Wren Waterstone isn’t just one of the most decorated equestrians in the world―she was also my best friend for as long as I can remember. Until she wasn’t. Now she’s back in Rosewood River, and thanks to a temp agency, Wren has been placed at my ranch. I have no intention of allowing my ex-best-friend to work for me, but when I see the desperation in her eyes, I can’t turn her away, even though I know I should.
Old habits die hard.
Seeing her every day is more challenging than I expected. She’s guarded. Wounded. And she looks at me like I’m the enemy. I need to know why. The more time we spend together, the more the lines between past and present blur―and we find our way back to one another. The only problem is, she’s got big dreams to chase. And I only want to chase her.
I’ve loved this girl my entire life, and our time apart didn’t change that. I let Wren Waterstone get away once. Am I really going to make that mistake again?
(ARC Review)
Axel Chadwick and Wren Waterstone are the definition of it’s always been you. Best friends since childhood, bonded by horses, shared dreams, and a love that grew quietly for years, until it all shattered in one devastating moment. Two years later, Wren returns to Rosewood River after a career-altering equestrian accident, wounded in more ways than one, and thanks to a temp agency, she finds herself working on Axel’s ranch. Forced proximity with the man she never truly stopped loving? Absolutely not on her bingo card.
From the very first reunion, the tension is palpable—hurt, longing, confusion, and a whole lot of unresolved history simmer beneath every interaction. Axel is cautious, protective, and still deeply in love with his Horse Girl. Wren is guarded, aching, and trying to rediscover who she is outside the dreams others shaped for her. Their slow return to friendship feels like slipping back into a favorite old sweatshirt, familiar and comforting, while every glance and touch reminds them of everything they lost, and everything they still want.
“Wren was not only my best friend; she was also a part of me in a way that I couldn’t explain, in a way I actually didn’t realize until she’d walked out of my life.”
What makes this story shine is the depth of emotional healing. Wren’s complicated, often toxic family dynamic broke my heart, especially the way she’d been conditioned to doubt herself. Watching her find her voice, set boundaries, and finally choose herself was incredibly powerful. And Axel…oh, Axel. He is effortless devotion. Steady. Loyal. Protective without suffocating. He never once stops believing in Wren, even when loving her means risking his own heart all over again.
“I want to pay for Wrax because I’m in love with a girl who loves her horse. And I’d give my ranch and my business and everything I own to give you what you want. So this was easy. I was able to do it and proud to do it. He’s protected you and loved you when I couldn’t be there with you. So don’t ask to pay me back again because it’s not up for discussion.”
And let’s talk about the spice, because once these two stop pretending they don’t still want each other… whew. The chemistry is undeniable, magnetic, and deliciously earned. Wren might be a world-class equestrian, but when she decides she likes to wear the hat and ride the cowboy too? Game. Over. The spice is hot, intimate, emotional, and perfectly balanced with the romance, never overshadowing the connection, only deepening it.
“Did you put that hat on your head for a reason?”
“You know I’m a girl who likes to follow the rules. And the cowboy rule is one of my favorites.”
Then there’s the girl gang, which brings the perfect dose of chaotic joy to balance all that emotion. The ladies of Rosewood River rally around Wren in the most unhinged, hilarious way, like the unforgettable late-night mission to uncover who’s behind the Taylor Tea gossip…which somehow involves tequila, pantyhose over their heads, and a very hasty, very drunken escape. I was cry-laughing. That scene alone cemented this found-family group as one of my favorites in the series.
“I sense the wheels are coming off the cart for Eloise, Emilia is getting awfully quiet, and Henley is seconds from having a meltdown about breaking the law. It’s you and me keeping the group together at this point. And do you think Thelma and Louise were sober during their escapades?”
The found family in Rosewood River absolutely stole my heart. Between the Chadwick brothers’ legendary group chats, the fierce ride-or-die girl posse, and the town that refuses to let Wren fall through the cracks, the sense of community is everything. Laura Pavlov nails that perfect blend of heartfelt angst, delicious tension, laugh-out-loud chaos, swoony tenderness, and just the right amount of heat. When Axel and Wren finally confront the past, and the lies that tore them apart, their love feels earned in the most satisfying way.
At its core, In a Heartbeat is about choosing love without fear, redefining dreams, and realizing that sometimes the future you’re meant for isn’t the one you planned, it’s the one you come home to. Axel and Wren’s love is steadfast, forgiving, and forever-level deep. This was easily one of my favorite books in the Rosewood River series, and I closed it with the biggest smile on my face and a full, happy heart.
Release Date: December 16th, 2025
Thank you to Laura Pavlov and Valentine PR & Literary Management for the ARC read!