Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is the last book in the Bourbon Canyon series but the first one I’ve read. The book can be read as a stand alone, although there were definitely a lot of family members so I got a bit lost when they all got together. But, that is a minor thing and didn’t detract from the story. It was enough to know they were all family, and their family had each other’s backs.

I really enjoyed this sweet contemporary romance set in a small town in Montana. Teller is part of a prominent family that own and run a bourbon distillery and cattle ranch. They are wealthy but very nice and down to earth. I particularly liked Teller’s mom. She was so sweet and understanding with Madison, but you could tell she was steely in her protection of her family. Teller was burned by love, in a very public and heartbreaking way, and after a brief playboy run where he ran through women like water, he’s stopped “dating” women and figures he’s just not meant to find the one. He’s the town’s most eligible bachelor, though, so there is no shortage of women throwing themselves at him.

Madison is back in the town that gave her nothing but bad experiences. Her family is looked down on by everyone, her parents were awful people and fought with everyone, her brother had his own problems and recently died, leaving her his beat up bar and the family homestead, and she has the unfortunate nickname of “Mad Maddy” from her younger days when she lashed out at everyone and everything. She’s now divorced, broke, and doing everything she can to care for her ungrateful mother who is in a nursing home and her nephew, which her brother’s ex refuses to let her see. She has to repair the bar and get it open so she can support her mother and herself. But, she has no idea how to make the repairs and she can’t trust any contractors to treat her fairly, if they’d even return her calls at all. So, she makes a desperate move and bids on, and wins, Teller in a charity auction. She plans to make him her project manager, hoping that as the unofficial town royalty, he’ll get everyone to treat her fairly in the repairs. She just didn’t bank on him looking so good and being so nice…

The two start out as enemies, but Teller quickly realizes he’s got Mad Maddy all wrong and is astonished to discover how badly everyone treats her and her family. I mean, really? In that small of a town? Clueless much, Teller? Anyway, he quickly becomes her champion and is soon daydreaming about kissing her, and more. She also starts daydreaming about kissing him, and before you know it, they are hooking up. I liked seeing how each one slowly lets their guard down around the other and they start seeing the “real” person behind the mask they wear in public. I also liked that they talked with each other rather than letting miscommunication mess things up. I really dislike that trope and it often ruins what would otherwise be a great story. Teller was super supportive of Maddy and although he sometimes tried to steer her into what he thought was best for her, he eventually pulled back and let her work things out for herself. That didn’t mean he’d let anyone treat her badly or take advantage of her, however.

Teller’s family is an entire character in this book and I loved his relationship with them. I really liked how they folded Maddy into their group and accepted her without question, especially when they gathered with food and drinks to give her girl power strength during an especially difficult time.

This is a quick and easy read that I read in one sitting. The book has a lot of heart, a bit of spice, and will give you all the feels. There are even some fun villains to jeer. I’m very curious about the other books in the series and will probably go back to see how the rest of Teller’s family found their true loves.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from The Author Agency. All opinions are my own.