Redemption at River's Ranch is a small town romance that gets you right in the heart. Carson and Gabriella had been best friends as children. Now she is back in town healing from her divorce and trying to figure out a life for her 2 children. After finding about what his father did, Carson is not sure how he fits in his hometown any more.

I really enjoyed this one. It's part of a series, but I never felt like I was missing anything. It holds up very well as a stand alone book. I am interested in going back and reading about some of the other characters from the town who show up. I loved watching Gabriella and Carson figure out their feelings were growing for each other. It was a sweet journey and a relationship I was cheering for. I also found myself rooting for Carson to realize he was loved in the town. I highly recommend this one, especially if you love small town romances.

I really enjoyed this sweet friends to lovers romance. Sometimes it can be hard when a romance includes kids, but I felt the inclusion of Gabriella's kids and how Carson interacted with them was really well done. The writing style was easy to read and made this a quick and fun read. Though the steam level is relatively low it was still a great story. The characters and their emotional baggage was really well written and their actions were believable as they moved from friends to lovers.

Redemption on Rivers Ranch is the 9th book in Kathy Douglass's Sweet Briar Sweethearts series and the third that I've read. I came in at book 7, and at this point, it's fair to say that Douglass has me hooked on these sweet and heartfelt romances. This one is a second chance romance with a cowboy and single mom, so I was all in just from reading the blurb. The story did not disappoint. Carson and Gabriella each have some things to work through, but they also have great chemistry and they're just good for each other. Gabriella's sweet kiddos add another layer to the heart of this one, and Douglass creates such wonderful characters that you can't help but be completely invested in their lives. This sweet romance is everything I expected from this author and a reminder that I really need to go back and check out the earlier books in the series. All in all, I'd say this slow-burn love story is perfect for a weekend or vacation read.

Carson Rivers is a horse rancher who believes love is not in the cards. For one thing, there is something he learned about his father that he feels has tainted him. What is more is that the woman he fell in love with and became engaged to married her first love. For now Carson just wants to care for his grandmother after her recent stroke. He moves in with her and rents out his house for the summer.

Imagine Carson's shock when the woman he rented to is Gabriella Tucker, his childhood friend. She is as beautiful as he he remembers, and now has two adorable children. Why is she pulling at his heartstrings now?

Both Carson and Gabriella are bearing under quite a bit. For the two to find their way to love certainly means overcoming past hurts, secrets and fears. Their atrraction is undeniable so perhaps they might be strong enough to overcome the challenges that face them.

Redemption at Rivers Ranch is the 9th book in a sweet series by Kathy Douglass. Each book, including this title, has been truly enjoyable. I love the characters, the small town and the stories that brought all of these lovely couples together. This book was so emotional, as Carson's pain was palpable, as was Gabriella's, especially when it came to her children's father and his withdrawing his attention towards them. Watching Carson and Gabriella navigate all of their pain to find a way to love and a wonderful future was quite gratifying.

Many thanks for Harlequin Special Edition and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

3.5⭐
Redemption on Rivers Ranch is a friends to lovers romance by Kathy Douglass. It's also a single parent romance with two kids that will warm your heart.

Gabriella is headed to spend the summer with her kids at the place she spent every summer up until 15 years ago. She has amazing memories being at her Aunt's and spending every moment with her best friend Carson. Since her divorce and her kids' father not stepping up, she wants to give her kids' the same happiness she had. Both Carson and Gabriella pick right up at being friends but now that they are grown , attraction has been added to the equation. They both suffer from having their trust broken by people they loved and with the Gabriella's kids to consider they are hesitant to explore their more than friendly feelings.

I quite enjoyed Gabriella and her children Jason and Sophia , and when you threw Carson into the mix they made a cute little family unit. Carson was wonderful with the kids and quickly cared for them as if they were his own. I loved how Gabriella slowly let herself be more than just a mom and get back to her roots. I feel like kids in a romance can be tricky to write perfectly, you don't want them to completely take over the adults connection and romance, but you don't want them to be a complete side note. Kathy Douglas did a great job incorporating them into Gabriella and Carson's love story and creating great family moments between them all.

Redemption on Rivers Ranch is a low drama and very low steam romance, very Hallmark movie vibes. We are given a few steamy kisses but besides that just lots of yearning from both main characters. Overall, this was a sweet friends to lovers family romance.