A definite must read cowboy/(ex) hockey player romance from this debut author. The story had it's comedy moments and the two main characters certainly had chemistry. There is a decent amount of spice with our romance.
A small town, so everyone knows your business, brothers best friend, so he's off limits, older MMC, so he should stay away story full of all sorts of romance tropes but they do all come together well. I think there is probably going to be more to this series and with it an evolving and maturing of writing style. Whilst it wasn't bad, there were just small elements that detracted from it being a 5 star

I received this book as an ARC and provide my honest review.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC, unfortunately it wasn’t for me, I liked the leads, and CeCe’s family but, I hoped for more of an emotional connection between the two amongst the spicy banter.

THIS STORY. Oh my god, it has my WHOLE HEART. I am firmly in my cowboy romance era as it is and this has just gone straight to the top of my list. Move out the way Elsie Silver because Paisley Hope is coming in hot!

I find this a difficult book to review as it was not exactly what I was expecting, it had a lot more spice.
The strange characters instead of the letter f detracted from the story, as did the doubling up of certain passages. However, these issues will be corrected on final edit.
The storyline was interesting, I did not mind its predicable course, most romance books have a similar format, I just felt that the spicy scenes went on a little bit too long and often. Although with a character like Nash who can blame CeCe!
The minor characters were a fun distraction; feisty friend Ginger; grumpy brother Wade ( who gets the main role in the next book) and nasty ex Andrew.
A good cowboy, hockey player, small town romance with a spicy coating.

OMG I just finished “Holding the Reins” by Paisley Hope and I am SHOOK! 🤠💘 This book was my intro to cowboy romance and let’s just say, I am now officially a fan for life! Also, my first time reading anything by Paisley, and I’m already lining up her whole back catalogue.

So, let’s dive into the deets! This book has everything: brother’s best friend vibes, small town charm, a little age gap action, ex-hockey player turned part-time cowboy, and the best found family you could ever dream of. We meet CeCe Ashby, who's trying to escape a toxic past and get a fresh start. She heads back to her family's ranch in the quaint town of Laurel Creek.

Enter Nash Carter. Retired hockey superstar, local hero, and all-around hottie. He’s CeCe’s brother’s best friend and totally off-limits...or so they think! The chemistry between these two is 🔥🔥🔥 from the get-go. Nash tries so hard to keep his cool, but when he finally has his "F*ck it" moment, it’s pure perfection.

CeCe and Nash’s journey is filled with so many swoon-worthy and laugh-out-loud moments, like, CeCe’s dad dropping wisdom bombs like, "Just don't settle, baby. Find a man that will move heaven and earth for you. A man that knows your worth. You should be his entire heart, always." Cue the tears! 🥹 And then there's Mama Jo, the ultimate gossip queen, cracking me up with lines like, "Ooh...you look like wine and unwise choices." 😂

And can we talk about CeCe’s bestie, Ginger? She’s hilarious and so obviously into CeCe’s older brother, Cole. Her line, "I ran into Cole today and he didn't scowl at me, AND he said hello. I'm breaking through. One step closer to his handcuffs on my bed posts," had me in stitches. The tension between those two is EVERYTHING. I’m dying for their story in “Chasing the Roots.”

One of my absolute favorite moments? Nash seeing CeCe in his old hoodie. “Damn, she looks like mine.” SWOON. 😍 And don’t even get me started on Nash’s romantic side. “We're not a phase. We're the exact opposite of a phase. We're always... Following you across the country is nothing. I'm going to follow you everywhere you go for the rest of this life. And then, I'm going to follow you into the next.” If that isn’t the dreamiest thing ever, I don’t know what is.

The Not-Angels friend group is goals. These girls are the kind of ride-or-die friends everyone needs.

Guys, I’m already screaming about this book to all my bookish friends. “Holding the Reins” hooks you from page one and makes you desperate to read about every other character in the series. I’ve got an ARC of “Training the Heart” and I’m on the edge of my seat for it. And the slow-burn tension between Cole and Ginger? I need “Chasing the Roots” like, yesterday.

Trust me, you do not want to miss out on this one. Five stars, easily. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Happy reading, everyone! 📚✨

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest opinions.

I’m going to start this by saying, wow. This book had me blushing, my goodness Nash Carter 🥵

Holding the Reins is such a fun, easy and spicy read, it you love a small town, brothers best friend, secret dating romance then I am certain you’ll love this book.

We follow CeCe as she moves back home after 8 years living in the city with her fiancé who she’s just discovered has been cheating on her. She very quickly bumps into Nash, her older brother’s best friend, retired hockey player/now part time cowboy. There is an instant connection and the rest is spicy 🌶️😂

This story had depth, both characters were dealing with grief and it was added to the story in such a beautiful way. I loved the family around them and CeCe’s friends were just the best girls, Ginger is just the best.

Overall this was a dirty, fun and very easy read & I can’t wait to read book two ‘Training the Heart’ asap!

- small town romance
- brothers best friend
- retired hockey star/part time cowboy
- he falls first
- spicy 🌶️
- dual pov

Thank you NetGalley, Cornerstone and Paisley Hope for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏻

Okay, what an addictive book. I read it in less than 24 hours. Keep in mind that it was Saturday-Sunday, the Olympic Games were on and I spent a long time in my bed with the TV on and this book.

I really liked what Paisley Hope wrote, it's the first thing I read about her and clearly I'm interested in continuing reading her BUT (and this is something super personal) there came a time when the spicy scenes didn't interest me anymore, I wanted them to end, no They added nothing to me, they hindered me in the plot. But as I said parenthetically, it's something super personal because many people read these books for those scenes. It was not my case. I think the book could have been much better if in those chapters full of spicy scenes it told me more about the characters, or developed other themes. There were more beautiful, interesting and cool things to read.

I liked the characters, I found the plot super addictive, the author's way of writing is totally absorbing and she has a way of narrating the story that makes you want to know EVERYTHING from the first chapter. The story of our two protagonists is interesting and deep on many levels, and I think I would have liked to read a little more about them. The secondary characters win our hearts!

I saw that it is going to be a series of books and I am looking forward to reading the others. The truth is that I really liked this first experience.

Thank you Random House UK, Cornerstone for the ARC I read on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and had a great time reading it

- brothers best friend
- ex-hockey player turned part time cowboy
- sneaking around
- gosspiy small town setting
- just one nig to get it out our systems

I really enjoyed the story we went on with the two main characters, of them trusting each other despite their fears and falling in love.

I felt like the second half way a lot more spice than plot and I just wished for a little more plot

I really liked all the side characters and can't wait to read their own stories

If you loved the Chestnut Springs series, Rebel Blue Ranch series and the gossipy small towns of Rome (When In Rome series) and Inglewild (Lovelight series) you'll love this book

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin / Cornerstone for the ARC - all opinions are my own

Thanks the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well what can I say about this book, it is a fun and dirty read so be warned the spice level is high! This story is very much a comfort read as does have a predictable plot but it just makes it easy to curl up and devour in a short space of time.

I'm looking forward to seeing what book 2 has in store.

Cece and Nash are couple that makes sense as they bring peace to eachother and comfort.

However the Andrew plot felt a bit rushed and a necessity for the main characters to end up together. The drama wasn't really drama but it was set up to be.

I still enjoyed it and I will read the second one. Recommend if you like a small town romance

I can’t believe this is Paisley Hope’s debut novel I loved every moment of this delicious small town romance and can’t wait to see what Paisley has to offer next with Training The Heart!

As someone who has recently got into small town romances Holding The Reins has cemented itself into one of my favourite reads. Full of sizzling chemistry with some well written spice, banter and my favourite he falls first and hard.

A brothers best friend, friends to lovers between an ex hockey player reformed bad boy turned part time cowboy in Nash Carter and Cece Ashby who finds herself returning home to Laurel Creek after a breakup from her cheating Ex and you have not just sweet romance but a story that has a depth to it within dealing with grief and learning to take take a chance on love when you’ve been through something so traumatic it also delivers on the sizzling chemistry between Cece and Nash who find that a no strings fling turns into something neither were expecting, as well as a wholesome girl friend group in the Not Angels, cute niece and just all the good feelings that comes from reading such feel good small town romance!

ARC 5/5 ⭐️ Just an impeccable brothers best friend cowboy romance 🤠 Such a good time!

The story follows Cece, who returns to her family's ranch after ending a 8 year relationship with her cheating fiancé. And Nash, who recently retired hockey superstar and is CeCe's brother’s best friend...

👉<b>little firefly</b> 👈 🥹🥹🥹

<b>Save a horse</b> - The spice was spicing so well, with such a cute HEA. And I loved Cece's love of Shania, me too, girl, me too.

I loved the whole family, and I can't wait for the rest of the groups story.

Thank you, NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Paisley Hope, for sending this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed Paisley’s writing in this book. The characters were all likeable and the story flowed well. It was quite a fun read but characters still had some emotional backstory’s to make it more deep and meaningful.
Perfect for people who love a spicy cowboy romance. The next books in the series sound good too!

5⭐ 3🌶️

Ex-hockey player x part time cowboy = the perfect man

“If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times. You hold the reins baby, I’m just here for the ride.” - Nash Carter

The story line was amazing and had me absolutely hooked from the get go. It was emotional, filthy, cute, funny and the spice was spicing!! The characters were all so lovable and different in their own ways. Both lead characters had their own lives and problems that they had to work through but 'it's always been you' was just the sweetest thing. This had me swooning, gasping, blushing, jumping up and down, clapping and screaming, it was honestly such an amazing book! 📚

🎬 - found family, best friends little sister, age gap, small town, crawl to me, workplace romance, protective MMC

CeCe Ashby returns to her family’s ranch in Laurel Creek to start fresh after a toxic relationship, unsure of what her future holds. Nash Carter, a retired hockey star and hometown hero, is also her brother's best friend, making him off-limits. When CeCe needs a job, Nash can't resist hiring her. As they navigate their complicated feelings, Nash must confront his past trauma to build a future with CeCe. A perfect book for a lazy afternoon.

Have I ever read a cowboy romance? No.
Did I have any interest in reading a cowboy romance? Also no.
Since reading ‘Holding the Reins’, do I want to go on to read more cowboy romances? Heck yeah I do!

I decided to try something different in the romance genre and since reading this book, I can honestly say that I’ll be looking out for more to add to my library! Although there seemed to be quite a lot of tropes crammed into this story (sports, cowboy, enemies to lovers, possessive MMC, small town, brother’s best friend etc.) Whilst I think it would have been a good enough storyline without all of the tropes, it was still a very easy and enjoyable read. Nash is a great MMC and his chemistry with CeCe is everything that you would expect in a small town romance. Nash has the best dirty mouth that I have read for a while and he isn’t afraid to tell CeCe exactly what he wants from her. There are some parts of the story that I think could have been more developed (for example, when the family inevitably find out about the enemies becoming lovers).
There were some great laugh-out-loud scenes and quips from the characters, and the banter between the MC’s was fun. I can see that other characters in the story could pair up for future books by Paisley and I would definitely be interested in reading them.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House and Paisley Hope for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4 ⭐️
3 🌶️

I enjoyed this book! I found it an entertaining , easy and fast read who’s kept me glued at the pages and made me smile! I love all the characters and their moments of laughter, heartache, hope and love. If you look for a summer read Holding the Reins is the perfect choice!

I really felt a warm and fuzzy feeling reading this book!!
It’s set in the Wild West, namely a little town called Laurel Creek. There are two main protagonists and they are Nash Carter, a retired super league ice hockey player, famous and extremely rich. He grew up in Laurels Creek, and has come home to invest in the town and be close to his “adopted “ family the Ashby’s. They supported him and loved him like a son and still do. He loves to help as much as he can. Then we have Cece Ashby, she’s fled back home after a disastrous breakup, and is still trying to avoid her ex. Although Nash and Cece spent some of their childhood as siblings. the sexual chemistry between them now is undeniable, even though they are fighting it with all they have! They are both strong, driven people who know their own minds, so it makes for a comical narrative sometimes!! The other characters within this story are very developed too and as this is a series, I imagine that these other characters will have their stories told too?!
As the reader, you can’t help but hope these two main characters have a chance to be together! There is also the horse element as the Ashby’s have a ranch and previous derby winners, which makes it all a little more dynamic!
I gave this story five stars.
Many thanks to Random House Uk for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #RandomHouseUk, #AuthorPaisleyHope.

This book wasn’t for me and so it is a DNF at around 23%. I found the language to be quite vulgar (absolutely fine if you enjoy that kind of talk). I can see this would be a good love story but I also don’t think these kind of relationships are (for example Nash kept an eye on her and calls her a handful due to her revealing outfit.
If you like this kind of genre, a very sexual romance then I’m sure you will love it.

This book had a sweet love story & a heartwarming family dynamic but you will need to be prepared for lots of swearing & what some may consider graphic description sex scenes!