Pregnant with their second child, Fallon Addington is mourning the loss of her husband, Kevin, while trying to maintain the ranch he loved. When Kevin’s best friend, Beckett Ivan, shows up on her doorstep, insisting on giving her a hand, Fallon is determined to avoid him at all costs—that is until she sees past what’s on the surface and realizes that Beckett needs her more than he’s let on. They say time heals all wounds but when Beckett’s time stateside is up, will Fallon be in for another broken heart? Readers who enjoy Yellowstone and Heartland will fall in love with Ranger by Aubree Valentine, a small-town, second-chance romance.

Summary

A war-torn soldier and heartbroken widow.

Beckett Ivan has seen things that most people cannot even begin to imagine.

He’s lost friends that were more like family, and he’s witnessed unspeakable things happen to innocent people.

With a broken spirit, he’s headed back to Indiana, where his best friend’s widow is alone.

He promised Kevin that if he made it back home, he’d see to it that she was taken care of, and that’s what he intends to do.

What he hadn’t planned on was falling in love…

Fallon Addington was mourning the greatest loss of her lifetime. While trying to help maintain the ranch her late husband loved so much.

Pregnant with their second child, she’s barely got the energy to keep it together most days—that is until Kevin's best friend, Beckett, shows up on her doorstep, insisting on giving her a hand.

A daily reminder of all Kevin was, Fallon is determined to avoid the soldier who’s taken up residence in the barn loft.

All too soon though, she begins to see past what’s on the surface and realizes that Beckett needs her more than he’s let on.

With a little help from her favorite horse, Ranger, the two are forced to work through their grief together.

They say time heals all wounds but what happens when Beckett’s time stateside is up? Is Fallon in for another heartache or does fate have different plans for the man who’s taught her how to love again?

Readers who like Yellowstone and Heartland will enjoy this second chance at love story featuring a headstrong widow and the soldier who captures her heart in an unexpected way. Their story is one filled with it's fair share of heartbreak and triumphant beauty.

Excerpt

Beckett’s tires squealed as he pulled up in front of the hospital entrance. His best friend’s wife was in labor.

And Kevin wasn’t here to see it.

That all too familiar grief hit him again.

Fuck.

It didn’t help that he’d been stumbling around awkwardly ever since their encounter that knocked him so far off kilter that he couldn’t remember which way was up.

He jumped out of his truck and tossed the keys to the hospital Valet.

“Sir!” the valet called after him.

“My..she’s…in labor!” Beckett yelled back, not slowing down.

“You’ll need this,” the Valet caught up to him and handed him a key tag that he’d need to claim his truck later.

“Thanks,” he grumbled back.

The older lady at the security desk took longer than he would have liked to take his license and give him a pass that would allow him onto the Labor and Delivery floor.

He skipped the elevators and took the stairs instead, ignoring the pain in his knee with every step he climbed.

Following the instructions from the lady in the lobby, he pressed the badge to the scanner near the door. As soon as they opened enough for him to slip through he did.

Kevin’s family greeted him with warm smiles and excited hugs.

“Where’s Garrison?” he asked, looking around the room.

“Still in school. Aiden’s going to pick him up and keep an eye on him until Fallon’s ready for visitors,” William, Kevin’s father, answered.

Beckett nodded, trying to catch his breath.

“Have a seat, son,” Neville, Kevin’s grandfather, said as he patted him on the back. “We’re going to be here a while.”

He sat and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees to catch his breath. “Did anyone call Fallon’s parents?”

Harriett shook her head. “She asked us not to.”

Beckett snorted. He didn’t blame her. Fallon’s mother was a handful on a good day. And a bitch if she was having a bad day. The woman had been a complete nightmare when she was in town for Kevin’s funeral. So much so that Fallon kicked her out after she decided to pick a fight about Garrison, calling the boy a spoiled brat.

He’d never hit a woman, or his elders. But he might make an exception for that one.

“Lindsey said you’ve been helping out Fallon while she’s on bedrest. Taking care of Garrison, making sure the kid gets to school and everything,” William said, nonchalantly.

“Yeah, I…I um…” Did they know about what happened two weeks ago, too? “I had some things I needed to take care of today. Lindsey was on the way over with lunch so Fallon said she would be fine when I left the house to go run errands. I wouldn’t have left her otherwise,” he explained, suddenly feeling the need to defend himself.

He probably could have tapped out all together after what happened but who else could be there for her?

All of the Addingtons had full-time jobs and a ranch to tend to.

Fallon’s parents were out of the question.

That left Beckett to suck it the fuck up and keep his promises…and stop thinking about the way Fallon came undone.

“Hey. You don’t need to defend yourself. Lindsey was with her. I was merely going to thank you for taking care of her,” William told Beckett. “It’s not easy for her to ask for help. Kevin used to tell us that all the time. We’re glad you’ve stuck around and she’s got someone in her corner.”

He sighed in relief. “Thanks, William. I appreciate that. I owe Kevin, and Fallon, a lot.”

“Pretty sure you wiped the slate on any debts you owed them a long time ago,” Neville chuckled.

Garrett stayed quiet but eyed him with a knowing glance.

“Listen, Beckett,” Neville cleared his throat. “There’s something that Fallon mentioned…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Lindsey walked into the waiting room.

Beckett was the first one to notice her and immediately jumped out of his seat. “How is she?”

Lindsay grinned. “Almost ready to push, but she’s asking for you.”

“Me?” Beckett looked around to gauge everyone’s reaction. No one protested or scowled.

William stood and clapped him on the back, “If she’s asking for you, then you better get going.”

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About Aubree Valentine

Aubree Valentine is a masterful storyteller who weaves tales of passion, heartbreak, and happily-ever-afters that leave readers swooning and coming back for more. A hopeless romantic at heart, Aubree channels her boundless imagination and appreciation for the complexities of romance into every book she writes. Her characters are as real as they are irresistible—flawed, relatable, and unforgettable—taking readers on journeys filled with sizzling chemistry, emotional twists, and moments that tug at the heartstrings. Whether it’s a steamy small-town romance or a friends-to-lovers tale, Aubree’s stories always promise: love, laughter and happily ever after. When she’s not penning her next novel, Aubree can be found binge-reading romance novels, borrowing her husband’s power tools for some over the top project, or spending quality time with her family and their fur babies. Connect with Aubree Valentine on social media, through her website, or sign up for her newsletter to stay up-to-date on new releases, exclusive content, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into her writing

Ten years away has taught Lindsey Addington to go after what she wants and her sights are set on Garrett Everleigh. Lindsey will do whatever it takes to break down Garrett’s walls and convince him to take a chance on love. Fans of Yellowstone and Heartland will fall in love with this best friend's little sister/forbidden romance that sets the tone for this new, exciting, and highly anticipated series from Aubree Valentine.

Blurb

Welcome to Addington Ranch… where the cowboys steal hearts and the women tame wild stallions.

Garrett Everleigh has been waiting (and half heartedly dreading) the day that Lindsey Addington, an heir to the Addington Ranch, returned home from chasing her horse show dreams.

Lindsey is everything the rugged, determined ranch hand has ever wanted—and everything he can't have. Especially if he wants to keep his job and the ‘family’ that chose him. The only family Garrett has.

Ten years away has taught equestrian royalty, Lindsey Addington, exactly what - and who - she wants. Far more stubborn than Garrett ever gave her credit for, Lindsey won't let his reservations - or his secrets - keep them from having the relationship they deserve.

Putting a decade of training with thousand pound animals to good use, Lindsey turns her insight and training on Garrett and breaks down every ounce of his resolve until he breaks.

Fans of Yellowstone and Heartland will fall in love with this best friend's little sister/forbidden romance that sets the tone for this new, exciting, and highly anticipated series from Aubree Valentine.

Excerpt

“What are you doing out here, Linds? You’ve got a party going on, you know?”

“I know. I came out here to see you,” she gently elbowed him.

“You should get back to your party.”

“Maybe later,” she turned up the dial on what little of sex appeal she thought she had and moved so that she was kneeling on the ground beneath his open thighs. “Right now, I came out here because I wanted to tell you something.”

“Don’t,” Garrett grunted and stood, trying to put space between them.

Lindsey stood just as quickly and grabbed ahold of his biceps. “Garrett, will you atleast look at me, please?”

Garrett squeezed his eyes closed. “I can’t, Linds. I can’t look at you because if I do, all of my resolve will break.”

That confession was a tiny reassurance that at least Garrett had some kind of feelings for her too. It was all the encouragement she needed to keep trying.

“Then let it,” she begged. She wanted to see his resolve break. She wanted him to give into whatever it was that he was fighting and give in to her.

Garrett opened his eyes and put his hands on Lindsey’s shoulders. This time she could see the hunger lingering in his eyes. “Is that really what you want, Linds? Do you really want me to give into temptation?”

That was exactly what she wanted. What she’d been longing for. She was eighteen now after all. Nothing was stopping them from letting the attraction take over. “Of course,” she whispered in return.

“Tell me exactly what you want, Linds,” Garrett brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

“Kiss me.”

“I shouldn’t,” he argued.

Lindsey could think of a million reasons why he should.

“But you will,” she batted her eyes and bit her lip, “won’t you?”

“Damnit,” he cursed under his breath.

Then his lips were on hers.

She half expected Garrett to be gentle, or to immediately back away again. But he didn’t. Once his lips touched hers, he devoured her like he was a man starved for far too long. And with every ounce of experience that came with kissing a man and not the desperate nervousness of Lindsey’s first kiss and former high school boyfriend.

Everything about Garrett’s kisses were better than she could have ever imagined. They were all-consuming. Promising. And for a split second, she let herself believe that they really could have it all. That the two of them could be so much more someday soon.

“Shit, Lindsey,” Garrett broke their kiss like she was a flame and she’d just burnt him. “I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry,” he said as he started pacing around.

She should have walked away then. Took the victory of winning a kiss and walked away. Forgotten about her feelings and the happily ever after she thought included Garrett. Except she couldn't.

“Garrett,” she moved toward him, countering every step he took backwards until he bumped into a tree. With his body pinned against the hard bark, she wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder, soaking in as much of Garrett and the moment as she could.

“Linds, I…we shouldn’t. You’re getting ready to leave for college. You don’t need a man like me holding you back.”

“Garrett,” she looked up into his eyes. “I really need you to kiss me again. Let me have this. Let me have you. All of you. Even if it’s just for tonight.”

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