ABOUT THE BOOK
For nearly ten years, Noah Carter has kept his head down on the family ranch, determined to leave behind the chaotic aftermath of the band he formed with his five brothers. The days of sold-out stadiums and screaming fans feel like a long-distant nightmare…
Quick with a smile and quicker with an opinion, new waitress Ren never planned to stay in Autumn Falls but the not-so-shy newcomer isn’t afraid to help when Noah’s cattle drive needs a new rider.
As days in the saddle turn into nights under the stars, the tension between Noah and Ren sparks hotter than their crackling campfire. But with secrets between them, and the legacy of a fame Noah can’t seem to outrun, can they both decide whether to stop running?
MY REVIEW
This is my first book in the Carter Brothers series with a grumpy rancher and a hopeful drifter. Noah is looking for riders to help him with a cattle drive, but bodies are scarce, and the sassy waitress at the local restaurant was not who he had in mind.
Noah Carter is stubborn and serious, carrying the weight of the world due to the losses he has endured. He has created a protective shell around him that makes him wary of change and connection. He’s a man who feels most at home in solitude, until the spunky Ren enters his life.
I liked Ren, a foster kid who lived a life in which vulnerability was synonymous with weakness. Working on Noah’s cattle drive presents an unexpected opportunity to distract herself from the nerves that swirl around confronting her long-lost mom. My heart broke for Ren when she spoke of her lonely childhood and her dreams of being part of a family. She’s spent years learning to navigate life on her own, and despite her reluctance to rely on others, she feels safe with Noah, especially after an unexpected tornado forces them to share a tent.
Noah and Ren’s relationship feels a bit sluggish and like neither of them is really invested. They don’t seem like a great match to me. Noah’s not into traveling due to his disastrous time in his brothers’ boy band, while Ren is super excited about exploring the world. I can’t help but wonder if Ren might feel stuck if things keep going this way. Plus, Ren really wants a family and to feel loved, but is Noah emotionally ready to make her feel that way?
The writing style was not captivating to me. Some parts dragged on with overly detailed descriptions of what every single character was doing at every moment. I found myself skimming those sections because I just felt so disconnected from the story. I felt like an outsider observing from a distance.
If you enjoy nice, simple love stories with a forced-proximity plotline and grumpy-sunshine love, give this book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Gray for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Autumn Falls Series
1 Autumn Falls (2025)
2 Silver Sky (2025)
3 Redemption River (2026)
4 Starlight Mountain (2026)
5 Midnight Promise (2026)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Taylor Gray grew up watching too much TV and reading far too much romance. Now she’s a writer, she calls it research. She spends her days scribbling illegible notes in a notebook, dictating into her phone as she walks then trying to decipher the transcription, and wishing she could type as fast as her characters thought. Obsessed with the nature of relationships, working out what it is that keeps us apart and brings us together is something she’ll never get tired of. She lives in a house overtaken by plants and pictures with her husband, son and cat.
Follow Taylor on Amazon and Goodreads.
