I’m always here for a Maisey book, so I don’t even read the synopsis any more.

I liked Honey and Jericho well enough. They bicker like crazy, but eventually they actually started listening and having real conversations. It was extra delightful to see some of the previous characters and how they all interacted.

Plot wise, it was okay. I’m always wanting more with novellas and this was no exception. Especially since it seemed like 90% of this book was inner monologue. Jericho said some pretty crap things and I wanted a lot more groveling. Or you know, any amount of groveling.

Overall, it was a quick read with characters who were easy to get invested in. I look forward to whatever Maisey puts out next.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

I was excited for the next installment of this series because I enjoyed book 2 of this series but this book was not my favorite. It is short, which was positive, but there just wasn't much to love. I usually love the trope of getting trapped in a storm but this one just felt forced and not very romantic. Hope you have better luck!

Rancher's Christmas Storm comes out next week on September 28, 2021, and you can purchase HERE.

She started the engine, and before she could think better of it, she put the truck in drive and punched the gas. And then she was leaving. Driving away from the little house she had called her own for years. From the winery that had always been her home. From the man who had given her butterflies in her stomach since before she knew what it meant.

A charming, enemies-to-lovers, close proximity romance that has plenty to make a reader smile. Jericho and Honey have a sparky back-and-forth that results in a fun, flirty explosion when they are stranded together. Although this one boasted a lot of inner musings on their relationship—with one another, with Honey’s brothers and father, with Jericho’s family, and with emotion in general—it was enjoyable, Christmassy, and left me swooning and feeling good. Definitely one to pick up when you’re in the mood to get the holiday season started!

Forced proximity.

I really like Maisey Yates and this book delivers on all the tropes. Forced proximity (trapped in a cabin during a snow storm, they must stay warm). Best friends' sister (of course). Jericho did a bad, bad thing (you know it). Like that's the thing that I couldn't get past (the point of contention). Poor Honey. Maisey, did you not like Honey?
But its Christmas. So....

Recommend.

Turn up the heat for Christmas!

Honey has been crushing on family friend Jericho for most of her life, but when he buys her family’s winery out from under her, she’s at her wit’s end and is packing up to start a new life elsewhere. Until her truck strands her on the side of the road with a blizzard on its way.

Jericho knows he has to keep his attraction to Honey on lockdown, but when he sees her truck on the road as he’s heading toward an uncomfortable family reunion for Christmas, he’s not prepared for the storm that’s headed his way.

Stuck on an impassable road, they take shelter in a nearby cabin retreat and start to work through the unavoidable issues that stand between them. The forced proximity trope has never been done better, with these two generating enough heat to melt all the snow for miles around. Is it still arrogance if it’s the truth?

As much fun as those scenes were (and they were, trust me!), the real heart of the story kicks into high gear when they get back on the road and head to the Dalton’s for a Christmas with the father Jericho never knew, along with a slew of relatives whose similar experiences have forged a strong familial bond before they’ve ever met.

The singular beauty in this book is the way the author draws us into the depths of Jericho’s and Honey’s hearts, facing head-on all the trauma and heartbreak they’ve already endured and showing us how they find healing through the love of their families and the love they’ve found for each other. If you don’t tear up, just a little, then you need to get your own heart examined.

This author never leaves us hanging without a strong, satisfying HEA, and we also get a sweet look into the future for this dynamic couple. I loved every bit of this wondrous story, and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves cowboy romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Rancher's Christmas Storm is the 4th novel in Maisey Yates' Gold Valley Vineyards series and I absolutely loved it, and read it in one sitting, and yes, Ms. Yates made me cry again! It's another in her long string of 5-star reads.

Honey Cooper has wanted two things in her life, the first is ownership of Cowboy Vines, her famiy's vineyard and wine-making company, where she's worked as far back as she can remember, and the second is Jericho Smith, who came to live with her family after his mother's death when he was a teenager, became best friends with her brothers, and has treated her like a bratty teenager ever since. When Honey learns that her father sold the company to Jericho without ever even mentioning it or offering it to her, she feels angry, livid, betrayed, and devastated, and decides that since there will be no way to avoid Jericho, her now de facto boss, she meets a man on a dating app who offers her a job at his equine facility, and a relationship--finally a chance to lose her virginity and stop pining over a man who will never see her as a woman.

When Jericho asks her to mind the business during the Christmas holiday, she quits, tells him she's leaving, packs up and does just that--until her truck breaks down in the snow, she has no cell service to call for a tow truck, and it's 15 miles from the nearest possible habitation. Forty-five minutes later, along comes Jericho, the last person she wants to see. He finds them a vacant rental home in that woods that is off the grid but a place to hole up until the blizzard is over, and although the two bicker as they've always done, their enforced proximity leads to a whole lot of honesty and a lot more than friendship.

One of the reasons I so love this series, and this book in particular, is that there are only a handful of authors who do character development, strong emotions, snarky dialogue, and heart-wrenching angst like Maisey Yates, and she does it in this novel in spades--after all, what else is there to with two interesting characters holed up in a cabin for three days and cut off from the rest of the world?

If you're not already hooked on Ms. Yates' books, I suggest starting from the beginning of the Gold Valley series, because almost every character in the series appears in this novel, although Rancher's Christmas Storm can be read as a standalone, I think you'll find reading these novels in the order written will give you a deeper understanding of these families and characters. All I can say is that this novel was un-put-downable, and I highly recommend it.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

I have enjoyed the books that i have read from this series. They are easy reads, a bit formula like, but sometimes that is just what this reader needs. In this story Honey and Jericho have known each other all their lives and have an undercurrent of attraction veiled with bickering and frustration of a family winery being sold without Honey's input. She decides to leave all she knows behind for a new job and possible new man... only to get stuck on the side of the road with snow getting worse and worse. These two have to come to terms with their attraction and feelings after being stranded together in a blizzard. Thank you to Harlequin for allowing me to read this new book.

This is a wonderful story about two people who have been struggling with emotions of varying degrees for years. Christmas has always been a time for hope and redemption, so maybe, just maybe, Jericho and Honey can finally open up to their true feelings and act on them.

When Honey's family took in Jericho when he was 16, she had a huge crush on him but since she was so much younger, she never once thought that he'd ever notice her except as a "sister". She's always felt like she didn't belong and no one understood or listened to her. When she and Jericho end up stranded in a snowstorm and they can no longer resist temptation, years of suppressed emotions come out. This story will definitely tug at your heartstrings.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

For as long as I've read romance novels, Harlequin has always been the corner stone of the genre for me.... maybe that's because that giant box inside the attic of forbidden 90s romance? Well, a great deal of them were Harlequin.... Therefore, this publisher will always hold a place in my heart.

Blurb: Jericho Smith has known Honey Cooper nearly all his life, and has admired her for nearly that long too. But these days, he isn't her favorite person.... that might be because he managed to buy her family winery right out from under her.... or maybe it's the fact he hides his attraction for her under the guise of friendship. Honey Cooper has had a crush on Jericho Smith for as long she can remember. But, somewhere along the way, that teenage crush has turned into a mixture of lust, annoyance, and jealousy. However, if they can both manage some open, honest communication, they might be able to find love this Christmas.

As mentioned, what originally drew me to this particular book was the Harlequin publishing label (I'm a sucker for a Harlequin novel)... they're a guaranteed short snappy love story with a guaranteed HEA. Honestly, sometimes that's all you want. As for this book, each novel is a stand alone, but if you really want to know the other characters, it maybe helpful to read the other books that are related. Honey, was a harsher character (there is an explanation for this), but I consider her a more "unlikable heroine"... mostly because she has really selfish moments in regards to Jericho. However, near the end of the novel... she really grows as a person, I am able to forgive her. One thing that really annoyed me (one of the reasons I'm giving this book three stars), is the instant forgiveness she gives Jericho. Jericho said some really awful things to her, and really invalidated her as an adult... so I kind of wanted a groveling moment.

I know I've mentioned it before but the I'm one of the few romance fans, who doesn't always love the enemies to lovers romance trope... mostly because it makes me question the sincerity of the relationship with all the constant fighting. That being said, these two have known each other since childhood, so I genuinely believe their connection (and I love the forced proximity trop, which is another element present in this novel).

Overall, I recommend this book if you're looking for a quick Christmas read with family elements, and a dash of angst thrown in! I want to thank Harlequin, Netgalley, and Masiey Yates for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

I love Maisey Yates’s books. The two main characters are Honey and Jericho. They have known each other all their lives. They bicker all the time. Honey decides to leave home on the way to a new job her truck dies. It starts to snow and Jericho comes by and saves her. They get stranded in a blizzard for days. Eventually they figured out they love one another.

I've read several other books in this series before. The book wasn't my favorite, but it was enjoyable enough to read. The story was mostly monologue/dialogue and intimacy. The monologue/dialogue showed the main character's growth throughout the novel, but just didn't catch my interest.

Just in time for the holiday. Wouldn’t you know it a huge blizzard arrives and with it an abundance of snow for sure but of course a huge challenge for Honey Cooper and Jericho Smith. Jericho is one of the many offspring of Hank Dalton. Fans of the Gold Valley Vineyards series will recognize that name. For newcomers Hank had a habit of chasing women and spreading his sperm. When his wife discovered his cheating ways, she sort of clipped his wings. But the fox had visited too many henhouses by then. And now occasionally, a new offspring appears at the Dalton doorway.
Sounds funny and of course Maisey Yates planned all that with panache.
The Golden Valley series is filled with family and legacy. Ranching in their blood. These are basically rough and tumble people but with hearts are big as their enterprises. Hank has done well for himself, and his family seems to be getting over the shock of having random adults pop up on their front porch claiming to be a member of the Dalton family.
Jericho had been taken under the wings of Cooper family when he lost his mother. Jericho became part of that family with brothers Creed and Jackson and sister Honey. So you can understand his dilemma of being stuck in a remote cabin in a blizzard with his “sister” Honey who had long ago lost her baby sister qualification.
Basically it’s about learning who you really are. Is it just a compilation of events that have occurred in life that shaped you? Is it a well-constructed shield. In the end are you pulling away from something or someone who just might make your life tremendously better. Both Honey and Jericho lost someone important and vital to their lives, their mothers. Both had to learn to adapt to a very different life. Honey worked at being tough like her brothers and carefully hid her vulnerability. Jericho worked at accepting being different and worked hard to make himself independently wealthy. Both weary at depending on anyone for their emotional wellbeing.
Jericho needs to look into himself. Honey seems to have opened some doors, but the question is to what. These two characters are facing a storm that is larger and more meaningful than the blizzard that has them hold up in a cabin. It’s totally up to these two amazing characters to decide how to survive their internal storms. Maisey Yates once again provides the backdrop to a drama about life and love.
I’m pretty sure that RANCHERS CHRISTMAS STORM is the end of the Golden Valley series. But who knows what Maisey Yates has up her creative sleeve. This has been a noteworthy series filled with lovely characters who jump off each page of their individual story and then hang around as supporting cast for many more tales. The Golden Valley series is one of the best from the best Maisey Yates.

Very holiday feel for the cover, and the blurb looked fun. This was a cute romance with a wonderful message.

What did I like? I enjoyed the romance feel of the book as Honey and Jericho were stranded together. Sometimes close quarters can help you sort out feelings these two had been holding onto. Lovely read with a nice HEA.

Would I recommend or buy? I’ve bought tons of these cute romances over the years. They delight as well as uplift your spirits. I would recommend this to anyone loving romance. Four stars!

I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!

Another winner from Maisey Yates. She knows how to create characters who fall in just the right ways and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day. Who doesn't love that?!