Never Been Tamed

Heartstone Ranch #2

by Corinne Michaels

I will not fall for my fake boyfriend.

Famous last words.

Dr. Ares Pierce may be new in town, but it only took one encounter to know he’s trouble. Sexy. Broody. Older. A broken look in his eyes.

The kind that says he’s carrying something heavy… and I should run.

But when my cheating ex-fiancé has the audacity to ask me to be in his wedding, panic takes over. A small lie to save face spirals out of control when I claim the sexy stranger beside me is my boyfriend.

And Ares plays along.

Soon we strike a deal: we keep up the relationship to help him win patients at the struggling clinic he’s trying to save, and I get a shield from the humiliation of my ex’s happily-ever-after.

Simple. Temporary. No feelings involved.

Except nothing about Ares Pierce is simple.

The more time we spend together, the harder it is to ignore the man behind the broody exterior… The one who makes me laugh when I least expect it and reminds me what it feels like to be wanted after the worst betrayal of my life.

But our arrangement comes with an expiration date.

Ares isn’t planning to stay in Infinity Ridge. And when he’s forced to choose between the career he built and the woman he never meant to love…

I’m terrified I’ll be the one left behind.

Again.

Genres: Romance, Cowboy Romance, Small Town Romance, Contemporary Romance, Westerns, Fake Dating, Contemporary

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

Corinne Michaels is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romance novels. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love, and she enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak before finding a way to heal them through their struggles.

Corinne is a former Navy wife and happily married to the man of her dreams. She began her writing career after spending months away from her husband while he was deployed—reading and writing were her escapes from the loneliness. Corinne now lives in Virginia with her husband and is the emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children.


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Reviews

[Amelia Blackmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Never Been Tamed
Author: Corinne Michaels
Series: Heartstone Ranch, 2

Format: Edelweiss ebook
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Overall score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV’s: Harper (FMC) & Ares (MMC)

What to expect:
*Fake dating romance
*Forced proximity
*Meddling parents/grandparents

Safety:
No OW/OM drama. Death of parents/grandparent off page. Cheating off page, not between MC’s. Does have a third act breakup.

Review:
Ares is returning to his grandmothers small town to take over his grandfathers medical office after being forced to take some time off from his cardiologist practice in Chicago.

While at the local bar, Ares runs into Harper and immediately comes to her rescue when her ex-fiancé and his current girlfriend corner Harper into coming to their wedding.

The two form a pact to help each other out over the next couple of months. Harper will help Ares get patients at his medical office, Ares will stand in as her fake boyfriend to get the ex and his girlfriend off their radar.

Soon enough the small town is meddling, a former coworker of Ares is causing trouble, and feelings are developing. I adore a book that has meddling elderly people in the storyline! It is truly one of my favorite mini-tropes!

Thank you to the author, Sourcebooks, and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review this title!

[Lovinmyshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

TROPES: Age Gap, Fake Dating, Only One Bed, Cowgirl x City Boy, Small Town, Meddling Dad

Thank you so much to the author and her team for the gifted Character ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thought and opinions are my own.

Oh my god… I LOVED THIS 😭🫶 This was a highly anticipated release for me after I read, and loved, book one West of Forever earlier this year. And this one y’all… topped book one by a landslide in my opinion!! I absolutely adored Harper and Ares so much that it actually physically HURT when I finished this one in two short days. I didn’t want this one to end. The chemistry between Harper and Ares was immediately undeniable and Corinne had such a masterful way of bringing us along on their journey that had me kicking my feet and squealing every time they tried to lie to theirselves that their relationship was fake…. Ain’t nothing fake about it OKAYYYYYY

Ugh, take away my memory so I can read this one again for this first time… I miss them already… OH AND DON’T GET ME STARTED ON THE SPICE IN THIS ONE. I felt like West of Forever was extremely mild for what I tend to expect from Corinne (it kind of gave me closed door spice vibes tbh), so I was not expecting the astronomical HEAT Corinne gave us in this one. The hotel room glass scene. The DRESSING ROOM SCENE. I was speechless in the best way possible. Oh Ares, THE MAN YOU ARE

I cannot wait for book three in this series… I am seriously already feral for it 😩

Star Rating: 4.25 🌟
Spice Rating: 3 🥵🔥

For more bookish content and review, please consider giving my bookstagram a follow (link below and in my bio):
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[Tori Ann]

Ohhhh to be a cowgirl in love with her older, hot fake boyfriend who's the town doctor. What a life!

Because I absolutely cannot get all spoilery here, I won't go into too much detail. But Tristan and Lark? Yeah, they walked so Harper and Ares could run.

And the scene where he does the thing??? Screaming. Still.

OH and then the other scene where they're ya know???? Screaming. Still.

I loved them, I love them, I love them. THEY'RE PERFECT.

[hannahwells.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠✨

𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝘽𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙏𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘺 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.

The way Corrine Michaels is able to combine laugh out loud banter with raw emotion needs to be studied! 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩 is shaping up to be one of my all time favorite series.

𝗔𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲
Cardiologist from Chicago
Workaholic, married to his career
Loves his grandmother

𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲
Small Town Cowgirl
Care taker of Clyde Stone
Has given up on love
A total people pleaser

I inhaled this damn book. It had me laughing out loud one minute and swooning the next. I had very high expectations after West of Forever and Corrine Michaels absolutely delivered. 👏🏻

There was never anything 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦 about these two. Ares and Harper shared a tender and quiet understanding and connection from the start. Not in an insta love way, more like pain recognizes pain. Seeing Harper and Ares grow as individuals while developing into something more through being vulnerable was so rewarding.

These two stripped down in more ways than one. The spice was mouth watering. Ares, my gosh, the man you are! That dressing room scene 🥵🔥👌🏻

𝘊𝘭𝘺𝘥𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 is an absolute 𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗖𝗘! There is not a moment of the day that he is not raising hell and I LIVE for it!

ᴄᴏᴡɢɪʀʟ x ᴄɪᴛʏ ʙᴏʏ
ᴀɢᴇ ɢᴀᴘ
ꜰᴀᴋᴇ ᴅᴀᴛɪɴɢ
ᴍᴇᴅᴅʟɪɴɢ ᴅᴀᴅ
ꜱᴍᴀʟʟ ᴛᴏᴡɴ
ɢʀᴜᴍᴘʏ x ɢʀᴜᴍᴘʏ

Thank you Corrine Michaels for the gifted special edition ARC and for allowing me to read Never Been Tamed so early!! I am forever grateful!!💕

[Kaelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW!
I just want to start off by saying a huge thank you to Corinne and her team. They do so much for us readers and their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed! Thank you thank you thank you for this opportunity!

There was just something so calming and refreshing about this book. Truly a breath of fresh air. Clear communication, honest conversations, and just such a good sense of security. This book was a perfect example of how love can be calm but steady. I completely loved Harper and Ares! Their “grumpy” presence throughout the book was honestly one of the things I loved most.
Can we talk about the sisters for a sec?! Because they made me full on CACKLE throughout the entire book. I absolutely loved their dynamic!
And last but not least, that second epilogue had me sobbing. It was so beautiful. I may or may not have highlighted basically the entire thing.
If you loved West of Forever and are thinking about reading book two, please do it I’m begging you!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟 Rating: 5 ⭐️
📖 Favorite Quotes:
“Like Mom always said, mistakes don’t define us—it’s the chances we don’t take that do.”

“Life is short, Harper. We have no idea what tomorrow will bring, and regret is a sin we don’t need to carry. We can choose happiness. We can choose life and whatever that brings. For some reason, Ares was brought into your life, and maybe, just maybe, it was to help heal you.”

She’s the blue sky after a cloudy day that makes everything feel possible again.

Without even trying, he gave me the one thing I wanted most—to be loved for who I am.

“You don’t have to dole out your happiness and desires to others before fulfilling yourself first. My mother always talks about how you can’t fill another person’s cup when yours is empty. I think we do it naturally because we’re women and are taught to nurture others, but there’s nothing wrong with you setting boundaries and adhering to them.”

📚 Would I Recommend?: YES (but read West of Forever first)
💬 tldr review: I loved watching people-pleasing Harper and workaholic Ares slowly help each other loosen the grip of everything they’d been carrying. The fake dating was fun, but it was their emotional growth, chemistry, and the way they pushed each other toward a fuller life that made this such an easy 5-star read for me.

Thoughts:
First and foremost–I DEVOURED this book. I was so invested in Harper and Ares. I absolutely couldn't get enough of these two.

Talk about baggage! Both Harper and Ares are carrying so much weight on their shoulders it’s a wonder they can stand upright. Harper is still dealing with the shame of her engagement going up in flames after her fiancé cheated with her best friend, plus she’s solely responsible for keeping her 82-year-old menace of a father in line. Ares is dealing with a forced sabbatical after losing a patient in the operating room.

I really wanted to wrap Harper in a hug. She would set herself on fire to keep others warm. As a [mostly] reformed people pleaser, I felt her desire to keep the peace and make everyone around her comfortable and happy. But she never looked out for herself! I loved watching Ares slowly teach her that it was okay to put herself first.

Ares absolutely did not receive a warm welcome in Infinity Ridge. He came to spend six months with his grandmother, but he hadn’t returned when his grandfather passed a few weeks earlier. The people in town did not like that, and they weren’t afraid to make their feelings known. He was also a workaholic in desperate need of someone to show him there was more to life than being a cardiologist.

Conveniently, Harper and Ares fake dating was set up to be a win-win for both of them. But we all know fake dating never stays fake. 🤭 It certainly didn’t take long for these two to catch feelings, even if it took them a little longer to realize it had happened. I was giddy when they finally gave in and let their chemistry AND their hearts take over! The spicy scenes were especially sizzling!

I loved that they started fake dating to prove something to other people, but it ended up helping them work through so much of what had been weighing them down. Together, they got a glimpse of what life could look like once they stopped letting old mindsets and expectations control them. I loved watching them help each other move forward while also figuring out what they actually wanted for themselves.

And I can’t end this review without mentioning Clyde Stone. The bonus epilogue in the first book of the series completely endeared me to him. This time around, I spotted his antics from a mile away and giggled every single time. Once again, the bonus epilogue had me in my feels, and I cannot wait to watch him meddle in Veronica’s life next!

[Thank you to Corinne Michaels and her team for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

Read If You Like:
→ Fake Dating
→ Grumpy x Grumpy
→ Meddling Dad
→ Cowgirl x City Boy
→ Age Gap (he’s 10 years older)
→ Small Town

[Serafina Sunflower · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 stars
Thank you SO SO MUCH Corinne Michaels and team for sending me an ARC of Never Been Tamed. I have to be honest: was West of Forever amazing? Yes, absolutely. Was this better? HELL YES. 😭 Like both books are obviously fantastic but this one was just so so good.

I know Harper and Ares are the main couple but, can we talk about the real highlight of this book? CLYDE!!!! I somehow forgot just how hilarious Harper's kooky father is. I won't spoil anything but the first scene in the book had me dying laughing. It was from Ares' POV so it didn't say Clyde's name but the way I IMMEDIATELY knew it was him. He's SO funny!!! Although, I feel like if he were my father he'd drive me up the wall with his antics BUT he definitely brings the humor.

Okay NOW we can talk about Ares and Harper. Harper is the definition of someone that will bend over backwards to make those around her happy, even if it's not always in her best interest. Despite how frustrated it made me, I also understood her completely. I too have struggled setting boundaries in my life so I felt a bit of a kinship towards her. It made my heart SORE to see her slowly but surely stand up for herself and vocalize what she wanted.

If you're looking for a man that falls first and harder, let me introduce you to Ares.
"She's the blue sky after a cloudy day that makes everything feel possible again"

"They're not flaws, Harper. Every scar, every freckle, every part of you is what makes you perfect. I wouldn't change a single thing on your body. Not one."

"Harper laughs, and though I've found her beautiful before, this time she truly takes my breath away, and I don't care if I ever get it back"
Oh how I adored this grumpy doctor! I loved the growth we saw from him as well. To go from "work is life" to realizing there's so much more to it. As frustrating as the 3rd act breakup made me, I'm glad we saw Ares give Harper her big grand gesture she so deserved.

read this if you're a fan of:
×cowgirl x city boy
×age gap
×fake dating
×small town
×only one bed

[Ember Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Been Tamed by Corinne Michaels is book two in the Heartstone Ranch series, following our FMC Harper and MMC Ares.

Ares is a doctor who lives in the city but leaves after an incident forces him to take a break from work. Harper works on her family’s ranch, caring for her dad, a rascally yet still charming widower.

When Harper and Ares meet, there’s instant chemistry, but they both resist it. An unfortunate situation leads them to agree to fake dating, which very quickly starts becoming something neither of them expected.

Harper has people pleasing tendencies and has neglected her own heart in the past. Ares has neglected his heart in a different way, keeping enough distance to avoid any true connection. They both have wounds that need healing, and I really loved watching that unfold between them.

One of my favorite things was their chemistry, especially once they finally allow their connection to start blossoming. There’s so much tenderness mixed in with the intimacy, and it’s done in such a beautiful way that just feels like what love should feel like.

“She's the blue sky after a cloudy day that makes everything feel possible again” - I mean how sweet is that?! Swoon!

This story left me thinking about what it means to be powerfully chosen by someone, and isn’t that something we all want?

There was also such a sweet twist at the end that had me crying the sweetest tears. Gosh, I love how Corinne Michaels knows how to hit me straight in the heart.

If you love a good cowgirl and city boy romance, fake dating, age gap, and small town vibes, this is such a great choice. I loved this book and the first book in the series, and I cannot wait to see what happens at Heartstone Ranch next!

Thanks to Corinne Michaels and the Team for the gifted character ARC, I am grateful to have gotten to read this story early, and I loved every minute of it.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Tropes:
- Age Gap
- Fake Dating
- Cowgirl x City Boy
- Grumpy x Grumpy
- Small Town

This series has me in a chokehold. Absolutely obsessed and consumed!

From the start Harper and Ares are dueling and fighting their attraction. The banter from the start has you hooked. A few white lies lead to them being backed into a corner, and what does one do? Well you fake date of course. 🙂

Ares grew so much in this book. He thought he was happy but truly all he had was work. Harper opened him up to a new world. They were so open with each other, and I felt the emotional and physical chemistry every page. I loved them as individuals and I loved them as a couple. I was definitely feeling all the emotions.

I can’t go without speaking about the family. My goodness they had me cackling throughout the entire book. The sisters and dad are full on troublemakers and I am here for every minute.

Now I have to wait for the next release and I don’t know how to do this patiently. I need it now!!!

[Addison Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fake dating will always be a favorite trope of mine and this book absolutely delivered in all the best ways. The tension, the banter and the grumpiness 10 out of 10 1000 stars forever going to be recommending this book.

The way that Aries sees and portrays Harper it’s just so amazing and such a beautiful part of the story that it made me fall in love with him!

I absolutely adore Clyde and he has me laughing out loud every-time he pulls one of his schemes.

The sheer adoration and love the Stones have for their family reminds me of my own and I love how close they all are as well.
The epilogue had me in TEARS (if you’ve read it you know what I mean;))

Can’t wait to see what comes next in the Heartstone Ranch series! Thank you so much to Corinne and her team for the opportunity to ARC read this book🤍

[Kelly M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Been Tamed
Corinne Michaels
Heartstone Ranch, book two

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you so much to the author for sending me a character ARC edition of this book as well as an eARC!

I devoured this one in a matter of hours - couldn't put it down! I love this series so much and really enjoyed Harper and Ares' story. I work in the medical field so loved the rep. This is such a feel good, comfort series for me and Corinne always hits it out of the park. GUYS - these spicy scenes were 🔥🔥🔥! I am blushing thinking about it. So so so good.

What to expect:
Fake dating
City boy x country girl
Age gap (10 years)
Small town romance
Only one bed
A meddling father

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

omg am I the fifth review???? DAMN 😱

this was so stinking cute, I couldn’t help but smile through the entire thing 🥰 lark & tristan are still my number one babies. they imprinted on my heart like jacob on bella’s baby 😂🥹😍 but I also really enjoyed ares & harper’s story 🫶 ares is honestly a perfect man. the things he says & the things he does had me MELTING 🫠 and that epilogue had me weepy but also so excited for the rest of the series! shoutout to corinne for allowing me an advanced copy 👏🏼💕

[Laura Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

These 2 😍 I didn’t want this story to end, I found myself savoring it so much and taking my time with it. This was fake dating goodness. Both so grumpy, both with hurt to work through. But they couldn’t help but fall! I adore the stone family so much and Clyde I can’t get enough of him! Corinne made me feel all the feels and I can’t wait to see what is next in Infinity Ridge!
Thank you so much Corinne and Team for my ARC!

[Anna Benald · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Never Been Tamed* already promises an engaging smalltown romance with plenty of heart. The premise of Harper Stone and the town's new doctor hints at emotional depth, undeniable chemistry, and the kind of heartfelt journey Corinne Michaels is known for. I'm looking forward to seeing how their story unfolds.

[Amani Altwam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! Ares and Harper had the most perfect chemistry together and the fake dating trope was done really well. It didn't give me that warm giddy feeling like West of Forever but it was still really great!

[Christina Morden (ClaryNathanWill) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ ✨

[Cori Hamm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so freaking feral for this series. The moment this hit my kindle I absolutely inhaled it.

I adored Ares and Harper’s relationship like no other. They were so freaking good and gave us the most amazing sense of peace. I laughed and swooned like crazy. Their grumpiness was honestly the best part. And then add in all the soft and sweet?! PERFECTION. I loved how well they worked together and both continued to show up for the other. Harper is a giver and man if she wasn’t one of the most relatable characters ever. I loved her so much, the way she loved others and gave everything. I LOVED the way Ares stood by her as she found her voice. Ares is so perfect. I love this man with my whole entire heart.

While I love every single Stone, Clyde absolutely stole the show. The love I have for this man is UNREAL. He’s so mischievous and seriously just makes everything go fun. I cannot wait to see what shenanigans he gets up to next!

A huge thank you to Corinne and her team for the ARC of Never Been Tamed!

🩷Grumpy x Grumpy
🩷Fake dating
🩷Age gap
🩷Only one bed
🩷Cowgirl and city boy
🩷Meddling dad