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The Carsons of Lone Rock #1
Rancher's Forgotten Rival
Will amnesia turn these enemies into lovers? Find out in the first Carsons of Lone Rock novel by New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates.Welcome to Lone Rock, Oregon’s Wild West. Chance Carson is the one man in Lone Rock who gets Juniper Sohappy all riled up. His family is ranching royalty. He’s arrogant, insufferable and obnoxiously charming—she’ll keep her distance, thanks. But when Juniper finds him on her property, injured and without his memory, she saves his life…and sort of lets him believe he’s her ranch hand. Making the entitled rancher work a little is one thing…but actually liking the man is another. Falling for him? No way. And yet the passion between them is as undeniable as it is unexpected. Will it survive the truth?From Harlequin A luxurious world of bold encounters and sizzling chemistry.Love triumphs in this uplifting romance, part of The Carsons of Lone Rock
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2022
83 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Maisey Yates
1,178 books3,015 followersNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
May 16, 2024
A new to me author and just an okay read for me. This wasn't quite what I was hoping for based on the summary and the appealing soft pastels of the large print cover, which is what drew me to pick up this title. The romance was not what I expected as it was neither a western romance nor the gentle build of friendship to love. I also didn't care for the casual writing style. The writing was simple, but sometimes clumsy, and imitated a stream of consciousness flow that I found hard to read and follow at times.
The setting and mood are very contemporary, but I wanted more of the ranching scene and alluring countryside romantic moments. In reality, the occasions are hot and heavy, even slightly raunchy at times. If you like your romance more on the lusty side, you'll have no complaint. My disappointment stems from the mismatch between writing and cover art which lead me to expect a different tone and style, and had I picked up the regular print version I may have had altered expectations.
There were some redemptive moments and the heart of the story was meaningful with a message of being confident in and true to yourself. I also liked how Chance regains his memory, and his look at himself as a person. Juniper shows some character growth as well. Also, this insightful quote stood out for me: "All time does is change wounds. Makes them into something different. It doesn't take them away, or turn you back into the person you were before."
I am considering reading the next in the series because I liked Shelby more than her sister, Juniper, and I am intrigued by the Carson brothers. They could be really interesting characters, bringing trouble in a good or a bad way. I only hope the writing is a bit smoother and that somewhere in the series there's a more gentle and slower romance to appease this sappy romance lover.
The setting and mood are very contemporary, but I wanted more of the ranching scene and alluring countryside romantic moments. In reality, the occasions are hot and heavy, even slightly raunchy at times. If you like your romance more on the lusty side, you'll have no complaint. My disappointment stems from the mismatch between writing and cover art which lead me to expect a different tone and style, and had I picked up the regular print version I may have had altered expectations.
There were some redemptive moments and the heart of the story was meaningful with a message of being confident in and true to yourself. I also liked how Chance regains his memory, and his look at himself as a person. Juniper shows some character growth as well. Also, this insightful quote stood out for me: "All time does is change wounds. Makes them into something different. It doesn't take them away, or turn you back into the person you were before."
I am considering reading the next in the series because I liked Shelby more than her sister, Juniper, and I am intrigued by the Carson brothers. They could be really interesting characters, bringing trouble in a good or a bad way. I only hope the writing is a bit smoother and that somewhere in the series there's a more gentle and slower romance to appease this sappy romance lover.
January 27, 2022
Chance Carson and Juniper Sohappy are born enemies due to a longtime land dispute between their families. The Carson’s are what the Sohappy’s feel are entitled, so-called cowboy royalty, partly because they won Sohappy land in an infamous bet between their grandfathers. The Sohappy’s are still sore about the deal and this animosity spilled over into Chance and Juniper’s relationship.
When Juniper stumbles upon Chance unconscious and injured on her land she immediately goes to his aid, but when Chance wakes up with amnesia Juniper takes the opportunity get him back a bit by telling him he’s her ranch hand.
This setup wouldn’t have worked for me had the deception gone on for a while, but it was short-lived. Also, it gave Chance and Juniper a chance to spend time together not as lifelong enemies, but just as man and woman, getting to know each other without the past spoiling things. Juniper soon realizes that Chance isn’t the entitled, arrogant man she’s thought him to be, and Chance admires Juniper as the strong, passionate woman she is. They’re able to acknowledge the long-time simmering attraction that had been brewing for years. The spark was finally allowed to ignite and flame, and it was hot!
In the aftermath, Chance and Juniper really examine the grudge between their families and realize they don’t have to continue it. They could change and do better. I loved that with a different mindset and determination to mend fences these families could bury a decades long feud and get along.
The gorgeous Oregon countryside is brought to life in vivid detail, and I could totally understand how both Juniper and Chance had such a passion for their land. Oregon is such a beautiful State!
At 224 pages, Rancher’s Forgotten Rival was a fast, fun, sizzling romance, one I breezed through in one day!
A copy was kindly provided by HQN in exchange for an honest review.
When Juniper stumbles upon Chance unconscious and injured on her land she immediately goes to his aid, but when Chance wakes up with amnesia Juniper takes the opportunity get him back a bit by telling him he’s her ranch hand.
This setup wouldn’t have worked for me had the deception gone on for a while, but it was short-lived. Also, it gave Chance and Juniper a chance to spend time together not as lifelong enemies, but just as man and woman, getting to know each other without the past spoiling things. Juniper soon realizes that Chance isn’t the entitled, arrogant man she’s thought him to be, and Chance admires Juniper as the strong, passionate woman she is. They’re able to acknowledge the long-time simmering attraction that had been brewing for years. The spark was finally allowed to ignite and flame, and it was hot!
In the aftermath, Chance and Juniper really examine the grudge between their families and realize they don’t have to continue it. They could change and do better. I loved that with a different mindset and determination to mend fences these families could bury a decades long feud and get along.
The gorgeous Oregon countryside is brought to life in vivid detail, and I could totally understand how both Juniper and Chance had such a passion for their land. Oregon is such a beautiful State!
At 224 pages, Rancher’s Forgotten Rival was a fast, fun, sizzling romance, one I breezed through in one day!
A copy was kindly provided by HQN in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2022
This is a Cowboy Romance, and this is the first book in The Carsons of Lone Rock series. Maisey Yates is one of my favorite Authors, but this book was just for me. The characters just rubbed me wrong, and I did not love any of the characters. I really did not like Juniper's character, and I really hate the she lied to Chance after she found he injured and without his memory. I feel that she handle this situation so wrong, and I think that made me not like the rest of the book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Desire) or author (Maisey Yates) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
January 6, 2022
In typical Maisey fashion, I got sucked in and stayed up way too late because I wanted to see how the story played out, Did I know what was going to happen? Of course I did. But they didn’t stop me from wanting to read it.
Chance and Juniper's families have been feuding for generations about a card game that their great grandfather’s played way back and ended with names called and land being taken. They’ve never known life without hating the other’s family. Until one day, Chance gets injured out in the land and juniper is the one to find him and help him, only to to discover that as a result of hitting his head in the fall, he has no memory of who he is, so she lets him think he’s her ranch hand while he recovers. She loves having him work for her…or does she in fact, just love her sworn enemy?
Lots I’d steam, enemies to lovers trope which is what I’ve come to expect from the author and I will be awaiting the next book in the series.
Thanks to Harlequin Desire and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review
Publication date: January 25, 2022
Chance and Juniper's families have been feuding for generations about a card game that their great grandfather’s played way back and ended with names called and land being taken. They’ve never known life without hating the other’s family. Until one day, Chance gets injured out in the land and juniper is the one to find him and help him, only to to discover that as a result of hitting his head in the fall, he has no memory of who he is, so she lets him think he’s her ranch hand while he recovers. She loves having him work for her…or does she in fact, just love her sworn enemy?
Lots I’d steam, enemies to lovers trope which is what I’ve come to expect from the author and I will be awaiting the next book in the series.
Thanks to Harlequin Desire and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review
Publication date: January 25, 2022
June 6, 2022
Read this review on Got Fiction? Book Blog
I really enjoy Maisey Yates’ small town romances. Her Copper Ridge series is one of my favorites. This book is the start to a new series called the Carsons of Lone Rock, and those Carsons are all going to find love.
This book starts with Chance Carson. He’s out riding his property when his horse is spooked and he’s thrown. He hits his head and that’s where Juniper Sohappy finds Chance. She’s an EMT and she’s in charge of running her family’s land. She’s trying to make it a working ranch again. She wants to make her grandfather proud. But there’s a problem. The Sohappys and the Carsons have had a property dispute for generations. The Sohappys believe that when their ancestor lost his land in a card game to the Carsons ancestor, that the Carson ancestor had cheated.
So finding her enemy knocked out, she can’t help herself but to take him home and hope when he wakes up he’s not mad she brought him to her home. However, once he wakes up, instead of anger, he’s…confused. He can’t remember who he is. So when he guesses he must be one of her ranch hands, Juniper just…doesn’t dissuade him.
This book has an Overboard amnesia vibe which was fun. He works with her on her land and they get to know each other properly, without any of the Carson/Sohappy hostility that typically simmers beneath all of their interactions. No, now there’s something else entirely simmering beneath their words.
Of course Chance remembers who he is after a couple of days and he’s really mad at Juniper. But…he’s also really attracted to her.
This book is a quick read, and has the enemies to lovers trope which I always love. It’s an easy and enjoyable book.
***ARC courtesy of Harlequin via Netgalley
I really enjoy Maisey Yates’ small town romances. Her Copper Ridge series is one of my favorites. This book is the start to a new series called the Carsons of Lone Rock, and those Carsons are all going to find love.
This book starts with Chance Carson. He’s out riding his property when his horse is spooked and he’s thrown. He hits his head and that’s where Juniper Sohappy finds Chance. She’s an EMT and she’s in charge of running her family’s land. She’s trying to make it a working ranch again. She wants to make her grandfather proud. But there’s a problem. The Sohappys and the Carsons have had a property dispute for generations. The Sohappys believe that when their ancestor lost his land in a card game to the Carsons ancestor, that the Carson ancestor had cheated.
So finding her enemy knocked out, she can’t help herself but to take him home and hope when he wakes up he’s not mad she brought him to her home. However, once he wakes up, instead of anger, he’s…confused. He can’t remember who he is. So when he guesses he must be one of her ranch hands, Juniper just…doesn’t dissuade him.
This book has an Overboard amnesia vibe which was fun. He works with her on her land and they get to know each other properly, without any of the Carson/Sohappy hostility that typically simmers beneath all of their interactions. No, now there’s something else entirely simmering beneath their words.
Of course Chance remembers who he is after a couple of days and he’s really mad at Juniper. But…he’s also really attracted to her.
This book is a quick read, and has the enemies to lovers trope which I always love. It’s an easy and enjoyable book.
***ARC courtesy of Harlequin via Netgalley
January 29, 2022
A little heart goes a long way and Maisy Yates knows how to deliver. Juniper and Carson are good at creating fireworks, but what happens the angry words stop and the deep emotions kick in? Rancher's Forgotten Rival takes soulful emotion and turns into thoughtful romance.
February 24, 2022
I like Maisey Yates. I love cowboy romances. I do not like when two characters are just so stubborn that they are unlikeable and difficult. I kept listening expecting their attitudes and behaviors to change as their connection grew, but it was a long rough road and led me to skim the last half of the book.
December 24, 2021
Rancher's Forgotten Rival is the first book in The Carsons of Lone Rock series. The Carsons are a family of 5 brothers and 1 sister, Callie Carson, who I read about in #13 in The Gold Valley series. The Carson family has been feuding with their neighbours, the Sohappys for generations. There is a swath of land that is in question, but it comes with water rights. Chance Carson and Juniper Sohappy have had an uneasy relationship for years, attraction tempered by the family feud. When Carson goes out to check a fence in a storm, a rattlesnake startles his horse that throws him. He is knocked unconcious and is lying in a field in the rain, when Juniper notices him. She has just returned from her shift on EMS and can't leave him there. She brings him to her small home to watch him and make sure he is okay. When he comes to, he doesn't remember anything. Juniper tells him he works for her and they spend time repairing a barn, splitting wood etc, until, he does remember.
This was a fun book with great characters. I really liked both Chance and Juniper. The amnesia trope is a familiar one, but his amnesia cleared pretty quickly and the rest of the story is the resulting fallout. It is tough when your feelings don't agree with those of other, older members of the family. I like that Chance took the bull by the horns and faced Juniper's family. I know what Juniper did was not right, but when you read about her reasoning, it makes sense. My one issue is that there are a few steamy scenes, which will not be an issue with many. I also would have liked ti to be a bit longer so we got to know more about the characters. Having said that, this was an enjoyable romance, enemies to lovers story, which I recommend to romance lovers who enjoy some steam in their stories. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
This was a fun book with great characters. I really liked both Chance and Juniper. The amnesia trope is a familiar one, but his amnesia cleared pretty quickly and the rest of the story is the resulting fallout. It is tough when your feelings don't agree with those of other, older members of the family. I like that Chance took the bull by the horns and faced Juniper's family. I know what Juniper did was not right, but when you read about her reasoning, it makes sense. My one issue is that there are a few steamy scenes, which will not be an issue with many. I also would have liked ti to be a bit longer so we got to know more about the characters. Having said that, this was an enjoyable romance, enemies to lovers story, which I recommend to romance lovers who enjoy some steam in their stories. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
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January 2, 2022Categories
Small Town & Rural Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Western Romance
Miniseries
The Carsons of Lone Rock
Small Town & Rural Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Western Romance
Miniseries
The Carsons of Lone Rock
December 12, 2021
Great start to a new series. Chance and Juniper are mortal enemies. All due to family way back! When Juniper finds Chance knocked out not knowing who he is, she decides to tell him that he works for her. They spend time working together. But Chance is back to himself and they start arguing and it goes from there. Loved seeing how the "hated" each other. I applaud Chance for getting the ball rolling on the families coming together. A very nice story!
June 19, 2022
Initial thoughts:
This is probably the lowest rated Maisey Yates book that I have ever read. This one was very hard to connect to both the romance and the characters. I didn’t like the romance between Chance and Juniper. I didn’t care for Chance especially once he got his memory back. He was too much of a jerk. He did makeup for in the end, but it took awhile to get there.
Major Plot spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk
Review:
This was a victim of the shorter format. I really didn’t care for the romance between Chance and Juniper. I didn’t like how it played out or developed in the beginning. I wish that they had an interaction in the beginning just to show those antagonistic vibes that would have previewed the sexual heat between them. Then I would have liked to seen him get amnesia to compare the difference of their relationship before and then after and have them develop a relationship as he recovered. Just to take more time for them to get know each other and fall in love before he got his memory back. Then the relationship would have been established more hence making a more intense conflict between them because emotional stakes were involved.
Instead he got his memory back pretty quickly and immediately afterwards they have hate sex. The way it came off wasn’t cute, hot or sexy in my opinion, and that was due to the fact that he learned the truth and was so angry about it and her. He gripe, but he overacted then he immediately resort to blackmail while they were the deed. I just did not like that at all. It came off very sleazy and just felt wrong. It left a bad taste in my mouth.
It did get better by mid book once the emotional stuff got involved with vulnerabilities explored for both Juniper and Chance. Then intimacy finally developed between them. They got closer and closer. Though a lot of it was physical, It did have the emotional and I wanted more of that.
I did like the story with the generations and the families and the whole conflicts with the land. I found that very interesting. I liked the family relationships and how they played. That part of the story I was connected to and really enjoyed.
I think this series has great potential to be with the rest of the Carson Brothers with one of the couples being teased in this book. Hopefully it will just go up from here. I’m really looking forward to Kitt and Shelby’s story as well as Jace and Cara’s. Just this particular one was not my favorite.
This is probably the lowest rated Maisey Yates book that I have ever read. This one was very hard to connect to both the romance and the characters. I didn’t like the romance between Chance and Juniper. I didn’t care for Chance especially once he got his memory back. He was too much of a jerk. He did makeup for in the end, but it took awhile to get there.
Major Plot spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk
Review:
This was a victim of the shorter format. I really didn’t care for the romance between Chance and Juniper. I didn’t like how it played out or developed in the beginning. I wish that they had an interaction in the beginning just to show those antagonistic vibes that would have previewed the sexual heat between them. Then I would have liked to seen him get amnesia to compare the difference of their relationship before and then after and have them develop a relationship as he recovered. Just to take more time for them to get know each other and fall in love before he got his memory back. Then the relationship would have been established more hence making a more intense conflict between them because emotional stakes were involved.
Instead he got his memory back pretty quickly and immediately afterwards they have hate sex. The way it came off wasn’t cute, hot or sexy in my opinion, and that was due to the fact that he learned the truth and was so angry about it and her. He gripe, but he overacted then he immediately resort to blackmail while they were the deed. I just did not like that at all. It came off very sleazy and just felt wrong. It left a bad taste in my mouth.
It did get better by mid book once the emotional stuff got involved with vulnerabilities explored for both Juniper and Chance. Then intimacy finally developed between them. They got closer and closer. Though a lot of it was physical, It did have the emotional and I wanted more of that.
I did like the story with the generations and the families and the whole conflicts with the land. I found that very interesting. I liked the family relationships and how they played. That part of the story I was connected to and really enjoyed.
I think this series has great potential to be with the rest of the Carson Brothers with one of the couples being teased in this book. Hopefully it will just go up from here. I’m really looking forward to Kitt and Shelby’s story as well as Jace and Cara’s. Just this particular one was not my favorite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2022
Rancher's Forgotten Rival is the first book in Maisey Yates' new series, The Carsons of Lone Rock, and it grabbed me from the very first page until the last, when I was crying my eyes out. Ms. Yates packed more drama, angst, self-reflection, self-doubt, and hot, sexy times into a Harlequin Desire novel than any author has in recent memory, and I absolutely loved it--5 stars from this reader.
The indigenous Sohappy family has always loved their land--even before they understood the European concept that land could be owned. They have been feuding with their neighbors, the Carson family, for several generations, after they lost a piece of that land, and the stream within in, when one of their Sohappy ancestors wagered and lost it in a drunken poker game. The rest of the Sohappy's believe that the Carson ancestor who won that poker hand cheated, and generations later the two neighboring families have become enemies.
One day while Chance Carson was out riding the fence line, his horse was spooked, he was thrown off, hit his head and was found unconscious in the rain, by his neighbor, Juniper Sohappy, who works as an EMT. She manages to get him to her small cabin to keep an eye on him because it's clear to her he has a concussion, but when he finally regains consciousness he has total amnesia. As an EMT, who once had dreams of being a doctor, Juniper knows enough not to fill in the blanks for him--hopefully his memory will return in time, and so she tells him that he works for her, and slowly gets to know the man she's been attracted to for years even though he's been her enemy. Additionally, there's the one person Juniper loves, honors and respects, her beloved grandfather, to whom she owes her stewardship of the ranch, and who, she believes, would be livid over her attraction to anyone named Carson.
As an avid romance reader and fan of contemporary western romances, I love a good enemies-to-lovers novel, and I found this one to be exceptional, for its depth of family history, depth of the characters involved, and depth of emotion. When Chance eventually regains his memory and realizes that Juniper has lied to him, there's enough emotional angst, denial, and pain for several novels, and the path to their HEA ending is fraught with tension, regrets and remorse, all of it so well-written and so heart-wrenching.
There are lots of Carson brothers who will, I assume, be featured in later novels in this series, and quite frankly, I cannot wait to read them. Kudos to Maisey Yates for this un-put-downable novel.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.
The indigenous Sohappy family has always loved their land--even before they understood the European concept that land could be owned. They have been feuding with their neighbors, the Carson family, for several generations, after they lost a piece of that land, and the stream within in, when one of their Sohappy ancestors wagered and lost it in a drunken poker game. The rest of the Sohappy's believe that the Carson ancestor who won that poker hand cheated, and generations later the two neighboring families have become enemies.
One day while Chance Carson was out riding the fence line, his horse was spooked, he was thrown off, hit his head and was found unconscious in the rain, by his neighbor, Juniper Sohappy, who works as an EMT. She manages to get him to her small cabin to keep an eye on him because it's clear to her he has a concussion, but when he finally regains consciousness he has total amnesia. As an EMT, who once had dreams of being a doctor, Juniper knows enough not to fill in the blanks for him--hopefully his memory will return in time, and so she tells him that he works for her, and slowly gets to know the man she's been attracted to for years even though he's been her enemy. Additionally, there's the one person Juniper loves, honors and respects, her beloved grandfather, to whom she owes her stewardship of the ranch, and who, she believes, would be livid over her attraction to anyone named Carson.
As an avid romance reader and fan of contemporary western romances, I love a good enemies-to-lovers novel, and I found this one to be exceptional, for its depth of family history, depth of the characters involved, and depth of emotion. When Chance eventually regains his memory and realizes that Juniper has lied to him, there's enough emotional angst, denial, and pain for several novels, and the path to their HEA ending is fraught with tension, regrets and remorse, all of it so well-written and so heart-wrenching.
There are lots of Carson brothers who will, I assume, be featured in later novels in this series, and quite frankly, I cannot wait to read them. Kudos to Maisey Yates for this un-put-downable novel.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.
January 22, 2022
I loved this amazing romance!
It's been a long time since I've read an enemies-to-lovers story as hot as this one! Whew! Chance and Juniper lit up this story with their passionate encounters, while underneath all the steam they were both decent, family-focused people who had to prioritize their complicated family history with the current state of affairs.
EMT Juniper happens upon an unconscious Chance, and as he comes to she realizes that he doesn't recognize her nor remember his own name. Her motivations for letting him gradually regain his memory without telling him everything she knows about him were a complicated mess of self-serving revenge and benevolent compassion for his recovery. But when he finally remembers, that's when the story really takes off!
I loved how the amnesia story wasn't dragged out beyond its usefulness, and how it was used to get them to see a different side of each other. From there, they both had some hard truths to face and I really admired how Chance rose to the challenge and confronted the issues lying between them. A girl really can't help falling in love with a guy who takes such an amazing approach to solving the generational conflict they'd both been raised in.
As the first of a new series, we're introduced to (almost) the entire Carson family, with their own history of triumphs and tragedies. I've always loved every book I've read by this author, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she has in mind for this family. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
It's been a long time since I've read an enemies-to-lovers story as hot as this one! Whew! Chance and Juniper lit up this story with their passionate encounters, while underneath all the steam they were both decent, family-focused people who had to prioritize their complicated family history with the current state of affairs.
EMT Juniper happens upon an unconscious Chance, and as he comes to she realizes that he doesn't recognize her nor remember his own name. Her motivations for letting him gradually regain his memory without telling him everything she knows about him were a complicated mess of self-serving revenge and benevolent compassion for his recovery. But when he finally remembers, that's when the story really takes off!
I loved how the amnesia story wasn't dragged out beyond its usefulness, and how it was used to get them to see a different side of each other. From there, they both had some hard truths to face and I really admired how Chance rose to the challenge and confronted the issues lying between them. A girl really can't help falling in love with a guy who takes such an amazing approach to solving the generational conflict they'd both been raised in.
As the first of a new series, we're introduced to (almost) the entire Carson family, with their own history of triumphs and tragedies. I've always loved every book I've read by this author, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she has in mind for this family. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
January 28, 2022
Juniper is trying to balance her career as an EMT and managing the family’s ranch. Her family has been involved in a bitter dispute with their neighbors due to water rights that they claim were taken by less than honorable methods. When she comes across an injured man, she realizes it is her nemesis Chase and since she realizes he has amnesia she decides to nurse him back to health without anyone knowing.
Chase has been told by Juniper that she works for him, so he has been helping her out while he heals. When he regains his memory, he decides that turnabout is fair play but as they spend time together the sparks fly but can they find a way to bridge the distance between the two families?
Chase and Juniper take us on a heartwarming journey as Chase’s amnesia allowed them to get to know each other without the turmoil of their past history and realize that they make much better lovers than enemies.
Chase has been told by Juniper that she works for him, so he has been helping her out while he heals. When he regains his memory, he decides that turnabout is fair play but as they spend time together the sparks fly but can they find a way to bridge the distance between the two families?
Chase and Juniper take us on a heartwarming journey as Chase’s amnesia allowed them to get to know each other without the turmoil of their past history and realize that they make much better lovers than enemies.
February 26, 2023
~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~
Rancher's Forgotten Rival is a great beginning to a new series for Maisey Yates. The premise of this book is interesting and unique- though I don't know how believable. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the characters and storyline. This is the story of Chance and Juniper- two young adults who grew up amid a feud between the two ranching families (the Carsons and Sohappys) that goes back generations... Issues they face when fate throws Chance and Juniper together and forces them to sort out. This is a story of forgiveness, love, family, and romance. I look forward to reading rest if the series once they're available in the future.
Rancher's Forgotten Rival is a great beginning to a new series for Maisey Yates. The premise of this book is interesting and unique- though I don't know how believable. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the characters and storyline. This is the story of Chance and Juniper- two young adults who grew up amid a feud between the two ranching families (the Carsons and Sohappys) that goes back generations... Issues they face when fate throws Chance and Juniper together and forces them to sort out. This is a story of forgiveness, love, family, and romance. I look forward to reading rest if the series once they're available in the future.
November 12, 2021
I enjoyed this story in the most part but for some reason, I could not connect with heroine - at all. She made decisions that were more self serving and cruel and perhaps that is what ruined it a bit for me.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book by the publisher/author in order to provide an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!
I was provided an advanced copy of this book by the publisher/author in order to provide an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!
January 6, 2022
Shallow writing hiding behind humor and sex
I would like to thank Maisey Yates, Harlequin, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. And thank you to Lisa Wray for inviting me on the blog tour.
Possible spoilers
I feel like I see Maisey Yates’s books everywhere, and I’ve been meaning to check her out for a couple years now. I finally did so thanks to Harlequin’s blog tours, and I can see why she’s as popular as she is. I also finally understand how she’s as prolific as she is.
FYI, while this book may be marketed as the first in a new series, it’s actually kind of a Gold Valley spin-off; if you follow Yates’s work, you met Callie Carson, the sister to this book’s hero, in Rodeo Christmas at Evergreen Ranch. Now this series will visit each of Callie’s brothers.
At first I thought this book was great with just a couple minor flaws. It was SO funny, quick and quippy and charming. But as I wrote this review and thought about those flaws, I became more and more disenchanted.
Let me quick touch on the foremost characters. I wasn’t super fond of Chance, but he was a decently written hero. I adored Juniper, so full of humanizing faults and insecurities but not truly an asshole. Chance was barely likeable to me, too arrogant, even toward the end, but I loved Juniper. I also loved her sister Shelby.
Okay, getting into the flaws. First, a pretty minor one: I found the tone a bit jarring. Generally it had a light, fun tone, not a whole lot of street talk like swearing or crudeness, not dark or too serious. Lots of euphemisms and jokes. I was expecting relatively chaste sex scenes, more focus on the emotions than the physicality. But nope, the sex scenes were raunchy and explicit. No where near erotica level, but definitely more graphic than I was expecting. Not a matter of prudishness, those scenes just felt like a departure in tone compared to the rest of the novel.
Second, Yates’s writing style was a mixed bag. I appreciated that it was, again, quick and quippy and charming, fun and full of energy, but it was also full of fragmented sentences that made the narrative feel choppy and even hard to follow at times. The material also contained a concerning amount of ambiguous pronouns. Additionally, Yates relies heavily on dialogue with very little exposition; this helps the pace stay fast and light, but it runs the risk of feeling rushed, or the story shallow. At times I only had vague mental pictures of setting or what was happening in the scene, because all there was to go off of was a few movements and dialogue. I’m seeing how Yates manages to be so prolific—short, shallow stories are quick and easy to produce.
Third, there seemed to be some messed up timing at one point a little past halfway. Juniper comes home after work with burgers for supper, agrees to meet Chance at Evergreen the next morning, then it jumps to Chance going home to change clothes—unclear where he spent the night—and meeting his brothers having lunch at Evergreen, shortly after which Juniper arrives. One assumes it’s the next day, but it’s actually written as if it’s all the same day. Makes no sense. Hopefully that got fixed in the final copy.
Lastly, and what bothers me the most, Yates didn’t bother to complete the plot. Chance and Juniper get together, sure, lovey dovey smoochie smoochie, but Yates totally ditched her own premise. The entire story is built upon the night Chance’s great-great-grandfather cheated Juniper’s great-great-grandfather at cards—maybe?—and stole Sohappy land. Again and again Chance said he was going to look into the family history and find out what really happened that night, try to find evidence or proof, but he never did. Instead, he hosted a barbecue. He played politician instead of detective (another reason I didn’t warm to him much), and I was SOOOO disappointed. Yeah, it’s great that he convinced everyone to grow up and get along, but how boring is that? We never did find out what the truth was, everyone in both families just more or less very easily agreed to let the matter go. Again, shallow writing.
So yeah, I’m not as impressed with Yates as I thought at first. Ostensibly the book was fun and fresh and entertaining, but now after I’ve thought about it, all I see is a contract-filler written with little effort. Ugh. I’m curious to check out some of Yates’s other work to see if all her books are like this, or if I’m just getting a bad first impression.
I would like to thank Maisey Yates, Harlequin, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. And thank you to Lisa Wray for inviting me on the blog tour.
Possible spoilers
I feel like I see Maisey Yates’s books everywhere, and I’ve been meaning to check her out for a couple years now. I finally did so thanks to Harlequin’s blog tours, and I can see why she’s as popular as she is. I also finally understand how she’s as prolific as she is.
FYI, while this book may be marketed as the first in a new series, it’s actually kind of a Gold Valley spin-off; if you follow Yates’s work, you met Callie Carson, the sister to this book’s hero, in Rodeo Christmas at Evergreen Ranch. Now this series will visit each of Callie’s brothers.
At first I thought this book was great with just a couple minor flaws. It was SO funny, quick and quippy and charming. But as I wrote this review and thought about those flaws, I became more and more disenchanted.
Let me quick touch on the foremost characters. I wasn’t super fond of Chance, but he was a decently written hero. I adored Juniper, so full of humanizing faults and insecurities but not truly an asshole. Chance was barely likeable to me, too arrogant, even toward the end, but I loved Juniper. I also loved her sister Shelby.
Okay, getting into the flaws. First, a pretty minor one: I found the tone a bit jarring. Generally it had a light, fun tone, not a whole lot of street talk like swearing or crudeness, not dark or too serious. Lots of euphemisms and jokes. I was expecting relatively chaste sex scenes, more focus on the emotions than the physicality. But nope, the sex scenes were raunchy and explicit. No where near erotica level, but definitely more graphic than I was expecting. Not a matter of prudishness, those scenes just felt like a departure in tone compared to the rest of the novel.
Second, Yates’s writing style was a mixed bag. I appreciated that it was, again, quick and quippy and charming, fun and full of energy, but it was also full of fragmented sentences that made the narrative feel choppy and even hard to follow at times. The material also contained a concerning amount of ambiguous pronouns. Additionally, Yates relies heavily on dialogue with very little exposition; this helps the pace stay fast and light, but it runs the risk of feeling rushed, or the story shallow. At times I only had vague mental pictures of setting or what was happening in the scene, because all there was to go off of was a few movements and dialogue. I’m seeing how Yates manages to be so prolific—short, shallow stories are quick and easy to produce.
Third, there seemed to be some messed up timing at one point a little past halfway. Juniper comes home after work with burgers for supper, agrees to meet Chance at Evergreen the next morning, then it jumps to Chance going home to change clothes—unclear where he spent the night—and meeting his brothers having lunch at Evergreen, shortly after which Juniper arrives. One assumes it’s the next day, but it’s actually written as if it’s all the same day. Makes no sense. Hopefully that got fixed in the final copy.
Lastly, and what bothers me the most, Yates didn’t bother to complete the plot. Chance and Juniper get together, sure, lovey dovey smoochie smoochie, but Yates totally ditched her own premise. The entire story is built upon the night Chance’s great-great-grandfather cheated Juniper’s great-great-grandfather at cards—maybe?—and stole Sohappy land. Again and again Chance said he was going to look into the family history and find out what really happened that night, try to find evidence or proof, but he never did. Instead, he hosted a barbecue. He played politician instead of detective (another reason I didn’t warm to him much), and I was SOOOO disappointed. Yeah, it’s great that he convinced everyone to grow up and get along, but how boring is that? We never did find out what the truth was, everyone in both families just more or less very easily agreed to let the matter go. Again, shallow writing.
So yeah, I’m not as impressed with Yates as I thought at first. Ostensibly the book was fun and fresh and entertaining, but now after I’ve thought about it, all I see is a contract-filler written with little effort. Ugh. I’m curious to check out some of Yates’s other work to see if all her books are like this, or if I’m just getting a bad first impression.
November 28, 2021
The Rancher's Forgotten Rival is the first book in Maisey Yates's The Carsons of Lone Rock series, and it certainly introduces some terrific characters to fall in love with as the series progresses. As for this one, I admit that I had something in mind when I read the blurb. My first thought was the movie Overboard from the late 80s only with a cowboy and a horse. And I suppose it does have its similarities at first but only on the surface. Things veer in another direction, and these two families have a feud that goes back a couple of generations. Of course, an attraction was bound to happen, and amnesia or not, the close proximity brought out all the sparks between Chance and Juniper. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes, and when the characters are determined to hate each other rather than face their attraction, it certainly generates some fun banter. I liked the back and forth between Juniper and Chance, and their chemistry kept them teetering on that thin line between love and hate until they finally tumbled on over. I'll stop there before I give away too many details and just say that this is a good start to a promising series, and I can't wait to see where it goes from here.
January 29, 2022
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a Harlequin romance and even longer since I read a Harlequin Desire, which is their shorter and sexier category. However, Maisy Yates’ Rancher’s Forgotten Rival was calling to me and I had a reading gap and thought, why not?
In typical Maisy Yates’ style she puts a lot into a couple of hundred pages. While the whole amnesia-thing is kind of cheesy, she turned it on its ear by having the amnesiac’s “enemy” find him and watch over him to make sure he doesn’t have complications from hitting his head. (She’s an EMT so she’s somewhat qualified.)
Juniper the EMT, however, lies to him about their relationship, leading him to believe that he works for her. Frankly, this is kind of inexcusable and irrational for a woman who, for the most part, is rational from then on. But, you know, it’s a short romance and this couple needs to start fresh, discover who they really are without preconceived notions, and fall in love in a short time. (wink, wink.)
Chance (I love that when Juniper tells him that that’s his name, he thinks: no, that’s not a name–haha) recovers his memory quickly and is not too taken with Juniper’s lie, but he seriously can’t deny that there’s something between them, sexual attraction which he is very happy to act on. Now, mind you, this is a Harlequin Desire so you have to expect that there’s going to be quite a bit of steamy sex on hand (and elsewhere 😉 ) and there is.
What I really liked was that that was not all there was as has been my experience with some Desire novels in the past.
Juniper, whose grandmother I presume is of Native American or Mexican roots, has experienced prejudice, classmates who treated her badly because of the color of her skin. Chance realizes that while he never saw it happen didn’t mean that it never did. It opens his eyes to the experiences that Juniper’s had, widens his perspective of her.
Also, Chance and his family have had their own heartache that has affected the way that he perceives relationships. He realizes that this is a personal hurdle that he’ll have to overcome.
And, of course, there’s the feud between the Carson and Sohappy families, the question of whether a card game was won fair and square generations ago, whether the Carson great-great grandfather cheated and stole land from the Sohappys. While that wasn’t completely settled in this book, perhaps it will be in the next.
While a lot of dialogue dominated Rancher’s Forgotten Rival, I don’t think that was particularly a bad thing since the dialogue was well-written and punchy. But it was something I was very aware of as I was reading, but I will say that a lot of romances trend that way.
All in all, a great start to a new series. Yates, as always, tells and writes a good story with interesting fully fleshed characters that I enjoyed reading about.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In typical Maisy Yates’ style she puts a lot into a couple of hundred pages. While the whole amnesia-thing is kind of cheesy, she turned it on its ear by having the amnesiac’s “enemy” find him and watch over him to make sure he doesn’t have complications from hitting his head. (She’s an EMT so she’s somewhat qualified.)
Juniper the EMT, however, lies to him about their relationship, leading him to believe that he works for her. Frankly, this is kind of inexcusable and irrational for a woman who, for the most part, is rational from then on. But, you know, it’s a short romance and this couple needs to start fresh, discover who they really are without preconceived notions, and fall in love in a short time. (wink, wink.)
Chance (I love that when Juniper tells him that that’s his name, he thinks: no, that’s not a name–haha) recovers his memory quickly and is not too taken with Juniper’s lie, but he seriously can’t deny that there’s something between them, sexual attraction which he is very happy to act on. Now, mind you, this is a Harlequin Desire so you have to expect that there’s going to be quite a bit of steamy sex on hand (and elsewhere 😉 ) and there is.
What I really liked was that that was not all there was as has been my experience with some Desire novels in the past.
Juniper, whose grandmother I presume is of Native American or Mexican roots, has experienced prejudice, classmates who treated her badly because of the color of her skin. Chance realizes that while he never saw it happen didn’t mean that it never did. It opens his eyes to the experiences that Juniper’s had, widens his perspective of her.
Also, Chance and his family have had their own heartache that has affected the way that he perceives relationships. He realizes that this is a personal hurdle that he’ll have to overcome.
And, of course, there’s the feud between the Carson and Sohappy families, the question of whether a card game was won fair and square generations ago, whether the Carson great-great grandfather cheated and stole land from the Sohappys. While that wasn’t completely settled in this book, perhaps it will be in the next.
While a lot of dialogue dominated Rancher’s Forgotten Rival, I don’t think that was particularly a bad thing since the dialogue was well-written and punchy. But it was something I was very aware of as I was reading, but I will say that a lot of romances trend that way.
All in all, a great start to a new series. Yates, as always, tells and writes a good story with interesting fully fleshed characters that I enjoyed reading about.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2022
3.5 stars
I’m used to this author’s books being over 350 pages, with her novellas closer to 100 pages. This story was moving super-fast and I realized, although it’s not a novella, it’s not as long as I’m used to with her books. Not that this is a bad thing. I enjoyed that the story didn’t meander about too much. Juniper and Chance may be enemies, but maybe that’s why they get straight to the point with each other.
The premise of this story, Chance losing his memories and Juniper telling him he’s her ranch hand, is so much fun. I was afraid it would turn out being problematic, though. Not so! Maisey Yates does a spectacular job of straddling that line with Juniper trying to do the right thing and kind of falling into this opportunity. Then still, albeit weakly, trying to do the right thing. And seriously, there is a reference to the original Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russel version of Overboard and, for a bit, this book totally has that fun and quirky vibe.
I don’t know if it’s because the story is a bit more condensed, but there were some blatant timeline issues that I’m not used to from this author. While they gave me a blip when they came up, they weren’t really a big deal when it came to the story itself. Just my picky brain noticing and getting stuck. There’s also a bit of telling and not showing once the couple’s relationship picks up. Again, something I’m not used to with her books. It’s not a problem throughout, but does happen for a bit of time in the middle of the story.
Juniper and Chance have chemistry that is so obvious to everyone, even while they were hating on each other. It was the unspoken truth in both sets of siblings that they love to hate each other because they don’t want to admit they actually have sparks when they’re together. Like I mentioned earlier, there’s a bit of telling at one point. But overall, the chemistry is felt.
There is some beautiful heritage stories, especially with Juniper. With Chance being a cishet white male, there is a lot he really has been blind to when it comes to Juniper’s family. For his part, when Juniper starts opening up to Chance he is not only aghast over how she was treated, but also upset with himself for not seeing these things that were going on around him. If nothing else, this book has a very strong message that I wasn’t expecting. It’s done in an organic way so it flows right in with the story seamlessly.
There’s a lot to learn about the Carson family. I have a feeling their series will be a wild and fun ride.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
You can find an excerpt of this book on my blog, All In Good Time.
I’m used to this author’s books being over 350 pages, with her novellas closer to 100 pages. This story was moving super-fast and I realized, although it’s not a novella, it’s not as long as I’m used to with her books. Not that this is a bad thing. I enjoyed that the story didn’t meander about too much. Juniper and Chance may be enemies, but maybe that’s why they get straight to the point with each other.
The premise of this story, Chance losing his memories and Juniper telling him he’s her ranch hand, is so much fun. I was afraid it would turn out being problematic, though. Not so! Maisey Yates does a spectacular job of straddling that line with Juniper trying to do the right thing and kind of falling into this opportunity. Then still, albeit weakly, trying to do the right thing. And seriously, there is a reference to the original Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russel version of Overboard and, for a bit, this book totally has that fun and quirky vibe.
I don’t know if it’s because the story is a bit more condensed, but there were some blatant timeline issues that I’m not used to from this author. While they gave me a blip when they came up, they weren’t really a big deal when it came to the story itself. Just my picky brain noticing and getting stuck. There’s also a bit of telling and not showing once the couple’s relationship picks up. Again, something I’m not used to with her books. It’s not a problem throughout, but does happen for a bit of time in the middle of the story.
Juniper and Chance have chemistry that is so obvious to everyone, even while they were hating on each other. It was the unspoken truth in both sets of siblings that they love to hate each other because they don’t want to admit they actually have sparks when they’re together. Like I mentioned earlier, there’s a bit of telling at one point. But overall, the chemistry is felt.
There is some beautiful heritage stories, especially with Juniper. With Chance being a cishet white male, there is a lot he really has been blind to when it comes to Juniper’s family. For his part, when Juniper starts opening up to Chance he is not only aghast over how she was treated, but also upset with himself for not seeing these things that were going on around him. If nothing else, this book has a very strong message that I wasn’t expecting. It’s done in an organic way so it flows right in with the story seamlessly.
There’s a lot to learn about the Carson family. I have a feeling their series will be a wild and fun ride.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
You can find an excerpt of this book on my blog, All In Good Time.
January 31, 2022
For three generations, the Carson and Sohappy families of Lone Rock, Oregon have been at odds because of a strip of land between their ranches, which was allegedly gambled and lost in a poker game. The feud is still very much alive between Juniper Sohappy and Chance Carson, who have been enemies since they were children. Despite their animosity, when EMT Juniper finds an injured Chance passed out in a field, she takes him to her nearby cabin and diagnoses him with a concussion. She's trying to figure out what to do with him when he wakes up and claims not to recognize her or even remember his own name. Because of the history between their families, Juniper is sure Chance is playing some kind of trick on her, but she decides to play along. She even tests him by pretending that he's a ranch hand who works for her, but he doesn't change his story. He really is suffering from amnesia, so she continues the ruse. Over the next few days, Juniper gets to know a different side of Chance than she's seen before, and it's difficult for her to resist his charm. When he regains his memory, can their new understanding help put the feud between their families to rest, or will Juniper's deception only make things worse?
The setup for this book really intrigued me because of the family feud angle, but unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. I was kind of bored by the first half of the book because it didn't seem like much was happening, and the chemistry between Juniper and Chance was pretty lacking. I would have liked to see a confrontation between them before he lost his memory to get a sense of their usual dynamic, because while he had amnesia, they got along a little too well IMO. The second half of the book was better because Chance had regained his memory and the sparks between him and Juniper really started to fly.
What really bothered me about the book, however, was that it seemed as if Juniper's sister Shelby was slut-shaming her because she'd been with more than one man in her life. On multiple occasions, Shelby made snide comments about Juniper's experience compared to her own, because she had married her high school sweetheart. Just because that was Shelby's experience doesn't make her the morality police, and I really could have done without the commentary.
Overall, I had mixed feelings about "The Rancher's Forgotten Rival" and am undecided on continuing with the series. I do think it will appeal to at least some fans of cowboy romance, however.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
The setup for this book really intrigued me because of the family feud angle, but unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. I was kind of bored by the first half of the book because it didn't seem like much was happening, and the chemistry between Juniper and Chance was pretty lacking. I would have liked to see a confrontation between them before he lost his memory to get a sense of their usual dynamic, because while he had amnesia, they got along a little too well IMO. The second half of the book was better because Chance had regained his memory and the sparks between him and Juniper really started to fly.
What really bothered me about the book, however, was that it seemed as if Juniper's sister Shelby was slut-shaming her because she'd been with more than one man in her life. On multiple occasions, Shelby made snide comments about Juniper's experience compared to her own, because she had married her high school sweetheart. Just because that was Shelby's experience doesn't make her the morality police, and I really could have done without the commentary.
Overall, I had mixed feelings about "The Rancher's Forgotten Rival" and am undecided on continuing with the series. I do think it will appeal to at least some fans of cowboy romance, however.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 2, 2022
4.5 Stars
A sexy, sassy and sparkling cowboy romance you will want to read in a single sitting, Rancher’s Forgotten Rival is the latest must-read by Maisey Yates.
The Carsons and Sohappy clans have loathed each other for generations. After all these years, there is still some bad blood between the two families and Juniper Sohappy only has to look at Chance Carson to find herself getting riled up. Of course, the fact that Chance is the sexiest man that she has ever laid eyes doesn’t help in the slightest. Still, with her beloved grandfather loathing the Carsons with every fiber of his being, Juniper knows that she could never act on her attraction to Chance even if she wanted to – until she finds him on her property injured and having lost his memory!
Chance is completely at her mercy and as a volunteer EMT, Juniper finds herself duty-bound to help him in his hour of need. With Chance thinking that he works for her at the ranch, Juniper finds herself reluctant to disabuse him of this notion – even if keeping him around is making her feel certain things she is reluctant to admit to!
As the two of them find themselves getting closer, giving into temptation proves inevitable and as Juniper begins to fall for Chance, she wonders whether their burgeoning romance could survive the truth and the many obstacles standing in their way.
Maisey Yates is such a talented writer! In Rancher’s Forgotten Rival, she gives a fresh twist to tried and tested tropes and delivers an irresistible enemies to lovers contemporary romance with an amnesiac cowboy who will make you swoon and a resilient and kind-hearted heroine it is impossible not to root for.
A fun contemporary romance that sizzles with heat and humor, Rancher’s Forgotten Rival is another winner by Maisey Yates.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A sexy, sassy and sparkling cowboy romance you will want to read in a single sitting, Rancher’s Forgotten Rival is the latest must-read by Maisey Yates.
The Carsons and Sohappy clans have loathed each other for generations. After all these years, there is still some bad blood between the two families and Juniper Sohappy only has to look at Chance Carson to find herself getting riled up. Of course, the fact that Chance is the sexiest man that she has ever laid eyes doesn’t help in the slightest. Still, with her beloved grandfather loathing the Carsons with every fiber of his being, Juniper knows that she could never act on her attraction to Chance even if she wanted to – until she finds him on her property injured and having lost his memory!
Chance is completely at her mercy and as a volunteer EMT, Juniper finds herself duty-bound to help him in his hour of need. With Chance thinking that he works for her at the ranch, Juniper finds herself reluctant to disabuse him of this notion – even if keeping him around is making her feel certain things she is reluctant to admit to!
As the two of them find themselves getting closer, giving into temptation proves inevitable and as Juniper begins to fall for Chance, she wonders whether their burgeoning romance could survive the truth and the many obstacles standing in their way.
Maisey Yates is such a talented writer! In Rancher’s Forgotten Rival, she gives a fresh twist to tried and tested tropes and delivers an irresistible enemies to lovers contemporary romance with an amnesiac cowboy who will make you swoon and a resilient and kind-hearted heroine it is impossible not to root for.
A fun contemporary romance that sizzles with heat and humor, Rancher’s Forgotten Rival is another winner by Maisey Yates.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 3, 2022
I can always count on Maisey Yates for complex, emotional, and steamy western romance. In this first book of her new series, she brings readers an enemies-to-lovers story complicated by both amnesia and a generations-long feud between families. She sure doesn't make it easy for Juniper and Chance!
I enjoy a story where the main couple has a history of animosity and mistrust. Throw in secret attraction and that makes it even better. I'm not always a huge fan of amnesia but in this book I felt it was a good way to allow Juniper and Chance to see different sides of each other and take tentative steps away from the feud that defines the suspicion between their families. Yates let it go on just long enough to get them over that initial hurdle before giving them the opportunity to start building something in a better direction. I will say that while I appreciated the plot device, I had a real issue with the way Juniper handled Chance's amnesia and the lies she told, especially in light of his medical condition and her job as an EMT. It took me a while to get beyond that.
I enjoyed peeling back the layers of both Chance and Juniper and discovering the events in their lives that had been a driving force in molding the people that are today. The author touches on life-altering issues such as loss, guilt, and prejudice, dealing with the topics with candor and care.
The steam is real in this one, folks but it never feels gratuitous. I enjoyed the progression of that part of their relationship as much as the emotional journey.
This was an enjoyable start to a new series and has me intrigued enough about secondary characters (Chance's brothers and Juniper's sister) to return for the next book in the series.
*ARC received for fair and unbiased review
I enjoy a story where the main couple has a history of animosity and mistrust. Throw in secret attraction and that makes it even better. I'm not always a huge fan of amnesia but in this book I felt it was a good way to allow Juniper and Chance to see different sides of each other and take tentative steps away from the feud that defines the suspicion between their families. Yates let it go on just long enough to get them over that initial hurdle before giving them the opportunity to start building something in a better direction. I will say that while I appreciated the plot device, I had a real issue with the way Juniper handled Chance's amnesia and the lies she told, especially in light of his medical condition and her job as an EMT. It took me a while to get beyond that.
I enjoyed peeling back the layers of both Chance and Juniper and discovering the events in their lives that had been a driving force in molding the people that are today. The author touches on life-altering issues such as loss, guilt, and prejudice, dealing with the topics with candor and care.
The steam is real in this one, folks but it never feels gratuitous. I enjoyed the progression of that part of their relationship as much as the emotional journey.
This was an enjoyable start to a new series and has me intrigued enough about secondary characters (Chance's brothers and Juniper's sister) to return for the next book in the series.
*ARC received for fair and unbiased review
January 24, 2022
The Rancher's Forgotten Rival is the first book in Maisey Yates's The Carsons of Lone Rock series, which introduces some wonderful characters, hopefully to fall in love with as the series progresses. With two families having a feud that goes back a couple of generations, of course, an attraction was bound to happen. When Chance falls off his horse, Juniper finds him knocked out not knowing who he is, as he’s suffering amnesia, she decides to tell him that he works for her. Spending time working together and the close proximity to Juniper brought out all the sparks, igniting a flame of desire between them. Once his amnesia is gone and Chance returns to his true self, he and Juniper begin arguing; reminiscent of the fine line between hate and love. Before Chance and Juniper can have a future together, there must be a truce between the families; one Chance is really to initiate.
As much as I enjoyed this story, I struggled in the beginning to connect with Juniper; feeling that the decisions she made seemed more self-serving and heartless, perpetuating their feud. As the story, and their relationship, progressed, providing background history for Juniper, I understood her and her actions better.
Ms. Yates wrote a wonderful, intense, emotional and steamy story that should not be missed. She provided a tale rich with soul-searching, angst, characters whose personal stories will tug at your heartstrings, sizzling chemistry, and an amazing cast of secondary characters as Chance and Juniper find their happily ever after. I highly recommend The Rancher's Forgotten Rival to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book
As much as I enjoyed this story, I struggled in the beginning to connect with Juniper; feeling that the decisions she made seemed more self-serving and heartless, perpetuating their feud. As the story, and their relationship, progressed, providing background history for Juniper, I understood her and her actions better.
Ms. Yates wrote a wonderful, intense, emotional and steamy story that should not be missed. She provided a tale rich with soul-searching, angst, characters whose personal stories will tug at your heartstrings, sizzling chemistry, and an amazing cast of secondary characters as Chance and Juniper find their happily ever after. I highly recommend The Rancher's Forgotten Rival to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book
August 12, 2023
I first read an ARC of book #3 and enjoyed it enough that I ordered books 1 & 2. I like the characters and the writing style, though I am used to the author's books being much longer.
For several generations there has been a feud between the Sohappy and Carson families of Lone Rock, regarding a strip of land between the two properties, supposedly over a poker game. Growing up, Juniper has had a love/hate relationship with Chance from afar. One night she finds his body lying on the ground on that contested strip of land and as a EMT she bring him home to treat him. She finds he has amnesia and as petty revenge for what he did to her at a high school auction, tells him only his name and that he works for her. She believes it can be dangers to tell an amnesia victim too much information until they remember on their own. The few days that he works for her, they become close, until he remembers who he is. But those few days had showed Juniper that he was a good person and once he members, she agrees to work for him a few days in exchange. He makes an effort to end the animosity, but can't admit that he has fallen for her. All the Carsons brothers were several damaged by the loss of their little sister to cancer when they were young and all seem to have vowed never to have a family, because they could not go through that grief again. This is a recurring theme through at least the first 3 books, probably all of them. Chance has to figure that out by himself before they can get their HEA.
For several generations there has been a feud between the Sohappy and Carson families of Lone Rock, regarding a strip of land between the two properties, supposedly over a poker game. Growing up, Juniper has had a love/hate relationship with Chance from afar. One night she finds his body lying on the ground on that contested strip of land and as a EMT she bring him home to treat him. She finds he has amnesia and as petty revenge for what he did to her at a high school auction, tells him only his name and that he works for her. She believes it can be dangers to tell an amnesia victim too much information until they remember on their own. The few days that he works for her, they become close, until he remembers who he is. But those few days had showed Juniper that he was a good person and once he members, she agrees to work for him a few days in exchange. He makes an effort to end the animosity, but can't admit that he has fallen for her. All the Carsons brothers were several damaged by the loss of their little sister to cancer when they were young and all seem to have vowed never to have a family, because they could not go through that grief again. This is a recurring theme through at least the first 3 books, probably all of them. Chance has to figure that out by himself before they can get their HEA.
December 13, 2021
Overboard x Hatfields and McCoys. This tale is essentially a ranching version of a combination of Overboard (take your pick on the 1980s version or the 2010s version) and the saga of the Hatfields and McCoys. Throw in two people dedicated to their families yet who have always wanted each other despite their families... and you get some pretty intense hate sex and a romance that Shakespeare could never be bothered with. (Yes, some might try to go the Romeo and Juliet route in their comparisons, but those were immature teenagers with a remarkably high body count. Here, our leads are more established - late 20s/ early 30s ish - and more importantly *don't get anyone killed*.) As a series starter, it works in establishing that our male lead has several brothers and our female lead has a sister... who may be interested in one of said brothers. Overall a solid romance that elevates its basic elements into a more mature - and arguably more enjoyable for it - tale where people actually try to do the right thing, even when it may cost them everything. Very much recommended.
February 27, 2022
Chance Carson is as hard head as his rival Juniper Sohappy, the things and lengths these two go too make each other crazy is hilarious. It just takes one moment and things can change.
Chance Carson has been working in cattle his whole life, he is left found wondering if he was missing out on something. The Evergreen Ranch is his family and his lively hood.
Juniper Sohappy is a spitfire with a huge heart. The feud between their family and the Carson’s goes back several generations, and going on in the present day.
Chance and Juniper have heat that is very apparent, but there is more to them than that. Both are driven with personal dilemmas. Can they answer their own real truths so they can move past things that weren’t their doing? I am and was so invested in these characters, I could not help but feel their struggle, to feel the hope they both held.
Author Maisey Yates has done it again. Ranchers Forgotten Rival is the first book in the Carsons of Lone Rock Series. I can’t wait to see what is up next for this series.
Rated 5 Stilettos by Deb!
Chance Carson has been working in cattle his whole life, he is left found wondering if he was missing out on something. The Evergreen Ranch is his family and his lively hood.
Juniper Sohappy is a spitfire with a huge heart. The feud between their family and the Carson’s goes back several generations, and going on in the present day.
Chance and Juniper have heat that is very apparent, but there is more to them than that. Both are driven with personal dilemmas. Can they answer their own real truths so they can move past things that weren’t their doing? I am and was so invested in these characters, I could not help but feel their struggle, to feel the hope they both held.
Author Maisey Yates has done it again. Ranchers Forgotten Rival is the first book in the Carsons of Lone Rock Series. I can’t wait to see what is up next for this series.
Rated 5 Stilettos by Deb!
February 1, 2022
Chance and Juniper's families are rivals over something that happens in the past. Imagine Juniper's surprise when Chance shows up injured and missing his memories. Now she's going to have a little fun with this and got him helping her out as a ranch hand. They never expecting for anything more to come out of this.
This was a pretty good book and a quick read for me. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and what started the feud between families. Growing up with that hate pretty much put Chance and Juniper in a sticky situation of hating eachother but then after somewhat getting to know more about eachother a chance to see if theres anything more there. I mean it'll get more complicated when Chance has his memories back but with that amnesia it gave them a moment to stop and learn more about eachother but once it came back whew was Juniper gonna be in trouble. There was steamy times and overall this book was an enjoyable read.
This was a pretty good book and a quick read for me. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and what started the feud between families. Growing up with that hate pretty much put Chance and Juniper in a sticky situation of hating eachother but then after somewhat getting to know more about eachother a chance to see if theres anything more there. I mean it'll get more complicated when Chance has his memories back but with that amnesia it gave them a moment to stop and learn more about eachother but once it came back whew was Juniper gonna be in trouble. There was steamy times and overall this book was an enjoyable read.
January 16, 2022
I'm so glad I decided to read this first book in a new series despite the reviews. Although I don't agree with how Chance's amnesia was dealt with, it made sense. It was pretty revenge for his actions back in high school. She took great care of him and was honest once his memory returned.
They both realize their attraction to each other was the basis, along with the family fued, for keeping the other at a distance. It was easier to argue than to explain the consequences of their attraction to others. But can they overcome obstacles like the family feud to forget life together? You'll want to read it to find out and it will be worth it!
I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.
They both realize their attraction to each other was the basis, along with the family fued, for keeping the other at a distance. It was easier to argue than to explain the consequences of their attraction to others. But can they overcome obstacles like the family feud to forget life together? You'll want to read it to find out and it will be worth it!
I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.
January 29, 2022
The H and h are neighbors but have been rivals as their families ancestors had a feud. The H ends up with amnesia and h takes advantage and gets him to work on her land as a ranch hand. They kiss and then the next day he gets him memory back and they have angry sex and then he calls for payback and makes her work for him. They are insatiable for each other and he solves the feud and generously agrees to give back the disputed land. With their problem gone, its time to bring their secret relationship open. The h realizes she is in love and proposes but H is still caught up in a childhood tragedy and then later realizes what he has let go and gives a long speech about his love and HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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