Wren Maxfield hates Creed Cooper, but now she’s working with the wealthy rancher over the holidays! Those strong feelings hide undeniable chemistry…and one wild night results in pregnancy. Now Creed vows to claim his heir. That means proposing a marriage in name only. But as desire takes over, is that a deal they can keep?
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
This is a cowboy romance, and this is the second book in the Gold Valley Vineyards series. I have also read and reviewed the first book in this series before picking up this book. This is about two people that were broken finding each other and learning to love. It is a short and fast read. I really enjoyed this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
Wren Maxfield and Creed Cooper each work at their family’s winery, rivals in business. They push each other’s buttons, jabs and sparring just about every time they meet. However, whenever Wren and Creed are in a room together sparks fly! They can say it’s all about irritation and how much they dislike each other, but deep down if they’re being honest there’s a wild, magnetic attraction that’s becoming more and more irresistible. Especially, now that they’re working together on a joint project to attract tourism to the wineries in Gold Valley.
This is very much an enemies-to-lovers romance, and I find them so much fun! The push and pull (as long as it doesn’t get too mean) really amps up the sexual tension! Creed and Wren were smoking hot together, and I loved how the dislike faded into the background once they acknowledged their mutual attraction. The pregnancy-forces-us-together troupe is also a favorite of mine and I loved how determined Creed was to be there for his child no matter what.
These two have to sort through some past personal hurts, mostly Creed, to get to the point where they realize the deep feelings they have for each other. They were desperate for each other even before they found out about the pregnancy.
Claiming the Rancher’s Heir was a thoroughly captivating, quick read. I immediately liked Creed and Wren and was invested in their HEA! Can’t wait for Cricket and Jackson’s story next! A copy was kindly provided by Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.
CLAIMING THE RANCHER’S HEIR (Gold Valley Vineyards Book #2) by Maisey Yates is a new enemies-to-lovers contemporary romance featuring the second sister in the Maxfield winemaking family and the sexy cowboy/vineyard owner from the Cooper family. Although this is the second book in the Gold Valley Vineyards series is can be easily be read as a standalone.
Wren Maxfield cannot believe her sister, Emerson, wants to do joint events with their biggest winery rivals, the Cooper’s to increase tourism in the Gold Valley. For years, Wren has been butting heads with Creed Cooper and now they have to work together. Wren hates Creed and his laid-back cowboy persona, but she also cannot stop having very steamy dreams featuring the man she supposedly hates.
Creed Cooper runs his family’s winery and enjoys his sparring with the uppity Wren Maxfield. Creed has no interest in a relationship after being wounded in his past, but his dreams all feature the feisty Wren and now they are thrown together.
After an explosive sexual episode in a wine cellar, Wren is pregnant. Creed vows to marry Wren and take care of her and the baby, but it is a marriage in name only. But Wren has other plans.
I really enjoyed this Harlequin Desire quick read. I did read the first book, but it is not necessary to enjoy this one. I find enemies-to-lovers stories very entertaining and I believe Ms. Yates did an excellent job of bringing all the verbal tension to a head and turning it into believable sexual tension. Wren and Creed were both dealing with emotional baggage that I felt was handled realistically. The sex scenes are explicit, but not gratuitous.
I can recommend this contemporary romance for a quick, satisfying read and I am looking forward to Cricket’s story next.
Claiming the Rancher's Heir was an enjoyable read featuring an enemies to lovers romance between rival winery owners.
Wren Maxfield and Creed Cooper have hated each other from their first meeting. To benefit both of their wineries, they're willing to set aside their differences and work together. But as they spend time together, the desire hidden under their animosity comes to the surface leading to a night of passion that leads to pregnancy. Creed is determined not to miss a second of his child's life and proposes a marriage in name only. But it turns out remaining detached may be the one thing they can't do.
Wren and Reed's relationship started out with the two hating each other unable to be in each other's presence without trading barbed comments. Ultimately it becomes clear that both of them are responding with hostility in order to hide their attraction to one another. The chemistry between the pair is palpable and the sexy scenes are steamy and very well done. I really enjoy marriage of convenience romances, so I really liked that aspect of their romance. However the trope of pregnant after one night together is one of my least favorites, so I knew going into the book that I wouldn't love that aspect. But I ended up really enjoying Wren and Reed's interactions outside of the pregnancy, so I was mostly able to overlook my dislike of the trope. I will say that initially the pair do have some trouble communicating, more so on Creed's part, but thankfully by book end that was resolved.
Overall despite including a trope I do not like, I still really enjoyed Claiming the Rancher's Heir and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Rancher's Wager, when it releases next year.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
I will absolutely read anything from Maisey, no synopsis needed.
I really liked Wren and Creed. They’re both stubborn and sassy and the know how to push each other’s buttons. Oh, and the chemistry is more than apparent. I’m definitely intrigued about Emerson’s story and Cricket seems like a prickly delight.
Plot wise, it was a lot of drama. I would have preferred a bit more talking on the page and less inner monologue, but perhaps that’s just a personal preference. Oh, and I’m super amused that Wren is mentioned several times to have dark hair and there’s a blonde on the cover.
Overall, it was a quick and entertaining read. I could have easily read a full sized story about these two.
**Huge thanks to HQN for providing the arc free of charge**
Another great book by Maisey Yates. I really enjoyed Cowboy Christmas Redemption last year and so I was pleased to find another Maisey Yates book offered to me by Harlequin and I had no doubts whatsoever that I had to download it.
Well-formed characters, a quick pace and lots of chemistry. Just one thing though: Wren was mentioned as having dark hair yet the woman on the cover is blonde.
Other than that, Claiming the Rancher's Heir is sweet, romantic and highly recommended.
Thanks to Maisey Yates and Harlequin Desire for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
5 stars. I cannot wait for more books from Maisey Yates as well as the first one in this series but still felt this was good on its own too. I like to fill in the gaps and get the full story so I will be searching out book 1.
I enjoyed this book. I love enemies to lovers kinda books so this book was right up my alley. Clearly the two had a thing from the beginning it was easy to see it was only a matter of time before they got together and it seemed that night ended up with unexpected consequences and it was interesting seeing how they handled thing. There was things going on in Creeds past that made him make some pushy choices and I really wasn't into it. Then there are things in Wrens family life that makes some of the choices she's made somewhat understandable. If you like the alpha pushy take charge guys, or enemies to lovers kinda book you'll enjoy this book.
Claiming the Rancher’s Heir by Maisey Yates is the second story in her Gold Valley Vineyards series, an enjoyable and sexy enemies to lovers romance.
Creed Cooper and Wren Maxfield mix like oil and water. But as annoying as they find the other, they also harbor a secret attraction. For business reasons, it makes sense for the two winery families to work together to promote their products and Wren has come up with a plan to do just that, putting her dislike of Creed aside for the good of the winery. She wants to have a wine festival at Christmas, and she’ll need Creed’s help to pull it off. But putting them in close quarters results in a steamy night together – and an unexpected pregnancy. Creed’s been through this before, and it didn’t end well for him. This time, he’s determined to be a father to his child, and marriage to Wren is the solution to his problems. But will Wren agree? And can it lead to a real happy ever after?
I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers romance trope stories, so I was really excited to read this and it did not disappoint! Wren and Creed were secondary characters in the first story in the series, Rancher’s Wild Secret, which featured Wren’s sister Emerson and introduced the families and I really enjoyed it as well. And of course, it’s a spinoff series to the author’s Gold Valley series (which is itself a spinoff of her Copper Ridge series), just with more of a focus on wineries than ranches. The nice thing about these series is that it’s easy to hop in and out as each contains a complete couple romance but the secondary characters make you want to read them all.
While the ‘enemies to lovers’ conflict is strong at the beginning, it’s Creed’s personal history that results in most of the issues for him and Wren. His teenaged lover got pregnant but claimed the baby belonged to someone else, so for the sake of the baby he’d stayed far away and watched his son be raised by other parents. It’s a deep hole in his heart and his motivation for wanting to be with Wren from the moment she tells him she’s pregnant, deeply afraid that he will see another child slip through his fingers.
Wren has every intention of letting Creed be a father. She agrees to a short term marriage so that when the baby is born he’ll be named on the birth certificate with parental rights with the option then of getting divorced. But of course, as they spend time together, they discover how right they are for each other. It take’s Creed longer to admit to it, but he comes through in the end. I liked everything about this story, including all the secondary characters and how things are resolved, and there is a sweet epilogue too. Maisey Yates has hooked me into this series and I can’t wait to read Wren’s sister Cricket’s story next!
Magnetic chemistry. Emotional romance. Irresistible storytelling. Yates has a way with words and a keen sense of emotion. Wren and Creed are a hot mess in need of a bit of TLC. Claiming the Rancher's Heir masters the gift of being alluringly, unpredictable with a grace that is exciting to watch.
Wren had always looked up to her father and tried to show him that she was worthy when it came to their family’s winery business however his public disgrace has her reflecting both on her life and his. She has come up with a plan to help market the winery but that means working with Creed who may be her nemesis but there is no denying the chemistry between them.
Creed manages his family winery as well so even though he finds Wren infuriating his attraction to her is the one thing he can’t control. When their steamy encounters result in a pregnancy Creed is determined to not repeat the mistakes of the past of that means marrying Wren and being an active father in their child’s life.
The chemistry between Creed and Wren was never the problem but if they are to have a future together Creed must heal from his past and open his heart to the love and future they could have together.
The Maxfield and the Cooper has always been rivals in the wine business so it's no surprise that Wren Maxfield and Creed Cooper are like oil and water every time they have to spend more than five minutes together. There's never too much verbal sparring and insulting barbs for these two but as we readers know, there's a fine line between hate and sexual tension😉 and now that they're temporary joining forces with their family business for a Christmas wine festival, they're dancing dangerously close to the line.
Wren and Creed had such a wild and unpredictable chemistry and at times it was just a little bit too raw and angry for me. But I love the fact this heroine could give as much as she get. And I love the message of this book, that it's also about finding yourself.
This was a fun enemies to lovers centered around 2 wineries coming together to help both of their businesses. They didn't expect their chemistry, or the surprise their chemistry brought them. (I think you can figure out that trope from that sentence.) It takes place around Christmas time, but despite the cover, I would not call this a Christmas romance. If you are ok with the trope that shall not be named, then I think you will enjoy this one, as it was done well.
Creed and Wren run competing wineries. They hate each others guts. While sampling wines for an event they have hot and wild sex. They say some things later that they go their separate ways. Wren is trying to figure out what she wants out of life when something happens. She goes to Creed. He promises her the world. Can both broken souls learn from their pasts mistakes to grow and learn. A wonderful read that had me crying happy tears at the end.
Wren Maxfield helps to run her family’s winery in Gold Valley, Oregon. When she must join forces with a neighboring vineyard to sponsor events, she is more than leery of working with Creed Cooper. She has a love hate relationship with Creed and she would would rather do anything else than be in his presence.
Creed Coopers family vineyard is doing well, but to expand their business they must team up with the Maxfields. As much as Creed wants their vineyard to succeed, he is not looking forward to being around Wren.
Wren and Creed love to spar and argue with each other, but the more they are at odds, the more sparks start flying. When a lustful night ends up with a baby on the way, how will they handle this new twist in their relationship?
I really enjoyed this story by Maisy Yates. It had a spunky, sassy female lead character which I love and gave us the small town, close knit family element which I adore. This is the second book in the Gold Valley Vineyards series, and even though there are characters from the first story are mentioned, Ms. Yates does a brilliant job of filling the reader in on the back story. I am excited for the next book to see what is in store for Gold Valley. Thank you so much to the author Maisy Yates, Harlequin Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was fabulous! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.
In this the second book in Yate’s Gold Valley Vineyards series, a spinoff of her Gold Valley series which is actually a spinoff of her Copper Ridge series. We’re back with the Maxfield sisters. If the romance of oldest sister Emerson Maxfield and her husband Holden in the series first book had a uniquely odd beginning it has nothing on the start of the romance between middle sister Wren and Creed Cooper. It must be noted that with the Maxfield sisters named Emerson, Wren and Cricket (not a nickname) and the Cooper siblings named Jackson, Creed and Honey, both sets of parents must have had a perverse sense of humor. Emerson and Jackson not so much, but Wren, Cricket, Creed and Honey, seriously? I’ll start at the top by stating I enjoyed these stories not only because they’re part of the Harlequin Desires series which means they’re a little more erotic but because being only about half the length of a typical 300 page contemporary romance, Yates who is the Queen of Angsty Dialogue goes a bit lighter in this story. Oh, we get plenty of the internal thoughts and external conversations between Wren and Cooper expressing their hopes and dreams, fears and regrets. Just not quite as much angst as Yates puts in her longer stories. Wren Maxfield at 31 years old is having an existential crisis. She’s pretty much lived her life to the wishes of her father hoping to win his praise and approval. She went to the schools he chose for her, she dated men he would have approved of, she stayed in a social circle that kept her isolated from those not in her socio-economic class. When choosing a career she allowed her father to dictate her choices there too. In the first book her father was knocked from his pedestal as a father deserving of his daughters respect and devotion. No longer having to seek her father’s approval and watching how happy Emerson is in her married life outside of helping to run the family winery, Wren is feeling a little lost. Feeling like she doesn’t really know who she is. Wren and Creed Cooper whose family owns Cowboy Winery have had an adversarial relationship for years. I’m not sure either really knows why beyond the fact their families both compete for wine drinking customers so they think they must dislike each other. While insisting they dislike one another they take great joy in verbal sparing, tossing insults at each other. Until one day all of that heat explodes into an orgasmic sexual encounter the likes of which neither has ever experienced. Once the genie is out of the bottle so to speak the two of them can’t keep their hands off of one another. Wren finds in her choice to have a sexual relationship with Creed and explore her new found sexuality, a personal freedom to make choices that don’t fit others ideas of what she should do, a sense of freedom she’s never experienced. Creed the far more sexually experienced of the two finds in Wren a sexual partner that leaves him wanting more. That consumes his every thought. Could it be that all that bickering they’d been doing for years was just a way to release the passion both felt for each other in a safer way? When Wren discovers she’s pregnant from their first encounter where they were both so caught up in lust neither thought about birth control, she is shocked at Creed’s insistence they get married when she tells him she’s carrying his baby. To convince her to marry him Creed is forced to reveal a dark secret from his past. Something that has impacted his views on love and intimacy for the past 18 years. Understanding Creed’s concerns Wren agrees to a short-term marriage until the baby is born under certain conditions. One of the main ones gets tossed aside almost immediately. Creed’s Wren sees this as a short term arrangement to mollify Creed but Creed is thinking lifetime commitment even though he doesn’t believe in love and forever. It’s a given that both will change their views before the story is over but the journey to that end is why we read contemporary romance. The thing that bothers me about this story that caused me to give it a mediocre 3 star review is as a veteran Maisy Yates reader IMHO she’s gone to the well too many times in this plot. I’ve lost count of how many stories in her Copper Ridge and Gold Valley series the male lead tries to convince the female lead and himself that they can be happy in a loveless marriage where friendly affection and sexual chemistry should be enough to sustain the marriage. Here she does it again. Wren when she realizes she’s in love with Creed decides she can’t build a life with him if he doesn’t love her back. After growing up in a home where her parents had a loveless marriage she refuses to settle for less. Creed reflexively resists the notion that he is in love with Wren even though he is. Like I said, been there done that with this author too often. Maisy Yates is an extremely talented author. I find it disappointing that so often her characters (or should I say the male character) fall into this same trap.
First, I will admit to being a Maisey Yates fan, and also a fan of both the enemies-to-lovers trope and cowboy romances, so Claiming the Rancher's Heir, the second book in Ms. Yates' Gold Valley Vineyards series, sounded right in my wheelhouse, and it comes as no surprise to me that I absolutely loved it, that I wished it was a longer novel, and it nevertheless gets 5 stars from this reader.
Gorgeous cowboy, Creed Cooper, helps run the family business, Cowboy Wines. They have been competing with the more posh Maxfield Vineyards for years, and Creed's adversary is pretty Wren Maxfield, someone he sees as prissy and stuck up, but someone he's very much attracted to, just as Wren is attracted to the handsome cowboy. As representatives for their two family vineyards, they are planning a joint wine tasting event, and after sniping at each other, these two end up having a very brief, very hot, up against the wall sex session in the wine cellar that neither of them ever expected. They were so hot for each other, they forgot one thing--protection, and Wren, who never thought sex with her former partners was all that interesting, now knows what she's been missing, but she considers it a one-and-done, until she discovers that she's pregnant and Creed insists on marrying her immediately. Wren is no pushover, and the constant sparring with Creed over how to deal with the birth of a child they both want and their long history of disliking one another leads to a lot of soul searching, and Ms. Yates does an admirable job at giving her readers real insight into the psyches of both main characters.
What these two characters don't know about each other is a pretty much everything, and when Wren, who is perfectly willing to give Creed unfettered access to their child without the benefit of marriage, finally finds out why Creed is strongly insisting on marriage immediately (and no, I'm telling you why), she finally begins to understand him and his motivations, and, in the process, discovers the reasons for her own reluctance to marry a man who obviously dislikes her as much as she dislikes him.
Expect a great deal of soul-searching in this novel, something that I've come to expect from Ms. Yates' addictive novels, and yes, there's an HEA ending in your future, but it's the getting there that hooked me from the very start and kept me reading until the wee hours of the morning. If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers romances as much as I do, I think you'll enjoy this one every bit as much as I did.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
Good enemies to lovers story. Wren Maxfield and Creed Cooper are co-owners of competing wineries. Maxfield Wines tend toward a more posh clientele, while Creed's Cowboy Wines have a more down-home reputation. When Wren's sister proposes a joint venture between the two wineries to promote their products, Wren and Creed must work together to make it happen. The difficulty is that Wren and Creed are like oil and water. Whenever they are in the same room, the sniping and bickering are nearly constant, each insisting that they don't like the other.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Wren and Creed. They both proclaim out loud that they hate each other, but the sparks that fly say otherwise. They use their antagonism to keep each other at a distance, as mentally they admit to intense attraction. When a fierce argument explodes into passion neither one can resist. Wren ends up pregnant, and Creed insists that they marry to ensure that he has a role in the baby's life. Wren is reluctant but agrees to a temporary marriage to soothe Creed's fears.
While Wren and Creed's attraction is undeniable, they quickly realize that they don't know each other. It was fun to watch them get to know each other's likes and dislikes and begin to believe they can make a go of the marriage even without the dreaded L-word. Both Wren and Creed have issues from their pasts that affect their willingness to allow their emotions to be part of their marriage. As Creed's support of Wren causes her to look at her life and her dreams, she realizes that her feelings for him have changed. I ached for her when she confessed those feelings to Creed, and he pulled away. It took some straight talk from one of his brothers to open Creed's eyes to his feelings for Wren and why he pushed her away. I liked the ending and seeing him finally let go of his guilt and believe in a happy future with Wren. The epilogue was terrific and had a nice twist at the end.
After their hate-fueled escapades result in an unexpected pregnancy, Creed practically drags Wren by the hair, kicking and screaming, to the altar to ensure he has complete access to their child. Once she understands what the thorn is in this lion's paw, however, she is completely sympathetic and maybe even a little cooperative.
I loved the way Wren stood up for herself, negotiating for her interests even when Creed was ready to steamroll over her every objection. It takes a strong woman to patiently get through to a hardened man like Creed, and Wren was perfect for the job.
Creed sure can come off as an arrogant jerk, but we can immediately see it's because he's been so very hurt in the past, and that hurt is still affecting his decisions and confidence all these years later. He's afraid to want what he wants because he simply couldn't survive the disappointment again.
Their love is tried and tested and ultimately triumphant. The HEA and epilogue were joyously perfect. For a shorter novella, this book packs a whole story in an afternoon's read. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and I want to thank them for it. I so much wanted to like this since the blurb caught my attention but unfortunately the MCs annoyed me for a good portion of the story.
It started out from first page with Hero telling us what he didn’t like about heroine and how she wasn’t his type but he still lusted after her – even though he hated her. Then on an on it went how different they were and how they didn’t mesh well together, etc.
While I like some angst in my stories, having the couple I’m supposed to be routing for loathing & bickering at each other so much of the story killed it for me. I have small children who have tantrums all the time. Did not need to read about Adults have tantrums as well so I skimmed a lot unfortunately…
So this was just a “me” thing. Do pick it up and read it if you like an enemies to lovers theme…
Yate’s Claiming the Rancher’s Heir is book two in the Golden Valley Vineyards, and it’s an enjoyable read. It’s what I was needing. We get the cowboy and Christmas, but wait, let’s not forget that it’s also enemies to lovers! My only complaint is I wish it were longer. Now I’m going to have to go grab the first in the series and catch up before the next one comes out! In Creed Cooper’s words, Wren Maxfield is prissy and stuck up, 'too soft, too cosseted, snobby, uppity, repressed,' but oh, does he hold a torch for her. Reason? She’s the only woman that doesn’t fall for his charm. Wren doesn’t much care for the likes of Creed. Her exact words are 'arrogant, annoying, infuriating, ridiculous,' and she could go on all-day with words to describe Creed Cooper. Wren’s problem is her thoughts and dreams do not speak the same. If you’re looking for an addictive, quick, and sexy read, I would suggest this Holiday romance because you can’t go wrong with a story this good.
My thoughts Rating:4 Would i recommend it ? Yes Would i read more of this series ?yes Would i read more of this author? Yes First off i want to say thank you to the publisher Harlequin Desire- HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada)for inviting me to read and review it as well as the invite to the blog tour and a big thanks to NetGalley as well, because with out them i wouldn't be finding new series to start or to continue with. Now on to my thoughts of Claiming the Rancher's Heir ,is a brilliantly written romance with strong character’s ( that you will lose your heart to, powerful plot line that you can get lost in , as well as beautiful descriptions that come to life and make you feel like instead of reading a book your watching a movie or at least i thought so.
First of all I want to start by thanking Harlequin for providing me with an E-ARC and making me a part of this blog tour !
Disclaimer: I am in no way affected by this my opinions are my own.
Now the good stuff, a Christmas romance ! I am a huge lover of cheesy romance when I am in the mood, I don't want drama (or not much of it) I want feels and a HEA (happily ever after). It contains a couple of tropes that are worth mentioning because this is a fun thing to know, a pregnancy after a one night-stand, a bad at communicating and an enemies to lovers romance. (Now the latter one is my favorite trope, or at least one of them ! and the bad at communication one of my most hated things in books, I hate when things could've been resolved if they had just talked or been honest …)
This is a love story between Wren and Creed, they are both winery owners and despised each other upon meeting one another. They decide however, to put their differences aside when it benefits them in their wineries to work together. There is A LOT of UST (unresolved sexual tension) between them, they can't help but be attracted to each other and between their banter and barbed comments ultimately end up sleeping together. This resulted into an unexpected pregnancy, Creed wanting to stay in the unborn baby's life proposes a marriage of convenience with no-strings attached. As you can imagine their UST which, by the way, did not in anyway get resolved by their sex-capade. As they get to know each other more and more, they begin to fall for each other. They both suffer however from what I will qualify as, lack of healthy communication between people who are (and even if that was not the case) having a baby. Especially Creed, I don't know why author's do this, what is supposed to be attractive in lack of communication which results in misunderstandings... At least everything was resolved and nicely wrapped up by the end of the book.
The sex scene in this book are STEAMY, really like a LOT. I also loved that they had a palpable, evident chemistry, which is not always the case in these type of romances. The author did a really good job at making the romance not be annoying or lacking. It was an extremely entertaining and fast read which is exactly what I wanted this to be. A perfect addition to my Christmas reads of 2020.
I really recommend it, if you are looking for a enemies to lover, Christmas read with an HEA this is for you ! 4/5 stars Bookarina
Maisey Yates does enemies to lovers so, so well. It’s just a fact! This book was about rival vineyard owners, Wren and Creed. Wren’s family business has just gone through total upheaval after her father’s misdeeds came to light. To continue developing the company brand, Wren needs to partner with Creed’s family vineyard, which has a much more laid-back vibe. Wren and Creed have never gotten along; the banter is CUTTING. Of course, under all the animosity is sizzling sexual chemistry, which explodes into a one-night stand… and ends in pregnancy for Wren.
First, this book was HOT. Yates did not hold back with this one, and it was super fun to read. Serious steam, right off the bat! Secondly, I really enjoyed the family dynamics and Wren as a heroine. She was unapologetic about her desires and went after what she wanted. Her character development was fantastic. For a short book, Yates really manages to pack in the feels. I thought Creed was a little less developed as a character, I understood his angst around Wren’s pregnancy, but his solution seemed undercooked to say the least. He was closed off to Wren and the reader.
In an enemies to lovers book, I want the hate to burn bright and the love to burn bright. While I felt the heat, the love was more of a simmer. I didn’t really understand why Wren came to love Creed. Did it take away from my enjoyment of the book? Not really, I just wanted a little more of them falling!
Overall, this was a well-done accidental pregnancy Harlequin Desire. Yates weaves emotions into each page and really invests the reader in her characters. This book is a quick and fun read that packs an emotional punch. I can’t wait to read the other sisters’ books!
**I received a free copy of this book in order to provide an honest review**
Review: Claiming The Ranchers Heir By: @harlequinbooks 4/5 ⭐ • A sexy enemies to lovers cowboy romance with wine and family drama. You heard that right y'all, save a horse... ride a 😅 • Wren Maxfeild and Creed Cooper's families own rivalry wineries. There has been a feud brewing between them since birth and with it a hatred that burns deep in their loins. Wren wants to join forces, but not without a few cutting words. Creed has his smart mouth working in more ways than one during a meeting gone wild with passion. A wild night in a wine cellar results in a pregnancy neither of them are willing to give up. Due to a troubled past with the wrong girl, Creed has emotionally shut off his capability of love. That doesn't stop him from trying to force Wren into a marriage of convenience. The epilogue made me cry, I can't lie and blame it on PMS. 😅 This book has an excellent heartfelt ending.
This is a story which goes to show that the line between hate and love is very thin! Whenever Wren Maxfield and Creed Cooper meet the sparks fly. Initially both assume it is hatred but maybe it is really fear as both dream of each other and those dreams definitely don’t include fighting! When business bring the two together to work on a joint project neither can resist . . . and neither takes precautions! Because of what happened when he was sixteen, Creed is determined they’ll marry, he’s not letting this child grow up without him. Will this really be a marriage in name only or will love find a way to bring them together?
This is a steamy read with great families, secrets galore, plenty of drama and unexpected twists. There are hints about historical relationships that I really want to learn more about and both main characters have siblings who may well feature in future stories. That epilogue at the end is brilliant and I can’t wait to read more in this series in future!
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
From page one you could tell that this was going to be hate to love, with very intense hate going on. I did enjoy the characters and their interactions, but there were definitely times when I felt there was just a little too much of the discourse. I also enjoyed the family interactions and side characters.
The writing was fast paced and easy to read, the book itself can easily be read in a single sitting as it does suck you right in with the way it starts. I do think that the extreme nature of the characters dislike for each other could be polarizing for some people, but if you like hate to love you'll probably really enjoy this one.
The second in a series but can be read as a standalone book. Although a quick and short read, the book packs a powerful story. Wren and Creed always seem to be at odds with each other, although they each feel an underlying attraction for the other. They just don't know how to deal with the feelings.
Wren's sister comes up with a marketing idea that focuses on wineries in the region coming together for a holiday gala to showcase their offerings. This means Creed and Wren will need to collaborate. Emotions explode with unintended consequences and they need to accept and gave their feelings. It's a story of family trust, and commitment that's worth a read!
Looking forward to Cricket's story in book 3.
I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.
This book was everything I wanted. Simple, sweet and short. I adored this characters and I’m a sucker for a surprise pregnancy. I also loved the epilogue!!