Hopeless by Elsie Silver
Let's just clear the air about something before moving on - I don't know how any author will ever top Theo from Reckless. BUT that being said, I loved Beau and Bailey so much. I felt like Beau and Bailey's story was a little more disconnected from the group than some of the other stories, and I think I actually liked that. They were in their own little bubble between the bar where Bailey worked and Beau's little corner of the ranch. There were obviously moments where you saw the whole family, but they weren't daily interactions.
If you've been following the series, you know that Beau went MIA in the military and is now home helping Cade on the ranch. Bailey is a bartender at one of the bars in Chestnut Springs. She's also the only daughter of the family whose land borders Eaton family land. Bailey's dad and brothers are absolutely horrible and have tainted the entire's town opinion of her, even though she's never done anything to warrant it.
When Beau realizes the preference he has in town just because he's an Eaton and that Bailey doesn't get the same chances, he offers to be her fiancé - surely his last name will lend her some credence around town and help her find an additional job so she can save up and leave for college. Plus it will get Beau's family to stop worrying about him so much.
OBVIOUSLY, we all know what happens in fake relationships. Beau was so overprotective and really started to find his purpose in helping Bailey. He never hesitated to show her that he would stick up for her and stand by her in any situation. And Bailey was so incredibly sweet in taking care of Beau through his nightmares - their night swims just had me swooning!
If you love stories with two broken main characters, you definitely need to read this one! Though there was definitely lots of steam, this story was so much more than that - two people falling in love with each other's flaws and being so eager to fill in any gaps to help the other succeed and be happy. <3
I received an advance copy from the author.