I ate this one up. Firstly, I'm always thankful to get more interracial romances as someone in one, as I feel like there don't seem to be many marketed. Bonus points for the "cowboy" aspect of it. I was fully invested in Cherry and Duke and seeing them get their HEA because they both truly deserved it. Duke is so swoony, and I loved the spice in this one. I'm a sucker for a brother's best friend trope, and Emma did it justice with this one! The banter and tension were perfection, and I will definitely be recommending this one.

It started out interesting but it just went downhill from there. I actually hated how FMC accpeted that everyone babied her her whole life, and I get it, she had seizures but to the point of not being allowed to have a tattoo without the consultation from the whole family, her brother's friend and all the doctors? Come on. And like I guess Duk was kind of part of the family but why he had anything to say? Why do they always make decisions for her and never ask her what she wants and treat her like she's this stupid little animal at zoo that can't think for herself.

And she went with it. She didn't really rebel until she went on a motorcycle at the very end and even then when she had that conversation with ehr brother it was half-assed.

And I hate that she still lives at the small town she was so desperate to escape from? Yeah, sure, she lives party in the city but she wanted to get away. For once I'd rather have FMC who sucessfully escapes the small town and never returns and it's MMC who follows her to the big city.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc!!
Riding The Line was a really cute, easy, fun read!!
Duke and Cherry were really great characters and who doesn’t love a brother’s best friend trope? There was also great health rep in this book and I really loved watching Cherry’s journey, finding herself and her adventurous side and her own voice. Overall a great smalltown romance read! Can’t wait for the next book!

This steamy cowboy romance is a must read for fans of the genre. It had top tier banter and chemistry between the MMC and FMC which kept me reading. Brothers Best Friend is a personal favourite trope of mine so I devoured this. Thanks to Emma’s team and NetGalley for the ARC.

This swoony cowboy romance is a must read!
I adored Cherry and Duke’s story and I cannot wait to read more of Emma Lucy’s book. The banter was hilarious, the tension and chemistry better Cherry and Duke was sizzling and the spice was perfect. Absolute amazing.
Thank you!

I knew I was going to love Cherry and Duke's story but not this much.

The Brother's Best Friend is one of my favourites and this book is one of the reasons too. The way that you can see their relationship develop, going from an unrequited crush, to friends to then lovers is literally perfect. The way both of them start opening up to each other slowly, but truthfully, how much they trust each other is what makes this book special.

The book has the perfect mix of sad moments and also delicate topics, with an mmc with a dirty mouth who rides a motorbike (and he knows how to use it iykyk) and an fmc that slowly is becoming confident in her skin and is not afraid to use it to her advantage.

Cherry and Duke have won my heart, not only with their love story, but as characters. Willow Ridge has also a spot in my heart, and I can't wait to continue reading more books.

And last, thank you Harper Collins for an ARC of this book.

I liked the first book in this series but I loved Riding the Line so much more. Duke and Cherry's story is beautiful, the perfect slow burn romance but it's clear to see that they are made for each other; I was completely hooked from the start. I also liked that Wyatt and Rory made an appearance throughout the book too. Great representation of epilepsy but I honestly didn't realise Cherry had endometriosis until it was mentioned in the acknowledgements.
Overall I really enjoyed this one and looking forward to reading more from Emma Lucy.

The ultimate slow burn small town brothers best friend romance.
I was swooning i was crying i was laughing i was smiling.
All the emotions went by but mos of all I fell in love with Cherry and Duke.
They already peaked my interest in Live Ranch Love.
And to see them blossom into their love, make each other stronger and face some battles but ultimately conquer them?
It was amazing!

It was just the right balance between the tension and the love filled. It kept you intrigued constantly.
The bucket list was such a lovely add in to the story. Cherry struggles with endometriosis and epilepsy. This caused her to miss out on a lot and to see her fully live her life and overcome it all to show I can do it was such women empowerment!
Duke struggles with a lot of loss, this causes him to be afraid to commit because he can’t lose anymore people around him. Which makes in a way that he also misses out on a lot in life.
To see how Cherry bucket list ties in to them both fully live there lives was just amazing!

There is Just one question I have, where did Cherry her best friend go? She made the bucket list after all… Maybe she will be more important in one of the next books, I can see that happening 😏

Just like the first book, I really enjoyed this one!
The dynamic between Duke and Cherry perfection, their banter, tension and natural chemistry kept me turning the pages. It truly felt like they were destined for each other.
Emma Lucy captured that push and pull perfectly and I found myself rooting for them the whole way through. A couple of slower spots kept it from being a full five stars, but overall this was such a fun romance.

I absolutely adored the first book in this series so when the second became available, I was so excited to be given this ARC to read. And, to no surprise (to me), I absolutely adored this book. It simply did not disappoint.

I loved this small town, slow burn romance and absolutely love Emma's descriptive writing - the connection between the main characters is just chefs kiss. I love the bucket list element and the respectful nod to health issues such as endometriosis.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I waited so long for this book and what do I do now it’s over 😭

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Heading back to Willow Ridge was a dream. I feel like I waited for this specific book for so long and I never wanted this to be over.

The tension between Cherry & Duke had been built over years and it finally started to explode once Duke caught a look at Cherry’s bucket list...a list which contained a few extra things she didn't need her boss and brothers best friend to see!

Literally swooned every time Duke called Cherry baby Hensley like that man has my HEART.

Duke is the vibe of says a little but what he does say, counts. As a bartender, he's a good listener and people watcher and I feel like Emma did such a good job as showing his type without saying the words. He watched and listened to Cherry and understood why this bucket list was so important and helped her come out of her shell, and explain her emotions to her family and friends that had cocooned her in safety. He fought for beside her, never overstepping her and letting her have the power and confidence to do it herself.

Duke & Cherry together, chase the dreams they've been putting off for various reasons and it’s such a journey. This book was just pure enjoyment from start to finish, I loved every moment.

I'm such a sucker for side character building, it makes me fall in love even more. We got a some scenes with Wyatt & Rory from LRL as well as seeing the friendship group who I’m sure we will be seeing more of...making me ever so excited to continue my willow ridge journey!

♥ Tropes ♥
Brother’s best friend
Disability rep: endometriosis & epilepsy
Small town romance
Friends to lovers
workplace romance
bartender x waitress
slow burn

♥ info ♥
1st Person
Dual POV
Standalone in the willow ridge series

♥ ratings ♥
Characters - 7/10
Atmosphere - 6/10
Writing Style - 6/10
Plot - 6/10
Intrigue - 6/10
Logic/Relationships - 6/10
Enjoyment - 6/10
Spice - 2/5
Overall Rating: 4 stars

This was my first book by Emma Lucy but it’s fair to say I’m obsessed!!! Now I need to go back and read the first book in the series because Riding The Line pulled me in from the start and I couldn’t stop reading it.
If it’s a small town romance you already know I’m going to love it. But this one was off the charts amazing.
The chemistry between Cherry and Duke is perfection and their banter so funny!! I loved how the epilepsy representation was portrayed and how it was a important part of the book.
Highly recommending this one!!!

Rating - 4.25⭐️

Cherry is sick of being treated like she is about to break at any moment; her epilepsy meant that her childhood was closely monitored and she missed out on far too many things. That’s why, on her final summer before the end of college, and the start of adult life, she has a bucket list. She wants to have the experiences she missed out on. When duke offers to help, she is over the moon - she has always crushed on Duke. He is 6 years older than her, sexy and covered in tattoos. The big issue - he is her brother’s best friend and treats her like his little sister.

Everyone is sleeping on Emma Lucy, I loved live ranch love and didn’t think this would be as good but it really was. The banter in this was top tier, I really loved cherry and her character growth in this book was amazing. Duke has such a troubled soul but with a heart of absolute gold. You can feel the chemistry literally pouring out of the pages, and the spice - sweat inducing.

A heartfelt small-town romance full of charm, slow-burn tension, and the kind of chemistry that sneaks up on you.
If you're a sucker for the brother's best friend trope, a cozy small-town setting, and a bucket-list-fueled summer of self-discovery, then this book is definitely for you! I actually ended up enjoying this one even more than the first in the series — Cherry and Duke completely stole my heart.
Cherry is determined to truly live this summer before heading into her final year of college. With a bucket list in hand and a desire to break free from the limitations her epilepsy and endometriosis have imposed on her, she's set on chasing joy. Enter Duke — her older brother’s quiet, guarded best friend — who stumbles upon her list and unexpectedly offers to help her check off a few items. Strictly as a friend, of course... until that line starts to blur.
Their connection was everything — soft, sweet, and built on mutual respect. I especially appreciated how Cherry’s strength and vulnerability were both portrayed. Watching her find confidence and push back against fear was inspiring. The inclusion of her health struggles was honest and important, adding so much depth to her character.
And Duke? I've had a soft spot for him since book one. His reserved nature made his moments of vulnerability all the more powerful. He never tried to hold Cherry back, but instead supported her in becoming even more herself. Their growth, individually and together, was beautifully done. Also, let’s just say the motorcycle scene lives rent-free in my head — and if you know, you know. And the bar scene? Equal parts hilarious and maddening.
The pacing of their romance was lovely — a true slow burn that felt earned. Sure, a few scenes tipped into cringe territory, but they were still irresistibly cute. My only real gripe was with the conflict near the end; it dragged on a bit too long and wrapped up too quickly for my liking. I would've loved a couple more chapters to truly settle into their happily ever after.
Overall, this was such a warm, emotionally satisfying read. Cherry and Duke were a joy to root for, and I can’t wait to see what’s next in this series!

When one of your brother's best friends has been your crush for as long as you can remember, you can forgive Cherry for being a tad tongue tied around the man! Cherry may be younger than Duke but she is an adult, almost ready to graduate from college but still her family insists on treating her like a fragile flower - she has Epilepsy and Endometriosis but she knows her triggers and does her best to mitigate them but they still insist on almost infantilising her.  It's a group discussion on what she does with HER life!

Duke now runs his family's bar and it's a roaring success.  Having Cherry working there is both a blessing and a curse - he gets to see more of her but he also gets to torture himself for feeling like a creepy stalker.  He should not be having feelings for his buddy's little sister!

Add a bucket list with ever increasingly smexy items, an uber-extroverted bestie and a streak of determination to catch up on the things she's been missing out on and poor Duke does not stand a chance!

I love a small town romance when it's done well and this hits the spot.  Duke fits seamlessly into Cherry's family and Cherry let's him see that it's ok to not always know how things will go.  They both have to deal with the trauma of loss and dealing with a chronic illness.  All those little signs that Cherry plays on his mind were not lost on (Cherry Martini anyone?)  Duke is also a proponent of therapy, it was so refreshing to see mental health battles being depicted so well.

Duke is so disarming and comfortable with Cherry that he feels he can be open with her and lay out all his "flaws" for her to see. He sees Cherry not her illnesses and he is her biggest champion and supporter.  There are a few brilliantly smexy scenes involving a motorbike!

I do wish that the fear over breaking the news of their relationship to her brother was seen as less problematic.  If they know each other so well then he has to know that Duke would never hurt Cherry, but then that would make it a bit of a shorter book. I thought the solution to their location problem was handled well and neither really had to "give up" part of their life or career, they cobbled them together to make something that worked for them.

Perfect, perfect. Perfect.

I absolutely loved this. It was light, easy reading but had great representation for epilepsy and endometriosis. And as a sufferer of endo myself it was great to read something so accurate.

Dare I say I loved this more than the first book? Cherry was just such a vibe and her a Duke just went together so well! I loved that Wyatt and Rory were so present and I love the friendship group as a whole.

Bring on book 3 and huge congratulations Emma!!!

4.5 stars 🌟
This is the second book in the Willow Ridge series, and it follows Cherry and Duke. Cherry has made a bucket list of things she wants to do before she finishes uni to make the most of her last summer at Willow Ridge before she has to get a job. Duke is her older brothers best friend and the bartender/owner of the bar that she works at when she is home. Cherry ropes Duke into helping her with her bucket list. Cherry is over being treated like glass by her family due to her epilepsy diagnosis, so her bucket list includes things like ride a motorcycle and get a tattoo. I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, quick read. I have not read the first book in this series, and I liked that I was given all the information that I needed during the book. I really liked the relationship between Duke and Cherry, and I liked that it was a slowburn. I loved how he cared for her, and I love that he was working on his communication for her. I loved them completing her bucket list. The only thing that I did not like about this book is that Cherry's brother acted like she was a child through a lot of the book, even though she is 21. Overall, this was such a fun book, and you should definitely pick it up when it gets released! This book is perfect for small town, slowburn, age gap (21 and 27) relationships.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We all know how much of a sucker for a good brothers best friend and cowboy romance books I am.

I loved Cherry the moment we met her in Live, Ranch, Love and her book just made me love her more. Seeing her growth throughout the book through not letting her epilepsy control her life and how confident she became while completing her bucket list was so cool to see. I loved seeing how Duke cared so deeply for Cherry and allowed her to do what she wanted while remiding her of her limits and being there when she needed him.

I loved how much we saw Rory and Wyatt throughout the story I love them so much. We all know the best part of a brothers best friend book is when the brother found out and this did not disapoint at all.

Riding the Line comes out on Sept 11th and if you love small town, cowboy or brothers best friend romances this is for you.

Thank you to Netgally and HaperCollins for the arc!

I enjoyed being back in Willow Ridge with Cherry and Duke and i was once again absorbed straight into their story. Emma’s writing is fantastic, and having struggled with a few before this one, I was hooked and didn’t want to put it down. Whilst maybe cliche at points, the story was well written and I think it was done really well. The whole best friend’s little sister / age gap vibe was handled really well.

The spice was so good! That motorbike scene was HOT!

I only dropped a star because whilst I know that author addressed CHerry’s epilepsy and endometriosis in the acknowledgements, i actually felt they could have been addressed more in the story. The epilepsy was done very well - but this is coming from someone who knows very little about it - but in terms of the endometriosis, as someone who has very little knowledge on the matter, I felt it could have been dug into more in the story. It wasn’t obvious to me that this is what Cherry was suffering from - I honestly presumed she just had difficult periods and that’s likely on me. But it would have been nice to explore it a bit more.

Overall though, a fantastic book and I cannot wait for more from Emma.

I was so excited to be given this advanced copy of the second book in the series after reading book 1 when it was very first released as an indie book.

I absolutely LOVED this second book in the series!

Brothers best friend is one of my favourite tropes and this absolutely delivered with the forbidden love, brothers best friend, tension and the struggle to stay away from each other.

The connection between Duke & Cherry was beautiful, I loved how Duke gave Cherry the space to be herself and not be like everyone else in her family and try make decisions for her because of her health issues. I loved how Cherry encouraged Duke to let his walls down, be more vulnerable and see how he needs to be vulnerable to be able to live life fully.

I loved the Endo representation also, as an endo sufferer myself I loved that the problems were touched upon but did not become Cherrys whole story and personality. I loved that she regained her confidence and developed her strength alongside Duke.

I highly recommend this book if you like me love small town, brother best friend & forbidden romance. Thank you netgalley & Emma Lucy for this advanced copy