Painted in Wildflowers

The Darling Brothers #4

by Emmy Sanders

I’ve always listened to my heart, and what it wants is him.

Remi
I can confidently say I never thought my crush on my best friend’s older brother would amount to anything.

Until Benson Harper returns to Darling, possibly to stay.

As the forty-two-year-old desperately searches for his sense of self, I begin falling for a man I never truly knew before now. One who’s kind, honest, and caring.

Amidst wildlife rehabilitation, explorations in mountain climbing, and the strained tensions with his brother, Benson works up the courage to tell his family he’s autistic. And I gain companionship that goes far beyond the eldest Harper brother shadowing me on the ranch.

I wasn’t prepared for love to bloom in the quiet days spent by Benson’s side.

Now, I’m not prepared to lose him.

Painted in Wildflowers is a brother’s-best-friend romance at a small-town ranch, with a twelve-year age gap, the cutest-ever sidekick, Deaf and autistic representation, and one very HEA. It’s book 4 in The Darling Brothers series but can be read as a standalone.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Westerns, Contemporary, Slow Burn, Brothers Best Friend

365 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2026

About the author

Emmy Sanders, author of sweet, steamy, swoony MM romance, would describe herself as a lover of love. She's obsessed with both reading and writing romance and believes everyone deserves their happy ending. Queer herself, Emmy has a soft spot for LGBTQ+ fiction, but MM is where her heart lies. Her debut novel, Fool Hearts, released in 2022.

Reviews

[Brittany (Brit.tea.reads)]

💜Remi & Benson💜

𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑺𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰𝒕 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖.

I have no words this was so beautiful 🥹💜 I can't believe it's the end 😭

𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆.

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒎𝒆, 𝑩𝒆𝒏. 𝑺𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑰’𝒎 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏.

𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒄𝒆. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑𝒆𝒓, 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕.

[~ Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ & semicolons ~]

~2.5~

Tropes: age gap (30, 42); bi/pansexual; Deaf, autistic; big, nosey family; farm life.

So sweet your teeth will hurt: tender kisses, wildflowers, quiet conversations. Not quite as preachy as book 3, but there were still too many moments where I felt talked at and lectured.

For example, Benson receives an autism diagnosis in his 40s and tells Remi it's like coming out as bi over and over again. As the mother of a teenage son who's AuDHD and "high functioning" like August, I wasn't convinced by the drama of it all. People don't come out as diabetic. Why would you come out as autistic?

If he's called out on his "rude/antisocial/strange" behavior in certain situations (at school, especially), my son will sometimes say, "I'm not trying to be rude. I'm on the autism spectrum and don't read social cues well." It helps people understand, but it's not this big thing for him.

Anyway, I liked Benson and Remi and appreciated the slow burn, but the story was long and meandering. Nothing really happened. I skimmed some parts, because how many times can I read about eating at the ranch and taking long walks?

August, Benson's brother and Remi's bestie, didn't add much to the story. He was incredibly childish and annoying.

Speaking of which, the brothers' antics, the constant TMI ... I dunno, they all read much younger to me than 30s/40s.

Also, Remi calling Benson "good boy" seemed a bit weird, like a random bit of Dom/sub dynamic thrown in but never developed.

I think my favorite thing about the story was Benson's pet mouse named, aptly, Mouse. I'm not really a fan of rodents, but the descriptions of Mouse nibbling on blueberries and scampering around made me smile.

[Carol [Goodreads Addict]]

Painted in Wildflowers is book four in The Darling Brothers series by Emmy Sanders. I have only read the first book in this series and had no issue jumping to this one. Each book in the series focuses on a different brother. This is Remi and Benson’s story. What a beautiful, lovely story it was! This is a best friend’s older brother, twelve year age gap, small town romance.



First, I’ll start with Benson Harper. He is forty two years old, older brother to Auggie who is Remi’s best friend. Benson’s parents are divorced. Benson has always struggled with trying to feel normal, to fit in. So after he graduated, he moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where his father went to live, hoping things would be better there. He works in accounting in a large firm. He does what he feels necessary to fool everyone that he is normal. But finally, after forty two years, he sought help and was diagnosed with autism. He quit his job and went home to Darling, Montana, to his mom and little brother, to try to figure out what comes next. Which is how he found himself sitting on a bench at Darling ranch, watching the sun rise, when Remi found him.



Remington “Remi” Darling is nearly thirty years old. He is the youngest of the Darling brothers. He is deaf and wears an implant to be able to hear. Remi seems the dreamiest of the brothers. He takes care of the horses and the petting zoo animals. He also loves to paint and has such a deep appreciation of the beauty that surrounds the ranch. He has also had a crush on his best friend, Auggie’s older brother since he was very young. So he is especially shocked when he found Benson sitting outside early one morning.



Benson seems to have a way with the animals and starts spending quite a bit of time on the ranch with Remi. He feels peaceful there. He is still trying to find his way but being with Remi and starting to have feelings for him is something he never expected. The two of them become more and more attached. Remi just seems to have the natural ability to know what Benson needs. When he needs quiet, when he needs to be pushed. They both understand the quiet.



Emmy Sanders has such a beautiful, poetic way of telling a story and she outdid herself with this one. The world she painted was so beautiful. I could feel Benson and Remi’s feelings coming out of the pages. Their story was breathtaking. I have read several of her books and they always have a tendency to stay with me long after I finish the last page, as I know this one will.

[Renae Reads]

We finally have Remi Darling's story, and I could not get enough of these two cinnamon rolls, Benson and Remi. They are both so incredibly kind, patient, thoughtful, and entirely generous with one another. Remi is a constant caretaker of his family, friends, and the ranch's animals. Benson is on his new journey of understanding his newly diagnosed autism and where that lines up with who he is and where he sees himself. Together they build a kind and thoughtful friendship that takes its time to progress towards anything romantic.

The journey from friends to lovers is a heartfelt one. Their feelings for one another slowly creep up and catch both by surprise, but neither really is upset as they naturally fit quite well together. They are both interested in learning more from the other and love seeing where their newfound feelings can go.

Overall, I always love being back in this world. It is a breath of fresh air that leaves me so happy as these brothers finally all have their HEAs.

*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***

[⋆｡°✮ Lucy InTheSky ✮°｡⋆]

This story was definitely not what I expected. 2.75⭐, rounding it up

Remi’s character wasn't fully fleshed out, at least not to my taste. I don’t remember him being like this in the previous books. I expected him to have a gentler, more emotional, feeling soul and Benson being autistic really caught me off guard, completely. It’s not that I didn’t appreciate his side of being autistic explained, I did, it’s just that I definitely didn’t see it coming, and I certainly wasn’t expecting that dynamic for Remi.

The story itself was so-so. Nothing particularly special or exciting. If you’re looking for intense, passionate intimacy, you’ll hardly find it, but what is there is pretty well written, although, again, it wasn’t the dynamic I expected.

🟣 Best friend's older brother
🟡 Size difference (little)
🟢 Age gap 30 / 42
🔵 Deaf / autistic
🟠 Pan / bisexual
🌶️ A few sex scenes, quite well done, but nothing extraordinary; rimming, oral, a lot of kissing, one penetrative scene t/b (Remi is vers and Benson didn't explore anything yet with guys, so it didn't develop further)

They really had potential, didn't they



When I read the previous installment where Remi sees Benson, his teenage crush, after a few years of him being gone, I have to admit, I expected a lot from his book

“Obviously. Hey, is that Benson Harper over at the petting farm?” All heads swing that way. It is, in fact, Benson. Although he looks different than I remember. But it’s been, what? Years since I last saw him? He has a beard now. And he looks a good bit bigger. Bulkier. Remi lets out a garbled sort of choking sound.

“Jesus,” Ash says. “Is he a lumberjack?”
“No, he’s in corporate finance,” Colton says before frowning. “Or he was.”

“Didn’t you used to have a crush on him?” I ask Remi, his reaction sparking a memory. “Back when you were sixteen or so?”
“What?” Remi says quickly. “No. ’Course not.”
Jackson cringes. “Really? He’s my age.”
‘There was no crush,’ Remi snaps with shaky hands. He pushes out of his seat, brushing a quick, ‘Excuse me,’ our way.

After that scene, quite a few months pass before anything actually starts developing between them. During that time, Remi and Benson don't see or speak to each other, and Remi’s ultimate crush on Benson is basically addressed in one sentence here and that's all there was to it

‘I’ve been a bit obsessed with you for a long time, Ben. But… You’re nothing I expected and everything I’ve been waiting for.’



I mean, that’s a pretty big deal, right? A years-long crush finally coming to life? I don’t know.

Remi and Benson at the very beginning of the story start hanging out, so there's no oh, fancy seeing you here after all this time, my biggest crush and my hands are trembling, no, we just dive right into the ranch, the animals, kissing, after one kiss suddenly advertising your fling as something that needs serious conversation about dating or relationships with others, then it's tons of family members, a pet mouse that takes a lot of page time and some intimacy sprinkled in there.

I can't say I liked it.

I did appreciate Benson's part written as an adult finding out he's autistic and him making sense of his life, but I just didn't see Benson as a very good match for Remi.

By themselves they were both really appealing characters, but together they were oftentimes an emotionally draining mess, at least for me, I wanted less of talking and set backs and complications and more of just them together, especially since Remi always seemed like the kind of person that really wanted that intense intimacy and closeness - and don't get me wrong, he does get a lot of it with Benson, just not as I'd have liked, he gets it with a guy that's very complicated and in his own head a lot, so I didn't necessarily see that as a good option, because Remi already has a lot on his plate.

Benson was older, he was white collar, insanely smart, handsome, I mean he could've had a bigger role here than just tending to animals with Remi. And that "just wait until I fuck you" wasn't really delivered, was it? I expected him to be much more proactive and passionate, to be honest. But they were both just kind of bland when together.

I'm sure for plenty of readers they'll both seem cute and adorable together, but for me it was just not a good pairing.

And every single guy was covering his ears and saying all the damn time how he doesn't want to hear or see things when Benson and Remi were caught kissing or talking about private stuff, and that was just childish and stupid at this point, get over it, they're all coupled up and fucking all over this ranch, it's getting old.

We also don't get a full story, I feel, because Remi and Benson just hook up a rare few times and end up on the Darling ranch apparently, not much is said about their life or future and the ending is abrupt. The epilogue is "many years later" and you don't get much out of it.

I don't know, I really expected a different story for Remi. I was counting on this one to be the best one.

It's not. It's my least liked.

[Grace]

Remi and Ben
Cowboy Romance
Hearing Impaired / Autistic Representation
Friend to Lovers
Best Friends Brother
Age Gap

LOVED this series, and what a way to close it out. I think this might have been my favourite.

Bit of a slow burn to get started, but if you know the characters, it was well worth it.

Spice - 3/5
Story - 5/5

[AngstLover-Jing]

Boooooring! By the time I hit 52%, my rating had steadily dropped to a solid 2 ⭐️. I'm tapping out before some plot point drops it all the way to 1.

This story has zero direction and is totally eventless—just a bunch of supposedly sweet yet mind-numbing, trivial daily activities. Absolute snooze fest!

I know Benson is supposed to be an animal lover, but rescuing a broken-legged field mouse, keeping it as a pet, and literally carrying it everywhere with him—isn't that a bit much? Yep, you read that right: a field mouse. Not a hamster, guinea pig, or chinchilla, but a literal wild field mouse—the kind that runs around in dirt fields.

[Insert picture of a very confused field mouse here, but honestly, I'm sparing you the trauma.]

They are on a farm! There are so many safe, sanitary options—lambs, bunnies, chicks, puppies, kittens—he could rescue, but Benson has to be such a bleeding heart over a field mouse? What's next, is he gonna start singing to birds, let squirrels weave a flower crown for him, and have this field mouse whip up a gown for the prince's ball? Well, that would have made the story a lot less boring.

Also, Benson's late diagnose makes zero sense to me. Is it supposed to be severe or not? His mom clearly adored and cared for him—he didn't grow up in some neglectful household. If it's debilitating enough to derail his life, why didn't he get diagnosed until 42? Sure, late diagnoses happen in adults IRL, but those cases are mostly women.

Plus, autism is highly hereditary; his dad supposedly has the traits, so why did his brother magically dodge them?

On the flip side, if it's mild enough to go unnoticed for decades, then Benson might slid straight into that woe-is-me, wallowing-in-self-pity territory I can't stand.

Honestly, the book would've made more sense just calling it a standard midlife crisis at 42, where he runs back to his hometown to hook up with a younger guy and regain his spark.

The probability in these small-town romances is wild. A family with so many sons and not a single straight one among them? Go buy a lottery ticket already! At least if the book was about them fighting over the money and causing melodrama, it would be more entertaining.

[ivanareadsalot]

I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

🐭🎨🌼

🐎AHHHHHHHH I looooooove the Darlings soo sooo much! They're all so sweet, and lovable, and funny: rascal siblings edition! And the wayyyy they love each other so deeply, and how every single member of that family takes pride in being unabashedly romantic omg!! I've pretty much just been sighing all morning since the epilogue sent me to my knees in the most swoony way possible. I could just bask in their feel-good energy forever!!🤠

🌸🎨🖌️Painted in Wildflowers was Remi and Ben's watercolour soft, sweet and gentle romance, that'd evolved alongside Ben's tender healing journey. Ben had recently learned a crucial thing about himself, recognized all the ways he'd never truly fit in the life he was living, then chucked it all and came back home to Darling.🪻💮

🐴🐐It's no mystery why the Darling Ranch was pivotal to Ben, who found comfort just being in the vicinity of the petting farm at a time when he was putting all the pieces of himself back together again. The verdant landscape, and Snickerdoodle and Mouse and Donkey, Buttercup and the goats, were easy to love and care for, as Ben navigated his autism, and his way of being authentic in a loud, noisy world. It also helped that Remi was a total babe through and through, and intuitively put Ben to work straight away to get him out of his head.🐣🐁

🌻Remi was a radiant beauty who taught me a bit about cochlear implants, made me blushhhhh with his sexy, and I admired his capacity to manage the Harper brothers' emotional needs, while also pouring into himself through his art and maintaining his boundaries.🌼

🖼️👨‍🎨From start to finish, Remi symbolized home, safety and peace for Ben. And Ben was so precious to fill Remi's days and nights with flowers, and kisses, improving his ASL, and being a true partner to Remi, especially during his migraines. As a sufferer, this made me tear up, and I loved Ben even more by how well he took care of Remi.🦻🫚

💐🌷Painted in Wildflowers was patient and dreamy soft, with some next level animal whispering, vulnerabilities on display, and self-acceptance shored up through encouragement, being seen, learning to trust, and the simple pleasures of being in love. Ben wasn't the playboy I'd imagined for Remi all the way back when I'd read Sweet Like Whiskey lol😄 But everything about their HEA was as swoony and love-filled as I'd hoped for, and they were perfect for each other and that's all that matters to me!🏵️💝

[Bookbingewithsteph]

Oh this was a ROMANCE romance. A super swoon-worthy story with two MCs who are perfectly matched.

“I was wrong before. Remi isn’t an anchor. He’s the goddamn sun. And like every good flower, I bow toward him without hesitation.”

This book felt like a warm hug. I really enjoyed seeing more from the Darlings (and their hilarious interactions), but I really liked also getting to see Benson’s family dynamic and how it changes through the book. And MOUSE? Nothing sells me harder to a character than their love for tiny animals 🥹

I got teary several times throughout this book. It was just so tender! Remi and Benson fell for each other so naturally and the genuine care and understanding they had for each other was moving. The flowers, the figurines, the concept of being together and just sitting in the silence. SWOON.

This book made my heart happy. If you’re looking for a feel-good story, look no further.

✨Best friend’s brother
✨Age gap
✨First times
✨Autism representation
✨Deaf representation

[❀ Jess]

When I see reviews talking about how boring a story is there's a good chance i'm going to like it, that was definitely the case here. I absolutely loved the romance between Ben and Remi, there was no manufactured angst to keep them apart and there was no ticking time limit on how long they could be together, no denying of feelings and quickly realizing there was nothing casual about how they felt with each other. *groans* I hate casual, I want all the strings at warp speed pls even if it's not admitted out loud right away 🤭

It was really nice to see Ben reconnecting with his brother Auggie even if his outburst at being told Ben and Remi were going to be together was a bit weird. 😬

I personally could've done with a little more moments of jealousy but only to fuel the appreciation of knowing they picked/wanted each other. They definitely felt like they were in love before they finally voiced it at the very very end so it would've also been nice to have that be voiced earlier on, the story itself is so slow going and slice of life that I felt there was no need to hold off on declarations until the very end. Annnnd I feel robbed of not getting to see Ben's reaction to the shelf Remi and his dad worked on for Ben's figures, i'm guessing it would've been gifted around the same time as asking Ben to officially move in? Which we also don't get to see 😒

I also felt myself getting a little annoyed at how much it felt like I was being told about Autism but that might be because I have intimate knowledge of most of the struggles mentioned and when that's the case it feels a little too on the nose to have it just spoken aloud like that..i'm probably not explaining it right😅

Anywhoooo, this was super easy going, a slice of Ben rediscovering who he is without a mask and Remi supporting him throughout while finding in Ben a partner who accommodates him easily without being asked, showering him with quiet tokens of appreciation. Absolutely no relationship angst * chefs kiss*

It's something you can enjoy at your leisure, it won't have you quickly flipping through the pages trying to see what comes next but instead it'll leave you feeling warm and fuzzy with each chapter you read watching the MCs blossom and interact with their loved ones. 🥰

[369Pages]

4.25⭐️
Remi is delighted when his best friend’s brother Benson finally returns to town. He slowly starts showing up, helping out on the ranch. The two become close, and a very very sweet love story blooms like wildflowers 💕

This book is sweetness to the max, and you’ll get:
-ranchers in love, small town
-love of nature
-a little mouse
-Deaf rep
-autistic rep
-“good boy”
-MCs that care about the little details of loving each other
-so much fluff
-age gap (30/42)

This book is just pure love and adorableness, and slow but passionate love and adoration from front to back. It was so refreshing to have a character in his 40s be finally finding himself, and his sweet younger partner being the one to help him get there. This book is definitely low-stakes and not a lot of action. It’s very relaxed, with no relationship drama or even a B plot. It’s all about a pure love story.

As always, the writing quality from Emmy Sanders was incredible. Such attention to detail. Love it!

The only thing I’ll say, is that if you’re someone who likes a more driven or action-packed plot, you’re not going to enjoy this. It’s not full of tension. This is so for you if you want a relaxing and happy read.

I was also a little disappointed in the lack of growth I wanted to see from Remi. He has always been my favourite side character in the other books, but I felt like his personality was overshadowed by Ben in this one.

Overall, excellent book. I love this series so much. It feels like a warm hug 🥰

[Monikat]

D.N.F. @ 49%

A homey , very sweet. Very lazy romance . A step by step story about an autistic man and his brother's deaf best friend. They are adorable together, add in a petting zoo, ceramic animals and a field mouse in his pocket and this story is just syrupy sweet.

And it's not for me, I got a little bored.🤗😊😐

[Luce]

I was really looking forward to Remi’s book because he’s been my favourite since the beginning.

Remi and Benson’s story was incredibly cute and as characters I absolutely adored them both. They were so sweet together, and I especially loved the gentle exploration of Benson’s autism diagnosis and the way he eventually opened up to his family about it.

That said, something was missing for me overall.

I couldn’t quite shake the feeling that the book needed one more round of editing to add those little details that make a story feel 'fuller', if that makes any sense. The Darling family and some of the other side characters felt a little like an afterthought this time around, which made the book feel somewhat flat.

Despite those issues, there was still so much I enjoyed. I loved Remi and Benson individually and as a couple, and I really liked that there was no unnecessary conflict between them. Their relationship had such a softness to it, and that made the book an easy read even when I felt the story itself could have been more developed.

And honestly, only Emmy Sanders could have me crying over a bloody mouse when I absolutely HATE rodents! That alone deserves some kind of award.

I received an advanced copy for free through the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Notagingerninja]

Darling Brothers
Book 4

🌼Autism Rep
🌼Deaf & Cochlear Implant Rep
🌼Aegosexual Rep
🌼Age Gap (12 years)
🌼Younger Brothers Best Friend
🌼Small Town

Remi & Benson
I had been waiting for Remi’s book, and I wasn’t disappointed. I’m so glad Remi found his person.

Benson moves back to Darling, leaving his corporate life behind after receiving his Autism diagnosis. Searching a reset, Ben starts helping out at the Darling ranch and rekindles a friendship with his younger brother’s best friend, Remi.

This book is sweet, and really explores the uniqueness that ASD people deal with on the daily. Add in Remi’s deafness, and the two men demonstrate an empathy and love that blooms through shared struggles.

Super sweet book

HEA 💙

[Lori]

4.5 stars

[Lady Macbeth]

5 stars
I can't believe this series has already ended! I loved it very much and I wish I didn't have to say goodbye to these amazing guys.

Remi is such a wonderful person! I have loved him since the first book and I couldn't have imagined a better partner for him than Benson.

I really adored how their relationship evolved: the slow burn, the quiet moments, the unhurried discovery of a new kind of intimacy for Benson and Remi's consideration. And, above all, the understanding of each other's needs and the strong connection.

Like the previous books, the small town trope was executed brilliantly by the author: the settings, the everyday life in the farm, the routine, the meals shared together, the banter between the brothers and their partners (I particularly adored Ash and Colton here), everything was very enjoyable.

I also liked Auggie very much and I wish he had his own happy ending too. The on the mend relationship between the brothers is one of the things I liked the most in this book.

The epilogue was very sweet and it made me cry!
I can't wait to see what Emmy Sanders has in store next!

Highly recommended (like all the other books of this series).

I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.

[Ana Silva]

What a way to finish the series! Emmy Sanders has such a talent for writing stories that just stick with you. I’m not a fan of slow burn stories yet I will always read anything Emmy writes.

The care that Emmy takes with her character’s disabilities and always portrays their strengths instead of weaknesses, always fills my heart with love. They’re always represented in such a beautiful and inspiring way that you have no choice but to see how capable they are despite being “different” from what society deems normal.

I loved Benson and Remi so much. Finding his way through an autistic diagnosis was really hard for Benson. So many things made sense for him now. He could finally understand why he always felt like he didn’t belong and why it was so hard for him to deal with his emotions.

Coming back home, or more specifically to the Darling Ranch, was like finding a safe haven for Benson. Getting close to Remi helped him feel seen in a way no one ever did. Remi gave Benson the space to process his thoughts without hurrying him and didn’t mind sitting in silence with him if that’s what he needed.

Remi had had a crush on Benson for a long time and having him back home was a gift he didn’t expect. Getting to spend time with him every day and sharing the ranch chores only made them closer.

Being Benson’s safe space filled him with undeniable happiness and something he didn’t take for granted. Helping him feel seen while he grappled with his diagnosis not only made Remi’s feelings for Benson stronger, but also gave him hope that they could be something more.

Despite the age difference, Benson and Remi had so much in common. He understood exactly what it was like to want to disconnect from the noise and simply be alone. Remi never saw his need to do that was being wrong or rude.

Benson’s feelings for Remi deepened in the most unexpected way. It was more of a soul connection than a physical one. With Remi, he could feel things differently and more profound than with any other person he’d ever been with.

He was such a beautiful soul. The little things he did for Remi had me swooning all over the place. Doing those things for him he was his love language, he just didn’t recognize them as love.

I loved how patient and caring Remi was with Benson. He didn’t treat him like he was something fragile or breakable. He simply knew how to guide him whenever he felt overwhelmed.

Remi never thought Benson would ever reciprocate his feelings. He thought that he would never get the chance to love him out loud, yet here he was creating a future with the most wonderful person he’s ever known.

𝑰 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆. 𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝑰’𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕.

I’m so sad the series is over. These guys have been so amazing yo read. Seeing them all find their HEAs was the most rewarding thing. Amazing series!

[HappilyEverReader]

I have been anxiously awaiting Remi’s book for so long, and it was everything I hoped it would be! The fact that it featured the best friend’s older brother trope made me even more excited to read it—and it delivered on all fronts.

Benson is back in Darling after abruptly blowing up his corporate life following a late-in-life autism diagnosis. He is trying to figure out who he is, what he wants, and how to move through life without masking his true self. He finds comfort at the Darling farm, helping care for the animals, and it isn’t long before he and Remi make an instant connection.

Remi has always had a crush on Benson, the older brother of his best friend, Auggie, and now that Benson is back and they’re in close proximity, he finds himself even more drawn to him. Benson understands Remi and accommodates his deafness without ever having to be asked. They enjoy silence together and truly seem to understand one another, making space for each other to simply be themselves. It was incredibly sweet.

Watching Benson work through his feelings—both about Remi and his diagnosis—was really special. I loved that he was in therapy throughout the book and that his emotional support animal, Mouse, was along for the ride. Remi is endlessly patient as they navigate their feelings for one another, making for a delicious slow burn.

And when they finally get together? It was absolutely worth the wait. Remi is surprisingly bossy in the bedroom, and his “good boy” nickname almost had me laid out. 🫠 I definitely wasn’t expecting that, but I loved every minute of it! Their chemistry was the perfect mix of tender and five-alarm HAWT! 🔥 These two were also such supportive caretakers for one another, which had me completely in my feelings.

Of course, the Darling family and Benson’s family made for such a fun mix of side characters and added so much life to the story. The way they supported both Remi and Benson—and their relationship—was everything.

Overall, this book was everything I hoped it would be: a sweet, heartwarming, and tender MM cowboy romance that had my heart melting. If you love low-angst MM romance with all the good feels, a delicious slow burn, and just the right amount of heat, definitely check this one out!

Tropes:
MM Romance
Cowboy Romance
Age Gap
Best Friend’s Older Brother
Longtime Crush
Friends to Lovers
Slow Burn
Instant Connection
Low Angst
Neurodivergent MC
Deaf MC
Emotional Support Animal
Small Town Romance
Found/Close-Knit Family
Caretaking
“Good Boy”
Happily Ever After

[Drew H]

So what we're NOT gonna do is talk about how much this book made me cry, ok? Ok.

VERY few storylines hit me harder than "guy who's had to be on guard all his life finds the first person he's safe with" and Remi was certainly that for Benson, AND in a lot of ways, Benson was like that for Remi, and it just made everything so amazingly soft and wondrous. Benson finding peace in his new autism diagnosis is of course another highlight, and the ways that their life adaptations as an autistic MC and a Deaf MC complemented each other. My favorite thing in the world was Benson's realization that when the world was too loud or the emotions were too strong and he couldn't continue speaking from how tight his chest was getting, he could just switch to ASL. Led to a lot of points where Remi, as the Deaf MC, was speaking, while Benson, as the autistic MC, was signing, and that just tickled me. Throw in Auggie for some realistic rep not only for the Ace community, but on what it means to rewrite the past based on someone's late-in-life autism diagnosis and how to build a stronger relationship on the bones of the old one. Remi's family was around and involved without ever taking too big a slice of the pie, and the epilogue honoring all of the couples of the series of course sent me over the edge yet again.

Third book is still a bit of a miss and I stand by that, but damn if this isn't a perfect softboy series, every damn one of them.

[Sarah]

Days since crying over something seemingly so small & random in an Emmy Sanders book: ZERO! 🐭

*I received an arc of this book, all opinions of my own*

Well this book was just diabolically lovely. It was everything I loved about the vibe of book one, with characters who were so solid in their own sense of self (just like Ash & Jackson were), even in the face of learning knew things about themselves (e.g. Benson having recently learned he is autistic and deciding to change his entire life to try and be happy for himself and not continue to live a masked life).

Anyways everyone should read this, the writing style & romance arc is beautiful. Remi & Benson really see & consider each other in a way most people believe only happens in fairytales, but it should be the way every relationship is in real life.

[Tris]

Live reading notes

@12%
Even if the two main MCs are amazing, if you add an annoying character that drives me insane I will be annoyed and the entire book becomes like an annoying gnat.

Auggie is driving me bat crazy up the wall. What a nuisance.

[Courtenay (ceelovesbooks)]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

So so sossosoososo sweet 🥹 the sweetest. I have a cavity from these two but wow! I loved every minute of this one ! I will say the slow burn is SLOWWWWW but so worth it! You’re in for it for the long haul with Ben & Remi! FULL RTC

———————————————

The finale. The end of the Darling Brothers series, and the long awaited story of Remi & Benson is finally here! If you’ve read this series you know how truly special Remington Darling is. He’s beautiful, passionate, caring, sweet, and his family loves him. He was the brother I was looking forward to most, and of course Emmy did not disappoint.

Benson is back in town, he is the older brother of Remingtons best and longest friend. He’s the one Remi had a huge crush on as a teenage boy, and now he’s even more gorgeous than Remi remembers. Benson is trying to reclaim his love for life and live for himself now that he’s been officially diagnosed with Autism. He’s putting in the work, he’s seeing his therapist, and he’s got nothing but time on his hands. So when the Darling ranch starts to feel like home.. well, that’s where he decides to stay. Forced Proximity, anyone?

Remi and Benson are beautiful. There’s really no other way to put it. They’re just simply perfect. They click. They work. They just make sense. They understand one another. They care deeply for one another. And their story is just so so sweet.

Buckle up for a slow burn, these two really take the slow and swoony road to their HEA. They don’t rush, they just enjoy the ride it takes to get there. No drama. No complications. All love. Simple as that.

I’m sad this series is over, but so glad it happened. The Darling Brothers will live rent free in my head for the rest of time. A great summer vibe, and beautiful queer love for everyone.

[Stacktheforest - Natalie]

It is incredible that I can say this is one of my favourite Emmy Sanders books when Fool Hearts and To Catch a Firefly are the competition but this book is right up there!

- Late-Diagnosed Autism Rep
- Bi x Pan Rep
- Deaf MMC
- Best Friend’s Brother

So beautifully written, this novel explores Benson’s experience of being a late-diagnosed autistic person. One of the most heart-warming and accurate representations I’ve ever read. Watching Ben begin to feel comfortable with his own autism traits and find that reassurance in Remi was incredibly sweet.

The small-town, farm charm made the setting extremely cozy. Remi was a really lovely MMC and his deafness was a gentle undertone throughout the whole story. His migraines created the perfect hurt x comfort situation.

This book is heavily character driven and a slow burn with spice. I think Emmy balanced the pining and plot extremely well.

I enjoyed seeing cameos of our other couples and loved getting to know Auggie better as well.

Thank-you to the author for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Tea]

Remi’s book🎆

August 27th, 2026☀️

[Katkejt ☾.]

Remi • Benson

….

“The wildflowers are here. And Benson brought me the very first of the season.”

.

“I want my life to be painted in wildflowers. In purples and golds and green. In lilies and shooting stars. In sunflowers and spring beauties. I want a lifetime with you…” ♾️.

….

You know when you start a new series and from the get go you just latch on to one particular character waiting patiently for his story and when you get there and he’s everything you knew he would be and sooo much damn more.

Remi is THAT Darling brother. And he received the greatest love he could ever met in this lifetime - Ben.

I won’t be summarizing this story for you, the blurb will get you that. If I could tell you in one sentence what Painted In Wildflowers is about - it’s about the beautiful simplicity and joy of life. The purest form of it. It’s learning to be you and taking up space just as you are. It’s about acceptance and care.

One story and so many important emotions evoked in me. Reading this book was effortless, it was such a pleasure and when I finished I had the most goofiest smile.

As one of my all time favorite quotes I keep close to my heart through the years - the perfect summary for Remi and Ben now - “I'm going to take my time and take up space could you possible imagine a field of wildflowers doing anything less…” <3.

….

“He smiles for real then, hands in his pockets and cheeks reddened from the cold, looking so damn beautiful my breath stutters.” // “If no one has ever said it to you before, you don’t have to be any certain way for anyone else, Ben.” // “I think when the right person finds you, it’ll be game over.” // “He has a couple beauty marks above his lip. One on his cheek. Another on his jaw. They’re fascinating.” // “And yet… There’s a stillness in Remi’s company I haven’t found with many people. It makes it easy to just…be.” // “Wildflowers in abundance, a wealth of life priceless in both senses of the word. Is this how Remi sees the world around him? In joy and abundance?” // “Inside is a single flower that’s been pressed flat for preservation. A lenten rose.” // “But in my head, I’m lying in a field of wildflowers. And for once, I’m not alone.” // “Wild… Your smile is what it means to be free.” // “Then be a good boy and kiss me, Ben. So you can remember exactly why you’re the one I’m interested in.” // “For once, the voice in my head doesn’t have a single retort. The silence is more profound than words.” // “Is it too much to ask of him? To be my fixation?” // “Me, you, and Mouse?” …

….

*I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own. 

….

[sil ♡ the book voyagers]

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧 The last of the Darlings has found his happily ever after 𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

I've been both so excited and sad because I knew I was going to love it but also because it's the last book in this series. And this series was simply beautiful and everything to me and amazing and I wish I could read a series just like this again. Four books and all of them were 5 stars, truly AMAZING. If you're looking for cowboy/ranchers romances, this right here is the series you want to read.

Painted in Wildflowers features Remi, the youngest of the Darlings, and Benson, his best friend's older brother. There's yearning and tension and so many small/soft moments between them. This was such a happy, wholesome, warm romance yall. It truly felt like a hug. Like the sunrise. It has the best friend's older brother trope, age gap (Benson is 12 years older than Remi I believe), cowboys and ranchers, small town romance, Remi had a crush on Ben since forever, autism rep, Deaf rep.

One of my favorite moments that I feel I have to mention is when Ben helps a field mouse because he can see the mouse has a broken foot and he takes it to the vet and they put the mouse in a itty bitty tiny cast and Ben decides to take care of it until it gets better but IT'S SO FREAKING CUTE BECAUSE HE DOES SO MUCH FOR THE MOUSE and builds it a house, has it in his pocket, gives it food, takes it everywhere. Oh my heart, it was too much for my heart and my emotions were ALL OVER THE PLACE whenever they mentioned the mouse.

This was such a spectacular book and 10000/10 for me. I cannot wait what Emmy writes next - I'm such a huge fan!!

[Madam Ra]

What a farewell to this series. First of all I was so happy to be back in Darling, such a lovely place. I always love Emmy Sanders writing, but here it was exceptional. What I loved in this book was the quiet acceptance. The warm hug. This fictional ranch might as well be restoring my faith in humanity. I don’t care it’s fiction, shut up! It’s like a hallmark movie, I don’t care, I want to be there…What’s important is that this book is not about action, or things thrown at the characters, it’s very introspective journey for the people involved and how the inner mind works, especially one that’s dealing with autism in whatever form that shows. I love how Remy helped Benson navigate that. Talk about support! It was outstanding. The painting, the antique road show, the mouse, this book is quiet gestures that speak louder! I loved also how things resolved around “I have crush on your brother” aspect. That’s hard one to pull up, at least in other books (like it’s a big deal when two consenting adults are involved), but you would be surprised how poorly that comes out some times. In here - perfect, turns out communication actually helps!
The one thing I didn’t like was “good boy” I just didn’t get it, why something like that was such a thing to Benson. Otherwise lovely read.

[Brenna Mobley]

Painted In Wildflowers - Emmy Sanders
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice : 🌶️🌶️

Tropes :
🎨 best friend’s brother
💜 age gap
🎨 deaf & autism representation
💜 small town
🎨 cowboys

Review:
I came into this expecting a fun time and ended up having a deeply emotionally beautiful cathartic healing experience. I’ll collect my thoughts, but this one beat out Saddle to Sunup as my favorite, which I didn’t think was going to be possible. I loved seeing Remi in the sidelines of the other Darling brothers books and was so intrigued by the stoic, smiley, sweet youngest Darling. I absolutely loved Benson and Remi’s story when it came to how naturally their chemistry and romance blossomed. Remi quickly became the quiet safe haven that Benson had never had and was always searching for. A place where his mask wasn’t needed, and was encouraged to be left at the door. Remi provided a space for Benson to sort through all the societal barriers he put on himself to made it seem like he fit what was expected of him, and to see that he could be loved for exactly the person that he was and if someone didn’t love him then they didn’t need to be in his life. Benson as quiet and reserved as he is brings life to full color for Remi in a way he’s been searching for all his life. They balance and compliment one another so incredibly well, and I love how they both just want someone to share the quiet ranch life together. I loved getting to witness Benson’s self discovery and self love journey accepting and embracing his autism diagnosis as someone who was also diagnosed at 35. His story helped me understand and accept parts of myself that I have been confronting in the last few months and years, and it was such a beautiful perspective to see in a book. And I just adored Remi in the way he loved Benson. These two were just a wonderful read and a beautiful way to conclude this series.

[Meliss]

I had been waiting for this book and it did not disappoint.

Series ranking (hardest thing I've ever done):
Sweet Like Whiskey (Book 1)
Saddle to Sunup (Book 3)
Painted in Wildflowers (Book 4)
Brim Over Boot (Book 2)

[K.]

Content warnings: chronic illness, ableism, abandonment

3.75 stars

This series has been such a joy, and while this wasn't my favourite of the four, I did really enjoy the dynamic between the two protagonists and the history between them.