High Water

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Holy smokes these two had me on the edge of my seat, begging for more, and swooning so hard. I loved them. I’ll miss this crew so much but wow! What an ending ! FULL RTC

————————————

I’ve waited! And waited! And WAITED! For Aspens story! We love the single mom, archaeologist, Stockton sister! Yes we do! And it’s finally time to dive in to her life and her relationship with her sweetheart Bishop.

While I had some idea what to expect from this book I definitely got more than I could have asked for. These two brought the sweet, the swoon, and the SPICE! Holy smokes, buckle up because the spice is out of this world. I think I highlighted entire pages at one point 😌

Bishop is back in town. He’s been gone for 15 years and it’s safe to say he’s missed out on a lot. Pair that with a newly divorced Aspen who is back in her hometown with her teenage daughter, and well.. Bishop is determined to say put this time. His family needs him. And he intends to show them he can be the man they need.

These two have a lot of back and forth attraction. Although Aspen vows to stay away for good and not complicate things further, she can’t help but be drawn to Bishop. He looks better than ever. He’s completely willing to play by her rules, until lines get blurred and then it’s hard to remember why they can’t be together.

I would say this is a bit of a slow burn, but you’ll understand why when you read. It makes sense for them and their story even though I was absolutely DYING for them to bang already 😂

Overall, I loved them. Will love them. And would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who likes a little Marriage Of Convenience or Secret Baby / Second Chance with their romance. I would say reading these books in order is probably best as the plot relies heavily on past books.. but if you’re just looking for some scorching hot spice? This is the book for you.

They made me laugh, made me cry, and they’re probably my favourite of the entire series. And getting to see the gang back together again? Well that was just a bonus. Their HEA is beautiful, and it ended exactly the way it should have (imo)

🤎 Marriage Of Convenience
🤎 Secret Baby
🤎 Second Chance
🤎 He 💦 In His Pants
🤎 Lap Dance
🤎 💦 Play
🤎 “Strip”
🤎 Suspense
🤎 “I Want To Watch You”
🤎 Hilarious Granny

Britt; footnotes+whimsy

249 reviews35 followers

BETA. Full RTC after ARC re-read. Releases 3.27.2026.

Tropes:
Dark western
Small town
Cowboy x archaeologist
Marriage of convenience
Second chance
Secret baby

Casey Tassoul

86 reviews

Thank you Maggie for this amazing ARC. 🖤
I have no notes besides that I neeeeeeed more of the Stockton family asap. I’m not done with them. Can they all have more books???
Aspen and bishop’s banter and second chance was everything.

Gabby

450 reviews1 follower

I love a second chance romance with allllllllll the yearning. And Bishop was one of my favorite MMC’s that has ever yearned. Bishop and Aspen were written in the stars and Maggie Rawdon delivered in this last book of the Stockton clan.

Aspen is newly divorced and has moved back to her family ranch in Colorado. What she wasn’t expecting was to come face to face with a man she thought had died a long time ago. Bishop is back to his hometown to help the Stockton’s and sees Aspen for the first time in over 15 years… and nothing is stopping this man from getting her to fall for him again.

Aspen was all Stockton in this book. You could tell who her brothers were because she was just a fierce as them. I just loved that she showed every side to Bishop, thinking he wouldn’t want her anymore and he just took everything in stride. This man was bound and determined to she Aspen he was in it for the long haul. The patience this man had was everything in this book. Flirty dancing Bishop was probably one of my favorites in this book.

Bishop was the definition in this book of if he wanted to he would. He would do anything for Aspen and Fallon in this book. The speeches this man made, utter perfection. The fact that he meant them, just give up already Aspen, that’s all I kept thinking. There were tender moments in this that I wasn’t expecting, especially with not only Aspen but Fallon too. He just wanted to be apart of his family.

This book is about two people reconnecting after so many years apart, having shared the most beautiful thing in the world and figuring out how to move on from the hurt and getting to know the people they are now.

I’m sad to see this series end but so happy with the way it did. It was such a good series that I will be thinking about for a long time.

Thank you to Maggie Rawdon for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tropes:
✨Cowboy x archaeologist
✨Marriage of convenience
✨Secret baby
✨Second chance
✨Dark western
✨Small town

Danielle

172 reviews2 followers

I was already excited about this book just knowing it was going to be about Aspen and Bishop, after the kitchen scene in West Bound. But when the tropes were announced it became my most anticipated read. Luckily I got to read it as an ARC.
Marriage of convenience and second chance are my favorites and adding in the suspense and the conclusion of this series I knew I would love it. But love is not the right word to describe how I feel about this book. It was truly everything. I cried, laughed and melted into a puddle. Even though Levi is my favorite Stockton, Bishop is now book husband nr 1.

This man is pure fictional perfection. He loves and protects fiercely, his devotion and the things he does for love… mop me up because this man melted me into a puddle multiple times.
Aspen is just as fierce as her brothers and I got a little girl crush. She is protective and would do anything for the people she loves, even marry the man that broke her heart 15 years ago.

Their communication and bond is amazing. Bishop is devoted and willing to be vulnerable and even though Aspen is stubborn as hell their communication and bond is impeccable. They don’t drag stuff out, they are just honest with each other and I loved that about them.

Besides falling for Bishop and Aspen a special mention goes out to Levi. He cemented himself as my favorite Stockton brother. How he treats Bishop like one of their own had me crying and the way he is supportive of his sister. This man is in love and loves sharing the love.
But that is what the Stocktons do. They have an amazing bond and are there for each other and the people they welcomed into their family like Bishop and Charlotte and her men and I will miss all of them. This series is amazing and Maggie gave it the perfect ending.

SimplyKerriReads

394 reviews6 followers

✨ARC Read✨

♾️ obsessed! I absolutely devoured this book and the only thing I didn’t like was this it had to end 😭 Gosh I was not prepared for how much I would love Bishop and Aspen. These two were each other’s first love and after years apart and so many secrets, they are forced back together.

For all the things that is Bishop, it was his steadfast love that had me melting page after page. But to be honest, as much a I adored Bishop, it was Aspen in all her feisty Stockton glory who really stole the show in this book. I just loved her character. Strong, independent, smart and capable, but a woman with so many beautiful layers to get to her heart. So relatable and such a force.

Together, these two were magic. The banter, the sweet moments of shared memories, the longing and by god the slow burn with all the tension 😮‍💨🔥 these two had me sweatttting!!!

The story line continues in the Stockton family mystery and we get an explosive conclusion to this fantastic series. Maggie did such a great job balancing the mystery, the heat, the laughs, even some emotional points, plus we got to see our favorite characters from previous books.

I just cannot tell you how much I love this series and most definitely this book. I truly didn’t want it to end 🥹

Huge thanks to author Maggie Rawdon for this early read 🫶🏻 I loved every moment of it.

📖 High Water releases 3/27

🌶️🌶️🌶️

🖤 cowboy x archaeologist
🖤 marriage of convenience
🖤 brother's best friend
🖤 secret baby/child
🖤 romantic suspense
🖤 second chance
🖤 dark western
🖤 small town

arcs

cakecoffeeandbooks

546 reviews30 followers

‘Aspen Stockton is about to be my wife, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make it permanent.’

The 4th and final instalment in this series and I’m so pleased we finally got Aspen’s story! Maggie gave us a hint in book 3 of what might be to come and I love how she set this one up. For me it was probably the least dark of the series and I enjoyed that it was a bit lighter…. for the most part.

Bishop hasn’t been seen for 15 years and was presumed dead, but now he’s back and determined to win back Aspen’s heart, as well as getting to know the daughter he just discovered exists. When his grandmother stipulates he needs to be married with a family to inherit her ranch, Bishop and Aspen’s brothers come up with a plan, but will she be willing to go along with it?

I loved Aspen- she is such a strong woman who melts for Bishop. I’d have liked to see more of Bishop and Fallon building their relationship especially earlier on in the story. It was great to get an epilogue set a little further in the future and I feel there were a few tiny hints about possible future series too so am excited to see where Maggie takes us next!

Thank you to Maggie and her team for this ARC.

Ashley Watson

683 reviews108 followers

4.5

I absolutely loved Aspen, she is a total firecracker and not someone you want to mess with. Bishop gives off golden retriever energy, but he definitely knows how to switch it up when it counts.

The second chance romance in this one just hit. Their history, the tension, and the way everything unfolds made their story so satisfying. There were so many secrets woven throughout that had me hooked, and when everything started coming to light it honestly made my heart swoon.

The suspense was perfectly balanced with the romance, keeping me engaged the entire time. And getting to see the brothers again just made it even better.

Amber D’Ambrosio

342 reviews13 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

I have waited forever for Aspen’s story and somehow it still gave me more than I was ready for. Aspen, our fierce single mom archaeologist Stockton sister, is back home after her divorce trying to rebuild her life when Bishop walks back into town after fifteen years and completely flips her world upside down. The man she loved, the man she thought was gone for good, is suddenly standing in front of her again and he is not leaving this time.

This is second chance romance at its absolute finest. The history, the longing, the unresolved tension that never really went away. These two shared something life changing years ago and now they are forced to confront everything they lost and everything they could still have. Add in a marriage of convenience, a secret child, and a family that pulls everyone in whether they like it or not, and I was fully emotionally compromised from start to finish.

Bishop is that man. The definition of if he wanted to he would. His love is steady, patient, and unwavering in a way that honestly melted me into a puddle. The way he shows up for Aspen and Fallon, the way he gives them space while proving over and over that he is there for the long haul, the things he says and actually means. I was sitting there like Aspen please stand down and accept this man immediately. And then he opens his mouth and yeah… filthy in the best way. The spice in this book is unreal. I am talking highlight the entire page levels of good.

Aspen absolutely stole the show for me though. She is pure Stockton through and through. Strong, stubborn, protective, and layered in a way that makes her feel so real. She carries so much hurt and still stands tall for the people she loves. Watching her slowly let Bishop back in while trying to protect her heart had me fully invested. Their dynamic is everything. The banter, the shared memories, the tension that builds and builds until you are practically begging them to just get on with it already.

The slow burn works because it has to. Their story demands it. Every moment feels earned and when they finally come together it hits that much harder. Their communication, their honesty, their willingness to be vulnerable without dragging things out made their relationship feel solid and deeply emotional.

And then there is Fallon. She completely stole the show. Watching her navigate her past and figure out who she is while also building something new with Bishop was such a powerful part of this story. The family aspect in this book is unmatched. The Stocktons show up for each other in a way that feels warm, chaotic, and real, and seeing everyone come together one last time was both comforting and a little heartbreaking.

On top of all the romance, the suspense element tied into the larger series arc kept me on edge the entire time and delivered an explosive, satisfying conclusion. Everything felt connected, everything came full circle, and it truly felt like the perfect ending to this world.

I laughed, I cried, I melted into a complete mess, and I did not want it to end. Aspen and Bishop might honestly be my favorite couple in the entire series. Their love story is messy, beautiful, and full of so much heart. This book is emotional, spicy, funny, and deeply satisfying all at once and I am not okay that it is over.

Eva

651 reviews13 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

4.25!!

Maggie took the “a man who yearns is a man who earns” and popped out Bishop.

She truly said, make him grovel, painfully and beautifully to earn Aspen, and the readers hearts. Let me tell you, I’m a Ramsey girl, but Bishop threatened that number one spot from page one. At one point I was actually begging him to stop, because I couldn’t bear to see the bar raised that high. His longing, not only for Aspen, but for Fallon was the stuff of dreams. And his desire for Aspen in all her shapes and sizes was even better.

Aspen was a hard one for me tho, she had me on the first half and then lost me. She needed to protect her heart and her daughter, but at the same time, Bishop was doing everything right, and her hot and cold routine got old fast. I also wish we got to see her future more. Her with Charlotte and Zeph would have been an amazing addition to the HEA. I do have to say, she was the best mom ever. I truly have no words for how communicative and supportive she was of Fallon.

There’s truly no words to express how many feelings this book evoked. I was always ALWAYS hopeful, happy, giddy and even excited. Proud and grateful for these mature characters. But truly, there’s nothing but yearning, from me, for a love like this.

I do have to say that the relics plot never made much sense to me, for the sole reason that, a guy obsessed with relics? Really? But suspending those disbeliefs, this conclusion was intriguing and had me actually enjoying the chase and discovery.

Only thing that made me not give this a five star rating is truly a personal preference of not liking my MMCs passive. Bishop had the potential to be the dominant type of MMC I love but he conceded to all of Aspen’s demands. And I, again, personally, dislike my FMCs dominant. I can see the appeal, and maybe once or twice I would be cool, but almost all the time? Not for me, and I was beyond sad about it too.

Quotes:

"I don't have a husband."
"Good."

"I'd rather have her mean than anyone else sweet."

All I want in the world is to see both of you happy and be responsible for some small part of it.

I’ve always loved you. Then. Now. Always. But the second I saw you again in that kitchen, I was falling in love with you all over again. I didn't deserve you back then. I wasn't ready, but I'm ready now. More than ready.

Aspen Stockton is about to be my wife, and I'm going to do everything in my power to make it permanent.

"So I'm going to fuck this sweet little cunt full. Because the way you can barely keep your hands off my cock now? It has me imagining how fucking insatiable a pregnant version of you must be. I bet you need it morning, noon, and night."

"Because I'm going to fuck you like I own every inch of this body until we're both sure I always have."

I'm so in love with this man, with our present and our future, that I can't remember a time I ever wasn't. Because he's mine, and I'm his.

arcs

Rondi

198 reviews2 followers

Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers

I received this as an ARC, and knowing I’ve received this whole series as ARCs and now own multiple copies…blessed. Aspen and Bishop … honestly, there is nothing Maggie Rawdon could write that I wouldn’t read.

If you’ve read the previous books in the Purgatory Falls series, you’ve already caught small glimpses of Aspen—and you know she’s in trouble long before we ever get her full story. When we finally meet her, she’s divorced, guarded, and carrying more than she lets on.

But what really got me? Seeing her as a teenager—when a poor boy shows up at the ranch and somehow already knows her name. That small moment? It sticks. Because of course… that boy is Bishop. And from that point on, he becomes this almost-constant presence in the Stockton family. Not by blood, but by something just as strong.

Bishop didn’t have an easy childhood—and that’s clear right away. So the lengths he goes to in order to prove to Aspen that he’s there for her, no matter what? It’s honestly otherworldly. He shows up for her in ways that feel unwavering and absolute.

Aspen, for all her fire, attitude, and independence, knows in her heart that Bishop would never intentionally hurt her. The only time she truly pushes back is when he tells Levi something before telling her—and honestly? Valid.

And then there’s Fallon.

Fallon completely stole the show for me. Watching her piece together her past, while still standing firm in who she is, was incredibly powerful. She’s strong, resilient, and grounded in what matters—especially when it comes to who she considers her real father. That hit hard, and it felt very real.

One of my favorite parts of this book (and the series as a whole) is the dynamic between the women. Aspen’s relationships with her soon-to-be sisters-in-law are everything. There’s humor, honesty, and that safe space where they can talk about the things the men do that drive them absolutely insane. Aspen acts as this bridge between the couples—she understands both sides, and that balance just works.

And let’s not ignore Bishop’s mouth … because WOW, also tattoos. The man is filthy in the best way, and paired with Aspen’s dry, chaotic humor? I was laughing just as much as I was feeling everything else.

This book is spicy, emotional, funny, and heartfelt all at once. But more than anything, it feels like the perfect conclusion to the Purgatory Falls collection. Everything ties together in a way that just makes sense.

Absolute must-read.

Jessica Kalman

14 reviews

Review of advance copy received from Author

High Water by Maggie Rawdon rides in like the final storm on the horizon and leaves everything changed when the dust settles. This last installment in the Quiet Horsemen series feels like standing in the middle of a wide-open plain as thunder rolls in… tense, electric, and impossible to look away from.
Aspen is instantly compelling. She’s not just rebuilding her life after a divorce, she’s excavating it, layer by layer, like one of her archaeological digs. A brilliant, slightly battle-worn “female Indiana Jones” with a teenage daughter and a heart that’s been through the wringer, she’s equal parts grit and vulnerability. Watching her try to keep control while everything around her threatens to unravel adds a steady emotional pull to the story.
And then there’s Bishop… the man who was supposed to be gone, now very much alive and dangerously charming. A cowboy with history carved into his bones and regret riding shotgun, he doesn’t just stroll back into Aspen’s life, he crashes into it. Their connection simmers with a slow, aching intensity, the kind that builds and builds until it feels like it might snap under its own weight.
The story weaves together past and present like tangled barbed wire. Secrets don’t just come to light here, they claw their way out. Between the looming danger, buried truths, and the race against time, the stakes feel sharp and constant. And through it all, the emotional tension never lets up. The push and pull between Aspen and Bishop is laced with longing, frustration, and that addictive “touch her and die” edge.
Tropes like marriage of convenience, secret child, and second chance romance are all here, but they don’t feel recycled. They feel earned. Layered. Lived-in. Add in the dark western atmosphere and a slow-burn romance that practically hums under the surface, and you’ve got a story that’s as much about healing as it is about survival.
What really makes High Water hit is the sense of completion. After everything this series has put its characters through, seeing the pieces finally fall into place feels deeply satisfying. It’s messy, emotional, a little dangerous, and ultimately hopeful.
A wild western ride from start to finish… and this final chapter sticks the landing. 🤠

Amy

1,520 reviews36 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

High Water feels like the kind of finale that doesn’t just wrap up a series—it detonates it in the best possible way. From the first page, it delivers the emotional punch I’d been bracing for, because Bishop and Aspen were always destined to ruin me a little. And they did. Completely.

Their connection is raw, combustible, and deeply earned, and the years they lost hang over every interaction like a ghost neither of them can quite outrun. Bishop’s determination to reclaim his place—not just in Aspen’s life, but in his daughters’—is the kind of devotion that hits you square in the chest. He’s protective without being overbearing, tender without losing his edge, and so willing to bare every vulnerable part of himself if it means proving he’s worthy of them again. It’s impossible not to fall for him.

Aspen, though—she’s every bit a Stockton. Strong, stubborn, and shaped by heartbreak she never asked for. Bishop’s disappearance didn’t just wound her; it reshaped her. Watching her fight her own instincts, her own desire, and the walls she’s built brick by brick is one of the most satisfying emotional arcs in the entire saga. The push and pull between them is magnetic, and when she finally lets herself feel again, it’s powerful.

The final act is a full-throttle rush. The hunt for the last missing artifact brings danger, revelations, and betrayals that hit hard, but through it all, the Stockton family remains the unshakable force they’ve always been. The ending had me flipping the pages furiously—breathless, anxious, and completely absorbed.

This series has been a wild, emotional, high-stakes ride from the beginning, and High Water is a stunning, heart-pounding conclusion. I’m thrilled with how it ended, but also genuinely sad to say goodbye to this remarkable family. I’m holding out hope that this isn’t the last time we get to step into their world.

Katja | BookedByKatja

276 reviews3 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

arc-read arranged-marriage banter

⭐️5

OH MY GOD I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK AND THIS SERIES ❤️

Aspen returns to her hometown ranch after her divorce, just trying to rebuild her life and take care of her daughter and the last thing she expects is Bishop... the man she loved and thought was dead suddenly being back and ALIVE! He never knew she was pregnant so now he’s face to face with a daughter he’s missed years with and as if that’s not enough, they’re forced into a marriage to protect their family while dealing with new threats.

Everything in this book just worked. Everything felt so earned. Bishop was patient, steady and just perfect. The way he gave Aspen and Fallon the time and space they needed. Watching them slowly become a family was honestly my favorite part 🥹

Maggie really knows how to make a series feel like one big, connected world and this ending made it feel complete. And the suspense had me literally on the edge of my seat the entire time!

Maggie does not play when it comes to the heat and I WAS HERE EVERY SECOND OF IT 😏😏

🖤 Cowboy x Archaeologist
🖤 Marriage of Convenience
🖤 Secret Child
🖤 Second Chance
🖤 Dark Western
🖤 Small Town

I’m going to miss the Stockton family so much 😭😭

💌 I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

Commamirandabooknerd

796 reviews17 followers

Review of advance copy

ARC Review 📖
High Water
The Quiet Horsemen Book 4
Written by Maggie Rawdon

These two had a complicated past, which they kept secret from her whole family until it ended, and Aspen had to move on without Bishop. Unfortunately / fortunately for Apsen, Bishop is back, and he has a whole lot of questions for her and a proposition for her that will benefit both of them. More importantly, if she accepts, it will bring Bishop closer to her, and he can show her and tell her how much she means to him, and they can finally have their second chance together. Aspen doesn’t make it easy, though and gives Bishop a run for his money. It will take a lot for her to push him away, though.

The banter, the chemistry and the love they share for each other is everything I hoped it would be and so much more. They both deserve a HEA. Most importantly, the readers deserve to finally get the answers to all the questions we've had since book one. I already miss this found family, and it is very bittersweet that this is the last book in the series.

🤠 Cowboy x Archaeologist
💍 Marriage of Convenience
🍼 Secret Baby
🥈Second Chance
🤱🏻Single Mom
🖤Brother’s Best Friend

#thesmuthood
#MaggieRawdon
#HighWater
#smuthoodpromo

Patty

373 reviews12 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

ARC Review - 4.5 stars

Maggie definitely saved the best for last. I absolutely loved Aspen and Bishop's second chance romance. Aspen is a freshly divorced single mom, who has moved back home to be closer to her family. What she didn't expect was a ghost from her childhood to turn up at the same time. I really liked Aspen. She was equally dominant and submissive, loyal to a fault, and a fantastic mom. Her decisions around Bishop showed how much she loved her daughter and her family. Bishop is a bonafide sweetheart. I loved how he didn't let his past define him, and he always looked towards the future and made decisions without harping on the past too much. He really did change his ways for Aspen and Fallon. Together, their chemistry was absolutely sizzling! You can tell there was something there right off the bat, and as hard as they try to resist their mutual love and respect for one another never wavered. This book had a little bit of everything - love, spice, tension, pining, action. I loved seeing everything wrapped up at the end, and it was really the most perfect ending. If you haven't read this series, I highly recommend putting this on your TBR asap!

Catie

312 reviews23 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

2026-reads arc-reads brother-s-best-friend

*Arc review*

I have loved this series SO MUCH and I can’t believe it’s coming to an end! The minute we met Bishop in West Bound and got his and Aspen’s interaction with Fallon, I absolutely called the secret baby trope and was even more excited for their story! I love that trope but I was so intrigued since it was a 15 year secret!

I knew the yearning and angst was gonna be great, but Maggie really knocked it out of the park! Aspen tried not to make it easy on Bishop but he was down bad and would do anything for her. I loved that she kept breaking her own rules. The way Maggie writes foreplay should be studied because I was 1000% invested in everything between them.

I definitely teared up a few times and would’ve read so much more of them! I’m glad we finally got to see the ongoing relic storyline come to a conclusion and am so excited to see what’s next in the Maggieverse! I hope this isn’t the last of her dark western stories because she is too good at it!

Thank you so much to Maggie for the early review copy!

Lou_lovesreading

486 reviews13 followers

What an ending to a series! Maggie definately gave us the ending we needed after Bishop’s return and Aspen’s shock at seeing him in the kitchen back in West Bound.
I was absolutely hooked on this book from the heartbreaking Prologue to the end! I couldn’t put my kindle down and when I had to I just kept thinking about the book.
I loved their love story. Bishop was an amazing MMC and the second chance he had with Aspen and Fallon was heartwarming and he honestly put his all in his relationship with Aspen and his daughter. Aspen is such a fierce FMC and you can see she is a Stockton! She definately is strong and gives as good as she gets.
The love and chemistry between Bishop and Aspen was amazing! Their banter, their love, their chemistry will have you hooked from the very beginning.

Thank you so much to Maggie for this eARC in exchange for my honest review

Laced In Lit

250 reviews5 followers

Review of advance copy

Thank you to Smuthood for the ARC 🩷
High Water is a 2nd chance, brothers best friend, spicy romance with single mother and fake marriage tropes 👌
I was so excited for High Water, I loved Bull Rush and Dark Horse, West Bound took me a few chapters to get into but when I did it was insane so I had high hopes for book 4...
I enjoyed it but didnt love it unfortunately, something was missing or just not connecting for me and im so sad about this 😢
I dont feel that I connected well with Aspen or Fallon, I did love the yearning from Bishop though!
I feel like we glossed over the whole hidden pregnancy and 'you have a daughter' thing, it fell a bit flat for me. The pair certainly had sexual chemistry even if we do need to wait a while for it! I feel that we could have heard more about their hookups the first time round to make it a bit more believable...

bree

20 reviews1 follower

Review of advance copy

Oh i was in love with aspen and bishop’s banter!! I devoured this book and they were such great main characters! I loved their second chance! Maggie wrote the hell out of their love story. Bishop was such a yearner and honestly made his way to my 2nd favorite mmc from this series! I cannot believe this is the last book from the Stockton family. I could read 10 more about them and enjoy every second of it. Bishop and Aspen were so perfect for each other, they were just meant to be. Bishop showed time and time again that he would do anything for aspen and fallon! god those speeches of his!! and that epilogue was just the cherry on top of their hard fought and insanely deserved happy ending! I’m so sad to see this series end but i loved very much reading about these two and the other couples!

My Reading Era

624 reviews32 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

March 17, 2026

Aspen is stunned when Bishop, long believed to be missing and dead, has suddenly returned. He vanished before ever learning he had a daughter, and now Aspen must break the news to both of them. But that revelation is only the beginning of the surprises ahead.

As family obligations pull them closer together, Aspen and Bishop find it harder than ever to ignore the feelings they’ve held onto for so long. I loved watching them navigate all the changes in their lives while also learning how to be parents to their daughter. Adjusting to their new reality isn’t easy, but seeing them grow into a family of three made the journey so worth it.

This was the perfect conclusion to an amazing series but I am sad it's over.

Thank you, Maggie Rawdon for the ARC.

Shanna Gilbert

350 reviews23 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

🐎single mom
🐎second chance love
🐎marriage of convenience
🐎found family
🐎forced proximity
🐎romantic suspense

Bishop was taken in by Aspen’s family as a kid to escape his abusive father. Bishop and Aspen were in love and were heartbroken when they split.

Years later they have a weekend together that results in Aspen getting pregnant.

Now Aspen is navigating life as a newly divorced single mother and has returned home. There she runs into Bishop who’s unaware he’s Fallon’s father.

Aspen and Bishop have some of the hottest tension that I’ve read in a romance book. Their flirty banter had my toes curling and the slow burn tension had me on edge.

Great pacing, character development and the plot had me riveted. This whole series is ridiculously good!

Kam

570 reviews3 followers

arcs breeder brothers-best-friend

Sad to be leaving purgatory falls!!

Ok I really liked aspens character. Very relatable and she’s just so mommy. Her relationship with her brothers, Fallon and Bishop was very cathartic to read after they reunite.

Especially the tidbit about Bishops name related to Fallon.

I liked the way the artifacts ended and the epilogues.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of bishops character. He was trying to get back into Aspens good graces (yearning and angsty) but it felt like there wasn’t much else to him - so his character fell flat for me. I wish his character was a little more complex, and that he maybe did things outside of Aspen and Fallon.

Stacey Kelley

414 reviews32 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

If you love a man who grovels, you are going to love Bishop Bradford. I’ve been looking forward to Aspen’s book since this series started, and it did not disappoint.

I’ve always loved how independent and sassy Aspen is. She takes it up another level in this one. And Bishop? He’s a man who knows he messed up all those years ago and is bound and determined to prove himself. And prove himself he does.

This book is filled with tension, longing, humor, spice and suspense. I’m always sad to see a beloved series end, but this book was the regret ending to this one. I can’t wait to see what Maggie has in store for us next.

Kali Jean

435 reviews1 follower

Review of advance copy received from Author

Another phenomenal series from Maggie Rawdon. Aspen and Bishop are a second chance romance at a first love. Everything Bishop says and does is absolutely swoon-worthy. He embraces the grovel whole-handedly and it was a beauty to read. Like all things from Rawdon, the spice is spicing without taking away from an actual plot- the running line of the relics and drama that runs through the whole series is wrapped up nicely. I have enjoyed reading this series going all the way back to the OTHER series she has written (Queen City, Lords of Misrule) where we meet some of these characters as well. Basically, read everything she writes.

whaterireads | Eri

237 reviews4 followers

Thank you so much for this arc! I love this series so much!!!

Ok I love all the books in this series but Grant and Dakotas was my #1 emphasis in was! Because these two just were dethroned! Omg Aspen is my queen I love her! She’s fucking amazing and our sweet, hot, pathetic in the best way Cowboy Bishop, what a fucking man!

Best second chance romance ever! I love how aspen make him beg, kneel, yearn, for her! And omg that woman has a mouth ❤️‍🔥 I love how fierce she is and how vocal and the way she tortured him 🙂‍↕️ go Aspeeeeen! Their banter and the spice scenes 😮‍💨🙂‍↕️❤️‍🔥 10/10!

The suspense about the relics was great too! I love the ending! It was a great closure to the story!

Andrii Jagen

64 reviews2 followers

Review of advance copy

Wow!
I don’t even know where to start. Dakota and Grant are my Roman Empire.

But Aspen and Bishop are everything. I kept taking breaks from the book because I didn’t want it to finish. Their chemistry was so good. Their love so genuine. Maggie outdid herself writing this one. The snippets of the other characters and little Easter eggs she left were so good.

The plot was good! ✅
The spice was excellent, not too much and at the perfect times. 🔥
Character Development 💯
No notes!

I’m so sad to be leaving Purgatory Falls but this book was the best way to end this series.

Reba Densley

300 reviews9 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

Okay so if your just diving in and haven't read the first 3 books, its okay. I still really enjoyed Aspen and Bishops story. Their years apart will make you mad but Bishop is stubborn and isn't giving on on getting Aspens forgiveness. Their story is one neither can fight for long. Even with some family secrets coming to light.
I definitely plan on going back and reading books 1 through 3 so I can get a full picture.

Robin (DocRobReads)

467 reviews11 followers

Review of advance copy received from Publisher

I'm not sure how I felt about the continuation of the overarching storyline 4 books in, but I am sure that chemistry between Aspen and Bishop was hot as all get out. 🔥 Sheesh. 🥵 I also appreciated that the book didn't follow a traditional romance plot beat-for-beat. Since it was second-chance, Rawdon clearly felt she had abused the MCs enough in their past life. I still think Levi and Zeph's story was my favorite, but this was a solid entry into the family. 💞
4.25🌟

arc romance-contemporary

Janine Taylor

137 reviews1 follower

Review of advance copy received from Author