For me, this is the epitome of a cozy romance. Adorable main couple? Check. Boisterous family that doesn’t steal the show, but instead supports the main couple? Check. A strong sense of place and time combined with good world building? Check. A plot that allows the main characters to talk, flirt, have emotions and fall in love? Check.

But it also has the things that make any story good. Logical plot progression, a world that feels real and solid under the character’s feet. A sense of whimsy and joy — basilisk eggs in the morning, cowboys who ride dragons instead of horses and use crossbows instead of guns; magical fruits and veggies as well as peas and carrots. A heroine with a good heart, skills and strengths, and even weaknesses that make her feel like a real person, and a love interest with a personality who may not have the finest manners or the biggest billfold, but is kind, considerate, moral and loving.

This is just an adorable, sweet book. If you like western themed romances (without slavery, the suffering of indigenous peoples, or colonization), fantasy romances, or just want a light and fluffy romance, this one is decidedly worth a read. And I have hopes there will be more in the future set in this wonderful world.

Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the Publisher for the ARC.

You know I love a good cowboy romance, but the mix with fantasy worked SO well. Dragons instead of horses? That was already enough for me to start reading. I liked the cozy feeling of the ranch, and how everything felt a bit slower and peaceful compared to usual fantasy books. Still, it had magic, danger, and a romance that kept things interesting. Cassia and Aevrin were both sweet and kind to each other, and I enjoyed watching how their bond grew with time. It was slow, but not boring. The family of Aevrin was really one of the best parts. They brought humor and warm feelings, and made Cassia feel part of something again. That found family part was really touching, and made the whole story feel more emotional and real. I wanted to know more about the magic and how everything worked. But overall, it still pulled me back in quickly. I would totally read more from this series, especially if it follows other members of the family. Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review

4.5 stars
this was such a fun read! it's like a cowboy version of romantasy and i just know that any more books in this world/setup are gonna be good. the world building was done well and i liked the characters

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

3.75 stars

Going into this book based on the blurb, I expected a bit more of the fantasy (considering it had dragons) but it was mainly a country romance based in a fantasy world - not that I'm complaining of course.

The story was quite fast paced, which I liked, and the characters were all pretty likeable as well as consistent in the writing. The plot was low stakes and I liked seeing the romance develop between Aevrin and Cassia, and also seeing Cassia gradually start trusting more. And of course, I will always love a found family trope.

Overall, quite an enjoyable read.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

3.5 stars.

This was an enjoyable, easy to read book, but it wasn't amazing. It's an interesting world, with dragon ranchers; the dragons are like horses or cattle dogs, not the animal being ranched which I really liked. It's a small town and an isolated ranch for the main settings, and a frontier Wild West-esque time setting. There are hints at the greater world but not enough to really have a proper picture of what the main character, Cassia, has come from. We get a lot of confusion and fish-out-of-water from her as she settles in at the Ranch in this far-flung frontier of the Empire. Thankfully this never really felt like a way to info dump the reader.
The characters were mostly pretty fun. For the most part Cassia was very consistently written. She slowly developed as she settled and grew more comfortable at the ranch. She has trauma and I'm glad this wasn't magically fixed just by finding the Riveker family. Each of the family members had a distinct personality, and it was easy to remember who was who (which is pretty important with a big cast).
My main issue was that it didn't delve into the development of the romance enough for me. It was VERY insta-love, with a lot of internal dialogue from both main characters about how attractive the other person is and how they shouldn't be thinking that (this got old pretty quick, but I was glad it was mutual). The sex scenes also felt like a bit much in this story. I actually think a more fade-to-black deal would have worked better.
The other half of my issue was, I believe, because the author was also trying to shoehorn in some drama. The drama was the reason for Cassia being left for dead and I won't spoil the details. But this book was trying to be a cosy fantasy, so the stakes weren't there, and for the drama to be properly effective, for me to care about it, it needed to have STAKES. I would have preferred if Caruso picked either the romance OR the drama. Pick one, develop it deeper, and chuck the other. This book would have been much improved without that particular drama.
The ending felt very rushed, and the climax of the drama felt disappointing (due to lack of stakes and how fast it started and was then over).
Overall, I liked the world, and I liked the characters. I would definitely read more books set in this world and about the family/ranch. I want more dragons.

The Dragon Ranch of Dawn Ridge is a gentle, low-stakes romantasy that blends the charm of a frontier western with a soft layer of magic—and, of course, dragons. With its cozy atmosphere and likable leads, it’s a light read for those who enjoy a softer touch in their fantasy romance.

Cassia, a professional cook on the run, ends up at the ranch of Aevrin, a dragon-riding cowboy with a gruff exterior and a heart of gold. The worldbuilding is quietly satisfying—dragons are used in ranching due to the rocky terrain and fire resistance, and healing magic is worked into the story with thoughtful little touches. Despite this, the plot could easily have been lifted from a historical western romance.

The pacing is very slow, especially in the first half. There’s a lot of domestic detail—cooking, cleaning, and small-talk—which gives it a slice-of-life feel but leaves the story with little forward momentum. The chemistry between Cassia and Aevrin is slow-building (a first kiss around the halfway mark), and their emotional reserve makes the sudden shift to open-door intimacy shortly after feel a bit abrupt.

If you’re looking for a cozy fantasy-western with dragons, gentle pining, and a minimal-steam love story that blooms late, this may be just the thing. But readers wanting a stronger plot or more early romantic tension might find it a bit too subdued. 
It’s a warm, sweet dragon-western with likable characters and solid worldbuilding—but a little more spark and narrative drive would have taken it further.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect blend of romance for any reader who loves a cowboy/rancher romance and a fantasy romance with dragons and other mythical creatures.

Juliette has created something special by bringing these two genres together, and I'm so here for it!

There were times the characters wound me up - miscommunication frustrates me in real life and so it winds me up when I read it, I find myself wanted to reach into the book and giving both MCs a good shake on the shoulders - for Cassia I wanted to shout 'YOU CAN TRUST HIM, JUST TELL HIM WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!', and to Aevrin I wanted to shout 'GO FOR IT, SHE'S INTO YOU TOO AND YOU BEING ALOOF IS CONFUSING HER!' :D

The 'threat' of Cassia's history was wrapped up nicely and neatly, I was so relieved this didn't become something dark and sinister, it stayed in line with the cozy pace and prevented any real concern for Cassia suffering again.

Thank you so much for the ARC, I enjoyed this ride and can't wait to find my bonded dragon and travel to Dawn Ridge! XD

*****Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of The Dragon Ranch of Dawn Ridge by Juliette Caruso in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of the sweetest books I’ve read in a long time. I absolutely loved how simply and gently Aevrin and Cassia’s love story unfolded. The idea of ranch life centered around dragons instead of horses was brilliant. I just wish we had seen even more dragons! I also would have loved more scenes with Kazeic. I’m really hoping to read the stories of the other characters too. I’d love to return to Dawn Ridge.

If you're in the mood for a cowboy romance with a fantasy twist, this one is for you! It’s a delightful mix of cozy and adventurous, with a romance that’s as sweet as it is swoon-worthy. Cassia and Aevrin’s relationship had such a gentle, heartfelt dynamic (one that felt genuinely earned). Aevrin is the kind of MMC I can’t get enough of: patient, kind, and truly devoted. There’s a bit of spice, plenty of charm, and an interesting fantasy component!

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Juliette Caruso for the opportunity to read this book and provide my honest review!

A cozy cowboy romantasy book was something I didn’t realize I needed until reading this! The plot was plotting, the romance was romancing, and the sprinkles of spice were just right. We have sassy dragons, found family, and cowboys! Everything about this book was chefs kiss. It exceeded my expectations and I’ll be thinking about Dawn Ridge and the characters until further notice.

I see your cowboy romance and I’ll raise you a
COWBOY DRAGON RIDER ROMANCE 💖🤠 Loved loved loved!

Cassia is running from a past she wants to avoid and Averin is a cowherd on his family’s ranch who just wants to do the best for his family. When their paths cross suddenly and Cassia finds herself working for her stay on the ranch the two can hardly keep away from each other.

Throw together:
Cowboys
Dragons
Forced Proximity
Found Family
and you have the recipe for a really fun, short and sweet romance.

I loved the magic and world building in this book with it being placed in an early western setting. I enjoyed the concept of dragon bonding and would love to see that idea taken further (perhaps in future books?). There is so much potential and so many hints of an extended world to come. PLUS the Riveker Ranch has been set up similarly to other series in the genre with multiple siblings living and working on the ranch. Meaning there is totally an opportunity to expand the world with books featuring rest of the Riveker crew.

In all it was a fairly short, but fun read with just enough spice. And i will absolutely be keeping an eye for more to come in this series 🤞🏻

4.25 ⭐
What a cozy read! This is just what I needed to break up the more, slightly stressful, books I've been reading recently 😅 Why are there not more dragon-riding cowboy romances?! And these cows/bulls that are fire-breathing/heat generating for both fast carriage transport and extra dangerous bull riding scenarios?! Love it!

I loved that it had just the right amount of world-building so that it didn't feel like an epic fantasy but I could still feel the world in which the story took place. When I read the synopsis I thought the MMC was going to be grumpy, and the FMC sunshine, but honestly, he was such a cinnamon roll, which was PERFECT. Being shy doesn't make one grumpy. His dragon was grumpy though, in case you really wanted that vibe.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

TLDR; An incredibly fantastical, cozy western romance complete with mythical creatures, grumpy cowboys that ride dragons, and a damsel in distress. Perfect for readers looking for cozy slice of life romances!

This world is easily one of the most charming I’ve encountered in fantasy romance. Somehow melding magical realism with historical western romance, all I could think was how incredible this world would be in a video game! I love the setting so much!

As for the story, this is definitely cozy, with low stakes and external conflict. It was honestly such a fun slice of life, getting to know the characters in both cute and heartfelt moments. Both of the MCs are endearing and I loved their friends to lovers arc. Averin is a serious, slightly grumpy, super hunky cowherd that’s soft for only his gal and his dragon. Cassia is a sweetheart with secrets that uses caretaking and cooking to show she cares. Together they were adorably dorky!

The romance was equal parts cute, funny, and hot tension. I loved that Averin fell first and was so endearingly awkward about his feelings. The smut was well done: both caring and hot!

Definitely recommend this one to those that love unique takes on classic romance genres, cozy slice of life, and dragons!

Per the publisher’s request:
* You can find my reviews on: Instagram, my blog, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and Amazon
* IG review and blog to be posted 7/23/25, release day post to be posted 7/730/25, Amazon review on release day, review sites (Goodreads & StoryGraph) posted 7/15/25

Do you love cowboy romance but want it to be fantasy coded? In this book the cowboys ride dragons and look after Armor plated, fire breathing cattle.
I loved that fantasy was interwoven through this whole story which gave it that extra element.

This is a gorgeous cosy romance with found family at its heart. The love story between Aevrin and Cassia is sweet and beleive able and I hope there will be more books in this series

🐉💘 you had me at dragon-riding cowboy lol. The Dragon Ranch of Dawn Ridge serves up the perfect blend of fantasy charm and western heat. Aevrin is the gruff, brooding cowboy of dreams who just happens to ride a dragon and Cassia? A stubborn, skilled cook on the run with secrets simmering under the surface. Their chemistry is cozy, spicy, and absolutely addictive. Between shared chores, rain-soaked tension, and dragon-fueled rescues, this book gave me everything I didn’t know I needed in a romantasy. Yeehaw and take my heart. 🐎🔥 comes out this month!!
#westernfantasy #romance #fantasy #books #bookstagram #bookstagrammer

I wasn’t too sure going into this what to expect, as I generally don’t have any interest in cowboys or Western-styled worlds, but the dragon element was just too tempting and I had to see what was going on! The dragons weren’t really in any way pivotal to this story, and could easily have been regular horses, but they made for fun flavouring (actually this is my feeling about the world as a whole; that’s a heck of a lot of worldbuilding to do for a few minor elements that barely affect the story. Perhaps there are more books planned that might make more use of the really interesting world??). The romance itself is the main focus and it’s super cute - a practical woman and a sweet himbo rancher who seem instantly made for each other. The characters definitely read younger than the book sets them at; Aevrin especially felt VERY young for his age, more like a sheltered 19 year old farmboy than the supposedly responsible 26 year old rancher he was supposed to be - this didn’t put me off but just wasn’t what I was expecting. The stakes are incredibly low - this is just a cute cosy time with an almost sugary-wholesome plot. I will say that the writing could really do with a polish (my copy editor fingers were twitching at all those uncapitalised “miss Cassia”s and that wasn’t all, but for a sweet little comfort read, this hit the spot.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book and would like to thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Save a horse, ride a cowboy (but, make it one with a dragon!).

If you're looking for a high-stakes, edge of your seat fantasy adventure, this may not be the one for you. However, if you're looking to relax with a sweet, wholesome love story sprinkled with magic, then welcome to The Dragon Ranch of Dawn Ridge.

I have never been one to gravitate towards anything with western vibes, even to the point of actively avoiding it, so I was quite surprised when I fell in love with the story. We follow Cassia on her healing journey after outlaws severely beat and abandon her in the desert. She's found by Aevrin, a kind rancher who brings her to safety. He quickly becomes much more than just her rescuer as he and his family take Cassia in, helping her heal wounds that run deeper than the surface.

Some things that made this extra enjoyable for me:

⭐ Found Family: The family Cassia discovers here feels incredibly real. The characters are well-developed and fit together perfectly. This book excels at showing how much these characters care for each other, rather than simply telling the reader. I could truly feel the love radiating off the pages.
⭐ The vibes - The western atmosphere was absolutely on point. From the vivid scenery to the authentic dialogue and culture, I felt completely immersed in their world.
⭐ Magic and creatures - The romance is center stage in this book with the magic taking on more of a supporting role. While it may not be the focus, I absolutely loved the subtle magical elements we were given, like the magical vine thorns used as IVs at the healers' center, or magical plants powering everyday items like iceboxes. The variety of magical creatures was also fantastic, including dragons, hydras, berzerker cows, and my personal favorite: mock-mice, who can transform into household objects to avoid being cleared out. So cute!

I would highly recommend this to any one who enjoys romance with a western flair, or to any one who's looking for a relaxing, wholesome read in-between stories of impending war and oppression. I will definitely be adding more of this author's work to my TBR!

Review posted on goodreads and StoryGraph. Review will be posted on Instagram by 7/15/25 and tiktok by 7/17/25.

The Dragon Ranch of Dawn Ridge *Arc Review*

I LOVED this book! I am always choosing between reading another cowboy romance and a romantasy and this book made it so I didn't have to choose.

Tropes:
🏡Small Town
👪Found Family
🐉Bonding Dragons

Plot: After being found on the brink of death, Cassia finds herself on a ranch with some pretty interesting livestock. Not to mention the ranchers ride dragons instead of horses. Cassia has to resist falling for the sweet cowboy who saved her life.

My Thoughts: There was so much I loved about this book it is hard to list them all. The perfect blend of cowboy and fantasy romance, the dragons, the fire breathing cows, the action, and most of all the romance between the FMC and MMC. Aevrin was such a golden retriever and only wanted the best for Cassia no matter if it broke his heart. He treated her with such care and took the time to step into Cassia’s shoes. I also enjoyed the nosy townspeople you normally get in cowboy romances. I WANT MORE BOOKS THAT FOLLOW AEVRIN’S SIBLINGS! I think you will enjoy this book no matter if you are strictly a cowboy or fantasy romance reader because it gives you the best of both worlds

2 of my favourite types of books meet in one
Dragons and cowboys!!
The romance was so cute and honestly had me giggling and kicking my feet at parts.
I wish we did get to learn a little more about the magic system in the book.

Have I just found my niche? Is it cowboy romantasy? Well, if The Dragon Ranch of Dawn Ridge is any testament to the rest of this sub-genre then the answer is a resounding YES. This book merges outlaws, the old wild west, magic and dragons into a really great story that is full of heart and the perfect amount of yearning.

Our FMC is the perfect fish-out-of-water, allowing us entry into this new world of dragon riding cattle farmers. After being left for dead by the outlaws her brother has fallen in with, she is rescued by our MMC - a cinnamon roll with an absolute heart of gold. The majority of the story takes place within the homestead she finds herself on as she looks to try to payback the family for their generosity.

While there are dark elements to the plot, I would consider this as a cozy romantasy. Aevrin is an absolute gentleman, and he falls first and HARD. There is just the right amount of spice (two open door scenes), and the dynamic between Aevrin and Cassia is honestly nothing short of absolutely sweet. If you like the idea of old-school gentlemen cowboys then this is definitely the book for you. I really hope this is the start of a series of interconnected standalones - I'd love to see more of the Riveker family and see all the men get their HEAs.

Thank you to Juliette Caruso and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to read and honestly review The Dragon Ranch of Dawn Ridge prior to its release.