Wild Wager

Valiant Peak Rodeo #1

by Sofia Aves

A wounded cowboy billionaire meets his match in a fierce wolf biologist who turns his empty ranch—and guarded heart—upside down.

I built Coyote Falls to hide. From the cameras. The crowds. The accident that left me hollow.

Then my sister’s best friend, Lanie Parker, shows up at my door—wild-cherry hair, cinnamon-sugar scent, Big Sky eyes that see everything I’ve tried to bury. She studies wolves in Alaska’s remotest corners. She’s built for wild places, for a life that’s the opposite of everything I am.

But she looks at me like I’m whole. Like the scars on my skin and the wager I made, which could lose me everything I’ve worked so hard to build, don’t define me. Like this damaged ex-rodeo star might actually be worth saving.

I shouldn’t ask her to stay. Shouldn’t pull her into my empty homestead, my found family of broken cowboys, the refuge I carved from granite and sweat. Shouldn’t touch her when I know damn well I’m riding toward my own destruction in a few weeks.

But shouldn’t and can’t are two different things.

And the only thing I can’t do? Let her go.

This unmissable steamy Western romance from USA Today bestselling author Sofia Aves is perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, Lyla Sage and Elliott Rose.

Genres: Romance

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 16, 2026

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author Sofia Aves writes fast-paced police romances, sizzling military units, steamy cowboys with a Montana backdrop and the occasional cheeky god. Sofia writes kidlit for charity and has over one hundred and fifty publications across five not-so-super-secret pen names. She’s the acquisitions editor for Evernight and Evernight Teen publishing and is a mum of three crazies in a returned veteran household. Sofia has two overly large fur babies who think they’re teacup puppies.
Sofia lives near Brisbane, Australia where she has her own alpaca park, Lorendel.


Rep: Nicky Lovick at WGM Atalntic

Reviews

[momo ꪆৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

(arc review)

Sad to say, but I was just not vibing with this. I was very excited for this from the description and indeed the start was hooking but it felt more like insta love!! They were acting like teenagers half the time. They met ONCE and fell in love?? started picturing their life together?? come on.

Also the writing was hard to get at times, the story also felt like it's going nowhere but all the places at the same time.

And not to forget he calls her niece chicken! CHICKEN!! ugh!

Thankyou netgalley, storm publishing and the author for providing me with this arc.

[Gina Lovelace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you go Netgally and the publishers for this ARC for my honest review.

I went into this book with high hopes, and I truly hate giving low ratings but unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. The concept and premise were intriguing, and the beginning did a good job of pulling me in. However, as the story progressed, the author’s writing style ultimately lost me.

I’m not a big fan of insta-love, especially when there’s little to no buildup. The relationship moved from “I like you” to “come live with me” incredibly fast, and I never really felt a strong emotional connection between the characters. It left me wondering whether they truly had chemistry or if the relationship was simply rushed to serve the plot.

The “wolf girl” element, while a great idea in theory, didn’t fully work for me in execution. I loved the concept, but it didn’t feel well integrated into the overall storyline, and at times it felt disconnected rather than essential.

As a whole, I struggled to connect with the characters. Ironically, West ended up being my favorite so much so that I found myself more interested in his storyline than the main one. I’d genuinely be curious to see if he and Winnie will get their own book.

One of my biggest challenges with this read was the pacing and structure. The story often went off on tangents, which repeatedly pulled me out of the narrative. I found myself getting lost frequently and unsure of what was happening. The book felt overly long, with many unnecessary details that distracted from the core plot. Overall, it felt like the story would benefit from a significant rewrite to tighten the narrative and better organize the most important elements.

While this book ultimately wasn’t a win for me, I do think the author has creative ideas and a strong foundation here it just didn’t come together in a way that kept me engaged.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this book as the cover was so pretty and the description of the story enticed me.
I was only 15% into the book and I already noted more than a few mistakes - some sentences didnt make sense eg. 'One science miracle does not a local threat make'. I just didn't understand this and I even asked someone else and they didnt understand it aswell. The other mistake, a small mistake, was her description said she had long hair down to her thighs but on the cover, her hair is much shorter than that. Of course this is just a small pick up but I couldn't help but note it.

The author does have a good set up, i just couldn't look past those mistakes.

I thank you for giving me a chance to review this book

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wait this was so fun!

3.75 stars

The wolf thing was kinda random but it was entertaining and I appreciate the research the author would have had to do to gather the information that was shared.

This was so Elsie Silver, Paisley Hope coded & I thought it was a really easy, enjoyable read.

But I will say, if you’re looking for a slow burn then this might not be the book for you as the romance was quiet fast paced from the get go - but sometimes that’s just what you want!

I definitely will keep reading future books 😌

Thank you for the author and publisher for this ARC!

[Nia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐

❤️ The initial chemistry between the characters was soo good hence I was immediately hooked, as if the premise wasn't attractive enough.
❤️ I loooved the found family and how the people on the Ranch bonded soo well with Laine. I really enjoyed their friendship.
❤️ West? My man he was THE advisor, brain of the book, I was so in for his sage advice, the best wingman ever!

BUT ..

• This book made me so close to tearing up, IN FRUSTRATION!

• The premise was soo good- he was broody, charming with trauma perfect for the hurt /comfort trope and she's a wolf biologist who'd chase wolves down into alaska, had issues with tied up to anyone and needs freedom!

• But this man wanted to chain her down, everything was soo instantaneous- 24% they're kinda together, 50% she's in love with him..how?

• The actual antagonist of this book was Cord (MMC) himself-Him not properly communicating with Laine, wanting to tie her down, throwing a temper tantrum, and never for once listening to his best friend who I think had the most clear head..and just messing up everything? He himself had a complex about his money and I hated the fact that his billionaire status was cemented over and over again and it also felt that whenever anybody acknowledged it they're hammering that into his identity.

• And the instances where he was soo offending, I- I was totally questioning why she didn't leave him..and there was so proper groveling AT ALL. She says she can't always say yes to him and he always convinces her...and that thing isn't talked about al all Whyy??!!

• This book had me questioning my sanity. And that wolf thing was so random like midway the author forgets about it and then its back to spice up things so everything could be tied with a pretty little bow..?!
💖 This book was soo totally not for me.

⛓️Thanks NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.⛓️

[saracosycorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this book

Wild Wager had so many elements I usually gravitate toward in a Western romance - a wounded cowboy billionaire, a fiercely independent heroine, emotional scars, high stakes, and a rugged ranch full of found family. On paper, this should have been a five-star read for me. While I enjoyed parts of it, it didn’t quite hit the mark overall.

The premise is strong: a reclusive ex-rodeo star hiding from his past collides with Lanie Parker, a wolf biologist who belongs in the wild and refuses to be intimidated by his walls. I appreciated Lanie’s confidence and competence, and I loved the idea of Coyote Falls as a refuge for broken cowboys trying to rebuild their lives.

However, the romance developed much too quickly for my taste. The emotional connection escalated within just a couple of chapters, leaning heavily into insta-love. I struggled to fully believe in the depth of their feelings because I didn’t feel like we had enough time to see their bond grow naturally. The chemistry was there, but the emotional buildup felt rushed.

I also found the writing hard to follow at times. Some internal monologues and transitions made the pacing feel uneven, which pulled me out of the story more than once. I wanted more clarity and more layered development to really sink into the emotional stakes.

Interestingly, I found myself more invested in West and his storyline. His character intrigued me, and I’m genuinely hoping we get a second book; maybe one centered around him and Winnie? I’d absolutely return to this world to explore those dynamics more deeply.

Overall, Wild Wager was a 4 star read for me. It has strong tropes, solid steam, and plenty of broody cowboy energy, but the pacing and insta-love element kept it from being a standout. Readers who enjoy fast-burn romance and intense chemistry right from the start may love this one more than I did.

[Evangeline · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off thank you Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Going into this I was immediately hooked. I love a small town, cowboy, off limits romance. But that’s not what I got. He’s not your typical cowboy, he’s more of a player who happens to also be an ex rodeo star. I hated all the player references like the following quote from a sex scene; “Treat me like you treat them”. It repulsed me so much I had to call it quits there.

I DNF’d this book at 64% or chapter 18. I expected a slow burn or at least some push back to draw out their relationship a bit. Nope! It’s a best friend’s brother romance yet, her best friend immediately supports them together. Both Lanie and Cord (yes that’s his nickname they use more than his real name) both say they “want to take things slow between them.” Which is fine, if they had actually done that. After one week of knowing of her existence he’s kissing her and trying to get her to move into his mega ranch mansion. (I don’t blame her, I’d move in too) Just don’t say you want to take things slow if that’s not true.

I like the wolf stuff at first until it was overused. Cord repeatedly calls her ‘Wolf Girl’, even while having sex. I’ve never hated something so much in my life. Their relationship felt like torture to read through. They were instantly in love and planning their futures together. It’s giving your first middle school relationship where you stay up on the phone till 2 am planning baby names then break up 3 weeks later. In no reality do they last, this couple’s got 6 months to a year in them.

The author’s writing is good at times but awkward and rushed at others. There are tons of errors in spacing but I imagine that will be fixed before the final copy releases. This book really disappoints me because I’ve been craving another good cowboy romance and this one had the potential.

[inmyreadingera321 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really hopeful about this book -- I was expecting a fun and well-thought-out cowboy romance, in the vein of Elsie Silver. But I think the problem here was that the story felt really disjointed and hard to follow, in places. The opening was great, and I really liked the characters as we were first introduced to them. But then the characters, and the plot, seemed to abruptly change in a way that didn't match the beginning. By that I mean that once the titular 'wager' was introduced, Lanie's reaction -- and the reaction of the ranchmen -- felt really outsized. The boys were so hurt by Cord's actions, but it also felt like they were the ones that pushed him into it? And Lanie was also hurt, but she wasn't even really a part of Coyote Falls, so her reaction felt off as well. And that doesn't even mention the fact that the 'wager' was introduced so late into the book, that I was left wondering why the book was called "Wild Wager" for so long.

Also, the romance was unbelievably rushed. I can understand insta-attraction between Cord and Lanie, but the fact that we were getting love confessions and Lanie all but moving into his homestead within the first 30% (and the first 2-3 weeks of their meeting?) felt way too fast. I didn't get to know them as individuals well enough to support them as a couple.

Overall, this had the potential based on the start, but it went off the rails pretty quickly for me. I don't usually have a hard time finishing books, but I did feel like DNFing this at one point.

I liked the hints we're getting of the next book, but I think I would need the issues with this book addressed so that we wouldn't have the same problem in Book 2.

------------

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

[Jax · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ARC for me…
My quick-ish overview:
Rich cowboy, Cord, meets Wolf researcher, Lanie, through his sister/ her best friend in Montana. Lanie is temporarily in town for an unknown time waiting for a grant to be approved so she can go back to Alaska and continue her research on wolves. She and Cord are basically set up by his sister and their love/ infatuation for each other literally happens over night and then she moves in with him a few days later- although his best friend and friends are very hesitant at first about the relationship and her staying at the ranch. While this is all going on, there are issues with a rodeo that Cord is putting together and he also has the day to day ranch work to do which seems to take away from his time with Lanie who ends up forming bonds with his friends and ranch hands. But through this all, Lanie just wants to find wolves in the mountains of Montana while waiting for her grant to be approved.
One night at a poker night at Cord’s house with his friends and his enemy neighbor, Jed, a bet was made for Cord to get back in the bull riding ring and to win in exchange for land that Cord really wants or if he loses, his own land goes to Jed… he agrees much to the dismay to everyone, especially because he could die, but also because of the land… and this is when he everyone is in a panic for different reasons.

I did like how the story began and it had the potential
To be great, but some things seemed pretty forced or went from one scene/ event quickly to another and at times I felt like it was way too overdramatized. (Yes, I know it’s a romance novel, but at times it was a lot… almost like they weren’t adults.) It had the potential to be really good but it lost me in some parts.

[Reading Romance with Kate]

✨ARC Review✨
“Wild Wager” by Sofia Aves
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
First Person, Dual POV
Release Day: 03/16/26

DNF at 61%. I really wanted to like this book, but it ended up just not being for me.

Initially, the storyline intrigued me, and I found both of the MCs likable. However, when they were already beginning to get intimate with each other at 22% and she agreed to go live at his ranch, my interest began to fizzle out. I would’ve liked to have seen their relationship have some time to develop instead of snowballing so quickly like it did. That also confused me because they agreed to take it slow and then all of a sudden, they’re living together.

The other issue I had was with Cord’s actions toward Lanie around 50-60%. I’m no stranger to reading MMCs who are a-holes, but they generally have some sort of redeeming qualities that make up for it. The way that Cord treated Lanie and the things he said about her to his foreman, West, really changed how I saw him. And like I said, other than being a good uncle, I couldn’t find any defining redeeming qualities that could excuse that behavior.

There were parts of this book that I genuinely liked, and I have to commend the author for giving Lanie such a unique career, as I imagine that took a lot of research. Readers who like insta love romances may be a better fit for this book than I was.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sofia Aves, and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Beatriz · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

i really wanted to love this one. the premise had so much potential! unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.

my biggest issue was the instalove. the romance escalated almost immediately, and the characters were expressing intense feelings before i felt like i knew anything meaningful about them. they were kissing, making declarations, and talking about being together before i had a solid grasp of who they were as individuals. because of that, i couldn’t emotionally invest in their relationship.

i also struggled to connect with the characters overall. their backstories felt underdeveloped, and i never felt grounded in their motivations or personalities. the side characters were present, but i didn’t feel like i had enough context about them either. instead of building depth, the story seemed to move quickly into romance without establishing a strong emotional foundation first.

at times, i found myself confused as well, not because the plot was complex, but because i felt like i was missing key character development that would have made the emotional beats land more effectively.

that said, readers who enjoy fast-moving, high-intensity romances with immediate chemistry may find more to enjoy here than i did. for me, though, the instalove and lack of character depth made it difficult to stay engaged.

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Warning- this is going to be a harsh review… I read this book so you don’t have to. It was not good. I think the premise showed promise, but the execution did not work. I did read this as an Arc, so maybe some of the clean up has occurred before publishing. I found myself having to reread passages because it felt like I missed something critical, only to find those details were missed. The pacing was very clunky. Cord Rand meets Lanie when she picks up his niece from his ranch and boom, he’s ready to move her in. Talk about instalove. Lanie has no personality. Her whole thing is she studies wolves. That’s it. Really nothing else to her. Cord is a rodeo-rancher reclusive billionaire who’s a bit of a turd. He’s used to getting what he wants but is a working billionaire, uses sex to avoid conversations, and is just a red flag. Also, the author points out he’s a billionaire at least 15 times in the book so there’s that. There really wasn’t a backbone to the love story and you don’t know why these two like each other. There is an interesting plot point in the last third of the book but it quickly fizzles when all the other pieces come back into play. This a straight up pass. If you’re wanting Montana ranchers, go read Devney Perry.

Thank you, Storm Publishing, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Taylor Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into this book with high expectations, I love a rich, grumpy cowboy and plenty of spice. However, I ended up DNF’ing at 60%. While the "insta-lust" was there, it transitioned into "insta-love" so quickly it felt jarring; the characters moved in together after a single date, which made it hard to stay invested in the stakes of the relationship.
​The secondary character dynamics were also a bit confusing. The shift from West being hostile to the entire group being "besties" happened almost overnight without much development. Additionally, the plot involving the ranch felt unrealistic. Cord betting his entire Montana estate on a ride felt more like a soap opera than a contemporary romance. I also found myself wanting more from Lanie’s professional life; her research with wolves was a unique hook, but it felt like a sidelined plot point that didn't lead anywhere.
​Ultimately, the lack of a tangible connection between Cord and Lanie made the "back and forth" feel repetitive rather than romantic.

​I think readers who love high-drama, very fast-paced romances might enjoy this more than I did, but the character shifts and the "back and forth" were just too much for me.

​Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kassie Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wild Wager positions itself to sit alongside Elsie Silver’s books, which is perfect because cowboy romance is having such a moment in the genre right now.

This is a traditional billionaire trope with the twist that the billionaire is also a cowboy, ex-bull rider who makes a wager against his ranch for one final ride. That is the core premise and conflict, but it takes a long time to get there and then it’s over quickly. This story also leans heavy on insta-love in a way that just didn’t work for me. How are we living together after a couple weeks?

I can’t fully put my finger on what it is, but the story and characters all felt hollow to me. I couldn’t connect with any of them, they didn’t make me feel anything. There isn’t anything specifically wrong with the plot or any of the characters, but it all just felt a bit flat. Oh, and I hate that he calls her “wolf girl” like it’s supposed to be a cute nickname.

I can see there being a section of the audience who would like this type of story, I just need more character depth and higher stakes overall. But as a quick, easy, here-for-the-vibes read? I think it totally works.

Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Sofia Aves for the opportunity to read this story ahead of time!

[Kas_reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the author is really good at making the readers feel like they are in the book, its descriptive and I could easily visualize how this ranch looks like, but the book felt like it was all over the place in terms of the plot and how fast the characters were moving. I wanted to DNF this book, but I hate to DNF any book so I powered through.

I feel like the book had good potential like Lanie had a voice of her own and had a passion (that I didn’t know was a thing lol wolf biologist??) and you can tell it could have been good. Cord is a billionaire cowboy who is hiding at his ranch after an incident that has left him shook (rightfully so) he had a backstory and trauma to overcome! They had potential for sure!

I think their love story was so fast and I as a reader needed a second before they start uHauling their life together cause she moved into his house like so fast it was crazy imo. 

I did like that the book was set on a ranch, best friends brother, main girl is a scientist and the concept of found family was super cute.

I do have hope that the second book will be better and probably have more depth and good pace to the storyline! I will preface I do love a good slow burn, so if you’re not a slow burn gal, you’ll probably like the book!

[Tammy Moldovan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the story I was hoping for

I loved the premise of the story - wounded man who self-isolates and a solitary scientist more comfortable with wolves than people - but the execution did not live up to the promise of that premise. Cord is a former bull rider turned billionaire who owns a Coyote Falls, a sprawling Montana ranch. Lanie is a biologist who spends long solitary periods of time in remote Alaska studying wolves. They meet when Lanie, who unbeknownst to him is Cord’s sister’s best friend, comes to Cord’s house to pick up his niece. The description of the ranch, the description of the people when they initially meet and the pull toward each other had so much promise but ultimately the storyline missed the mark completely for me. Too much telling, not enough showing, and some weird jumps in the relationship dynamics without any obvious reasons. The story just felt very disjointed. Many of the scenes and details of the characters did not fit well together or even within the story. All the elements were there but the scenes were missing the threads that should have woven them into a complete storyline. Because of this disjointedness, by the end I was not invested in the characters, their relationships, or the story as a whole. 2.5 stars.

[Lori Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received as an ARC through Netgalley to review, this is an honest review.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for the pre-approval to read this book.

This was an interesting read to be sure, the way the author describes Cordell's ranch I could envision that: the breathtaking natural beauty that gets lost within vast city life. I did enjoy both main characters that this story whirls around; though moving things as fast as Cordell and Lanie move... felt especially as it became sexual, to myself was as if they story was taking on and aspect like a Hallmark movie( without the sex ) where everything suppose to happen quickly and then finish up just as fast, knowing the ending is going to be okay.

Sure... it's a series that maybe over the coming books; readers get the pieces of world building Wild Wager didn't explore all that much: Cordell's past trauma that should shape how he is in the present with regards to this emotionally well being towards people. And Lanie and what's important about being a wolf biologist and why be around Cordell's ranch in the first place.

A decent read when needing something different to read.

[Coco · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot sounded promising and I love a Western Romance.

Cordell Rand, a rodeo bull rider who's survived a severe mauling, owns Coyote Falls Ranch in Montana, where he employs men injured in rodeos, offering them a home and employment while they recover. Lanie Parker, studies wolves in Alaska, at present she's staying with Cord's sister while trying to obtain further funding to continue her studies.

So far, so good. Until events became irritatingly unreal.

Lanie rushes to move in with Cord merely two weeks after they first meet. For him it's Instalove, he's already planning their future together, yet spends all his time working, essentially ignoring her. Why was the thoroughly detested and unscrupulous neighbour Jed, allowed to hang around Cord's ranch, even joining Cord's ranch hands at mealtimes? Why were ranch meals comprised of sandwiches? Cord's breath smelled of leather and whiskey in the mornings, was he chewing his saddle and drinking at night, instead of snuggling up with Lanie? The wager, finally introduced halfway through the book, was unbelievably stupid.

DNF.

With thanks to Storm Publishing and the author for the eARC, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was just not for me. I was so excited to read it as I love rodeo romance stories. Here are some of the things that I did not like.

I really wanted more. You never really know exactly what happened to the MMC in his accident. You get some vague mentions of surgery but not much else. Also, he talks about how everyone abandoned him, but you never hear why or how that happened. He is also supposed to be a recluse, but he has a ranch full of hands and then imbibes in buckle bunnies during the rodeo that he hosts every year. There were so many contradictions. This story was just not for me. I am also not crazy about the insta-love. It felt like this whole story happened over a couple of weeks.

Now for what I did like. I like the wolf story. I thought it was interesting, I had no idea what a dire wolf was. I looked that up a little and then I was invested in her research. I also like the MMC's niece. I always like the addition of children and especially when the MMC is really good with them.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this title. This is my honest review.

[Britnee Weir · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I DNF’d this at 20%. If I had known going into this that it was an INSTA-LOVE, I would have just said no thanks.

There was a lot of things that threw me off at the beginning such as follows:

- Sally being 9 but sometimes she talks like a toddler? For example, when she’s talking about bulls eye and calls it “bull eyes”.
- She flip flops between calling Cord “uncle” and by calling him by his first name. You would think most nieces would just call their uncle “uncle”
- When Lanie first drives up, it takes her so long to get down their driveway for some reason. Both Cord and Sally have time to shower and get changed before she gets to the door
- When she eventually gets there, Cord is overwhelmed by her beauty which ok can happen, but he’s immediately thinking of ways to keep her around?
- Lanie sees a billboard with Cord’s silhouette and recognizes his shoulders after 5 seconds of meeting him
- Lanie also referring to her senses as “wolf senses” because she’s a wolf biologist

I just didn’t vibe with this book unfortunately and the things above made me not want to continue reading.

[Beth’s Book Corner · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

Firstly, I always appreciate a book with a playlist, especially one that gives me an excuse to listen to Tim McGraw - very nice touch.

There were some genuinely fun elements woven into this story’s such as the wolf plot line which felt unique.

That said, I struggled a bit with the pacing. The opening descriptions were a bit repetitive and I would have loved if we had the chance to get to know the main characters as individuals before diving so deeply into the romance plot. Without understanding the characters, it was hard to feel invested in their relationship. This was also a factor later on in the book, where some of the “plot twists” felt forced, and I struggled to understand the motivations behind the choices they made.
Similarly I would have loved more depth into the other relationship - Cord and West, Cord and Winnie, Lanie and Winnie. Exploring these dynamics would have helped to build out the bigger picture for me and really lean into the found family trope, which I always love.

There was clear potential here with the concept and emotional journey, but unfortunately it didn’t fully come together for me.

[Dani💓 · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
This was such a good read, I really enjoyed that it was different to your typical cowboy romance! It was giving Elsie silver vibes and I was here for it!

The way the ranch is described, I could really picture exactly how it looks with the scenery and mountains!
Cord, a billionaire cowboy is hiding away at his ranch after a bull riding accident almost left him dead.
Lanie, cords sisters best friend is on a break from her research project of studying wolves in Alaska.
After first laying his eyes on her, it was insta love for him! He wanted her, planned their future and everything.
Although I really enjoyed this book, I think it was a bit to insta love for my liking, and the fact that he wanted her so badly but ignored her all the time? Everything felt a bit rushed and I think it had potential to be so much better! I will definitely continue the series as I did still enjoy it, however I hope the rest of the series really develops more into their lives rather than skipping straight over it
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️
Thankyou NetGalley, storm publishing and Sofia aves for this early arc!

[The Literature Lizard · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️

Wild Wager offers an intriguing blend of romance and personal redemption, featuring the wounded cowboy billionaire Cord and the fierce wolf biologist Lanie. The story is rich with emotion as Cord grapples with his past, while Lanie with her wild spirit, challenges his isolation. Their chemistry is palpable and Aves captures the tension beautifully.

While the premise is compelling, the pacing occasionally falters, leaving some plot points underdeveloped and inconsistent. The side characters add depth but could use more fleshing out to enhance the story's emotional stakes. Overall, it's an enjoyable read with heartwarming moments, but it lacks the depth to reach its full potential.

If you’re looking for a light romance with a touch of adventure, this book is worth the read, though it may not resonate with everyone.

Thank you to Storm Publishing, Sofia and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Wild Wager. As always, my opinions are my own.

[Hallie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wild Wager by Sofia Aves had a lot of potential, and I really liked the overall idea of the plot. The premise itself was intriguing and had all the ingredients for a fun, high tension romance. Unfortunately, it just did not fully land for me.

At times the story felt kind of muddy and unfocused. It would go off on random tangents that pulled me out of the main storyline, and I found myself wishing it would tighten things up. I also think the book could have been condensed quite a bit. Certain aspects were dragged out longer than they needed to be, which slowed the pacing and made it harder to stay fully invested.

One of my biggest issues was the insta love from Cord’s side. It felt very immediate and intense without enough buildup to make it believable. On top of that, him immediately wanting Lanie to stay with him rubbed me the wrong way. It felt rushed and a little forced rather than romantic.

[Krista H]

I was excited to read this wolf biologist x rancher cowboy romance. As a former wildlife biologist, I thought there would be some drama between them, as wolves and cattle ranching generally don’t mix well. Wolves eat cattle after all… But nope, sadly, this was not the case. Practically two seconds after meeting one another, Cord is looking for ways to invite Lanie to move in with him. I love that Cord is fantastic with his niece, and that he seems to genuinely care about his workers. I also think his name is pretty great… Cordell Rand. But this story is all over the place, and nothing is compelling these characters to like one another other than they’re hot. I DNF at 19% because I couldn’t follow the stream of consciousness writing to connect with the characters at all. I wanted to like this one… the cover is cute, the premise is great, but without some significant edits, this story just won’t be for me.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this one so badly, but it just didn’t click for me 😕 The start was promising and had me hooked, but the romance felt way too insta-love for my taste. They meet once and suddenly are imagining their entire life together? Come on.
The pacing and writing made it hard to fully immerse myself—the story felt like it was trying to do everything at once but landing nowhere. The characters’ shifts were also jarring: one minute West is hostile, the next everyone is besties. The ranch plot felt over-the-top (betting an entire Montana estate??) and Lanie’s wolf research, which could’ve been such a fun hook, didn’t really go anywhere.
I ended up DNF’ing at 60%, because while the insta-lust was there, the insta-love made it hard to care about their connection. Readers who enjoy fast, dramatic romances might get into this, but for me the back-and-forth and character shifts were just too much.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC!

[Eva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute but not for me…

Off the bat, without knowing a thing about this man, she assumed he lets his little nice shoot, doesn’t feed her and that he’s a ranch hand because he opened the door shirtless…The FMC got on my nerves real fast with her judgy bullshit ngl.
She then proceeds to be all “geeky and quirky” which in reality read as annoying and blunt. It kinda went downhill for me.
And I’m sorry but the wolves are cute but not “live in Alaska forever alone” cute.

Cord was just meh. He wasn’t bad, but his “obsessed” moment when he first met was underwhelming and did nothing for me.

I’m hoping that since I’ve read an arc, the errors and phrases that made no sense will be fixed so I’m not rating based on any of them.

In the end, the premise wasn’t bad but the execution left me as it found me, nothing exciting or that would make me want to reread.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this arc.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cord Rand ha construido su vida lejos del ruido, aferrado a una rutina hecha de tierra, toros y silencios que nadie cuestiona. En su rancho de Montana manda la disciplina, los secretos y una calma que solo se rompe cuando la naturaleza decide lo contrario. Todo cambia el día que Lanie Parker cruza la entrada de Coyote Falls con la misma determinación con la que estudia a los lobos en los territorios más salvajes del norte. Ella no pertenece a ningún lugar fijo y él ha hecho de ese aislamiento su refugio. El choque de dos mundos opuestos despierta emociones que ninguno planeaba enfrentar. Mientras el pasado de Cord exige ser reconocido y las convicciones de Lanie se ponen a prueba, ambos deberán decidir si vale la pena apostar por algo que podría alterar para siempre la vida que creen necesitar.


Gracias NetGalley y al publicista por el ARC a cambio de mi honesta opinión.

[Kaitlyn Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this book as I am a massive fan of cowboy romances but sadly this one just don’t hit the spot 😭

The authors writing style was beautiful and very descriptive, I could easily visualise the ranch and the breathtaking views. I really liked both of the main characters that this story surrounds but I think the story was just very disjointed and hard to follow, along with being very insta lovey when I usually prefer a good slow burn 🔥

Sadly I did struggle with this book and there were points I felt tempted to just DNF it as it just wasn’t hitting for me…

Although those book definitely has the elements to be better and I do believe that the other books in the series might continue the characters growth and amazing found family elements 🤍

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

[jade’s reading journey · Rating 2 out of 5]

actual rating= 2.5 stars

This novel tells the story of Cord, a reclusive billionaire rancher, and Laine, a passionate wolf biologist. From their first meeting, the attraction between them is immediate and they quickly begin spending more time together. As their relationship develops, an unexpected event stirs unresolved emotions and challenges their growing bond.

The story shines in its portrayal of Laine’s dedication to her work and the emotional depth added by Cord’s traumatic past. That said, the insta-love dynamic and the characters’ occasionally immature behavior made it difficult for me to fully connect with their romance, which ultimately affected my overall enjoyment.

tropes=
-insta-love
- cowboy billionaire romance
-small town
-found family

Thank you NetGalley and Sofia Aves for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.