Painted in Wildflowers
The Darling Brothers, Book 4
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Painted in Wildflowers
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Narrated by:
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Kale Williams
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By:
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Emmy Sanders
I've always listened to my heart, and what it wants is him.
Remi
I can confidently say I never thought my crush on my best friend's older brother would amount to anything.
Until Benson Harper returns to Darling, possibly to stay.
As the forty-two-year-old desperately searches for his sense of self, I begin falling for a man I never truly knew before now. One who's kind, honest, and caring.
Amidst wildlife rehabilitation, explorations in mountain climbing, and the strained tensions with his brother, Benson works up the courage to tell his family he's autistic. And I gain companionship that goes far beyond the eldest Harper brother shadowing me on the ranch.
I wasn't prepared for love to bloom in the quiet days spent by Benson's side.
Now, I'm not prepared to lose him.
Painted in Wildflowers is a brother's-best-friend romance at a small-town ranch, with a twelve-year age gap, the cutest-ever sidekick, Deaf and autistic representation, and one very HEA. It's book 4 in The Darling Brothers series but can be listened to as a standalone.
©2026 Emmy Sanders (P)2026 Emmy SandersI really loved the quiet and gentle connection these two had. There was something so lovely about the way Remi and Benson loved and cared for each other, and their relationship felt incredibly tender without needing to be overly dramatic. They just seemed to fit, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop.
I also thought the neurodivergent representation was really well done. Benson's experience of receiving a late autism diagnosis felt particularly relatable, especially the process of looking back at your life and suddenly having so many things make more sense. I appreciated that his diagnosis wasn't treated as something that changed who he was, but rather something that helped him understand himself better. There were some really lovely moments around this.
I also really appreciated the Deaf representation through Remi, and the way these two learned to communicate and accommodate each other was another lovely part of their relationship. Their connection felt very accepting and safe, and I think that's what I enjoyed most about this book.
My main issue was the pacing. This is a very character-driven, low-angst story, and while I enjoyed the cosy, everyday feel of it, there were times when it felt like not much was happening. I also think I would have connected even more strongly with their romance if there had been a little more emotional tension or push and pull. Everything between them comes together quite easily, which suited the gentle nature of the story, but did leave me wanting a little more emotional impact.
That said, the Darling family continues to be one of my favourite parts of this series, and it was lovely seeing everyone together for the final book. I'm definitely going to miss this family and their little corner of the world.
Kale Williams is back narrating and, as with the previous books, did a great job. His narration has been such a consistent part of this series for me.
Overall, a really sweet and cosy ending to the series. It wasn't my favourite of the four, but I really enjoyed Remi and Benson's quiet, gentle love, and I'm glad I got to spend one last book with the Darling family. 🌶🌶
3.5⭐️
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