I didn't know this was part of a series so I have to go back and read the other two. Loved this story. A fun cowboy romance. The characters did annoy me a little but overall a great read.

This one started strong. I absolutely love the MMC. I love a small town cowboy romance. It fell a bit flat and the FMC annoyed me but overall a fun palette cleanse of a quick romance read.

I do love a good western romance. However, I did find some of this book a little repetitive. That said, for a fairly short read, I loved the tension and chemistry between Aubrey and Gunner and would recommend reading this, especially if you’ve already read the previous two books in the series

Fantastic read. I love a good cowboy romance and this one did not disappoint. Fab and relatable characters with the perfect ending

I picked up this book based on the description and because I’m a sucker for a good western romance. It’s on the shorter side, and about halfway through, the jilted lover forgave the musician. Honestly, I was a little frustrated by how quickly that happened. She didn’t really make him work for it, and his redemption arc was almost nonexistent, one moment he was out, and the next, boom, they were back together.

But as the story went on and their relationship grew, I realized how healthy their dynamic actually was. Both characters carried their own traumas, yet they communicated well, respected each other’s feelings, and truly considered each other’s wants and needs. It’s the kind of relationship I’d aspire to have myself.

The ending tied everything together beautifully. While it includes a short lived third act breakup, the story avoids unnecessary toxicity, focusing instead on healing and connection. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

Will I ever tire of cowboy romances? No! This was all kinds of yeehaw 😂 loved the main character and the spice was good

Second chance romances are always a risk for me, and unfortunately this one didn't pay off.

The book had a great start and I thought the chemistry between the two main characters was great, but this book had too much drama that was repetitive. I lost interest and by the end I didn't think Aubrey deserved Gunner.

A conversation could have cut this book down by quite a bit.

And for anyone wondering, you definitely don't need to read the previous two books to enjoy this one.

3.5 for me

I loved the characters and the overall plot however was frustrated with Aubrey and the lack of communication the Gunner.

Both characters has issues from their past that effected their ability to connect communicate with each other but thankfully they both overcame that and we got out HEA.

Hea is personally a must for me.

Worth mentioning that this is 3rd person POV as I know it’s not for everyone . It’s also les that 300 pages , as mood reader I have a TBR for short books and long and would happily recommend this if someone is looking for a short quick read that they just want to snuggle up on the couch with something that will leave them with the warm and fuzzy felling at the end ,I mean after all we have a cowboy and small town what’s not to love

This book was a cute romance but didn’t knock my socks off. It’s the third in a series in which I hadn’t read the first two, so I might have been at a bit of a disadvantage. There were some things I really enjoyed about this book and some things that I really did not. I didn’t like that he was a recovering addict but still drank. I didn’t like a side storyline where he was mentoring elementary students (nice idea but it just came across super cheesy). But my big hang up was I hated the way the MMC spoke so much. Tons of y’alls and darlin’ and honestly it felt like the stupidest stereotype of a country singer. I just couldn’t get past it and I was pulled out of the story almost every time he spoke. If that works for you, there were things to really love about this book but it was more of a miss for me.

Thank you Stacey Kennedy , Harlequin romance and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! All information below is based off my own opinion of the book! I also like to keep my reviews short and simple as someone who looks at the short reviews before reading books. 💕⭐️
Book rating: ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
Favorite characters: didn’t have one
Review: I had a really hard time connecting with the characters. I felt like the book was repetitive. By 70% in I was ready for the book to be over. With that being said it was an okay read for me. I liked the cowboys, the music aspect, and the cocktails Aubrey was making they sounded pretty good!

This was such a cozy second-chance small-town romance- gave big Elsie Silver vibes and I ate it up. Gunner and Aubrey’s chemistry was obvious, and messy in all the best ways!!

She’s got her own wounds, he’s got his own past, and when they reconnect in Montana, the slow build and emotional stakes really landed.

It wrapped up nicely, though the last stretch lost a little sparkle for me- personally, some of the tension fizzled once their issues were out in the open. But still, warm, heartfelt, cowboy charm, and a perfect taste of redemption and romance.

I'm obsessed with second chance, small town Western romances and this one was one of my favorites for sure! Every aspect was perfect. The author did a wonderful job with tugging at readers' emotions.

This book was amazing! I love western country music books! This one is one of the best I have read before!

3.5 stars -
Sometimes you are in the mood for a spicy read, and when it also has a cowboy as the lead – be still my heart.

This book started with a hot kickstart and awesome hopes for the book. A fabulous week that leads to actions that carry on and impact the characters throughout the rest of the book, even years later.

I have to admit, I got a bit frustrated a time or two with my Aubrey for the way she treated Gunner by not having conversations that could have opened the door to healing instead of heartbreak. He tried over and over, and let’s be honest, there is only so much someone should put up with, and he went over and above.

The book is loaded with tension and longing. They belong together, and the fact that she withheld for so long did not lead ot emotional impact for me. It led me to frustration.

Kennedy added a wonderful setting and secondary characters that were sweet and supportive. The wedding descriptive scenes were awesome and set the tone for the book

Overall, The Rebel with Broken Strings is a sweet romance with a perfect touch of spice. These two broken and insecure hearts eventually find love, but they remain insecure throughout. A satisfying and simplistic plot with a bit more drama than needed, in my opinion. But the ending made up for so much! LOVE

Thank you so much @staceykennedybooks @netgalley @hqn_shamelessromantics @harlequinbooks @afterglow_books for this ARC 💕⛰️🤠 Pub Date 📅 November 25,2025 Themes: small town, second chance, opposites attract, he falls first, rebel with a cause, forbidden ❤️‍🔥

I love, love, loved this book! The plot locked me in from page one, and spit me out a new person on the last page. The characters became real to me and will live in my brain forever. The setting was tangible and perfect. The pacing was riveting, but not rushed. All coming together to be a book I can't wait to recommend to my friends.

Review: The Rebel with Broken Strings by Stacey Kennedy 🌟
This book gave me all the feels. 💔🎶 Gunner is the kind of hero you can’t help but root for—flawed, vulnerable, and determined to make things right. Aubrey’s walls are sky-high, but the slow unraveling of her heart was so worth the wait. Their second-chance romance is messy, tender, and seriously swoony. 💕
The small-town Montana setting adds so much charm (I want to live in Timber Falls now 😍), and the side characters bring that cozy, community vibe that makes you feel right at home.
Yes, the middle stretched a little slow at times, but honestly? The emotional payoff and the heat 🔥 more than made up for it.
If you love:
✨ Second-chance romance
✨ Small-town settings
✨ A hero who wears his scars with pride
✨ Emotional, heart-tugging journeys
…then this one’s for you. 💫
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Unfortunately I could not finish this book and I didn't feel enough connection to the characters. I wanted more meaning behind things to drive the characters forward, but it felt more transactional to me.
This is just my opinion and understand it's slightly outside my usual reading taste.
Thanks for this opportunity to read this book.

I am currently in my cowboy romance era and this book fits the bill. I liked the plot and the chemistry of the characters. I do feel that the characters could have been built up more to give depth and make them more dimensional. I enjoyed the plot but think it was over-simplified at times and had drama that didn’t add to the story. I enjoyed learning more about the friend group and the dynamics within it. I think the language, punctuation and flow was basic and could use development. Overall, I think it was a good cowboy palette cleanser but did not live up to other cowboy series I have read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

The Rebel with Broken Strings is a heartfelt and engaging read. The story is emotional, well-written, and keeps you invested. While a few parts felt a little drawn out, overall it’s a powerful and memorable book.