Silver Peaks | The Lilac River ★★★★☆
(Nash & Lily)

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC of this book. [all opinions are my own]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The small town, second chance, single dad— all tropes that I love reading, and Nikki Ashton combined them beautifully. The first half of the book, after Lily returns after disappearing for 10 years, was filled with so much angst that it made my heart hurt. One of my main highlights of this book was the relationship between Nash and his brothers. I love getting scenes of the three of them together and bickering like all siblings do; it truly felt like an authentic sibling relationship. The only thing that wasn't my favorite was the miscommunication, but it is also my least favorite trope, so it could be personal preference as well. The Lilac River had the perfect combination of angst, love, humor, and spice wrapped into one.

Tropes⋆˚࿔
⟡single dad
⟡second chance
⟡cowboy/rancher
⟡small town

Maybe it’s the cowboy romance lover in me but this was such a sweet book. Normally I’m not one for the second chance romance trope but this is where I’ll make an exception.

Things I enjoyed:
-One sassy sweet little girl- the sweet girl to the grumpy MMC delivered some great lines and made her dad even more likable.
-The deep connections- these characters, the family, had very genuine and believable relationships. It made you want to root for the right side. Teenage sweethearts who find a way back to each other will always have a place in my heart.
-An antagonist to root against- these characters antagonist of the book gives genuine reasons not to like him. His actions make his takedown at the end that much better.

Things that weren’t my favorite:
-Miscommunication/a secret: it’s never been a favorite trope or plot tool of mine. There were valid reasons to use it in this story, however, it felt as though it dragged on a bit too long in my opinion. Their main obstacle could have been resolved if she’d been honest and let people in sooner. The FMC’s reasoning was understandable I’m just a reader who doesn’t care for that particular piece.

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TROPES:
💜 cowboy romance
💜 second chance romance
💜 single dad
💜 first love / love at first sight
💜 childhood friends to lovers
💜 he falls first

I was so caught up in the emotions of this story that I read it in one sitting. There was so much heartbreak and yearning you couldn’t help but want to reach through the pages and shake both Nash and Lily. I loved that everything always came back to the Lavender fields where they fell in love and that Bertie reminded them of that when she called it “The Lilac River.”

Every scene we had to watch them navigate their feelings with so much tension between them was heart wrenching but really pulled the story together in the end. Nash is down bad for Lily and there were moments I literally wanted to yell “just let him take care of you!”

Bertie was portrayed perfectly and made me laugh several times as well as Nash’s brothers. I love when the side characters bring just as much to the plot. I can’t wait for their books next. Also Grandma had a few one liners in there that were hilarious, such a fun read!

the lilac river is a second chance romance filled with heartbreak. I have always loved the single dad and childhood sweethearts trope however i found myself not connecting with the characters, but i loved nikkis writing and will definitely be picking up more from her in the future

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book!

Overall I thought this book was cute! A good second chance romance where neither of the main characters did anything wrong. It definitely had some just talk to each other! Moments but still a good romance!

I received this from Net Galley! What a pleasant surprise! First time reading a book from this author! I loved this story of Lily (Lila) and Nash! Set on a ranch - Last Creek Ranch in Silver Peaks. Both fell in love at 16 when they met in history class, they were inseparable and both had big plans for their future. Until Lily unexpectedly left after graduation, breaking Nash’s heart and leaving him wondering why??? Lily returns 10 years later and as mad as Nash is the pull to her is still there and he wants answers! Their story is heartwarming and I loved Nash’s two brothers - Gunner and Wilder and his daughter, Bertie! You will laugh and tear up with this one! The love they all have is so beautiful and strong, there are some twists, the banter and the spice is perfect! This book I couldn’t put down and read in a weekend! There are two more books in this series that I’m excited to read! Put this one on your TBR! Cowboy romance just hits different ;)

The Lilac River by Nikki Ashton, Book 1 of the Silver Peaks series - five star read for me!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, second chance romance, small town, hint of spice, single father vibes with an actual plot! Although sometimes slightly predictable, i really enjoyed the story and Nikkis writing style.

After fleeing town 10 years ago with a huge secret, Lily returns to her hometown to help her mum and grandmother but she isnt prepared to run into her first love Nash who is still seeking answers about her sudden disappearance all those years ago.

Nash who is now a single dad, works on the family ranch and is desperate to know what made Lily run away. Secrets, lies, regret and hurt threaten to stop them being together.
Can Lily face up to the truth and come clean to Nash?

Great character development, I loved Bertie and I am already so excited for what's to come!

Thanks to NetGalley, Nikki Ashton and Bubble Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

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The Lilac River, book one in the Silver Peaks series, is a small‑town, second‑chance romance following Lilly and her high‑school sweetheart Nash, who reconnect after a decade apart. The story dives into grief, secrets, single parenthood, and the enduring power of first love. Second‑chance romance: Heart-wrenching reunion after a decade apart.Dual perspectives:
Atmosphere: Lavender fields, a small ranch town, and quiet redemption.
Emotional pacing: Slow-burn tension with a deeply satisfying payoff.

4.5⭐️Thank you for this ARC! I absolutely adored this book. I devoured it in 48 hours and just loved Nash and Lily’s story. I just found out there’s two more books coming out this year for the brothers and I’m so excited to read! I’d highly recommend if you love cowboy romances, and a single dad trope. Check TW.

🪻ARC review🪻

The lilac river by @nikkiashtonauthor
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Oh my sweetness. This was so emotionally charged. I cried so much but I was also so giddy to know they were finally getting their happy ending. And Bertie had to be my absolute favorite character ever. She was so sweet and charming but so funny too. The relationship she has with her uncles is amazing. I cannot wait to see how this series progresses. I am sooooo excited !! 💥

Loved this! Second chance, small town, slow burn cowboy romance. What more could you ask for? Bertie was an absolute icon and I loved her. The family dynamics in this are so lovely and the relationships between the characters are well presented and really enhanced the story

This book was a slow burn but it was so good romance on 100 I loved everything about this book the characters and story made it so much more better I will recommend this awesome love story

The best second chance romance book I've read in a long time. I requested this one because I loved the cover and I didn't recognize the authors name. I'm so glad I got approved for this because I couldn't put it down. The banter between the brothers made me laugh. The short chapters made it easy to say "just one more chapter" about a dozen times throughout the book. The small town vibes and the characters names were other favorites for this one. The chemistry between Nash and Lily was amazing. I think this was well written and I definitely have this author on my radar. I'm look forward to another trip to Silver Peaks!

*Arc review*

Second chance at love? sign me up. I loved Lily and Nash and getting to see through the years of the relationship. Bertie was a trip and definitely added a lot of fun to the story with the mispronunciation of words. I am super curious about the other two brothers although I do believe that ending shows who one of them ends up with. The only thing I would have liked to see more of was the actual farms and like day to day with her being a teacher. Overall, a great read and a fun romance! Thanks again for the ARC!

3.5 ⭐️ this was exactly the second chance romance I needed. I really liked Nash and Lily and felt like their characters worked well together. I especially liked how she interacted with the family and with Bertie (who was hilarious). The relationship between Nash and his brothers felt really believable, and I enjoyed all of the interactions where all three of them were involved.

I felt like Lily’s reason for leaving was kind of anticlimactic, but it did not take away from the rest of the story. I definitely want to continue with the series.

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC.

I really enjoyed this second chance cowboy romance! Angst + heart? SIGN ME UP! Bertie was 1000% the star of the show. (I love her 😂) I do wish we had a little bit more of Lily's backstory in the beginning, but still a great fast paced read.I'm excited to read the brothers books next and see them grow! Thank you for the arc! 🩵

3.5⭐️
I really enjoyed this one ! I love small town romances and this one really hit the spot! I think my favourite part was the family dynamics in this one ! I loved Nash’s relationship with both his daughter and his brothers it honestly really helped with the storyline and feeling integrated into the family! + Bertie was ADORABLE I can’t lie Nash’s relationship with his daughter was so special it melted my heart ! I also loved Lily’s relationship with her mum and grandma as well as with Bertie ! I think the family dynamics were so well done and felt so real i loved it! I do feel like I wasn’t as Invested in both Nash and lily together as much as I hoped with some of their reactions and reasonings being a little annoying at points but that’s just me being picky !! but I will definetly be reading the rest of the series !
Thank you netgalley and bubble books ltd for the e-copy in exchange for a honest review !

Set against the backdrop of a small town, this story weaves together themes of family, love, and justice with a touch of suspense. I was especially drawn to the legal elements and the deep emotional undercurrents that emerged as the story progressed. As a reader who loves when legal drama meets romance, The Lilac River delivered on both fronts. Nash’s character was a standout. His quiet yearning and emotional complexity were beautifully portrayed and added depth to the narrative. While the first half of the book felt somewhat fast-paced and at times lacked character development, the second half truly found its rhythm. The emotional stakes rose, and the relationships became more compelling, making for a satisfying and engaging read. The bond between the brothers was one of the novel’s strongest elements. It was genuine, moving, and a grounding force throughout the story. I’m already looking forward to diving into Wilder and Gunner’s stories and continuing the journey with this cast of characters.

3.5 ⭐️

Second chance romances are one of my favorite tropes and paired with a cowboy small town scene, I was immediately sucked in to this story.

Seeing how much damage was done when Lily left and the tension and yearning between her and Nash once she returned was so much fun to read. Plus, I absolutely adored Bertie, she was easily my favorite character of this entire book. The fact that she kept pushing Nash and Lily together and would always see more than they thought was so funny and fun to read.

The only thing I didn't quite enjoy was how faced paced the entire story was. Most of the chapters are very short and the story kept progressing very quickly. A lot of the stuff in the past felt very repetitive and almost unnecessary at times and could have been better spent diving more into the characters and the different conflicts within the story. It just seemed like Nash forgave Lily a little too quickly and all their problems with his father got resolved a little too easy. I would have liked that part of the story to be a bit more drawn out and explored.

However, this was still such a fun read and I was sucked in right from the first page.

If you're looking for a story that has:
- Single Dad
- Cowboy
- Small Town
- Second Chance Romance
- He falls first
- Teacher FMC
- A bit of suspense and family drama

This is the perfect story for you!

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

The Lilac River by Nikki Ashton, beat every expectation I had for it, I was prepared for another small town fluffy romance, but was met with a love story of found family, second chances, mystery, suspense, and all around greatness. Bertie was hands down my favourite aspect of this book, the little girl stole my heart from the first scene she was in, sassy, loveable, and a bit mischievous. The suspense this book brought made it difficult to put down, in the best way, trying to figure out who did it, having suspicions and finally finding out so much more than I expected was thrilling. The love story portrayed in these pages is so heartfelt and loveable, the lost love, longing and hope is written beautifully. Watching the main characters work through their past both together and separate was also amazing. I definitely recommend you read this book if this sounds up your alley!