I Married My Grumpy Boss

Grumpy Boss #2

by Willa Lyons

They say opposites attract, but they forgot to mention the whiplash.

I'm the sunshine to Butch Hastings' storm cloud, the spring to his winter.

Our May-December romance raised eyebrows all over Willow Creek.

Now, as newlyweds, we're facing more than just nosy neighbors.

Dad's illness and ranch troubles test our bond daily.

When tragedy strikes, Butch's grief becomes a wall between us—one I can't seem to climb.

His gruff exterior is back in full force, pushing me away when I need him most.

But I've got enough warmth for both of us, and I'm not giving up without a fight.

In sickness and in health, in laughter and in pain—I'm all in, Cowboy.

It's time to show this brooding rancher that our love can weather any storm.

"I Married My Grumpy Boss" is a heartwarming standalone novel and the sequel to "Falling For My Grumpy Boss." Return to Willow Creek for a moving story about love, loss, and the strength to carry on.

Genres: Contemporary, Second Chance Romance, Second Chance, Family, Contemporary Romance, Adult

150 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2024

About the author

Willa Lyons is a budding Indie Author who pens sweet, wholesome, small-town Western romances. She hails from the great state of Colorado, where she loves to hike and go belly boating. Her life is blessed with lovely twin daughters, four delightful grandchildren, and two mischievous cats.

Willa discovered the joy of storytelling later in life. Her stories celebrate the warmth of community, the beauty of love, and the serenity found in the majestic Colorado Rocky Mountains. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Creative Writing to enhance her craft and infuse magic into every page.

Connect with Willa on Instagram and Facebook to stay tuned for her next heartwarming tale.

Reviews

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel to Falling For My Grumpy Boss.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an
early review on this book.

This book continues the story between Butch and Joelle with their marriage and Butch selling his ranch and getting another one so Joelle’s father can live with them now that he’s confined to a wheelchair.

Things seem to be fine as the couple are expecting their first child and make plans for the happy arrival only to have tragedy strike which shatters the love they share. They don’t know how to handle the grief from the loss but her best friend tells her of a group in town that offers couples support to help them cope with their grief and loss and they attend it. Slowly they start to communicate with each other again and Joelle gets a nurse to help take care of her father as well.

This story deals with love, loss and the strength to carry on when it seems all hope is gone. Friends are a lifeline when all seems overwhelming!

I really enjoyed these books and recommend them as ones I believe you’ll enjoy! They show the resilience of love through adversity and hardships and the determination to see it through the good times and the bad!

I encourage you to get these books and enjoy them today!

[Julia Marcum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this made me want to go back and read the first one, because I LOVED the dynamic between Joelle and Butch, and the perfect tenderness and love they each had for each other. I think I would have liked it even more with the context of how they met and fell in love, but I enjoyed this one all the same. I appreciated the sense of community, and coming together in difficult times. I did feel that the story was rushed in parts, and I was confused at times about how much time was passing in between chapters and events. I think I would LOVE this as a full novel, rather than the novella it is.

[Linda Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow Joelle’s path, not an easy one, her road to happiness is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments, you will fall in love with this village filled with the sweetest people who takes care of one another. Fall in love with Butch.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of loss and healing. It’s heartwarming and endearing and their struggle is all too real that readers may be able to relate to their story. It’s a wonderful novella and ends with a HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[CJ Earls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butch and Joelle have been married for four months and during that time Butch has sold his ranch and they have purchased a new home. They are looking forward to Joelle’s father moving in and then learn that they are also expecting a baby. When tragedy strikes their bond is strained as Butch grapples with past tragedy just when Joelle needs him to be strong. This is an emotional journey about love, loss and resilience. I found it very true to life and full of hope that in the end love will triumph.

[judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a reminder of hope and love. In difficult times families need to pull together to help support each other. This is what Joelle and Butch do to make it past their sorrow and loss. They choose to remember those they loose and celebrate the love they share. Willa Lyons does a great job building her characters and expressing that there is hope and love even with loss. I really enjoyed their story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[ABurch74 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Married My Grumpy Boss

This is the perfect continuation of the story of Butch and Joelle. The touching story is full of sadness and hope. The author does a great job balancing the two and further cementing the bond between the main characters. A truly touching story.

[Rick Molitor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this was a good, quick feel-good read. The characters are continuing with their new married life. They have to learn to react as a team as opposed to two individuals. It is interesting to see what life throws at them. A good read.

[Dotty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice clean well written story. I do suggest reading this story after reading Falling for My Grumpy Boss. This story continues that story.

This story takes place after Butch and Joelle gets married. Butch sell his ranch so they can move Joelle's father in with them. They face tragedy and have to learn how to handle it together while not blaming themselves.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joelle and Butch show that a rather large age gap romance can be successful. We get to see them married and witness the heartache and joys they go through/experience. They were each other's comfort and strength.

[Charlie Sandino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this read! This is the story of Joelle and Butch who are ready to get married a time of preparation. The story is set in a nice place, lovely characters too. Butch has a ranch and works really hard to get his life on track and reach his goals. JoJo is working really hard to care for her father Frank who's in a wheel chair. Sometime later Butch and JoJo move into their new home, a ranch that Butch has worked really hard to finish building. This home is special and there will be plenty of space for everyone including JoJo's father Frank. Frank has an important part in their lives. Frank needs help with his daily life since he's disabled. They live family life and see the positive future ahead. Butch is tormented by the past when something happens to him and JoJo. Their lives get stressful trying to deal with time, that they might not have. JoJo has difficulties to take it easy as she only wants to care for her father and help him the best she can. The storytelling is sweet and you feel as if you are there spending time at the ranch with this family. The book ended too fast with the feeling you just started reading it.
Thanks for the opportunity to read this book.
Charlotte N

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting Through Life’s Tough Times . . .

Joelle and Butch Hastings, despite their age difference, have no regrets about being married. Butch works hard to care for the ranch and provide for his family. Joelle manages their home and helps with the care for her father who lives with them and undergoes physical therapy each day. But when Joelle has a miscarriage, Butch finds himself not able to handle his pain and grief. He feels that he failed his wife and child in some way, that he should have been able to do something. Will Joelle be able to gather the strength needed to get both of them through this difficult time? Is she ready to prove to him that their love can get them through anything at all, both the good times and the bad, even if life sometimes hurts?

The storyline is well-written, the characters likable and believable. And showing us how love can heal, even when it feels impossible, is a very good thing to remember. Life can be difficult at times, but we have each other to turn to when it seems overwhelming. And there is no shame in allowing others to help us get through those shared experiences. That’s what we are all here for and it makes for a powerful loving community of support and caring.

[Gwen Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great. The love between Joelle and Butch is super cute. The characters work well together including the little dog Daisy, that greets and gives love to everyone. This story comes from a little town called Willow Creek where your neighbors are your friends and everyone is always there to help when needed.

The book begins at the wedding of Joelle and Butch. A true May-December love story as the daughter of Butch's best friend Frank, is the bride. They seem to make the perfect couple despite the age difference.

They have their plates full as Butch runs the farm and Joelle takes care of the house and cares for her father, Frank who lives with them. She helps dad with his physical therapy every day too. She insists that she can do it all without any help.

This book is really great and I recommend it to you all. But I will give you a warning--have you tissues handy cause you will need them.

I got this book from Book Sprout and will be glad to leave my review.

[Yugie Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I jumped right into this book soon after I finished its prequel, and I loved this one even better. My weakness are heartfelt stories about love that endure despite the trials it faces, and in fact blossom more after surviving a tough upheaval. This was precisely what Joelle's and Butch's story was - or at least a small but significant portion of their love story where we find them facing tragedy not long after their marriage vows. Their story underscored the importance of continued honest communication between spouses, even more so when both are experiencing the pain of loss. I loved how Butch and Joelle continued to have faith in their love and commitment to each other, even when there were moments when they felt that they were drifting apart. It became apparent in the end that it was precisely that commitment to each other that helped them stop in their wayward tracks and find their way back to each other. It was truly an uplifting, positive story, one that I enjoyed immensely..

[Jean Katchmar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part 2 of Butch and Joelle's story opened with most of Willow Creek coming to see them get married. Frank, Joelle's dad, gave her away from his wheel chair. Four months later they come home to their newly purchased ranch and Joelle tells Butch that she is pregnant. Frank also comes to live with Butch and Joelle where she cares for him. Frank is equally happy that his best friend and his daughter are expecting. Then things started to happen that try to pull Butch and Josie apart. The whole town was supportive of their sad time and try to help them in their grief. Butch and Joelle find that they must turn to each other if they hope to find healing. Happy times are soon ahead. It is a story that only Willa Lyons knows how to tell...

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

True Love to Heal the Hole in their Hearts -
This beautifully written story is the next stage in Joelle and Butch's love story, where they start their married life, but soon have to navigate a few emotionally challenging issues, that threaten to break them. Luckily, their friends and the entire small town rallied to give them the support needed to get back on track towards the happily ever after they both deserved.

I can definitely say without a shadow of doubt, that Willa Lyons didn’t disappoint with this story, as it drew me in from the beginning and kept me eagerly turning the pages to see what happened. Grab a copy of this book and you will definitely enjoy reading it as much as I did.

I received a copy of this book free and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Doreen Farrar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sequel to a previous book written by Ella Lyons. She includes a note in the beginning, to ensure that the reader is aware of this. While I prefer to read books in order, I ended up reading this as a standalone novel, and the story was very easy to follow. Joelle and Butch are May-December newlyweds, excited to be buying a ranch together and caring for Joelle's ailing father and looking forward to the children they hoped to have together. As the story progresses, they share warm loving friendships, great hopes, and crushing sadness. This is a wonderfully heartwarming tale, and I'm glad that I read it. I hope you enjoy it, as well.

[Cindy Burrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story drew me in from the beginning. The happy couple of Joelle and Butch are getting married. Butch is a hard-working man and wants Joelle to have everything. He is so kind and thoughtful. He takes care of the farm and Joelle takes care of the house and her father who also lives with them. Joelle also supervises the physical therapy that her dad must do daily. This is a down to earth story of how people come together for their family to help each other out. It was a heartwarming story of how people cope with everyday life and the unexpected things that happen.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having grown up listening to Paul Harvey and waiting for “the rest of the story’’, I really enjoyed this book. We’ve already gotten the courtship, now we get “the rest of the story”. I’ve always been told if a couple says they never had a fight, they are either lying or one of them is a doormat. We know from their courtship that doormat wouldn’t describe either Buddy or Joelle and I don’t figure either of them for lying, so we get a look at their problems after the I do’s. Don’t worry, you will still have your happily ever after, we just get a heart wrenching story first.

[Destiny Imperati · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review ✨️

☆Loved it so much♡

Butch and Joelle are back again. Things seem on the up and up until a tragedy strikes. The couple finds it hard to continue going and is having a difficult time navigating through the journey of grief. I thought the author did an amazing job putting this story together. I loved these characters in the first book, but I think I love them even more now. This was such an amazing story, and I highly recommend it!

Thanks so much to the author and booksprout for the ARC!

[Marichus Real · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joelle and Butch are getting married and starting their new life together taking care of Frank, Joelle’s father and Butch’s best friend.
This is a great continuation of Butch and Joelle’s story. It is well-written, and I could feel their pain after their terrible loss. It takes a great effort to overcome that situation. But love and patience can conquer all and they have lots of them.
Just a piece of advice, have a box of tissues at hand.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pamela A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔, 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇.

𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒂𝒅. 𝑰 𝒔𝒐 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒓𝒂𝒑 𝒖𝒑, 𝒔𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒇𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕. 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒚 𝒈𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒎𝒄 𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔! 😍😍😍

[John Belcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't Ever Give Up Hope on Life and Love

Butch was rescued by Frank when he was younger and had suffered through knowing he was the cause of her and thier sons death, due to his associations with people on the wrong side of life. Butch kept this buried in his heart and mind, refusing to acknowledge it until his new wife had a miscarriage. This is the story of how Joelle and Butch worked through thier grief and pain. It was very touching, by reminding us all not to carry our burden alone.

[Ann Leatherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book about love and learning to share the bad times as a couple as well as the good ones. I am really fortunate that I had Falling for My Grumpy Boss on my iPad Kindle app and was able to read it before this book as this is a sequel to that prequel. But this can definitely be read as a stand alone story. It is not a long story, but it tells it well. I really recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a good, clean, meaningful story. I received this as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this romantic and touching story. This book is such a sweet conclusion story of Joelle and Butch's life together. Although they do go through some hardships, they always come full circle through their love of one other. It's such a remarkable story that I hope others will take delight in reading this book too!


*Thanks to this author for allowing me to read her books in exchange for my honest opinions/review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

[Debdutch · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I Married My Grumpy Boss” by Willa Lyons is a heartfelt story about love, loss, and healing. The grumpy boss trope shines as the characters navigate personal hardships while finding unexpected romance. Themes of recovery and forgiveness are handled with sensitivity, making for a touching and emotional journey. The balance between lost love and the hope of new beginnings adds depth to this romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vickie Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the series and it is just as good as the first one. Butch is still as grumpy as ever and Joelle is still pining after him. It was a short span from working to dating to marrying the grumpy boss. Joelle lost the baby she was carrying and the grief from the loss has destroyed her and Butch.

Will they be able to overcome the loss? Will they be able to stay married? What happens with her father? Will love prevail? Let's finish reading to find out!

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read indeed . Following the recent newlyweds . Butch Cassidy has it all but there’s lots going on . This time around , it’s not just their neighbours who are giving it all that there’s a lot of angst as well as romance . It’s not just settling down . It’s everything else that emits a frown and gets them down. A well written sequel that is well written and well thought through.cant get enough of this author’s writing so compelling and inviting

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may have been a quick read but it still dug deep and conquered some tough subjects with immense grace and care. I appreciate the attention given to loss that is so often overlooked. The town of Willow Creek is an amazing support system in addition to the strong family unit that Butch and Joelle have built.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This should be called the grumpy rancher meets his match. Interesting interaction between a man, Butch, who has suffered loss and keeps himself isolated so he cannot ever feel that kind of pain again, and a determined woman, Joelle, who knows her heart and mind but respects hard personal boundaries. The title is misleading because no marriage is mentioned or happens but there is a strong possibility of their relationship leading to this.