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Buckled in Barbwire
Rules can't be broken if they don't exist...
Paisley
I’d considered myself carefree and content until I met my best friend’s older brother.
Brody Benson has a way of wrecking my composure with a single glare.
He’s broody and crass and far too attractive.
As if that isn’t enough, he earns more money in a month than I’ll likely make in my lifetime.
We couldn’t be more different. That’s why I settle for catching quick glances of him in passing. Meanwhile, he prefers to pretend I don’t exist.
But then the unthinkable happens.
Brody
The death of my mother rocks the foundation that our rustic empire is built on.
After the funeral, my sister flees to find comfort and peace. Dad shuts down, leaving me to keep the business running. That undertaking is made more challenging by Paisley Keaton.
Now I’m constantly crossing paths with the sunny cowgirl my sister left in charge of the barn. She tries to be helpful, which only agitates my animosity. I don’t miss an opportunity to tell her where to stick that overly positive attitude.
The fact that Paisley is the last woman I’d ever date promotes her to a permanent position at Benson Manor. One that needs to be filled to guarantee my ownership of the company.
Paisley will be my wife, but the only thing she’ll get from me is my last name.
Paisley
I’d considered myself carefree and content until I met my best friend’s older brother.
Brody Benson has a way of wrecking my composure with a single glare.
He’s broody and crass and far too attractive.
As if that isn’t enough, he earns more money in a month than I’ll likely make in my lifetime.
We couldn’t be more different. That’s why I settle for catching quick glances of him in passing. Meanwhile, he prefers to pretend I don’t exist.
But then the unthinkable happens.
Brody
The death of my mother rocks the foundation that our rustic empire is built on.
After the funeral, my sister flees to find comfort and peace. Dad shuts down, leaving me to keep the business running. That undertaking is made more challenging by Paisley Keaton.
Now I’m constantly crossing paths with the sunny cowgirl my sister left in charge of the barn. She tries to be helpful, which only agitates my animosity. I don’t miss an opportunity to tell her where to stick that overly positive attitude.
The fact that Paisley is the last woman I’d ever date promotes her to a permanent position at Benson Manor. One that needs to be filled to guarantee my ownership of the company.
Paisley will be my wife, but the only thing she’ll get from me is my last name.
Paperback
Published April 23, 2025
213 people are currently reading
8,468 people want to read
About the author
Harloe Rae
44books6,159followersHarloe Rae is a USA Today & Amazon Top 10 bestselling author. Her passion for writing and reading has taken on a whole new meaning. Each day is an unforgettable adventure.
She's a Minnesota gal with a serious addiction to romance. She’s always chasing an epic happily ever after. When she’s not buried in the writing cave, Harloe can be found hanging with her hubby and son. If the weather permits, she loves being lakeside or out in the country with her horses.
She writes emotional, heartfelt romance with swoony heroes and sassy leading ladies. Her titles are available on Amazon.
Find all the latest on her site
Subscribe to her newsletter at
Join her reader group, Harloe’s Hotties, at
She's a Minnesota gal with a serious addiction to romance. She’s always chasing an epic happily ever after. When she’s not buried in the writing cave, Harloe can be found hanging with her hubby and son. If the weather permits, she loves being lakeside or out in the country with her horses.
She writes emotional, heartfelt romance with swoony heroes and sassy leading ladies. Her titles are available on Amazon.
Find all the latest on her site
Subscribe to her newsletter at
Join her reader group, Harloe’s Hotties, at
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
April 23, 2025
This was a fun, sassy little romp! I was so excited to see that Harlow Rae had a cowboy romance coming out, I had to jump on it.
It delivers on the promise of a fake dating turned marriage of coersion, with a best friend's brother thrown in. I think you will laugh and swoon. It is a quick read but it gave me a few feels none the less.
I do think that Brody was a bit too much of a hard ass to start. I wish he had been more grumpy than cruel... but it didn't competely overtake it. Paisley gave as good as she got.
4 Stars
2.5 on the spice scale
CW: loss of a parent
*Thank you to Candi Kane PR for an ARC of this title.*
It delivers on the promise of a fake dating turned marriage of coersion, with a best friend's brother thrown in. I think you will laugh and swoon. It is a quick read but it gave me a few feels none the less.
I do think that Brody was a bit too much of a hard ass to start. I wish he had been more grumpy than cruel... but it didn't competely overtake it. Paisley gave as good as she got.
4 Stars
2.5 on the spice scale
CW: loss of a parent
*Thank you to Candi Kane PR for an ARC of this title.*
April 25, 2025
The overall theme could be described as “fleeting�
This was billed as enemies to lovers, and grumpy- sunshine. And for parts it definitely meets that description. Brody borders on evil villain and at points was a total douche bag. He hated Paisley for no reason at all, and made sure she knew how he felt about her. On the flip side, when he treats her like garbage and blackmails her into marrying him, she claims to hate him back, yet holds that anger for approximately as long as it takes to blink an eye. Even when he is being particularly assholish, his good looks seem to make up for it and distract her 🙄 It seems all the emotions can be described as fleeting. I often felt a little bit of whiplash. I spent a lot of the book wishing she would fight back, not just roll over and give in. It was a let down actually. His hatred for her was apparently fleeting too, as it randomly disappeared night they said “I do�. Poof. Just literally gone in an instant. It was jarring how quickly he changed. He went from loathing her to admitting he was crushing on his wife and wanted her to stay forever, literally with the exchange of the rings. And then obsessed. It felt oddly paced as there was zero build up.
The fact that this was a Harloe Rae book and I typically love her reads is really the only thing that kept me pushing through. I was very much not invested in this relationship. There were some great pieces- some good laughs and some great barbs thrown between Paisley and Brody. But the relationship itself never felt right. The pacing was off, I wanted her to fight back from the beginning, and she just never did. She just accepted it all without even a hint of a fight. Even him orchestrating his sister (and her BFF) being out of contact for weeks on end, missing their impromptu wedding, she just rolled with it like it was no biggie. 🤷🏼♀�
He went from hating her to loving her in the blink of an eye. He literally goes from evil villain blackmailing the woman he hates into marrying him by cruelly threatening to sell a horse his now deceased mother loved, to wanting a real relationship with his coerced into marriage wife, and is hurt when she doesn’t trust him? 🙄 But I guess it’s ok because Paisley’s feelings are also pretty fleeting- she doesn’t really ever hold on to any anger or annoyance and gets dickmatized immediately. Clearly it’s ok to be a raging asshole as long as you are SOOOO HOT!
Meh. That’s basically the overall feelings I have about this one. Just meh.
This was billed as enemies to lovers, and grumpy- sunshine. And for parts it definitely meets that description. Brody borders on evil villain and at points was a total douche bag. He hated Paisley for no reason at all, and made sure she knew how he felt about her. On the flip side, when he treats her like garbage and blackmails her into marrying him, she claims to hate him back, yet holds that anger for approximately as long as it takes to blink an eye. Even when he is being particularly assholish, his good looks seem to make up for it and distract her 🙄 It seems all the emotions can be described as fleeting. I often felt a little bit of whiplash. I spent a lot of the book wishing she would fight back, not just roll over and give in. It was a let down actually. His hatred for her was apparently fleeting too, as it randomly disappeared night they said “I do�. Poof. Just literally gone in an instant. It was jarring how quickly he changed. He went from loathing her to admitting he was crushing on his wife and wanted her to stay forever, literally with the exchange of the rings. And then obsessed. It felt oddly paced as there was zero build up.
The fact that this was a Harloe Rae book and I typically love her reads is really the only thing that kept me pushing through. I was very much not invested in this relationship. There were some great pieces- some good laughs and some great barbs thrown between Paisley and Brody. But the relationship itself never felt right. The pacing was off, I wanted her to fight back from the beginning, and she just never did. She just accepted it all without even a hint of a fight. Even him orchestrating his sister (and her BFF) being out of contact for weeks on end, missing their impromptu wedding, she just rolled with it like it was no biggie. 🤷🏼♀�
He went from hating her to loving her in the blink of an eye. He literally goes from evil villain blackmailing the woman he hates into marrying him by cruelly threatening to sell a horse his now deceased mother loved, to wanting a real relationship with his coerced into marriage wife, and is hurt when she doesn’t trust him? 🙄 But I guess it’s ok because Paisley’s feelings are also pretty fleeting- she doesn’t really ever hold on to any anger or annoyance and gets dickmatized immediately. Clearly it’s ok to be a raging asshole as long as you are SOOOO HOT!
Meh. That’s basically the overall feelings I have about this one. Just meh.
April 14, 2025
Thank you to Harloe Rae for the ARC! So grateful for the opportunity to read your first step into your cowboy era!
Buckled in Barbed Wire is that cowboy/small town romance that we’ve all come to adore. We’ve got our grumpy MMC Brody, who lost his mom a couple months ago and is forced to take over the majority of the responsibilities of the ranch. He’s accepted his fate until his sister leaves to travel and puts the stables in the care of her best friend Paisley. Paisley is our true sunshine FMC, full of positivity and sparkles, the last thing Brody wants. But when his dad gives him an ultimatum that he has to settle down before he can officially own the farm, Paisley might just be his perfect match. In name only of course.
I really loved this one! It was a super quick read, finished it in a couple of hours. But still enough story development to feel well rounded and complete. I loved Brody even if I think he went a bit too far in getting Paisley on board but seeing him fall for her even from the start was swoon worthy.
Paisley is such a fun character. I really enjoyed her little comments and the way she helped Brody through his grief was so sweet.
I think my favourite character was Brody’s dad though, the way he played all those pranks jsut to get the two of them to interact with each other. He knew they were meant to be, just needed a little push.
My only issue is that everyone seemed so chill with everything. Like Paisley’s parents just letting Brody announce he’s marrying Paisley even though they’d never even heard they were dating, and going right along with it was a bit ridiculous. And for the amount of fuss she gave, Bianca accepted it pretty quickly too. And I guess that’s just a bit unbelievable to me but in the long run it didn’t matter because the banter and tension between these two made up for it.
Definitely pumped to see Harloe in their cowboy era and can’t wait to read more stories from this series!
Buckled in Barbed Wire is that cowboy/small town romance that we’ve all come to adore. We’ve got our grumpy MMC Brody, who lost his mom a couple months ago and is forced to take over the majority of the responsibilities of the ranch. He’s accepted his fate until his sister leaves to travel and puts the stables in the care of her best friend Paisley. Paisley is our true sunshine FMC, full of positivity and sparkles, the last thing Brody wants. But when his dad gives him an ultimatum that he has to settle down before he can officially own the farm, Paisley might just be his perfect match. In name only of course.
I really loved this one! It was a super quick read, finished it in a couple of hours. But still enough story development to feel well rounded and complete. I loved Brody even if I think he went a bit too far in getting Paisley on board but seeing him fall for her even from the start was swoon worthy.
Paisley is such a fun character. I really enjoyed her little comments and the way she helped Brody through his grief was so sweet.
I think my favourite character was Brody’s dad though, the way he played all those pranks jsut to get the two of them to interact with each other. He knew they were meant to be, just needed a little push.
My only issue is that everyone seemed so chill with everything. Like Paisley’s parents just letting Brody announce he’s marrying Paisley even though they’d never even heard they were dating, and going right along with it was a bit ridiculous. And for the amount of fuss she gave, Bianca accepted it pretty quickly too. And I guess that’s just a bit unbelievable to me but in the long run it didn’t matter because the banter and tension between these two made up for it.
Definitely pumped to see Harloe in their cowboy era and can’t wait to read more stories from this series!
April 20, 2025
This is my first book by Harloe Rae. I have heard a lot of good things about her books, and I even have several on my TBR list. I have mixed feelings about this one, and since it's my first one of hers, I'm not sure if it's just her style of writing or if it's just me.
Buckled in Barbwire follows Paisley and Brody, two people brought together in holy matrimony in name only. Brody needs his farmstead to be put in his name and for that to happen, he needs a wife. Paisley gets on his last nerve, but is convenient. And since they work together, it's just easier to blackmail her into accepting his ring than do anything else.
This is a small-town, grumpy/sunshine, billionaire, age-gap romance. I found the plot to be sound, I understood what was driving them together and why it was so important for Brody to pursue Paisley. However, I found the plot to be confusing at times. For the first half, Brody is grumpy, blackmaily, totally evil and will do anything to get what he wants. Then all the sudden, with no warning, he is sweet talking, falling for the girl, wants to make it work, and can't believe he was such a tool to her. But we don't see any reasons why. It's such an about-face, and I get it, it moves the plot along, but there was no real reason that I could wrap my head around for it to happen. It's a duel POV, where we go from Paisley to Brody in each chapter. However, we don't really get in depth to their feelings or their motivations. Every once in awhile, we get a glimpse into why Paisley is upset to be marrying Brody in name only, but it's fleeting. I actually enjoyed the second half of the book better! Because at least at that point, there was the spice to heat things up. These two were hot! I guess I was just confused at the pacing and the movement of the plot in this book. And like I said, that could just be her writing style, or it could just be me! I give this book 3.5 stars. I will probably read the second book in the series, because the little spoiler at the end of this one intrigued me. Hopefully I will like that one a bit better!
Buckled in Barbwire follows Paisley and Brody, two people brought together in holy matrimony in name only. Brody needs his farmstead to be put in his name and for that to happen, he needs a wife. Paisley gets on his last nerve, but is convenient. And since they work together, it's just easier to blackmail her into accepting his ring than do anything else.
This is a small-town, grumpy/sunshine, billionaire, age-gap romance. I found the plot to be sound, I understood what was driving them together and why it was so important for Brody to pursue Paisley. However, I found the plot to be confusing at times. For the first half, Brody is grumpy, blackmaily, totally evil and will do anything to get what he wants. Then all the sudden, with no warning, he is sweet talking, falling for the girl, wants to make it work, and can't believe he was such a tool to her. But we don't see any reasons why. It's such an about-face, and I get it, it moves the plot along, but there was no real reason that I could wrap my head around for it to happen. It's a duel POV, where we go from Paisley to Brody in each chapter. However, we don't really get in depth to their feelings or their motivations. Every once in awhile, we get a glimpse into why Paisley is upset to be marrying Brody in name only, but it's fleeting. I actually enjoyed the second half of the book better! Because at least at that point, there was the spice to heat things up. These two were hot! I guess I was just confused at the pacing and the movement of the plot in this book. And like I said, that could just be her writing style, or it could just be me! I give this book 3.5 stars. I will probably read the second book in the series, because the little spoiler at the end of this one intrigued me. Hopefully I will like that one a bit better!
April 24, 2025
Buckled in Barbwire is Harloe Rae's swoony, billionaire cowboy, small town romance!
You get a true opposites attract... a broody cowboy & a sunshine/sparkly FMC who but heads at every turn. BUT when they come together, their chemistry and sexual tension was perfection! There's lots of drama, banter and laugh out loud moments. I loved every character and can't wait to see what's in story for the rest of the Benson Ranch crew.
𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤/𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙚 = Brody Benson & Paisley Keaton
𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 = No.
𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙚(𝙨) = Cowboy Romance � Best Friend's Brother � Billionaire Cowboy � Small Town � Forced proximity � Marriage of Coercion/Convenience � Fake relationship � Enemies to Lovers � Grumpy/Sunshine (Sparkly) � Age Gap (10yrs) � He Falls first � Opposites attract � Slow Burn � Dual POVs
𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨 = Language � Sexual Content � Death of a parent & coping
𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙇𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡 = 🔥🔥🔥
𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 = ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Benson Matriarch just passed away... and Benson family is struggling to cope with the loss. Brody is burying himself in running the family business, his dad (Dennis) has checked out & pulled away and his sister (Bianca) decides to getaway & go to Europe. Not completely abandoning her brother and the family business, she hires her best friend to run the stables. Brody doesn't want her there... She doesn't "belong", she's too "sparkly", she is the last thing he needs around. BUT when he dad decides its time to retire, he gives Brody a ultimatum... He must marry in order to take over permanently. In order to fulfill, there is only one person, Brody can think of... AND she wants nothing to do with him. Brody has his work cut out for him... and it's a good thing he can be persuasive and doesn't mind to play dirty.
You get a true opposites attract... a broody cowboy & a sunshine/sparkly FMC who but heads at every turn. BUT when they come together, their chemistry and sexual tension was perfection! There's lots of drama, banter and laugh out loud moments. I loved every character and can't wait to see what's in story for the rest of the Benson Ranch crew.
𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤/𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙚 = Brody Benson & Paisley Keaton
𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 = No.
𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙚(𝙨) = Cowboy Romance � Best Friend's Brother � Billionaire Cowboy � Small Town � Forced proximity � Marriage of Coercion/Convenience � Fake relationship � Enemies to Lovers � Grumpy/Sunshine (Sparkly) � Age Gap (10yrs) � He Falls first � Opposites attract � Slow Burn � Dual POVs
𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨 = Language � Sexual Content � Death of a parent & coping
𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙇𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡 = 🔥🔥🔥
𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 = ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Benson Matriarch just passed away... and Benson family is struggling to cope with the loss. Brody is burying himself in running the family business, his dad (Dennis) has checked out & pulled away and his sister (Bianca) decides to getaway & go to Europe. Not completely abandoning her brother and the family business, she hires her best friend to run the stables. Brody doesn't want her there... She doesn't "belong", she's too "sparkly", she is the last thing he needs around. BUT when he dad decides its time to retire, he gives Brody a ultimatum... He must marry in order to take over permanently. In order to fulfill, there is only one person, Brody can think of... AND she wants nothing to do with him. Brody has his work cut out for him... and it's a good thing he can be persuasive and doesn't mind to play dirty.
April 16, 2025
ARC Review
BUCKLED IN BARBWIRE by @harloerae
Release Date: 4.23.25
OVERALL RATING
4⭐️/5
4🌶� /5
* SERIES: This is a small town/billionaire cowboy STANDALONE - although I HOPE Bianca and Colton get a story at some point! 🤞🏻
* POV: First Person Dual - Lord have mercy! Brody, Mister Brody, billionaire cowboy was SINFUL! And down right MEAN at times! But man once he fell for Paisley he fell HARD and I ate it up! I feel like we don’t really know a whole lot about the main characters, especially the FMC, I would have like to know a little more about her BUT that did not detract from me liking the story one bit! The marriage of coercion was done SO WELL! The tension was hot, the forced proximity was amazing!
* SPICE - Open Door, Explicit - The spice in this book 🔥🤤 WOW! That mechanical bull scene, yes please! So good!
THOUGHTS -
I had so much fun with Buckled in Barbwire! It was an easy, quick read! The marriage of coercion aspect was done amazingly! I truly love that Brody and Paisley got their happily ever after! Harloe Rae was a new author for me and I will definitely be sticking around! Such a fun read!
Thank you to the author, Harloe Rae and @candikanepr for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
#arcreview #arcreader #cowboyromance #harloeraebooks #smalltownromance #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #readingrecs#enemiestolovers #forcedproximity
BUCKLED IN BARBWIRE by @harloerae
Release Date: 4.23.25
OVERALL RATING
4⭐️/5
4🌶� /5
* SERIES: This is a small town/billionaire cowboy STANDALONE - although I HOPE Bianca and Colton get a story at some point! 🤞🏻
* POV: First Person Dual - Lord have mercy! Brody, Mister Brody, billionaire cowboy was SINFUL! And down right MEAN at times! But man once he fell for Paisley he fell HARD and I ate it up! I feel like we don’t really know a whole lot about the main characters, especially the FMC, I would have like to know a little more about her BUT that did not detract from me liking the story one bit! The marriage of coercion was done SO WELL! The tension was hot, the forced proximity was amazing!
* SPICE - Open Door, Explicit - The spice in this book 🔥🤤 WOW! That mechanical bull scene, yes please! So good!
THOUGHTS -
I had so much fun with Buckled in Barbwire! It was an easy, quick read! The marriage of coercion aspect was done amazingly! I truly love that Brody and Paisley got their happily ever after! Harloe Rae was a new author for me and I will definitely be sticking around! Such a fun read!
Thank you to the author, Harloe Rae and @candikanepr for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
#arcreview #arcreader #cowboyromance #harloeraebooks #smalltownromance #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #readingrecs#enemiestolovers #forcedproximity
April 16, 2025
Buckled in Barbwire was a good cowboy/small town read. Brody Benson lost his mom a couple months ago and his dad checked out, he has been running the family ranch. Now his younger sister has decided she is going to leave to travel. But she informs him that her best friend Paisley is going to run the stables while she is gone. Paisley is all sunshine and sparkles to Brody's grumpy self. The two butt heads and had a lot of banter. The chemistry and sexual tension was perfect! I loved the way that Brody falls for her first and didn't give up on keeping his girl!
April 23, 2025
ARC REVIEW
It's been two months since the Benson matriarch passed away and the grief is still strong for those who loved her. Even though this is a romance, all of the characters go through the process of healing their grief.
Brody, the oldest sibling, has been running the show and hoping his Dad, Dennis will come back to himself. Bianca, the sweet but independent horse girl younger sister, leaving for an extended trip to Europe is the catalyst to this journey. Dennis the menace is an entire thing of his own and I love the attempted matchmaking he does, pushing Brody to settle down.
Brody thinks Paige is too much. Paige thinks Brody's gruff attitude is hiding his grief. Their banter is so good! Paisley is not standing down and goes to to toe with Brody. She definitely makes him work for it. It's not an easy road for these two, but that makes the ending all the more satisfying. Overall, definitely recommend and can't wait for the rest of the series!
Main points:
❤️ Broody billionaire cowboy
� Overly optimistic cowgirl
❤️ Grumpy X Sunshine
� Best friend's Older brother
❤️ Enemies to Lovers
� Angst slow burn
❤️ Age gap
� Small town
❤️ Marriage of convenience
� Forced proximity
❤️ Opposites attract
� He falls first
It's been two months since the Benson matriarch passed away and the grief is still strong for those who loved her. Even though this is a romance, all of the characters go through the process of healing their grief.
Brody, the oldest sibling, has been running the show and hoping his Dad, Dennis will come back to himself. Bianca, the sweet but independent horse girl younger sister, leaving for an extended trip to Europe is the catalyst to this journey. Dennis the menace is an entire thing of his own and I love the attempted matchmaking he does, pushing Brody to settle down.
Brody thinks Paige is too much. Paige thinks Brody's gruff attitude is hiding his grief. Their banter is so good! Paisley is not standing down and goes to to toe with Brody. She definitely makes him work for it. It's not an easy road for these two, but that makes the ending all the more satisfying. Overall, definitely recommend and can't wait for the rest of the series!
Main points:
❤️ Broody billionaire cowboy
� Overly optimistic cowgirl
❤️ Grumpy X Sunshine
� Best friend's Older brother
❤️ Enemies to Lovers
� Angst slow burn
❤️ Age gap
� Small town
❤️ Marriage of convenience
� Forced proximity
❤️ Opposites attract
� He falls first
April 20, 2025
Buckled in Barbwire (ARC review)
Thank you to Harloe Rae for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Review to come!
My rating: 4,5/5 ⭐️
Spice level: 2/5 🔥
Thank you to Harloe Rae for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Review to come!
My rating: 4,5/5 ⭐️
Spice level: 2/5 🔥
April 17, 2025
This is a cute, fast-paced read. The only issue I have is that it feels so rushed. They go from enemies to lovers in the blink of an eye. One minute Brody can’t stand Paisley, and the next he’s falling in love. There’s opportunity to expand and explore his journey there.
Harloe does write some fiery spice though! If you’re looking for a small town, enemies to lovers, cowboy, nest friend’s brother, marriage of convenience story, with incendiary spice, this is all of that.
Harloe does write some fiery spice though! If you’re looking for a small town, enemies to lovers, cowboy, nest friend’s brother, marriage of convenience story, with incendiary spice, this is all of that.
April 17, 2025
I’ve got my bags packed, my boots on and I’m ready for a cowboy like Brody. “Buckled in Barbwire� is a steamy, chemistry filled and swoony small town, marriage of convenience romance that was another great story from Harloe Rae.
Brody Benson has the weight of the family business on his shoulders and is feeling the pressure. The family is still mourning the loss of their mother and are dealing with it in their own ways. His father shuts down and his sister, Bianca, decides that she needs to travel the world. That leaves him without extra help but Bianca hires her best friend, Paisley, to help. Brody wants to be in control of their family empire but his Dad won’t hand it over unless he’s married so he decides that Paisley is the perfect woman to be his temporary wife.
From the first chapter, I was hooked on Paisley and Brody. The chemistry they have is undeniable and I loved the slow burn of their relationship. Paisley is genuine, independent and I loved how close she was with Bianca. She fits in so well on the ranch and was the perfect choice of Brody to be with. Brody is grumpy, aggressive in business but has a huge heart. He wants to help his family after losing their mother and can do great things for the ranch. I loved that his Dad pushed him into marriage because it is what he needed. The banter between them was fantastic and had me cracking up more than once. The chemistry was hot and I couldn’t stop reading until they finally gave into it. And once these two were all in with each other, they were even more incredible together. Brody wants to spoil and take care of Paisley which I loved so much. Once Brody fell, he fell hard and fast and his nickname for her was cute. The ending was great and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Brody Benson has the weight of the family business on his shoulders and is feeling the pressure. The family is still mourning the loss of their mother and are dealing with it in their own ways. His father shuts down and his sister, Bianca, decides that she needs to travel the world. That leaves him without extra help but Bianca hires her best friend, Paisley, to help. Brody wants to be in control of their family empire but his Dad won’t hand it over unless he’s married so he decides that Paisley is the perfect woman to be his temporary wife.
From the first chapter, I was hooked on Paisley and Brody. The chemistry they have is undeniable and I loved the slow burn of their relationship. Paisley is genuine, independent and I loved how close she was with Bianca. She fits in so well on the ranch and was the perfect choice of Brody to be with. Brody is grumpy, aggressive in business but has a huge heart. He wants to help his family after losing their mother and can do great things for the ranch. I loved that his Dad pushed him into marriage because it is what he needed. The banter between them was fantastic and had me cracking up more than once. The chemistry was hot and I couldn’t stop reading until they finally gave into it. And once these two were all in with each other, they were even more incredible together. Brody wants to spoil and take care of Paisley which I loved so much. Once Brody fell, he fell hard and fast and his nickname for her was cute. The ending was great and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
April 23, 2025
Some romances are emotional, some full of drama, some suspenseful, and some fun. This gifted storyteller delivers one that's the perfect combination of all the best romance elements in Brody and Paisley's grumpy/sunshine union.
Bless his heart, Brody has reasons for his grumpy, taciturn personality. After their matriarch's death, responsibility for their billion-dollar ranch empire is all on him. Brody’s sister is MIA, his father is checked out mentally and emotionally, and some of the extended family seem determined to see Brody fail. At least his sister made arrangements for someone to take over her work in her absence.
Paisley has been Brody's sister's BFF for years, yet he never seemed to know she existed. He’s certainly aware now, because he can’t seem to go anywhere on the ranch without seeing the sparkly, sunshiny horse expert. And when he needs a wife in order to become CEO of the family's business, well, Paisley fits the bill.
Buckle up, my reader friend, this one's about as wild as an untamed horse, and I was here for every second! This gifted wordsmith managed to make me fall belt buckle over boots for an ornery, conniving cowboy and his bright, shiny counterpoint.
This talented wordsmith has a flair for creating authentic characters that we wish we could be friends with and often recognize pieces of ourselves in, securing their place in our hearts that much more firmly and permanently. Add in a beautiful, inviting setting that will have you packing your bags to move there, and you’ve got a can’t-miss, must-read that you'll definitely want to dive into today!
Bless his heart, Brody has reasons for his grumpy, taciturn personality. After their matriarch's death, responsibility for their billion-dollar ranch empire is all on him. Brody’s sister is MIA, his father is checked out mentally and emotionally, and some of the extended family seem determined to see Brody fail. At least his sister made arrangements for someone to take over her work in her absence.
Paisley has been Brody's sister's BFF for years, yet he never seemed to know she existed. He’s certainly aware now, because he can’t seem to go anywhere on the ranch without seeing the sparkly, sunshiny horse expert. And when he needs a wife in order to become CEO of the family's business, well, Paisley fits the bill.
Buckle up, my reader friend, this one's about as wild as an untamed horse, and I was here for every second! This gifted wordsmith managed to make me fall belt buckle over boots for an ornery, conniving cowboy and his bright, shiny counterpoint.
This talented wordsmith has a flair for creating authentic characters that we wish we could be friends with and often recognize pieces of ourselves in, securing their place in our hearts that much more firmly and permanently. Add in a beautiful, inviting setting that will have you packing your bags to move there, and you’ve got a can’t-miss, must-read that you'll definitely want to dive into today!
April 23, 2025
I received an ARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.
Whoa Nelly, I never really thought I had much for cowboys before. But can we get a round of applause for Brody Benson, the ultimate rugged cowboy with a soft gooey center?! Good grief, that man's inner monologue had me feeling some kinda way.
Buckled in Barbwire was everything I didn't know I needed in a cowboy, small-town romance.
Grumpy cowboy with family baggage? ✔️
Sassy, independent sunshine-y heroine? ✔️
Angsty slow burn with forced proximity? ✔️
Best friend's brother and a marriage of convenience? DOUBLE ✔️
My only... I don't wanna say complaint, but something I found odd, I guess? Was how easily Brody just manipulated everyone, tossed money at people and everyone just grinned and went along. I mean, her parents were just like "Give us grandbabies!" and didn't even bat an eye! I mean, I know small towns run on favors and family history, but that was kinda weird to me haha
There's this scene, and I don't wanna spoil it for anyone, but there's a mechanical bull. Let your imagination run wild. I'm also a huge fan of terms of endearment, and I love Brody's nickname for Paisley. Their chemistry, and the sexual tension running amuck, is outstanding! This is a promising start to this new series!
Whoa Nelly, I never really thought I had much for cowboys before. But can we get a round of applause for Brody Benson, the ultimate rugged cowboy with a soft gooey center?! Good grief, that man's inner monologue had me feeling some kinda way.
Buckled in Barbwire was everything I didn't know I needed in a cowboy, small-town romance.
Grumpy cowboy with family baggage? ✔️
Sassy, independent sunshine-y heroine? ✔️
Angsty slow burn with forced proximity? ✔️
Best friend's brother and a marriage of convenience? DOUBLE ✔️
My only... I don't wanna say complaint, but something I found odd, I guess? Was how easily Brody just manipulated everyone, tossed money at people and everyone just grinned and went along. I mean, her parents were just like "Give us grandbabies!" and didn't even bat an eye! I mean, I know small towns run on favors and family history, but that was kinda weird to me haha
There's this scene, and I don't wanna spoil it for anyone, but there's a mechanical bull. Let your imagination run wild. I'm also a huge fan of terms of endearment, and I love Brody's nickname for Paisley. Their chemistry, and the sexual tension running amuck, is outstanding! This is a promising start to this new series!
April 14, 2025
Whew! This book was the perfect grumpy-sunshine, marriage of convenience romance. The push and pull of their banter was fantastic! Brody and Paisley burned up the pages!
Brody was the most surly grump, but mostly with Paisley. He carries so much responsibility on his broad shoulders, not to mention the grief of losing his mother. On top of trying to keep the farmstead running smoothly, Brody is also trying to avoid his growing attraction to his sister’s best friend. Paisley was a literal ray of sparkly sunshine. She's amazing with horses and grumpy men. I love how bright she shines! And she doesn't put up with Brody's crap. Their banter was great!
Their marriage of convenience was very original and different, which is always refreshing. I love that Brody falls first. The way he goes about proving that what he feels is true was everything. He had is work cut out for him, by his own doing. Paisley gives him a safe place to land and brings him a peace he's never had. These two own my heart!
I loved seeing characters from other books too! This was a fast paced read with amazing banter, healing, personal growth, and an epic slow burn. Can't wait for more!!
ARC review.
Brody was the most surly grump, but mostly with Paisley. He carries so much responsibility on his broad shoulders, not to mention the grief of losing his mother. On top of trying to keep the farmstead running smoothly, Brody is also trying to avoid his growing attraction to his sister’s best friend. Paisley was a literal ray of sparkly sunshine. She's amazing with horses and grumpy men. I love how bright she shines! And she doesn't put up with Brody's crap. Their banter was great!
Their marriage of convenience was very original and different, which is always refreshing. I love that Brody falls first. The way he goes about proving that what he feels is true was everything. He had is work cut out for him, by his own doing. Paisley gives him a safe place to land and brings him a peace he's never had. These two own my heart!
I loved seeing characters from other books too! This was a fast paced read with amazing banter, healing, personal growth, and an epic slow burn. Can't wait for more!!
ARC review.
April 17, 2025
Rating: 9/10⭐️
Spice: 2/5🌶
Tropes:small town; cowboy; marriage of connivence; billionaire; little sisters best friend. ; grumpy x sunshine
vibe Quote:“Black diamonds?� “Like my heart,� I explain. “Figured you could use a reminder of me.� “As if I could forget who I belong to,�
Brody's mom died and it truly rocked the entire family... Now, his dad is wanting him to take over the family ranch but he has one stipulation... he want's him to be married... Now, Brody is stuck. He always wanted to run the ranch so he has one choice.... Find a wife and who better than his little sisters best friend.
OMG THIS WAS SO FUN.
Paisley and Brody's banter was TOP TIER. I feel as though I have to give you a quote from it so you can see JUST HOW GOOD IT IS.
“Is that meant to resemble”—I squint at the glittery band tucked in velvet—“barbwire?”� “All the better to buckle you with,�
I loved how low drama this book was... like yes, it dealt with a heavy topic but the story itself was just so fast paced and entertaining you can't help but binge it.
This was my first Harloe book and I am just so excited for my next!!
Spice: 2/5🌶
Tropes:small town; cowboy; marriage of connivence; billionaire; little sisters best friend. ; grumpy x sunshine
vibe Quote:“Black diamonds?� “Like my heart,� I explain. “Figured you could use a reminder of me.� “As if I could forget who I belong to,�
Brody's mom died and it truly rocked the entire family... Now, his dad is wanting him to take over the family ranch but he has one stipulation... he want's him to be married... Now, Brody is stuck. He always wanted to run the ranch so he has one choice.... Find a wife and who better than his little sisters best friend.
OMG THIS WAS SO FUN.
Paisley and Brody's banter was TOP TIER. I feel as though I have to give you a quote from it so you can see JUST HOW GOOD IT IS.
“Is that meant to resemble”—I squint at the glittery band tucked in velvet—“barbwire?”� “All the better to buckle you with,�
I loved how low drama this book was... like yes, it dealt with a heavy topic but the story itself was just so fast paced and entertaining you can't help but binge it.
This was my first Harloe book and I am just so excited for my next!!
April 22, 2025
4.5 �
After his mom passed away, Brody is forced to take over majority of the responsibilities of the family ranch, Benson Farmstead. He had accepted his fate in the business until his sister leaves to travel and puts the stable in the care of her best friend, Paisley.
Having Paisley at the ranch seemed to lift Brody’s dad’s spirits and he came up with this ultimatum for Brody, that he has to settle down before he can officially own the farm and that Paisley is the perfect match for him.
Paisley and Brody are complete opposites. She’s sunshine and sparkles, while Brody is grumpy af, and they compliment each other perfectly. I enjoyed the characters so much and the back-and-forth banter and tension between them. I loved the moments when Brody realizes he’s slowly falling for Paisley.
While I think Brody went to extreme lengths to get Paisley to “agree� to his proposal, it didn’t deter me from the plot.
It was a quick, fast-paced read with a slow build up to their relationship. I couldn’t put it down!
I loved the little hints about Brody’s sister, Bianca and her upcoming book!
After his mom passed away, Brody is forced to take over majority of the responsibilities of the family ranch, Benson Farmstead. He had accepted his fate in the business until his sister leaves to travel and puts the stable in the care of her best friend, Paisley.
Having Paisley at the ranch seemed to lift Brody’s dad’s spirits and he came up with this ultimatum for Brody, that he has to settle down before he can officially own the farm and that Paisley is the perfect match for him.
Paisley and Brody are complete opposites. She’s sunshine and sparkles, while Brody is grumpy af, and they compliment each other perfectly. I enjoyed the characters so much and the back-and-forth banter and tension between them. I loved the moments when Brody realizes he’s slowly falling for Paisley.
While I think Brody went to extreme lengths to get Paisley to “agree� to his proposal, it didn’t deter me from the plot.
It was a quick, fast-paced read with a slow build up to their relationship. I couldn’t put it down!
I loved the little hints about Brody’s sister, Bianca and her upcoming book!
April 24, 2025
I was really looking forward to this and usually love a marriage of convenience trope, but struggled with this one and almost didn’t finish 1/3 of the way through. Brody is such a manipulative dick. There’s nothing good or endearing about him or his harassment and coercion, and Paisley is the complete opposite. He prevents his sister and Paisley, who are best friends, from speaking to each other for weeks while he plans his charade. Among other things. He treats Paisley like shit for the first half of the book and she should’ve cussed him clean out and been done with him from jump -long before he ever trapped her into a relationship. Brody’s a piece of shit. But he’s rich, so yay for him, I guess. She deserved so much better than him. Brody’s dad is no better for concocting the scheme in the first place -he’s really a piece of shit too. I tried, but couldn’t manage to be interested in or enjoy the reason and scheming behind the forced marriage at all. It’s been a while since I was so pissed off by main characters.
I loved Paisley and Bianca’s relationship though and thought Bianca was the best thing about the book.
I loved Paisley and Bianca’s relationship though and thought Bianca was the best thing about the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2025
This was a great read, bit of a slow burn but the sexual tension was building from the start.
Brody and his family are grieving the loss of his mum 2 months ago, Brody has buried himself in work at the family ranch, his dad has shut down and his sister Bianca has decided to go travelling.
But while Bianca is off on her travels she has hired her bestie Paisley to help out with the horses, a fact Brody is not happy about.
To say Brody and Paisley get off to a rocky start is an understatement. But then Brody’s dad suddenly changes his terms for Brody taking over the family business�. He has to get married.
Brody has the perfect girl for the job, he just has to convince her to agree to it�. Or force her into it 😈
I loved seeing their relationship grow and how much Brody changes around Paisley. That man loves deep when his walls are down.
The scenes with the bucking bronco was hot!! 🥵
I’m excited for Bianca to get her book.
Brody and his family are grieving the loss of his mum 2 months ago, Brody has buried himself in work at the family ranch, his dad has shut down and his sister Bianca has decided to go travelling.
But while Bianca is off on her travels she has hired her bestie Paisley to help out with the horses, a fact Brody is not happy about.
To say Brody and Paisley get off to a rocky start is an understatement. But then Brody’s dad suddenly changes his terms for Brody taking over the family business�. He has to get married.
Brody has the perfect girl for the job, he just has to convince her to agree to it�. Or force her into it 😈
I loved seeing their relationship grow and how much Brody changes around Paisley. That man loves deep when his walls are down.
The scenes with the bucking bronco was hot!! 🥵
I’m excited for Bianca to get her book.
April 22, 2025
Yee haw! What an introduction to a new series, Cloverleaf Meadows, by Harloe Rae!
This is the story of Brody and Paisley, and what a wild ride they are.
Reading this story brought me back to the days when I was younger and used to barrel race my little quarterhorse mare Windy at the 4-H rodeos. Now, obviously, I wasn't lusting after cowboys back then, but it was nostalgic all the same.
This fast-paced, grumpy/sunshine romance had me turning the pages until the end. I loved the dynamic between Brody and Paisley, and their whirlwind relationship is swoony as all get out.
Brody is broody and feels the weight of the world and his family ranch on his shoulders. The unfortunate passing of the family matriarch makes him feel this weight even more.
Paisley is Twinkles in every sense of the word. She does her best to help her best friend move past the grief of losing her mom, and in doing so, she puts her in Brody's path.
This is a fantastic introduction to a new cast of characters, and I cannot wait to see what comes next from the world that Ms. Rae has created!
This is the story of Brody and Paisley, and what a wild ride they are.
Reading this story brought me back to the days when I was younger and used to barrel race my little quarterhorse mare Windy at the 4-H rodeos. Now, obviously, I wasn't lusting after cowboys back then, but it was nostalgic all the same.
This fast-paced, grumpy/sunshine romance had me turning the pages until the end. I loved the dynamic between Brody and Paisley, and their whirlwind relationship is swoony as all get out.
Brody is broody and feels the weight of the world and his family ranch on his shoulders. The unfortunate passing of the family matriarch makes him feel this weight even more.
Paisley is Twinkles in every sense of the word. She does her best to help her best friend move past the grief of losing her mom, and in doing so, she puts her in Brody's path.
This is a fantastic introduction to a new cast of characters, and I cannot wait to see what comes next from the world that Ms. Rae has created!
April 18, 2025
4 Star Review Buckled in Barbwire by Harloe Rae
What’s not to like when there are cowboys involved in the story?
This is Paisley Keaton and Brody Benson’s story and from the first chapter to the last I was drawn into the story that the author wove.
The characters were easy to relate too and it was entertaining to watch the push and pull dynamic as their relationship developed.
I loved how Paisley brought light into grumpy Brody’s life. There were a number of times where I found myself laughing out loud and the secondary characters added an additional layer to the story.
What’s not to like when there are cowboys involved in the story?
This is Paisley Keaton and Brody Benson’s story and from the first chapter to the last I was drawn into the story that the author wove.
The characters were easy to relate too and it was entertaining to watch the push and pull dynamic as their relationship developed.
I loved how Paisley brought light into grumpy Brody’s life. There were a number of times where I found myself laughing out loud and the secondary characters added an additional layer to the story.
April 23, 2025
I really liked the characters and felt that they fit well together. The sunshine-grumpy trope is one of my faves. Then she throws in the fact that the mmc is a broody, billionaire cowboy needing a fake fiancée� talk about chef’s kiss. The fmc gives as good as she gets and gets coerced to be in this fake relationship with her best friend’s older brother� ahh!! I swear this author slayed. HR never fails to compel me with her stories. The plot and character development is always on point. To sum up what I feel about this book� yasssss! Another must read by an auto-buy author.
April 19, 2025
Buckled in Barbwire by Harloe Rae is a best friend's older brother, enemies-to-lovers, small-town stand-alone romance, and it was so good! I love this author's writing style and storytelling, and this story was no exception. Brody and Paisley had me laughing out loud, and the chemistry between them had sparks flying all over the place, and the ending was perfect! The whole story was amazing, and I would highly recommend it with more than five stars!
April 19, 2025
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Troupe
Cowboy/Cowgirl
Best Friends Brother
Smalltown
Paisley and Brody
Paisley helping out her best friend, working at the family Farmstead while she travels. Her friend’s brother, Brody doesn’t want her there, at all. And makes her life uncomfortable. It’s a fine line between love and hate .
I love Harlow’s writing. Her FMC are strong and independent. I loved these two especially their banter.
Looking forward to the rest of this series.
April 20, 2025
Let me gush about this gush. I loved this book so much. I love this author and her books. She never writes anything dark, and I love that about her. Brody was the biggest grump Ive read in a while, and he held on to that for a a good bit of the book. Paisley was a field of wildflowers, and I loved it. Brody's ways of getting Paisley to marry him were rough, but in the end, he confessed his lies and honestly showed her what was underneath. That man melted my heart. These two together were on fire, and I ate it up. Seriously, this book is fantastic!!! I can't wait for the next one.
April 23, 2025
Oh my goodness, Buckled in Barbwire by Harloe Rae is the swoony billionaire cowboy, small-town romance you NEED! The opposites-attract dynamic between the broody cowboy and the sunshine-and-rainbows FMC is just pure perfection. Their constant bickering is hilarious, but the moment they finally throw down? 🔥 Pure fire! I’ll never look at a mechanical bull the same way again! 🥵
The chemistry and sexual tension are off the charts with these two. Seriously, this book is packed with drama, witty banter, and moments that had me laughing out loud. Even the side characters added so much personality to the story. I'm looking forward to more stories from the Benson Ranch! 🩵🤠
The chemistry and sexual tension are off the charts with these two. Seriously, this book is packed with drama, witty banter, and moments that had me laughing out loud. Even the side characters added so much personality to the story. I'm looking forward to more stories from the Benson Ranch! 🩵🤠
April 21, 2025
Good lord did Harloe do a number on my heart with Brody and Paisley!
Enemies to lovers is just a start! Good gravy, Brody is such a broken, hurt man. Bring Paisley in with her sparkle, Brody becomes the man on the farm you don’t want to see.
But. Her sparkle is not something he can find himself looking away from. He hates her. Right?
Literally the best read, Brody will have you melting by the end!
Enemies to lovers is just a start! Good gravy, Brody is such a broken, hurt man. Bring Paisley in with her sparkle, Brody becomes the man on the farm you don’t want to see.
But. Her sparkle is not something he can find himself looking away from. He hates her. Right?
Literally the best read, Brody will have you melting by the end!
April 18, 2025
What a cute enemies to lovers/ best friends brother type romance! I loved what sparkle Paisley was in this story and how she did not so easily fall for Brody's words. Brody was so brooding and just stubborn and kept his walls up high. The way they came together and the quick falling was so good. I really enjoyed this read!
April 23, 2025
Buckled in Barbwire is a enemies to lovers, small town story where you can cut the animosity with a knife. Oh boy. Brody and Paisley are like fire and ice, complete opposites and their witty kind of aggressive banter made me laugh at times.
It isnt till Paisley is given a proposition that things go entirely in a different direction than you expect. Brody has been given an ultimatum by his Dad to become the owner of their family farm. Needless to say Brody has his work cut out for him to convince Paisley.
I enjoyed this book. It was lighthearted, steamy, thoughtful and had some stressful moments too. All in all a good read!
It isnt till Paisley is given a proposition that things go entirely in a different direction than you expect. Brody has been given an ultimatum by his Dad to become the owner of their family farm. Needless to say Brody has his work cut out for him to convince Paisley.
I enjoyed this book. It was lighthearted, steamy, thoughtful and had some stressful moments too. All in all a good read!
April 13, 2025
All the banter and slow burn goodness. And when it ignites, wow. Paisley and Brody have intense chemistry. I loved their relationship. I liked the way Brody falls for her. I enjoyed the storyline and liked the characters a lot. Overall this was a really good read I binged in a couple hours.
April 23, 2025
Paisley and Brody are a match made in cowboy chaos!
Brody is doing all he can to keep the family business afloat as well as showing why he should be the man in charge. When his father throws a curveball Brody proposes a plan to Paisley that she refuses to take part in! Well Brody hasn’t worked as hard as he has to let her have the final say and what takes place is a game of wills and heart!
Brody was so good at being bad. He definitely has me wanting to slap some sense into him but in the end you couldn’t help but love his heart because he truly did what he could to keep the family legacy in tact. I love Paisley and that she isn’t afraid to speak her mind and make herself heard.
A very funny and angsty summer read that will set you on fire.
Brody is doing all he can to keep the family business afloat as well as showing why he should be the man in charge. When his father throws a curveball Brody proposes a plan to Paisley that she refuses to take part in! Well Brody hasn’t worked as hard as he has to let her have the final say and what takes place is a game of wills and heart!
Brody was so good at being bad. He definitely has me wanting to slap some sense into him but in the end you couldn’t help but love his heart because he truly did what he could to keep the family legacy in tact. I love Paisley and that she isn’t afraid to speak her mind and make herself heard.
A very funny and angsty summer read that will set you on fire.
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