What do you think?
Rate this book
Branded: An Age Gap, Forced Proximity Romance
He’s a storm rolling through my sunshine life.
That broody rancher is almost twice my age and three times as stubborn.
But I’m here to save his ranch, not catch feelings for my best friend’s dad.
Except the line between business and pleasure gets blurry every time he looks at me.
Everett Riggs keeps his grief locked up tighter than the barn at midnight.
He grunts. He glares. He smells like leather and rain.
I pitch marketing, he pitches resistance, but sparks keep flying across the dusty stables.
Then his daughter—my old college roommate—waltzes back and the air goes thick as honey.
She hates that I’m here and hates the way I look at her dad even more.
Three hearts. One ranch fighting to survive.
If I let this forbidden fire burn, everything could go up in smoke.
But a summer storm is coming, and I think I’m ready to dance in the rain.
That broody rancher is almost twice my age and three times as stubborn.
But I’m here to save his ranch, not catch feelings for my best friend’s dad.
Except the line between business and pleasure gets blurry every time he looks at me.
Everett Riggs keeps his grief locked up tighter than the barn at midnight.
He grunts. He glares. He smells like leather and rain.
I pitch marketing, he pitches resistance, but sparks keep flying across the dusty stables.
Then his daughter—my old college roommate—waltzes back and the air goes thick as honey.
She hates that I’m here and hates the way I look at her dad even more.
Three hearts. One ranch fighting to survive.
If I let this forbidden fire burn, everything could go up in smoke.
But a summer storm is coming, and I think I’m ready to dance in the rain.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2025
34 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 13, 2025
Mary was driving to meet a client , her phone lost connection and she was still driving until she reached her destination in the Black spruce Ranch,when she went out from her car she met with an old rancher , he tells her the man she asked for is on the barn, she went with a suit and the place smells all like shit, when she entered she saw a man helping a cow giving birth half of his hand was on her ass😂.
She tells him that she has a meeting with him, but he tells her that his daughter was chatting with her from his email, but his daughter is out the ranch for two weeks.
She excuses herself to make a phone call, after a few minutes she comes back and tells him that he was going to work with her instead of his daughter.
An amazing story that I loved reading
She tells him that she has a meeting with him, but he tells her that his daughter was chatting with her from his email, but his daughter is out the ranch for two weeks.
She excuses herself to make a phone call, after a few minutes she comes back and tells him that he was going to work with her instead of his daughter.
An amazing story that I loved reading
October 27, 2025
I was not sure what to expect from this book at first. For me, the first couple chapters went a little slow. But I am so glad that I kept reading, because when it picked up, IT PICKED UP.
Everett is a rancher in need of major help to save his ranch. He's also a closed off widower who has managed to pretty much alienate both his grown children too.
Mary is in marketing. She has a great job in the city and takes on the task of marketing for Everett's ranch. But that's not the only task she ends up taking on.
The heat between Everett and Mary starts off more as animosity. He doesn't really want her there. She is determined to do her job. Things heat up, but come crashing down when his daughter Jenny returns to the ranch. When Mary realizes that she went to college with Jenny things get complicated. They get even worse when Jenny finds Mary and her dad making out in the barn.
When Mary gets the offer of a lifetime she must decide if she stays with Everett, saving the ranch for the man she loves, and losing her job in the process, or does she go, losing much more.
I absolutely loved the ending. It leaves it open for book two. I can not wait to see what happens next for Mary, Everett, Jenny, and Wayne (the brother we only hear about a little throughout the story).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Everett is a rancher in need of major help to save his ranch. He's also a closed off widower who has managed to pretty much alienate both his grown children too.
Mary is in marketing. She has a great job in the city and takes on the task of marketing for Everett's ranch. But that's not the only task she ends up taking on.
The heat between Everett and Mary starts off more as animosity. He doesn't really want her there. She is determined to do her job. Things heat up, but come crashing down when his daughter Jenny returns to the ranch. When Mary realizes that she went to college with Jenny things get complicated. They get even worse when Jenny finds Mary and her dad making out in the barn.
When Mary gets the offer of a lifetime she must decide if she stays with Everett, saving the ranch for the man she loves, and losing her job in the process, or does she go, losing much more.
I absolutely loved the ending. It leaves it open for book two. I can not wait to see what happens next for Mary, Everett, Jenny, and Wayne (the brother we only hear about a little throughout the story).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 23, 2025
Leah Banks has crafted a storyline that explores loss, grief, loneliness, family struggles, hope, love, and a hint of steamy chemistry. When Everett Riggs lost his wife ten years ago, he cut his feelings off from his children and friends to the point that he is almost to the point of losing the ranch he and his late wife built together. When he finally agrees to his daughter's request to hire a marketing expert to try to turn things around for them, he never expected Mary. Mary is full of smiles, sunshine, and ideas for saving the ranch, and she makes him feel alive again. Will his daughter's return home bring an abrupt end to their connection, as well as her career? Will both their hopes for the future fizzle out, or will a new light shine for a better future for them all?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 23, 2025
“Branded” by Leah Banks
-This is the first story in a new series set on Black Spruce Ranch. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.
Everett Riggs, a widowed rancher, finds more than hope when marketer Mary arrives to help rescue his struggling ranch. Their forbidden/age gap connection stirs old wounds and new desires, complicated by the return of his daughter—Mary’s former roommate.
Love and loyalty battle beneath the Montana sun, where second chances are as rare as rain. A heartfelt, bittersweet romance with just enough mystery left at the end to linger.
Warning: cliffhanger leading to next book.
-This is the first story in a new series set on Black Spruce Ranch. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.
Everett Riggs, a widowed rancher, finds more than hope when marketer Mary arrives to help rescue his struggling ranch. Their forbidden/age gap connection stirs old wounds and new desires, complicated by the return of his daughter—Mary’s former roommate.
Love and loyalty battle beneath the Montana sun, where second chances are as rare as rain. A heartfelt, bittersweet romance with just enough mystery left at the end to linger.
Warning: cliffhanger leading to next book.
October 24, 2025
Great story!
Everett owns a ranch that needs rebranding. Mary was assigned to do the job, but Everett is not up to dealing with her. The butt heads. Mary is not giving up. One day the attraction went over the edge and that was it, yes there is an age difference, but they feel the pull. Jenny comes home and she finds them embracing and kissing. Now things are strained. It is a great story!
Everett owns a ranch that needs rebranding. Mary was assigned to do the job, but Everett is not up to dealing with her. The butt heads. Mary is not giving up. One day the attraction went over the edge and that was it, yes there is an age difference, but they feel the pull. Jenny comes home and she finds them embracing and kissing. Now things are strained. It is a great story!
December 27, 2025
enjoyable but holey
I enjoyed the story but it felt like there were a few holes in the plot that could have been better explained. I’m guessing due in part to the length of the book. I don’t mind a short, concise story as long as I don’t end the book feeling like there were chunks of information missing. I am intrigued enough to read about Wayne though so I may continue the series.
I enjoyed the story but it felt like there were a few holes in the plot that could have been better explained. I’m guessing due in part to the length of the book. I don’t mind a short, concise story as long as I don’t end the book feeling like there were chunks of information missing. I am intrigued enough to read about Wayne though so I may continue the series.
October 23, 2025
Just one click and one chapter and you're going to be hooked reading about Everett and Mary. Leah has done a fabulous job writing this romance book that starts off the Black Spruce Ranch series that I am EXTREMELY EXCITED to read. Get ready to love this age gap romance book just like myself.
October 28, 2025
This was a super cute story it has all the tropes I love in a book. Large age gap, spice, grumpy sunshine, friends dad, cowboy, small town, tension and HEA. 4.5⭐️.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 12, 2026
My first read from Leah Banks. This is a typical small town rancher with a marketing professional coming from the city to try to save his ranch. It was cute, heartfelt, and a short read. Somewhat forbidden romance with family tensions.
November 1, 2025
I enjoyed Everett and Mary’s journey in branded. It was an emotional read. I received an early copy. And voluntarily leaving this review.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews