She was expected to inherit the family fortune. He was supposed to write a simple story. Neither expected to find love.

Bailey Reynolds traded New York high society for a quiet life in Serenity, Texas, as a single mom raising her daughter far from the spotlight. But when her mother's sudden passing pulls her back into the world she left behind, Bailey returns to the city to protect her legacy-and her daughter-from the very life she escaped.

Enter Malcolm "Mac" Ryan, a war-weary journalist temporarily stuck on the society beat. Their first meeting? A night of laughter, lariats, and just enough whiskey to blur the lines. Their second? Bailey pointing a shotgun at him when he shows up on her ranch to write the story of her life.

Mac isn't one to back down. Drawn to Bailey's fierce independence and guarded heart, he offers to help her navigate ruthless headlines, a scheming ex, and the tangled secrets of Ladder H Distillery. But as strategy sessions turn into stolen kisses, and attraction grows into something deeper, a looming scandal threatens everything they've built.

With her family's future at stake, Bailey must decide: can she trust the man who's slowly earning her heart-or will the past rewrite their ending before it begins?

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Lanyards & Lariats is a grumpy/sunshine, slow burn with sizzle romance filled with relatable relationships, sharp banter, emotional heat, and a love that takes its time but aims for the heart. Perfect for readers who love complex heroines, swoony heroes, and second chances worth fighting for.