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A cowboy Daddy and a big city boy.

Ripley Ellis never intended to return to Bluebird Ranch. The day his father kicked him out for being gay was the day he shook the dust off his cowboy boots and moved to the city. But thanks to his homophobic father, the only way he can claim his inheritance is to return. He has to stay for one year, but that doesn’t mean he has to like it.

The life of a rancher isn’t an easy one. Reed Warner knows that. He also knows that there is no other life for him. It’s all he’s ever wanted. Now that he’s retired from the rodeo, he’s ready to make his dreams come true. There’s only one problem—Ripley. The sassy city boy just inherited the ranch Reed is planning to buy.

If they can put aside their differences and work together, they may both find exactly what they’re looking for.

163 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 23, 2019

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About the author

Jacki James

61 books641 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
Profile Image for Susan.
2,349 reviews458 followers
December 8, 2023
Re-read December 2023
I still really like this.

------------------------------
4.25 stars

This was quite the enjoyable story. City boy meets cowboy ranch hand? Sign me up! Oh, and let’s not forget the daddy kink. Oh yeah..

Ripley has lived in the big city for the last 6 years. He was kicked off the ranch he grew up on by his father when he was 18. Now that he no longer has to hide who he is, he is quite loud about being unapologetically gay. The pink car and the graphic t-shirts with snarky texts might tip off most people. Add in the painted nails and his little dog and the picture is complete.

So when Ripley finds out his father left his half of the ranch to Ripley under one condition, Ripley is not happy. He inherited half of the ranch when his mother died and has been living off the profits. But he can’t let the other half go to some super religious church group.

So a year on the ranch to inherit the other half it is.

Reed has been the foreman on Bluebird Ranch for some time now. He was saving up to buy half the ranch when Randall Ellis died. Now he has to entertain some prima donna from the city for a whole year before he can try to buy the ranch.

So while Reed thinks Ripley is a spoiled brat from the city and Ripley thinks Reed is a homophobic hick, both have trouble admitting they might be wrong once they get to know each other.

But after the initial impression both gravitate towards each other whether they like it or not.

Throw in some daddy kink and suddenly it looks like a match made in heaven….

I wasn’t too sure where this was going at first. These men were both too stubborn to see the other person and constantly fought or avoided each other. But I was glad once they got their stupid ideas out of their heads, the romance went along nicely. It even got a little (or a lot) gooey and sappy in the second half.

The daddy kink was nice and fitted them perfectly. Reed was a dominant but sweet daddy and Ripley needed the guidance.

Overall this was a nice book without too much angst. The romance ended up sappy and sweet, and the daddy kink made everything just a bit hotter.
Profile Image for Mariah.
1,395 reviews504 followers
October 21, 2021
1.5 I'm starting to see a patten with Jacki James books.
She really takes the term "low-anst" to a whole new level, and not in a good way.

I always appreciate knowing what I'm getting into, and I rely heavily on low-angst romance novels to help cope with stress of day-to-day life but this is somehow counter productive.

I find myself gritting my teeth at how saccharine and how everything is so unbelievably easy in these books. To the point where it sucks out my enj0yment of it.

And the steam is just lacking, barely a spark. I already feel myself forgetting it.
Profile Image for Gustaf.
1,444 reviews194 followers
January 16, 2021
This was a cute little light enemies to lovers, daddy boy, cowboy book and I truly did enjoy it. However, it was short and therefore lacked a little. I wanted it just a little more fleshed out.
Profile Image for Shelba.
2,698 reviews100 followers
December 29, 2019
The story is incredibly straightforward, with very little conflict... unless you considering putting goats into pajamas a conflict. Ripley has a whole year that he needs to spend on the farm but a) he actually loves it there instantly b) everyone loves him and don't even mind that his gay (especially since most of them are LGBT) c) Reed initially dislikes him, but they are basically in love and in a relationship within a few weeks at most. Considering he did have to spend a whole year there, more of a slow burn would have been nice.

I don't care for Daddy kinks, so I can't really fairly judge that part of the book, but I did find the sex scenes very brief and boring, with rather awkward dirty talk.

As for the writing itself, while there were only a few editing issues, the whole book was kind of just one note. None of the characters had any personality and since the POV alternates between Ripley and Reed, the narrative sounds the exact same. I have socks with more personality than any if the characters in this book.
Profile Image for Ed Davis.
2,901 reviews100 followers
January 6, 2020
3 and 1/2 stars. Very sweet read. Very light daddy kink.
Profile Image for Mimi.
2,459 reviews
May 19, 2020
3.75 stars

This book was the start of the River Gorge series, why didn't she finish it. I have questions about Cruz and Landon. Frankie and Cap are together in Maverick and Donavan's story. What happened????
Profile Image for Denise H..
3,246 reviews269 followers
May 18, 2022
Reed has a misconception about Ripley, but he finds out soon enough, he was wrong.
Ripley's come back because his Dad died and had conditions in his will.
* Ripley is sassy and energetic, loves the ranch,

but he left when he was thrown out by his homophobic father. He has long light brown hair, a Pink 4-wheel drive Jeep and a Maltipoo, Jinji.
* Reed, on the cover, is the foreman at the

Bluebird Ranch, tall, muscled, a strong cowboy who wants the ranch. He doesn't like Ripley at first. Will Ripley spend his year on the ranch?

We see a well run ranch, gorgeous horses, men who care about animals, and many memories of Ripley's long ago home.

Ripley got goats to film and post on social media,

and he's happy to meet old friends and how the town of River Gorge has changed.

Reed makes his move and Ripley is on board. Hot sex and a light Daddy/boy relationship ensue.
Both men are taking care of the ranch and falling for one another. They are so fun together.



Ripley's friend, Frankie, comes to visit, and our men's plans are becoming a reality.

Reed surprises Ripley with something important and we are excited to know what's next.



We get a terrific epilogue, and more animals !
ENJOY !

=======
Profile Image for Cindi.
1,711 reviews85 followers
February 19, 2020
I totally loved this. I'd already met Reed and Ripley as an already established couple in Snowflake Kisses. Finding Ripley tells how they got there.

There are cowboys who get off on a little Daddy kink. There's a boy who desperately needs a Daddy. There's an amazing cast of secondary characters, including baby goats.

I loved the baby goats.
They wore pajamas.
I now want baby goats. :)

There's a bit of a misunderstanding when Reed and Ripley first meet. Reed thinks that Ripley's a typical city boy who wouldn't know his way around a ranch for anything. Ripley automatically thinks that Reed's a homophobic jerk, like other men who worked on his family's ranch when he was a kid. They're both wrong. Ripley is putting on an act. Oh, he's still a diva, but he knows his way around the ranch. The big and bad Reed is bisexual but Ripley doesn't discover this until a little bit into the story.

Great book. I'm eager to see some of the other guys introduced find their HEAs.

Full review can be found at -

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Profile Image for Jenn (not Lily).
4,804 reviews27 followers
February 6, 2020
Not bad, but I just didn't feel the connection between Reed and Ripley like I wanted to. However, I'd probably read more stories set in River Gorge or at Bluebird Ranch. Some of those guys have definite promise....
Profile Image for Chris.
2,070 reviews
April 9, 2020
Started off with promise but felt rushed - the emotions went 180* way too quickly and I didn’t buy the sudden Daddy vibe ... just needed a bit more build. An easy read and a bit of fun.
Profile Image for Sharing The Book Love.
916 reviews17 followers
November 10, 2022
Sweet with goats in pyjamas

When you expect grumpy a**holes and find love in unexpected places.

Ripley and Reeds daddy boy story is sweet with cuddly animals and pink Jeeps!!

1 review
August 17, 2023
Unfortunately, those MC as Daddy and Boy weren’t believable. I think the usual romance would be much better.
Profile Image for Whitney.
667 reviews43 followers
January 4, 2020
Sweet, dommy cowboys. It's a thing!

This was pretty cute. I loved the ranch element, I loved how unapologetically unapologetically himself Ripley was, and Reed oh how I swooned. It was great. I actually want more from this world because all of the side characters were so developed that I want their stories as well. Does Landon get a happy ending? What about Cap? I mean I'm pretty sure I know who he's going to get with but still, I want it. If you love character-driven stories, Jacki is your girl.

My only complaint, and normally I wouldn't be taking off stars for this but I genuinely think it effected the story this time around, is that I wish it was longer. Even if it was just 20 to 30 pages more I think would have really helps this book. Like I said, Jacki James is really great at developing characters and thier dynamics. But because Reed and Ripley didn't really get together until about 60% of the book, we didn't really get to enjoy them being a couple. I mean we saw them as a couple but I felt like we didn't fully get to dive into their dynamic as Daddy and boy. It all felt really rushed and under developed. Like for example, there was this really sweet scene between the two of them with Ripley morning the loss of his mother and read comforting him and it was so good. It was beautifully written and it felt like the catalyst for them. Fast forward to them being together and it's like whiplash. There was a spanking scene that lasted all of 2 1/2 paragraphs and I remember blinking and thinking what. I felt robbed!

All of that being said I still really enjoyed this book and I flew through it. Plus Cowboys are kind of my jush now, who knew. Besides, I do think the things that I missed will be what makes book enjoyable for some. The daddy/ boy element wasn't heavy, there's no age play, and while there is smut it's not in your face. So if that appeals to you then you'll love this. And if you don't like me it's short, you'll have it you'll still have a good time. 4 stars.
Profile Image for Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews.
2,698 reviews138 followers
January 10, 2020
4.5 Stars

Finding Ripley is another great read by Jacki James. The author's writing draws me into the characters and their minds immediately.

The flamboyant Ripley returns home with a chip on his shoulder. He's snarky and bitchy, immediately clashing with the rancher Reed. Their storyline is complicated as the two men have to figure out a way to work things out on the ranch.

It's a story of dealing with the past. It's a story full of grief, pain, and hurt. I love the writing which is full of seamless dialogue, including some fantastic snark and banter. There's also a lot of emotions involved, as Ripley's past is heartbreaking.

Told in alternating first person pov, both characters easily come to life. Ripley's the man who hides behind his sass, which makes him someone I want to help. And Reed is the man who instantly wants to tame the bitchy Ripley. What follows is a wonderful tale of them getting to know each other as they drop their attitudes.

One thing that I found good, but weird, is how easily Reed takes to calling Ripley "baby boy." They both accept it as appropriate, but as the reader I found it a little quick and awkward.

My favorite scene has to be the goats in pajamas. Omg, you just have to read this. I couldn't stop laughing.

My favorite aspect is actually the meaning of the title, as Ripley needs to discover for himself who he is. When one is raised in a homophobic home, they can never truly find themselves without some major reflection. This story is in fact Ripley finding his true self, instead of just acting the way he felt he had to act. It's a long and worthwhile journey for the young man.

Finding Ripley is an excellent enemies to lovers romance. It's perfect when you're in the mood for a feel-good story. This Jacki James tale of finding a purpose and finding a home won't disappoint. I don't see any indication that this is the start of a series, but I want more, I need more. Of the town, of the guys, and of their friends. So, here's hoping we'll get more.
1,199 reviews8 followers
February 4, 2020
Cowboys & horses & goats in pajamas? Uh, yeah...

This is a wonderful, feel- good book. I became involved in the character's lives from the first pages. The world is alive & vibrant, filled with people you want to care about. There is snark & sass, assumptions, hunky cowboys, great friends, a hot pink Jeep, and goats in pajamas. How can you not love it!
Ripley fled to Dallas after his father threw him out - for coming out. Now he is back on the ranch fulfilling the terms of his father's will; to stay there for a year. He never counted on Reed. Reed is the ranch manager. He wants to make the ranch his, hoping Ripley will sell it to him after his year is up. He is attracted to the snarky, flamboyant Ripley, underestimating him at every turn. But they are made for each other. Reed wants a boy to be his, and Ripley wants a Daddy of his own.
Reed and Ripley get a lot of help on their road to HEA. Old and new friends, horses, internet videos, and goats in pajamas. Yes, in pajamas. Oh, and a hot pink Jeep. Both men will learn not to assume. You will be drawn in to their Daddy/ boy dynamic. You will love this book.
This book contains adult themes and language, mm sex and is intended for mature readers only.
Profile Image for Devoted❤️Reader.
1,615 reviews31 followers
December 26, 2019
Finding home & pajama parties

Ripley is sassy, flamboyantly practical, and determined. I adore him and Jinji. They’re both so cute. Reed, well, I’m pretty sure he’s the reason people “save a horse.” He’s sexy, commanding and forceful. He and Ripley are like oil and water when they first meet and I love that dynamic. It always makes for delicious tension and explosive chemistry. Ripley and Reed don’t disappoint as they are on fire.

“One thing you can count on, I’ll always give you what you need.” Ripley wants someone who makes him feel safe and loved; whereas, Reed has been looking for a boy he can care for and take care of. These two gave me all the feels. Ripley’s story, especially broke my heart. Luckily, he and Reed pieced it back together with their goats, tenderness and amazing, intense connection. Also, Reed gives the very best gifts. They made me laugh, made me sigh, and made me fall in love. Jacki James writes the most magical towns and River Gorge is no exception. I can’t wait to return.
Author 2 books1 follower
January 12, 2020
A sweet boy who doesn't really know where he belongs. According to his father he didn't belong at the ranch where he grew up. Kicked out, he went and tried to make a life in the big city. He is flamboyant, likes to have his nails painted but has only one true friend who he cares about. Then one day a letter arrives dictating that if he wants to inherit his part of his dead father's will, he needs to live on the ranch he was kicked out years before for one whole year. He is hesitant to go, still thinking the little town he grew up in is still much the same and not very gay friendly. But if he wants to live on the way he does he needs to honor his fathers will. So off he goes in his new pink Jeep. Because there is one thing he doesn't want to do, and that is hiding his true self. Little does he know, that maybe his return will make him see what he truly wants and where he belongs. It is a sweet short story where a boy finds his daddy and the daddy finaly finds what he was looking for all the time but never thought he would find at a ranch in cowboy land.
288 reviews1 follower
Read
March 31, 2021
Ripley and Reed find what they need in each other

4.5☆
Ripley and Reed have preconceived opinions about each other but they soon realize they were wrong, which allows their attraction and connection to become deeper. Ripley is a little lost and a lot sassy, Reed is a hard working man with plans and a dominant, nurturing nature, and when they collide, their passions ignite, they feel complete, fulfilling each others needs as a Daddy and his baby boy, love is inevitable, and their HEA is very satisfying.
Other than some minor proofreading issues, this story is well written and draws you in, you feel right along with them and become invested in their outcome. Ripley and Reed are really likeable characters but there are a bunch of others that enhance the story and help carry it along.
I would definitely recommend this book.
Profile Image for Joyffree.
3,409 reviews62 followers
December 25, 2019
Is there anything sexier than a daddy cowboy

Ripley had me in stitches he also had my heart ❤ squeezing out a couple of tears here and there.

Reed well I'm not sure what to say about that cowboy
Perfect gentleman
Perfect Foreman
Perfect daddy

Ripley had thought he left his past behind him - He had recreated himself - He was living the life - He was empty

Reed thought the ranch would be his - He was prepared to turn it into his dream - He was wrong

These two - Reed was just so smooth(?) the way he handled the evolution of their relationship ... sigh
Ripley - I loved his quirky little heart!

If you are looking for a sweet romance with a slightly rambunctious boy - a little angst and a loving daddy
This is where you want to be
492 reviews3 followers
May 30, 2020
Salted Caramel

Sweet and just a little salty. Relatively low angst and a sweet romance to balance it. The 2 MCs clashed at first but it didn't take long for them both to realize that they were judging the other based on assumptions. From there the sparks flew in the right direction, and rather quickly, but not TOO quickly for me. The Daddy/boy angle was very light, but have their relationship a spicy edge. I really enjoyed all of the characters introduced in this book and really hope that maybe this is the start of a series of some kind. Personally I would LOVE that. More frankie! More landon! Way more cap and miller and cruz! And... well more of all of them. Amazingly enjoyable!
98 reviews
March 29, 2024
Not For Me.

I have read this book via Kindle Unlimited and this is my honest opinion.
The two main characters:
Ripley - an egotistical camp twink that has no interest in anim
al care. He buys goats just to dress up and put on social media.
Reed - an arrogant and conceited guy who is into Daddy/boy type relationships.
If you can think of any negative gay stereotypes, this author has used it in this story.
As it progresses, the more Ripley's personality grated on my nerves.
The whole premise of this novel has been done before and in a better way.
The plot and subplots were very tedious and dragged out. All the characters personalities felt so cliched.
I certainly won't be following the series.
Profile Image for M..
476 reviews2 followers
January 13, 2020
Such a sweet Daddy/boy story. At first I was worried about getting annoyed with the sassiness of Ripley but it doesn’t take long till it grows on you. Reed seemed broody at the beginning but when he slips into his Daddy role he’s absolutely amazing.

I enjoyed the secondary characters just as much as the main characters. I’m hoping to get Landon’s story in the future.
Profile Image for Jangler.
1,006 reviews7 followers
June 10, 2021
Not for me

I skimmed through this book because the story was just so predictable plus it was really poorly written. Not for me at all.
Profile Image for Sam&Dean.
966 reviews20 followers
April 21, 2023
First time trying this author, and I thought Finding Ripley was as adorable as little goats in pajamas. 🌈❤️

Reed was super sweet with Ripley and was patient while waiting for Ripley to let his guard down and decide his future. Several of the upcoming books in this series include side characters from this first story. I’m still a undecided about adding this author to my favorites/ TBR list, so I plan to grab the the next book in this series and see how it is.

I liked that the story was short enough to finish in a few hours, I couldn’t put it down and stayed up late to finish. I also loved that it was mostly drama-free. Once Ripley and Reed got together, that was it, they stuck with each other😍

Ripley had a tough past, hiding who he was while growing up in a narrow minded farm town and then getting kicked out by his father when he (accidentally) came out. This made him very guarded and defensive. Although I sympathize with his feelings of not being enough, not being accepted or loved, I did find his behavior a bit annoying at times. When he first set eyes on Reed, he immediately ASSUMED Reed was a stereotypical homophobic rancher, so Ripley was just flat-out RUDE to him. Also, Ripley walked away from his very best and closest friends when was kicked out. He never looked back or tried to reach out to reconnect, he just ASSUMED he wouldn’t be accepted. Even though I understand why he was so defensive, his behavior was immature and annoying.

Personally, I had a hard time feeling their connection and I felt like I never got to know much about the characters. Ripley has not worked in 6 years and was obsessed with making social media videos. He is still figuring out his other interests, which made him a bit flat/ boring character other than his sassiness. I also wish we got a bit more information from Reed on how he was feeling. He did think Ripley needed spanking for most of the book which felt like foreshadowing but it never really happened. The characters called each other ‘daddy’ and ‘baby boy’ but otherwise there wasn’t much other stuff to make this a ‘daddy’ book. I really want a bit more steamy times with the characters connecting too but that’s just me…
Profile Image for Penumbra.
1,198 reviews20 followers
June 6, 2021
Finding Ripley is the first book in the ‘Men of River Gorge’. It stars Ripley Ellis, and rancher Reed Warner. It’s told in first person from both Ripley and Reed’s povs.




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