This is my first book by this author which I enjoyed reading. I found it to be well written and hard to put down. A story where the past comes to the present. Where the same fate that brings two people together can tear them apart as well. What happens in this romance story is one you don't want to miss. I enjoyed the author's writing skills that brought the story to life. The characters pulled you in from the start and had me coming back for more. A story that is fast paced and easy to read. There is great growth and chemistry throughout the story. I enjoyed this story from beginning to end. I highly recommend this book.

The Wedding Ranch is a sweet women's fiction novel that touches on several themes: loss, grief, and second chances to name a few. After taking a long break from reading ARCs, I can truly say I'm sorry I slept on this book for so long because it is an amazing read. Lorri's divorce and her starting over in Dalton Mill are central to the story; it's emotional, but the backdrop helps bring in lighter imagery. The real star of the show is Ryder, his backstory, and his inner monologue. It is a raw and honest portrait of grief presented with a lot of care. The revelation comes late in the story and will carry the reader's interest until the last page. And Mister is just a loveable sweetheart. The Wedding Ranch is a great pick for woman's and general fiction readers.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC; this is my honest and voluntary review.

A fairly predictable, cutesy romance novel. It started out pretty slow but did keep my attention through the entire book. I sort of felt like I was reading the plot of a Hallmark movie. Overall not a bad read.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️. This was a basic romance novel. Not one of my favorites but not bad either. I think it was a just a bit too slow for me. It was also very predictable. The thing I liked least about this book was that some of the dialogue was really annoying, like the author was just trying to fill up space. As far as characters, I did like them all. The connection between Ryder and Lorri is easy to figure out early on.

Not sure I would recommend this one. Although it did give off a “Hallmark movie” vibe at times (which I normally LOVE in books), I found myself bored some of the time and just ready to be done with it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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A heartwarmingly cute second chance romance. This read exactly like a cute Hallmark movie, in fact, I can totally see this being made into a Hallmark movie. Throw a cowboy in and it's perfect!

Please note, this is a closed door romance, there was next to no spice.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book! The author does not shy away from topics that may make some uncomfortable, like grief, death and addiction.
I have really enjoyed this author's books and this one is no exception.
Our main characters Ryder and Lorri have both endured tragic losses in their life. Neither is looking for a romance but the more time they spend together they realize how compatible they are as they help each other to heal.
Very well-developed characters and storyline. I enjoyed how realistic this is and it was so nice to see how much support our main character gets from her best friend. She is there for whatever she needs and so understanding. We all need someone like this. Very emotional book that I will be reading again.

Pub Date 06 Dec 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Such a good book about starting life over again and new chapters! Be sure to have some Kleenexes nearby because you might be crying in some parts. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

This heartwarming read is so well written I felt like I was in Dalton Mills and sharing the emotions with the unforgettable characters from tears of sadness to laugh out loud joy. I am always happy to read a book from Nancy Naigle because she knows how to totally immerse her readers in her can't put down contemporary novels. I loved the undeniable attraction between graphic artist Lorri Walker and Ryder Bolt and was rooting for their HEA. If you enjoy well-crafted novels, you will love The Wedding Ranch. I received an advance reader copy and liked it so much I purchased it to enjoy again. This is my voluntary review of what I consider a must-read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Wedding Ranch
By Nancy Naigle
Pub Date: 12/6/22

Lorri Walker’s marriage is falling apart. She knows her husband is cheating again. After their divorce she buys a house in the small town of Dalton Mill. It didn’t take long for her to fall in love with the house and the community.

Ryder Bolt lost his wife and son in a car accident. He’s bitter that his dad sold the land that he wanted, a new subdivision was built on the land.

While enjoying the towns 4H fair. Lori is distracted by everything happening around her. She failed to notice a steer had gotten loose and is coming straight for her. Ryder steps in and tackles Lori to protect her from being mauled. That tackle changes both their lives for the better.

A fantastic strangers to lovers romance that had a great storyline as well has characters you could relate to. I love the will they won’t they approach the author used. Definitely worth the read.

After her husband leaves her with their new mastiff puppy, Lorri decides to move out to the country to get away from her past. As she is settling into Dalton Mill, her graphic design business is growing and so is her puppy.

Ryder is still dealing with the loss of his wife and son from seven years ago. He helps out his niece and nephew with their wedding venue on their former ranch. When he meets Lorri, he feels like he wants to spend more time with her, but he doesn't trust his feelings.

This is great story! The author draws you into the characters and the small town vibes where the story takes place. I look forward to more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Lorri Walker knew that her marriage wasn't perfect, but when her husband gave her a puppy for Valentine's Day, she thought they were going to try and make it work. Six months later, she and her mastiff, Mister were left behind when he left her for the dog trainer. Lorri knew she needed to make a change and move on, so she moved to Dalton Mill, where she could work from home and start over. It was just going to be for a year, but things change. Lorri meets Ryder Bolt, her neighbour, who is grieving the death of his wife and son, killed by a drunk driver seven years earlier. He helps his niece and nephew run "The Wedding Ranch" which is where he met Lorri. The more time they spend together, the more they care about each other, until Lorri realizes that there is something between them that Ryder will never be able to forgive.

This was a lovely Nancy Naigle romance. The setting of the small town, the farm, and the summer all bring that romance to the forefront. Both Lorri and Ryder are great characters. They are both dealing with some emotional scars, but if they let it, they can heal each other. I liked that they are both artistic and how those talents help them heal. All the characters add to the story and support each other. The addition of Mister, Lorri's mastiff, was great. He is always around adding fun to the story and was also instrumental in Lorri's healing. There is a twist that causes some angst in the story, which I hadn't suspected, but it wasn't surprising either. This is a story of healing, forgiveness, grief, family and above all else, LOVE. I can definitely see this one being made into a Hallmark movie, it would be perfect. If you enjoy a sweet romance, with a delightful cast of characters and a charming dog, then pick up The Wedding Ranch.

The Wedding Ranch is not a surface level quick romance, so know that going into it. The story is emotional and beautiful and does a second chance romance, love after loss story justice. It is heartbreaking to read at times but full of lots of heart.

A wonderful story of forgiveness and finding love again. Loved Lorri and Ryder in this sweet romance. Both very likable. Plus, everyone loves Mister the big cuddly dog.

This book had a predictable plot that felt a little rushed at times in the romance department, but I still thoroughly enjoyed my read of it. It became about so much more than the plot for me. Every once in a while, I read a book that makes me want to reconnect with myself. It makes me want to sit down and take stock of my life, what I’ve accomplished and what I still want to accomplish, what I still want to learn. This book was one of those. Watching Lori rediscover what she loved, and find her passion for art and creating again after years of not cultivating her talent was inspiring.

Beyond that, I loved the family aspect and watching Rider’s relationship with his niece and nephew. It was nice to see a male main character being devoted to his family and willing to do just about anything for them.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Nancy Naigle for an e-arc of The Wedding Ranch in exchange for an honest review.

Lorri’s husband has left her for the dog trainer. She thought he had recommitted himself to their marriage and their love when he brought her a new dog. So, she has moved on. She has purchased her own place out in the country where she is growing her own graphic design business.

Lorri ends up meeting Ryder by pure accident. Ryder is nowhere ready to fall for someone. He is still reeling from the tragic death of his wife and child. But, there is just something about Lorri. He cannot stop thinking about her.

This story is just a bit too sweet and overly dramatic in places. I even rolled my eyes a few times. But, I did enjoy the characters and their chemistry. And I mean…who does not love a mastiff named Mister. Plus, Lorri has a tragedy in her own past which threatens her future with Ryder. You will have to read this to find out.

Need a sweet tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

The air was crisp as a morning dew caressed the grass. It was the kind of day that would gradually get warmer as the sun made its way across the sky. That perfect late spring day where all felt hopeful and renewed. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, breathing in the freshness of the open space around her. This was the perfect way to start over… to find where life would lead her. Home.

The Wedding Ranch follows Lorri as she grapples with the crumbling of a marriage and moves out of the city to a small town to start her life over. With her giant mastiff, Mister, of course!

This book was charmingly sweet and the small town setting was heartwarming and the characters were like true friends. I also was in love with Lorri’s dog, Mister… a big loveable dog is always a plus in a book for me. I also appreciated reading from Ryder’s perspective, a rugged country boy dealing with grief of his own.
I saw the twist/conflict coming from the very beginning making things a little anticlimactic for me, but I still thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this book.

If you’re looking for a clean romance with a small town/country setting then I recommend picking this book up.

Lorri Walker moved to Dalton Mill after her husband left her and their brand new puppy. Now she has a graphic design business, so she doesn't have to think about her ex. Ryder Bolt lost his wife and child seven years ago, but is busy with his niece and nephew and their venue the Wedding Ranch. Lorri and Ryder meet but weren't expecting anything more than that. The burgeoning relationship might be broken apart by revelations from the past, however.

This small town romance is a second chance, a way to start over in life and love. Lorri moves on in a new town with her dog, and really enjoys small town life: larger home, large yard, farmer's market, small shops and getting to know the neighbors. She has her requisite meet cute with Ryder, and I was able to guess from the start what would likely be the issue tearing them apart. Lorri has a box of belongings from her late brother, who had addiction problems and she had distanced herself from. Ryder's wife and child were killed by a drunk driver. It was either that or Lorri's ex getting remarried at The Wedding Ranch, but there's more emotion in losses, especially since it was so hard for Ryder to open up even with family afterwards. Even getting that feeling early on, I still enjoyed seeing the friendship develop. There were ups and downs along the way, as there would be in any friendship, but they're both genuinely nice people who had a rough deal they were recovering from. Our happily ever after comes with a hefty side of forgiveness and acceptance of grief, giving them a second chance not only for romance, but life itself.

Sometimes you just want to read a book that makes you feel good and ends up with a happy ending. Not the angst and drama of relationships but the building of a friendship along the way. This is one of those stories with interesting twists with unexpected pets and friends.

Naigle’s latest is a slow burn, closed door romance. It does take a while to build, but it is definitely worth sticking out….if just for the puppy.

When Lorri's husband turned out to be a cheater extraordinaire, a divorce was probably Lorri's best course of action. Even her huge dog Mister turned out to be a better conversationalist! Lorri moves to a cute little house in a smaller town, and turns her upstairs sunny room into a studio for her design work. When Lorri nearly gets run over by a runaway bovine at the county fair, she is tackled and rescued by Ryder, a widower and local business owner.

Ryder has determined never to marry again after losing the love of his life and his young son. That may all change once he meets Lorri! However, Ryder still needs to get over his disappointment in how the family property was divided up and the development of the property (where Lorri has bought her new little house!)

Throw in the event space owned by Ryder's siblings, a celebrity wedding, and issues with Lorri's ex-spouse, sprinkle in a touch of romance, and the perfect stew results. Don't forget the dog!!

This is a romance with a touch of humor, maybe predictable, but fun. This would make a good Hallmark film too. I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are mine alone.