Jennifer Millikin is a new author to me and overall this was a good introduction for me to her writing style. This is the first book in the Hayden Family series and this is Wes and Dakota's story. I thought this might be a fluffy second chance romance but it also deals with a heavy subject matter.

I liked that we were there for that first meeting and got to see the that first interaction. This was an easy story to read and both characters were likeable even if Wes a little unwelcoming when they meet back up. I enjoyed the friends that Dakota made in town and can see some interesting possibilities for future books. Both were complex characters but I didn't feel that was explored in the depth I would have liked. The proposition aspect was a little something extra it was fun reading them navigate their changing relationship.

Wonderful second chance
The Patriot (Hayden Family Book 1) is an exceptionally well written romance with so many of my favorite things about reading romance. Not only are the characters dynamic and engaging, Wes tugged my heartstrings HARD! A military veteran and a cowboy??? Holy smokes! Talk about steamy. Or at least, this hero nearly melted everything for me. Dakota is definitely a firecracker and I adored her character as well. Throw these two together? Explosive chemistry. Add in the second chance and I was in a romance trifecta.
The plot(s) of this book, while connected, were varied and full of depth as the reader gets to know the characters, what drives them, their backstories and connection. I was captivated beginning to end and thrilled to see there’s more to come (more cowboys!).
Overall, a very enjoyable and entertaining read with some serious topics for these beautifully flawed characters to navigate and conquer together for one fabulous and satisfying HEA.
I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily share my review.

Every now and again, I discover a new author who ropes me into their world. Jennifer Millikin is the first author to do so in a long time. From the first line of The Patriot, I was hooked on this story, and I could not put it down. The world that she has created with the Hayden Family is one that is filled with complexity, love, and the roadblocks that life throws our way.

This story isn't just about two people falling in love; it's about two people finding themselves in a place that finally allows them to heal their battle scars, and find peace in their soul. That is what makes this story so powerful, and it's one that I highly recommend.

THE PATRIOT (Hayden Family Book #1) by Jennifer Millikin is the start of a new contemporary cowboy romance series that has everything I am looking for in an emotional romance read.

Hayden Cattle Company is the largest spread in Sierra Grande and was established and run by four generations of Hayden men. Beau Hayden and his wife have three grown sons and one teenage daughter.

Wes Hayden is the oldest son and after serving three tours in the Army overseas has returned to take his place on the ranch. But the Wes who went to war is not the same Wes who has returned. Beau has decided to sell of a small portion of land next to the town and he wants Wes to decide between the prospective buyers and their plans for the land.

Dakota Wright has returned home and gone to work in her father’s company Wright Build + Design. He has decided to bid on the Sierra Grande land and development and he tells Dakota that he wants her to design and lead the project.

When Wes and Dakota come together, they not only realize they have already met and more, but they may be able to help each other with the other’s problem. They discover that what drew them together five years ago is still there. What started out as a business deal just may turn into something much more permanent.

I absolutely love Wes and Dakota! Wes has a big loving family, but after a terrible incident in his third deployment, he comes back to the ranch and closes himself off from family and friends while suffering with PTSD. Dakota has a lot of guilt going on in her own life which may be why she can see it in Wes and she can get through to Wes unlike others. The H/h tell the story in alternating chapters and even when it is difficult, they maturely handle problems with communication or action. These two characters work through a lot of heart wrenching emotions, but it is all worth it for the satisfying HEA. The sex scenes are brief and not extremely explicit, but not G-rated either. All the secondary characters are fully fleshed and bring the family and the other small town citizens to life. I am looking forward to reading the siblings’ stories in future books.

I can highly recommend this contemporary cowboy romance!

This amazing story stole my heart!

After their one night stand right after he gets home from combat, Wes ghosts Dakota because he's still dealing with the emotional fallout from a tragic mission. Five years later, her company is looking to develop the land his father wants to sell, so they're thrust back into each other's orbit where they find that they're both still reeling from tragedies in their lives.

Wes offers to solve one of Dakota's problems if she'll help solve his - specifically, he needs to take over the family ranch from his ready-to-retire father, but he has to be married in order to do so. Dakota agrees, and it's not long before their incendiary chemistry blurs the lines between real emotions and the show they're putting on for his family.

I was thoroughly captivated by this wonderful romance. Dakota and Wes are both vibrantly-developed characters who really do bring out the best in each other. Each step of their love story was filled with heat and heart and all the intensity a reader could ask for. I especially loved getting to know the rest of the Hayden family as well as the fellow residents of the small town setting. The HEA was absolutely breathtaking.

This is one of the best contemporary cowboy stories I've read in a long time, and I highly recommend it. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

A Wounded Hero, and a Second Chance

I enjoyed Dakota and Wes’s story. He is a wounded soldier who does not think he deserves love. Could Dakota change his mind? It was supposed to be just a one-night stand, but fate has a different idea. Five years after their first meeting, and five years after he ghosted her, Dakota and Wes meet again when his father decides to sell a part of their ranch to her father’s company. At first, he pretends not to remember her, but how will the story unfold? They each have a problem, and Wes has the solution. It starts with a business contract, and then, love gets in the way. Will Dakota and Wes let it heal them? I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to those who like second-chance, wounded hero, small-town romance. There is even an unexpected dash of suspense towards the end.

I absolutely loved The Patriot! Wes and Dakota were perfect together, and I really enjoyed their story. I can't wait to return to Sierra Grande to see what Jennifer Millikin has in store for the rest of the Hayden siblings.

From the synopsis I knew this was a typical romance with a cliche plot, but I was in the mood for a ranch setting so I read it.

I’m so glad I did, I totally enjoyed it.

Wes came back after 12 years of serving in the army a different man, he is suffering from BTSD but he is not letting any one in.
He loves nothing more than the family ranch and now his dad is ready to hand it over but there is a condition and Wes can’t meet it.
Dakota is trying to rebuild her life and prove herself to her Dad, so when he asks her to take over a project she agrees.
Only problem is the Lake Guy from five years ago is a part of it, he ghosted her before what is she going to do now.

What I loved about this book is the family dynamics, I loved how both their families where involved in the story and I loved the ranch setting.
I loved the relationship development between Wes and Dakota, they grew cosy and comfortable with each other it was very nice to read.
I like it when I feel with the characters.

I really like that there was no misunderstanding, they actually talked about it.

Yes there were those cliche moments, but the overall feel of the book was so good that I didn’t mind much.

Also the writing was good and Dakota was a very interesting character.

I’m actually looking forward to continue with the series.

This is 100% your small town cowboy romance with two characters who both have struggles and demons in their past. The story is well thought out the characters and have a purpose in he story more than falling in love.

The author tells a predictable yet well written story romance readers will fall in love with.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy of Jennifer Millikin The Patriot.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I was hooked from the first page. There was an instant connection between the two main characters, Wes and Dakota, when they first met. You could feel how they were drawn together, and it was sad that it was just a one night stand. But as fate would have it, they were brought together several years later when her father's firm is vying to purchase a portion of the Hayden Family land for development.

I loved how the story unfolded in regards to Wes and Dakota's relationship, getting our first look at the rest of the Hayden family and their dynamics, the community of Sierra Grande, and discovering Wes's and Dakota's take on their initial meeting. There is a good mix of humor and some suspense in the story. It is always a pleasure to discover a new to me author whose stories are well-written and complete. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the remainder of this series.

Honestly, I was a little worried with the slower start of this book, but I’m so very glad I stuck with it. The story really picked up about 40% in and I couldn’t put it down.

Dakota and Wes have such a great story. I loved the dynamic of all of the Hayden’s and can’t wait to see what happens with the rest of the family.

This story is an emotional rollercoaster ride to healing an love. When Wes got back from his military service now out of the military he really doesn't want to be around anyone but when a friend an former part of his team he decides he'll go to friends party but when he gets there he stays in his car at first unable to get out the last thing he wants to do is be at a party but then she walks buy an he knows he'll do anything to meet her.Dakota sees the gorgeous guy sitting all alone an when their eyes meet he's so taken to her he can almost feel like electrical current flowing. Between them.Dakota has never been the kind of girl to take to orders but when the gorgeous guy looks at her as if she's all he's ever dreamed of they spend a passionate night together an when she wakes up he's gone so many things they shared but he leaves without a word.Now five years later Dakotas father decides he needs her to take lead on planning a idea to make a big rancher sell to them.She never expected to see Wes there an now she has to work with him.What she wants is answers.There are so many twists an turns to this story will keep you riveted til the very last page an leave you begging for more. I can hardly wait to see what's next by this multi talented author.

This is the 1st in a new series and is Wes and Dakota’s journey. Wes is the eldest of the Hayden family and is a veteran who spend 12-years fighting for his country and understandably carries baggage and is struggling to settle back into life as a civilian. Dakota has her won demons, and she want to but 20-acres of Hayden land to develop it. These two are drawn to each other and spend a night together. They strike a deal which is one the land, and second to mutually benefit them both and which will ensure all their problem go away. This is a beautifully written story which is an emotional roller coaster, unconditional family love and support, suspense, twists, and love. I was totally enthralled throughout this riveting and addictive page turner, and I cannot wait to read more from this talented author whose work I recommend for all readers.

Wes Hayden had one night with the woman of his dreams five years ago, but now she is here on his ranch. The oldest Hayden brother and heir to the Hayden Cattle Company, he is still recovering from his time in the military. In order to inherit the ranch, he must be married, but until he is able to deal with his PTSD, he will not inflict his issues on a wife. When Dakota Wright and her father show up on the ranch to purchase land, for development, he will ensure that they get the bid and hopefully there will be another chance for him. Dakota remains on site to ensure the development is exactly what the community wants and needs. A beautiful romance between two people who are both struggling with their pasts, but are given a second chance for their future and love. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Overall I enjoyed this book. Both main characters were ;likeable, the story moved along at a good pace. There was drama, romance and good chemistry.

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
Drugs, Trauma and Sexual Harrassment/Contents


𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭

The Patriot which is the 1st book for the Hayden Family series starts with a bang. Another typical romance stories route that I’v e read many times on wattpad and just recently with my last read also started like this.

The story is pretty much fast paced, it’s easy to get into as it doesn’t seemed to make the story longer just for the sake of making it long. The storyline is very well written, I would say and isn’t really that heavy that for me. The setting reminded me a bit of Costa Leona and Alegria series written by Jonaxx, and also because of the cowboy and ranch thing and the route the story took.
Most of the events in the book seemed to be cliché, and predictable, I didn’t have problem with that as at first I didn’t thought that the sort of a one night stand- seeing each other again after many years- in the beginning would take place and fake engagement would happen at first and even if it did happened it wasn’t a problem as the author did well in executing it.

With that being said, because of the fact that it seemed cliché and predictable, it wasn’t that exciting anymore. Along the way, as the story goes on, some of it felt a little drag.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐩

The characters were written good. I adore West’s and Dakota’s relationship with their parents, it was so precious even at times of sadness, especially on West’s side as he is suffering PTSD-from serving the military.

I would really say that halfway of the book, the story depended on West and Dakota’s relationship which in some scenes I find cute, they really behaved like a teenage couples which is they are not.

Along the way, as the plot progress, I just felt that Dakota and West’s relationship really just need a little push to have me wowing but it didn’t get there, I was underwhelmed by the route their relationship have taken and the half the excitement I was feeling for them just went down.

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥, I didn’t mind that it seemed cliché and predictable. What I just didn’t like is that there’s a lot of potential and route that would make this story much better. I wasn’t really expecting and was hoping that the story wouldn’t take the fake engagement route when I already had a gist that it would lead to that. I also thought that the last 30% felt dragging. I didn’t enjoy that part and towards the very end of the book that much.

Despite that, I was definitely thankful that the characters were atleast written well, because if they weren’t, the route would definitely be a disaster.

Since this is the 1st book of the story, I really hope and is expecting that the later books will even be more well written.

𝙄 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮.

ARC received from The Next Realm PR . Voluntarily reviewing and all opinions are objective and my own.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. I think the premise made for the perfect contemporary romance. I was really enjoying the characters and their situation. I haven’t read a cowboy romance in what feels like forever, so I was really gearing up for this one.

...But I wasn’t loving it completely. I enjoyed the story itself. Again, no issues with any of the characters or the plot, but I wasn’t enjoying the writing. I can go into specifics, but I’ll leave it simple and say it just took me away from the story itself more often than not and I wasn’t fully able to get into the book.

Wowza!! The Patriot was everything I didn't know I wanted in a book! Actually, I did know I wanted it, but you rarely find it. Wes is the eldest of the four Hayden children. He fought for his country for twelve years and is still carrying the battle scars from it. Their family owns a huge ranch. I loved the cowboy/veteran combination. It's my "book catnip." A cowboy with all the ruggedness combined with emotional trauma of a vet who saw horrible things. Truly, this gave me a little of a "Yellowstone" vibe and I absolutely was in heaven while I read it.

Wes meets up with Dakota. They shared a one night stand. However, what they each brought away from that night was very different. When they meet up again, Wes is enamored and Dakota is upset. They have to work through the misunderstanding surrounding Wes' reasons for leaving that night before they can move ahead.

Of course, Dakota is carrying her own hurts. She blames herself for two heartbreaking events in her life and is punishing herself and trying to do some type of penance. This heartbreak makes her a prisoner of her pain as her actions continue to hurt her over and over.

This book is definitely a perfect mix of wonderful characters, a fantastic setting and emotional storyline. I enjoyed every bit of it and cannot wait for the next book in the series!!

4.5 Stars

A new series from Ms. Millikin! A great beginning to a small-town romance, featuring Wes and Dakota. She is from Colorado, and her family buys a piece of the Hayden Ranch to develop. The Hayden’s are royalty in Sierra Grande, yet it takes Dakota to show him the town. The layers to the characters are complex, and both Wes and Dakota have their own struggles. They both live with guilt and grief. As they spend time together as part of their arrangement, all can see how they feel. Will they figure it out in time?

Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for an advanced copy for my voluntary review

This is the first book I have read by Jennifer Millikin, and it won't be the last. I always enjoy books about close families and the bonds that last generations - call me old fashioned, but we do not have enough of these values today. With that in mind, I also enjoy stories of our men and women of the military and how hard they work to rebuild their lives when they come home. For me, this was a very enjoyable read. The only thing I would like to call out is about 2/3 of the way through the book, the writing seemed choppy and did not flow like the remainder of the book. Other than that, it was a very good book and I look forward to reading the other books in the series when they come out.