Wilder Estate: Book 1
Publication Date: September 15, 2026
Opposites become unlikely allies when a desperate cowboy needs to marry in order to save his grandfather’s land.
Hayes Wilder needs to find a wife-pronto. After returning to the small town of Honey Hollow before his grandfather’s death, he’s shocked to learn that the sprawling Wilder Estate was left to him. All Hayes wants is the one thing money can’t buy-more time with his grandfather. Failing that, he’ll do whatever it takes to save his grandfather’s legacy from falling into the wrong hands. Even if it means marrying in order to satisfy the terms of the will.
Catherine Foster, reigning Miss Virginia and former Honey Hollow native (who had a childhood crush on Hayes), is saddled with mountains of medical debt ever since her mother’s death. Running out of time to figure out her next move, Catherine reconnects with Hayes at his grandfather’s funeral.
Hayes and Catherine impulsively strike a bargain: He’ll pay off her debts, but only if they get married. Despite the situation, Hayes and Catherine look forward to getting to know each other as adults-after the wedding. Which is tougher than anticipated when the entire town has eyes on them and his half brother keeps circling the property like a vulture, determined to poke holes in their marriage. Most troubling of all, this pair may have miscalculated how much they have in common-enough for this cowboy to fall in love for real.
Blue Jean Summer by Maggie Gates is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is told in alternating chapters by Hayes and Catherine. They knew each other as children and meet again at his grandfather’s funeral.
Hayes inherits the estate, which infuriates his half-brother Lewis, who had plans to sell it off. The glitch to the inheritance is that Hayes needs a wife, at least on paper. Will Catherine be willing to fulfill the role? And what will Lewis do to thwart it?
Watching their plans come together for their fake wedding was fun. There were lots of emotions and feelings, no matter how much they wanted to downplay it. There’s a playfulness between the two, even with some complications, and I like the way they fit together. Some steamy moments also light them up.
There are beautiful descriptions and so much nature with the ranch, the flower gardens, and even the horses. The animals definitely had personalities! Surrounded by friends who felt like family and learning more about Hayes and Catherine added layers to the story. The story flows well, even when they often took a step back when they seemingly didn’t want to. Watching their romance grow was a delight, and I loved all the romantic gestures. There were twists and turns and quite a few surprises before the happily ever after.
Blue Jean Summer is a contemporary romance filled with cowboys, great characters, and some laughs.
Author Maggie Gates writes raw, relatable, romance novels packed full of heat and humor. Maggie calls North Carolina home. In her spare time she enjoys daydreaming about her characters, jamming to country music, collecting vinyl record, and eating all the barbecue and tacos she can find! Her Kindle is always within reach due to a love of small town romances that borders on obsession.
