That Fine Line
by Cindy Steel
Summary
All I wanted was a quiet summer on my family’s ranch in Idaho…
I didn’t think that was too much to ask. With my fiancé in California, I was back home for three months to plan my wedding. I had colors to pick, cows to milk, and a wedding dress to squeeze into.
Which was why I didn’t need anybody messing with me.
Especially not the guy who had dedicated his whole life to making mine a joke. The guy who filled my high school locker with frogs and my hot car with cans of tuna. I mean…I always got him back. But not this summer. Things were different now. I was engaged. I had grown up. I would NOT fall victim to Cade’s pranks, teasing, or his manly charms.
If only my dad hadn’t hired the moron to cowboy for him this summer.
Now my childhood enemy is living on our ranch and seems to think we have a score to settle.
And all bets are off.
My Review
This was such a fun and clean romance with a sweet frenemies-to-lovers arc that completely won me over. There is no language and no spice, which made it an easy choice for a lighthearted pick. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a lovely job bringing the characters and their antics to life.
The story starts slowly, but once it reaches the 30% mark, it settles into a lively rhythm. Prank wars, farm life, warm sunshine, and plenty of summer charm make it an enjoyable ride.
Kelsey has always seen Cade as her lifelong prank rival. They have been trying to outdo each other since the second grade, and Kelsey has kept every memory in a journal that details each prank and her responses. Now she is home for one last summer before her wedding to her polished college fiancé. She returns to the dairy farm ranch where she grew up, even though college shaped her into someone who feels far removed from her country roots. She traded boots and pasture days for a future that follows her fiancé’s wealthy family’s expectations, complete with fancy events and strict standards.
She imagined planning a wedding with her mom, choosing flowers, and doing all the things she once dreamed of. The old Kelsey pictured a ceremony in her dad’s pasture. The new Kelsey does not see herself that way anymore. At least, that is what she keeps telling herself.
Then she discovers that Cade is working on her family’s farm for the entire summer. They agree to pause the prank battles, though temptation lingers. Cade has grown into someone who looks like he stepped right out of her childhood daydreams, yet she is convinced she has moved on from that version of her life. Being home stirs up old desires and childhood lists that do not match the life she is heading toward. Watching Kelsey navigate who she was and who she is becoming made the story both playful and heartfelt.
This romcom is light, silly, wholesome, and incredibly enjoyable. At under 300 pages, it is perfect for a beach day or a cozy weekend when you want something uplifting and easy to finish in one sitting.
Cindy Steel continues to shine in the clean, closed-door romance space. Her books always leave me smiling, and she remains an author I will read without hesitation. Definitely recommend!!