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McCade Family #1
Song of the Valley
Love blossoms in Montana’s Cascade Valley in a new small-town contemporary romance that will delight and capture your heart.
Samantha McCade has always had dreams bigger than the Montana sky. Fresh out of college, she’s ready to spread her wings and live a life of adventure and purpose. She doesn’t want anything to do with the small, nothing-exciting-ever-happens, mountain town of Cascade Valley, Montana. And she certainly doesn’t want anything to do with the handsome, rugged horse rancher who lives next door. After all, she blames Caleb Kane for the tragedy that changed the lives of her family years ago. On that day, she swore that she would despise him forever.
But for now, she’s back on her family’s cattle ranch. One last summer home. Before she tells her three overprotective brothers that she is moving to Europe. For good.
When the chance to advance her career falls right into her lap, Samantha knows she should jump at this golden opportunity. The only problem? She’ll have to work directly with Caleb Kane for the rest of the summer. Can she put aside her personal feelings just long enough to fulfill her dreams? Or will her heart betray her again, just as it did long ago?
Samantha McCade has always had dreams bigger than the Montana sky. Fresh out of college, she’s ready to spread her wings and live a life of adventure and purpose. She doesn’t want anything to do with the small, nothing-exciting-ever-happens, mountain town of Cascade Valley, Montana. And she certainly doesn’t want anything to do with the handsome, rugged horse rancher who lives next door. After all, she blames Caleb Kane for the tragedy that changed the lives of her family years ago. On that day, she swore that she would despise him forever.
But for now, she’s back on her family’s cattle ranch. One last summer home. Before she tells her three overprotective brothers that she is moving to Europe. For good.
When the chance to advance her career falls right into her lap, Samantha knows she should jump at this golden opportunity. The only problem? She’ll have to work directly with Caleb Kane for the rest of the summer. Can she put aside her personal feelings just long enough to fulfill her dreams? Or will her heart betray her again, just as it did long ago?
386 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2022
23 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 21, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
I’ve been wanting to read this ever since it released, and now I’m wondering why I waited so long?! (Alas for mood reader problems 😭)
Everything about this story was immaculate! I fell hopelessly in love with Montana a few years ago, and through the pages I got to fall in love all over again. 🥹
Britt has crafted a journey that sucks you in, with characters who steal your heart, a sweet romance full of ups & downs, and Christian themes & lessons woven in so naturally that they’re real without ever being preachy.
While I usually like dual POVs, Samantha was a spunky FMC narrator. Yes, she’s holding a whopper of a grudge and has some major growing to do, but I love her heart for children & those hurting.
And then there’s Caleb. Ahh, this man. 🥺 The best way I can describe him is as a Mr. Knightley character. You know, a noble, honourable, loyal, strong, sincere, caring, thoughtful, protective gentlemen. Oh, and he’s a cowboy! 😉
Caleb & Samantha’s story takes you on a wild ride from friends-to-enemies-to-lovers… with a healthy dose of older brother’s best friend charm added to the mix.
And the McCade brothers deserve their own honourable mention. I adore protective, caring big brothers; seriously it melts me every.single.time. 🥹 And, Britt, now that you made me so thoroughly fall in love with them, please oh please let us get their stories soon, too?! 😍
I’ve been wanting to read this ever since it released, and now I’m wondering why I waited so long?! (Alas for mood reader problems 😭)
Everything about this story was immaculate! I fell hopelessly in love with Montana a few years ago, and through the pages I got to fall in love all over again. 🥹
Britt has crafted a journey that sucks you in, with characters who steal your heart, a sweet romance full of ups & downs, and Christian themes & lessons woven in so naturally that they’re real without ever being preachy.
While I usually like dual POVs, Samantha was a spunky FMC narrator. Yes, she’s holding a whopper of a grudge and has some major growing to do, but I love her heart for children & those hurting.
And then there’s Caleb. Ahh, this man. 🥺 The best way I can describe him is as a Mr. Knightley character. You know, a noble, honourable, loyal, strong, sincere, caring, thoughtful, protective gentlemen. Oh, and he’s a cowboy! 😉
Caleb & Samantha’s story takes you on a wild ride from friends-to-enemies-to-lovers… with a healthy dose of older brother’s best friend charm added to the mix.
And the McCade brothers deserve their own honourable mention. I adore protective, caring big brothers; seriously it melts me every.single.time. 🥹 And, Britt, now that you made me so thoroughly fall in love with them, please oh please let us get their stories soon, too?! 😍
October 15, 2022
If you love swoon worthy cowboys, small towns, and protective brothers then this sweet hallmark romance is just for you.
For the most part the writing style was enjoyable and easy to read. The only thing I personally struggled with was the day/time jumping. I can handle a few very clear flashbacks, but I don’t even know if these would be considered flashbacks or not. It would be one day then all the sudden she would be remembering a moment from the day before and I would be jumping back in time but only by a day or two. That was the hardest thing for me writing style wise. But on the other hand, Mrs. Howard did pull me into the story with her words and made me want to keep reading.
What I loved? Caleb. He was a great swoon worthy cowboy hero. He’s strong, masculine, kind, sober, but has a sense of humor too. Samantha’s brothers were also great. Yes, they were protective of their sister, but I also thought they were super reasonable and not overbearing, so I am a little confused why Samantha was convinced her brothers wouldn’t understand her dream, and I do have more to say about her and her dream, but that can wait.
I also loved the Montana setting, the ranch, horses, and the small-town feel. Gotta love cowboys and small towns and the Montana mountains.
What I didn’t love? I never really fell in love with Samantha or her personality though in the end she grew on me a little.
For the most part the writing style was enjoyable and easy to read. The only thing I personally struggled with was the day/time jumping. I can handle a few very clear flashbacks, but I don’t even know if these would be considered flashbacks or not. It would be one day then all the sudden she would be remembering a moment from the day before and I would be jumping back in time but only by a day or two. That was the hardest thing for me writing style wise. But on the other hand, Mrs. Howard did pull me into the story with her words and made me want to keep reading.
What I loved? Caleb. He was a great swoon worthy cowboy hero. He’s strong, masculine, kind, sober, but has a sense of humor too. Samantha’s brothers were also great. Yes, they were protective of their sister, but I also thought they were super reasonable and not overbearing, so I am a little confused why Samantha was convinced her brothers wouldn’t understand her dream, and I do have more to say about her and her dream, but that can wait.
I also loved the Montana setting, the ranch, horses, and the small-town feel. Gotta love cowboys and small towns and the Montana mountains.
What I didn’t love? I never really fell in love with Samantha or her personality though in the end she grew on me a little.
October 6, 2022
Friends, this book did not disappoint me. It promised clean romance, second-chance romance, cowboy romance, and happily ever after... and BOY HOWDY, did it deliver!!! My goodness, I could have curled up inside this book and stayed for weeks. You know how getting me to want to be friends with the characters is the way you make me love a book? Well, I want to be friends with the entire McCade family. And with their friends. I am super excited that this says "McCade Family Novel, Book One" because that means I'll get to hang out with all these characters again :-D
One of my favorite things about this book is how it explores how difficult it can be to decide between two good options. Sometimes, that can be a lot harder than making a choice between a good and a bad option, or deciding which one is good and which is bad. I'm actually exploring that a tiny bit in my current WIP too, because it's something we do experience in life, but I don't see it discussed all that often in Christian fiction. It excited me to find it here too!
I should mention that I did receive an advance copy of this book from the publisher, but I was not asked or required to provide a review of it. All opinions are my own truthful thoughts on this book.
One of my favorite things about this book is how it explores how difficult it can be to decide between two good options. Sometimes, that can be a lot harder than making a choice between a good and a bad option, or deciding which one is good and which is bad. I'm actually exploring that a tiny bit in my current WIP too, because it's something we do experience in life, but I don't see it discussed all that often in Christian fiction. It excited me to find it here too!
I should mention that I did receive an advance copy of this book from the publisher, but I was not asked or required to provide a review of it. All opinions are my own truthful thoughts on this book.
October 6, 2022
SO good!! The romance was everything in this book and beautifully done from a Christian world view. It was respectful yet swoon-worthy, sweet yet kept you on your toes. I definitely enjoyed every minute reading this and couldn't put it down!
**I did receive an advanced copy of this book from the author, however all reviews and opinions are my own.
**I did receive an advanced copy of this book from the author, however all reviews and opinions are my own.
January 27, 2023
4.5 stars!
Wow, this story was a wild ride! It played with my emotions so much, and my heart isn’t the same haha.
What I loved? So much. The setting, the horses, Montana life and culture, the writing style.
And while I wasn’t a huge fan of Samantha for the majority of the story (mostly due to her deep-seated resentment which felt a little immature), she really grew on me in the end. A lot of her character makes sense; a recent grad from college, still mourning the death of her father, trying to find her place in the world… with that much going on, I feel like I’d be kinda a mess too. I didn’t like her fickleness, but it was something I understood.
As for Caleb, I thought he was great! Huge props to him for having the patience of a saint; truly, his commitment and selflessness felt somewhat undeserved, but what a beautiful depiction of Christ’s ceaseless love.
And I really loved all the McCade brothers and how protective they were of Samantha.
I loved the ending! It all happened the way it should, and I’m eager to read the next book!!
Well done, Britt! I thoroughly enjoyed this :)
Content:
Some intense kisses (nothing graphic, just passionate)
No language
A whole lot of sweetness
Cute horses 🥹
Wow, this story was a wild ride! It played with my emotions so much, and my heart isn’t the same haha.
What I loved? So much. The setting, the horses, Montana life and culture, the writing style.
And while I wasn’t a huge fan of Samantha for the majority of the story (mostly due to her deep-seated resentment which felt a little immature), she really grew on me in the end. A lot of her character makes sense; a recent grad from college, still mourning the death of her father, trying to find her place in the world… with that much going on, I feel like I’d be kinda a mess too. I didn’t like her fickleness, but it was something I understood.
As for Caleb, I thought he was great! Huge props to him for having the patience of a saint; truly, his commitment and selflessness felt somewhat undeserved, but what a beautiful depiction of Christ’s ceaseless love.
And I really loved all the McCade brothers and how protective they were of Samantha.
I loved the ending! It all happened the way it should, and I’m eager to read the next book!!
Well done, Britt! I thoroughly enjoyed this :)
Content:
Some intense kisses (nothing graphic, just passionate)
No language
A whole lot of sweetness
Cute horses 🥹
October 17, 2022
I love a good cowboy romance, so there was no way I could pass up Song of the Valley by Britt Howard!
This story…where do I even start?
Sammie and Caleb’s romance was brilliant! Their tension and chemistry was so intense at times I thought I could reach out and touch it. This novel was completely clean, yet the kisses were so swoony I found myself blushing a few times. (But that’s a good thing! Plus I blush extremely easily 😅)
Boy oh boy, was Caleb an excellent cowboy! And I mean leave you starry eyed, butterfly instilling, rosy red blush, type of excellent. He was by far my favorite character of SoTV!
I loved Sammie’s spunk and sass! She was such a fun character and she complimented Caleb perfectly. Her work ethic was pretty admirable, too.
One element that I really liked about SoTV was that the Christian elements were woven in just right. It wasn’t all in your face, yet it was apparent where the characters stood spiritually. This is a book even nonChristians will enjoy!
I loved this book and will definitely reread it! I can’t wait to see which McCade book 2 is about!
This story…where do I even start?
Sammie and Caleb’s romance was brilliant! Their tension and chemistry was so intense at times I thought I could reach out and touch it. This novel was completely clean, yet the kisses were so swoony I found myself blushing a few times. (But that’s a good thing! Plus I blush extremely easily 😅)
Boy oh boy, was Caleb an excellent cowboy! And I mean leave you starry eyed, butterfly instilling, rosy red blush, type of excellent. He was by far my favorite character of SoTV!
I loved Sammie’s spunk and sass! She was such a fun character and she complimented Caleb perfectly. Her work ethic was pretty admirable, too.
One element that I really liked about SoTV was that the Christian elements were woven in just right. It wasn’t all in your face, yet it was apparent where the characters stood spiritually. This is a book even nonChristians will enjoy!
I loved this book and will definitely reread it! I can’t wait to see which McCade book 2 is about!
October 11, 2022
Set in Cascade Valley, Montana, SotV is told from the eyes of a feisty, fresh-out-of-college redhead who is determined to forge her own path in life, even if it means leaving her hometown and three protective brothers behind. But one last summer home on her family’s ranch is enough to make her question everything she thought she knew... about the past, about second chances, and about the future.
This wonderful debut had everything I needed! Wit and sass, sweet and swoony moments, true emotion and insight, and beautiful, luscious descriptions that made the setting feel so real and reminded me of growing up in the country. This is a clean romance that still manages to deliver romantic passion all while glorifying God. Howard weaves strong themes into the stories with gentle mastery, from trusting the Lord to femininity to forgiveness. I don’t want to give too much away, but i will say that Sammie and Caleb’s story is one that will stick with me; I truly didn’t want the book to end! But it thrills me to know that SotV is the first book in what I know will be an incredible series. I’m looking forward to many more McCade family novels!
This wonderful debut had everything I needed! Wit and sass, sweet and swoony moments, true emotion and insight, and beautiful, luscious descriptions that made the setting feel so real and reminded me of growing up in the country. This is a clean romance that still manages to deliver romantic passion all while glorifying God. Howard weaves strong themes into the stories with gentle mastery, from trusting the Lord to femininity to forgiveness. I don’t want to give too much away, but i will say that Sammie and Caleb’s story is one that will stick with me; I truly didn’t want the book to end! But it thrills me to know that SotV is the first book in what I know will be an incredible series. I’m looking forward to many more McCade family novels!
December 17, 2022
SOTV is the perfect light-hearted yet touching romance! From the start, Howard had me giggling with Sammie's quirky personality and dramatic flair. The banter in the story is so fun, and the romance is truly swoon-worthy! Caleb is 10/10!!!
But what I love most about SOTV is that while it doesn't take itself too seriously (which is hard to find in romance novels these days), there is still a beautiful message at the heart of it. I love watching Sammie grow and change through the story. I was thrilled to see her pursue her calling OVER romance. I loved that she made hard decisions even while she made silly ones. The characters all felt realistic and dynamic rather than glossy-'perfect'. The family dynamics and internal conflict propel the story forward rather than relying on the romance alone. And I love the message of following God's calling even when our hearts are conflicted with wants and desires. It was just beautiful!
And those brothers!!!! I cannot wait for the rest of the McCade family adventures! 🤩
But what I love most about SOTV is that while it doesn't take itself too seriously (which is hard to find in romance novels these days), there is still a beautiful message at the heart of it. I love watching Sammie grow and change through the story. I was thrilled to see her pursue her calling OVER romance. I loved that she made hard decisions even while she made silly ones. The characters all felt realistic and dynamic rather than glossy-'perfect'. The family dynamics and internal conflict propel the story forward rather than relying on the romance alone. And I love the message of following God's calling even when our hearts are conflicted with wants and desires. It was just beautiful!
And those brothers!!!! I cannot wait for the rest of the McCade family adventures! 🤩
June 23, 2025
Song of the Valley
By @britthowardauthor
McCade Family book 1
Caleb + Samantha
I loved this story so so much. Caleb and Samantha have been friends for a long time. She moves away and is back for the summer. She volunteers to help Caleb with his ranch to build her resume. Did I mention she despises him? Their disagreements and arguments were so good. I was hanging onto every word of this book. Caleb knows how to handle her fiery nature and Samantha finds herself falling for the one man she swore off. I’m so glad I got my hands on this book. Easily one of my top reads for the year. I cannot wait to read book 2 whenever it comes out in a couple of weeks. I enjoyed the depth of this one, the protective older brothers, and all of the faith themes throughout 🤍
Quotes -
“How could a man have eyes for any other woman when you are in his line of sight? There’s just something about you, Samantha, that instantly sucks me in. For better or for worse.
“What do you want from me, Caleb?” “Everything.” He growled the words at me, and I reeled backwards.
Content -
No foul language
Kissing only
Grief
Death of family member (off page)
By @britthowardauthor
McCade Family book 1
Caleb + Samantha
I loved this story so so much. Caleb and Samantha have been friends for a long time. She moves away and is back for the summer. She volunteers to help Caleb with his ranch to build her resume. Did I mention she despises him? Their disagreements and arguments were so good. I was hanging onto every word of this book. Caleb knows how to handle her fiery nature and Samantha finds herself falling for the one man she swore off. I’m so glad I got my hands on this book. Easily one of my top reads for the year. I cannot wait to read book 2 whenever it comes out in a couple of weeks. I enjoyed the depth of this one, the protective older brothers, and all of the faith themes throughout 🤍
Quotes -
“How could a man have eyes for any other woman when you are in his line of sight? There’s just something about you, Samantha, that instantly sucks me in. For better or for worse.
“What do you want from me, Caleb?” “Everything.” He growled the words at me, and I reeled backwards.
Content -
No foul language
Kissing only
Grief
Death of family member (off page)
October 11, 2022
Oh, my goodness! Where do I even start with this review? There wasn’t a thing I didn’t love in this book. The characters, the setting, the themes, everything was just perfect!
Samantha was so relatable with her desire to see more of the world than just her Montana town (although I quite liked the town and wouldn’t mind living there at all) I loved her whole personality and just everything about her
Caleb was… How do I describe him? Swoony? Romantic? Perfect? I can totally see why Samantha fell in love with him. If he wasn’t fictional, I would be in love with him… Who am I kidding? I am in love with him! Except he is off limits because he is now married, which leads me right into…
Their romance! If you love second chances, brother’s best friend, slow burn and enemies to lovers (or should I say brother’s best friend to lover to enemy to slow burn second chance lover). I loved how Caleb was willing to let Samantha go to keep her.
As I was reading, I thought that I loved Samantha’s family so much and I wished I could see their stories too. Then I remembered this was book 1 in a family series so… I get to see them in future books!
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Samantha was so relatable with her desire to see more of the world than just her Montana town (although I quite liked the town and wouldn’t mind living there at all) I loved her whole personality and just everything about her
Caleb was… How do I describe him? Swoony? Romantic? Perfect? I can totally see why Samantha fell in love with him. If he wasn’t fictional, I would be in love with him… Who am I kidding? I am in love with him! Except he is off limits because he is now married, which leads me right into…
Their romance! If you love second chances, brother’s best friend, slow burn and enemies to lovers (or should I say brother’s best friend to lover to enemy to slow burn second chance lover). I loved how Caleb was willing to let Samantha go to keep her.
As I was reading, I thought that I loved Samantha’s family so much and I wished I could see their stories too. Then I remembered this was book 1 in a family series so… I get to see them in future books!
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2023
My heads still in the clouds immediately finishing !!!
I am shocked this is this authors first book release, her writing is so mature and and “prim” just as she mentions Sammies qualities are.
The level of being able to relate to the main character; Sammie (Samantha) in her journey post graduating college, wanting to pursue what she felt was close to her late fathers dream yet feeling the tug to stay back home and potentially rekindle a flame with a family friend and find happiness right where she is !?
The mental torture of wondering is this Gods will ? Or is this ????? The way the author told this story is a accurate reminder that regardless of the path we choose GOD is still present.
From her THREE handsome, protective, and unique ranch brothers to their best friend and neighbor, Caleb. This story doesn’t lack strong male characters. In this day and age it’s such a breath of fresh air to read stories including strong stable men.
While they all carry their own personal grief surrounding the death of the McCades father, Samantha still struggles with figuring out her place in this world. To watch the tender relationship between her and Caleb bend, break, and be pulled back together really felt real.
To weave faith into a story is a such an inspiration in our own walk of Christianity.
I won’t spoil the rest of the story because you HAVE to read it…. But here’s my favorite quote
“ I’ve lived with you in my life, and I’ve lived without you. But it doesn’t feel right to live without you forever …” 🥹❤️
I am shocked this is this authors first book release, her writing is so mature and and “prim” just as she mentions Sammies qualities are.
The level of being able to relate to the main character; Sammie (Samantha) in her journey post graduating college, wanting to pursue what she felt was close to her late fathers dream yet feeling the tug to stay back home and potentially rekindle a flame with a family friend and find happiness right where she is !?
The mental torture of wondering is this Gods will ? Or is this ????? The way the author told this story is a accurate reminder that regardless of the path we choose GOD is still present.
From her THREE handsome, protective, and unique ranch brothers to their best friend and neighbor, Caleb. This story doesn’t lack strong male characters. In this day and age it’s such a breath of fresh air to read stories including strong stable men.
While they all carry their own personal grief surrounding the death of the McCades father, Samantha still struggles with figuring out her place in this world. To watch the tender relationship between her and Caleb bend, break, and be pulled back together really felt real.
To weave faith into a story is a such an inspiration in our own walk of Christianity.
I won’t spoil the rest of the story because you HAVE to read it…. But here’s my favorite quote
“ I’ve lived with you in my life, and I’ve lived without you. But it doesn’t feel right to live without you forever …” 🥹❤️
October 6, 2022
Adam and I just started Yellowstone so it was a GREAT time for me to read Britt’s debut novel set on a ranch in Montana! This was similar to the show that I’m loving so naturally I loved this book. This book and it’s characters are MUCH more wholesome than the show. This covers a lot of our fave romance tropes; age gap, brothers best friend, enemies to lovers etc. Samantha returns home to Montana after college for one last summer before she moves to Europe. This really had great romance and great drama AND jaw dropping moments. Multiple times I was gasping and wondering what happened next. Britt did a great job at making us love her characters and caring about what happened with them. The masculinity was OOZING off the pages from Samantha’s brothers and love interest. I ABSOLUTELY hope to revisit these characters one day! If you’re looking for a wholesome christian romance with traditional values, look NO FURTHER!!!
February 6, 2025
This was such a nice book! The enemies to lovers was done wonderfully and the slow change between them was flawless! I absolutely loved the brothers
- I'm a sucker for big, close-knit families! 🥲
I do admit I wasn't a fan of the whole "let's just be casual during this time that I'm here, and flirt and kiss" thing..
This book had a comforting quality to it, which maybe
had to do with the fact that It was set in Montana. *insert a big smile* When I visited last year, I fell in love with it, and being able to read about it just made me happy. 🫠Overall, a lovely read and l'm exited to read the rest of the series as it releases!
- I'm a sucker for big, close-knit families! 🥲
I do admit I wasn't a fan of the whole "let's just be casual during this time that I'm here, and flirt and kiss" thing..
This book had a comforting quality to it, which maybe
had to do with the fact that It was set in Montana. *insert a big smile* When I visited last year, I fell in love with it, and being able to read about it just made me happy. 🫠Overall, a lovely read and l'm exited to read the rest of the series as it releases!
February 21, 2023
I really enjoyed Song of the Valley and I can't wait for the rest in the series. I feel as though it captured everything, God, strong family ties, forgiveness, purpose, friendship and love.
December 6, 2022
Look out Nicholas Sparks, there's a new sheriff in town.
This is an absolutely beautiful, sweet, and heart-wrenching book. Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Montana ranch country, Britt Howard does a fabulous job of creating a swoon-worthy enemies to lovers romance that keeps you in suspense the entire way through.
Samantha's inner conflict about her future career, her roller-coaster feelings towards Caleb, and her past trauma are written exceptionally well and you truly feel for her throughout the story, even when she's just being a stubborn for the sake of being stubborn!
While we do not get POV chapters from Caleb, the story doesn't feel lacking because he is portrayed so well through Sammie's perspective. He's the quiet, gruff, but kind cowboy whose been in love with her for years, and I loved how he both fought for her and let her make her own decisions/mistakes.
All of the side characters feel like old friends, and I'm so glad we will be getting more books featuring members of the McCade family, the next of which will be Dean!
I loved every moment of this book and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for their next cowboy romance!
This is an absolutely beautiful, sweet, and heart-wrenching book. Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Montana ranch country, Britt Howard does a fabulous job of creating a swoon-worthy enemies to lovers romance that keeps you in suspense the entire way through.
Samantha's inner conflict about her future career, her roller-coaster feelings towards Caleb, and her past trauma are written exceptionally well and you truly feel for her throughout the story, even when she's just being a stubborn for the sake of being stubborn!
While we do not get POV chapters from Caleb, the story doesn't feel lacking because he is portrayed so well through Sammie's perspective. He's the quiet, gruff, but kind cowboy whose been in love with her for years, and I loved how he both fought for her and let her make her own decisions/mistakes.
All of the side characters feel like old friends, and I'm so glad we will be getting more books featuring members of the McCade family, the next of which will be Dean!
I loved every moment of this book and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for their next cowboy romance!
April 12, 2023
4.5 stars
I enjoyed this book very much, more than I expected to. I haven’t read many contemporary Western romances, but Song of the Valley is an excellent one.
Characters: The characters in this book were well-written and realistic, especially the MC, Samantha, a flawed and relatable heroine. I was glad the author chose to write this book in first person, because it helps the reader get to know Samantha. And the book only included her PoV, which I appreciated.
Setting: The setting–a small town in Montana–was also excellently described. I felt like I was there as I was reading!
Style: The writing style of this book was good, far better than I was expecting. This novel is quite long for its genre. During the first half of the book, I was not enthralled, but I read the second half in a single afternoon. The length helps the romance not feel rushed, which I appreciate very much.
Content: Kissing, touching, noticing, and that sort of thing. My biggest complaint is that the physical aspects of the romance were a tiny bit too described for my personal preference. I neither needed nor wanted to know that “their mouths explored each other”.
I would like to thank the author for giving me a free review copy to honestly review.
I enjoyed this book very much, more than I expected to. I haven’t read many contemporary Western romances, but Song of the Valley is an excellent one.
Characters: The characters in this book were well-written and realistic, especially the MC, Samantha, a flawed and relatable heroine. I was glad the author chose to write this book in first person, because it helps the reader get to know Samantha. And the book only included her PoV, which I appreciated.
Setting: The setting–a small town in Montana–was also excellently described. I felt like I was there as I was reading!
Style: The writing style of this book was good, far better than I was expecting. This novel is quite long for its genre. During the first half of the book, I was not enthralled, but I read the second half in a single afternoon. The length helps the romance not feel rushed, which I appreciate very much.
Content: Kissing, touching, noticing, and that sort of thing. My biggest complaint is that the physical aspects of the romance were a tiny bit too described for my personal preference. I neither needed nor wanted to know that “their mouths explored each other”.
I would like to thank the author for giving me a free review copy to honestly review.
October 11, 2022
🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴/5
I must start by saying DEBUT AUTHOR WHO?! @britthowardauthor did a phenomenal job at creating not only a sweet and soulful romance, but at creating an atmosphere and family that you can’t help but want to be a part of.
Samantha is such a relatable character and many times I often found myself saying, thinking, or simply feeling the same things she has felt in my own life. She’s authentically herself and she’s just plain wholesome. I wanted to not only be her friend, but I wanted to be an older sister and foster her into the beautiful and amazing woman she’s already becoming. Inside and out she was a perfect FMC and I adored her, even if I did want to shake her and rattle her little brain sometimes.
And then there’s Caleb. My heart and soul. If you need a better gentleman who is also a super sexy cowboy, look no further. He stole my heart from the very beginning, and like Samantha, I never really got it back.
He’s so patient and kind. His love and loyalty is everlasting and absolutely mesmerizing. I can only dream of being half the person Caleb is, with his unfailing faith and earth shattering understanding. I mean YEEHAW! He’s perfect! Seriously.
SotV showcases a few different themes and situations. But I really loved the aspect of choosing between two very different paths.
Samantha McCade had some hurtles to jump over in figuring out which path was the best choice for her future. What she really wanted out of her life while still following her faith and her love for doing the Lord’s work. It’s something that everyone who shares her spiritual nature has experienced for themselves at one point or another. And I thought Britt did a fantastic job at accurately portraying this journey.
Saddle up and gallop to the bookstore to get this one for yourself so you can also swoon over our cowboy and his filly 🤍
Read if you like:
✨Brother’s best friend
✨Slow burn
✨Real life struggles
✨Small town vibes
✨Faith
✨Hot cowboys
✨Close knit families
I must start by saying DEBUT AUTHOR WHO?! @britthowardauthor did a phenomenal job at creating not only a sweet and soulful romance, but at creating an atmosphere and family that you can’t help but want to be a part of.
Samantha is such a relatable character and many times I often found myself saying, thinking, or simply feeling the same things she has felt in my own life. She’s authentically herself and she’s just plain wholesome. I wanted to not only be her friend, but I wanted to be an older sister and foster her into the beautiful and amazing woman she’s already becoming. Inside and out she was a perfect FMC and I adored her, even if I did want to shake her and rattle her little brain sometimes.
And then there’s Caleb. My heart and soul. If you need a better gentleman who is also a super sexy cowboy, look no further. He stole my heart from the very beginning, and like Samantha, I never really got it back.
He’s so patient and kind. His love and loyalty is everlasting and absolutely mesmerizing. I can only dream of being half the person Caleb is, with his unfailing faith and earth shattering understanding. I mean YEEHAW! He’s perfect! Seriously.
SotV showcases a few different themes and situations. But I really loved the aspect of choosing between two very different paths.
Samantha McCade had some hurtles to jump over in figuring out which path was the best choice for her future. What she really wanted out of her life while still following her faith and her love for doing the Lord’s work. It’s something that everyone who shares her spiritual nature has experienced for themselves at one point or another. And I thought Britt did a fantastic job at accurately portraying this journey.
Saddle up and gallop to the bookstore to get this one for yourself so you can also swoon over our cowboy and his filly 🤍
Read if you like:
✨Brother’s best friend
✨Slow burn
✨Real life struggles
✨Small town vibes
✨Faith
✨Hot cowboys
✨Close knit families
December 16, 2022
For some reason I never posted a review on here for this stunning book?! How did I miss this? Lol WELL!
Im one of those fortunate people that has been able to meet such incredible friends through Bookstagram, and some of those friends have happened to write books that have left lasting impressions on me!
This being one of those books!
It was so tender, heart warming & held the perfect amount of romance! I loved Samantha & how she struggled with finding herself after such a hard tragedy struck their family years back. The conflict you feel her go through hits close to home & I found myself wanting to rattle her sometimes! Just so she could see what’s right in front of her.
Which leads me to our MMC—Caleb! He was so patient and handsome and sweet and patient and kind and charming and did I mention patient? Lol honestly he was such a swoon worthy love interest and definitely made it to my top list of bookish boyfriends!
I definitely recommend if you are looking for a sweet romance, with faith filled trials and tender moments!
Im one of those fortunate people that has been able to meet such incredible friends through Bookstagram, and some of those friends have happened to write books that have left lasting impressions on me!
This being one of those books!
It was so tender, heart warming & held the perfect amount of romance! I loved Samantha & how she struggled with finding herself after such a hard tragedy struck their family years back. The conflict you feel her go through hits close to home & I found myself wanting to rattle her sometimes! Just so she could see what’s right in front of her.
Which leads me to our MMC—Caleb! He was so patient and handsome and sweet and patient and kind and charming and did I mention patient? Lol honestly he was such a swoon worthy love interest and definitely made it to my top list of bookish boyfriends!
I definitely recommend if you are looking for a sweet romance, with faith filled trials and tender moments!
April 1, 2023
enemies to “lovers” done right!
This was SUCH a good read! The enemies, the banter, the brothers, the friends, the ANGST! Good gravy, this book had me on a rollercoaster ride! I love how their backstory was woven through the book and how easily we could sympathize with Sammie and her feelings toward our strong, quiet cowboy Caleb. Around the 50% mark, we started to see the shift in their relationship and Sammie soften toward Caleb. Slow burn. Have i mentioned angst?? Because goodness how my stomach dropped at a certain scene during Christmas. But the ending was satisfying but I am definitely excited to see what this couple is up to in the next book 😍
This was SUCH a good read! The enemies, the banter, the brothers, the friends, the ANGST! Good gravy, this book had me on a rollercoaster ride! I love how their backstory was woven through the book and how easily we could sympathize with Sammie and her feelings toward our strong, quiet cowboy Caleb. Around the 50% mark, we started to see the shift in their relationship and Sammie soften toward Caleb. Slow burn. Have i mentioned angst?? Because goodness how my stomach dropped at a certain scene during Christmas. But the ending was satisfying but I am definitely excited to see what this couple is up to in the next book 😍
October 11, 2022
I’m so proud of my friend @britthowardauthor and her debut novel! It’s officially out today but I had the pleasure of reading it early on my honeymoon in July!
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Even in Scotland she had me dreaming of the wide outdoors of out west, and even on my honeymoon she had me dreaming of cowboys (don’t make it dirty yall)🤠
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Go order it on Amazon, review it on Goodreads, and enjoy this sweet sweet Christian romance!
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My six word review:
Sweet cowboys, small towns, loving family
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Even in Scotland she had me dreaming of the wide outdoors of out west, and even on my honeymoon she had me dreaming of cowboys (don’t make it dirty yall)🤠
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Go order it on Amazon, review it on Goodreads, and enjoy this sweet sweet Christian romance!
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My six word review:
Sweet cowboys, small towns, loving family
October 11, 2022
Such a sweet, small town Christian romance! The beginning had a lot of back story upfront that was hard for me to get into, but throughout the middle and the end I was totally lost in the characters and the world. The faith shown by Samantha and her family felt real and genuine, and I loved how it influenced their day to day decisions. The ending especially was honest and natural for a Christ-led life. I can't wait for my next visit to Cascade Valley when the next McCade Family book comes out!
April 28, 2024
I generally don’t like romance books. I find them to be predictable and rather boring with characters that are far too unbelievable and plots that I can figure out in the first chapter.
So why did I pick this book up? Because Britt Howard is a sweet friend of mine and friends support friends which means I read her books and review them.
(Although this took me far far far too long to finally get to and I apologize Britt!)
True to romance book style…it wasn’t for me, but the book is very well written and with Christian values and themes so for those who want Christian romance this is up your alley.
I will say this. I grew up on an Arabian horse farm. I know Arabians well and not only did I ride multiple horses a day, I trained foals and yearlings to be ridden and I was working with a very wild stallion who ended my carrier at the ranch due to a severe injury that left me unable to walk for some time. (I have since been back in the saddle multiple times, but not to the extent of what it was.)
Due to this knowledge, I am happy to say that Britt wrote a cowboy/ranch story that is well researched on horses and ranch life.
Per the back of the book
- “Samantha McCade has always had dreams bigger than the Montana sky. Fresh out of college, she’s ready to spread her wings and live a life of adventure and purpose. She doesn’t want anything to do with the small, nothing-exciting-ever-happens, mountain town of Cascade Valley, Montana. And she certainly doesn’t want anything to do with the handsome, rugged horse rancher who lives next door. After all, she blames Caleb Kane for the tragedy that changed the lives of her family years ago. On that day, she swore that she would despise him forever.
But for now, she’s back on her family’s cattle ranch. One last summer home. Before she tells her three overprotective brothers that she is moving to Europe. For good.
When the chance to advance her career falls right into her lap, Samantha knows she should jump at this golden opportunity. The only problem? She’ll have to work directly with Caleb Kane for the rest of the summer. Can she put aside her personal feelings just long enough to fulfill her dreams? Or will her heart betray her again, just as it did long ago?”
So why did I pick this book up? Because Britt Howard is a sweet friend of mine and friends support friends which means I read her books and review them.
(Although this took me far far far too long to finally get to and I apologize Britt!)
True to romance book style…it wasn’t for me, but the book is very well written and with Christian values and themes so for those who want Christian romance this is up your alley.
I will say this. I grew up on an Arabian horse farm. I know Arabians well and not only did I ride multiple horses a day, I trained foals and yearlings to be ridden and I was working with a very wild stallion who ended my carrier at the ranch due to a severe injury that left me unable to walk for some time. (I have since been back in the saddle multiple times, but not to the extent of what it was.)
Due to this knowledge, I am happy to say that Britt wrote a cowboy/ranch story that is well researched on horses and ranch life.
Per the back of the book
- “Samantha McCade has always had dreams bigger than the Montana sky. Fresh out of college, she’s ready to spread her wings and live a life of adventure and purpose. She doesn’t want anything to do with the small, nothing-exciting-ever-happens, mountain town of Cascade Valley, Montana. And she certainly doesn’t want anything to do with the handsome, rugged horse rancher who lives next door. After all, she blames Caleb Kane for the tragedy that changed the lives of her family years ago. On that day, she swore that she would despise him forever.
But for now, she’s back on her family’s cattle ranch. One last summer home. Before she tells her three overprotective brothers that she is moving to Europe. For good.
When the chance to advance her career falls right into her lap, Samantha knows she should jump at this golden opportunity. The only problem? She’ll have to work directly with Caleb Kane for the rest of the summer. Can she put aside her personal feelings just long enough to fulfill her dreams? Or will her heart betray her again, just as it did long ago?”
June 27, 2023
Samantha McCade, recently graduated from college, has moved back home for one last summer at her family's ranch in Montana. After summer, she plans to move to Europe for work. She just needs to break the news to her 3 overprotective brothers first. When she gets home, she discovers an opportunity to pad her resume. Unfortunately it involves working with a man named Caleb that she once had feelings for before a family tragedy changed things between them. Samantha decides that the summer camp he is running is a worthy cause and decides to help anyway in exchange for a letter of recommendation for her future job. While she works with Caleb, her feelings toward him begin to change and her heart works toward forgiveness. She begins to enjoy her life in Montana again and leaving may be harder than she thinks.
I really liked the Montana small town, ranch setting as well as the McCade family and other town characters. However, the one character that I didn't enjoy was Samantha who was the main character of the book. She aggravated me quite a bit, acting childish in many instances. She kept secrets about her future plans because she feared how her family would react but her brothers always came across as reasonable so I didn't understand that. She was always pulling toward Caleb and then pushing him away and that became exhausting as well. I understand her past heartbreak but I never really got how Caleb was directly responsible. If she blamed him at the time because of her grief then I would understand. But years later, I don't understand the grudge. Basically Samantha exhausted me and the book was solely from her perspective so that's what brought the book down for me. I enjoyed the story and the setting and other characters quite a bit. I would be interested to read about the other McCade family members and their stories in the future.
I really liked the Montana small town, ranch setting as well as the McCade family and other town characters. However, the one character that I didn't enjoy was Samantha who was the main character of the book. She aggravated me quite a bit, acting childish in many instances. She kept secrets about her future plans because she feared how her family would react but her brothers always came across as reasonable so I didn't understand that. She was always pulling toward Caleb and then pushing him away and that became exhausting as well. I understand her past heartbreak but I never really got how Caleb was directly responsible. If she blamed him at the time because of her grief then I would understand. But years later, I don't understand the grudge. Basically Samantha exhausted me and the book was solely from her perspective so that's what brought the book down for me. I enjoyed the story and the setting and other characters quite a bit. I would be interested to read about the other McCade family members and their stories in the future.
June 22, 2025
10 stars because this book was that good!!! I have another top-tier book boyfriend to add to the shelf because Caleb was an absolute sweetheart wrapped in gruffness. And I have some more goodies to look forward to with the McCade brothers' stories!
I went through all the feels reading this one. I was squealing, kicking my feet, reading while peeking through my fingers and swooning only to turn the page and get second-hand embarrassment and anxiety from Samantha. Like Sammie, gurl, this man LIKES you! Please!!!!!!!! Will you put him and me out of our misery already? Oh, but that plot twist at the end had me in a full-on rant! I was so mad until it was figured out a bit later.🙈
But the deeper themes woven throughout this book spoke to me. Sometimes, we think we know how our life will go, but when we allow God to have full control, He creates beautiful stories from our brokenness. He transforms our small insignificant ideas into plans that bring us joy and contentment and give Him all the glory!
“I’ve discovered that just when you think you have life figured out, something or someone will come along and completely derail your perfectly laid plans. The beauty of it is though, that if you let go of the need to control and learn to trust, change won’t break you. God will use the uncertainty to mold you into His vision.”
~quote from the book
Content guide:
Language - geez, heck x4, darned, dang, drat, [oh my] gosh x7, shoot
Sexual content - 7x not detailed kisses, 5x lightly detailed kisses, 1x moderately detailed kiss
- mention of a man being a cad
I went through all the feels reading this one. I was squealing, kicking my feet, reading while peeking through my fingers and swooning only to turn the page and get second-hand embarrassment and anxiety from Samantha. Like Sammie, gurl, this man LIKES you! Please!!!!!!!! Will you put him and me out of our misery already? Oh, but that plot twist at the end had me in a full-on rant! I was so mad until it was figured out a bit later.🙈
But the deeper themes woven throughout this book spoke to me. Sometimes, we think we know how our life will go, but when we allow God to have full control, He creates beautiful stories from our brokenness. He transforms our small insignificant ideas into plans that bring us joy and contentment and give Him all the glory!
“I’ve discovered that just when you think you have life figured out, something or someone will come along and completely derail your perfectly laid plans. The beauty of it is though, that if you let go of the need to control and learn to trust, change won’t break you. God will use the uncertainty to mold you into His vision.”
~quote from the book
Content guide:
Language - geez, heck x4, darned, dang, drat, [oh my] gosh x7, shoot
Sexual content - 7x not detailed kisses, 5x lightly detailed kisses, 1x moderately detailed kiss
- mention of a man being a cad
July 21, 2025
4.5 stars
Britt Howard takes us into Montana's beautiful setting, ranching, and the world of horses and close family ties. Caleb and Samantha's journey is a journey of forgiveness, trusting in God as life's path unfolds. The closeness between the McCade siblings is heartwarming and beautiful.
Samantha's pain from the loss of her father and perceived duplicity from the one she trusted leads her into a path of pain for a while and she must learn to forgive and surrender fully to God to lead her even as she desires to make an impact in the lives of others. Caleb and Samantha reunited and opened more doors for troubled youths to find peace as they both worked on themselves, communicating, forgiving, and finding love.
Caleb and Samantha learned to let go of the need to control, trust God fully, and allow Him to mold them into His vision for their lives as they learned to appreciate the gifts in front of them.
Song of the Valley is a good reminder that even though we have laid out plans for ourselves, God's has a better plan for us that will bring us the true joy and peace that we seek. A beautiful read!
Britt Howard takes us into Montana's beautiful setting, ranching, and the world of horses and close family ties. Caleb and Samantha's journey is a journey of forgiveness, trusting in God as life's path unfolds. The closeness between the McCade siblings is heartwarming and beautiful.
Samantha's pain from the loss of her father and perceived duplicity from the one she trusted leads her into a path of pain for a while and she must learn to forgive and surrender fully to God to lead her even as she desires to make an impact in the lives of others. Caleb and Samantha reunited and opened more doors for troubled youths to find peace as they both worked on themselves, communicating, forgiving, and finding love.
Caleb and Samantha learned to let go of the need to control, trust God fully, and allow Him to mold them into His vision for their lives as they learned to appreciate the gifts in front of them.
Song of the Valley is a good reminder that even though we have laid out plans for ourselves, God's has a better plan for us that will bring us the true joy and peace that we seek. A beautiful read!
October 12, 2022
This book has Christian values that are very much apart of the story. This story still has romance and very strong slow burn through it.
Childhood crushes to lovers, great side characters (I loved the brothers!), some miscommunication but I’d say it was more complete avoidance than straight up miscommunication, loss of parent that really hinders the MC, and how healing with faith.
FMC Samantha leaves the country behind to be a full city girl, she graduates from college and decides to go home while waiting for a job application. When she comes back home things go all sorts of wrong and forcing her to deal with her past. She is stubborn, strong willed and I just loved her.
MMC- Caleb, sweet baby Caleb he is every bit of a cowboy! I just adored him so much!! He is strong, kind, and so yummy! He does everything to give back to his community in all the ways that Samantha loves but really doesn’t love to see him in a good light!
The brothers… oh the brothers absolutely LOVE them and you will too!
If your looking for a light hearted romance this is a great place to find it.
Childhood crushes to lovers, great side characters (I loved the brothers!), some miscommunication but I’d say it was more complete avoidance than straight up miscommunication, loss of parent that really hinders the MC, and how healing with faith.
FMC Samantha leaves the country behind to be a full city girl, she graduates from college and decides to go home while waiting for a job application. When she comes back home things go all sorts of wrong and forcing her to deal with her past. She is stubborn, strong willed and I just loved her.
MMC- Caleb, sweet baby Caleb he is every bit of a cowboy! I just adored him so much!! He is strong, kind, and so yummy! He does everything to give back to his community in all the ways that Samantha loves but really doesn’t love to see him in a good light!
The brothers… oh the brothers absolutely LOVE them and you will too!
If your looking for a light hearted romance this is a great place to find it.
August 21, 2025
This was an excellent read! From the start, I loved the enemies-to-more tension between Sammie and Caleb. Then, when they actually started liking each other again, their banter was great. I also enjoyed the banter between Sammie's brothers. I liked that they each had their own personality because that helped me keep them straight and has me looking forward to reading their books as well. Another thing I liked was the setting. I haven't gotten around to reading very many contemporary cowboy stories, so it was nice to "visit" Western Montana in this book. The area described in this story reminded me of when I actually got to visit Wyoming last year which was my first time seeing much of that half of the US. Last but not least, I really enjoyed that there were strong faith threads throughout. As Sammie struggled with life-changing decisions, it was a good reminder to me when she depended on God for guidance. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a great Christian romance set in the West!
June 28, 2025
🏞️Refreshing, sweet Christian romance🤍
This was the perfect read for me right now! After dnf'ing my last read at 75% and trying to start another heavier book, I felt myself sliding into a reading slump. I decided to give Song of the Valley a try. It came recommend by one of my favorite authors, and it did *not* disappoint! As much as I love reading other genres, Christian Romance will always have my heart, and this one was everything you want in a Christian Romance novel! The story had good character development, excellent pacing, and it was just really well written.
This was the perfect read for me right now! After dnf'ing my last read at 75% and trying to start another heavier book, I felt myself sliding into a reading slump. I decided to give Song of the Valley a try. It came recommend by one of my favorite authors, and it did *not* disappoint! As much as I love reading other genres, Christian Romance will always have my heart, and this one was everything you want in a Christian Romance novel! The story had good character development, excellent pacing, and it was just really well written.
December 9, 2023
I love books especially enemies to lovers, and it’s been hard to transition to books that also glorify our Lord, and Song of the Valley was beautifully written.
It also has that aticipation of two characters that can make you giggle and fall in love. Besides Caleb, don’t get me started here, he is one country boy I wish was real 😭 if I could erase this book and re read it for the first time again I would so do that!
It also has that aticipation of two characters that can make you giggle and fall in love. Besides Caleb, don’t get me started here, he is one country boy I wish was real 😭 if I could erase this book and re read it for the first time again I would so do that!
May 12, 2024
Sweet Read
Song of the Valley is a sweet read with some important lessons learned as the main character navigates through her post-coming-of-age journey. Sweet, romantic exchanges and strong family values are weaved into the chapters. Some of the pacing was a little slow for my personal preference, but still would recommend this for anyone looking for a cute, sweet read.
Song of the Valley is a sweet read with some important lessons learned as the main character navigates through her post-coming-of-age journey. Sweet, romantic exchanges and strong family values are weaved into the chapters. Some of the pacing was a little slow for my personal preference, but still would recommend this for anyone looking for a cute, sweet read.
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