Pine Ridge Book 0.5: Returning to Pine Ridge by Ana Ashley

Pine Ridge Book 0.5

Unemployed. Blacklisted. Drowning in debt 

I'm the saddest case of a man who had it all and then lost it.

Back in Pine Ridge, I smile and lie. Everyone thinks I'm thriving in Denver. 

But in a hot minute I confess everything into a recording microphone, and I meet Kai. 

His kindness terrifies me. I'm completely, and unexpectedly drawn to him.

As we fight a predatory corporation threatening to exploit our small town, something shifts. Kai sees me and suddenly I'm not pretending anymore. I'm real,  honest, and I'm becoming someone I actually want to be.

In this small town I once couldn't wait to escape, I'm discovering what I've been searching for all along.

Home isn't a place. It's a person.

And maybe—just maybe—I'm brave enough to stay.

Returning to Pine Ridge is a prequel novella in Ana Ashley's new series, Pine Ridge. Expect small-town romance, corporate corruption, and discover why this small town becomes a sanctuary for broken men learning to heal. This is where the story begins.

********

My Review: 5/5 Stars

Atlas returns home to Pine Ridge for his parents’ anniversary party and the only thing that is crossing his mind is trying to hide what’s been going on with him the last few months. In trying to do the right thing at work, he ends up fired and backlisted. He’s not homeless and has debt and he is trying hard to stay afloat and figure out what to do. And telling his parents and family the truth? He hates it. He doesn’t want to disappoint them. And in a moment he ends up confessing everything into a microphone but lucky for him the only person who is listening is Kai. Kai, who immediately gets rid of it before anyone can hear and reaches out to Atlas with a listening ear. Because that is really what Atlas needed. Someone to listen and comfort and perhaps see past what he is hiding. Kai doesn’t expect the connection sparking between him and Atlas and when they must team up to save the town from being exploited by a big corporation, well Atlas may find more than one reason to come back home. This was a great way to get a sneak peek into this series! Looks like we have some great characters, a great town, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what comes next!