He may be a King, but I’ll never kneel.
Colton
If asked to list all the folks in Darling, Montana I can’t stand, I’d have a single name.
Noah King.
He’s the second-best farrier in town (me being the first). A royal pain in my behind. And an all-around smug pest I wouldn’t mind knocking down a peg or two.
It’s no surprise after so many years, our animosity has come to a head. I just never in my wildest, hate-fueled fantasies expected Noah’s attack to involve his lips on mine.
It was a mistake, no question. But apparently I still have some things to figure out about myself.
One thing I do know? Noah King and I have been bitter rivals from the start. And nothing, not even the fire he lights under my skin, makes a lick of difference in the end.
Surrendering to my enemy isn’t an option.
Brim Over Boot is a small town, enemies-to-lovers romance between rival farriers, with a double bi-awakening, tension and banter galore, scorching encounters, a slow fall from hate to love, and one very HEA. It’s book 2 in The Darling Brothers series but can be read as a standalone.
THE FACTS
📕Enemies to lovers with HEA
📘 funny, charming, lots of amusing banter and competition
📙 GREAT supporting characters
📘 Very spicy cowboys!
THE GOOD BITS
“Brim Over Boot” is a welcome second book in the Darling Brothers series by Emmy Sanders. The first book, “Sweet Like Whisky” was Jackson Darling’s story and now we get some time to get to know his younger brother Colton Darling.
Colton is a farrier and he’s very good at his job. There’s only one thing that would make his job even better, and that is if his competitor Noah “fucking” King disappeared from the face of the earth or at least left Darling. Colton thinks he is a far better farrier, and he doesn’t want to deal with Noah because the man just gets under his skin and has since the day they met.
The problem is that Noah belongs in Darling. He takes care of his uncle who is the only family he has. He’s good at his job, he gets along decently with most folks … except Colton “goddamn” Darling.
This book was so much fun to read. This is the perfect blend of enemies to lovers and is packed with cowboy-spice – be it reluctant and confused when the two men first collide. This is a double Bi awakening which may be a little unbelievable if you haven’t lived in a small town with folks who work so hard they barely see folks other than their own family. I can totally see ranch hands being too caught up in their own worlds to have even really processed their own sexuality.
While I’m on the topic of sexuality of characters. I love how accepting the Darling clan is of anyone’s sexuality. I particularly enjoy the knowing looks, the sneaky glances and side-eye that the MCs get from their family members. It’s fun to be in on jokes with the family.
The banter is full force in this book. The arguments and bickering between Noah and Colton gave me life. I was giggling to myself quite often and thoroughly enjoyed their dynamic. Their competition as farriers reminded me of when I worked on the grazing reservations in Alberta, and the ranch hands would compete all the time. There’s no lack of consent, just two men letting their passion make decisions for them. I loved the way they uncomfortably checked in with one another that everything was “okay”.
As always, the Darling family plays a lovely supporting role in the story. Sanders has a great talent for being able to craft all the characters in a way that makes them unforgettable. In this book I loved the connection between Colton and his brother Remi. Their candid conversations and loving moments were the cherry on top of this great story.
I’ve grown to love the Darling family members, and I look forward to reading more stories – there’s even one hinted at during the final scene of the book. Emmy continues to be one of my favourite authors in the genre and this book was as expected: charming, cute, fighty, spicy and well written.
Oh, to live near the Darling ranch… how perfect that would make my world.
THE LINKS
🖊 Author
I bought a copy of Brim Over Boot. This is an unbiased review.
Kinzie Things 