“It’s called falling for a reason. You’re supposed to be scared while it’s happening.’
Things have been unexpected in Tatum Hayes’ life recently, first she found out her epilepsy is triggered by high levels of stress, so she needs to give her job up as a lawyer, then she needs to move to her dads ranch in the middle of nowhere, and the last thing she was expecting was Aaron Blaze, the ranch hand. Aaron knows two things, he needs to keep his job to pay for his nana’s bills at the nursing home, where she has lived since her Alzheimer's diagnosis, and two, Tatum Hayes is very much off limits if he wants to keep his job. But when Tatum’s plan to save her father ranch throws the two of them together, they can’t deny the fact that they are falling, and they don’t want to deny it. They soon realise they have bigger problems on the horizon and how they react can either make or break them.
If I was ever unsure of how best to get into the world of cowboys, then this book was the perfect introduction. This had all of it, the found family, the slow burn, the chemistry, the dogs! I loved everything about Silver Creek Ranch. I found myself so immersed in the story that I wanted to know so much more about all of the characters. There is a big cast of characters in this book, but every one of them feels unique, and I am very excited that there is more to come!
Found family is not only a trope that I love, but its something that Bridget writes so incredibly well, and always makes you feel like its a family you want to be part of. Knowing how they all came from different places, but the different parts of them make each other whole will never not make me so happy to read and give me all the fuzzy feels. Going into a group like that one and having someone say ‘It feels like you’ve completed our group’ just having that sense of family, it’s my favourite thing to read. All the girls in this are girls girls, and its refreshing to have that sense of sisterhood from the outset, rather than having cattiness, which I really love.
I didn’t think there would be a book boyfriend better than Adrian Romana (if you know, you know), but Aaron is definitely up there. Everything about the cowboy had my heart absolutely melting. You can really feel for him with how he is with his nanna. One thing that really stuck with me was when he said, ‘They remember Lorena. I remember my nanna.’ As someone who lost her grandparents when she was young, I felt this so much. The way he is with Tatum as well was so perfect. Constantly complimenting her, making sure she’s okay, noticing little details. Bridget knows how to write men that are down bad for their woman, and every single time it just makes my heart melt. Aaron having mobility issues really resonated with me. Having chronic issues with my knee and seeing that kind of representation in someone like Aaron just means so much. Seeing that it’s actually something to work around, but knowing that yeah actually when it flares up and it is bad, it really quite sucks. I’m not helping myself but smacking it into a cupboard 5 days a week, but still.
Tatum is an incredible character. Being able to completely change everything in her life so that she can look after herself is the kind of brave I wish I could be. I like how she copes with her chronic illness. Making it light hearted where she can, (calling it ‘that bitch’ was pretty iconic), and changing course to live with it, even after putting so much effort in to get to where she was. I love the way that she sees her illness as something to live alongside, and not just live with. To me I find that really inspiring. Also her obsession with mini cows, is definitely me with highland cows, and I 100% want one.
What I love about Bridget’s books is how she so often breaks barriers. The way she writes about Tatum’s epilepsy and experiences, though very clearly stated, is not universal for everyone, I love how it makes everyone feel seen. The general thoughts of dealing with either physical or mental health, of ‘oh just don’t put yourself in that situation’, like sometimes I can’t help that, and sometimes point blank there is no trigger. The whole conversation felt so incredibly important, and as someone who has had that conversation far too often, it makes me feel incredibly seen.
Two things that I feel are very important to point out, is how gorgeous the cover for this book is, I cannot get over it! Second thing is the importance of the title, when Aaron says ‘The moon was never far enough for her’, I couldn’t stop myself from crying.
Everything about this book is amazing, and I can’t wait for the rest of the series.