This is a sweet friends to lovers cowboy romance. I really enjoyed the family dynamic and all the supporting characters need to have their own story. Parts of the time-line didn't match up but that was pretty minor at the end of the book. The main characters had me rooting for them the whole book wanting to see them get their HEA. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

I liked the idea of this book, it was intriguing and pulled me in right away. However, at about 30% in it just got incredibly boring and I had a hard time getting myself to read it. I ended up not being able to finish it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Hello, Nash Carter! He was so so sweet and protective. I loved all the little things he did for Cece and how protective he was of her. Coffee every morning is one of my weaknesses 💜 I loved Cece and how much love she had to give.

This book was full of fun, banter, and spice. Nash and Cece had known each other most of their lives. They both tried to fit an inevitable relationship, but couldn't continue fighting.

Adorable small town, brother's best friend romance with great spice!

Cece Rae comes back home to her family's ranch in Kentucky after she discovered her ex-fiance has been cheating on her. While at home, she has to rebuild her life, including getting a new job as the accountant at the local ice hockey rink. Little does Cece know is that her new boss is none other than a close family friend, Nash. Nash, the former NHL player and part-time cowboy, has been close with Cece's family since after his parents died in a tragic car accident. With forced proximity, the two of them discover the burning sexual tension between the two of them. What started as a fling, turned into feelings for them both.

This book was cute at times, but the emotional connection that I look for in books was not present. In essence, there was little plot in this book and a whole lot of sex. If explicit erotica is your thing, then this is a good book for you. However, I was hoping for more of a heart-warming romance with an average amount of spice.

Either way, I'm thankful for NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to discover a book outside of my comfort zone.

I loved the premise and the cover a lot for Holding the Reins, however, the execution just wasn't done well. I felt like I was reading a second or third draft and not a finished piece. Some of the dialogue felt juvenile and off, and it seemed random when both characters started thinking sexual thoughts about each other all of the sudden. There were some scenes I would cut because it didn't seem to help progress the story along at all. The other characters for future books seemed promising, but this one just wasn't for me. It has SUCH potential, but I think it could use a few more edits.

Might just be my age, but from the beginning when an elderly lady found her dildo the story went downhill from there. Sorry, if I was in my 20s maybe.

“BAPTIZE ME” because holy hell this was HOT 🔥

This has most definitely made it to my top five favorite Cowboy romances. Nash Carter can crawl to me ANY DAY!

I absolutely loved that this book was such a blend of my favorite things:
-small town
-childhood friends to lovers
-brothers best friend
-hockey but also part-time cowboy

It also does a beautiful job of discussing grief and more intimate personal emotions. This was definitely fun and spicy, but it was far more complex and beautiful and such an enjoyable read.

If you’re looking for a book to make you feel something in your chest and between your thighs, then look no further!

Paisley Hope really created the most iconic part time cowboy with Nash Carter. I was kicking my feet and giggling the entire time. Holding the Reins is spicy and has so many of your favorite troupes. Just to name a few: small town, brothers best friend, hockey romance, guy fall first, found family, touch her you die, washing her hair and all the acts of service. I loved the girlhood with Cece’s best friends and how much of a badass Cece is. This book was so fun from start to finish. Great banter and lots of spice. I can’t wait to follow more of Wade’s story in book 2!! Bring on the grumpy sunshine!!!

Brothers best friend AND it's a small town romance book, SIGN ME UP!! I absolutely loved the dynamic between Nash and CeCe and how their relationship evolved throughout the book. I mean, who wouldn't love a MMC where he is expertly dirty talking one minute and saying things like "We’re not a phase. We’re the exact opposite of a phase. We’re always. I’m going to follow you everywhere you go for the rest of this life. And then, I’m going to follow you into the next" in the next minute!

Y'all go read this book if you haven't!

DNF @ 47%

The tropes for this book had my name written all over them: brother's best friend, retired hockey player, and cowboy yeehaw romance? Yes, please. Sadly, I didn't click with this book in the way I was expecting. The MMC had a ton of red flags and when I skimmed ahead, it just got worse. Sometimes books/writing don't work for us, which was the case for me here.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc 💓

This was such a cute book, and I’m pretty impressed it’s the author’s debut novel!

Small Town
Brother’s best friend
Part-time Cowboy romance
Retired NHL player
Small age gap (8years)
Workplace romance
CW: death of parent(s), off page, but still grieving

This story follows Nash and Cecelia Rae who are both back in their hometown in Kentucky after both leaving for big city life, but are both moving on to their next act in their stories. Neither of them thought of the other romantically when they were younger but now their chemistry is undeniable. Getting to watch them dance around each other, try to resist their attraction, try to convince themselves of all the ways it could never work, and then watch the universe put certain things in place to force them to own up to their feelings, was an enjoyable experience! And the spice was spicin’ throughout. I’d say that the spice was pretty vanilla, but it was written really well and it was plentiful! No complaints here in the spice department.

My only critique is that they were both a little too “in their heads” for the first 30%, it felt a bit repetitive and immature for my liking and I found myself skimming ahead. But once they decided to give in a bit, “just once” turned into “just for now” and the sneaking around and catching feelings, then it really picked up the pace and was a lot more fun.

I have found my new favorite series! I’ve been in a Chestnut Springs hangover and the series has slid into number one.

Tropes:
•Brother’s Best Friend
•Age Gap (less than 10 years)
•Small Town
•Found Family
•Workplace romance

I loved how deep Nash was! I wasn’t expecting to love a cowboy/hockey player, I thought it was going to be too much, but Paisley tied the two together perfectly and did a phenomenal job peeling back the layers of his childhood trauma. Nash and CeCe’s love story is one for the ages and I’m so sad her dad won’t be around to see it!

I’m jumping into book two as we speak!!

If you love Elsie Silver, Lainey Lawson or Devney Perry you are going to absolutely LOVE this book and author!
CeCe is on her way home after a bad breakup with her cheating ex fiance. Going home is something Cece hasnt done often in 8 years and especially not since her father died earlier that year. Her family runs an all inclusive horse ranch that her oldest brother Wade now runs with the help of his retired NHL hockey star best friend, Cece has always been over protected by her older brothers and Nash her brothers best friend who grew up very close to her family.
Cece is used to Nash being a player with a new woman in his bed everyday and him being 8 years older she never saw him as anything but her brothers annoying best friend, until she realizes he is no longer that highschool/college boy. Nash now sees Cece in a whole new light as well but he is now her new boss and he never gets involved with his employees!

Their connection is palpable! I love the history they have and that they just cannot resist each other!

4.25 ⭐️

This was such a fun read, both main characters were so full of spirit and fun, loved both POV’s! I love when an MMC is feral for the FMC the way that Nash is for Cece. His mouth had me blushing. The only downside is that I found parts of this overly repetitive, but it wasn’t truly a deal breaker. Excited to read the other books in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review this, will be filming a video for TikTok soon

I adored this book, and will absolutely be reading the series. Maybe I'm a sucker for a cowboy, but I devoured this book in a day and then read it a second time. 5 star read for me, it had everything I wanted.

I love a small town romance but there has to be great drama, internal conflict and meaningful resolution. Paisley Hope does this perfectly! It's not enough to tour a charming small town. I want there to be a purpose.

Rae has returned home to rebuild her life centered on her own goals after leaving her cheating fiance. This shouldn't be too difficult except that she starts to fall for Nash who is adamantly avoids relationships. She doesn't want to get involved with anyone who can't prioritize her. Nash has struggled his entire life with the trauma of experiencing his parents' deaths. He copes by staying busy, from his intense NHL career to running his own hockey center after retirement. And helping out on his foster-family's ranch. And running the town's bar. And falling in love with said family's only daughter. But as he spends more and more time with Rae, he realizes that he has no problem prioritizing her in his life. He's just traumatized that if he does, then he stands to lose his only family once again if things end badly.

The setting is charming and the secondary characters are delightful! This is some of the best family banter I've read in a while. Between Rae's irreverent best friends, her burly brothers, their all-knowing mom and her niece with a very profitable swear-jar, they have a ton of fun. Collectively, they're still processing life after Rae's father died from cancer earlier in the year. Despite the gorgeous cover, this is less of a cowboy romance and more small town with a family ranch, hockey hero and fun nights dancing at the local bar. Nash helps with chores, but even Rae has a career away from the ranch. However, it does set up book 2 to be a cowboy romance featuring Rae's full-time cowboy brother, Wade.

The romantic relationship is mutually respectful and very spicy! Between the dirty talk and constant teasing, they keep each other on edge. They will have to confront her red-flag ex but Rae trusts her instincts. And despite other reviews, I found Nash to be very green-flag. I'm excited to continue the series.

Omg I absolutely LOVED this book and can’t wait for Training the Heart! This was honestly the hardest book to put down!

Holding the Reins is a swoon-worthy start to the Silver Pines Ranch series—a steamy, emotional cowboy romance that’s as heartfelt as it is irresistible. With CeCe Ashby returning to her family’s ranch to rebuild her life after a broken engagement, and Nash Carter, her brother’s charming best friend, right there to stir up old feelings, the story is packed with chemistry, drama, and undeniable heat.
CeCe is a relatable, resilient heroine, navigating heartbreak and rediscovering herself in her hometown of Laurel Creek. Her journey of self-discovery is beautifully interwoven with her rekindled connection to the ranch and her unexpected attraction to Nash. Nash is more than just a retired hockey star with a rough-around-the-edges charm; his loyalty to the Ashby family and his protectiveness toward CeCe make him an irresistibly layered character. Their romance has all the delicious tension of a slow burn, sparking from shared glances and playful teasing to undeniable passion.
The author captures the charm of small-town life and the rich setting of the ranch, giving the story an authentic feel that immerses you in CeCe and Nash’s world. Their dynamic is fun and fiery, with plenty of humor and just the right amount of angst. CeCe’s healing journey and Nash’s struggle to balance his loyalty to her brothers with his growing feelings for her add depth and complexity to their relationship, making the romance feel both real and rewarding.
While some familiar romance tropes make the story a bit predictable, the strength of the characters and their intense connection keep the pages turning. Holding the Reins is the perfect read for fans of steamy cowboy romances and second-chance love. The author has crafted a captivating tale of family, passion, and rediscovery that will leave you eager for the next book in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

i love me a cowboy romance! this is my first book by this author and it was so cute and 🌶️. exactly what a cowboy romance should be!

a cute cowboy, childhood friends to lovers romance with a perfect found family, small town vibe! it was cute, fun, steamy, and I really enjoyed it! 4 stars because I did get a little bored in the middle and wished things moved along quicker, but I still loved it.