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She isn’t supposed to care about a ranch.
She definitely isn't supposed to fall for the foreman.
And his six-year-old son is absolutely, definitely not supposed to capture her heart.
Lainey Brown is not ranch material. She's a city girl who landed on the legendary Wallace Ranch to give the place a fresh coat of branding—and get her career back on track. She's got no interest in cowboys, cattle, or the infuriatingly gorgeous foreman who clearly wants her gone.
Colton Wallace has spent every day since losing his wife building something worth leaving his son: a spotless reputation, a thriving operation, and a life with no room for complications. The last thing he needs is a firecracker from Austin with a sketchbook full of big ideas and a smile that makes him forget every reason he swore off wanting things he can't keep.
But somewhere between their very first fight and a Texas night sky that stretches on forever, something shifts. Lainey stops counting the days until she can leave. And Colt stops pretending he wants her to.
The ranch has always been the Wallace legacy. But Colt is starting to wonder if the best thing that's ever happened to it—and to him—just walked in wearing city shoes.
COLT is the first cowboy romance book in the all-new DOUBLE U RANCH series, releasing summer 2026!
She definitely isn't supposed to fall for the foreman.
And his six-year-old son is absolutely, definitely not supposed to capture her heart.
Lainey Brown is not ranch material. She's a city girl who landed on the legendary Wallace Ranch to give the place a fresh coat of branding—and get her career back on track. She's got no interest in cowboys, cattle, or the infuriatingly gorgeous foreman who clearly wants her gone.
Colton Wallace has spent every day since losing his wife building something worth leaving his son: a spotless reputation, a thriving operation, and a life with no room for complications. The last thing he needs is a firecracker from Austin with a sketchbook full of big ideas and a smile that makes him forget every reason he swore off wanting things he can't keep.
But somewhere between their very first fight and a Texas night sky that stretches on forever, something shifts. Lainey stops counting the days until she can leave. And Colt stops pretending he wants her to.
The ranch has always been the Wallace legacy. But Colt is starting to wonder if the best thing that's ever happened to it—and to him—just walked in wearing city shoes.
COLT is the first cowboy romance book in the all-new DOUBLE U RANCH series, releasing summer 2026!
424 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2026
About the author
Jessica Peterson
40 books6,932 followersJessica Peterson writes romance with heat, humor, and heart. Heroes with hot accents are her specialty. When she’s not writing, she can be found bellying up to a bar in the south’s best restaurants with her husband Ben, reading books with her adorable daughters Gracie and Madeline, or snuggling up with her 70-pound lap dog, Martha.
A Carolina girl at heart, she fantasizes about splitting her time between Charleston and Asheville, but currently lives in Charlotte, NC.
A Carolina girl at heart, she fantasizes about splitting her time between Charleston and Asheville, but currently lives in Charlotte, NC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,116 reviews
Want to Read
July 28, 2026Whoever said never judge a book by its cover has clearly never seen THIS 🥵
May 25, 2026
If you’re looking for the perfect amount of tension but thrown with an addictive push-and-pull dynamic, all wrapped in a ranch setting, small-town charm, and the found family Jessica Peterson does so well, this book delivers.
Colt was such a consuming read. I loved both characters, but especially the heroine and the journey she goes through as she begins questioning the life she has settled for and realizes she deserves more. I also loved how she slowly brought the hero out of his shell and challenged him in ways no one else could.
the romance was hot, the family dynamics were entertaining, and the tension kept me turning the pages.
overall, this was a fun and heartfelt read, another reminder of why I love this author’s books. I can’t wait for the next installment.
many thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Colt was such a consuming read. I loved both characters, but especially the heroine and the journey she goes through as she begins questioning the life she has settled for and realizes she deserves more. I also loved how she slowly brought the hero out of his shell and challenged him in ways no one else could.
the romance was hot, the family dynamics were entertaining, and the tension kept me turning the pages.
overall, this was a fun and heartfelt read, another reminder of why I love this author’s books. I can’t wait for the next installment.
many thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 28, 2026
Hartsville, Texas.
The story unfolds from the two main characters perspectives.
Many things we already know from the previous series, especially Ryder and Billie's story, but now much more detailed.
Lainey Brown is 24 years-old, an expert in branding and marketing.
A very creative person, and her father gets her the job at the Wallace Ranch until she gets a proper one!!
At home the males dominate.
Her two brothers and father don't help with anything and the tension between her parents makes her mother vent her anger on her. Now more than ever.
She loves them, they are her family, but they're always bringing her down.
So she accepts the offer to go work for the rebranding of the ranch.
Colt (Colton) Wallace is 31 years-old, a single dad, his son Dean 6 years-old, he's the eldest brother of six and the foreman of the ranch, for which he has been prepared from a young age.
He controls everything, doesn't like change, works too much, always worrying if he's being a good parent for his son.
So when his parents call him to meet Lainey and what her job will be, he's very rude to her and feels hurt that his father didn't talked with him first.
He tries to make him change his mind, that they don't need a rebranding, a waste of money, but his father is still on charge and that's decided!
Lainey will be living in the ranch for two months, and will present her proposal at the end of that time.
So she needs all the information on the work they do, how they do it, the clients, the financial status, every little detail!
After two weeks since she arrived and avoiding her, Colt can feel that Lainey has already got under his skin, even dreaming about her!!!
He can see she's good with Dean, that he has a crush on her from the stars in his eyes.
That she says the right things to Dean about his mother.
A part of him is determined to dislike her and another part finds her fascinating!
Is she different?
For real?
He feels a warm feeling inside his chest, the hole in it not hatred but hunger!
There's tension, sexual attraction, chemistry between them.
Lainey finds him hot, dreams of him too.
Thinks he's "An angry, sometimes gentle, deliciously handsome asshole."
She's happy at the ranch.
With her family she is always taking care of everyone.
In the Wallace ranch it's all given freely.
Hospitality, kindness, help!
At this time Ryder and Billie tell Colt that they're having a good time together, Ryder saying surviving isn't enough anymore!
He feels hurt and betrayed, but maybe Ryder is right.
He doesn't want to be alone, he needs more. He and Dean were left once when is wife Abby passed away, and he won't let that happen again when Lainey ends her job at the ranch and leaves too!
One day he arrives at the barn, she's there trying to learn how to ride a horse on a contraption.
She falls, he grabs her, desire kicks in and they have the hotest, spiciest, pleasure, without even touching, just watching one another.
And they become enemies with benefits!
The next day Colt surprises her by asking her to ride with him and Dean.
He's kind, teaches her how to ride, even confides personal things in her!
Invites her to dinner at his house, and cooks a wonderful meal.
She brings Dean a LEGO construction because she knows he's obsessed with it.
She's making his son laugh and him too, and dances with him.
Lainey can see how good a parent he is!
He is forced to sit because he cooked, while they clean, realizing how tired he is, relaxing for the first time since Dean was born!
They keep having their spice enemies benefits encounters until they're not anymore, because now they want more than that!
His brother Beck says he's falling in love with Lainey, that she changed him, not being grunty and angry for a while!
Lainey feels special when she's with him, that
she matters and she is already in love with him too!
Will she stay? Will she leave?
Well, after all it's an HEA!! ❤️❤️🩹
The story unfolds from the two main characters perspectives.
Many things we already know from the previous series, especially Ryder and Billie's story, but now much more detailed.
Lainey Brown is 24 years-old, an expert in branding and marketing.
A very creative person, and her father gets her the job at the Wallace Ranch until she gets a proper one!!
At home the males dominate.
Her two brothers and father don't help with anything and the tension between her parents makes her mother vent her anger on her. Now more than ever.
She loves them, they are her family, but they're always bringing her down.
So she accepts the offer to go work for the rebranding of the ranch.
Colt (Colton) Wallace is 31 years-old, a single dad, his son Dean 6 years-old, he's the eldest brother of six and the foreman of the ranch, for which he has been prepared from a young age.
He controls everything, doesn't like change, works too much, always worrying if he's being a good parent for his son.
So when his parents call him to meet Lainey and what her job will be, he's very rude to her and feels hurt that his father didn't talked with him first.
He tries to make him change his mind, that they don't need a rebranding, a waste of money, but his father is still on charge and that's decided!
Lainey will be living in the ranch for two months, and will present her proposal at the end of that time.
So she needs all the information on the work they do, how they do it, the clients, the financial status, every little detail!
After two weeks since she arrived and avoiding her, Colt can feel that Lainey has already got under his skin, even dreaming about her!!!
He can see she's good with Dean, that he has a crush on her from the stars in his eyes.
That she says the right things to Dean about his mother.
A part of him is determined to dislike her and another part finds her fascinating!
Is she different?
For real?
He feels a warm feeling inside his chest, the hole in it not hatred but hunger!
There's tension, sexual attraction, chemistry between them.
Lainey finds him hot, dreams of him too.
Thinks he's "An angry, sometimes gentle, deliciously handsome asshole."
She's happy at the ranch.
With her family she is always taking care of everyone.
In the Wallace ranch it's all given freely.
Hospitality, kindness, help!
At this time Ryder and Billie tell Colt that they're having a good time together, Ryder saying surviving isn't enough anymore!
He feels hurt and betrayed, but maybe Ryder is right.
He doesn't want to be alone, he needs more. He and Dean were left once when is wife Abby passed away, and he won't let that happen again when Lainey ends her job at the ranch and leaves too!
One day he arrives at the barn, she's there trying to learn how to ride a horse on a contraption.
She falls, he grabs her, desire kicks in and they have the hotest, spiciest, pleasure, without even touching, just watching one another.
And they become enemies with benefits!
The next day Colt surprises her by asking her to ride with him and Dean.
He's kind, teaches her how to ride, even confides personal things in her!
Invites her to dinner at his house, and cooks a wonderful meal.
She brings Dean a LEGO construction because she knows he's obsessed with it.
She's making his son laugh and him too, and dances with him.
Lainey can see how good a parent he is!
He is forced to sit because he cooked, while they clean, realizing how tired he is, relaxing for the first time since Dean was born!
They keep having their spice enemies benefits encounters until they're not anymore, because now they want more than that!
His brother Beck says he's falling in love with Lainey, that she changed him, not being grunty and angry for a while!
Lainey feels special when she's with him, that
she matters and she is already in love with him too!
Will she stay? Will she leave?
Well, after all it's an HEA!! ❤️❤️🩹
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
.ೃ࿐ Thank you to Edelweiss & Bloom Books for the opportunity to read and review the ARC before release! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
2.5 ★
ੈ✩‧₊˚ my thoughts
I wanted to love this, but sadly it just didn’t work for me.
I really wanted to enjoy Colt, but it ultimately fell flat for me. The premise had potential and there were a few sweet moments between the main characters, but I struggled to stay invested in the story. The pacing felt slow, and much of the conflict seemed repetitive or lacked enough depth to keep my interest.
I also had a hard time connecting with the characters. Their relationship didn't feel convincing, and they really went from 0 to 100 in like 2 hours which felt kind of unbelievable. As a result, the emotional moments didn't have the impact they were clearly intended to have.
One of my biggest issues was that several conflicts introduced throughout the story never felt fully resolved. Certain tensions and plot points seemed to fade into the background without a satisfying payoff, which left the ending feeling incomplete. I kept waiting for some of these issues (like Lainey’s problems with her parents) to be addressed but they just didn’t.
I also found Dean's character difficult to believe. For a six-year-old, he often sounded and behaved much older, with dialogue and reactions that didn't feel age-appropriate. Instead of reading like a young child, he frequently came across as a miniature adult, which pulled me out of the story and made many of his scenes less convincing.
Jessica Peterson's writing is easy to read, but this particular book just didn't work for me. Overall, Colt wasn't a terrible read, but it wasn't memorable, and I found myself disappointed by the end.
-`♡´- Happy reading! Belle
─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ୨୧ ──── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ──── ୨୧ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─
.ೃ࿐ pre-read .ೃ࿐
so excited for this. and lucky me, i got the arc 🤠
2.5 ★
ੈ✩‧₊˚ my thoughts
I wanted to love this, but sadly it just didn’t work for me.
I really wanted to enjoy Colt, but it ultimately fell flat for me. The premise had potential and there were a few sweet moments between the main characters, but I struggled to stay invested in the story. The pacing felt slow, and much of the conflict seemed repetitive or lacked enough depth to keep my interest.
I also had a hard time connecting with the characters. Their relationship didn't feel convincing, and they really went from 0 to 100 in like 2 hours which felt kind of unbelievable. As a result, the emotional moments didn't have the impact they were clearly intended to have.
One of my biggest issues was that several conflicts introduced throughout the story never felt fully resolved. Certain tensions and plot points seemed to fade into the background without a satisfying payoff, which left the ending feeling incomplete. I kept waiting for some of these issues (like Lainey’s problems with her parents) to be addressed but they just didn’t.
I also found Dean's character difficult to believe. For a six-year-old, he often sounded and behaved much older, with dialogue and reactions that didn't feel age-appropriate. Instead of reading like a young child, he frequently came across as a miniature adult, which pulled me out of the story and made many of his scenes less convincing.
Jessica Peterson's writing is easy to read, but this particular book just didn't work for me. Overall, Colt wasn't a terrible read, but it wasn't memorable, and I found myself disappointed by the end.
-`♡´- Happy reading! Belle
─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ୨୧ ──── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ──── ୨୧ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─
.ೃ࿐ pre-read .ೃ࿐
so excited for this. and lucky me, i got the arc 🤠
August 10, 2026
Omg, this book! That’s it, I’m totally obsessed with Colt Wallace!
When Lainey takes a marketing job at the Wallaces’ ranch, Colt is furious. He doesn’t believe his family should be investing in marketing over other aspects of the business. When his dad basically tells him to deal with it and play nice, he’s forced to work with Lainey, exposing her to all aspects of the ranch. Their hate dynamic slowly progresses into sexual tension that was off the charts, and before they know it, they’re both questioning what exactly is happening between them.
The banter in this book is top tier! I literally thought, “This is my new book boyfriend.” I have NEVER said that in my life. Colt starts off hardheaded and growly. He doesn’t want anything to do with Lainey or her work, but their banter is a big part of what starts to change his mind. He hates that he can’t hate her. I loved how she drove him wild!
Lainey is young, but she’s ready to make her mark on the world. She wants to start making a name for herself and get a kick start on building her marketing company. The minute Colt gives her flack, sis is like, “Thank you, next.” She’s strong willed and determined to succeed, and I loved that she wasn’t afraid to stand up to him.
Their relationship development was so entertaining to watch. Their intimacy was hot as hell. Colt is ALL man and says the sexiest things. He always takes care of Lainey in every way, and I absolutely loved that for her. I think they really understood each other mentally and had such a deep connection beyond their physical chemistry.
I was rooting for them so hard and truly loved their love story. I even enjoyed the epilogues! I need the next book ASAP!
When Lainey takes a marketing job at the Wallaces’ ranch, Colt is furious. He doesn’t believe his family should be investing in marketing over other aspects of the business. When his dad basically tells him to deal with it and play nice, he’s forced to work with Lainey, exposing her to all aspects of the ranch. Their hate dynamic slowly progresses into sexual tension that was off the charts, and before they know it, they’re both questioning what exactly is happening between them.
The banter in this book is top tier! I literally thought, “This is my new book boyfriend.” I have NEVER said that in my life. Colt starts off hardheaded and growly. He doesn’t want anything to do with Lainey or her work, but their banter is a big part of what starts to change his mind. He hates that he can’t hate her. I loved how she drove him wild!
Lainey is young, but she’s ready to make her mark on the world. She wants to start making a name for herself and get a kick start on building her marketing company. The minute Colt gives her flack, sis is like, “Thank you, next.” She’s strong willed and determined to succeed, and I loved that she wasn’t afraid to stand up to him.
Their relationship development was so entertaining to watch. Their intimacy was hot as hell. Colt is ALL man and says the sexiest things. He always takes care of Lainey in every way, and I absolutely loved that for her. I think they really understood each other mentally and had such a deep connection beyond their physical chemistry.
I was rooting for them so hard and truly loved their love story. I even enjoyed the epilogues! I need the next book ASAP!
August 14, 2026
pure jessica peterson perfection!!
there is absolutely nothing i love more than cracking open a new book of jessicas. you are always guaranteed to swoon, sweat and scream over her MCs!!!
cash walked so colt could run fr 🙂↕️ he was such a little shit in ryder & billies story that even though i knew in my soul i was going to love him just as much as the rivers boys i fear colt knocked all of them off that high pedestal i placed them on and took #1 for my fav JP man 😂
this was my first time being able to immersive read one of JPs books for the first read and i am still just in awe of that experience, being able to read and have the characters brought to life southern accents and all in real time was INSANE and so freaking good. vanessa and aiden absolutely killed it per usual!!
as this series goes on im SO stoked to see lainey hopefully with more of all the rivers girls and the lucky ladies that end up with the wallace men bc i am just in LOVE with her and i want her to have all the gfs and support and love she deserves 😭.
this was seriously the most perfect way to kick off a new era of hot cowboys, i cannot wait to see where jessica takes us in this series!!
there is absolutely nothing i love more than cracking open a new book of jessicas. you are always guaranteed to swoon, sweat and scream over her MCs!!!
cash walked so colt could run fr 🙂↕️ he was such a little shit in ryder & billies story that even though i knew in my soul i was going to love him just as much as the rivers boys i fear colt knocked all of them off that high pedestal i placed them on and took #1 for my fav JP man 😂
this was my first time being able to immersive read one of JPs books for the first read and i am still just in awe of that experience, being able to read and have the characters brought to life southern accents and all in real time was INSANE and so freaking good. vanessa and aiden absolutely killed it per usual!!
as this series goes on im SO stoked to see lainey hopefully with more of all the rivers girls and the lucky ladies that end up with the wallace men bc i am just in LOVE with her and i want her to have all the gfs and support and love she deserves 😭.
this was seriously the most perfect way to kick off a new era of hot cowboys, i cannot wait to see where jessica takes us in this series!!
August 10, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up, 4 🌶️
Cash walked so that Colt could RUN 🏃🏻♂️❤️🔥🤠. This book lived up to all the hype and all the anticipated tropes. I did immersive reading with this story and it had me hooked from page one.
You have educated baddie Lainey, fresh out of graduate school and disenchanted with the private equity sector of marketing looking for a new job and a possible new start, and grumpy, type-A cowboy Colt who is struggling to balance single parenting and running his family’s ranch. It’s hate at first sight (or so it seems), and cue all the crazy, and sexy flirting and banter as these two fight to have their way (at work and with each other 😜🌶️).
To quote Euphoria’s ICONIC Maddy Perez, “Is this f*cking play about us?” Because, I haven’t related this much to an FMC in a long time. This was one of my favorite parts of the story- Lainey trying to make peace with her desires while creating healthy boundaries with her family. Yeah, that hit a little too close to home 😮💨. My other favorite parts were Colt’s 6-year old son Dean (the cutest!) and the found family aspect between Lainey and the rest of his family. I also LOVE the set up for the next book with Colt’s brother Beck. I already know I’m going to love it 💕.
🎧: folks, we finally have some DUET narration 👏🏽!! I loved the narrators so much for this story, and the banter scenes REALLY came alive with this book. Both narrators fit the characters well and did a great job creating unique voices for the other characters.
This book was heavy on the romance 💓, and the spice and pacing were just perfect 👌🏽. I’ve been reading Jessica’s books since the Lucky River Ranch series and I have loved seeing her grow as an author and her stories keep getting better and better! This is my favorite of hers so far, and I can’t wait to continue riding the trails with these hot cowboys on the Double U Ranch 🤠❤️🔥
Thank you to Valentine PR for the ARC & ALC! This immersive read was one of my favorites 💞
Cash walked so that Colt could RUN 🏃🏻♂️❤️🔥🤠. This book lived up to all the hype and all the anticipated tropes. I did immersive reading with this story and it had me hooked from page one.
You have educated baddie Lainey, fresh out of graduate school and disenchanted with the private equity sector of marketing looking for a new job and a possible new start, and grumpy, type-A cowboy Colt who is struggling to balance single parenting and running his family’s ranch. It’s hate at first sight (or so it seems), and cue all the crazy, and sexy flirting and banter as these two fight to have their way (at work and with each other 😜🌶️).
To quote Euphoria’s ICONIC Maddy Perez, “Is this f*cking play about us?” Because, I haven’t related this much to an FMC in a long time. This was one of my favorite parts of the story- Lainey trying to make peace with her desires while creating healthy boundaries with her family. Yeah, that hit a little too close to home 😮💨. My other favorite parts were Colt’s 6-year old son Dean (the cutest!) and the found family aspect between Lainey and the rest of his family. I also LOVE the set up for the next book with Colt’s brother Beck. I already know I’m going to love it 💕.
🎧: folks, we finally have some DUET narration 👏🏽!! I loved the narrators so much for this story, and the banter scenes REALLY came alive with this book. Both narrators fit the characters well and did a great job creating unique voices for the other characters.
This book was heavy on the romance 💓, and the spice and pacing were just perfect 👌🏽. I’ve been reading Jessica’s books since the Lucky River Ranch series and I have loved seeing her grow as an author and her stories keep getting better and better! This is my favorite of hers so far, and I can’t wait to continue riding the trails with these hot cowboys on the Double U Ranch 🤠❤️🔥
Thank you to Valentine PR for the ARC & ALC! This immersive read was one of my favorites 💞
August 8, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was so excited to dive into Colt because it has so many of my favorite tropes, especially a grumpy single dad. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t quite hit for me.
Honestly, there were moments where it didn’t even feel like I was reading a Jessica Peterson book. The spice, in particular, felt so different from what I’m used to from her writing, and the book felt like it was about 80% spice and 20% story. I don’t mind a spicy book, but that just wasn’t what I was looking for with this particular story. I wanted more of the characters and their relationship outside of the bedroom.
That being said, there were definitely parts I really enjoyed. I loved seeing how much Colt’s family loved him and Dean, and sweet little Dean was easily my favorite part of the book. 🥹 I also really appreciated her journey of learning to be proud of herself and her accomplishments without needing that validation or support from her parents.
I really love Jessica Peterson as an author, which is probably why this one was a bit of a disappointment for me. I’ll definitely give the next book a chance, but unfortunately, Colt just didn’t work for me the way I had hoped it would.
I was so excited to dive into Colt because it has so many of my favorite tropes, especially a grumpy single dad. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t quite hit for me.
Honestly, there were moments where it didn’t even feel like I was reading a Jessica Peterson book. The spice, in particular, felt so different from what I’m used to from her writing, and the book felt like it was about 80% spice and 20% story. I don’t mind a spicy book, but that just wasn’t what I was looking for with this particular story. I wanted more of the characters and their relationship outside of the bedroom.
That being said, there were definitely parts I really enjoyed. I loved seeing how much Colt’s family loved him and Dean, and sweet little Dean was easily my favorite part of the book. 🥹 I also really appreciated her journey of learning to be proud of herself and her accomplishments without needing that validation or support from her parents.
I really love Jessica Peterson as an author, which is probably why this one was a bit of a disappointment for me. I’ll definitely give the next book a chance, but unfortunately, Colt just didn’t work for me the way I had hoped it would.
August 7, 2026
Cash was my favorite Rivers cowboy.
And I have a hunch Colt is going to be my favorite Wallace cowboy.
Because grumpy cowboys are my brand of crack.
Except Colt is daddy. 🔥
Single dad.
Sworn of relationships.
Ranch foreman.
Oldest brother.
Cute little 5 year old boy
Enter Lainey
Our city girl
Younger
Branding/marketing girl come to shake the ranch up
Comes from a different family vibe
And she’s fiery.
Little enemies to lovers vibes.
Barn escapades.
Oh and he is a pretty self aware guy.
And obsessed!
And dirty. 😏
I had an absolute fun time.
And am super excited for this new series.
Arc review ✨
And I have a hunch Colt is going to be my favorite Wallace cowboy.
Because grumpy cowboys are my brand of crack.
Except Colt is daddy. 🔥
Single dad.
Sworn of relationships.
Ranch foreman.
Oldest brother.
Cute little 5 year old boy
Enter Lainey
Our city girl
Younger
Branding/marketing girl come to shake the ranch up
Comes from a different family vibe
And she’s fiery.
Little enemies to lovers vibes.
Barn escapades.
Oh and he is a pretty self aware guy.
And obsessed!
And dirty. 😏
I had an absolute fun time.
And am super excited for this new series.
Arc review ✨
Want to Read
April 2, 2026Obsessed with this cover
Just finished Ryder and ooh boy I love this grumpy sonofoabitch
Just finished Ryder and ooh boy I love this grumpy sonofoabitch
August 21, 2026
DNFed at 8%. Knew it was over when half the second chapter was focused on the fact that the MMC’s 6 year old kid keeps shitting his pants. And for that reason, I’m out.
August 19, 2026
Enemies-with-Benefits
The animosity between Lainey (Dallas, Fort Worth) Brown and Colton (Colt) Wallace is palpable, and it's wildly entertaining to see it dissipate. The innocence and energy of six-year-old Dean make everything brighter. 🫠🥰
I’m here to rock this job, get Dale’s glowing recommendation, and figure out what the hell I wanna do with the rest of my life.
Who knows who I’ll meet while I’m here? Maybe a future boss. Future business partner. Future personal partner.
-- Lainey Brown
This is my first book by Jessica. I had hoped it would be good, especially when I consider that I bought a couple of her books for my bookcase for future reading. Not only does it exceed my expectations, but it's also deliciously hot! The sizzle is absolutely fantastic and extra icing on the cake.
I listened to the audio book. The narrators, Aiden Snow and Vanessa Edwin, are absolutely fantastic in duet. I love them together. 🎧🧡🎧
Story: 5 stars
Narration: 4.5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x
H = 31; h = 24
TROPES & TRIGGERS:
🏡 Small Town romance
👦 Adorable six-year-old, Dean
🔥 Open-door steamy scenes 🌶
🐴 Barnyard shenanigans
⏰️ Age gap romance
🤠 Single dad, cowboy x Marketing contactor
🎁 Unprotected couplings
❤️ (Found) family
August 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Watch how good I can be to you. Maybe then you’ll be a little better to yourself.”
Age gap? Eldest daughter? Grumpy Cowboy? Enemies to lovers? YEAH THIS BOOK HAD ME BARKING!!!!!!!!!! spicy, heartwarming, & so much fun. I need the next book neoooww💳💳💳
“Watch how good I can be to you. Maybe then you’ll be a little better to yourself.”
Age gap? Eldest daughter? Grumpy Cowboy? Enemies to lovers? YEAH THIS BOOK HAD ME BARKING!!!!!!!!!! spicy, heartwarming, & so much fun. I need the next book neoooww💳💳💳
Want to Read
March 11, 2026OMG! I just saw the cover. It’s stunning! 😍😍
September 4, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was an okay read for me, but I never fully connected with it. I loved the single dad aspect and there were definitely moments I enjoyed, but I found myself wishing there was a little more plot throughout the story. The spice to plot ratio felt a bit off for my personal taste, and I never completely bought into the enemies or hate dynamic. It felt more told than something I could really feel between the characters.
This also took me longer than usual to finish, and toward the end I found my attention drifting rather than feeling excited to pick it back up. Overall, it wasn’t a bad read by any means, it just ended up being more of a middle of the road one for me.
Thank you so much to Bloom Books for sending me an ARC!🤍
This was an okay read for me, but I never fully connected with it. I loved the single dad aspect and there were definitely moments I enjoyed, but I found myself wishing there was a little more plot throughout the story. The spice to plot ratio felt a bit off for my personal taste, and I never completely bought into the enemies or hate dynamic. It felt more told than something I could really feel between the characters.
This also took me longer than usual to finish, and toward the end I found my attention drifting rather than feeling excited to pick it back up. Overall, it wasn’t a bad read by any means, it just ended up being more of a middle of the road one for me.
Thank you so much to Bloom Books for sending me an ARC!🤍
April 12, 2026
4,5☆
quoi de mieux pour se remettre le pied à l'étrier que de lire une cowboy romance écrite par jessica peterson finalement ?
trop contente de découvrir la double U ranch series, et d'avoir retrouvé les protas de la lucky river ranch series, j'ai déjà trop hâte des prochains tomes, c'était trop bien
quoi de mieux pour se remettre le pied à l'étrier que de lire une cowboy romance écrite par jessica peterson finalement ?
trop contente de découvrir la double U ranch series, et d'avoir retrouvé les protas de la lucky river ranch series, j'ai déjà trop hâte des prochains tomes, c'était trop bien
September 3, 2026
This was such a great intro to a new world within a world I fell in love with when I read Cash!! I basically read this in one sitting yall :) I LOVED the loathe to lovers tension between Colt and Lainey which was legit from the first moment of interaction. I loved how much they goaded each other and how that turned into passion and more. Lainey had been raised to be able to voice her opinions but also know her place, and it was hilarious watching her true nature come out to play with Colt. I also loved that Colt was the grumpiest of grumps (for good reason) but once he realized that he had been misreading his own feelings and that he wanted more with Lainey, he became the most swoon worthy man. I loved how their hate for each other turned off around Colt's son Dean. Honestly the pacing in this was so well done. It was so fun to watch them both realize that they had been misreading each other and then watch them slowly learn to lower their walls and trust the other person. Their first spicy scene was SO SO hot yall, but I really enjoyed their later spicy scenes when there were feelings attached. I loved how honest they both were with being scared but realizing they didn't want to have regrets about not exploring this growing thing between them. They were just wonderful to watch fall in love!
Lainey is ready to spread her wings and figure out what her next move is going to be. All she knows is that it can't be in private equity - not after everything that just went down with that interview. What she dreams about is being able to do marketing full time. So this ranch job is very important- she has to crush it. She didn't expect her boss's oldest son, Colt, to be so dang mean to her off the bat. Without even giving her a chance to explain her thoughts, he makes it clear he doesn't like change and he doesn't want her here. Well lucky for her, it isn't up to him. And who does he think he is just writing her off like that? Why does he seem to hate her so much? And why does she like that he riles her up like this? She has to focus though on the ranch and getting to learn more about how it ticks. She can be professional about all of this, but then she sees these glimpses of Colt that make her think there is more of him hiding behind this hard exterior he shows the world. And when things get out of control one night and it turns into one of the hottest nights of her life, things quickly morph for her. She can't stop thinking about him. She wants to spend more time with him and Dean. And now that he has turned on the charm for some reason, he scares her. Or more her feelings for him scare her. Because she is leaving. She doesn't know what the future holds, but the more time they spend together it becomes clear how much she WANTS him in her life. And when he finally gives up all pretense of the original hate he gave her and supports her marketing campaign for the ranch, she gives in to this joy she feels of acknowleding her feelings for this hot cowboy who is now HERS. She loves this man with all of her heart, and she is looking forward to whatever the future brings.
Colt doesn't like change. So many things went sideways with his wife before she passed that he has had a hard time trusting anyone since then. And he has been a single dad for a few years now. So no he doesn't like change which is why when he finds out that his dad hired a marketing person without including him in the convo, he hates her immediately. Who does she think she is coming on to his family's ranch wearing heels of all things? How is she going to help sell this ranch when she knows nothing about it. And even though his dad asks him to help, he absolutely will not. His sole purpose is to get her off this ranch. But man why does she have to be so beautiful. And why is it that he feels things he hasn't felt in years when she mouths off to him? Why can't he stop thinking about her and ways he could occupy that mouth of hers? And why is it that when things finally go down between them, it is like a switch flips for him. Because he realizes that night with her has unleashed his true feelings. He likes Lainey Brown. But that can't be true can it? And then she comes over and builds Legos with his son and he realizes with clarity, that it is in fact true. He really likes Lainey. And now he is going to do everything he can to switch up their narrative. He wants to woo her. He wants to make her smile. He wants to make her HIS. And yes it is scary because she is supposed to be leaving, but he decides he doesn't want to have regrets. Not when it comes to this thing between them. And the longer they explore each other and more time they spend together, he knows without a doubt he wants her in his life beyond this time on the ranch. He hopes she is right there with him.
I really REALLY loved Colt's transformation in this one!! I have said it before, and I will say it again that I love when the grump's layers fall off. And when Colt's layers fell off he was like a different man. A man who was confident sure but the vulnerability he showed Lainey. And how he opened up to her about things he hadn't talked to anyone about. I loved how much Lainey helped him have clarity over addressing hard things and how HONEST they were with each other. It was so fun to read, and such a breath of fresh air. And Lainey! I loved how she finally got to experience someone taking care of her. I loved her reaction to it. These two were just so so wonderful, and I can't wait to watch all of the Wallace brothers meet their leading ladies! I highly recommend this book and the Lucky River Ranch series if you haven't read that one.
Thank you to Valentine PR and Jessica for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Lainey is ready to spread her wings and figure out what her next move is going to be. All she knows is that it can't be in private equity - not after everything that just went down with that interview. What she dreams about is being able to do marketing full time. So this ranch job is very important- she has to crush it. She didn't expect her boss's oldest son, Colt, to be so dang mean to her off the bat. Without even giving her a chance to explain her thoughts, he makes it clear he doesn't like change and he doesn't want her here. Well lucky for her, it isn't up to him. And who does he think he is just writing her off like that? Why does he seem to hate her so much? And why does she like that he riles her up like this? She has to focus though on the ranch and getting to learn more about how it ticks. She can be professional about all of this, but then she sees these glimpses of Colt that make her think there is more of him hiding behind this hard exterior he shows the world. And when things get out of control one night and it turns into one of the hottest nights of her life, things quickly morph for her. She can't stop thinking about him. She wants to spend more time with him and Dean. And now that he has turned on the charm for some reason, he scares her. Or more her feelings for him scare her. Because she is leaving. She doesn't know what the future holds, but the more time they spend together it becomes clear how much she WANTS him in her life. And when he finally gives up all pretense of the original hate he gave her and supports her marketing campaign for the ranch, she gives in to this joy she feels of acknowleding her feelings for this hot cowboy who is now HERS. She loves this man with all of her heart, and she is looking forward to whatever the future brings.
Colt doesn't like change. So many things went sideways with his wife before she passed that he has had a hard time trusting anyone since then. And he has been a single dad for a few years now. So no he doesn't like change which is why when he finds out that his dad hired a marketing person without including him in the convo, he hates her immediately. Who does she think she is coming on to his family's ranch wearing heels of all things? How is she going to help sell this ranch when she knows nothing about it. And even though his dad asks him to help, he absolutely will not. His sole purpose is to get her off this ranch. But man why does she have to be so beautiful. And why is it that he feels things he hasn't felt in years when she mouths off to him? Why can't he stop thinking about her and ways he could occupy that mouth of hers? And why is it that when things finally go down between them, it is like a switch flips for him. Because he realizes that night with her has unleashed his true feelings. He likes Lainey Brown. But that can't be true can it? And then she comes over and builds Legos with his son and he realizes with clarity, that it is in fact true. He really likes Lainey. And now he is going to do everything he can to switch up their narrative. He wants to woo her. He wants to make her smile. He wants to make her HIS. And yes it is scary because she is supposed to be leaving, but he decides he doesn't want to have regrets. Not when it comes to this thing between them. And the longer they explore each other and more time they spend together, he knows without a doubt he wants her in his life beyond this time on the ranch. He hopes she is right there with him.
I really REALLY loved Colt's transformation in this one!! I have said it before, and I will say it again that I love when the grump's layers fall off. And when Colt's layers fell off he was like a different man. A man who was confident sure but the vulnerability he showed Lainey. And how he opened up to her about things he hadn't talked to anyone about. I loved how much Lainey helped him have clarity over addressing hard things and how HONEST they were with each other. It was so fun to read, and such a breath of fresh air. And Lainey! I loved how she finally got to experience someone taking care of her. I loved her reaction to it. These two were just so so wonderful, and I can't wait to watch all of the Wallace brothers meet their leading ladies! I highly recommend this book and the Lucky River Ranch series if you haven't read that one.
Thank you to Valentine PR and Jessica for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
August 21, 2026
I knew Lucky River Ranch was gonna be a tough act to follow, but omg did Double U Ranch deliver!!!! I am so excited that we get a brand new family of cowboys to watch fall in love, and get to hang out with the sweetest found family along the way!!
Colt and Lainey were absolutely perfect! The enemies to lovers between the two of them was so good! And once they finally opened up to each other they were both able to be the missing piece they were searching for. Colt helped Lainey feel seen and appreciated, and Lainey helped Colt heal and live again! And Lainey, Colt, and Dean together, especially with the Lego building was a just precious!!
I love Jessica Petersons writing so much! She does dirty talking Cowboys so well! The found family, the spice, the female empowerment!!! It’s all so good! And I am now counting down until we get Becks story next!!!
Colt and Lainey were absolutely perfect! The enemies to lovers between the two of them was so good! And once they finally opened up to each other they were both able to be the missing piece they were searching for. Colt helped Lainey feel seen and appreciated, and Lainey helped Colt heal and live again! And Lainey, Colt, and Dean together, especially with the Lego building was a just precious!!
I love Jessica Petersons writing so much! She does dirty talking Cowboys so well! The found family, the spice, the female empowerment!!! It’s all so good! And I am now counting down until we get Becks story next!!!
August 25, 2026
It pains me to rate this so low. I was really looking forward to this book! Ya can’t love ‘em all I guess.
First the things I liked:
The cover is absolutely stunning.
I loved the bits of banter between the MCs.
The audiobook was fantastic. Both narrators are faves of mine and they did a fabulous job narrating.
But overall, I did not vibe with the book. I was bored. It felt like it had been done before with nothing fresh to hook me.
Both main characters have said “enemies with benefits” and the FMC has referred to their “mutual masturbation” at least twice. The characters naming tropes like that in their dialogue/monologue was too self-aware and completely took me out of the story.
I wouldn’t even call them enemies. Dislike to lovers at most. And honestly, his reason for disliking her was flimsy.
Also, Colt’s son was six but acted and spoke as if he was older. Just a pet peeve of mine.
Cowboy
Single dad
Age gap
🎧Duet narration
🎙️Narrators: Vanessa Edwin & Aiden Snow
ALC review - thank you Jessica Peterson and Valentine PR for the ALC
First the things I liked:
The cover is absolutely stunning.
I loved the bits of banter between the MCs.
The audiobook was fantastic. Both narrators are faves of mine and they did a fabulous job narrating.
But overall, I did not vibe with the book. I was bored. It felt like it had been done before with nothing fresh to hook me.
Both main characters have said “enemies with benefits” and the FMC has referred to their “mutual masturbation” at least twice. The characters naming tropes like that in their dialogue/monologue was too self-aware and completely took me out of the story.
I wouldn’t even call them enemies. Dislike to lovers at most. And honestly, his reason for disliking her was flimsy.
Also, Colt’s son was six but acted and spoke as if he was older. Just a pet peeve of mine.
Cowboy
Single dad
Age gap
🎧Duet narration
🎙️Narrators: Vanessa Edwin & Aiden Snow
ALC review - thank you Jessica Peterson and Valentine PR for the ALC
August 19, 2026
4.5⭐️ | 4🌶
Hartsville! Oh what a time! I savoured Colt, Lainey and the Wallaces for as long as I could. This was sweet, spicy and everything in between. And Dean, the cutest, sassiest dude in Hartsville, his bonds with everyone were adorable. I love that Lainey found her place at Double U. I can't wait to see where Jessica takes this series. Thank you to valentine pr for this arc.
Hartsville! Oh what a time! I savoured Colt, Lainey and the Wallaces for as long as I could. This was sweet, spicy and everything in between. And Dean, the cutest, sassiest dude in Hartsville, his bonds with everyone were adorable. I love that Lainey found her place at Double U. I can't wait to see where Jessica takes this series. Thank you to valentine pr for this arc.
August 20, 2026
Colt was an excellent6 start to this new series! Colt is super grumpy but he's been through a lot. He also has the most adorable young son. Lainey is trying to expand her business and get some distance from her overbearing family. She is strong and has loads of determination. These two obviously butt heads when Lainey gets to the ranch, but Colt was told he had to play nice. Their tension and chemistry was off the charts and they sure did learn how to play nice together. I loved Colt, his son, and how Lainey fit right in with the Wallace family. I loved the little cameos from the Luck River Ranch series. It was a great way to call back to the original series while building up this new series. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did an amazing job of bringing the characters and the story to life. I can't wait to see what happens next with the Wallaces.
August 16, 2026
4.5/5
Jessica Peterson has done it again. Colt is the first book in her new Double U Ranch series, and it is exactly the kind of steamy cowboy romance I know I can count on this author to deliver. If you’ve read the Lucky River Ranch series, the transition into this new Texas world feels completely seamless, but you absolutely don’t need to have read those books first. This is a fresh series with a new cast of characters, and it’s already off to a fantastic start.
Lainey and Colt had the kind of chemistry I love in a romance. Their relationship develops with just the right amount of push and pull, with plenty of tension, back and forth banter, and that delicious feeling of two people trying very hard not to give in to what is clearly happening between them. I especially loved how naturally their relationship developed rather than feeling rushed.
And then there’s Dean. Colt’s relationship with his six year old son was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their bond was absolutely adorable, and seeing Lainey fit so naturally into their little world made the romance even more enjoyable. Colt may be a grumpy cowboy who has built walls around himself, but his relationship with Dean shows just how much heart he has underneath all that grumpiness.
The audiobook was also fantastic. Aiden Snow absolutely nailed Colt’s grumpy, guarded energy, while Vanessa Edwin brought Lainey’s sunshine, happy go lucky personality to life perfectly. Their performances worked so well together and made all that banter and tension even better.
I adore the Texas world Jessica Peterson has created, and honestly, no one writes a steamy cowboy romance quite like she does. Colt gives this new series a seriously strong start, and if this book is any indication of what’s coming next, I already know the Double U Ranch is going to be another favorite.
Perfect for readers who love:
* 🐎 steamy cowboy romances
* 😤 grumpy single dads with soft hearts
* ☀️ sunshine heroines who shake up their world
* 🔥 enemies to lovers chemistry with serious tension
* 🤠 Texas ranch settings and found family vibes
* 🎧 audiobooks with fantastic dual narration
Jessica Peterson has done it again. Colt is the first book in her new Double U Ranch series, and it is exactly the kind of steamy cowboy romance I know I can count on this author to deliver. If you’ve read the Lucky River Ranch series, the transition into this new Texas world feels completely seamless, but you absolutely don’t need to have read those books first. This is a fresh series with a new cast of characters, and it’s already off to a fantastic start.
Lainey and Colt had the kind of chemistry I love in a romance. Their relationship develops with just the right amount of push and pull, with plenty of tension, back and forth banter, and that delicious feeling of two people trying very hard not to give in to what is clearly happening between them. I especially loved how naturally their relationship developed rather than feeling rushed.
And then there’s Dean. Colt’s relationship with his six year old son was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their bond was absolutely adorable, and seeing Lainey fit so naturally into their little world made the romance even more enjoyable. Colt may be a grumpy cowboy who has built walls around himself, but his relationship with Dean shows just how much heart he has underneath all that grumpiness.
The audiobook was also fantastic. Aiden Snow absolutely nailed Colt’s grumpy, guarded energy, while Vanessa Edwin brought Lainey’s sunshine, happy go lucky personality to life perfectly. Their performances worked so well together and made all that banter and tension even better.
I adore the Texas world Jessica Peterson has created, and honestly, no one writes a steamy cowboy romance quite like she does. Colt gives this new series a seriously strong start, and if this book is any indication of what’s coming next, I already know the Double U Ranch is going to be another favorite.
Perfect for readers who love:
* 🐎 steamy cowboy romances
* 😤 grumpy single dads with soft hearts
* ☀️ sunshine heroines who shake up their world
* 🔥 enemies to lovers chemistry with serious tension
* 🤠 Texas ranch settings and found family vibes
* 🎧 audiobooks with fantastic dual narration
August 18, 2026
5🌟 | 3🌶️
ARC Review 📖
This was such an easy book to get completely caught up in.
The grumpy cowboy and determined city girl dynamic between Colt and Lainey gave me exactly the kind of friction I love, and their constant push and pull kept me turning the pages. Lainey was a particular favorite for me. Watching her figure out what she actually wants for herself and stop settling for what others expect of her made her journey so satisfying.
And Colt? I absolutely understood the obsession. Beneath all that gruffness was a seriously soft-hearted single dad, and I loved seeing Lainey challenge him while slowly getting past those walls. Their banter was so much fun, the chemistry was undeniable, and the romance had plenty of heat without losing the emotional connection between them. I also adored Colt’s relationship with Dean and how naturally Lainey became part of their little world.
Between the ranch setting, entertaining family dynamics, found family vibes, and a romance packed with tension, this was just a really fun read. I flew through it and finished feeling completely invested in the Wallace family. I am already very curious about what’s coming next, especially after that setup for Beck’s story.
Safe to say, the Double U Ranch has earned itself a permanent spot on my romance radar.
~~~~
ALC Review (Audiobook) 🎧
The audiobook made this already-fun romance even more addictive. Vanessa Edwin and Aiden Snow were such a great pairing for Lainey and Colt, and their performances really brought the banter and tension to life. Aiden especially nailed Colt’s gruff, guarded personality while still capturing his softer side, and Vanessa gave Lainey so much personality and warmth. I loved listening to these two clash, flirt, and slowly give in to each other, and the narration made it incredibly easy to lose myself in the ranch setting. Definitely an audiobook I had a hard time putting down!
~~~~
I was so excited to experience this one in both formats. Having the ARC and ALC meant I could fully sink into the story, and honestly, it made the experience that much better.
~~~~
A huge thank you to Jessica Peterson and Valentine PR for the ARC & ALC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
ARC Review 📖
This was such an easy book to get completely caught up in.
The grumpy cowboy and determined city girl dynamic between Colt and Lainey gave me exactly the kind of friction I love, and their constant push and pull kept me turning the pages. Lainey was a particular favorite for me. Watching her figure out what she actually wants for herself and stop settling for what others expect of her made her journey so satisfying.
And Colt? I absolutely understood the obsession. Beneath all that gruffness was a seriously soft-hearted single dad, and I loved seeing Lainey challenge him while slowly getting past those walls. Their banter was so much fun, the chemistry was undeniable, and the romance had plenty of heat without losing the emotional connection between them. I also adored Colt’s relationship with Dean and how naturally Lainey became part of their little world.
Between the ranch setting, entertaining family dynamics, found family vibes, and a romance packed with tension, this was just a really fun read. I flew through it and finished feeling completely invested in the Wallace family. I am already very curious about what’s coming next, especially after that setup for Beck’s story.
Safe to say, the Double U Ranch has earned itself a permanent spot on my romance radar.
~~~~
ALC Review (Audiobook) 🎧
The audiobook made this already-fun romance even more addictive. Vanessa Edwin and Aiden Snow were such a great pairing for Lainey and Colt, and their performances really brought the banter and tension to life. Aiden especially nailed Colt’s gruff, guarded personality while still capturing his softer side, and Vanessa gave Lainey so much personality and warmth. I loved listening to these two clash, flirt, and slowly give in to each other, and the narration made it incredibly easy to lose myself in the ranch setting. Definitely an audiobook I had a hard time putting down!
~~~~
I was so excited to experience this one in both formats. Having the ARC and ALC meant I could fully sink into the story, and honestly, it made the experience that much better.
~~~~
A huge thank you to Jessica Peterson and Valentine PR for the ARC & ALC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
August 18, 2026
“Tastes like you enjoyed what you saw.”
Well Jessica Peterson strikes again! Colt Wallace had me absolutely SWOONING! After you get past his grumpy exterior, that man is literally so dang sweet and everything I love in a cowboy.
🎧 The narration was such a treat! Vanessa Edwin and Aiden Snow DELIVERED on the sizzling tension between the leads. You truly have to experience this story on audio!
“You want me to cuff you, you just gotta ask, Dallas.”
I loved the entire Wallace family! I am so excited to get all of the brother’s stories. I knew I was going to love them after getting to meet them in Ryder & Billie’s story.
“Is there anything sexier than a man who gets it? Gets you? I think not.”
Colt is a single dad that has the weight of his family’s ranch on his shoulders. He doesn’t handle change well and him and Lainey definitely got off on the wrong foot. When they finally do give each other a little taste of what the spice could be like between them? OMGGGG, their chemistry was insane.
“There’s not a part of you I don’t like, cowboy.”
This story read as a slow burn at first because Lainey doesn’t kiss, but Colt DEFINITELY still knew how to get his kisses in, IYKYK! 🫠💋❤️🔥
“If you behave, maybe we can use it.”
“Aw, honey, I ain’t behavin’ tonight.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
I loved how Colt helped to build Lainey’s confidence in her business and her skills. Her family always put her on the back burner but Colt, little Dean and the Wallace’s showed her what a really family should look like.
“There’s no one I’d rather hammer my nails than you, Lainey Brown.”
This is a delightful spicy book, but my all time favorite moment was a simple kiss to Lainey’s inner wrist. It literally melted me y’all. It was such a sweet gesture. 🥹🫶🏼
“Hey, Dallas.” Her breath catches.
“Hey, cowboy. How’re you doing?”
“Better now.” Taking off my hat, I lean in a little farther to nuzzle my face in her neck. “Much, much better.”
If you love cowboys that will have you swooning & sweating 🤭, it’s time to head to Double U Ranch!
Tropes:
🧸 Single Dad
💃🏻 Hate to Love
🤭 Forced Proximity
🐎 Cowboy Romance
🧲 Cowboy x City Girl
🏡 Small Town
🫶🏼 Found Family
❤️🔥 Handcuffs, Bull Riding, & Thigh Bites
Well Jessica Peterson strikes again! Colt Wallace had me absolutely SWOONING! After you get past his grumpy exterior, that man is literally so dang sweet and everything I love in a cowboy.
🎧 The narration was such a treat! Vanessa Edwin and Aiden Snow DELIVERED on the sizzling tension between the leads. You truly have to experience this story on audio!
“You want me to cuff you, you just gotta ask, Dallas.”
I loved the entire Wallace family! I am so excited to get all of the brother’s stories. I knew I was going to love them after getting to meet them in Ryder & Billie’s story.
“Is there anything sexier than a man who gets it? Gets you? I think not.”
Colt is a single dad that has the weight of his family’s ranch on his shoulders. He doesn’t handle change well and him and Lainey definitely got off on the wrong foot. When they finally do give each other a little taste of what the spice could be like between them? OMGGGG, their chemistry was insane.
“There’s not a part of you I don’t like, cowboy.”
This story read as a slow burn at first because Lainey doesn’t kiss, but Colt DEFINITELY still knew how to get his kisses in, IYKYK! 🫠💋❤️🔥
“If you behave, maybe we can use it.”
“Aw, honey, I ain’t behavin’ tonight.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
I loved how Colt helped to build Lainey’s confidence in her business and her skills. Her family always put her on the back burner but Colt, little Dean and the Wallace’s showed her what a really family should look like.
“There’s no one I’d rather hammer my nails than you, Lainey Brown.”
This is a delightful spicy book, but my all time favorite moment was a simple kiss to Lainey’s inner wrist. It literally melted me y’all. It was such a sweet gesture. 🥹🫶🏼
“Hey, Dallas.” Her breath catches.
“Hey, cowboy. How’re you doing?”
“Better now.” Taking off my hat, I lean in a little farther to nuzzle my face in her neck. “Much, much better.”
If you love cowboys that will have you swooning & sweating 🤭, it’s time to head to Double U Ranch!
Tropes:
🧸 Single Dad
💃🏻 Hate to Love
🤭 Forced Proximity
🐎 Cowboy Romance
🧲 Cowboy x City Girl
🏡 Small Town
🫶🏼 Found Family
❤️🔥 Handcuffs, Bull Riding, & Thigh Bites
August 12, 2026
WHEW Y’ALL!!!
colt by Jessica Peterson is out August 18th!
this was everything and more. colt and lainey’s chemistry is electrifying. you can literally feel it through the pages. the spicy scenes… whew i was sweating babe. reading lainey find herself was one of my favorite things to read about. these two were MADE for one another ❤️🔥 i can’t wait to continue this series!
thank you to VPR for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
tropes to expect!
💛single dad
💛enemies to lovers
💛cowboy romance
💛age cap
💛banter and hate sex (;
💛cowboy x city girl
colt by Jessica Peterson is out August 18th!
this was everything and more. colt and lainey’s chemistry is electrifying. you can literally feel it through the pages. the spicy scenes… whew i was sweating babe. reading lainey find herself was one of my favorite things to read about. these two were MADE for one another ❤️🔥 i can’t wait to continue this series!
thank you to VPR for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
tropes to expect!
💛single dad
💛enemies to lovers
💛cowboy romance
💛age cap
💛banter and hate sex (;
💛cowboy x city girl
August 19, 2026
Let’s start with the cover, really stunning work! We jump straight into Colt and Lainey’s story, and I really enjoyed their inner monologues about their true feelings whilst bantering with each other. I adored their first date, it was so fun!
But I’m over books being marketed as enemies with benefits when they’re honestly just dislikes with benefits. After 50%, the pacing really slowed down and the story started to fall flat. I was pushing through, but there was genuinely no conflict as so much was told rather than shown. The conflict with Lainey’s parents was never resolved, which only highlighted how undeveloped her character felt. The epilogue set the next day and then a year later isn’t really my thing. Give me five years later or something I can hold onto!
Honestly, this felt very similar to Cash (Book 1 of the LRR series). Sadly, this started as a 4 star read but ended up an okay read — 2.5 stars!
But I’m over books being marketed as enemies with benefits when they’re honestly just dislikes with benefits. After 50%, the pacing really slowed down and the story started to fall flat. I was pushing through, but there was genuinely no conflict as so much was told rather than shown. The conflict with Lainey’s parents was never resolved, which only highlighted how undeveloped her character felt. The epilogue set the next day and then a year later isn’t really my thing. Give me five years later or something I can hold onto!
Honestly, this felt very similar to Cash (Book 1 of the LRR series). Sadly, this started as a 4 star read but ended up an okay read — 2.5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Jessica Peterson's “Colt,” the first novel in the “Double U Ranch” series, is a contemporary western romance featuring a brand and marketing entrepreneur and a ranch foreman.
Twenty-four-year-old Lainey Brown has just earned her MBA from the University of Texas. After interviewing with several private equity firms, she finds herself temporarily back home with her parents while deciding on her next career move. Although she has the credentials for the corporate world, Lainey's true passion has always been her side hustle, Creative Cactus, a brand and marketing business. When her father mentions that Wallace Ranch, a leading producer of pedigreed horses and Hereford cattle in Hartsville, may be looking for a rebrand, Lainey jumps at the opportunity.
Thirty-one-year-old Colton "Colt" Wallace is raising his six-year-old son, Dean, after losing his wife, Abby, to terminal cancer three years earlier. Haunted by the discovery of his wife's infidelity before her diagnosis, Colt struggles with trust and clings to stability, resisting change whenever possible. When he learns that his father has hired Lainey to rebrand the ranch, he is blindsided and immediately puts up walls. As the ranch foreman, Colt is determined to keep his distance, but working alongside Lainey, and watching Dean grow increasingly attached to her, forces him to question his first impressions.
“Colt” features a cast of characters from Peterson's previous novels. While it works as a standalone, readers looking for additional context may want to read “Ryder” first for more backstory on several recurring characters.
Although the novel is marketed as an enemies-to-lovers romance, it reads more like an opposites-attract story. There is very little genuine animosity between Colt and Lainey. Colt's hostility feels misplaced and, at times, superficial, while Lainey's supposed dislike of Colt comes across less as resentment and more as the teasing of someone who is already attracted to him. The novel also relies on noticeable repetition, with several phrases and ideas repeated almost word for word throughout.
Overall, “Colt” is an enjoyable introduction to the “Double U Ranch” series, and I plan to continue reading the books that follow. However, for readers specifically seeking a compelling single-dad cowboy romance, there are stronger options in the genre.
I received an ARC through Edelweiss via Bloom Books and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own
RatingL 3.5/5
Twenty-four-year-old Lainey Brown has just earned her MBA from the University of Texas. After interviewing with several private equity firms, she finds herself temporarily back home with her parents while deciding on her next career move. Although she has the credentials for the corporate world, Lainey's true passion has always been her side hustle, Creative Cactus, a brand and marketing business. When her father mentions that Wallace Ranch, a leading producer of pedigreed horses and Hereford cattle in Hartsville, may be looking for a rebrand, Lainey jumps at the opportunity.
Thirty-one-year-old Colton "Colt" Wallace is raising his six-year-old son, Dean, after losing his wife, Abby, to terminal cancer three years earlier. Haunted by the discovery of his wife's infidelity before her diagnosis, Colt struggles with trust and clings to stability, resisting change whenever possible. When he learns that his father has hired Lainey to rebrand the ranch, he is blindsided and immediately puts up walls. As the ranch foreman, Colt is determined to keep his distance, but working alongside Lainey, and watching Dean grow increasingly attached to her, forces him to question his first impressions.
“Colt” features a cast of characters from Peterson's previous novels. While it works as a standalone, readers looking for additional context may want to read “Ryder” first for more backstory on several recurring characters.
Although the novel is marketed as an enemies-to-lovers romance, it reads more like an opposites-attract story. There is very little genuine animosity between Colt and Lainey. Colt's hostility feels misplaced and, at times, superficial, while Lainey's supposed dislike of Colt comes across less as resentment and more as the teasing of someone who is already attracted to him. The novel also relies on noticeable repetition, with several phrases and ideas repeated almost word for word throughout.
Overall, “Colt” is an enjoyable introduction to the “Double U Ranch” series, and I plan to continue reading the books that follow. However, for readers specifically seeking a compelling single-dad cowboy romance, there are stronger options in the genre.
I received an ARC through Edelweiss via Bloom Books and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own
RatingL 3.5/5
August 23, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
Okay, I fear Colt Wallace has maybe stolen my favorite Jessica Peterson MMC spot. I just can’t choose my fav cowboy at this point.
I already had a feeling I was going to love this book after meeting Colt in the previous books, but WOW. This man really said watch me be the grumpiest man alive and then make you completely obsessed with me anyway. And unfortunately for me… it worked.
The banter between Colt and Lainey was EVERYTHING. Their chemistry was obvious from the start, and I loved watching all that irritation slowly turn into something neither of them could ignore. They challenged each other, pushed each other’s buttons, and somehow made each other better in the process. Every time they were together, I was just sitting there like 👀🍿.
Lainey was such a fun FMC. She’s ambitious, confident, smart, and absolutely refuses to let Colt bulldoze her. I loved that she stood her ground and knew what she wanted, while still allowing herself to grow throughout the book. And her relationship with the Wallace family? 🥹 Loved it.
But Colt… my GOD. This man is so much softer than he initially lets on, especially when it comes to the people he loves. Watching him balance being a dad, running the ranch, and slowly letting Lainey into his life made me adore him even more. And Dean?? THE CUTEST!!!🥹
I also really loved that beneath all the arguing and insane chemistry, there was a genuine emotional connection. It wasn’t just about the attraction. These two actually understood each other, supported each other, and brought out sides of one another that they didn’t necessarily know were there.
And yes, the spice was 🔥🔥🔥. Jessica Peterson absolutely knew what she was doing with these two.
This was such a strong start to the Double U Ranch series, and I’m already completely invested in this family. The found-family vibes, the cowboys, the banter, the romance… give me MOREEE.
Also, Beck? Sir, I already have questions. 👀
5 stars. Colt Wallace, you win. I fear I have a new cowboy obsession.
Okay, I fear Colt Wallace has maybe stolen my favorite Jessica Peterson MMC spot. I just can’t choose my fav cowboy at this point.
I already had a feeling I was going to love this book after meeting Colt in the previous books, but WOW. This man really said watch me be the grumpiest man alive and then make you completely obsessed with me anyway. And unfortunately for me… it worked.
The banter between Colt and Lainey was EVERYTHING. Their chemistry was obvious from the start, and I loved watching all that irritation slowly turn into something neither of them could ignore. They challenged each other, pushed each other’s buttons, and somehow made each other better in the process. Every time they were together, I was just sitting there like 👀🍿.
Lainey was such a fun FMC. She’s ambitious, confident, smart, and absolutely refuses to let Colt bulldoze her. I loved that she stood her ground and knew what she wanted, while still allowing herself to grow throughout the book. And her relationship with the Wallace family? 🥹 Loved it.
But Colt… my GOD. This man is so much softer than he initially lets on, especially when it comes to the people he loves. Watching him balance being a dad, running the ranch, and slowly letting Lainey into his life made me adore him even more. And Dean?? THE CUTEST!!!🥹
I also really loved that beneath all the arguing and insane chemistry, there was a genuine emotional connection. It wasn’t just about the attraction. These two actually understood each other, supported each other, and brought out sides of one another that they didn’t necessarily know were there.
And yes, the spice was 🔥🔥🔥. Jessica Peterson absolutely knew what she was doing with these two.
This was such a strong start to the Double U Ranch series, and I’m already completely invested in this family. The found-family vibes, the cowboys, the banter, the romance… give me MOREEE.
Also, Beck? Sir, I already have questions. 👀
5 stars. Colt Wallace, you win. I fear I have a new cowboy obsession.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What to Expect:
Small Town
Single Dad
City Girl x Cowboy
Enemies to Lovers vibes
Age Gap
Welcome to the Double U Ranch. We had seeing a slight glimpse of this family in Ryder, as Billie is Colt's sister, but now we finally get to meet the family. When Lainey takes a marketing job at their ranch to help update their ranch's branding, Colt is resistant. Or a better word is furious. According to him, the ranch does not need her help. But when Lainey rises to Colt's challenge, and his son falls head over heels for Lainey, Colt realizes he might have had the wrong idea all along.
I will be honest, this book had some good moments, but there were several things that I struggled with. I loved the banter in this book. Lainey and Colt might have started out on the wrong foot, but once they finally got past their first instinctual reaction, they found that they were more alike than they wanted to admit. I also loved the spicy scenes. Colt and Lainey were on fire together.
I also loved how Colt supported Lainey at the presentation. That entire scene was well written and I felt like showed a redemption of the characters after some struggles i had with them. I think it was because I struggled to connect with the characters and the conflict. I did not understand why they hated each other so vehemently and I did feel a small amount of whiplash when the conflicts seemed to disappear.
All in all I love Jessica's writing and I enjoy being back in her small town. I will definitely continue to read this series, just this story did not work for me.
Thank you so much to Jessica and Valentine PR for an early copy of Colt!
Small Town
Single Dad
City Girl x Cowboy
Enemies to Lovers vibes
Age Gap
Welcome to the Double U Ranch. We had seeing a slight glimpse of this family in Ryder, as Billie is Colt's sister, but now we finally get to meet the family. When Lainey takes a marketing job at their ranch to help update their ranch's branding, Colt is resistant. Or a better word is furious. According to him, the ranch does not need her help. But when Lainey rises to Colt's challenge, and his son falls head over heels for Lainey, Colt realizes he might have had the wrong idea all along.
I will be honest, this book had some good moments, but there were several things that I struggled with. I loved the banter in this book. Lainey and Colt might have started out on the wrong foot, but once they finally got past their first instinctual reaction, they found that they were more alike than they wanted to admit. I also loved the spicy scenes. Colt and Lainey were on fire together.
I also loved how Colt supported Lainey at the presentation. That entire scene was well written and I felt like showed a redemption of the characters after some struggles i had with them. I think it was because I struggled to connect with the characters and the conflict. I did not understand why they hated each other so vehemently and I did feel a small amount of whiplash when the conflicts seemed to disappear.
All in all I love Jessica's writing and I enjoy being back in her small town. I will definitely continue to read this series, just this story did not work for me.
Thank you so much to Jessica and Valentine PR for an early copy of Colt!
August 31, 2026
-enemies to lovers
-cowboy x city girl
-age gap
-found family
-single dad
นางเอกLainey รับงานรีแบรนด์ให้ Wallace Ranch ที่อยู่ใน Hartsville สมอลทาวน์เล็กๆ ทำให้นางเอกต้องย้ายมาอยู่ที่ฟาร์มชั่วคราวเพื่อเก็บข้อมูล ทำความเข้าใจกับประวัติความเป็นมาของฟาร์มที่ส่งต่อมารุ่นสู่รุ่น ส่วนพระเอก Colt เป็นลูกชายคนโตของที่บ้านที่รับช่วงต่อมาจากพ่อ พ่อเป็นคนจ้างนางเอกมาแต่ไม่ได้ปรึกษากับพระเอกก่อน พระเอกฮีเลยไม่พอใจบวกกับไม่เห็นด้วยกับการที่จะรีแบรนด์ ฮีเลยพาลใส่นางเอก5555 แต่นางเอกชีสู้คนฟาดมาฟาดกลับคสพแบบกัดกันไปกันกันมา
คสพของพระนางแรกๆก็ sexual attraction แหละ แต่หลังจากนั้นก็ค่อยๆเปิดใจมีพัฒนาการที่ดีทั้งคู่ พระเอกฮีมีปมจากคสพครั้งเก่าแต่พอรู้ใจตัวเองก็กล้าที่จะลองดูอีกครั้ง ไม่ยึกยักคิดวอแวให้หงุดหงิด แล้วฮีทรีตนางเอกดีมาก ส่วนbanterนี่ชอบมากตั้งแต่เกลียดขี้หน้ากันยันรักกัน😆 น้องDeanลูกชายพระเอก น่ารักมาก คสพของนางเอกกับลูกพระเอกก็น่ารัก อีกอย่างคือชอบประเด็นครอบครัวที่ใส่มาในเล่ม นางเอกเป็นลูกคนโต โตมาในบ้านที่ชายเป็นใหญ่ และแม่ก็ดันคล้อยตามอีก ไม่มีใครสนใจถึงครสของนางเอกรวมถึงงานที่นางเอกทำก็มองว่ามันเรียกเป็นอาชีพจริงๆได้ที่ไหนกัน พอในวันที่นางเอกย้ายไปอยู่ที่ฟาร์มของพระเอกได้ไปอยู่ท่ามกลางครอบครัวที่ดี ที่อบอุ่น ทุกคนเคารพกัน มันยิ่งทำให้นางเอกรู้ว่าไม่ควรต้องทนยอมกับสิ่งที่ตัวเองเจอ แต่ติดนิดนึงตรงที่นขเค้าไม่ closure ปัญหาระหว่างนางเอกกับครอบครัวให้เห็นเลย แบบอยู่ๆก็ตัดจบที่นางเอกเลือกอยู่ที่ฟาร์มต่อแค่นั้น
สรุปชอบเลยแหละ อ่านเพลินมาก รู้สึกดีใจตัดสินใจให้โอกาสนขอีกครั้งกับเล่มนี้ เป็นเล่มเปิดซีรีส์ที่ทำให้รู้จักกับครตพี่น้องแต่ละคน ได้เห็นคสพของครอบครัวพระเอกที่ทำให้เรารู้สึกอยากอ่านเล่มถัดๆไป
-cowboy x city girl
-age gap
-found family
-single dad
นางเอกLainey รับงานรีแบรนด์ให้ Wallace Ranch ที่อยู่ใน Hartsville สมอลทาวน์เล็กๆ ทำให้นางเอกต้องย้ายมาอยู่ที่ฟาร์มชั่วคราวเพื่อเก็บข้อมูล ทำความเข้าใจกับประวัติความเป็นมาของฟาร์มที่ส่งต่อมารุ่นสู่รุ่น ส่วนพระเอก Colt เป็นลูกชายคนโตของที่บ้านที่รับช่วงต่อมาจากพ่อ พ่อเป็นคนจ้างนางเอกมาแต่ไม่ได้ปรึกษากับพระเอกก่อน พระเอกฮีเลยไม่พอใจบวกกับไม่เห็นด้วยกับการที่จะรีแบรนด์ ฮีเลยพาลใส่นางเอก5555 แต่นางเอกชีสู้คนฟาดมาฟาดกลับคสพแบบกัดกันไปกันกันมา
คสพของพระนางแรกๆก็ sexual attraction แหละ แต่หลังจากนั้นก็ค่อยๆเปิดใจมีพัฒนาการที่ดีทั้งคู่ พระเอกฮีมีปมจากคสพครั้งเก่าแต่พอรู้ใจตัวเองก็กล้าที่จะลองดูอีกครั้ง ไม่ยึกยักคิดวอแวให้หงุดหงิด แล้วฮีทรีตนางเอกดีมาก ส่วนbanterนี่ชอบมากตั้งแต่เกลียดขี้หน้ากันยันรักกัน😆 น้องDeanลูกชายพระเอก น่ารักมาก คสพของนางเอกกับลูกพระเอกก็น่ารัก อีกอย่างคือชอบประเด็นครอบครัวที่ใส่มาในเล่ม นางเอกเป็นลูกคนโต โตมาในบ้านที่ชายเป็นใหญ่ และแม่ก็ดันคล้อยตามอีก ไม่มีใครสนใจถึงครสของนางเอกรวมถึงงานที่นางเอกทำก็มองว่ามันเรียกเป็นอาชีพจริงๆได้ที่ไหนกัน พอในวันที่นางเอกย้ายไปอยู่ที่ฟาร์มของพระเอกได้ไปอยู่ท่ามกลางครอบครัวที่ดี ที่อบอุ่น ทุกคนเคารพกัน มันยิ่งทำให้นางเอกรู้ว่าไม่ควรต้องทนยอมกับสิ่งที่ตัวเองเจอ แต่ติดนิดนึงตรงที่นขเค้าไม่ closure ปัญหาระหว่างนางเอกกับครอบครัวให้เห็นเลย แบบอยู่ๆก็ตัดจบที่นางเอกเลือกอยู่ที่ฟาร์มต่อแค่นั้น
สรุปชอบเลยแหละ อ่านเพลินมาก รู้สึกดีใจตัดสินใจให้โอกาสนขอีกครั้งกับเล่มนี้ เป็นเล่มเปิดซีรีส์ที่ทำให้รู้จักกับครตพี่น้องแต่ละคน ได้เห็นคสพของครอบครัวพระเอกที่ทำให้เรารู้สึกอยากอ่านเล่มถัดๆไป
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