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Play Me #4
Make Me
I’ve always hated being told what to do.
Imagine my surprise when my grandmother calls me back to Sugar Creek and casually informs me that she’s leaving me the farmhouse I grew up in and a sizable inheritance.
There’s just one tiny little catch.
I must prove I understand our family’s legacy, and that I can stop chasing whims and put down roots … by marrying Hartley Adler.
Imagine my surprise when my grandmother calls me back to Sugar Creek and casually informs me that she’s leaving me the farmhouse I grew up in and a sizable inheritance.
There’s just one tiny little catch.
I must prove I understand our family’s legacy, and that I can stop chasing whims and put down roots … by marrying Hartley Adler.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2026
About the author
Adriana Locke
88 books16.2k followersAdriana Locke is a USA Today and Amazon Charts Bestselling author with a knack for writing swoony, unforgettable contemporary romances. At nineteen, she traded her small-town roots for big-city life, only to realize her heart beats for quiet mornings and cozy chaos. These days, she’s living her happily-ever-after in Ohio with Mr. Locke—her high school sweetheart—four lively sons, and two hilariously hyper Jack Russell terriers.
When she’s not penning love stories that will leave you laughing and sighing, Adriana is battling the epic quest of missing silverware, “gardening” (a.k.a. chatting with her plants), or leaving her grocery list on the counter as she heads to the store. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let her books whisk you away to a world of heartwarming romance and irresistible heroes.
When she’s not penning love stories that will leave you laughing and sighing, Adriana is battling the epic quest of missing silverware, “gardening” (a.k.a. chatting with her plants), or leaving her grocery list on the counter as she heads to the store. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let her books whisk you away to a world of heartwarming romance and irresistible heroes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
May 19, 2026
“I’ve waited my whole life to hear you say you love me again. I started to believe that it would never happen.”
“What would you have done if it didn’t?”
“I’d have loved you anyway.”
Hartley Mother F*ckin Adler 😩
I obviously binged this book, only putting it down to put my kids to bed. I have been counting down the days until it came out. Hartley and Mira and the perfect second chance couple. And I strive to be like Lolly when I grow up.
So, SO good! I’m already excited for the next book!
P.S. Brooks is still my man, but Hartley is definitely up there!
“What would you have done if it didn’t?”
“I’d have loved you anyway.”
Hartley Mother F*ckin Adler 😩
I obviously binged this book, only putting it down to put my kids to bed. I have been counting down the days until it came out. Hartley and Mira and the perfect second chance couple. And I strive to be like Lolly when I grow up.
So, SO good! I’m already excited for the next book!
P.S. Brooks is still my man, but Hartley is definitely up there!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hartley Adler. That’s it. That’s the review.
Okay fine, I’ll say more, but honestly Adriana Locke unleashed this man on the world knowing full well what she was doing because I have not emotionally recovered from the level of yearning, patience, and devotion packed into this book.
Make Me was emotional, romantic, nostalgic, and painfully tender. Mira and Hartley carried so much history between them that you could feel it in every single interaction. This wasn’t just chemistry—it was years of friendship, grief, longing, almosts, missed chances, and love that never actually disappeared no matter how hard Mira tried to outrun it.
Mira broke my heart in so many ways because underneath all her impulsiveness and running was someone terrified of losing the people she loves. Ever since losing her parents, she’s convinced herself that staying still and putting down roots only ends in pain, so she keeps everyone, including Hartley, at arm’s length. Meanwhile Hartley stayed. He stayed in Sugar Creek, stayed loyal to his family, stayed carrying responsibilities on his shoulders and quietly stayed loving Mira through all of it.
And THIS MAN.
Hartley has been in love with Mira forever, and the pining in this book was absolutely elite. Everyone around them could see these two circling each other while Hartley tried to pretend he wasn’t hopelessly gone for her. The way he understood her, protected her, waited for her, and kept showing up for her even when it hurt him completely wrecked me.
Then Adriana adds in a one-year marriage arrangement orchestrated by Mira’s chaotic, matchmaking grandmother Lolly, and suddenly all that tension and unresolved love gets shoved into one farmhouse together. The rules they tried to set for themselves barely lasted five minutes because Hartley had waited far too long for his chance with Mira.
And can we PLEASE talk about Lolly? She absolutely stole every scene she walked into. That woman was out here manipulating lives for the greater good like a tiny southern puppet master and I adored her for it.
What I loved most about this story was how lived-in the relationship felt. Mira and Hartley already knew each other so deeply that even the quiet moments carried weight. Their banter, softness, emotional intimacy, tension, and comfort with each other all felt incredibly real. Adriana Locke writes relationships with so much warmth and emotional depth that I genuinely felt wrapped up in this little town and these people.
The farmhouse setting, the family legacy, Blackbird Ranch, the found family vibes, all of it made the story feel cozy while still bringing the emotional ache when it mattered. It felt like coming home while simultaneously having your heart ripped out a little.
This book was filled with:
💛 second chance romance
🌾 small town charm
💍 marriage of convenience
🔥 years of pining
🩷 friends to lovers vibes
😭 “he stays, she runs” energy
✨ found family
💐 one meddling grandmother who deserves her own fan club
Hartley Adler climbed my book boyfriend rankings FAST. Adriana Locke absolutely delivered with Make Me, and now I’m already impatiently waiting for the next book in this series.
Okay fine, I’ll say more, but honestly Adriana Locke unleashed this man on the world knowing full well what she was doing because I have not emotionally recovered from the level of yearning, patience, and devotion packed into this book.
Make Me was emotional, romantic, nostalgic, and painfully tender. Mira and Hartley carried so much history between them that you could feel it in every single interaction. This wasn’t just chemistry—it was years of friendship, grief, longing, almosts, missed chances, and love that never actually disappeared no matter how hard Mira tried to outrun it.
Mira broke my heart in so many ways because underneath all her impulsiveness and running was someone terrified of losing the people she loves. Ever since losing her parents, she’s convinced herself that staying still and putting down roots only ends in pain, so she keeps everyone, including Hartley, at arm’s length. Meanwhile Hartley stayed. He stayed in Sugar Creek, stayed loyal to his family, stayed carrying responsibilities on his shoulders and quietly stayed loving Mira through all of it.
And THIS MAN.
Hartley has been in love with Mira forever, and the pining in this book was absolutely elite. Everyone around them could see these two circling each other while Hartley tried to pretend he wasn’t hopelessly gone for her. The way he understood her, protected her, waited for her, and kept showing up for her even when it hurt him completely wrecked me.
Then Adriana adds in a one-year marriage arrangement orchestrated by Mira’s chaotic, matchmaking grandmother Lolly, and suddenly all that tension and unresolved love gets shoved into one farmhouse together. The rules they tried to set for themselves barely lasted five minutes because Hartley had waited far too long for his chance with Mira.
And can we PLEASE talk about Lolly? She absolutely stole every scene she walked into. That woman was out here manipulating lives for the greater good like a tiny southern puppet master and I adored her for it.
What I loved most about this story was how lived-in the relationship felt. Mira and Hartley already knew each other so deeply that even the quiet moments carried weight. Their banter, softness, emotional intimacy, tension, and comfort with each other all felt incredibly real. Adriana Locke writes relationships with so much warmth and emotional depth that I genuinely felt wrapped up in this little town and these people.
The farmhouse setting, the family legacy, Blackbird Ranch, the found family vibes, all of it made the story feel cozy while still bringing the emotional ache when it mattered. It felt like coming home while simultaneously having your heart ripped out a little.
This book was filled with:
💛 second chance romance
🌾 small town charm
💍 marriage of convenience
🔥 years of pining
🩷 friends to lovers vibes
😭 “he stays, she runs” energy
✨ found family
💐 one meddling grandmother who deserves her own fan club
Hartley Adler climbed my book boyfriend rankings FAST. Adriana Locke absolutely delivered with Make Me, and now I’m already impatiently waiting for the next book in this series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
*An advance reader copy was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.*
Once Mira St. James left Sugar Creek behind, she never settled down more than a year here, a few months there. When her grandmother, Lolly, asks her to come back for a visit, Mira heads home for what she assumes will be a few days. It’ll give her time with her grandmother, as well as her sister, Markie. On her way into town, she had to make a pit stop at the farm next door to see a man about taking in a little piggy she rescued.
Hartley Adler is that farmer and the man who has never stopped thinking about Mira. She’s the one who got away and left him behind. No woman has ever made Hartley feel the way Mira did. As upset as he’d like to be at her for fostering a pig off on him, even if she says she’ll find the pig a new home, Hartley knows the pig was there to stay.
The question is why was Mira back in Sugar Creek? That’s the million-dollar question, that Lolly answers to a stunned Mira and Hartley a few days later after church. Instead of selling her property to a developer for a lot of money, Lolly propositions that Mira show family loyalty by settling down for a year by marrying Hartley, and at the end of that year, Mira will inherit Lolly’s farmhouse and a big inheritance, and the rest of the land would be given to Hartley, since it was his family the St. James’s bought the property from many, many moons ago.
“She’s gonna destroy me. And I’m gonna let her.”
There is so much history between Mira and Hartley. Hartley’s been in love with Mira for a very long time. But he knows he must tread lightly to make this work for the year, and if he has anything to say about, for their lifetime.
“Because I’ve been in love with you my whole life. Getting to love you is a whole different thing.”
Resigned to not letting her grandmother down, Mira accepts her cockamamie
scheme and agrees to marry Hartley. Oh boy, the chemistry between Hartley and Mira is off the charts and the resistance to not touch one another does not last long. And once they connect, Mira’s walls start coming down. Her vulnerability is heartbreaking. Hartley has always seen her for who she is and has loved her the whole time. Now it’s Mira’s turn to be brave.
“I needed to let him love me.”
I love a good second chance romance and Adriana Locke does not disappoint. This story is what I needed for Hartley and Mira. It renewed my faith in love and that there’s someone for everyone, even when you don’t feel like you fit in. A big plus is that we got updates on Gray and Astrid, Drake and Gianna, and Brooks and Audrey. And who doesn’t love a well-meaning but totally manipulative grandmother like Lolly? Seriously, I want to move to Sugar Creek and hang out with these characters. I could absolutely see myself fitting right in.
Once Mira St. James left Sugar Creek behind, she never settled down more than a year here, a few months there. When her grandmother, Lolly, asks her to come back for a visit, Mira heads home for what she assumes will be a few days. It’ll give her time with her grandmother, as well as her sister, Markie. On her way into town, she had to make a pit stop at the farm next door to see a man about taking in a little piggy she rescued.
Hartley Adler is that farmer and the man who has never stopped thinking about Mira. She’s the one who got away and left him behind. No woman has ever made Hartley feel the way Mira did. As upset as he’d like to be at her for fostering a pig off on him, even if she says she’ll find the pig a new home, Hartley knows the pig was there to stay.
The question is why was Mira back in Sugar Creek? That’s the million-dollar question, that Lolly answers to a stunned Mira and Hartley a few days later after church. Instead of selling her property to a developer for a lot of money, Lolly propositions that Mira show family loyalty by settling down for a year by marrying Hartley, and at the end of that year, Mira will inherit Lolly’s farmhouse and a big inheritance, and the rest of the land would be given to Hartley, since it was his family the St. James’s bought the property from many, many moons ago.
“She’s gonna destroy me. And I’m gonna let her.”
There is so much history between Mira and Hartley. Hartley’s been in love with Mira for a very long time. But he knows he must tread lightly to make this work for the year, and if he has anything to say about, for their lifetime.
“Because I’ve been in love with you my whole life. Getting to love you is a whole different thing.”
Resigned to not letting her grandmother down, Mira accepts her cockamamie
scheme and agrees to marry Hartley. Oh boy, the chemistry between Hartley and Mira is off the charts and the resistance to not touch one another does not last long. And once they connect, Mira’s walls start coming down. Her vulnerability is heartbreaking. Hartley has always seen her for who she is and has loved her the whole time. Now it’s Mira’s turn to be brave.
“I needed to let him love me.”
I love a good second chance romance and Adriana Locke does not disappoint. This story is what I needed for Hartley and Mira. It renewed my faith in love and that there’s someone for everyone, even when you don’t feel like you fit in. A big plus is that we got updates on Gray and Astrid, Drake and Gianna, and Brooks and Audrey. And who doesn’t love a well-meaning but totally manipulative grandmother like Lolly? Seriously, I want to move to Sugar Creek and hang out with these characters. I could absolutely see myself fitting right in.
Review of advance copy
I inhaled Make Me like a woman stranded in the desert finding iced coffee and air conditioning 😭💛
Mira and Hartley were EVERYTHING I wanted in a second chance romance and somehow even better than I imagined. This book had me grinning, swooning, tearing up, and aggressively ignoring my responsibilities because there was absolutely no chance I was putting it down before the end. The dishes? Unimportant. Sleep? Optional. Hartley Adler? Essential.
And listen… HARTLEY MOTHER F*CKIN ADLER 🫠
That man had me folded instantly. The quiet longing? The patience? The “I’d have loved you anyway” line??? EXCUSE ME while I launch myself directly into the sun because my heart could not survive that level of devotion. That wasn’t romance. That was emotional artillery.
You could FEEL the history between Hartley and Mira in every scene. All the old wounds, the comfort, the tension, the love that never really disappeared even when life pulled them apart. It felt lived in and real and achy in the best way. Adriana Locke writes chemistry like she’s sprinkling crack into the pages because these two had me addicted.
And Mira was such a good heroine. Messy, impulsive, funny, emotional, trying to figure out what she actually wants from life while being dragged back home by her chaotic matchmaking grandmother and one very unfairly attractive man. I loved her growth so much.
Speaking of grandmothers… Lolly absolutely stole every scene she walked into 😂💐
I aspire to have that level of chaotic wisdom one day. She was out here orchestrating lives like a tiny southern puppet master with a heart of gold and I adored her.
The farmhouse setting, the family legacy, the small town vibes, the emotional history woven through every interaction… it all felt warm and nostalgic while still bringing the angst when it mattered. Like being wrapped in a quilt right before someone emotionally bodychecks you.
Also can we discuss the TENSION???
The yearning???
The “we still love each other but are terrified of what comes next” energy???
I was kicking my feet like an idiot the entire time.
This book felt like:
💛 coming home when you never meant to stay
🌾 old love letters hidden under floorboards
💍 one stubborn grandmother playing chess with people’s hearts
🔥 years of love that never actually burned out
So, SO good. I’ve been waiting for this one forever and it absolutely delivered. Brooks still owns a piece of my soul too, but Hartley Adler climbed that book boyfriend ranking FAST 😭
Mira and Hartley were EVERYTHING I wanted in a second chance romance and somehow even better than I imagined. This book had me grinning, swooning, tearing up, and aggressively ignoring my responsibilities because there was absolutely no chance I was putting it down before the end. The dishes? Unimportant. Sleep? Optional. Hartley Adler? Essential.
And listen… HARTLEY MOTHER F*CKIN ADLER 🫠
That man had me folded instantly. The quiet longing? The patience? The “I’d have loved you anyway” line??? EXCUSE ME while I launch myself directly into the sun because my heart could not survive that level of devotion. That wasn’t romance. That was emotional artillery.
You could FEEL the history between Hartley and Mira in every scene. All the old wounds, the comfort, the tension, the love that never really disappeared even when life pulled them apart. It felt lived in and real and achy in the best way. Adriana Locke writes chemistry like she’s sprinkling crack into the pages because these two had me addicted.
And Mira was such a good heroine. Messy, impulsive, funny, emotional, trying to figure out what she actually wants from life while being dragged back home by her chaotic matchmaking grandmother and one very unfairly attractive man. I loved her growth so much.
Speaking of grandmothers… Lolly absolutely stole every scene she walked into 😂💐
I aspire to have that level of chaotic wisdom one day. She was out here orchestrating lives like a tiny southern puppet master with a heart of gold and I adored her.
The farmhouse setting, the family legacy, the small town vibes, the emotional history woven through every interaction… it all felt warm and nostalgic while still bringing the angst when it mattered. Like being wrapped in a quilt right before someone emotionally bodychecks you.
Also can we discuss the TENSION???
The yearning???
The “we still love each other but are terrified of what comes next” energy???
I was kicking my feet like an idiot the entire time.
This book felt like:
💛 coming home when you never meant to stay
🌾 old love letters hidden under floorboards
💍 one stubborn grandmother playing chess with people’s hearts
🔥 years of love that never actually burned out
So, SO good. I’ve been waiting for this one forever and it absolutely delivered. Brooks still owns a piece of my soul too, but Hartley Adler climbed that book boyfriend ranking FAST 😭
Review of advance copy received from Author
Break my heart and tear my soul up..go ahead, Ms Adriana Locke! Make Me was a treasure box of emotions. I went from swooning to hurting to laughing to sighing to crying to falling in love in a crazy way..right along side Mira and Hartley. This small town romance made me feel so happy and light but at the same time made me feel the aching emotions. Another smashing hit from Adriana Locke.
🩷 small town romance
🩷 he falls first
🩷 second chance
🩷 marriage of convenience
🩷 friends to lovers
🩷 found family
Mira has been running away from Sugar Creek with various excuses because she never dealt with her grief of losing her parents properly. But now her grandmother has set conditions. Marry her friend Hartley Adler who has been there for her in every way but she never let herself accept her feelings and get the property together or lose the house and the land those holds so many memories. This land belonged to Adler family and their Blackbird Ranch is just by the side. It has been a dream of Hartley to get it back but he didn't have the money. The marriage would be an easy way except it is Mira. The only woman he ever loved and who never wants to stay.
Oh Hartley Adler, the perfect man you are! He has been carrying the massive responsibility of taking care of their family farm for years and he has also suffered the loss of losing his parents. He has loved Mira since he can remember the concept. They had steamy nights here and there. He has been a pillar of support for her through the dark times. But Mira always made it clear that she doesn't want long term. But this deal with her beloved grandmother is forcing her hands. It's not that she is unwilling. She will never be unfair to Hartley and she obviously didn't want to lose the house full of memories to some sleazy developer. But loving someone and being vulnerable scared her. She is such a bright soul but she is scared to lose and get hurt. But it is Hartley. The man who always protected her. The man who always took care of her. The man who understood her needs and desires and reasons even when it was breaking him. They have some amazing friends and found families to rally behind them but they had to do the tough job of handling their feels. Hartley made it so easy for Mira to let go of her fears and open up to the possibility of being real happy. Their banter. Their chemistry. Their softness. It was just everything.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
🩷 small town romance
🩷 he falls first
🩷 second chance
🩷 marriage of convenience
🩷 friends to lovers
🩷 found family
Mira has been running away from Sugar Creek with various excuses because she never dealt with her grief of losing her parents properly. But now her grandmother has set conditions. Marry her friend Hartley Adler who has been there for her in every way but she never let herself accept her feelings and get the property together or lose the house and the land those holds so many memories. This land belonged to Adler family and their Blackbird Ranch is just by the side. It has been a dream of Hartley to get it back but he didn't have the money. The marriage would be an easy way except it is Mira. The only woman he ever loved and who never wants to stay.
Oh Hartley Adler, the perfect man you are! He has been carrying the massive responsibility of taking care of their family farm for years and he has also suffered the loss of losing his parents. He has loved Mira since he can remember the concept. They had steamy nights here and there. He has been a pillar of support for her through the dark times. But Mira always made it clear that she doesn't want long term. But this deal with her beloved grandmother is forcing her hands. It's not that she is unwilling. She will never be unfair to Hartley and she obviously didn't want to lose the house full of memories to some sleazy developer. But loving someone and being vulnerable scared her. She is such a bright soul but she is scared to lose and get hurt. But it is Hartley. The man who always protected her. The man who always took care of her. The man who understood her needs and desires and reasons even when it was breaking him. They have some amazing friends and found families to rally behind them but they had to do the tough job of handling their feels. Hartley made it so easy for Mira to let go of her fears and open up to the possibility of being real happy. Their banter. Their chemistry. Their softness. It was just everything.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
Review of advance copy received from Author
Some books romance you gently… and some completely wreck your emotional stability in the best possible way. Make Me by Make Me absolutely owned me from beginning to end. I went in expecting small town charm and second chance tension, but what I got was a story overflowing with aching love, healing, longing, and characters that felt painfully real.
Mira and Hartley had the kind of connection that lingers in every glance and every conversation. Their history wasn’t just mentioned — it lived in the story. Every moment between them carried years of love, heartbreak, missed timing, and feelings neither of them ever truly escaped. And honestly? That emotional depth made this romance hit so much harder.
Hartley Adler is officially one of those heroes I will never recover from. Quietly devoted, endlessly patient, protective without trying to control her… he loved Mira in a way that felt steady and unconditional even when she kept one foot out the door. The softness of this man while carrying so much responsibility for his family and the ranch? I was DONE for.
And Mira was such a beautifully layered heroine. She’s carrying grief, guilt, fear, and the pressure of returning to a place filled with memories she’s spent years running from. Watching her slowly lower her walls and allow herself to want love, home, and stability made this story feel incredibly emotional and hopeful at the same time.
The marriage-of-convenience setup mixed with friends-to-lovers energy was perfection. Add in the small town setting, family legacy drama, found family vibes, and all the yearning-filled tension, and this book became impossible to put down. Every interaction between Mira and Hartley felt intimate — whether they were teasing each other, fighting their feelings, or simply existing together in familiar silence.
And Lolly? Absolute icon behavior. That woman was out there playing matchmaker like it was a professional sport and I loved every second of her chaos 😭
This story felt warm, nostalgic, emotional, and deeply romantic all at once. Like coming home to a place your heart never truly left.
✨ Tropes:
🌾 Small town romance
💍 Marriage of convenience
🤍 Friends to lovers
🔥 Second chance romance
🩷 He falls first
🏡 Found family
Thank you to the author Adriana Locke for the ARC. This review was given voluntarily and all thoughts are my own ✨
Mira and Hartley had the kind of connection that lingers in every glance and every conversation. Their history wasn’t just mentioned — it lived in the story. Every moment between them carried years of love, heartbreak, missed timing, and feelings neither of them ever truly escaped. And honestly? That emotional depth made this romance hit so much harder.
Hartley Adler is officially one of those heroes I will never recover from. Quietly devoted, endlessly patient, protective without trying to control her… he loved Mira in a way that felt steady and unconditional even when she kept one foot out the door. The softness of this man while carrying so much responsibility for his family and the ranch? I was DONE for.
And Mira was such a beautifully layered heroine. She’s carrying grief, guilt, fear, and the pressure of returning to a place filled with memories she’s spent years running from. Watching her slowly lower her walls and allow herself to want love, home, and stability made this story feel incredibly emotional and hopeful at the same time.
The marriage-of-convenience setup mixed with friends-to-lovers energy was perfection. Add in the small town setting, family legacy drama, found family vibes, and all the yearning-filled tension, and this book became impossible to put down. Every interaction between Mira and Hartley felt intimate — whether they were teasing each other, fighting their feelings, or simply existing together in familiar silence.
And Lolly? Absolute icon behavior. That woman was out there playing matchmaker like it was a professional sport and I loved every second of her chaos 😭
This story felt warm, nostalgic, emotional, and deeply romantic all at once. Like coming home to a place your heart never truly left.
✨ Tropes:
🌾 Small town romance
💍 Marriage of convenience
🤍 Friends to lovers
🔥 Second chance romance
🩷 He falls first
🏡 Found family
Thank you to the author Adriana Locke for the ARC. This review was given voluntarily and all thoughts are my own ✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
Make Me by Adriana Locke is the fourth book in the Play Me series, and it delivers a heartfelt small-town romance packed with humor, emotion, and undeniable chemistry.
Mira St. James and Hartley Adler have been friends since childhood, bonded by shared losses and complicated family histories. But while Hartley stayed rooted in their hometown, Mira learned to cope by running away, only returning in brief visits before disappearing again.
Everything changes when Mira comes home and is confronted with an unexpected proposition from her grandmother, Lolly. The offer is unconventional, to say the least: Mira and Hartley must get married for one year. In return, Mira inherits the family house and surrounding land, while Hartley receives the remaining acreage that once belonged to his family.
As outrageous as the arrangement sounds, Mira finds herself unable to refuse, especially knowing how much the land means to Hartley. What follows is a year of forced proximity, unresolved feelings, and emotional reckoning. The real question becomes whether Mira can finally stay in the place tied to so many memories or whether she will run again when the year is up.
This story blends small-town charm, friends-to-lovers tension, fake marriage, and forced proximity into a romance that feels both playful and deeply emotional. It made me laugh, swoon, and even tear up at moments, striking a balance between lighthearted fun and heartfelt depth.
The plot remains simple and romance-driven, yet it never feels slow or boring. Instead, it holds your attention through strong emotional beats and engaging character dynamics. Mira, in particular, stands out with her chaotic energy and unpredictable antics, bringing a refreshing spark to the story. Despite being opposites in many ways, Mira and Hartley fit together perfectly, their connection feeling both natural and satisfying.
One of the most memorable moments is the pig scene, which perfectly captures Mira’s personality and adds a layer of humor that balances the emotional depth of the book.
If you enjoy sweet and spicy small-town romance with emotional depth and lovable characters, this book is definitely worth picking up.
Make Me by Adriana Locke is the fourth book in the Play Me series, and it delivers a heartfelt small-town romance packed with humor, emotion, and undeniable chemistry.
Mira St. James and Hartley Adler have been friends since childhood, bonded by shared losses and complicated family histories. But while Hartley stayed rooted in their hometown, Mira learned to cope by running away, only returning in brief visits before disappearing again.
Everything changes when Mira comes home and is confronted with an unexpected proposition from her grandmother, Lolly. The offer is unconventional, to say the least: Mira and Hartley must get married for one year. In return, Mira inherits the family house and surrounding land, while Hartley receives the remaining acreage that once belonged to his family.
As outrageous as the arrangement sounds, Mira finds herself unable to refuse, especially knowing how much the land means to Hartley. What follows is a year of forced proximity, unresolved feelings, and emotional reckoning. The real question becomes whether Mira can finally stay in the place tied to so many memories or whether she will run again when the year is up.
This story blends small-town charm, friends-to-lovers tension, fake marriage, and forced proximity into a romance that feels both playful and deeply emotional. It made me laugh, swoon, and even tear up at moments, striking a balance between lighthearted fun and heartfelt depth.
The plot remains simple and romance-driven, yet it never feels slow or boring. Instead, it holds your attention through strong emotional beats and engaging character dynamics. Mira, in particular, stands out with her chaotic energy and unpredictable antics, bringing a refreshing spark to the story. Despite being opposites in many ways, Mira and Hartley fit together perfectly, their connection feeling both natural and satisfying.
One of the most memorable moments is the pig scene, which perfectly captures Mira’s personality and adds a layer of humor that balances the emotional depth of the book.
If you enjoy sweet and spicy small-town romance with emotional depth and lovable characters, this book is definitely worth picking up.
May 21, 2026
I’ve always loved second-chance romance. I’ve even found a soft spot for childhood friends-to-lovers. But what I wasn’t expecting? How much I apparently LOVE marriage of convenience. 😭
Maybe it’s just the way Adriana Locke writes. Maybe it’s the combination of ALL of these tropes together. Maybe it’s the way this world keeps expanding while still giving us little glimpses of characters we already know and love. Whatever it is… this book REALLY worked for me.
This entire series deserves so much more hype.
I had honestly started to think I just wasn’t a cowboy romance girl (or even cowboy-ish romance girl 😂), but there’s something about the way Adriana writes these characters that just hits every single time. She can write sports romance, small town romance, cowboy romance, complicated friend groups with years of history, and somehow weave all of it together in a way that feels so lived-in and real.
And THIS story? Ugh.
She’s the girl who never stays.
He’s the man who never leaves.
Inject it directly into my veins.
I love stories where the romance isn’t just built on attraction, but on years of history. Shared memories. Childhood friendships. A whole life created outside of the romance itself. Two people who loved each other forever, messed things up, lost their way, and still somehow find their way back to each other in the end.
That “I’d love you in every lifetime” kind of love absolutely destroys me every single time.
This book had me crying, laughing, giggling, blushing, and relating way too hard to certain characters. It was fun, emotional, comforting, romantic, and deeply heartfelt all at once. I highlighted what felt like every other page because there was constantly a line or moment I didn’t want to forget.
Alright. That’s it. I’m officially going back and reading Adriana Locke’s entire backlog now. 🤠💛
Maybe it’s just the way Adriana Locke writes. Maybe it’s the combination of ALL of these tropes together. Maybe it’s the way this world keeps expanding while still giving us little glimpses of characters we already know and love. Whatever it is… this book REALLY worked for me.
This entire series deserves so much more hype.
I had honestly started to think I just wasn’t a cowboy romance girl (or even cowboy-ish romance girl 😂), but there’s something about the way Adriana writes these characters that just hits every single time. She can write sports romance, small town romance, cowboy romance, complicated friend groups with years of history, and somehow weave all of it together in a way that feels so lived-in and real.
And THIS story? Ugh.
She’s the girl who never stays.
He’s the man who never leaves.
Inject it directly into my veins.
I love stories where the romance isn’t just built on attraction, but on years of history. Shared memories. Childhood friendships. A whole life created outside of the romance itself. Two people who loved each other forever, messed things up, lost their way, and still somehow find their way back to each other in the end.
That “I’d love you in every lifetime” kind of love absolutely destroys me every single time.
This book had me crying, laughing, giggling, blushing, and relating way too hard to certain characters. It was fun, emotional, comforting, romantic, and deeply heartfelt all at once. I highlighted what felt like every other page because there was constantly a line or moment I didn’t want to forget.
Alright. That’s it. I’m officially going back and reading Adriana Locke’s entire backlog now. 🤠💛
Review of advance copy
This one was such a sweet surprise becuase underneath the romance is a story about grief, timing, and the ways people cope when life changes everything.
Mira and Hartley both leave .. just in completely different ways.
Mira is a runner. She keeps moving, keeps searching, keeps convincing herself that staying still means getting stuck. She’s carrying loss and grief in a way that makes her afraid to put roots down ... even if she doesn’trealize how lonely she’s become.
Hartley is the opposite. He’s the stay, gight, work through it type. Ranch owner, dependable, steady ...and completely in love with Mira since they were kids. It’s never been in a secret – to us, to the town, honestly to anyone paying attention. But he’s stuck too. Stuck between holding onto what he wants and deciding if it’s finally time to let go.
What I loved most was that this wasn’t really about one person being right and the other being wrong. It was about how grief looks different for everyone ... and what can happen when you avoid it instead of facing.
And lets take a minute to talk about Lolly? The grandmother who knows everything, sees everything, and fully believes she has a plan for everything too? She’s equal parts loveable, chaotic, and slightly unhinged in the best ways. While everyone else is dancing around feelings and avoiding hard conversations, shes over there quietly (or maybe not so quietly) exceuting her own little master plan to get these two where she thinks they belong.
The found family/commumity element was already top tier but grandma’s little matchmaking agenda made it even better. That being said this book was full of peopel that show up, push, support, medle, and love anyway - that gave the story so much warmth and depth.
This was cute, emotional, layered, and full of heart!
Mira and Hartley both leave .. just in completely different ways.
Mira is a runner. She keeps moving, keeps searching, keeps convincing herself that staying still means getting stuck. She’s carrying loss and grief in a way that makes her afraid to put roots down ... even if she doesn’trealize how lonely she’s become.
Hartley is the opposite. He’s the stay, gight, work through it type. Ranch owner, dependable, steady ...and completely in love with Mira since they were kids. It’s never been in a secret – to us, to the town, honestly to anyone paying attention. But he’s stuck too. Stuck between holding onto what he wants and deciding if it’s finally time to let go.
What I loved most was that this wasn’t really about one person being right and the other being wrong. It was about how grief looks different for everyone ... and what can happen when you avoid it instead of facing.
And lets take a minute to talk about Lolly? The grandmother who knows everything, sees everything, and fully believes she has a plan for everything too? She’s equal parts loveable, chaotic, and slightly unhinged in the best ways. While everyone else is dancing around feelings and avoiding hard conversations, shes over there quietly (or maybe not so quietly) exceuting her own little master plan to get these two where she thinks they belong.
The found family/commumity element was already top tier but grandma’s little matchmaking agenda made it even better. That being said this book was full of peopel that show up, push, support, medle, and love anyway - that gave the story so much warmth and depth.
This was cute, emotional, layered, and full of heart!
May 20, 2026
She'll always be the girl who can't sit still, and I'll always be the guy who can't leave.
I’ve been dying to find out more about Hartley and Mira’s past, and Adriana delivered as always. Both of them were irrevocably changed by the death of their parents, but handled it differently. Mira left town, trying to outrun her grief, while Hartley busied himself with responsibilities and obligations, hoping she’d one day return to him. Many of my favorite love stories involve yearning, and Hart is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. He’ll do anything for Mira, even if it means hurting himself in the process.
I can do this for a year. I can keep my hands, and heart, to myself. I’ve survived pretending I don’t love her for so long that I can pretend for twelve more months. And at least I’ll get to see her every day and make memories that I’ll never have a chance to do otherwise.
She’s going to destroy me. And I’m going to let her.
Learning that Mira closed herself off from others and couldn’t stay in one place for long because she feared losing those closest to her squeezed my heart. It was obvious that she loved Hartley as deeply as he loved her, but she was running scared. Thank goodness for Lolly and her scheming them into a temporary marriage. Without that, Mira would never have stayed long enough to work through her fears or realize that home is more than a place; it’s a person who makes you feel loved and safe.
If you want to love someone the way they deserve, you have to hand them every part of you.
The Play Me series is a favorite of mine, and I’m excited that next up is Mira’s sister, Markie, in Beg Me!
• Second chance romance
• Temporary marriage agreement
• He stays/she runs
• It's always been you
I’ve been dying to find out more about Hartley and Mira’s past, and Adriana delivered as always. Both of them were irrevocably changed by the death of their parents, but handled it differently. Mira left town, trying to outrun her grief, while Hartley busied himself with responsibilities and obligations, hoping she’d one day return to him. Many of my favorite love stories involve yearning, and Hart is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. He’ll do anything for Mira, even if it means hurting himself in the process.
I can do this for a year. I can keep my hands, and heart, to myself. I’ve survived pretending I don’t love her for so long that I can pretend for twelve more months. And at least I’ll get to see her every day and make memories that I’ll never have a chance to do otherwise.
She’s going to destroy me. And I’m going to let her.
Learning that Mira closed herself off from others and couldn’t stay in one place for long because she feared losing those closest to her squeezed my heart. It was obvious that she loved Hartley as deeply as he loved her, but she was running scared. Thank goodness for Lolly and her scheming them into a temporary marriage. Without that, Mira would never have stayed long enough to work through her fears or realize that home is more than a place; it’s a person who makes you feel loved and safe.
If you want to love someone the way they deserve, you have to hand them every part of you.
The Play Me series is a favorite of mine, and I’m excited that next up is Mira’s sister, Markie, in Beg Me!
• Second chance romance
• Temporary marriage agreement
• He stays/she runs
• It's always been you
Review of advance copy
This is my first read from Adriana Locke and I am left wanting more. Obviously, I’ll be reading the rest of her work in time.
Now, the review:
“Dad always said that just because you have a dxck doesn’t mean you have to be one. If a woman cooks for you, your ass better be in the kitchen cleaning it up.”
SWOON. Hartley, you (and your daddy) set a standard, sir.
Boys, take notes.
This is a man. 🫠
“Is Lolly out of her freakin’ mind?” Yes. Entirely. And I love it.
Lolly. You sly gal. I’m glad I don’t have one of you in my life. 👀 Just kidding. Kind of. In the same breath, I also hope I am a Lolly one day. She’s a wild card, that one. I’d definitely be making excuses to visit her if she lived in my town.
“But if you don’t want to walk alone, I’d love to walk with you. I kinda feel like I owe your dad a favor, and handing you off to the best man that I’ve ever known seems like a good way to repay him.” Actual tears. That was so touching. 😭
I appreciate the history of Hartley and Mira sprinkled throughout. It puts into perspective just how perfect this…togetherness…really is. It’s a marriage of convenience but also a really big way to say “stop messing around and be together.” Just…read it. You’ll see.
“I waited my whole life to hear you say you love me again.”
>>>>> Markie. Hey, girl. Can we grab a drink and discuss the opposite sex because I vibe with you so hard. Yes, I’m married. Yes, to a man. Yes, he’s in that 1/4 section. That doesn’t mean the other 3/4 of that board is safe from my man-hater ways. 😉 Also, I’m so excited that she’s getting her own book. I really like her character.
TROPES:
Small Town
Second Chance
Marriage of Convenience
Ranch Setting
Thank you, Adriana Locke & Hambright PR, for sending this my way!
Now, the review:
“Dad always said that just because you have a dxck doesn’t mean you have to be one. If a woman cooks for you, your ass better be in the kitchen cleaning it up.”
SWOON. Hartley, you (and your daddy) set a standard, sir.
Boys, take notes.
This is a man. 🫠
“Is Lolly out of her freakin’ mind?” Yes. Entirely. And I love it.
Lolly. You sly gal. I’m glad I don’t have one of you in my life. 👀 Just kidding. Kind of. In the same breath, I also hope I am a Lolly one day. She’s a wild card, that one. I’d definitely be making excuses to visit her if she lived in my town.
“But if you don’t want to walk alone, I’d love to walk with you. I kinda feel like I owe your dad a favor, and handing you off to the best man that I’ve ever known seems like a good way to repay him.” Actual tears. That was so touching. 😭
I appreciate the history of Hartley and Mira sprinkled throughout. It puts into perspective just how perfect this…togetherness…really is. It’s a marriage of convenience but also a really big way to say “stop messing around and be together.” Just…read it. You’ll see.
“I waited my whole life to hear you say you love me again.”
>>>>> Markie. Hey, girl. Can we grab a drink and discuss the opposite sex because I vibe with you so hard. Yes, I’m married. Yes, to a man. Yes, he’s in that 1/4 section. That doesn’t mean the other 3/4 of that board is safe from my man-hater ways. 😉 Also, I’m so excited that she’s getting her own book. I really like her character.
TROPES:
Small Town
Second Chance
Marriage of Convenience
Ranch Setting
Thank you, Adriana Locke & Hambright PR, for sending this my way!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
• 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 4✨
• 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - May 22, 2026
• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- second chance romance
- marriage of convenience
- small town romance
- cowboy romance
- he fell first
- emotional healing
- found family
• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐬 -
Mira has spent years running from one place to another after losing her parents and never letting herself truly belong anywhere. Hartley has stayed in their small town the whole time, building his ranch and quietly holding onto the girl he never stopped loving. When Mira comes back home and a marriage arrangement becomes part of her grandmother’s inheritance plan, the two are forced close again and old feelings slowly come back stronger than before.
This book felt so soft, emotional, and comforting 😭
Hartley was literally the sweetest cowboy hero ever. The way he loved Mira for years without forcing her to stay made my heart hurt in the best way. Their chemistry felt natural and emotional at the same time.
I loved the small town vibes, ranch moments, cute banter, and all the healing in this story. Mira’s fear of attachment felt so real, and seeing her slowly stop running and let herself be loved was honestly beautiful. Her emotional journey felt natural and easy to connect with.
Hartley honestly carried this book for me because every scene with him felt warm, comforting, and full of love. The way he cared for Mira so patiently made me fall for him even more. He truly gave “home is a person” energy the entire time.
Pigasso was also an icon the entire time 🐷😂 Every scene with him made me smile.
The story was emotional, cozy, romantic, and full of healing. The ending felt really sweet, comforting, and satisfying, and it left me so happy by the end.
Thank you hambrightpr for the ARC!
• 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - May 22, 2026
• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- second chance romance
- marriage of convenience
- small town romance
- cowboy romance
- he fell first
- emotional healing
- found family
• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐬 -
Mira has spent years running from one place to another after losing her parents and never letting herself truly belong anywhere. Hartley has stayed in their small town the whole time, building his ranch and quietly holding onto the girl he never stopped loving. When Mira comes back home and a marriage arrangement becomes part of her grandmother’s inheritance plan, the two are forced close again and old feelings slowly come back stronger than before.
This book felt so soft, emotional, and comforting 😭
Hartley was literally the sweetest cowboy hero ever. The way he loved Mira for years without forcing her to stay made my heart hurt in the best way. Their chemistry felt natural and emotional at the same time.
I loved the small town vibes, ranch moments, cute banter, and all the healing in this story. Mira’s fear of attachment felt so real, and seeing her slowly stop running and let herself be loved was honestly beautiful. Her emotional journey felt natural and easy to connect with.
Hartley honestly carried this book for me because every scene with him felt warm, comforting, and full of love. The way he cared for Mira so patiently made me fall for him even more. He truly gave “home is a person” energy the entire time.
Pigasso was also an icon the entire time 🐷😂 Every scene with him made me smile.
The story was emotional, cozy, romantic, and full of healing. The ending felt really sweet, comforting, and satisfying, and it left me so happy by the end.
Thank you hambrightpr for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The fourth novel in the Play Me series by Adriana Locke tells the story of Hartley and Mira, former lovers and now co-conspirators when she's got to prove her worth by marrying Hartley to inherit from meddling grandmother and scene stealer- Lolly. And Mira hates to stay in one place to commit. Fear, grief, abandonment issues and running have kept her away from Sugar Creek her whole life. But Hartley, the equivalent of a modern-day Spencer Tracy- who consistently waits for her to settle and realize its always been him.
I love Locke's work, not just for the spice but for the sheer emotional baggage, backstory, legacy and small towns she writes about- she never skimps on details and incorporates a community involved in one another's lives without shying away from the tough things. The banter, the yearning, the absolute agony of a man loving a woman so much he'd break for her- it's everything I wanted this story to be and so much more. And like all of her novels, the concept of home is where your heart is regardless of what scares you is eerily accurate.
But let's back up and talk about the spice-the unabashed and obsessed man that Hartley Adler is. Patient, quiet, unbelievable smoldering all the time for Mira- some scenes will make you gasp. I love this series and I loved that book 4 was this couple and was the perfect "second chance" romance. Grab this and binge this Memorial Day Weekend!
Thank you to Adriana Locke for allowing me an opportunity to read this book early for free in exchange for an honest review.
#AdrianaLocke #MakeMe #UmbrellaPublishing #libraryninja📚
I love Locke's work, not just for the spice but for the sheer emotional baggage, backstory, legacy and small towns she writes about- she never skimps on details and incorporates a community involved in one another's lives without shying away from the tough things. The banter, the yearning, the absolute agony of a man loving a woman so much he'd break for her- it's everything I wanted this story to be and so much more. And like all of her novels, the concept of home is where your heart is regardless of what scares you is eerily accurate.
But let's back up and talk about the spice-the unabashed and obsessed man that Hartley Adler is. Patient, quiet, unbelievable smoldering all the time for Mira- some scenes will make you gasp. I love this series and I loved that book 4 was this couple and was the perfect "second chance" romance. Grab this and binge this Memorial Day Weekend!
Thank you to Adriana Locke for allowing me an opportunity to read this book early for free in exchange for an honest review.
#AdrianaLocke #MakeMe #UmbrellaPublishing #libraryninja📚
Review of advance copy received from Author
“I’ve been in love with you my whole life. Getting to love you is a whole different thing.”
Make Me is an irresistibly swoony burn romance, and its heartbeat is Hartley Adler. He is yearning personified—a man who has loved one woman for years and never once let his gaze drift from the girl who slipped away, Mira St. James. When Mira’s meddling grandmother orchestrates a marriage of convenience between them, the simmering tension they’ve both tried to ignore becomes impossible to resist.
Mira has spent her life in motion, drifting from place to place in an attempt to outrun the grief of losing her parents so young. Her fear of loss runs so deep that she’s convinced herself she doesn’t need roots, even though she secretly aches for connection. Hart, on the other hand, is her opposite in every way. He stayed anchored to his family’s farm after his own parents passed, building a life of steadiness and loyalty—yet his heart has always been tethered to Mira.
The longing between them practically rises off the page, becoming a character in its own right. Hart sees Mira with a clarity no one else ever has, and with him she finally feels safe enough to stop running. Their dynamic is tender, charged, and beautifully intimate.
Throw in a scheming grandmother, a nosy small town, and one chaotic pig, and the story is as charming as it is heartfelt. I adored every moment of this warm, witty, and emotionally rich romance, and I’m already counting down the days until we get Mira’s sister’s story. I can’t wait to return to this town and these characters.
Make Me is an irresistibly swoony burn romance, and its heartbeat is Hartley Adler. He is yearning personified—a man who has loved one woman for years and never once let his gaze drift from the girl who slipped away, Mira St. James. When Mira’s meddling grandmother orchestrates a marriage of convenience between them, the simmering tension they’ve both tried to ignore becomes impossible to resist.
Mira has spent her life in motion, drifting from place to place in an attempt to outrun the grief of losing her parents so young. Her fear of loss runs so deep that she’s convinced herself she doesn’t need roots, even though she secretly aches for connection. Hart, on the other hand, is her opposite in every way. He stayed anchored to his family’s farm after his own parents passed, building a life of steadiness and loyalty—yet his heart has always been tethered to Mira.
The longing between them practically rises off the page, becoming a character in its own right. Hart sees Mira with a clarity no one else ever has, and with him she finally feels safe enough to stop running. Their dynamic is tender, charged, and beautifully intimate.
Throw in a scheming grandmother, a nosy small town, and one chaotic pig, and the story is as charming as it is heartfelt. I adored every moment of this warm, witty, and emotionally rich romance, and I’m already counting down the days until we get Mira’s sister’s story. I can’t wait to return to this town and these characters.
Review of advance copy
𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐌𝐞 is the 4th book in the Play Me series by Adriana Locke, featuring the much-anticipated second chance, marriage of convenience romance for Hartley and Mira. If you’ve loved this series like I have, you’ve been dying for Hartley’s story, and what a story it was!! He’s your ultimate rancher hero so hung up on the girl he’s loved his whole life that he can’t move on, even though Mira is a major runner thanks to emotional baggage. So when her ornery grandma Lolly ups her meddling game with a one-year marriage of convenience inheritance deal, Hartley sees his chance to get everything he ever wanted. I was completely hooked by the angst, yearning, and obvious connection between them. Throwing them into a forced proximity situation was a fantastic way to light the fire between them, and remind Mira of the community and amazing friendships that she had left behind. You just can’t beat the small town vibes with such deep emotional history, indelible bonds among these amazing characters, the banter, the larger-than-life Lolly, and even a precocious piglet! For me, this one brought out all the feels. I felt Mira’s grief, I laughed at the funny moments, teared up in the poignant moments, and blushed and swooned too. I always love when the whole crew comes together, and I am beyond excited to see what happens next!
Thank you to the author for an advanced review copy. My opinions are my own and are freely expressed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to the author for an advanced review copy. My opinions are my own and are freely expressed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
In Make Me, Mira comes back to Sugar Creek expecting a quick visit with her grandmother, only to get hit with the most chaotic inheritance condition imaginable: marry Hartley Adler or lose the family land. What starts as a marriage of convenience turns into two people finally dealing with years of buried feelings, grief, fear, and love they never really got over.
Hartley Adler is quiet, consistent, protective, patient, ridiculously hot, and totally obsessed with Mira without ever trying to change who she is. Every single time he said darlin’ I'd melt. Mira made this even better because of her fear of staying anywhere too long and actually needing people was so relatable. She slowly realized that maybe home could actually feel safe and that completely destroyed me. The chemistry in this book was insane too. The tension, teasing, dirty talk, and sweetness was top tier. The barn scene alone nearly took me out!
Somehow this book was also hilarious. Pigasso the pig was iconic, Lolly was completely unhinged, and the small-town made everything feel extra cozy. This really gave me everything I love in a romance with the yearning, healing, family vibes, ridiculous sexual tension, and a man who was down catastrophically for his woman. Hartley and Mira completely owned me! I've already had a bunch of 5-star reads this month, and I am so excited to add this one to that group!
Hartley Adler is quiet, consistent, protective, patient, ridiculously hot, and totally obsessed with Mira without ever trying to change who she is. Every single time he said darlin’ I'd melt. Mira made this even better because of her fear of staying anywhere too long and actually needing people was so relatable. She slowly realized that maybe home could actually feel safe and that completely destroyed me. The chemistry in this book was insane too. The tension, teasing, dirty talk, and sweetness was top tier. The barn scene alone nearly took me out!
Somehow this book was also hilarious. Pigasso the pig was iconic, Lolly was completely unhinged, and the small-town made everything feel extra cozy. This really gave me everything I love in a romance with the yearning, healing, family vibes, ridiculous sexual tension, and a man who was down catastrophically for his woman. Hartley and Mira completely owned me! I've already had a bunch of 5-star reads this month, and I am so excited to add this one to that group!
Review of advance copy
Hartley was even more swoony than I imagined!
Mira has been running for years. Hartley's stayed, even when it was tough. The whole town thought they belonged together. Now Lolly, Mira's grandma, has a plan. The two of them need to be married for one year for Mira to inherit Lolly's house once Lolly passes, and Hartley will inherit the rest of the acreage that once belonged to his family. The only problem, Hartley's already in love with Mira, and she has no intentions of staying longer than a year. That is, until she breaks all her rules and sees what she's missing.
Mira and Hartley get their happy ending in this standalone book in a series.
These two were amazing together! I loved how they balanced each other out, but still were true to themselves. I would have loved to have seen how long it took for Mira to get her wish at the end of the book, but my guess is that we will see it in the next one! It was great to see how willing the other ladies were to welcome Mira (and Markie) into their circle of friendship, and I can't wait to see what kinds of shenanigans they get up to in the future! Something tells me Lolly will be a part of it as well, as she was looking for younger friends to hang out with!
I received an advance review copy from Hambright PR, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Mira has been running for years. Hartley's stayed, even when it was tough. The whole town thought they belonged together. Now Lolly, Mira's grandma, has a plan. The two of them need to be married for one year for Mira to inherit Lolly's house once Lolly passes, and Hartley will inherit the rest of the acreage that once belonged to his family. The only problem, Hartley's already in love with Mira, and she has no intentions of staying longer than a year. That is, until she breaks all her rules and sees what she's missing.
Mira and Hartley get their happy ending in this standalone book in a series.
These two were amazing together! I loved how they balanced each other out, but still were true to themselves. I would have loved to have seen how long it took for Mira to get her wish at the end of the book, but my guess is that we will see it in the next one! It was great to see how willing the other ladies were to welcome Mira (and Markie) into their circle of friendship, and I can't wait to see what kinds of shenanigans they get up to in the future! Something tells me Lolly will be a part of it as well, as she was looking for younger friends to hang out with!
I received an advance review copy from Hambright PR, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This irresistible, second chance romance, is a fun, moving, and sizzling story. It has all the feels, the laughs, and amazing family and small town dynamics, I just couldn't get enough! Mira and Hartley were together since they were young, as best friends then as young lovers. Everyone thought they would be together forever, including Hartley. But Mira couldn't stay in Sugar Creek, a place that held heartbreaking memories. So she left home, living a life in places that were easy to leave. Now she has been called home by her grandmother who manipulates her into a temporary marriage to the one man she has never forgotten, and who could break her heart for good. Hartley has always dreamed that Mira would come back to him. He agrees to this arrangement because one year with Mira is better than never having her at all. Now he just needs to convince her to stay. I really love and fell hard for both Mira and Hartley! They were both beautifully broken people who handled their grief differently. They fit so seamlessly into each other's lives and brought a support, peace, comfort, and unconditional love that they both needed desperately, and their chemistry was off the charts! I also enjoyed their family and friends who were so meddlesome, funny, supportive and added so much heart to this beautiful, sweet, heartwarming and sizzling romance!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh God… I completely and totally fell in love with Hartley. That man is unbelievably beautiful, so full of love, patience, and a kind of tenderness that slowly melts you. The way he takes care of Mira, how he understands her even when she’s an emotional mess, and the calm way he loves… seriously had me sighing the entire time.
This book has everything I love in a romance: tension, humor, emotional moments, and a male lead that’s impossible not to adore. Hartley doesn’t need to be loud or over the top to make you fall for him; he does it through the little things, through his loyalty, and through the sense of peace he brings even when Mira is fighting herself every step of the way. And Mira… God, I loved her growth so much. She feels real, impulsive, lost at times, but also strong and vulnerable in a way that makes it impossible not to care about her.
The secondary characters also make the story feel so alive. The family dynamics, the friendships, Lolly, all those moments in Sugar Creek give the book so much heart. Adriana has this talent for writing romances that feel warm and addictive at the same time, where one moment you’re laughing and the next you’re kicking your feet and smiling like an idiot.
Hartley Adler officially made it onto my list of favorite book boyfriends.
This book has everything I love in a romance: tension, humor, emotional moments, and a male lead that’s impossible not to adore. Hartley doesn’t need to be loud or over the top to make you fall for him; he does it through the little things, through his loyalty, and through the sense of peace he brings even when Mira is fighting herself every step of the way. And Mira… God, I loved her growth so much. She feels real, impulsive, lost at times, but also strong and vulnerable in a way that makes it impossible not to care about her.
The secondary characters also make the story feel so alive. The family dynamics, the friendships, Lolly, all those moments in Sugar Creek give the book so much heart. Adriana has this talent for writing romances that feel warm and addictive at the same time, where one moment you’re laughing and the next you’re kicking your feet and smiling like an idiot.
Hartley Adler officially made it onto my list of favorite book boyfriends.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5/5 🌟
“You, Mira Adler, are what I want. In any way I can get you.”
“You, husband, can have me any way you want."
This story is beautiful and fulfilling. I am so grateful to Adriana Locke for choosing me as an ARC reader and giving me a chance to be a part of this beautiful story! Thank you for providing me an arc copy 🫶
This story is about two people who were meant to be together but couldn't be because of their own fear and grief. Mira and Hartley are so attuned to each other both physically and emotionally. These two have that kind of relationship where they don't need words to understand each other. This story has everything - longing, pining, jealousy, possessiveness, unconditional love, healing, found family and a perfect ending (all are my favourite). I was a mess reading this book and I loved every second of it.
Also where can I find a Lolly (slightly unhinged woman in the best way and my favourite in the whole book) because I need one in my life right now!
"I dry the last dish and place it in the cupboard. Partly, because Dad always said that just because you have a dick doesn’t mean you have to be one. If a woman cooks for you, your ass better be in the kitchen cleaning it up." ( I wish all men had the same thought process! )
“You, Mira Adler, are what I want. In any way I can get you.”
“You, husband, can have me any way you want."
This story is beautiful and fulfilling. I am so grateful to Adriana Locke for choosing me as an ARC reader and giving me a chance to be a part of this beautiful story! Thank you for providing me an arc copy 🫶
This story is about two people who were meant to be together but couldn't be because of their own fear and grief. Mira and Hartley are so attuned to each other both physically and emotionally. These two have that kind of relationship where they don't need words to understand each other. This story has everything - longing, pining, jealousy, possessiveness, unconditional love, healing, found family and a perfect ending (all are my favourite). I was a mess reading this book and I loved every second of it.
Also where can I find a Lolly (slightly unhinged woman in the best way and my favourite in the whole book) because I need one in my life right now!
"I dry the last dish and place it in the cupboard. Partly, because Dad always said that just because you have a dick doesn’t mean you have to be one. If a woman cooks for you, your ass better be in the kitchen cleaning it up." ( I wish all men had the same thought process! )
May 22, 2026
How can one woman write so many books and still make me fall head over heels in love with her fictional characters every single time?
All I can say about our man Hartleyis this—every woman deserves someone like him. A man who loves with everything he has and would do anything to keep you happy… even if that means letting you go.
I’m so glad Mira finally found something that made her stay. Even if, at the beginning, it felt like it was under duress… or was it? She’s loved Hartley for as long as she can remember, but she just couldn’t face her past, so running was the only option in her mind.
I’ll be honest—there were moments when I (almost) wished he would just move on. But what they have? That kind of love only comes once in a lifetime. And my heart was so full when she finally admitted just how much she truly wants him.
This story was heartbreaking at the beginning, but by the end I was smiling so big I could light up a room. Once again, we have a winner on our hands—and if you haven’t started this series yet… this is your chance!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of Adriana Lockes Review team***
All I can say about our man Hartleyis this—every woman deserves someone like him. A man who loves with everything he has and would do anything to keep you happy… even if that means letting you go.
I’m so glad Mira finally found something that made her stay. Even if, at the beginning, it felt like it was under duress… or was it? She’s loved Hartley for as long as she can remember, but she just couldn’t face her past, so running was the only option in her mind.
I’ll be honest—there were moments when I (almost) wished he would just move on. But what they have? That kind of love only comes once in a lifetime. And my heart was so full when she finally admitted just how much she truly wants him.
This story was heartbreaking at the beginning, but by the end I was smiling so big I could light up a room. Once again, we have a winner on our hands—and if you haven’t started this series yet… this is your chance!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of Adriana Lockes Review team***
May 22, 2026
Thank you Adriana Locke and Hambright PR for sending me the arc! This was my first book I read from her and I love a small town romance with a cowboy touch.
This is the fourth book from the series , and the only I read so far. So there were parts that I could see that I wished I had read the other books before, but you can totally follow with the story without reading it.
Mira and Hartley had a previous love story, but her grief makes her take different life choices and run away from many decisions in her life. But Lolly, her grandmother, mischievously finds a way to bring her back to her hometown and makes a deal with them on a very matchmaking way: they need to marry and stay married for one year so Mira can have her inheritance. So our messy, impulsive, funny, FMC has no choice besides marrying Hartley.
The tension and yearning between the couple is filled with the vibe of years old love that never really burned out 🔥 and Mira takes her time realizing that she can’t keep her hands off Hartley.
Oh, did I mention that there’s a pet pig?
This book made me laugh multiple times, it was a quick read and if you like a cowboy romance with spice, this if definitely for you! 🤠
This is the fourth book from the series , and the only I read so far. So there were parts that I could see that I wished I had read the other books before, but you can totally follow with the story without reading it.
Mira and Hartley had a previous love story, but her grief makes her take different life choices and run away from many decisions in her life. But Lolly, her grandmother, mischievously finds a way to bring her back to her hometown and makes a deal with them on a very matchmaking way: they need to marry and stay married for one year so Mira can have her inheritance. So our messy, impulsive, funny, FMC has no choice besides marrying Hartley.
The tension and yearning between the couple is filled with the vibe of years old love that never really burned out 🔥 and Mira takes her time realizing that she can’t keep her hands off Hartley.
Oh, did I mention that there’s a pet pig?
This book made me laugh multiple times, it was a quick read and if you like a cowboy romance with spice, this if definitely for you! 🤠
May 22, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
I inhaled this book. In fact I almost didn’t sleep for how absorbed I was in this story.
Mira has been running since her parents died. Searching for a place to call home & avoiding her grief. She’s been running from Hartley too.
Hartley is weighed down by responsibility but he never quits and never runs. He’s solid. He has waited patiently for Mira and has loved her most of his life. The line “I’d have loved you anyway”. *swoon* I mean come on. The devotion this man has for her.
Hartley Adler is an almost perfect hero. And Hartley & Mira were the best second chance couple I’ve read in awhile. They nearly beat my favorite couple Drake & Gianna for top spot. Hartley’s undying love for Mira almost left me as a puddle on the floor.
Mira’s grandmother Lolly is one of the greatest characters I’ve ever read. A chaos monster in the best way. And her little scheme to get Hartley & Mira together was just the push they needed.
It was fun to catch up revisit the characters from the previous books in this series. I can’t wait for the next book!
Thanks to Adriana Locke for this ARC opportunity!
I inhaled this book. In fact I almost didn’t sleep for how absorbed I was in this story.
Mira has been running since her parents died. Searching for a place to call home & avoiding her grief. She’s been running from Hartley too.
Hartley is weighed down by responsibility but he never quits and never runs. He’s solid. He has waited patiently for Mira and has loved her most of his life. The line “I’d have loved you anyway”. *swoon* I mean come on. The devotion this man has for her.
Hartley Adler is an almost perfect hero. And Hartley & Mira were the best second chance couple I’ve read in awhile. They nearly beat my favorite couple Drake & Gianna for top spot. Hartley’s undying love for Mira almost left me as a puddle on the floor.
Mira’s grandmother Lolly is one of the greatest characters I’ve ever read. A chaos monster in the best way. And her little scheme to get Hartley & Mira together was just the push they needed.
It was fun to catch up revisit the characters from the previous books in this series. I can’t wait for the next book!
Thanks to Adriana Locke for this ARC opportunity!
May 22, 2026
Meddling grandmas is my absolute favorite microtrope. I don’t even think that’s technically a trope, but if it was? This story owns it.
First off, I got an early copy thanks to both Adriana and Hambright PR, and this book was pure joy to read. Also opinions of this book are mine and do not reflect the author or agency in any way.
Mira and Hartley are easily my favorites so far. Look, they were together when they were younger, it was all a secret, and now guess what? In order to get land they need to get married. And whose idea was this entire situation? Grandma Lolly, obviously.
But beneath all the chaos and small-town gossip, there’s so much heart here. Mira has been away because some memories are hard to face, and not all of them are good. Hartley has been carrying his own pain too, and watching them find their way back to each other felt so soft and genuine.
Because when Mira is around Hartley, her world quiets.
That’s love.
So if you need:
marriage of convenience
second chance romance
meddling grandma energy
a gossipy small town
a cute pig
fantastic spicy scenes
Pick. This. Up.
First off, I got an early copy thanks to both Adriana and Hambright PR, and this book was pure joy to read. Also opinions of this book are mine and do not reflect the author or agency in any way.
Mira and Hartley are easily my favorites so far. Look, they were together when they were younger, it was all a secret, and now guess what? In order to get land they need to get married. And whose idea was this entire situation? Grandma Lolly, obviously.
But beneath all the chaos and small-town gossip, there’s so much heart here. Mira has been away because some memories are hard to face, and not all of them are good. Hartley has been carrying his own pain too, and watching them find their way back to each other felt so soft and genuine.
Because when Mira is around Hartley, her world quiets.
That’s love.
So if you need:
marriage of convenience
second chance romance
meddling grandma energy
a gossipy small town
a cute pig
fantastic spicy scenes
Pick. This. Up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advanced copy of this book and this review is my honest opinion.
This was a quick enjoyable second chance romance. I absolutely loved Hartley. He's a dependable, quiet and steady kind of man who has been in love with Mira for years, hoping she will catch up and love him back. Mira has always had feelings for him but has been running her whole adult life from grief, but also from fear. It takes her meddling grandmother to put her in a position to stop running and it's because of that, that she finally sees that running away had kept her from truly living.
If you love a small town romance with a swoony hero who has been pining for the girl he's always loved, a meddling family and a tight knit group of friends, you will definitely enjoy this book. The only reason I gave 4 instead of five stars is because I would've liked to have known more about their past history in a more in depth way, rather than just stated in snippets like the reader was already aware of their past. If that makes sense. Like in flashbacks or something. Still a great story and one I would recommend.
This was a quick enjoyable second chance romance. I absolutely loved Hartley. He's a dependable, quiet and steady kind of man who has been in love with Mira for years, hoping she will catch up and love him back. Mira has always had feelings for him but has been running her whole adult life from grief, but also from fear. It takes her meddling grandmother to put her in a position to stop running and it's because of that, that she finally sees that running away had kept her from truly living.
If you love a small town romance with a swoony hero who has been pining for the girl he's always loved, a meddling family and a tight knit group of friends, you will definitely enjoy this book. The only reason I gave 4 instead of five stars is because I would've liked to have known more about their past history in a more in depth way, rather than just stated in snippets like the reader was already aware of their past. If that makes sense. Like in flashbacks or something. Still a great story and one I would recommend.
May 21, 2026
Hartley & Mira ughh god my whole heart… this book was sooo beautiful… I will say Lottie was a queen! Lil plotting Grannie ! lol
“If you want to love someone the way they deserve, you have to hand them every part of you.” - I swear this quote will live on forever.
And Brooks !! Brooks coming up to Mira before she walked down to Hartley … ugh I SOBBED !! Literally sobbed ! Had to stop and message Adriana about it!
These two were meant to be! Childhood lovers, but one of them keeps running away, hiding their true feelings, while the other - loves whole heartedly, with no remorse, and no restraints, so patiently and caring, while always being there no matter what.
This is a true love story. Where they find their way back to each other- in every single way that matters(with the help of Lottie) but once Mira finds comfort and solice in the grief she’s been holding on too, she finds happiness and hope in the love she holds for Hartley.
If you want to fall in love all over again… this book is where you start… emotions and spice and spicy games to possibly look into 🤔😂
“If you want to love someone the way they deserve, you have to hand them every part of you.” - I swear this quote will live on forever.
And Brooks !! Brooks coming up to Mira before she walked down to Hartley … ugh I SOBBED !! Literally sobbed ! Had to stop and message Adriana about it!
These two were meant to be! Childhood lovers, but one of them keeps running away, hiding their true feelings, while the other - loves whole heartedly, with no remorse, and no restraints, so patiently and caring, while always being there no matter what.
This is a true love story. Where they find their way back to each other- in every single way that matters(with the help of Lottie) but once Mira finds comfort and solice in the grief she’s been holding on too, she finds happiness and hope in the love she holds for Hartley.
If you want to fall in love all over again… this book is where you start… emotions and spice and spicy games to possibly look into 🤔😂
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.75⭐️ This was the first book I’ve read in this series and it was sweet. It’s clear that Mira has always been the only one for Hartley, but Mira had quite a bit of growing up to do and getting over some insecurities that a past tragedy had left her with. The lengths her grandmother went to in order to make sure they didn’t miss their chance, were amusing. There was quite a bit of chemistry between the MCs, though it did need development/explanation as to how they got where they were. There were a few other holes that were perhaps covered in previous books. This was a quick and easy read, with found family, friends to lovers, family and small town antics. There were quite a few characters that I’m sure were from the previous books, so I’d suggest starting with the beginning of the series, even though this certainly can be read as a standalone.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 ⭐️
Swoon-worthy. Angsty. Patient Love.
Hartley “I’d have loved you anyway” Adler 💜
I could not put this book down! This is one of the sweetest, most swoon-worthy second chance romances. Hartley has a heart of gold and is the epitome of patience and unconditional love for Mira. A man who will put her happiness above all else and take whatever morsels he can get from her while she figures her life out.
Mira is flighty and running from her grief over losing her parents. She doesn’t put down roots or let anyone in for fear of losing them. It’s utterly heartbreaking and lonely.
In steps Lolly… the meddling, mischievous grandmother who sees Hartley and Mira for what they are and what they need.
A couple of my favourite microtropes - secret tattoo and “it’s always been you” - make this an angsty slow burn read that flows perfectly.
Swoon-worthy. Angsty. Patient Love.
Hartley “I’d have loved you anyway” Adler 💜
I could not put this book down! This is one of the sweetest, most swoon-worthy second chance romances. Hartley has a heart of gold and is the epitome of patience and unconditional love for Mira. A man who will put her happiness above all else and take whatever morsels he can get from her while she figures her life out.
Mira is flighty and running from her grief over losing her parents. She doesn’t put down roots or let anyone in for fear of losing them. It’s utterly heartbreaking and lonely.
In steps Lolly… the meddling, mischievous grandmother who sees Hartley and Mira for what they are and what they need.
A couple of my favourite microtropes - secret tattoo and “it’s always been you” - make this an angsty slow burn read that flows perfectly.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thanks you Hambright PR and Adriana Locke for this ARC this is my honest review.
This story follows Mira and Hartley who have romantic history and have been forced by her grandma to get married (she knows they belong together)
The pacing of the story was off for me, the lead up to the wedding was slow and then after the wedding it felt like her feelings (Hartley was already there with his feelings) snowballed. I also wasn’t Mira’s biggest fan, she seemed super flakey. We understand why later in the book, but it just didn’t sit well with me. Like she didn’t care.
Hartley deserves everything and he is down bad for Mira which is cute. I liked his character.
This was my first book of the series so I definitely want to check the other out. Especially the next book which is about her sister.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thanks you Hambright PR and Adriana Locke for this ARC this is my honest review.
This story follows Mira and Hartley who have romantic history and have been forced by her grandma to get married (she knows they belong together)
The pacing of the story was off for me, the lead up to the wedding was slow and then after the wedding it felt like her feelings (Hartley was already there with his feelings) snowballed. I also wasn’t Mira’s biggest fan, she seemed super flakey. We understand why later in the book, but it just didn’t sit well with me. Like she didn’t care.
Hartley deserves everything and he is down bad for Mira which is cute. I liked his character.
This was my first book of the series so I definitely want to check the other out. Especially the next book which is about her sister.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Loved loved loved them!
Marriage of convenience. No third act breakup. Friends forever and always a little something special.
Hartley has been in love with Mira forever and doesn’t think he’ll ever get her in the way he wants. So he stays away because it’s too painful to be around her.
Mira is running from emotions. Always moving to new spots and avoiding home. It’s painful for her in a way she’s can’t handle. Until she realizes she doesn’t have to deal with it alone and that makes it bearable.
Their love story unfolds in a wonderful way. And lots of tears and love and peace. I flew through this is one day. And just had a wonderful time being back in Sugar Creek.
I received an ARC for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Marriage of convenience. No third act breakup. Friends forever and always a little something special.
Hartley has been in love with Mira forever and doesn’t think he’ll ever get her in the way he wants. So he stays away because it’s too painful to be around her.
Mira is running from emotions. Always moving to new spots and avoiding home. It’s painful for her in a way she’s can’t handle. Until she realizes she doesn’t have to deal with it alone and that makes it bearable.
Their love story unfolds in a wonderful way. And lots of tears and love and peace. I flew through this is one day. And just had a wonderful time being back in Sugar Creek.
I received an ARC for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
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