Oregon ~ Present Day

Zoe Jensen and Grant Cortez have been best friends since they were children. Both now adults, Zoe is in love with Grant and wishes he would look at her as a woman, rather than his kid sister. When Zoe loses her apartment due to her menagerie of pets, the most obvious solution would be for Zoe to move in with Grant. But they live in a small town, and despite their friendship, it would cause a scandal. Grant agrees to care for her pets at his ranch while she stays with a friend in town. They’re now spending time together when Zoe comes to check on her pets…and suddenly, Grant is realizing that Zoe is a very attractive woman.

It’s not that Grant wasn’t aware of Zoe’s attributes but, rather, he didn’t want to break up a beautiful friendship. He doesn’t see anything wrong with having her stay at the ranch, but understands that the school where Zoe works might mistake an innocent living arrangement for something scandalous. When Zoe starts making it clear she wants to be more than friends, what should Grant do? Bedding your best friend could be a big mistake.

Zoe might be young in Grant’s eyes, but she’s very grown up in her feelings for him. She has watched him date a bevy of women and wonders why he can’t at least look her way. It’s either that, or get as far away from him as possible, which is hard to do when you’re nearly homeless. Then Grant lays down some rules…all of which Zoe wants to break!

Readers will find THE RANCHER’S RULES an utterly refreshing story from Lucy Monroe. Zoe is charming and likeable, while Grant’s noble attitude is sweet, but you know it won’t be long before friendship leads to something more as they can barely keep their hands off each other. Along the way, get a few laughs from the pets who provide the reason Zoe and Grant are around each other. My only complaint is that THE RANCHER’S RULES was way too short.

Readers who enjoy a friends-to-lovers romance won’t go wrong by picking up the fun-to-read THE RANCHER’S RULES.

Patti Fischer