The last time I saw Declan St. James was at our rehearsal dinner. That was shortly before he jilted me at the altar. To avoid the swarm of whispers and finger pointing every time I dared to show my face in public, I fled two hours south to Atlanta and never looked back. Over the last decade, I’d planned hundreds of scenarios about how our next meeting would go down. The expletives I’d hurl at … him. Which knee I might use to annihilate his balls. Which dimpled cheek on his ridiculously handsome face I would send a stinging slap across.
But being elbow deep in a cow’s ass was not one of them.
Normally, I didn’t get up close and personal to a bovine’s rectum. At least not since veterinarian school. But desperate times found me back home to attend my grandfather’s funeral, who happened to be the town’s large animal vet. Those two facts had left me wading through manure in Roy Wallace’s pasture to care for a distressed heifer.
While time and maturity seemed to have changed him from the boy I knew, I still wasn’t falling for his charm. Or his hard, chiseled body. Or ass you could eat dinner off of.
No, I wasn’t going back down that street again. Unfortunately, Declan didn’t seem to get the message. Instead, he seemed as stubborn as he ever was and ready for a fight. It’ll be the fight of his life for me to let him back in my heart
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I’ve read almost all of Ms. Ashley’s books and love the storylines and characters.
I deeply felt Peyton’s heartbreak when she was jilted at the altar by Declan. I don’t want to give away details but the way he did it was beyond appalling and I didn’t care for him or the way he treated her. Peyton goes back to college to become a veterinarian and doesn’t return home for ten years since he still lives there.
When she receives sad news, she’s definitely not happy to return to her hometown. Of course, it doesn’t take but just a short time before she sees Declan. I enjoyed Peyton’s putdowns and altercations with Declan and that she’s finally able to confront him about his actions. There are a couple of scenes that are just hilarious and Declan deserved it all!
I like a second chance story and this one was initially based on two people that are only 20 and making a lifetime commitment. I can understand that Declan decided he wasn’t ready for his life to be set in stone at such a young age, but the fallout for Peyton was that she never really recovered all those years.
I loved Declan’s son, Cam. He was just so adorable and anytime you can add a child or pet to the story, it really adds fun and emotion. There are several other engaging characters that add emotional depth to the story.
I don’t know if I could forgive Declan or at least not as quickly as Peyton, but Declan is sincere in his apologies. I think it would take me a while to believe that he wouldn’t change his mind again. I love epilogues and this one was full of sweetness.
I look forward to reading more of Ms. Ashley’s stories.
This book made me laugh within the first page and then cry a few pages later, all this within the first chapter . I loved Peyton’s humor. Her and Declan were always meant to be together and I am so glad they found their way back to each other.
This second chance romance will leave you with all the feels. Of course you want to slap them both at first, that’s the emotion talking that Katie puts into this book. But as their story evolves, you can’t help but root for this beautiful couple with the absolute perfect ending. Katie never disappoints on a true love story!
4.5 Sweet and Steamy Stars!
I loved this sweet, and steamy second chance romance! Declan and Peyton were young with big plans when Declan broke her heart on their wedding day. Peyton fled their small town to move on with her life, never wanting to see him again. It takes another heartbreaking event to bring her back home, ten years later. She didn’t plan to stay, but surprisingly takes over her grandfather’s veterinary clinic, the only place she truly loves. Declan is so happy to see that he may have a chance to earn Peyton’s forgiveness and trust, and maybe convince Peyton that she has always owned his heart. They are totally different people now, and have had several complications along the way. They must learn who they are, today, and decide if the person who has their firsts, will also be their last. I really loved Declan and Peyton, they were so sweet and fiery together. This sweet and emotional story is filled with close friends and family who are fun, quirky, and totally supportive. But it is the engaging, heartfelt and swoony romance that captured my heart and wouldn’t let go.
Loved Peyton and her humour!!
You might be able to say time heals all sounds, it took Peyton 10 yrs.
Declan might had made a huge mistake, however he made up for it. Peyton wasn’t ready to forgive, Declan helped her open her eyes and her heart to him again.
Loved how Peyton’s family seemed close, although she stayed away from her home town. Peyton kept in touch as much as she could. Shows that with a broken heart, her family means everything.
I laughed, I even had a few tears. Once you meet Cameron you will see.
Reining her in shows that even years apart, there is still true love!!
* A review copy was provided by the author *
Reining Her In is an entertaining and sweet second chance romance.
This is a standalone novel told solely from Peyton’s POV. This is Katie Ashley’s latest book.
I loved the storyline of this book and I thought the characters were relatable. The only thing I found missing was the “talk” about why Declan left Peyton at the altar. I kept waiting for that answer but I never really got what I was looking for. But this was still an enjoyable read. I did think this was on the tamer side of Katie’s work. There are some steamy scenes but not what I have come to expect from one of her books.
Reining Her In is a second chance romance between Peyton and Declan. Two characters who have known each other since they were kids and started dating in High School. At age 20 they are all set to get married, that is until Declan doesn’t show on their wedding day. Now it’s 10 years later and Peyton has to go back to her hometown because of a family tragedy. Never did she think she would run into Declan again while she is treating a pregnant cow. (She’s a veterinarian) Can Peyton ever get over the anger she has toward Declan?? Will these two find their way back to each other?? Read this book to find out.
I thought the story flowed very well. I also liked that there wasn’t a lot of drama in this story, just enough to keep things interesting. I loved that Katie gave us humor, love and forgiveness in this story. I also loved the secondary characters she gave us. I do wish we would’ve seen Cam more in the story….he is truly adorable 🙂
If you are a fan of a second chance romance then you should definitely pick this one up. Also if you are a fan of Katie’s books this is one you don’t want to miss. If you haven’t read a Katie Ashley book, this is the perfect place to start!!!
If you love second chance romances and you love everything Katie Ashley writes then you won’t want to miss Reining Her In.
Peyton Beasley thought ten years ago her life was going to be one way and it took a one eighty turn that she never expected. The life she was living now was somewhat happy but never getting over the past halted her future until the day she unexpectedly had to return to her hometown. What she didn’t want to face was the one person who she thought would be “her” person, Declan St. James.
Declan knew the consequences of his action ten years ago would change the course of his life, He became a successful business man, a dad but there was always that one regret until in the most unexpected places he saw Peyton once again.
There was a lot of animosity, hurt feelings but what they never expected was the chemistry was just as strong as it was all those years ago.
Can two people rekindle what they had all those years ago or is there to much hurt to get past. You can’t help getting caught up in there story and as you turn each page you find yourself cheering them on to hopefully finding there HEA even if it’s ten years later.
I enjoyed this second chance romance. After 10 years of not facing the issue that tore these two apart, they had to face the past before they could head into the future. I will say that Peyton is more forgiving than I think I’d be, but I’m glad that she finally forgave Declan. The story flowed. We only get the story through Peyton’s point of view. No cliffhanger