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Riverlight #1
Rein Ready
Not yet published
Expected 16 Jun 26Perfection is his brand. Control is his armor.
Twenty-six-year-old elite showjumper Cassian Vale has built a life where nothing is left to chance. Every win is calculated, every emotion suppressed to fit the brand. He is The Perfect Riding Machine, well-oiled and unbreakable. And also empty inside.
His meticulously structured world shatters when he’s informed of a career-defining gamble decided behind his back by his sponsors and tame a dangerous, unrideable stallion with a one-in-a-million talent for a shot at the Olympics. A legendary pairing, by all accounts. If it works.
He's sent to a remote ranch and into the hands of the only person known in the circuit as capable of such a horse whisperer—the Whisperer—a gifted, reclusive trainer whose quiet, intuitive methods defy everything Cassian believes in, but whose proof is also undeniable.
The Whisperer doesn’t demand perfection; he demands honesty, which is so much worse. As he pushes Cassian to connect with the horse, he systematically dismantles the walls around Cassian’s heart, forcing him to confront the broken man behind the flawless facade.
Stripped of his defenses, Cassian is caught between the career that defines him and the Whisperer who unravels him. And in the choice between the perfect lie of a lifetime and a beautiful, terrifying future in truth, the only thing certain is that something will be ruined.
The question is, what?
Rein Ready is a standalone, strangers-to-lovers MM romance told in single POV, first-person, present tense. It's got soft pining, a dash of shenanigans (horse and human), an emotional wreck of a protagonist, and a competent af neurodivergent MC. It is the story of a beautiful connection between two very different men in search of the exact same thing, and of their hard-earned HEA sealed in black ink.
(Please read safely! CWs may include: SH/SI, hookup outside main pairing (pre-meeting, no cheating), ED, and others. Consult full list on my website or the last pages of the book.)
Twenty-six-year-old elite showjumper Cassian Vale has built a life where nothing is left to chance. Every win is calculated, every emotion suppressed to fit the brand. He is The Perfect Riding Machine, well-oiled and unbreakable. And also empty inside.
His meticulously structured world shatters when he’s informed of a career-defining gamble decided behind his back by his sponsors and tame a dangerous, unrideable stallion with a one-in-a-million talent for a shot at the Olympics. A legendary pairing, by all accounts. If it works.
He's sent to a remote ranch and into the hands of the only person known in the circuit as capable of such a horse whisperer—the Whisperer—a gifted, reclusive trainer whose quiet, intuitive methods defy everything Cassian believes in, but whose proof is also undeniable.
The Whisperer doesn’t demand perfection; he demands honesty, which is so much worse. As he pushes Cassian to connect with the horse, he systematically dismantles the walls around Cassian’s heart, forcing him to confront the broken man behind the flawless facade.
Stripped of his defenses, Cassian is caught between the career that defines him and the Whisperer who unravels him. And in the choice between the perfect lie of a lifetime and a beautiful, terrifying future in truth, the only thing certain is that something will be ruined.
The question is, what?
Rein Ready is a standalone, strangers-to-lovers MM romance told in single POV, first-person, present tense. It's got soft pining, a dash of shenanigans (horse and human), an emotional wreck of a protagonist, and a competent af neurodivergent MC. It is the story of a beautiful connection between two very different men in search of the exact same thing, and of their hard-earned HEA sealed in black ink.
(Please read safely! CWs may include: SH/SI, hookup outside main pairing (pre-meeting, no cheating), ED, and others. Consult full list on my website or the last pages of the book.)
- GenresWesterns
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 16, 2026
About the author
Astra June
6 books3 followersGet Tempestad and Azaan from my my website! Demonic lives there too, in my bio page. They're all FREE! 🎁🎉
---
Astra June (aka @AuthornautAstra) hates referring to herself in the third person, but since she's told it’s the industry standard, please imagine her cringing as she writes this. 😅
Astra navigates the inner universes of her characters through the lens of her own neurodivergence, mental health struggles, and the general human messiness she embodies.
In her books, you will find:
🌈 Queer stories
❤️🩹 Emotional damage & high angst
🧠 Neurospiciness & realistic mental health rep
🔥 Other assorted spices as needed
✨ Earned intimacy & no cheap drama
💖 Happy endings. Guaranteed.
From her roots in fanfiction to her debut novel 🏇 Rein Ready , Astra is dedicated to 'Happily Ever Afters for the Beautifully Messy,' and her stories are a refusal of perfection—
No, scratch that. They're about flipping the table at perfection, spitting on its face, and then laughing maniacally while her demons cower in the corner.
Yeah, that's more like it. 😈
Oh, and she's a writer. Did she mention that? You'd think she'd open with it, right...?
---
Astra June (aka @AuthornautAstra) hates referring to herself in the third person, but since she's told it’s the industry standard, please imagine her cringing as she writes this. 😅
Astra navigates the inner universes of her characters through the lens of her own neurodivergence, mental health struggles, and the general human messiness she embodies.
In her books, you will find:
🌈 Queer stories
❤️🩹 Emotional damage & high angst
🧠 Neurospiciness & realistic mental health rep
🔥 Other assorted spices as needed
✨ Earned intimacy & no cheap drama
💖 Happy endings. Guaranteed.
From her roots in fanfiction to her debut novel 🏇 Rein Ready , Astra is dedicated to 'Happily Ever Afters for the Beautifully Messy,' and her stories are a refusal of perfection—
No, scratch that. They're about flipping the table at perfection, spitting on its face, and then laughing maniacally while her demons cower in the corner.
Yeah, that's more like it. 😈
Oh, and she's a writer. Did she mention that? You'd think she'd open with it, right...?
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Autore
5 stars
Cassian is the best showjumper in the world: perfect, focused, untouchable, unattainable. He is the Golden Boy, the Perfect Riding Machine, as his brand labeled him. At twenty-six, Cassian has everything his mother has dreamed for him. Everything, except himself.
He's not allowed to have feelings, he has to hide his emotions, he can't have doubts or uncertainties, he has to always look put together, especially with the press, he can’t do relationships, only meaningless hookups that should serve more as releases than connections. He also never steps out from his public persona.
Until his mother and his team blindsides him by buying an unrideable and untamed stallion and sending him to a ranch with a strict six months deadline to train for their debut and Cassian sees his future at risk.
Riverlight is a ranch in the middle of nowhere where horses go to heal. It’s an isolated place, difficult to find, not advertised and yet well known by the community. A place where sponsors, brands, press and ambitious managers have no space.
The man who manages the ranch, the Whisperer, is famous for being very reserved and remarkably good at his job. He has a way to read the horses to help them get better. And sometimes, the Whisperer and Riverlight can help people too.
By facilitating his bond with the stallion, showing him how to connect, Eli heals Cassian along with his horse. For the first time in his life, Cassian can be his authentic self: he’s not scared of making mistakes, he doesn’t calculate and scrutinise every little detail anymore. He just feels his horse underneath him and rides free.
I adored this story so very much: the slow burn, that doesn’t only apply to Eli and Cassian’s relationship, but also to Cassian and his stallion’s bond (I’m deliberately avoiding to mention the horse’s name because the naming is part of their bond development and I don’t want to spoil it); the intimacy that Cassian and Eli share, not only in the bedroom, but in their daily work; the peaceful wonderful setting; the amazing side characters, Rey and Momma Navarro, who give pushes when needed. I also liked that Cassian’s relationship with his mother is on the mend too, even if she was a very difficult and not at all likeable person.
I’m amazed that this book is a debut and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next.
Highly recommended.
Cassian is the best showjumper in the world: perfect, focused, untouchable, unattainable. He is the Golden Boy, the Perfect Riding Machine, as his brand labeled him. At twenty-six, Cassian has everything his mother has dreamed for him. Everything, except himself.
He's not allowed to have feelings, he has to hide his emotions, he can't have doubts or uncertainties, he has to always look put together, especially with the press, he can’t do relationships, only meaningless hookups that should serve more as releases than connections. He also never steps out from his public persona.
Until his mother and his team blindsides him by buying an unrideable and untamed stallion and sending him to a ranch with a strict six months deadline to train for their debut and Cassian sees his future at risk.
Riverlight is a ranch in the middle of nowhere where horses go to heal. It’s an isolated place, difficult to find, not advertised and yet well known by the community. A place where sponsors, brands, press and ambitious managers have no space.
The man who manages the ranch, the Whisperer, is famous for being very reserved and remarkably good at his job. He has a way to read the horses to help them get better. And sometimes, the Whisperer and Riverlight can help people too.
By facilitating his bond with the stallion, showing him how to connect, Eli heals Cassian along with his horse. For the first time in his life, Cassian can be his authentic self: he’s not scared of making mistakes, he doesn’t calculate and scrutinise every little detail anymore. He just feels his horse underneath him and rides free.
I adored this story so very much: the slow burn, that doesn’t only apply to Eli and Cassian’s relationship, but also to Cassian and his stallion’s bond (I’m deliberately avoiding to mention the horse’s name because the naming is part of their bond development and I don’t want to spoil it); the intimacy that Cassian and Eli share, not only in the bedroom, but in their daily work; the peaceful wonderful setting; the amazing side characters, Rey and Momma Navarro, who give pushes when needed. I also liked that Cassian’s relationship with his mother is on the mend too, even if she was a very difficult and not at all likeable person.
I’m amazed that this book is a debut and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next.
Highly recommended.
February 26, 2026
I was honored to be a beta reader for this book.🥰
I just finished and WOW. I am speechless. I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did! This book tells the story of an accomplished equestrian(Cassian) and a neurodivergent horse trainer (Eli), as they work together to train the untrainable horse.
Cassian and Eli's relationship was such a delicious, beautiful slow burn. I could totally relate to Cassian's character- being a perfectionist raised by perfectionist parents who were constantly critical. I knew I'd be hooked just reading the dedication page!
I highlighted so many parts of this book- the writing is captivating! Choosing my favorite quotes was difficult because there were so many good ones to choose from.
I adored the side characters in this story- Kellan and Lena had me cackling! And Momma?! What a lovely addition to the cast of characters. We would all benefit from having a Momma (and a Rey!) in our lives. I loved how the horses (Ruin and AP) also were side characters- the author gave them such vibrant personalities that added so much to the plot.
The beginning 15% of the book felt a bit slow for me- mainly because I didn't understand or know a lot all the technical aspects of the equestrian world, but the way that those parts of the story really gives the reader a picture of the world Cassian had been a part of, the brand he was expected to uphold, the relationship with his mother, and his obsession with perfection, was totally necessary.
I adore books that make me FEEL something, and this book had me feeling all the things: frustration, angst, love, empathy, joy, and- the YEARNING?! Goodness- this book will stick with me for certain. Easy five stars for me.
I just finished and WOW. I am speechless. I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did! This book tells the story of an accomplished equestrian(Cassian) and a neurodivergent horse trainer (Eli), as they work together to train the untrainable horse.
Cassian and Eli's relationship was such a delicious, beautiful slow burn. I could totally relate to Cassian's character- being a perfectionist raised by perfectionist parents who were constantly critical. I knew I'd be hooked just reading the dedication page!
I highlighted so many parts of this book- the writing is captivating! Choosing my favorite quotes was difficult because there were so many good ones to choose from.
I adored the side characters in this story- Kellan and Lena had me cackling! And Momma?! What a lovely addition to the cast of characters. We would all benefit from having a Momma (and a Rey!) in our lives. I loved how the horses (Ruin and AP) also were side characters- the author gave them such vibrant personalities that added so much to the plot.
The beginning 15% of the book felt a bit slow for me- mainly because I didn't understand or know a lot all the technical aspects of the equestrian world, but the way that those parts of the story really gives the reader a picture of the world Cassian had been a part of, the brand he was expected to uphold, the relationship with his mother, and his obsession with perfection, was totally necessary.
I adore books that make me FEEL something, and this book had me feeling all the things: frustration, angst, love, empathy, joy, and- the YEARNING?! Goodness- this book will stick with me for certain. Easy five stars for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a wonderful debut! 😭 I'm so glad I listened to my gut and applied for an ARC read because I abso-fckn-lutely loved this book, every single page of it. 🫶
I know a book is special when it plays out like a movie in my head, especially when it's set in a world I know absolutely nothing about. I have no experience with horses or equestrian sports like show jumping, yet I could picture everything so vividly.
Cassian Vale is a champion show jumper whose entire image has been carefully crafted around perfection. He's always polished, focused, exceptional - the ultimate Golden Boy. With his mother acting as both manager and mastermind behind his career, every aspect of his life is meticulously controlled. He isn't allowed to show his real emotions or form meaningful relationships. Over time, the constant pressure to suppress who he truly is leaves him feeling numb and disconnected. 😔
Then his mother and team present him with a challenge: they've paired him with a flagged FEI stallion from a legendary champion bloodline, a horse considered raw, wild, and untamable. Their goal is ambitious: have the pair competition-ready within six months, and on track for the Olympics in two. To make it happen, Cassian is sent to a secluded ranch hidden from the public eye but renowned within the equestrian community. There, a legendary horse whisperer and trainer has agreed to help.
From that moment, a raw and emotional journey begins: one filled with challenges, healing, self-discovery, and meaningful bonds, both with people and with horses. 🤲
The writing is masterful and richly layered, I enjoyed it so much! 😮💨👌 The characters are beautifully developed and impossible not to love, the emotions feel mature, authentic, and deeply earned.
Eli's character surprised me as well. At first, he comes across as confident, strong, highly professional, also the kind of effortlessly attractive man everyone swoons over. But as the story unfolds, we discover the pain and insecurities he keeps hidden beneath the surface. In reality, he's a soft-hearted man with immense kindness and gentleness, and I absolutely adored that about him. 🤧
Despite tackling some incredibly heavy psychological themes, the story itself felt much softer and more tender than I expected. My heart definitely ached along the way, but I'm so grateful for the comfort, healing, and deeply satisfying ending that awaited me. ❤️🩹
This was an unforgettable read, and I can't wait to see what this author writes next.
I know a book is special when it plays out like a movie in my head, especially when it's set in a world I know absolutely nothing about. I have no experience with horses or equestrian sports like show jumping, yet I could picture everything so vividly.
Cassian Vale is a champion show jumper whose entire image has been carefully crafted around perfection. He's always polished, focused, exceptional - the ultimate Golden Boy. With his mother acting as both manager and mastermind behind his career, every aspect of his life is meticulously controlled. He isn't allowed to show his real emotions or form meaningful relationships. Over time, the constant pressure to suppress who he truly is leaves him feeling numb and disconnected. 😔
Then his mother and team present him with a challenge: they've paired him with a flagged FEI stallion from a legendary champion bloodline, a horse considered raw, wild, and untamable. Their goal is ambitious: have the pair competition-ready within six months, and on track for the Olympics in two. To make it happen, Cassian is sent to a secluded ranch hidden from the public eye but renowned within the equestrian community. There, a legendary horse whisperer and trainer has agreed to help.
From that moment, a raw and emotional journey begins: one filled with challenges, healing, self-discovery, and meaningful bonds, both with people and with horses. 🤲
The writing is masterful and richly layered, I enjoyed it so much! 😮💨👌 The characters are beautifully developed and impossible not to love, the emotions feel mature, authentic, and deeply earned.
Eli's character surprised me as well. At first, he comes across as confident, strong, highly professional, also the kind of effortlessly attractive man everyone swoons over. But as the story unfolds, we discover the pain and insecurities he keeps hidden beneath the surface. In reality, he's a soft-hearted man with immense kindness and gentleness, and I absolutely adored that about him. 🤧
Despite tackling some incredibly heavy psychological themes, the story itself felt much softer and more tender than I expected. My heart definitely ached along the way, but I'm so grateful for the comfort, healing, and deeply satisfying ending that awaited me. ❤️🩹
This was an unforgettable read, and I can't wait to see what this author writes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Cassian is locked tight, completely lost touch with himself. He is a high performing machine, smothered inside, unaware he suffocating, cut off from all pleasure and pain. It’s so lonely there for him, he is brittle. Built and honed for productivity and performance he is wearing out.
Not just the warrior stallion he has to partner with, Cassian himself needs the whisperer. Ah god, Eli is everything, his heart, his mind, his body (yup - we all admired it not just Lena, Cassian and Kellan, we were there too 😂🥵)
The thing is, Astra is exceptional at setting a scene and immersing you in it.. you’re there in the skin of the character. Being pulled for the first time into Riverlight is transcendent- I want to go forest bathe honestly. Go there to see the horse under the stars and the rider with c shaped moon, go there to live in the calm, where no arbitrary timelines exist.
I also love this book for the horses - they are such a huge part - their journey running in parallel strong characters themselves - you’ll see, they’ll live in your hearts when you’re done.
Such a strong voice Astra June, handling those pivotal moments, writing like poetry! Pulling you to be fully in the moment, seeing tasting hearing feeling the scenes flowing effortlessly from one to the other. Telling us Eli and Cassian’s love story.
oh and Also hot, her writing be hot , very very hot! Grrrr protective Eli had me stuck!
Ok I abhor Cassian’s mom - I’m all for not hating characters and like there are layers and everyone has a backstory - but it’s happened and now I do! I love Rey though god, and Momma, she brings a smile to my face
This is a story of love - the deep love of friendships, the vulnerable flayed open love between animal and human, and the epic knowing seeing love between soulmates
While it’s a hard story and no one is perfect and nothing (trust me) is easy - it is highly relatable- the characters , they challenges, baggage, needs - Ooooh I was whooping out loud and giddy at the end - that’s how you want to leave a book! Never letting go.
Listen, you have got to read this book, do it.
Not just the warrior stallion he has to partner with, Cassian himself needs the whisperer. Ah god, Eli is everything, his heart, his mind, his body (yup - we all admired it not just Lena, Cassian and Kellan, we were there too 😂🥵)
The thing is, Astra is exceptional at setting a scene and immersing you in it.. you’re there in the skin of the character. Being pulled for the first time into Riverlight is transcendent- I want to go forest bathe honestly. Go there to see the horse under the stars and the rider with c shaped moon, go there to live in the calm, where no arbitrary timelines exist.
I also love this book for the horses - they are such a huge part - their journey running in parallel strong characters themselves - you’ll see, they’ll live in your hearts when you’re done.
Such a strong voice Astra June, handling those pivotal moments, writing like poetry! Pulling you to be fully in the moment, seeing tasting hearing feeling the scenes flowing effortlessly from one to the other. Telling us Eli and Cassian’s love story.
oh and Also hot, her writing be hot , very very hot! Grrrr protective Eli had me stuck!
Ok I abhor Cassian’s mom - I’m all for not hating characters and like there are layers and everyone has a backstory - but it’s happened and now I do! I love Rey though god, and Momma, she brings a smile to my face
This is a story of love - the deep love of friendships, the vulnerable flayed open love between animal and human, and the epic knowing seeing love between soulmates
While it’s a hard story and no one is perfect and nothing (trust me) is easy - it is highly relatable- the characters , they challenges, baggage, needs - Ooooh I was whooping out loud and giddy at the end - that’s how you want to leave a book! Never letting go.
Listen, you have got to read this book, do it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC!
Rein Ready, the debut MM romance novel by Astra June, is a tale of ambition, sacrifice and healing, a story of trauma and acceptance that reminds us that love can take many different shapes and some of them are hurtful, wrong and suffocating. Ultimately, it is a story about finding that place in the world that helps us escape from the chaos inside ourselves and accept that change is a necessary step towards happiness.
Cassian Vale is an elite show jumper living a scripted life that is full of ambitious objectives and deceitful appearances. When he is sent to a remote ranch, Riverlight, and meets its owner, a reputed horse whisperer who will help him tame his new horse, he slowly discovers that he cannot keep on living the life that was designed for him anymore.
Rein Ready is a beautiful story full of tender moments that is brilliantly written. While it has all the traditional characteristics of MM romance, HEA included, Astra June’s novel stands out for its masterful use of language, the quality of its writing and the skilful construction of the characters. Moreover, it offers the reader an insightful analysis of trauma and a reflection on the nature of love, both romantic and motherly.
Astra June has managed to create a story that is sweet and spicy, while offering moments of deep introspection and emotional complexity.
What a delight! What a joy!
Rein Ready, the debut MM romance novel by Astra June, is a tale of ambition, sacrifice and healing, a story of trauma and acceptance that reminds us that love can take many different shapes and some of them are hurtful, wrong and suffocating. Ultimately, it is a story about finding that place in the world that helps us escape from the chaos inside ourselves and accept that change is a necessary step towards happiness.
Cassian Vale is an elite show jumper living a scripted life that is full of ambitious objectives and deceitful appearances. When he is sent to a remote ranch, Riverlight, and meets its owner, a reputed horse whisperer who will help him tame his new horse, he slowly discovers that he cannot keep on living the life that was designed for him anymore.
Rein Ready is a beautiful story full of tender moments that is brilliantly written. While it has all the traditional characteristics of MM romance, HEA included, Astra June’s novel stands out for its masterful use of language, the quality of its writing and the skilful construction of the characters. Moreover, it offers the reader an insightful analysis of trauma and a reflection on the nature of love, both romantic and motherly.
Astra June has managed to create a story that is sweet and spicy, while offering moments of deep introspection and emotional complexity.
What a delight! What a joy!
May 21, 2026
I finished this book within 24 hours and wow did I love it! The feelings and emotion in general was real and so good!
I loved that we could feel the change throughout the book when it came to Cassian changing. He was broken and anxious at the beginning and then opened up to Eli more and more throughout the book. The anxiety rep in this book was spot on and it was very relatable. Being able to feel the actual emotions that the Cassian felt had me crying and laughing and many emotions in between.
The way the author set up the settings was beautiful as well. I was able to visualize what was happening, how the ranch looked, down to how the horses looked and interacted with the handlers. I loved the feeling of actually being in the story.
While I thought the story was very slow in the beginning, it was so worth it when Cassian and Eli finally gave in to their feelings. I felt giddy and happy and the wait was 100% worth it.
I absolutely loved the book. The feelings, the ranch, and the relationships (even the side characters) had me feeling all emotions. If you love ranchers, feeling highs and lows of all emotions, and overall a great love story, this book is 100% for you!
I loved that we could feel the change throughout the book when it came to Cassian changing. He was broken and anxious at the beginning and then opened up to Eli more and more throughout the book. The anxiety rep in this book was spot on and it was very relatable. Being able to feel the actual emotions that the Cassian felt had me crying and laughing and many emotions in between.
The way the author set up the settings was beautiful as well. I was able to visualize what was happening, how the ranch looked, down to how the horses looked and interacted with the handlers. I loved the feeling of actually being in the story.
While I thought the story was very slow in the beginning, it was so worth it when Cassian and Eli finally gave in to their feelings. I felt giddy and happy and the wait was 100% worth it.
I absolutely loved the book. The feelings, the ranch, and the relationships (even the side characters) had me feeling all emotions. If you love ranchers, feeling highs and lows of all emotions, and overall a great love story, this book is 100% for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC received from author
Wow...wow...WOW!!
This is an incredibly beautiful read!!!!!
My heart could barely handle these two characters.
They have both built up walls to protect themselves, yet with one another they start to take that wall down piece by piece, and let their broken parts begin to heal.
Their vulnerability, friendship, trust and patience with one another was beautiful to witness. I both cried and laughed out loud multiple times throughout reading.
If you enjoy strangers to lovers, a peaceful setting and plenty of soft lining then this book is for you.
Pack my bags.... I'm off to Riverlight Ranch!!
Thank you so much to the author or the opportunity to read this arc.
Wow...wow...WOW!!
This is an incredibly beautiful read!!!!!
My heart could barely handle these two characters.
They have both built up walls to protect themselves, yet with one another they start to take that wall down piece by piece, and let their broken parts begin to heal.
Their vulnerability, friendship, trust and patience with one another was beautiful to witness. I both cried and laughed out loud multiple times throughout reading.
If you enjoy strangers to lovers, a peaceful setting and plenty of soft lining then this book is for you.
Pack my bags.... I'm off to Riverlight Ranch!!
Thank you so much to the author or the opportunity to read this arc.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and lawd, what an absolute pleasure.
This book is told exclusively through Cassian's pov a 26 year old Olympian caliber showjumper. The story is his journey of being not just an athlete but an entire brand, having a mother as a manager, training for an Olympic run with an untested, unruly horse...oh and let's not forget the super hot Neuro-spicy horse trainer.
Eli is the other MMC who says so much with few words and had me swooning more than once. I don't want to give anything away...suffice it to say I have a new book boyfriend.
I laughed, cried, smiled, swooned, screamed, cried some more...all of the emotions from beginning to end. Absolutely a 5-star read
This book is told exclusively through Cassian's pov a 26 year old Olympian caliber showjumper. The story is his journey of being not just an athlete but an entire brand, having a mother as a manager, training for an Olympic run with an untested, unruly horse...oh and let's not forget the super hot Neuro-spicy horse trainer.
Eli is the other MMC who says so much with few words and had me swooning more than once. I don't want to give anything away...suffice it to say I have a new book boyfriend.
I laughed, cried, smiled, swooned, screamed, cried some more...all of the emotions from beginning to end. Absolutely a 5-star read
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was blown away by this book. Cassian and Eli’s story was absolutely beautiful. This is a slow-burn absolutely full of tender and touching moments. The side characters, including the horses, are so well developed and add so much to the story. This will absolutely be a favorite read this year. 💗💗💗
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the honor of Beta reading this, and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed Cassian and Eli!
This is a story about patience, learning to trust, and coming into your own. The tranquility and beauty of Riverlight Ranch, along with the people who call it home, whether temporary or permanent, teach Cassian invaluable lessons. The way Astra June describes the beauty of the Ranch, you can almost feel the warm and magic it holds.
Cassian is just a shell of a person when he arrives. He is described as "the machine" and it is very fitting. He is full of technical grace and perfection but not allowed to show any humanity. It doesn't take long for Eli, and Riverlight to seep in though. Piece by piece the machine falls away and reveals Cassian the man.
The relationships in this book really touch your heart. Not just the romantic connection between Eli and Cassian, but the friendships, and family bonds both bio and found. Add in the connection and bond between Cassian and Ruin and it is truly beautiful. The world Astra created at Riverlight is truly something special.
This is definitely a slow burn romane but when it hits boy does it hit. Eli and Cassian will forever hold a special place in my heart! They have a beautiful connection and understanding. Their respect for one another, and willingness to sacrifice for the other makes is exactly the way partners should treat each other.
If you are looking for a beautiful story about learning how to love, not just another person, but yourself, through nature, friends, partners, and family this is the story for you! I adored this book and Riverlight Ranch will remain in my heart forever.
This is a story about patience, learning to trust, and coming into your own. The tranquility and beauty of Riverlight Ranch, along with the people who call it home, whether temporary or permanent, teach Cassian invaluable lessons. The way Astra June describes the beauty of the Ranch, you can almost feel the warm and magic it holds.
Cassian is just a shell of a person when he arrives. He is described as "the machine" and it is very fitting. He is full of technical grace and perfection but not allowed to show any humanity. It doesn't take long for Eli, and Riverlight to seep in though. Piece by piece the machine falls away and reveals Cassian the man.
The relationships in this book really touch your heart. Not just the romantic connection between Eli and Cassian, but the friendships, and family bonds both bio and found. Add in the connection and bond between Cassian and Ruin and it is truly beautiful. The world Astra created at Riverlight is truly something special.
This is definitely a slow burn romane but when it hits boy does it hit. Eli and Cassian will forever hold a special place in my heart! They have a beautiful connection and understanding. Their respect for one another, and willingness to sacrifice for the other makes is exactly the way partners should treat each other.
If you are looking for a beautiful story about learning how to love, not just another person, but yourself, through nature, friends, partners, and family this is the story for you! I adored this book and Riverlight Ranch will remain in my heart forever.
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