A review by lore_1703
Hollis by Ashley James

3.0

You can always count me in for a story where the main characters are talking online without knowing who the other person really is. Even though this one played out from one side, I had a great time reading it.

Hollis and Ford are total opposites in all the best ways. Ford, the grumpy and emotionally guarded firefighter, ends up matching with bold, bubbly Hollis on a dating app. Their match leads them into each other's DMs pretty quickly, and the chemistry between them comes through loud and clear.

There were some really steamy moments, but I found myself wishing for a little more emotional depth between them. A couple of slower, more vulnerable conversations would have added something extra to their connection for me.

The ranch setting came to life, as it always does with this author. I loved seeing familiar faces again, especially Finn, and the cozy group dinners were some of my favorite scenes. They had a warm, family feel that made me want to pull up a chair at the table.

Overall, this was a fun, low-angst, high-heat cowboy romance with a great setup and a strong sense of place. If that’s your kind of comfort read, you’ll probably have a great time with it too.

Tropes:
Age gap
Opposites attract
Hidden identity
Forced proximity