Review: Here With Me by Brooke Montgomery #NewRelease

From small-town romance author, Brooke Montgomery, comes a family saga series based in the fictional town of Sugarland Creek set in the Mountains of East Tennessee. Readers who love steamy romances will enjoy Here With Me: a forbidden age-gap romance.

          

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.

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I feel as if I've been waiting for this book for ages. When Brooke Montgomery shared the synopsis, I was thrilled. When I read the prequel (Come With Me), it only amped up my excitement. So finally having Here With Me in my hands had me positively giddy. And it did not disappoint. 

Noah is a horse trainer at her family's ranch and retreat. She meets Fisher at the rodeo and the attraction is instant. Figuring out that he's her ex's father the morning after has her hightailing it out of there, certain she'll never she him again - until he shows up at the ranch where he's been hired as the new farrier. What follows is a delicious push and pull between Noah and Fisher as they try to keep their distance, but are drawn to one another again and again. 

Here With Me was one of those books that I flew through because I couldn't bare to put it down. I was so invested in Noah and Fisher, in the side characters, and the minor suspense element. Montgomery has created a small town in Tennessee that makes me want to drop everything and go visit. From the small town setting, the Hollis family ranch, Noah's rowdy brothers, her loving parents... this first book in what is sure to be an addictive family saga was right up my alley. 

Fisher's back story was utterly heartbreaking and he carried a mantle of guilt and grief. I admired his determination to reconnect with his son and the patience he had when Jase did not always welcome his return. The acceptance he found with Noah led to such healing and I loved his journey. 

The romance was simply... *chef's kiss* The chemistry, the banter, the spice - it was all done so well. Noah was sassy and a total adrenaline junkie. Fisher was older, more settled, with a rodeo career already behind him. Despite all the obstacles they faced, they had a connection that was undeniable.

Fair warning: the prologue is a bit intense and Montgomery does provide a message stating that sensitive readers can easily skip it as the content is covered briefly in other parts of the book, but in less detail.

Unless it's not already obvious, I loved this first full-length novel in the Sugarland Creek series. The epilogue provided a perfect set-up for next book, and the bonus epilogue melted my heart. All that's left to say is: I want more!

Rating: 4.5⭐

Tropes: age gap, small town, family saga, ex's father

Content warning (highlight to view): suicide attempt, loss of a child, grief, depression

  

About Brooke Montgomery

Brooke has been writing romance since 2013 under the USA Today Bestselling author pen names: Brooke Cumberland and Kennedy Fox, and now, Brooke Montgomery. She loves writing small-town romance with big families and happily ever afters! She lives in the frozen tundra of Packer Nation with her husband, wild teenager, and four dogs. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, watching ASMR and reading vlogs on YouTube, or binge-watching a TV show she's most likely behind on. Brooke's addicted to iced coffee, leggings, and naps. She found her passion for telling stories during winter break one year in grad school—and she hasn’t stopped since.

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