Somebody Like Me by Stefanie K. Steck: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

The last thing Kyla Richards needs is a man asking “What’cha Drinkin’” as she starts her life over, but the Cowboy who caught her eye asks just that. As the sparks fly and cue balls roll, Kyla decides that she just needs one night to be free, before the real world summons her back.

Rhett Hartwell has thought of nothing else since he first laid eyes on Kyla, and after their one shared night, he’s not ready to let her go. After learning the reason why she’s starting over, he doesn’t hesitate to offer his home, Hartwell Hills Ranch, as a place to refresh and unwind before starting down her new path.

But when Kyla’s gaslighting ex catches up with her, there’s only one thing she can think of to push him away - getting “married” to Rhett. Happy to tie the knot with Kyla, Rhett is determined to show her just how perfect she is all while Kyla is trying to hide from the threat at his front door.

Kyla wants a reset, but what if all she really needs is somebody like Rhett? The temporary marriage should be just that…temporary. Unless they find themselves being roped down the aisle for real?

The Author

Stefanie K. Steck has always wanted to be an author, and she’s excited to be finally accomplishing her dream. She began writing from a young age, after reading Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’s book Demon in my View. From then on, she was always writing stories in her trusty notebook that went everywhere with her. Since junior high she has always kept her characters close, even giving them all signatures. She’s happy to say she still has all her first stories, though those are for her enjoyment only.

Stefanie grew up in Park City Utah, and currently resides in Salt Lake City with her husband Spencer, three kids, two dogs (who she loves almost more than writing), and a newly adopted cat. She works as a full-time dental assistant in Park City, which she rather enjoys. When she’s not harassing the Dentist she works for with her many Disney facts (she swears he actually likes them), assisting on a root canal or cleaning her house; you can find her writing her new novels or cuddling with her dogs and kids. She enjoys reading, is an avid Pokémon GO player and loves all the Marvel movies (Iron Man and Spiderman are her favorites, oh and she will never leave out Loki).

All Because of Elowin is her first novel, and she hopes she has many more to come.

Book Review

Not only does Somebody Like Me have perhaps one of my absolute favorite covers... the story inside is absolutely just as beautiful too. When Rhett and Kyla meet, it was never meant to be anything more than one night, but their connection was immediate and far more than just a physical one. Oh my goodness, Rhett... he is absolute cowboy perfection. The way he protects and opens up his world to her without a second thought... I absolutely loved it! He was so good for her--- just what she needed. I loved seeing her heal as the story goes on. Their chemistry was absolutely sizzling, but it was also a really tender and heartfelt romance too... the perfect blend of both! I loved his search for the perfect nickname and the one he landed on... oh, so sweet. The story also had a beautiful feeling of found family... I loved how effortlessly Kyla fit into the Hartwell family, like she was always meant to be part of it. The side characters in this story were absolutely fantastic--- human and animal alike. Josie and Stetson added so much cuteness and light to the story (and because it does deal with some heavier topics like emotional abuse, that was much needed). I've definitely been craving cowboy romances lately, and this one absolutely delivered on that front. I've never been to a rodeo myself, but this story had me feeling like I was right there. I adored it. 

Somebody Like Me is a fade-to-black romance, but definitely has some steam. While the fade-to-black books I personally tend to read are more subtle and fade out long before anything actually happens, this one has a few intimate moments where the buildup is much more heated (clothes come off, etc.), but it DOES eventually fade to black before the actual act. It does also have quite a bit of language to include several uses of the f-word. Though it's a bit more than I typically prefer on those fronts, the story was SO good that it didn't impact my personal enjoyment at all... still, it may not be for all readers, so definitely keep that in mind. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4feRNms