The City Boy and the Rancher

Snow Creek Ranch

by R.J. Scott

Sell the ranch or save it—either way, someone’s going to lose everything.

Jesse Knox has given his heart and soul to Snow Creek Ranch. It’s not just dirt and cattle—it’s family, legacy, and the only place he’s ever belonged. So when Lucas Barrett arrives with city clothes, sharp eyes, and a plan to sell everything Jesse loves, there’s no compromise to be had. Just a line drawn in the dirt—and a promise that Jesse won’t back down, no matter what it costs. He only owns a quarter of the ranch, but it’s enough to stop anyone tearing it out from under him, and he’ll fight to the last breath to keep it.

When Lucas needed him most, his grandfather turned him away without a second thought. Now that same man has left him a majority share in a remote ranch he’s never seen. If Lucas lasts six months, he can sell and walk away with millions that will fund beds, safety, and second chances for kids with nowhere else to turn, just like he’d once been. Only, nothing about Snow Creek fits neatly into a spreadsheet, and the more time he spends battling Jesse, the more cracks appear in Lucas’s control. Because this ranch isn’t empty land. Secrets are revealed that change everything. And Jesse Knox is anything but a problem he can solve.

Six months. One ranch. Two men with everything to lose—and no way to walk away unchanged.

The City Boy and the Rancher is a 69,000 word MM Romance. With hate-to-love, opposites-attract, forced proximity romance, found family, secrets, lies, passion, high-stakes legacy, and a battle between saving Snow Creek ranch and selling it. It is book 1 in the shared world of Snow Creek Ranch. Each book can be read as a standalone, so be sure to check out the entire series!

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Westerns, Contemporary, LGBT, Enemies To Lovers

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2026

About the author

RJ Scott writes heartwarming, passionate MM/gay romance stories where every man finds his happily ever after. When not writing, she enjoys reading books, watching movies, spending time with her family, following Formula 1 (Forza Ferrari!), and cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Email her here: rj@rjscott.co.uk

Find RJ here: Amazon | BookBub | Facebook - Also, Never miss a release

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict]]

The City Boy and the Rancher is book one in the multi author series, Snow Creek Ranch. This one is by R.J. Scott. This book was so beautifully written. I have to admit, it was more emotional than I thought it would be. If you are thinking of reading this series, I would definitely start with this one since it introduces the ranch.



Lucas Barrett never really knew love. When he was on the streets, injured, it was a shelter for youth that found him and took him in, got him the medical attention he needed. Now as an adult, Lucas was told he had inherited seventy five percent of Snow Creek Ranch, the ranch his grandfather owned. A grandfather he had never met and who wouldn’t help him when he was at his lowest. Now, Lucas can see the help the money would be to the shelter that saved him if he sells the ranch. But, one stipulation in the will, he has to live on the ranch for six months before it becomes his. And, to sell it, he has to have the permission of the man that owns the other twenty five percent.



Jesse Knox has grown up on Snow Creek Ranch. His father was foreman but now Jesse is. He has always loved the ranch. It’s the only life he has ever wanted. He was shocked, though, to find out that he had been given twenty five percent ownership in the will. He already knows that the owner’s grandson plans to sell but Jesse will never, ever agree to selling his home.

Lucas and Jesse are forced to live together and as each day goes by, the tension between them is as tight as it can be. Jesse doesn’t hold back that he will never agree to selling. Lucas spends his days getting to know the ranch, learning everything he can about it. Still convinced that he can change Jesse’s mind. It’s a funny thing, though, with all that tension between them. Sometimes it can overflow in the craziest ways. Which is exactly what happened. How can two people that are so at odds be so compatible in other ways?



As the weeks go by, Lucas learns more and more. What he discovers is shocking, and changes everything about what he thought. I want to say here, that Lucas is so smart. With everything he had against him, he is so brave and strong. And Jesse, oh my poor sweet Jesse. That man had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

The ending was wonderful with two epilogues that left me feeling happy and satisfied. I look forward to continuing the series with the next book, The Bull Rider and the Bookworm by V.L. Locey.

[Brian S]

Was really excited to read another book from this author, till halfway through the first chapter. Lucas is a self centered idiot that can only live in the past. The only redeeming quality is his obsessive support for youth center. Jesse isn't much better. They are both weak people that can't figure their way out of a wet paper bag. Yes both had hard youth, but neither have learned from it and expect people to always agree with them. Both need lots of therapy. Luckily this is a standalone book, so you don't have to read it in order to read the rest written by other authors. I strongly suggest you pass on this book.

[S B]

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*

3.8 ⭐️

Okay, so I absolutely HATE when two people don't like each other and then develop chemistry off book. Like, take us with you, hello?? Also, why are you suddenly making out instead of talking it out ???😆

Besides this point, this was LOVELY with a capital L. Jesse and Lucas were made for each other, and when they first met I was kicking my feet. The tension was chef's kiss. Call me basic, but nothing beats the good ol' enemies-to-lovers trope. Lucas wanting to sell the ranch and Jesse wanting to keep it… complicated doesn't even begin to describe how frustrating and awkward their first interactions were, yet you could tell how fascinated they were by each other. The build-up was so great that I felt a bit disappointed when the tension exploded and then just… simmered along? It's my preference, but it could've been 100 pages more of them circling each other until they confessed 😆.

Biiiiiiig side-eye for the way Jesse just let his homophobic father treat the others, especially Miguel. I know he apologized, but it didn't sit well with me, knowing he was still caring for him out of responsibility although his father had been more than vile to Jessie’s brother. I might be expecting too much, but cut off contact, please??

But the dialogue was so natural, and all the characters were interesting enough to make me pick up the rest of the series (I need Jesse's brother's story ASAP!).

[Aki | nose buried in books | ❤️ |]

3.5 stars rounded up
I haven’t read a book by Scott in forever and her style felt like finding again an old friend, so I liked the story: realistically it's closer to 3 stars, I've read the trope city boy meets cowboy / enemies-to-lovers countless times, but i still enjoyed the story 😁

[Edga]

4.5 stars.

The City Boy and the Rancher didn't disappoint, and is the perfect introduction to a brand new cowboy series, written by various authors. This first book in the Snow Creek Ranch series tells the story of Jesse and Lucas. Jesse is the Ranch Foreman, and he and Lucas inherit the ranch from Lucas's grandfather. There is angst right away, with Jesse worrying about what is going to happen to the ranch and its people, and Lucas wanting to sell his majority share to fund an LGBTQ+ charity in the city.
I truly felt for both guys. Jesse was raised by an abusive homophobe who had driven his brother, Hoyt, away years ago. Hoyt's eventual return to the ranch adds a heartbreaking layer of emotion, giving Jesse a chance to heal from old wounds and begin mending his relationship with his long lost brother. Meanwhile, Lucas had a really complicated relationship with his late grandfather. I hated that he missed out on so much time with him, and that pain and regret were so raw when he realised what he’d lost. That heartbreak was wrapped up in his past with his mum and dad, and it just hit hard. He’ll never get that time back, and I felt every second of it.
The scenes were described so beautifully that I wish I could experience Snow Creek Ranch with my own eyes. (Also, I wouldn’t say no to a bit of cowboy eye candy, just putting that out there.) From the moment Lucas turns up at the ranch, the tension between him and Jesse is palpable.Talk about cutting the atmosphere with a knife! However, you know what they say about the thin line between love and hate.
The love brewing between Jesse and Lucas was absolutely perfect. Jesse had that brooding, quiet intensity, and the vulnerability underneath it made him even more compelling. Their first interaction had me hooked, it was hot, hot, hot, and after that, I needed them to get together stat. They were obviously meant for each other.
This book also gave such a real perspective on how much actual work goes into running a ranch. Jesse and his cowboys don’t mess around, they work hard every single day, and the love they pour into the land shows. The more Lucas realises the true value of the ranch and its people, the more he wants to strike a compromise that saves the property, protects the hands, and allows him and Jesse to build a future together.
Lucas’s decisions near the end? Chef’s kiss. That final idea and compromise he brought to the table, so smart, so thoughtful, and so him. The way they both got what they truly wanted in the end was satisfying AF.
A well written found family, enemies to lovers ranch romance, featuring a broody cowboy, loads of emotion, and a ranch that feels like home. Just perfect.

[Betty Loves Books Galore]

This is an opposites attract cowboy romance, featuring Lucas and Jesse, and is book one in the multi author series called Snow Creek Ranch.

Jesse is determined to save the ranch he loves, while Lucas wants to sell it to help children in need. As they spend six months together fighting over it’s future, they begin to see each other, and the ranch, in a whole new way.

I jumped into this one blind, so had no idea what to expect but I really enjoyed it. Lucas and Jesse’s push / pull dynamic was a great build up to them acting on their attraction. I loved them catching feelings.

This series is going to be fun!

Things to expect in this book are:
Book 1
Multi author series
MM cowboy romance
Small town
Opposites attract
City x country
Ranch life
Forced proximity
Hurt / Comfort
Push / Pull
Spicy times
Hate s*x
Catching feelings
Secret revealed
HEA

[J*ay*yo*J]

Abel’s abuse really annoyed me and his involvement in the twist later on was the last straw for me. At first I didn’t get whatever reasoning was behind Jesse tolerating his toxic and hateful behaviour then turned out he was just a fucking coward himself and let everyone down, turning a blind eye and letting his so called friends and crew to suffer.

I felt zero connection between MCs. There was lots of yelling, aggression, suddenly some sexy stuff then back to screaming and angry outbursts.

Individually they were maybe better than together, both were wrecking messes. Lucas was clueless and constantly putting himself in danger. I mean after lengthy sections of how he survived living on streets, how he was totally fine on his own, how he was self-reliant and self-capable etc yet all I have read about him in the story was that he was a lost case, always doing stupid things and endangering himself. I was getting second hand embarrassment! Jesse was a pathetic moron too.

Honesty the story was awful, romance was almost nonexistent (the last 20% of the book was of forgotten love story with ILY that came out of nowhere).

TW: gross amount of disgusting homophobia and enabling it! Slurs, violence against queer characters. Spineless MC who let that happen despite being gay himself

[Elle Kay]

As a huge fan of RJ’s Crooked Tree Ranch (Montana) series as well as her Wyoming books, I absolutely thrummed with excitement when she revealed that the new shared world she was taking part in involved Snow Creek Ranch. Scott has a way with cowboys; what can I say?

I dove in immediately and once again discovered an easy-flowing page-turning read. The characters pulled me in instantly and, by the time I’d met the two MC’s, I was hooked. Lucas is so tender-hearted and single-minded and Jesse is so determined and when they finally…FINALLY get out of their own way, magic happens.

That’s not to say there isn’t a ton of baggage laying around. Both men are swimming in it. And, at the end of the day, my take-away is that this is an expose of how many lives can be ruined by pervasive hatred.

But there’s love and hope and found family and fun secondary characters and I just love it. Can’t wait to see what the other authors have for this shared world. Scott’s first entry gets five stars from me.

[Teresa]

There’s lots to love about this book but also a few parts that I found quite frustrating. I loved Lucas, he’s a great character and i thought he came across well considering his plans in the book. Jesse took a little more warming too, I found his behaviour quite frustrating at times as he just kept shutting down at every opportunity. He also wasn’t handling his dad’s situation well, he definitely let that go on longer than it should. Once these two finally started to communicate I enjoyed the story more and I was really happy with the resolution at the end. I think it was just a little too slow for me to really get going between them and I wished we had abit more of them happy together in the second half of the story.

[Sandra]

3.5 stars, rounded down. I enjoyed reading this book, but I also had some issues.

First off, the MCs. Both Lucas and Jesse had difficult upbringings, both dealing with homophobic fathers. And while I could see how that colored their interactions, I do expect grown-ass men to develop a little bit since then. Especially Jesse, who had no discernible reason for continuing to put up with his father Abel's verbal and emotional and physical abuse, hatred and homophobia. It's entirely okay to go no-contact with someone utterly toxic like that, even if they are your parent.

Jesse didn't seem to have any backbone in dealing with his sperm donor, and even silently allowed Abel to abuse some of his crew at the ranch. I couldn't for the life of me understand why he continued to financially support the man, and why he kept making excuses for him.

I initially liked Lucas well enough, but his personality became all about wanting to sell the ranch his grandfather left to him at 75% ownership so he could fund a Youth Center in the city. I applauded his perseverance, and his desire to help kids in the same situation he once found himself in, but it his approach and inability to speak to Jesse like a grown-up was distracting.

It was very clear to me early on what the "twist" would be, and when the truth came out toward the end, it was no great surprise. To be honest, I kind of expected Lucas and Jesse to figure it out a whole lot sooner than they did. I also expected them to be a lot quicker about the solution they finally come up with, that gives them both what they desire for the ranch.

The relationship was done fairly well here. Enemies-to-lovers can be difficult, but the author did a decent job walking that tightrope between love and hate. I understood how they went from hating each other to sexual attraction to bedroom times back to yelling and being angry with each other, and that actually made the relationship more believable, but both Jesse and Lucas were walking red flags in one or more aspects of their characters.

The worst part of this book was having to read the vile homophobia spewed by Abel and his violent actions toward Jesse and others. The toxicity of this character and the inability of his son and people with authority to shut him down really ruined the overall enjoyment of this book for me, the longer I thought about it. He should have been locked up in an asylum and heavily medicated for the safety of others. He's irredeemable, and there is nothing at all about this character that is in any way likable.

This book is one in a series of books written by other authors, and while I may not have loved this one as much as I'd hoped, I'll be checking out the other available books.


** I received a free copy of this book from its author in exchange for an honest review. **

[Elsbeth]

*2.5 stars*
Very toxic story. A lot of yelling. And my, Jesse’s father was awful, so extremely homophobic!! How anyone put up with that long. I didn’t enjoy this very much. Why Lucas never heard from his grandfather was pretty obvious.

[Julie Underhill]

The City Boy and the Rancher by RJ Scott is part of the Snow Creek Ranch series by various authors. In this one, two men who have been hurt by their families come together over a ranch they both inherited with one wanting to sell it for a good reason, the other saying no way, and how they come to a compromise while falling in love. Lucas Barrett had a hard life. He was kicked out of his family at 15 for liking men and almost died and was left with an aching hip. But he was found by Rebecca, the person in charge of Harbor 5280, a charity for homeless kids like him. She said he was safe, helped him get an education and a degree in accounting, and he was so thankful that he spent every spare minute helping out there in any way he could. He was very surprised when he heard that he had inherited 75% of Snow Creek Ranch from his grandfather, the same grandfather who had turned him away when he called him for help. There was a stipulation that he had to stay there for 6 months before he could claim his part of it, so he headed there, planning to get the other owner to sell it so he could give the money to the charity to help more kids. He thought this would be easy but was shocked when the first thing out of Jesse Knox’s mouth when he met him was that he was not selling his 25% and without his consent it couldn’t be sold. Then he walked away pointing to the house and gave him no help with his luggage, getting inside, and finding his way around it. The other hands on the ranch, Jake, Colt, Gunner, Miguel, and Rebecca knew he wanted to sell and they were no help to him because of this and barely talked to him. But he was determined so he went his own way, looking over the land and using his accounting skills to send information to Lowstat-Meyer, his real estate agency. His only real interaction at the beginning was with his best friend, Dalton, who he worked with at the accounting agency in Denver, and who was constantly giving him advice. Jesse also didn’t have a good family life. His father who had once been the foreman at the ranch was horrible, especially after a beam fell on his head and gave him a traumatic brain injury and would yell at and abuse anyone he could, especially if they liked men. He had kicked out his older son, Hoyt, for that so Jesse was left dealing with him by himself. And he still came to the ranch and upset everyone from time to time. Jesse was also angry and frustrated with Lucas and what he wanted but he also felt an attraction to him which made it worse, and Lucas also felt it and didn’t know what to do about it. As time went by Lucas traveled the ranch and found some cabins that were once going to be part of a dude ranch but it never worked out. He also got to know the people who worked there and even though he was going to give them severance money from the selling of the ranch, he started to think that maybe it wasn’t a good idea but couldn’t think of anything else. Their attraction finally takes over as they kiss and have a hot love scene and after a while they have more. A near fatal accident leads to Lucas finding something that changes the way he feels about the ranch and his grandfather and Jesse realizes he has to do something about his father and apologizes to everyone on the ranch for not doing it sooner. By this point they have fallen in love but the question of what to do with the ranch looms over them and that Lucas will leave when the 6 months are up. Luckily Dalton helps Lucas come to a different conclusion about what to do with it that makes everyone happy in the end and Jesse and Lucas are looking forward to the future together. I really enjoyed this story. It is a true love/hate one, especially in the beginning, between two men who had horrible fathers that colored everything in their lives. You feel for both of them and it seems like they will never agree on anything. But slowly, as they get to know each other and Lucas gets to see what goes on on the ranch, their attraction grows until they act on it. Jesse doesn’t think that Lucas will ever see what the ranch, the land, and the people who work on it mean and Lucas doesn’t think Jesse understands what the money they would get from it would mean to the homeless people it would help. But as time goes on they both realize what they mean to each other and are able to work out a compromise that will lead them to being together. The ranch hands, Dalton, and especially their fathers and the memory of Walter, Lucas’s grandfather, play a big part in the story. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like stories about a cowboy and a city guy with very different ideas about what to do with a ranch, a love/hate relationship in the beginning that turns to love, and how they are able to save the ranch and help others at the same time.

[Shannon]

4.5 stars
There are a lot of emotions and tense situations throughout this book as Lucas and Jesse go from strangers with vastly different ideas for the ranch to eventually becoming two men in love with a shared plan for the ranch.
They are both the same with regards to being very stubborn men with communication issues, and they have an initially unwelcome attraction to one another. Lucas is set on selling the ranch as he has big plans for using his share for charity work, but Jesse is determined to keep the ranch as is and not let it be sold. They both grew up with horrible fathers who also happen to be nasty and homophobic - Lucas has had no contact with his since his teens, but Jesse is still 'sort of' dealing with his.
Lucas's background is truly heartbreaking, he has trouble connecting with people and has fears of not being wanted due to his younger years. My heart broke along with Lucas's when he has some huge realizations about the grandfather who left him a majority share of the ranch, and this is when he begins to think about a different plan for the ranch that can still lead to helping others.
Jesse has a father who has always been mean and abusive, but has gotten worse since a brain injury. Jesse needs to find a way to deal with him because he is causing a lot of issues for not only Jesse, but also for others on the ranch - mainly sweet Miguel. Unfortunately, this situation is not resolved in this book. Perhaps it will be dealt with in the next book as one of the MC's for that book is Jesse's older brother Hoyt who comes to the ranch at the end of the book.
As for Lucas and Jesse, once they finally begin communicating, mixed in with some spicy sexy times that helps solidify their connection, they find common ground regarding the ranch and themselves and leads to a healing kind of love and a sweet HEA with a spur of the moment proposal that will fill your heart.
I received an ARC from GRR, this review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
As the book I read was an ARC, it has some inconsistencies that will hopefully be fixed for the final copy.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book with the intense emotions, the opposite attracts, forced proximity, and the hurt/comfort tropes, and the way these two MC's finally find a way to work things out. There were also a few secondary characters here that I enjoyed and wouldn't mind if they got their own books. What I didn't care for was how long it took for them to work out their issues - there was a lot of time spent avoiding one another and not figuring things out - and that there wasn't much of them together as a couple by the end of the book, or that the situation with Jesse's father felt like it was being brushed aside and not dealt with. Again, those things 'may' be embellished on in the next book as it focuses on Jesse's brother as a main character.
I do feel this was a good start to this shared world series and I would recommend it.

[Marian.]

⭐ 3.5

Oh este libro me sorprendió, pensé que iba a hacer una lectura ligera pero la historia de Jesse y Lucas es todo menos ligera.

La historia de Lucas me partió el corazón y en cierto modo entiendo su punto de querer vender pero también entiendo a Jesse y mucho, es su hogar y el hogar de todos los trabajadores. Debo ser honesta y decir que al principio me costo agarrarle el gusto al libro ya que, como dije, pensé que encontraría un libro ligero y no estaba para leer un libro de esta magnitud, pero menos mal que seguí leyendo porque me gusto mucho, al historia, el romance, como todos se vuelven esta gran familia encontrada, sin duda fue una buena historia.

Ahora bien, hay algunas acciones de parte de Jesse que no me terminaron de cuadrar y no tiene nada que ver con Lucas si con su padre, y si leen el libro capaz y me entiendan mejor en ese aspecto ya que no diré mas por spoilers.

Me iré a leer el segundo libro enseguida porque quedamos con un final aquí que me dejo queriendo mas (es completamente standalone, solo que, el final nos da pie al otro libro que es completamente de otra pareja)

********

Oh, this book really surprised me. I thought it was going to be a light read, but Jesse and Lucas's story is anything but light.

Lucas's story broke my heart, and in a way, I understand his reasoning for wanting to sell the ranch, but I also understand Jesse so well, it's his home and the home of all the workers. I have to be honest and say that at first I had a hard time getting into the book because, as I said, I thought I'd find a light read and wasn't in the mood for a book of this magnitude, but thank goodness I kept reading because I really liked it the story, the romance, how everyone becomes this big, found family, It was definitely a good story.

That said, there are some of Jesse's actions that didn't quite make sense to me and it has nothing to do with Lucas, but rather with his father. If you read the book, you might understand me better in that regard, since I won't say more to avoid spoilers.

I'm going to dive right into the second book because the ending here left me wanting more (it's completely standalone, but the ending sets the stage for the next book, which is about a completely different couple).

📌 I received an e-arc, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.

[Viki]

The good?

It's proper enemies-to-lovers; this is not a fantasy romance with kingdoms at war but any book that doesn't know what the term means can look here - they have legitimate reasons to dislike each other and they overcome it - eventually, slowly.

Small bonus point for his reason to sell the ranch, I wouldn't blame him if he did it for "selfish" reasons but wanting the money for something specific makes it better, somehow.

The boring?

It had a solid setting with some regular side characters, just enough plot to keep things going and even romance with a bit too many talking-with-their-bodies moments to overcome the slow pace of it all.

The bad?

It felt so sad and tragic and... powerless. It wasn't a pervasive feeling, like some books give me, but it was still noticeable. The City Guy had terrible parents, who kicked him out at 15, he was homeless, rescued by a shelter he now dedicates his life to. Minor spoiler (I say minor because it feels a predictable plot twist at a certain point), but the granfather who abandonded him did not, actually, abondond him, which should make you feel better but just made me feel even more important and more of that fictional FOMO, like, he could hav had something special but now his granfather is dead and it's too late.

There was a bit too much introspection as they both frequently berated themselves for falling into bad with the other guy, ranch life here seemed a bit too repetitive, nothing happened, really, they had new calves and they fixed fences, the end. The MCs' jobs isn't always important but here, I noticed a certain... lack of something, I guess. On City's side as well, he took 6 freaking months (basically) to make a list of properties and figures for the ranch. Like, he made a survey of one middle-sized ranch property and it took him months to complete and "crunch the numbers" or something, he already had some materials, even if he took photos of everything, the task felt fakely drawn-out.

I finished it, I mostly enjoyed it, I am going to give the next book (by a different author) a chance, but I heard the next MC's story, part of it, I mean, and it sounds as cheery as this book so... we'll see.

[Bill Bottomley]

I received a free copy. This review is submitted voluntarily.

Lucas is gay and proudly out. He was kicked out at out by his father when he was 15, lived for a while in the streets, and was rescued by a charity after he was beaten up with serious injuries. He had used his last dollar to call his grandfather, only to be told that the ranch didn’t need any more sissies. He was confused, however, when his grandfather left him ¾ ownership of the ranch, subject to his staying there for 6 months. His intent is to last the time required time and sell it with proceeds going to the charity that saved him. On arrival he meets Jesse, a cowboy who could be a fly in the ointment since he will not agree to sell his ¼ of the ranch that was bequeathed to him by Lucas’ grandfather as well. Lucas cannot sell his majority share without Jesse agreeing to sell. Lucas plans to spend the time assessing the ranch so he can make the sale attractive to Jesse.

While I’ve truly enjoyed reading sports romances lately, this was a pleasant change of scene. The author really captures the conflict between the two main characters. Even the sex isn’t conflict-free, mainly due to one or the other saying the wrong thing right after. Both are carrying major loads from their pasts, primarily due to their fathers’ blatant and often violent homophobia as well as Lucas’ confusion over why he would inherit a ranch from a grandfather who seemed homophobic as well. The conflict is exacerbated by the all-or-nothing approach both take. Lucas is lucky to have a good friend who has no trouble offering his opinion on the way Lucas is dealing with the situation. On the other hand, Jesse doesn’t have anyone in whom to confide. He has a number of hands working the ranch, but he has never come out to them, and he is scared of the reaction his father might have were he to discover the truth. One of his staff, Miguel, is gay and is frequently tormented by Jesse’s father. Because Jesse has had a tendency not to see what’s happening, Miguel has had to learn coping mechanisms for dealing with the father.

Another really good book from the author.

[Marion]

This book is part of the multi-author Snow Creek Ranch series. Each book is a standalone read and features a different couple. This is the story of Jesse Knox and Lucas Barrett . Both Jesse and Lucas have had a harsh life growing up. They each a bringing a large amount of baggage with them wherever they go. Lucas was thrown out at the age of 15 by his father. After a serious assault while living on the streets, he called his grandfather for help with the last of his money. His grandfather insulted him and cut him off. Luckily he was found and rescued by someone working at a charity for homeless kids. Then unexpectedly his grandfather left him 75% of a ranch. Lucas plans to sell the ranch and give all the money to the kids charity. All he has to do is live there for six months and convince the other owner to sell. He is already counting the money to donate. Jesse loves working at the ranch. He is dealing with his abusive and homophobic father who makes everyone's life a living hell. Especially gay men. Years earlier he had driven Jesse's gay older brother away. But he is not prepared to lose the ranch. He was gifted 25% of the ranch by Lucas' grandfather. And Lucas can't sell the ranch if Jesse doesn't sign. This is their story. The book is written well and is easy to read. I received a complementary advanced review copy of this book from the author and I voluntarily leaving a review. When Lucas finally shows up at the ranch, the tension between him and Jesse is palatable. They are enemies, plain and simple. Enemies who are unexpectedly attracted to each other. As their relationship slowly changes, communication begins. This leaves room for compromise. I enjoyed this book. I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

[LeeAnn]

Jesse is a strong, resilient, handsome rancher.
He lost his connection to his brother Hoyt years ago due to the homophobic hatred of his father, who'd thrown his brother out and refused to let them see each other again.
Jesse has inherited 1/4 of a ranch from a man who had treated and loved him like a son. He'd worked on his ranch for years as had Jesse's dad.
Lucas is a handsome, smart numbers guy who was hurt by his parents' indifference and his grandpa's supposed rejection when he needed him the most. He inherited 3/4 of his grandfather's ranch.
When Jess and Lucas meet it is NOT love at first sight. To say they bump heads is a major understatement.

Soon though they start to see just where the other is coming from and what they are dealing with. Jesse is able to give Lucas insight into a few things about his grandpa he never knew.
Lucas sees just what Jesse has dealt with, abuse from his father, all his life and find ways to help him as they begin to grow closer.
Through it all the anger turns to desire, then love. The connection that grows is just what they each need in their lives.
Their story has heartbreak on both sides from their pasts, caring, love, smexy times and a deep love that grows and helps them both heal so they can become who the other wants and needs in their lives.
I always make sure not to tell a lot of the plot of a book, I feel the reader should experience it firsthand.
I loved this story and highly recommend it and for the reader to make sure to read: The Bullrider and The Bookworm next, by V.L. Locey . It is Hoyt's story, Jesse's brother.

[ButtonsMom2003]

★彡 Happy Release Day 彡★ ★彡 5 STARS 彡★

I am a huge RJ Scott fan and her cowboy romances are among the first books I read by her back in 2016. The City Boy and the Rancher is a great start to the multi-author Snow Creek Ranch series and she did a great job setting the scene for the remaining stories while at the same time writing a great romance for the first couple, Jesse (the rancher) and Lucas (the city boy).

These two characters couldn’t be more different so this is a great opposites attract story as well as a fantastic enemies-to-lovers one with hot hate sex. OMG did this story ever tear me apart and put me back together again.

Lucas suffered greatly when his father threw him out at age 15 and then his grandfather rejected him. He’s now inherited 75% of his grandfather’s ranch and he knows exactly what he wants to do with it – after he spends the required six months living on the ranch.

Jesse inherited the remaining 25% of the ranch and he absolutely will not allow Lucas to sell the ranch. Jesse also had a somewhat difficult upbringing with a hateful, angry father who was the ranch foreman for years. Lucas’s grandfather was more of father to him than his own was.

I teared up more than once while reading this and in one place I was nearly sobbing because the emotion I felt from the characters touched me deeply. I wouldn’t exactly call this a tear jerker; books that touch me like this one did just happen to make my eyes leak and that’s a sure sign that I loved what I was reading.

An advanced copy of this book was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

[CatOnABlueBackground]

This is book #1 of the Snow Creek Ranch series and it gives us a view into what the ranch is like now and shows us the plans for what it will be.

This is heavy on the angst and drama. Lots of anger, misunderstandings and refusing to listen - kind of to the point where I wanted to take the characters and shake them.

Lucas inherits 75% of the ranch, Jesse the foreman inherits 25%. Lucas wants to sell it in order to help finance the charity back in the city that saved his life when he was a teen. Jesse absolutely does NOT want to sell. Conflicts abound. Both Jesse and Lucas have had horrible childhoods with abusive fathers. If Jesse would just listen he might learn something, but he'd rather yell and ignore things. They even have sex multiple times (plenty of spice) with Jesse STILL refusing to talk about anything afterwards. Eventually the 2 of them work things out and get their HEA. Jesse's brother shows up right at the end of the book, and I'm assuming he's the subject of the next book.

My only real issue here is that Jesse is constantly telling everyone that he's not going to sell the ranch and that Lucas can't sell it unless he agrees. Legally, this is absolutely incorrect. The majority owner (Lucas, with 75%) CAN force a sale of the business at any time - it takes some legal work, but it can be done. Jesse really doesn't have a say in anything (with only 25%) and should have been buttering Lucas up the entire time instead of bullying and threatening him at the beginning of the book.

Looking forward to the next book.

[ivanareadsalot]

I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

70% of this was Lucas being shouted at, and Jesse getting on my last nerve. Jesse's dad's slurs and bigotry were harsh to read, and I'm not certain why he was just roaming around dealing out his hate with the kind of freedom this narrative allowed him, but I don't live there and he's Jesse and Hoyt's problem to deal with or ignore.

Whatever.

I tapped out when I found out WHO was forced to assume the burden of watching the vile old man. Straight up, I would have moved.

The MCs were bundles of snarling animosity and red flags throughout most of this, and my notes were different versions of: when will the "romance" part of this romance kick in? Because I'm tired.

Sure there were a lot of sexy sexy times, but I dunno man, I'm just not feeling how Jesse treated Lucas, no matter where the stress was coming from. The only aspects of Snow Creek Ranch that didn't fully bring me down were the other ranch hands, the horses, the day-to-day grind in a cowboy's life, Mouse the barn cat, and ofc the philanthropic intentions that were the sole motivating force behind Lucas enduring the belligerent and awful tenure required to claim his inheritance.

And even though the last 25% was everything I had wanted this whole romance to be, I can't say I remotely understand where the ilys came from because I'm still scrunching up my face.

Happy to keep reading through the series in any case, because even if the cowboy romance isn't for me, the ranch life and the horses always will be.

[Jessica]

I really enjoyed this first look into this shared world and into the ranch and how it run’s and operate. I am very excited for this whole series to get to know more (hopefully) about the characters we were introduced to in this first book.

Jesse and Lucas both had their flaws, plenty of them being similar…. Both stubborn, shut down instead of communicating, not willing to compromise at first, etc. But when they finally started to put their differences behind them and get to know each other, they were great together. I always love seeing two broken men figure out love and how to share it with the other.

There were some issues with the story that I didn’t love and were never really tied up and just kind of left open (Jesse’s dad mainly) and I felt confused at times by how things were described (totally a me thing) ie: clothes being off then in the next sentence the person storming out the door fully clothed, just small things like that that my brain has trouble processing (again a totally me thing)

Overall I did enjoy this story, I thought it was a great intro to this shared world and I am excited to read the rest of this series!!

I received this ARC from GRR and these are my honest opinions.

[DJ DIXXXON]

RJ Scott has done it again, and what a phenomenal way to kick off the new *Snow Creek Ranch* series!
The love story between Lucas and Jesse is nothing short of breathtaking. They start off on completely the wrong foot, and the sheer number of misunderstandings between the city boy and the rugged rancher had me turning pages late into the night. The tension between them at the beginning is electric—you can practically feel the heat and frustration radiating off the page as they clash. They truly earn that "enemies" title before they even think about becoming lovers.
But what makes this book so amazing is the emotional journey. As the layers are peeled back and the truth comes out, watching them navigate through all the pain to find common ground is incredibly moving. RJ Scott beautifully shows that love isn't just about the easy moments; it’s about realizing that together, Lucas and Jesse can overcome absolutely anything life throws at them.
The chemistry is intense, the emotional payoff is deeply satisfying, and the ranch setting feels like a character all its own. If *The City Boy and the Rancher* is any indication of what’s to come, this series is going to be an all-time favorite. A must-read for anyone who loves deep, healing romance!

[L H]

When Lucas left home he did not care to return as he was sent packing by his father and he felt that his grandfather did not care that he was turned out and had to fend for himself. HIs grandfather leaving him 75 percent of the ranch with a condition that he stay there for 6 months was a tough challenge but one he is determined to meet so he can sell and use the money to help other kids who find themselves in the situation he was in when he left. What he was not expecting to find on the ranch was Jesse, who owns 25 percent of the ranch and is determined to hold on to it. If Jesse won't sell Lucas can't either. Things do not start out real friendly between these two but proximity and attraction help them to realize that they are good together. Each man has some family issues to work through but together they help one another to work through the difficult things that each needs to so that they can look forward to building a future together that allows both to feel that he is doing what is best by those he wants to take care of. They also find a partner that they can grow with in one another.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[thebloggerandthegeek]

A very nice introduction to a series filled with great side characters. I have to admit at one point I was more invested in Miguel’s story and I want his books.

Lucas and Jesse were both immature and childish, Lucas stuck on his past and Jesse missing a backbone against his asshole father.

Both had terrible families, if this was a competition I’m unsure who would have won because both had terrible parents (tho maybe Lucas’s was worse!)

I wish Jesse would have been more understandable but I also wish Lucas would have been more open from day one tho of course being a book that was never gonna happen.

However, once they both got their heads out of their ass it was cute and nice. I liked their sweet interactions and plans for their future. The idea of having a program at the ranch was something I was screaming since the first chapter but I guess it took almost the entire book to get there. Ha ha.

I had beef with Jesse not screaming and punching his dad. That man deserved it.

Overall, filled with interesting side characters and a romance that while it made me scream at times was sweet at the end.

[SNik]

Part of a multi-author series (Snow Creek Ranch), but can be read as a standalone. Adversarial to lovers. Found family. Hurt/comfort. Slow burn. Dual POV.

Lucas plans to sell his inheritance, but first he has to convince the foreman of the ranch to agree. Jesse will never abandon the land or the people there, no matter how attractive the former owner’s son is.

The beginning antagonistic relationship between Jesse and Lucas is understandable, and I appreciated that both men felt strongly about their position and didn’t back down. I do wish the chemistry went beyond the physical and they got to know each other more deeply, but both their pasts were certainly terrible and heartbreaking so that finding each other did seem sweet. Both Jesse and Lucas were survivors and fighting for what they feel is right which is admirable. This was a really good introduction to a new multi-author universe and I’m sure it will be fun to read about some of the men from the ranch finding their own HEA’s.

[Manon]

RJ Scott does cowboys very well, her Texas and Wyoming series are some of my favourites. She often starts with hurt and pain and this book is no difference. Hate collides with attraction and morphs to love when secrets come out and the past is not what it seemed.

It's the first book in a shared series, so while we will see the people of Snow Creek again, it will be written by other authors but the line up is a great group.

We have City Boy Lucas - a man who sees his inheritance as a way to fund his dream. No way he wants to know about Snow Creek apart from how to maximise the proceeds. There is hurt in his past.

But then there is Jesse, the other part-owner for whom Snow Creek is everything he wants. Burden by family and guilt, he sees Snow Creek as the one thing he love. So it's hate at first sight and none of them is moving an inch. But when they give in and when they get their act together, they create plenty of heat.

We have plenty of interesting secondary characters I hope we see again.

[E.]

4.25 stars

“The City Boy and the Rancher” by RJ Scott is the first book in the ‘Snow Creek Ranch’ series and centers on Lucas, who is successful—no thanks to his family—and determined to sell the unexpected inheritance from a grandfather who rejected him when he needed him the most. He never expects to be thwarted by Jesse—the man who has the strongest ties to the ranch—and the means to keep Lucas from tearing it apart.

This contemporary western small-town romance is a delicious introduction to a compelling series. Sometimes new series are a bit cumbersome while the setting is established, but this story immediately drew me in, and I immediately connected to each man and understood his point of view. The conflict and contrast between each man’s experience was deftly portrayed, and I enjoyed watching the initial hostilities gradually morph into acceptance and then a connection. This was a great start, and I look forward to reading other books in the series.

A copy of this title was provided for review

[Tracy Anderson]

4.5 stars
This is a great start to the new series revolving around the Snow Creek Ranch. Lucas inherits 3/4 of the ranch from a grandfather he never knew. The other 1/4 was left to Jesse who has worked there all his life and loves the land. Lucas wants to sell and Jesse doesn’t so that sets up a lot of conflict that lasts for a good portion of the book. But underneath the friction is a strong attraction that eventually wins out.

Both have horrible fathers and a painful history. Jesse’s father is especially toxic. I found it difficult to watch Jesse take his shit and be oblivious to his abuse of the other hands and Lucas. This dynamic and another issue around his father and Lucas made me angry and sad. Jesse finally realizes all the terrible things his Dad has done and apologizes for not intervening.

I was happy when Jesse and Lucas let down their walls and let themselves love each other. I can’t wait to read the other books from this world! I received a copy of this book from GRR and this is my honest opinion.

[Anne Barwell]

I love contemporary westerns and this author’s books. This is a great start to the shared Snow Creek Ranch World. I loved Jesse and Lucas and how they started off on the wrong foot with completely erroneous preconceptions about each other, then slowly got to know the real person. I didn’t want to put the book down, and am hanging out for the rest of the series.

I love how both Jesse and Lucas have dealt, and in Jesse’s case, is still dealing, with not great family situations. Jesse’s dad is horrible and his bigotry has impacted so many people. I liked how Jesse and Lucas’s mutual attraction gives them a starting point to friendship and more. I love how they’ve both moved forward from their past traumas and tried to make a positive difference for others.

I love also loved the friendships and found family both at the ranch, and with Lucas’s friends and their charity.

The world building is fabulous and easy to imagine. I liked the hope for the future and Lucas and Jesse’s path to their HEA.