tropes: brother’s best friend, part-time cowboy, workplace romance, “just one night”, small town, retired hockey player

I had a lot of mixed feelings reading this book. in the end, I did quite like Nash & Cece’s story- it was super cute and a fun read with a dose of grief to keep your emotions shifting. I really loved the small town and Cece’s family were so fun to spend time with! Also- Nash Carter is hot as hell, you will never catch me turning down a dirty-talking cowboy who brings you coffee in the morning.

Unfortunately, though, this read wasn’t for me. I was often frustrated with the FMC- there were times that she would make these comments internally or in dialogue that offended me, frankly. (TREAD LIGHTLY: slut shaming- at the very beginning of the book even!!!!! I don’t care what the context is- there is a line, and it’s when you bring other women- or just people- down for what they’re doing in their own bedroom or even just encouraging the discussion of it behind their backs, does that make sense? Continuing to spread the rumors is just as bad IMO. and it was blatant sometimes, not just the “subtle” jabs at other women- like fully dropping whore, tramp, slut, etc. It was awful). Other than that, I enjoyed her a fine amount. Not many other notes, to be honest.

Nash Carter on the other hand was a dream. He brought the vibes to a ten- especially in the spice scenes, which sadly were the star of the show for me. He and Cece did have great chemistry, and I love a hockey star who goes back to his hometown to give back to the community. It’s hot as hell.

Yeah, I don’t want to spend too much more energy on this, but overall, it was incredibly mediocre. If the misogyny wasn’t so prevalent I think it would have rated closer to a four-star but we’ll never know.

I do think I’ll give the rest of the series a try though!

Okay - at first this book took a bit to really get me going. I think I was hesitant for the first 15% or so? It wasn’t giving me the spark that I was looking for. But then! I’m not even sure when, a switch flipped and wow! I was hooked so bad. Like I was down bad for these two.

So many boxes were ticked - there were cowboys, there was hockey, small town romances, off the charts sexual tension. It was actually such a great time! I actually shed tears? I was so unprepared for the emotional turmoil I experienced but it was so good, will I be immediately jumping into the next book? tbd!

Such a good book to pick up if you’re trying to find that spark that Elsie Silver books give you.

It was a lot of fun. The cliché of the brothers' best friend always appeals to me. I enjoyed seeing how hard they both tried to hide the fact that it was more than a passing fancy. I was prepared for Nash's protective mmc behavior. I felt terrible for him because of what he had to go through at such a young age. That the Ashbys were there to take him in makes me happy. I'm eagerly awaiting the upcoming books in this series.

Oooohhh this book ticked so many boxes for me! Cowboys? Yea please? Throw in ice hockey? Small town romance and brothers best friend? Sold to me! I actually had a lot higher expectations than I first anticipated and this did not disappoint, at all. It was fun, smartly written and had just all the tropes I need in my life. Definitely recommending this!

I enjoyed this! Brother's bestfriend is one of my favorite tropes! The connect and chemistry between Cece and Nash is 💋 so good! I loved the writing style and I'm definitely going to recommend to all my friends!

Cowboys and hockey? Be still my beating heart.

CeCe moves back to Kentucky after realizing her fiancée has been cheating on her.
Nash is the hometown hero former NHL player (part time cowboy at CeCe’s family ranch)

This book was very very fun. A great set up to the other books that will be in this series as well.
The banter between CeCe and Nash was so good. And it was soooo spicy.
Nash Carter is going to be everyone’s new book boyfriend when this comes out, mark my words.

I love a small town romance. Especially when its a cowboy and hockey player sign me right up. Brothers best friend, I wish my brother had friends like this. I ate this book up and im so excited for book 2 to come out!

4/5 ⭐
2.75/5 🌶

🥵🥵Cowboy and hockey in one? Oh yes mam Paisley! I was initially skeptical, wondering how this would pull of BOTH. I knew from the dedication that you had me and I devoured it! Giggling, fanning, kicking me feet....all of it.

I wanted more of every single character (except Andrew). Nash Carter has DEFINITELY been added to the permanent book boyfriend list 🥰.

I'm a fan of non-spoiler reviews so the book blurb will be at the end of this. There was plot, though predictable by trope, fun and steamy. It was exactly what we need cowboy smut to be. Just know, the chemistry and angst of brother's best friend DELIVERED, the FMC friend group gave #girlgang, the small town community will have you smitten, and you will in fact want to save a horse.💞

Tropes:
🤠 cowboy/small town romance
🏒 hockey romance
🤠 brother's best friend
🏒 forced proximity
🤠 forbidden romance
🏒 Dual POV
🤠 Found Family

Out Everywhere October 22nd.

Thank You Paisley Hope, NetGalley, and Penguin Random House group for the ARC!

This was a very good read! I enjoyed reading about the characters and the plot was very interesting. I loved the story and would definitely recommend to a friend!

This is the sexy, cowboy (part-time) romance book I've been searching for since devouring all of Elsie Silver's books. Small town: check. Wholesome family: check. cowboys: check. Lots of spice: check. I am here for all the books to come in this series!

Okay besties this book was how do the girlies say it- “screaming, giggling, kicking my feet” in every sense of the saying!

This is by far one of the best cowboy romances I’ve read. Nash Carter has officially made it to the ROSTER of book boyfriends.

We meet CeCe who moves back to her hometown in Kentucky after a cheating fiancee dilemma. There is a hilarious vibrator scene at the beginning of the book that just cracked me up. Her family owns an equestrian ranch that her brothers run. She has another “adopted family member” Nash who she’s known all her life but they always had a love hate relationship due to their 8 year age gap and him being overprotective of her.

Nash Carter “Mr. Carter” he’s a retired NHL Player and part-time cowboy. He owns the Olympian Center in town where he helps CeCe and hires her, this is where the close proximity begins 👀😍 Nash also helps at the bar so he’s a busy man. He has never had a long term relationship just puck bunnies here and there.

The sparks between these two were immaculate. Everything that he did and said had me on the edge of my seat. CeCe’s friends were also top notch with their Sangria Sundays and their texts exchange were another level.

If you’re looking for a cowboy romance or even just romance in general, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. I really don’t see how anyone could not like it. I can’t wait for Wade and Ivy’s story.

PS: He washes her hair, he cooks for her, he crawls to her, need I say more.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Out Everywhere October 22nd.

Thank You Paisley Hope , netgalley, and Penguin Random House group for allowing me to eARC this

I have been reading a lot of Cowboy romances lately, so I was really excited about this premise. I always love when someone goes back to their hometown and reconnect with their family and friends. Plus, throw in ex hockey player cowboy and I was hooked. I felt like the execution was missing a little bit. Nash and CeCe were really cute at the beginning of the book, and I enjoyed watching their friendship and romance, but I felt like the second half of the book could have had more plot. I liked Ginger and Cole and would have liked a little more about them.

Overall it was cute, and I would read more books by the author, but it didn’t blow me away.

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC

I read this book when she self published and absolutely LOVED it. So happy to get the arc and reread this story about CeCe and Nash. My favorite trope, brothers best friend! And Nash 🔥🔥🔥 I can’t wait for the next book- and when the author has you ready for book two while still reading book one- you know it’s going to be an awesome read!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'd give this one a solid 4.75. It was really enjoyable. The brothers' best friend trope always calls to me. I loved watching them both try so hard to avoid admitting it was more than just a fling. Nash is such a protective mmc, and I was here for it. What he endured at such a young age really broke my heart for him. I'm glad the Ashbys were there to take him in. Definitely looking forward to the next books in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the advanced readers copy of Holding the Reins by Paisley Hope.

This novel was pitched as a cowboy romance. But....I had trouble finding the cowboy part. It's an alpha male who is an ex-hockey player. This book had a slow start for me. But by the 50% mark it's pure spicy for those that enjoy that. However the spice was a bit of a turn off for me. I'm really not into men who repeatedly call their lover a "C U next Tuesday". The male main character raised red flags for me. I also wasn't into the the idea that he's so huge that he barely fits which was referenced constantly during the last half of the book.

So while this book wasn't bad, it's definitely not going to be everyone's cup of tea unless they really like romance novels with alpha males.

I really wanted to enjoy this one but it just fell flat for me. I didn’t really enjoy the characters or feel the connection between them. I definitely think the author has a lot of potential and am willing to give them another shot in the future!

This was such a good all encompassing read. I felt the emotional depth was central, yet there was humor to lighten things and the romance was woven throughout beautifully! I would definitely recommend, it is pretty spicy, which isn't my preference otherwise I would have rated it higher. Overall I think the vast majority of romance readers would find this enjoyable!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House/Ballantine-Dell, and Ms. Hope for the opportunity to read a re-released ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

This book had way, and I do mean WAY, too many tropes going on.
-Southern romance
-Cowboy romance
-Small Town
-Big tight-knit family
-Brother's [best] friend romance
-Hockey romance

... it added up to too much for me. I did not connect to either of the two main characters. CeCe was judgmental and Nash was.... questionable. The small-town lady drama with the brothers' evil exes was distracting. The small-town everyone-up-in-all-your-business thing, starting on practically page one with the vibrator, was annoying. The hockey-star background was a HUGE stretch. Brother's best friend can be a little squicky but Nash grew up practically as part of the family - that made me uncomfortable. As a non-Southerner, I can't speak to the authenticity of the setting but this seemed almost cartoonishly OTT Southern which took me right out of the story.

I was not into the sex (some of it was actually repellent), I did not enjoy the banter, I did not feel connected to the characters, and I did not love the writing style. CeCe was given a little characterization but Nash felt very underdeveloped. I kept hoping the characters would turn the corner on their immature (CeCe) or cringe (Nash) behavior but they never really did. At first I wished there was more plot and less sex and then I just gave up wishing and skimmed it. Not my cuppa.
YMMV as obviously many readers enjoyed this but I think this series is a pass for me.

This book had potential that it did not meet. The characters were hard to connect with and felt very stereotypical to me. It was easy to skim and still keep up with what was happening because there was little plot line driving the book. The dual narrative could have been amazing but Cece and Nash's voices didn't sound different. Sometimes I forgot whose chapter I was reading. It was a good first book but not something I'd reread or be the first to recommend.

I absolutely loved this former NHL player/part-time cowboy romance who falls in love with the younger sister of his best friend and part of his surrogate family. He's had some tragedy in his life and has sworn he would never let himself be in a position to be hurt again. She's just gotten out of a long-term relationship and escaped back home to her family's horse farm in Kentucky. They both swear it's just for fun but they both fall for each other quickly. There's a lot of steam, a lot of angst, and I can't wait to read more from this author!