ARC REVIEW!!!
3.75⭐️

I really enjoyed the city boy/cowgirl trope a lot I feel like I always am reading the opposite so it was nice to read it and I feel it was written well. I loved the banter between the two main characters and I especially loved how grumpy Sawyer was grumpy fmcs make me the happiest!! There were a few cringey moments and Wes wanting the approval of his parents for so long and putting aside his own happiness for that long wasn’t my favorite but I’m glad it wasn’t a huge main focus of the whole book. Overall it was really cute and a fun cowboy read!! Pops was also the best character I loved him so so much!!

I don’t usually sign up for cowboy romance ARC‘s, because I spent some time on farms and in stables as a little girl, they can feel an authentic in a lot of ways. Some authors just seem to want to take that trope off their list without doing too much research.
I am happy to report- This book is not one of those.
From getting before the sun has even risen, communal ranch cooking, the saddle chafe and to the not going to bed until the sun is set, this book has a good level of realism.
This book is in multiple ways, kind of a second chance romance.
Not just because the MMC seem to have a bit of a crush on the FMC when they were younger, but the MMC really falls back in love with the first place he felt at home as a child.

The idea of home and figuring out what you want (later in life) are two big themes.
Feeling too old to change, like you should just give up and keep going on the path you are already on causes a lot of unhappiness for many people. The MMC feels stuck in his life and it’s just going along with what everybody wants from him because some part of him is petrified he id letting others down. He’s almost closed himself off from everyone; he is unemotional about everything. When he arrives back to the ranch, he’s just simmering in anger and not a little bit of depression. Luckily, he finds the kick in his pants that he needs in the form of a fiery red head.

I loved the switch up of him being the city slicker and her being the one who stayed. Such a minor change to the usual storyline option, but I really liked it!
Wes was great. It was easy to tell he liked being back in Cottonwood Creek, even when he said he didn’t want to be there. He wasn’t happy to be there, sure, but he just didn’t seem happy at all. I like how most of the story fixated on him finding the way back to himself with and through Sawyer a little bit.
Sawyer is one of my new favorite spitfire characters. To have her in a room with some of my other favorites would be amazing! She tells it how it is and kind of has everyone scared of her. Except Wes…. he seems far too into it.
My favorite part of the whole story though is definitely the old folks in town getting involved and gossiping like teens. Because that is 100% the most accurate part of this book and really made it perfect for me!

Wes & Sawyer ❤️
I adored this book. I absolutely love a cowboy romance and this did not disappoint.
The banter between the two main characters had me laughing out loud and I just loved Pops, Wes' grandfather.
It is a slow burn but when the spice hits it HITS.
No third act breakup which I really appreciate in romance books.
All in all this was such a fun, spicy read and if you are considering reading it DO IT, it's 100% worth it.
Thank you to E.A Buckingham-Young and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book.

I devoured this book in one sitting—I simply couldn’t put it down! It’s a fun, spicy, and laugh-out-loud read that follows the fiery dynamic between city boy Wes and no-nonsense country gal Sawyer.

Wes returns to his family’s ranch as an uptight, reluctant outsider, determined to convince his father to sell. Meanwhile, Sawyer wants nothing to do with the man she sees as an arrogant outsider. But when their undeniable attraction reaches a breaking point, we’re taken on a slow-burn romance filled with sizzling chemistry, self-discovery, and the question of what they truly want out of life.

If you love a filthy-mouthed city boy-turned-cowboy and a fierce, redheaded spitfire who tells it like it is, this book is for you!

I requested this book on NetGalley on a whim because I cannot pass up a ranch romance and it did not disappoint! Wes visits his grandfather on his family’s ranch as an attempt to persuade him to sell the farm and move closer to the city due to health reasons. He hasn’t spent time on the ranch in years but finds himself acclimating quickly all while falling for the grumpy girl next door. I didn’t think I’d be down with grump x grumpier, but I was hooked.

Wes may be grumpy but he is such a flirt with a filthy mouth. The banter between these two had me was steamy but also hilarious at some points. The character growth with these two was beautiful. I do think we got to see more of Sawyer’s healing than we did Wes’s. He was so sweet to embrace Sawyer and who she truly is, which is what she needed after her divorce.

“Save a horse, ride Wes Dawson.”

*ARC REVIEW*

First, Thank you so much for choosing me as a ARC reader!
Second, I am OBSESSED with this book! This is my first cowboy romance, and I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved this book!!! Honestly, obsessed might be an understatement!

This SPICE, the characters, and the story! Sooo good! I enjoyed the small town romance, and the humor throughout the book. Sawyer has a red hot temper just like her hair! Knows exactly what she wants, indepedent, saracstic and sweet to the people she loves. Wes is officially my new fictional crush!! Who doesn't love a man in a Stetson? He's stubborn, sensitive AND he's a cowboy?!!! I love the characters that come along too. Pops had my heart since the beginning!!!! He's my favorite character in this book!!! Definitely recommend over and over again!

Thank you to E.A Buckingham-Young and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ .5
Spice: 🌶 🌶 🌶

Quotes:

"I want to get to know this woman with all her fire and warmth and that lively glow that's always on display. She's effervescent and I'm completely enraptured by her, like a moth drawn to a flame. I hope she doesn't light me on fire. Or maybe that's exactly what I want her to do, come to think of it. To feel the heat lick up my skin and set me fully ablaze."

"I love when he looks at me like this. Like I'm the only one he sees in a whole crowd of people. His dark gaze eats me up, and I idly wonder when that look in his eyes changed from wanting to kill me to wanting to devour me."

Short version:

This cowboy romance delivers witty banter, authentic small-town charm, and a compelling push-pull dynamic between Wes and Sawyer as they clash over his grandfather’s ranch. While the characters occasionally feel a bit familiar, their chemistry shines. The well-paced writing and engaging relationships make it a worthwhile read.

Full review below:

Tropes:
- city boy/country girl
- grumpy/grumpy
- slow burn
- chronic illness rep

Plot Summary:

When Wes Dawson’s grandfather suffers a heart attack, Wes’s father insists that he head to Cottonwood Creek to convince his grandfather to sell the ranch. Wes spent every summer in Cottonwood Creek as a kid, but he hasn’t been back since high school.
On his way into town, Wes gets a flat tire and ends up stranded in front of Sawyer’s house. He hasn’t seen Sawyer since their childhood summers spent running wild in the Texas heat. But things have changed. Sawyer’s grown up — she’s gorgeous, sharp-tongued, and more than a little fiery.
Since Wes’s grandfather fell ill, Sawyer has been helping him around the ranch, and she’s fiercely protective of both the land and the man who owns it. As Wes tries to convince Sawyer that selling the ranch is the best thing for his grandfather, Sawyer pushes back, insisting that giving up the farm would break his grandfather’s spirit. With both Wes and Sawyer determined to do what they believe is right, the two find themselves at odds — even as old sparks begin to reignite.

The Good:

The writing itself was excellent — the pacing, flow, and style all made for an enjoyable read. The author has clearly done her research — the setting feels authentic, and the small-town details add depth to the story. I also appreciated the realistic friendships, particularly between Sawyer and Allie. Their bond felt genuine and well-developed.

I’m a big fan of Wes. AN ACTS OF SERVICE MAN THROUGH AND THROUGH. And that will always set my heart into a pitter patter. Not only does he tolerate Sawyer’s snark — he seems to enjoy it. Their banter is top-notch, and Wes consistently gives as good as he gets. There’s something undeniably sexy about a man who’s good with animals, and all his love for Sawyer’s horses and her dog, Dixie, had me falling hard. Plus, he’s got the whole protective thing going on, he never undermines Sawyer’s independence — he trusts her to fight her own battles.

And speaking of Sawyer, I know readers can be harder on grumpy women than grumpy men, but I loved her fiery nature and sharp wit. But I especially love that she loves as much as she fights, and that she’s so good to the people and animals in her life.

The chemistry sizzled between them, and it was the perfect slow burn. And when they finally got together… the spice was good. Truly, no matter how many cowboy romances I read that feature the classic tied-up-in-a-barn scene, I will never, ever, ever get tired of it.

The In-Between:

I think I would have liked a clearer explanation for Wes’ emotional shifts. The progression from gruffness to vulnerability felt a little rushed, and I wanted a more meaningful explanation for it.

The Bad:

I feel like the book almost avoided the unnecessary third-act drama. When Wes messed up, he didn’t let a silly miscommunication ruin things — which I appreciated. But when Sawyer slipped up, suddenly Wes was storming off and refusing to communicate? The sudden shift felt jarring, and I couldn’t help but feel like it contradicted his earlier behavior. It wasn’t enough to ruin the book, but it did leave me feeling a bit frustrated.

Spicy Chapters: 26, 28, 32, 34, 37
Cheating: No
Third-act Breakup: No
HEA: Yes
OWD: Not really