Westward: A small town, second chance, hockey romance

Name: Westward: A small town, second chance, hockey romance
Rating: 4.6875 (16 reviews)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Jul 2026 · Ashford Creek Book 3 · Carrie Ann Ryan

16 reviews

Ebook

420

Pages

Eligible

About this ebook

Atlas Carter has it all.

One of the best careers in the NHL as a star goalie.

A family that sacrificed everything to get him where he is.

And a small town that praises him as their golden boy.

What he doesn’t have is the girl he left behind.

But when Atlas gets hurt and is forced to spend his recovery in Ashford Creek, he finally has a second chance.

Elizabeth loves her life—her small town, her family, and her job.

Only she knows she can’t love Atlas Carter.

They parted ways for a reason, and those who judge her from her town don’t need to know the truth. She knows what it feels like to have the town’s eyes on her when it comes to Atlas Carter. So when she finally gives in, she’s prepared for the heat.

At least that’s what they both tell themselves. Because the season is almost here and choices will have to be made.

Only they aren’t the only two forced to make a choice. Somebody doesn’t want Atlas to return…and small towns keep their secrets for a reason.

**Westward is right person, wrong time, hockey hero, small town romance in the Ashford Creek series featuring Atlas and Elizabeth. Each book can be read as a complete standalone. A HEA is guaranteed!**

About the Ashford Creek Series

A small town. Big secrets. And a fallen founding family. Ashford Creek is waiting.

The Ashfords were once the leaders of their small town, but that was generations ago. Now they’re the children of the town drunk—a man that most likely murdered not one wife, but two. Or at least that’s what current gossip says.

Now it’s time for the Ashfords and their friends to reclaim their names and uncover the town secrets that shroud their every movement.

But in order to do that, they’ll need to right the wrongs they’ve made and take a few chances none of them saw coming.

***

The Ashford Creek series is a small town, contemporary romantic suspense series full of enemies to lovers, best friends saying yes, a few (or more) single dads, and all the heat the best book boyfriends can take.

Keywords Contemporary Romance;romantic suspense;Small town;Second Chance Romance;HockeyRomance;Contemporary Suspense;best friend's little sister;brother's best friend;former athlete mmc;NHL player;secret relationship;found family;meddling family;family saga romance;football player hero;spicy romance books;neighbors to lovers;forced proximity;healing;Stand Alone Series

Atlas Carter has it all. One of the best careers in the NHL as a star goalie. A family that sacrificed everything to get him where he is. And a small town that praises him as their golden boy. What he doesn’t have is the girl he left behind. But when Atlas gets hurt and is forced to spend his rec...

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Ratings and reviews

16 reviews

Margaret Cambridge

July 28, 2026

A beautifully written second chance romance with a touch of suspense and a lot of family love. Elizabeth and Atlas were high school sweethearts but life made them choose to go their separate ways, not because they didn't love each other, but just that their lives went in different directions. Atlas rarely visits but with his Hockey career coming to a close he has decisions to make and the biggest one is how to get the girl he let get away back into his arms. Love has a way of triumphing.

Megan S

August 10, 2026

Small town NHL star Atlas Carter is torn between the life he has and the small town life he left behind. Though grateful for where he is, and the Ashford Creek community for helping to allow him to be himself when he’s home, he can’t help but be disappointed in the girl he left behind, Elizabeth. Elizabeth now knows the two paths they were on as young adults were right love, wrong time. The two want to try to make it right for them, but several obstacle recur are in their way, namely history.

Dar Good

July 27, 2026

The one you never got over! That is the case for both of these people, who were together and had to make tough choices when they were young. Time and maturity has them considering things in different ways, and possibilities they previously discounted, are considered. It isn’t straightforward, or easy, or painless, but they are committed to be together and making things work for them this time around <3

About the author

Carrie Ann Ryan is a bestselling romance and paranormal author. She writes the Redwood Pack Series. Her titles often make the bestseller lists and include: Delicate Ink, Ink Enduring, Ink Exposed and Tempting Boundaries.

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