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✨Tropes✨
❤️Second Chances
🤠Cowboy Romance
🔥Slow Burn
❤️Good Banter
🌶️Nice Spice

Lily Jones and Nash Miller were in love one day and the next she vanished without an explanation. Nash is now a single dad with two brothers who help take care of his little girl and the ranch. One day Lily shows up in town still holding on to her secrets. The love is still there for both of them but can they get past everything else?

I loved these characters. The heartbreak, yearning and redemption of a second chance romance were all there. Small town romances are my favorite and I really enjoyed this one. The banter between the brothers and the little girl was a great character. This was a slow burn with just the right amount of spice. I can't wait for the next one.

The Lilac River by Nikki Ashton is a tender, slow burn second chance romance set in the beautiful small town of Silver Peaks. Ten years after Lily Jones disappeared without a word, leaving Nash Miller heartbroken, she returns — still holding the same secret she left with. Nash, now a single dad raising his daughter with the help of his brothers, never expected to see her again. The moment they reunite, all the years apart seem to vanish, but the heartbreak and unanswered questions linger.

The story is steeped in longing, quiet redemption, and love that refuses to fade. The setting, with its lavender fields and weathered porches, adds a layer of nostalgia and charm to Nash and Lily’s emotional journey. I was completely swept away by the chemistry, the heartfelt emotion, and the touching father-daughter moments. An utterly captivating read from start to finish.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I really enjoyed this, it was a good small town cowboy romance. Loved all the characters, the banter and the story. I liked seeing the backstory and how they can back together in a real second chance romance. Loved Bertie. Nash was jus about the perfect cowboy book boyfriend. Look forward to the rest of the series.

The Lilac River is a heartfelt small‑town romance that delivers yearning, healing, and a second‑chance love that hits deep. Nash, Lily, and their cast of supporting characters (especially Addy) breathe life into every page. If you’re looking for a story that breaks your heart only to rebuild it again, this one’s for you.

Perfect for fans of emotional, character‑driven romance with a touch of rural charm—and the kind of love that lingers long after the last page.

3.75⭐️ Such a cute, cozy, summertime romance!

The Lilac River really has everything you want in a small town romance. The characters are lovable and their personalities leapt off the page. There was drama, well written spice, humor, and even a little bit of a mystery to uncover.

I really enjoyed Nikki Ashton’s writing in, The Lilac River. The setting was lush, the dialogue had an easy natural flow with great banter and the flashbacks were the sweetest romance scenes between Nash and Lily. Ashton did an amazing job at really bringing each scene to life, like when Nash and Lily are making love in the lavender field. It was sweet with just a tiny hint of spice.

I loved all the characters! The dynamic between the three brothers was entertaining and felt so lifelike. The way that they talked to each other felt authentic to how you’d expect three cowboy bachelors to talk to one another. Bertie, Nash’s 8 year old daughter was the princess of the household and she was full of personality. Lily’s grandma was foul mouthed and hilarious. I hope she makes appearances in the rest of the series because she was definitely my favorite of the bunch. I think Lily might have been my least favorite. Her character started out good in the beginning of the book. The way she would interact with her mom and grandma felt multidimensional. Her mannerisms and dialogue made her standout with the rest of the characters but once her and Nash started interacting again her character fell very flat for me. Also, she became really annoying. Nash’s character was lifelike and full of emotion and she would just whisper short answers. It started to get old after a while.

The one only reason I lowered the rating was because it started to drag out and become repetitive towards the middle of the book. Nash would ask why she left and she would shut him out over and over again… it’s like, ok, we get it, but now it’s time to make the story progress and move on. I have high hopes that the next two books are going to be even better. I cannot wait to read Cassidy and Gunner’s story next!

Wow, this book was beautiful.

Set in Silver Peaks, against a backdrop of lavender fields, Nash is running the family ranch, living with the heartbreak of losing the love of his life ten years earlier.
Nash has never been able to let Lily go, their teenage love so all consuming, and he still has no idea why she left so abruptly.
When Lily suddenly returns to town, its clear that she feels the same. Both carry the burden of the devastating heartbreak of losing each other, but struggle to find a way forwards.

"I had braced myself for eighteen-year old Nash. Lanky, full of hope. The boy who kissed me like I was a prayer. But I hadn't braced for this Nash. The man. The storm. Still heartbreakingly beautiful. But changed."

Honestly, this book was beautiful. The setting, the characters, the plot, I loved it all. And best of all no third act break up! The tension simmering between Nash and Lily throughout was perfect, Gunner & Wilder were fantastic (I cant wait to see how their characters develop in their books) and Bertie was absolutely brilliantly written and just hilarious.

I cant wait to read the rest of this series when they are released later in the year, and I think I need to go and have a look at the authors previous titles, because I need more of this!!

Thanks to Bubble Books and Netgally for providing me with an ARC copy to review.

A massive thanks to NetGalley, Nikki Ashton and the publishers for the ARC of The Lilac River.

- Small Town
- Second Chance Love
- Cowboy Romance
- Single Dad
- Slow Burn

The Lilac River did not disappoint. I devoured it. A beautifully written story of a second chance love between two characters who were destined to be together from the start.

Nash & Lily’s story completely stole my heart and I couldn’t stop reading. I was obsessed from the beginning of the book.

Nash’s brothers Wilder & Gunner make for such interesting characters throughout the book too. His daughter Bertie is also a complete character throughout and her love for Lily from their first meet will melt your heart.

I just knew this was going to be a good book when the song at the beginning of the chapter was my wedding song. However, I really enjoyed Nikki’s writing style and particularly liked the short chapters and the songs at the top of each chapter.

A great feel good, cute and loveable cowboy romance to capture your heart. I highly recommend reading it. Also hurry up September as I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!!

You know a book is good when you read it in 1 sitting & that is exactly what happened with this book it was amazing
This book follows the story of Nash & lily. Lily moves to silver pine peaks as a teenager & it was basically love at 1st sight for the pair! They had everything planned for the future until one day lily just vanishes with no explanation & no one knows where she has gone as you can imagine Nash is heartbroken & 10 years later he's still full of anger for what lily did. However, lily has returned to silver pine peaks & Nash is furious as well as others but to rub salt in the wound lily is Nash daughter new teacher so he can't avoid her. All Nash wants is answers to why she disappeared but lily won't give them as she knows the answers will hurt so many people but can Nash eventually get the answers & what will it mean for Nash & lily's future?
This book had everything you want & more in a cowboy romance & i can't wait for the next books in the series

The Lilac River is a tender second chance romance full of emotion, cowboy charm, and family drama.

While I didn’t fully connect with Nash or Lily as individuals, their relationship felt honest and heartfelt...and Bertie completely stole the show! The added touches like chapter songs and a cozy small-town setting made this an easy, sentimental read. Some parts stretched believability, but the story’s warmth and redemption made up for it. A gentle romance with meaningful layers.

If you love angst in your stories, pick up this book! This cowboy small town romance was full of drama, heartbreak and redemption, love and laughter. I loved the family scenes especially those with little Bertie, Nash’s daughter. The bond between the brothers was outstanding. While Lily seemed the ying to Nash’s yang, I prefer a stronger FMC. I am eagerly looking forward to Wilder and Gunner’s stories (Nash’s brothers)!

This book was really interesting! I enjoyed the plot and the characters, and I would absolutely recommend it to others!

ITA
Ovviamente inizio ringraziando per la copia ARC del libro. Devo dire che è raro per me affezionarmi così tanto a una storia già dalle prime pagine. The Lilac River è uno di quei romanzi che ti prende subito e ti fa venire voglia di continuare a leggere per scoprire cosa succede. La scrittura è scorrevole, piena di emozioni, e i personaggi sembrano così veri che ti ci affezioni subito.

Tropes:
Second Chance Romance
Single Dad
Small Town Romance
Cowboy Romance
First Love
Childhood Friends to Lovers
He Falls First
Slow Burn
Return to Hometown
Teacher FMC
Grumpy x Sunshine

Immaginate di essere innamorati a sedici anni, di avere mille sogni insieme, e poi vedere tutto crollare all’improvviso. È quello che succede a Nash quando Lily, la ragazza che ama, sparisce nel nulla subito dopo il diploma, senza dirgli niente. Passano dieci anni. Nash nel frattempo è diventato papà di una bambina adorabile, Bertie, e lavora al ranch con i suoi fratelli. Lily invece è andata via, si è sposata, ha divorziato, e si è portata dietro un segreto che le ha cambiato la vita. Quando torna a Silver Peaks per aiutare la nonna malata, i due si ritrovano. L’attrazione è ancora forte, ma adesso ci sono anche dolore, rabbia e tante cose non dette. E quando Lily diventa l’insegnante di Bertie… beh, evitarsi non è più un’opzione.

Lily è un personaggio che ti arriva. È dolce, ama il suo lavoro da maestra e si vede quanto tenga alle persone che ha intorno. Ma si porta dentro anche tanto dolore e senso di colpa per una scelta fatta anni prima. Ha fatto quello che pensava fosse giusto, ma ha pagato un prezzo altissimo.

Nash è il classico cowboy burbero fuori e tenero dentro. Ha sofferto tanto per l’abbandono di Lily, ma ha riversato tutto il suo amore sulla figlia. È un papà fantastico, ma anche un uomo che ama davvero, in modo profondo e sincero. Ogni scena con lui è carica di emozione, perché si vede quanto è combattuto tra quello che prova ancora per Lily e la delusione che si porta dietro.

Lo stile di Nikki Ashton mi è piaciuto tanto: semplice, diretto, ma pieno di sentimento. I dialoghi sono naturali e le scene più leggere con personaggi come la nonna di Lily, Bertie e i fratelli di Nash danno un bel ritmo alla storia senza toglierle intensità.

Mi è piaciuta anche il doppio pov, perché ci fa entrare nella testa sia di Lily che di Nash, e ti fa capire meglio le loro emozioni. L’ambientazione poi è descritta così bene che questa cittadina americana piccola e accogliente sembra quasi vera.

Se devo trovare qualcosa che mi ha convinta un po’ meno, direi che a volte Lily aspetta troppo a dire la verità e questo può far innervosire un po’. E alcune cose legate alla famiglia si risolvono un po’ troppo in fretta. Ma davvero, sono solo dettagli in una storia che mi ha emozionato dall’inizio alla fine.

ENG
I’d like to start by thanking you for the ARC copy of this book. I have to say it’s rare for me to become so attached to a story from the very first pages. The Lilac River is one of those novels that grabs you immediately and makes you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. The writing flows beautifully, it’s full of emotion, and the characters feel so real that you instantly connect with them.

Tropes included:
Second Chance Romance
Single Dad
Small Town Romance
Cowboy Romance
First Love
Childhood Friends to Lovers
He Falls First
Slow Burn
Return to Hometown
Teacher FMC
Grumpy x Sunshine

Imagine being in love at sixteen, having a thousand dreams together, and then watching it all fall apart suddenly. That’s what happens to Nash when Lily, the girl he loves, disappears without a trace right after graduation, without saying a word. Ten years pass. Nash has since become a father to an adorable little girl, Bertie, and works on the ranch with his brothers. Lily, meanwhile, left town, got married, divorced, and carried with her a secret that changed her life forever. When she returns to Silver Peaks to help her sick grandmother, the two find themselves face to face again. The attraction is still strong, but now there’s also pain, anger, and so many unspoken words. And when Lily becomes Bertie’s teacher… well, avoiding each other is no longer an option.

Lily is a character who really gets to you. She’s sweet, loves her job as a teacher, and you can see how much she cares about the people around her. But she also carries deep pain and guilt over a choice she made years ago. She did what she thought was right, but paid a tremendous price for it.

Nash is the classic cowboy, gruff on the outside, tender on the inside. He suffered deeply from Lily’s abandonment, but poured all his love into his daughter. He’s a fantastic father, but also a man who loves truly, deeply and sincerely. Every scene with him is charged with emotion because you can see how torn he is between what he still feels for Lily and the disappointment he carries.

I really enjoyed Nikki Ashton’s writing style: simple, direct, but full of feeling. The dialogue feels natural, and the lighter scenes with characters like Lily’s grandmother, Bertie and Nash’s brothers give the story a nice rhythm without taking away from its intensity.

I also loved the dual pov because it lets us get inside both Lily’s and Nash’s heads, helping us better understand their emotions. The setting is described so well that this small american town feels almost real.

If I had to find something that didn’t quite work for me, I’d say that sometimes Lily waits too long to tell the truth, which can be a bit frustrating. And some family-related issues get resolved a little too quickly. But really, these are just minor details in a story that moved me from beginning to end.

This was a cute, fun read.

It's a cowboy, second chance romance.

The writing is good and I sped through it. I would have liked to get to know the characters a bit more as sometimes it felt a bit surface level. I did find the dialogue from the child in this book pretty unrealistic though and a bit too grown up for the age she was which I found off-putting.

The romance was good and these two clearly loved each other very much

Second chances, a walk back through memory lane. This is an enjoyable read. A feel good read that plays out as expected.

The Lilac River by Nikki Ashton is a second chance romance that follows Lily a third grade teacher and Nash a rancher on The Last Creek Ranch. High school sweethearts torn apart by a deep rooted secrete that only Lily can tell. This is my first book by Nikki Ashton and I am ready to read the next book in this Trilogy ‘The Emerald Waves’. The writing was simple and easy to read. Minor characters truly stood out and made an impact on the story. As it is a predictable read it was engaging throughout the entire book giving it such a satisfying ending. Some of the chapters felt like they were just filler as it was not needed but it was still enjoyable to read and see some other sides to the story of Lily and Nash. Overall, this was an emotional read and truly engaging. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy romance, especially small town/cowboy romances. Thank you to Bubble Books Ltd. for providing this book review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

Another small town cowboy romance? Count me in! This was fun. It was filled with drama and romance and Bertie was such a blast. I can’t wait to read more of this series.

Loved it from beginning to start! Beautifully written, characters who pull you in from the first page. Could jot out this book down! I am beyond excited to see how story of Gunner and Cassidy unfolds in the next book! 💓

Cute and steamy small town romance. 2.5 stars rounded up.

I am a sucker for cowboy romances so was excited to read this - I liked the three brothers and family drama with their dad. It was also a second chance romance that made sense to me (Lily leaving for a reason, not because the relationship didn’t work) which I enjoyed. And there were cute little elements like well picked songs for each chapter and the little pictures.

That said, I found hard to get into the story between the unrealistic character dialog (e.g., a third grader commenting on someone having a matching blouse and lipstick) and the character’s actions not seeming fully logical (e.g., Lily not explaining the past to Noah even after her mom was going to the paper to get ahead of the story).

Thank you to Nikki Ashton, Bubble Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I got my books mixed up and accidentally wrote about a different one than this so here's take #2!

Who doesn't love a second chance romance? I love the single dad trope and having the FMC be his daughters teacher was just chefs kiss. I 100 percent had figured out the slight bit of mystery in the book way before it happened but that's ok.

The only thing that I didn't like was that I felt like the main characters reason for leaving before was rather weak and flimsy. It didn't seem like a really strong threat or reason to leave.