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Unbar the Barred (Darling Ranch #1)
Unbar the Barred (Darling Ranch #1)
JP Sayle | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
UNBAR THE BARRED is a fast-paced prequel novella to begin the Darling Ranch series, a spin-off set in the Divergent Omegaverse. If you have read Silas's Sweetheart, then you will have met Cass and his chicks. Now you have the opportunity to meet Trey, the bar owner and wolf Cass pines after. But they're just FWBs, aren't they?

This novella gives you a little more detail and behind-the-scenes footage of when Silas and his brothers and the PAs were at the Ranch. You see flirty Jupiter, who is all too intuitive. You see a sweet moment with Cass' chickens, Bowie, and Kari. Plus, it seems as though Rue had a thing going on!

I definitely recommend you read at least Silas's Sweetheart, just to get the feel of this world and how it operates. Cass is a divergent, or a shifter who can't shift. As this is a novella, it really is fast-paced, so hold onto your (cowboy) hats. I look forward to returning to Darling Ranch and the Divergent Omegaverse. Definitely recommended by me.

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
 
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
 
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 25, 2025
  
A Cowboy Holiday
A Cowboy Holiday
Lane Hayes | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A COWBOY HOLIDAY is a standalone story, but with crossovers to another of the author's series. In this story, Axel is a single dad who is a qualified vet but also helps out on the ranch doing odd jobs. Tanner is the co-owner of the ranch. These two meet when Tanner wants to buy a herd of cows, and Axel is the vet caring for them. It is set at Christmastime, and they visit Christmas Town.

This is a well-written and well-paced story. Axel and Tanner get together fairly quickly, and the majority of the story isn't whether they love each other or not, but will Axel stay on the ranch, or will he go to Texas as planned? All in all, it is fairly low angst, with medium heat.

Told from both Axel and Tanner's perspectives, they are also ably supported by a great cast of characters, and most of them have four legs! Throw in some Christmas magic in the shape of a mysterious Santa, and you have an easy Christmas read that I enjoyed and can recommend.

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 15, 2025
  
I knew when I first “met” Grant I wanted to know his story. After reading A Tall Dark Cowboy Christmas it not only met my expectations, it exceeded them ten-fold. Grant Dodge touched my soul through the wonderful words of Maisey Yates, and had me feeling like I was along for the ride from his first words.

Grant Dodge was used to the pity head tilts, the supportive hand touches, the tsking and awwing whenever he was spoken to. He was Grant Dodge, widower. No longer just Grant or even just Grant Dodge because he lost his wife. He is old, cranky, tired and just wants to get on with his life, however that needs to happen. As it happens currently it is with a bottle of whatever alcohol he has on hand. He doesn’t like to be sober at bedtime and tonight was no exception. However the light coming from the small abandoned cabin abutting his property is. He has no idea what he’ll find but he knows his snarkyness will send them running.

McKenna Tate just needs a place to rest for a bit. Finding this abandoned cabin in the woods was a cherry on the crap sundae that has become her life. Her truck is toast, she has little to no money, clothes or food but she has made it to Gold Valley, which was her objective to begin with. The hunky cowboy that just interrupted her sleep was not on her to do list however.

Grant and McKenna are broken but together they start to heal each other. Each is looking to fulfill some part of their lives and not knowing how to truly trust someone else to walk the walk with them. Grant still lives with the guilt of losing his wife and how to move on while McKenna never had a “real life” and struggles with knowing her place in the world.

Grant has to delve deep inside to mourn his wife but to also let her go so he can move on. He lives daily with the reminders of his previous life, stuck in a sort of limbo both self-inflicted and by his surroundings. McKenna has a mission in mind to find her family, she has never been wanted by anyone so she doubts they’ll want her either. But if she doesn’t find out the answer she will drive herself crazy.

Such a wonderful story, diving deep into feelings we all have experienced at one point or another. Surprising for me was the fact that Grant was a virgin. Very unexpected but also makes so much sense when put in the bigger picture of his life from high school to the present. Just another wonderful way Ms Yates takes all aspects of someone’s life and incorporates those tiny details to weave an amazing story. 5 amazing stars for this incredible journey to the depths of Grant’s soul.