West of Forever: Heartstone Ranch, Book 1

by Corinne Michaels, Connor Crais (Narrator), Vanessa Vasquez (Narrator)

Tristan Stone is off limits.

It doesn't matter that the grumpy, single dad did nothing wrong. He's a cowboy and his last name means I'm bound by blood to hate him. My family would never be okay with me having feelings for our enemy.

When he stops—in the pouring rain—because I have a flat tire, the last thing I expect is for him to help me. I do my best to ignore the water sliding off his hat and how he fills out those jeans. My best, however, is not good enough. Each night I close my eyes and dream of a future we can never have.

And after he defends me at the bar and we share a magical dance? It only gets worse. I know I should forget about him, but when I find him alone one night, I offer up a no-strings attached relationship that we both promise to keep secret. Sidelong glances across property lines morph into clandestine meetings under the stars wrapped up in each other's arms.

Never mind that our families will never approve or that he told me he can never love again, I crave him.

Soon our no feelings agreement is in tatters, and my heart belongs to that broken cowboy. Will he break it or will he defy them all and choose us instead?

Genres: Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published June 16, 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

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐-> ♾️🌟
🌶️🌶️.5


💕 Rival Families
✨️ Single Dad
💕 Healing After Grief
✨️ Small Town
💕 Secret Relationship
✨️ Cowboy X Horse Trainer



✨️ 📚 ARC 📖 & 🎧 ALC 🎧 REVIEW ✨️

🎙Narrators: Vanessa Vasquez & Connor Crais 🎙

Vanessa and Connor couldn't have been more perfect for Lark and Tristan! I loved their ionflections and the emotion behind their voices that really gave these characters life!

✨️📖 On To The Book Review 📖✨️

Where do I even begin with this amazing book? Lark and Tristan had such a heart-warming story! They went from being in rival families that HATED each other to bringing the families as together as they possibly could! Neither side was happy except or the love that Lark and Tristan shared!

I would day the secret relationship part had to be my fave! Always trying to sneak around so no one caught them was getrting harder to do, until Tristan went to jails o that Lark and their relarionship didn't get exposed. he was so willing to do whatever it took to protect her in every way, until it was a problem.

Lark knew what she wanted and refused to step down because of a rivalry that was stupid. With all of the many stories trhat were about the feud no one really knew what it was about in the end. There was always something happening on Lark's families farm, but no one would really admit they did it. With this tension in the air it made things harder for Lark and Tristan, but they were willing to tell their families.

I absolutely loved Lark and her relationship with his daughter! They were the perfect match to get to know one another. Having a horse trainer teaching a her how to ride also helped! But they honestly couldn't have been a better pair!

There was nothing in this book that I didn't love! I am soooo beyond excited for the next book in the series!

Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Corinne Michaels ✨️ for the complimentary 📚 ARC 📚 & 🎧 ALC 🎧. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest, and voluntary✨️.

[Allison Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Corinne and her team for allowing me to listen to an ALC! 💖

I think it’s safe to say that Tristan Stone has moved up the ranks to become one of my favorite cowboys 🤭 I loved how protective he was over both Lark and Sadie and he really tugged at my heartstrings with his story of losing his wife. I have to applaud the author for not making the more serious/sad topics in the book seem cheesy or like they were just there for the sake of giving characters a sob story. It really felt purposeful and gave them a lot of depth and made their journeys mean that much more!!

I loved how headstrong Lark was, and that she wasn’t willing to settle for anything less than what she deserved, even if (mild spoiler) it meant potentially losing Tristan.

I wasn’t expecting this book to make my heart race with nerves like it did with the final climax (IYKYK🫨) and I really liked the bit of action/suspense that really had me on the edge of my seat listening to this audiobook!

Also, these narrators deserve so much recognition for bringing the characters to life flawlessly!! Especially the male narrator, he really morphed into a growly grumpy cowboy perfectly 🤣

Can’t wait to read more from this author!! (Jimmy’s story next??🙏🏻)

Tropes:
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒Rival families
👧🏼Single dad
🤫Secret relationship
❤️‍🩹Healing after grief
🤠Cowboy MMC
🐎Horse trainer FMC

[Edens Book Den · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duet narration? Say less🥰

I loved the physical copy of West of Forever, so when I received the ALC and realized it was narrated in duet, I was ecstatic. Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez absolutely nailed this one. Hearing the story come to life added a whole new dimension to the ranch setting and the connection between the characters. If you’re an audiobook listener, this is one worth picking up.

This is the first book in the Heartstone Ranch series, and goodness, I love a cowboy romance. Maybe it’s because I know a guy who grew up riding horses and still loves them to this day…and he happens to hold my heart. I digress.

The rival-family storyline gave this one all the Romeo and Juliet feels. But it was Tristan and Lark that made me care. They had so much working against them, and I found myself hoping they could somehow outrun all the history between their families.

There was one thing I was hoping would be addressed by the end, so make sure you don’t skip the extended epilogue like I almost did🤠

I can’t wait to return to Heartstone Ranch and see where this series goes next.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexa play “One Number Away” by Luke Combs

“You should be with a man who would swim through a flood to get to you” 🫠

I used an Audible credit for this book, and I’m glad I did. I really enjoyed it, and the voice actors were fantastic!

In this Hatfields and McCoys-style romance, Tristan and Lark are neighbors whose families have been at odds for years. Tristan is a grumpy cowboy, while Lark is an equally fierce cowgirl.

When Tristan spots Lark in a rainstorm with a flat tire, he decides to set aside their family drama and help her get home safely. After just one night together, they can’t stop thinking about each other. However, family matters, coupled with past grief and heartache, complicate their desires, leading to a Romeo and Juliet-style romance.

I loved this story because it felt authentic, especially with the grief Tristan is experiencing and how it affects his ability to move forward in relationships. As a single dad, he grapples with fears, but Lark helps him heal and navigate parts of his life where he feels overwhelmed. Lark, on the other hand, doesn’t want to upset her family’s balance but discovers a love she can’t let go of. Ultimately, she must prioritize her own happiness over family expectations. It was so good ya’ll!

🖤 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Single Dad
🖤 Annoying Brothers
🖤 Family drama

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I AM IN MY FEELS. I was just hit with so many emotions listening to this one. The narrators for this audiobook: Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez AND THEY'RE THE PERFECT TRISTAN AND LARK!

You will love this book if you like:
-small town romance
-rival families (forbidden love)
-single dad
-grumpy x sunshine
-cowboy x cowgirl

Thank you CM and team for the ARC and ALC.

[Sienasummerrreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m diving straight into this review. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it was brilliant. Also, that cover is absolutely stunning and definitely one of my favourites.

This is such a wholesome, beautiful romance set against a long standing family rivalry, with plenty of sneaking around that I absolutely loved. It’s very character driven, with a touch of plot by the mysterious vigilante causing high tension between the families.

I adored Lark, she’s such a kind, sweet soul. Despite this feud she remains polite and respectful toward the Stones. She might throw a few jabs when Tristan pokes the bear, but she never fully engages in the feud the way other family members do. Tristan is just protective loving father and always willing to step up when someone needs help. His daughter Sadie was such a fun, sassy kid who added so much heart to the story.

I loved how things developed between Lark and Tristan I was swooning. Their chemistry, banter, and heated moments were everything. The ridge felt like such a special place, and the scene where they finally confess their feelings was one of my favourites. It was emotional, passionate, and so satisfying. The intimate scenes were also beautifully written and felt so raw and emotional.

This was close to a five star read for me, but I wish the rivalry was explained better to fully understand that deep rooted history. Alongside one main plot point that didn’t quite land. Be mindful this paragraph is a spoiler. The mystery surrounding the person tormenting the Gatlin family damaging property and causing chaos played a big role throughout the book. Suspicion was heavily placed on Tristan and his family, and I really enjoyed trying to piece together who was behind it. However, by the time I reached the epilogue, I was left confused because I expected it to be explained before or in the epilogue. The explanation comes in a bonus scene after the epilogue, and for such a significant plot point, I don’t think it should have been left to the bonus scene. It felt like something that needed to be addressed before the bonus scene. The reveal itself Tristan’s father being behind it also didn’t fully make sense to me. His reasoning is that his late wife mentioned an inkling she had about them so he started to meddle? But the meddling happened before anything even started between Lark and Tristan? Because Tristan was quiet about his relationship with Lark and they did a good job of sneaking around. Clyde didn’t like the Gatlin’s either and helping a Gatlin fall for his son just didn’t make sense. Lark has many brothers who hate the Stone’s especially Tristan. It just felt too convenient that Lark would always bring it up to Tristan when the brothers were very vocal but never confronted him? It also didn’t sit right with me that these actions were referred to as “pranks.” Damaging property and putting animals at risk by releasing them from their safe space made me uneasy. It wasn’t funny and caused stress for the family. Nobody was laughing at these “pranks.” Unfortunately, this part of the book fell flat for me, and I would have suggested that, at the very latest, there be a father and son moment between Clyde and Tristan on the wedding day, where he confesses what he did and they laugh about it, especially after Tristan took the fall for the “prank” which got him locked up.

Lastly, the audiobook was absolutely brilliant. Vanessa and Connor did an incredible job their range, tone, and character voices really brought the story to life. It’s definitely one I won’t forget.

I love Corinne’s books, and I’m excited to dive into more of her backlist and see what comes next, especially with this new series.

Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook ALC
Audiobook Length: 10hrs 34mins
Narrators: Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez - Duet
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
POV: First Person
Series or Standalone: Book One In Heartstone Ranch Series.
Tropes or Themes: Small Town, Enemies To Lovers, Forbidden, Cowboy, Single Dad, Grumpy Sunshine, Love After Loss, Neighbours, Rival Families, Tension, Chemistry, Banter, Sneaking Around, Friends With Benefits, Family Drama, Alcohol, Injured, Accident, Medical Content, Sexual Content, Praise, Dirty Talk, Oral Play, Outside Scene and Barn Scene.
Discusses: Loss of Wife, Grief and Death.
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫

All Round Romance Reader 
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Margins | Pagebound | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫

[meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

West of Forever: ★ ★ ★ . 5

Corinne Michaels (Heartstone Ranch, #1)

"You should be with a man who swims through a flood to get to you."

Tristan and Lark can't fight the attraction between them—even though their families hate each other.

Tropes:
– Forbidden (rival families)
– "Enemies" with benefits
– Grumpy/sunshine
– Single dad
– Cowboy x cowgirl romance
– Sneaking around

West of Forever is such a sweet start to the Heartstrone Ranch series! I really enjoyed the spicy banter between them and all the sneaking around. Think Romeo and Juliet (minus death; plus horses).

Lark is a very sweet character and I liked how she stood up for what she thought was right and wasn’t willing to just hate people because everybody else did. Her family is definitely very stubborn and I respect that she was still able to be a kind character, despite being surrounded by that her entire life. Tristan was a great dad and a very respectful, very thoughtful person overall even if he is overprotective and scared of losing anybody or anything at any time.

Taking a moment to bring up Sadie because she was such an amazing kid. I loved her fire and her passion and how she kept her dad in check. Speaking of dads, love Clyde very much hehe. For reasons! That was cute.

I have a couple qualms:
– I wish the rivalry and hatred was explained better because it was kind of silly to read about.
– It’s hard to believe (or just straight up foolish) that Tristan would be so casual about possibly going to jail for not vandalizing a place and leaving his daughter without yet another parent. His parenting abilities here felt extremely questionable, which was not in line with how good of a dad he has throughout the rest of the book.
– Also, the third conflict was really infuriating because you could see it coming a mile away and it was just handled badly.

The audio was very good! Connor and Vanessa do such a great job bringing these characters to life.

Thank you to Corinne Michaels for the ALC!

[Christine Perreault · Rating 3 out of 5]

West of Forever was narrated by Connor Crais, and I'd listen to him narrate a grocery list, so of course I added this to my TBR.

This story follows two rival families with neighboring farms whose feud has been going on for decades. No one is quite sure what started it, but the animosity remains strong for most family members. Naturally, Lark and Tristan (one from each side of the feud) are drawn to each other, but they struggle with their families' deep rooted dislike of the other side.

The banter (and spice) between Lark and Tristan was fun, but there were a three points in the story that just didn't add up for me, and pulled me out of the story more than once:

1. There had been a lifelong prank war between the families, but neither farm had security cameras? I know at one point they say, "the crime never happens in the same spot," but... make it make sense.

2. Do adults actually call their mother "Mama"? My toddler calls me that, but I assume it'll eventually change to "Mom." Lark gave me the ick with that.

3. Unless it's a mafia romance, I'm learning that family rivalries just don't work for me. The entire conflict in this book is built around how much these families supposedly hate each other. We're repeatedly told that Tristan can't even drop Lark off near her house because her father and brothers would lose their minds if they caught him there. Then, halfway-ish through the book, Tristan drops Lark off right in front of her family's farm. They're standing there having a moment, when her father comes out onto the porch and glares at Tristan (the sworn enemy he's spent years threatening and bad-mouthing) and then... he just lets him leave... no confrontation. No consequences. No dramatic showdown. *cue cricket chirps*

Despite those complaints, this was still an enjoyable listen. And the bonus scene after the epilogue, told from the grandfather's POV, made me chuckle.

[Portia Citlali · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎧 West of Forever was an absolute treat on audio! The narration was perfection. Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez delivered an incredible performance, and you could sense their chemistry. Connor especially has a way of speaking in a low, rugged tone that fits Tristan perfectly. Even the small grunts, pauses, and mannerisms in his delivery added so much to the character. Together, they made this one of the most enjoyable audiobooks I've listened to. 🎙️❤️

I think this may end up being one of my favorite books by the author. The pacing was perfect, balancing family drama, small-town lore, tension, and healthy, open communication between the characters. 👏

🌻 I adored Lark and her unfiltered ADHD inner monologue. She's tough, funny, and fiercely independent, but she also has such a kind heart. She felt incredibly relatable as the FMC. Tristan was rugged, protective, and simply doing his best to survive the circumstances around him. 🛠️🤠

The rival family dynamic added was great and a bit over the top, but it just made sense. Their families have been at odds for generations, connected by a history that may not be entirely clear but is significant enough to fuel a long standing feud. As the more sensible members of their respective families, Lark and Tristan quickly realize they have far more in common than they expected, and their attraction is impossible to ignore. ⚡️❤️

I absolutely loved their story and honestly wished there had been even more of it. The bonus epilogue had me kicking my feet and smiling from ear to ear. 🥹💖 I was not ready to say goodbye to these characters and can't wait to see what's next in this series!

Tropes:
✨ Single Dad
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ Rival Families
✨ Forbidden Romance
✨ Small Town Romance
✨ Family Drama
✨ Duet Narration

[Crystal Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

West of Forever was everything I wanted and more. Corinne Michaels delivered such an emotional, heartfelt, and laugh out loud romance that consumed me from beginning to end. This story is filled with family rivalry, longing, healing, second chances, and the kind of love that was meant to be.

The chemistry between the Tristan and Lark was undeniable from the start. Because of family history they weren’t supposed to like one another, let alone be sneaking around together. They had the best banter and I loved when they poked at one another to make it believable they didn’t like one another.

Tristan is a grumpy, widowed single father whose entire world revolves around his ranch and his adorable daughter, Sadie. After losing his wife, he's convinced love isn't in the cards for him anymore. Lark is bright, compassionate, and impossible not to love. She brings warmth wherever she goes, always looking for the good in people, even when they don't see it in themselves.

Corinne Michaels has a way of writing characters that feel incredibly real, and this book was no exception. From the main characters to the side characters, I loved them all. The story is packed with family drama, but at the core, it's about love, forgiveness, and the bonds that hold people together even when things get messy.

There were moments that made me smile, moments that broke my heart, and moments that had me holding my breath, and begging that everything would work out. It was the perfect balance of angst, swoon worthy romance, laughter, and character growth.

ⓐⓤⓓⓘⓞ ⓣⓗⓞⓤⓖⓗⓣⓢ
Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez are always such an amazing duo. They always do an amazing job giving the characters a voice and nail their personalities perfectly every time.

[Lisa Stinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a welcome to Heartstone Ranch. I knew I was going to love this book because it's written by Corinne Michaels. Throw in the outstanding narration from Vanessa Vasquez and Connor Crais in duet, and this was a wonderful beginning to a new series. I didn't even read the blurb before starting this book and I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment.

You truly get a little bit of everything with this story. Rival families, enemies to lovers, absolutely forbidden romance, hot single dad cowboy, grumpy sunshine...you really can't go wrong.

Tristan and Lark come from rival families. Their families have been fighting for so long that no one can really remember why it started, they just know they have to keep the feud going. When Lark is broken down on the side of the road, Tristan will not leave her there. So, he drives her home, and then has her car towed back to her house the next day. Obviously, she can't tell her hardheaded brothers who brought her home or who towed her car. But she can't get the hot cowboy off her mind either.

Tristan has been single since losing his wife years ago. He doesn't want to take the chance of losing someone else either. But when Lark seems to be everywhere he turns, something starts to thaw his heart. But the fact that her brothers continue to call the cops on him for things he isn't doing to their ranch, is definitely causing more problems. Tristan is finding it harder to stay away from Lark. So, they decide to just have some enemies with benefits fun. Until enemies becomes so much more.

I loved seeing these two fall for each other and loved seeing Lark build that connection with Tristan's daughter. She really needed that mother figure in her life.

I can't wait to see what happens next at Heartstone Ranch.

[Carm Readers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a number of Corinne Michaels’ books over the years, as I am an absolute sucker for a series. I can happily report that she has come out strong with West of Forever, and that it is my favorite to date.

I went into this listening to this ALC expecting to enjoy it, but I wasn’t expecting to become so invested in Tristan and Lark’s story so quickly. A big reason for this is also due to the amazing duet of Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez who really brought it all to life.

From the moment we meet them, you can feel the tension between them, and knowing that their families have spent years at odds only made me want to see how everything would play out. Followers of Corinne’s books will know a little of the background here.

Tristan is the kind of cowboy hero that is very hard not to love. He carries so much responsibility on his shoulders and would do anything for the people he cares about. Lark is an independent queen. She is strong and determined to live life on her own terms, even when doing so isn’t easy.

The chemistry between them was undeniable, but it was the emotional connection that had me. There was longing, uncertainty, family drama, heartbreak, healing, and plenty of swoon-worthy moments. The ranch setting only added to the story, and is something that Corinne does oh so well.

As per most of my reviews, I won’t give any spoilers, but this ticks all of my cowboy romance boxes and then some. It has also left me counting down the days until Never Been Tamed is released in October!!

Thank you to Corinne for sending me this ALC and ARC. This review is my own personal opinion.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ALC Review⭐️
West of Forever
Heartstone Ranch Book 1
Available Now
Narrated by CONNOR CRAIS AND VANESSA VASQUEZ

🐴Rival families
❤️Single dad
🐴Secret relationship
❤️Healing after grief
🐴Cowboy MMC x Horse trainer FMC
❤️Small Town
🐴Mutual Pining

First things first: if Corinne Michaels writes it, I’m reading it and probably finishing it way too fast. 😂 She has yet to let me down, and this book kept that streak alive. I was completely hooked from the start and could not get enough of these rival families.

Tristan and Lark? The chemistry was absolutely smoldering. 🔥 And those meetings at the ridge? Excuse me while I melt. 🫠 From the very beginning, I loved how fiercely protective Tristan was of Lark. When he tells her she deserves a man who would swim through a flood to get to her when she needs rescuing? Swoon. Immediately. He’s also such a devoted father to Sadie, carrying the weight of losing his wife while doing everything he can to protect his daughter. Tristan had so much depth, and I loved peeling back all those layers.

And Lark? She’s stubborn, determined, and unapologetically goes after what she wants and I adored her for it. The banter between these two was top-tier and had me grinning constantly. Their back-and-forth was equal parts flirty, fiery, and fun. 🔥🔥

I also have to mention the family dynamics because they were everything. The family chats, the teasing, the support… I love when a family feels this connected and believable. It added so much warmth to the story.
The suspense element towards the end was the perfect touch, too. Just enough action and tension to keep me completely invested and on the edge of my seat while listening to the audiobook.

Speaking of the audiobook... the narrators absolutely crushed it. They brought these characters to life so effortlessly. Connor Crais was phenomenal as Tristan, he fully embodied that growly, grumpy cowboy energy. 🤠❤️ Both narrators delivered so much emotion that it felt impossible not to get swept up in the story.

Watching Tristan and Lark fall for each other was such a joy, but one of my favorite parts was seeing Lark build a relationship with Sadie. Sadie needed that mother figure in her life, and those moments absolutely melted my heart.

I cannot wait to see what happens next at Heartstone Ranch! ❤️🐎📖✨

Thank you, Corinne for the ALC. ❤️

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Single dad cowboy meets his match!

This is my new favorite book by Corinne. I could not stop listening to this book!

Tristan and Lark come from rival families on neighboring ranches. He stops to help her with a flat tire during a rainstorm and then they seem to continue to cross each other’s path in the small town. However, the attraction and chemistry continue to grow until they finally act on it. To avoid the complications that come with their new situation, they decide to keep things to themselves (because that always works out).

I loved everything about their ride from rivals to friends to lovers. There is plenty of banter, funny code names to avoid discovery on their phones, spicy stolen moments, and a sweet bond between Lark and Tristan’s daughter, Sadie.

Duet narration by Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez. They embodied these characters and brought them to life. Connor as the single dad always hits. Make him a cowboy? Sold! You felt him struggle between his grief over his wife and his love for Lark, along with his protective nature to keep his daughter safe and frustration over her and his father’s antics. Vanessa was amazing as the stubborn, sassy Lark. She’s the only girl in a family of boys and she holds her own. She will melt your heart as Sadie.

Grab this immediately if you enjoy small town, cowboy / cowgirl, single dad with a spunky preteen, big family dynamics, rivals to lovers, and tons of heart. I can’t wait for what’s next.

[Erin H · Rating 5 out of 5]

West of Forever: Heartstone Ranch, Book 1 by Corinne Michaels

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️

West of Forever is definitely up there as one of my favourite books of the year so far.
I found Tristan and Lark incredibly easy to like right from the beginning, and I really loved their dynamic. It’s not exactly enemies-to-lovers, but more rival families-to-lovers, which I think made their relationship feel even more natural. They’re kind of pushed onto opposite sides because of family history, but outside of that there’s no real reason for them to dislike each other, so the progression between them felt natural, yet forbidden.

I also really loved that this book had a bit of everything without feeling like too much. There’s banter, chemistry, family drama, grief, tension and a bit of intrigue, but it all felt balanced really well. The romance was definitely the standout for me, but there was enough going on around it to keep the story feeling layered.

Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez were also so good in the audiobook and did such a great job bringing these characters to life.

This one just really hit for me and I already can’t wait for the next book in the Heartstone Ranch series.

[Barb S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Corrine Michaels….you have done it again! I love your books. Plain and simple. This book, the first in a new series, had me from the name of the male narrator, Conner Crais. This man reads and you are there in the middle of the book setting. I try every time I purchase a new audiobook to look for Conner Crais as the narrator. Narrators matter, he hits it out of the park, every.single.time! It doesn’t matter if he is one of multiple male narrator or just him, you feel like you are there with him inside the book. Great choice Corrine! 👏🏼

Triston Stone, what can be said about him. He is a great dad, rancher, son, brother and boyfriend. He cares. He loves. He is considerate and he is a cowboy! What more do you need in a book? Then we have Sadie. She his daughter on the verge of being a teenager. Looking to spread her wings and she has one very overprotecting father, Triston. For a very good reason, however, he is smothering Sadie. Sadie befriends Lark. Lark is part of the family that has been enemies to the Stones for years. However, sweet Sadie needs her. Triston still struggles with losing his wife and the fact that Sadie had a terrible accident on her horse. He is very overprotected, but whew, Lark can’t stop looking at him.

Excellent book! Excellent narrators! Read this book! You won’t be sorry! Thank you Corrine Michaels! Oh please hurry with book 2, I have a terrible time waiting! 😊

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Format: Audiobook - Duet narration by Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez
Series / Standalone: Interconnected Standalone (Heartstone Ranch, Book 1)
Tropes: Small Town, Cowboy/Cowgirl, Single Dad/Widower, Enemies to Lovers, Rival Families

Thanks to Must Love Audio, Lyric Audiobooks, and the author for this gifted audiobook - all opinions are my own

Tristan and Lark

📚This was such a great way to introduce a new series. Love the tension between these families. It lent Romeo and Juliet-esque vibes but all grown up and ranch-style. Tristan was very down-to-earth and ready to accept everything that being with Lark entails and is willing to risk it all (except his daughter of course). And speaking of his daughter, Sadie was so fun and the relationship between her and Lark was everything!

🎧Kudos to everyone involved in bringing this audio to life! Loved the duet-style production. The narrators were cast to perfection! Connor Crais could voice every single tough, broody cowboy from now to eternity as far as I’m concerned. And Vanessa Vasquez was absolutely amazing as our fierce Lark and the way she voiced Sadie was like a whole other person joined the cast.

I can’t wait to continue this series!!

[rosiebooks10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

An absolutely delightful, amusing, and heartwarming read. Corinne Michaels does it once again!

I listened to the audiobook, and the duet narration was incredible. Both narrators captured the character’s voices and emotions beautifully.

It’s dual POVs of the main characters, and there are some great tropes like a single dad, rival families, grumpy x sunshine, and a forbidden romance.

The premise was so enjoyable, with plenty of amusing, sweet, and heartfelt moments. Their long-standing family feud was interesting and created some wonderfully complicated moments between them, which definitely gave off Romeo and Juliet vibes. I also loved all the witty banter, secret meetups, and all the side characters.

The hero’s a single parent whose wife passed away several years ago. I appreciated that, while he still loved and honored her memory, he had made peace with her passing and moved on. His focus had been on raising their daughter and running the family ranch, so there wasn’t any lingering guilt or unresolved feelings when he started something new with the heroine.

The romantic development between them was fantastic. Their secret rendezvous were spicy while also leading some deep, emotional conversations. Their chemistry was just electric, their emotional journey felt authentic, and every obstacle they overcame just strengthened their relationship even more.

Overall, just a fantastic start to this new series and a great read that had the perfect mix of family drama and romance.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for the ALC and Sourcebooks for the eARC via Netgalley!!

𝑩𝑶𝑶𝑲 𝑰𝑵 𝑬𝑴𝑶𝑱𝑰𝑺:
🤠🤬👩🏻‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏼🤫📱🌾🐴🤕❤️

👍🏻𝑳𝑰𝑲𝑬𝑫 / 💗𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬𝑫: 💗

𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝑰𝑭 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑳𝑰𝑲𝑬:
♡ rival cattle families
♡ cowboy romance (duh)
♡ forbidden romance
♡ single dad
♡ A STAND UP MAN

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑮𝑯𝑻𝑺:
OKAY CORINNE MICHAELS!! This was my first book but it will NOT be the last because 🥵 and I’m praying we get a full cast audio at the end of the series because I need more of these narrators; they were perfect!

Tristan was exactly what you want in a MMC; he’s your classic, strong moral, hard working cowboy who knows 👏🏻 what 👏🏻 he 👏🏻 wants 👏🏻. The chemistry between him and Lark was off the charts and the banter had me blushing & kicking my feet!!!

I loved how he didn’t pressure Lark into telling anyone about them and standing up for her without giving them away, even when it meant he had to take the heat. As their feelings developed, more moments were stolen away, I couldn’t help but root for them to make it official. I wasn’t sure how their families were going to take it but the HEA was just what I needed 🥹

My eyes will be peeled for book 2 and the rest of the series!!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

YEEEHAW! What a way to start this new series! The tropes had me wanting to read/listen to this book so bad. My favorite tropes were forbidden romance, single dad, and rival families. These tropes were done so well and the characters were everything I hoped for. Tristen was hard working, a man of his word, and swoony. Lark was strong, fun, and kind. They really complimented each other and I was smiling and giddy the whole way through this book.

I did an immersion read and listened to the audio while I read. Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez were the perfect pair to narrate this book. They narrated it in duet narration and I was hooked and engaged the entire time. Connor's voice matched Triston perfectly and Vanessa Vasquez's voice captured Lark's personality. I could feel the tension and the chemistry between these two.

Weather you read the book or listen to the audiobook you will love it and I highly recommend both!

Thank you to the author Corinne Michaels and her team for the ALC and NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an ARC of the book. I voluntarily read and listened and gave an honest review.

[Cristie Sluberski · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ 𝗔𝗟𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 ✨

𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹𝘀
𝚁𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚎: 𝙹𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝟷𝟼𝚝𝚑, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟼 — 𝙾𝚞𝚝 𝙽𝚘𝚠!

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
💜 enemies to lovers
⛰️ rival families
💜 forbidden
⛰️ cowboy/cowgirl
💜 single dad
⛰️ grumpy/sunshine
💜 mutual pining
⛰️ open door romance
💜 dual POV

𝗠𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦: What a book to kick off this new series! I LOVED everything about this one! I loved Tristan & Lark so much. The forbidden aspect with their families being rivals created all of the tension & pining amongst each other. I live for all of the “sneaking around” moments. If you know me, you know I am obsessed with the single dad trope & Tristan was an incredible single dad to his daughter Sadie. He has been through it y’all, but he shows up every single second for his daughter. I also really enjoyed his grumpy cowboy side too! Lark is such a breath of fresh air. She is so sweet & compassionate that it was impossible not to love her! The duet narration was chef’s kiss 👨🏽‍🍳💋 It was like music in my ears the whole time. The story flowed seamlessly & I highly recommend the audio for this one! Overall, I loved Tristan & Lark’s love story & cannot wait for the next one in this new series!

[Casey Velasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
2 🔥
Small Town Romance
Cowboy & Cowgirl
Single Dad
Rival Families
Enemies to Lovers
Forbidden
Grumpy & Sunshine
Mutual Pining
Fantastic on Audio! 🎧
Such an amazing start to the series! This is book one of the Heartstone Ranch series and can be read as a complete standalone. There are two rival families, the Stones and the Gatlins. These families HATE each other and have for decades. This rivalry has gone on so long, I don’t think any of them know why the rivalry even started. So when the grumpy, single dad, Tristian Stone stops to help Lark Gatlin when she is broken down on the side of the road, in the pouring rain, those enemy lines start to look a bit fuzzy. These two are extremely attracted to each other, and after their encounter, they can’t stop thinking about each other. They start sneaking around, with a no strings attached agreement, but feelings grow quick and strong. These families have so much history, wrapped and warped together. Someone is also messing with the Gatlin’s ranch, and the blame is being place on the Stones. The emotional depth of these characters really got me in the last 50% of this book. I can’t wait for the rest of this series!! I have a feeling, we have not seen the last of a Stone & Gatlin pairing. Things are going to get MESSY! I highly recommend the audio! Narrated in duet by some of my all time favorites, Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez. They did an incredible job bringing these two to life!

Thank you Corinne Michaels and her team for the ALC!

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

ATE IT UP!!!!! Absolute chefs kiss for West of Forever: book 1 in the Heartstone Ranch series by Corinne Michaels.

Tristan and Lark come from rival families who have been fighting for so long that no one can really remember why it started. Everyone just keeps the feud going meaning drama, tension, history and lots of drama. When Lark is broken down on the side of the road, Tristan will not leave her there. So, he drives her home, and then has her car towed back to her house the next day which starts to them secretly meeting.

The chemistry between him and Lark was off the charts and the banter had me blushing & kicking my feet!!

Throw in the outstanding narration from Vanessa Vasquez and Connor Crais in duet, and this was a wonderful beginning to a new series.

Thank you to Corinne & team for the ALC & the SE character cover to add to my always growing Corinne trophy shelf!!! :)

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

This was such a vibe. I binged it in one day. The narrators absolutely crushed it, made it so hard to put down!

The forbiddenness of rival families made this book so so good! The sneaking around, the unwanted attraction between Tristan and Lark, but the fact they give in because the pull is too strong, I ate it up!! The chemistry between them was just chef’s kiss! The banter is perfection. I loooved them together and the way they unmeaningly fall for each other.

I loved all the tropes in the book! Single Dad, small town, gives Romeo and Juliet vibes, cowboys, and the works!

There is so much hate between these families, it definitely made things tricky, but I love how it all played out and the little twist in the extra epilogue was so awesome! It was an excellent first book in the series! I’m so excited for more!

[Karen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had such a good time with this low-angst, deliciously romantic, contemporary twist on a western, family feud saga. Tristan and Lark defied the odds with what started as a no-strings attached forbidden romance, reiterating the idea of love conquers all. They had such a great dynamic, their chemistry undeniable. She helped him learn to love again after loss, he protected her while also letting her soar free. I was totally enamored with the epilogue and how the ending gave the origin at the same time. Can’t wait for more of Heartstone Ranch!
The audiobook had me fully invested in Tristan and Larks’ happily ever after because Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez were perfectly cast. Their duet narration was packed with emotion and easy on the ears.
Thanks to Must Love Audio for the ALac
4.25 stars

[Lindsay Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep! Definitely one of my top reads/listens of the year! Honestly it’s my first time reading Corinne Michaels and I wonder how that is the case.

Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez did an amazing job capturing the essence of these characters. The chemistry could be felt thru their words.

There are books that you love, and there are books that you become obsessed with and this is one of those for me. It will become one that I return to reading when I’m in a slump or just need to go back and “read and old friend”

Tristan is a top notch MMC and Lark is a strong willed FMC. The forbidden romance trope is a factor in this one. Corinne does an amazing job with the storytelling of Lark and Tristan’s relationship developing, falling in love and putting themselves first before a stupid family feud that had been going on for generations

5⭐️ seems like too low of a ranking for this story and audiobook but alas it’s the scale I’m working with.

[Amour.Rebelle.Reads (Bran.d) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tristan and Lark come from rival ranch families, so there’s plenty of tension, history, and drama, but underneath it all is a really sweet story about healing and finding love again. 🤠❤️

Tristan is a widowed single dad, and I absolutely loved watching him and Lark slowly tear down the walls {or fences😬} between them. Sadie completely stole the show for me though. Her relationship with Tristan added so much heart to the story.

Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez were fantastic in the audiobook. They brought all the emotion, chemistry, and family drama to life.

If you love small-town romance, family feuds, single dad heroes, and a slow-burn love story, definitely give this one a listen. 🎧🐎💕

🤠 omg Clyde’s bonus chapter 😉

[Peaches O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small town, Single Dad, Romeo and Juliet vibres, Family rivals to Lovers Romance.

This is definitely worth the read. The romance was cute, the father daughter relationship was cute. If you are looking for quick and satisfying "cowboy" small town romance, this is for you.

The family dymamics between the main characters and theor siblings could have been fleshed out a bit more. Their relationships with each other was stated as fact rather than showed on page. This kept the story a bit surface level for me.

There were also moments of repetition that could have been left out. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.


Connor Crais narrates the MMC. 😍 There is nothing else to be said.

[Lisa Spofford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a gifted copy of this ALC via the author and am voluntarily submitting this review. WEST OF FOREVER is the first book in the HEARTSTONE RANCH series by Corinne Michaels. A forbidden romance unfolds when Lark falls for Tristan Stone. Their families have a Hatfields and McCoys type feud. Their secret relationship moves from roadside assistance to passionate encounters under the stars. This is a spicy, open door, first person, dual POV, contemporary romance with tropes including cowboy romance, secret/forbidden relationship, single dad, feuding families, no strings fling, grumpy/sunshine, and small town romance. This audiobook was just so very, very, very good. Tristan is a widower with a twelve year old daughter. Lark is a woman with a boyfriend who wouldn’t help her with a flat tire when it was raining. They were so perfect for each other, if only their families weren’t feuding. The no strings fling always had strings. Their connection was there from the very first encounter and Lark connected immediately with Tristan’s daughter Sadie as well. My heart cracked open when Tristan broke their silence to go to Lark, facing the firing squad made of her father and brother’s, and I loved how everyone adjusted to their love once it was known. The narrators, Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez, did a phenomenal job bringing this excellent book to life, narrating with everything the emotional the story called for. There were different voices to distinguish between characters and the recording worked at various speeds. I recommend this audiobook for listeners who enjoy forbidden cowboy romance.(4.5 rounded to 5 stars where necessary.)

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Western romances... think Tripp & Beth but less angry and a little Hatfield/McCoy drama?? This is your romance. REALLY great audiobook and kept me completely engaged.

Perfect ending too!

HOUSEKEEPING:
* Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
* Reader Age Suggestions:
* Content Warnings:
* Kindle Unlimited: ✅
* Part of A Series: ✅ / Can it be read alone?: I'm sure it could but this is going to be a great series!

**Thank you Team Corrine Michaels for the book! I rec3ived this book for fr3e, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR🖤