Welcome to Heart Falls, where there’s more at stake than the future of the Silver Stone ranch.A standalone novel by New York Times bestselling author Vivian Arend.With the ranch teetering on the brink of disaster, accepting an invitation to the gala of the year is a top business priority for Luke Stone. Having a significant other on his arm isn’t merely a good idea, it’s a necessity. Doesn’t … idea, it’s a necessity. Doesn’t matter that he’s currently single—there’s a logical solution. Kelli is easy company, a vital part of ranch operations, and willing to sing Silver Stone’s praises all day long. She’ll be perfect.
Kelli James has kept a lot of secrets over the eight years since she boldly walked onto the ranch. Her biggest challenge, though, has been hiding her crush on the sexiest cowboy she’s ever laid eyes on. When Luke informs her they’re headed to the mountains for a week-long, work-related event, she’s not sure what to expect.
That he signed her up to play the part of the perfect rancher’s bride-to-be wasn’t it…
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I really enjoy this author’s books. This one was no exception.
I love all books written by Vivian Aarand
In full disclosure, I’m on Vivian Arend’s review team. However, these opinions are all my own. This is the fourth book in the Heart Falls series. It actually stand on its own quite well.
A Rancher’s Bride is a friends to lovers story. There’s also a fake relationship thrown in for good measure. And I suppose technically there’s also an “in love with the boss” trope as well. The book follows Luke, a ranch owner, and Kelli, one of his ranch hands. The ranch is in financial trouble and Luke has the chance to attend a gala where he can schmooze and hopefully make some connections to turn the ranch’s future around. The only hitch is that he needs a significant other. So he enlists Kelli to help him, unknowning that she has a serious crush on him. In normal romance fashion, sparks fly and a happily ever after occurs. But the trip there is actually quite fun.
I enjoyed getting to know these two. They danced around each other and their growing feelings. They’re both quite likeable and find themselves in a weird situation. I even liked the secondary characters.
I kept turning the pages as I wanted to know how things were going to get resolved. There were a couple of twists and turns to keep me on my toes. I really did enjoy this story and can’t wait to read more in the series.
My review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Luke and Kelly were just about perfect together! Friends to lovers, lovers to love, and getting the HEA they both so richly deserve. Kelly near about broke my heart sometimes, but she was always so positive, so upbeat, if she didn’t feel sorry for herself, then there was no way you could. Luke was always so steady, and when he finally realized Kelly had been right in front of him all this time, even he was sideswiped by that realization. A lot of fun, a lot of sexy, a lot of friendly banter, and solid commitment, I absolutely loved these two!
Little risque, but good reading series.
Once again another heart-warming read from Ms Arend. I don’t read very many contemporary books, but Ms Arend is one I definitely love to read.
A wonderfully entertaining story with likeable characters and the supporting cast from previous books we have come to love.
Great to get Kelli and Luke’s story. These two have been gravitating around each other since book one even though Luke was engaged in that book. But Kelli knew he was who she wanted and had thought it would never be.
Luke really takes a long time to understand his feelings towards Kelli. To give Luke his due he really had not twigged Kelli was the one for him, a case of wearing blinders, but once circumstances force these two into close proximity Luke realises what it was he was missing with his ex-fiancée.
Really hope Josiah gets his story soon.
This is my honest review of this book.
i am so glad he finally saw her and then fell hard for her.
Good western romance – give me an alpha cowboy to start with and add a beatiful female with personality, and watch the pages fly. Add a HEA and I’m totally happy.
The series was excellent. Vivian Arend is a great writer.
I will openly admit I wanted Luke and Kelli to be together from the very first book in the Heart Falls series. I was super excited to see with A Rancher’s Bride, readers would finally get their story, and it was so worth the wait.
I have to be honest and say how much I didn’t like Luke’s former fiancé Penny. She seemed way too bitchy to ever fit in with the Stone family. Kelli has pretty much fit in from the moment she showed up at Silver Stone and really is just like a member of the Stone family. When Luke needs someone to go with him to represent Silver Stone, and pose as his significant other, the only person he thinks of is Kelli.
I loved seeing Kelli and Luke’s relationship move from coworkers to more. They have always had pretty great chemistry and I love the banter back and forth between them. I just have always felt like they understood each other in a way others didn’t get. When they shared their first kiss I had all the happy sighs happening and loved how fast it moved from a simple kiss to a smoking hot kiss. I’ve loved all of the couples from this series to date, but have to admit I’ve always seen there was more between Luke and Kelli.
A Rancher’s Bride gave me all the happy feels the entire time I was reading it. I loved seeing Luke and Kelli share more about their pasts the closer they became. They just felt like the perfect couple to me. They both were so protective of each other and I loved watching them each realize how much they loved one another. I also loved how all the other members of the Stone family never made Kelli ever feel like less than family. The fake relationship to real relationship troupe is one of my favorites and Vivian Arend did it perfectly with A Rancher’s Bride. I highly recommend her books to other readers who love contemporary romances.
Rating: 4 Stars (B)
Review copy provided by publisher
I’ve waited for Kelli and Luke’s story and it was as fine as I predicted; sweet, hot and heartwarming.
This is what I liked:
* Very good storyline and the feeling of coming back to a family I’ve read about before is making me feel content when reading.
* No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
* Lots of dialogues that makes the story even more enjoyable
* The characters is well described and they come alive in the way the author writes.
* The connection between Kelli and Luke is described with feelings and makes it feel realistic
* Love scenes is intense and emotional and so steamy
What I love the most about this author’s books is that they are standalone but still is about familiar characters.
5 good stars
This is Book 3 in The Stones of Heart Falls series. We finally get Luke and Kelli’s story. What a great story it is, too. They are off to a week-long business event and she finds out that she’s going to be playing his fiancée. She’s had a crush on him so is this a chance of a lifetime for her? This is such a sweet romance with a lot of exciting things going on. Luke’s ex-fiancée happens to make an appearance, too. The chemistry between Luke and Kelli is so much fun to watch. I’m so glad that I got a chance to read it. If you like slow and fun romance, then this is the one that you need to read. There’s just enough spice to make it exciting but not R-rated.
Oh my gosh, where do I begin? The Stone ranch is in trouble. All of a sudden an unexpected invitation is made that could help the ranch significantly. But the only Stone who could attend is Luke and he needs a significant other. So he lists Kelli. Oh yeah, and he doesn’t tell her the role she needs to play until they are halfway to the location. And so begins the fake fiancee storyline.
I love the chemistry between Luke and Kelli. And I love Jack and Diane (will we see more of them in the future?). I found it interesting that Mr. Carlyn was so interested in Kelli. What is that all about?
So what happens when the fairytale ends and everyone has to return home and back to real life? Will love prevail or will life get in the way? Enjoy the carriage ride.
In this installment of the Heart Falls series from Vivian Arend, Luke Stone gets an invitation to an exclusive gala event for horse ranch owners. He’s thrilled to be able to finally do something to help the family with their money woes. There’s only one hitch — it’s a family oriented event and a fiancée or wife is expected, but Luke has just recently broken it off with his rich girlfriend.
Kelli James has worked at the ranch with the Stone brothers for years. New employees are given a “hands-off” warning as the brothers and others on the ranch have taken it upon themselves to take care of Kelli. They see her as part of the family. And right there is what I love about this series — there’s a wonderful family vibe going on throughout all the books that warms my heart.
When Luke puts Kelli’s name on the gala rsvp, he makes one critical mistake and that’s not telling Kelli that she has to pretend to be his fiancee. She finds out en-route and uses that to her advantage — she’s had a major crush on Luke for years and this is her opportunity to get a taste of him, even if it isn’t forever.
Luke goes along with it, and in the end, he ends up realizing that his feelings for Kelli are more than just friendship. They have some real chemistry together, and their common goal of saving the ranch brings them even closer. Not only are Luke and Kelli steaming hot together, they make some terrific friends too. But Kelli isn’t sure if Luke wants her for her, and so there’s some tension there when they return home, along with some secrets that are revealed that put another wrench into Kelli staying with Luke.
I just really loved these two together. It was great to see them come to a new understanding about their relationship, and the rest of the clan is 100% on board with them being together. This is just a really sweet, low drama romance that left me smiling and wanting more by the final pages. I’ve enjoyed this entire series so much.
So if you are looking for a low conflict sort of romance that will warm your heart, The Rancher’s Bride might just do the trick. Vivian Arend’s writing is easy to read and easy to fall into the story and transports the reader to another world. I love that about it.
An ARC was provided for review.
3.75 stars–A RANCHER’S BRIDE is the fourth instalment in Vivian Arend’s contemporary, adult HEART FALLS erotic, romance cowboy series focusing on the Stone Siblings of Heart Falls, Alberta-Caleb, Luke, Walker, Ginny and Dustin. This is thirty-something, rancher Luke Stone, and twenty-three year old, ranch hand Kelli James’ story line. A RANCHER’S BRIDE can be read as a stand alone without any difficult. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. The HEART FALLS series is a spin off from the author’s SIX PACK RANCH series, but you do not have to have read the original series to follow or understand the current story lines.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Luke and Kelli) A RANCHER’S BRIDE follows the friends to lovers relationship / fake fiancé trope between thirty-something, rancher Luke Stone, and twenty-three year old, ranch hand Kelli James. Eight years earlier, lost and on the run, Kelli James found her way to Silver Stone ranch in the hopes of procuring a place to live, and a much needed job. Meeting Luke Stone stirred something deep within the young teenage girl but Luke was about to enter into another relationship that forced Kelli to watch from the sidelines as the man with whom she would fall in love, fell in love with someone else. Fast forward to present day wherein Luke, now single and desperately trying to save the Silver Stone ranch, invites Kelli to the Triple Crown Gala, where the who’s who of horse breeders gather to schmooze and set up deals. What ensues is the building romance and sexual relationship between Kelli and Luke, and the potential fall-out as their time together draws to a close when the gala comes to a satisfying conclusion.
Luke and his brothers are desperately trying to save the Silver Stone ranch since the death of their parents years before. An invitation to the Triple Crown Gala meant the possibility of saving the ranch, and securing a financial windfall but the hosts were all about ‘family’ meaning Luke needed Kelli to pose as his fiancé in order to put up a united front. What they never expected was to fall in love, or have their future relationship threatened by someone from the past.
The relationship between Kelli and Luke is one of friends to lovers; a fake fiancé / employee and boss arrangement between two people desperate to find something more. Luke’s previous relationship ended in disaster, and Kelli was in no position to become the rebound lover but offers herself up for their time away. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Caleb and Tamara (A Rancher’s Heart 1), Walker and Ivy (A Rancher’s Song #2), Hannah Lane (A Firefighter’s Christmas #3), youngest brother Dustin; veterinarian Josiah Ryder; Tamara’s sister Lisa Coleman : Ivy’s sisters Tansy and Rose; Silver Stone ranch foreman Ashton Stewart; Triple Crown gala attendees Jack and Diane, and Timothy Carlyn. Josiah and Lisa’s story line is next in The Cowgirl’s Forever Love, the first instalment in the author’s new spin-off series The Colemans of Heart Falls.
THE RANCHER’S BRIDE is a story of family and friendship; romance and love. The premise is engaging, heart warming and inviting; the characters are spirited and moving; the romance is seductive. THE RANCHER’S BRIDE is a delightful romance between two people who deserve their own happily ever after.
***5 ‘Rightest Thing’ Stars***
I was all kinds of excited when it was announced that this book would be about Luke and Kelli because I already liked both of them, but then when I saw that there would be a ‘fake relationship’ thing going on, well, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on their story and A Rancher’s Bride did not disappoint! It was a fun, sweet and smexy read and filled with great characters and a lot of heart.
Kelli is a spitfire. This girl is made of grit, steel and a whole lot of heart. She may be a little cautious when it comes to letting people in, but when she does, she gives them everything she has and then some. Luke is a sweetheart, an Alpha, but a sweetheart. He’s hard working and loves what he does. He can be a little clueless at times, but once he figures things out, he’s all in.
Kelli and Luke’s journey to their HEA was a lot of fun. What helped things along was the fact that they were already friends, but what made it fun was how their views of each other evolved over the course of the book and how they realized that they were perfect for each other. I loved their bantering and the smexy was HAWT! There are a few bumps in their road, but nothing OTT craycray, though there were a few little twists here and there that definitely kept things interesting.
I’m a #fangirl of the authors, have been for a long time, and her books always hit the spot. They are what I label “no muss, no fuss” types of romance, no matter the trope she chooses to tackle because she keeps things on the level. The drama is there, but never gets into the OTT realm and the characters, ALL the characters, are well written and leave an impression. And while this is the last book of this particular series, this isn’t the last time we’ll be seeing any of these characters since there will be more romance coming out of Heart Falls and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
A Rancher’s Bride is everything I’ve come to expect from Vivian Arend and so much more! The story is packed with trials and wonder of life on the land, a unrequited love, family values and a touch of sadness and mystery too. The Stone Brothers have grabbed ahold of our hearts since we first encounter them, back before the Heart Falls series began; and true to all of Ms Arend’s series, they have continued to exceed my expectations of what family and commitment really means.
Luke Stone has an undeniable feeling that a devastating loss is imminent and that he must be the one to save the family business and the home they have loved for their entire life. So with the help of their long time ranch hand Kelli, Luke hatches a plan to ensure the future of the Silver Stone Ranch and everything he holds dear to his heart. What Luke doesn’t expect, or even entertain, is the prospect of finding a love so true that he thought it was merely a fantasy.
This is an exceptional story and Luke and Kelli’s characters are perfect together. They not only share a love for Silver Stone, but a commitment to the future, a pride in all things equine, and a family bond far beyond blood ties. Ms Arend has penned an enchanting story with easy ebb and flow, with an engaging plot, and a fabulous support cast that add humour and depth to an already captivating story.
I’m a little bereft to see the Heart Falls series end, but know that Ms Arend will have something exciting planned for the future, as there are still many wonderful characters to tell their tales.
I loved Kelli and Luke, but especially Kelli. She’s honest, doesn’t play games, and very forthright. Even though they have known each other and Kelli has worked for the Stones for quite awhile, Luke has finally had his eyes open and sees Kelli in a new light. The one thing that Kelli hasn’t been upfront about is her infatuation with Luke. It hasn’t kept her from doing an outstanding job on the ranch. With the ranch at a crossroads and being a success or failure can go either way, Luke’s invitation to an influential gala could hold the key for the family ranch to get back on its feet. It also provides the perfect opportunity for Kelli to live her dream, if only for a short time. There’s always a few hiccups along the way, but not always where you think they will be. I’ve read all of Ms Arend’s books and this one is one of her best.
I found this book was a sweet read
that involves quite a few different emotions.
The plot is well thought out and it draw you into
the book like you are apart of it.
The chemistry between all of the characters is
fantastic. If you haven’t read the book before this
one you are going to want to after you finished this
so you get to no the hole family a lot better.
Excellent!!! Very well written romance story, I love both characters. Kelli is bold, hard working, sassy and grateful. Luke is such a gentleman, a bit more reserved or rather has an one track mind focused on not losing his family ranch. A few days away from the ranch handling ranch business, helps clear the “air” a bit and Luke really makes you long for the opportunity to fall for this cowboy. Their story really touches the heart, their chemistry is off the charts & their antics are at times hilarious. They are very well matched also have great family circle on the ranch, very supportive & upfront. I love that the author focuses on plot and the couple without all the “extra” drama that is so overwhelmingly popular these days, it keeps you on track with the plot and lets you settle down into their story, love that.
I requested a free copy and am voluntarily reviewing.