Within Range

By: Ruth Stilling

Thanks to Hambright PR for the ARC of this book!

Wooo! What a book! In this age gap, forbidden love romance, we meet Billie, a 21 year old college drop out who is pregnant, and Emmett a 35 year old NHL player who is Billie’s dad’s best friend who is also fresh off a divorce. Emmett has known Billie forever, and he’s never looked at her this way. But it’s been 3 years since they have seen each other, and in that time, Billie has really grown up. Emmett and Billie find themselves spending more time together and their attraction and feelings grow stronger. Emmett tries to stay away. He knows Scott, Billie’s dad, is never going to be happy about his feelings for his daughter. Can their relationship weather the storm that is Scott?

Emmett is really such a cinnamon roll MMC, well at least out of the bedroom! He’s so sweet to Billie and her daughter, Blake. He took to Blake so easily and formed such a sweet bond with her. I also love how much he wanted to lift Billie up – he wanted her to have everything that she wanted and he was willing to help any way that he could. Billie is very mature for a 21 year old, but not too overly mature that it’s unbelievable. She has her doubts and insecurities too. Reading these two, you could feel their chemistry and their tension.

I understand Scott’s reaction. So even though he reacted the way that he did, I didn’t mind it. He was trying to protect his little girl. Maria, Emmett’s ex-wife, on the other hand had to be the one character that I didn’t like in the book. She’s nothing but a jealous, two-timing woman who wants to control Emmett and basically make him as miserable as she is. I love that his just lets her roll off his back.

This is part of a series, but absolutely can be read as a standalone. I haven’t read any of the other books in the series and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. However, if this author always writes such great characters with amazing chemistry, I’ll have to read more of their books!

Publish Date: January 29, 2026
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