When her phone dies in Yellowstone, she might just find a real connection.

Ember Hollis is addicted to her phone and chasing relevance when a sudden microburst floods her Yellowstone campsite and waterlogs the one thing she can’t live without. Forced offline, she collides with Ridge a rugged, very hot park ranger with cowboy roots, muscles for days, and no cell phone at all.

As the wilderness strips away the filters, Ember is forced to face herself. And while the park buzzes over a legendary wolf returning to Yellowstone for her mate, Ember discovers a deeper love—one that leads her not just to a man, but back to Christ.

This was my second book by Cassandra Joelle, and one of the things I love most is supporting indie authors. I could definitely see growth in her writing compared to the first book I read by her, which was encouraging. Overall, this was a sweet, wholesome, and clean Christian romance that had several elements I enjoyed, even though I did have a few issues with it. There is no language and no spice. 

My biggest challenge with this story was how heavily the faith elements were presented. I enjoy faith-based fiction and appreciate stories that incorporate Christian themes, but this one felt a little too preachy for my personal taste. I don’t mind discussions about God, prayer, or faith journeys, but at times, it felt like the message overshadowed the story itself. The constant faith conversations made some of the characters feel less realistic and relatable, and there were moments when the dialogue felt somewhat awkward or unnatural.

As for the characters, I liked both Ember and Ridge, but I never felt fully connected to either of them.

Ember was honestly a bit difficult for me to warm up to in the beginning. She came across as somewhat immature, obnoxious, and frustrating at times. Thankfully, she grew on me as the story progressed. I appreciated her character arc and enjoyed watching her become more self-aware and develop stronger personal convictions. Her spiritual growth was one of the strongest aspects of the book. That said, her transformation felt a little too easy and happened rather quickly. While I enjoyed seeing her change, I found myself questioning whether such significant growth would happen quite so smoothly in real life.

Ridge was easy to like because he was genuinely kind, respectful, and deeply committed to his faith. He consistently put God first and stayed true to his convictions, even when faced with temptation or difficult circumstances. I admired the way he treated Ember with respect and integrity throughout the story. However, my biggest issue with Ridge was that he almost felt too perfect. I wanted to see more flaws, struggles, or moments of weakness that would have made him feel more human. Because he seemed to have everything figured out, I found it harder to connect with him on a deeper level.

The romance itself was another area where I struggled. While I liked the idea of Ember and Ridge together, I never fully felt the chemistry between them. Their relationship seemed to develop more because of circumstance than a genuine emotional connection. At times, it felt a little insta-love, and discussions about marriage came up much sooner than I would have preferred. I wanted more time to watch the relationship grow naturally and to see a stronger emotional bond develop between them. More character development and romantic tension would have made the love story feel more believable for me.

One aspect of the book I absolutely loved was the setting. The Yellowstone backdrop added so much charm and adventure to the story, and I especially enjoyed the scenes that took place in Colorado, where I currently live. There’s always something special about reading a story set in places you’ve visited or call home. The camping trip gone wrong premise kept me engaged from beginning to end, even though I found myself wishing a bit more had happened throughout the story. I also went into the book expecting stronger summer vibes, but it actually takes place during the transition from winter to spring.

Another highlight was the message about society’s dependence on social media and cell phones. That theme felt incredibly relevant and added some thought-provoking moments to the story. It encouraged me to reflect on my own habits and served as a reminder of the importance of being present and connected to the world around us.

While this book certainly had its ups and downs for me, I still enjoyed the overall reading experience. The story was wholesome, uplifting, and contained positive messages that many readers will appreciate. Despite some of my criticisms, I’m glad I picked it up and will continue supporting Cassandra Joelle’s work. I also love that her books are available on Kindle Unlimited and tend to be shorter reads, making them easy to fit into a busy reading schedule.

Overall, this wasn’t a perfect fit for me, but it was still an enjoyable read, and I’m interested to see how the author’s writing continues to evolve in future books.