What an absolutely joy this one was to read! The cover & title first drew me to this book. I’ll admit, I’d never read any of this author’s other books prior to this one. After finishing, I wonder how I’d never heard of her before.

I loved that this story featured more mature main characters. I don’t recall their ages being included in the book, but I’d guess the characters to be in their mid to late thirties. Lorri & Ryder, our main characters, are described in other reviews as having baggage. They even describe it as this themselves in the book, however it really feels better described as trauma they have to overcome. As they work to overcome their past traumas, will they be able to forge a friendship…or possibly even more?

One thing I want to give major props to Nancy Naigle for is her ability to transport her readers to wherever her characters are. Her descriptions are incredible. There weren’t unnecessary details. Everything included built the story & the characters. Her writing is so, so good.

If you’re a fan of Karen Kingsbury, Denise Hunter, and Debbie Macomber, be sure to add Nancy Naigle to your list of must-read authors. Her writing is clean, faith-based, and Hallmark-esque (she has 2 books that have been turned into Hallmark Christmas movies). Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Be sure to pick this book up when it releases in December!

The Wedding Ranch written by Nancy Naigle, is a wonderful Women's Fiction Novel that had me on a roller coaster of emotions. Tears and laughter.
Lorri and Ryder are both looking to move forward with their lives. Both have a lot of baggage dragging them down.
How does a person find forgiveness not only for others but themselves as well.
Heartwarming story with some familiar characters you don't want to miss.
A story of learning how to forgive and love again.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book.

What a wonderful, sweet story. It covers so many things that I felt many different emotions while reading this one. Yes, it is a beautiful romance that starts out as an unexpected friendship but it is so down to earth and honest!
The writing is so descriptive you feel like you can see the countryside, feel like you are riding horses right next to them, smell the coffee in the coffee shop and just relax and enjoy the beautiful cozy town.
Lorri has moved to a small town after living in a busy city and finds that she loves the closeness and goodness of the people there. Ryder is dealing with the loss of his wife and son and isn't ready to move on. Or so he thought.
I laughed at a few things that happened (like Ryder having to give up his old flip phone for a smarter phone...been there, done that!) :) I cried over the very heartwarming, emotional moments and went ahhhh out loud a few times.
Yes, it has the "Hallmark" feel to it, but it I marveled at how many things it touches on. Grieving for a loved one, anger for a break up, starting a charity, addiction problems, a famous singer's wedding, successful wedding planners, family traditions & signs from lost loved ones to let them know they are still there and the furball of the story.....Mister, the wonderful, sweet , huge dog.
I loved everything about this book and already have recommended it to friends to add to their wish list or to pre-order.

Sweet story. I’ve lived in North Carolina all my life and was drawn to this story for the setting. It was a little predictable, but I loved the characters.

One of the finest Christmas stories I've ever read. Filled with heart, soul and a bit of sadness. I absolutely loved it.
Stopped reading twice to make it last longer and to compose myself after a very poignant scene. It was so well done. Touches on friendship, family and faith while delivering a beautiful slice of life.

👍🏼 calling all Hallmark lovers!

This is a cute city girl meets country boy romance.

Our city girl: Lorri finally caught her husband cheating on her and is getting a fresh start in life out in her new country home. She loves the small town atmosphere which has reignited her love of art.

Our country boy: Ryder is just trying to put one foot in front of the other. An unexpected widower, Ryder wears his heartache on his sleeve, but he is dedicated to keeping his ranch up and running and support his sister and her kids. He was devastated when his parents sold their portion of his grandfather’s farm to a developer who built a new community. But he deals with it and leases an old horse barn to his twin niece and nephew who converted it into an event venue - The Wedding Ranch.

Lorri and Ryder meet each other when Lorri is swept off her feet by a runaway animal at the local fair and Ryder makes sure that she’s alright. Then Ryder keeps coming back to check in on his friend Lorri. They are just friends though because Lorri is finally divorced and Ryder is not ready to move on from his wife. But they can’t stop seeing each other.

This book is definitely cute ala Hallmark and a nice palate refresher from some steamier romances I’ve read lately.

Read The Wedding Ranch by Nancy Naigle to see if Lorri and Ryder can sort themselves out enough to find each other - out December 6, 2022.


Thank you to NetGalley and smpromance for the e-ARC!

Lorri was convinced Craig was cheating on her but when confronted he said he wanted to work things out. He gave Lorri a Mastiff puppy, Mister, which changed her life. When Craig did tell her about another woman he loved, Lorri took Mister and bought a house in Dalton Mill. The land had been in Ryder’s family for years, but his father sold it and new homes were developed on the farmland. I really liked this book. Dalton Mill was described so well. I could picture myself at the county fair, the farmers market, and the restaurant which was a hub for the community. Ryder’s nephew and niece turned an old barn into the Wedding Ranch, and I felt a part of those gatherings. This book is about old and new love, support and love of family and forgiveness. I could have used less of Ryder calling Lorri his friend even after the relationship deepened. I appreciated receiving an advanced copy through Netgalley for an honest review. Great book.

Honestly, when I start reading this book, I thought I would not finish it. It didn't work for me, but since I have to give it try, I did it and I'm so glad.
I didn't like Lorri in the beginning, but that changes very fast.
Ryder was someone, I liked from the beginning.
Both of them meet and become friends.
They both have tragic events in past.
That will be hard for their future.
I enjoyed this story very much

I absolutely loved this book! Once I started I couldn’t stop, not even a battery dying stopped me from reading this. The characters are relatable and likable. The plot is great. And would be a wonderful hallmark movie.

This is the first book I’ve read by Nancy Naigle. I can’t wait to start reading her other books.

This is a feel-good book! Despite a major conflict towards the end of the story, there almost isn't enough conflict throughout the first three quarters of the book. That said, the story kept me hooked, and I read it much faster than most romance novels.

Lorri and Ryder, both carrying some heavy emotional baggage, have a meet cute at the county fair. They take their time getting to know each other as friends since neither feels ready for more. There are some sweet moments and a nice depiction of life in a small town. The characters are very likable, and I was rooting for them to make things work.

This story felt like it was very personal to the author. Ms. Naigle does an excellent job of tackling some heavy issues (drug use and drunk driving) without getting too preachy. This is my first read by Nancy Naigle, but it won't be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the DRC.

I have read this author’s work before and even seen a Hallmark movie based on a book. And that is the kind of book this is.

Girl gets dumped for a younger model and never sees it coming because she is working and he’s a bum.

Lorri sells the house and buys one an hour away in an idyllic neighborhood and a brooding, sad cowboy.

Why is he sad and angry? Well, that is a question that will be answered in a Hallmark way. She died. A drunk driver. There is a lot of angst and misunderstandings leading to a short breakup and then a happily ever after.

Definitely not my kind of read, but my sister loves it.

NetGalley/December 06, 2022, St. Martin’s Press

The Wedding Ranch is a spectacular contemporary romance by Nancy Naigle. Ms. Naigle once again provides readers with a well-written book filled with lovable, fun characters that readers won't be able to put down. Lorri suspects Craig is cheating. He gave her a pup for Valentine's Day and things were good again, until he left her. Now Lorri has a new life that she loves without Craig, just a woman and her dog. Ryder lost his wife and son when a drunk driver hit their car. He doesn't want another relationship that could leave him in pain again. Lorri and Ryder's story is loaded with drama, angst, humor and spice. I loved this book from cover to cover and look forward to my next book by Nancy Naigle in the future. This is a complete book, not a cliffhanger.

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

This is a beautiful no heat story.


Lorri and Ryder are strong characters. She is dealing with the dissolution of he marriage and th espector of her brothers death while he is dealing with the specter of his own losses. Their reactions were realistic, though some interactions were hallmark unrealistic, and the supporting characters had depth that added to the story.


This is sweet,warm romance about life's tragedies and the faith to come out even stronger.in the ened.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
Lorri and Ryder both have Devastating pasts and grief from loss of loved ones but when they both find out the unbearable connection through grief that they have, will they be able to save their growing relationship?
Such a touching and endearing romance between two people who deserve second love.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Lorri is excited about buying a house she has liked for a while. She meets Ryder and is unsure if she wants to take the next step. I liked this book.

Let me preface by saying that there is nothing wrong or really bad about this book, but it just wasn't for me.

If you're a fan of Hallmark movies (which I am), but also enjoy clean Christian romances (which I am not normally drawn to), then you'll love this book.

After her divorce Lorri moves out to the country where she meet Ryder. They start off as a friends and their relationship develops into more.


Now, a few things. I really have a hard time with. The first is people that stay with cheaters. It may happen in real life and I get it, but for some reason I expect more out of book characters. I also had an issue with how Ryder got Lorri's phone number, none of the other female characters had a problem with it, not his sister who should have had an ethical dilemma or her employee. There really should have been some sort of safe guard, it wasn't cute or anything it was just creepy. Big red flag energy.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but not a reread for me.

I received an ARC of, The Wedding Ranch by Nancy Naigle. Another good read by Nancy Naigle, I enjoy her books. This is a sweet story of family, love, and friendship. I really enjoyed Lorri and Ryder.

Life is filled with many ups and downs. THE WEDDING RANCH was fashioned by Nancy Naigle as the perfect illustration of just that. When life goes down the wrong path, we have choices to make. Difficult choices but important ones for sure. But what about when life gets candidly messed up and complicated. These are times beyond our control. Even looking at a higher authority won’t necessarily find solutions – but can offer solace.
THE WEDDING RANCH takes us on a journey that is ripe with challenges and there were times I honestly questioned if these issues could be resolved. My mind and heart skipped a beat each time a new challenge appeared. It was imperative to keep thinking positive thoughts.
That was the premise of THE WEDDING RANCH by Nancy Naigle. Keep your eye on the future instead of living in the past. Even if that past was filled with some devastating moments. Moments that changed the trajectory of your life.
So Lorrie was moving on after divorcing her deadbeat, cheating husband. He mooched from her for years and then discovered real love. Really? So we are supposed to be happy for him. Not going to happen. You see Craig liked nice things and Lorrie provided for them. Sure he worked, but nothing stuck, like his marriage vows.
Lorrie moved to this housing community built on what had been part of a family farm. Each house had an acre of property. This was quite an adjustment for a city girl, but Lorrie fell in love with it all.
Ryder grew up here, on his family ranch that had been owned for generations. The part owned by Ryder’s parents had been sold to the developer of Lorrie’s community. Ryder was still coming to grips with that deal. Ryder had something even greater to recover from, the loss of his wife and son in a tragic car accident with a drunk driver. Ryder was barely surviving. His grief was all encompassing.
As circumstances evolved Lorrie and Ryder became friends, neither looking for anything more. But at time went on they were to learn more about each other. And it is this new knowledge that had the ability to destroy what these two were slowly building.
THE WEDDING RANCH is Nancy Naigle trying to teach us how to forgive and move on. So very difficult to master – the business of forgiveness. Never preachy but empathetic to the plight of her characters and their unique situation, Nancy Naigle is determined to instill hope in THE WEDDING RANCH. Tall order to be sure. But through amazing character development, dialog, and a lovely scenic backdrop we get it. Family is utmost in the important category, but friendship is a very close second. Nancy Naigle creates some magical friendships for her characters and develops rich personalities for them all. Including an oversized pet named Mister.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review! I’m a sucker for a good second chance romance and this was perfect !

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this book. What a great story. I don’t think I’ve read any by this author before, but I’ll be looking for more.