An angsty cowboy romance, this will tug on your heartstrings for sure. I’ve been meaning to check out this new-to-me author, and this series starter felt like the perfect place to begin. It’s definitely got Elsie Silver vibes, complete with an emotionally-tortured hero, a spicy romance, a group of guys who could all use some love in their lives, and a western setting. I loved the strangers to lovers scenario, the fish out of water situation, and the emotional undertones. Our heroine has a heart condition that makes her wary of forming any lasting connections, while our hero has been commitment-phobic since losing his fiancée years ago. Neither of them have been living life to its fullest, but they form a connection that changes the course of both of their lives. There was a lot of good stuff going on and I would definitely check out more from the series, though I do think the actual romance was underdeveloped for a book of this length. I started feeling the page count somewhere along the way, but this was still a solid 4-star read.
The story follows Ruby, a woman who is tired of playing it safe. Heart conditions run in her family, so she knows that her health will start deteriorating at any time. She’s been careful with her health for a long time, but now Ruby wants to experience life and check some items off her bucket list. When Ruby’s travels bring her face-to-face with a grumpy cowboy, she isn’t sure what to think. But there’s definitely chemistry sparking between Ruby and Charlie, so the two agree to have a summer fling. They both have their reasons for avoiding a romantic entanglement at all costs, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have some fun in the meantime. Keeping feelings out of the equation is easier said than done, especially once Ruby begins to feel at home in a way she never expected.
Ruby’s heart condition is front and center throughout the book, and the main source of tension. I liked the concept a lot, and it was easy to understand why she wanted to keep things uncomplicated. I do think there was too much focus on her health though, which detracted from the actual relationship development. These two go from fling to more in the blink of an eye, and I would’ve liked to have seen more of the transition. If I’m reading a book that’s almost 500 pages, I fully expect the relationship to be VERY well developed, and I don’t think that’s the case here. There were also a couple of things that got a side-eye from me (did ** really murder that guy? Would Ruby really have been able to recover from some of those heart situations so quickly?, etc). That’s what loses this points from me – it either needed to be shorter or more time needed to be spent on the actual process of falling, rather than on all of the side stuff. But this works exceedingly well as a series starter, and I’m already excited about some of the other potential couples. It’s a sexy, angsty read that leaves an impression.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/48ziONe
Blurb:
Keeping my heart guarded all my life has never been an issue. Until he saves me in a bar fight.
Charlie Montgomery is one grumpy rancher. Calloused hands, stubborn heart, the definition of a true cowboy.
He dislikes me from the second we meet. Warns me away from his tiny town of Resurrection, Montana. Well, what he doesn’t know is I’m armed with a bucket list and a secret. There’s no way I’m leaving. I’ll just keep my distance.
Only in a small town that distance doesn’t last for long. Because I owe him a favor: Work for him for three months and help him save his home. Runaway Ranch.
But our close confines mean I see what’s under all that strong. I see the real Charlie Montgomery. The man behind the rugged rancher who yells. Beneath his dark beard hides a rare smile. Beneath his mile-wide chest beats a tender heart. One that slowly starts to beat for me.
And instead of running back onto that open road, I run towards Charlie instead.
But a hidden danger is lurking. Someone who doesn’t want Charlie to save his ranch. Someone who is out to get us both. And I could lose more than my heart this summer—I could lose my life…
Amazon: https://amzn.to/48ziONe
About the Author:
Ava Hunter is an Amazon top 50 bestselling author. She writes romance with heart, humor, and heat.
Her bestselling books include Babymoon or Bust, an accidental pregnancy rom-com, and Tame the Heart, a grumpy/sunshine cowboy romance with Yellowstone-vibes.
When she’s not at her computer with a hot cup of coffee, you’ll either find her reading the latest true crime book or traveling with her family. Otherwise, she’ll be behind her desk, plotting out or typing up her next dreamy love story.
Instagram: @authoravahunter
TikTok: @authoravahunter
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