Need You Close
Friends don’t let friends fall for each other.
Two of my closest friends have recently paired off with partners of their own, and I need a new friend in the worst way. I’m busy carrying on my father’s large-animal veterinary practice and our family legacy, but the loneliness is getting to me.
Carson Jennings might be my friend’s younger brother, but we hit it off immediately upon his return to Lovelorn, Colorado. Our mutual army background gives me a great deal of empathy for Carson’s recent injuries in the line of duty.
As our friendship grows through visits to a veterans’ support group to truck shopping to dealing with a sick rescue horse, our time together fills long-ignored holes in my life. The problem? My love life is one of those empty spaces.
My attraction to Carson is undeniable, especially once I discover that Carson shares my interest. One kiss tumbles into a passion neither of us has known before. I’m scared and worried because I don’t want to ruin this wonderful thing we’re building.
However, Carson is far braver than me. He won’t wait forever for me to leap from friends to the sort of love that lasts a lifetime. Can I heal my wounded heart before it’s too late?
Need You Close is book three in beloved author Annabeth Albert’s small-town Colorado cowboy romance series with Yellowstone meets Schitt’s Creek vibes. This return to the ranch features a large animal veterinarian and a wounded army sergeant turned ranch hand. A double dose of hurt/comfort, slow burn to sizzling chemistry, friends to forever, sensual exploration, disability rep, mature main characters, found family, and deep emotional growth in a low-angst package with a standalone HEA guaranteed.
Carson Jennings is coming home after a military career ending with an injury and a complete change in his life. He is coming to work on the ranch with his brother and new brother-in-law, and to rebuild his life. He hates his new challenges and does not like to get special treatment or be underestimated or coddled.
Jude is a local large animal vet who is also a military veteran so he does have some understanding of Carson's plight. He is patient, kind, and friendly, but has been lonely himself.
Jude tries to get Carson in touch with support groups and honestly enjoys spending time with him.
Carson likes assisting Jude with his work, and how he treats him with respect and does not focus on his challenges.
A new friendship. Companionship. A skittish attraction. They are initially not sure how the other feels and are afraid to mess up their new friendship with misconceptions.
I really liked these two together. They balance each other well, and both were so in need of finding a person who would accept them for who they were. Jude was so patient, kind, and didn’t treat Carson like he had a disability. He just saw the man whom he likes spending time with. And Carson opens up more and more as he’s able to feel safe with Jude in order to explore more of life and intimacy. But bless their hearts, they both had some baggage, fears, insecurities, and survivors guilt. They worry about messing up their friendship or getting hurt or of not being enough. So there’s also a real hurt-comfort aspect as they build this friendship and feel their way towards a relationship. I loved seeing them both grow individually, begin to heal, improve their feelings of self-worth, and find hope and relief their loneliness. It brings back the other couples from the first two books in the ranch setting.
It's a slow burn, hurt-comfort, new friends-to-lovers, friend's-younger-brother, found family, ranch/small town romance. It is low angst, but has enough depth. Both have opportunities for emotional growth. It brings back the other couples from the first two books and the ranch setting. I also really liked Carson's growth as a ranch hand and his loe for the horses.
Want You Back
When Maverick Lovelorn left town, it almost broke me. I’m determined to not let his return do the same.
Then
In high school, Maverick and I were best friends. Inseparable. We shared everything from video games to camping adventures to a first kiss that shattered everything I knew about myself. Our first love was sweet and true and not nearly enough to keep Maverick on the ranch he hated.
Now
Twenty years later, Maverick’s back in town to sell the ranch he’s inherited. As the sheriff, I know losing the ranch will devastate the county. The area needs Maverick to stay. As a single dad with far more than my own heart on the line, I need him gone. Rekindling our friendship would be a Grand Canyon-sized mistake. But then we kiss, and every old feeling comes rushing back.
Now What?
My heart wants Maverick, but my brain knows he’ll leave again. How can I ask him to stay somewhere with so many painful memories? He might be healing day by day, but I struggle to trust in second chances. Is there a way for us to ride off into the sunset together?
Want You Back is book one in a new small-town Colorado cowboy romance series from beloved author Annabeth Albert with Yellowstone meets Schitt’s Creek vibes. It features the return of a ranch owner’s son and the sheriff who never forgot him. Mature main characters, high school friends with feelings to adult lovers, steamy reunion romance, hurt/comfort, found family, and big feels with a standalone HEA guaranteed!
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Keep You Safe
Second Chance Ranch #2
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Second Chance Ranch #2
What happens at the swimming hole, stays at the swimming hole…
When Adler arrives at Second Chance Ranch, I know he’s trouble. Adler gets under my skin like no one else and threatens my quiet, orderly, ranch foreman life.
In fact, my body’s reaction to his presence is something of a surprise. When I have the chance to explore the chemistry between us while secretly skinny dipping, I go for it because I know all too well that city slickers never stay long.
Except Adler comes back…
And I’m tasked with training him to be a ranch hand. No matter how tempting Adler’s easy smiles are, I can’t risk a repeat encounter for several reasons:
I’m his boss.
I hate gossip, especially when I’m the subject.
And doing my job right will always be my top priority.
Adler challenges all of that with chaos, rescue dogs, and an attraction that refuses to quit. As the weeks pass, our connection deepens into a secret fling. My rodeo days taught me how to handle a rough ride, but Adler has me falling fast.
Landing in the dirt is going to hurt, but I can’t bring myself to end things. Alder’s everything I never knew I wanted, but he won’t be content with staying in the shadows forever. Can I be the cowboy he needs and deserves before he’s gone for good?
Keep You Safe is book two in beloved author Annabeth Albert’s small-town Colorado cowboy romance series with Yellowstone meets Schitt’s Creek vibes. This return to the ranch features a stoic foreman and a younger city slicker turned ranch hand. Grumpy/sunshine, fish out of water, age gap with mature main characters, reluctant coworkers, hurt/comfort, found family, and big feels with a standalone HEA guaranteed!
Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer. Mr. Right Now joins her many other critically acclaimed and fan-favorite LGBTQ romance series and stand-alone titles. To find out what she’s working on next and other fun extras, check out her website: www.annabethalbert.com or connect with Annabeth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify! Also, be sure to sign up for her newsletter for free ficlets, bonus reads, and contests. The fan group, Annabeth’s Angels, on Facebook is also a great place for bonus content and exclusive contests.
Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and particularly loves uncovering unique main characters.
In her personal life, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two active children.
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