I'm a big fan of fantasy so have seen Karina Halle's name around for ages and when I saw she had a cowboy romace series - consider me sold! Until I read it that is.

The premise of this book is that Rachel left her hometown after her boyfriend Shane dumped her very publicly and she hasn't returned in 6 years. Now her Mum has cancer so home she goes to try and help her out.

So the story snips back to 9 year old, 13 year old, 20 year old and present day versions of the characters. Basically they've been in love since they first clapped eyes on each other at age 9, OK sure, they were best friends for years then it turned into a full relationship as they got older.

My main problem with the story is the parental sexual abuse. I know it happens in the real world but I don't want to read about it in my fluffy Cowboy books! And it doesn't seem particularly realistic for Rachel to go from her Dad doing whatever he does to her to begging Shane to sleep with her. When she is so terrified by a bear she can't breathe/speak - straight into a sex scene with Shane - these don't seem like particularly believable reactions to these situations but sure.

So when Rachel finally reveals to Shane what her Dad has been doing since she was 12 years old, he basically drugs her, drives round to her parents house and beats her Dad half to death. Her Dad is the chief of police in town by the way. One of the other members of the police turn up and see this happen, but Rachel's Dad makes a deal with Shane that if he dumps Rachel (who he has loved SINCE HE WAS NINE) he won't get him sent to prison.

So two days later, Shane turns to her and says actually the abuse stuff is just too heavy for me I don't love you anymore, see ya! And Rachel is heartbroken and flees the town she's been wanting to leave for years. When she returns her Dad is in prison for murder so we can just ignore him, and eventually Shane tells her what happened and why he said that and then it flip flops between OMG I LOVE HIM WE CAN BE TOGETHER to I CANT STAY HERE ERMAGHERD.

I just can't get over the proposition that an abuse victim/survivor would EVER get past somebody they're in love with turning round and being like nah too much baggage actually.

Anyway it's a shame because other than this absolutely bizarre choice of storyline I did enjoy the writing, except for the very clumsy intro of the love interest for the next book at the end of the book.

I'm a pretty new reader to Karina Halle books and have enjoyed everything I've read by her. This book was no exception.

I really enjoyed the dual POV, as well as the duel timelines. It really helped to put us in the mindframe of both Rachel and Shane. I normally don't read a lot of second chance romances, but this one definitely resonated with me. I find with second chance romances, the characters get caught up in the past and tend to focus on memories of who they used to be. Shane and Rachel both made an active decision to know each other as they are now. Sure, they discuss memories, but also get into real discussions about how the past changed them.

This book made me so sad and angry and just broke my heart for both of them. Also, Rachel is so much more forgiving than I could EVER be in her circumstances. It was really nice to see these two come back together after all the heartache they both suffered. I'm definitely going to check out more in this series.

Thank you to Metal Blonde Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Wild Card" was a really good book. I would have liked to have seen a little more relationship development between the main characters, but overall a great quick palate cleansing read.

Cowboy + romance = sign my tf up!

This was such a sweet wholesome read!
I’m not always the biggest lover of friends to lovers but when it’s done right I’m in love and this is one of those books where it is done so right! I loved seeing the flashbacks from when they were children to teenagers to adulthood and am so happy they were able to find their way back to each other!

Pinning sweet Shane 😩 what he did for her might not have been the smartest thing but his heart was in the right place and what he had to put both of them through because of his actions just……. tortue.

Rachel is so strong she has been through so much in the short amount of time she’s been on earth.

“Rachel, I love you. I loved you then, I love you now, and I loved you in all the light and darkness in-between. I love you with a wildness I can’t tame.”

⚡️ cowboy
💕 friends to lovers
⚡️second chance
💕 small town

Where has Karina Halle been all my life?! I absolutely LOOOOVED Wild Card.

Perfect small town, second chance romance that hit my right in the feels.

Thank you to NetGalley and Karina Halle for allowing me to read Wild Card in advance.

Wild Card is a small town, second chance romance with just the right amount of angst and heartbreak. I love the author’s writing style and the way she sets it all up so carefully.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Karina Halle for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Wild Card re-releases August 15, 2025

4.75

After a devastating breakup six years ago, Rachel returns to the town of North Ridge for the first time when she finds out that her mother has lung cancer.

This small town, second chance romance had the perfect amount of angst and flashback chapters to get a true understanding of Rachel and Shane’s history, as well as the severity of their breakup.

I love the way Halle crafts her settings and highlights Canadian landscapes across all genres, and I can’t wait to dive into the remaining books in this series!

cw: mentions of suicide due to PPD, domestic abuse, CSA, cancer

Rachel Waters juró que nunca regresaría a North Ridge después de que su primer amor, Shane Nelson, rompiera su corazón de la manera más dolorosa. Ahora, seis años después, vuelve obligada por las circunstancias: su madre ha sido diagnosticada con cáncer y necesita ayuda. Entre recuerdos que preferiría enterrar, una tensión imposible de ignorar y secretos del pasado que siguen hiriendo, Rachel tendrá que enfrentar no solo al hombre que amó, sino también las heridas que dejó su propia familia.

___

Leí la primera versión hace años y no hay muchos cambios.


La relación de Rachel con su madre fue un tema complicado para mí y me costó aceptar que la perdonara. Las dos fueron víctimas: a su madre su esposo la golpeaba, y cuando Rachel cumplió 12 años, él empezó a abusar sexualmente de ella. Cuando se lo contó, su madre no le creyó y le dijo que mentía, dejando que su hija soportara ese infierno durante ocho años. Es un tema bastante complicado y algunos entenderán y comprenderán a la madre y otros como yo entenderán, pero no estarán de acuerdo con lo que hizo.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 Stars - I am a sucker for a small-town, cowboy romance and Wild Card delivered!

Wild Card swept me up in the emotional push-and-pull of Rachel and Shane's love story, beautifully balancing the tension of the present with the tenderness of the past. I binged the whole book in one sitting. From the very first chapter, Karina Halle hooked me with the depth of their history, two childhood friends whose bond ran deeper than they ever fully understood at the time.

The flashbacks are thoughtfully integrated into the narrative, striking a perfect balance between past and present. Rather than abruptly pulling the reader back and forth, they flow naturally from Rachel or Shane's current thoughts and emotions, making the transitions smooth and meaningful.

Shane is the perfect mix of broody, bold and vulnerable, carrying the weight of his past while still being magnetic enough to draw Rachel in. And Rachel? She's strong yet deeply human, torn between self-protection and the undeniable pull toward the boy who knew her better than anyone. Together, they share moments of heartbreak, longing, and hope that feel raw and authentic.

If you love stories where childhood friends become something more, with a dash of small-town grit and plenty of heart ...this one's a sure bet!

*Immediately packs bags for North Ridge, British Columbia* (I know it's fictional, but come on!)

My first book by this author, a short easy read that I read it in one sitting.

If you enjoy second chances, forgiveness and found family this one is for you!

I really enjoyed the writing style and the character development, would have loved it to be a bit longer.

Shane is also swoon worthy! Well done Karina!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Karina Halle has very very quickly moved to the top of the list of authors I have to read new books and I have to devour the back list. This is an older book released with a new cover. First, I ADORE cowboy romances! This book fits right in with all the new authors of Cowboy romances. The emotion bled from the pages of this book. I immediately liked Rachel and Shane. I could tell they had history and past conflict!

Rachel is back in town to help her mom. She hasn’t been back in years. Her dad is in jail and things fell apart with her and Shane back then. It was difficult for her to come back. She loves her mom, but even that relationship is strained due to the past. I loved reading Rachel and Shane’s journey back to each other. The writing was excellent. The conflict kept me turning those kindle pages. The character development was top notch, and the spice was perfect. I enjoyed everything about this book. I’m excited to read the next two. I received this book from Metal Blonde Books and Netgalley. All opinions are my own!

I liked this, just you're typical second chance romance. Was it predictable from the beginning? Yes, but it was a quick read. This book does have some topics discussed so check trigger warnings.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Wild Card was an emotional yet exciting read from start to finish! I’ve read quite a few cowboy romances, but this one definitely stood out to me. From the beautiful description of the Canadian mountains to the raw love and heartache between Rachel and Shane, it was a book I thoroughly enjoyed.

We follow Rachel as she must return back home to North Ridge to help her ill mother. With this, comes a rocky relationship with her ex, Shane, who shattered her heart six years ago which was a major catalyst for her leaving in the first place.

I loved learning more about Shane and Rachel separately, but also how intertwined their lives had been. Little personalized details in books between characters always makes me connect with it more, and Karina Halle was did add those amazing components.

With the emotional journey both these characters had gone through, I had been hooked. It was heartbreaking to read at times, but it was amazing all the same to see the flaws and growth come out of Shane and Rachel. To see them overcome multiple tough challenges.

I do wish though, that being said, the book had been longer. For the sake of more in depth attention and writing about the traumas and struggles the characters dealt with. Also, to just connect with the characters more because for some reason I felt something was missing. Overall, I definitely would still recommend this book and I’m excited to read more from her as well.

More like a 3.5/5

“Your heart is the only one that mine responds to.” What. A. Line!

Karina Halle was one of the first romance authors I started reading multiple books of. I’m not sure how this one (or this series as a whole) passed me by but while this is nowhere near my favorite of hers, I’m happy I get to read it now!

After years of being away, Rachel comes back home to take care of her mother, who has just been diagnosed with cancer, and has to face the life she left behind, especially the boy who broke her heart.

Shane, who never left North Ridge, has never stopped loving Rachel, and now gets a second chance to right the wrong and explain why he had to do what he did all those years ago.

While this isn’t Karina Halle’s best, it’s nowhere near her worst- it’s squarely middle of the road for me. A dual POV and relatively steamy in the second half, it’s also less than 300 pages, so a relatively quick read, and you really get sucked into their relationship, the side characters, and the town.

Oh boy, this book was an emotional ride. I felt so bad for Shane and Rachel and all of the time they missed out on. I was enraged when I found out what had happened and why Shane and Rachel broke up. I am so glad these two found each other again and they deserve the world. I loved Shane and I just knew they would somehow find their way back together. Rachel is strong and resilient and she is a true winner here even if her past was filled with so much hurt and trauma.

Wonderful book and I'll definitely be continuing this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Metal Blonde Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

g enough. I feel like to correctly develop the past in the present and the relationship and the development and the apologies and the groveling etc., in order for it to have really resonated and meant something in that deep level that a book like this should if that makes sense. I did like the characters and I did like their relationship, but the intimate scenes were just written weird and were sort of awkward. I also didn’t love that the problem with Fox and Shane never really got resolved. Like maybe they’re saving that for foxes book and I hope that’s the case because it feels really wrong that she thinks fox hates him and blames him for their mothers death I feel like that’s a trauma that definitely should’ve been resolved and talked about and it was just kind of brushed over. Other than that, I did enjoy the book. I just felt it was too short to fully dive into all the heavy topics and the second chance romance, and the graveling in the making up and the getting back together all of that should’ve been expanded and made longer, so it was more deep and we had more time to grow with the characters and really root for them and feel connected to them. The book just ended up being too short in order to fully capture and inspire the emotions of readers in the way that it should’ve been able to do in my opinion.

Such sad lives, such beautiful love!

I read the book in one sitting and it thoroughly cleansed my tear ducts. Thanks for the story of love and forgiveness Karina Halle.

Thanks to Metal Blonde Books and NetGalley for the early review copy of this re-publication.

Definitely was exited to read this from the same author as Meet The Royals.
It was sweet, great character development, and a bit spicy.
I’m excited to read more from the series.
Thank you NetGalley!

3.5 stars

Only rated so low because I should of read the TW (that's on me not the book)

Probably the wrong time to read this book as I'm currently going through similar things in life.


That being said, Karina wiring is always so beautiful and handles sensitive subjects well.
Our two MC are both still hurting from past events and here we get to see them have a second chance!
I related to Rachel in many ways so it was good for her to get some form of pay back on her past events, by the hand of her old boyfriend.
Shane is such a little sweetie deep down, he's carried words he's never said for 6 years and finally he gets to say them.

I would of liked to have more on what really went down on the break up 6 years ago, so we could feel a little bit more. But in the end you get why things were done the way they were.