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Mend a Heart
Emery Harrington has focused on his goals of first becoming a family medicine doctor and then returning home to Colorado, his family’s ranch, and working at the family care clinic in town. With that dream realized, he turns his attention to being the best doctor he can be. But then his sometimes, occasional friend-with-benefits shows up.
Ville Aalto left his family behind and forged a new path. As the head of security for a superstar country music artist, he’s not only found his purpose, but his place in the world. Heading to Blue Creek Ranch to shore up security is a no-brainer; not only did his best friend and boss ask him to, but he’ll be able to see Emery again. Their time together in the past has been brief and sporadic, but always explosive and worth every second.
What neither man expects is the feelings that grow when they get to spend more than a few hours together. With a wedding, a medical emergency, and the superstar’s impending visit on the horizon, Emery and Ville not only carve out time for each other, but lean on each other. Emery has it all. Ville has everything he’s ever wanted. They both know it’s temporary, and it can’t be more. But when it comes time to say goodbye, neither man is ready to let go.
Mending hearts is harder than breaking them, but Emery and Ville are willing to do whatever it takes to get their happily ever after.
Ville Aalto left his family behind and forged a new path. As the head of security for a superstar country music artist, he’s not only found his purpose, but his place in the world. Heading to Blue Creek Ranch to shore up security is a no-brainer; not only did his best friend and boss ask him to, but he’ll be able to see Emery again. Their time together in the past has been brief and sporadic, but always explosive and worth every second.
What neither man expects is the feelings that grow when they get to spend more than a few hours together. With a wedding, a medical emergency, and the superstar’s impending visit on the horizon, Emery and Ville not only carve out time for each other, but lean on each other. Emery has it all. Ville has everything he’s ever wanted. They both know it’s temporary, and it can’t be more. But when it comes time to say goodbye, neither man is ready to let go.
Mending hearts is harder than breaking them, but Emery and Ville are willing to do whatever it takes to get their happily ever after.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 21, 2026
About the author
Kris T. Bethke
64 books63 followersKris T. Bethke has been a voracious reader for pretty much her entire life and has been writing stories for nearly as long. An avid and prolific daydreamer, she always has a story in her head. She spends most of her free time reading, writing, or knitting/crocheting her latest project. Her biggest desire is to find a way to accomplish all three tasks at one time. A classic muscle car will always turn her head and weekend naps are one of her greatest guilty pleasures. She lives in a converted attic with an aquarium full of tropical fish and the voices in her head. She’ll tell you she thinks that’s a pretty good deal.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 22, 2026
MEND A HEART
By Kris T. Bethke & Tia Fielding
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received this E-book ARC edition of the novel from the authors in exchange for an honest review. It is Available NOW on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
https://www.amazon.com /B0FRK3KY7N
This is a 303-page Medium Paced, Semi-Establish / History, Insta-Love, Friends-to-Lovers, Protector / Healer, Found Family MM Romance. This is the third book in the Blue Creek Ranch series, which picks up 8 months after book ends. It can be read as a standalone technically, HOWEVER, I highly recommend reading at least the first book to acquaint yourself with all the characters and to avoid spoilers from that novel.
Written in alternating chapters dual first person POV, this book will make you feel like you are a part of the family instantly. The family is getting bigger!!!! The Harrington’s are a family of 12, and one thing the parents are good at is picking up strays along the way. Ville shows up at the ranch to do a job. He works for Wren, a famous country singer, and a close friends to the family that practically adopted by them when he was a kid. Ville is there to tighten security around the property, because apparently their security donkey Juanpablo isn’t enough anymore with how popular they have gotten on social media. But also for when Wren arrives, he will be safe, in addition to keeping the Harrington’s safe in the long run as well. Emery Harrington just moved home a year prior after finishing medical school and his rotations. His dream had always been to care for his community, connect with the patients at a human level and take the time and the attention they deserve and it just happened to work out that there was a spot open at the Doctor’s Office and Clinic in town when he graduated.
What I didn’t know going in was these two guys are FRIENDLY with each other. It may have been hinted in the previous books to tell you the truth, but my memory is crap! They have a history that is typical for the queer community. But they never left each other’s minds. When Ville shows up, they picked up right where they left off, with no shame! And not even trying to hide it from the rest of the huge family. While Ville is there to set everything up in time for a big wedding event on the property that Wren will be there for, Emery is working to earn the respect of the citizens of the town as well as his boss, who have a hard time not seeing his as a professional, and not one of the Harrington Crew.
This is an ensemble forward plot! The whole family is awesome!!!! They all have distinct personalities, and even though THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM, it is so easy to follow along to all their different jobs around the ranch and all their family couplings with all the kids! And speaking of kids, if you didn’t love Payton before, you will fall for his adorable little personality in this novel. He is sooooo cute and funny. The one thing about this family dynamic that is different from other family centric stories is that they don’t meddle. They Support each other with their whole hearts. Yes, they rib each other just like all siblings do, and there is a lot of that because there are a lot of them, but seeing the way they are there for each other, no questions asked, is something to aspire to. You also can’t have a medical professional in the family and as an MC without one or multiple people going thru a crisis.
The spice in this novel is not your norm. It is full of consent and care, but also ravaging. But a lot of the scenes are closed door or partially open. This is not a complaint! It works so well for this story. Yes, their intimacy is important to them and they make it known, but the focus is on their emotional connection with each other and the family. It is so strong. It leaves no doubt that they will last if they can get through the challenges that have been placed in their path.
What I really love about this series is the feeling of literally being on the ranch yourself. They wrote this so immersively, I feel like I am one of the hands on the ranch or part of the family myself, with the animals and the kiddos that are multiplying quicker that rabbits. I also love the creativity the authors bring to the table to give all the characters life challenges, not just the MCs. Demi, Emery’s twin, is really going through it this addition. While we get big updates on Crew, Malachi, & Payton and see that Hawk & Carter are still going strong while Carter helps care for the family with the money and power that he has. Bodhi, the oldest of the children, appeared in book 2, but his story has been a mystery since, and we still don’t have much. He is very tight lipped about what he went through while in the marines, to the point of not telling his best friend Wren he was even back from service. Their book gets lightly set up within the plot of this novel as well as a hint for another with one of the other kids and a new employee.
I can’t wait for this family to return! BIGGER AND WITH MORE LOVE.
💜Happy Reading🫶
By Kris T. Bethke & Tia Fielding
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received this E-book ARC edition of the novel from the authors in exchange for an honest review. It is Available NOW on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
https://www.amazon.com /B0FRK3KY7N
This is a 303-page Medium Paced, Semi-Establish / History, Insta-Love, Friends-to-Lovers, Protector / Healer, Found Family MM Romance. This is the third book in the Blue Creek Ranch series, which picks up 8 months after book ends. It can be read as a standalone technically, HOWEVER, I highly recommend reading at least the first book to acquaint yourself with all the characters and to avoid spoilers from that novel.
Written in alternating chapters dual first person POV, this book will make you feel like you are a part of the family instantly. The family is getting bigger!!!! The Harrington’s are a family of 12, and one thing the parents are good at is picking up strays along the way. Ville shows up at the ranch to do a job. He works for Wren, a famous country singer, and a close friends to the family that practically adopted by them when he was a kid. Ville is there to tighten security around the property, because apparently their security donkey Juanpablo isn’t enough anymore with how popular they have gotten on social media. But also for when Wren arrives, he will be safe, in addition to keeping the Harrington’s safe in the long run as well. Emery Harrington just moved home a year prior after finishing medical school and his rotations. His dream had always been to care for his community, connect with the patients at a human level and take the time and the attention they deserve and it just happened to work out that there was a spot open at the Doctor’s Office and Clinic in town when he graduated.
What I didn’t know going in was these two guys are FRIENDLY with each other. It may have been hinted in the previous books to tell you the truth, but my memory is crap! They have a history that is typical for the queer community. But they never left each other’s minds. When Ville shows up, they picked up right where they left off, with no shame! And not even trying to hide it from the rest of the huge family. While Ville is there to set everything up in time for a big wedding event on the property that Wren will be there for, Emery is working to earn the respect of the citizens of the town as well as his boss, who have a hard time not seeing his as a professional, and not one of the Harrington Crew.
This is an ensemble forward plot! The whole family is awesome!!!! They all have distinct personalities, and even though THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM, it is so easy to follow along to all their different jobs around the ranch and all their family couplings with all the kids! And speaking of kids, if you didn’t love Payton before, you will fall for his adorable little personality in this novel. He is sooooo cute and funny. The one thing about this family dynamic that is different from other family centric stories is that they don’t meddle. They Support each other with their whole hearts. Yes, they rib each other just like all siblings do, and there is a lot of that because there are a lot of them, but seeing the way they are there for each other, no questions asked, is something to aspire to. You also can’t have a medical professional in the family and as an MC without one or multiple people going thru a crisis.
The spice in this novel is not your norm. It is full of consent and care, but also ravaging. But a lot of the scenes are closed door or partially open. This is not a complaint! It works so well for this story. Yes, their intimacy is important to them and they make it known, but the focus is on their emotional connection with each other and the family. It is so strong. It leaves no doubt that they will last if they can get through the challenges that have been placed in their path.
What I really love about this series is the feeling of literally being on the ranch yourself. They wrote this so immersively, I feel like I am one of the hands on the ranch or part of the family myself, with the animals and the kiddos that are multiplying quicker that rabbits. I also love the creativity the authors bring to the table to give all the characters life challenges, not just the MCs. Demi, Emery’s twin, is really going through it this addition. While we get big updates on Crew, Malachi, & Payton and see that Hawk & Carter are still going strong while Carter helps care for the family with the money and power that he has. Bodhi, the oldest of the children, appeared in book 2, but his story has been a mystery since, and we still don’t have much. He is very tight lipped about what he went through while in the marines, to the point of not telling his best friend Wren he was even back from service. Their book gets lightly set up within the plot of this novel as well as a hint for another with one of the other kids and a new employee.
I can’t wait for this family to return! BIGGER AND WITH MORE LOVE.
💜Happy Reading🫶
May 21, 2026
Mend a Heart
By: Kris T. Bethke & Tia Fielding
📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚
Perfect and forever!
In book 3 in the Blue Creek Ranch series we get Ville and Emery who’s getting ready for his twin sister’s wedding. Ville is head of security for a famous country singer attending the wedding. Both have had intimate encounters and could have a longer encounter this visit. Emery comes from a large loving family Ville does not.
They want to turn the occasion time together into something more but Emery is a doctor and Ville travels with the singer and together seems impossible. The author writing is flawless, and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shockingly intimate I have become a huge fan of this author. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some have quick witted story lines that are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.
Authors blurb: Emery Harrington has focused on his goals of first becoming a family medicine doctor and then returning home to Colorado, his family’s ranch, and working at the family care clinic in town. With that dream realized, he turns his attention to being the best doctor he can be. But then his sometimes, occasional friend-with-benefits shows up.
Ville Aalto left his family behind and forged a new path. As the head of security for a superstar country music artist, he’s not only found his purpose, but his place in the world. Heading to Blue Creek Ranch to shore up security is a no-brainer; not only did his best friend and boss ask him to, but he’ll be able to see Emery again. Their time together in the past has been brief and sporadic, but always explosive and worth every second.
What neither man expects is the feelings that grow when they get to spend more than a few hours together. With a wedding, a medical emergency, and the superstar’s impending visit on the horizon, Emery and Ville not only carve out time for each other, but lean on each other. Emery has it all. Ville has everything he’s ever wanted. They both know it’s temporary, and it can’t be more. But when it comes time to say goodbye, neither man is ready to let go.
Mending hearts is harder than breaking them, but Emery and Ville are willing to do whatever it takes to get their happily ever after.
This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know you’re 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.
By: Kris T. Bethke & Tia Fielding
📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚
Perfect and forever!
In book 3 in the Blue Creek Ranch series we get Ville and Emery who’s getting ready for his twin sister’s wedding. Ville is head of security for a famous country singer attending the wedding. Both have had intimate encounters and could have a longer encounter this visit. Emery comes from a large loving family Ville does not.
They want to turn the occasion time together into something more but Emery is a doctor and Ville travels with the singer and together seems impossible. The author writing is flawless, and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shockingly intimate I have become a huge fan of this author. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some have quick witted story lines that are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.
Authors blurb: Emery Harrington has focused on his goals of first becoming a family medicine doctor and then returning home to Colorado, his family’s ranch, and working at the family care clinic in town. With that dream realized, he turns his attention to being the best doctor he can be. But then his sometimes, occasional friend-with-benefits shows up.
Ville Aalto left his family behind and forged a new path. As the head of security for a superstar country music artist, he’s not only found his purpose, but his place in the world. Heading to Blue Creek Ranch to shore up security is a no-brainer; not only did his best friend and boss ask him to, but he’ll be able to see Emery again. Their time together in the past has been brief and sporadic, but always explosive and worth every second.
What neither man expects is the feelings that grow when they get to spend more than a few hours together. With a wedding, a medical emergency, and the superstar’s impending visit on the horizon, Emery and Ville not only carve out time for each other, but lean on each other. Emery has it all. Ville has everything he’s ever wanted. They both know it’s temporary, and it can’t be more. But when it comes time to say goodbye, neither man is ready to let go.
Mending hearts is harder than breaking them, but Emery and Ville are willing to do whatever it takes to get their happily ever after.
This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know you’re 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.
May 24, 2026
4 stars. A heartwarming story, first time reading a novel by these two writers combined. I've come in late in the series so tracking the 10 Harrington siblings (and kids) is a bit of an effort initially, but there's enough info to be able to follow the interactions of the different people.
This story is is focused around the friend of the Harrington family, Wren Paxton, who is a big music star, who is planning to return to the Harrington ranch (Blue Creek Ranch) for a wedding of one of the siblings, Demi. To achieve this, his friend and security guy for over 10 years, Ville, needs to ensure that the ranch has sufficient security to protect Wren from threats, one of which is actively following him in the USA.
Dr Emery Harrington is one of the younger siblings who has had occasional hookups with Ville when he's gone to see one of Wren's concerts, so when Ville arrives for updating the security of all the businesses and the homestead itself in Blue Creek Ranch, their relationship becomes much more serious and quickly.
The plot has a number of strands: the grumpy older/sunshine younger central relationship with Ville and Emery and the challenges of Ville needing to travel with Wren and Emery staying at Blue Creek Ranch for his job and family; hints at Wren's and his best friend Bodhi being more than friends and a mystery on why Bodhi is back; the stalker making an appearance; Emery's job at his clinic and establishing himself with the older owner in his own right; Ville's family background and the inclusivity of the Harringtons with respect to friends and neighbours of the ranch into their family.
It's an enjoyable read, I read it very quickly to find out what happens next. I read a sample of the first book to get into the series space and the people, which reads consistently with this book, and easily draws the reader into the series. Enjoy!
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
This story is is focused around the friend of the Harrington family, Wren Paxton, who is a big music star, who is planning to return to the Harrington ranch (Blue Creek Ranch) for a wedding of one of the siblings, Demi. To achieve this, his friend and security guy for over 10 years, Ville, needs to ensure that the ranch has sufficient security to protect Wren from threats, one of which is actively following him in the USA.
Dr Emery Harrington is one of the younger siblings who has had occasional hookups with Ville when he's gone to see one of Wren's concerts, so when Ville arrives for updating the security of all the businesses and the homestead itself in Blue Creek Ranch, their relationship becomes much more serious and quickly.
The plot has a number of strands: the grumpy older/sunshine younger central relationship with Ville and Emery and the challenges of Ville needing to travel with Wren and Emery staying at Blue Creek Ranch for his job and family; hints at Wren's and his best friend Bodhi being more than friends and a mystery on why Bodhi is back; the stalker making an appearance; Emery's job at his clinic and establishing himself with the older owner in his own right; Ville's family background and the inclusivity of the Harringtons with respect to friends and neighbours of the ranch into their family.
It's an enjoyable read, I read it very quickly to find out what happens next. I read a sample of the first book to get into the series space and the people, which reads consistently with this book, and easily draws the reader into the series. Enjoy!
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Emery works at the clinic and lives on his family’s ranch as one of 10 kids his parents had. They’re all gearing up for his twin sister’s wedding, and one guest is a famous country singer and a great friend of the family.
His security detail is led by Ville, who Emery hooked up with on prior visits, and they have a chance to be together for a little longer this time.
Ville is a lonely guy whose parents were both awful, but he has friends on his security team. The Harringtons easily accept him into the fold when he and Emery start spending time together, closer to dating than hookups.
The wedding is wonderful, but neither of them is ready for Ville to leave and protect the singer on his tour. Emery can’t leave his life as a doctor, so instead of breaking up they do long distance.
It’s hard on both of them, but especially Emery, so when the singer decides to quit that life Ville is the first to return, to finally come home to Emery and have a life and whole family all at once.
I really liked the family in all their combinations of relationships and personalities, the whole lifestyle of the ranch was well depicted. Ville’s background was unusual as a Finnish man and it added a layer of cultural interest.
Glad this is part of a series.
I received this ARC for free and am happy to provide my honest review of the book with my thanks.
His security detail is led by Ville, who Emery hooked up with on prior visits, and they have a chance to be together for a little longer this time.
Ville is a lonely guy whose parents were both awful, but he has friends on his security team. The Harringtons easily accept him into the fold when he and Emery start spending time together, closer to dating than hookups.
The wedding is wonderful, but neither of them is ready for Ville to leave and protect the singer on his tour. Emery can’t leave his life as a doctor, so instead of breaking up they do long distance.
It’s hard on both of them, but especially Emery, so when the singer decides to quit that life Ville is the first to return, to finally come home to Emery and have a life and whole family all at once.
I really liked the family in all their combinations of relationships and personalities, the whole lifestyle of the ranch was well depicted. Ville’s background was unusual as a Finnish man and it added a layer of cultural interest.
Glad this is part of a series.
I received this ARC for free and am happy to provide my honest review of the book with my thanks.
Review of advance copy
Third book of the Blue Creek Ranch series, but it can be enjoyed as a standalone. It does contain spoilers for the first two books, and I highly recommend the first one Take a Chance. Mend a Heart is a spicy romance between a doctor and a security specialist, and while most of it is set on Blue Creek Ranch and there are horses it doesn’t have the “cozy cowboy” flavor of the first two books. All three are worth rereading, and I look forward to book four.
May 22, 2026
I love it when chemistry is not limited to inside the bedroom. I also love how well they know each other and continued to learn one another. To communicate even without words. And I enjoyed the interaction of the whole family, their relationships with the community, and how they support each other.
I received an advanced readers copy and am giving my honest review.
I received an advanced readers copy and am giving my honest review.
May 22, 2026
Oh my god! I loved this. Ville and Emory are very swoonworthy. I can’t believe I haven’t read any of these books yet! I got very quickly invested in these two finding a way to make everything work. The Harringtons sound almost too perfect to be real and I absolutely love this kind of feel good found family story. 100% recommend and now I have to go read the first couple of books in this series!
May 21, 2026
faire coller deux professions aussi improbable qu un garde du corps d une celibrite et d un medecin dune petite ville est un coup de maitre tres reussi. Et toujours ce joyeux cchos de cette famille nous enchante.
May 22, 2026
the love i have for this family is like no other 😭😭 another 10/10 read from this amazing author and i want a million more books in this series pls and thank you
Did Not Finish
May 24, 2026DNF @ 32% - I'm just not getting into this book. I feel like it's more about all the rest of the characters than the actual main characters.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews