USA Today bestseller Caitlin Crews returns to Cold River, CO, and cowboys, with an emotional second chance romance in Secret Nights with a Cowboy, the stunning first installment in her new Kittredge Ranch series. A man holding on… Riley Kittredge has always known exactly what he wanted. His land, his horses. His woman. He met and married Rae Trujillo far too young, and their young love … Trujillo far too young, and their young love combusted right after they said their vows. But their passion has never managed to burn itself out. Yet when Rae shows this time, it’s not a night of pleasure she demands, but a divorce.
A woman letting go…
Rae should have moved on a long time ago. She knows she and Riley just don’t work. They might make great lovers, but that doesn’t make a marriage. And now Rae wants a new life, complete with a baby. But when her husband offers to be a father, to give her the family she’s always secretly desired, she and Riley will both have to face demons from their past–and choose love over fear at last.
“Loaded with charming characters [and] wit….will win the heart of any romance fan.”–Publishers Weekly (starred review) on A True Cowboy Christmas
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Riley Kittredge and Rae Trujillo married right after they graduated high school. She had a secret but you don’t find that out until the end of the story. They split not long after they married but she kept returning. They thrived on fighting, having sex, and Rae leaving and going back home as she moved home with her parents. I received this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review.
Secrets Nights with a Cowboy by Caitlin Crews and is a second chance romance with a twist. Riley and Rae married young but never seemed to find their happily ever after. Rae is now ready to move on without Riley, but is Riley really ready to let her go? They definitely shared a steamy chemistry, but can they get past the obstacle that stand in their way and find a real future together? I loved watching them work towards something they want and fighting for their future. A fun, quick and charming read!
Happy reading!
Secret Nights with a Cowboy is the first in the Kittredge Ranch series by Caitlin Crews but not the first Kittredge to receive their story. That honor would go to Amanda Kittredge whose story is found in The Last Real Cowboy. I remember thinking that Amanda seemed stuck in high school teenage behavior but it is a plight that Riley and Rae Trujillo Kittredge also have to fight against.
This story is a second chance for this married-but-not-together couple to change their relationship. Riley is the more mature of the two but even he does not show much emotion until his temper comes out to play. Still he is very likable as is Rae who has moved back to her parents before this story begins. More than once I wanted to say, “Girl you don’t need to move on as much as you need to grow up!” Both of these main characters come from some seriously dysfunctional families. No wonder they have no idea how to manage their own relationships. Yet this story is so realistic that I have more compassion for the several couples that I know going through messy relationships now.
The plot is well structure with the dual POVs which was great especially since Riley and Rae struggle with talking about anything personal. Otherwise it would be difficult to understand why they say or do what they say and do. Why Rea left is a mystery that builds up the emotional tension because it is never revealed until the end. Surprisingly, that does not stop or slow the flow of the story at all.. However, it is how the couple change over the course of this story that stands out to me, not in an instant but slowly, painfully at times but deliberately too.
Also my copy had a bonus novella concerning Riley’s brother, Connor Kittredge.
4.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book was interesting. Rae was married to Riley but they were living apart. She had moved in with her parents and most of the town thought they were divorced but they were not divorced. This book clearly showed how secrets can hurt and destroy a marriage and how important it is to communicate and be honest with each other.
I enjoyed some of the humorous parts of the story that happened and I also enjoyed how the story ended. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
Secret Nights with a Cowboy is an emotional story of high school sweethearts. It’s an exceptional love story of self-discovery, acceptance and second chances. I loved all the secrets (not all revealed), passion and the journey to discovering their powerful connection and the love that never died. I received an advanced copy of this book and am enthusiastically leaving an honest review.
I’m not a huge fan of second-chance romances, but I decided to give this book a try. There’s lots of steam and heat between the couple. There’s also angst and a huge lack of communication. And then everything wrapped up a little too neatly at the end. I can’t say it was my favorite book, but I did enjoy it and some of the secondary characters enough to round my rating up from 3.5 stars to 4.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
I really was not a fan of this book, I felt like it dragged a lot. I liked Riley he was a pistol he was a stubborn mule and he was totally set in his way but even in the middle of everything he still could crack a joke. Rae was completely whiney, I also felt the reason for leaving took forever to “figure” out. I did like Hope and Abby they were amazing friends. I really felt like this book played off more as high schoolers then adults in their 30’s. There is a Second story in the end which was super cute. I liked Conner in the first story so I was glad to be able to read his story. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This was an emotional story that also had some humor but also a lot of pain for the main characters. They both had huge personalities with a lot of passion and some unhealthy ways of relating to each other. Oh, there was love there but they just couldn’t seem to make it work. It was also one that after a while I felt like it went on too long. Several times it caused a sense of dragging down for me as I was reading.
I did like both of Rae’s close friends, Hope and Abby. They couldn’t be more different in personality and style. One thing they did have in common was having Rae’s back even without knowing all the facts about her life.
They live in a small, semi-isolated town. But there sure were a lot of people thinking that they had the right to be up in Riley and Rae’s business.
It took a while for both Riley and Rae to realize that they were bringing into their marriage, dysfunction that they learned from their childhood. It was a big deal and so was the secret that Rae has been carrying (which I had guessed).
Thankfully there is a H.E.A. and a look into the story about another brother (Connor).
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
A little humor, a whole lot of hot cowboys and a fiery little raven haired beauty that twists one big cowboy’s heart in knots! Will Rae and Riley ever get their act together and find a happily ever after? I can’t wait to read the stories of the three other Kittredge brothers introduced and maybe Matias too?
Thank you to St. Martin Press and NetGalley for providing me an arc of this book. The review I wrote is my honest opinion.
I really enjoyed this book though it took me a bit longer to get into it than I thought I would. I was really looking forward to a series with the Kittredge men since the last one was the last book of the Everett brothers. This book was basically a second chance romance with a little bit of enemies to lovers thrown in. Which makes sense since Rae and Riley were married for 8 years and neither of them openly acknowledged each other. I really liked the journey that they took though I think it could have gone a bit faster. And this book had a special novella at the end with Connor Kittredge to really round out the holiday feeling. I will definitely recommend this novel to whoever is looking for a cowboy romance especially a holiday one where everything turns out right.
*I received an ARC for an honest review*
I really had a hard time getting into this one. I’m not sure if it was just me or actually the story. The relationship between Riley and Rae just seemed totally pointless at the beginning. They are married and have been for the entire time that she has left him. The stuff they are dealing with seemed kind of stupid to me. Why hadn’t Riley moved on? It seemed like a very toxic relationship.
It took me till over half way through the book to get into the story. The reason for Rae leaving was given. It had become apparent before then, but it did make me ache for her. When they finally started communicating was when I became invested in the story. This was just a tough one for me, but I will give Ms. Crews points for originality.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
This is book is technically book 1 in the Kittredge Ranch series but the Kittredge’s were introduced in the last book in the Cold River Ranch series. In this one we get Riley Kittredge and Rae Trujillo’s story. Riley and Rae married young, too young. And everything fell apart not long after taking their vows. Their chemistry never seemed to end but everything else just fell apart. Now Rae is back, but not for the reason’s that Riley had hoped for. She wants a divorce. Rae knows she and Riley just don’t work, and that she needs to finally move on. She wants to have children and the family she has always dreamed of. And she can’t have that with Riley-or so she thinks. And when he offers to be the father for her baby, they will both have to put the demon’s of the past away for good and actually fix the things wrong in their relationship.
I definitely enjoyed this installment! Riley and Rae have this chemistry that you can’t help but notice right from the start. There is lots of drama and history between these two, and you can’t help but hope they can actually work out the issues that they have. They are both stubborn and hard headed and just don’t want to learn how to compromise. And that is half of what makes a marriage. Honestly, parts of them seemed childish but I still wanted to know more. Which just tells you how good this story really is!
It took me a while to warm up to Rae and Riley, I liked the story but felt it dragged at a few parts and could have been shorter. That being said let me tell you what I did like about the story….
I love second chances, and this one had a unique twist because Rae and Riley were married but separated, one day Rae up and moved out and Riley didn’t understand why. Their relationship never really ended because she would make late night visits to their home and spend a few hours in bed together, well that was until she showed up asking for a divorce.
Rae had a secret that no one knew about, I did figure it out early on because there were some clues but you have to be paying attention or you may miss them. Anyway, this secret is a big one and it’s something that drove her to leaving her husband that she really did love. Riley and Rae still loved one another deeply but Rae didn’t think they could be together.
I mentioned earlier that I felt the book dragged a bit and that could be because I wanted Rae to stop the internal fighting she had going on and just man up and tell Riley what was happening so I was getting frustrated but I’ll leave that to you to decide for yourself, you may enjoy the inner turmoil she had going on.
This book also included a bonus novella, Sweet Nights with a Cowboy, where the youngest Kittredge brother, Connor, finds his HEA with ex-girlfriend Missy Minton.
If you enjoy spicy western romances with the Second Chance at Love trope then this one is for you!
Happy Reading!!!
ARC for honest review with no compensation Received from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press 4.5 stars
Secret Nights with a Cowboy is book 4 in the Cold River Ranch series by Caitlin Crews and the first book in the new series Kittredge Ranch series.
Riley Kittredge and Rae Trujillo were high school sweethearts who married right after she graduated but were way to young to make it work. They may not live together but the chemistry remains. After years apart Rae believes if she lets go she will find what she needs…but fate has a way of showing these two that they do belong together. They just need to open up, spill the secrets and face all their demons…
The Kittredges: A New Cold River Family!
Rae and Riley married right out high school but then an unexpected turn puts them on a path of separation that isn’t all the separate.
I really liked finding out the backstory of Rae and Riley and enjoyed a story based on a married couple who haven’t quite found their HEA. But Rae and Riley were both a little too stubborn and non communicative for me to really love this one.
However, the bonus novella featuring the youngest male Kittredge, Connor, was amazing! I’m a sucker for a second chance love story at Christmas times and this novella was perfect!
I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.
Secret Nights With a Cowboy by Caitlin Crews is part of her Kittridge Ranch series and is definitely a romance, but more complex than many. Rae Trujillo had married Riley Kittridge very young. There had never been anyone else, for either of them. But it was now years into her marriage and they had been separated for many of them. No one knew why, including Riley. Everyone assumed they were divorced. They weren’t. She spent most of the night, most nights with him. It was a poorly kept secret no matter what she thought. Tonight is going differently. She has asked for a divorce, and Riley has figured out that what he has been doing hasn’t been working and it was time to change his approach.
This entire series encompasses stories of unlikely romances. This one was particularly difficult, given the situation. It is a terrible thing to be totally in love and yet unable to function on a daily basis with the object of one’s affections. Rae is so miserable and yet not able to verbalize the problem, not only to Riley but also to anyone. Her heart is breaking and the reader’s heart along with it as she the problem is lowly revealed. Romances always have a happy ending and the beginning of the book reveals the tow people involved. It is the journey and this is a rough one. I love this series and can’t wait to read more. This is pretty much a standalone but I would recommend going back and reading them all. The order is not all that important.
I was invited to read a free ARC of Secret Nights With a Cowboy by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #secretnightswithacowboy
Secret Nights with a Cowboy is a fabulous emotional second chance. There is a lot of growth when it comes to Rae. She is a little bit closed off and is still very in love with her husband. Riley you feel for him and the limbo Rae leaves him in for years. There is such love between them that you feel all the way through the read. I love how Riley never gave up on Rae. He has this way of pulling you in as he tries to restart getting to know Rae. Rae is lost and you just want her to find the strength and open up about everything. I really love Rae and Riley together. The emotions that Rae goes through will hit you in the right places. This is a second chance worth taking.
Riley Kittredge has always known exactly what he wanted. His land, his horses. His woman. He met and married Rae Trujillo far too young, and their young love combusted right after they said their vows. But their passion has never managed to burn itself out. Yet when Rae shows this time, it’s not a night of pleasure she demands, but a divorce. Rae should have moved on a long time ago. She knows she and Riley just don’t work. They might make great lovers, but that doesn’t make a marriage. And now Rae wants a new life, complete with a baby. But when her husband offers to be a father, to give her the family she’s always secretly desired, she and Riley will both have to face demons from their past—and choose love over fear at last.
Whilst this is the start of a new series it is connected to the River Ranch series. A well written book that I’m sure many married people can relate to. I loved both Riley & Rae who’s attraction still sizzled but they were both stubborn so it took them time realise what they really wanted was what they’d had all the time. I did want to shake the pair of them several times. I thoroughly enjoyed their road to a HEA & all the emotions I was taken through
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
WOW!!! I LOVED reading about Rae and Riley in Secret Nights with a Cowboy by Caitlin Crew, book four in her Cold River Ranch series. I could not put down this emotionally charged love story of love, misunderstanding, and secrets. Ms. Crews has woven a story of two unhappy people, unwilling, or unable, to change the status quo because of the love they share until they learn to open their hearts to each other; and when they decide to shake things up, a new, more mature love blossoms between them.
Riley Kittredge has always known exactly what he wanted. His land, his horses and his woman, Rae Trujillo. Rae and Riley married to young, right out of high school, far too young. Having only their parents as role models for a successful marriage, fighting and arguing seemed to be the norm these two expected for their marriage. Fight, make-up, fight, make-up, until Rae moves out of her home with Riley and returns to live with her parents. They are still passionate about each other, with Rae usually visiting Riley during the middle of the night. Until one night, Rae’s visit is not for a night of pleasure but to ask for a divorce. In order to get the new life she wants, including a baby, Rae must move on and let go of her past. Riley tried to be supportive and be Rae’s friend as she tried to date, but it’s not until she breaks down, sharing her demons of the past with Riley will she be able to come to terms with her destiny. A destiny where her husband, Riley, offers to be a father, giving her the family she always secretly desired, and finding that love can grow in happiness.
Ms. Crew wrote a wonderfully emotional story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with sizzling chemistry, strong friends, and charming characters that allow Rae and Riley to heal their wounds as they rediscover the love they once had. I highly recommend Secret Nights with a Cowboy to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Agonizing. Rae and Riley fell in love as kids then got married and seemed to have it all until one day, everything changed. The problem, Riley doesn’t understand why Rae left. Rae is carrying a secret that tears her apart. As she tries to move on without Riley, she finds she can’t. She is drawn back to him again and again. When she does announce that she wants a divorce, well, Riley agrees but then tries a new plan. He doesn’t want to lose Rae so maybe being her friend is what she needs. This couple had me on an emotional rollercoaster. They are destined to be together but they married young and both come from fiercely loyal families that are a bit broken emotionally. How do they find a way through this mess? Is there any chance that they love they share can survive? I had my moments where I wanted to yell at both of them but I enjoyed how this journey unfolded. It wasn’t an easy road, there are issues that they both have to face before they can truly embrace the love they have and a future together. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.