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Ride It Slow

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A military hero. A runaway bride. Never enough time.
With one dance, one night, he claimed me.

Tired of holding things together and taking care of every responsibility for my family of sisters and a grieving father, I had begged the universe for something new. Then the county fair crowned me as the next Milk Maiden, and I gained the attention of Travis, the handsome stranger and Marine. The way he sang in my ear with his sultry twang took my breath away.

Life was suddenly good, even though he was only passing through town.

I was a Marine, fighting for my country, which came with some obvious downsides. Like meeting Marcie and not having enough time to spend with her before I go. All I wanted—no, craved—was to spend time with the woman. For one night. Afterward, it was back to checking my emotions, deadening myself inside so not a hint of pain would display outside. I made it a rule to start nothing serious. But sometimes a man needed a woman more than he needed air.

Marcie wasn’t just any woman, though. She had more than one night written all over her face.

If only time and logistics, and our meddling families, weren’t working against us . . .

Read this steamy small town instalove story and be transported to the small community of Glendale Falls. Marcie Hale and her sisters are growing up, figuring themselves out, and trying to find love along the way. Return to Glendale Falls and stay awhile in the charms of country life.

123 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2022

136 people are currently reading
1027 people want to read

About the author

Zee Irwin

80 books501 followers
Zee Irwin is a USA Today Bestselling Author who gets powered up by steamy small town romance. She's a bit of sunshine living countryside in Pennsylvania with her own grumpy alpha guy, two teenagers, and twin kitties. Her favorite character to write is a small town billionaire, especially if he falls first, is former military, and is possessive of the woman he loves.
Visit her at zeeirwinauthor.com to keep up to date on her latest work in progress.

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5 stars
83 (41%)
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67 (33%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
56 reviews1 follower
September 15, 2022
A very nice story and quick to read. I like the writing style. The bond the main characters created in the beginning was really heartwarming to read. If you like fast romantic short books I definitely recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Kait.
1,401 reviews229 followers
December 29, 2022
Decent but felt like a lot of pertinent info was glossed over or just plain avoided.

I did enjoy the romance between Marcie and Travis. They were clearly meant to be.

Really didn’t care for the whole wedding scene and the conspiracy that led up to it. The fact that her own flesh and blood kept her from love really irked me. Especially based on something their very sick mother told each of the sisters before she passed.
3,448 reviews42 followers
September 14, 2022
This is the story of Marcie and Travis who met just before he was due to return to military service. They have a romantic instalove connection and promise to keep in touch. She is going to wait for his return, and they correspond for a while. It was a sweet and romantic beginning but it got a bit less romantic in the latter half when things take a more melodramatic and confusing turn. There is a wedding that didn't make total sense to me. There was no love lost between the couple and it was not clear to me that why their other motives would lead them to the altar.

Some people conspire to interfere with Travis and Marcie's relationship in a way that would be a crime where I'm from, and apparently they just get away with it with no consequences whats0ever so that left me with an unresolved feeling. But perhaps Travis and Marcie were happy enough to be back together they needed no retribution.

Steam level: some sexual content
CW: military injuries
I got a copy of this book from Booksprout and this is a voluntary review.

Edit: I have learned that the final version will be somewhat different from what I've read.
6,129 reviews17 followers
September 18, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is a fairly short and quick read that kept me engaged from beginning to end. I absolutely fell in love with the characters and was cheering them on. This is a military romance in a small town with some angst, passion, love and so much more. The story is about Marcie and Travis. She has just been named the Milk Maiden and is out celebrating with her bestie. Travis is in town for a funeral when he helps rescue Marcie. The attraction is instant and the connection huge. The kicker is they only have the night and they spend it passionately. The two correspond while he is back in service to our country. Then everything falls apart. I enjoyed every bit of this quick read. I did think some parts felt rushed and frankly wanted way more. I love how the story ended. My heart broke for Jace! He deserved so much better than Janet. I so want to see him happy and cherished.
Profile Image for Merry Jelks-Emmanuel.
13.2k reviews154 followers
September 16, 2022
Marcie made a promise to her dying mother that she would take care of the family. When she connected with Travis, she knew that he was her forever man, but he was in the military. They conversed back and forth until communication between them stopped right around the time that Marcie found put about the status of the family farm. When Travis returns home it isn't to what he expected. Will he and Marcie be able to rekindle their relationship in spite of their family's manipulations? This story kept me glued t the pages to see how their story ends!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
769 reviews9 followers
September 16, 2022
Marcie is your typical "good girl" will do anything for her family and best friend without thinking about her own happiness...then along comes mystery stranger Travis, not from the small town but a hot marine there just for the night. What's a girl to do?.. Well show him a good time of course...but will they ever see each other again? They spend months writing to each other getting more personal each time, but something happens that just might ruin their chance of a happy ending... You'll have to read it to find out what happens, you'll enjoy this steamy read for sure!!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Nicole Potter.
1,567 reviews16 followers
September 17, 2022
Will this small-town runaway bride find her HEA?

5 stars excellent from start to finish. The storyline for Marcie & Travis held my attention from the 1st line to the last line as they both went through so much. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good small-town military romance between a hot military guy & a strong but overworked heroine. My first time reading this author & looking forward to reading more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Amie.
1,039 reviews17 followers
September 17, 2022
A story about a one night stand between a woman and a marine. By the end they fight the odds to be together. The characters are complexing which makes this story even better. Book is both suspenseful and thrilling it's a perfect page turner. The book is amazinly written that has a happily ever after that's magnificent.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
797 reviews4 followers
September 17, 2022
This is a cute story which I enjoyed reading. There's the usual small town drama, loss of loved ones and bad guys, but it's a really fun book to read.

I loved the strength of Marcie's and Travis' relationship and that there was no cliffhangers, only HEAs.

Good set up as well to lead into the next books. Recommended read.

I received a complimentary copy of the book and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.
4,927 reviews31 followers
September 16, 2022
Marcie just won the Milk Maiden contest when she meets Travis the handsome Marine on leave for a family funeral. They spend the night together then he leaves for overseas deployment. They keep in touch until they both think the other one stopped corresponding only to find out there was a sinister plot that kept them apart.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Marianne.
7,194 reviews85 followers
September 16, 2022
A steamy-sweet contemporary/small town romance.. I liked it very much.. It is sassy and fun-to-read, with a broad range of characters.. Best ending for a runaway bride!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,245 reviews10 followers
May 21, 2024
4.5 ⭐s Promises can be easy to make but can be difficult, if not impossible, to keep. 

Marcie Hale is the eldest of five daughters. Her family operates a dairy farm. Before her mother's death from cancer, she made Marcie promise to keep the family together. It was an easy promise to make, but it's becoming hard to keep. 

Her father suffered from depression after the death of his wife. There's a property line dispute that's become almost a feud with the Kerrigan's next-door, who are also dairy farmers. He's also been keeping financial secrets from Marcie. 

At the fair, Marcie had been awarded the title of Milk Maid. At the bar that night, she attempted to ride the mechanical bull. She didn't make the full eight-second ride, and her landing flashed her new red thong to the crowd. 

Travis Miller is a Marine currently deployed to Afghanistan and home for his grandmother's funeral. He's leaving to return to Afghanistan the next day. 

There's an instant attraction between Marcie and Travis. Even learning that he's a Kerrigan on his mother's side isn't enough to quash her feelings for him. They spend the night talking, swimming, and kissing. Before he leaves, they decide to write to each other until he returns. 

The letters peter out and then stop. When he's wounded in a missile attack and sent stateside, he decides to confront her and find out what happened. Only when he finds her in the church, she's about to walk up the aisle to marry his cousin. The man she despises... 

At times, I was so tempted to peek ahead in the book to see who and why Marcie and Travis were being sabotaged. I am glad I didn't.

I received a free copy of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
1,760 reviews45 followers
September 14, 2022
Not much to say except this was an incredible book. I loved every minute of it. I couldn't wait to find out what happened. I highly recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for casvec.
7,458 reviews75 followers
September 18, 2022
Ride it slow is well written and entertaining story that has a twist that will floor you, a meddling sister, loss of a love and forever that will have you melting.

Marcie, as this year's Milk Maiden, could have her pick of any man in town, but it was the handsome stranger who caught her and the night they spent together, before he left for deployment that captured her heart.

Travis had family in the area but had not been in town often to visit. When he met by chance one night at a small bar a woman that did something to his heart, he could only ask her to wait.

Long distance is hard when all you have is letter, but when the letters stop, and family troubles take hold, Marcie is left numb and to do what she has to, only to keep the family together.

What a story.... Marcie and Travis's tale is a heart wrenching story with pain from deceit, and when the truth comes out it will have you setting back needing to take a moment.

This is my first book from this author, and I loved it. Can't wait to see what is next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
243 reviews2 followers
September 22, 2022
An easy reading romance. The plot loved quickly and the characters were okay, however I found their Marcie a bit frustrating to invest too much
Profile Image for Meagan.
358 reviews
February 27, 2023
Won a free Kindle copy in a Goodreads giveaway. There were a lot of minor characters that were hard to keep track of. Some of the plot was not believable. Good, not great.
Profile Image for Alex E..
528 reviews17 followers
September 25, 2022
It was so nice reading about people that you have met in the author's other books :)
The universe that Zee Irwin has created is one that I would like also to be part of - I want these main characters to be my friends too.

Here we get to know how Marcie and Travis met and how their story progressed. I was also so happy to see Jace and take a glimpse into his past. The main couple met just before he was due to return to deployment. After an insta-lust / love connection they promise to keep in touch and they do but her family is standing on the way, intercepting their letters and making Marcie believe that Travis just forgot about her. There is a forced marriage arrangement as part of saving her family's farm and Marcie is literally saved on the last minute before committing a huge mistake.

I would want more "justice" against Marcie's sister because she had no right to intervene like that and probably it could also be considered illegal. Marcie forgave her, way too easily for my taste but that also shows her good and kind character.

Can't wait for the next book!

I received and advance review copy and I'm leaving a voluntary review.
Profile Image for Curvy Girl Book Nerd   (Jen S).
4,540 reviews62 followers
June 1, 2024
Ride it Slow is Book 1 of the Return to Glendale Falls series. It's a short and steamy, OTT, instalove, runaway bride, small-town girl gets her military man romance. Marcie is a young, beautiful college student who also works at the factory and the family farm, helping to take care of her younger siblings after their mom passed. Travis is a hunky marine. When the two meet at a bar one night, they have a magical connection and share a hot night before Travis leaves for Afghanistan for a year. They promise to keep in touch and wait for each other. But when they stop getting letters from each other, they both lose hope. When Marcie's family farm is in danger, she reluctantly agrees to marry another man to save the farm. Will Travis come back in time? Can she go through with it? Who was trying to keep them apart? I loved this couple. Their chemistry was insanely hot. There is drama, but we then have a very happy ending. I loved it!! Please tell me Jace gets a book!!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Ingrid Vermeulen-Quakernaat.
1,230 reviews10 followers
September 27, 2022
I have read books by Zee Irwin before and her stories always leave me with a good and warm feeling! So is this book.

Travis is a soldier who has to serve 1 year before he can leave the army. He meets Marcie when she is harassed by a resident of the small town where she lives.
One thing leads to another and they have a steamy night together. They decide not to say goodbye to each other and he asks her to wait for him.
Marcie is blown away by him and sees a future for them together. But when he stops answering her letters, she loses all hope of love.

Is this okay? And if all goes well ....... how do Marcie and Travis find their happy ever after?

A wonderful story in which family is important but not more important than your heart.
Curious about the story of Marcie's sister; Cindy Hale.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Claudia, Cmarie927.
2,051 reviews41 followers
May 20, 2024
There's a lot to unpack in these pages.

Marcie and her sisters live with their father on their family farm. Small towns are not great places to meet new people, but Travis is in town for a couple days, before returning to his military unit overseas.

I appreciated the connection between these two. It was easy to read and enjoy. There are many secondary storylines that added to the complexity of this book.... cheating, fake marriage, war injuries, runaway bride, and more.

This has a lot of things that keep the pages flipping, and I read it in under two hours. My complimentary copy was provided by the author (thank you) and I voluntarily leave my review.
I am excited to read the next one in this series, and see another Hale sister find her HEA.
Profile Image for Eileen.
2,691 reviews
May 25, 2024
Ride It Slow by Zee Irwin, book one in the Return to Glendale Falls series, is a military romance in a small town with some angst, passion, love and so much more. Marcie has just won the Milk Maiden contest when she meets Travis the handsome Marine on leave for a family funeral. They spend the night together before he leaves for overseas deployment. They have a romantic instant love connection and promise to keep in touch; while she waits for his return. They keep in touch until they both think the other one stopped corresponding only to learn that there was a conspiracy to keep them apart. In the end they fight the odds to be together. I enjoyed this quick read, but felt that some parts felt rushed, leaving me wanting more.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Profile Image for Michele Richardson.
661 reviews4 followers
September 21, 2022
Macie and Travis have instant chemistry when they meet in the bar. Then, she finds out he’s related to her family’s “enemy”, she walks away. When he protects her, the heat is back on, but just for one night, he deploys. They stay in touch, then the unthinkable they stop emailing and sending letters. She is set up for a marriage to the hated cousin and nearly goes through with it, but Travis saves the day. This was a great story, with a few odd holes, but nothing that kept me from enjoying it. How true love trumps all.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Cams Roberts.
970 reviews29 followers
September 22, 2022
A steamy, small town romance. If you’ve read All this Time you might remember meeting Travis and Marcie, Jace Delfino’s best friends. Here we get to read their story of how they met and their obstacles to overcome. We also get to see how Jace became the scarred broody hero. I liked this story. It was short but I didn’t feel like the romance was skimped on. What I did need however was a resolution to the way Marcie had been manipulated. A confrontation at the very least should have occurred.
The epilogue previewed the next book in the series, Cindy Hales’ story. It seems Ryan Lee is all grown up and wants answers from his ex bestie.

I received an arc and am voluntarily leaving a review
323 reviews3 followers
May 18, 2024
How does Zee do it?

I don't know. But am grateful for it!

Another must read featuring Glendale Falls, a small town outside of Boston.

Marcie Hale meets Travis Miller at a bar.

While many stories start this way, I love how Zee wrote a different twist to it!

While Travis has family local to Glendale Falls, he and Marcie had never met.

In fact, he was on leave for his Grandmother's funeral and only able to be home for the day.

I can picture the night they shared together before he went back to serve our country.

I loved reading the ups and downs that came with this story. And the conflict?

Made my angsty heart happy.

Another must read from Zee!
Profile Image for Leanne Bryson.
5,182 reviews22 followers
May 26, 2024
What a fun, fast read!! Travis and Marcie spend a night together and deciding one night isn't enough, they decide to write while he is deployed overseas in the military. Suddenly the letters stop coming and Travis wants to know why. Marcie's family farm is threatened be lost to their neighbors unless she agrees to marry one of them, who happens to be Travis's cousin. When Travis get's home, he finds Macie walking down the aisle to marry his cousin, a man Macie despises. Fast paced, great characters, sizzle, steam, drama, and more. What a ride.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jackie Ziegler.
1,822 reviews6 followers
June 2, 2024
Marcie vowed her mom she would do what it takes to keep the family together. Now, she meets Travis and the embark on a long distance relationshiip while he is overseas serving the Marines. Their letters help them get to know each other more and more. And the more they write the more they fall in love.

What will happen when Marcie finds out her family farm is in danger of being sold and the only way to save it is to marry another?

Will Travis let her or will he come back and show her he is who she is to be with no matter what?.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Nate.
24.1k reviews19 followers
October 6, 2022
I was a Marine, fighting for my country, which came with some obvious downsides. Like meeting Marcie and not having enough time to spend with her before I go. All I wanted—no, craved—was to spend time with the woman. For one night. Afterward, it was back to checking my emotions, deadening myself inside so not a hint of pain would display outside. I made it a rule to start nothing serious. But sometimes a man needed a woman more than he needed air. It was an entertaining read. And am voluntarily leaving my review.
Profile Image for Wendy Livingstone.
20.1k reviews257 followers
October 8, 2022
This is the first in a new series, and this is Travis and Marcie’s story. Travis is a handsome marine that is in town for a funeral, while Marcie has just been crowned Milk Maiden. There is an intense attraction between these two when they meet, and they have one dance, and one night together. What will happen when Travis must leave to return to duty? This is a well written story which has meddling families, small town romance, emotions, tension, angst, and love, which leads to a steamy page turner.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for L KQ.
5,498 reviews21 followers
May 25, 2024
Marriage Deal

Travis and Marcie having one-night together wasn't enough and begin writing to each other while he was overseas in the military. Letters stop coming and Marcie's family is going to lose their home unless she agrees to marry another. Will Travis return in time to stop her wedding? Can they figure out why they lost contact? This short story was angsty to some degree as these two tried to find their way back to each other. It was a fun read overall.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,475 reviews7 followers
May 25, 2024
Travis meets Marcie in a bar, but finds that he is related to the neighbouring family feuding over land bordering their two farms. His cousin Kevin is particularly a disgruntled individual, especially as he has his eye on her. Marcie is throughly engaged with the sexy marine on a short visit and a long distant relationship develops through letters. Certain events, promises, debts with interfering and intervening family creating major obstacles.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews

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