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Hawthorne Ranch #1
Under The Orange Sky
Penny Lawson didn't plan to stop in Lander, Wyoming. she just wanted to put as many miles as she could between herself and the man who broke her spirit.
But when a flat tire leaves her stranded on a dusty country road, she's rescued by Sheriff Cas Hawthorne, a quiet cowboy with blue eyes, a protective heart, and and a big, boisterous family that treats strangers like their own.
Cas never expected to find a frightened woman alone on the side of the road, but something about Penny's strength beneath the fear draws him in. As she slowly begins to rebuild her life in the safety of his small town Penny discovers that maybe love isn t something to rur from, it's something worth holding on to.
But just as Penny begins to believe she's finally free, shadows from her past close in. And when danger comes to Lander, Cas will have to decide how far he'll go to protect the woman who's stolen his heart.
But when a flat tire leaves her stranded on a dusty country road, she's rescued by Sheriff Cas Hawthorne, a quiet cowboy with blue eyes, a protective heart, and and a big, boisterous family that treats strangers like their own.
Cas never expected to find a frightened woman alone on the side of the road, but something about Penny's strength beneath the fear draws him in. As she slowly begins to rebuild her life in the safety of his small town Penny discovers that maybe love isn t something to rur from, it's something worth holding on to.
But just as Penny begins to believe she's finally free, shadows from her past close in. And when danger comes to Lander, Cas will have to decide how far he'll go to protect the woman who's stolen his heart.
289 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
November 7, 2025
omg I loved it 😍
found family cowboy romance
this book had every feel going through out this book.
the plot follows penelope who is escaping her abusive ex mark, she leaves with little money just enough for gas, when she is driving her tyre bursts and she is stuck, alone and afraid. Casper is out on his routine patrols in the car with his partner and they are heading back to the station when they spot penelope stranded they try to help but she isnt trusting of men right now but she manages to trust casper enough to let her stay at his family b&b free of charge until her car is sorted.
what she didnt expect was to fall hard and fast for his family and him as well.
she finds peace, trust and a family she didnr realise she needed. her abusive partner mark catches up with her but he messed with the wrong family and the wrong sherrif, all I will say mark gets his karma *enter evil laugh here*.
you cant help but fall in love with each and every character (apart from mark) in this story and I cant wait to dive deeper into the hawthorn family 🥰🥰🥰.
found family cowboy romance
this book had every feel going through out this book.
the plot follows penelope who is escaping her abusive ex mark, she leaves with little money just enough for gas, when she is driving her tyre bursts and she is stuck, alone and afraid. Casper is out on his routine patrols in the car with his partner and they are heading back to the station when they spot penelope stranded they try to help but she isnt trusting of men right now but she manages to trust casper enough to let her stay at his family b&b free of charge until her car is sorted.
what she didnt expect was to fall hard and fast for his family and him as well.
she finds peace, trust and a family she didnr realise she needed. her abusive partner mark catches up with her but he messed with the wrong family and the wrong sherrif, all I will say mark gets his karma *enter evil laugh here*.
you cant help but fall in love with each and every character (apart from mark) in this story and I cant wait to dive deeper into the hawthorn family 🥰🥰🥰.
October 17, 2025
First off once I started I could not put it down. From the characters to the plot I couldn't get enough and can't wait to read more. Its been a while since I found a book that pulled me in like this one. I was able to connect with the characters and get into all the feels hating to put it down for a minute. Hands down would recommend to anyone and everyone. Now ill just wait patient till I can get more of this series...like seriously how long lol 😍 Definitely my new favorite author to follow
October 29, 2025
Rate: 4/5⭐️
Spice: 0.5/5🌶️
What to expect when reading;
-Found Family
-Cowboy Romance
-Small Town
-Romantic Suspense
This is book one of the Hawthorne Ranch series. You get to follow Cas and Penny! This being Keely's first novel, she knocked it out of the park. I could not put this book down. I love a good romantic suspense. Firstly though please check trigger warnings this story does have heavy topics. Penny is just wanting to start over but life happens, lucky for her that is where not only Cas comes in but his amazing family too. I enjoyed literally every character in this but, well maybe except one, but it's the villain of course lol Honestly If I had a Cas I would fall for him too so go Penny! I know this series is going to be a good one, if this was the first book.
Side Notes:
-I need more Summer
Favorite line:
•"She doesn’t know it yet. But she belongs here.
And hell if I don’t already want to make sure she never has to run again."
Spice: 0.5/5🌶️
What to expect when reading;
-Found Family
-Cowboy Romance
-Small Town
-Romantic Suspense
This is book one of the Hawthorne Ranch series. You get to follow Cas and Penny! This being Keely's first novel, she knocked it out of the park. I could not put this book down. I love a good romantic suspense. Firstly though please check trigger warnings this story does have heavy topics. Penny is just wanting to start over but life happens, lucky for her that is where not only Cas comes in but his amazing family too. I enjoyed literally every character in this but, well maybe except one, but it's the villain of course lol Honestly If I had a Cas I would fall for him too so go Penny! I know this series is going to be a good one, if this was the first book.
Side Notes:
-I need more Summer
Favorite line:
•"She doesn’t know it yet. But she belongs here.
And hell if I don’t already want to make sure she never has to run again."
May 21, 2026
2.5. It was a good story but felt rushed which made it a bit unbelievable
October 23, 2025
love, love, love it
the way she writes is really amazing!
I love the story, and the romance is all over💞
🍀🍀🍀
the way she writes is really amazing!
I love the story, and the romance is all over💞
🍀🍀🍀
February 10, 2026
2.75
Cas & Penny
Ok, yes, the rating is low, BUT the book was not all bad. I liked all the characters. Penny was sweet and down to earth. Cas was your typical mmc - tough on the outside and sweet on the inside for Penny. There was found family, which will always be a favorite trope for me. I loved all of Cas' big family and the extended family. While there was insta-love it didn't annoy me right away. You could see the atraction between the two, so it wasn't a surprise...it fit with the story.
HOWEVER, the pacing was ridiculous. This book went from Penny getting abused by her boyfriend, to escaping, to a flat tire, to meeting Cas on the side of the road, to living in his family's home, to having a crush on Cas, to going on a date, then we get the L word from Cas, and bam...we're engaged. Like what!!! All of this happened within two to three months time.
Don't get me wrong...I went into this expecting a formulaic story about a ranch family with predictable plot structure, but come on. This was so unrealistic and forced that I could not rate this book a 3.
Also, this story needed some editing. There were errors and inconsistencies throughout the story. Granted, they weren't so egregious that I couldn't overlook them, but they were distracting.
Overall, I think this series has great potential, but the author needs to go back clean up the story.
Cas & Penny
Ok, yes, the rating is low, BUT the book was not all bad. I liked all the characters. Penny was sweet and down to earth. Cas was your typical mmc - tough on the outside and sweet on the inside for Penny. There was found family, which will always be a favorite trope for me. I loved all of Cas' big family and the extended family. While there was insta-love it didn't annoy me right away. You could see the atraction between the two, so it wasn't a surprise...it fit with the story.
HOWEVER, the pacing was ridiculous. This book went from Penny getting abused by her boyfriend, to escaping, to a flat tire, to meeting Cas on the side of the road, to living in his family's home, to having a crush on Cas, to going on a date, then we get the L word from Cas, and bam...we're engaged. Like what!!! All of this happened within two to three months time.
Don't get me wrong...I went into this expecting a formulaic story about a ranch family with predictable plot structure, but come on. This was so unrealistic and forced that I could not rate this book a 3.
Also, this story needed some editing. There were errors and inconsistencies throughout the story. Granted, they weren't so egregious that I couldn't overlook them, but they were distracting.
Overall, I think this series has great potential, but the author needs to go back clean up the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2025
This was cute and I did enjoy it. However, Cas did make me cringe a little at times. He just came across as a bit cringey and needy at times and I wasn't a fan of the nickname. it was also over used and that bothered me. However. I really like Penelope but do feel there would have been more trauma to unpack there and it should have been a hell of a lot slower of a burn for me, but otherwise, she was a good character. I loved the Hawthorne's particularly Grace and Lily and I loved Summer and Mia. The brothers great too and I look forward to Ethan and summers story and I have a feeling ther could be a live triangle between a certain 3 characters. I think the two brothers that intrigued me the most however are the bull rider and the quiet one (I forgot their names, too many brothers to remember 😂) but I do think they will have done good stories coming up. So I will definitely continue reading the series, it was cute and cosy and although there were a couple of things I didn't particularly enjoy that much, they weren't deal breakers. Nice quick and easy read for the autumn/winter seasons.
January 29, 2026
I think the story had a great potential, but there was no build up for each scene. I would have loved to see more of main characters interacting with conversations and build up to the next scene or developing their relationship. I feel like there was not enough back story or inside each characters mind. Example I seen where Penny is upset about missing her mom. You see a little dialogue there but there’s nothing that gives you context. than all of a sudden Cass knows everything about her family, little things like that I would have loved to seen develop instead of just saying we talked and end scene.
November 5, 2025
Under the Orange Sky is the kind of cowboy romance that grabs your heart from page one and never lets go. I devoured this book in a single day, no joke, and it singlehandedly yanked me out of my reading slump.
The small-town setting is cozy and vivid, the kind of place you never want to leave, and the Hawthornes? I am in love with this family. Their found-family dynamic adds so much warmth and depth, and every scene with them felt like a comforting hug with just the right amount of teasing and tension.
The chemistry between the leads is absolutely electric, slow burn, sparks flying, the whole package. Their relationship unfolds with such satisfying emotional depth and character growth that I couldn’t stop rooting for them. It’s tender, funny, and oh-so-hot, perfectly balanced with the grit and charm of ranch life.
The writing itself is gorgeous, rich, heartfelt, and cinematic. You can practically feel the sun dipping under that orange sky.
If you love found family, hot cowboys, small-town charm, and romances that make you feel something, this is the book for you. I’m already counting down the days until book two.
Under the Orange Sky is an absolute must-read. Saddle up, you won’t regret it.
The small-town setting is cozy and vivid, the kind of place you never want to leave, and the Hawthornes? I am in love with this family. Their found-family dynamic adds so much warmth and depth, and every scene with them felt like a comforting hug with just the right amount of teasing and tension.
The chemistry between the leads is absolutely electric, slow burn, sparks flying, the whole package. Their relationship unfolds with such satisfying emotional depth and character growth that I couldn’t stop rooting for them. It’s tender, funny, and oh-so-hot, perfectly balanced with the grit and charm of ranch life.
The writing itself is gorgeous, rich, heartfelt, and cinematic. You can practically feel the sun dipping under that orange sky.
If you love found family, hot cowboys, small-town charm, and romances that make you feel something, this is the book for you. I’m already counting down the days until book two.
Under the Orange Sky is an absolute must-read. Saddle up, you won’t regret it.
May 10, 2026
Wow 🤩
Keely Weis absolutely blew me away with Under the Orange Sky 🧡✨
Penny’s journey after escaping her abusive relationship with the absolute asshole that is Mark was heartbreaking, emotional, and so beautifully written. Watching her slowly learn how to trust and heal again had my heart aching for her the entire time. And then there’s Casper Hawthorne… 🥹 that man fell HARD for Penny and I was living for every second of it.
I loved how naturally their relationship blossomed. Casper never pushed her, never rushed her, and gave her the patience, comfort, and safety she deserved until she was ready. The way he showed up for her over and over again?? SWOON.
And can we talk about the found family aspect because it was EVERYTHING. The banter, the chaos, the love — it genuinely made me laugh out loud so many times. They all felt so real and comforting.
Now onto Mark… respectfully, I wish this man would vanish into thin air and leave my girl Penny ALONE 😭🤣 Grade A pain in the fucking ass. Enough said.
Overall, this book was emotional, healing, funny, and full of so much heart.
⭐️ 5/5 stars
🌶 1/5 chili rating
Keely Weis absolutely blew me away with Under the Orange Sky 🧡✨
Penny’s journey after escaping her abusive relationship with the absolute asshole that is Mark was heartbreaking, emotional, and so beautifully written. Watching her slowly learn how to trust and heal again had my heart aching for her the entire time. And then there’s Casper Hawthorne… 🥹 that man fell HARD for Penny and I was living for every second of it.
I loved how naturally their relationship blossomed. Casper never pushed her, never rushed her, and gave her the patience, comfort, and safety she deserved until she was ready. The way he showed up for her over and over again?? SWOON.
And can we talk about the found family aspect because it was EVERYTHING. The banter, the chaos, the love — it genuinely made me laugh out loud so many times. They all felt so real and comforting.
Now onto Mark… respectfully, I wish this man would vanish into thin air and leave my girl Penny ALONE 😭🤣 Grade A pain in the fucking ass. Enough said.
Overall, this book was emotional, healing, funny, and full of so much heart.
⭐️ 5/5 stars
🌶 1/5 chili rating
January 21, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
0.5🌶/5
🏘Small Town Romance
👨👩👧👦 Found Family
👮♂️🤠 Cowboy/Police MMC
🤝➡️🩷 Friends to Lovers
🖤 Past Trauma/ Grief ( please check trigger warnings)
I enjoyed this book, its a fun and sweet read and I got through it within about 5 hours. I will say it was a little Insta-Lovey for me at times and the pacing was a bit fast in regards to the relationship building between the two main characters given what the FMC had experienced in her previous relationship but I did enjoy the story overall.
Cas the MMC is just a sweetie, protective and kind with a cheeky side. I will say at times he did make me cringe a little but he's completely devoted to Penny and its endearing mostly.
Penelope the FMC is lovely, she has endured a lot and still manages to be sweet and kind and I was so happy she found her place with the Hawthorne Family.
I love the Hawthornes, they're all so loving and welcoming, can't to see the rest of the sibling stories unfold.
0.5🌶/5
🏘Small Town Romance
👨👩👧👦 Found Family
👮♂️🤠 Cowboy/Police MMC
🤝➡️🩷 Friends to Lovers
🖤 Past Trauma/ Grief ( please check trigger warnings)
I enjoyed this book, its a fun and sweet read and I got through it within about 5 hours. I will say it was a little Insta-Lovey for me at times and the pacing was a bit fast in regards to the relationship building between the two main characters given what the FMC had experienced in her previous relationship but I did enjoy the story overall.
Cas the MMC is just a sweetie, protective and kind with a cheeky side. I will say at times he did make me cringe a little but he's completely devoted to Penny and its endearing mostly.
Penelope the FMC is lovely, she has endured a lot and still manages to be sweet and kind and I was so happy she found her place with the Hawthorne Family.
I love the Hawthornes, they're all so loving and welcoming, can't to see the rest of the sibling stories unfold.
March 31, 2026
Soft cowboys, found family, and healing after heartbreak?? Say less.
This is the kind of small-town romance that wraps around you like a warm hug — dusty roads, big skies, and a man who actually knows how to treat a woman right. Cas Hawthorne? Protective, patient, and quietly obsessed… we LOVE to see it.
Penny’s journey hits deep — running from her past, learning to trust again, and finding a family she never knew she needed. The Hawthornes aren’t just side characters, they’re the heart of the whole story.
It’s low spice but high emotion — more about healing, safety, and that soft, steady kind of love that sneaks up on you.
If you’re into:
🤠 Small-town cowboy romance
👨👩👧👦 Found family vibes
❤️ Trauma → healing → love
✨ Protective MMC energy
…this one will have you hooked.
Short, sweet, and dangerously easy to devour in one sitting.
This is the kind of small-town romance that wraps around you like a warm hug — dusty roads, big skies, and a man who actually knows how to treat a woman right. Cas Hawthorne? Protective, patient, and quietly obsessed… we LOVE to see it.
Penny’s journey hits deep — running from her past, learning to trust again, and finding a family she never knew she needed. The Hawthornes aren’t just side characters, they’re the heart of the whole story.
It’s low spice but high emotion — more about healing, safety, and that soft, steady kind of love that sneaks up on you.
If you’re into:
🤠 Small-town cowboy romance
👨👩👧👦 Found family vibes
❤️ Trauma → healing → love
✨ Protective MMC energy
…this one will have you hooked.
Short, sweet, and dangerously easy to devour in one sitting.
November 10, 2025
The vibe:
It's sweet-and-steamy with that small town-cowboy charm-the kind of story where you're pulled into wide skies, dusty roads and a heroine who didn't plan on staying but finds something worth holding onto. The setting and characters have this warm, slow-burn authenticity that makes you root for them.🍁🍂✨️
What hit me:
The chemistry between the lead characters is believable and grounded, not just spark-flash.❤️✨️
The western backdrop is more than decor -it influences the characters' choices, the pacing and the emotional stakes.
Probably one of my tops reads this year 🍂🍁❤️
It's sweet-and-steamy with that small town-cowboy charm-the kind of story where you're pulled into wide skies, dusty roads and a heroine who didn't plan on staying but finds something worth holding onto. The setting and characters have this warm, slow-burn authenticity that makes you root for them.🍁🍂✨️
What hit me:
The chemistry between the lead characters is believable and grounded, not just spark-flash.❤️✨️
The western backdrop is more than decor -it influences the characters' choices, the pacing and the emotional stakes.
Probably one of my tops reads this year 🍂🍁❤️
May 23, 2026
Cosy read
This book was a nice cosy read and a great book to get lost in for a while. I love the story of Cas and Penny and that the family each have their own space in their tale too. Only thing missing for me personally was when it came to them being intimate that first time I would have liked to hear how he made he feel safe and desired, not so much the detail but how she managed to let go after what Mark did but also how Cas made her believe in having that intimacy again without the pain....but apart from that their story was a lovely one to read and I'll definitely read more.
This book was a nice cosy read and a great book to get lost in for a while. I love the story of Cas and Penny and that the family each have their own space in their tale too. Only thing missing for me personally was when it came to them being intimate that first time I would have liked to hear how he made he feel safe and desired, not so much the detail but how she managed to let go after what Mark did but also how Cas made her believe in having that intimacy again without the pain....but apart from that their story was a lovely one to read and I'll definitely read more.
November 3, 2025
Cosy Autumn Read
I loved this book, the characters are not perfect they are very relatable. I want to be part of the Hawthornes. I like how the author has hinted at future stories and cant wait to read more. Its cozy with romance but background the fmc is relatable and has a back bone the mmc actually has emotions isn't obsessed but he is written to understand about space and consent and time. Its very well rounded would reccomend to get out of ruts and something not smutty but cozy romance. Cant wait to see what else the author comes up with enjoy the stories to come.
I loved this book, the characters are not perfect they are very relatable. I want to be part of the Hawthornes. I like how the author has hinted at future stories and cant wait to read more. Its cozy with romance but background the fmc is relatable and has a back bone the mmc actually has emotions isn't obsessed but he is written to understand about space and consent and time. Its very well rounded would reccomend to get out of ruts and something not smutty but cozy romance. Cant wait to see what else the author comes up with enjoy the stories to come.
November 16, 2025
This was a super cute book. And easy read. No third act breakup and an HEA. I loved Cas and Penny. Penny left an abusuve relationship and found her way into Casper Hawthorne’s small town. He and his family welcomed her with open arms - penny coming in with bruises and being broken. Cas built her up - as did his family and her new friend Summer. The only thing this book was missing was an epilogue!
October 21, 2025
I loved this book, I flew through it in one sitting it was such a smooth read! I love the hints at future stories with the siblings and the family dynamic. Just a super wholesome story, the abusive ex aspect is written tastefully and the build up of cas and penny's relationship is believable and feels natural, albeit quick due to the length of the book. All around fantastic read and I can't wait for more! Ordering a paperback as a little shelf trophy 😍
December 15, 2025
Ate this up in 24hours!! I loved it, and I can’t wait to continue with the Hawthorne family!!
Even though there is trauma and action, this is such a beautiful and sweet romance!
Absolutely love Cas and the way he is with Penny from the very first moment is perfect. Happy tears !!
Very much looking forward to reading the next book!!
Even though there is trauma and action, this is such a beautiful and sweet romance!
Absolutely love Cas and the way he is with Penny from the very first moment is perfect. Happy tears !!
Very much looking forward to reading the next book!!
January 8, 2026
This book was so so wonderful to start the New Year with!! I love that it was steamy and not all explicit sex scenes!! The storyline was so sweet!! Loved all the characters and can’t wait for all the other books in the series!!! Starting the second one today!! Thank you for such a wonderful read!!!!❤️
November 1, 2025
I loved this book, kept me up until 2am reading. If there isn’t a spare brother to marry then I want the Hawthornes to adopt me. I cried 3 times, I am hormonal but I still think it’s impressive given this book is only 190 pages. Excited that 2nd in series is coming in Dec, not too long to wait until I’m back at Hawthorne Ranch and B&B.
November 5, 2025
It was such an easy read, did like the story a lot. It might be a bit on the short side and had a few moments I found a bit off. But as a first book I can overlook this and i do want to order the next one in this series, very curious how the rest of the brothers and sister's stories will unfold.
November 25, 2025
This book was truly beautiful. From the very first page, I was completely drawn into the story it felt as if I was standing right beside the characters, living every moment with them. Everything is described so vividly and elegantly that each scene comes to life before your eyes.
The emotions in this story are tangible: the pain, the hope, the vulnerability, and above all, the love. It’s a book that stays with you long after you turn the last page.
I already can’t wait for book 2.
A true recommendation for anyone who loves stories that speak directly to the heart.
The emotions in this story are tangible: the pain, the hope, the vulnerability, and above all, the love. It’s a book that stays with you long after you turn the last page.
I already can’t wait for book 2.
A true recommendation for anyone who loves stories that speak directly to the heart.
October 19, 2025
A perfect read for a cold rainy day. A cute cowboy romance, which is an easy quick read. Looking forward to Book 2! (It's not a 5☆ only because I never give 5's 😂😬)
November 12, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review incoming…I couldn’t put this book down
Review incoming…I couldn’t put this book down
November 13, 2025
Loved it! perfect book for fall
I can't wait for the next book!
I can't wait for the next book!
November 25, 2025
I literally can’t with this book. The timeline of the whole book was way too quick for all that happened and there were so many plot holes I feel like. The concept of the book was so good so maybe I had my expectations way up but this was not it for me once I had my dislike it was hard to turn it around.
December 1, 2025
Absolutely LOVED IT!!! Can't wait for the next book! I couldn't put it down.
Great characters and story line 😁
Great characters and story line 😁
December 2, 2025
poignant story
Very good story. Could not stop reading loved all the characters in this book. Loved the nicknames sunset and Cowboy
Very good story. Could not stop reading loved all the characters in this book. Loved the nicknames sunset and Cowboy
January 6, 2026
I enjoyed this book but some parts were a bit confusing either the time line. 0.5 🌶️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews