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Wilder Estate #1
Blue Jean Summer
Opposites become unlikely allies when a desperate cowboy needs to marry in order to save his grandfather’s land.
Hayes Wilder needs to find a wife—pronto. After returning to the small town of Honey Hollow before his grandfather’s death, he's shocked to learn that the sprawling Wilder Estate was left to him. All Hayes wants is the one thing money can’t buy—more time with his grandfather. Failing that, he’ll do whatever it takes to save his grandfather’s legacy from falling into the wrong hands. Even if it means marrying in order to satisfy the terms of the will.
Catherine Foster, reigning Miss Virginia and former Honey Hollow native (who had a childhood crush on Hayes), is saddled with mountains of medical debt ever since her mother’s death. Running out of time to figure out her next move, Catherine reconnects with Hayes at his grandfather’s funeral.
Hayes and Catherine impulsively strike a He’ll pay off her debts, but only if they get married. Despite the situation, Hayes and Catherine look forward to getting to know each other as adults—after the wedding. Which is tougher than anticipated when the entire town has eyes on them and his half brother keeps circling the property like a vulture, determined to poke holes in their marriage. Most troubling of all, this pair may have miscalculated how much they have in common—enough for this cowboy to fall in love for real.
Hayes Wilder needs to find a wife—pronto. After returning to the small town of Honey Hollow before his grandfather’s death, he's shocked to learn that the sprawling Wilder Estate was left to him. All Hayes wants is the one thing money can’t buy—more time with his grandfather. Failing that, he’ll do whatever it takes to save his grandfather’s legacy from falling into the wrong hands. Even if it means marrying in order to satisfy the terms of the will.
Catherine Foster, reigning Miss Virginia and former Honey Hollow native (who had a childhood crush on Hayes), is saddled with mountains of medical debt ever since her mother’s death. Running out of time to figure out her next move, Catherine reconnects with Hayes at his grandfather’s funeral.
Hayes and Catherine impulsively strike a He’ll pay off her debts, but only if they get married. Despite the situation, Hayes and Catherine look forward to getting to know each other as adults—after the wedding. Which is tougher than anticipated when the entire town has eyes on them and his half brother keeps circling the property like a vulture, determined to poke holes in their marriage. Most troubling of all, this pair may have miscalculated how much they have in common—enough for this cowboy to fall in love for real.
443 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2026
About the author
Maggie C. Gates
29 books2,725 followersMaggie Gates writes raw, relatable, romance novels packed full of heat and humor. Maggie calls North Carolina home. In her spare time she enjoys daydreaming about her characters, jamming to country music, and eating all the barbecue and tacos she can find! Her Kindle is always within reach due to a love of small town romances that borders on obsession.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 485 reviews
July 24, 2026
I feel pretty neutral about this book. It was a sweet romance and mostly mindless entertainment, but nothing to write home about. However, there were definitely some positives that made this book worthwhile.
First, the tropes were fun and feature pretty high stakes. I love a good marriage of convenience and the reason for the couple’s arrangement was high stakes enough to keep me invested but not too intense to make me stressed. No complaints there!
Next, I loved Catherine’s character. She was such a pure and sweet person and I throughly loved reading her POV. I liked that she was Miss Virginia and was a beauty pageant queen. I also appreciated the details she shared with Hayes about child pageantry and the immense pressure you get put under at such a young age. There are definitely some darker parts of child pageantry that go untold, so I loved that this book touched on it.
Hayes, oh Hayes. You know, he was a sweetie pie, but not a very memorable character. In the moment he was a good fake husband to read about, and the “my wife” moments were just delicious, but he did feel a little underdeveloped. He had Asperger’s, (high functioning autism) but it was only brought up once even though it clearly seemed to be a larger part of his life. I just wish that part of him was expanded on.
Lastly, I thought Lewis was a very unrealistic character. Yeah I get he was supposed to be the villain, but he was so over the top and juvenile about it. He would literally gag at people, stomp his feet, and slam the door. Because he was not portrayed as a realistic character, he became pretty distracting.
Other than that, this book was okay. Nothing too bad but also nothing that made it stand out a whole lot. The cover is absolutely gorgeous, which is what made me pick it up in the first place. If the blurb sounds interesting to you, you should definitely give it a try too.
3 stars ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
📆 Publication date: September 14, 2026
First, the tropes were fun and feature pretty high stakes. I love a good marriage of convenience and the reason for the couple’s arrangement was high stakes enough to keep me invested but not too intense to make me stressed. No complaints there!
Next, I loved Catherine’s character. She was such a pure and sweet person and I throughly loved reading her POV. I liked that she was Miss Virginia and was a beauty pageant queen. I also appreciated the details she shared with Hayes about child pageantry and the immense pressure you get put under at such a young age. There are definitely some darker parts of child pageantry that go untold, so I loved that this book touched on it.
Hayes, oh Hayes. You know, he was a sweetie pie, but not a very memorable character. In the moment he was a good fake husband to read about, and the “my wife” moments were just delicious, but he did feel a little underdeveloped. He had Asperger’s, (high functioning autism) but it was only brought up once even though it clearly seemed to be a larger part of his life. I just wish that part of him was expanded on.
Lastly, I thought Lewis was a very unrealistic character. Yeah I get he was supposed to be the villain, but he was so over the top and juvenile about it. He would literally gag at people, stomp his feet, and slam the door. Because he was not portrayed as a realistic character, he became pretty distracting.
Other than that, this book was okay. Nothing too bad but also nothing that made it stand out a whole lot. The cover is absolutely gorgeous, which is what made me pick it up in the first place. If the blurb sounds interesting to you, you should definitely give it a try too.
3 stars ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
📆 Publication date: September 14, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
unfortunately i couldn't find a reason to care about this book...
in the past, i've read books by maggie gates that were in the same genre, cowboy romances with some slight mystery happening in the background. those were fun, all around a four star, this one, which should've been the same thing, just fell really flat. hayes and catherine are getting married so that he can access the entirety of his grandfathers estate and she can pay off some debt, fake (but very real) marriage with a side of forced proximity should work for me, sadly i just didn't connect with either of the characters.
the first fifty percent was fine, thats why i feel like a three and not a 2.5, but after that we lost all the tension and we started focusing on businesses and drama with a governor and embezzlement, just stuff i did not care about. i really enjoyed cath's friendship with hallie and savannah, you can clearly see whose story is next and what this book was setting up for. i am interested in hallie and mason but at the same time i am over it. more warren is what i need. a mysterious man who lives like a recluse and rescues animals that are being abused, yeah i gotta know more about him!!
if you're looking for another cowboy romance to read this wouldn't be the worst option but the story is just so low in stakes and there's no real relationship conflict which leads to the book being mostly drama free.
*thank you berkley and netgalley for the copy*
in the past, i've read books by maggie gates that were in the same genre, cowboy romances with some slight mystery happening in the background. those were fun, all around a four star, this one, which should've been the same thing, just fell really flat. hayes and catherine are getting married so that he can access the entirety of his grandfathers estate and she can pay off some debt, fake (but very real) marriage with a side of forced proximity should work for me, sadly i just didn't connect with either of the characters.
the first fifty percent was fine, thats why i feel like a three and not a 2.5, but after that we lost all the tension and we started focusing on businesses and drama with a governor and embezzlement, just stuff i did not care about. i really enjoyed cath's friendship with hallie and savannah, you can clearly see whose story is next and what this book was setting up for. i am interested in hallie and mason but at the same time i am over it. more warren is what i need. a mysterious man who lives like a recluse and rescues animals that are being abused, yeah i gotta know more about him!!
if you're looking for another cowboy romance to read this wouldn't be the worst option but the story is just so low in stakes and there's no real relationship conflict which leads to the book being mostly drama free.
*thank you berkley and netgalley for the copy*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
˗ˏˋ 5 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .
guyss, this was actually soo good?? they're literally so meant to be and i love them sm!
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• catherine foster
i love her and her big heart! she's literally the sweetest person ever and i felt so bad for her when her dad turned out to be such an asshole. loved how she stood her ground too!
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• hayes wilder
he's such a green flag!!! loved the "my wife" moments sm! also like the tattoo??? someone sedate me, i cant! (you'll know when you read the book, i don't wanna spoil anything~)
also i've never hated a person more than i hated lewis smh, im glad he got what he deserved in the end! literally whenever his name came on the page, i wanted to strangle him so hard
anyways this is my first book by maggie and certainly not my last! probably gonna go read her entire backlist when i have time
⤷ thank you to netgalley, berkley publishing group and maggie c gates for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
18/07/2026 — eeek i guess i'm starting this now! idk much about this book so fingers cross it delivers!!1!
14/07/2026 — the scream i let out when i saw the email, also i think it's one of my fastest approvals ngl! and omg the cover!!1! absolutely stunning!!!
guyss, this was actually soo good?? they're literally so meant to be and i love them sm!
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• catherine foster
i love her and her big heart! she's literally the sweetest person ever and i felt so bad for her when her dad turned out to be such an asshole. loved how she stood her ground too!
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• hayes wilder
he's such a green flag!!! loved the "my wife" moments sm! also like the tattoo??? someone sedate me, i cant! (you'll know when you read the book, i don't wanna spoil anything~)
also i've never hated a person more than i hated lewis smh, im glad he got what he deserved in the end! literally whenever his name came on the page, i wanted to strangle him so hard
anyways this is my first book by maggie and certainly not my last! probably gonna go read her entire backlist when i have time
⤷ thank you to netgalley, berkley publishing group and maggie c gates for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
18/07/2026 — eeek i guess i'm starting this now! idk much about this book so fingers cross it delivers!!1!
14/07/2026 — the scream i let out when i saw the email, also i think it's one of my fastest approvals ngl! and omg the cover!!1! absolutely stunning!!!
April 28, 2026
“I ached for her. I craved her. She was every spring breeze that brought new life. Every summer sun that warmed and sustained. She was the reprieve of fall and the magic of winter.
Catherine Wilder was everything”
I wanted to love this one so much… and I did in parts, but wow this was such a weird reading experience for me because I kept waiting for it to become a different book. 🥲 let me explain...
Going in I was fully prepared for some obsessed, down bad, possessive cowboy man energy. I wanted the “my wife” obsession. I wanted a man who was one inconvenience away from growling at someone in public. And Hayes… he did eventually give me little glimpses of that man, but it took so long to get there that I spent most of the book sitting there like ma’am where is he?! 🤦🏼♀️ 🤦🏼♀️
But once his internal thoughts finally start spilling out?? suddenly I understood the vision.
LIKE THERE YOU ARE MANNN
That’s the Hayes I thought I was signing up for.
The problem is… I didn’t feel enough of that buildup before we got there. Cath had the childhood crush, she always knew him, she had that history of wanting and watching from afar, but Hayes realizing she’s suddenly the perfect woman for him and falling hard felt a little too fast for me. I needed more tension. More lingering. More “I absolutely should not want my fake wife like this” panic. Instead it felt like one second we were setting up the arrangement and the next we were 10 steps ahead and i was searching for when it escalated. 👀 And for a marriage of convenience story, I really need that emotional slow burn suffering.
That being said, there were definitely still moments that got me.
SEE THATS THE STUFF I WANTED
I just wish there had been more of it, sooner.
Also… I have to say it. The blurb gave me cowboy energy so personally I showed up expecting boots, dirt, hands-on ranch(ish) life, rugged man doing rugged cowboy things 🤠
But what I got was… estate owner with horses nearby??? Hayes is giving slacks and button-up office man more than rough cowboy fantasy 😭 and Cath is a beauty pageant girlie, which honestly made the whole vibe feel very different from what I had pictured.
Not bad at all, just not what my brain had preordered. Even the stakes felt oddly soft. There was technically a lot on the line, but the writing made everything feel very easy, very smooth, very low urgency. Nothing felt like it hit as hard as it should have. Honestly by the end I was like… "wait did that much actually happen?" 😭 because it somehow felt like both a full book and also like nothing major happened at all. (it definitely could’ve been shorter 🫣)
BUT —and this is important— I still enjoyed reading it.
Cath’s character arc really worked for me, especially watching her slowly realize she was enough after growing up feeling unwanted. That emotional thread felt genuine and I loved it for her. 😌 And the side characters? Loved them. Absolutely loved them. Honestly I’m more excited for some of their future books than I was for this one by the end.
And because I couldn't end the review without showing a few more delicious lines from Hayes ↓
Yes. More of that. Inject it directly into my bloodstream.
There were definitely cute moments here. Sweet moments. The love was soft and genuine and easy to read. It just never fully consumed me.
I wanted obsession. I wanted intensity. I wanted to feel the chemistry in my chest. Instead, this felt more like a soft, simple palate cleanser with a sweet romance and pretty writing. 🤷🏼♀️ Decent? Absolutely. Cute? Definitely.
Life-changing? Unfortunately no.
And maybe that’s why I feel so conflicted, because I didn’t dislike it at all. I just kept mourning the version of this book I thought I was about to get. 😔
Still, Maggie Gates’ writing style is one I genuinely enjoy, and even when I’m frustrated, I want to keep reading. So for me, this lands at 3 ⭐️. Cute, easy, sweet, and enjoyable… just missing the depth and emotional chaos I was hoping for.
things to know about the book ↓
💙 childhood crush
💙 marriage of convenience
💙 forced proximity
💙 secret tattoo (LITERALLY SO SWEET)
💙 age gap (she’s 25 / he’s 35)
💙 small town romance
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes
Thank you NetGalley, Berkeley Publishing Group & Maggie Gates for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⸻⸻⸻
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
the way I squealed when i saw this in my inbox 😭🫶🏼
please please be as good as i'm hoping 🤞🏼
Catherine Wilder was everything”
I wanted to love this one so much… and I did in parts, but wow this was such a weird reading experience for me because I kept waiting for it to become a different book. 🥲 let me explain...
Going in I was fully prepared for some obsessed, down bad, possessive cowboy man energy. I wanted the “my wife” obsession. I wanted a man who was one inconvenience away from growling at someone in public. And Hayes… he did eventually give me little glimpses of that man, but it took so long to get there that I spent most of the book sitting there like ma’am where is he?! 🤦🏼♀️ 🤦🏼♀️
But once his internal thoughts finally start spilling out?? suddenly I understood the vision.
“I was jealous of anything that her eyes gazed upon. Jealous of anything that was touched by her fingers. I was jealous of the coffee cup she had been sipping from when I came down to the kitchen this morning. And I was definitely jealous of the bed that held her over the last few nights”
LIKE THERE YOU ARE MANNN
That’s the Hayes I thought I was signing up for.
The problem is… I didn’t feel enough of that buildup before we got there. Cath had the childhood crush, she always knew him, she had that history of wanting and watching from afar, but Hayes realizing she’s suddenly the perfect woman for him and falling hard felt a little too fast for me. I needed more tension. More lingering. More “I absolutely should not want my fake wife like this” panic. Instead it felt like one second we were setting up the arrangement and the next we were 10 steps ahead and i was searching for when it escalated. 👀 And for a marriage of convenience story, I really need that emotional slow burn suffering.
That being said, there were definitely still moments that got me.
“I couldn’t wait to marry Catherine Foster, if only for one more kiss.”
SEE THATS THE STUFF I WANTED
I just wish there had been more of it, sooner.
Also… I have to say it. The blurb gave me cowboy energy so personally I showed up expecting boots, dirt, hands-on ranch(ish) life, rugged man doing rugged cowboy things 🤠
But what I got was… estate owner with horses nearby??? Hayes is giving slacks and button-up office man more than rough cowboy fantasy 😭 and Cath is a beauty pageant girlie, which honestly made the whole vibe feel very different from what I had pictured.
Not bad at all, just not what my brain had preordered. Even the stakes felt oddly soft. There was technically a lot on the line, but the writing made everything feel very easy, very smooth, very low urgency. Nothing felt like it hit as hard as it should have. Honestly by the end I was like… "wait did that much actually happen?" 😭 because it somehow felt like both a full book and also like nothing major happened at all. (it definitely could’ve been shorter 🫣)
BUT —and this is important— I still enjoyed reading it.
Cath’s character arc really worked for me, especially watching her slowly realize she was enough after growing up feeling unwanted. That emotional thread felt genuine and I loved it for her. 😌 And the side characters? Loved them. Absolutely loved them. Honestly I’m more excited for some of their future books than I was for this one by the end.
And because I couldn't end the review without showing a few more delicious lines from Hayes ↓
“She was indescribably beautiful. Nothing compared to her. Not the mountains. Not the skies. Not the valley and every flower in it.”
“I would have given every penny to my name and every blade of grass in the valley just to have her close”
Yes. More of that. Inject it directly into my bloodstream.
There were definitely cute moments here. Sweet moments. The love was soft and genuine and easy to read. It just never fully consumed me.
I wanted obsession. I wanted intensity. I wanted to feel the chemistry in my chest. Instead, this felt more like a soft, simple palate cleanser with a sweet romance and pretty writing. 🤷🏼♀️ Decent? Absolutely. Cute? Definitely.
Life-changing? Unfortunately no.
And maybe that’s why I feel so conflicted, because I didn’t dislike it at all. I just kept mourning the version of this book I thought I was about to get. 😔
Still, Maggie Gates’ writing style is one I genuinely enjoy, and even when I’m frustrated, I want to keep reading. So for me, this lands at 3 ⭐️. Cute, easy, sweet, and enjoyable… just missing the depth and emotional chaos I was hoping for.
things to know about the book ↓
💙 childhood crush
💙 marriage of convenience
💙 forced proximity
💙 secret tattoo (LITERALLY SO SWEET)
💙 age gap (she’s 25 / he’s 35)
💙 small town romance
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes
Thank you NetGalley, Berkeley Publishing Group & Maggie Gates for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⸻⸻⸻
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
the way I squealed when i saw this in my inbox 😭🫶🏼
please please be as good as i'm hoping 🤞🏼
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
lovelovelovelovelove
~~~~
AHHHHH SIX STARS I LOVE THEM SO
this is without a doubt the BEST marriage of convenience i have ever read, i loved every single last thing about this book and i could have lived in catherine and hayes orbit forever.
this book made me feel FERAL, hayes wilder has the most big dick energy i have ever read in an mmc. every time he was on page i fell to my knees squealing ESPECIALLY when he was taking care of cath. “thats mr. wilder to you.” KNOCKED ME OUT. not to mention he gets so jealous barely two days into their fake engagement that shes checking out another cowboys wrangler but that he excuses himself, marches right upstairs to change out of his button and slacks to put on his own pair of wranglers and an old t-shirt to go strut in front of her for a crumb of her attention.
catherine the woman you are my goodness. she is disney princess level of kind and sunshine incarnate and i just fell head over heels for her. there were so many times where i just wished i could give her a hug and tell her everything is going to be okay like she was SO important to me 😭
this book had me captivated from start to finish, i could squeal about them all damn day but id ruin 95% of the book if i allow myself to keep rambling. i am SO excited to see whats to come of this series and i cannot wait to check more of maggie’s work out!!
~~~~
AHHHHH SIX STARS I LOVE THEM SO
this is without a doubt the BEST marriage of convenience i have ever read, i loved every single last thing about this book and i could have lived in catherine and hayes orbit forever.
this book made me feel FERAL, hayes wilder has the most big dick energy i have ever read in an mmc. every time he was on page i fell to my knees squealing ESPECIALLY when he was taking care of cath. “thats mr. wilder to you.” KNOCKED ME OUT. not to mention he gets so jealous barely two days into their fake engagement that shes checking out another cowboys wrangler but that he excuses himself, marches right upstairs to change out of his button and slacks to put on his own pair of wranglers and an old t-shirt to go strut in front of her for a crumb of her attention.
catherine the woman you are my goodness. she is disney princess level of kind and sunshine incarnate and i just fell head over heels for her. there were so many times where i just wished i could give her a hug and tell her everything is going to be okay like she was SO important to me 😭
this book had me captivated from start to finish, i could squeal about them all damn day but id ruin 95% of the book if i allow myself to keep rambling. i am SO excited to see whats to come of this series and i cannot wait to check more of maggie’s work out!!
October 19, 2026
(⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.25/5) This was a sweet, drama free read. Both Catherine & Hayes were likable characters and how they fell naturally into their relationship was sweet. They lacked a little bit of personality & their conflict towards the end felt a little silly. It wasn’t the best I’ve ever read, story wise, but I love this author’s writing in general & am looking forward to the next book in the series.
July 12, 2026
“If I’m your valley, your flowers, and your sky, then you’re my cowboy.”
Maggie Gates just consistently putting out bangers.
I just finished this while sitting on my back deck in the morning summer sun. Only thing that could’ve made this more ideal is a lemonade.
Catherine & Hayes
Miss Virginia and a millionaire bachelor
10 year age gap
Little grumpy x sunshine vibes
Small town vibes
Ranch setting
Big estate home with found family vibes
Marriage of convenience : hot damn done so well
“My wife” vibes
Characters with depth filled backgrounds
Just one of those couples you fall in love with.
You know they’re gonna make it long run.
Netgalley arc review ✨
Maggie Gates just consistently putting out bangers.
I just finished this while sitting on my back deck in the morning summer sun. Only thing that could’ve made this more ideal is a lemonade.
Catherine & Hayes
Miss Virginia and a millionaire bachelor
10 year age gap
Little grumpy x sunshine vibes
Small town vibes
Ranch setting
Big estate home with found family vibes
Marriage of convenience : hot damn done so well
“My wife” vibes
Characters with depth filled backgrounds
Just one of those couples you fall in love with.
You know they’re gonna make it long run.
Netgalley arc review ✨
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Coffee Dates with Blue Jean Summer
First Date– We meet Hayes Wilder on the day of his grandfather’s funeral in the small-town of Honey Hollow on the sprawling Wilder Estates. He’ll soon discover he has inherited his grandfather’s legacy. However, there is a catch. He’ll need to be married and to give his new wife ten acres of the property. His step-brother is anger and determined to have it all. Catherine Foster, reigning Miss Virginia and former Honey Hollow native, also attends the funeral, and we see some sparks. She is also home facing a mountain of medical debt from her mother’s recent death. I know where the story is headed, and I am all in.
Second Date– Hayes is a little slower, but thanks to his friend and BFF of Catherine, an idea is formed to arrange a marriage of convenience. Hayes will marry Catherine and in exchange pay her and help her open her non-profit. Win-Win. But will Catherine accept? I adored Catherine from the outset. She is sweet, has a lot of goodwill, and is great with animals and children. Hayes has his moments, and there were plenty of times I swooned as their wedding day approached. We learned about his Asperger’s and, having a son with similar issues, I thought it was well done.
Third Date– I enjoyed seeing the romance develop, even if Hayes messes things up a few times. I loved the secondary characters, who I assume will be our next featured characters in the series. The tension regarding the brother-in—law and Catherine’s biological father added some suspense and even laugh aloud moments that led to heat and swoons. I loved the non-profit, the cowboy moments, and the rescue cows. Lots of swoons, awe moments, laughter, and more await you.
I closed Blue Jean Summer smiling and loved the hints about book two. If you enjoy small-town cowboy romances, you’ll want to add this to your reading list.
This review originally published at Caffeinated Reviewer
First Date– We meet Hayes Wilder on the day of his grandfather’s funeral in the small-town of Honey Hollow on the sprawling Wilder Estates. He’ll soon discover he has inherited his grandfather’s legacy. However, there is a catch. He’ll need to be married and to give his new wife ten acres of the property. His step-brother is anger and determined to have it all. Catherine Foster, reigning Miss Virginia and former Honey Hollow native, also attends the funeral, and we see some sparks. She is also home facing a mountain of medical debt from her mother’s recent death. I know where the story is headed, and I am all in.
Second Date– Hayes is a little slower, but thanks to his friend and BFF of Catherine, an idea is formed to arrange a marriage of convenience. Hayes will marry Catherine and in exchange pay her and help her open her non-profit. Win-Win. But will Catherine accept? I adored Catherine from the outset. She is sweet, has a lot of goodwill, and is great with animals and children. Hayes has his moments, and there were plenty of times I swooned as their wedding day approached. We learned about his Asperger’s and, having a son with similar issues, I thought it was well done.
Third Date– I enjoyed seeing the romance develop, even if Hayes messes things up a few times. I loved the secondary characters, who I assume will be our next featured characters in the series. The tension regarding the brother-in—law and Catherine’s biological father added some suspense and even laugh aloud moments that led to heat and swoons. I loved the non-profit, the cowboy moments, and the rescue cows. Lots of swoons, awe moments, laughter, and more await you.
I closed Blue Jean Summer smiling and loved the hints about book two. If you enjoy small-town cowboy romances, you’ll want to add this to your reading list.
This review originally published at Caffeinated Reviewer
September 2, 2026
Blue Jean Summer was basically a ray of sunshine. I flew through this one and genuinely did not want to put it down. I finished this in under 24 hours!
Maggie creates the kind of characters that you get way too attached to, and Hayes and Catherine are officially two of my new favorites. Their connection felt so genuine, and I loved watching their relationship build throughout the book. It wasn’t rushed, and the way they learned to trust themselves and each other made their relationship feel that much more real. I loved the total acceptance of Hayes and his struggles and the portrayal of individuals with Asperger’s. It was great to see this subtle differences and how they influenced his characters development.
Also, I absolutely adored Honey Hollow and all of the side characters we got to meet along the way. I’m already missing this little town and these people.
Basically, I’m ready. Give me the next book.
Maggie creates the kind of characters that you get way too attached to, and Hayes and Catherine are officially two of my new favorites. Their connection felt so genuine, and I loved watching their relationship build throughout the book. It wasn’t rushed, and the way they learned to trust themselves and each other made their relationship feel that much more real. I loved the total acceptance of Hayes and his struggles and the portrayal of individuals with Asperger’s. It was great to see this subtle differences and how they influenced his characters development.
Also, I absolutely adored Honey Hollow and all of the side characters we got to meet along the way. I’m already missing this little town and these people.
Basically, I’m ready. Give me the next book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
would you help a lonely cowboy save his family ranch? the only catch is you gotta marry him.
so, unfortunately i felt very meh about this? i typically love a marriage of convenience trope, but there was something missing with this. i think the couple lacked tension and pining, which is needed to be able to execute this trope.
i didn't like or dislike cath or hayes. i also felt very meh about them, and they just didn't stand out to me. there were definitely some cute romance scenes, but i wasn't feeling very swooned or giddy over these scenes. lewis was a LOSER though. my issue with his character was while he was a loser, he often read very unrealistic at times.
i absolutely adore this cover, it's what initially made me want to read the book. maybe this just wasn't the book for me, but maybe it's the book for you if you are looking for a quick cowboy romance!
thank you netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for a honest review!
so, unfortunately i felt very meh about this? i typically love a marriage of convenience trope, but there was something missing with this. i think the couple lacked tension and pining, which is needed to be able to execute this trope.
i didn't like or dislike cath or hayes. i also felt very meh about them, and they just didn't stand out to me. there were definitely some cute romance scenes, but i wasn't feeling very swooned or giddy over these scenes. lewis was a LOSER though. my issue with his character was while he was a loser, he often read very unrealistic at times.
i absolutely adore this cover, it's what initially made me want to read the book. maybe this just wasn't the book for me, but maybe it's the book for you if you are looking for a quick cowboy romance!
thank you netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for a honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have to be married to inherit grandfather’s estate?
How will Hayes pull this off especially since his brother is furious that Hayes will get the estate if he’s married when he doesn’t even have a fiancée.
Hayes thought about that and said Catherine will work perfectly.
He asked if she would go along with this idea and thankfully she said yes.
The fun began as they had to pretend, but it really wasn’t pretending. Both Hayes and Catherine had feelings for each other.
How does it all turn out?
BLUE JEAN SUMMER is a cute, enjoyable, not-my-usual read but readers who love a sweet romance will not want to miss this book. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
How will Hayes pull this off especially since his brother is furious that Hayes will get the estate if he’s married when he doesn’t even have a fiancée.
Hayes thought about that and said Catherine will work perfectly.
He asked if she would go along with this idea and thankfully she said yes.
The fun began as they had to pretend, but it really wasn’t pretending. Both Hayes and Catherine had feelings for each other.
How does it all turn out?
BLUE JEAN SUMMER is a cute, enjoyable, not-my-usual read but readers who love a sweet romance will not want to miss this book. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
March 21, 2026
The way that all my other books immediately got pushed to the side as soon as this entered my kindle. So first up big thanks to Maggie Gates, Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. To say I was highly anticipating this is an understatement. I’m a huge Maggie Gates fan and when I heard she was coming out with a new cowboy romance. Immediately my hands went GIMME GIMME. And the publishers were so kind to bless me.
Blue Jean Summer is a fun, sexy marriage of convenience between two former friends. Our two main characters are both dealing with the aftermath of losing a parental figure. Catherine is trying to figure out what to do next with her life while also trying to unbury herself from the mountain of medical debt. Hayes is trying to ensure his family ranch legacy stays with him. They both form a pact to marry each other to solve each other’s problems. Thinking they won’t fall in love. Oh sweet baby child 😉
Y’all I loved this book from beginning to end. Seriously Maggie Gates never misses. The attraction, the yearning and the chemistry between Hayes and Catherine was amazing. They are also one of the most healthy fictional couples I’ve ever read. I love how open they both are with each other and how they didn’t shy away from communicating with one another. They definitely had some bumps along the way. But the didn’t let that break them. Also because they were freaking adults there’s no third act break up. God bless, because I can’t stand when authors randomly throw that trope in.
My only complaint and I say that loosely. I wish our villain in the story got more Karma than what they did. I felt like that whole scenario was wrapped up really fast and I just wanted that butt to suffer more. But I digress. Besides that Blue Jean Summer is an amazing read that I will be recommending all the time. And I can’t wait to own my trophy when it releases this September
Blue Jean Summer is a fun, sexy marriage of convenience between two former friends. Our two main characters are both dealing with the aftermath of losing a parental figure. Catherine is trying to figure out what to do next with her life while also trying to unbury herself from the mountain of medical debt. Hayes is trying to ensure his family ranch legacy stays with him. They both form a pact to marry each other to solve each other’s problems. Thinking they won’t fall in love. Oh sweet baby child 😉
Y’all I loved this book from beginning to end. Seriously Maggie Gates never misses. The attraction, the yearning and the chemistry between Hayes and Catherine was amazing. They are also one of the most healthy fictional couples I’ve ever read. I love how open they both are with each other and how they didn’t shy away from communicating with one another. They definitely had some bumps along the way. But the didn’t let that break them. Also because they were freaking adults there’s no third act break up. God bless, because I can’t stand when authors randomly throw that trope in.
My only complaint and I say that loosely. I wish our villain in the story got more Karma than what they did. I felt like that whole scenario was wrapped up really fast and I just wanted that butt to suffer more. But I digress. Besides that Blue Jean Summer is an amazing read that I will be recommending all the time. And I can’t wait to own my trophy when it releases this September
March 19, 2026
I liked this book, it was relatively low angst and it was very sweet. Hayes Wilder’s grandfather has just passed away leaving him is vast estate and ranch. At the time his grandfather made his will Hayes had been engaged and his fiancee was granted a parcel of land. In order for Hayes to inherit the conditions has to be just as the will stipulated. Hayes however was no longer engaged, and he’s in need of a wife. He asks Catherine, a family friend, to temporarily marry him and he’ll help get her non profit started and pay off her debts in exchange.
This story was so close to being amazing, there were just a few things that fell short for me. The attraction between Hayes and Catherine was evident, and once they started sleeping together and sharing their feelings I really thought they were going to talk about the future. But each one of them kept thinking about the end date of the marriage. I wish they would have communicated sooner, rather than just live in the moment. I’m glad that neither one assumed the other one wanted out though, that would have been frustrating.
I really liked that Hayes was so supportive of Catherine’s ideas and saw the good she was doing. Catherine’s heart was so big, and I loved that she was the first person Hayes told about being on the spectrum. Hayes’s brother Lewis trying to undermine them was a bit predictable and I was glad when he got what was coming to him. Overall the book was good and I enjoyed it.
No third act breakup
4/5 on the Spicy Scale
M/F
Death/Grief
Contemporary Romance
This story was so close to being amazing, there were just a few things that fell short for me. The attraction between Hayes and Catherine was evident, and once they started sleeping together and sharing their feelings I really thought they were going to talk about the future. But each one of them kept thinking about the end date of the marriage. I wish they would have communicated sooner, rather than just live in the moment. I’m glad that neither one assumed the other one wanted out though, that would have been frustrating.
I really liked that Hayes was so supportive of Catherine’s ideas and saw the good she was doing. Catherine’s heart was so big, and I loved that she was the first person Hayes told about being on the spectrum. Hayes’s brother Lewis trying to undermine them was a bit predictable and I was glad when he got what was coming to him. Overall the book was good and I enjoyed it.
No third act breakup
4/5 on the Spicy Scale
M/F
Death/Grief
Contemporary Romance
August 27, 2026
I can’t tell you how happy I am that we have another cowboy romance from queen Maggie, and more books in this series coming up! 🤭
I had THE BEST time reading Blue Jean Summer! It was such a lovely, comforting, fun, and hot read! I LOVED IT! 🩵
I absolutely loooove a marriage of convenience and will forever eat up this trope! Catherine and Hayes were so fun together, and I couldn’t get enough of them! 🥹
I mean, a grieving man who loves his quiet spaces and doesn’t say much, who then drops the most beautiful, extremely romantic, and swoony things? 🙂↕️ He was down so bad, and I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT! Also, his protective side? This man had me screaming so many times! 😮💨
And Catherine! I just loved her so much and would love to be besties with her because she seems like such a delightful person to have around. 🥹🩵 She also made me laugh so many times, and I loved her causing trouble for Hayes. 🤭
I also fell in love with the secondary characters (besides Lewis, of course), and I can’t wait to see more of them. Especially Hallie and Mason! The last few pages had me screaming and also SOOOO EXCITED for their book! 🤭🥰
If you’re looking for a fun cowboy romance, with plenty of moments that will make you laugh, swoon, and blush, as well as a side of drama - definitely give this one a read! 🩵
I had THE BEST time reading Blue Jean Summer! It was such a lovely, comforting, fun, and hot read! I LOVED IT! 🩵
I absolutely loooove a marriage of convenience and will forever eat up this trope! Catherine and Hayes were so fun together, and I couldn’t get enough of them! 🥹
I mean, a grieving man who loves his quiet spaces and doesn’t say much, who then drops the most beautiful, extremely romantic, and swoony things? 🙂↕️ He was down so bad, and I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT! Also, his protective side? This man had me screaming so many times! 😮💨
And Catherine! I just loved her so much and would love to be besties with her because she seems like such a delightful person to have around. 🥹🩵 She also made me laugh so many times, and I loved her causing trouble for Hayes. 🤭
I also fell in love with the secondary characters (besides Lewis, of course), and I can’t wait to see more of them. Especially Hallie and Mason! The last few pages had me screaming and also SOOOO EXCITED for their book! 🤭🥰
If you’re looking for a fun cowboy romance, with plenty of moments that will make you laugh, swoon, and blush, as well as a side of drama - definitely give this one a read! 🩵
October 13, 2026
"Ella era cada brisa primaveral que traía nueva vida. Cada sol de verano que calentaba y sustentaba. Ella era el consuelo del otoño y la magia del invierno.
Catherine Wilder lo era todo"
Amo cuando los personajes masculinos son devotos de la mujer que aman y que Hayes ñ venga 100% sincero con sus sentimientos y con buena comunicación sumo mil ✨🙏🏻
Catherine y Hayes se conocen desde niños y después de años estando lejos de su pueblo natal ambos regresan por problemas personales y se reencuentran en un momento difícil para ambos ya que el acaba de perder a su abuelo quién lo crío después de la muerte de sus padres y ella esta pasando el duelo de haber perdido a su madre y cuando Hayes lee el testamento y descubre que para heredar las tierras de su familia necesita una esposa se dan cuenta que Catherine es la mujer perfecta para ayudarlo.
La relación de ellos la verdad es que no tuvo nada de falso porque ambos se llevaban muy bien como pareja y se complementaban un montón, Hayes la ayudo a ella en todo momento para que pueda saldar sus deudas y para que se sintiera cómoda en su nuevo hogar y la nueva vida que tenía siendo su esposa. Que el le contara a ella de su autismo también hablaba de la confianza que le tenía y también de la dulzura de amabilidad que tenía Catherine para que la gente que la rodeaba se sintiera cuidada porque el sabía que ella lo comprendería sin tratarlo diferente y también porque ella fue la primera mujer que lo estaba haciendo sentir lo que era el amor por otra persona y pronto los sentimientos por ella se hicieron realidad.
El peso y dolor mas grande de Catherine pronto descubrimos que es por su papá, ella tiene una personalidad muy bondadosa y siempre quiere demostrar que es buena en lo que hace y no estoy diciendo que sea así solo para demostrarle a su padre que ella era digna si no todo lo contrario, ella tenía que describir por su propia cuenta que ella tenía que estar orgullosa de sus logros ella misma y no para tener aceptación de su padre como esperaba. La verdad es que las acciones de Hayes a mi me encantaron y fui feliz con su pequeña venganza y obvio se venía venir el enojo de Catherine porque ella era independiente y paso la mayor parte de su vida cuidandose sola y al principio vió la intervención de el como control cuando la realidad de las acciones de Hayes eran una manera de gritar a los cuatro vientos que la amaba y que realmente a sus ojos los votos matrimoniales eran reales y puros, por suerte ella pudo verlo y también se dió cuenta que lo amaba y que era hora de abrazar al vaquero con su amor y el futuro que tendrían juntos ♥️😭.
Obvio voy por el siguiente libro porque ese final FUE UNA LOCURA 👀
Catherine Wilder lo era todo"
Amo cuando los personajes masculinos son devotos de la mujer que aman y que Hayes ñ venga 100% sincero con sus sentimientos y con buena comunicación sumo mil ✨🙏🏻
Catherine y Hayes se conocen desde niños y después de años estando lejos de su pueblo natal ambos regresan por problemas personales y se reencuentran en un momento difícil para ambos ya que el acaba de perder a su abuelo quién lo crío después de la muerte de sus padres y ella esta pasando el duelo de haber perdido a su madre y cuando Hayes lee el testamento y descubre que para heredar las tierras de su familia necesita una esposa se dan cuenta que Catherine es la mujer perfecta para ayudarlo.
La relación de ellos la verdad es que no tuvo nada de falso porque ambos se llevaban muy bien como pareja y se complementaban un montón, Hayes la ayudo a ella en todo momento para que pueda saldar sus deudas y para que se sintiera cómoda en su nuevo hogar y la nueva vida que tenía siendo su esposa. Que el le contara a ella de su autismo también hablaba de la confianza que le tenía y también de la dulzura de amabilidad que tenía Catherine para que la gente que la rodeaba se sintiera cuidada porque el sabía que ella lo comprendería sin tratarlo diferente y también porque ella fue la primera mujer que lo estaba haciendo sentir lo que era el amor por otra persona y pronto los sentimientos por ella se hicieron realidad.
El peso y dolor mas grande de Catherine pronto descubrimos que es por su papá, ella tiene una personalidad muy bondadosa y siempre quiere demostrar que es buena en lo que hace y no estoy diciendo que sea así solo para demostrarle a su padre que ella era digna si no todo lo contrario, ella tenía que describir por su propia cuenta que ella tenía que estar orgullosa de sus logros ella misma y no para tener aceptación de su padre como esperaba. La verdad es que las acciones de Hayes a mi me encantaron y fui feliz con su pequeña venganza y obvio se venía venir el enojo de Catherine porque ella era independiente y paso la mayor parte de su vida cuidandose sola y al principio vió la intervención de el como control cuando la realidad de las acciones de Hayes eran una manera de gritar a los cuatro vientos que la amaba y que realmente a sus ojos los votos matrimoniales eran reales y puros, por suerte ella pudo verlo y también se dió cuenta que lo amaba y que era hora de abrazar al vaquero con su amor y el futuro que tendrían juntos ♥️😭.
Obvio voy por el siguiente libro porque ese final FUE UNA LOCURA 👀
September 17, 2026
Maggie Gates writes good books, and this is a great start to a new series.
Hayes Wilder, the MMC, inherits his grandfather's massive estate when he passes away, but he has to get married for the will not to be contested. Enter Catherine Foster, the FMC, who is currently Miss Virginia and has back history of knowing Hayes, despite the age gap, and being on the Wilder Estate.
There are a lot of hiccups in this story, and of course a villain, but the characters in this book are fantastic. Total found family vibes and lots of interesting personalities.
It's revealed very late in the book that Hayes has Asperger's syndrome, and I wish it would've been revealed earlier because it would've given a lot of insight into his personality ... because as readers, we are meant to believe he's a bit standoffish and that's not the truth.
I liked this book, and I'd recommend it. It's an easy read and it truly is sweet.
Hayes Wilder, the MMC, inherits his grandfather's massive estate when he passes away, but he has to get married for the will not to be contested. Enter Catherine Foster, the FMC, who is currently Miss Virginia and has back history of knowing Hayes, despite the age gap, and being on the Wilder Estate.
There are a lot of hiccups in this story, and of course a villain, but the characters in this book are fantastic. Total found family vibes and lots of interesting personalities.
It's revealed very late in the book that Hayes has Asperger's syndrome, and I wish it would've been revealed earlier because it would've given a lot of insight into his personality ... because as readers, we are meant to believe he's a bit standoffish and that's not the truth.
I liked this book, and I'd recommend it. It's an easy read and it truly is sweet.
October 2, 2026
I think maybe we needed to research horses a little longer.
-lifelong horse girl
-lifelong horse girl
April 2, 2026
Reading a new Maggie Gates book always feels like coming home. I was so excited when I was approved for this ARC that I dropped everything I was reading. And I was not disappointed but there’s no surprise there. A marriage of convenience is always a fun read but mix that with the found family aspect that Maggie so expertly writes and you have the perfect combination. The little bit of hints of what’s to come in this series has me so excited. I really couldn’t get enough of Hayes and Catherine and their chosen family.
September 27, 2026
I don’t know why it took me so long to finally read some Maggie Gates— her books are recommended to me a lot and have always looked like something I’d love— but I am SO glad this was my introduction to her work!! This is STUNNINGLY written, perfectly suspends my disbelief, and the setting is so atmospheric and lush. I fell head over heels in love with Catherine and Hayes. They’re so human and real on page, and their experiencing of grief being so different yet similar was beautiful to read. This is now some of my favorite ever found family! Hallie and Mason— I’m so ready for you two to emotionally damage me beyond belief. Such a gorgeous love story and filled that place in my heart that’s been needing an escape. Perfect for fans of emotional, heartwarming romance that’s still scorching sexy in all the right places. 4.5 stars rounded to 5 ⭐️
October 15, 2026
Title: Blue Jean Summer
Author: Maggie Gates
Series: Wilder Estate, 1
Format: Libby audiobook
Genre: Contemporary, romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV’s: Catherine (FMC) & Hayes (MMC)
What to expect:
*Marriage of convenience
*Cowboy romance
*Found family, small town vibes
Safety:
No OW/OM drama in the relationship. No third act breakup.
Review:
I have been waiting to read this title since release day and I loved every bit of it!
Catherine and Hayes are the ultimate couple. They patiently fell in love with each other even though they were forced into a difficult situation. More importantly, they communicated with each other!! They talked out the relationship details, the difficulties, and the third act conflict that was caused by a side character. I love authors that can write adult characters that know how to communicate with each other!!!
No jealousy, no third act breakup, and open communication = ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!
I absolutely cannot wait to read the next title in the series!!
Author: Maggie Gates
Series: Wilder Estate, 1
Format: Libby audiobook
Genre: Contemporary, romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV’s: Catherine (FMC) & Hayes (MMC)
What to expect:
*Marriage of convenience
*Cowboy romance
*Found family, small town vibes
Safety:
No OW/OM drama in the relationship. No third act breakup.
Review:
I have been waiting to read this title since release day and I loved every bit of it!
Catherine and Hayes are the ultimate couple. They patiently fell in love with each other even though they were forced into a difficult situation. More importantly, they communicated with each other!! They talked out the relationship details, the difficulties, and the third act conflict that was caused by a side character. I love authors that can write adult characters that know how to communicate with each other!!!
No jealousy, no third act breakup, and open communication = ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!
I absolutely cannot wait to read the next title in the series!!
June 9, 2026
Received an advance copy from NetGalley.
This book was cute. I had a good time reading it. However there was a few things that bugged me. I felt like some of the scenes were over exaggerated and didn’t need to be over the top, it was like the author was creating drama all in the wrong places. Something that I had a real problem with is that the author wrote the MMC with Asperger’s Syndrome (a type of autism) but the MMC had no characteristics of having Asperger’s. It was like she just threw it in just to put it in.
This book was cute. I had a good time reading it. However there was a few things that bugged me. I felt like some of the scenes were over exaggerated and didn’t need to be over the top, it was like the author was creating drama all in the wrong places. Something that I had a real problem with is that the author wrote the MMC with Asperger’s Syndrome (a type of autism) but the MMC had no characteristics of having Asperger’s. It was like she just threw it in just to put it in.
August 20, 2026
Maggie had me all up in my feels with this one, I laughed, cried, sat open mouthed, kicked my feet in glee and wanted to perform a throat punch (Lewis!). This is only my second book by Maggie, and I’m most definitely a fan!
Thank you HodderBooks for an eARC of Blue Jean Summer, I can’t wait to see it hit shelves, e-readers and audio on 15th September!
📖 Blue Jean Summer
🖋️ Maggie Gates
🤠 Small Town
🩵 Billionaire
🤠 Age Gap
🩵 Fake Marriage
🤠 Grumpy x Sunshine
🩵 Grief & Healing
🤠 “Cowboy”
🩵 “My Wife”
🤠 Found Family
🩵 Autism Rep
I do love a mix of Grumpy x Sunshine and a fake dating/marriage trope! Maggie absolutely hit the spot with her delivery of this combo!
Hayes Wilder had me swooning, he was mysterious and aloof and also came across formidable and not to be crossed! I loved the way he and Catherine navigated their ruse as a team, both going to bat and being in sync to ensure the Wilder Estate was safe from Hayes half brother Lewis!
I really enjoyed their delicious slow burn, with “performances” to keep up appearances turning into real moments of want and need! I ate it up! When the full on spice hits, it is worth the wait!
Catherine was just what Hayes needed to bring him out of his shell! She was a sweetheart! I absolutely LOVE the cliché “soft only for her” although it’s clear to see that both Hayes & Catherine both love their inner circle deeply too! The found family vibes were perfect!
There were some great laugh out loud moments thanks to Elvis, Maisey, Dorothy & Blanche, they completely stole the show there! With a little help from the barn cat!
The Moonshine hidey-holes were a great touch to keep Walt a part of the story, we may not have met him in the book, but we sure could empathise with the grief of losing him! I loved how he remained an integral character throughout!
I’m so excited for more Wilder Estate books and shenanigans! Hallie & Bishops book “Steel-Toed Slow Dance” has been set up perfectly and I’m definitely hoping for a Savannah & Levi third book?!?!
Thank you HodderBooks for an eARC of Blue Jean Summer, I can’t wait to see it hit shelves, e-readers and audio on 15th September!
📖 Blue Jean Summer
🖋️ Maggie Gates
🤠 Small Town
🩵 Billionaire
🤠 Age Gap
🩵 Fake Marriage
🤠 Grumpy x Sunshine
🩵 Grief & Healing
🤠 “Cowboy”
🩵 “My Wife”
🤠 Found Family
🩵 Autism Rep
I do love a mix of Grumpy x Sunshine and a fake dating/marriage trope! Maggie absolutely hit the spot with her delivery of this combo!
Hayes Wilder had me swooning, he was mysterious and aloof and also came across formidable and not to be crossed! I loved the way he and Catherine navigated their ruse as a team, both going to bat and being in sync to ensure the Wilder Estate was safe from Hayes half brother Lewis!
I really enjoyed their delicious slow burn, with “performances” to keep up appearances turning into real moments of want and need! I ate it up! When the full on spice hits, it is worth the wait!
Catherine was just what Hayes needed to bring him out of his shell! She was a sweetheart! I absolutely LOVE the cliché “soft only for her” although it’s clear to see that both Hayes & Catherine both love their inner circle deeply too! The found family vibes were perfect!
There were some great laugh out loud moments thanks to Elvis, Maisey, Dorothy & Blanche, they completely stole the show there! With a little help from the barn cat!
The Moonshine hidey-holes were a great touch to keep Walt a part of the story, we may not have met him in the book, but we sure could empathise with the grief of losing him! I loved how he remained an integral character throughout!
I’m so excited for more Wilder Estate books and shenanigans! Hallie & Bishops book “Steel-Toed Slow Dance” has been set up perfectly and I’m definitely hoping for a Savannah & Levi third book?!?!
August 23, 2026
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
First of all, I love Maggie Gates, but I just didn’t think this book lived up to her usual writing and storytelling quality. It’s a perfectly fine romance, but unfortunately, it just didn’t stand out. I liked the small-town cowboy setting and the marriage-of-convenience trope, but between a heavy dose of telling rather than showing and some unnecessary conflict that pulled attention away from the romance, I never felt truly invested in Hayes, Catherine, or their relationship.
There were definitely some sweet moments, and I can see this being a fun, easy summer read for small-town romance fans. For me, though, it was a bit of a letdown. We meet Hayes at his grandfather’s funeral, where he’s grappling with grief, unwanted company, and the family’s vast estate. That's where he reconnects with Catherine, sharing a genuinely sweet moment at the funeral dinner over their recent losses. But once the will is read, the logic completely falls apart for me: why did it have to be Catherine? Sure, they need someone trustworthy with the right credentials, and Hayes vaguely remembers her around the estate when they were younger, but they have at least a ten-year age gap. They didn’t run in the same circles, shared no childhood defining moments, and had zero recent encounters. Where was the spark or the underlying attraction that supposedly made Hayes have to marry her?
I felt the exact same way about Catherine’s friendships with the other female characters—they're supposed to be close, but given the age difference, the how and why of those bonds are glossed over with more telling instead of showing.
The low-stakes conflict also didn't help; it never had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see how it would unfold, and when it finally did, it felt pretty anticlimactic. At the end of the day, it felt more like world-building than actual romance.
While I've focused a lot on what didn't work for me, I don't think it was a bad book either. The overall vibes were promising, and I am interested in reading the next books in the series. This one just fell a little flat, and I never quite connected with the main couple. But Mr. Grey? Oh, I'm ready for more of him.
First of all, I love Maggie Gates, but I just didn’t think this book lived up to her usual writing and storytelling quality. It’s a perfectly fine romance, but unfortunately, it just didn’t stand out. I liked the small-town cowboy setting and the marriage-of-convenience trope, but between a heavy dose of telling rather than showing and some unnecessary conflict that pulled attention away from the romance, I never felt truly invested in Hayes, Catherine, or their relationship.
There were definitely some sweet moments, and I can see this being a fun, easy summer read for small-town romance fans. For me, though, it was a bit of a letdown. We meet Hayes at his grandfather’s funeral, where he’s grappling with grief, unwanted company, and the family’s vast estate. That's where he reconnects with Catherine, sharing a genuinely sweet moment at the funeral dinner over their recent losses. But once the will is read, the logic completely falls apart for me: why did it have to be Catherine? Sure, they need someone trustworthy with the right credentials, and Hayes vaguely remembers her around the estate when they were younger, but they have at least a ten-year age gap. They didn’t run in the same circles, shared no childhood defining moments, and had zero recent encounters. Where was the spark or the underlying attraction that supposedly made Hayes have to marry her?
I felt the exact same way about Catherine’s friendships with the other female characters—they're supposed to be close, but given the age difference, the how and why of those bonds are glossed over with more telling instead of showing.
The low-stakes conflict also didn't help; it never had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see how it would unfold, and when it finally did, it felt pretty anticlimactic. At the end of the day, it felt more like world-building than actual romance.
While I've focused a lot on what didn't work for me, I don't think it was a bad book either. The overall vibes were promising, and I am interested in reading the next books in the series. This one just fell a little flat, and I never quite connected with the main couple. But Mr. Grey? Oh, I'm ready for more of him.
August 22, 2026
thank you Berkley Romance for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
Maggie is one of my favorite authors, I’ve read almost her entire backlist and loved them all.
it pains me to write this, but this one just wasn’t for me.
I’ll start with the positives…
It is a cute story & I did enjoy Catherine & Hayes’ together for the most part. It was sweet that she had a huge crush on him in childhood, & he kept ending up absolutely enthralled by her.
I did find myself far more invested in the side characters though, so I’ll be continuing the series for sure!
And for the rest of my thoughts…
it took me a while to get into, which isn’t typical for me and a Maggie book (I’m usually so hooked right away and can’t put it down). The pacing felt off, and I didn’t find myself wanting to pick this back up.
I did also have a few issues with the story itself that lead to my star rating as well, and being that I read an ARC copy it’s possible edits have happened.
(feel free to stop reading here if you don’t want any spoilers at all, they’re not MAJOR plot points but smaller things that didn’t make sense to me. I’ll also put some spoiler tags for the details)
The first is Lewis as a side character.
The next is how Catherine talks about her dad.
The last is something Hayes reveals about himself around the 60% mark that completely came out of nowhere for me.
*****
✦ tropes & more:
✨ childhood friends to lovers
💍 marriage of convenience
💫 age gap (25/35)
🤠 cowboy
🫶🏼 found family
🌳 small town
💞 dual 1st person pov
ebook | ⭐️: 3 | 🌶️: open door |
📖 Blue Jean Summer by Maggie Gates
📚 book 1 • Wilder Estates series
💜: contemporary romance (mf)
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
Maggie is one of my favorite authors, I’ve read almost her entire backlist and loved them all.
it pains me to write this, but this one just wasn’t for me.
I’ll start with the positives…
It is a cute story & I did enjoy Catherine & Hayes’ together for the most part. It was sweet that she had a huge crush on him in childhood, & he kept ending up absolutely enthralled by her.
I did find myself far more invested in the side characters though, so I’ll be continuing the series for sure!
And for the rest of my thoughts…
it took me a while to get into, which isn’t typical for me and a Maggie book (I’m usually so hooked right away and can’t put it down). The pacing felt off, and I didn’t find myself wanting to pick this back up.
I did also have a few issues with the story itself that lead to my star rating as well, and being that I read an ARC copy it’s possible edits have happened.
(feel free to stop reading here if you don’t want any spoilers at all, they’re not MAJOR plot points but smaller things that didn’t make sense to me. I’ll also put some spoiler tags for the details)
The first is Lewis as a side character.
The next is how Catherine talks about her dad.
The last is something Hayes reveals about himself around the 60% mark that completely came out of nowhere for me.
*****
✦ tropes & more:
✨ childhood friends to lovers
💍 marriage of convenience
💫 age gap (25/35)
🤠 cowboy
🫶🏼 found family
🌳 small town
💞 dual 1st person pov
ebook | ⭐️: 3 | 🌶️: open door |
📖 Blue Jean Summer by Maggie Gates
📚 book 1 • Wilder Estates series
💜: contemporary romance (mf)
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
September 16, 2026
This was pretty good, as a Maggie Gates book always is, but I do think it wasn't her best. It was well written, had great prose, and I really liked the plot, especially the fake marriage trope. I loved Catherine and Hayes together, and I thought their chemistry was so good. And the spice was SUPER HOT!
There were a few things that bothered me though. Lewis was so immature and felt like such an exaggerated "villain" to me. I get that was kind of the point, but some of it just didn't feel very realistic and he was just childish.
I also really loved that Maggie included representation with Hayes being autistic, but I was disappointed that it was barely brushed upon. It was mentioned once, but it seemed like it was actually an important part of Hayes and his character, so I really wish it had been explored and developed more.
I think I just wanted a bit more development. I loved Hayes, I loved Catherine, and I especially loved them together, but I wanted more from their relationship and the story as a whole.
I really am very intrigued by Mason and the other side characters. They all seem so interesting, and I am definitely excited to see where Maggie takes their stories!
There were a few things that bothered me though. Lewis was so immature and felt like such an exaggerated "villain" to me. I get that was kind of the point, but some of it just didn't feel very realistic and he was just childish.
I also really loved that Maggie included representation with Hayes being autistic, but I was disappointed that it was barely brushed upon. It was mentioned once, but it seemed like it was actually an important part of Hayes and his character, so I really wish it had been explored and developed more.
I think I just wanted a bit more development. I loved Hayes, I loved Catherine, and I especially loved them together, but I wanted more from their relationship and the story as a whole.
I really am very intrigued by Mason and the other side characters. They all seem so interesting, and I am definitely excited to see where Maggie takes their stories!
September 27, 2026
My first ever Maggie Gates book and it didn't disappoint. I LOVED IT SO MUCH! It was just sweet, warm, nice, spicy and just amazing!
Even though Hayes and Catherine start their relationship with a marriage of convenience, I loved how they truly connected, got to know each other, explore their attraction and fall in love.
There were some bumps along the way but these two communicated, gave space when needed and fought for each other. I loved their love story so much!!! And I also loved knowing Hallie, Mason, Levi and Savannah. I CANNOT WAIT FOR THEIR BOOKS!
But back to Hayes and Catherine, truly fantastic!!!! LOVE THEM SO MUCH and I wish I could reread it again!!!
Tropes:
-age gap (35/25)
-marriage of convenience
-millionaire cowboy MMC (who thinks he's not a cowboy)
-former pageant queen FMC
-found family
-he gets a tattoo for her
-"my wife" moments
-forced proximity
-autism rep
Even though Hayes and Catherine start their relationship with a marriage of convenience, I loved how they truly connected, got to know each other, explore their attraction and fall in love.
There were some bumps along the way but these two communicated, gave space when needed and fought for each other. I loved their love story so much!!! And I also loved knowing Hallie, Mason, Levi and Savannah. I CANNOT WAIT FOR THEIR BOOKS!
But back to Hayes and Catherine, truly fantastic!!!! LOVE THEM SO MUCH and I wish I could reread it again!!!
Tropes:
-age gap (35/25)
-marriage of convenience
-millionaire cowboy MMC (who thinks he's not a cowboy)
-former pageant queen FMC
-found family
-he gets a tattoo for her
-"my wife" moments
-forced proximity
-autism rep
August 22, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
This was such an enjoyable read! I didn’t want to put it down, and Hayes and Catherine’s story had me grinning from ear to ear!
A marriage of convenience to ensure Hayes inherits his grandfather’s estate leads to more than either bargained for and I loved how their instant attraction was coupled with such trust in each other. Watching their relationship grow and develop was beautiful, especially how they confided in and supported each other.
There were times when the story did feel a little surface level and perhaps a bit more depth would have been good, but it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book and made it a really easy read.
A lovely introduction to what I’m sure is going to be a great new series- can’t wait for more Mason and Hallie! The found family in this series is strong and I’m excited to watch it grow.
Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
This was such an enjoyable read! I didn’t want to put it down, and Hayes and Catherine’s story had me grinning from ear to ear!
A marriage of convenience to ensure Hayes inherits his grandfather’s estate leads to more than either bargained for and I loved how their instant attraction was coupled with such trust in each other. Watching their relationship grow and develop was beautiful, especially how they confided in and supported each other.
There were times when the story did feel a little surface level and perhaps a bit more depth would have been good, but it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book and made it a really easy read.
A lovely introduction to what I’m sure is going to be a great new series- can’t wait for more Mason and Hallie! The found family in this series is strong and I’m excited to watch it grow.
Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
September 16, 2026
Journey to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Maggie Gates' newest book "Blue Jean Summer". When Hayes Wilder learns about the terms of his grandfather's will, he concocts a plan to find a wife and enters a marriage of convenience with a childhood acquaintance. I really enjoyed the dynamics between Hayes and Catherine, their banter had me giggling at times. I loved watching them support each other and their connection grow over the pages. I did not want this book to end; I was so wrapped up in the setting, the story and the characters! Thank you to Berkley Pub for an advanced copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
September 20, 2026
POV: Dual
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
I always enjoy the marriage of convenience trope, so add in cowboys, a beauty pageant queen, found family, and some cute cows and horses, this book had all the makings of a fun read!
I really liked Catherine and Hayes’ characters. Catherine is bubbly and funny, and while Hayes seems like he would be otherwise serious, he is quick to laugh with her and I love it! While both Catherine and Hayes are dealing with grief and their “meet-cute” involves a funeral, their story is mostly light and hopeful.
I loved the side characters and the set up of this new world, so I’m really looking forward to what’s next!
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
I always enjoy the marriage of convenience trope, so add in cowboys, a beauty pageant queen, found family, and some cute cows and horses, this book had all the makings of a fun read!
I really liked Catherine and Hayes’ characters. Catherine is bubbly and funny, and while Hayes seems like he would be otherwise serious, he is quick to laugh with her and I love it! While both Catherine and Hayes are dealing with grief and their “meet-cute” involves a funeral, their story is mostly light and hopeful.
I loved the side characters and the set up of this new world, so I’m really looking forward to what’s next!
October 5, 2026
5 ⭐ 3 🌶️ 5 🎧
Gods I loved them so much 😭 these two were marriage of convenience perfection and I adored watching them find their happy ever after.
Our main protagonist is Hayes' half brother with a side of Catherine's illegitimate father. Both were atrocious human beings and I was so happy they went down in flames. The found family was the most perfect "consolation" and exactly what these two deserved.
And that mini cliffhanger with *redacted* showing up?! I am so freaking excited for what's next in this series.
The audio was fantastic. I loved Lucy Rivers and Liam Cortright and they did such a wonderful job bringing these characters to life. I loved this listen.
Gods I loved them so much 😭 these two were marriage of convenience perfection and I adored watching them find their happy ever after.
Our main protagonist is Hayes' half brother with a side of Catherine's illegitimate father. Both were atrocious human beings and I was so happy they went down in flames. The found family was the most perfect "consolation" and exactly what these two deserved.
And that mini cliffhanger with *redacted* showing up?! I am so freaking excited for what's next in this series.
The audio was fantastic. I loved Lucy Rivers and Liam Cortright and they did such a wonderful job bringing these characters to life. I loved this listen.
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