Oh, this was good. SO, SO GOOD. It felt like sitting on the porch with a glass of sweet tea in the scorching Southern heat. I was truly delighted by this book!

Holding the Reins follows Cecilia (CeCe) Rae as she moves back home to her family ranch in Kentucky after breaking up with her fiancé. Obviously, she's very sad and very over men and looking for the opportunity to rebuild a life by her family. Enter Nash Carter, her brothers' childhood best friend who also lived with her family after his parents tragically passed. Initially, CeCe wants nothing to do with Nash, who she remembers to be a player who teased her endlessly as a child. When the two start to work together, though, it becomes clear to CeCe that Nash is not the same man, and this sparks a hot, intense relationship.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about this book was the romance. It was very hot (more hot than I anticipated, actually) but was also sweet and tender. I really felt the spark between the two and really enjoyed how they came together in the end. The spicy scenes were also pretty spicy, at least for me, someone who skips spice more often than not. I did think they were well written too!

I do wish we had gotten more of CeCe's background. We really got to know Nash and what makes him tick, but we never really see anything about CeCe, other than an asshole ex. I just wanted to understand her a little more.

I am very excited to have found another good cowboy romance series. I am obsessed and cannot wait to continue!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy for review!

🐴❤️ Book Review: Holding the Reins by Paisley Hope ❤️🐴

A sweet, soulful romance that gallops straight into your heart! Holding the Reins is a beautifully tender story about healing, second chances, and the power of trust—both in love and in yourself.

What it’s about:
When rancher Claire meets Jake, a former rodeo star with his own scars, sparks fly—but so do old wounds. As they navigate past heartbreaks and present challenges, their connection grows stronger, proving that sometimes, love is the ultimate way to take control of your future.

Tropes You’ll Love:
🌾 Small-town romance
🐎 Cowboy hero
💞 Second chance love
✨ Slow burn with emotional depth
💔 Healing & growth

Paisley Hope’s heartfelt writing and authentic characters make Holding the Reins a must-read for fans of grounded, emotional romances with plenty of heart.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#HoldingTheReins #PaisleyHope #SmallTownRomance #CowboyRomance #SecondChanceLove #Bookstagram #SlowBurnRomance #BookReview #FeelGoodReads

I absolutely adored this book, from start to finish. CeCe and Nash had such a great dynamic from the beginning, and I loved watching their story unfold. Don't let the cover mislead you - this book has PLENTY OF SPICE. And spice that is well-placed, that meets the moment. Highly, highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a copy of this book.

Loved this new cowboy romance! The family set up, the way they grew to love each other. This is also definitely going to be a pretty spicy series!

Pffffew…is it hot in here or is it just Nash Carter?? 🔥🔥

If you’re one of those who’s already obsessed with cowboys and thought that your fixation was limited to the world of Yellowstone (yes, I’m talking about Rip Wheeler), let me introduce you to Nash Carter—another man full of brooding and irresistible cowboy heat.

Cecilia "CeCe" Ashby returns to her small hometown of Laurel Creek, Kentucky, after leaving behind a toxic relationship. She’s hoping to restart her life, and she’s ready to reclaim her family’s equestrian ranch. Enter Nash Carter—a former Dallas Stars hockey player who’s not only the town’s most eligible bachelor but also an honorary member of CeCe’s family. There’s a history between them—years of unresolved tension from when they were younger—and when CeCe finds herself needing a job, Nash steps in to help her out. The chemistry between them? Absolutely electric. What starts out as friendly awkwardness slowly turns into undeniable passion, leaving both of them blindsided by what’s blooming between them.

From the first page, I was hooked. The author had me completely invested right from the dedication. The slow burn between CeCe and Nash was perfectly paced, and the tension simmered until it finally exploded into something neither of them was prepared for.

Let me just say, the spice level? 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (4/5). The romance? Right on par. You’ve got all the perfect tropes wrapped up into one irresistible package:

Brother’s best friend (Hello, forbidden feelings!)
Boss/employee dynamics (Cue the tension!)
Small town vibes (Can’t go wrong with that)
Ex-athlete (Retired but still undeniably hot)
Touch her and die (Nash is protective and possessive—what’s not to love?)
Age gap (8 years, but the chemistry? Worth it)
Overcoming past trauma (Coming atcha from both sides)

I couldn't put this one down, and I am seriously so eager to pick up the rest of the Silver Pines series. This book hits all the right notes for a spicy, heartfelt romance with just the right amount of steam and depth.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5 stars) is what I’m giving it—definitely a read I’m recommending to anyone who loves a good small-town romance with a hot ex-athlete turned cowboy who’s full of surprises.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 stars

Many friends recommended this series sometime last year, prior to that author going traditional publishing. When I saw it on NG, I knew it was time to start the series.

The story follows CeCe, who moves back home after her fiance cheats on her. Upon coming home, she runs into her brothers' friend, Nash. Since retiring from the NHL, Nash has spent time and money investing in the family and community that believed in him. When CeCe Rae goes looking for a job, Nash is there to help her out.

This book was cute and sweet. I liked the main characters and all the other side characters. One of my favorite themes in books is the family aspect. Whether it's blood family or found family, I'm a smiling goof when I read a good family aspect.

Thank you to the author and NG for the ARC!

After initially DNFing this book, I was finally able to come back to it! It was honestly such a cute, easy, fast-paced read! There were some beautiful quotes, and it worked as the perfect palate cleanser read! I was absolutely OBSESSED with Nash... the backwards hat got me I fear. I'm so glad i came back to this one! I feel like the initial DNF was solely based on the fact that it was the dead of winter, but as we enter the spring/summer time, this is the perfect read! 3.5 stars!

Holding the Reins just didn't hook me like I wanted it to. I'm a sucker for cowboy romances, but this one felt like eating a so-so dessert—sweet but forgettable.

The hot scenes are definitely spicy (worth those 3.5 peppers I gave it!), and they're honestly what kept me turning pages. But the characters start out interesting and then grow stale as the story goes on. By the end, I didn't really feel invested in their relationship.

The predictable story beats felt forced—like checking boxes rather than letting the romance unfold naturally. And honestly, Hope throws in so many tropes at once that it gets overwhelming. Nothing gets room to breathe or develop fully.

It's an okay brain-off bedtime read, but not one I'd text my friends about.

Surprisingly tender and satisfyingly spicy, this one hits just the right emotional notes. A quick, feel-good read with enough heat to keep things interesting.

This author is new to me, but I will be keeping an eye out for anything else they publish. I loved the story and the characters. The pacing of the story was great and the characters were relatable.

Love, love, love!!! Paisley Hope's debut novel was spot on for me. Small town romance, cowboys and hockey!! Loved the main characters and their chemistry. ❤️

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell & NetGalley for this e-arc.

This book was amazing. In addition to being damaged, Nash is protective, possessive, and completely fixated on CeCe. He's a retired hockey star who used to be an entirely different player, but he's changed, and when CeCe returns to town, he can't get away from her. I love Cecelia's strength. They are a match made in heaven. It was enjoyable, passionate, and spicy. I love Silver Pines Ranch and the Ashby siblings, and I can't wait to read the remainder of the series.

This was a great beginning to the Silver Pine Ranch series! Cece and Nash have great chemistry and dynamic. I really enjoyed the storyline and the tropes in this. This Kentucky small town was the perfect setting and I just wanted to jump into the page and walk through it. I can't wait to read the others in this series.

Give me all the cowboy romance! Paisley Hope hit it out of the ballpark with this one! CeCe and Nash were absolutely wonderful and I loved their story. Cannot wait to read more from Hope!

Good lawd, Nash Carter! This cinnamon roll, part-time cowboy with a filthy mouth had me in a chokehold from the very first page. Paisley Hope’s debut novel Holding the Reins was absolutely delicious—a perfect blend of small-town charm, sizzling romance, and all the best tropes: age gap, workplace romance, and brother’s best friend.

What I Loved:✔ Nash Carter: Sweet, protective, and downright filthy when it counts. The man had me weak!✔ CeCe: Our FMC was an absolute badass! She held her own, had so much heart, and was the perfect match for Nash. I loved her!✔ The Chemistry: Slow burn with scorching heat—every moment between them was electric.✔ The Writing: Seamless, emotional, and impossible to put down.✔ The Spice: Oh, Paisley Hope did not hold back. If you love your romance hot, this one delivers.

The two lines that ALWAYS get me? "Touch her and you'll die" and "Fck it"—and Nash Carter absolutely nailed them:🔥 "Touch her again and I will fcking bury you."*🔥 "Fck it," he growls as his hands grip my face and he presses his lips to mine.Yep, and I was done for!!!

If you love swoon-worthy, protective heroes in a small-town setting, Holding the Reins is a must-read. And Paisley Hope? Ma’am, you owe me some sleep and maybe a glass of water because this book wrecked me. I’ll be first in line for whatever you write next!

When Cece returns home after being in a toxic relationship she finds herself attracted to her brother’s best friend who also is considered family. Nash is a retired hockey player who was taken in by Cece’s family after his parents are killed. They fight their attraction for each other but in the end their love wins out. Even though this book was predictable I still enjoyed it and look forward to the next in this series.

So happy I got the chance to read this! The MMC Nash, a reformed hockey player playboy / “part time cowboy”, has to come to terms with the reality of his real feelings for the FMC Cece. They both promised themselves and each other their arrangement was temporary, but of course feelings had to get involved. Nash was so gone for Cece and just so adorable! Cece really held her own and didn’t take any shit, I loved her so much haha. I can’t wait to continue and see what’s next for the series!
Also HE CRAWLS. Need I say more 🤭

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Paisley Hope and the publishers for letting me read and review this advanced copy. This is a small town romance that is a four star read that comes out February 9th 2024. This is the first novel in the authors new silver pines series. If you like these tropes you'll like this novel

-found family
- age gap
-small town
-cowboy romance
-ex hockey player
-brother’s best friend

This was very steamy and did well to deliver the forbidden love trope with her falling for her brother's best friend! Spicy and good banter and very likeable characters!

an ex nhl player who also happens to be a part-time cowboy that has a dirty mouth?
sign me up every time


thank you to net galley, paisley hope, and random house publishing for the e-arc!