Wild Hearts Don't Break

by Maya Black

He waited ten years. She never knew he existed.

She swore she'd never come back.

When her estranged father dies, financial consultant Dakota Wilder returns to the failing family ranch she fled ten years ago—and the painful memories she left behind. She has ninety days to save Wilder Creek Ranch from foreclosure, and she's determined to do it alone. The last thing she needs is help from anyone, especially the quiet, guarded ranch hand who seems to see right through her walls.

He's been waiting his whole life.

Colt Carver has loved Dakota since before she knew his name. As a young ranch hand, he watched her from afar, knowing he'd never be good enough for the boss's daughter. When she left, he stayed—working the ranch, leaving flowers on her mother's grave, waiting for a woman who might never return. Now she's back, and she's more beautiful and broken than he remembered.

But Dakota's homecoming unearths secrets that someone has killed to keep buried. As they work together to save the ranch and expose a decades-old conspiracy, the tension between them ignites into something neither expected. Can two wounded souls learn to trust again? Or will the ghosts of the past destroy their chance at a future?

Wild Hearts Don't Break is the first book in the Wild Hearts of Copper Creek series—a heartfelt Western romance about second chances, small-town secrets, and the courage it takes to finally come home.

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2026

About the author

Maya Black lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and animals and loves being out in nature. She loves all things coffee and books!

She’s a new author but has been an avid reader her whole life with stories brewing in her mind. She’s finally putting pen to paper to write in a mix of genres but all will include an element of romance.

Reviews

[JenBookEnthusiast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Hearts Don't Break by Maya Black kicks off the start of a new series, Wild Hearts of Copper Creek.

Dakota Wilder finds herself returning home 10 years later after her father's passing. She isn't prepared for what she finds with her family's ranch that's in financial instability, buildings and equipment in need of repair and a snake hiding behind a mask of civility and condolences. With the support of Colt Carver who is the quiet ranch hand that has been waiting for her return and close friends, Dakota takes on the biggest fight of her life to save her family's legacy. The small town of Copper Creek has its own whispered secrets and it will take Dakota's strength and faith to lead them on the path to expose the lies and corruption trying to take over their town.

This is a wonderful story of loss, secrets that try to stay buried, courage to face one's fear to seek the truth, faith, acceptance, a strong bond within the small town, a love that embraces all and shines the brightest.

A wonderful heartfelt story for your reading pleasure.

I received an early copy and I'm sharing my voluntary opinion.

[Brigitte Lansaw-Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dakota leaves the family ranch at 19, after the death of her mother and her fathers spiral into depression and alcohol. She puts herself through school and is making a life in Dallas when she is contacted that her father’s spiral into has passed and left everything to her. It has been 8 years since she left and does not know what faces her when she returns. Meanwhile, Cole Carver has been working on the ranch the whole time she’s been gone secretly hoping she’d someday return. Upon return she finds out she he ranch is in ruins and deep in debt. A shady businessman is trying to push her to sell now and walk away. What she finds out is that she really loves being here and the people of Cooper Creek and that the town has been the victim of a crooked businessman for 30 years. As she tries to find the evidence that all these crimes have been committed she has to learn to trust people. The story brings an entire community together and lets us follow Dakota and Cole and through their stories. Maya Black wrote a heartfelt story that draws you in and holds your heart through the whole story

[Michele Chovanec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cole had loved Dakota since he first came to work on her daddys ranch when she was in highschool. She never noticed him and never knew. After her mother died and her father became withdrawn, she moved away; got an education and a career in Dallas. Thought she was content…. then her father died. She had not spoken to or seen him in years. She received notification that he had left everything to her and went back to the ranch to decide it’s future and her own. She had been gone 10 years. Cole was still there. He always believed that someday she would return. This is not just their story. Ms. Black has crafted a true saga of myarery, love, sorrow, fear, death, avarice, strength, friendship, courage and peace. A must read.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time reading this author. I enjoyed this book. There is so much going on in the book.
Dakota is returning home after her father's death. The farm is neglected. She believes this will be a quick trip. She'll sell the ranch and go back to her life in Dallas.
But once at the ranch old feelings return. This us ger mother's legacy.
Colt has been working on the ranch for years. He was there when Dakota was and stayed to help run the ranch. She doesn't remember him.
In addition to a love story there is also a lot of drama. There is the shady man trying to buy the ranch.
The mystery of what this man has been doing to the town and how it has effected her family's ranch.
This one will keep you entertained.

[De Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is how you kick off a series. I am so invested now. I was pulled in and held in the throws of emotion from the very beginning of this story. Colt and Dakota were honestly the definition of meant to be in my opinion. I adored how Colt’s love for her never dwindled. He was a steady presence and it was exactly what she needed. The genuine love and support they show each other melted my heart. This book is full of love and loss, secrets and support. It will grab you by the heartstrings and lead you on an emotional journey. But it will so be worth it for the ending. I promise.

[Debra Soehner · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Colt is a farm hand on Dakota's father's ranch and he has dreamed about her for over 10 years from when he first started working there. Dakota left years before when she argued with her father as things were never right between her and her dad after her mother died. Now she's back after his death to set things right with his debts and the ranch. Attraction is strong between these 2 as they fight against time and the odds. Great novel. 

[Lizett Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute closed door romance. Fast read and full of secrets and small town drama.
Dakota returns home after her father dies, to a failing ranch no money and a vulture of man trying to get his claws on her ranch. Well he doesn't know Dakota very well and her determination find out the corruption thats happening.

[Mary T · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when you return.
Dad is dead and buried. The Ranch is in a financial hole. Dakota returns to the home she left ten years ago and finds a lot more than she expected.

[Heather Normand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.