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Crossroads Ranch #1
Trouble Brewing: An unputdownable, spicy enemies-to-lovers western romance
Welcome to Scandal, North Dakota, where loyalty runs deep and rivalries never die—especially between a country girl and a city boy who’s forgotten his roots…
Calder
I swore I’d never return to my family ranch and brewery. Those memories are best left buried in the dust. But when my father passes, it’s on me to sell up. The problem? Meredith Winslow—the girl running my father’s business. Except she’s no longer a girl… In those tight jeans, with a hotter-than-hell smirk and a fiery temper to match, she’s all woman. And she’s refusing to leave.
Meredith agrees to show me the ropes so I can help out until we sell. It’s exhausting work, so why can’t I sleep at night? Is it the paper-thin wall between us, the question of what she’s wearing to bed, or the thought of taking away the only home she’s ever known?
Meredith
I’ve worn my boots to the bone at Crossroads Ranch, feeding the horses by day and serving beer to the locals by night. Then brooding, bossy, sex-in-a-suit Calder turns up to kick the door closed on my life with one perfectly polished shoe.
This is the place I grew up wild and free. Calder says we have to leave it all behind. And I can’t let that happen…
Because somewhere between the eye rolls and heated arguments, early morning starts turn into late night flirting. Calling last orders turns into roaming hands and finally knowing what his stubble feels like against my neck. Riding side-by-side with our legs brushing turns into a hard, fast, stolen moment against a fence post…
Our chemistry burns hotter than any North Dakota summer. But this man might take everything from me—and if he keeps looking at me with those sparkling brown eyes, I’m worried I might just hand it right to him…
A smouldering, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers western romance that will have you swooning all night long. Perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, Lyla Sage and Jessica Peterson.
Readers LOVE Walker
“Came for my feelings, my peace, and my productivity—and I let it. Happily… Like full-body possession… The kind of slow burn that makes you want to scream… Chemistry is explosive… The spice is hot, yes—but it’s also deeply emotional… The kind of cathartic heartbreak I live for… By the end, you’re crying, smiling, and Googling whiskey distillery tours in Kentucky.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“AMAZING!!… Will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride… OOOH!!! Oh will you fall in love… I swooned, smiled, got emotional many times, had some laugh out loud moments… Beautiful… HIGHLY recommend!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I read this book in less than a day; it hooked me right away… I LOVED… Absolutely perfect… Steamy (yay)… One of my top reads of the year… A must-read!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Honestly could not put it down
Calder
I swore I’d never return to my family ranch and brewery. Those memories are best left buried in the dust. But when my father passes, it’s on me to sell up. The problem? Meredith Winslow—the girl running my father’s business. Except she’s no longer a girl… In those tight jeans, with a hotter-than-hell smirk and a fiery temper to match, she’s all woman. And she’s refusing to leave.
Meredith agrees to show me the ropes so I can help out until we sell. It’s exhausting work, so why can’t I sleep at night? Is it the paper-thin wall between us, the question of what she’s wearing to bed, or the thought of taking away the only home she’s ever known?
Meredith
I’ve worn my boots to the bone at Crossroads Ranch, feeding the horses by day and serving beer to the locals by night. Then brooding, bossy, sex-in-a-suit Calder turns up to kick the door closed on my life with one perfectly polished shoe.
This is the place I grew up wild and free. Calder says we have to leave it all behind. And I can’t let that happen…
Because somewhere between the eye rolls and heated arguments, early morning starts turn into late night flirting. Calling last orders turns into roaming hands and finally knowing what his stubble feels like against my neck. Riding side-by-side with our legs brushing turns into a hard, fast, stolen moment against a fence post…
Our chemistry burns hotter than any North Dakota summer. But this man might take everything from me—and if he keeps looking at me with those sparkling brown eyes, I’m worried I might just hand it right to him…
A smouldering, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers western romance that will have you swooning all night long. Perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, Lyla Sage and Jessica Peterson.
Readers LOVE Walker
“Came for my feelings, my peace, and my productivity—and I let it. Happily… Like full-body possession… The kind of slow burn that makes you want to scream… Chemistry is explosive… The spice is hot, yes—but it’s also deeply emotional… The kind of cathartic heartbreak I live for… By the end, you’re crying, smiling, and Googling whiskey distillery tours in Kentucky.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“AMAZING!!… Will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride… OOOH!!! Oh will you fall in love… I swooned, smiled, got emotional many times, had some laugh out loud moments… Beautiful… HIGHLY recommend!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I read this book in less than a day; it hooked me right away… I LOVED… Absolutely perfect… Steamy (yay)… One of my top reads of the year… A must-read!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Honestly could not put it down
392 pages, Paperback
Published June 19, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I think this is one of those books where I liked the IDEA of it more than the actual experience of reading it at first. Like on paper, this had so many things that normally work for me—small town tension, messy family history, a ranch setting, a city man coming back home acting like he’s emotionally unaffected when he very obviously is not. I was READY for the angst. But me and this beginning were struggling a little... Let's get into it
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“ᴡɪʟᴅғʟᴏᴡᴇʀ” x ᴛʜᴏᴍᴀs ᴅᴀʏ
0:16 ───♥──────── 2:41
I already knew this was supposed to lean enemies to lovers, so I expected tension and irritation and a lot of emotional friction between Calder and Meredith. And to be fair, the setup for that was actually pretty strong because there’s so much unresolved history and grief tangled into the situation from the very start. The resentment felt believable. The awkwardness felt believable.
What didn’t fully work for me though was how quickly the attraction became SO physical. I always have a hard time connecting when characters are supposedly furious with each other but are immediately hyper-fixating on bodies and attraction every other thought. I wanted more emotional grounding first before all the “they’re so hot” internal commentary started taking over.
Meredith was the person keeping me emotionally invested through a lot of the earlier chapters.
My heart genuinely hurt for her because she was carrying an impossible amount of pressure while barely being given room to grieve properly herself. Everyone kept projecting their pain and anger onto her, especially Calder and his brothers, and it made me so frustrated because she was being blamed for circumstances she never even created. 😭😭 She got pulled into something tragic and suddenly had to shoulder the emotional fallout of everyone around her on top of trying to keep everything together herself.
The grief in this story honestly felt more compelling to me than the romance at times. It really captured how damaging unresolved pain can become when nobody communicates honestly and everyone keeps burying things instead of confronting them.
I will say though… this being marketed as a slow burn feels a little misleading for me personally. 😭
Yes technically it takes them some time to fully get together, but emotionally I never got that aching slow burn feeling I wanted. I needed more yearning. More emotional intimacy. More moments where it felt like they were slowly understanding each other underneath all the fighting and attraction. Instead it felt like the enemies to lovers tension faded pretty quickly once the attraction fully kicked in, and I just wanted more depth in between those transitions.
There were also random moments where I kept feeling disconnected from the writing itself and I genuinely cannot explain why. I had to reread several scenes because my brain would suddenly realize it stopped processing what was happening. 😭 I don’t know if it was the pacing or the scene transitions or just the writing style not fully clicking with me, but there were definitely points where I kept wanting to skim.
BUTTTTTTTTT
around the middle of the book, things started working for me way more.
Once Calder and Meredith stopped feeling so emotionally surface level with each other and actually started opening up, I found myself much more invested in their relationship. I liked the softer moments between them WAY more than the constant hostility he threw at her from the beginning. The atmosphere of the ranch and the brewing company started feeling more immersive, the emotional conversations landed better, and the suspense lingering underneath everything genuinely kept me interested.
And that ending definitely did its job because now I absolutely need to know what happens next. 💀 (and I'm really hoping it's with Sawyer and Bowen hehehe)
Overall, I don’t think this was a bad book at all. it just wasn’t as emotionally memorable for me as I hoped it would be. I really liked where the story went eventually, especially once the emotional walls started coming down more, but I think I needed a deeper connection between Calder and Meredith earlier on to fully love it the way I wanted to. The second half was significantly stronger for me than the first, but I’m definitely curious enough to continue the series
things to know about the book ↓
🩷 enemies to lovers (mild)
🧡 country girl x city boy
🩷 age gap (33/42)
🧡 family drama
🩷 small town romance
🧡 underlying suspense
🩷 forced proximity
🧡 dual POV
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
chapters: 18, 22, 32, 34, 41, 47, 51
Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
cowboy books have my heart rn
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“ᴡɪʟᴅғʟᴏᴡᴇʀ” x ᴛʜᴏᴍᴀs ᴅᴀʏ
0:16 ───♥──────── 2:41
I already knew this was supposed to lean enemies to lovers, so I expected tension and irritation and a lot of emotional friction between Calder and Meredith. And to be fair, the setup for that was actually pretty strong because there’s so much unresolved history and grief tangled into the situation from the very start. The resentment felt believable. The awkwardness felt believable.
What didn’t fully work for me though was how quickly the attraction became SO physical. I always have a hard time connecting when characters are supposedly furious with each other but are immediately hyper-fixating on bodies and attraction every other thought. I wanted more emotional grounding first before all the “they’re so hot” internal commentary started taking over.
Meredith was the person keeping me emotionally invested through a lot of the earlier chapters.
My heart genuinely hurt for her because she was carrying an impossible amount of pressure while barely being given room to grieve properly herself. Everyone kept projecting their pain and anger onto her, especially Calder and his brothers, and it made me so frustrated because she was being blamed for circumstances she never even created. 😭😭 She got pulled into something tragic and suddenly had to shoulder the emotional fallout of everyone around her on top of trying to keep everything together herself.
The grief in this story honestly felt more compelling to me than the romance at times. It really captured how damaging unresolved pain can become when nobody communicates honestly and everyone keeps burying things instead of confronting them.
I will say though… this being marketed as a slow burn feels a little misleading for me personally. 😭
Yes technically it takes them some time to fully get together, but emotionally I never got that aching slow burn feeling I wanted. I needed more yearning. More emotional intimacy. More moments where it felt like they were slowly understanding each other underneath all the fighting and attraction. Instead it felt like the enemies to lovers tension faded pretty quickly once the attraction fully kicked in, and I just wanted more depth in between those transitions.
There were also random moments where I kept feeling disconnected from the writing itself and I genuinely cannot explain why. I had to reread several scenes because my brain would suddenly realize it stopped processing what was happening. 😭 I don’t know if it was the pacing or the scene transitions or just the writing style not fully clicking with me, but there were definitely points where I kept wanting to skim.
BUTTTTTTTTT
around the middle of the book, things started working for me way more.
Once Calder and Meredith stopped feeling so emotionally surface level with each other and actually started opening up, I found myself much more invested in their relationship. I liked the softer moments between them WAY more than the constant hostility he threw at her from the beginning. The atmosphere of the ranch and the brewing company started feeling more immersive, the emotional conversations landed better, and the suspense lingering underneath everything genuinely kept me interested.
And that ending definitely did its job because now I absolutely need to know what happens next. 💀 (and I'm really hoping it's with Sawyer and Bowen hehehe)
Overall, I don’t think this was a bad book at all. it just wasn’t as emotionally memorable for me as I hoped it would be. I really liked where the story went eventually, especially once the emotional walls started coming down more, but I think I needed a deeper connection between Calder and Meredith earlier on to fully love it the way I wanted to. The second half was significantly stronger for me than the first, but I’m definitely curious enough to continue the series
things to know about the book ↓
🩷 enemies to lovers (mild)
🧡 country girl x city boy
🩷 age gap (33/42)
🧡 family drama
🩷 small town romance
🧡 underlying suspense
🩷 forced proximity
🧡 dual POV
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
chapters: 18, 22, 32, 34, 41, 47, 51
Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
cowboy books have my heart rn
June 18, 2026
Imagine your favourite romance stripped to the bare bones.
This is what this book is.
The characters are one dimensional and I really dislike insta-lust/love as a trope.
The mystery was naff and I’m annoyed by the cliffhanger.
If I’m honest, this felt like a first draft. I need that OOMPH to really enjoy a book.
I received the audiobook and it felt like the narrators were struggling with this one. Overall, it just wasn’t an enjoyable listening experience. I sadly don’t think I’ll pick up anything else by this author.
I received an advanced listening copy through the publisher, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is what this book is.
The characters are one dimensional and I really dislike insta-lust/love as a trope.
The mystery was naff and I’m annoyed by the cliffhanger.
If I’m honest, this felt like a first draft. I need that OOMPH to really enjoy a book.
I received the audiobook and it felt like the narrators were struggling with this one. Overall, it just wasn’t an enjoyable listening experience. I sadly don’t think I’ll pick up anything else by this author.
I received an advanced listening copy through the publisher, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 24, 2026
Well alright!
This one starts off with a car crash. Literally.
And gosh does this delve into grief and loss.
Calder & Meredith 🤠🍺
Ready for the connection: her much older sister married his father
And well there’s some messy stuff in there.
But it’s in a town called Scandal…🤷🏼♀️
Ranch & brewery setting
A trio of brothers who left. Suits/cowboys.
A girl wanting to keep it all.
Our little brewmaster.
This was a journey.
Along with a little bit of a mystery rolled in…
Arc review ✨
This one starts off with a car crash. Literally.
And gosh does this delve into grief and loss.
Calder & Meredith 🤠🍺
Ready for the connection: her much older sister married his father
And well there’s some messy stuff in there.
But it’s in a town called Scandal…🤷🏼♀️
Ranch & brewery setting
A trio of brothers who left. Suits/cowboys.
A girl wanting to keep it all.
Our little brewmaster.
This was a journey.
Along with a little bit of a mystery rolled in…
Arc review ✨
June 13, 2026
Obsessed with this book!! The enemies to lovers vibes in this had me feeling all the angst & tension!! I was so excited for this audio & it did not disappoint! Michelle Sparks, & Troy Duran did a fantastic job. All the chemistry and emotions went into this one!
This book was heavy at times with the grief & loss aspect, but gosh it was such a well done story!! Calder & Meredith are both dealing with losses & forced together after unimaginable situations. The tension carried between them with the hatred & family drama, just made this angsty ride, so good. Watching their relationship change & grow, gave me so many feels & emotions. The attraction, the banter, and absolutely spice that came with this one was perfection!
This is a heartfelt, emotional, and fun story that had some romantic suspense and added twists that kept me sucked in!! I love the ranch & brewery vibes, plus the broody brothers, and chaotic family dynamic! This book will have you swooning, questioning things, and absolutely wanting more!!
I absolutely love Walker Rose books & this was the perfect start to a new series! I cannot wait for more from this Crossroads Ranch series!! 😍
Thank you Bookouture for this early arc & alc opportunity!!
This book was heavy at times with the grief & loss aspect, but gosh it was such a well done story!! Calder & Meredith are both dealing with losses & forced together after unimaginable situations. The tension carried between them with the hatred & family drama, just made this angsty ride, so good. Watching their relationship change & grow, gave me so many feels & emotions. The attraction, the banter, and absolutely spice that came with this one was perfection!
This is a heartfelt, emotional, and fun story that had some romantic suspense and added twists that kept me sucked in!! I love the ranch & brewery vibes, plus the broody brothers, and chaotic family dynamic! This book will have you swooning, questioning things, and absolutely wanting more!!
I absolutely love Walker Rose books & this was the perfect start to a new series! I cannot wait for more from this Crossroads Ranch series!! 😍
Thank you Bookouture for this early arc & alc opportunity!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
╔════════════════════════╗
💕✨ 𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 ✨💕
╚════════════════════════╝
ANOTHER COWBOY ARC OMG
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Walker Rose for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
the grief story really felt well done! as someone who deals with that i enjoyed seeing how our fmc dealt with it. our mmc was just a ray of sunshine. cowgirl and city boy(who grew up on a ranch) was fantastic and i loved seeing him adjust to back to being on the ranch after being away for so long. calder was a grumpy man at first but by the end you really got to see him shine. meredith was so cute and passionate.
💕✨ 𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 ✨💕
╚════════════════════════╝
ANOTHER COWBOY ARC OMG
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Walker Rose for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
the grief story really felt well done! as someone who deals with that i enjoyed seeing how our fmc dealt with it. our mmc was just a ray of sunshine. cowgirl and city boy(who grew up on a ranch) was fantastic and i loved seeing him adjust to back to being on the ranch after being away for so long. calder was a grumpy man at first but by the end you really got to see him shine. meredith was so cute and passionate.
June 2, 2026
Okayyyy, I genuinely think this could have been a book I loved, but unfortunately it just wasn’t quite for me… :(
This book has so many elements that I usually enjoy: small-town romance, enemies-to-lovers, and even a little mystery subplot. However, I felt like none of these aspects were fully developed, in my opinion.
First of all, this is supposed to be an enemies-to-lovers romance, but where was the enemies part? It felt incredibly short-lived because they moved from enemies to something resembling lovers very quickly. I was expecting more banter, tension, and conflict between them, but it just wasn’t there.
I also struggled to connect with the characters. To be honest, there were times when I completely forgot how old they were. Maybe that’s because they didn’t always act their age? Either way, I never really felt invested in them. I also found the family tree and relationship dynamics a little confusing at times. There were a lot of side characters, and I occasionally lost track of who was actually related and who were in a relationship.
And then there’s the romance itself: where was the emotional connection? A lot of the time it felt like pure lust rather than an actual relationship. Instead of having meaningful conversations and building their connection, they seemed to end up in bed together nine times out of ten. Considering the number of obstacles and issues within their relationship, I would have loved to see more focus on their emotional development. The relationship felt quite superficial to me, especially from his side.
I was also frustrated by the fact that he couldn’t seem to understand why she didn’t want to leave her hometown and move away with him. At the same time, he initially didn’t want to live with her either, (In the beginning. It took some big time to get there). To me, that felt like a double standard, and it made him come across as quite immature.
As for the mystery subplot… was there actually one? It seemed like there was. A potential mystery was briefly hinted at in the beginning, but then it was barely mentioned again until the final chapter. And even then, it ended on a cliffhanger. Personally, I think this storyline needed much more development. You’re left in suspense for about thirty chapters because of a short mention of a murder, only to finish the book with even more questions than answers.
Overall, I genuinely think this was a great concept. Unfortunately, the execution just wasn’t quite there for me.
Still there were some moments that caught my intention! So 2,75 stars for me. ⭐️⭐️,75
One aspect I did really appreciate was the way the author portrayed her grief after losing two loved ones. The way she navigates that loss felt authentic, heartfelt, and realistic. Those moments were written with a great deal of emotional honesty, and I found them much more compelling than the romance itself. They added depth to her character and were some of the strongest parts of the story for me.
This review is especially difficult to write because I received an ARC through NetGalley and the author, thank you for the opportunity! However, I also believe in being honest about my reading experience, and sadly this one didn’t fully work for me.
This book has so many elements that I usually enjoy: small-town romance, enemies-to-lovers, and even a little mystery subplot. However, I felt like none of these aspects were fully developed, in my opinion.
First of all, this is supposed to be an enemies-to-lovers romance, but where was the enemies part? It felt incredibly short-lived because they moved from enemies to something resembling lovers very quickly. I was expecting more banter, tension, and conflict between them, but it just wasn’t there.
I also struggled to connect with the characters. To be honest, there were times when I completely forgot how old they were. Maybe that’s because they didn’t always act their age? Either way, I never really felt invested in them. I also found the family tree and relationship dynamics a little confusing at times. There were a lot of side characters, and I occasionally lost track of who was actually related and who were in a relationship.
And then there’s the romance itself: where was the emotional connection? A lot of the time it felt like pure lust rather than an actual relationship. Instead of having meaningful conversations and building their connection, they seemed to end up in bed together nine times out of ten. Considering the number of obstacles and issues within their relationship, I would have loved to see more focus on their emotional development. The relationship felt quite superficial to me, especially from his side.
I was also frustrated by the fact that he couldn’t seem to understand why she didn’t want to leave her hometown and move away with him. At the same time, he initially didn’t want to live with her either, (In the beginning. It took some big time to get there). To me, that felt like a double standard, and it made him come across as quite immature.
As for the mystery subplot… was there actually one? It seemed like there was. A potential mystery was briefly hinted at in the beginning, but then it was barely mentioned again until the final chapter. And even then, it ended on a cliffhanger. Personally, I think this storyline needed much more development. You’re left in suspense for about thirty chapters because of a short mention of a murder, only to finish the book with even more questions than answers.
Overall, I genuinely think this was a great concept. Unfortunately, the execution just wasn’t quite there for me.
Still there were some moments that caught my intention! So 2,75 stars for me. ⭐️⭐️,75
One aspect I did really appreciate was the way the author portrayed her grief after losing two loved ones. The way she navigates that loss felt authentic, heartfelt, and realistic. Those moments were written with a great deal of emotional honesty, and I found them much more compelling than the romance itself. They added depth to her character and were some of the strongest parts of the story for me.
This review is especially difficult to write because I received an ARC through NetGalley and the author, thank you for the opportunity! However, I also believe in being honest about my reading experience, and sadly this one didn’t fully work for me.
September 28, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
LOVED this book, and I am SO excited for this new series from Walker Rose!! I’ve read all of Walker’s books so far and have loved every single one—with the exception of Whiskey Proposal (although I still loved Lane!). I had just finished Whiskey Proposal and was honestly a little hesitant to jump into Trouble Brewing. I’d gone from absolutely loving Walker’s books to hitting a bit of a lull, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would this put me right back on that string of amazing reads, or would it be another “meh” for me?
I decided to go for it, and I was HOOKED from the damn start and completely invested the entire way through. Needless to say, I am VERY happy I took the chance! I cannot wait to dive into Rivalry Brewing for Bowen and Sawyer!
Meredith and Calder “McBossy” are absolutely couple goals! They have both come such a long way from when they first met, and when they find their way back to each other, the chemistry is undeniable—even while they’re both trying to play it off in true enemies-to-lovers fashion.
And Calder? 🥵 He will absolutely make you swoon.
Meredith, though, is the kind of heroine I LOVE. She can handle her own, she’s independent, and thankfully, she is not the typical damsel in distress. She has no problem standing her ground and being exactly the challenge Calder didn’t even know he needed.
I loved watching these two go from their initial tension to quickly becoming lovers, only to find themselves wondering how the heck they somehow became an old married couple in the span of a few days. 😂 And then, somehow, that turns into wondering how they ever lived without each other and realizing that what they really want is to keep this going for the rest of their lives. ❤️
Scandal is exactly the kind of small town you wish you could actually be a part of. Between Crossroads Ranch and Jules Creek, I found myself wishing I could just move right in and become part of the whole crazy crew!
I also loved the other characters we get introduced to and am already looking forward to Bowen and Sawyer finally moving beyond all those secret glances 👀. And, of course, I’m hoping we eventually get Landry’s story too!
There is a slight cliffhanger at the end as we finally uncover a major piece of the mystery surrounding Holly and Ransom’s accident, but honestly, it ended exactly where it needed to. We get enough answers to move the story forward while still leaving plenty of questions that I NEED answered.
Will all three Cross brothers eventually return home for good? And what is going to happen now that they know everything they do?!
I am officially invested. Bring on Rivalry Brewing! 🔥
LOVED this book, and I am SO excited for this new series from Walker Rose!! I’ve read all of Walker’s books so far and have loved every single one—with the exception of Whiskey Proposal (although I still loved Lane!). I had just finished Whiskey Proposal and was honestly a little hesitant to jump into Trouble Brewing. I’d gone from absolutely loving Walker’s books to hitting a bit of a lull, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would this put me right back on that string of amazing reads, or would it be another “meh” for me?
I decided to go for it, and I was HOOKED from the damn start and completely invested the entire way through. Needless to say, I am VERY happy I took the chance! I cannot wait to dive into Rivalry Brewing for Bowen and Sawyer!
Meredith and Calder “McBossy” are absolutely couple goals! They have both come such a long way from when they first met, and when they find their way back to each other, the chemistry is undeniable—even while they’re both trying to play it off in true enemies-to-lovers fashion.
And Calder? 🥵 He will absolutely make you swoon.
Meredith, though, is the kind of heroine I LOVE. She can handle her own, she’s independent, and thankfully, she is not the typical damsel in distress. She has no problem standing her ground and being exactly the challenge Calder didn’t even know he needed.
I loved watching these two go from their initial tension to quickly becoming lovers, only to find themselves wondering how the heck they somehow became an old married couple in the span of a few days. 😂 And then, somehow, that turns into wondering how they ever lived without each other and realizing that what they really want is to keep this going for the rest of their lives. ❤️
Scandal is exactly the kind of small town you wish you could actually be a part of. Between Crossroads Ranch and Jules Creek, I found myself wishing I could just move right in and become part of the whole crazy crew!
I also loved the other characters we get introduced to and am already looking forward to Bowen and Sawyer finally moving beyond all those secret glances 👀. And, of course, I’m hoping we eventually get Landry’s story too!
There is a slight cliffhanger at the end as we finally uncover a major piece of the mystery surrounding Holly and Ransom’s accident, but honestly, it ended exactly where it needed to. We get enough answers to move the story forward while still leaving plenty of questions that I NEED answered.
Will all three Cross brothers eventually return home for good? And what is going to happen now that they know everything they do?!
I am officially invested. Bring on Rivalry Brewing! 🔥
November 5, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Calder comes home after losing his father, only to find Meredith living in his childhood home and running the family bar/brewery. There is so much history between these families, and the drama starts almost immediately. 🍻🏡
I really loved watching Calder and Meredith get closer, especially with all the grief, family tension, and unanswered questions surrounding them. Meredith has been through so much, and I completely understood why she was scared to uproot her whole life again for someone else. Calder had some big decisions to make too, and I loved seeing him realize what truly mattered to him. ❤️
There is definitely some suspicious stuff going on surrounding Holly’s accident, and Calder searching for her missing camera kept me wanting answers. Then that ending?! 😳 The clues they find made me immediately want to jump into book two because I need to know what really happened!
A light suspenseful, emotional small-town romance with family drama, secrets, and a cliffhanger ending. Off to book two I go! 📚✨
Calder comes home after losing his father, only to find Meredith living in his childhood home and running the family bar/brewery. There is so much history between these families, and the drama starts almost immediately. 🍻🏡
I really loved watching Calder and Meredith get closer, especially with all the grief, family tension, and unanswered questions surrounding them. Meredith has been through so much, and I completely understood why she was scared to uproot her whole life again for someone else. Calder had some big decisions to make too, and I loved seeing him realize what truly mattered to him. ❤️
There is definitely some suspicious stuff going on surrounding Holly’s accident, and Calder searching for her missing camera kept me wanting answers. Then that ending?! 😳 The clues they find made me immediately want to jump into book two because I need to know what really happened!
A light suspenseful, emotional small-town romance with family drama, secrets, and a cliffhanger ending. Off to book two I go! 📚✨
June 24, 2026
I’m doing it again …lol
It’s RELEASE DAY but I am just popping into this space to let you know I reaaally enjoyed this story! It wasn’t perfect but I liked it! For now, the story is a solid 3.5 Stars but I’m not rounding up to 4 stars because it is not a 4 star read. IYKYK
But also … starting audiobook tonight (as one does when they are an audio junkie like me lol) because I was not approved for the ALC *shrug* so I shall return soon(ish) with a full review … :)
It’s RELEASE DAY but I am just popping into this space to let you know I reaaally enjoyed this story! It wasn’t perfect but I liked it! For now, the story is a solid 3.5 Stars but I’m not rounding up to 4 stars because it is not a 4 star read. IYKYK
But also … starting audiobook tonight (as one does when they are an audio junkie like me lol) because I was not approved for the ALC *shrug* so I shall return soon(ish) with a full review … :)
June 30, 2026
Thank you for the Arc NetGalley
I really enjoyed Trouble Brewing by Walker Rose.
I listened to the audiobook version, it was such an easy enjoyable read. The narration kept me hooked, and I flew through it. A fun story with great characters, I’m looking forward to reading more from Walker Rose. 4⭐️
I really enjoyed Trouble Brewing by Walker Rose.
I listened to the audiobook version, it was such an easy enjoyable read. The narration kept me hooked, and I flew through it. A fun story with great characters, I’m looking forward to reading more from Walker Rose. 4⭐️
August 30, 2026
Book 4 of my 24 hour readathon 📚 Review coming next week 💖
June 21, 2026
ARC from NetGalley
I came for the cowboy romance and stayed for the generational trauma. This is way more brewery than ranch, and all the better for it. The family dynamics were messy as hell, the grief felt real, and watching everyone reckon with the lives they were forced into versus the ones they chose was so compelling. Small-town romance but make it therapy.
Also, Calder... respectfully, get fucked. I have never hated an MMC so much at the start of a book. This man had me ready to throw my Kindle. But Walker Rose somehow pulled off the impossible and made me believe he'd earned his redemption. I didn't forgive him because he was hot—I forgave him because the character growth actually deserved it. That's rarer than a six-foot cowboy with emotional intelligence. 4⭐️
I came for the cowboy romance and stayed for the generational trauma. This is way more brewery than ranch, and all the better for it. The family dynamics were messy as hell, the grief felt real, and watching everyone reckon with the lives they were forced into versus the ones they chose was so compelling. Small-town romance but make it therapy.
Also, Calder... respectfully, get fucked. I have never hated an MMC so much at the start of a book. This man had me ready to throw my Kindle. But Walker Rose somehow pulled off the impossible and made me believe he'd earned his redemption. I didn't forgive him because he was hot—I forgave him because the character growth actually deserved it. That's rarer than a six-foot cowboy with emotional intelligence. 4⭐️
Read
June 25, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an eARC in exchange for an honest review
So just to clear things up for anyone a little confused: she's hooking up with her former-step-nephew. and I KNOW that technically that's fine and they're far removed from each other and that he's older than her anyways...BUT STILL. This romance didn't do a whole lot for me: cute enough small town setting, and I actually really enjoyed the insights into the running of the brewery. But I didn't really care for this will-they-sell won't-they-sell plotline that also tried to keep a slow going mystery story happening at the same time. Just too many threads and not enough satisfying conclusions for my liking.
So just to clear things up for anyone a little confused: she's hooking up with her former-step-nephew. and I KNOW that technically that's fine and they're far removed from each other and that he's older than her anyways...BUT STILL. This romance didn't do a whole lot for me: cute enough small town setting, and I actually really enjoyed the insights into the running of the brewery. But I didn't really care for this will-they-sell won't-they-sell plotline that also tried to keep a slow going mystery story happening at the same time. Just too many threads and not enough satisfying conclusions for my liking.
July 2, 2026
I found this book to be a bit slow, and unfortunately, the narration didn't brighten up the story for me.
My biggest issue with the story was the speed at which these so-called enemies hooked up... and then continued to hook up. It felt like there was not much bringing them together other than some good old insta-lust.
The most enjoyable part of the story was the mystery brewing under the surface, but the flavor this brought was little more than a hint water.
I wish the author leaned more into building the relationship between the main characters before they "jumped into bed" and dedicated more energy to the mystery aspect of the book.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review 💕
My biggest issue with the story was the speed at which these so-called enemies hooked up... and then continued to hook up. It felt like there was not much bringing them together other than some good old insta-lust.
The most enjoyable part of the story was the mystery brewing under the surface, but the flavor this brought was little more than a hint water.
I wish the author leaned more into building the relationship between the main characters before they "jumped into bed" and dedicated more energy to the mystery aspect of the book.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review 💕
July 23, 2026
Actual rating: 2.5
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Spoiler: This became a hate read about 5% into the book.
Look, I am sure this book has its intended audience. Unfortunately, that does not include me. This was one of those books that was better in theory than in practice. It had a lot of things that I usually like, a messy history, a city boy coming back to his country roots, a ranch setting, and the brewery aspect was very interesting too. And yet, I disliked almost everything about it, from the characters' backstories to their questionable family dynamic and the insta-lust.
Sure, one could make a case that they were not related by blood, or that they hadn't seen each other in 20 years. But all things considered, her sister was married to his dad. That simply did not work for me. Her sister and his dad had just died, but all they could think about was how much they wanted to sleep together. Again, someone could make the case that he hadn't seen his dad in 20 years, but he was still in contact with him. And she had just lost her sister, for goodness' sake.
This was marketed as an enemies to lovers, slow-burn. It was the exact opposite. The initial setting was good, the unresolved issues and grief made for a good enemy relationship. And then it all went downhill. The second Calder walked through that door, all she could think about was his ass. And vice versa. From there, their relationship developed and it quickly became very physical. By the end of the book, I was supposed to believe that he sold his company (his life work, the one he built from scratch), and moved back home to be with her. It felt very unrealistic because the emotional connection was minimal. It was not developed at all. Sure, it could have been the start of something, but if they couldn't sleep together, they would not have ended up together and nobody could change my mind. I got over their internal monologue of "oh he/she is so hot" very quickly.
The side characters were not developed either, which is a shame, because they could have added a lot to the story. I would have liked to learn more about the brothers, her best friend. They all were connected to the dad and the sister, but they existed in the book just because there needed to be others apart from the protagonists.
One more thing, I did not care about the plot twist at the end. The mystery is kind of mentioned at the beginning, then forgotten about and suddenly comes up with a cliffhanger at the end. It was unnecessary to me, and it did not make me care more about the book. I actually thought that putting more spotlight onto the mystery would have benefited the story, I would have liked to read more about it.
There was a lot of miscommunication in between Meredith and Calder, then in between them and his brothers. Overall the whole ranch plot was based on miscommunication and could have been solved if they just...sat down and talked? As it was, it felt like there was conflict for conflict's sake.
I did not dislike everything. I liked the brewery aspect. It wasn't something I read before and thought it could have played a bigger role in the story. Meredith was clearly very good at what she did and I enjoyed how much she loved it. She loved the brewery, and she wanted it to succeed. She always came up with new drink ideas, but she was held back from fulfilling her true potential. You could tell that the author really did research into the topic, which I appreciated.
I liked that the people in the village acknowledged the brother's feelings and their anger at the situation. It was something that hurt them and drove them out of their house, and nobody told them they should have just accepted it and moved on. At the same time, the villagers were accepting of Meredith and supported her. They could see both sides of the story and did not blame anyone, but understood that both the brothers and Meredith were victims.
This was not for me, unfortunately, and I don't think I will be continuing the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Spoiler: This became a hate read about 5% into the book.
Look, I am sure this book has its intended audience. Unfortunately, that does not include me. This was one of those books that was better in theory than in practice. It had a lot of things that I usually like, a messy history, a city boy coming back to his country roots, a ranch setting, and the brewery aspect was very interesting too. And yet, I disliked almost everything about it, from the characters' backstories to their questionable family dynamic and the insta-lust.
Sure, one could make a case that they were not related by blood, or that they hadn't seen each other in 20 years. But all things considered, her sister was married to his dad. That simply did not work for me. Her sister and his dad had just died, but all they could think about was how much they wanted to sleep together. Again, someone could make the case that he hadn't seen his dad in 20 years, but he was still in contact with him. And she had just lost her sister, for goodness' sake.
This was marketed as an enemies to lovers, slow-burn. It was the exact opposite. The initial setting was good, the unresolved issues and grief made for a good enemy relationship. And then it all went downhill. The second Calder walked through that door, all she could think about was his ass. And vice versa. From there, their relationship developed and it quickly became very physical. By the end of the book, I was supposed to believe that he sold his company (his life work, the one he built from scratch), and moved back home to be with her. It felt very unrealistic because the emotional connection was minimal. It was not developed at all. Sure, it could have been the start of something, but if they couldn't sleep together, they would not have ended up together and nobody could change my mind. I got over their internal monologue of "oh he/she is so hot" very quickly.
The side characters were not developed either, which is a shame, because they could have added a lot to the story. I would have liked to learn more about the brothers, her best friend. They all were connected to the dad and the sister, but they existed in the book just because there needed to be others apart from the protagonists.
One more thing, I did not care about the plot twist at the end. The mystery is kind of mentioned at the beginning, then forgotten about and suddenly comes up with a cliffhanger at the end. It was unnecessary to me, and it did not make me care more about the book. I actually thought that putting more spotlight onto the mystery would have benefited the story, I would have liked to read more about it.
There was a lot of miscommunication in between Meredith and Calder, then in between them and his brothers. Overall the whole ranch plot was based on miscommunication and could have been solved if they just...sat down and talked? As it was, it felt like there was conflict for conflict's sake.
I did not dislike everything. I liked the brewery aspect. It wasn't something I read before and thought it could have played a bigger role in the story. Meredith was clearly very good at what she did and I enjoyed how much she loved it. She loved the brewery, and she wanted it to succeed. She always came up with new drink ideas, but she was held back from fulfilling her true potential. You could tell that the author really did research into the topic, which I appreciated.
I liked that the people in the village acknowledged the brother's feelings and their anger at the situation. It was something that hurt them and drove them out of their house, and nobody told them they should have just accepted it and moved on. At the same time, the villagers were accepting of Meredith and supported her. They could see both sides of the story and did not blame anyone, but understood that both the brothers and Meredith were victims.
This was not for me, unfortunately, and I don't think I will be continuing the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
LOVED this book, and I am SO excited for this new series from Walker Rose!! I’ve read all of Walker’s books so far and have loved every single one, with the exception of Whiskey Proposal (although I still loved Lane!). I had just finished Whiskey Proposal and was honestly a little hesitant to jump into Trouble Brewing. I’d gone from absolutely loving Walker’s books to hitting a bit of a lull, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would this put me right back on that string of amazing reads, or would it be another “meh” for me?
I decided to go for it, and I was HOOKED from the damn start and completely invested the entire way through. Needless to say, I am VERY happy I took the chance! I cannot wait to dive into Rivalry Brewing for Bowen and Sawyer!
Meredith and Calder “McBossy” are absolutely couple goals! They have both come such a long way from when they first met, and when they find their way back to each other, the chemistry is undeniable—even while they’re both trying to play it off in true enemies-to-lovers fashion.
And Calder? 🥵 He will absolutely make you swoon.
Meredith, though, is the kind of heroine I LOVE. She can handle her own, she’s independent, and thankfully, she is not the typical damsel in distress. She has no problem standing her ground and being exactly the challenge Calder didn’t even know he needed.
I loved watching these two go from their initial tension to quickly becoming lovers, only to find themselves wondering how the heck they somehow became an old married couple in the span of a few days. 😂 And then, somehow, that turns into wondering how they ever lived without each other and realizing that what they really want is to keep this going for the rest of their lives. ❤️
Scandal is exactly the kind of small town you wish you could actually be a part of. Between Crossroads Ranch and Jules Creek, I found myself wishing I could just move right in and become part of the whole crazy crew!
I also loved the other characters we get introduced to and am already looking forward to Bowen and Sawyer finally moving beyond all those secret glances 👀. And, of course, I’m hoping we eventually get Landry’s story too!
There is a slight cliffhanger at the end as we finally uncover a major piece of the mystery surrounding Holly and Ransom’s accident, but honestly, it ended exactly where it needed to. We get enough answers to move the story forward while still leaving plenty of questions that I NEED answered.
Will all three Cross brothers eventually return home for good? And what is going to happen now that they know everything they do?!
I am officially invested. Bring on Rivalry Brewing! 🔥
LOVED this book, and I am SO excited for this new series from Walker Rose!! I’ve read all of Walker’s books so far and have loved every single one, with the exception of Whiskey Proposal (although I still loved Lane!). I had just finished Whiskey Proposal and was honestly a little hesitant to jump into Trouble Brewing. I’d gone from absolutely loving Walker’s books to hitting a bit of a lull, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would this put me right back on that string of amazing reads, or would it be another “meh” for me?
I decided to go for it, and I was HOOKED from the damn start and completely invested the entire way through. Needless to say, I am VERY happy I took the chance! I cannot wait to dive into Rivalry Brewing for Bowen and Sawyer!
Meredith and Calder “McBossy” are absolutely couple goals! They have both come such a long way from when they first met, and when they find their way back to each other, the chemistry is undeniable—even while they’re both trying to play it off in true enemies-to-lovers fashion.
And Calder? 🥵 He will absolutely make you swoon.
Meredith, though, is the kind of heroine I LOVE. She can handle her own, she’s independent, and thankfully, she is not the typical damsel in distress. She has no problem standing her ground and being exactly the challenge Calder didn’t even know he needed.
I loved watching these two go from their initial tension to quickly becoming lovers, only to find themselves wondering how the heck they somehow became an old married couple in the span of a few days. 😂 And then, somehow, that turns into wondering how they ever lived without each other and realizing that what they really want is to keep this going for the rest of their lives. ❤️
Scandal is exactly the kind of small town you wish you could actually be a part of. Between Crossroads Ranch and Jules Creek, I found myself wishing I could just move right in and become part of the whole crazy crew!
I also loved the other characters we get introduced to and am already looking forward to Bowen and Sawyer finally moving beyond all those secret glances 👀. And, of course, I’m hoping we eventually get Landry’s story too!
There is a slight cliffhanger at the end as we finally uncover a major piece of the mystery surrounding Holly and Ransom’s accident, but honestly, it ended exactly where it needed to. We get enough answers to move the story forward while still leaving plenty of questions that I NEED answered.
Will all three Cross brothers eventually return home for good? And what is going to happen now that they know everything they do?!
I am officially invested. Bring on Rivalry Brewing! 🔥
June 4, 2026
Trouble Brewing was a 4 star read for me.
Calder and Meredith have a complicated history that starts long before the romance. After Meredith’s sister married Calder’s father shortly after his mother’s death, Calder spent years believing the worst about her and her sister. When his dad and her sister are killed together in a car accident, both of them are left carrying grief, anger, and a lot of unanswered questions.
What I loved most about this story was the emotional weight behind their relationship. Neither character is handling their loss the same way, and watching them slowly peel back old assumptions felt messy and authentic. As more details come to light, they begin to realize the story they’ve been telling themselves for years might not be the truth.
I loved the brewery setting and the mystery woven through the plot. The questions surrounding the accident kept me invested, especially once it became clear there might have been more going on than a tragic crash and that the town sheriff wasn’t exactly trustworthy.
My one complaint is Calder’s nickname for Meredith. Every time he called her “Rosy,” I died a little inside. Sorry. I hated it. 😂
Also super excited for future stories in the series. I found myself just as interested in some of the side characters as the main couple. I’m especially hoping the veterinarian gets a book with Calder’s nerdy brother because that pairing has so much potential. One of my favorite Walker Rose books features a nerdy bourbon distiller, so clearly she knows how to write my kind of hero.
If you’re looking for a romance with characters over 40 (hollaaaa), plenty of messy emotions, and a mystery threaded through the story, Trouble Brewing is gonna be your jam.
Thank you to Walker Rose, Bookouture, and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
What to expect:
🍺 small town romance
🍺 beer distillery + ranch setting
🍺 hate to love
🍺 MMCs over 30
🍺 mystery
🍺 age gap
🍺 forced proximity
🍺 dual POV
Calder and Meredith have a complicated history that starts long before the romance. After Meredith’s sister married Calder’s father shortly after his mother’s death, Calder spent years believing the worst about her and her sister. When his dad and her sister are killed together in a car accident, both of them are left carrying grief, anger, and a lot of unanswered questions.
What I loved most about this story was the emotional weight behind their relationship. Neither character is handling their loss the same way, and watching them slowly peel back old assumptions felt messy and authentic. As more details come to light, they begin to realize the story they’ve been telling themselves for years might not be the truth.
I loved the brewery setting and the mystery woven through the plot. The questions surrounding the accident kept me invested, especially once it became clear there might have been more going on than a tragic crash and that the town sheriff wasn’t exactly trustworthy.
My one complaint is Calder’s nickname for Meredith. Every time he called her “Rosy,” I died a little inside. Sorry. I hated it. 😂
Also super excited for future stories in the series. I found myself just as interested in some of the side characters as the main couple. I’m especially hoping the veterinarian gets a book with Calder’s nerdy brother because that pairing has so much potential. One of my favorite Walker Rose books features a nerdy bourbon distiller, so clearly she knows how to write my kind of hero.
If you’re looking for a romance with characters over 40 (hollaaaa), plenty of messy emotions, and a mystery threaded through the story, Trouble Brewing is gonna be your jam.
Thank you to Walker Rose, Bookouture, and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
What to expect:
🍺 small town romance
🍺 beer distillery + ranch setting
🍺 hate to love
🍺 MMCs over 30
🍺 mystery
🍺 age gap
🍺 forced proximity
🍺 dual POV
June 18, 2026
They Needed Therapy More Than a Relationship
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ALC.
This ranch romance had all the ingredients of a book I should have loved: small-town charm, found family, rivals-to-lovers tension, and a cowboy setting. There were several storylines introduced that immediately caught my attention, and I kept waiting for them to become central to the plot. Instead, the story focused heavily on the romance while many of the most interesting threads remained largely in the background.
The chemistry between the main characters was believable, but it felt more physical than emotional for me. I understood the attraction, but I never fully bought into why these two people belonged together beyond that attraction. Both characters were carrying a lot of unresolved baggage, and more than once I found myself wishing they would spend some time working through those issues before making major life decisions. The narration was fine overall, though Troy Duran sounded older than I imagined for the MMC.
My biggest struggle was the pacing. This book could have been significantly shorter while delivering the same story. There were many details that were repeatedly explained rather than trusted to the reader, and several compelling plot points never received the attention I expected. The spice was probably the strongest part of the romance for me (around 3.5/5 🌶️), but emotionally the story never landed. By the end, I was more frustrated than invested, which left this sitting at 3⭐ for me.
Who Should Read/Listen: Readers who enjoy ranch romances, small-town settings, found family, and open-door spice may still find plenty to enjoy here. If you love character-driven romances and don’t mind unresolved side plots, this may work much better for you than it did for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ALC.
This ranch romance had all the ingredients of a book I should have loved: small-town charm, found family, rivals-to-lovers tension, and a cowboy setting. There were several storylines introduced that immediately caught my attention, and I kept waiting for them to become central to the plot. Instead, the story focused heavily on the romance while many of the most interesting threads remained largely in the background.
The chemistry between the main characters was believable, but it felt more physical than emotional for me. I understood the attraction, but I never fully bought into why these two people belonged together beyond that attraction. Both characters were carrying a lot of unresolved baggage, and more than once I found myself wishing they would spend some time working through those issues before making major life decisions. The narration was fine overall, though Troy Duran sounded older than I imagined for the MMC.
My biggest struggle was the pacing. This book could have been significantly shorter while delivering the same story. There were many details that were repeatedly explained rather than trusted to the reader, and several compelling plot points never received the attention I expected. The spice was probably the strongest part of the romance for me (around 3.5/5 🌶️), but emotionally the story never landed. By the end, I was more frustrated than invested, which left this sitting at 3⭐ for me.
Who Should Read/Listen: Readers who enjoy ranch romances, small-town settings, found family, and open-door spice may still find plenty to enjoy here. If you love character-driven romances and don’t mind unresolved side plots, this may work much better for you than it did for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Walker Rose is seriously one of the most underrated cowboy romance authors out there! I am SO excited to see her getting her trad pub debut because she deserves it. I’ve read almost all of her previous books at this point, and this one was SO good. Yes, it’s another cowboy romance, but it’s one that actually stands out in a genre that can sometimes start to feel repetitive.
The tragedy right at the beginning was honestly a lot, but it really set the stage for everything with Calder and Meredith and helped give the story more emotional weight from the start. I loved their chemistry so much. The enemies to lovers vibes were done really well because it never felt overly forced or immature. There was tension, banter, frustration, attraction, which is all the good stuff, but it also had a deeper emotional layer underneath it all and it made me love them as a couple so much.
I also really loved the touch of romantic suspense and the heavier emotional moments sprinkled throughout the story. I think it gave the book something extra beyond just romance, and I appreciated that it felt a little different from the average small town cowboy romance. Calder and Meredith’s relationship progression felt so natural and also sweet and meant to be.
Calder is a broody cowboy in a suit energy and I genuinely loved him so much. He is my top MMC in cowboy romances now!
The cover is adorable, but this is also genuinely just a really solid romance that I think fans of Elsie Silver, Lyla Sage, and Jessica Peterson are going to eat up. I love their books, and I think you will love this if you love anything they write. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley, Walker Rose, and Bookouture for the eARC of this book.
The tragedy right at the beginning was honestly a lot, but it really set the stage for everything with Calder and Meredith and helped give the story more emotional weight from the start. I loved their chemistry so much. The enemies to lovers vibes were done really well because it never felt overly forced or immature. There was tension, banter, frustration, attraction, which is all the good stuff, but it also had a deeper emotional layer underneath it all and it made me love them as a couple so much.
I also really loved the touch of romantic suspense and the heavier emotional moments sprinkled throughout the story. I think it gave the book something extra beyond just romance, and I appreciated that it felt a little different from the average small town cowboy romance. Calder and Meredith’s relationship progression felt so natural and also sweet and meant to be.
Calder is a broody cowboy in a suit energy and I genuinely loved him so much. He is my top MMC in cowboy romances now!
The cover is adorable, but this is also genuinely just a really solid romance that I think fans of Elsie Silver, Lyla Sage, and Jessica Peterson are going to eat up. I love their books, and I think you will love this if you love anything they write. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley, Walker Rose, and Bookouture for the eARC of this book.
July 10, 2026
This book was better than the authors bourbon series, which I stopped after book 3 maybe because it was literally the same character iteration in every single book. I’m not a huge fan of plot lines/storylines that go from book to book. I typically want resolution within one book, but this one isn’t as in depth in terms of the storyline. I am a little afraid that the characters will be in the same in every book, but we’ll see.
I don’t love the age gap trope, though because it always feels weird. Like I am a 43-year-old woman and this man in the book is roughly my age and he’s getting with somebody who is in their early 20s. That is a little weird and kind of gross if it were happening in real life. But as is the case with most age gaps, I appreciate when they don’t highlight it too much or make it the focal point of the story. We don’t really focus on their age gap at all after their initial ages are mentioned.
All in all Calder and Meredith were fine characters. The book didn’t drag on, which was nice. The spice and chemistry is there and palpable. I am hoping for some resolution of the father/stepmother storyline. And of course, looking forward to the resolution of the mystery.
I don’t love the age gap trope, though because it always feels weird. Like I am a 43-year-old woman and this man in the book is roughly my age and he’s getting with somebody who is in their early 20s. That is a little weird and kind of gross if it were happening in real life. But as is the case with most age gaps, I appreciate when they don’t highlight it too much or make it the focal point of the story. We don’t really focus on their age gap at all after their initial ages are mentioned.
All in all Calder and Meredith were fine characters. The book didn’t drag on, which was nice. The spice and chemistry is there and palpable. I am hoping for some resolution of the father/stepmother storyline. And of course, looking forward to the resolution of the mystery.
June 12, 2026
For fans of:
Enemies to lovers
Workplace romance
Small town romance
Cowboy romance
Rescued cats
Brewery owner x brewery manager
Steamy romance
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ALC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
This is my second book by this author and it definitely won’t be my last. The tragedy at the beginning hit hard, but it also gave the story a lot of emotional depth from the start. I was immediately invested in both Calder and Meredith and everything they were carrying. The chemistry between them was SO good. The enemies-to-lovers tension felt natural and never over the top. There was plenty of banter, frustration, attraction, and stubbornness, but underneath all of that was a really sweet and emotional love story. Calder was probably my favorite part of the book. He’s giving broody cowboy in a suit energy and I was completely here for it. I also liked that this wasn’t just romance. There were some heavier emotional moments and a little romantic suspense mixed in, which made the story feel different from your typical small-town romance.
Enemies to lovers
Workplace romance
Small town romance
Cowboy romance
Rescued cats
Brewery owner x brewery manager
Steamy romance
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ALC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
This is my second book by this author and it definitely won’t be my last. The tragedy at the beginning hit hard, but it also gave the story a lot of emotional depth from the start. I was immediately invested in both Calder and Meredith and everything they were carrying. The chemistry between them was SO good. The enemies-to-lovers tension felt natural and never over the top. There was plenty of banter, frustration, attraction, and stubbornness, but underneath all of that was a really sweet and emotional love story. Calder was probably my favorite part of the book. He’s giving broody cowboy in a suit energy and I was completely here for it. I also liked that this wasn’t just romance. There were some heavier emotional moments and a little romantic suspense mixed in, which made the story feel different from your typical small-town romance.
June 24, 2026
4.5 stars
A new series, and we are immediately welcomed to Scandal, North Dakota. A story that carries a heavy theme of loss and grief, with how everyone handles it differently. How at different stages of our lives what is important guides our reactions.
Meredith and Calder, city boy, country girl. How are they connected? Her sister married his father. This is a messy family, guilt, anger, those who left, those who stayed.
The Cross brothers left, as they felt their father sided with his new wife over them. They have not returned until now. No longer boys but successful men. Meredith stayed behind, learning everything she could about ranching and brewing. She loves what she does and wants to keep doing it.
The angst, the tension, the conversations, it is a journey. The emotions, the grief, it is a messy complicated time in both Meredith and Calder lives. Add in a mystery and I loved this from start to finish.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
A new series, and we are immediately welcomed to Scandal, North Dakota. A story that carries a heavy theme of loss and grief, with how everyone handles it differently. How at different stages of our lives what is important guides our reactions.
Meredith and Calder, city boy, country girl. How are they connected? Her sister married his father. This is a messy family, guilt, anger, those who left, those who stayed.
The Cross brothers left, as they felt their father sided with his new wife over them. They have not returned until now. No longer boys but successful men. Meredith stayed behind, learning everything she could about ranching and brewing. She loves what she does and wants to keep doing it.
The angst, the tension, the conversations, it is a journey. The emotions, the grief, it is a messy complicated time in both Meredith and Calder lives. Add in a mystery and I loved this from start to finish.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
June 19, 2026
3.25 ⭐️’s.
Trouble Brewing by Walker Rose was a decent read, though the romance felt a little too much like instalove. The connection between the main characters went from enemies to lover very quickly.
The story kept me engaged with a bit of suspense woven throughout the plot. There were some unanswered questions by the end, and while I appreciated getting a happy-for-now ending, the cliffhanger definitely leaves you wanting to know what happens next.
The audiobook narration was a highlight for me. The narrators did a great job bringing the characters and story to life, making it an enjoyable listen overall.
If you enjoy fast-moving romances with some mystery, suspense, and a setup for future books, Trouble Brewing is worth checking out.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and Bookouture Audio for the ARC and ALC!
Trouble Brewing by Walker Rose was a decent read, though the romance felt a little too much like instalove. The connection between the main characters went from enemies to lover very quickly.
The story kept me engaged with a bit of suspense woven throughout the plot. There were some unanswered questions by the end, and while I appreciated getting a happy-for-now ending, the cliffhanger definitely leaves you wanting to know what happens next.
The audiobook narration was a highlight for me. The narrators did a great job bringing the characters and story to life, making it an enjoyable listen overall.
If you enjoy fast-moving romances with some mystery, suspense, and a setup for future books, Trouble Brewing is worth checking out.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and Bookouture Audio for the ARC and ALC!
June 26, 2026
I received an ARC of Trouble Brewing from Bookouture and NetGalley.
I thoroughly enjoyed this enemies - to - lovers book set in small town of Scandal. It’s a slow burn romance with forced proximity between the two main characters; Meredith and Calder. They start their adult relationship as enemies to lovers, and this develops and changes. I really loved that Meredith stood up to Calder and his brothers, and held her own. I loved the supportive friendship between Meredith and Sawyer!
Walker Rose builds an immersive world and interesting characters and I enjoyed her writing style. The mystery at the end of this book has made me excited to read the next book. I wasn’t expecting it to end like that so the mystery was an unexpected surprise and I’ll be waiting for book 2!
If you like an enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, I’d highly recommend Trouble Brewing!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC.
I thoroughly enjoyed this enemies - to - lovers book set in small town of Scandal. It’s a slow burn romance with forced proximity between the two main characters; Meredith and Calder. They start their adult relationship as enemies to lovers, and this develops and changes. I really loved that Meredith stood up to Calder and his brothers, and held her own. I loved the supportive friendship between Meredith and Sawyer!
Walker Rose builds an immersive world and interesting characters and I enjoyed her writing style. The mystery at the end of this book has made me excited to read the next book. I wasn’t expecting it to end like that so the mystery was an unexpected surprise and I’ll be waiting for book 2!
If you like an enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, I’d highly recommend Trouble Brewing!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC.
July 17, 2026
Meredith and Calder are two of the most stubborn, hardheaded, driven-to-succeed people I’ve read in a while — and I loved every second of it.
Meredith is a total badass, trying to keep her businesses afloat while grieving her sister and a man who was more like a father to her. Calder walked away from his dad and had to put the pieces back together for himself and his family. These two sniped and snarled at each other from the beginning, and it was so good.
You just want to hug Meredith and tell her it’s going to be okay. Calder gets there too — it just takes him a while. There’s emotion, heartbreak, humor, and everything that comes with having a dysfunctional family packed into this book.
Such a great start to the series. I cannot wait for the next book! Bring on the brothers !
Meredith is a total badass, trying to keep her businesses afloat while grieving her sister and a man who was more like a father to her. Calder walked away from his dad and had to put the pieces back together for himself and his family. These two sniped and snarled at each other from the beginning, and it was so good.
You just want to hug Meredith and tell her it’s going to be okay. Calder gets there too — it just takes him a while. There’s emotion, heartbreak, humor, and everything that comes with having a dysfunctional family packed into this book.
Such a great start to the series. I cannot wait for the next book! Bring on the brothers !
October 18, 2026
Another great read from Walker Rose! I’m already looking forward to seeing where this new series goes. One of the things I appreciate about her writing is that she doesn’t always take the predictable route with her characters or storylines. I especially loved the big apology and reconciliation scene. Rather than following the typical formula, she gave it a refreshing twist that made it even more satisfying. I also appreciated how she handled the potential tension between the brothers, addressing a situation that could have easily created unnecessary drama. It was a great example of how she can bring something different to familiar romance tropes, and I can’t wait to read more about the Crossroads Ranch brothers!
May 23, 2026
A forbidden romance with real stakes, real tension, and a payoff that actually feels earned. 💛
I really liked Meredith and Calder together. The reasons they held back made sense and didn’t feel forced. They both genuinely had a lot to lose, which made it so much more satisfying watching them slowly soften toward each other.
There’s a mystery thread running through the book that adds a bit of a darker edge, which I appreciated. I just wish it had been developed a little more throughout instead of being mostly saved for the end.
It was a little long in places, but I stayed invested the whole time. Overall, a really enjoyable read with strong characters and a cliffhanger that didn’t make me want to scream.🤠
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked Meredith and Calder together. The reasons they held back made sense and didn’t feel forced. They both genuinely had a lot to lose, which made it so much more satisfying watching them slowly soften toward each other.
There’s a mystery thread running through the book that adds a bit of a darker edge, which I appreciated. I just wish it had been developed a little more throughout instead of being mostly saved for the end.
It was a little long in places, but I stayed invested the whole time. Overall, a really enjoyable read with strong characters and a cliffhanger that didn’t make me want to scream.🤠
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2026
Unfortunately, this audiobook didn't quite work for me. I think I was hoping for Rebel Blue Ranch vibes, but I was really struggling to get into it. The physical attraction went from zero to hundred too quickly, one moment they are very frustrated and angry and the other moment they are all over each other. I really missed the romance parts in this book. What I did think was captured very well, was the topic of grief. The narration by Michelle Sparks and Troy Duran was easy to listen to.
Overall, it wasn't a bad book, but I was just missing something.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Overall, it wasn't a bad book, but I was just missing something.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
June 15, 2026
Trouble Brewing is actually my very first book by Walker Rose, and after this, I’m excited to dive into the rest of her backlist! What really blew me away was how fresh the storyline felt. You get all the classic cowboy vibes, but mixing in the craft brewery and family drama totally set it apart from every other small-town romance on my shelf right now. The absolute friction between Meredith’s protective country heart and Calder’s sharp-dressed, big city energy is pure fireworks. Seriously, the tension and banter are off the charts!
This book is the perfect mix of high-heat and genuine heart. I loved the vibrant community vibes of Scandal, North Dakota! It beautifully handles themes of grief, healing, and finding where you truly belong all while keeping the pacing incredibly fun and addictive. It's funny, it's steamy, and it left me completely desperate to pack my bags for Crossroads Ranch!
Let’s talk about the audiobook featuring dual narration between Michelle Sparks and Troy Duran. This book was an immersive read for me, and I was able to seamlessly transition between audio and visual. Michelle captured Meredith’s independent, fiery spirit perfectly IMO. And Troy’s deep, gravelly voice was exactly how I pictured the brooding alpha hero of Calder. Together, they made for an engaging and enjoyable duo!
This book is the perfect mix of high-heat and genuine heart. I loved the vibrant community vibes of Scandal, North Dakota! It beautifully handles themes of grief, healing, and finding where you truly belong all while keeping the pacing incredibly fun and addictive. It's funny, it's steamy, and it left me completely desperate to pack my bags for Crossroads Ranch!
Let’s talk about the audiobook featuring dual narration between Michelle Sparks and Troy Duran. This book was an immersive read for me, and I was able to seamlessly transition between audio and visual. Michelle captured Meredith’s independent, fiery spirit perfectly IMO. And Troy’s deep, gravelly voice was exactly how I pictured the brooding alpha hero of Calder. Together, they made for an engaging and enjoyable duo!
June 16, 2026
There was lot about this book that I liked, but some didn’t but for me. One this I wish that was focused on more was the mystery behind what Ransom was looking into and the crash. It was too rushed at the end and I wish it had a bigger part. I did like the romance aspect of the book and the spice, but I also wish the brothers didn’t blame Meredith so much for Holly and Ransoms choices, it wasn’t her fault how everything went down. All in all, I would recommend this book and I will continue on in the series to see what happens next!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and Walker Rose for letting me listen to this early!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and Walker Rose for letting me listen to this early!
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