A Rancher’s Bride

3.75 stars--A RANCHER’S BRIDE is the fourth instalment in Vivian Arend’s contemporary, adult HEART FALLS erotic, romance cowboy series focusing on the Stone Siblings of Heart Falls, Alberta-Caleb, Luke, Walker, Ginny and Dustin. This is thirty-something, rancher Luke Stone, and twenty-three year old, ranch hand Kelli James’ story line. A RANCHER’S BRIDE can be read as a stand alone without any difficult. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. The HEART FALLS series is a spin off from the author’s SIX PACK RANCH series, but you do not have to have read the original series to follow or understand the current story lines. Told from dual third person perspectives (Luke and Kelli) A RANCHER’S BRIDE follows the friends to lovers relationship / fake fiancé trope between thirty-something, rancher Luke Stone, and twenty-three year old, ranch hand Kelli James. Eight years earlier, lost and on the run, Kelli James found her way to Silver Stone ranch in the hopes of procuring a place to live, and a much needed job. Meeting Luke Stone stirred something deep within the young teenage girl but Luke was about to enter into another relationship that forced Kelli to watch from the sidelines as the man with whom she would fall in love, fell in love with someone else. Fast forward to present day wherein Luke, now single and desperately trying to save the Silver Stone ranch, invites Kelli to the Triple Crown Gala, where the who’s who of horse breeders gather to schmooze and set up deals. What ensues is the building romance and sexual relationship between Kelli and Luke, and the potential fall-out as their time together draws to a close when the gala comes to a satisfying conclusion. Luke and his brothers are desperately trying to save the Silver Stone ranch since the death of their parents years before. An invitation to the Triple Crown Gala meant the possibility of saving the ranch, and securing a financial windfall but the hosts were all about ‘family’ meaning Luke needed Kelli to pose as his fiancé in order to put up a united front. What they never expected was to fall in love, or have their future relationship threatened by someone from the past. The relationship between Kelli and Luke is one of friends to lovers; a fake fiancé / employee and boss arrangement between two people desperate to find something more. Luke’s previous relationship ended in disaster, and Kelli was in no position to become the rebound lover but offers herself up for their time away. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Caleb and Tamara (A Rancher’s Heart 1), Walker and Ivy (A Rancher’s Song #2), Hannah Lane (A Firefighter’s Christmas #3), youngest brother Dustin; veterinarian Josiah Ryder; Tamara’s sister Lisa Coleman : Ivy’s sisters Tansy and Rose; Silver Stone ranch foreman Ashton Stewart; Triple Crown gala attendees Jack and Diane, and Timothy Carlyn. Josiah and Lisa’s story line is next in The Cowgirl’s Forever Love, the first instalment in the author’s new spin-off series The Colemans of Heart Falls. THE RANCHER’S BRIDE is a story of family and friendship; romance and love. The premise is engaging, heart warming and inviting; the characters are spirited and moving; the romance is seductive. THE RANCHER’S BRIDE is a delightful romance between two people who deserve their own happily ever after.

Audiobook Review: Overall – 5 Performance – 5 Story – 5 I always enjoy a good fake relationship story and this one was so good. Luke has an opportunity that could help save the ranch but he needs a fiancé. Kelli has wanted Luke for years so she agrees to play being his fiancé and attend a gala with him. This was a heartwarming story with strong found family elements and an unexpected surprise for Kelli. I’m really enjoying this series. I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this audiobook.

Luke and Kelly were just about perfect together! Friends to lovers, lovers to love, and getting the HEA they both so richly deserve. Kelly near about broke my heart sometimes, but she was always so positive, so upbeat, if she didn’t feel sorry for herself, then there was no way you could. Luke was always so steady, and when he finally realized Kelly had been right in front of him all this time, even he was sideswiped by that realization. A lot of fun, a lot of sexy, a lot of friendly banter, and solid commitment, I absolutely loved these two!