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Book Review: We Redeemed the Rain (Meadowbrook Ranch #1) by Ashley Dill

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 438 pages
Author: Ashley Dill
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

“Everyone should find someone to share their story with.”

Exhausted and burnt-out, singer-songwriter, Bea Thompson, needs a break and some space from her once-promising career as an indie musician. Seeking refuge from the crushing pressures of the industry, she books a last minute stay at a special childhood sanctuary, the birthplace of her most treasured friendship, Meadowbrook Ranch. She only hopes the boy she found in the hayloft all those years ago still lives there.

Over the years, lone cowboy, Samuel Taggart (Tag), has built a name for himself as a stock contractor for the rodeo circuit. Shackled by the trauma of childhood sexual abuse, he’s resigned himself to a life of solitude at Meadowbrook Ranch, working around the clock for the only family he’s ever been able to count on—the horses.

But one stormy night, an unexpected visitor upends his quiet life. The girl from the hayloft—his long term pen pal—is back, covered head to toe in mud, and excited to see him.

After spending years pouring his heart out through letters to Bea, finally seeing her again face-to-face sends his heart into lockdown.

Will he trust his old friend with the painful storms of his past, or will the rain prove that some souls are too far gone for love?

We Redeemed the Rain, is a contemporary romance set in Central Texas and the first installment of Meadowbrook Ranch—an emotional series about trauma, healing, and love amid crisis.

BEAUTIFUL READ.

This was a heavy hitter and an emotional read that also brought the infused sense of hope and healing. I thought the tough conversations and themes were handled with care and were genuine to the story and creating a beautiful romance between two people who deserved each other.

I loved the Texas ranch setting. Going to rodeos, riding horses and taking care of all of the things that pop up in-between. I enjoyed seeing Bea and Tag work together and how Bea constantly met Tag where he was, yet also let him know she was a safe place to land. This was one of those reads that had me shouting for them to kiss. The near moments were tangible and I loved loved loved the way the slow burn was crafted around needed conversations and rough and tender moments.

Incredible writing, all the cowboy content, and just a book I could NOT put down. I loved everything about this story and the message it created. I could comment on so many little plot decisions that made this book sing. It’s those small moments that bring a story home for me and gosh dang, I love Tag and Bea.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: mild – moderate
  • Content Warnings: child sexual assault, child abuse, PTSD (including dissociative episodes), suicide attempt (recounted), substance abuse

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: February 2025

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The month of love. And a lot of good books! I love seeing all of the covers together at the end of the month.

  • Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
  • [ARC] You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon
  • Here’s the Thing (The Seddledowne #4) by Susan Henshaw
  • [Short story] The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez
  • [ALC] A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall
  • Sweet Wicked Vows (A Wicked Dade Brothers Book #1) by Rachel Donnan
  • Kingdom of Claw (The Ashen #2) by Demi Winters
  • [ARC] If Tomorrow Never Comes by Allison Ashley
  • A Crown So Silver (Fair Folk #2) by Lyra Selene
  • We Redeemed the Rain (Meadowbrook Ranch #1) by Ashley Dill
  • [Short story] Please Be Mine by K. Sinko
  • [ALC] Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods
  • [ARC] One More Wish (Sugar Valley #2) by Lindsey Lanza
  • Wings of Starlight by Allison Saft
  • [Novella] A Churn in the Dark (Into the Churn #2.5) by Hayley Reese Chow
  • The Rose Bargain (The Rose Bargain #1) by Sasha Peyton Smith
  • Beautifully Broken Control (Sutter Lake #4) by Catherine Cowles
  • [ARC/ALC] The Scorpion and the Night Blossom (The Three Realms Duology #1) by Amelie Wen Zhao
  • Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen
  • The House of My Mother by Shari Franke
  • Beautifully Broken Redemption (Sutter Lake #5) by Catherine Cowles
  • [ARC] The Emerald Alliance (The Otherworlds #3) by Courtney Millecam
  • The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (Volume #8) by Beth Brower
  • [ALC] The Dark Mirror (The Bone Season #5) by Samantha Shannon
  • [ARC] The Serendipity (Only Magic in the Building) by Emma St. Clair
  • The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson
  • [ARC] The Magic of Light by Jordan Abitz
  • [ALC] Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven
  • [ARC] Secret or Shutout (D.C. Eagles #4) by Leah Brunner
  • Under Your Spell by Laura Wood
  • Taken With Trouble (Caught in Chaos #2) by Jenessa Fayeth
  • We Will Be Heroes (The Vigil & Ante Files #2) by Megan McCullough

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Book Review: On Wings of Ash and Dust (On Wings of Ash and Dust #1-6) by Brittany Wang

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 502 pages
Author: Brittany Wang
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 30th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A rebel pixie princess. A deadly competition between five faerie clans. Will she win the crown or die trying?

Pixie pirate Quinn may be an outlaw, wanted by all five faerie clans, but she prefers it that way. All she wants is to finally become a captain and bury her true identity beneath the rolling waves. But when the sudden death of her twin brother causes her to plot a vengeful heist, a shocking betrayal unmasks her for who she really is—her people’s last living heir.

Her only hope of escaping certain death for her crimes is taking her brother’s place in the Ethodine: a dangerous competition for the faerie crown.

In a series of death-defying trials, Quinn faces off with the heirs of four rival clans:

A mute beast tamer.
A flirtatious merman.
A half-blind artist.
And a pompous princess.

But as dark secrets unravel and an ancient prophecy entwines their fates, rivals must become allies before there’s no world left to rule.

LOST ME.

There was nothing inherently WRONG with this book, it just lost me in the middle so much that I don’t think I ever recovered. The initial premise was intriguing, and then everything felt…predictable. I could map this out and with nothing holding it up otherwise things started to drag.

The main character finally gets around to doing something. There’s a cute little slow burn romance. A found family and an evil queen. A lot of the hallmark moments you see in young adult fantasy. I thought the audio narrator did a fantastic job though.

Will I read more by this author? I’m not sure yet.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: none-low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: An Improper Agreement (Improper Agreements #1) by Audra Wells

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 237 pages
Author: Audra Wells
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 4th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She refused to meet his eye, but he heard her quiet words, ground out behind clenched teeth. “I accept, Lord Eaton. And I plan to win.”

Clara has been missing from the London marriage mart for six years and is reluctant to return. That feeling only grows when she happens to meet Lord Eaton–a rather arrogant, proud Earl who vexes her from the moment they first meet. Not wanting to allow herself to be put down by a pompous, self-righteous man, she agrees to the silly game he proposes. The first to make the better match by the end of the season…wins.

Wesley had not intended to meet Miss Carrow in the hedge maze in the dark of night–but that is precisely what happened. He can’t help but get a rise out of her when he finds that she is entirely too entertaining to tease. Now, they are stuck in a cut-throat competition to see who can land the better match by the end of the season.

There are no rules in their secret game–a fact that Wesley overlooked when proposing the idea. Now his plan to pursue the daughter of a duke is quickly crumbling before his very eyes…and not just because of Miss Carrow’s meddling. Miss Carrow herself begins to prove to be an unwanted and unplanned distraction.

Will either opponent succeed? Or will they stumble upon something deeper as they spend more and more time in each other’s company?

LOVED THIS.

This is the first book by Audra Wells I have read and it won’t be my last. I thought this was an absolute gem of a read and had such a great time with it. It had this very slight modern tone to it and a bit of a rom-com vibe in the midst of a regency romance and I was all over how well it was written.

Wesley and Clara had my attention from the beginning. I loved the banter and the predicament they put themselves into. There were balls and forced proximity and carriage rides and all the things I love seeing that shows the development in a relationship I crave. Some of those moments in the second half had me SWOONING. And wow do I love a great kissing scene too.

I had a hard time putting this one down and thought it was beautifully paced and had the right level of drama and pull that kept me coming back for more. Can’t wait to read more books in this series!

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief mentions of past child abuse, loss of a mother, recounted

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