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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was an adorable, quick-paced, no angst, spicy but sweet instalove novella. I don’t often love those things on their own but all together it was the perfect combo for this story. Between the adorable cook and his cowboy, the queernorm ranch, and the family that make up the rest of the series, it’s like a warm hug!
funny
lighthearted
Stirring Spurs is such a sweet and spicy cowboy romance. Boone and Wylie balance each other perfectly. Boone is all smiles and sunshine. He is the most caring person. Wylie is more serious and quiet. The moment these two meet you know they are going to form a strong connection.
Thank you to Grey's Promotions and the author for an eArc of this title.
Thank you to Grey's Promotions and the author for an eArc of this title.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Very sweet story, quick & cute. I actually really liked it
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“Ah, we don’t fix anyone. Nobody’s broken.”
This quote, from Chapter 2, is the moment I knew this book was going to be everything I wanted. And it was.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5 / 5
Y’all. Y’ALL. This was the sweetest, schmoopiest, most adorably wonderful read. Boone and Wylie are national treasures and must be protected at all costs. It’s so easy to root for them. So easy to believe in their love story from beginning to end.
The pace and setting–slice of life on a queer-affirming working ranch–are nothing short of delightful. I loved so many of the heartfelt little moments between the side characters and our leads. We learn so much about Boone and Wylie from them, but we learn even more (particularly about Boone) of their depth from the rest of this beautiful found family. The lack of angst or drama around queerness was so welcome, too.
As the cook and (barely) second eldest sibling, Boone takes such thoughtful care of everyone on the ranch. He’s truly sunshine personified in just about every way. And Wylie may seem a grump in the first couple chapters, but that melts away SO fast. He’s less grumpy and more stoic and emotionally blocked. And watching Boone gently clear that blockage and wrap Wylie in the love, support, and unassuming care he deserves? Ugh, the feels!
And, of course, the spice is spicing. Once these two come together it’s pure fire everywhere it counts.
As a lifetime equestrian, there were certainly things to nitpick, but did I care? NOT AT ALL. I can ignore the stumbles for something so feel-good and unputdownable.
Especially now, I take great pleasure in reads that feel like a warm hug. This is one of them. Somehow, the Rainbow Ranch crew reach through the pages to tell their readers, “You matter. You’re valid. You’re seen, loved, and celebrated.” I wish the whole series was out so we could rush right from Pride into the kind of affirmation everyone in the queer community deserves.
Highly recommended for fans of K. M. Neuhold, Saxon James, Onley James, and similar low angst MM authors. I’m so ready for the next one in the series (and I’m also diving into Wardell’s backlist with gusto!).
📚Fast facts📚
✨ Stoic cowboy x sunshiney ranch cook
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Instant attraction
✨ Cake. Just…cake.
✨ Found family
✨ Healing from loss
✨ Animals in starring (and snarky side character) roles
✨ Consent. As. Foreplay. *swoon*
✨ No / low angst
✨ Open door
✨ Contemporary MM novella
✨ First standalone in a shared universe series
✨ First person, dual POV, present tense
I am so grateful to the author and Grey’s Promotions to have received an advanced copy of this story! This is my honest and unbiased review.
An over all sweet romance with a grumpy cowboy drifter and the sunshine cook!!
This was such a feel good read filled with the best green flags! Something good that breaks up all the dark romances I read.
Boone is one of the brother of the amazing Rainbow Ranch and also they cook, he fills hearts and stomachs with his smiles and food! Wylie is the drifting cowboy that is there to help tame Noodles. These two were so adorable with each other between Wylies stuttering and shy behavior to Boones bold moves!
Such a beautiful couple with dirty dirty mouths! It was a great surprise!
Can’t wait to read more about this also Ranch and the amazing people that run it!
This was such a feel good read filled with the best green flags! Something good that breaks up all the dark romances I read.
Boone is one of the brother of the amazing Rainbow Ranch and also they cook, he fills hearts and stomachs with his smiles and food! Wylie is the drifting cowboy that is there to help tame Noodles. These two were so adorable with each other between Wylies stuttering and shy behavior to Boones bold moves!
Such a beautiful couple with dirty dirty mouths! It was a great surprise!
Can’t wait to read more about this also Ranch and the amazing people that run it!
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rainbow Ranch is the place to be. Everyone is welcome you’ll never be judged. Boone Adam’s this the mother hen of this ranch. Always taking care of everyone. From looking out and cooking for them. They welcome a new cowboy Wylie Anderson’s. Was never open about himself growing up in a small town. Now he’s step foot in Rainbow Ranch things change for the better. The moment they saw each they just knew. That this is it for them. What I like the most about them is how open and honest they are. Also they why they make each laugh. How they care for each in a short amount of time. That Wylie found place to belong. Like how he and Noodles work together. By opening themselves up to each. How he there to take care of Boone. Then there’s Boone he able to be token care for once. I love how he cares for everyone. That he was able to find someone that wants him for himself. The whole family just astonishing. From the why they take care of each other. To how open they are about everything. Not afraid to show affection. I can’t wait to read about Beau next.
What a nice, fluffy, slice of life-esque novella. Boone is the cook at Rainbow Ranch, an inclusive establishment where all are welcome. Wylie is the new hand come to help with their horses. Sunshiney Boone gives his all to take care of his family and the workers on the ranch, and rarely gives time to himself. Reserved Wylie is a tumbleweed moving from place to place, never settling down for too long. Both are attracted to each other, and although it takes them a little while to allow themselves to acknowledge that, the romance eventually blooms.
This book made me hungry. Boone had me making grocery lists. But really, he’s cooking, feeding or preparing some sort of meal for people for the entirety of the book. I wish I could say I loved it… but I kind of got tired of reading about food at one point. 😬 I wish this was balanced more with the cowboy, ranch life narrative given by Wylie.
Overall I did enjoy this, and it definitely has me interested in reading about the rest of the characters. Different authors are picking up from here on, so I’m curious about where they will take the story from here.
📖 Stirring Spurs, the first of four novellas in the Rainbow Ranch series, is available July 1st.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
perhaps the pacing of this would have felt better if i hadn’t read it on one sitting but i refuse to take accountablity for my role in that