Cowboy romance mixed with dragons? Sign me up.
This was everything I wanted it to be. It was surprisingly touching. I went in thinking it would just be another easy romance and was hit with the family feels. This had me tearing up at points, which doesn’t happen a lot to me when reading romance. I do think what makes this book special is how much love the Riveker family have for one another, they aren’t your classic perfect family, they all have their flaws but their for love each other flows off the pages. The way the brothers interact specifically was perfect. I did also enjoy the authors writing style, very old Wild West/historical but still easy enough to read with some good quotes thrown in

I love a good cosy fantasy romance, but throw in some western, and wow!

The world has that familiar small town feeling but with some magical quirks - potted plants are used to heal, wizard could be a legitimate profession, there are magical everyday creatures and objects, and of course dragons.

Aevrin's family dynamic is loving, I felt like I was sitting around their rowdy dinner table as part of the family.

Aevrin is so stoic and wholesome and I loved seeing the relationship with Cassia develop.

Fun and fast!

The story was what I expect from a traditional cowboy novel, with a little bit of dragons thrown in for extra spice.

I liked our protective cowboy and the secret-keeping chef couple. A short and fulfilling cozy romance.

I only missed a slightly expanded description of the magical world. Now the book didn't open it up at all, although magic was hinted at through objects and dragon bonding.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the free review copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the ARC of the fun, cozy dragon cowboy romance🤠🐉 from the very beginning, I was hooked! I mean, who doesn’t want Scott Eastwood being hot and riding a dragon??!

But in all seriousness, this book was very cozy and atmospheric! I felt that Juliette did a fantastic job of setting the mood and scene. I really did feel like Dawn Ridge was an old western town, where everyone drove a wagon, knew everyone’s business, and treated women with the most OUTMOST respect. AND HE CALLS HER MISS CASSIA!😩 ugh it was just so sweet. I really loved how Cassia just wanted to be a homemaker and Aevrin was perfectly content to let her do that. Please tell me I’m not the only one who wants that😅

One of my biggest complaints, is that it was SO atmospheric, that when the characters said certain words, *cough, cough* “are we an item” really messed everything up. Especially when they used other words like the “necessary” and “sheath”. But honestly other than that, it was such a fun, cozy read that I absolutely ate up!

I really enjoyed this book, a very nice light hearted read! I loved the storyline and was obsessed with the Rivekers from the start 🤩 not usually a massive romance reader but got sucked in by the dragons and stayed for the story, I loved watching Cassia evolve throughout the book (as much as I was internally screaming at her for some parts) and the ending was everything I hoped for! Also my first cowboy cosy fantasy so came into this with absolutely no idea what to expect 😅 Will definitely be looking at more of Juliette's books, thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!!

grateful to NetGalley for granting me the e-ARC of this book.

cozy fantasy romance? sign me up. every time! this was such a fun yet cozy and quick read with evocative writing and lovable characters. i had little issues with the dialogue and writing at some points but overall i really really enjoyed my reading experience with this book. definitely recommend and hopeful for a sequel following some other characters.

I am very sad to say this was not for me. While I am very thankful to have the opportunity to read this early, it just wasn't a good fit for me. I struggled to feel immersed and engaged with the story. This cozy fantasy is very much a slice-of-life style, which will be fantastic for many readers! As someone who needs a faster pace and more plot happening, this was just not my speed. The premise is amazing though and I know a lot of people will love this!

First thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book! It’s very cozy, hardly any action. The romance is sweet, but I wanted more from it at times. The whole idea of this story is so unique. It’s pretty much just a cozy cowboy romance… with dragons. There are some other references to magic, but it’s not a main focus at all. There’s not much world-building, which wasn’t terrible for such a light story as this. It was very enjoyable and an easy read. The main reason I took off a star was because I found myself very annoyed with the FMC. I related to her as someone with anxiety who never wants to be a burden. Unfortunately she took that way overboard, always refusing help, which ended up making the other characters go to extra lengths just to do anything nice (or even basically decent) for her. It just got really old by the end of the book. Overall, I’m certainly not mad I read it. It was cute and refreshing! Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for allowing me to read and review this ARC.

Full extended review on my website!

There’s something so cosy about a Wild West fantasy, and this was such a fun read. Cowboy romantasy where the cowboys ride dragons? I’m 100% in. I adored Aevrin. He’s on the list of swoonworthy book boyfriends for sure. I love the found family, the cosy summer vibes, it was a super fun read. Four stars as it was a tad predictable, and a couple of word choices brought me out of the story at times but otherwise I will be eating up any other books in this series! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc!

Thank you NetGalley and Juliette Caruso for this ARC!

Now this was a fun and unique read, cowboys in a fantasy world? Sign me up now. It was fun, it was possessive, it was wild and just overall enjoyable. It won't be everyone's cup of tea but overall, I think for an easy read to immerse yourself into, this is it. The characters are fun, well suited and easy to follow for the most part. Definitely would recommend.

The Dragon Ranch of Dawn Ridge by Juliet Caruso — Review

Genre: Fantasy Romance / Small-Town Cowboy (with Dragons!)

Thanks to Juliette Caruso, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

DNF @ 20%

I was really intrigued by this one—the premise sounded like something I’d love. But as I got into the story, I realized I was spending more time feeling adrift than immersed. As someone who tends to gravitate toward heavier romantasy with rich worldbuilding and emotional stakes, I struggled a bit with the softer, more slice-of-life approach here. There’s definitely a charm to being gently dropped into a world and learning as you go, but I found myself wishing for more context and structure to stay grounded in the story.

I also found it a bit difficult to connect with the characters, simply because I didn’t feel like I had a strong sense of who they were. Their personalities, motivations, and backstories remained a little vague, and even the physical descriptions were quite minimal—brief mentions like “dark skin” or “long curly hair” left me unsure how to fully picture them. I think a bit more detail would have helped me feel more grounded in their world and more emotionally connected to their journey.

Grateful to have had the chance to preview it—while it wasn’t the right fit for me personally, I think it will find its audience among readers who enjoy cozy, low-stakes stories with a soft, comforting tone and a focus on atmosphere over intricate detail.

Cute, cozy, and unique!

I think the combination of cowboy/western with fantasy is such a fun take on popular romance right now. At times it felt a little long and i wish there was a little more world building surrounding the dragons/origins of their relationships with people but overall its an enjoyable read and I think it'll be such a hit with the cozy romantasy crowd.

This book is a blend of Cowboy Romance and Romantasy, leaning more on the cowboy aspect.
I've read many people commenting that the book is a "grumpyxsunshine" trope, which I think is misleading. Aevrin wasn't grumpy towards Cassia or the other characters; he does have that kind of dynamic with some of his brothers, like any other sibling relationship. He is quite possessive of Cassia (mostly in his mind). They both refuse the relationship, not because of any resentment or grumpiness.
The book has some fantasy elements, though it reads as a contemporary, because it uses modern concepts such as refrigerators, supermarkets, hospitals, and so on, making a magical/fantasy version of them.
The premise of this book sounded very fun! Unfortunately for me, it felt short. I wasn't that invested in the romance or the plot.
Now I don't mean that it was bad; it simply wasn't for me.
I would have liked a bit more development of the conflict, as it resolved too quickly, and a lot more depth to the "villain," cause there's none at all.
If you are in for a quick, uncomplicated romance with some spice and the tropes mentioned above, you are going to like this one for sure.

2.5 ⭐ Predictable and a little boring, but fun.
This was a very simple story- easy plot, simple writing, and low stakes (even though I’m not sure that was what they were going for). The characters could have used some development and motivations beyond guilt and being life-altering-ly attracted to one another. My biggest qualm was the writing style. There were many times while reading when I had no idea what she was talking about and I had to just move forward and assume what I missed was not meant for me or something. Like, literally page 3, Aevrin is finding Cassia (also, I’m sorry but the names killed me, I hated them) almost dead in the wilderness:
"’It’s cider. You wouldn’t like it,’ the rancher squatting on the other side of the fire said conversationally. Brandishing a metal spoon, Aevrin reached over and stirred the pot hanging over the fire […] The two of them had spent all day searching for the missing cattle. It was dark now, and growing cold, with nothing to show for a day’s work. Kazeic’s nostrils flared again. A rumble started low in the drake’s throat. The sound dragons made when they were building a flame. Aevrin’s eyes found his bonded companion instantly. ‘Don’t you dare,’ the cowherd warned.”

Ok so there are multiple people around this campfire, so are “the two of them” Aevrin and his dragon Kazeic? Him and the rancher? Who is yelling at the dragon? Aevrin? the rancher? Or, this is the first time I’m seeing the word cowherd, who is the cowherd? Aevrin???
Writing like this was throughout the whole book and made picturing this book in my head so difficult. I would read a passage, have to read it again, realize it made no sense, and just move on. I found myself reading this book like those people from the old tiktok post who confessed that they only read the dialogue of romance books and skipped all the worldbuilding and descriptive texts. I tried, but it didn’t even make a difference.
Anyway, this book made me laugh (in a number of ways) so I still enjoyed myself!
Thank you to netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!

Review posted on goodreads.

The Dragon Ranch of Dawn Ridge is a cozy, grumpy-sunshine romance, western, light fantasy book with a wonderful setting and tone. It's short and sweet, and was an easy read.

I loved the setting of the book, a fantasy western isn't something I've read much of, if at all, qnd I quite liked it. It came off very well, and I felt that the story fit into the world well.

The characters are enjoyable, and I loved that Cassia was curvy. Her chapters were my favorit3.

However, I was disappointed that there weren't more Dragon parts to the book overall. I definitely wanted to know more about them and their part of the world.
Some of the characters also seemed rough around the edges to me, although I'm wondering if that was on purpose for future books with them as the main characters. Together this sometimes made me feel like certain parts of the story were too short, and could have been lengthier.

I enjoyed my time with The Dragon Ranch of Dawn Ridge, and look forward to any other stories that are a part of that universe.

The Dragon Ranch of Dawn Ridge is a cozy, spicy, feel-good summer read for those who want their cowboy romance with a touch of fantasy.

I really enjoyed the minimalistic world-building. The author gives you just enough information to set the scene and connect you to the world without bogging you down in layers of lore and history, keeping this a light read that allows the characters to shine.

Cassia and Aevrin were incredibly wholesome and charming; it was impossible not to root for them. I also really enjoyed Aevrin’s family, as well as the various dragons who had their own personalities.

I don’t read a lot of cozy fantasies so maybe that’s where this book wasn’t the perfect fit for me, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless, and I would definitely recommend it to cozy fantasy readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

What's not to love about dragons and cowboys?! The Dragon Ranch of Dawn Ridge was cute and cozy, and such a fun read

4.25 stars

Overall this book was very cute with a unique spin on a classic cowboy romance.

Yellowstone meets fantasy when rancher Aevrin saves Cassia from dying in the mountains. Except instead of horses they ride dragons, and instead of standard cattle, they raise armored bulls. Magic is used liberally and naturally in this world, but things are also still primitive in the way you see in an old western. I loved how inspired this world was and would love to delve into it again. It felt more like magical realism than straight up fantasy romance.

I liked the characters and how at the end of the day this is a story of found family, but also how much you should be grateful to the family you have as well. Aevrin and Cassia's love story was fast in the sense of time, but it felt like a slow realistic timeliness of falling in love and caring for someone even if you think you shouldn't.

Lastly, I loved how thoughtful everyone was. A great cozy fantasy read.

OVERALL RATING: 3.25🌟

SPICE: Hot Honey 🌶️🌶️

Format: 📱Kindle

Thanks to Juliette Caruso, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Plot 3.5🌟
Overall, I thought the plot of this was quite good. I love cozy fantasy, it is one of my all time favorite genres! The concept of this plot was right up my alley, a professional cook finds herself in a messy kitchen with a family who makes terrible meals. I knew this would set-up for a fantastic cozy vibe and romance! I loved the mystery of Cassia and where she came from, how she got hurt, and the state of her brother. Adding another layer with the ranching and dragon riding… I mean come on, how could you not love the sound of that?? The cowboy fantasy blend was done really well in my opinion, I thought it was so clever how she correlated dragons to horses, but still gave it that fantasy flare! Also, fire breathing cows? Who wear armor?? Adorable.

The plot did fall apart a bit for me because it was just missing things I needed in order for the story to remain entertaining. I wanted to know more about what Rylan was getting himself into and I wished the drama of that was amped up a bit more. It was quite boring and extremely low stakes. I think it would have been fun to have more town suspicion and the sheriff more involved. I also found the kitchen stuff to not be enough. I loved the beginning when she was cleaning out the kitchen and finding the mice that disguised themselves! But after that, we lost some steam. The interactions were boring and the longing was just not tense enough for me. There was definitely room on the pages to amp up the romance plot more!

Characters 2.75🌟
I enjoyed the characters of this story. Cassia being the main character was a lot of fun. She is just such a joy and definitely the sunshine of the story. I also appreciated that she was described as a bigger woman, always love that representation! Aevrin is the MMC and he is the grumpy one here, haha. He is a cowboy and kind of the main man of the house aside from his dad. The side characters are pretty entertaining, Gramma and Mavek especially.

Physical descriptions of the characters were missing for me. I really had no clue what Cassia was supposed to look like beyond her generous curves (which were described at length). Aevrin’s appearance was completely missing! It was just so hard for me to picture these characters, even knowing what their ages were! Fortunately she had some character art on her Instagram. I also found the characters two dimensional, I think some backstory work would be beneficial. It wasn’t hard to connect with the characters, but for me, character stories are big for me and it was definitely missing something.

Writing & Pacing 3.5🌟
I think the writing here is quite good! Super easy to read and follow along. I though the dialogue was great and fun. And the spice also was written well!

I had a minor issue with the interchanging of “dragon” and “drake.” I can be a fantasy snob and on top of that, it confused the crap out of me. I thought there were dragons and drakes at first. Dragon = four legs with wings, drake = four legs no wings. Now, I think it would be funny to call a dragon a drake when a dragon is being silly or stubborn, like calling a donkey an ass.

Audio Experience N/A

Romance 2.5🌟
The romance was okay here. Ultimately, it was not my favorite part because it would have done well to be a slow burn with lots of tension. I think that was the attempt, but it lacked tension for the most part. I did think they were a cute couple by the end!

Plot to smut ratio 4🌟
With this being cozy romantasy, I have a personal opinion that you should limit the spice and tone it down, which matches the coziness best! I felt like the first scene was too long and too descriptive. While the second scene was the perfect length and described appropriately! I don’t want to harp on the spice too much because out of all the things I rate here, spice is SOOOO subjective.

Spice Quality 4🌟
Like I said, I felt like the first scene was a little too descriptive for the nature of the novel. But outside of that, I thought it was well written! I mostly just don’t want spice to be weird or cringy. The second scene was toned way down and honestly the type of spice I prefer in general!

Overall Entertainment or Emotional Reactions 3🌟
Overall, I did enjoy this book and thought it was a good read! I did find parts of this to be slow and it got a little boring versus cozy for me. I would recommend it if you’re looking for a cowboy romance and fantasy blend, it does hit all those notes well!

The concept for this book was so interesting! I think it did fall a little flat in the execution of the plot, both in the romance and in the subplot. In terms of the romance I wish that this book had taken place over a longer period of time in order to really believe how much they care for one another. I do think the two main characters do like each other but it all felt a little bit insta-lovey for me by the end. The mmc also felt too perfect in my opinion, typically because in romances likes this the two main characters both have personal issues they need to overcome in order to get into the relationship but he doesn't. By the time they got together I was ready for the book to be over, but the subplot coming back in at the very end I was a little bit over it especially since, in my opinion, they did not have a lot of visible impact through the story. If the outlaws were actually seen on the page instead of talked about it would have had more impact on the overall story. I thought that the world building was pretty good overall and was really cool how the ranch operates in the story than in the real world. While I didn't love this book I would be interested in seeing this continue into a series since the world and other siblings did peak my interest.