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emilywemily6's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I adore Wes and Rebel Blue, and while this was a quick and flirty read I wanted to through the book multiple times because of Ada. She only defining features are her personal relationship trauma, low self-esteem, and her inability to think decisions through before acting. About 20% of the time I could relate to some of her internal thoughts, but the rest of the time she just frustrated me. And while the main characters had really good chemistry, the way the relationship jumped from Ada trying to hate Wes to Ada letting things happen didn’t really make sense and felt out of place. She tried hard to be mean and to push people away and would run away (literally) instead of just talking. And when she did talk, she put her foot in her mouth a lot. Kind of “pick me girl” energy without the confidence. Wes is amazing and honestly deserves better 😬 I could not get behind Ada.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Cursing, and Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, and Medical content
a_libra_library's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Perfect sequel to Done and Dusted! Better than DND if I may say.
I loved Ada and Wes so much that I read this book in a week!
Audiobook was stunning and I fell in love even more with the town of Meadowlark.
Ada is a big city gal looking for her big break to do more work in her field of interior design and working on a huge project for the Rebel Blue Ranch is the perfect opportunity to flex more of her talent. Only true obstacle is she didn't think her boss to be the charming cowboy she just meet in the local bar and can't stop day dreaming about.
Wes Ryder is the middle Ryder and has spent his entire life looking for his place in the families legacy, he decides that blazing his own path is the only way to do it which means no getting distracted by his heart or the painfully familiar tug Ada seems to have on it.
I think the character were even more fleshed out and brought to life in this book. I related to Ada so much I found myself annotating and crying at times.
Also Wes's relationship with his depression and how he treats and talks about it was BEAUTIFUL.
Tropes:
Small town
forced proximity
work place-ish romance
Big city girl small town boy
Black cat/ golden retriever
Anxiety rep
Depression rep
This is a 10/10 in my book
I loved Ada and Wes so much that I read this book in a week!
Audiobook was stunning and I fell in love even more with the town of Meadowlark.
Ada is a big city gal looking for her big break to do more work in her field of interior design and working on a huge project for the Rebel Blue Ranch is the perfect opportunity to flex more of her talent. Only true obstacle is she didn't think her boss to be the charming cowboy she just meet in the local bar and can't stop day dreaming about.
Wes Ryder is the middle Ryder and has spent his entire life looking for his place in the families legacy, he decides that blazing his own path is the only way to do it which means no getting distracted by his heart or the painfully familiar tug Ada seems to have on it.
I think the character were even more fleshed out and brought to life in this book. I related to Ada so much I found myself annotating and crying at times.
Also Wes's relationship with his depression and how he treats and talks about it was BEAUTIFUL.
Tropes:
Small town
forced proximity
work place-ish romance
Big city girl small town boy
Black cat/ golden retriever
Anxiety rep
Depression rep
This is a 10/10 in my book
Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
idktheyear's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It was fun to be back at Rebel Blue Ranch! I liked that this book had more sibling and family moments. And, like all the best intertwined series do, we saw some more of Emmy and Brooks being cute and in love, but also their characters individually!!
Wes really is like sunshine! I appreciated the nod and acknowledgement of his mental health, but that it didn't take over the plot line or his personality. He is so thoughtful and sweet.
Ada isn't your typical sweetheart. She's grown and has trauma and is trying to work through it. I loved the girls night scene and the healing that starts stemming from that for her!!
I have mixed feelings about Ada's divorce. I feel like it was a big part of the story and the resolution at the end wasn't enough for me. I understand why the ending was the way it was, and it could be argued it was true to Ada's character, but I felt like I was left hanging a little.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Ada is a city girl with a cold exterior but sweet on the inside, and Wes is a lovable, sensitive, patient cowboy. It's fun to fall into their story.
Wes really is like sunshine! I appreciated the nod and acknowledgement of his mental health, but that it didn't take over the plot line or his personality. He is so thoughtful and sweet.
Ada isn't your typical sweetheart. She's grown and has trauma and is trying to work through it. I loved the girls night scene and the healing that starts stemming from that for her!!
I have mixed feelings about Ada's divorce. I feel like it was a big part of the story and the resolution at the end wasn't enough for me. I understand why the ending was the way it was, and it could be argued it was true to Ada's character, but I felt like I was left hanging a little.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Ada is a city girl with a cold exterior but sweet on the inside, and Wes is a lovable, sensitive, patient cowboy. It's fun to fall into their story.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
fivecatsinacoat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
While this is the second book in the series, it stands on its own well. I have not yet read Done and Dusted (but I'll be looking to read it now!), but it does feature the same characters and continues their story arcs, so if that is important to you, read Done and Dusted first.
It is so wonderful to see more accurate representations of mental health in romance books lately. As someone who struggles daily with anxiety and depression, I understand the toll it can have on your life. Including and discussing mental health issues as they relate to the characters really makes for a more authentic and honest narrative. I have never really felt more close to characters as I did in this book, and I honestly think the discussion and inclusion of anxiety, depression, and self-worth helped me to feel seen and respected.
In a way, I'm kind of mad that this book is fiction. I want to be at Rebel Blue Ranch. I want to spend the night in Baby Blue. I want to walk the trails and meet Waylon the dog and Loretta the calf. I want to feel the sunshine on my face.
Also, I will be purchasing physical copies of these books because that cover? Perfection. I need it on my shelves.
While this is the second book in the series, it stands on its own well. I have not yet read Done and Dusted (but I'll be looking to read it now!), but it does feature the same characters and continues their story arcs, so if that is important to you, read Done and Dusted first.
It is so wonderful to see more accurate representations of mental health in romance books lately. As someone who struggles daily with anxiety and depression, I understand the toll it can have on your life. Including and discussing mental health issues as they relate to the characters really makes for a more authentic and honest narrative. I have never really felt more close to characters as I did in this book, and I honestly think the discussion and inclusion of anxiety, depression, and self-worth helped me to feel seen and respected.
In a way, I'm kind of mad that this book is fiction. I want to be at Rebel Blue Ranch. I want to spend the night in Baby Blue. I want to walk the trails and meet Waylon the dog and Loretta the calf. I want to feel the sunshine on my face.
Also, I will be purchasing physical copies of these books because that cover? Perfection. I need it on my shelves.
Graphic: Sexual content, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
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