He’s her best friend’s ex.Justin used to rule the boardroom, now he rules his own little plot of land, or he could if he wasn’t a single dad with a newborn. The doctor who delivered his son is an old friend and he calls in an SOS. But the longer she’s around, the harder it is to ignore that a stunning intellect isn’t her only appeal. It was supposed to be two friends getting through a baby’s … getting through a baby’s colic together. Only Priya has harbored way more than friendly feelings for Justin for years. But she’s struggling to keep her thoughts platonic around the scruffy, rugged rancher.
Justin’s sworn off women and refuses to change for anyone. Priya’s fighting to save her job and won’t be second rate to anyone. So why not a friends with benefits arrangement? Then no one will get their heart broken…
A friends to lovers romance from an award-winning author.
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I read the previous books in the series, but I wasn’t as excited for this one as I was for those. Justin has moments where I loved him but they were just moments. His coupling with Priya is perfection. They completely balance each other.
Justin’s life is a complete and utter hot mess. His ex’s have worked him over so much he questions his decision making process especially pertaining to relationships. Both ex’s have manipulated him and played him to their own uses. First, Gabrielle who changed everything about him to the point he didn’t recognize himself. Maisy, his high school sweetheart with numerous mental health issues but he could easily fall into bed with. Her obsession with him lead to her manipulation of the condom and his son. He has sworn off women. Besides he needs to focus on his newborn son and his ranch. Priya, Maisy’s best friend and OB/GYN who delivered Isaac has been helping him with his son’s colic. He shouldn’t be thinking about her constantly. Sex should be the last thing on his mind. The only way to get her out of his mind is to get her under him. He offers her friends with benefits.
Priya has always been the responsible one–with her family and with Maisy. She failed Maisy. So many what ifs and regrets. She feels detached from her family. She feels alone except when goes to the Walker ranch to help Justin with Isaac. She loves cuddling with the little guy and sitting around sipping wine with Justin. She’s always crushed on him, but he has always been with Maisy even when Maisy knew how Priya felt about him. She feels complete when at the farmhouse–like this is where she belongs. Once Issac’s colic is over, Pri is insecure with her life and her career. Both she and the town blame her for Maisy. Justin proposes a friends with benefits arrangement, she jumps on it. She needs to relax and find a distraction. But what happens when Pri wants more?
I love this series!
Justin and Priya have a tough connection. Her best friend Maisy was carrying his baby when she died from an infection and Priya had to deliver him thru an emergency C-section. Not a good way to get to know someone.
Justin has no idea what he’s doing with a baby. He hadn’t meant to get Maisy pregnant, it was supposed to be a one-off but Maisy had other plans. So when she dies, Justin is in the dark so he calls Priya. She is a doctor after all. What he doesn’t know is that she’s had a crush on him since high school.
Priya is devastated when her friend dies. Could she have done more? Add to that rumors that she’s incompetent and the pressure of being the new doctor in town, she withdraws into herself. Her only bright spot is helping Justin with his son Isaiah. Nothing more could come from this, right?
Johnston aimed right for my heart with Justin and Priya. There’s something about the bond between a father and his child that puts the moves on my emotions. Justin is clueless on so many levels, but make no mistake about it, he loves his child. Both life and love are about taking risks. Justin and Priya are about to gamble on the biggest bet of their lives. Falling in love. White Collar Rancher is a tale of strong characters that learn emotional life lessons. It’s messy, inspiring and captivating reading.