Rancher's Wild Secret
(Gold Valley Vineyards, #1)
by Maisey Yates 

ebook, 224 pages
Expected publication: November 5th 2019 by Harlequin Desire



Goodreads synopsis:
He’s come to Gold Valley with a hidden agenda…

not to fall for his enemy’s daughter!

Emerson Maxfield is the perfect pawn for rancher Holden McCall’s purposes. She’s engaged to a man solely to win her father’s approval, and the sheltered beauty never steps out of line. Until one encounter changes everything. Now this good girl must marry Holden to protect her family—or their desire could spell downfall for them all…

***

3.75 Stars

This is the first book in the Gold Vallery Vineyards series in the Harlequin Desire line by Maisey Yates.

There are some things I really liked about this book and some things I hated. I am all about a good hate to love romance and this seemed to fit the bill. But this was really more vengeance to lust for me. I never quite believed Holden when he finally admitted his love for Emerson. That alone is what pushed it below the four star mark for me. I guess I am a happily ever after girl.

I know the Desire line is always a pretty short read but I think this story deserved a longer book in order to flesh out some of the sections. I would have liked to see more of Emerson growing into her new position in the Vineyard, the marketing stuff and her relationship with her sisters. It’s too bad books aren’t more visual. I would have loved to see the social media campaign for the vineyard. I was mega intrigued by that alone.

The love scenes and the attitude of Holden when he decided to gain the vineyard by marrying Emerson was what sold this book in the end. If you want a book with a man’s man, this is the one for you. He was all take charge and wanted his woman submissive. I thought the mind set of Emerson when she finally realized why she had never enjoyed sex until Holden was so telling. I think that might open some people’s eyes as to what is accepted in the bedroom. It doesn’t have to be all mission position.

If you enjoy your romance book with a bit of spice and naughtiness, this is definitely for you.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

DNF @ 40%

I couldn't connect with the characters at all, and the plot seemed totally ridiculous for the contemporary setting. I skimmed the later part of the book and it doesn't seem that I'm missing all that much by not finishing it.

Rancher's Wild Secret definitely kept me captivated for the whole of the story. Emerson is a 'yes, daddy, whatever you need, daddy' kind of girl. Her relationship with her father is one she thinks she needs to breathe, including agreeing to marry a man she doesn't love (or even sleep with) for the betterment of their family winery. She is willing to do anything to improve their standing for the family winery, until a new ranchhand shows up in the vineyard and she can't stop thinking about him.

Holden is there for one reason, revenge. He isn't there to bed the daughter of the man he hates for destroying his sister, but when the opportunity presents itself, he can't resist the urge to use her in his bed or in his revenge against her father.

I wasn't sure how the author was going to make this about love when it was clear Holden hated everything about the Maxfield name. What she ended up doing was not making it about Holden but rather about Emerson. It took her tearing down and subsequent rebirth in the journey of falling in love with a man she never would have found if it hadn't been for her father's indiscretions for Emerson to truly find herself.

I loved this story but fair warnings. There is nothing about Christmas in the book (As the cover leads you to think). The sex was HOT and teetered on the edge of BDSM so I would only recommend it for the 18+ crowd. It's not raunchy or tasteless but it is a little more graphic than other Desire books I've read.

Holden wants revenge on Emerson’s father. To get it, he marries her, thereby gaining a part of the vineyards that Emerson’s family owns.

That’s the gist of the story. I can’t talk about chemistry, because there isn’t any chemistry between Holden and Emerson. I can’t talk about how much I liked the story, because for the first time EVER, I did not like a Maisey Yates book. Hopefully this is an anomaly.

Holden McCall wants one thing from Emerson Maxfield; the means by which to revenge his sister's honor. Emerson is going to inherit a chunk of her family's winery upon her marriage and Holden wants to use those shares to get revenge on Emerson's father. So he seduces her and then blackmails her into marrying him. There's... not a lot else to the story. But it was still an entertaining read, setting up stories for sure for Emerson's sisters, Wren and Cricket.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out November 5th
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin Desire and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

RANCHER'S WILD SECRET is book one in the Gold Valley Vineyards spin-off series by Maisey Yates and promises to bring passion and drama to the forefront. Centering around a rancher and the daughter of his sworn enemy, this story of forbidden love is quick to hook a reader as secrets unravel, betrayal is exposed and love begins to outshine revenge.

Holden immediately grabs attention as a powerful man who will stop at nothing to get revenge for the wrong his family has suffered. He's complex and developed just enough to keep us guessing.

Emerson is high-spirited and loyal, but when secrets are exposed that change her entire outlook on the world she has been living in, she finds the strength to stand up for what's right, no matter how much it hurts her heart.

I highly recommend this book to anyone enjoying drama and passion mixed in with strong family presence and happily ever afters. I look forward to seeing how this quartet plays out!

The setting of this book was very contemporary with the influencers but the plot was so old fashioned. Forced marriage? It just seemed to ridiculous. And the fact that her father basically molested other women seemed pretty glossed over. I liked the heroine, I just wish she had more of a backbone.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin Romance via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

This was a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Emerson Maxfield is daughter to James Maxfield, owner of Maxfield Vineyards. She loves her family and job at the winery. She is engaged to a man who she doesn't love but was recommended by her father. Little does she know but not all is right in her world. Holden McCall comes to Oregon to exact revenge against James Maxfield. James had an affair with his sister (who is younger than Emerson). After a miscarriage, Soraya, was institutionalized. No one treats his sister like that. Holden is out to destroy James and his winery.

The road to Holden and Emerson's HEA is one that is strife with heartache and distrust. I loved the dual POV format (it was slightly heavier on Emerson's side though). Getting a glimpse into the characters' thought process really helped me to connect to the them. Especially in the case of Emerson. I thought she was a little pushy in the beginning at times but seeing her thoughts really made me empathize her.

There were times here that I felt some places were a little drawn out and I wanted to skip over them but I didn't. You just never know if what you skip is important maybe further on in the book.

There were some scenes that were a little sexy so I would recommend this book for someone over the age of 18.

In this Harlequin category romance, much-loved author Maisey Yates’s Gold Valley series comes to the Desire line with a spin-off called Gold Valley Vineyards. The first in the Vineyards series, Rancher’s Wild Secret is the story of Emerson and Holden. Emerson’s father is the owner of Maxfield Vineyards, and Holden is a wealthy man in real estate who seeks revenge on Emerson’s father. After succumbing to an undeniable attraction, Emerson and Holden are married as part of Holden’s plan for revenge. Eventually Emerson learns to stand up for what she wants in her own life, and Holden learns to accept someone’s love. This is not the author’s best Desire romance; nevertheless, fans of Yates will in no way be disappointed. Readers can expect fancy parties, beautiful homes, steamy love scenes, and (of course) a happily ever after.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

(Review will be posted on The Fleming Readers blog, goodreads, and retail sites on or very near the pub date)

Holden is quite honest, "...I try to make my *** life no one’s business but mine and the lady I’m naked with.” Holden tends to point out obvious things, “you hate me so much you climbed on me at least five times last night.” I liked this book, I liked Holden.

This book has an interesting plot. He plans to ruin a family but falls in love with his mark. I LOVED this book. I can whole heartedly recommend.

Holden is on a mission to ruin the man who hurt his sister and left her broken. What he doesn't expect is how much he likes his enemy's daughter, Emerson. Emerson's main goal in life is to please her father but when she meets Holden she realizes what has been missing from her life - passion. Finding out about her father's secret life tears Emerson apart but Holden is the perfect man to help her heal. Red hot romance.