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Review: Take the Reins by Havana Wilder
"He's like a puzzle wrapped in a mystery, and it's driving me crazy. He's so infuriatingly good-looking with that rugged charm and brooding demeanor that seems to challenge me at every turn." (p. 57)
★★★☆☆
🌶🌶🌶
Series: Saddlebrook Heights, Book 1
Review:
First, I would like to thank the author and Authors PR for providing me with a free advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A relatable FMC and women supporting women are always appreciated!
Aspen has started a new life in North Georgia with her two horses, Whiskey and Bourbon, leaving her toxic family behind in Kentucky. An equestrian show jumper, she convinces Stetson to help her, but she can sense there’s something in his past that haunts him. It doesn’t take long before Stetson is smitten with Aspen, but their budding romance is risky. Aspen’s father promised her to another man, and there’s someone after her. Stetson is all in…if Aspen can survive the attempts on her life.
Small-town romances are some of my favorites. I feel comfortable in the pages among characters with a similar background to my own. Aspen is easy to relate to: fiercely independent, driven, and perfectly happy in her ‘63 Chevy rather than the flashy car her father bought for her sixteenth birthday. It’s no wonder that Stetson is immediately taken with her.
I appreciated the disability representation in Stetson’s sister’s character and especially how Aspen, though jealous at first, came to be friends with Pressley. Her jealousy initially put me off, so I was really happy that Aspen was mature enough to be friendly with her rather than make a rival of her unnecessarily. Women supporting women is always a good thing!
Unfortunately, I felt like some of the action scenes were very unnatural and forced, like a made-for-TV movie. The plot in and of itself is engaging, but the execution of the suspense element missed the mark. Aside from this, I really enjoyed reading Take the Reins and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Audience: adult
Trigger warnings: violence, death, attempted murder, serious injury, toxic family, kidnapping, arson, animal injury
Recommended for fans of: small-town romance, grumpy/sunshine, romantic suspense, secret millionaire MMC, heroine in hiding, equestrian, disability rep, found family
Publisher's Synopsis:
I’m starting over in the heart of North Georgia, leaving behind my controlling father and the familiar confines of my Kentucky hometown. Saddlebrook promises a fresh start, a chance to compete with my horses and finally carve out my own path. But as the thrill of new beginnings washes over me, an unsettling feeling lingers—one I didn’t expect as I navigate the challenges ahead, including a complicated connection with the sinfully sexy local paramedic.
He’s the town’s brooding bachelor, with intense, smoldering eyes that hint he’s grappling with the pain of a tragic accident that left him emotionally scarred. Though he presents himself as Mr. Grumpy, I sense a profound pain linked to a tragic accident involving his sister, a loss that still haunts him. Determined to break through his defenses, I seek his help in finding the right coach, even as he tries to keep me at arm's length. Our interactions crackle with tension, and each stolen glance ignites a spark that pulls me deeper into his world.
Just as we begin to navigate our complicated feelings, threats emerge that jeopardize everything. Someone wants me gone—by any means necessary. As danger lurks around every corner, we must confront danger head-on and fight for our future. In the midst of all the chaos, will our connection withstand the storm, or will a faceless enemy tear everything apart? Saddlebrook Heights offers new beginnings, but it may also be where everything ends.
Source:
Authors PR
©Havana Wilder: November 17, 2024
Edition: Digital ARC, read on Kindle Unlimited
281 pages
Read Take the Reins on Kindle Unlimited! https://amzn.to/3ZsyErk
Disclaimer: By clicking the link above, you will be directed to Amazon.com through my affiliate link. Should you decide to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This commission helps to cover costs associated with running this blog.
I’m starting over in the heart of North Georgia, leaving behind my controlling father and the familiar confines of my Kentucky hometown. Saddlebrook promises a fresh start, a chance to compete with my horses and finally carve out my own path. But as the thrill of new beginnings washes over me, an unsettling feeling lingers—one I didn’t expect as I navigate the challenges ahead, including a complicated connection with the sinfully sexy local paramedic.
He’s the town’s brooding bachelor, with intense, smoldering eyes that hint he’s grappling with the pain of a tragic accident that left him emotionally scarred. Though he presents himself as Mr. Grumpy, I sense a profound pain linked to a tragic accident involving his sister, a loss that still haunts him. Determined to break through his defenses, I seek his help in finding the right coach, even as he tries to keep me at arm's length. Our interactions crackle with tension, and each stolen glance ignites a spark that pulls me deeper into his world.
Just as we begin to navigate our complicated feelings, threats emerge that jeopardize everything. Someone wants me gone—by any means necessary. As danger lurks around every corner, we must confront danger head-on and fight for our future. In the midst of all the chaos, will our connection withstand the storm, or will a faceless enemy tear everything apart? Saddlebrook Heights offers new beginnings, but it may also be where everything ends.
Source:
Authors PR
©Havana Wilder: November 17, 2024
Edition: Digital ARC, read on Kindle Unlimited
281 pages
Read Take the Reins on Kindle Unlimited! https://amzn.to/3ZsyErk
Disclaimer: By clicking the link above, you will be directed to Amazon.com through my affiliate link. Should you decide to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This commission helps to cover costs associated with running this blog.
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