About This Episide

The Story

Hazel Noble loves her job managing the mares at High Country Ranch, where she gets to work alongside her secret crush, Maverick Oakley—who just happens to be the ranch owner and her brother Sterling’s best friend. Everything changes when Maverick accidentally ruins Sterling’s wedding, turning best friends into worst enemies. With a family rift threatening everything, Maverick must finally admit his feelings for Hazel while navigating the complicated waters of the “bro code” and a promise he made to Sterling years ago.

When tragedy strikes, Maverick is forced to choose: his loyalty to his best friend or his love for Hazel. But after pushing her away, will he be too late to win her heart?

Learn more about the book on Jody Hedlund’s website

What We Loved

That Opening Scene! The wedding debacle hooked us immediately. We couldn’t stop talking about how Maverick calling everyone “darlin” created such chaos. Sometimes being a charming flirt can backfire!

The Family Dynamics were beautifully done. The Oakley family includes Maverick, his two sisters, two adopted brothers, and an older brother. What impressed us most was how seamlessly the adopted brothers were woven into the family—you’d never know they weren’t biological siblings if it wasn’t mentioned. The way this family rallies around each other when someone needs help really showcases what found family is all about.

The Foaling Scenes gave us those late-night moments where Hazel and Maverick couldn’t avoid their feelings anymore. There’s something about working side-by-side caring for animals that brings people together!

The Bro Code Debate

We had quite the discussion about Sterling’s insistence that Maverick stay away from Hazel. Wouldn’t you want your sister with someone you know and trust? Sure, you know all their flaws, but you also know their character. We agreed the bro code might need some revising!

Unexpected Twists

Maverick’s accident threw us for a loop! We genuinely worried the story might take a much darker turn based on what the doctor was saying. The recovery felt a bit rushed to us, but it fit Maverick’s determined, stubborn character.

We also loved the unique proposal tradition Maverick and Sterling had planned for each other—helping set up the perfect proposal spots. Sweet as it was, Maverick never ended up using his! Hazel figured it out anyway and took matters into her own hands, leading to a spontaneous elopement that was perfectly them.

A Note on Sterling

Don’t worry if you’re invested in Sterling’s story—Jody Hedlund has announced a spinoff Noble Ranch series that will feature him! We were so relieved to hear this because he kind of disappears from the story after the dramatic opening.

Our Ratings ☕

Drama Level: Latte (lots of drama from page one!)
Mystery Level: Espresso (minimal mystery)
Suspense Level: Espresso (not much suspense)
Inspirational Level: Espresso (this isn’t part of her inspirational series)
Romance Level: Mocha to Latte (depending on your tolerance—it’s definitely present but clean)
Lasso Rating: 2-3 Lassos (we were hooked enough to keep reading the series!)

Final Thoughts

Waiting For the Rancher is a solid start to the High Country Ranch series. While none of the couples in this series have traditional weddings with all their family and friends (they all just elope!), the romance and family bonds make up for it. If you enjoy sweet, clean Western romance with great family dynamics and a brother’s best friend trope, this series is worth picking up.

The best part? Jody always leaves a teaser for the next couple, so you’ll find yourself immediately reaching for the next book. We certainly did!

Up Next: Join us next week as we discuss book two in the series, Willing to Wed the Rancher!

Have you read Waiting For the Rancher? What did you think about the wedding disaster opening? Let us know in the comments!