I received a copy of Rivalry Brewing by Walker Rose from NetGalley. This is the 2nd book in the author’s Crossroads series, after Trouble Brewing. The contemporary western romance book follows Sawyer and Bowen, the middle Cross brother. To avoid an uncomfortable situation with her ex, Sawyer and Bowen agree to a plan of fake dating. Sawyer gets her ex to back off, and Bowen gets to stay in her guest room.
Bowen has returned to Crossroads Ranch after his father’s passing. Sawyer helps out at the ranch as a vet. Sawyer’s ex is now engaged, but he treats her horribly at the vet clinic where she works because he is the boss. Bowen and his brothers are popular in Scandal; when Sawyer jokes about how Bowen seeming interested in her will get her ex to back off, she is surprised when Bowen agrees. They decide to make a deal and start fake dating while Bowen moves into her guest room as long as he is in town. Putting on a show for everyone in town and living together brings them closer, with tension simmering.
Sawyer has a troubled life with her parents passing early and the town has taken care of including Bowen’s dad. She helps out at the ranch and fits right in, plus she also had a good relationship with Ransom, Bowen’s dad. On the other hand, Bowen never felt like he belonged at the ranch, preferring his computer. This led to a lot of tension between him and his dad growing up. Coming back to Scandal and seeing Sawyer, whom his dad took an interest in, brings up a lot of unhealed traumas for him. Sawyer and Bowen have chemistry from the get-go, and they start understanding each other better being in close proximity.
The romance between Sawyer and Bowen develops nicely, and I enjoyed it for the most part. They start understanding each other’s vulnerabilities and insecurities, which makes their connection more than attraction. The tension with their fake dating builds up in such an interesting way that it feels very real. Bowen feels he has moved past his traumas at the ranch, but he does get triggered when he feels he is questioned. He doesn’t think staying in Scandal is suited for him because he never felt he fit in the ranch world. Meanwhile, Sawyer tries to be practical and almost uses any excuse to put distance and guard herself. Her past relationships have made her extremely guarded and kind of expects the worst.
Rivalry Brewing by Walker Rose is an intriguing western romance. The pace of the novel is good, just falters a little around the 70% mark when characters and story stall a bit. I loved the execution of the fake dating trope, and Sawyer and Bowen are such well-written characters; I rooted for them. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book.
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