The cover is deceptively innocent - this was way spicier than I expected! I LOVE the best friend's sister trope so I really enjoyed this one. Not crazy about the amount of spice and crude language, but small town romance is another of my favorite tropes so the odds of me reading the rest of the series are really high. LOVE the Kentucky setting!

Holy spice! This book combines two of my favorite things, small town and sports. Nash is unlike any character I’ve ever meet. NHL star, part-time cowboy, and so gone for his best friend’s little sister. I enjoyed this book so much! I love the characters! You feel like you get to know them so well, and the relationship development is great! You genuinely feel happy for them, and everything that comes. There is so much between these two-I can’t even begin to describe it. Also, the spice is unmatched. I can’t say enough good things about this book!! I will 100% read this again and recommend it to everyone! Can’t wait for the next book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

OH. MY. GOD. THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING.

Nash? Daddy fucking Nash?????? The things I would do for this man. If he punched me in the face, I would thank him and pay for the bandage for his hand. Jesus Christ. The man knows what he’s doing in the bedroom and if that isn’t the hottest thing on the planet… 🥵

Cece is the light of my life. I absolutely LOVE HER. I love that she was done wrong but she didn’t cower. She stood up for herself and what she wanted and refused to chase a man again. YOU 👏🏼 GO 👏🏼 GIRL 👏🏼

The side characters in this book had me DYING. Ginger? She’s my new bestie. Cole? I need character art of this man in uniform… for science. 👀 Wade is a lil bitch but I still love him. We love a good broody, grumpy man. Abel Mabel. SWEET BABY SHES SO CUTE. CAN SHE GOVE ME A MANI????? 🥺

The fact that this was a debut blows my mind. You’d think that Paisley has been writing for decades with the way this was written and how easy it was to get into the story. Honestly, I’m so obsessed with this book and it’s all anyone will hear about from me for the next few months. 🥰

Thank you so much for the ARC of this beautiful book 🫶🏻 I can’t wait for book 2!!!!!

Retired hockey player turned cowboy? Say less. I loved it. Nash was such a babe and this book was so damn hot. The cute storyline honestly took a backseat for me once CeCe and Nash decided to get it on. Whew 🔥 But seriously, this was just a fun and feel good romance. Love brothers best friend/boss/childhood crush. All fabulous. Loved it all. Ueehaw., Ride a cowboy 🤠

This book was such a fun, feel good read!! There was the cute, small town where everyone knows everyone (blessing and a curse haha). There was the strong, loving, protective bond of the Ashby family, including Nash, that instantly made you fall in love. There was the silly, fierce friendship of the “Not Angels”. And there was Nash and Cece. Nash as the selfless, kind, passionate, HOT “part-time” cowboy that has to face his biggest fear for love. Cece as the spirited, determined, strong accountant that navigates a new lifestyle and finding herself again. They had such a strong pull to each other, their chemistry off the charts. They’re both full of so much love. And the spice… don’t even get me started!! Can’t wait to see how the other stories unfold!!

Only thing I will say is that I noticed there were some moments where it skipped ahead maybe too much? Like when Nash saves CeCe from that disastrous dinner in Seattle. It just skipped to them being at the hockey game. It mentioned that she got her half of the condo shares after selling but not much. And I think it would’ve been cute to read more about the festival since that was a big factor in what brought them together. It mentioned that it was very successful but I personally would’ve liked to hear more about it. And lastly, I think there was a little hiccup in the timeline in the epilogue. This might just be because it is not filled edited yet?

OMG THIS BOOK WAS SO HOT. I really enjoyed this, it was a pretty classic small town/cowboy romance. I wish there was more that made it stand out, but overall, it was a really fun read.

This was such a great small town cowboy romance! It started off with a hilarious scene that had me laughing out loud. I loved the closeness of the family and friends both of these characters have. This book had me on an emotional rollercoaster, from laughing, crying, and laughing some more. The ending was perfect and I absolutely loved the epilogue, seeing Cece and Nash in the future with their kids, automatic heart eyes.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this Arc for me to review!

Holding the Reins is a small town romance following CeCe and Nash. CeCe, new single after finding out her fiance has been cheating on her, comes home to Silver Pines Ranch in Kentucky to spend more time with her family and start fresh. Nash Carter, her brothers' best friend and ex hockey player (and part time cowboy) sees CeCe in a new light when she comes home, but she is of course, off limits due to their family connection!

Here are a few things I did like: the side characters were fun to watch with interesting personalities, especially Ginger. The setting was super cute and quaint. I also loved the aspect of Nash helping lower income kids get into sports!

I have been loving small town cowboy romances, but this really missed the mark for me. While this is an ARC, there were multiple spelling and grammar errors, so it could really benefit with another pass over from an editor. In terms of plot, I felt like any emotional growth that the characters could have had was completely over shadowed by spicy scenes. If you are a spice over substance person, this might be for you, but it simply was not for me.

Alright this book was a GOOD TIME! It’s country, it’s spicy, it’s fun! I loved our main girl from the beginning embarrassing scene. 😂 the grief representation was tasteful. Also the cover… darling! Such a fun read!

dnf @ 66%

This sounded like a good time but really wasn’t for me.
The cringey writing style, the nonexistent plot, the red flag of a mmc, that’s just some of the things I disliked about this story and I could go on.

The sex scenes took me out you guys.. Idk maybe I’m too old for this over the top ridiculously unrealistic stuff but like come on..

Also brother’s best friend remains the worst trope out there, I stand by that.



Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Holding the reins was soo good! The character development that both Nash and CeCe had throughout the story was really well done. Both had so much to overcome, but in the end they knew that they would always have each other in the hard times and that they could turn to each other. The found family aspect of this was perfect as well. Mama Jo was the best, and the way she was there for all of her children and Nash was very cute.

Wow wow wow wow wow!!!! I loved this book so much and I will definitely read more of Paisley Hope's books after this.

I really don't even know where to begin other than the obvious: I LOVE THE SOUTH! Being a southern girl myself, I may be biased, but this was so cute and country. While some parts I feel were a little exaggerated (minus 1 star for this), for all intents purposes, this did the trick and built a wonderful scene. Cece and Nash were perfect and I really enjoyed their story. Think enemies to lovers, but forbidden instead. Cece and Nash quite literally grew up together, and with Nash being so close to her brothers...talk about an awkward conversation.

These two had great backstories, and what I loved the most about this is that we actually got to see it! That doesn't really happen often in books with a single timeline, so I was glad that we were able to dig up a little of the past to see what made these characters who they are. For this alone, Nash, baby, I love you 🥰

Aside from the characters and plot itself, the writing was great! There were a few instances where I cringed a little, but I got over it very fast because I had to keep reading. The timeline obviously was well thought out, and the dual POV? THANK YOU! I'm a stan for a good dual pov and this delivered to a T.

Overall, a great book that I would recommend to all my semi-cowboy/hockey player lovers out there. I know, weird combo, but it worked!! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC!

Holding The Reins
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Add this romance to your radar asap if you haven’t already. Here are some key words if you need some convincing…professional hockey player turned cowboy, small town, dual POV, short chapters, tension, sexy, brothers best friend, was giving me Sweet Home Alabama mixed with The Ranch mixed with Things We Never Got Over (this is definitely for my Lucy Score loving babes), spicy….spicy…did I mention the spice? 🌶️🥵….AND a playlist at the end! I didn’t want to put this one down you guys! I loved it right away, I read over half of it in one sitting. It’s one of those romances that gives you all the feelings…we’re blushing, we’re laughing, it’s a fun read, but also delves into harder topics like death, cheating, and starting over. “I have two choices, let it consume me or keep holding the reins. So, I keep holding the reins and wait for the next day to come.” (there is a TW in the beginning that this is meant for adults and lists some topics to be aware of so please look out for those.) I can’t wait for you to meet Nash and CeCe, I loved them! “…I would love her with my whole heart every day until death took me. And even then, I’d move on to the next life and find her there, because a love like ours isn’t limited by space or time. It’s eternal.” I also believe there’s a second book (?) and I need it immediately, please!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thank you so much @authorpaisleyhope @netgalley and @dellromance for this e-arc. Holding The Reins graces our shelves October 22nd!

This was a solid debut book. You can't go wrong with a cowboy.small town romance with equal parts banter, spice, and family dynamics.

This story starts with CeCe leaving her manipulative cheating ex and moving back home to her families ranch. She ends up getting a job with her Brother's (former playboy) best friend and the rest is history.

This book was a tropey good time and I will definitely be lo0oking out for the next in the series.

Holding The Reins by Paisley Hope mixes cowboy and hockey romance in a fun and creative way that shows that both worlds can collide especially when he's your brothers best friend. This book was absolutely fun and steamy and full of small town charm. They meet again in her hometown and cannot fight their attraction to each other and its fun, steamy and one thing I also loved is that it sets up for more books in the series which I would love to read. Its got brothers best friend, forced proximity, friends to lovers, opposites attract and secret relationships and it was just so much fun!

This was a steamy small town/cowboy romance read that was surprisingly heartfelt. The mmc and fmc have known each other since they were kids and he has always been protective of her. After the fmc’s father passes away she moves back to the ranch and they fight the attraction for a while. I enjoyed how lighthearted it was while also dealing with the grief of both characters. It’s very steamy and i had fun with the romance and world. If you like books with Elsie silver snd lyla sage then you should give this a shot! Thank you Dell for the arc!

Read for:
- Cowboy romance
- Small town romance
- Spicy
- Brothers best friend
- Grief/trauma

i absolutely loved this!!! it was spicy, it was romantic, it was funny, but it was also heartfelt. there were moments of sadness and trauma. i loved all of the characters and will definitely be reading more from this author!!

Paisley hope is now an auto buy author! I was immediately hooked by the first chapter! I was deeply invested in this beautiful love story. Paisley has a way with words and it made this read so enjoyable! Cannot wait to read more of her work!

✨Brother's Best Friend
✨Cowboy/Sports Romance (Retired Hockey Player)
✨Small Town
🌶️ Spicy 🔥

The cover of "Holding the Reins" is what initially caught my eye but the author's story telling kept me flipping pages. The storyline is filled with banter, chemistry and swoon-worthy interactions.

I am a sucker for a small town cowboy romance, the MMC also being a retired Hockey player mashed up two romance genres that I really enjoy! I think Nash is going to be very well received, I'll just leave it at that.

I binged this book in a day and when it was finished I went looking to see if this would hopefully be the start of an interconnected series. I would absolutely recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you Paisley Hope, Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for providing me with an ARC of this book!

3.75 stars- This was a cute, fast read for me! I really liked the found family element in this book. I'm looking forward to reading more books in this world, starting with Wade and Ivy!