A Forbidden Love Story That Will Ruin You (In the Best Way)

Hello my darlings, you know what time it is. Get your glass of wine poured, and get comfy because I’m about to enable your next obsession in the most delicious way possible.

If you love a little scandal, a lot of tension, and romance that makes your heart flutter and your brain go “oh this is a bad idea… but I love it,” then Here With Me by Brooke Montgomery needs to go straight to the top of your TBR immediately.

Let me paint the scene for you, because it’s juicy. We’ve got Noah—bold, headstrong, and living her best small-town life—and Fisher… who just so happens to be her ex-boyfriend’s dad. I know. I KNOW. Take a second. Sip your drink. Let it sink in. But trust me, it’s not just drama for the sake of drama—this one delivers.

So, it all begins at a rodeo (already romantic, already a vibe), where Noah meets Fisher and sparks absolutely fly. We’re talking instant chemistry, the kind that feels reckless and magical all at once. They share one unforgettable night—like, cinematic, heart-racing, “this is going to ruin me” energy. And then… morning comes, reality hits, and Noah realises exactly who he is. Naturally, she does what any of us would do in a full-blown panic—she runs.

End of story? Oh babes, not even close.

Because of course—of course—this man walks right back into her life as the new farrier at her family’s ranch. I mean??? The universe really said “let’s make this as complicated as possible.” And the tension? Absolutely feral. They have to see each other, work together, act normal… while clearly not being normal about each other at all.

And this is where it gets so addictive. You’ve got the age gap, the forbidden dynamic, the whole “we absolutely should not be doing this” energy wrapped up in every look, every brush of hands, every loaded silence. Fisher has that older, rugged, slightly haunted charm (you know the type), and Noah? She’s strong, fiery, and completely unwilling to pretend she doesn’t feel it too. It’s messy in the best way.

And don’t even get me started on the pining. The pining, my loves. The stolen glances, the almost-touches, the way they both try (and fail) to keep things strictly professional… it’s unbearable in the most delicious way. You’ll be sitting there like, “just kiss already,” while also living for the slow burn of it all.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a small-town romance without a bit of chaos sprinkled in. Secrets? Impossible to keep. The ex-boyfriend? Very much still around and trying his luck. Add in a dash of rivalry and a whole lot of emotional tension, and suddenly every moment feels like it could tip over into absolute disaster. And honestly? We love to see it.

What makes this book so irresistible is how it balances all that flirty, forbidden tension with real emotion. It’s not just spice—it’s longing, vulnerability, and two people trying (and failing) to ignore something that feels inevitable. You feel everything with them: the excitement, the frustration, the “this is such a bad idea” energy… and yet you’re rooting for them the entire time.

So please, do yourself a favour: pour a glass of wine, cancel your plans, and dive into this. It’s slow-burn, it’s swoony, it’s scandalous—and I’m still not over it.

Rating: 5/5