Saddled with Finesse

Alpenglow Ridge #1

by Zea Kayleigh Galan

Reese
It was just supposed to be a welcome home party.

A few drinks to celebrate my temporary return.

Then, he showed up…

Cory Whitfield.

I don’t have time for any of his complications, when I have so many of my own.

If only my body could remember that.

When he offers to take me home after one too many blue-colored mixed drinks, I try to resist him…

I really do.

Somehow, we end up sharing a kiss that makes me break all my rules.

My past is dark and my future is even more murky. Someone, who I thought would make my dreams come true, proved to me that relationships are only worth what they can give you.

Getting involved with Cory is dangerous for both of us. But, he showed me that what I thought about relationships was all wrong.

Can I protect him from what haunts me, and keep the love he’s shown when my past won’t stay behind me?



Cory
All I wanted was a fresh start.

I’m tired of trying to be everywhere at once.

My sons deserve more and I’m going to give that to them.

Aunt Jan wants me to stay with her in Alpenglow Ridge for the summer, and try to pursue my dream of starting my own landscaping company.

My first contract is with a cattle ranch. It’s going to be my ticket to gaining the trust of other potential clients in this town.

Everything was going well until I met the angel that saw me more clearly than any person has in years…

Reese Mason.

She is out of my league. Stunning and sexy beyond measure.

She is the type of woman who makes men lose their minds.

Her reputation is hard to escape, but I can’t believe those rumors.

This woman is unlike anyone I’ve ever known.

Just one kiss and I’m sure.

I’ll do anything to keep her.

Will my love for Reese be enough to save her from her past?

Genres: Romance, African American Romance, Contemporary, Westerns

378 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2024

About the author

Zea is a passionate storyteller who brings romance to life with heartfelt emotion and unforgettable characters. A lifelong lover of love stories, she weaves her background in anthropology into crafting tales where swoon-worthy heroes fall hard for their strong, relatable heroines.

Living in the picturesque mountains of Colorado with her husband, daughter, and a spoiled, posh cat, Zea draws inspiration from her surroundings to create warm, vibrant settings readers want to escape to. When she’s not writing, she’s indulging in her other loves: cooking, hiking, designing clothes, or curling up with a romance novel and a plate of sweets.

Zea is dedicated to connecting with her readers and invites you to join her on this journey of love, laughter, and happily ever afters.

Reviews

[Paige IRB · Rating 5 out of 5]

omggg what a debut

I am still tied in knots about this one. Reese was everything. The Levi’s deserved their moment. And the plot and just over character framework and development made it a must read. The spice was spicing toooo. And us girlies love that. I’m back in my cowboy era thanks to my queens Beyoncé and Zea Kayleigh

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I BETA read this and it was so fucking good!! I seriously can’t wait for y’all to read this!!! The plot is on point, the character development is on point, the spice is on point as well!

[romancevibeswithbritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is unlike anything I have read before - the plot is incredibly unique and emotional. There are dark themes so please make sure you check the trigger warnings/ the authors note. Grooming is one of the triggers in this book so please proceed with caution, I found those parts hard to read, remember to protect your mental health.

Reese - drove me a little nuts. I understood where she was coming from and why she made the choices she did but I wanted to shake her and hug her at the same time. She has gone through so much.

Cory stole the show for me - no surprise there, we know I love a single dad. Plus I love a man with a beard, thick thighs and tattoos!

💛Single dad
💛Romantic suspense
💛Opposites attract
💛Small town

[jenny reads a lot]

ec via Bailey Hannah

| TikTok | IG |

[PurrfectPages]

I loved it! I had the honor interviewing the amazing author with friends. Check out the live discussion and review: https://www.youtube.com/live/DeSDbjjS...

[Sabrina | thebookishspot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this expecting a cute, cowboy, small town fluffy romcom, but wow did this book take me by surprise! It is NOT fluffy, check trigger warnings before reading because while it's not a dark romance it deals with pretty heavy subjects (which were very well handled, I might add). 

The dual timeline aspect of this was amazing, I loved seeing Reese's past juxtaposed with her present and how her past actions influenced her current decisions. Cory is such a sweetheart, a total cinnamon roll of a man, and seeing his caring ways versus Teddy's manipulations had me seeing red at Teddy's treatment of Reese. I loved Reese's development throughout the story, how she becomes stronger and more self-assured by the end.

The found family/girl gang aspect was great, I'm excited to read more of their stories next! This book did a great job of setting up this universe for a series, and I can't wait to go back to Alpenglow Ridge.

Thank you to @zeakayleigh for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

[Lisa Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy Release Day to @zeakayleigh !

If you haven’t added this masterpiece to your TBR. I highly suggest you do. It’s giving small town romance featuring single dad from the city named Cory moving to Apenglow Ranch to start over. He meets Riesling Mason, the cowgirl.

Riesling has been through a lot but I love how strong she is. How close she is to her girlfriends. I love how Cory as the single dad. He will always put his children first. Cory had me at the first couple chapters. I absolutely loved him and his caring sweet side.

Saddled with Finesse has some darker tones so please be mindful of your triggers.

Have you added Saddled with Finesse yet?!

[Lindsey Innocente · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is not like any other romance that I’ve ever read. It’s a very unique story line following a single dad moving to a small town who falls for the fierce FMC, but trust me this is much more than a small town romance.
The FMC goes through a lot to get her happy ending.

I loved all the side characters in this book, especially the girl gang! And I now wish I could vacation in Alpenglow Ridge.

Check triggers‼️

🖤 romantic suspense
🖤 small town
🖤 he falls first
🖤 opposites attract
🖤 single dad

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I feel like I need to start of with that because my immediate thoughts afterwards was just that. Love. The type of love when it comes to a book that you can’t wait to immediately own on your shelf.

I love Reese and Cory so much. The side characters I also liked a lot. & tbh that’s always hit or miss.

But fuck Teddy. I’d run him over with my SUV if I could.


PLEASE READ THE AUTHORS NOTE. There are dark themes in here and this is not light or fluffy. It has a lot more substance, real life, raw and crying moments.

[Ivori Nesbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You think I’m joking, but I’m not Reese. I just want to be close to you. Learn all about you and your past. Find out what you like and don’t like. You caught me in your web, and you weren’t even trying. I want to be your prey. Catch me and keep me, please.”


This was such an amazing debut novel by Zea .I read this book in 1 sitting and could not put it down.

Cory is a single dad of 3 beautiful and energetic boys. After his divorce he just wants to start over. He moves to Alpenglow Ridge and starts working on his new business.

Reese is trying to runaway from her problems, but due to her father's health issues they want her back home to help out on the ranch. Being back home is not where she wants to be. She is constantly looking over her shoulder wondering about who lurks in the shadows.

The moment Reese & Cory meet, you can feel their instant connection. He thinks she's out of his league and she thinks he has nothing to bring to the table. I love how they listened and understood one another.

This book shows you how you shouldn't judge a book by the cover. Reese was put into an horrible situation she couldn't get herself out of. When she thought she was free that's when trouble occurred. I'm glad that she had a good support system from her friends to be by her side when everything blows up.

I can't wait to see the rest of the stories from all the side characters.

This is a MUST read!!!!!

[Annie Tasaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book packed a lot in, I can’t believe it is a debut novel. And I already can’t wait to spend more time in Alpenglow Ridge.

Reese was a handful. At times I found it hard for me to connect with her. But I realize she was just a young girl who made mistakes and was victimized. Check your triggers, this book definitely has dark subject matters. She needed to catch a break and grow up and she did.
I wanted to crucify Teddy for what he did and I loved how she had a big circle of friends and family around her.

Corey was taken by her right away and was kind and patient when she needed him to be. He truly stole my heart. 😍I have a soft spot for single dads, but it’s the sweet notes and flowers that put me over the edge.

I was given an ARC copy of this book and my opinions are my own.

[Zea Galan]

Saddled with Finesse is now available everywhere! 💛

Start reading free today with kindleunlimited !
Grab a copy: https://books2read.com/u/bPDqR7

•Small Town Romance
•Romantic Suspense
•Fierce, Cowgirl FMC
•Single Dad, Cinnamon Roll MMC
•Opposites Attract
•He Falls First
•Girl Squad
•Spicy!
•Dual POV
•HEA

[TheBookishHen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will preface that this is not a sweet, fluffy romance. You should definitely check triggers.

So proud of my friend for writing a whole ass book, go girl!
This story was definitely unique to me. The different timelines were a nice touch. I love me a single dad and Cory was no exception. He was exactly what Reese needed. 

**Received and ARC, all options are my own.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Absolutely enjoyed Zea Kayleigh Galan's debut novel! This was a steamy, dual POV, small town romance with some darker themes. The writing was pretty good and I loved the character development throughout the book. I also loved that there were some darker elements (so please check those trigger warnings) that ultimately ended in a happily ever after.

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just now realizing I never posted my review for this one!
June 9, 2024
𝓢𝓐𝓓𝓓𝓛𝓔𝓓 𝓦𝓘𝓣𝓗 𝓕𝓘𝓝𝓔𝓢𝓢𝓔 🐎
I cannot wait for you all to get your hands on this book. She was the one who got me into small town romances in the first place so it’s only fitting that she is now releasing her own small town romantic suspense. And lemme tell you… it is such a good story!! Like seriously. Y’all are gonna want to read this one!!

Our main female character Reese (Riesling) is such a sassy, confident, and strong woman who’s been through so freaking much that my heart broke for her at times. On top of that she’s a horse girlie and will eat you alive but you just have to love her. Honestly I’d love to have her and her friends as a girl squad.

And our main main Cory…. Ooof 😮‍💨 he is so fine. He’s a single dad of three boys and oh lord do you just have to love this man. What a cinnamon roll!!! Ugh he is such a good dad and such a gentleman that you will fall head over heels for this man.

These two honestly go through so much and as this is a romantic suspense there are some potential triggers involved and a heck of a lot of emotions throughout, but its so worth the journey and I am so grateful to have been trusted enough to read this book baby.

If you like:
🌻small town romance
🌻single dad cinnamon roll
🌻dual POV
🌻 steam🥵
🌻opposites attract
🌻cowgirl bada$$ MFC
🌻happily ever afters

Then you absolutely MUST check out Saddled With Finesse,
Note: please be sure to check content warnings as this book is a romantic suspense and does include dark elements throughout the story.

[Bev B · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What a debut! This isn’t your typical fluffy small town romance. It has suspense, angst, and plenty of spice…A thrilling ride that keeps you wanting more. Reese is a stunning lil badass cowgirl that’s so resilient even after all the obstacles she had to keep facing throughout her life 🫶🏼 Cory is so sweet with such a big heart. Add gorgeous single daddy to that description & we got the perfect man ladies & gents 😮‍💨👌🏼 Oh wait, did I mention that he also makes the most beautiful floral arrangements with the sweetest love notes to top it all off? Yeah, told ya…PERFECT! In some ways Cory & Reese are total opposites but they’re exactly what each other needs 💛

Also, I loved the girl gang aspect in this story! True ride or die chicks 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼

Lastly, this story does dive into pretty sensitive content so please check trigger warnings before reading 🫶🏼

[RomanceReaderExtraordinaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t know what to expect when reading this novel, but I found myself pleasantly surprised.

Reese Mason just wants to go home. While Cory Whitfield is just looking for a place to call home for himself and his kids. Their lives collide on the horse ranch that Reese’s family owns in her hometown of Alpenglow Ridge. (Being a Colorado native, I loved all the references btw).

The novel takes place in a small town, and the romantic suspense elements that underpin it create really good tension and depth as the story unfolds.

I loved the buildup of the relationship between Reese and Cory. They were definitely a case of opposites attract, and while they showed mutual respect for each other, there was a lot for each of them to work through as they grew closer.

I really appreciated the darker themes that Zea explores in the book (check your triggers). They were handled with care and actually contributed to the character development and growth that occurs throughout the novel.

I can’t wait to read whatever Zea writes next!

[Melanie Hidalgo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Story of Strength in the form of Healing

I like to go into books blind and did not realize how many intense topics were going to be touched on in this book. This is a story of survival, healing, and finding love not just for someone else but for yourself. Going through so much and learning how to heal yourself and respect someone else’s journey to healing is something not talked about enough and the author did such an amazing job at depicting this. I will definitely be rereading this book! Very well written, you can tell the author took care of the story and made real situations understandable to those who may not experience it. I’m so in awe right now. 5/5

[Chrissy.spicy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me tell y'all this book did NOT disappoint it was amazing!!! This was the best book I have read this year and I wasn’t expecting that little bit of darkness in there so check TW before reading☺️📖… if I could give this book more stars I would I love it
Cory is a divorced single dad of three sweet boys and he moved to Alpenglow ridge trying to have a fresh start with his boys after his divorce. he’s in landscaping for a family but he was not prepared for Reese. Reese always loved the life of luxury and most expensive things and she would do anything to get it. But once it start costing her to much she ran, but she had to move back( temporarily) to help her parents with the ranch and the new project they wanted to do.as soon as she sees Cory she tells him he’s prey and that basically he’s hers. But soon her past catches up with her and it causes so problems in the little small town where people already spread rumors about her.

Arc Review

Tropes
🐎 opposites attract
💛 cinnamon roll MMC
🐎He fall first
💛Small Town
🐎 Tragic past
💛 Feisty FMC
🐎Girl Squad

[ash😈 · Rating 5 out of 5]

On my god! Rose's growth from the very beginning to end *chefs kiss* she just might be my favorite FMC to date.

and Cory! Our sweet loving Cory. His love and support for Reese throughout everything. He’s everything and more!

And the bonus epilogue😍🥵

Loved these two!

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️

This small town romance was exactly what I needed!!!

Cory must be protected at all cost!!!!

Reese has a story that will break so many hearts. She has been through it!

This read gave me so many butterflies and made me smile so big!

[JoAnna VanDorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Cory. And Reese I definitely have mixed feelings about her. But I loved having Mack in the book 🤣🤣 I did a ARC read for his book and absolutely love him and his MFL. I’m glad I finally got around to reading book one 🥰💚
Spice level is probably a pepper and half

[booksandnina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went in expecting the “chill” kind of romance to cozy up with, and let me tell you ... I couldn’t have been more wrong! This story played on my every single emotion, and I loved every single minute of it!

[Neek Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good small town romance and this did not disappoint one bit.
You will fall in love with Reese and Cory.
This is a story of love, triumph and growth!

[Amber Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing, thrilling, sexy and so well written! Main characters Reese and Cory feel authentic. This is absolutely a suspense and for sure check trigger warnings. All in all an amazing read.

[Tang “Lovie” Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great and homey read.. such a fun read and the spice was just right! I’m looking forward to seeing more from the author.

[Patrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
Full review to come but do proud of my friend for this amazing book!

[fae.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no words yet so for now just accept the simple fact that I loved it <3

(This does deal with some seriously heavy topics though and I thought I was prepared but they really packed a punch!!)

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Such a good story with a few twists I was not expecting. Can’t wait for the next one!