Thank you to the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
✩🌻🤠Review:
Hunter’s first novel in her Runaway Ranch series made my heart swell!
“Tame the Heart” follows Ruby Bloom, who, by chance, makes a pit stop at Resurrection, Montana on her cross-country rode trip. Armed with a bucket list and a secret, her carefully laid plans to keep her heart guarded fall apart when she meets grumpy rancher Charlie Montgomery after he saves her in a bar fight. To repay the favor, Ruby offers to work for him for three months and help save Runaway Ranch. Only, his rare smiles and tender heart won’t let her run back to the open road when her time runs out.
Ruby is one of my favorite protagonists created by Hunter! I really appreciate Hunter providing great chronic illness representation through the creation of Ruby’s character and for communicating that just because Ruby has a heart condition, that does not mean that she needs to put her life on hold. Instead, she is able to fulfill all her greatest hopes and dreams with Charlie at her side as a partner rather than one of the many people in her life trying to hold her back.
Alternating between Ruby and Charlie’s perspectives was a dream come true! Their night and day personalities created a rift between them at first, which made reading the moment they figured out they were meant for each other all the more squeal inducing! I could not get enough of Charlie’s protective side and Ruby’s fun-loving characterization. Additionally, their complex pasts led to me becoming invested in reading from both of their perspectives. I adored watching them uplift each other and work through their trauma without overstepping or becoming overbearing.
I fell in love with Hunter’s fictional small town of Resurrection and its residents. Her descriptions are so atmospheric and bring locations like Main Street, The Corner Store, Nowhere (a popular bar), and Runaway Ranch itself to life. Through Charlie and Ruby, we are introduced to the locals and ranch staff, including the other Montgomery brothers. I cannot wait to get to know them better and watch them find love in the novels to come!
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