New York Times bestselling author He’s come to Gold Valley with a hidden agenda… not to fall for his enemy’s daughter! Emerson Maxfield is the perfect pawn for rancher Holden McCall’s purposes. She’s engaged to a man solely to win her father’s approval, and the sheltered beauty never steps out of line. Until one encounter changes everything. Now this good girl must marry Holden to protect … marry Holden to protect her family–or their desire could spell downfall for them all…
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin Romance via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This was a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Emerson Maxfield is daughter to James Maxfield, owner of Maxfield Vineyards. She loves her family and job at the winery. She is engaged to a man who she doesn’t love but was recommended by her father. Little does she know but not all is right in her world. Holden McCall comes to Oregon to exact revenge against James Maxfield. James had an affair with his sister (who is younger than Emerson). After a miscarriage, Soraya, was institutionalized. No one treats his sister like that. Holden is out to destroy James and his winery.
The road to Holden and Emerson’s HEA is one that is strife with heartache and distrust. I loved the dual POV format (it was slightly heavier on Emerson’s side though). Getting a glimpse into the characters’ thought process really helped me to connect to the them. Especially in the case of Emerson. I thought she was a little pushy in the beginning at times but seeing her thoughts really made me empathize her.
There were times here that I felt some places were a little drawn out and I wanted to skip over them but I didn’t. You just never know if what you skip is important maybe further on in the book.
There were some scenes that were a little sexy so I would recommend this book for someone over the age of 18.
Revenge, passion, deep, bold emotions, pretentious facades hiding secrets that are causing family drama…
A breathtaking quick read with a raw ardent coupling that gets a chance to be something more, bigger, deeper, and real while Holden McCall works on his vengeance towards Emerson Maxfield’s father.
I love Yates’ style of storytelling and her ability to adjust the writing to a different category, even while writing in the same series and their spinoffs. This story, part of the new spinoff and Desire books in Harlequin, had the focus on the fierily igniting, undeniable lust the protagonists have for each other. There was still space for drama, and most importantly the characters to grow and develop, find their selves while finding a new normal in their lives while desperately falling in love.
An intensely fervent tale of hunger for more, in love as well in life, that surely brings on the heat and entertains.
~ Four Spoons
Rancher’s Wild Secret by Maisey Yates is the first book of the Gold Valley Vineyards series. It is a sexy romance story of a ruthless hero, bent on revenge, finds himself falling for his enemy’s daughter. Maisey Yates’s writing brings out the human nature of her characters, thrusting them into an intense and passionate relationship. Rancher’s Wild Secret also has a bonus story Hold Me, Cowboy, another of her passionate and entertaining western romances.
Wonderful Read
Another good read by Maisey Yates. The first story, Rancher’s Wild Secret, is a spin-off of the Gold Valley series, and a very steamy one at that. Emerson Maxfield & Holden McCall both have issues with relationships. Holden is out for revenge against Emerson’s father, James, in the treatment of Holden’s sister & blackmails Emerson into marriage. The chemistry between the two of them is very strong & you’ll have to read it to find out how it ends in a HEA.
The second, a Bonus story, Hold Me, Cowboy, is a reissue by Maisey Yates. Both characters, Sam McCormack & Madison West, have been hurt badly in previous relationships & have serious issues with “Loving”.
Here’s the thing, I learned from the last Harlequin Desire book I read (which happen to be from this same series by the same author) that they are shorter stories, heavy on the romance, and more on the steamy/blush worthy side. This time around that description fit like a glove, but the story itself, I was a bit up in the air. I mean, I liked Emerson, and initially I liked Holden, but things go to you-know-where rather quickly and that turns what they had from a lust filled encounter of sexual expression into something much bigger, and more daunting for them all. It’s definitely an enemies to lovers trope candidate and the chemistry is off the charts, but I don’t know. I’m just not certain I bought the whole big bad sexy cowboy heck bent on revenge turns out to be someone that loves so deeply, cares so much, he doesn’t even realize it himself, and is truly a diamond in the rough seas of love. On the other hand, I highly respect Emerson’s ability to push forward through the unappetizing options offered, accept her fate so to speak, yet also freely state where she stands with him, her heart, and her life. They didn’t meet in any version of what one would call ideal circumstances, but neither could deny that the still waters that ran deeply through them both cared nothing for the bad blood between them, and everything about what they could be if only they’d get out of their own way.
**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own
The first book in a new series always introduces many characters, but only a glimpse of most of them. Emerson Maxfield is the oldest daughter of James Maxfield, owner of Maxfield Vineyards. She loves the winery and has made it her life’s work, realizing that she and her sisters have grown up with lots of privileges because of it. So much so, that she is willing to give up any future chance at love, by agreeing to marry a man her father picked out for her, a man who has no interested in her, only the share of the business he will receive when she become she bride. So it is against her nature to be attracted to Holden Brown, the new ranch hand. But she has never felt chemistry like this with a man before. A one night stand turns into a black mailed trip to Vegas for a wedding, because Holden has a secret and is out for revenge. But can Emerson turn this marriage real? The book finished, way too soon for me and I am ready to read the next installment- perhaps about Emerson’s sister Wren and her love/hate relationship with their main competitor?
I read an ARC from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
This is the first book in a new series by one of my favorite authors, Maisey Yates. The series is a spin-off of the Gold Valley series (which is a spin-off of the Copper Ridge series). As usual when it comes to this author’s writing, this story sucked me in and held on tight all the way through.
Emerson and Holden are both so deeply flawed but, of course, look at these flaws as strengths. It’s not until their relationship holds a mirror up to each of them that they start to see everything they hold true isn’t so black and white.
Holden has so much anger and resentment toward the world, but most especially toward Emerson’s father. Which I honestly don’t blame him for, her father is not a good man. Emerson has blinders to who her father truly is. In fact, she has blinders to how her father treats her…like a pawn in building his empire. She thinks all he does is because he loves her and wants the best for her. While I won’t deny her father loves her, I don’t believe he understands unconditional love and letting your children do what makes them happy instead of what makes you happy. It’s quite a shock to Emerson when that curtain falls and the sees her family dynamics are not what she thought.
Although the relationship between Emerson and Holden starts in a very unconventional way, with no promises of love, they help each other deal with the fallout of all they learn about family and themselves. The problem I have is that I don’t feel the chemistry between them as I would have hoped to feel. I find the couple perfect for each other in many ways, but I’m not feeling the spark. BUT, and it’s a big but, I still got warm-fuzzies. Odd, I know. While I didn’t feel a constant chemistry with the two, I did feel a connection. And certain scenes still caused the butterflies to take flight in my belly.
With the new characters introduced in the Gold Valley/Copper Ridge universe with this new series I am excited to see what is to come, especially with Emerson’s sisters and possibly her mom. There’s definitely some history with the Maxfield family and their rivals and I’m looking forward to learning more.
https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2019/12/02/ranchers-wild-secret-gold-valley-vineyards/
Who is Emerson Maxfield? Who are Cricket and Donovan? Who are the Coopers Why does Wren get so upset when their names are mentioned? I wasn’t sure how I felt about Holden at first. That started to change when he came clean about his intentions to Emerson. What did she do when she learned the truth? I loved what Emerson, Wren, and Cricket came up with in regards to Soraya. I love Soraya’s words of wisdom to Holden. Read and see what happens!
RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin’ With M. Brennan.
I am always eager to read a novel by Maisey Yates, and especially one that’s the first title in her Gold Valley spin-off series, Gold Valley Vineyards in the Harlequin Desire imprint, but since I love getting lost in her books, I knew from the get-go that I’d want a longer read than is the usual in Harlequin Desire. I also had mixed feelings about the main characters, something else that is rare in one of Ms. Yates’ novels, but it’s the reason I cannot give this novel more than 3.5 stars.
From the very beginning, I wasn’t thrilled with the heroine, Emerson Maxwell, eldest daughter to her father, James, the scion of the family and owner the upscale Maxwell Vineyards winery. Emerson is serving as hostess, and is the face of the winery, and is currently playing hostess at a posh party at the highly regarded Maxwell Vineyards. She’s all charm and smiles at the party, but bored, suffering from internal malaise, and wearing insincere smiles for her guests. She’s also sporting a huge diamond engagement ring, and is ready to marry her father’s choice for her, the always absent Donovan, who lives in another state and with whom she’s barely had contact. After a two-year engagement she still feels nothing for the man, and they’ve never done more than share a few less than stellar kisses, but Emerson plans to marry this man she doesn’t love to make her father happy. She’s always been her dad’s puppet, and has dedicated her life to publicizing the Maxwell Vineyards label, since she’ll be inheriting the lion’s share of the business and estate when her father either retires or dies. When she marries, her husband will also inherit shares in the company.
Needing some fresh air, she steps outside to the balcony and spots a strange person wandering through the vineyards. Despite her many guests and her duties as their hostess, she heads down the stairs to find out who this stranger is. He introduces himself as their new ranch hand, Holden–tall, handsome, broad of shoulder, and with a chiseled jaw, and Emerson is struck by insta-lust. Holden is pretty taken with her too, and that will fall right in line with his plot for revenge against James Maxwell. Revenge, you may ask? Let’s just say that Holden isn’t who he purports to be. While Emerson, a short time later, offers herself to sexy hunk, Holden, leave it to Ms. Yates to make their encounter sizzling hot and steamy. While Holden wasn’t expecting this attraction, he isn’t going to refuse to bed this beautiful woman, who readily tells him all about her personal family issues, her lack of sexual experience, her lack of enthusiasm for the man she’s engaged to marry, and Holden is not about to turn down her offer of no-strings sex, and he soon sees a way to incorporate her in his revenge plot.
While I don’t want to give away too much of the plot in this review, I will let you know that Holden’s need is to avenge what James Maxwell did to his younger sister, Soraya Jane, not only breaking her heart and stealing her innocence, but leaving her pregnant and heartbroken, even more so when he tells her to get an abortion, and pays her off to disappear. She was so devastated by this turn of events, that when she miscarries and loses the baby she’s carrying she suffers a complete break from reality and ends up living in a mental institution. Oh, and she’s not the only young woman that James has paid off and forced to sign a nondisclosure agreement. Emerson is shocked to hear this about the father she loves, but when Holden gives her an ultimatum, she chooses to marry him, thereby giving Holden a piece of Maxwell Vineyards, rather than allowing him to publicize her father’s indiscretion with Soraya, but also his other victims, and destroy not only James Maxwell, but also the vineyard she hopes to someday inherit and run, the vineyard she’s dedicated herself to all her life.
While I’m a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, a fan of steamy reads, especially the ones written by Ms. Yates, the plot and intricacies of the relationships between all the characters in this novel was a bit too much in too short a novel and too short a time period. While I grew to understand and like Emerson, sympathize with her, and even understand and accept Holden’s reasons for using and then discarding her, all of this needed more time and more space to unfold.
While I loved the way the HEA ending was handled, again, it was too abrupt. I felt that Ms. Yates was stifled by the mandatory short word count, and it just didn’t do this story and it’s complex characters any justice. It was, however, a very good, very well-written, and very emotional read, and for those reasons, as well as the fact that it’s a start of a new series, I’d recommend getting in on the ground floor, grabbing a copy and reading it. Personally, I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel The opinions expressed are my own.
This was an okay story. The first half seemed to drag on and on, while the second half felt rushed. I wished we had gotten to know Soraya a little bit better, along with finding out more of what happened with James. This is where it felt rushed. The family dynamics were tested, and there were some surprising twists! I hope the other two sisters get their books. I can feel something between Wren and the “enemy”.
Truth time–I didn’t read the blurb for this one at all; I just saw it was a Maisey Yates book and couldn’t even see the blurb over my own grabby hands. So I started it knowing absolutely nothing beyond the title and it was a new series–so certain aspects of the plot took me a teensy bit by surprise.
Steamy sex scenes? Complicated hero? Hero and heroine who think they know themselves but who actually don’t have a clue? Totally expecting. Dark, deep revenge plot? Took me a bit by surprise. (Again, could have been solved by reading the blurb. But obviously that’s not how I roll.) Once I got over my aggravation with them (really, Holden? How did you truly think any of this was going to make your sister feel better? Thank goodness he had Emerson to do his heavy lifting there) and they allowed themselves to even think about reaching for an HEA, though, I couldn’t put the darn thing down.
Though, honestly, that was what I expected, going in. Now how long must we wait for book 2? 😉 (Probably not that long, honestly. I don’t understand how she has so much time to write, with all of the beautiful knitting I see her doing on Instagram. Doesn’t she sleep?)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Great story. The good girl billionaire runs away and marries a cowboy.
Passion, drama and forbidden love, Rancher’s Wild Secret has it all. Don’t miss the latest Harlequin Desire from Maisey Yates! I loved this book.
Rancher’s Wild Secret definitely kept me captivated for the whole of the story. Emerson is a ‘yes, daddy, whatever you need, daddy’ kind of girl. Her relationship with her father is one she thinks she needs to breathe, including agreeing to marry a man she doesn’t love (or even sleep with) for the betterment of their family winery. She is willing to do anything to improve their standing for the family winery, until a new ranchhand shows up in the vineyard and she can’t stop thinking about him.
Holden is there for one reason, revenge. He isn’t there to bed the daughter of the man he hates for destroying his sister, but when the opportunity presents itself, he can’t resist the urge to use her in his bed or in his revenge against her father.
I wasn’t sure how the author was going to make this about love when it was clear Holden hated everything about the Maxfield name. What she ended up doing was not making it about Holden but rather about Emerson. It took her tearing down and subsequent rebirth in the journey of falling in love with a man she never would have found if it hadn’t been for her father’s indiscretions for Emerson to truly find herself.
I loved this story but fair warnings. There is nothing about Christmas in the book (As the cover leads you to think). The sex was HOT and teetered on the edge of BDSM so I would only recommend it for the 18+ crowd. It’s not raunchy or tasteless but it is a little more graphic than other Desire books I’ve read.
RANCHER’S WILD SECRET is book one in the Gold Valley Vineyards spin-off series by Maisey Yates and promises to bring passion and drama to the forefront. Centering around a rancher and the daughter of his sworn enemy, this story of forbidden love is quick to hook a reader as secrets unravel, betrayal is exposed and love begins to outshine revenge.
Holden immediately grabs attention as a powerful man who will stop at nothing to get revenge for the wrong his family has suffered. He’s complex and developed just enough to keep us guessing.
Emerson is high-spirited and loyal, but when secrets are exposed that change her entire outlook on the world she has been living in, she finds the strength to stand up for what’s right, no matter how much it hurts her heart.
I highly recommend this book to anyone enjoying drama and passion mixed in with strong family presence and happily ever afters. I look forward to seeing how this quartet plays out!