The past is the past—until he shows up on your doorstep.

Self-proclaimed good girl Aubrey Hale has too many secrets. Among them is missing the big-city life she left behind for small-town Montana—the life that included a one-night stand with country star Gunner Woods. But Aubrey and her friends have recently sworn off men. So when Gunner turns up in Timber Falls looking all kinds of sexy, she pretends she’s never met him.

Gunner is surprised to see Aubrey again and even more surprised by how she’s acting. The carefree woman he knew for one night is now jaded. After a failed record launch, Gunner can relate—and maybe they could even find solace in each other, if she’d stop treating him like a stranger.

Aubrey’s not ready to let her guard down, but she’s just fine with letting the sparks between them burn… But when Gunner’s career reignites, she’ll have to reckon with her discontent. Can you chase two separate dreams without burning everything to the ground?

Titles in the Naked Moose series include: The Devil in Blue Jeans* ~ Lone Wolf in Lights* ~ The Rebel with Broken Strings^ ~

This story may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult 18+ audience.

Title:  The Rebel with Broken Strings
Series:  Naked Moose #3
Author:  Stacey Kennedy
Published:  November 25, 2025
Publisher:  Harlequin Afterglow
My Rating:  4 stars

The Rebel with Broken Strings is the third title in the Naked Moose series in Harlequin’s  Afterglow imprint.  Full disclosure: I hadn’t read the entire series at the time I picked up this ARC, yet once I finished Aubrey’s and Gunner’s story, I went back to purchase the two earlier books because I wanted to know what came before.  Spending money on any earlier books to complete a series (to that point) is an indication of my enjoyment of the reading experience I got from the story.  For me, it wasn’t necessary to have read the previous stories to enjoy this one, but it did spike my curiosity to know what had happened earlier in the series.

For one amazing week, Aubrey and Gunner were intensely, passionately involved… until Gunner disappeared from her life without warning, and as a result, Aubrey turned bitter toward him.  When they cross paths again, she’s not at all willing to listen to anything Gunner has to say, even though the attraction between them certainly hasn’t died down.

I’ll be frank in saying that of the two main characters, I enjoyed Gunner more.  It was easier to get behind a man who saw his issues, did something about them, and is looking for forgiveness (from himself as well as others) and redemption.  Aubrey, for me, seemed so stuck in the past and could not let go of her “version” of the truth that she, at times, became annoying.  I didn’t see her grow as much as Gunner did, although the connection between them still shouted that they belonged together.

If you enjoy a romance full of redemption, complications, and a passionate love that cannot be denied, then you’d love The Rebel with Broken Strings by Stacey Kennedy.  I found it to be well-written, emotional, and engaging enough to want to go back to read the entire series (so far). If that sounds like your kind of romance reading experience, then you’d enjoy Aubrey and Gunner’s story.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust.  It is my choice to leave a review, giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)