Author: Brooke Montgomery
Genre: Cowboy Romance
Format: Audible, Kindle
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Series: Yes, Sugarland Creek Book 1
Pages: 392

Synopsis {via Goodreads}

A forbidden age gap stand-alone from small-town romance author Brooke Montgomery about a daring horse trainer and her off-limits ex-boyfriend’s dad…

When we met at the rodeo, I only knew his first name.

Sparks ignited between us, and we spent an unforgettable night together.

It's not until the morning after when I recognize his last name do I realize who he is.

So I do what any rational woman would and make the walk of shame while he sleeps. It's not like I'll ever see him again or have to explain why I left.

But I'm proven wrong when he shows up at my family's ranch as the new farrier.

We can't be more than friends—for many reasons. 

He's twice my age, workplace relationships are off-limits, and he moved back to rebuild a relationship with his son—the one I used to date. 

Getting involved would ruin everything.

As we struggle between right and wrong, our connection deepens even though his traumatic past makes him doubt he deserves a second chance.

But it doesn't matter when everything's against us, including a rival who's out to get me and my ex who's determined to win me back.

After a riding trick goes wrong on his watch, he insists on taking care of me. Even though the odds are stacked against us, we keep the truth to ourselves.

But secrets don't stay hidden for long in a Southern small town.

Here With Me is book 1 in the Sugarland Creek series. Contains 20+ year age gap, ex-boyfriend's dad, workplace romance, opposites attract, and secret relationship vibes. Each book in this Southern, small town series is a stand-alone and ends in a happily ever after. Please read the content warning before the prologue.

Review:

💚 Age gap
🖤 Ex-boyfriend's dad
💚 Workplace romance
🖤 Cowboy
💚 Small town

Here with Me is a cowboy romance with all the energy. This book has a one night stand, a secret relationship, a hot ex-boyfriend's dad, all the cowboy (and cowgirl) vibes you could possibly want, and it's got a sweet age gap romance to boot. Montgomery pulls out all the stops with this one and it is hot! This book starts spicy and stays that way to the end. 

Fisher and Noah are both fun characters in completely different ways. Noah is completely forward, while Fisher is more reserved. She comes on to him first and there's a one night stand that she initiates. While Fisher is an older man with a troubled past, Noah is young and successful with a great big loving family. They're completely different and they completely fall for each other and it is delicious! 

The plot of this book is a perfectly paced age-gap, ex-boyfriend's dad plot with a suspense element. There's a bad guy who does bad things (I won't tell!). It's completely clear why the bad guy is doing the things he's doing and you feel for Noah and the horses through the ordeal with the baddie. I suppose there's also a place where you feel for Fisher, too, but since this story has an HEA that angle doesn't have as much of a bite. 

Overall, the story is spicy and delicious and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys age gap and cowboy romances!

Oh, and if you happen to listen to this book on Audible, the female narrator, Maxine Mitchell is *chef's kiss* while the male narrator, Tor Thom, is *cringe.* While I'm sure Tor Thom is usually fine, his southern accent is absolutely awful. No reflection on the book or the author, but yeah, do yourself and favor and skip the Audible and read this one. 

Rating: 

❤❤❤❤ - Delightful