Quick read and can be read as a stand alone but many of the characters are present in other books and the setting is the same. The book cover gives adequate description of the story. This couple just couldn't get it together. Their shenanigans & story was a little long & drawn out & failed to hold interest after awhile. For this type romance book, it is an okay read. Not a lot of depth to their character. There is a bonus novella at the end on two other characters. I was provided an advanced reader copy of this book and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author. publisher, & NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

Rae and Riley have an emotional story. They have been married forever but not living together for years. The story was a different twist on a second chance romance theme. It starts out with them going to end their marriage. The path to their happily ever after was emotional and satisfying. The book also has a second story about Riley's brother which is a sweet novella. I like the supporting characters and look forward to more stories from Cold River. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Restarting their marriage!

Riley Kittredge and Rae Trujillo married way too young right after Rae graduated high school and everyone in Cold River thought they had divorced when Rae moved out eight years ago and back in with her parents. Little did they know, Riley and Rae were still married and fought like two teenagers that never learned to talk out their problems.

Rae finally decided to move on and file divorce, but Riley knew that there were a still a lot of feelings between them and maybe they could rekindle their romance that never faded by learning to be adults about their emotions.

If you like Secret Nights with a Cowboy, you need to read the Cold River Ranch series because they are related.

P.S. You also get a second book about Connor Kittredge and Missy Minton when Missy returns to Cold River after the end of her long-term engagement.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

DID NOT FINISH

First let me say I have read other books by this author and loved them. But I just can't get into this one. I have tried to read it three times and can't get more then chapter four. I don't like Rae or Riley
Both need to just grow up and move on or work out whatever the main problem is. Married couples that live apart and just meet up for the sex for years need help.
I may try and go back and try it again later---much, much later.
I hate not finishing a book, and giving a bad review but this one just does nothing for me.
Usually, a book has me into the story by end of chapter one.
I'm not even interested in what the big main reason Rae left him in the first place and it seems even Riley doesn't know why.

I received and ARC from net galley and this is my honest opinion and am voluntarily giving it.

Secrets and sayings from the past are a very big part of this story. Rae and Riley married very young ; their love is very deep, but they are now at a crossroads. Rae claims she wants a divorce, even though this is heartbreaking for her. She wants something that she did not think she would. The problem is that she is not able to tell Riley about it. Eventually, she confides in him and discovers that nothing is set in stone.

It was quite a stressful read as it took a while to get the secret out and the result was not what Rae anticipated. The relationship is also more tempestuous than usual which made me a bit anxious. Fortunately, change of heart happens and all is now well in Rae’s and Riley’s life. It was an interesting read.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy.

It was really too long and it didn't make a lot of sense to me, the choices that Rae made and the answers that Riley gave her back, so I think this was not the right book for me...

Veramente troppo lungo e le azioni di Rae oltre che alle risposte di Riley non é che avessero poi molto senso secondo me, quindi magari non era proprio il libro giusto per quanto mi riguarda...

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

Grab a cup of hot tea, light the fire, sit back and relax with Secret Nights with a Cowboy, the first book in the Kittredge Ranch series by Caitlin Crews. A steamy romance with lots of drama, undeniable chemistry, and a sexy cowboy! I could not put down this sizzling romance that is full of passionate emotions, there is heartbreak, heartache, and enough chemistry to shred your romantic side to bits. Secret Nights with a Cowboy is a lovely start to the Kittredge Ranch series.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review!

[Actual Rating: 3.5 out of 5]

Context: This is a spin-off series to Crews’s Cold River Ranch series - same setting, return of previous characters. I have not read that series but was still able to follow this story.

It wasn’t easy getting through "Secret Nights With A Cowboy." There were several times I wanted to dnf the book because the main characters were so frustrating and their interactions toxic for 60% of the book. The last 40% I did enjoy.

Rae says she wants a divorce but immediately fails to follow through. She doesn’t seem to make good decisions towards starting a new life. I question if she even knows what she truly wants.

Riley I felt didn’t have much respect for Rae - sometimes rightfully so - and seemed to treat things as an amusing game, which doesn’t help if he wants a clean break too.

As you learn about their long history together, Rae and Riley do seem like the perfect couple who are meant to be. However, in "Secret Nights With A Cowboy," their relationship is so toxic post-breakup. The only thing holding them together is the heated make-up sex.

Rae’s secret didn’t make things easier. Finding out why she left Riley was the only thing that kept me reading. No one knows why and it’s frustrating (for the reader and characters. You don’t fully understand why she left until towards the end.

The last 40% was great although super heavy. Crews is a fantastic writer and storyteller. She paints a realistic picture of the rougher side of relationships (romantic or otherwise) and marriage, which drew me in. I finally started to care about Rae and Riley and all the other characters. Relationships take work. History shapes us but doesn’t define us.

While the story was difficult to get through I did end up enjoying it.

Let me start with the surprise of the bonus novella at the end. I kept looking at the ticker on my kindle at how long this book was, but the last almost hour and a half is a second story. That being said, I enjoyed this book. I want to try my best to explain without giving anything away. It felt like it took too long to get to the reason of their separation, but that may have made that scene, the payoff, that conversation all the more moving and meaningful. I could feel the hurt coming from both of them. I felt it eased the annoyance I felt on Rae that I felt through most of the book up to that point. It's crazy to see how different people can see the same situation in such different ways. It's all about perspective, everything in life. Even as I said it felt like a really long book, the end was too quick. I would have liked more of a scene about Hunters arrival, maybe that would have helped, since it was a significant sign for them. I haven't read the bonus novella yet, I wanted to get my thoughts down first.

Rae and Riley have been married for 10 years. They married right out of high school but, Rae left Riley after 5 years and, moved back home. Thing is that Rae has frequently returned for nights of passion over the years but, this time she wants a divorce.. Riley is determined to make Rae realize how wrong she is and, how important it is that they stay married because, they love each other!!
Rae is just as determined to get out of this rut and, move on.
The problem with these two is that they are both very bullheaded and determined to prove the other wrong. They are both equally petrified that, if they actually start talking about their problems, they marriage might TRULY be over!!
I loved the fact that these two were just as scared and, just as determined that horrible things would happen if they just got together and, told each other the truth!!!
This book makes you think about how many relationships fail because the couples aren't willing to work together to make the relationship work and, work well.
You'll enjoy it!

Rae's family is a little bit hard to take. In the beginning she explains something that happened when she 10. Her grandmother is such a bitter person that she gave her the silent treatment for like 9 years. I feel that she is emotionally stumped.
Riley has a difficult father. He shows no affection and because of this he has a hard time showing affection himself. They need to learn how to communicate and show affection in order to make their relationship work. I found that I was having to skim through some of the book because it was going a little too slow.

After reading the synopsis, I expected more from Rae and Riley’s story. I was halfway through the book and practically nothing had happened. I was skipping over a lot of fluff that really added nothing to the story. Not enough conversation and interaction. But I was intrigued because eventually Rae and Riley strike a baby bargain, right?
But, I felt like I was missing something. Maybe a prologue of Riley and Rae, the early years, just to show when it all fell apart? I don’t even think I really figured out how long they were estranged...but still secretly meeting most nights than not? It didn’t seem plausible given the amount of time they were supposed to be apart.
I have read a few of Caitlin’s books. Sometimes I can get into the story and sometimes not. This happened to be one of those times I couldn’t really get invested. Rae and Riley seemed damned if they did and damned if they didn’t.
3 stars.

I really wasn't sure what to expect from this story, simply by the title. I really liked Riley and Rae's story in this Cold River. series, in fact, I think this one is my favorite so far. I liked the build-up of their story from little snippets throughout the other books. I think Hope, Abby, and Rae have a wonderful friendship that has stood the test of time. I found that when I was listening to the radio and heard the country song Love You Like I Used To; it hit me that this is the perfect song for Riley and Rae's relationship. Seeing both Rae and Riley grow as characters was an integral part of the story. There was a lot of repetition about certain aspects of their lives throughout the story; yet, I didn't find that it actually felt as repetitive as it might have; but, actually as an integral piece of the story. This was a very well written story, with "real" characters that have real issues that many people can relate to. I applaud Ms Caitlin Crews for such a deep, intense story-line for these characters.

I didn’t think I needed Riley and Rae’s story, but I saw it was in the Cold Creek world, so I grabbed it without reading the blurb. But the more I got to know these two, the more they drew me in. This was a marriage in trouble, it seemed from the start. But I wanted them to succeed, it seemed they wanted to succeed, even though they were trying really hard to make it fail. They kept me on edge the entire book, then they ripped my heart out and stomped on it. But they pretty quickly revived it again, but the strength Rae shows, she blew my mind. And Riley, it was heartbreaking to see him fall apart, and then pull himself back together. I loved these two so much by the end of the book, they were absolute perfection together!

I loved this story.
Rae and Riley grew up in the same small town, knew each other their whole lives. Around the age of 14, it became obvious they would be together forever. Riley built them a house and they married as soon as Rae graduated from high school. But, while their passion for each other never wavered, their communication skills failed. Their marriage seems over before it really started and they have spent years apart. Rae has finally decided it was time to move on, but Riley has other plans.
The characters were awesome, so easy to relate to. Story captured me and held me until the end.
I received an advance copy of this story in exchange for my honest review.

This is the start of a new series and the first story belongs to Riley Kittredge and Rae Trujillo.
They married young, and with it came the immaturity of not being able to handle the ups and downs of a marriage. The passion was there, but so were the tempers.
While the town thought they were no longer together, in fact they continued to meet some nights always sparking their passion. But once morning came, Rae would leave Riley’s bed.
She finally decides she needs to divorce Riley , date and have a baby. Much to her surprise, Riley offers to help her have the baby.
These two individuals had a great deal of issues from their past.
In the end , would the love and communicating overcome the past or will they finally go their separate ways?
I have to confess, I had a hard time getting engaged in the story and reading all the way through. While I loved Riley, I never warmed up to Rae. I wanted to shake them and give them a piece of my mind.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions are solely my own.

And we are back in Cold River and finally the story about Rea and Rily what happened and what went wrong we find all about in a typical writing style from C.Crews. Another great likable story I loved it. It is a second chance for two broken hearts two souls who as kids didn't know how to cope with feelings. Story from loving to hating to yet again loving. And in the end, there is another short story and another Kittredge boy finds his love.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley

I will be honest, cowboy books don't do it for me, at all. I'm not sure why I clicked on this one. I actually felt regret because I didn't think it was fair of me considering my disdain for this type of book. I just finished it and I was completely shocked by how much I liked it. I loved the characters, despite Rae being not my favorite person in the world. It ended and I wanted more. I was expecting ridiculous cowboy stereotypes and horrible cheesy romance but I was greeted with real life scenarios and a happy ending they needed to work for. So thank you for approving me for this title and opening my eyes to Caitlin's writing.

Rae Trujillo works at her family's florist shop. She has kept many troubling secrets bottled up for years. For me she was a difficult main character to like. I liked the other main character, Riley Kittredge a little better but the fighting between the two didn't sit well with me. I found that I couldn't relax and really enjoy the story with all the angst involved. The book is well-written though. I like the author, Caitlin Crews' writing style usually but this story wasn't my favorite.

I received this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was so frustrated by the MC in this book. Miscommunication or total lack there of is my least favorite trope. But at the same time, I just NEEDED to know what was going on. The story was well written and I love the families and side characters in this small town, but gah! It was so frustrating to read so much of the book with no idea what was happening or why.