What do you think?
Rate this book
Wildflower Canyon #2
The Mountain Echoes
He's my enemy, and I don't trust him.
So why does he make my heart beat faster?
I'm Aria Delgado, and this is my story.
Ten years ago, my fiancé betrayed me in the worst way—he chose my sister. I swore I’d never set foot on Longhorn Ranch again. But now, I don’t have a choice. My father is gone, the family ranch is on the verge of collapse, and half of it belongs to me, the other half to my sister, and she can’t sell it fast enough.
I won’t let that happen. My ancestral home is more than dirt and fences—it’s my legacy. But the odds are stacked against me. The debts are too high, and someone is trying to drive me out of my land.
As the pressure mounts, one man keeps appearing in my Maverick Kincaid, the powerful, relentless rancher who wants Longhorn for himself. Smooth-talking, sharp-eyed, and my sister's close friend—he’s everything I don't trust. But when danger comes knocking, he’s the one who steps in to protect me.
The tension between us is a slow-burning wildfire, and I don’t know if I want to put it out or let it consume me.
Every stolen moment with Mav is a risk. Every touch is a gamble. I’m terrified that history is going to repeat itself and that, once again, the man I'm in love with is going to choose my sister.
The Mountain Echoes is part of the Wildflower Canyon cowboy romance series and features your favorite
🐎 Enemies to Lovers
🐎 Cowboy
🐎 Other Woman Drama
🐎 Age Gap (10 years)
🐎 Small town
🐎 Slow burn
🐎 Betrayal & Grovel
🐎 Complete Standalone
So why does he make my heart beat faster?
I'm Aria Delgado, and this is my story.
Ten years ago, my fiancé betrayed me in the worst way—he chose my sister. I swore I’d never set foot on Longhorn Ranch again. But now, I don’t have a choice. My father is gone, the family ranch is on the verge of collapse, and half of it belongs to me, the other half to my sister, and she can’t sell it fast enough.
I won’t let that happen. My ancestral home is more than dirt and fences—it’s my legacy. But the odds are stacked against me. The debts are too high, and someone is trying to drive me out of my land.
As the pressure mounts, one man keeps appearing in my Maverick Kincaid, the powerful, relentless rancher who wants Longhorn for himself. Smooth-talking, sharp-eyed, and my sister's close friend—he’s everything I don't trust. But when danger comes knocking, he’s the one who steps in to protect me.
The tension between us is a slow-burning wildfire, and I don’t know if I want to put it out or let it consume me.
Every stolen moment with Mav is a risk. Every touch is a gamble. I’m terrified that history is going to repeat itself and that, once again, the man I'm in love with is going to choose my sister.
The Mountain Echoes is part of the Wildflower Canyon cowboy romance series and features your favorite
🐎 Enemies to Lovers
🐎 Cowboy
🐎 Other Woman Drama
🐎 Age Gap (10 years)
🐎 Small town
🐎 Slow burn
🐎 Betrayal & Grovel
🐎 Complete Standalone
390 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2025
1161 people are currently reading
549 people want to read
About the author
Maya Alden
57 books1,193 followersA top 20 Amazon Bestselling Author, Maya Alden pens angsty contemporary romances.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 312 reviews
October 15, 2025
I’ve read quite a few of Maya Alden’s books, and usually, her stories pack a good punch — you get that high angst, the MMC who’s oblivious and mean to the FMC, followed by a satisfying realization and some proper groveling. It’s the kind of emotional tension that really grips you and makes your heart ache a little. Unfortunately, that was missing in this one. Everything just felt really mellow compared to her other books.
I had high expectations for Maverick, especially after how he was portrayed in the previous book — he came across as level-headed and dependable. But here, that side of him didn’t really come through.
The story follows Mav wanting to buy Celeste and Aria’s ranch after their dad passes away. Aria had moved out years ago after her fiancé, Hudson, left her for her sister, Celeste. To make things worse, their dad sided with Celeste, telling Aria to get over it since Celeste was pregnant — essentially kicking Aria out. She hasn’t been back to the ranch since.
Now, Mav has this preconceived notion about Aria based on everything Celeste says. For the record, he and Celeste have never hooked up — they’re just friendly. But one of my biggest pet peeves pops up here: he constantly compares the two sisters. He goes on about how Celeste is soft and feminine, while Aria is more masculine and rough around the edges. Aria’s just hands-on and hard-working, like Eleanor from the previous book, whereas Celeste is all leisure and appearance.
The plot mainly revolves around Mav trying to “help” Aria, secretly hoping she’ll fail so he can swoop in and buy the ranch. Of course, he underestimates her completely and eventually realizes how capable she actually is. There’s an age gap — over ten years, I think — but the emotional depth just wasn’t there.
When Mav says some really harsh things to her (basically calls her ugly and says he’d never sleep with her), the moment that should’ve hit hard just… doesn’t. The angst is missing. And when it’s time for groveling? It’s almost non-existent. He apologizes, sure, but that’s about it.
Later, Aria overhears Mav talking to Celeste about their original plan — how he was helping her with the hidden hope she’d fail so he could buy the ranch. Naturally, she’s hurt, but she forgives him far too easily. His excuse? He was just trying to figure out who was sabotaging the farm. It all felt weak and rushed.
Even when they finally get together, I couldn’t connect with him. His personality just didn’t work for me. Everything was about control — when he “proposes,” he doesn’t even ask her. He just tells her, we’re getting married. There was no heart, no depth, no redemption moment that made me root for him.
I just normally expect very high angst from her books and I just felt like this one didn’t deliver. I couldn’t connect with the characters together and yeah, like I don’t know what it was. I just felt like the story just didn’t work for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2025
Not so gripping as the first one despite having angst and drama. I didn't feel so much the connection between Mav and Aria, though I was so eager to read Mav's story even from the previous book where he made his appearance.
October 19, 2025
Tags: age-gaaap, cowboy-rancher, cruel-cruel-hero, damaged-broken_hero, damaged-broken_heroine, enemies-to-lovers, hero-hurts-heroine, heroine-loved-or-loves-om, hurtful-words-overheard, mean-mean-girls-women, older-hero-younger-heroine, om-cheats-on-heroine, om_drama, ow-drama, read, rich-hero, second-chance, small-town
October 16, 2025
maverick goes through so many personality changes it’s unrealistic
Ehhh look - the MFC, Aria, is gaslit by everyone in this, I swear.
Her sister and her ex fiance get what’s coming to them which is unusual in an Alden story
But Maverick? The male lead? Nahhhh. He’s terrible to her, down right mean, says some terrible demeaning stuff, admits her sister will always win in the looks department
Conspires to screw her over by giving her enough rope to hang herself and goes behind her back to the bank — and conspires with her evil sister about it
Then the will gets read …..
Suddenly he has a complete 180 interest in her - wants her like he’s never wanted another woman before, she’s attractive and beautiful…. while simultaneously telling friends and his sister he’s pretending to help her and she’s doing to fail and when she does she’ll thank him for sweeping in to save her and the ranch (yuck)
He then further changes abruptly to being madly in love with her all of a sudden and wanting to get her in bed - even though he called her unattractively masculine
Then the MFC over hears him parroting his whole TRUE plan to her sister — as a ploy to get the sister to back off of her evil doings — and convinces the MFC that despite what she heard, she knows it’s not true and he would never do that her — and for her to trust her heart
Uhhhh hello?? That’s EXACTLY what he did. That’s why he did it. That’s SO FAKE and it’s called GAS LIGHTING dressed up as “true love”
He absolutely was pretending to help her and wanted her to fail - even if it later morphed into something else; that’s still a HUGE plot point that should’ve caused way more tension for the MFC Aria . It’s glossed over so quick and just ignored. Everyone knew about it too
Unfortunately Alden’s MMC are written in such a way that they never show any true growth or progress and they’re never apologetic and they don’t properly grovel —- and when Alden tries to write one, like in this story, the MMC ends up coming across as someone with a personality disorder that gaslights the MFC for “believing he could ever do anything like that to her”
Ehhh look - the MFC, Aria, is gaslit by everyone in this, I swear.
Her sister and her ex fiance get what’s coming to them which is unusual in an Alden story
But Maverick? The male lead? Nahhhh. He’s terrible to her, down right mean, says some terrible demeaning stuff, admits her sister will always win in the looks department
Conspires to screw her over by giving her enough rope to hang herself and goes behind her back to the bank — and conspires with her evil sister about it
Then the will gets read …..
Suddenly he has a complete 180 interest in her - wants her like he’s never wanted another woman before, she’s attractive and beautiful…. while simultaneously telling friends and his sister he’s pretending to help her and she’s doing to fail and when she does she’ll thank him for sweeping in to save her and the ranch (yuck)
He then further changes abruptly to being madly in love with her all of a sudden and wanting to get her in bed - even though he called her unattractively masculine
Then the MFC over hears him parroting his whole TRUE plan to her sister — as a ploy to get the sister to back off of her evil doings — and convinces the MFC that despite what she heard, she knows it’s not true and he would never do that her — and for her to trust her heart
Uhhhh hello?? That’s EXACTLY what he did. That’s why he did it. That’s SO FAKE and it’s called GAS LIGHTING dressed up as “true love”
He absolutely was pretending to help her and wanted her to fail - even if it later morphed into something else; that’s still a HUGE plot point that should’ve caused way more tension for the MFC Aria . It’s glossed over so quick and just ignored. Everyone knew about it too
Unfortunately Alden’s MMC are written in such a way that they never show any true growth or progress and they’re never apologetic and they don’t properly grovel —- and when Alden tries to write one, like in this story, the MMC ends up coming across as someone with a personality disorder that gaslights the MFC for “believing he could ever do anything like that to her”
October 19, 2025
Tough sell
This was a tough book to get through. Took me way too many days but I couldn't keep reading after so many pages. First, we barely, have to two main characters in the same scene for pretty much half the book. Then, the author goes on and on (like in other of her books) with her knowledge on, in this case, ranching. At some point hitting the highlights are ok and let's get back to the story. Next, we won't talk about the timeline and events. Not a fan of the warning before a chapter. I get in the description of the book can have warnings but this just gave away what and to who it was going to happen to. It wasn't overly emotionally written to warrant the warning. There really wasn't much conflict between the two main characters. The author glosses over that quickly while dragging the story down with descriptions. This had the same theme as the other in this series and looks like the next one does as well. Hopefully it is better written and more interaction with the main characters. I didn't really have a standout moment where I'm like, "Oh, that was good." With this book. He fell for her too quickly. I was excited to finally enjoy a "plain" woman's journey to getting the guy but the author made the spark too quick. Even before they even really spent time together.
This was a tough book to get through. Took me way too many days but I couldn't keep reading after so many pages. First, we barely, have to two main characters in the same scene for pretty much half the book. Then, the author goes on and on (like in other of her books) with her knowledge on, in this case, ranching. At some point hitting the highlights are ok and let's get back to the story. Next, we won't talk about the timeline and events. Not a fan of the warning before a chapter. I get in the description of the book can have warnings but this just gave away what and to who it was going to happen to. It wasn't overly emotionally written to warrant the warning. There really wasn't much conflict between the two main characters. The author glosses over that quickly while dragging the story down with descriptions. This had the same theme as the other in this series and looks like the next one does as well. Hopefully it is better written and more interaction with the main characters. I didn't really have a standout moment where I'm like, "Oh, that was good." With this book. He fell for her too quickly. I was excited to finally enjoy a "plain" woman's journey to getting the guy but the author made the spark too quick. Even before they even really spent time together.
October 21, 2025
I’m enjoying this series, especially the western setting with *swoon* cowboys!
What I liked:
How strong Aria was
Evil man-stealing sister OW drama
Her ex got his comeuppance
Mav was super cruel and judgmental at first
What I disliked:
Mav’s abrupt 180 that came out of nowhere
Death of a beloved character
Poor ex didn’t deserve the end he got, necessarily
Why’s she offering to pay for her sister’s attorney!? She caused the death of one of Aria’s father figures
What I liked:
How strong Aria was
Evil man-stealing sister OW drama
Her ex got his comeuppance
Mav was super cruel and judgmental at first
What I disliked:
Mav’s abrupt 180 that came out of nowhere
Death of a beloved character
Poor ex didn’t deserve the end he got, necessarily
Why’s she offering to pay for her sister’s attorney!? She caused the death of one of Aria’s father figures
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2025
Not bad, but was too long and drawn out. Had to skim because I was falling asleep. I much prefer the hero from this series compared to her others. He was unapologetically pushy, and an asshole, but fit his cowboy persona. I can say Maverick in that sense outshined the herione Aria here. She was done pretty dirty from her family. And Mav said some pretty hurtful shit, but he was easily forgiveable. I like assholes in my romance fiction so 🤷.
January 23, 2026
5 farmer stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3.5🌶
3.5🌶
October 16, 2025
A story that will Echoe through your mind for a long time to come.
Ten years ago Aria was betrayed by her father when he told to leave her home after Celine her sister betrays her in the worst possible way. When her father dies, she comes home to bury him and face her past. Aria is a strong but vulnerable woman who has been let down by all of her biological family. What she comes to realise is that she has a chosen family that loves her. While coming home is bittersweet for her, she is finally able to see people for what they are allowing her to move on. She knows what she wants, and she know what needs to be done to get it.
Heavily influenced by Celine, Maverick had a preconceived of the person that Aria is this causes him to be less than nice to Aria at times. I loved Mav and I still loved him in this book when he was being a pain. When he decided Aria is for him he is all in and he goes all out to get her
This is a book you are going to grab you from the first page and it will not let you go until the last page. As with all of Maya’s books there are support characters that you are going to love and side characters you are going to hate.
I loved this book and I love the world Maya has written.
Remember ladies hide a cowboy save a horse.
Ten years ago Aria was betrayed by her father when he told to leave her home after Celine her sister betrays her in the worst possible way. When her father dies, she comes home to bury him and face her past. Aria is a strong but vulnerable woman who has been let down by all of her biological family. What she comes to realise is that she has a chosen family that loves her. While coming home is bittersweet for her, she is finally able to see people for what they are allowing her to move on. She knows what she wants, and she know what needs to be done to get it.
Heavily influenced by Celine, Maverick had a preconceived of the person that Aria is this causes him to be less than nice to Aria at times. I loved Mav and I still loved him in this book when he was being a pain. When he decided Aria is for him he is all in and he goes all out to get her
This is a book you are going to grab you from the first page and it will not let you go until the last page. As with all of Maya’s books there are support characters that you are going to love and side characters you are going to hate.
I loved this book and I love the world Maya has written.
Remember ladies hide a cowboy save a horse.
November 13, 2025
Dragged in parts
Celine was as evil as the come. I was so sick of her by chapter two. Just a conniving piece of flotsam! Aria was good and maverick was just okay to me. His thoughts at the beginning were just so disgusting about aria's looks and Celines, that I just didn't like him. There's A lot to process here but there is no cheating. There's sadness and grief and sabotage. I liked the story but didn't love it. Easy to read, A little boring in parts, but overall a sound read. I will not be reading the next book Time after Time. It sounds yucky.
Celine was as evil as the come. I was so sick of her by chapter two. Just a conniving piece of flotsam! Aria was good and maverick was just okay to me. His thoughts at the beginning were just so disgusting about aria's looks and Celines, that I just didn't like him. There's A lot to process here but there is no cheating. There's sadness and grief and sabotage. I liked the story but didn't love it. Easy to read, A little boring in parts, but overall a sound read. I will not be reading the next book Time after Time. It sounds yucky.
October 16, 2025
My rating: 4 Stars
What I loved: I liked the strength Aria(h) shown. With everything thrown at her, she still got the ranch back to the way it should be. Loved how Maverick(H) was with her every step of the way once he realized the sister was crazy.
What I didn’t like: I hate when a character I love dies. Earl deserved to see the ranch make it. Also, I wanted to see the sister suffer more. Would have been great if we got a scene with her getting interrogated by the sheriff…that’s me being greedy :)
***Major Spoilers/ Details/Triggers: H says hurtful things to the h, death of a parent(h’s dad) and of a father figure (h’s ranch hand that she was close too), ow drama (h’s sister)
h comes back home due to her father’s death. In the past the h was asked to leave the ranch if she couldn’t play nice with her sister. The sister took the h’s fiancé. The fiancé leaves the h for the sister because sister was supposedly pregnant. h not wanting to play nice with them leaves. Sister and the ex fiancé marry. The father never asks the h to come back or make any effort to call her. h is the one to always call. In the present, the h is home for the funeral and to see what will be done with the ranch. The ranch is in debt due to the sister and husband, plus poor management by the father. The sister makes it known that she isn’t happy the h is there. The H is a friend of the h’s sister and owns a ranch next to theirs. The sister lies to the H that the h is mean, selfish and is there just for the money. She says nothing about how she stole the h’s fiancé. H wants the ranch and tells the h that he will buy it from her. h turns him down. When H sees her out at a bar, he tries again but h turns him down. When h asks if he is sleeping with her sister he tells her no. When she insinuates that he is a liar, H tells the h that he heard she likes going after men that her sister has been with, but to not worry because she doesn’t make the cut, that he likes his woman soft not unattractive, masculine. At the reading of the will the h finds out that she and her sister both will own the ranch equally. That they both have to agree to sell. The father also apologized to the h in the will. H starts to realize that the sister/ow hasn’t been honest about the h. The sister wants the h to sell the ranch but the h refuses, telling her she can get it running again. The sister and the husband need the money. H decides to help the h build back up the ranch. He tells the sister/ow he is doing it so he can see her fail and then he can buy it. H helps the h and starts to have feelings for her. They starts a relationship. While getting things ready to make money, someone starts sabotaging the farm. H helps the h through it all. When the sister hears about how the H is really helping the h, she has a ranch hand plant a bomb. On the day of the auction, the ranch hand, who was like a second father to the h, gets hurt and dies. Then a bomb goes off in the barn killing the ex fiancé/sister’s husband. After that everything becomes clear that it was the sister behind it and the ex fiancé/sister’s husband found out and was trying to diffuse the bomb. HEA with the sister in jail, h owning the ranch and the H and h get married.
Final thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. The hero really was a great guy (besides the mean comment he said), I truly felt he proved that the heroine was it for him. I’m hoping Bree gets a book.
What I loved: I liked the strength Aria(h) shown. With everything thrown at her, she still got the ranch back to the way it should be. Loved how Maverick(H) was with her every step of the way once he realized the sister was crazy.
What I didn’t like: I hate when a character I love dies. Earl deserved to see the ranch make it. Also, I wanted to see the sister suffer more. Would have been great if we got a scene with her getting interrogated by the sheriff…that’s me being greedy :)
***Major Spoilers/ Details/Triggers: H says hurtful things to the h, death of a parent(h’s dad) and of a father figure (h’s ranch hand that she was close too), ow drama (h’s sister)
h comes back home due to her father’s death. In the past the h was asked to leave the ranch if she couldn’t play nice with her sister. The sister took the h’s fiancé. The fiancé leaves the h for the sister because sister was supposedly pregnant. h not wanting to play nice with them leaves. Sister and the ex fiancé marry. The father never asks the h to come back or make any effort to call her. h is the one to always call. In the present, the h is home for the funeral and to see what will be done with the ranch. The ranch is in debt due to the sister and husband, plus poor management by the father. The sister makes it known that she isn’t happy the h is there. The H is a friend of the h’s sister and owns a ranch next to theirs. The sister lies to the H that the h is mean, selfish and is there just for the money. She says nothing about how she stole the h’s fiancé. H wants the ranch and tells the h that he will buy it from her. h turns him down. When H sees her out at a bar, he tries again but h turns him down. When h asks if he is sleeping with her sister he tells her no. When she insinuates that he is a liar, H tells the h that he heard she likes going after men that her sister has been with, but to not worry because she doesn’t make the cut, that he likes his woman soft not unattractive, masculine. At the reading of the will the h finds out that she and her sister both will own the ranch equally. That they both have to agree to sell. The father also apologized to the h in the will. H starts to realize that the sister/ow hasn’t been honest about the h. The sister wants the h to sell the ranch but the h refuses, telling her she can get it running again. The sister and the husband need the money. H decides to help the h build back up the ranch. He tells the sister/ow he is doing it so he can see her fail and then he can buy it. H helps the h and starts to have feelings for her. They starts a relationship. While getting things ready to make money, someone starts sabotaging the farm. H helps the h through it all. When the sister hears about how the H is really helping the h, she has a ranch hand plant a bomb. On the day of the auction, the ranch hand, who was like a second father to the h, gets hurt and dies. Then a bomb goes off in the barn killing the ex fiancé/sister’s husband. After that everything becomes clear that it was the sister behind it and the ex fiancé/sister’s husband found out and was trying to diffuse the bomb. HEA with the sister in jail, h owning the ranch and the H and h get married.
Final thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. The hero really was a great guy (besides the mean comment he said), I truly felt he proved that the heroine was it for him. I’m hoping Bree gets a book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2025
Not bad at all, and I had fun reading it but at the end of the day, not much to remember. I enjoyed the sister dynamic, the MMC was (in)appropriately shitty to be followed by a come-to-Jesus, but I just didn't feel like what he did when he didn't know her was all that bad in the first place. Sure, he said some awful things to a near-stranger for no real reason, but from this author, that's just the equivalent of "Must be Tuesday." Once Mav got his act together, there was minimal angst from him, and the story focused on Aria's efforts to keep the ranch together.
This was a bit similar to the previous book in the series where a rancher father who behaved terribly dies and the prodigal child comes home. Both ranchers/fathers had terrible taste in wives, and treated the daughter (or daughter figure in the case of The Wrong Ride Home) horribly due to their own failings, and seemed to know it, only to never really make amends. The rest of the books diverged from there, but there was a similar theme.
Not bad, but not terribly memorable either. I'm still looking forward to the third book.
This was a bit similar to the previous book in the series where a rancher father who behaved terribly dies and the prodigal child comes home. Both ranchers/fathers had terrible taste in wives, and treated the daughter (or daughter figure in the case of The Wrong Ride Home) horribly due to their own failings, and seemed to know it, only to never really make amends. The rest of the books diverged from there, but there was a similar theme.
Not bad, but not terribly memorable either. I'm still looking forward to the third book.
October 19, 2025
OMG
This book was amazing. I think it is my all time favourite of Maya Alden!
The main characters were awesome. Strong, sweet, honest and their chemistry off the charts. Aria is everything I want to be when I grow up!
There was so much drama, intrigue, love and steam. Except for the villains of the story the secondary characters were so well written they were coming to life.
I loved this book!
This book was amazing. I think it is my all time favourite of Maya Alden!
The main characters were awesome. Strong, sweet, honest and their chemistry off the charts. Aria is everything I want to be when I grow up!
There was so much drama, intrigue, love and steam. Except for the villains of the story the secondary characters were so well written they were coming to life.
I loved this book!
October 6, 2025
A great story!
I loved going back to Wildflower Canyon! I loved Maverick in the first book and it was nice to finally read his story! Aria was such a strong character, I really liked her! Their relationship was very mature and I loved that! Super refreshing!
Her sister was crazy and I’m glad she got her karma!
I can’t wait to see who’s story we get next! I would love to see if it’s Joy’s or Hunt’s or Tate’s?
I loved going back to Wildflower Canyon! I loved Maverick in the first book and it was nice to finally read his story! Aria was such a strong character, I really liked her! Their relationship was very mature and I loved that! Super refreshing!
Her sister was crazy and I’m glad she got her karma!
I can’t wait to see who’s story we get next! I would love to see if it’s Joy’s or Hunt’s or Tate’s?
August 20, 2025
I just finished reading The Mountain Echoes by Maya Alden and it was such a powerful story. The book was not just about romance but about healing, trust, and finding strength after heartbreak. I could really feel how deep the emotions ran between Aria and Maverick, and the slow way their relationship grew made the story even more meaningful. It was not rushed and every interaction between them added another layer that showed how love can rebuild even when trust has been broken in the past.
What stood out most to me was how real the characters felt. Aria’s pain and determination made her easy to connect with, and Maverick had a quiet strength that made him unforgettable. Their journey together was not simple, but that made it feel authentic and relatable. By the end, I truly felt the love that had developed between them, and it left me thinking about how powerful second chances can be. This was a deep and heartfelt read that I will remember for a long time.
What stood out most to me was how real the characters felt. Aria’s pain and determination made her easy to connect with, and Maverick had a quiet strength that made him unforgettable. Their journey together was not simple, but that made it feel authentic and relatable. By the end, I truly felt the love that had developed between them, and it left me thinking about how powerful second chances can be. This was a deep and heartfelt read that I will remember for a long time.
October 16, 2025
Unrealistic characters
The story is simple. The people could be real. The work honest and the land beautiful. However Maverick is unrealistic. There is no way a man of 40 years would suddenly wise up and feel so much and stand by one woman without huge shifts in his personality. He is a player that she did nothing to turn around. The drama alone would have pulled him away. Aria never deals in the book with any of the real pain of being eldest child who is neglected and discarded. Again not realistic. In fact I think books like this is what sets women up for failure in our relationship. Did Maya Alden actually talk to any guys to know if they think like this? Ladies this sets a bar so high for men when in reality all men think about is their work, sports or what happening now.
The story is simple. The people could be real. The work honest and the land beautiful. However Maverick is unrealistic. There is no way a man of 40 years would suddenly wise up and feel so much and stand by one woman without huge shifts in his personality. He is a player that she did nothing to turn around. The drama alone would have pulled him away. Aria never deals in the book with any of the real pain of being eldest child who is neglected and discarded. Again not realistic. In fact I think books like this is what sets women up for failure in our relationship. Did Maya Alden actually talk to any guys to know if they think like this? Ladies this sets a bar so high for men when in reality all men think about is their work, sports or what happening now.
October 19, 2025
Ngl, I prob should have dnf
October 18, 2025
I'm sorry to give only 2 stars but this book was a big no for me. I couldn't stand Maverick attitude towards Aria and how one minute he was conspiring against her with her sister and the second after he was kissing her in a bar. I can't stand that kind of behaviour, sorry!!
October 17, 2025
skimmed through most of it. Most of the book is about ranching and the fmc saving her ranch.
October 22, 2025
One of the best I’ve read from Maya!
I love me a good cowboy romance, and this delivered. Maverick and Aria’s relationship was endearing and really suited what a relationship between someone in their 30s and 40s would have. I loved how they worked together too. By the end, I was so invested in that ranch that I was ready to cry if it wasn’t saved.
The side characters were better than normal for a Maya read too. These ranchers felt like family. Aria’s actual family did feel like one-dimensional villains, but I’m not complaining. It’s kind of fun to read books like this where you know exactly what you’re getting from the antagonists.
I think I’ll go back and read the previous books in this series now - just to stay in this world a bit longer.
I love me a good cowboy romance, and this delivered. Maverick and Aria’s relationship was endearing and really suited what a relationship between someone in their 30s and 40s would have. I loved how they worked together too. By the end, I was so invested in that ranch that I was ready to cry if it wasn’t saved.
The side characters were better than normal for a Maya read too. These ranchers felt like family. Aria’s actual family did feel like one-dimensional villains, but I’m not complaining. It’s kind of fun to read books like this where you know exactly what you’re getting from the antagonists.
I think I’ll go back and read the previous books in this series now - just to stay in this world a bit longer.
October 9, 2025
Another page turner in this series! Aria has come home for her father's funeral after being betrayed by her sister years before. Mav immediately dislikes her because of what Aria's nasty sister has been saying about her, not to mention he wants to buy the ranch the girls own. However, once he gets to know Aria, he realizes not only was Celine lying, but he ends up falling in love with her.
There was a touch of romantic suspense in this one, just like the previous one in the series. I love that! Celine was a HORRIBLE person! My heart broke for Aria with all she had gone through at Celine's hand.
There was a touch of romantic suspense in this one, just like the previous one in the series. I love that! Celine was a HORRIBLE person! My heart broke for Aria with all she had gone through at Celine's hand.
October 15, 2025
One of my favourite Maya books! I was desperate for Mav’s story and this did not disappoint. I loved Mav and Aria 🩷
October 16, 2025
4 star read, still thinking about Aria and Maverick's story ❤️
October 23, 2025
Mav and Aria are so cute together.
November 18, 2025
Aria was such a doormat when it came to her sister Céline who caused the death of two people etc…
January 1, 2026
Had a good time.. def a vibes read
February 9, 2026
I really liked the premise of this book but from start to end it came off very immature to me. Like it was very subtle on the “not like other girls” thing but honestly my biggest complaint (note i did read this on KU not a physical copy) but there was a trigger warning the chapter before the father figure died… wow…. who could that possibly be. Put it at the beginning of the book not right before it happens? It completely took me out of the book and i skimmed the last 30 pages or so. Great potential needed a better editor.
October 16, 2025
A few things:
Her sister is the absolute worst. The. Worst. The heroine's cheating ex was a close second.
What I still don't understand was her father. According to others he loved her but He was spineless.
The hero was not my favorite in the beginning but grew on me. And his betrayal was, in my opinion, not as angsty as many other novels by this author.
I liked the action and suspense in this book. More than just straight romance.
Finally. I want to live on a ranch.
Her sister is the absolute worst. The. Worst. The heroine's cheating ex was a close second.
What I still don't understand was her father. According to others he loved her but He was spineless.
The hero was not my favorite in the beginning but grew on me. And his betrayal was, in my opinion, not as angsty as many other novels by this author.
I liked the action and suspense in this book. More than just straight romance.
Finally. I want to live on a ranch.
February 3, 2026
Aria & Maverick’s story was my least favorite of the 3 in this series. I think Aria changed her tune about Mav way too quickly. And the sociopath sister was a little much.
September 21, 2025
Great angst, flawed characters, betrayal! It’s got it all! Honestly, I thought Aria was such a good character, didn’t take crap, walked. I seriously wanted to hurt the sister and her husband, Maverick, once over his strop was all in, I really enjoyed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 312 reviews