Review: Hold the Line by Julia Wolf (The Kelly Ranch #2)

Note: An advance reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author via Valentine PR.

We're back in Sugar Brush, Wyoming with the second book in Julia Wolf's Kelly Ranch series, and Hold the Line has met the lofty expectations set by the series starter, See It Through. The next Kelly to get their chance at their happily-ever-after is Phoebe, who is three years younger than Hannah, the female main character in the previous book, so I'm guessing she's about twenty-six. Sugar Rush is Phoebe's pride and joy, and the bakery café has become a go-to for the town. Her family is a pillar of the community; the Slaters, however, not so much. Both the Kellys and the Slaters have reputations that precede them, although for the latter, not in a good way. So, when Deacon Slater realizes he's moved into the apartment above Phoebe's, he doesn't quite understand why someone like her would want to be around an ex-convict like him. They weren't even exactly friends when he was a year ahead of her in high school. Making clear he would prefer they keep their distance from each other, Phoebe tries to stay out of his way, but Deke steps in and protects her when she needs someone. As different as they may seem to be, Phoebe and Deacon just fit in ways many may not have expected. When Deacon's past, however, refuses to let him freely forge a future with Phoebe, will these two be able to hold the line and make it through together?

The Kellys and the Slaters may not have been the Hatfields and the McCoys, but the former were a study in contrasts, which made it understandable why there was a stigma of sorts when it came to being associated to anyone with the last name Slater. So, I understood why Deacon was as wary as he was during his initial interactions with Phoebe as adults. But goodness me, Phoebe was a force to be reckoned with, and she refused to associate Deacon with anything nefarious simply because he happened to have the last name that he did. I appreciated the time they took finding their footing and they gave each other grace whenever necessary. She truly was the sunshine that broke through the shadows that were lingering around him as he tried to create a better life for himself after he spent a few years behind bars. Coming from such different family backgrounds and because it was clear what kind of family the Kellys were in the series starter, I found Deacon's rather interesting, especially when it came to his dynamic with his two siblings. I loved the pacing of the story and how everything played out as these main characters fought for their happily-ever-after. Giving Hold the Line five stars is easy; waiting for the third Kelly Ranch book? Not so much.

-------------------------

Read my reviews for the Kelly Ranch series:

See It Through (book one) - five stars - My Review

Hold the Line (book two) - five stars - My Review (posted above)

-------------------------

Release Date: 15 May 2025

Date Read: 12 May 2025

Learn more about Julia Wolf.

Pre-order Hold the Line on Amazon.