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Reins and Restraint
Not yet published
Expected 27 Apr 27Secret passion springs between a cowboy and a ranch hand in this warm and powerful contemporary romance from New York Times bestselling author Page Powars.
Bennett Murphy needs a fresh start. Since losing his technician job for being transgender, the opportunity to uproot his life to Frostbit Ranch in the Montana mountains seems too good to be true…until the ranch reveals his role is not to work as an engineer, but to teach the owner’s charming thirty-year-old son, Graham, how to ride the horses.
After so many early mornings and late nights in the stables and fields, Graham Henderson’s dream of running Frostbit is about to be realized. That is, if he can learn from Bennett’s steady attitude and distractingly handsome face and finally conquer his fear of getting in the saddle to become the cowboy the ranch needs, not the gardener he longs to be.
As Bennett and Graham spend long days together, their growing attraction becomes impossible to ignore. But they agree it can’t be serious, even as stolen glances turn into steamy encounters at night. Bennett is Graham’s teacher, his contract ends in the spring, and both men have too much at stake to risk being discovered. But can feelings this big stay hidden for long under Montana’s wide-open skies?
Bennett Murphy needs a fresh start. Since losing his technician job for being transgender, the opportunity to uproot his life to Frostbit Ranch in the Montana mountains seems too good to be true…until the ranch reveals his role is not to work as an engineer, but to teach the owner’s charming thirty-year-old son, Graham, how to ride the horses.
After so many early mornings and late nights in the stables and fields, Graham Henderson’s dream of running Frostbit is about to be realized. That is, if he can learn from Bennett’s steady attitude and distractingly handsome face and finally conquer his fear of getting in the saddle to become the cowboy the ranch needs, not the gardener he longs to be.
As Bennett and Graham spend long days together, their growing attraction becomes impossible to ignore. But they agree it can’t be serious, even as stolen glances turn into steamy encounters at night. Bennett is Graham’s teacher, his contract ends in the spring, and both men have too much at stake to risk being discovered. But can feelings this big stay hidden for long under Montana’s wide-open skies?
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 27, 2027
About the author
Page Powars
4 books1,066 followersPage Powars is the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Indie bestselling author of And They Were Roommates, The Borrow a Boyfriend Club, and more coming down the line. He was raised by video game lore that requires stringboard analyses to understand. Now, he writes books for teenagers and adults. He lives in Brooklyn with his partner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Reins and Restraint was a tender, gentle romance. Reading it was like being wrapped in a hug you never want to pull out of. Bennett and Graham yearn for each other immediately, their desire for a life with each palpable. The were loyal to each other, and I loved seeing that loyalty build as they supported each other time and time again.
This was a very character driven, sweet, heartwarming love story. Anyone looking to shake up their romance TBR, or fans of cowboy romances, should definitely check this out. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Expected publication is 4/27/2027
This was a very character driven, sweet, heartwarming love story. Anyone looking to shake up their romance TBR, or fans of cowboy romances, should definitely check this out. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Expected publication is 4/27/2027
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Real talk, I don’t think there are enough gay cowboys despite the overwhelming homosocial relations needed for the job (we gotta get Judith Butler on the job to write an essay). So, when I heard Page Powars was writing not only a gay cowboy book but his first adult (!!) book, I was at the front of the line.
Reins and Restraint had my heart from the first page with Bennett crashing his truck (whoops) and Graham coming to the rescue. I loved both Bennett and Graham’s honesty with one another (with a little angst lightly poured over them), and showing both the hardships of being trans but also the joy! Seeing Bennett never regret being trans but rather hate the world for being bigoted, especially reading this as someone younger than him, was dearly appreciated.
Also, never say Powars can’t write supporting cast (I’ll fight you). I would lay my life down for Dawn and her breakfast, and the ghost of Graham’s father haunting the ranch (jk, he’s alive but barely) created an ominous background that built the tension of how Bennett and Graham’s relationship would continue (or not).
I always say this about a Powars book, but I wish it was longer; I love the romance–the will they won’t they–but I would also adore to see the physical effects of how Bennett works the whole day despite staying up all night researching his role. I’m a sucker for the nitty gritty.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book! It was beautiful, it had me hiding my screen as the wonderful sex scenes happened (*chefs kiss*), and laughing when the raccoon showed up (I will not expand).
Thank you to Page Powars and his team for opening this book up for the day to read early, I cannot wait until it’s published in the spring.
Reins and Restraint had my heart from the first page with Bennett crashing his truck (whoops) and Graham coming to the rescue. I loved both Bennett and Graham’s honesty with one another (with a little angst lightly poured over them), and showing both the hardships of being trans but also the joy! Seeing Bennett never regret being trans but rather hate the world for being bigoted, especially reading this as someone younger than him, was dearly appreciated.
Also, never say Powars can’t write supporting cast (I’ll fight you). I would lay my life down for Dawn and her breakfast, and the ghost of Graham’s father haunting the ranch (jk, he’s alive but barely) created an ominous background that built the tension of how Bennett and Graham’s relationship would continue (or not).
I always say this about a Powars book, but I wish it was longer; I love the romance–the will they won’t they–but I would also adore to see the physical effects of how Bennett works the whole day despite staying up all night researching his role. I’m a sucker for the nitty gritty.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book! It was beautiful, it had me hiding my screen as the wonderful sex scenes happened (*chefs kiss*), and laughing when the raccoon showed up (I will not expand).
Thank you to Page Powars and his team for opening this book up for the day to read early, I cannot wait until it’s published in the spring.
arc-tbr
October 2, 2026I've never read a cowboy romance before, but for Page Powars I will put on my best cowboy boots and yee my best haw
Did Not Finish
October 30, 2026DNF @24%
Honestly just bored. I thought the characters were fine but they came across as pretty bland. I enjoyed Page's YA books so I'm sad to say this one was not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Honestly just bored. I thought the characters were fine but they came across as pretty bland. I enjoyed Page's YA books so I'm sad to say this one was not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don't usually go for cowboy romances or settings, but Page Powars is one of my favourite authors so I couldn't help but want to read it. And I'm so glad I did! Everything about this book was absolutely incredible. It was written so beautifully. I also want to say I usually am not a fan of very quick attraction, but for them, it worked. Graham and Bennett found something in each other, something special, and with the lives they've lived, it makes sense that they connected so quickly and easily. And what else I loved was how the emotional build of their relationship happened gradually. With the proximity of them working together, they really got to know each other on such a deep level. The tension before they first hooked up was so fantastic and palpable.
The physical aspect was great, and I enjoyed the writing of the sex scenes - each one felt important because it was showing their connection, their vulnerability, how they connect in different ways, how they expressed themselves and felt safe with each other. I really, really did enjoy how they opened up to each other and showed each other all sides of themselves. Bennett's backstory was heartbreaking, which is why the tension of the story - will he be made to leave after the auction - really worked. That deadline held over their head, as well as Graham wanting to focus on the auction, and fear of the reaction of the world they live in, really made the tension and yearning pay off. The hotel scene with the raccoon was one of my favourite scenes in the book, it was fun and hilarious and showed their chemistry.
I also loved Bennett and Graham as individuals. Who they are as people were really fleshed out and I loved how the complimented each other. And I loved the side characters! Dawn and everyone else on the ranch!
I also loved learning about ranches and horses! I feel I like horses a lot more after reading this. I also loved the epilogue. I love their endgame happy ending.
Though one complaint I have is how easily the conflict resolved after how it was a big obstacle pretty much the whole book. It felt like.. that's it? But I did appreciate Graham's dad for his reaction on it's own, even if it was rushed. Also some of the descriptions seemed to go on and on, which slowed it down for me sometimes, but it wasn't a huge deal.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review!
The physical aspect was great, and I enjoyed the writing of the sex scenes - each one felt important because it was showing their connection, their vulnerability, how they connect in different ways, how they expressed themselves and felt safe with each other. I really, really did enjoy how they opened up to each other and showed each other all sides of themselves. Bennett's backstory was heartbreaking, which is why the tension of the story - will he be made to leave after the auction - really worked. That deadline held over their head, as well as Graham wanting to focus on the auction, and fear of the reaction of the world they live in, really made the tension and yearning pay off. The hotel scene with the raccoon was one of my favourite scenes in the book, it was fun and hilarious and showed their chemistry.
I also loved Bennett and Graham as individuals. Who they are as people were really fleshed out and I loved how the complimented each other. And I loved the side characters! Dawn and everyone else on the ranch!
I also loved learning about ranches and horses! I feel I like horses a lot more after reading this. I also loved the epilogue. I love their endgame happy ending.
Though one complaint I have is how easily the conflict resolved after how it was a big obstacle pretty much the whole book. It felt like.. that's it? But I did appreciate Graham's dad for his reaction on it's own, even if it was rushed. Also some of the descriptions seemed to go on and on, which slowed it down for me sometimes, but it wasn't a huge deal.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thanks to berkley and netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
I know we aren’t really meant to judge books by their covers, but this one drew me in immediately. All I could think about was Brokeback Mountain, and that being one of my all time favourite movies may have lead to me picking this up immediately.
This is only my second ever Page Powars book, and that in itself feels like a crime. There’s something about how he writes his trans protagonists that feels like a breath of fresh air, they are so authentic and well rounded, and it feels like the main conflict is never that he’s trans - it’s more of an addition to the story and that is such a nice thing to be seeing in modern publishing.
The writing in this was phenomenal, it’s a book that is so well written but also grips you and pulls you into the story immediately. I genuinely think this would be been a one session read if not for my full time job and needing sleep. Even with that, I read it in the span of 24 hours and found I was sad when I reached the last page and the story was over.
I think Bennett and Graham will stick with me for a while. Their love didn’t feel like the main story, that was reserved for the ranch, the friendships and the family connections, even as far as Graham calling the people he loves home and in that referring to his friends and people he works with. But it was still entirely fulfilling.
I think the only reason I bumped a star off at the end was that while there was conflict throughout the story, none of it ever really felt high enough stakes. It might just be my own assumptions when it comes to what I usually read, but everything almost felt easy the further I got into the book. There was many things that could have ended badly if they were discovered, and that point never really came until the end and even then it was resolved really quickly in a way that almost undid the conflict?
It was still really enjoyable, still a book I’d recommend, and I definitely need to check more out by Powars.
I know we aren’t really meant to judge books by their covers, but this one drew me in immediately. All I could think about was Brokeback Mountain, and that being one of my all time favourite movies may have lead to me picking this up immediately.
This is only my second ever Page Powars book, and that in itself feels like a crime. There’s something about how he writes his trans protagonists that feels like a breath of fresh air, they are so authentic and well rounded, and it feels like the main conflict is never that he’s trans - it’s more of an addition to the story and that is such a nice thing to be seeing in modern publishing.
The writing in this was phenomenal, it’s a book that is so well written but also grips you and pulls you into the story immediately. I genuinely think this would be been a one session read if not for my full time job and needing sleep. Even with that, I read it in the span of 24 hours and found I was sad when I reached the last page and the story was over.
I think Bennett and Graham will stick with me for a while. Their love didn’t feel like the main story, that was reserved for the ranch, the friendships and the family connections, even as far as Graham calling the people he loves home and in that referring to his friends and people he works with. But it was still entirely fulfilling.
I think the only reason I bumped a star off at the end was that while there was conflict throughout the story, none of it ever really felt high enough stakes. It might just be my own assumptions when it comes to what I usually read, but everything almost felt easy the further I got into the book. There was many things that could have ended badly if they were discovered, and that point never really came until the end and even then it was resolved really quickly in a way that almost undid the conflict?
It was still really enjoyable, still a book I’d recommend, and I definitely need to check more out by Powars.
October 17, 2026
review of the advanced copy from netgalley
this book felt like bundling under a cozy blanket and sipping a hot drink while the fireplace is roaring across the room. i read this in less than 24 hours if that is testament at all to how much i enjoyed this story. the concept is sort of hallmark-esque, if hallmark was woke. after a trans tech is kicked off of the ranch he worked at, he ends up accidentally agreeing to a gig as a “horse whisperer/teacher”, and it turns out the cowboy that he is supposed to teach is a huge goofball, exceptionally kind, and gay as hell.
this story had a LOT of very admirable qualities. i loved the casual trans representation, and how the author portrayed healthy masculinity. i mean for two cowboys they sure do know how to communicate! it was so refreshing to see two men engage with their emotions and embrace their interests despite gender norms. oh and also it’s dual pov, which is *chefs kiss* my favorite in a romance book.
i only wish the epilogue was a littleeee longer. (which was i think my only complaint about page powars last book too) i wish i got to see more of bennett and graham’s relationship and their friend’s reactions to them being a couple.
this book felt like bundling under a cozy blanket and sipping a hot drink while the fireplace is roaring across the room. i read this in less than 24 hours if that is testament at all to how much i enjoyed this story. the concept is sort of hallmark-esque, if hallmark was woke. after a trans tech is kicked off of the ranch he worked at, he ends up accidentally agreeing to a gig as a “horse whisperer/teacher”, and it turns out the cowboy that he is supposed to teach is a huge goofball, exceptionally kind, and gay as hell.
this story had a LOT of very admirable qualities. i loved the casual trans representation, and how the author portrayed healthy masculinity. i mean for two cowboys they sure do know how to communicate! it was so refreshing to see two men engage with their emotions and embrace their interests despite gender norms. oh and also it’s dual pov, which is *chefs kiss* my favorite in a romance book.
i only wish the epilogue was a littleeee longer. (which was i think my only complaint about page powars last book too) i wish i got to see more of bennett and graham’s relationship and their friend’s reactions to them being a couple.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Reins and Restraint* is Page Powars’ New Adult romance novel about Bennett, a trans man in his late 20s whose life is uprooted when he moves from Texas to Montana to take a job on a ranch. Unbeknownst to Bennett, who has worked as a water tech, he has been hired as a horse whisperer to help Graham learn to ride. Graham is the heir to a huge ranch and a millionaire horse breeder, but he has a fear of riding after losing his mother in an accident on the ranch as a child.
This MM romance has a touch of a friends-to-lovers vibe. Overall, the story is warm and cozy. You’ll want to root for the main characters and help them find confidence and community.
Without giving too much away, my only real complaint is that issues are overcome too easily. The first half or three-quarters of the novel sets the stage so well that I was mildly disappointed to have the ending resolved so quickly and easily. I would prefer the ending to be more drawn out and that part of the story to be even more fleshed out. I enjoyed it—and I wanted more of it.
That said, I am eager to see what Powars does next and would recommend this book to others. Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
This MM romance has a touch of a friends-to-lovers vibe. Overall, the story is warm and cozy. You’ll want to root for the main characters and help them find confidence and community.
Without giving too much away, my only real complaint is that issues are overcome too easily. The first half or three-quarters of the novel sets the stage so well that I was mildly disappointed to have the ending resolved so quickly and easily. I would prefer the ending to be more drawn out and that part of the story to be even more fleshed out. I enjoyed it—and I wanted more of it.
That said, I am eager to see what Powars does next and would recommend this book to others. Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Reins and Restraint is Page Powars' first adult romance, and I'm really hoping we see more in the future.
Graham and Bennett were really sweet. They both seemed to have something to heal while mastering the horses and growing closer with each other. It was almost like they were practicing horse therapy as part of the main plot. Bennett had given up horses as an interest when he was younger, because it was a "girly" thing to do. Graham had given up on riding horses after a traumatic event. They'd both been burned by feeling like they didn't quite belong in the place they wanted to call home because of their identities and history.
The characters were still a bit immature and juvenile to the point that I think they honestly could have been aged down a few years. Graham did not entirely strike me as someone who had spent 30 years on the earth doing the same job(s) every day. I also really wanted to know what exactly it was that his father was doing all day every day if he was largely leaving the horses and the auction to his son. It didn't seem like he'd been given sufficient training to manage something of that scale on his own and had largely been set up to fail. Once again Powars managed to write a toxic parent very well.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for ARC access 💕
Graham and Bennett were really sweet. They both seemed to have something to heal while mastering the horses and growing closer with each other. It was almost like they were practicing horse therapy as part of the main plot. Bennett had given up horses as an interest when he was younger, because it was a "girly" thing to do. Graham had given up on riding horses after a traumatic event. They'd both been burned by feeling like they didn't quite belong in the place they wanted to call home because of their identities and history.
The characters were still a bit immature and juvenile to the point that I think they honestly could have been aged down a few years. Graham did not entirely strike me as someone who had spent 30 years on the earth doing the same job(s) every day. I also really wanted to know what exactly it was that his father was doing all day every day if he was largely leaving the horses and the auction to his son. It didn't seem like he'd been given sufficient training to manage something of that scale on his own and had largely been set up to fail. Once again Powars managed to write a toxic parent very well.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for ARC access 💕
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
TW: transphobia, homophobia, sexual content, panic attack/ disorders, death of a parent, grief
The only true crime in this book is the unregulated toxic masculinity that haunts these characters throughout the entire book and the fact that this book is riddled with miscommunication or no communication everywhere but in the relationship. I really liked these characters, their chemistry was lovely and I really liked that there was a sprinkle of very smart and skillful female side characters that were just as important to supporting the plot as the main characters were. I thought the pacing was perfect for its length and I really liked how balanced the book felt; enough serious matters, tense moments, emotional moments, funny moments, everything came together really nicely making this book insanely easy to read and enjoy.
This was such an enjoyable book and I’m so glad I was able to get my hands on an ARC from Net Galley, all thoughts and opinions listed above are my own.
We don’t speak. We don’t have to. The silence between us is loud enough, full of everything we’re refusing to say aloud.
The only true crime in this book is the unregulated toxic masculinity that haunts these characters throughout the entire book and the fact that this book is riddled with miscommunication or no communication everywhere but in the relationship. I really liked these characters, their chemistry was lovely and I really liked that there was a sprinkle of very smart and skillful female side characters that were just as important to supporting the plot as the main characters were. I thought the pacing was perfect for its length and I really liked how balanced the book felt; enough serious matters, tense moments, emotional moments, funny moments, everything came together really nicely making this book insanely easy to read and enjoy.
This was such an enjoyable book and I’m so glad I was able to get my hands on an ARC from Net Galley, all thoughts and opinions listed above are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Water tech has to leave the Texas ranch he's worked on because of transphobia. Turns out the job he accepted was not an engineering job, but rather the instructor to the 30 yr old son of the owner of the new ranch he's working on. Small hurdle - he's really hot.
This was a really enjoyable read. The characters were well written, the plot was driven very well, and it was just a fun time. I really, really, really enjoyed that there was no miscommunication trope. I was bracing myself for it the entire time that Bennett was keeping the fact that he was not a horse whisperer a secret, but it turned out really well! Yay for that! The ending felt really satisfying, and felt like a good conclusion to the book.
My only issue I had was the character of Pops, who was such a hard-ass the entire book, then felt like he very suddenly took a 180 in the last 30 pages, because it was the end of the book, and we needed things to turn out the way they did. Barring that, an excellent read!
4.5/5
This was a really enjoyable read. The characters were well written, the plot was driven very well, and it was just a fun time. I really, really, really enjoyed that there was no miscommunication trope. I was bracing myself for it the entire time that Bennett was keeping the fact that he was not a horse whisperer a secret, but it turned out really well! Yay for that! The ending felt really satisfying, and felt like a good conclusion to the book.
My only issue I had was the character of Pops, who was such a hard-ass the entire book, then felt like he very suddenly took a 180 in the last 30 pages, because it was the end of the book, and we needed things to turn out the way they did. Barring that, an excellent read!
4.5/5
October 20, 2026
ARC from NetGalley 🫶
Pop Henderson - we got the best character development from you sir. Out the gate, you seemed like the classic old school stick-in-the-mud type. Your wife died and not one thing could change on the ranch. Especially couldn’t have your son taking over for you - he isn’t up for the challenge. By the end, you see how much progress Graham made and how happy he is with Bennett. You see Graham and Bennett for the incredible humans they are and you will fight the world to see them happy together.
Do I need to say more? No, but I will. Graham is in a tough spot in life - scared of riding a horse since his mothered died in a riding accident and yet is trying to take over the 100+ year old family ranch. In comes Bennett - who was ‘let go’ from his last job for being trans - as the horse whisperer. In reality he is a ranch tech and a Graham whisperer. These two FINALLY realize they love each other and work better together.
IF YOU MADE IT THIS FAR + ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR RIGHT NOW.
Pop Henderson - we got the best character development from you sir. Out the gate, you seemed like the classic old school stick-in-the-mud type. Your wife died and not one thing could change on the ranch. Especially couldn’t have your son taking over for you - he isn’t up for the challenge. By the end, you see how much progress Graham made and how happy he is with Bennett. You see Graham and Bennett for the incredible humans they are and you will fight the world to see them happy together.
Do I need to say more? No, but I will. Graham is in a tough spot in life - scared of riding a horse since his mothered died in a riding accident and yet is trying to take over the 100+ year old family ranch. In comes Bennett - who was ‘let go’ from his last job for being trans - as the horse whisperer. In reality he is a ranch tech and a Graham whisperer. These two FINALLY realize they love each other and work better together.
IF YOU MADE IT THIS FAR + ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR RIGHT NOW.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i got to read this early thanks to it being on netgalley early for one day and open to anyone!!! this book was exactly what i was hoping it would be! i have enjoyed his other books but was getting tired of them being stuck in a high school and being teen characters so i’m glad he was finally able to write an adult book! the cowboy setting is perfect and hot! i feel like it was a great balance of plot, romance, and sex (aka sex scenes spaced out tastefully rather than taking up half the book). the end was perhaps a little fast and rushed, which i feel like is a trend for this author. i would be okay with a little more epilogue and perhaps some justification for the dad having a 180 shift in opinion. but overall this was so lovely and a thrilling read and perfect setting. i look forward to more adult books from him! also i do hope he writes t4t one day
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I hereby vow to only read cowboy romance if it’s queer!
While this isn’t always the genre for me, I rightfully trusted in Page Powars to do it well.
The danger of being out of the closet in conservative, small town America was present in the characterization of both Bennet and Graham, HOWEVER, there wasn’t even a second of hesitation in Bennet being the sexiest man Graham has ever met. The initial draw to each other was the immediate physical attraction but the patience, support, and sacrifice they both gave to each other came along swiftly.
I think people who enjoy the tension and forbidden romance of Heated Rivalry will enjoy a similar dynamic but on a much smaller stage of horse ranching in rural Montana. Reins & Restraint is a needed addition to this genre with its focus on a Trans cowboy finding love, happiness and acceptance where he didn’t think possible.
While this isn’t always the genre for me, I rightfully trusted in Page Powars to do it well.
The danger of being out of the closet in conservative, small town America was present in the characterization of both Bennet and Graham, HOWEVER, there wasn’t even a second of hesitation in Bennet being the sexiest man Graham has ever met. The initial draw to each other was the immediate physical attraction but the patience, support, and sacrifice they both gave to each other came along swiftly.
I think people who enjoy the tension and forbidden romance of Heated Rivalry will enjoy a similar dynamic but on a much smaller stage of horse ranching in rural Montana. Reins & Restraint is a needed addition to this genre with its focus on a Trans cowboy finding love, happiness and acceptance where he didn’t think possible.
October 19, 2026
review of an advanced copy through NetGalley—
I expected to adore this, and I’m really, really grateful it measured up to every silly lil dream I had for it! TRANS COWBOY ROMANCE?!?? I mean COME ON. What more could I ask for.
This was genuinely beautiful though— clearly a lot of heart went into this, and I just adored the build up between Graham and Bennett. I loved seeing Graham grow & gain confidence in himself (the Pleasey storyline was my favorite!!!), and the ending!!!! Ah!!!! Okay. I’m just going to be thinking about this for a long time.
Thank you to Page for this absolute gift for a book.
I expected to adore this, and I’m really, really grateful it measured up to every silly lil dream I had for it! TRANS COWBOY ROMANCE?!?? I mean COME ON. What more could I ask for.
This was genuinely beautiful though— clearly a lot of heart went into this, and I just adored the build up between Graham and Bennett. I loved seeing Graham grow & gain confidence in himself (the Pleasey storyline was my favorite!!!), and the ending!!!! Ah!!!! Okay. I’m just going to be thinking about this for a long time.
Thank you to Page for this absolute gift for a book.
October 26, 2026
**review of advanced reader copy received from netgalley**
grab your cowboy hats and cozy blankets cause this will have you giggling and kicking your feet and going EEKEKKDKWK.
romance isn’t my preferred genre at all, but god sometimes it gets me all in my feels and i giggle and kicking my feet over characters, and that’s exactly what happened here. bennett and graham have my heart and i hope they have readers hearts when the story gets published. there’s a yearning, a spiciness, something about the prose that just made me come back to the story and want more and more of it when i wasn’t reading that’s how addicting this story was.
i would highly recommend this book when it reaches publication! and it’s definitely going to be an auto-buy for me to have a space on my shelves.
thank you to the team that opened this e-galley for early reading!!
grab your cowboy hats and cozy blankets cause this will have you giggling and kicking your feet and going EEKEKKDKWK.
romance isn’t my preferred genre at all, but god sometimes it gets me all in my feels and i giggle and kicking my feet over characters, and that’s exactly what happened here. bennett and graham have my heart and i hope they have readers hearts when the story gets published. there’s a yearning, a spiciness, something about the prose that just made me come back to the story and want more and more of it when i wasn’t reading that’s how addicting this story was.
i would highly recommend this book when it reaches publication! and it’s definitely going to be an auto-buy for me to have a space on my shelves.
thank you to the team that opened this e-galley for early reading!!
October 27, 2026
I’ve never read a cowboy-type of book before this. I overall really liked it. I enjoyed the two main characters in this story, but I will say the side characters fell flat for me and weren’t memorable. Additionally, the book started off pretty good, but from 65% to 85% of the book it took a big dip for me. I got bored and thought it could have wrapped up a lot quicker. Again, I liked this book and I’m glad I got an ARC! Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Release date is actually my birthday, so I will consider snagging this arc as an early present ;)
“as I look at Graham now, all I can think about is the sun, how he is the sun, and how long it’s been since I’ve seen it.”
Full review to follow
* Thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review. *
“as I look at Graham now, all I can think about is the sun, how he is the sun, and how long it’s been since I’ve seen it.”
Full review to follow
* Thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review. *
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Firstly: yeehaw. Secondly: this was SO good. It felt like I was breathing in the essence of a cowboy, complete with their homoeroticism, plenty of gay kissing, and tender emotional torment that had me ready to explode.
October 19, 2026
Advanced digital copy received for free from netgally in exchange for a review
The story was so sweet and cute, and the characters felt very real and their emotions and feelings jumped right off the page! Page has a way of writing characters that feel so alive and you want to be friends with, to hug them when they are feeling down and talk sense into when you get to the parts where they are acting foolish! Loved the queer and trans representation of course and the way it was portrayed struck a good balance between love and acceptance by the two main characters while not shying away from the homophobia and transphobia that does exist in these spaces in real life.
I do want to not the few things that I won’t necessarily say I disliked but would note for other readers so they can know if this book is for them or not.
The beginning relationship starts kind of fast. The attraction between the two main characters is almost immediate and if this were real life I’d say it’s unrealistic but this is a romance novel so it’s not totally unexpected.
The plot moves fast and even though the story takes place over months there are places where it feels a bit rushed. Having read most of Page’s other books I know this is par for the course for him to have the plot driven by some big looming event/deadline the characters are working towards which is a good way to build tension and get a reader excited as things continue to build but I find I often want to have a little more time on the end for a rundown/wrap-up which they usually don’t.
Because it’s fast paced it’s a quick read but i kind of wish it had been a tad longer to give the characters, main and side, a little more time to breathe and get to know each other on page and not just noting in passing after the fact.
Overall it was still tons of fun and I’d definitely recommend it even if western/cowboy romance isn’t your usual genre
The story was so sweet and cute, and the characters felt very real and their emotions and feelings jumped right off the page! Page has a way of writing characters that feel so alive and you want to be friends with, to hug them when they are feeling down and talk sense into when you get to the parts where they are acting foolish! Loved the queer and trans representation of course and the way it was portrayed struck a good balance between love and acceptance by the two main characters while not shying away from the homophobia and transphobia that does exist in these spaces in real life.
I do want to not the few things that I won’t necessarily say I disliked but would note for other readers so they can know if this book is for them or not.
The beginning relationship starts kind of fast. The attraction between the two main characters is almost immediate and if this were real life I’d say it’s unrealistic but this is a romance novel so it’s not totally unexpected.
The plot moves fast and even though the story takes place over months there are places where it feels a bit rushed. Having read most of Page’s other books I know this is par for the course for him to have the plot driven by some big looming event/deadline the characters are working towards which is a good way to build tension and get a reader excited as things continue to build but I find I often want to have a little more time on the end for a rundown/wrap-up which they usually don’t.
Because it’s fast paced it’s a quick read but i kind of wish it had been a tad longer to give the characters, main and side, a little more time to breathe and get to know each other on page and not just noting in passing after the fact.
Overall it was still tons of fun and I’d definitely recommend it even if western/cowboy romance isn’t your usual genre
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you to the author publisher and netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!!
page powars does it again but make it adult romance this time 🙂↕️ i think for a first adult romance novel this was so fun! i loved the setting and im not even in to cowboys like that lol. the same swoon worthy romance from their other books is still present in this book along with some spice (new) and that did not disappoint!!
i thought that the repetition of saying they couldnt be together because bennet was graham's teacher was forced and felt a tad bit juvenile. they are pushing 30 🤣 so calling him grahams teacher and making it a bigger deal than it was felt a bit off bc it wasnt that serious and they had bigger fish to fry lol. like the fact that they were gay in a place that isnt notorious for being accepting of the lgbts. also technically bennet worked for graham so if they wanted to go a taboo adjacent route that would have made more sense. but overall a great lovely story!
i loved that they were older adults and closeted bc even if its something that isnt my queer journey there are so many queer people in the world who live almost their entire lives or even their whole lives in the closet and never get to experience their queerness. so i love that this story talked about that a bit but it still had a happy ending!
cant wait till this is published and i can read the final.
kbye 🫶🏼
page powars does it again but make it adult romance this time 🙂↕️ i think for a first adult romance novel this was so fun! i loved the setting and im not even in to cowboys like that lol. the same swoon worthy romance from their other books is still present in this book along with some spice (new) and that did not disappoint!!
i thought that the repetition of saying they couldnt be together because bennet was graham's teacher was forced and felt a tad bit juvenile. they are pushing 30 🤣 so calling him grahams teacher and making it a bigger deal than it was felt a bit off bc it wasnt that serious and they had bigger fish to fry lol. like the fact that they were gay in a place that isnt notorious for being accepting of the lgbts. also technically bennet worked for graham so if they wanted to go a taboo adjacent route that would have made more sense. but overall a great lovely story!
i loved that they were older adults and closeted bc even if its something that isnt my queer journey there are so many queer people in the world who live almost their entire lives or even their whole lives in the closet and never get to experience their queerness. so i love that this story talked about that a bit but it still had a happy ending!
cant wait till this is published and i can read the final.
kbye 🫶🏼
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was SO SO cute. I loved it! The characters were adorable and lovely. Low angst, relatively low conflict. I’ve been in a place where I am really reading for the warm and fuzzies. There’s enough conflict in real life that I want to escape to a place where lovely humans meet other lovely humans and grow and fall in love and show each other how to be their best and truest selves and this book gives exactly that.
I did sort of feel like the conclusion was.. maybe incomplete? I felt like some of the explanations and outcomes at the end could have been better executed. The conversation we do get at the end doesn’t adequately provide the context I needed to understand the basis of the books main conflict. However, coming out of the story it didn’t detract from feeling such love for these characters.
Not reflecting in my review since I’m reading an eARC, but there were quite a few typos that will need to be cleaned up for the final. I would unfortunately say more than is usual in terms of sentence structure for an eARC, but again I’m hoping this won’t be true come release time.
All in all loved this book. Would recommend for sure and especially for my other low angst reader friends. Thank you so much to Berkley for this eARC, it was just what I needed!!
I did sort of feel like the conclusion was.. maybe incomplete? I felt like some of the explanations and outcomes at the end could have been better executed. The conversation we do get at the end doesn’t adequately provide the context I needed to understand the basis of the books main conflict. However, coming out of the story it didn’t detract from feeling such love for these characters.
Not reflecting in my review since I’m reading an eARC, but there were quite a few typos that will need to be cleaned up for the final. I would unfortunately say more than is usual in terms of sentence structure for an eARC, but again I’m hoping this won’t be true come release time.
All in all loved this book. Would recommend for sure and especially for my other low angst reader friends. Thank you so much to Berkley for this eARC, it was just what I needed!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sometimes I read a romance and I just think, "well, that was nice." And that might seem lame, but it's really not, especially because I feel like Bennett and Graham really, REALLY, deserve nice. Our main characters here have had to prove themselves over and over and over again and what we get to be with them for in "Reins and Restraint" is just so...well...nice. And like, a bit traumatic. But overall, VERY NICE and validating and I fully endorse all of it.
I loved the dynamics here between our yearning, learning, hard-working cowboys trying to find their place in the world and into each other hearts. The parallels between Bennett trying to master the ins and outs of horse whispering while getting to know the ins and outs of his HEART (COME ONNNNNN), are fun and endearing and really just a delight.
It's an easy read for a day that you feel like being a little bit country and a little bit spicy. Add it to your TBRs -- 0ut on April 27, 2027. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. YeeHaw.
I loved the dynamics here between our yearning, learning, hard-working cowboys trying to find their place in the world and into each other hearts. The parallels between Bennett trying to master the ins and outs of horse whispering while getting to know the ins and outs of his HEART (COME ONNNNNN), are fun and endearing and really just a delight.
It's an easy read for a day that you feel like being a little bit country and a little bit spicy. Add it to your TBRs -- 0ut on April 27, 2027. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. YeeHaw.
October 19, 2026
4.5 🌟
This was my first Page Powars book and it won’t be my last one!
The cosy energy of Reins and Restraint was exactly what I needed these last few days. It was so easy to picture Frostbit Ranch with the horses and stables, the people that were welcoming, even the places like the homestead and the greenhouse, I really had the perfect image in my mind of Frostbit Ranch with Powar’s writing.
Now the relationship between Bennett and Graham was everything I was looking for. They both cared so much and were both scared of other peoples reactions to the things they were keeping hidden. I also loved how they prioritized getting the shares for Graham and how Bennett was willing to learn everything to teach Graham to help him win his father’s favor.
In the end they were willing to give up so much for each other and it left me sobbing into my pillow before the book had such a wholesome epilogue.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy.
This was my first Page Powars book and it won’t be my last one!
The cosy energy of Reins and Restraint was exactly what I needed these last few days. It was so easy to picture Frostbit Ranch with the horses and stables, the people that were welcoming, even the places like the homestead and the greenhouse, I really had the perfect image in my mind of Frostbit Ranch with Powar’s writing.
Now the relationship between Bennett and Graham was everything I was looking for. They both cared so much and were both scared of other peoples reactions to the things they were keeping hidden. I also loved how they prioritized getting the shares for Graham and how Bennett was willing to learn everything to teach Graham to help him win his father’s favor.
In the end they were willing to give up so much for each other and it left me sobbing into my pillow before the book had such a wholesome epilogue.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Reins and Restraint was an impactful romance about identity, yearning and finding yourself. Bennett was a brillaint main character who had lots of past neglect and dismissal of who he was and meeting Graham was like finding a piece of yourself that was missing. Graham himself is his own person in his own right and has lots of parts of his personality that are detailed and given enough depth. I enjoyed their development together and individually especially Graham standing upto his father and the twist there along with Bennett coming into his own with his identity and the acceptance that came with it.
The reason I'm giving this 3 stars is because the scenes that moved the plot along like the hotel room scene were slow whilst the overarching themes and nuanced perspectives were interesting, getting to them was boring which made this feel like a slog to get through.
The reason I'm giving this 3 stars is because the scenes that moved the plot along like the hotel room scene were slow whilst the overarching themes and nuanced perspectives were interesting, getting to them was boring which made this feel like a slog to get through.
October 21, 2026
soooo this didn't live up to the excitement i had building since it was announced. i'm very sad! i feel like the concept is THERE. the loveable characters are THERE. the gay cowboys are THERE. but the execution was just missing every mark, it felt very rushed and lukewarm. which is so upsetting considering i'm SUCH a huge fan of this author and was looking forward to his adult debut. there was so much happening without actually moving forward with the plot or character development, it was feeling like a very drawn out novella. i tried really hard to stay invested (in both the story and characters) but nothing was sticking. despite this being a miss, i'm still looking forward to everything else page powars releases in the future!
thank you so much to netgalley and berkeley for an earc!
thank you so much to netgalley and berkeley for an earc!
October 24, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from Netgalley
this was so good omg😭
the yearning, the coziness, EVERYTHING!!
i’m still processing everything and trying to find the words to describe this book and how it made me feel but i can only settle on ✨wow✨
this book felt a bit different from page’s other books, not in a bad way (and not because this is an adult novel and not a YA like his other books), and it still hit just as hard
i didn’t know what to expect but it still surpassed my expectations
it felt like you were truly there, in that ranch, with those people, witnessing their love story developing
i can’t wait to see what else page writes
this was so good omg😭
the yearning, the coziness, EVERYTHING!!
i’m still processing everything and trying to find the words to describe this book and how it made me feel but i can only settle on ✨wow✨
this book felt a bit different from page’s other books, not in a bad way (and not because this is an adult novel and not a YA like his other books), and it still hit just as hard
i didn’t know what to expect but it still surpassed my expectations
it felt like you were truly there, in that ranch, with those people, witnessing their love story developing
i can’t wait to see what else page writes
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book and these characters! It was such a cozy heartwarming story. I liked the found family vibes and the acceptance that both Graham and Bennett found. I also adored the setting. There was something about the ranch, horses, and mountains that I connected with.
Bennett and Graham were sweet characters to follow. I liked how well they complimented each other. They both brought out the best the other and helped each other grow as people. Bennett helped Graham become more confident in himself and Graham helped Bennett come out of his shell. There was great character development that I really enjoyed seeing.
Bennett and Graham were sweet characters to follow. I liked how well they complimented each other. They both brought out the best the other and helped each other grow as people. Bennett helped Graham become more confident in himself and Graham helped Bennett come out of his shell. There was great character development that I really enjoyed seeing.
November 2, 2026
what if instead of getting gay married we co-owned a ranch in Montana and got stuck in greenhouses together??? Page Powars has NO misses and this was a beautiful adult debut! I loved the father-son relationship (and though the end felt a little TOO gay rights love wins to me, I’m a sucker for happy endings so that didn’t even matter). I had SO much fun reading this and I cannot wait to see which voice actor gets the privilege of voicing the audiobook (and making southern accents because that is a must). thank you netgalley for the advanced copy!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Netgalley arc, loved it!
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