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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and this book’s publishers for allowing me an ARC copy!
Aurora, a wellness influencer struggling to find her way after an intense breakup that has shaken her faith, finds her way to Sunset Ranch, left to her by her late aunt. There she meets Wyatt, the sexy head rancher who wants nothing to do with this city girl.
There were several cute moments, one of my favorite being “I can’t keep calling you Princess without actually trying you like one, can I?” That’s the dream right? Not just the sweet words, but the actions to back it up.
I didn’t really enjoy this book. The characters felt a little bit flat to me, neither of them ever really got me invested. Like said, there were several cute moments, but also some things I didn’t really enjoy that brought me out of the story. I did like that we got an epilogue to show us how things are a bit down the road, that was a cute ending!
Aurora, a wellness influencer struggling to find her way after an intense breakup that has shaken her faith, finds her way to Sunset Ranch, left to her by her late aunt. There she meets Wyatt, the sexy head rancher who wants nothing to do with this city girl.
There were several cute moments, one of my favorite being “I can’t keep calling you Princess without actually trying you like one, can I?” That’s the dream right? Not just the sweet words, but the actions to back it up.
I didn’t really enjoy this book. The characters felt a little bit flat to me, neither of them ever really got me invested. Like said, there were several cute moments, but also some things I didn’t really enjoy that brought me out of the story. I did like that we got an epilogue to show us how things are a bit down the road, that was a cute ending!
This was a very sweet book. As an American reader there were a couple words that threw me but not enough to get stuck on them, knowing the author is from Europe. I really hope there is a book 2, there are quite a few characters I'd like to learn more about.
Live, Ranch, Love follows Rory, a city-dwelling wellness influencer who’s at a crossroads. After a painful betrayal by her boyfriend, she inherits her great-aunt’s ranch in rural Colorado—a perfect excuse to leave the chaos behind and find clarity. Her plan is to fix up the ranch, sell it, and then move on. But that becomes a little more complicated when she meets Wyatt, the gruff cowboy who’s been managing the land and who isn’t too thrilled about an outsider showing up and messing with the ranch.
Rory’s journey—both literal and emotional—is relatable. She’s seeking clarity and a sense of self after being knocked down, and the ranch becomes a allegorical symbol of healing and her self-rediscovery. Wyatt, on the other hand, is holding on tightly to a life he doesn’t want to lose. When Rory suggests a plan that might benefit them both, they’re forced into close proximity, and the lines between annoyance and affection start to blur.
While the premise is solid, I found myself wanting more development in their emotional connection. Rory and Wyatt are polar opposites—she’s sunshine and manifestation journals, he’s stoicism and hard-earned grit. Their initial tension seems to be setting up an enemies-to-lovers setup, but that tension fizzles out rather quickly. What could’ve been rich with banter and that delicious hate to love you emotional push-pull turns into attraction without much build-up or progression, which made their dynamic feel a bit underdeveloped. And the chemistry a bit unsubstantive or evovled.
That said, the romance does have some sweet and spicy fun. There’s something undeniably charming about a small-town cowboy romance with a cowboy and a city girl, and the Colorado setting adds a warm, rustic atmosphere- the vibes do some work here. The story is pretty quickly paced. And the third act conflict felt a bit overly dramatic and forced, tonally disconnected from the otherwise light tone of their romance.
But there’s plenty to enjoy here—plenty of charming small-town moments, plenty of heart, and that always delicious grumpy cowboy energy. The characters are likable and the story has just enough steam to keep things interesting.
I listened to this on audio, and this is the kind of book that I think normally I'd enjoy more on audio. I know duet narration is super special/rare, but in this case it might have helped just because of the accents. Our heroine is British, and the female narrator's country boy accent was just...odd. And the male narrator also didn't really nail the British accent. He also didn't really embody the vibe I had for our leading man. Once I let go of that perception, his narration was fine, just now the casting I envisioned.
Rory’s journey—both literal and emotional—is relatable. She’s seeking clarity and a sense of self after being knocked down, and the ranch becomes a allegorical symbol of healing and her self-rediscovery. Wyatt, on the other hand, is holding on tightly to a life he doesn’t want to lose. When Rory suggests a plan that might benefit them both, they’re forced into close proximity, and the lines between annoyance and affection start to blur.
While the premise is solid, I found myself wanting more development in their emotional connection. Rory and Wyatt are polar opposites—she’s sunshine and manifestation journals, he’s stoicism and hard-earned grit. Their initial tension seems to be setting up an enemies-to-lovers setup, but that tension fizzles out rather quickly. What could’ve been rich with banter and that delicious hate to love you emotional push-pull turns into attraction without much build-up or progression, which made their dynamic feel a bit underdeveloped. And the chemistry a bit unsubstantive or evovled.
That said, the romance does have some sweet and spicy fun. There’s something undeniably charming about a small-town cowboy romance with a cowboy and a city girl, and the Colorado setting adds a warm, rustic atmosphere- the vibes do some work here. The story is pretty quickly paced. And the third act conflict felt a bit overly dramatic and forced, tonally disconnected from the otherwise light tone of their romance.
But there’s plenty to enjoy here—plenty of charming small-town moments, plenty of heart, and that always delicious grumpy cowboy energy. The characters are likable and the story has just enough steam to keep things interesting.
I listened to this on audio, and this is the kind of book that I think normally I'd enjoy more on audio. I know duet narration is super special/rare, but in this case it might have helped just because of the accents. Our heroine is British, and the female narrator's country boy accent was just...odd. And the male narrator also didn't really nail the British accent. He also didn't really embody the vibe I had for our leading man. Once I let go of that perception, his narration was fine, just now the casting I envisioned.
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
DNF: 50%
I did not live or love this book.
It felt like a chore to pick up and I can't tell if it was just so boring and so samey to other small town books or me in a book slump.
I did not live or love this book.
It felt like a chore to pick up and I can't tell if it was just so boring and so samey to other small town books or me in a book slump.
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Such a cute loveable romance.The way the comforted eachother and always listened to eachother. COUPLE GOALS!!
Who doesn’t love a story about a grumpy rancher and a sunshiny wellness influencer intending on upheaving his life? I found this to be a really cute story and I really enjoyed watching Aurora and Wyatt slowly fall for each other. They both thought the other was off their rockers but they slowly realized they weren’t and became open and receptive to what makes them tick and appreciated them. What I really liked the most between Aurora and Wyatt was they were each other’s biggest supporters even when they struggled to believe in themselves they knew the other one had their back.
I can’t wait for Duke and Cherry’s story and spending more time in Willow Ridge.
Thank you @avonbooks and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
I can’t wait for Duke and Cherry’s story and spending more time in Willow Ridge.
Thank you @avonbooks and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes