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Naked Moose #1
The Devil in Blue Jeans
A sharp, emotional novel about a tough-minded bar owner who makes a deal with a devil of a cowboy—and might just get burned…
Moving to Montana to buy a dive bar with her two best friends sounds like a can’t-miss idea to Charly Henwood. The scenery is breathtaking, and the cowboys aren’t bad-looking either. Not that Charly’s interested. Her heart is as unmovable as the surrounding mountains. After her cheating ex-boyfriend destroyed their relationship and their nightclub, she’s determined to take care of herself, her friends and their bar.
But it turns out the regulars resent newcomers swapping their craft beer for an extensive cocktail menu. One is particularly not happy—The Naked Moose’s previous owner, Jaxon Reed. The last thing Charly needs is a cocky cowboy telling her how to run her bar, or her life. But maybe she can use Jaxon to her advantage. If he’ll agree to be the prize in a charity auction, Charly will make the bar a little more cowboy-friendly.
When that plan backfires, Charly finds herself doing battle with the biggest temptation in Timber Falls. A man who has made it his mission to win her over, using every infernal means at his disposal. And if her resolve goes up in flames, her heart is sure to follow…
From showing up to glowing up, these characters are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way.
Don’t miss these other fun titles from Afterglow
The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky
The Bookbinder’s Guide to Love by Katherine Garbera
Frenemy Fix-Up by Yahrah St. John
The Boyfriend Subscription by Steven Salvatore
Manila Takes Manhattan by Carla de Guzman
Fake Flame by Adele Buck
Out of Office by A.H. Cunningham
Moving to Montana to buy a dive bar with her two best friends sounds like a can’t-miss idea to Charly Henwood. The scenery is breathtaking, and the cowboys aren’t bad-looking either. Not that Charly’s interested. Her heart is as unmovable as the surrounding mountains. After her cheating ex-boyfriend destroyed their relationship and their nightclub, she’s determined to take care of herself, her friends and their bar.
But it turns out the regulars resent newcomers swapping their craft beer for an extensive cocktail menu. One is particularly not happy—The Naked Moose’s previous owner, Jaxon Reed. The last thing Charly needs is a cocky cowboy telling her how to run her bar, or her life. But maybe she can use Jaxon to her advantage. If he’ll agree to be the prize in a charity auction, Charly will make the bar a little more cowboy-friendly.
When that plan backfires, Charly finds herself doing battle with the biggest temptation in Timber Falls. A man who has made it his mission to win her over, using every infernal means at his disposal. And if her resolve goes up in flames, her heart is sure to follow…
From showing up to glowing up, these characters are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way.
Don’t miss these other fun titles from Afterglow
The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky
The Bookbinder’s Guide to Love by Katherine Garbera
Frenemy Fix-Up by Yahrah St. John
The Boyfriend Subscription by Steven Salvatore
Manila Takes Manhattan by Carla de Guzman
Fake Flame by Adele Buck
Out of Office by A.H. Cunningham
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2024
116 people are currently reading
6098 people want to read
About the author
Stacey Kennedy
122 books2,399 followersStacey Kennedy is a USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romances full of heat, heart, and happily ever afters. With over 50 titles published, her books have hit Amazon, B&N, and Apple Books bestseller lists.
Stacey lives with her husband and two children in southwestern Ontario—in a city that’s just as charming as any of the small towns she creates. Most days, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors with her family or venturing into the forest with her horse, Priya. Stacey’s just as happy curled up indoors, where she writes surrounded by her lazy dogs. She believes that sexy books about hot cowboys or alpha heroes can fix any bad day. But wine and chocolate help too.
Stacey absolutely loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at stacey@staceykennedy.com.
Stacey lives with her husband and two children in southwestern Ontario—in a city that’s just as charming as any of the small towns she creates. Most days, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors with her family or venturing into the forest with her horse, Priya. Stacey’s just as happy curled up indoors, where she writes surrounded by her lazy dogs. She believes that sexy books about hot cowboys or alpha heroes can fix any bad day. But wine and chocolate help too.
Stacey absolutely loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at stacey@staceykennedy.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
October 2, 2024
I thought this would be a case of ‘so bad it was good’, but it was just…bad.
December 30, 2024
why is this a Hallmark movie as a book but not in a cute fluffy way. it’s like they tried submitting a screenplay to Hallmark but they didn’t want it so they added *sexy* scenes to it in the hopes that Passionflix would want it instead.
January 23, 2024
CW: domestic violence (recounted), infidelity (recounted), death of a parent (recounted), car accident
Closed Door Mods: Chapter 6 (some parts), Chapter 13 (some parts), Chapter 22 (some parts)
I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Romance, Afterglow Books, for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Frustrated by the way their lives have turned out, Charly and her two best friends move to Timber Falls to open up their dream bar. However, their vision for the bar is met with opposition from the town’s residents, including the former owner of the bar, Jaxon. From there, tension over the state of the bar grows while also dealing with their feelings for each other.
I had relatively high hopes for The Devil in Blue Jeans. I love small-town romances and I have been wanting to read more cowboy romances. The plot concept caught my interest and I thought it would be a nice, quick read. Yet, I was left disappointed by this book.
Of course, I don’t know if there will be any final edits before the book goes to print on February 20th, 2024, but there are quite some critiques I have for this novel.
First, while I didn’t notice this when I first started reading, the writing style definitely needed some improvement. I’m not a fan of writing styles and dialogue where it seems highly unlikely that a person would say something like that in real life. Kennedy’s writing style was mediocre at best and overall the writing felt forced.
Secondly, the character development and plot execution felt off. While Kennedy had a great plot concept surrounding the book, its execution fell flat for me and there didn’t seem to be enough of a build-up to the book’s central conflict nor was there a solid transition between events in the book. On the other side of the coin, other than some inklings here and there, there weren't any signs of character development in Charly and Jaxon. And for the rest of the characters, they just felt like they were merely there for the main characters and did not have any supporting plot lines of their own (with the exception of two characters).
Finally, I just didn’t feel like the relationship between Charly and Jaxon felt believable. I think this complaint ties into my first two critiques of the book, but I just couldn’t see it for them nor did I quite find myself rooting for them. There really didn’t seem much there and while there was a good build-up early on in the book, it just couldn’t last.
However, there were some things that I liked about the book. In addition to liking the plot concept, I felt that Kennedy did a great job with world-building in creating the small town of Timber Falls and living life in rural Montana. Additionally, I thought Kennedy also did well with crafting the banter between Charly and Jaxon in the beginning of the book.
Overall, while I wanted to like this book, I just don’t think this one was for me.
Closed Door Mods: Chapter 6 (some parts), Chapter 13 (some parts), Chapter 22 (some parts)
I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Romance, Afterglow Books, for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Frustrated by the way their lives have turned out, Charly and her two best friends move to Timber Falls to open up their dream bar. However, their vision for the bar is met with opposition from the town’s residents, including the former owner of the bar, Jaxon. From there, tension over the state of the bar grows while also dealing with their feelings for each other.
I had relatively high hopes for The Devil in Blue Jeans. I love small-town romances and I have been wanting to read more cowboy romances. The plot concept caught my interest and I thought it would be a nice, quick read. Yet, I was left disappointed by this book.
Of course, I don’t know if there will be any final edits before the book goes to print on February 20th, 2024, but there are quite some critiques I have for this novel.
First, while I didn’t notice this when I first started reading, the writing style definitely needed some improvement. I’m not a fan of writing styles and dialogue where it seems highly unlikely that a person would say something like that in real life. Kennedy’s writing style was mediocre at best and overall the writing felt forced.
Secondly, the character development and plot execution felt off. While Kennedy had a great plot concept surrounding the book, its execution fell flat for me and there didn’t seem to be enough of a build-up to the book’s central conflict nor was there a solid transition between events in the book. On the other side of the coin, other than some inklings here and there, there weren't any signs of character development in Charly and Jaxon. And for the rest of the characters, they just felt like they were merely there for the main characters and did not have any supporting plot lines of their own (with the exception of two characters).
Finally, I just didn’t feel like the relationship between Charly and Jaxon felt believable. I think this complaint ties into my first two critiques of the book, but I just couldn’t see it for them nor did I quite find myself rooting for them. There really didn’t seem much there and while there was a good build-up early on in the book, it just couldn’t last.
However, there were some things that I liked about the book. In addition to liking the plot concept, I felt that Kennedy did a great job with world-building in creating the small town of Timber Falls and living life in rural Montana. Additionally, I thought Kennedy also did well with crafting the banter between Charly and Jaxon in the beginning of the book.
Overall, while I wanted to like this book, I just don’t think this one was for me.
August 30, 2025
Cute au final mais vraiment pas exceptionnel. J’ai trouvé Charly vraiment dumb dans ses opinions et ses raisonnements pi ça me fâchait plus qu’autre chose alors j’avais juste hâte de le finir pour pu entendre parler d’elle 😂
J’aime la gang des 3 filles alors je vais finir la série anyways mais pas impressionnée à date lol
J’aime la gang des 3 filles alors je vais finir la série anyways mais pas impressionnée à date lol
March 5, 2024
Loved this book so much, was such a perfect fluffy romance! Need to find myself a cowboy 👢🤌🏻 looking forward to Eli and willows story ♥️
April 16, 2024
The only good thing about this book is the cover and the original premise of the story;everything else is a huge failure..three adult women move to a small town full of cowboys and renovate the only bar in town into a cocktail launch with no beer?!
And they can't figure out why they are failing
Just for the previous owner to come along explaining the obvious for them
It was annoying and highly disrespectful to all women
I didn't understand why Chyral was rude to Jackson at first and hated him
And why would she ask a stupid question like, "Do you always ask women you just mer on a date?"
I mean yeah thats how lots of ppl do it
Everything felt forced and too convenient
And omg, the ex and his family that were major ick
This book needed a lot of thinking to come up with a better storyline..it was such a lazy plot
And they can't figure out why they are failing
Just for the previous owner to come along explaining the obvious for them
It was annoying and highly disrespectful to all women
I didn't understand why Chyral was rude to Jackson at first and hated him
And why would she ask a stupid question like, "Do you always ask women you just mer on a date?"
I mean yeah thats how lots of ppl do it
Everything felt forced and too convenient
And omg, the ex and his family that were major ick
This book needed a lot of thinking to come up with a better storyline..it was such a lazy plot
January 15, 2024
☾ 13/ 100
This was such a pleasant surprise!
I got this ARC via Edelweiss for being a Barnes & Noble bookseller and I downloaded it not expecting much. The cover and title were questionable to me, but the synopsis sounded so good! I highly recommend not to judge this book by its cover because I can't wait to read more in the Naked Moose series. I am DYING for Eli's book!
The Devil in Blue Jeans follows Charly and her two best friends Aubrey and Willow who move to Timber Falls for a fresh new start following the end of their relationships. They decide to reinvent the town's local bar from beer into fancy girlboss cocktails and the town's resident horse breeder and previous bar owner, Jaxon can't stand it. This bar meant everything to the townspeople and these girls are getting it all wrong. To get the bar back, he decides to get Charly to see how this town really works and if he can't he'll just buy the bar back, but the more they spend time together, the more Charly and Jaxon realize they're better together.
If you want a cowboy romance with the perfect small-town setting that truly makes you care and makes you FEEL like you're in Timber Falls with them; READ THIS. I felt like I was there with the characters and sometimes I find cowboy/ western romance to not feel 'yeehaw' enough. This was the perfect amount of yeehaw!
My only cons included:
1) His pet name for her is Kitten... YIKES
2) Her vagina gets referred to as a "sex" which is not my personal favorite word for ladyparts
3) They name drop the title in this book and it made me audibly giggle. Is that really a con though?
4) Sometimes the book felt like they were doing SOOOOOO much. There were many different plot points and for a 288-page book, some of it was unnecessary.
PLEAAASEEEE pick this up!!!!! The romance is so swoon worthy, I felt their chemistry and connection, and the side characters?!?!?! BEGGING FOR WILLOW AND ELI ROMANCE PLSSSSSS
I will be picking up a physical copy of this even though having to order the title with my coworkers may be the end of me.
This title is set to release on February 20, 2024, from Afterglow Books by Harlequin!
This was such a pleasant surprise!
I got this ARC via Edelweiss for being a Barnes & Noble bookseller and I downloaded it not expecting much. The cover and title were questionable to me, but the synopsis sounded so good! I highly recommend not to judge this book by its cover because I can't wait to read more in the Naked Moose series. I am DYING for Eli's book!
The Devil in Blue Jeans follows Charly and her two best friends Aubrey and Willow who move to Timber Falls for a fresh new start following the end of their relationships. They decide to reinvent the town's local bar from beer into fancy girlboss cocktails and the town's resident horse breeder and previous bar owner, Jaxon can't stand it. This bar meant everything to the townspeople and these girls are getting it all wrong. To get the bar back, he decides to get Charly to see how this town really works and if he can't he'll just buy the bar back, but the more they spend time together, the more Charly and Jaxon realize they're better together.
If you want a cowboy romance with the perfect small-town setting that truly makes you care and makes you FEEL like you're in Timber Falls with them; READ THIS. I felt like I was there with the characters and sometimes I find cowboy/ western romance to not feel 'yeehaw' enough. This was the perfect amount of yeehaw!
My only cons included:
1) His pet name for her is Kitten... YIKES
2) Her vagina gets referred to as a "sex" which is not my personal favorite word for ladyparts
3) They name drop the title in this book and it made me audibly giggle. Is that really a con though?
4) Sometimes the book felt like they were doing SOOOOOO much. There were many different plot points and for a 288-page book, some of it was unnecessary.
PLEAAASEEEE pick this up!!!!! The romance is so swoon worthy, I felt their chemistry and connection, and the side characters?!?!?! BEGGING FOR WILLOW AND ELI ROMANCE PLSSSSSS
I will be picking up a physical copy of this even though having to order the title with my coworkers may be the end of me.
This title is set to release on February 20, 2024, from Afterglow Books by Harlequin!
November 30, 2024
A lovely small town romance with a cast of fabulous characters.
January 10, 2026
So, this was a tough one.
Three friends make a pact in their early 20’s… and several years later decide to act on it.
They buy a bar in Montana. A real home of cowboys… and mountains… and traditions. And they turn this cowboy bar into a floofy, girly, cocktail bar… and the natives are NOT happy… especially the previous owner, Jaxon.
And Jaxon and Charly, one of the new owners, butt heads immediately! Initially, NOT in a fun way, but over time… things change a little.
Let me also mention that Charly has just gone through a really rough breakup with her fiancé…
So moving away may also help with this…
As time moves on, the women learn more about the hometown people and what they really want…
And they start making some changes to the bar…
And that’s all I’m giving you…
This is book #1 in the series, and I’m looking forward to reading #2 which is coming out soon!
#TheDevilInBlueJeans by @StaceyKennedy and narrated by @AlexaElmy.
3 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 4.
This one has already been released, so look 👀 for it on shelves now.
Thanks to my library for the lend…
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
Three friends make a pact in their early 20’s… and several years later decide to act on it.
They buy a bar in Montana. A real home of cowboys… and mountains… and traditions. And they turn this cowboy bar into a floofy, girly, cocktail bar… and the natives are NOT happy… especially the previous owner, Jaxon.
And Jaxon and Charly, one of the new owners, butt heads immediately! Initially, NOT in a fun way, but over time… things change a little.
Let me also mention that Charly has just gone through a really rough breakup with her fiancé…
So moving away may also help with this…
As time moves on, the women learn more about the hometown people and what they really want…
And they start making some changes to the bar…
And that’s all I’m giving you…
This is book #1 in the series, and I’m looking forward to reading #2 which is coming out soon!
#TheDevilInBlueJeans by @StaceyKennedy and narrated by @AlexaElmy.
3 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 4.
This one has already been released, so look 👀 for it on shelves now.
Thanks to my library for the lend…
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
October 2, 2024
3.5⭐️
2🌶️
This is a cowboy romance which follows Charly and her two friends (Willow and Aubrey) on their journey to start a new life for themselves in a small town in Montana.
I did enjoy this book but there were some things that I just didn’t get on with. I found myself getting a bit annoyed with Charly and I also can’t help thinking this book was missing something but I can’t put my finger on what exactly.
That being said it was a fun and quick read and I will probably carrying on with the series. As I believe they will be in her friend’s POV and I did connect better with them especially Willow.
Also as this is a cowboy romance, it obviously has some very nice cowboys who are definitely book boyfriend material 😍
2🌶️
This is a cowboy romance which follows Charly and her two friends (Willow and Aubrey) on their journey to start a new life for themselves in a small town in Montana.
I did enjoy this book but there were some things that I just didn’t get on with. I found myself getting a bit annoyed with Charly and I also can’t help thinking this book was missing something but I can’t put my finger on what exactly.
That being said it was a fun and quick read and I will probably carrying on with the series. As I believe they will be in her friend’s POV and I did connect better with them especially Willow.
Also as this is a cowboy romance, it obviously has some very nice cowboys who are definitely book boyfriend material 😍
July 9, 2024
Love love love this book. Lovely little romance, and was exactly what I thought I would be. Can’t fault it except I want two more books with Willow & Eli and Aubrey & Gunner!
November 4, 2024
the miscommunication made me want to bang my head against a wall but i still enjoyed it over all
February 11, 2025
This book irritated me in so many ways! I love me a small town romance, love me a fluffy book but sorry to say this was executed poorly. PASS
December 14, 2023
As fun as the cover is, I struggle to connect it with the story itself. Sure, Charly said it to Jaxon at one point (wtf with these names?) but that felt like nothing more than a forced attempt to use the title in the book. But the cover looks like it's going to be a fun, fluffy read, maybe from the 80s? and that's not at all what we get here 🫤
The writing itself is pretty meh, and a good half of the plot seems to be there for plot purposes only, not because it at all makes sense for the characters to be doing/saying. Why would these 3 otherwise seemingly intelligent women move to a small western town, buy the only bar in that town, and proceed to change everything about it without considering what the people of the town actually might be looking for in terms of nightlife until two weeks after their grand opening? (Spoiler alert: they made it cocktails-only--no beer at all--with all kinds of angry women-centered events. As in, not women's events that might also draw in guys, but "congratulations on your divorce" and "he's a cheating scum" kind of nights.) Obviously they did that so Charly would have to work with the former bar owner, Jaxon, to figure out how to make the bar more appealing to locals, because of course. Responsible new business owners never do market research ahead of time. 🙄 But it also had to be done this way so that Jaxon could be overheard saying something early in the book that will later be told to Charly to cause her to break up with him. Because of course she will.
But the worst is the
This is a trade paperback book but still just a category romance story. As far as I can tell, the author used the extra page count for...more sex scenes? Maybe? Definitely not enough of it went toward story development. This is really not worth the higher price point.
Really hoping that Willow and Eli's book will be better, but idk.
Rating: 2 1/2 stars / C
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
The writing itself is pretty meh, and a good half of the plot seems to be there for plot purposes only, not because it at all makes sense for the characters to be doing/saying. Why would these 3 otherwise seemingly intelligent women move to a small western town, buy the only bar in that town, and proceed to change everything about it without considering what the people of the town actually might be looking for in terms of nightlife until two weeks after their grand opening? (Spoiler alert: they made it cocktails-only--no beer at all--with all kinds of angry women-centered events. As in, not women's events that might also draw in guys, but "congratulations on your divorce" and "he's a cheating scum" kind of nights.) Obviously they did that so Charly would have to work with the former bar owner, Jaxon, to figure out how to make the bar more appealing to locals, because of course. Responsible new business owners never do market research ahead of time. 🙄 But it also had to be done this way so that Jaxon could be overheard saying something early in the book that will later be told to Charly to cause her to break up with him. Because of course she will.
But the worst is the
This is a trade paperback book but still just a category romance story. As far as I can tell, the author used the extra page count for...more sex scenes? Maybe? Definitely not enough of it went toward story development. This is really not worth the higher price point.
Really hoping that Willow and Eli's book will be better, but idk.
Rating: 2 1/2 stars / C
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
November 14, 2023
If your into the following, then woohoo is this book for you.
3 best friends buy a bar
enemies to lovers
sexy cowboys
Montana beauty
Romance romance romance
Stacey Kennedy has done something oh so right with the story of Charly and Jaxon. It reminded me of a tome from my mother's secret stash of books which is the highest compliment.
Thank you to Harlequin - Romance, Afterglow Books by Harlequin, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.
3 best friends buy a bar
enemies to lovers
sexy cowboys
Montana beauty
Romance romance romance
Stacey Kennedy has done something oh so right with the story of Charly and Jaxon. It reminded me of a tome from my mother's secret stash of books which is the highest compliment.
Thank you to Harlequin - Romance, Afterglow Books by Harlequin, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.
February 1, 2024
Soo this book has some tething problems that I wasn't expecting.
I really struggled to connect with the story of the book. It really felt like most of the plot only happened to make the main plot actually work out.
Like who buys a bar in a country area just to renovate it and change it to a city style place. Like do some planning instead. Obviously when it all fails Charly then gets the help of Jaxon who was the former bar owner. The rest is kinda spoiler heavy so I won't go into it.
I think the plot development could have used so much more work to bring the characters to life.
This was an ARC thanks to NetGalley for an honest review.
I really struggled to connect with the story of the book. It really felt like most of the plot only happened to make the main plot actually work out.
Like who buys a bar in a country area just to renovate it and change it to a city style place. Like do some planning instead. Obviously when it all fails Charly then gets the help of Jaxon who was the former bar owner. The rest is kinda spoiler heavy so I won't go into it.
I think the plot development could have used so much more work to bring the characters to life.
This was an ARC thanks to NetGalley for an honest review.
March 25, 2024
Predictable - but not in a good way. I didn’t like any of these characters, the plot, and can’t even imagine HOW it’s the first book in a series.
April 2, 2024
This was very bland. I said to Jess it feels like a knock off store brand version of cowboy/contemporary romances.
March 20, 2024
Check out our full post for THE DEVIL IN BLUE JEANS on Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a fun take on the cowboy-meets-incoming-townie romance, and as there are three townies running the bar, I am looking forward to their stories being told too. I thought the world building was done well, and I enjoyed the rationale behind the women coming into Timber Falls.
I found the arrogance to think they knew best and lack of research done on what kind of bar the residents of Timber Falls might want, by the three women, a little strange. They were all competent in the hospitality field and had obviously just ignored all the local knowledge and needs. But I get that it sets up the story nicely!
Jaxon had to sell his much-loved bar when his father died and he had to take over running the family horse ranch. At that time, mired in grief, he may have used hook ups to hold his grief at bay, but that time has passed, and he is now concentrating on horse training. His reputation, though, is causing him to strike out with the new co-owner of his much changed bar. The mixture of sadness at the changes and being treated so poorly by Charly cause him to issue her a challenge.
It is great fun watching her taking on cowboy life and slowly understand why her changes are so unpopular, and that maybe her view of Jaxon is bent both by her past experiences and the gossip in town. Once they straighten out those issues, the future should be plain sailing!
I am looking forward to the next installment - it will undoubtedly be amusing!
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
July 10, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🌶️🌶️
I’ve just finished The Devil in Blue Jeans and I loved it! I love a cowboy romance and this one was heartfelt and a little bit spicy! The only reason I didn’t give this one 5 stars was because I’m personally not a huge fan of books written in the third person POV but I still loved it and thought it was a great read!
The Devil in Blue jeans follows the story of FMC Charly and her two childhood friends Aubrey & Willow on their journey of rediscovery. The three girls make a pact that when they turn 28 if they are not settled / happy with their lives they will move to the small town of Timber Falls and start over with their lives. When they turn 28 they uproot and move to Timber Falls and buy the bar “The Naked Moose” however turning it into a cocktail bar that would be fit for the city they upped and left didn’t quite fit in with the country vibe and escape the bar once was before and the locals loved.
The story also follows MMC Jaxon whom is dealing with the grief after the recent loss of his father as well as his mother at a young age and how he has had to make sacrafices in order for his family legacy to live on. Jaxon, who once owned “The Naked Moose” is not a fan of how the girls have turned his once beloved country bar which sold craft beer into a cocktail lounge with a feminine edge which plays Taylor Swift music.
The girls know there is something missing from the bar which is why they know things must change in order to get the locals back on side and back into the bar they once loved as the bar cannot fail, they cannot fail on their dream. They have an instant attraction and spark, but can Jaxon show Charly what his once owned bar is missing and help get the locals in? You’ll have to read it and find out!
I’ve just finished The Devil in Blue Jeans and I loved it! I love a cowboy romance and this one was heartfelt and a little bit spicy! The only reason I didn’t give this one 5 stars was because I’m personally not a huge fan of books written in the third person POV but I still loved it and thought it was a great read!
The Devil in Blue jeans follows the story of FMC Charly and her two childhood friends Aubrey & Willow on their journey of rediscovery. The three girls make a pact that when they turn 28 if they are not settled / happy with their lives they will move to the small town of Timber Falls and start over with their lives. When they turn 28 they uproot and move to Timber Falls and buy the bar “The Naked Moose” however turning it into a cocktail bar that would be fit for the city they upped and left didn’t quite fit in with the country vibe and escape the bar once was before and the locals loved.
The story also follows MMC Jaxon whom is dealing with the grief after the recent loss of his father as well as his mother at a young age and how he has had to make sacrafices in order for his family legacy to live on. Jaxon, who once owned “The Naked Moose” is not a fan of how the girls have turned his once beloved country bar which sold craft beer into a cocktail lounge with a feminine edge which plays Taylor Swift music.
The girls know there is something missing from the bar which is why they know things must change in order to get the locals back on side and back into the bar they once loved as the bar cannot fail, they cannot fail on their dream. They have an instant attraction and spark, but can Jaxon show Charly what his once owned bar is missing and help get the locals in? You’ll have to read it and find out!
July 13, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ 1.75 🌶️
I did actually really enjoy this, there are a couple of things that happen in the book that did irk me or irritate me that knocked this down a few notches but overall this is enjoyable.
I enjoyed Willow's character more than Charley, this is Charley's book though. We follow Charley on her journey of healing from a relationship, and her two besties Willow and Aubrey. They end up running a bar in Timber Falls, Montana, which advertises more to females especially from out of town than the cowboys living there. So Jaxon offers to help Charley make the bar more appealing to others that aren't heartbroken females.
I really liked Jaxon as our love interest. Charley annoyed me because she didn't block Marcel after everything and just allowed him to call and text her like everyday. But eventually she does after she gets to say what she needs to.
This story is not in any way mind blowing but I did like the relatable topics like infidelity, car accidents, abuse is mentioned in this too. Charley is not the best FMC but I enjoyed watching her somewhat heal.
I will read the next book as I really want to know about Willow's story.
I did actually really enjoy this, there are a couple of things that happen in the book that did irk me or irritate me that knocked this down a few notches but overall this is enjoyable.
I enjoyed Willow's character more than Charley, this is Charley's book though. We follow Charley on her journey of healing from a relationship, and her two besties Willow and Aubrey. They end up running a bar in Timber Falls, Montana, which advertises more to females especially from out of town than the cowboys living there. So Jaxon offers to help Charley make the bar more appealing to others that aren't heartbroken females.
I really liked Jaxon as our love interest. Charley annoyed me because she didn't block Marcel after everything and just allowed him to call and text her like everyday. But eventually she does after she gets to say what she needs to.
This story is not in any way mind blowing but I did like the relatable topics like infidelity, car accidents, abuse is mentioned in this too. Charley is not the best FMC but I enjoyed watching her somewhat heal.
I will read the next book as I really want to know about Willow's story.
December 28, 2023
"The Devil in Blue Jeans" caters to a diverse audience, particularly those who enjoy small-town romance, cowboy romance, and stories featuring opposites attract. The win-a-date auctions for charity and forced proximity elements add delightful twists to the narrative, making it both heartwarming and steamy. The book is reminiscent of a Hallmark movie but with a touch of spice, making it a perfect read for those who enjoy a balance between romance and passion.
Stacey Kennedy's writing shines in this beautifully crafted love story. The Afterglow imprint by Harlequin promises a bright future with titles like this one. Fans of Kennedy's work and newcomers alike will find "The Devil in Blue Jeans" to be a spectacular addition to the romance genre. As the first installment in what is likely to be a promising series, this novel leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next chapters in the lives of the charming characters introduced in this enchanting Montana town.
Full review at https://bookcaseandcoffee.com
Stacey Kennedy's writing shines in this beautifully crafted love story. The Afterglow imprint by Harlequin promises a bright future with titles like this one. Fans of Kennedy's work and newcomers alike will find "The Devil in Blue Jeans" to be a spectacular addition to the romance genre. As the first installment in what is likely to be a promising series, this novel leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next chapters in the lives of the charming characters introduced in this enchanting Montana town.
Full review at https://bookcaseandcoffee.com
March 21, 2024
Ah, this book was fun for what it was. If I think too much about the story, I'd probably be lowering the rating. But it was a story I needed when I was on the verge of a reading slump. Was it memorable? Not really. Was it a bit silly and over the top? Yes, but it was fun and I'm definitely wanting to read the rest of the series. It honestly read like the Harlequin book that it is.
The friendship was sweet and the romance had some cute moments! Wasn't the biggest fan of the trope at the end and the...sacrificial lamb for the FMC's character growth moment. LOL that was so weird.
My biggest gripe though, and the story itself has absolutely nothing to do with this, was the audiobook narrator. Omg her voicing was GRATING. Especially when she did the voices for the friends. I know people can't help the way they talk, but if it wasn't for the story, I probably would have put this book down.
Anyway, read this for the fun Harlequin vibes. I will say, however, that you should definitely check out the trigger warnings before reading!
Happy reading!
The friendship was sweet and the romance had some cute moments! Wasn't the biggest fan of the trope at the end and the...sacrificial lamb for the FMC's character growth moment. LOL that was so weird.
My biggest gripe though, and the story itself has absolutely nothing to do with this, was the audiobook narrator. Omg her voicing was GRATING. Especially when she did the voices for the friends. I know people can't help the way they talk, but if it wasn't for the story, I probably would have put this book down.
Anyway, read this for the fun Harlequin vibes. I will say, however, that you should definitely check out the trigger warnings before reading!
Happy reading!
February 20, 2024
Now this was a fun and fast read. I absolutely loved the banter between Charly and Jaxon. She was trying to pick up her broken heart and restart her life. Together with her best friends she's determined to move forward and leave all the heartbreak behind them. And when a gorgeous cowboy crosses her path she wants nothing to with him. But when he offers to help and her bar she understands that she is in no place to turn him down.
Jaxon is still grieving the loss of his father and his beloved bar. The new owners are not what he expected and when he offers his help he didn't think that spending time with the captivating Charly would turn his world inside out. And letting her go soon becomes an impossible task. Because when love comes knocking you need to list and take it and the HEA with both hands and never let go.
These two made me smile, I even shed a few tears and in the end made me love them. They were perfect for each other and I can't wait to see how the next couple overcomes their problems on the road of HEA in this small town.
Jaxon is still grieving the loss of his father and his beloved bar. The new owners are not what he expected and when he offers his help he didn't think that spending time with the captivating Charly would turn his world inside out. And letting her go soon becomes an impossible task. Because when love comes knocking you need to list and take it and the HEA with both hands and never let go.
These two made me smile, I even shed a few tears and in the end made me love them. They were perfect for each other and I can't wait to see how the next couple overcomes their problems on the road of HEA in this small town.
November 9, 2024
This book was the perfect little fluffy romance, it was such an easy read that I read in no time at all.
I really enjoyed the romance between Charly and Jaxon, they definitely didn’t hit it off straight away but they did have an instant connection if that even makes sense. Charley had some issues to work through so there was some slow burn for this couple but I enjoyed the journey it took them getting together.
Loved the small town vibes, loved the cowboys and enjoyed the friendship between Charley, Willow and Aubrey and enjoyed seeing them make themselves at home in Timber Falls.
Great fun read that I recommend you pick up, I’m already 20% into book two and enjoying that one too.
This book touched on some subjects such as cheating and domestic abuse but both of those were off the page in a previous timeline.
I really enjoyed the romance between Charly and Jaxon, they definitely didn’t hit it off straight away but they did have an instant connection if that even makes sense. Charley had some issues to work through so there was some slow burn for this couple but I enjoyed the journey it took them getting together.
Loved the small town vibes, loved the cowboys and enjoyed the friendship between Charley, Willow and Aubrey and enjoyed seeing them make themselves at home in Timber Falls.
Great fun read that I recommend you pick up, I’m already 20% into book two and enjoying that one too.
This book touched on some subjects such as cheating and domestic abuse but both of those were off the page in a previous timeline.
June 9, 2025
☀️☀️☀️🌤️ 3.4
ok listen, i loved the plot. (only 2 sex scenes which was kinda refreshing) the last graphic scene was um… at an interesting time i’d say. right after she leaves the hospital because her ex fiancé got into a crazy car accident and was on life support? yea great time to plow her, jaxon! so yea that was interesting but none the less. the book was good, i fear i will not be reading the 2nd one for the soul reason of WHY ARE THE CHAPTERS SO LONG?!? 37 pages in a chapter? get a grip STACEY. charly’s gotta have some sort of mental thing going on with all the oh no everything’s my fault act aswell. she’s gotta quit that. also, the bar was definitely cooler before they bought it. that’s all.
ok listen, i loved the plot. (only 2 sex scenes which was kinda refreshing) the last graphic scene was um… at an interesting time i’d say. right after she leaves the hospital because her ex fiancé got into a crazy car accident and was on life support? yea great time to plow her, jaxon! so yea that was interesting but none the less. the book was good, i fear i will not be reading the 2nd one for the soul reason of WHY ARE THE CHAPTERS SO LONG?!? 37 pages in a chapter? get a grip STACEY. charly’s gotta have some sort of mental thing going on with all the oh no everything’s my fault act aswell. she’s gotta quit that. also, the bar was definitely cooler before they bought it. that’s all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2025
I had an up and down relationship with The Devil in Blue Jeans. I really love books that are about women starting over to make their lives the way they want it to be and that is the premise of this book. Charly and her two best friends move to a small town in Montana to open a bar and basically press refresh on their lives. Charly just caught her fiancé cheating on her back in Arizona and the other two friends are dealing with their own stuff, so off to Montana they go. Meanwhile, in Montana, they encounter a trio of cowboys, including Jaxon, who is immediately intrigued by Charly.
The thing about this book is that despite in being Dual POV, it's very much Charly's story. And to some extent, I think it might have been better served as a single POV. Because Charly's trust issues are well-founded, but when you're also in Jaxon's head, it is so annoying to watch her constantly listen to other people's opinions about him when those opinions don't seem based in fact. I wanted this book to end when Jaxon and Charly got together "officially" the first time, but for some reason that was only halfway through the book and it just kept going. But, by the end of it, I was enjoying myself enough to be really intrigued about the next book in the series. So, if you're looking for a small town cowboy romance, this one isn't a bad pick!
Thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for the e-ARC! I actually read this via an audiobook I purchased myself on Libro.fm.
The thing about this book is that despite in being Dual POV, it's very much Charly's story. And to some extent, I think it might have been better served as a single POV. Because Charly's trust issues are well-founded, but when you're also in Jaxon's head, it is so annoying to watch her constantly listen to other people's opinions about him when those opinions don't seem based in fact. I wanted this book to end when Jaxon and Charly got together "officially" the first time, but for some reason that was only halfway through the book and it just kept going. But, by the end of it, I was enjoying myself enough to be really intrigued about the next book in the series. So, if you're looking for a small town cowboy romance, this one isn't a bad pick!
Thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for the e-ARC! I actually read this via an audiobook I purchased myself on Libro.fm.
August 16, 2024
Yeah this was not the one.
Honestly I felt like there was near on zero character development, the romance was sloppy and the bar was LOW. A man who buys Cabernet and promises to be faithful and you’re throwing yourself at him despite openly admitting not even a chapter prior you needed to focus on yourself.
What both Charly and Jaxon need is therapy.
Also the names in this book sucked. I couldn’t take anyone named Marcel seriously.
Honestly I felt like there was near on zero character development, the romance was sloppy and the bar was LOW. A man who buys Cabernet and promises to be faithful and you’re throwing yourself at him despite openly admitting not even a chapter prior you needed to focus on yourself.
What both Charly and Jaxon need is therapy.
Also the names in this book sucked. I couldn’t take anyone named Marcel seriously.
September 14, 2024
Let’s go cowboys, city slickers, and bars! This was a fun one but the third act break up was a little weird due to a person from the FMC past having something happen to them. Loved the friend groups and I’m excited to see more in this town
May 4, 2025
What started well turned silly towards the end. Especially with the cheating fiancee dying in a car crash.
Charly needs to get over herself. Who doesn't want a cowboy like Jaxon? 🤠
Hopefully, this series will not be disappointing.
Charly needs to get over herself. Who doesn't want a cowboy like Jaxon? 🤠
Hopefully, this series will not be disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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