The only thing worse than twisting your ankle up on a mountaintop?
Doing it in front of the crush who teased you for years.
This hike was supposed to be about hitting the reset button. Getting out of my comfort zone—and hey, maybe proving I’m not such a hopeless indoor girl after all.
Then I slip on a loose rock and go tumbling, scraping up my palms and twisting my ankle. It’s messy. It hurts. And the worst part is: my brother’s best friend saw the whole thing.
I had such a huge crush on this guy growing up.
And he teased me for years—before shocking the whole town by moving to a cabin in the woods and becoming a loner. Now this familiar face is a mystery to me.
Why did he move to the wilderness? What turned the handsome, laughing guy we all knew into a brooding mountain man?
And as he bandages me up in his cabin… can I keep this age-old crush under wraps?
| Title: | Wild Peak |
| Author: | Cassie Mint |
| Series: | Rugged Loners (Book 1) |
| Pages: | 67 |
| Category / Genre(s): | Contemporary |
| Trope(s): | Brother’s Best Friend / Best Friend’s Little Sister Mountain Man |
| Point of View: | First Person, Present Tense, Dual Viewpoint (H & h) |
| Location: | USA |
| HEA: | ✔️ |
| Release Date: | 15 May, 2025 |
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Fun and fast insta-love goodness
I do so love a little bit of insta-love and Cassie Mint always delivers exactly what I’m looking for. This is the first in a new, mountain man series – Rugged Loners – and features the full story of Brooke and Hunter complete with their HEA.
Brooke is fed up of being seen as an indoor introvert with the dubious moniker of Brookeworm – so she puts on her brand new hiking boots and sets her sights on the nearby mountain. After reaching the top, she’s startled by her brother’s long-lost best friend, leading to a sprained ankle and an extended stay in Hunter’s mountain man cabin. But the most dangerous thing on this mountain might just be the lingering crush Brooke’s always had on Hunter – and how she’s going to control it now they’re alone together.
Cassie Mint always writes relatable characters that I’m happy to root for – and Hunter and Brooke are no different. I loved Brooke’s feisty personality and her hilarious inner monologues. Why yes, you won’t get eaten by a bear when you’re snuggled up on your couch with a book! She knows what she wants – Hunter – but she’s also hurt that Hunter just disappeared from her life. Of course she’ll forgive him, however, when she finds out why he’s been avoiding her.
“I do so love a little bit of insta-love and Cassie Mint always delivers exactly what I’m looking for.”
Hunter is that delightful type of mountain man that looks so tough and strong – but inside he’s just a big, squishy teddy bear. He’s been smitten with Brooke since he came back to town 3 years before but she’s his best friend’s little sister so felt he should stay away. Silly man. But at least he’s honourable – until he gets her alone. And then who could blame him?
It’s a Cassie Mint story so of course we’re going to get lots of delicious sexiness. It’s hot and it works. It’s written so well that you’ll wish for your own mountain man to carry you away to his cabin. Sigh.
This is the first book in a new series. We don’t hear about how Brooke’s brother / Hunter’s best friend, Jake, takes the news of their relationship – although he seems to have accepted it in the epilogue. And his own story is the next book in the series and I can’t wait. But for this one – a fun and quick insta-love goody. 5 stars.
* I received this book in exchange for my honest review
Cassie Mint – Romance Author & Daydreamer Extraordinaire
Cassie Mint is a romance author with her head firmly in the clouds.
She writes outrageous, OTT instalove with tons of sugar and steam!
Cassie loves growly, possessive alpha heroes who fall HARD for their heroines and will do anything for that HEA.
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Rugged Loners Series
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