Romancing the Rancher

The Millers of Morgan Valley #6

by Kate Pearce

New York Times bestselling author Kate Pearce's sweet and sexy Millers of Morgan Valley series, the close-knit folks of Morgantown, California, have long memories--and big hearts to go with them. In this sixth installment delves into the behind the scenes of the PBR Rodeo as the youngest Morgan brother volunteers on the circuit and catches the eye of a female bull rider.

Welcome to California's ranch country, where the cowboys of New York Times bestselling author Kate Pearce's sexy and heartwarming series live, learn, and find love...

Ranching will always run in Evan Miller's blood, but as the fifth son, he also wants to prove to his skeptical family that he can forge his own path.

Drawn to the world of rodeo, Evan encounters Josie Martinez, half-sister of world champion bull rider Rio Martinez. He hopes Josie might show him the ropes--among other things--but Josie has priorities of her own...

Josie's not sure what she's doing at her brother's ranch when she should be at her office in San Francisco, fulfilling her dream of becoming young entrepreneur of the year. Ever since violence unexpectedly entered her life and her home, she's struggled to get her life back on track.

The ranch offers a sanctuary--with one gorgeous exception: Evan. But is he just a distraction, or can their growing bond--and undeniable attraction--persuade Josie that her heart is big enough for work and love...

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Westerns, Contemporary Romance

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 28, 2021

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kate Pearce was born in England in the middle of a large family of girls and quickly found that her imagination was far more interesting than real life. After acquiring a degree in history and barely escaping from the British Civil Service alive, she moved to California and then to Hawaii with her kids and her husband and set about reinventing herself as a romance writer.

She is known for both her unconventional heroes and her joy at subverting romance clichés. In her spare time she self publishes science fiction erotic romance, historical romance, and whatever else she can imagine. You can find Kate on katepearce.com.

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ranching will always run in Evan Miller’s blood, but as the fifth son, he also wants to prove to his sceptical family that he can forge his own path. Evan encounters Josie Martinez, half-sister of world champion bull rider Rio Martinez.. Josie’s at her brother’s ranch recovering from an unexpected attack at her home & she’s struggling to get her life back on track. The ranch offers a sanctuary—with one gorgeous exception: Evan. But is he just a distraction, or can their growing bond—and undeniable attraction—persuade Josie that her heart is big enough for work and love.
This is the sixth & final book in the series. I’ve loved the Miller siblings & will be sad to leave them. I loved Evan the youngest son & somewhat lacking in self esteem & far more sensitive & caring than the image I’d built of him, I also loved Josie who was recovering from the trauma of a home invasion & still vulnerable. The pair were immediately attracted to each other & agreed to be friends & to help each other complete their wish lists. I loved their road to a HEA, which was strewn with obstacles, assumptions & some misunderstandings. A very well written, entertaining read which I found very hard to put down. I loved how this story meshed with earlier stories & there were a couple of weddings
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Cathy Geha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romancing the Rancher by Kate Pearce
The Millers of Morgan Valley #6

The conclusion of this series with the youngest Miller son finding his HEA was not my favorite but did tie the family series up without any strings dangling.

What I liked:
* Evan: I had mixed feelings about him. He was a good guy but varied from empathetic and wise to immature and clueless. That said, he was on a mission to find himself and did a pretty good job of it as the story progressed.
* Josie: I liked her but again, had mixed feelings about her. She wasn’t as open as I might have liked her to be but she did care about family and was willing to get the help s he needed to overcome the trauma she experienced.
* The location: Love going back to Morgan Valley and wonder if there is another spinoff coming that might include this location in the future.
* Getting to see the rest of the Millers and how they are doing
* The to-do lists the two created
* The friendship that developed between Josie and Evan
* That Danny didn’t give up on Evan
* The tattoo scene – wondering if that could be a spinoff to a new series set in another location
* The tight family bonds
* That there was a HEA without strings left dangling and the series completed

What I didn’t like:
* the bad guy…not sure he was needed but…it added a fillip of flavour to the story
* That I didn’t really feel the zing between Josie and Evan that I had hoped for
* The total acceptance of Jeff, the Miller patriarch, and his past behaviour…sure…he worked on himself and forgiveness is golden but…
* Having the series end

Did I enjoy this book? Yes, but not as much as the previous ones
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evan is the youngest of the Miller brothers. Of all the siblings, he is the only one who has yet to find his passion or his "person". He has no filter, being honest and open, but feels that he is the "screw up" of the family. Rio's sister comes to Morgan Valley, after having been attacked in her apartment in San Fransisco by a home invader. They quickly become friends helping each other with a bucket list, and then friends with benefits. But will his feeling that he is not good enough for this beautiful and successful lady, ruin a relationship with the woman who could be his one and only? I love the Morgan Valley stories, because of the characters, the adventure, the scenery and the growth that all the characters go through. Now that the Millers have all found their "person", who is up next?

I read an ARC from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

[Shae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first read from this series, and I don't think that did me any favors this time around. I think that if I had the context of other people in the series, it may have helped this one along a bit.
Sadly for me, this one fell a little flat. It felt like it was missing that little zing that a good western romance can give you. This just felt really two dimensional, and didn't quite wow me. It was in the middle. It didn't do anything wrong necessarily, it just didn't do what I hoped it would. I would try this author again, but this book didn't do it for me.

[wonderfullyweird88 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I normally love Kate Pearce books but I had a hard time with this one. I think the fact that I hadn't read any of the others in the series impacted my enjoyment of it.

I couldn't connect to the characters and found it hard to stay interested. I didn't feel the chemistry I would expect to find in one of Ms Pearce's books.

This book wasn't for me but for readers who have read the series I'm sure it is a better fit.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Pearce travels back to Morgantown, CA in Romancing the Rancher, this time it's Evan's turn. I found this story to be a bit bittersweet since it's the last one in The Millers of Morgan Valley series. Family drama and a touch of suspense round out this romance and made for a quick enjoyable read. Hopefully this isn't the last we've seen of these characters.

ARC received via the author and NetGalley.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romancing the Rancher by Kate Pearce is the sixth book in her Millers of Morgan Valley series. Since this is the last brother in the family I am assuming this is the end of this series. That makes me a little sad because I have enjoyed this series. Evan Miller and Josie Martinez make a lovely couple. Their road to a happily ever after was fun for me to read about. I like this author's writing style and look forward to more stories by her.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Lisa H · Rating 4 out of 5]

While at a crossroads in their lives, they decide to help each other out...

Evan, the second youngest Miller, is at a crossroads. He's happy being a ranch hand, but is considered kind of the screw up of the Miller family. So, he's trying something new out at Rio's ranch. Josie, Rio's half sister is on the ranch to reassess her life. So, she's riding bulls instead of being the VP of finance at Howarth's.

They make their respective lists and decide to help each other.
Recommend.
4.5

[Donna Repsher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having previously read 3 of the novels in this series, I wanted to read the sixth and final one, and although it wasn't a terrible read, it certainly wasn't my favorite book in the series either. It gets 2 stars from this reader.

First, Evan is the youngest son in the Miller family and the only one who's still playing the field, although he really isn't seeing anyone at all. My problem with Evan is that while he's likeable enough, we never find out his age, so when he admits to still being a virgin, in this day and age you just have to wonder how a guy who at least has to be in his twenties, is charming, honest and attractive has accomplished that feat. He's also rather ambivalent about what he wants to do with his life, other than staying put and working on his father's ranch, especially when he knows that ownership of the ranch it will eventually pass to his eldest brother, Adam.

Then, there's Josie, VP and CFO of a billion-dollar company, based in San Francisco. After a traumatic experience, she's taking time off out of the city and spending it in Morgan Valley with family, and when we first meet her she riding a bull--not usually something women do, but she's great at it. She isn't sure if she'll ever feel safe in a city again, or whether or not she wants to go back to her high-pressure job. More ambivalence.

The attraction between Josie and Evan is instantaneous, but they start out as friends and enjoy spending time with each other, and, as their relationship develops, they come to an understanding that Josie will eventually move back to San Francisco, and no matter what or how she and Evan move their relationship forward, she and Evan will remain friends. Yeah, right.

Other than a few opportunities for these two characters to have mostly off-screen or rather tame sex, neither is good at communicating, with each other or with anyone else, for that matter, and there are plenty of "others" to deal with. If this is the first book you've read in the series, I have no clue how you'll figure out who is who in this novel, because every character in the series appears in this one, and although I'd read books #2, 3 and 5, I spent a good deal of time doing just that.

The one character who was central in the installments I read was Evan's father, Jeff, who was totally unlikeable throughout the series, gruff, impossible to please, and who certainly didn't qualify for a father of the year award. He redeems himself somewhat in this novel, even his ex-wife, who's been absent for decades makes peace with him, but he still rubbed this reader the wrong way at every turn.

Finally, the chemistry between Evan and Josie--it just wasn't there. They made better friends than they did lovers, and neither seemed capable of expressing their true feelings, having one misunderstanding after another, with hurt feelings on both sides. I expected a lot more romance from a romance novel, especially when its title is Romancing the Rancher, but it just wasn't there.

While I've enjoyed a number of books by Kate Pearce, this wasn't one of them, and if you feel as if you must read the last novel in the series, go for it, but I cannot recommend it.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, the irresponsible child. The screw-up that doesn’t take anything serious enough. The one everyone expects nothing from that, it turns out, takes everything much more to heart that he lets on. That’s Evan Miller.

Josie is in the small town of Morgan Valley staying with her brother (Rio from The Billionaire Bull Rider) after a traumatic experience. She wants to forget her bad experience and build happy memories while also figuring out what she wants to do with her life. Does she want to return to her current career or do something else? Is she happy living in the city or is it just what she knows right now?

Evan and Josie have a delightful comfort with one another from the moment they meet. They have no problem teasing each other, but also find themselves backing each other up when they’ve barely just met. They start out as fun and light and quickly find themselves confiding and sharing things they haven’t with anyone else. I really love how these two interact with each other.

Something I appreciated about this story is Evan questioning how he thinks about his father and what happened between his parents. I’ve made no secret that I cannot stand the Miller patriarch. He’s a bully and a jerk. While he’s gotten better and grown from book to book, I often wonder at how his children can be so forgiving. Evan doesn’t seem to hold any lasting ill will toward his father at the end, but he at least questions the reactions the family and the town have had in comparison to how their mother is treated. (Not that I’m a fan of hers either!)

There was a bit of the connection between this couple that I felt got lost along the way. After a huge event it seemed they pulled apart. Not just in the narrative, but emotionally as well. It made me very impatient for them to reconnect as they had in the first half of the story. They eventually get there, but for me it threw off the pacing a bit.

** I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in my review are my own and given freely. **

You can find more of my reviews at All In Good Time.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evan is the youngest of the Miller brothers. He has a reputation as a happy go lucky guy who takes responsibility lightly. Tired of still being treated like a kid, Evan decides it's time for him to make some changes..
Josie Martinez, Rio's (of the The Billionaire Bull Rider) sister has come to her brother's ranch to rest and recover after suffering a trauma. When Evan shows up at the ranch to check out the bulls heist surprised to find Josie riding one. Josie is also at a crossroads, unsure of herself and her high profile position in her brother's company. She and Evan decide to help each other overcome their fears and start making some changes in their lives.
The more time Evan spends with Josie the more he grow to respect her and the more time he wants to spend in her company. Evan knows Josie's time in Morgantown is limited, besides, he's not good enough for her. But no matter what he tells himself, he can't help falling for her. For her part, Josie knows Evan won't want to leave Morgantown and his family, no matter how much they annoy him. She knows she can't stay; she just doesn't know how they can make a relationship work. Of course, first Evan needs to acknowledge he wants a relationship.
Evan's lack of self confidence, his sense of inadequacy, and his family's low expectations for him add to the hurt and insecurity he's feeling and become his driving force. They are so well painted by the authors words and illustrated in the scenes she creates that they were as real to me as they were to Evan. I've been a fan of this series since Chase Morgan's story in The Reluctant Rancher, and, while I've enjoyed the individuality of each story, none have spoken to me like Evan's story has.
Kate Pearce takes us back to Morgantown and the last Miller family son. While this story can be read as a stand alone, it will be much more meaningful and Evan's journey much more powerful if you read the earlier stories of the Miller siblings first. And I highly recommend them.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington books for giving me early access to this book!

I will start out by saying that it is rare for me to pick up a book part way through a series, let alone the last book in a series. I like to start at the beginning and read through books in whatever order the author has designated. So jumping into Romancing the Rancher, the last in the Morgan Valley series, was an interesting experience. There were a lot of characters that felt a little random at times, but it was clear they had had their own story at some point in the series. In retrospect, I think I would have enjoyed this book more having already been invested in the family of characters and the ranch itself.

The book's main characters seem to fall near instantly for each other but at times it was hard to feel their chemistry come off the page. I felt like I was often being told things about the characters that weren't backed up in the dialogue or their actions. Plot happened and then no one seemed to process it or bring it up later and so it was hard for me to get invested in the love story or anything else. There is a lot of plot early on about Evan, one of the lead characters, being mad or not mad at his brother and I never got a sense of whether he was ACTUALLY mad at the brother, but everyone talked about it. I think, because of this, the characters often fell flat for me and it was difficult to tell if I would have felt more for them if I'd read the earlier books.

The plot also was a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but nothing felt consistent. Were the leads making a list and doing things off of that? Making decisions about a company or their next step in life? Surviving assault? All of those things were happening but inconsistently throughout the book. It felt like everything was happening then nothing at all because no decisions were discussed after the fact.

Overall, this was a fine read for the last few weeks but I wish I had read the other books in the series first. I might go back and read them now? Maybe?

[ButtonsMom2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m sorry that this is the end.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the connected Morgan Valley books from Kate Pearce. The two connected series started with The Reluctant Cowboy – book one of the 6-book Morgan Ranch series and then came The Millers of Morgan Valley – also a 6-book series. It makes me sad that these connect stories are coming to an end but Romancing the Rancher was a fantastic way to wrap things up.

Each book in this series has been about one of the Miller kids – 5 boys and 1 girl. Their father has been a significant character in each book and I loved watching this pretty horrible man mellow as the series continued. Many other characters from the two series show up in Romancing the Rancher but it can still be read as a standalone story.

Evan Miller is the youngest of 5 brothers and he falls for Josie the sister of one of the MCs from an The Billionaire Bull Rider. The two of them form a connection as friends first but they quickly become more. One of the obstacles to their romance is that Josie’s work has her traveling a lot and she’s based in San Francisco. There’s also the matter of something that happened to Josie which caused her to go stay with her brother to get some much-needed rest. We don’t find out exactly what happened until fairly far into the book.

I really don’t think the blurb does this book justice but I’m not sure how to improve on it without giving too much away. This was a story that held my attention from start to finish and I read it in less than a day.

I can’t believe that these connected series started back in November 2016; it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. I’m really going to miss all of the great characters from these two series.

A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

It’s always a bittersweet moment for me when a series (or spin-off) comes to a close. I’ve enjoyed The Millers of Morgan Valley very much. Of course, there were stories that I loved more than others but overall I’ve had an enjoyable, romantic run with this series. And, who knows, maybe one day some will show up again in another series as secondary characters (here’s to hoping that happens).

I liked Josie and Evan’s story. Both are at somewhat of a crossroads in their lives, their professions and coming together at this time will help each define where they travel next in many ways. I got a good chuckle out of list-making, for I’m definitely one who wants to see goals written down so I felt a kinship of sorts there. Their story is full of laughter, a touch of danger, families that don’t always understand us, and the chance to find a happy future together should they take that risk, trust their hearts. Romancing the Rancher was the perfect way to wrap up storylines and give me hope for the future of all of my favorite characters in this series. It’s been one heck of a ride… and now to see where Kate Pearce takes us next. If you love a good story, interesting characters, sometimes unusual situations, and always family at the heart of everything then this story and this series would be perfect for you.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evan Miller is the youngest member of the Miller family. He’s considered the one who tells you the truth no matter what. Evan is looking for a change in his life. It’ll take revealing a secret and the new woman in town to help Evan see his life is good. Josie Martinez has come to her half brother’s ranch to figure out her life and get over a recent trauma. While trying to figure out what comes next for her, she’ll take up a challenge with a local rancher to change things in their individual lives. The only thing is their mutual challenge just may lead to Romancing the Rancher.

Romancing the Rancher is the sixth and last book in Kate Pearce’s Millers of Morgan Valley series. The story revolves around the last eligible Miller brother and baby of the family. A secret keeps him distance from his best friend and older brother. A challenge with a new friend just may change his life. A woman who is trying to figure out what is next in her life after a trauma. These two will work together to put some fun in their lives. Romancing the Rancher has two people trying to find their way through their own fears and emotions to find their way to each other. They deal with individual and family issues. They rely on each other to help each other find their way to the change they want to happen. When attraction and love start to figure into to their friendship they’ll come to terms with a change in their relationship and a few misunderstandings along the way. Kate Pearce ends her Millers of Morgan Valley with Romancing the Rancher that brings together to people who seem totally different but are more alike than they think. A nice way to finish the series as the reader gets a look into the life of the last single Miller. An attraction that just may lead to a happily ever after if these two can figure out their way through the obstacles in the way.

[Curly Bibliophagist · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Evan's story. He is the youngest son in the Miller family. He works on the family ranch and is thought to be the big mouth ne'er do well of the family. In reality, it is just kind of the role that he has assumed as the youngest son. The others are accomplished but what is left for him? He has dreams but they have been squashed by his father. His father is a jerk and was through the entire series. The series tries to redeem him after his heart attack but he was still a jerk and some of the things he has done are too big to sweep under the rug.

Josie is the younger sister of Rio, who is a rodeo star and has taken over the family business. Josie is staying at Rio's ranch after some things happen in San Francisco. She is an executive at the family company.

Josie and Evan meet and are an unlikely couple but their relationship works. The wind up each making a list of things they'd like to accomplish and working their way through the list together. But Josie has been hiding something from Evan. She was attacked in San Francisco. I think that too much of this part of the story was kept from the readers too. Towards the end, there are some scenes with firearms that were frustrating to me. At one point, in the middle of the danger, the sheriff takes away Josie's weapon saying that she shouldn't have it. Why not? She was proficient in its use and it was being legally used. An armed madman is after her. Why would he do that? It seemed like maybe the author's views were coming through but then why have firearms mentioned at all?

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last of the Miller siblings story, this is Ethan the baby of the bunch. Ethan is known for not being able to keep a secret, but he's decided to change things in his life. It's almost like he realized he's a grown up and it was time to make adult decisions. He doesn't appear to have much ambition or direction to his life other than working the family ranch. Honestly, he seems like a goofball at times and really doesn't want to actually talk things through. But I guess that comes with growing up.
Josie Martinez is home for a break, she's dealing with some turmoil in her life and needs to decompress. Having access to her brother Rio's bull raising ranch is the perfect solution. When she meets Ethan they are drawn to each other, with each of them at a crossroads they decide to start a challenge of sorts. And honestly some of the truths revealed are hard to believe and really come out of nowhere, you'll see what I mean. When dealing in truths you'd think communication would be key, but yet again there is that pesky failure to actually talk to the person and making decisions without discussions.
**Overall, the series gave you a glimpse into the complicated family dynamics of a slightly dysfunctional yet close knit family. Was taken out of the book several times, mainly by the fact that the kids are supposed to be alphabetically named, but not sure how Kaiden fits as the third son. And the huge difference in wealth standings was never fully dealt with and just glossed over.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romancing the Rancher by Kate Pearce is another Millers of Morgan Valley story, this time featuring the youngest son, Evan, and the sister of his neighbor Josie, whom he meets after he watches her ride a bull. Not exactly normal behavior for a girl. They start out as friends: Josie is here to heal from the trauma of a home invasion and doesn't need complications. But complications arrive in the hot body of Evan Miller, who since he is the youngest, is always accused of being immature. His brother, Danny, has just run to Las Vegas and married the girl he should have married long ago. Evan was not feeling good about his part in the drama and is kind of pouting about it, especially with Danny. Josie continues to have bad dreams.

This is a fun story, primarily because it's about people we know from previous books. It is good to see Evan stand up to his father and mature some. It is also fun to see Josie choose her own path, away from her brother and his father, although still respecting their involvement. It takes a strong couple to work things out so that their relationship can work, and we have found that here with Josie and Evan. It's an enticing story with interesting people, even the oldest of whom is growing up.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Romancing the Rancher by Kensington, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #kensington #katepearce #romancingtherancher

[Jennifer Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romancing the Rancher is the sixth book in Kate Pearce’s Millers of Morgan Valley series. Youngest Miller brother Evan is seeking to make his own mark on the family legacy. His four older brothers have already established their places in the world, but Evan’s only claim to fame is that of the plain talking screw up. When he meets the younger half sister of neighboring rancher and billionaire businessman Rio Martinez, Evan begins to change, even grow up.

Josie Martinez also worked, as does her brother, in the fast paced Howarth Corporation until a tragic occurrence left her traumatized and in fear. At that time she fled San Francisco and came to stay on her brother’s ranch. As a physical way to deal with her trauma, Josie begins working with the young bulls being bred on the ranch and seems to have a knack for bull riding, as does her new acquaintance, Evan. Josie talks Evan into entering a small scale rodeo and she comes out ahead of all other entrants. But before she can get too excited about her win, Josie learns her assailant has been released for good behavior when she receives a threatening text.

This is a very interestingly plotted story by a dominant writer in this genre. The way Josie and Evan both overcome the issues they are individually dealing with to find their ways to their own promising futures takes many turns, but they work together towards that point. I enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

[Heather M Jones-Lancto · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Romancing the Rancher' is the story of Evan Miller, the youngest Miller son in Kate Pearce's The Millers' of Morgan Valley series. Reading this book is bitter sweet for me as it is the final installment for the Miller's of Morgan Valley.

As the youngest son, Evan Miller lived a somewhat sheltered life. Never destined to inherit the family ranch he felt no responsibility, too young at the age of six to be impacted by his mother's departure, Evan's father treated him a bit differently than this older brothers and Evan knew it. Josie Martinez, younger sister to Rio Martinez the world champion bull rider, is seeking solace at her brother's ranch when she meets Evan and they make a pact; each will make a list of things they want to do and take turns completing each task. Can Josie help Evan experience life while overcoming her own struggle?

I love the way Kate developed Evan. He was a bit rough around the edges but Josie's personality and total acceptance of him helped to develop him into a more mature and deeper individual. Both characters have had to deal with a parent abandoning them. Evan was accepting when his mother returns and this easy acceptance amazes Josie who resents the way her father left when she was a baby. The friendship between the two characters develop into a respectful and meaningful relationship.

[Rosie Trzewik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well the last Miller turn has come to find love. Evan is the baby boy of the six kids. A little bit of a big mouth, can’t keep a secret and still avoiding Danny his closest brother. He is riding off to the Martinez Ranch to check on Ines, which he doesn’t mind since they raise bulls for the PBR. As he gets there he is admiring the rider on the bucking bulls and is surprised to see it’s a women. Josie is the sister to the famous retired bull rider, Rio Martinez. Bull riding seems to be in their blood, but in real life she was a business exc. in her brother’s multi million company. Taking a break from work and to get herself together after a frightening experience, she is hiding out at the ranch. Meeting Evan, they decided to work on a bucket list.
The story is of personal growth, overcoming fears. All the characters are back, so you really should read the previous books. Laugh out loud in parts, and really don’t want the series to end. I truly enjoyed reading the life of the Miller’s. Each child had different stories and this tied it all together. I hope that there will be one more story…..there is a half sister that is unwed.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #RomancingtheRancher #KatePearce

[JigsawGirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had some difficulty getting started with this book. I would keep picking it up try ing to start, lose interest, and put it down again. It took me some time to get involved in the story.

I had read the previous books in the series, but I felt like I should have reread a few before this one. There was the constant commentary about Evan being nice, kind, and honest, but a big mouth, being irresponsible, etc. There were never any details given as to what specific things Evan had done to make him be so down on himself. When he said those things, his family didn't try to dispute them.

Evan and Josie definitely had a connection but it did seem more like friendship than romance. There was no excitement or heat, but there seemed to be comfort in the relationship. The bucket list thing Evan and Josie started on was kind of unusual. I felt like it didn't really fit, and possibly took away from the romance.

This was a sweet story. It was nice to get an update about the lives of the other Miller brothers. I would not suggest you read this one before reading at least a couple of the other books in the series. Just my opinion. It was an ok read once I got into it, although the storyline felt a little all over the place.

Everyone got their HEA, and I guess that is what mattered. I voluntarily read and reviewed the Advanced Reader Copy of this book received via NetGalley.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sixth book in The Millers of Morgan Valley series. Evan Miller is the youngest of the six Miller siblings and the last to get his own story. I am sorry to see this series come to an end, because I have really enjoyed both this series and the Morgan Ranch series. It's been fun to revisit Morgan Valley and the delightful characters that inhabit Morgantown and the valley.

Evan was only six when his mother left their family and while he was probably the least scarred by her departure, it still left an impact on him that he is yet trying to cope with. He is considered the goof-off of the family and the one that can't keep a secret. Enter Josie Martinez; younger sister of Rio Martinez, the world champion bull rider; who is at her brother's ranch to recover from the violent attack of a stalker. Evan and Josie start hanging out with each other and decide to make lists of things they would like to accomplish. As they work through their lists, they discover that while they are each from different backgrounds they have many things in common that draw them to each other.

This was an enjoyable book and a light, easy read. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advanced copy of this book that I received in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romancing the Rancher, the sixth in The Millers of Morgan Valley series is a hit. By Kate Pearce this series is a spin-off of the Morgan Series. Now it is a part of the close community that resides in Morgantown, California. Like most small towns memories are long but still often to be generous in their thoughts to.

Evan is on the end of the not so generous, long memories that put him at a disadvantage. From the beginning heart attack or not, I disliked his father the hard ranch owner. Nothing much has changed concerning his boys which is part of Evan’s struggles. Josie Martinez, half-sister of world champion bull rider Rio Martinez has her own struggles. There is a wariness, prioritizing of goals and finding out what truly matters in this story of Josie and Evan. Of course, there is romance and love to but it is hard won over the course of this sweet sexy read.

A realistic book at life on the ranch, especially when you are not first son or favorite son but a son way down the list. Acceptance is still possible, love even more so.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Denise Schenk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evan is the youngest Morgan male. He has been shown in the other books to be immature. He has finally started showing that he is a man to be proud of now. He meets Josie at Rio's ranch; she is his sister and staying there to get over being attacked.
Evan is interested in bull riding Josie is also interested. Josie is not ready to share her past problems with Evan. They are both drawn to each other and Josie doesn't feel that Evan is not his own man.
If you have read the other books, you know that Jeff is Evan's father and he's currently recovering from a heart attack; but he still manages to boss all the boys at the ranch. Evan and Josie slip away to a local rodeo to enter into bull riding event.
Josie has been working for the company that Rio’s father owns; and he asked her to come to San Francisco for a meeting. He is trying to get her back into the office; but she is not ready to return to San Francisco due to her stalker.
I have read all six of these books on the Morgan’s; this one ties up some loose ends in the other books.
I received this copy from NetGalley for a review.

[Madoka Kamimura Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Pearce has brought us back to Morgantown, California in the newest chapter of the Millers of Morgan Valley series. We meet Evan, the youngest Morgan brother. Although his family is all about ranching, he is interested in the rodeo. And he hopes Josie Martinez will show him how it's done.

As Josie and Evan start spending more time together, it becomes more than just helping each other out. Will they be totally open with each other, or are they still not totally honest? Will holding back jeopardize their relationship, or will they trust each other enough to share everything?

Kate Pearce allows us to revisit the Millers in this series and catch up with everyone else. It always feels like visiting old friends. I am looking forward to the next time I get to visit with them.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books, Zebra for this privilege.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Kate Pearce read and I must say it was something else. Even if it's not my cup of tea, I'm sure this type of book has its audience. I had a feeling of watching a soap opera (or telenovela due to some of the characters having Brazilian heritage) while I read this. Big family, lots of complicated past drama (wives that left, married somebody filthy rich, then came back because their (initial) men have changed, private jets, Vegas weddings, dark secrets from the past and a totally incompetent bad guy... ) but no real character depth. Like none. It all felt really fake and just thrown together for the sake of an overstuffed plot. I gave this three stars because it's not bad, but it doesn't shine either. The sexy times are also kind of meh. Not too hot but not fade to dark either.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romancing the Rancher by Kate Pearce is the sixth book in the Millers of Morgan Creek. This novel focuses on Evan Miller, the youngest son of the Miller clan. He is seemingly content in his world, while battling his way clear from some ghosts of the past (which he thinks are larger than they are). Evan works on the family’s ranch and helps out neighbors when he can. That is how he meets Josie Martinez.

Josie Martinez is the sister of Rio Martinez, a big time rodeo rider. She seems determined and fun, but she is hiding under all that trauma, which she is trying to keep hidden. Josie and Evan agree to help each other with their bucket list, but along the way become friends, lovers temporarily of course. SURE….

Once again high in the Sierra Mountains, I have fallen in love with ranching and living with the Millers and the Morgans. Romancing the Rancher by Kate Pearce is a good read!

[Diane McConnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evan finds the perfect one!

Cowboy Evan Miller hasn’t had much responsibility being the youngest son in the Miller family except work on the family ranch. He has been trying to figure out what he wanted to do in life when he meets a woman riding bulls at Rio Martinez’s ranch next door.

Josie Martinez has been staying at her half-bother’s ranch recovering after being attacked at her apartment in San Francisco. Josie is having a hard time trying to rebuild her confidence, but she doesn’t know if Evan is a distraction in trying to figure what she wanted in her future.

I love family series especially when they are set in small town or ranches, and we get two for one with the Millers of Morgan Valley because they make you realize that even the youngest son has possibilities when he falls in love with the right person.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Glittergirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Peace does an awesome job of writing families. This is the last Miller brother who the family views as a screw-up and who can't keep his mouth shut. He's now old enough to decide what he's going to do with his life. When he meets Rio's sister Josie Martinez, who is visiting her brother, they strike up a friendship. Josie is taking an extended leave of absence from her office after a traumatic experience. They both make a bucket list of sorts, things they're afraid of doing or have put off, and they decide to help each other tick off the items.

Josie is an accomplished bull rider given she grew up on a bull breeding ranch and her big brother is a champion bull rider. But she's a girl and they are not generally accepted in the sport. The first thing on her list is entering an off circuit event. As they spend more time together each open up to the other bearing their hurts. His first on the list is ticking off his v-card. It leads to a friends with benefits relationship. I really enjoyed seeing them help heal each other and find there are ways to bring their lives together.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.