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!

Super cute forbidden love hockey/cowboy romance. Nash the older brother(s) best friend and CeCe the girl next door younger sister who just got out of a toxic relationship. Overall I felt like some elements were very similar to another popular hockey/cowboy book I’ve read but it also had some differences that I enjoyed. The chemistry was definitely there between CeCe and Nash. This book also had some humor and definitely made me laugh out loud a couple times.

One thing that did turn me off a little was during a spicy scene he called her ‘little one’. Personally that is a term I associate with children and it just made her seem so young in a place where she should not be thought of as young. This only happened once and didn’t change how I felt about the book in the end.

I would recommend this book to others.

When I first started reading this book it gave me major dejavu from another widely know cowboy romance and I was worried. But once I got through 10% of the book I could not put it down!

First of all.. Ms. Hope, how are you going to make the absolute perfect book boyfriend Mr. Nash Carter. A part-time cowboy, retired hockey star, bar owner, AND TATTED? Like what!? How could a girl not fall for him. It also didn’t help that he had a close relationship with her whole family, especially her deceased father.

This is definitely one of those stories where I fell in love with both characters and no matter how may books she adds to the series I don’t think it be enough.

SOME OF THE PARTS I LOVED MOST

Can we talk about how Cece is an absolute girl boss? Like even though her ex-fiancé was a big time lawyer she still had her own degree and career. You go girl!

I really appreciate that it didn’t take 75% of the book for them to get it on 😉 and that once they did it elevated the emotions and story. I also loved how we didn’t dwell on the face that she was his bestfriends brother. I love the trope and I’m glad it wasn’t drawn out.

The FLOSS?! Come on! 🥹

I do wish we got more of Nash’s story in regards to how he deals with his past trauma. Yes I understand that Cece helps silence his demons but that doesn’t mean he can just ignore them.

Now the most important question is… HOW DO I GET AN ARC TO BOOK 2!?

3 stars

“I love you so much it consumes me. but I want it all. I want you, in every way.”

❦ age gap
❦ small town
❦ found family
❦ ex hockey player
❦ cowboy romance
❦ brother’s best friend

i think this novel would work perfectly as plate cleaner. it was cute but nothing did really grab my attention. i had a hard time trying to connect with the main characters and that’s mostly why it took way longer than usual to finish this book. but if you want an easy read with a good amount of toe-curling scenes this is the perfect read for you!

many thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

ARC Review: 5 stars / 4 spice (this book was unexpectedly spicy!!!)
I loved this book and read it so quickly and I can't wait for the next in the series to come out!

Tropes include: Cowboys, brother's best friend, sports/hockey (kind of because he is already retired when the book starts).

There are some heavy themes in this book including traumatically deceased parents so please be aware of that, if that is a trigger for you. That said, it is beautifully written and tugs on the heart strings. But along with that pain, I had all the butterflies and giggles throughout. I even loved all the side characters and there were lead-ins about who the next few books will surround.

(Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the ARC) Unfortunately, I have to place this on my DNF shelf. I had such high hopes for this small-town, cowboy romance but could not continue past the 10% mark. The author’s writing style and humor just is not my cup of tea. However, if you wanted a more lighthearted Chestnut Springs-type of book you may enjoy this.

Reading back through my 150 highlights while writing this review and I’m giggling and kicking my feet. I cannot get enough of CeCe and Nash!

CeCe is a ball of sunshine but a fierce protector of people she loves. We find that out real quick. Nash is a top tier book boyfriend in every way. Just wait until you meet Mr. Carter. I diiiieeeed.

CeCe moves back to Kentucky after a break up and starts working for her brother’s best friend. Nash Carter, retired NHL player and part-time cowboy, can’t stop thinking about her even though he’s scared to let anyone get close in fear of losing them.

The chemistry between these two is next level. There’s tension, witty banter, crawling, touch her and die, mixed with some super sweet moments.

I’m a huge fan of Paisley’s writing style and will read anything she writes. So excited for book two!

I absolutely ate this book up! I loved that it combined hockey and cowboys. This was soooo cute. sweet, spicy and swoony! I just wanted to give poor Nash a hug. Brothers best friend and small town are two of my favorite tropes. the writing was great, the spice was great. I cant wait to finish the series and read the new MC romance by this author too !!!!!

After finally leaving her cheating fiancé, Cecilia “CeCe” Ashby finds herself back in her small Kentucky town, living in a cabin on her family's equestrian ranch. CeCe is unsure of what to do now and is in dire need of direction, so when Nash Carter offers her a job, she can't refuse. As a retired hockey star, Nash has become somewhat notorious around town. Whether it's helping teach kids at the state-of-the-art sports complex he built, slinging sangria over at the only good bar in town, or for the gaggle of women throwing themselves at him. Nash has been best friends with CeCe's brothers for years, so he thinks nothing of offering her a job, but the more time they spend together, the more Nash starts to view CeCe as more than the annoying young girl he used to tease. The pair know getting together would be a bad idea, but neither can deny the spark and maybe love is worth the risk.

I've been in my small-town romance era this year, and this sounded too good to pass up. I thought the characters and setting made the story. CeCe was fun and feisty, and I liked how she stood up for herself. Nash was commanding and vulnerable, and I'm always a fan of an MMC who is gone for the FMC. He had some demons from his past, but he put the work in to become the man CeCe needed, and I liked watching their relationship blossom. As mentioned, I also loved the setting. It felt like your stereotypical small Southern town where everyone is in everyone's business, and gossip spreads like wildfire, but it was so fun. Hope's writing felt similar to Tessa Bailey's in that it was both raunchy and ridiculous in equal measure. Some moments felt a little clunky, but you can tell there's real potential, and I'd recommend checking it out if you're a fan of the brother's best friend trope. While it's not a new favorite, I'm excited to check out the rest of the series.

Closer to a 3.5 - I look forward to more books from Paisley Hope and believe that as she grows as an author, her books will address some of my issues with this one.

But first, what I liked:
- Hope spent time establishing the town and characters (clearly looking to build out future parts of this series) but in doing so helped bring the over all story to life
- The overall plot was easy and enjoyable
- Some of the side characters were delightful (e.g., Mama Jo)
- Nash’s dirty talk was top notch

A few pieces that weren’t my favorite:
- There was a lot going on and, unfortunately, that lead to some loose threads in the story that were never clarified nor completed (e.g., why Cece stayed with Andrew for months after realizing he was cheating on her)
- Some of the exchanges felt at odds with the character that was being portrayed (e.g., Cece being a ‘wild’ child but then getting embarrassed by jokes about sex with her friends)
- In the third act miscommunication, I felt like Cece was really harsh and lacking in empathy to Nash’s trauma (I.e., he acknowledged he is struggling from the trauma of losing his parents and she basically says that’s life)

Thank you to NetGalley, Paisley Hope, and Random House Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader copy.

I ate this up. 👏👏👏

"what even is feminism when i'm naked with Nash Carter?"

The tropes, the romance, everything was everything small town romance but you don’t leave disappointed. It's straightforward in a way that you know will be enjoyable and easy to read. If you want an entertaining, spicy read this one is for you.

Chapter 41 had me 🥵. I'm a goner for Nash Carter.

✅ cowboy
✅ retired hockey player
✅ dirty talking
✅ brother's best friend
✅ so. much. spice.

3.25 ⭐️ A quick and fun read that was exactly what I needed, I liked the main characters enough but nothing much beyond that, what I really loved was the family. I feel like this book is gonna be one of those cases where I think the first book is ok but I love the others (especially knowing that the next one is Wade & Ivy 🙂‍↕️) tbh I saw more positive points than negative ones, but what made me lower my rating a lot were the spicy scenes, I found some lines a little bit ew??? 😭 Despite everything, if you like cowboy(ish) romance, small town, etc etc I highly recommend it!!

<i>Thank you Netgalley & Random House for sending me an arc copy in exchange for an honest review :)</i>

Paisley did an absolutely stunning job crafting genuine characters with heart, epic banter that had me rolling, and spice that was SPICIN’. How she was able to craft a MMC who is the brothers best friend, the bar owner, a retired NHL player, AND a part time cowboy with such authenticity I just don’t know. Add in a fierce and incredible female cast too? Whew! Perfection. The whole cast is lovable and authentic, with maybe just one exception but you’ll know who that is.

I am a SUCKER for the details in a story like this. The use of music, food, and small gestures that are BIG gestures because they are what build the intimacy and make stories come alive. Paisley had this in SPADES. Whether it’s remembering her coffee order or discussing her father, Nash puts in the effort to connect with CeCe and you see their bond strengthen with each chapter. With such a strong and organic connection between them, the spice was PERFECT. “Never be embarrassed with me” is one of the hottest lines I’ve ever read. That and the whiskey. 😘

I adored both MCs and how much love and respect they had for each other. She sees and respects all he does for her family and their community. He loves how incredibly intelligent and talented she is. We see both of them working through things independently and together in a really beautiful way. I LOVED the 3rd act, I’ll leave it at that.

I officially declare 2024 as the year of the cowboy romance. I don’t know that I’ve seen as many cowboy romance books in bookstores as I have this year, with Holding the Reins soon to join the masses.

CeCe Ashby has been going through it. After breaking up with her cheating fiancé and losing her father, she returns home to Laurel Creek, Kentucky, to quietly pick up the pieces of her life. When her brother’s best friend and retired NHL star, Nash Carter, hires her to manage his skating rink’s financial accounts, the two move from family friends, to coworkers, to something a little more.

Holding the Reins has some of my very favorite tropes: small town romance, brother’s best friend, and work place romance. I enjoyed the dual points of view as well, and felt like it gave more depth to the characters, particularly Nash. I have a feeling more books will come in this series and am keeping my fingers crossed for one featuring Cole and Ginger (if you know, you know). There were definitely cringy moments and dialogue, but it was a fun read overall. If you’re in the market for a “cowboy-esque” romance with lovable characters, this is the one for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and Dell Books for the ARC!

Thank you Netgally for providing me with an E- ARC for my honest review!

Super cute small town cowboy romance! Throw in an ex hockey playing brother’s best friend from your childhood… perfection!!
This book had me giggling constantly, absolutely loved the banter. Great side characters that I am hoping we get to see more of!
Nash…. Whew, the mouth on this man is scorching…
I ate this one up in a couple days. Definitely recommend.

4/5 Stars

Thank you to Dell Romance for providing me with an e-arc to read.

I absolutely love a good small town cowboy romance and add in the fact he also is an ex-hockey player and I was sold. This book was a fun take on ex playboy hockey player and brother’s best friend trope with our fmc who just got out of a long term relationship and has returned home. I can’t wait to continue this series as I really loved the cast of characters.

CeCe Ashby is finally returning home to escape her toxic relationship that has consumed most of her adult life. She isn’t sure what her future holds but she knows it can’t be with her ex and it was time to come home. Nash Carter, is a retired hockey player and CeCe’s brother’s best friend and overall he has been unofficial adopted into the Ashby family. It has been years since they last were really together but now there is undeniable chemistry between CeCe and Nash and they don’t really want to fight it when they could jump off the deep end together.

I loved how into CeCe, Nash was the entire time. Whenever she would be at the bar he worked at he would basically scare of men that likely wanted nothing more than her body and he was protective even if he didn’t realize why. CeCe is just coming out of a long term relationship but she had known for months it was over she just had to find a way to leave. She never expected the playboy brother’s best friend to be the one she catches feelings for but she can’t deny what she feels. I loved their relationship and I really liked the conflict towards the end and how it was handled.

Overall I can’t wait to continue this series soon and I recommend this one if you want a spicy small town cowboy romance who also is a retired hockey player. It was really fun and a solid read.

The premise of this sounded fun to me but the execution didn’t quite work in my opinion. The attraction between CeCe and Nash seemed purely physical and the intimate scenes were centered on Nash’s pleasure and his demands. I didn’t really understand or get to know CeCe at all other than what we’re told - she’s super hot and amazing at her job. I’m not sure how Nash is able to juggle the million jobs he seems to have either.

Anyway, while this wasn’t for me, I think readers who like cowboy/hockey/forbidden romance may enjoy this.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.