtime ☎️but the tension and angst had me completely hooked from beginning to end! I was giddy the ENTIRE TIME 👏🏼

Tristan Stone is officially my new book boyfriend, and I refuse to leave Heartstone Ranch.
You 👏🏼 can’t 👏🏼 make 👏🏼 me 👏🏼😂

The second I finished, I was desperate for the next book in this series because I truly didn’t want it to end.

Bravo, Corinne this honestly is your best work yet!

Tropes:
💖Enemies to Lovers
💖Family Rivalry
💖Cowboy/Cowgirl
💖Forbidden
💖Single Dad
💖Small Town

I’ll be back in release day to share my fav quotes 🤭

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books you enjoy and then there are books you become completely obsessed with and West of Forever was absolutely the latter for me. I listened to this audiobook in a single day because I genuinely could not stop finding excuses to hit play. Between the rival families, secret relationship, and undeniable chemistry, this one had me hooked from the very first chapter.

The family feud dynamics added so much tension to the romance. These families truly despise each other, yet Tristan and Lark simply couldn’t force themselves to fall in line and hate one another the way everyone expected. I loved every stolen glance, every secret meeting, and every moment of sneaking around. The forbidden nature of their relationship made every interaction feel even more electric, and the flirty banter was absolute perfection.

And can we talk about the audiobook? Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez may be one of the most elite narrator pairings out there. Connor continues to prove why he’s become one of my go to narrators, bringing so much depth and emotion to Tristan’s character. Vanessa was the perfect balance of sweet, witty, and sarcastic, making Lark impossible not to adore. Together they elevated an already fantastic story into an unforgettable listening experience.

This first book in a new series has me completely invested already, and that bonus epilogue? I was absolutely dying. Give me grumpy cowboy single dads, rival families, secret romances, and all the emotional tension any day.

[Morgan Ruffner · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟 really sweet small town western romance. Sadie was absolutely one of my favorite characters. There were certain moments where I didn’t like our MMC but then moments I really loved him. Wish we had a little more relationship building and REALLY wish we had a resolution on who is messing with her families farm. Without that part, the story just felt unfinished to me. But still enjoyed the book overall and will absolutely pick up more from this author!

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ Tristan Stone and Lark Gatlin are a match made in hell. After all, their families have been feuding for as long as they can remember. Too bad they cannot seem to stay away from one another.

This book is such a vibe and I was there for every single second of it. I found myself immediately smitten with Tristan and Lark; their mutual distaste clearly overshadowed by their insane chemistry.

I loved the push-pull of the rival family dynamic and the introduction of both big, boisterous clans, who I have a sneaking suspicion will be tested once again with the pairing of another pair of siblings (and boy am I ready for that book!) And the added dynamic of Tristan and Sadie’s grief and complicated feelings over their mutual love of Lark gave an added emotional bang to the story.

🎧 The audio was fantastic. Connor Crais is dreamy as Tristan and Vanessa Vasquez was a very fun and feisty Lark, just what I had envisioned going in. I definitely recommend this format if you are an audiobook fanatic like me (though make sure to then get the shelf trophy).

Read if you like:
▪️cowboy romance
▪️single dad
▪️forbidden love
▪️rival families
▪️grumpy x sunshine
▪️small town

Thank you to the author for the gifted copies.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I started I literally couldn’t put it down. Truly beautiful. I loved this book from start to finish. Lark and Tristan had perfect chemistry. Even though they are meant to hate each other and their family rivalry runs deep, the attraction and the tension between them was undeniable.

I think this was the most well rounded story I’ve read from Corinne. It had fun light moments, steamy intense ones, and was really emotional too. This is exactly how you write forbidden romance.

I can’t wait for everyone to experience Heartstone Ranch on June 16th! I’m so excited for what’s to come in the series.

Cowboy x Cowgirl
Single Dad
Rival Families
Sneaking Around
Small Town

[all.the.smut.things · Rating 5 out of 5]

favorite Corinne Micheals Book

RATING : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Lark and Tristan are everything. I absolutely loved them. Ans as someone who had been a fan of Corinne for years, I have to say that this is her best book yet.

I don’t change favorite books by and author I love very often, but this one is something special, and my new favorite. I have no words. The audio was also spectacular and really made this story EVEN better than it already was.

✨Small Town
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Rival Families
✨Single Dad
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ Secret Relationship
✨ He Falls First

Corinne’s writing is always fantastic, but there was just something about the Chemistry between Lark and Tristan form chalet one. Thats forbiddeness just ramped up the tension and when they feel for each other…. Let me tell you, I fell with them.

They were so good for each other and Lark was so good with Tristan’s daughter as well which made me so happy. I love a good found family.

I cannot wait for more from this series!

[Nadja]

DNF

I was SO excited for this book. Like genuinely excited. The cover? Gorgeous. The premise? Right up my alley. Small-town romance, grumpy widower rancher, family drama, neighboring properties? Sign me up immediately. Unfortunately, after about 15% of this book, I was sitting there wondering if literally anyone in this town had survived long enough to make it to chapter two.

Because holy shit.

The amount of dead people in this book is actually impressive.

We start with Tristan mourning his wife, Emmy Jo (yes, Emmy Jo. Hold onto that thought because the names only get worse from here). It's been nine years since he lost her. Sad. Tragic. Understandable.

Then almost immediately we're informed that three years ago he almost lost his daughter, Sadie Jo.

Then we find out his family lost his mother six years ago.

Then we learn his sister lost her fiancé two years ago.

And this is all within the first 3 chapters.

At one point I genuinely started wondering if there was some sort of serial killer loose in this town because every time a new character was introduced I was bracing myself for another funeral announcement.

"Oh, here's Bob."

How long before I learn Bob died in a tractor accident? Five pages? Ten?

The emotional impact of tragedy kind of disappears when EVERYONE has one. At some point it stops feeling heartbreaking and starts feeling like I'm reading the town obituary section.

And the way we're told all of this information is somehow even worse.

This book is absolutely addicted to telling instead of showing.

Every time a character appears, we don't get to naturally learn who they are through interactions or dialogue. No, the book practically slams on the brakes so it can hand me their entire Wikipedia page.

A cop shows up? Here's his life story. Here's how he knows Tristan. Here's how he knows Tristan's family. Here's his connection to everyone in a fifty-mile radius.

Like please. Let me discover literally anything on my own.

The dialogue wasn't helping either because it felt so juvenile and corny. Everyone talks like they're performing a Hallmark movie script written by someone who's only ever heard conversations described secondhand.

But my favorite part was Lark.

Lark spends the entire beginning of the book insisting Tristan is a good man despite what her family says.

Aww. How sweet.

Except.

She's ALSO constantly accusing him of being responsible for the vandalism and property damage happening to her family's land.

And when he tells her he's not doing it? She doesn't believe him. So which is it, babe?

Because those two thoughts cannot coexist forever.

You either think he's a fundamentally good guy and therefore believe him when he says he didn't do it.

Or you think he's capable of repeatedly destroying your family's property.

You don't get to stand in the middle going, "No, no, he's a really good person, I just think he's committing ongoing acts of sabotage."

The math is not mathing.

I had absolutely no idea this was a dead-wife romance. Now, dead-spouse tropes can work. I've read them done beautifully. This immediately felt like it wasn't going to be one of those times.

In the very first chapter Tristan is basically like, "After nine years, for the first time, I felt something."

Sir.

What?

First of all, the interaction that supposedly awakened his soul wasn't remotely powerful enough to justify that reaction.

Second of all—and this is the part that broke my brain—he and Lark literally live next to each other.

They've been neighbors.

For years.

They see each other regularly.

And apparently Lark was friends with his wife.

YOU ARE TELLING ME THIS MAN HAS BEEN SEEING THIS WOMAN AROUND FOR YEARS, SHE WAS CLOSE TO HIS WIFE, THEIR LIVES ARE ALREADY INTERTWINED, BUT THIS RANDOM INTERACTION IS THE MOMENT HE FEELS SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NINE YEARS?

Okay.

Sure.

Whatever helps us get to chapter two.

And then I made the mistake of reading other reviews.

Which is where I discovered that the mystery of who's actually damaging the property doesn't even get resolved by the end of the book.

Excuse me?

That was literally one of the only things still keeping me remotely interested.

You mean to tell me we're spending all this time accusing people, talking about damaged property, creating enough dead relatives to populate a cemetery expansion project, and we don't even get an answer?

At that point I was done.

Completely done.

I do not care who is destroying the property.

I do not care about the neighboring ranches.

I do not care about the mystery.

I do not care about Emmy Jo, Sadie Jo, future Jo, or any other Jo that may be hiding in later chapters.

This book can keep its damaged fences, its endless family tragedies, its identity crisis of a mystery plot, and its collection of increasingly ridiculous names.

I came here for a romance.

Instead I got a small-town grief convention featuring suspicious property damage and approximately fourteen funerals.

Unfortunately, West of Forever and I were not meant to be.

[Irina (on vacation ☀️) · Rating 3 out of 5]

”I fell in love with you on this ridge, beneath the stars as we stared off to the west of a forever that could never be ours.”

After reading this author’s Consolation Duet (Consolation and Conviction), I expected this book to be much darker. In fact, it was a rather lighthearted read.

It’s about the forbidden love between two antagonized neighbors in the small town of Infinity Ridge, Colorado. The feud between the Stones and the Gatlins has lasted for more than a century, and recent events are only adding to the hatred. However, when Lark Gatlin has a flat tire in the pouring rain one night and Tristan Stone comes across, he doesn’t hesitate to help her. It’s the first step toward a secret affair that is condemned from the beginning but too good to give up. And of course, despite best intentions to keep their relationship strictly sexual, they fall in love.

Both main characters are likeable and their banter is awesome. Lark is a gifted horse trainer and a sweet, super nice girl. There’s not much more to say about her, she’s reasonable and perfect in every way. Tristan is a “hot” cowboy with a ranch and “hundreds of horses“, though it’s not quite clear whether he’s a breeder or a horse dealer; probably he’s both. His daily farm life is pretty much in the dark, the author only vaguely mentions “chores“, such as repairing fences, making hay, and delivering horses to buyers. No farmhands or other cowboys are mentioned, only family (Tristan and his daughter, his aging father, and three sisters–all of whom live together on the ranch). Tristan is a widower and a very protective single dad, who doesn’t let his twelve-year-old daughter back on a horseback after a riding accident three years ago. He doesn’t even want her near the horse she had the accident with, and I had a hard time buying that, given his livelihood. The man is a horse man, ffs! He’s broken, says the blurb, but I didn’t feel that. He has just a strong fear of loss and is overprotective after losing his wife and almost his daughter.

Overall, it was a nice read, but a little bit boring with all the sex scenes after they started their affair. And after the inevitable third-act breakup and the following crisis are resolved, the story drags on even more for about another fifty long-winded pages, including two epilogues. I also wish the author had put more effort into the details, such as the everyday farm life mentioned above and, above all, a surveillance camera that, miraculously, only records what serves the plot.

3.5

[Bianca | bookd_by_bee 🐝 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up; 3 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Team Corinne Michaels and Corinne Michaels for #gifted ALC 💞

If I’m being completely honest, it was the cover that initially grabbed my attention before I even knew what this book was about. I love it. That being said, this book surpassed my expectations. To me, this book felt different than your run-of-the-mill cowboy romance in the best of ways. Characters in their 30’s, a family rivalry that is multi-layered that truly defines the enemies-to-lovers trope, and side-characters dealing with their own struggles that don’t distract from the main story.

FMC Lark grew on me as the story progressed and I LOVED MMC Tristan. Both of them had good character development that didn’t distract from the romance. No insta-love, I appreciated the slow build of their love for one another (without skimping on the spicier bits 😉 ❤️‍🔥). The author really created the most protective, ROMANTIC MMC in Tristan, and although he wasn’t perfect and was dealing with his own traumas, I love how he showed up for Lark and went out of his way to protect their relationship- he is definitely top 10 cowboy romance boyfriend FOR SURE. There are some pretty serious topics in this book, but the author did such a good job of navigating life’s heartbreaks and traumas and grief without being heavy-handed or preachy. A very realistic and heart-felt portrayal of overcoming past traumas and not letting them scare you away from opening up your heart and mind to new experiences ❤️‍🩹

I’m ALL IN on the Heartstone Ranch crew and can’t wait to read the next book in the series 🤠💜💛!

[Sarah | Sarahs.BookCorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

✩5

✦What to Expect✦
•Cowboy X Cowgirl
•Rival families
•Enemies to lovers
•Forbidden
•Grumpy x sunshine
•Single dad
•Mutual pining
•Small Town

✦Characters✦
•Lark Gatlin
•Tristan Stone

✦Fav Quotes✦
This is what a cowgirl’s dreams are made of. Sneaking around in the barn with the boy who is forbidden.

“When you’re ready to love me out loud, you know where to find me.”

“I’ll do anything for her.”

“I’m yours?”
“Yes, and I’m yours,”

“Hello, beautiful.” “Hello, cowboy.” “Care to take a ride with me?”

“I love you. Without permission, you stole my heart, and I never want it back. It’s yours, as is my love.”

✦Thoughts✦
My new fav Corinne book!
This book was just so dang good & just an all around a good time!

I loved the characters & loved the story!

Right away these two had me HOOKED! I really enjoyed their banter & loved their connection. Their chemistry 🤤🤤🤤 HAWT

That ending, I was in my feels hard & couldn’t help but get emotional & tear up🥹

I loved meeting both of these families, they are truly rivals & HATE each other!

Clyde had me crackingggggggg up!
Also Sadie was so funny! I loved her relationship with Tristan and the one she formed with Lark.

I am so excited for the rest of this series!



•ARC Read•

✦ Bookish links to follow ✦
Bookstagram • Goodreads • BookBub • Storygraph • Fable

[Karly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute cowboy romance! I loved the feuding families plot. Lark and Tristan were cute together and the sneaking around was fun! There was also some good emotional aspects to the characters that made the sorry even better. I think Sadie and lark’s relationship was a nice addition to it all too!

[EmJustReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ I listened to an ALC, and really enjoyed the story! It was an easy listen, and the characters felt down to earth and relatable.

The side characters really tied the story together, and Sadie and her grandpa working on the chicken coop was so adorable and endearing. I think this may be the first book I’ve read with a single dad and tween age child, which was fun and attitude heavy.

I love the secret “relationship” trope — so this was really good. But it also felt somewhat childish because they were afraid to tell their families… which I feel like an adult should have the courage to do and then deal with the consequences.

My biggest gripes: the way the FMC talked about how she and the siblings interacted with the mom made her feel childish (like how the Mom would scold them for talking with food in their mouth), and how quickly the L word was thrown around.

The narrators were great, and duet style is always my preferred method!

I really appreciated the epilogue where we learned who was behind the pranks and the why behind it 💕

[Sandy (Sandy.Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.25 stars

I am so excited for this new town that we are visiting because I can already tell I’m going to fall in love with every single one of these stories. Corinne Michaels knows how to create a small town that immediately feels like home, and I’m already invested in everyone.

The fact that this romance is between two people whose families are neighbors and rivals? Absolutely everything to me. The sneaking around, the tension, the history between the families… it was so good. I was eating up every single interaction between them.

And Sadie? She completely stole the show for me. The way she added so much heart and softness to the story made me adore this book even more.

There’s also a deeper layer of grief woven throughout the story for both main characters, and I really loved watching them work through those emotions together. It made their connection feel even more meaningful and sweet.

This was such a strong start to a new series, and now I desperately need everyone else’s books immediately.

[Prescious Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well slap my ass and say yeehaw Tristan. Because holy hell. Corinne did it again with bring me a grade a++++ man. Tristan stone is that man.

But yall- LARK?! THATS THE GIRL!

I’m obsessed with this book and forgive me now cause I’ll neverrr stop talking about them.

And let me just say- I CAN NOT WAIT FOR FALLONS BOOK! I love a grieving mc 🤦🏽‍♀️ call me what ya want.

Read if you love;
Rival families
Cowgirl x Cowboy
Outside sexcapades
Mutual pining
Single dad
Widower
Forbidden
Enemies x lovers

[Chelsea Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buckle up, Buttercup 🤠 (no spoilers)

Any book that can make me feel deeply is instantly a 5⭐️ read….but when the book makes you tear up multiple times, has you 🥵(tastefully and not overdone), and can make you laugh? Infinite stars!!! And this book right here is exactly that!

Hands down my absolute favorite Corrine Michaels book! ⭐️

This book follows Tristan and Lark…any feelings between them is absolutely forbidden! Their families have feuded for years—think Romeo and Juliet 🥀

Tristan is a single dad to the cutest (and sassiest) little girl. Her love for horses and bougie chicken coops (IYKYK) had me instantly loving her!

Lark has a big heart and is not like the rest of her family! She gets stranded in a rainstorm and a stranger (not so stranger 🤭) helps her…. And the rest just gets better and better!! It’ll have you ready to visit Infinity Ridge ASAP 🌄

🩵Rival Families
🤍Enemies-to-lovers
🩵Cowboy/Cowgirl
🤍Forbidden
🩵Single Dad
🤍Grumpy/Sunshine

“You should be with a man who would swim through a flood to get to you.”

“Lark tastes like sunshine and fresh air”

Thank you Corinne and your team for this amazing ARC opportunity! I am forever grateful 🫶🏼

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

HANDS DOWN my new fave book by Corinne. I absolutely loved these two & their story so so much. It had some of my all time favorite tropes so I knew from the beginning that this book was going to be a hit for me.

If you like audiobooks, 10/10 recommend this audio! I devoured it! The narrators did SUCH a good job brining this story to life.

Thank you so much to Corinne & her team for the eARC as well 🥰 can’t wait to see what the rest of this new series brings!

- Small Town Romance
- Rival Families
- Enemies to Lovers (w benefits)
- Cowboy x Cowgirl
- Single Dad
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Forbidden
- Mutual Pining

[Lauren Molyneux · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just ok ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ If Jessica Peterson and Hannah Bailey's writing style is your small town bag, then you'd probably enjoy this one.

Overall, it felt like a lot of throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, especially with the dialogue and the dynamics within each family, as well as between the rival families. And dare I say that it may have had an overcrowded cast of characters? Does every family need seven brothers and sisters... I think not.

I'd say that my biggest bugbear was that we never really got to the root of the "nemesis" plot line, which made the book feel a bit unfinished, and in my opinion, brings down the tension of enemies to lovers, as well as lowers the stakes in the "will they/won't they" of it all.

The resolution of the pranking revealed in the epilogue disappointed me, it really was not worth all of that up and down journey throughout the entire book - surely there could have been a better explanation.

And why did they already have each other's numbers?!

[Jill (readinginpjs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you Must Love Audio for the ALC, all opinions are my own.

my first Corinne Michaels book & won’t be my last!
I was hooked from the start, I loved the rivalry between the families & the forbidden aspect of their connection.

Lark is an incredibly sweet FMC, which is not always my fav to read but I really appreciated how she grew throughout the story, having the ability to see what she deserved and going for it.

Tristan - this man 😮‍💨 he has his baggage from losing his wife & his daughter’s accident (he fears for her to ride a horse again), but he’s able to want more for himself and his family, and go after it.

I loved them together, how drawn they were to one another, even when they didn’t want to fall, they didn’t bother trying to fight it for too long 🙃

Looking forward to continuing the series, curious to get to know their siblings more!

🎧 DUET with Connor Crais will get me every time! Vanessa Vasquez was fantastic as Lark as well.
I definitely think the audio enhanced the story even more for me 😍

✦ tropes & more:
💥 enemies to lovers (family rivals)
☀️ grumpy sunshine
🐎 cowboy & cowgirl
❤️‍🩹 single dad + widow
🏡 neighbours
🚫 forbidden
🌳 small town
💞 dual 1st person pov

🎧 audio + ebook | ⭐️: 4.75 | 🌶️: open door |

📖 West of Forever by Corinne Michaels
📚 book 1 • Heartstone Ranch series
💜: contemporary romance (mf)
🎙 narrated by: Vanessa Vasquez & Connor Crais

*Connect with Me*
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[Amity Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh!! Tristan & Lark!! This might be my new fave by Corinne! I was so obsessed with these two!

First of all the audio with Connor Crais & Vanessa Vasquez was fantastic! These two brought all the emotion, humor, and just feel good vibes!

This story sucked me in and didn’t let go! It’s not secret I love a single dad romance, but add in some cowboy vibes, & family rivals! Yesss. The added forbidden factor made this one even better! Tristan Stone is a top tier MMC & Lark is just such a lovable strong willed character that I looooved!

This one gave all the tension, angst, and added emotions that made me fall so hard for these characters & their story! The meddling town & gossip made this one a little messy, but oh so fun! An absolute must add to your TBR & I need more from this series NOW! 🤭💜

Thank you Corinne & team for this early listening copy!!

[Kaelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALC/ARC review:

I am so beyond grateful that I was able to read this book early. What a breath of fresh air this book was! I was laughing out loud about 90% of the book. The banter is everything and I love the dynamic between all of the characters.
Lark is so cute omg! I loved getting to know her. She is so sweet, thoughtful, and so kind. But also sooooo funny.
TRISTEN?! Okayyyy sir. I know I have a thing for grumpy single dads who just happen to be cowboys mmmkay? But this man had me SQUEALING and BLUSHINGGGG. Also he is so funny because he’s not trying to be funny. Ya get what I’m sayin?
Anyways. 5 stars. No notes. I finished this book literally 10 minutes ago and I want to read it again already.

[Samantha (bookgramsaga reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

[Ally 📖✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might go down as my new favorite cowboy romance 🤭 I absolutely devoured this book from start to finish. I truly didn’t know what to expect since this was my first Corrine Michaels book but this knocked my socks off!

The absolute forbidden tension between the main two characters was off the charts! I felt every ounce of yearning between the characters.

I also felt like Lark was such a relatable FMC and that really made me latch onto her as a character! I loved her so much!

[Marrissa Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars for Corinne and her newest!! I have been singing this book’s praises and I’ll never stop. I am obsessed with the Stone family, and everything about Tristan and Lark. They were giving me all the feelings throughout, and I was completely charmed by every character. The way Tristan and Lark began to notice each other and come together, hand all the little moments, the tension and banter - it was the best buildup. The rival families dynamic was done perfectly and so much fun. Corinne really outdid herself with this one, and I cannot wait to see where this series goes!

The audiobook is narrated in duet by Connor Crais & Vanessa Vasquez - this is one of my new favorite performances from both of them. Everything about it is perfection. They made the story even more special, I had the best time listening!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣
Small town
Cowboy x cowgirl
Rival families
Enemies to lovers
Friends with benefits
Single dad
Forbidden
Grumpy x sunshine
Mutual pining
Dual POV
Spice

Thank you so much Corinne Michaels for the advanced copies!

[Andreea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been so excited to read West of Forever by Corinne Michaels, an author whose books I always enjoy. There was no way I was going to skip a cowboy romance from her. It was love at first sight because the cover is absolutely stunning, but the story is just as good.

I loved how, at the beginning, there’s this undeniable attraction that Tristan and Lark try so hard to resist. They do their best to keep their distance and not give in to temptation. Giving in would only make the complicated relationship between their families even messier and I absolutely love stories with that forbidden-love feel.

When it comes to their arrangement, I really liked seeing who came up with the idea, but what I was most excited about was finding out who would end up wanting more from it first, whose feelings would show up before the other’s. The moment characters insist they don’t want love and plan to keep things strictly to an arrangement, you can’t help but smile and wonder what’s coming next. In this case, what followed definitely did not disappoint.

I was completely won over by Lark’s courage and boldness because these make her such an easy character to admire. I loved the maturity with which she handles situations and the fact that she tries to form her own opinions instead of letting herself be guided by everyone else’s.

Then there’s Tristan. I understood his reasoning when it came to Sadie and horses/riding, and while I felt sorry for little Sadie, I appreciated the author’s decision to portray Tristan’s fear when it comes to his daughter and his refusal to let her ride. It made him feel incredibly human. Even though his interactions with Lark are full of flirtation, he’s a serious man, even a grumpy one at times, so this vulnerability adds so much depth to his character.

I also really enjoyed the surprising twist the story introduces, even though part of me suspected that might be where things were heading. I can’t wait to see how the author develops that in the upcoming books. I’m especially curious about Harper and Ares’s story!

★★★★★

Happy release day, Corinne Michaels! Thanks to Corinne Michaels & Team Corinne Michaels for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Jenny | The Jenny Edit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books are good. Some books are great. And then there are the rare ones that make you feel like butterflies have taken up residence in your belly — the kind that make you slightly antisocial, ignore responsibilities, and read/listen far too late into the night.

West of Forever is firmly in this latter category. Corinne has written what is, without question, one of my favorite books of the year, and honestly, my favorite of hers to date.

Tristan is the kind of MMC that sets an unfair standard — a perfectly imperfect, grumpy cowboy with a heart of gold who also happens to be a devoted single dad, which somehow made him even more swoony. And Lark is amazing by as well - dedicated to her family, motivated, sweet, honorable and compassionate.

What I really loved was the emotional depth of the story — the kind that nestles into your heart and stays there. The family rivalry, the slow-burn mystery of who was stirring up trouble between the families, and the deeply satisfying love story all come together to make this a world I am already desperate to return to — especially knowing there are so many more stories just waiting to be told.

An enormous shoutout for the audiobook experience, because Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez absolutely nailed this one. There are narrators who absolutely become the characters they perform — these two absolutely did that. Their performances added an emotion that made an already addictive listen completely impossible to step away from.

Thanks to Corinne for the ALC and ARC!🩷

[Jen Altman · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first heard about the new Heartstone Ranch series, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the first book and let me tell you – it didn’t disappoint!! West of Forever follows Tristan, a fiercely protective single dad, and Lark, the only daughter of his family’s sworn nemesis. Years and years of long-standing feuds have kept these two families apart, but naturally, fate has other plans. A chance encounter in a downpour sparks a secret, no-strings-attached arrangement that they both know is trouble but somehow can’t help themselves.

The chemistry between Lark and Tristan is seriously off the charts! Watching a broken, closed-off cowboy completely lose his mind over someone he shouldn't want is my absolute favorite flavor of angst. Their hidden meetings under the stars are so romantic and filled with the kind of butterflies that make you want to read through the night. Corinne Michaels always knows exactly how to deliver those deep, emotional punches while keeping you smiling with cozy small-town vibes. Add this one to your TBR stat!

[Annelee (Bringing_books_along) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this one, it’s been a while since I’ve read a small town cowboy romance that had my heart fluttering. I really liked the forbidden aspect of Tristan and Lark’s relationship, the Hatfield and McCoy storyline was fun. Sadie was a great character as well, I feel like it’s a delicate balance and easy to make them very annoying but I felt like the language and personality fit a girl of that age. I am invested in both family storylines and I’d love to see more from them in the future.

I listed to the audio version of this book and let me tell you Conner Crais and Vanessa Vasquez did a phenomenal job! The story is read in a duet narration and I feel like it really added to the story.

If small town romances are your thing give West of Forever a try!

Thank you to Netgalley, Corrine Michales and SourceBooks Casablanca for the gifted ebook and ALC.

[madmanreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️ | 2.5 🌶️

💛 Cowboy romance
💙 Rival families
💛 Small town
💙 Enemies to lovers
💛 Single dad
💙 Grumpy X Sunshine

Goodness gracious did Corinne Michaels absolutely NAIL the rival families aspect here. The tension, sneaking around, familial drama 🤌🏼. Absolute perfection.

🎙️ West of Forever is expertly narrated in duet by Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez and the performances were just absolutely perfect. The yearning, the “we shouldn’t but we can’t help it” push and pull, INCREDIBLE banter, and Tristan’s life as a widower single dad. This incredible performance amplified the deep emotion and witty remarks Michaels wrote into this story.

And for my last thank you Corinne Michaels- an angel, made menial chores around the house feel like I was sitting in the stands at a rodeo instead (BYO hay bale though, I suppose 😜).

Thank you to Corinne Michaels & MLA for the ARC & ALC!

[ana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah so she calls him ‘ben thrustin’ and he calls her ‘jenna talia’ …. feel like that should be reason enough for a 1 star