Blue Devil Woman

Hunt Ranch #2

by Sloane Fletcher

Return to Hunt Ranch this spring and discover Benji and Sierra's story …They were Hunt Ranch’s greatest love story. Until fate tore them apart.

Sierra Hunt never had any doubt that Benji Matthews was her person. As her brother’s best friend, he should have been off-limits, but Sierra knew he was the one as surely as she knew how to ride a horse. It didn’t matter that he came from nothing – to her, he was everything. And together, they were Hunt Ranch’s greatest love the rugged wrangler and the corporate cowgirl.

Until a devastating twist of fate shattered their lives entirely.

Now they can hardly stand to be in the same room. But when Benji is left with no other choice than to step up and take the reins at Hunt Ranch, avoiding each other becomes damn near impossible. Forced to work together, the two must confront everything they’ve lost. In doing so, they might just find their way back to each other, and the love they thought had disappeared forever …

Perfect for fans Second chance romances

❤️‍🩹 Complex characters healing together

🔥 Friends-to-lovers-to-strangers-to-lovers

🏡 Forced proximity

👨🏼 Older brother's best friend

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Cowboy Romance, Second Chance Romance, Adult, Second Chance, Forced Proximity

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 16, 2027

About the author

Sloane is a (self-proclaimed) novice film critic, a middling yogi, and a pro smut enthusiast. She loves writing damaged heroes and heroines and isn’t above exploring topics that make you uncomfortable—but always with a happy ever after. Sloane lives with her husband, two dogs, and sixty-three houseplants in California’s Central Valley. When she’s not writing, she can be found day drinking with her friends, crying to sad songs by no-name artists on YouTube, and Googling the disturbing factoids she hears on murder mystery shows.

Reviews

[Luce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to start by saying that I read most of Blue Devil Woman with tears in my eyes. This is not a light read and I just want to warn people that this books deal with the loss of a child during pregnancy and the grief that follows. This book felt raw but my god, did Sloane Fletcher deliver.

Sierra and Benji's story is messy, heartbreaking and honestly, a little frustrating. Sierra is not easy to love in this book which honestly felt so realistic. I spent a good portion of the book frustrated with how she treated the people around her but the author absolutely nailed how messy grief is. By the end, I just wanted to hug Sierra. And what a man Benji was! His patience, his love for Sierra. I shall say no more!

Whilst the epilogue was both adorable and heartbreaking, I would have loved a little bit more. Sierra's reunion with her best friend, some happier moments with her and Benji, spreading Ava's ashes. It felt like it was going to be such a big moment and then it was skipped over.

I loved seeing Mav and Nina (book 1) again and the little snippets of their life together following the events of book 1, IFYKY. They really added some lightness to a pretty heavy book.

I will say the timeline felt slightly off to me. A lot happens in the span of 16 days and I just couldn't fathom everything happening in that amount of time, especially as we seemed to be skipping days etc. Although my sense of time is shocking so might just be me!

Sloane Fletcher is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me, I just have to keep tissues nearby it seems!

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

[liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried the entire freaking book from the first page until the very last page of the epilogue 😭😭😭😭

A life changing story of what it means to overcome grief and find your way back to happiness and love again. This book has changed me in so many ways. This is not your average “cowboy romance”. This has so much pain and hurting that leads way to so much light and hope. I will be thinking about it forever.

”The way I see it, we used to be a perfect image, etched in glass. And we dropped and shattered. True. But the pieces are still there and it’s up to us - only us - to put them back together. And even though we’ll never be the same, we can still create something beautiful, something that might even be stronger and more unique than before.”

This is truly a tough read. And I’m not saying this lightly at all. It’s agony. I cried several times. It took me so long because I would only be able to read a few chapters at a time and have to take breaks. Please read the author’s trigger warning page prior to starting. But just know that the pain is worth it. It’s so worth it. Because the story, the writing, and the message are beyond beautiful.


GUYSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!…..I’m not kidding when I tell you that I officially found my favorite cowboy ever written. I read a LOT of cowboy romance and Benji is IT. He’s literally to die for perfection. I was highlighting literally everything he ever said. He is so gruff, hardworking, loyal, dedicated and he never gives up. He has loved that girl through and through from the minute he met her and I’m obsessed.

Sierra is a master class of what it means to be a resilient, brave, strong woman. The things she has had to go through and the way she responded are some of the most well written, humanizing responses to trauma and grief I’ve read. And her finally seeing the light in the world again. God. My heart will break for her forever.


Some things you get:
- second chance romance
- brother’s best friend
- Dual POV
- Overcoming grief
- Found family
- TW: infant loss
- TW: death of parents


Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for this eARC in exchange for my review. I am changed.

[ReneeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will break your heart, make you hold it in your hands and then eventually put all the pieces back together. This book is heavy and if you are sensitive to child loss this may not be the read for you, but if you can stand the pain, the eventual payoff is worth the read. Heart wrenching and unforgettable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ | HQ Digital for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Christine Seder]

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.

But I ended up DNF-ing this one after giving it a chance after reading the TW. It’s not for me due to the infant loss for personal reasons but I will not rate this as it wouldn’t be fair to the author.

[Dede · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ | HQ Digital for an early copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I throughly enjoyed this book and read it in one day. I loved the storyline and the characters. I didn't realize it was #2 in a series, I will definitely be going back and reading the first one. I would definitely recommend this book.

[jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

╔════════════════════════╗
💕✨ 𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 ✨💕
╚════════════════════════╝
ANOTHER COWBOY ARC IM SOBBING

A huge thank you to netgalley, HQ | HQ Digital, and Sloane Fletcher for this ARC in exchange in for an honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
from book 1 when we got to see sierra i knew i would love to see her story so much. benji is just such a golden retriever and really loves and yearns for her after their loss. This story had me crying the entire book. i was so glad to get to see mav and nina again. i'm so glad that they were able to work things out and have their happy ever after finally. you really root for them and get to see how they unconditionally love one another.

[Nads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much. This was such a raw emotional story with heavy themes of loss so please check the trigger warnings before going into this.

I feel like a lot of people will either really understand Sierra or not like her at all but she was extremely and painfully realistic in her actions and how she pushed everyone away. She had so much loss in her life and I think she was completely justified in how she felt she could deal with it. Even if it was frustrating at times I couldn’t help but have such empathy for her because I felt her devastation and agony. She showed exactly how grief can be so messy and everyone’s experience is different. I do wish we got to see more of her healing but it made sense that that part of a journey would be personal.

Benji, oh god Benji, you are the most perfect man in the world. He went through so much and still he was always always there for not just Sierra but everyone else. He was thoughtful, patient, caring, compassionate, strong I could literally go on and on. I do wish we got to see a breaking point with him, for someone who went through so much he was so calm for all of it, I think if he did show how broken he was from all of it it would have made him and Sierra’s healing much stronger.

I loved the dual timeline, it made what they went through and how hard they fought to be together hit so much harder.

I thought this was going to end open ended, so like real life you don’t know where your story will go, but I actually liked that we got to see their happy ending. I think it gives hope to those out there who are going through this very journey.

Thank you so much to Sloane and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC! Definitely looking forward to what else Sloane will write!

[Wendy Marie (myrisingphoenixera.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️
2.5🌶️
♾️😭 (have tissues on hand)
💜Cowboy Romance
💜Childhood Friends to Lovers
💜Second Chance
💜Brother’s Best Friend
💜Forced Proximity
💜Small Town
💜Grief
💜Multi Third Person POV

This is not a light read, nor is it your typical cowboy romance. This is a heart achingly beautiful story about grief and living in the aftermath. Sierra and Benji suffered the traumatic loss of thier infant child a year ago. Grief isn’t simple, it’s messy and everyone deals with it differently. Sierra has numbed herself to everything, dove into her work, while pushing away Benji and her family. Sloane did not shy away from the ugliness behind the pain with the honest portrayal of grief and loss. Benji’s patience seems endless with the way he cares for Sierra from afar, always ready to drop everything to go help her. Sierra was frustrating at certain points with how she pushed away Benji and kept everyone else at arm’s length. But that’s grief. She has been stuck in numbed state instead of acknowledging everything. Sierra and Benji’s journey is told with looks into the past from the beginning of their relationship, her pregnancy, and then the loss of Baby Girl. Every time Sierra and Benji’s faced their loss, it was a gut punch, or a horse kick to the chest if you will. I literally was crying almost every chapter. This will break your heart, then show you the pieces before putting them back together again. Through all the pain and hurting, Sierra and Benji’s faced their found their way back to each other. They’re able to find their happiness while learning to grieve together.

🚩Be sure to read the author’s note and content warnings before reading.

Plot: 5
Engaging: 5
Character: 5

Thank you Sloane Fletcher, Harper Collins & Netgalley for the gifted advanced copy.

📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
🐦‍🔥Follow me on socials @myrisingphoenixera.reads🐦‍🔥

A Few Favorite Quotes:
‘As soon as you come, I’m going to lie you down and eat you out.’ She started panting in sync with every thrust of his fingers. ‘I’m going to suck your clit until you’re screaming my name.’

‘On your worst day, you’re perfect for me. Christ, Si, you’re the only woman in my head and in my heart. You always have been.’

‘The way I see it, we used to be a perfect image, etched in glass. And we dropped and shattered. True. But the pieces are all still there, and it’s up to us–only us–to put them back together. And even though we’ll never be the same, we can still create something beautiful, something that might even be stronger and more unique than before.’

‘I love you, Sierra. You’re mine. Only ever mine.’

[Portia Citlali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a 4.5 star read for me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

This story is a powerful depiction of grief after loss and how differently it can be expressed. It really shows that grief is not linear, and that everyone processes it in their own way. It also highlights what can happen when pain is buried and life is pushed forward without healing. 💔

Sierra is composed, professional, and exceptional at what she does but at the cost of everything else. She hides behind her busy schedule and pushes away the people who care about her the most. From the first book, we know she is grieving the loss of her child, and she copes by detaching. At times, she comes off as cold, but it’s really her way of protecting herself from more pain. She’s barely holding on, choosing to exist rather than truly live. 🖤

Benji, who shares in her grief, chooses to follow Sierra’s rules in order to keep the peace. He’s just as worn down, but deep down he knows Sierra is the one for him. He’s persistent, patient, and caring, holding onto enough hope for both of them. ❤️‍🩹With the help of those around them they are able to build something worthwhile even after all the heartache.

This was a beautiful story about resilience and the messy reality of grief. I loved how their emotions unfolded and how their journey showed that healing, while difficult, is possible. Their story was truly heart wrenching but was worth experiencing. 📚✨

I wanted to thank NetGalley for this ARC

[kelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

so usually i’m not a fan of brothers best friend bc brothers usually get on my nerves trying to be protective, but i LOVED it in this instance. this one is different in the way it is brothers best friend, but it’s also kind of a second chance 🤭🤭 this has quite a few things i love, ranch setting (hehe), a DOWN BAD hot man, a strong independent woman, found family… the list could go on.

this book was a good time but it HURT BAD. the emotional turmoil the two main characters are going through.. i couldn’t even imagine. the loss they’ve endured is something i wouldn’t wish on anyone. both sierra and benji tugged on my heartstrings & i love both of them fiercely (just like they love each other!!!) reading their journey to finding their way back to each other was heartbreaking while also being heartwarming at the same time. i cried and cried and cried (and guess what? cried.)

i love that they would mention a memory in the “now” and the we would have a flashback that laid out the whole scene. i lived for the connection between them, and i’ve been rooting for their happy ending ever since they were mentioned in book one. they both deserve happiness. this book is real, raw, messy, & powerful and i wouldn’t have it any other way.

friends, proceed with caution & read trigger warnings!! thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review via netgalley. all opinions are my own <3

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was equal parts heartbreaking and sweet. I cried numerous times because the couple was just so sweet and I was rooting for them the entire time.

Benji and Sierra grew up together. He came from a miserable alcoholic dad and a mom who couldn’t stand up for them. She grew up on her family’s ranch with her brother (who was also Benji’s BFF, because of courseeeee!). They were 3 peas in a pod, Benji’s upcoming was all due to Sierra’s parents. One day the friendship turned to more and everything was moving towards forever. Until it wasn’t.

This book talks on many triggers… Parental death, alcoholism, sexual and physical assault (although referencing from the first book, those characters do continue in this book of the series). The biggest trigger warning being experiencing a loss through stillborn.

Without giving too much away, I’ll just say that Sierra completely shuts down and shuts out Benji after the loss. It’s in the prologue so it’s not too far into the story that the plot begins (and I feel like I’m not giving too much away in saying that!). The story following them and how they do or do not find their way back to one another.

[Shannon Canzoneri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you HQ and NetGalley for this ARC!

I don't even know where to start. As far as second-chance romance goes, this one is up there. Sierra and Benji are going to be a couple that I think about weekly from now on. Even when I wasn't crying while reading this book, I would cry thinking about them. Their story is full of heartache and yearning, and finding their way back to each other through grief. I want to have this book physically so I can put it on a shelf where I can protect it and occasionally hug it.

Sierra is surviving through the walls she built around grief she can't face, and Benji is helpless to watch her and love her from a distance. And Benji loves her WHOLLY!!!! A reason I love an enemies-to-lovers trope is that the characters will see the worst of each other, but still love wholeheartedly and unabashedly. This book makes you feel that kind of love with a second chance. These two heartbroken people orbit around each other. If you want something that will make you feel, read this.

This is not a dark book, but it does cover a heavy topic. It is very much bittersweet in a perfect way. The last lines took me the fuck OUT.

[Kerry - Readkerryread · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not even have the words to do this book justice, but I will do my best. Sometimes an author comes along who feels like they can see directly into your soul. Sloane is that author for me.

Sierra has experienced the most heart-wrenching loss imaginable, and it has created a painful divide between her and the man she has loved for most of her life. While grief has pushed them apart, Benji has never stopped hoping she will find her way back to him.

Consumed by guilt, anger, and heartbreak, Sierra cannot imagine ever feeling whole again. But when her brother is recovering and Benji steps in to help, avoiding him becomes impossible. Their connection is undeniable, and despite everything they have lost, they cannot help but be drawn back to each other — even if some broken pieces may never fully heal.

Having experienced profound loss myself over the past few years, this story hit me on a deeply visceral level and brought me to tears. This was a raw, emotional, and unforgettable read.

I receive an arc for review, all opinions are my own and given without prejudice.

[Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Night rider by this author but unfortunately I really disliked this one. Sierra and Benji lost their baby when Sierra had a stillbirth. Since then, Sierra basically cut Benji out of her life.
This is not a cowboy romance as indicated by the cover. The whole book is about Sierra grieving, which I understand but it is so repetitive, I felt like I was reading the same page over and over again.
Benji is a gorgeous character but she treats him horribly throughout the entire book, it was so frustrating to read. I
I thought we would be reading about them rekindling their relationship but seriously, the whole book is about Sierra being horrible to Benji. She was mean and hurtful continuously.
I would classify this as women’s fiction about grief and not a cowboy romance. It was so depressing throughout the whole book.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this, it just wasn’t for me.

[Savannah Mattair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tear jerker for sure. I can’t count how many times I cried. Definitely check the trigger warnings before reading. There are quite a few hard topics discussed.
Sierra and Benji will be in my heart forever. I only started this series for them, so while I loved Mav and Nina in the first book I loved these two even more.
Sierra and Benji had been through so much. Loosing a child is probably one of the hardest things someone can go through. I completely understand their thoughts and feelings throughout the entire book.
Usually in second chance romances I’m upset with at least one of the characters for how they are going about things but not in this case.
I loved the little peeks of their past we got to see.
They have truly been in love for so long and deserve all the happiness they get.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review!

[VickydpBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

They were Hunt Ranch’s greatest love story. Until fate tore them apart.

Perfect for fans of:
💙 Truly heartfelt and emotional reads
💗 Second chance romances
❤️‍🩹 Complex characters healing together
🔥 Friends-to-lovers-to-strangers-to-lovers
🏡 Forced proximity
👨🏼 Older brother's best friend
💛 Childhood friends to lovers

Sierra Hunt never had any doubt that Benji Matthews was her person. As her brother’s best friend, he should have been off-limits, but Sierra knew he was the one as surely as she knew how to ride a horse. It didn’t matter that he came from nothing – to her, he was everything. And together, they were Hunt Ranch’s greatest love story: the rugged wrangler and the corporate cowgirl.

[Jodie Sprules · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know a book is good when I can’t put it down and finish it in a day, and this was one of those books. It’s a heavy read, so definitely check the trigger warnings first, as it deals with pregnancy loss and grief.

Like Night Rider, this was so much more than just a cowboy romance. It was emotional, honest, and beautifully written, especially in the way it explored grief and its impact on everyone around it. I also loved the cameos from Mav, Poppy, and Nina, which really brought back the found family feel of the series.

The mixed timelines and POVs kept the story fast-paced and showed both characters struggles. Sierra frustrated me at times, and the ending felt a long way off, but it was worth it in the end. I’ve loved both books so far and can’t wait to see where the series goes next.

[Grace -thewritebooks]

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

Feeling very lucky that I enjoyed Book 1 so much they sent me Book 2! This story has a completely different tone from Night Rider, Sierra is dealing with unfathomable grief from page 1 (that we had a little glimpse into in Mav's story). There is something just so fulfilling about reading books where people are really working with their friends' best interests at heart, the family on Hunt Ranch is unmatched in terms of love and loyalty. I would've gladly read another 300 pages of this, slowing down the careful rekindling of their romance even further. So much grief and so much joy, broke my heart over and over!

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was heavy but illustrated grief in such a powerful way.
I could not wait to read Benji and Sierra’s story from the moment we met them in book one.

Sierra is such a strong FMC but has put up the biggest guard around herself to protect herself from grief. She pushes Benji away completely and loses any remaining pieces of herself in the process.

Benji is determined to help Sierra heal and find herself again, all whilst dealing with his own grief.

I loved the way both Benji and Sierra pushed and challenged each other in different ways. They are the perfect match for each other and I was absolutely rooting for them to have their happy ending.

[Em (semi-hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much it honestly hurt. From the very beginning, Sierra and Benji’s connection feels heavy with history, and that weight never lifts. Their love is messy and painful and shaped by everything they lost, which makes every moment between them feel intense and real. The second chance romance unfolds slowly, full of longing and restraint, and it kept me completely locked in. Being forced together at the ranch only deepens that closeness, surrounding them with memories they cannot escape. This story consumed me, broke my heart, and still managed to leave me feeling full by the end. I loved it.

[Susanne Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My God! This book should be sold with a box of tissues. I don’t think there was a chapter in this book when I didn’t cry. Such beautiful and moving writing that speaks directly to your heart. Yes this book is about some hard hitting and raw topics, but it’s written with such empathy and love that it’s not just about loss, it’s about life and how big feelings can affect you for years no matter how hard you try to ignore them.

This book is about so much more than loss, it’s about love, deep raw and painful, but also so beautiful and life changing. I can’t recommend enough that you read this book.

[IG | TorturedHeroesDept · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Sloane Fletcher and I 1000% requested this ARC because of the name and cover. I had zero idea what it was about going into it. Hoooo boy was I in for a shock. This is a HEAVY book. I’m talking I cried so hard my head hurt kind of heavy.

Although I haven’t done so (yet!) I do recommend reading book 1 before this because there are some spoilers for book 1 pretty early on.

What you’ll get:

Second Chance Romance
Forced Proximity
Heavy Topics (please read TW)
Brother’s Best Friend
Found Family


TW: Death of parents & infant.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley & HQ.

[Chantelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. After reading Night Rider, I knew I needed Sierra and Benji’s story—and it completely delivered.

This one hit hard emotionally. Their relationship feels so real, from the intensity of their first love to the heartbreak that pulls them apart. Watching them navigate everything they’ve lost, while being forced back into each other’s orbit, made for such a gripping and heartfelt journey.

It’s a beautifully written second-chance romance with complex characters who feel authentic and deeply human. The tension, the history, and the slow rebuilding of trust kept me hooked the entire way through.

If you love emotional, character-driven romances with forced proximity and a lot of heart, this is definitely one to pick up.

[Libbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
i love second chance romance when they’ve known each other since childhood and been through some shit together, the connection is always stronger 😭😭😭

[Emily Jundt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sloane has done it again! I knew when I read the first book that I immediately needed the next one! The characters are just so relatable and real. They go through things that would happen in real life, which I appreciate in a book!

I laughed, cried, giggled, and kicked my feet while reading this one!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

-Second Chance Romance
-Dual Timeline
-Child Loss/Grief
-Brother’s Best Friend
-Luxury Dude Ranch Setting

This book was an easy 5 stars but make sure to check the trigger warnings!

Thank you NetGalley and HQ Digital for the eARC.

Sierra’s been in love with her brother’s best friend Benji since she was 15 years old. Benji, being five years old, made her wait until she was 19 to make his move. 16 years later, they can barely be in the same room as each other After suffering the devastating loss of their child, Sierra has completely shut out Benji and they have lived the year following apart. He has to take on a bigger role on the ranch while his best friend Mav recovers. The more time they spend with each other, the more they realize they cannot live without each other.

I apologize for all the quotes in advance ❤️
----------------------
I took a chance on this after seeing the tropes and was so happy I did. Flecther’s ability to show grief after such a heartbreaking loss was so well done. As she wrote, “grief is not linear” and everyone truly deals with it in their own way.

It was erratic and ruthless, one day completely dormant, the next explosive and all consuming, those up-down emotional battles leaving a person exhausted.
Sierra chooses to hide behind work, stay busy and push all her feelings deep inside the boxes she keeps in her spare room. For someone who has not experienced this kind of loss, she may come off as cold or unfeeling, but she spends most of her day telling herself she’s fine and refuses to feel what she needs to.

When her eyes burned, she blinked once and steeled herself, refusing to give in to the tears. She cleared her throat, told herself: You’re fine.

The scene where Sierra finds out Nina is pregnant is something women who struggle with fertility or have experienced loss dread. That scene and the ones following felt so real and devastating.

**‘What type of person is devastated by such happy news? What type of person feels angry when the people she loves most in the world are so happy?’ She swiped at her nose, furious with herself for falling apart. ‘You can be sad for yourself and still be happy for Mav and Nina,’ he said gently.

While Benji isn’t completely ignoring his grief like Sierra, he too is not giving in fully to the loss wanting to be whatever Sierra needs. He ends up giving her so much space he has moved into the bunk house quietly sharing his day with his baby girl.

‘If I didn’t show you how broken I was it was only because I was trying to be strong – for you, Sierra. I thought if I could just keep it together for a little while, I could hold you while you broke.’

Nobody could prepare for that. Nobody thought that they would have to watch the person they loved most in the world suffer through the biggest trauma of their life, or that when it happened, they would have no power to help them.

Using “Before” and “After” was a relatable way for them to avoid directly mentioning what happened. Experiencing something like that truly changes a person and while you may learn to live with the pain, you really aren’t the same person you were before. And the fear of not knowing what you want anymore or of not being certain how the next one will turn out hit me so hard.

Sierra didn’t make a sound as the rendering halved her, dividing her into Sierra-Before and Sierra-After, one so hopeful and excited, one so numb, so empty.

Sierra had survived her parents’ accident – barely. But she had never really worked through her grief, so that by the time their baby had died, she’d had no more room for any more. She had shut down.

This book was just so spot on and brought up excellent points about child loss in our current world.

It had taken him losing their baby to understand why women got upset when people asked those seemingly innocent questions: Are you guys going to have kids? When? To one woman, those little questions were so simple to answer, so exciting. But for another woman, for many women, those questions were lashing reminders of empty wombs, of little urns, of revised dreams.

Seeing Sierra trying to find her way out of her grief was beautiful. It takes a lot to begin to trust yourself and your body after a loss like that. I loved seeing her find her way back to Benji as well.

‘I just get lost sometimes …’ Benji looked at her as he slid into her, watched her eyes darken and then close completely when he sank to the hilt. ‘I’ll always come find you,’ he whispered.

Overall, I think Fletcher did an excellent job putting into words the struggle someone experiences after losing a child. It’s devastating at any point and after reading her author’s note, I understand why she felt like this story needed to be told.
Though it was heavy, I loved every page of it. This book broke my heart but also helped put some of it back together.

[E.K. Oakley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Blue Devil Woman
Author: Sloane Fletcher
Series: Hunt Ranch Novel #2 (Interconnected Standalone)
Genre/Subgenre: Contemporary Western Romance / Small Town Romance

Tropes:
• cowboy romance
• second chance
• broken hearts
• ranch life
• emotional romance
• older brother’s best friend
• complex characters healing together
• pregnancy loss
Spice Level: 2.5/5🌶️
Content Warnings: Grief, emotional trauma, heartbreak, loss themes, pregnancy loss

My Quick Synopsis
FMC and MMC are carrying deep emotional scars where they find themselves drawn back together on a ranch where healing might finally be possible. I believe that Blue Devil Woman blends western charm with emotional vulnerability, giving readers a story full of deep longing with characters desperately trying to rediscover hope after massive heartbreak.

My Initial Thoughts & Impression:
The cover immediately sold me on this one. My other hyperfixation that I associate more to my ‘tism side is focused completely on horses and dogs. The dream is to someday have a ranch and lifestyle that is like the characters in these books. Someday, I plan to have a cowboy like Benji (swoon). The cover, synopsis and entire premise of the story already guaranteed I was going to love it.
Admittedly I read this one before I read the first book in the series as well.

This feels like the kind of romance you read curled up under a blanket while pretending you live on a ranch somewhere in Montana. So I did just that.

What Worked for Me:
 The Emotional Healing Arc
This book shines most in heartbreak and healing moments. I spent the entire book crying and just feeling devastated with a side of frustration. The “two broken hearts learning how to exist again” theme felt sincere and grounded rather than overly dramatic. The relationship develops through vulnerability, patience, and shared pain, which made the overall romantic feel believable.

 Ranch & Western Atmosphere
The ranch setting adds so much charm to the story. Horses, open land, quiet moments, and cowboy energy all create that comforting western romance atmosphere readers look for in this genre. As I explained above, this always sells me on any book I read, but I can be a much harder critic in that aspect as well. I think the author did a fabulous job describing ranch life, it felt reasonable and not overly romanticized.

 Character Chemistry
The chemistry here feels more emotionally intimate than explosively spicy (although it was spicy and well written), it worked perfectly within the plotline of the story aka the heartbreak and healing journey that the relationship of the characters goes on. The softer but spicy connection between the leads matched the healing tone perfectly.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
At times, the pacing felt slower than I wanted, especially in the middle sections, when I was desperately wishing for the sadness/ache in my chest to lighten. I would say that readers whom are looking for high drama or nonstop spice may find this more emotionally focused and quieter in tone.

I was frustrated with Sierra (while also simultaneously being heartbroken for her the entire time). There were some points that I wanted her to cowgirl up, to treat Benji better, but I do know that is unfair as everyone’s grieving journey is their own. In that way the portrayal of the character’s journey through grief was so accurately depicted that it was a harder read for me as I wasn’t expecting it as deep as it went. It’s hard to say accurately that it didn’t work for me, because it did but it made all of it difficult and will definitely not be one of my favorite spicy comforts reads but will be a part of my favorite reads, if that makes any sense at all.

My Final Thoughts
Blue Devil Woman is a heartfelt western romance that focuses more on emotional connection and healing than flashy drama.

It has that cozy “sunset over the ranch while two emotionally damaged people fall in love” atmosphere that makes western romance so addictive.

This was my first Sloane Fletcher. I have added all of her titles to my TBR list. I will be reading Mav and Nina’s story next and I am so excited but need to emotionally prepare for it.

It will be an all-time obsession for me personally, I will buy the paperback, I will think about this book and remember the heartbreak, the healing and the connection between Sierra and Benji and pray that some day I have something like that in my life.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review—no sugarcoating, no holding back, questionable grammar and dialogue all mine. All thoughts entirely my own.

***I'll post a review to Amazon on the day of publication***

[Chloë · Rating 5 out of 5]

5✨

⭑ Publication date: 7th May 2026
⭑ Book 2, Hunt Ranch series (Book 1, Night Rider is available to read on Kindleunlimited)
⭑ Please remember to check all content/trigger warnings prior to reading. This book deals with the trauma of child loss & the grief that follows.

A second chance romance for readers who enjoy -
🐴 Cowboy/Western Romance
❤️‍🩹 Brothers Best Friend
🐴 Small Town, Big Drama
❤️‍🩹 Forced Proximity
🐴 Sunshine After The Rain

A huge thank you to Caitlin at HQ for gifting me an early finished copy of Blue Devil Woman. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily❣️


~ plot ~

Then > Growing up on her family’s ranch, Sierra & her Brother’s best friend Benji had always been close. When their friendship turned into something more & the pair fell pregnant, it seemed like their lives were set. But after a devastating loss, staying together was just too painful a reminder.

Now > Years later when Benji is forced to make an unexpected return to the ranch, the pair are thrown together again. But while it may not seem like what either of them want, could it turn out to be exactly what they both need?


~ review ~

Blue Devil Woman is a second chance, cowboy/western romantic drama that will break your heart & put it right back together again. The characters are real, their stories raw & their journey is one heck of an emotional rollercoaster.
While I highly recommend this book to the entire world & their pets, please check the content & trigger warnings before reading. (I’m sending warmth & well wishes to anyone affected ♥️)

To say Blue Devil Woman puts you through it is an understatement. I genuinely had to apply eye cream & moisturiser after reading as the tears & tissues played havoc with my sensitive skin. However, as raw & heartbreaking as Sierra & Benji’s story is, it’s heartwarming too. A beautiful tale of resilience, growth & finding a way back to yourself, to others & to the life you put on hold without even realising it.

I always say that grief is a club nobody wants to be a part of but at some point, we’re all forced to join. Until you’re living it you don’t know how you’ll react, what’ll hit you hardest & whether you’ll shut off, ice everyone out or embrace the whirlwind of emotions you’re swept up in.
The way Sloane Fletcher shares Sierra & Benji’s journeys captures all of that perfectly. As painful as it is, her depiction of life after loss is beautiful, raw, real, relatable & a perfect example of how different people’s trauma responses & coping mechanisms can be.
You have Sierra pushing the world away, keeping herself busy, existing instead of living & Benji who although struggling, pushes his own hurt aside as for him seeing Sierra in pain is one of the hardest things to navigate. I just really commend Sloane for the honesty & vulnerability of it all, it’s so impactful & meaningful.

After reading that back, I feel it’s important to state that I know I’ve spoke a lot about crying & grief but this book is incredibly warm too! There’s plenty of lighthearted, humorous moments, so much love & at the end, you’re left feeling hopeful & uplifted. The connections and relationships are pure & enjoyable, the found family factor will make anyones heart grow 3 sizes, the ranch setting is chef’s kiss, & there’s an overwhelming lingering feeling of that rainbow after the rain sensation. Resolution, a new beginning, hope.


~ final thoughts ~

I can’t say exactly what I was expecting from Blue Devil Woman but I can say that what I got was SO much more. Does that make sense, I’m not even sure but it was just brilliant ok, like really really brilliant & I’m so excited for whatever comes next.

🐴 • 💔 • 🌾 • ⏩ • 😭 • ❤️‍🩹 • 🌈

[Verity W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sierra and Benji were meant to be together - until the stillbirth of their baby ripped them apart. After their devastating loss, they struggled to carry on working together at Sierra's family's ranch and so Benji got a new job as a wrangler across the border in Utah. But when circumstances mean Benji is needed back at the ranch, the two of them have to find a way of working together - and may be that will also see them finding their way back to each other.

Now the baby loss isn't mentioned in the blurb for this - it's just called "a devastating twist of fate" but given that this has a big warning from the author before the book about the book being something you might want to avoid for people who are struggling with starting a family that I feel like it's only fair to mention it. Also Blue Devil Woman is the second book in Sloane Fletcher's Hunt Ranch series and it is mentioned in the first book because Sierra and Benji are the main secondary side characters in that. And that is one of the reasons that I wanted to write about it is because when I previewed that first book, Night Rider, and then reviewed it in Quick Reviews my main point was that the cover didn't reflect the content - ie that it was very much a romantic suspense novel. So I wanted to read this second book both because I wanted to see how Sierra and Benji worked it out but also whether the working out of it was going to be a romantic suspense as well.

And the answer is that it's much more of a straight romance novel. The tension in it doesn't come from an external threat as it does in Night Rider, it comes from the loss that Sierra and Benji have suffered and the different ways that they are dealing (or not dealing) with it. And so the warning at the start about who this might be suitable for is very apt. I do think that for people in some circumstances this is going to be too much grief and loss. But with that said, I though that it needes something else within the plot to help propel it along - I felt like there was a lot of time spent covering the same ground over and over rather than moving the narrative on (see spoilers at the bottom) and then when we got to the resolution it was over a little quickly and felt a bit rushed.

Now I get that this isn't an entirely positive review - and usually Book of the Week is my favourite thing I read in a week, and this doesn't quite fit that. However it is the book that I read last week that I had the most to say about and so I feel justified in my choice!

after a certain amount of time I didn't any more demonstrations that Sierra was dealing with her loss by ignoring it and keeping busy so that she couldn't/didn't think about it, and the way that she kept pushing Benji away started to get almost irritating because it felt like she was stuck in a moment she wasn't willing to try and get out of. Now that may be a very accurate representation of baby loss, but when it's the driving element in a romance plot and happening over and over, it started to feel like there wasn't enough to the plot and the book either needed to be shorter or needed another element to it.


****Copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.*****

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 rounded up. Thank you so much to HQ, HQ Digital and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of Blue Devil Woman in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my GOD, my emotions. This book is not for the weak, I felt like I was repeatedly being punched in the gut (complimentary!). There was some pretty serious ugly crying. So, please please check your triggers for this one - it deals with stillbirth and the far reaching aftermath of that grief.

Sierra and Benji have been in love for 20+ years, they're fated - inevitable. They find themselves experiencing the most unimaginable heartbreak when their daughter is stillborn. The aftermath of their loss is ugly, lonely, and so, so heartbreaking. Neither of them know how to pick up the pieces, and their relationship completely falls apart in the face of their grief.

This book is set 1 year after the fact, and jumps back and forth between now and multiple thens throughout their relationship. Sierra has lost her warm, wild spirit and is just trying to survive each day as it comes. She still sees Benji daily, as he works alongside her on their family ranch, and she can't stomach being in the same room as him. Their loss is still too fresh and painful. After her brother is injured and unable to work during his recovery, Sierra finds herself having to learn how to work closely with Benji again. Will they be able to move forward together, after everything?

UGH MY HEART. PLEASE, this was so beautiful. I adore second chance romance, it's one of my favourite tropes, so even though this was emotionally devastating at its core I loved every second of the pain. Sierra, that poor broken queen. I loved her and I want nothing more than to protect her - she deserves the best of everything life has to offer. She was so relatable, her coping mechanisms were so organically human and real.

And Benji, I mean what can I say. This man is who you want around in a crisis - calm, steadfast, so collected. Fiercely protective..he is perfection. And his inability to see what he has to offer Sierra, for who he is irrespective of his upbringing, was so devastating. He also deserves the best of what life has to offer.

This was devastating but so hopeful and cathartic - it put me through the ringer but I feel so grateful to have had a chance to read this beautiful story. If you can handle the subject matter, and are ok with having your heart ripped out and put together, please pick this one up. Outside of the emotional turmoil there is some top tier yearning, the most beautiful love and support, a gorgeous found family, really excellent spice, a ranch I would love to visit and plenty of cowboy action.