Whisk til Peaked

Alpenglow Ridge #3

by Zea Kayleigh Galan

Drea

Life is sweet when you have the right ingredients: 
Add one part teenage daughter.
Two parts loving parents who found and nurtured me.
And a handful of friends who mean everything. 
With the final addition of my dream bakery and coffee shop that I’ve been working and saving for years to open.
As a single mom, my shop would not have been possible without my amazing support system. Most importantly, Tony Dupont, the Mason Ranch manager, who became my best friend along the way. He’s always there for me, supporting me and making me smile. 
When I take on a big event that brings me to the mountains for Christmas, he’s there to save the day when I’m struggling. A freak snow storm has us trapped in this luxury resort in the only room they have available. Not a big deal, at all…
Except his new girlfriend is none the wiser.
I support his relationship. I want him to be happy, even if I’m not. 
Tony is the best guy I know. Any woman could trust him to make good choices.
But, there’s only one bed in this room.

And what if it’s me who can’t be trusted?



Tony

There’s nothing I can’t achieve without hard work and dedication. 
I left Louisiana so I didn’t get caught up in my family’s business. My brother took on all the weight of our legacy, so I could be the good brother who escaped it. 
Few things I want in life and working on Mason Ranch has given most of it to me. 
I work for what I want. I’ve earned everything I value in my life.
Problem is, I worked too hard to build something that became my one way ticket to the friend zone with the woman of my dreams, Drea Montoya.
That was not my goal.
After years of waiting, I decide to make a change.
My brother’s choices led him to make my decision known.
I haven’t escaped my family—not truly. What I know could ruin everything for the people I care for most. 
That’s a secret I intend to keep til the end.

But… What if that secret puts everything I love in danger?



Whisk til Peaked is a small-town romantic suspense novel that is suitable for mature audiences only. It is the slow burn, friends-to-lovers third book in the Alpenglow Ridge series. It can be read as a complete standalone. There is an HEA for these main characters.

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 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

[Stormy Shadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.
This was awesome! A boss lady baker who loves baking and a best friends to lovers trope too which I love. The spice was definitely there and the characters are so unique in their own way. I haven’t came across many POC characters or novels about them or told through their perspective which is a change. I highly recommend if you enjoy spice and different race of characters :)

[Shana · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️
nothing held my attention, unfortunately. I was bored, honestly. thank you to good girls pr for the arc

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I miss my best friend. I miss our laughs on my couch before bed. I miss how he’d pretend that I plated too much food for him but he’d still want seconds. I miss him and it’s been manifesting in strange ways. Maybe not strange, but unlike anything before."

Drea + Tony 🤎 👢
Whisk til Peaked- Zea Kayleigh Galan
Single mom
Friends to lovers
He falls first
Holiday vibes

This continuation in the Alpenglow Ridge verse is like being home . Tony loves Drea more than she realizes, while also being the biggest headache he's had... A single mom to a five year old little girl, Drea has so much on her plate , that companionship and all that comes with it seems impossible. What if, just what if during the holiday season, the ultimate gift has been right in front of her all along ?
4🌟

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's no secret that l've loved every book in the Alpenglow Ridge series but this one was the one I was waiting for! ✨

& yet again, it did not disappoint. If you're new here then you may not know this but I LOVE when a book has anything baking or cooking. So when I found Drea was a baker I was already sold. & she's plus sized?

Ant was already a character that had my attention from the beginning let's be honest, he just emulates MAN
This book was a great read for the holiday. The baking, the friends to lovers, forced proximity because they're snowed in and romantic suspense made this the perfect book to cozy up in.

It is slow burn 🔥 and yes it did kill me but in the end it
was good so l won't complain.

[Emma Clouten · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
• small town romance
• friends to lovers

ARC Reciew: this book was page turner from start to finish. We have the two main characters Drea and Anthony aka tony you see them make a pack many years ago when they became best friends then years later they admit there feelings for one another the sparks and spice was definitely there. If you haven’t read this book add it to your TBR list it’s definitely worth the read.

[morganinpages · Rating 2 out of 5]

How can you go from flirting with a man at the bar to becoming friends with him and making a pack to be celibate to then being friends for five years and then get jealous when he starts dating people like you have been doing?? And then she tried to make it his fault and make it sound like he’s the problem. And all of her friends did this too! Honestly I was so confused by that and then she all of a sudden had these hot and heavy feelings for him bc he brought home a girlfriend. Like I’m sorry but that’s just messed up. This book just didn’t keep my interest. Thank you to ggpr for the arc, but it just wasn’t for me.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review - Goodgirls PR | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

Spice: 🌶️🌶🌶.75
Tropes:
Friends to Lovers
Small town
He falls first
Will they/won't they
Pining
Single Mom
Cowboy & holiday romance

I went in to Whisk til Peaked blindly not having read the previous two books and luckily wasn't lost at all. Drea and Ant were the quintessential friends to lovers trope. Everyone knew but Andrea that Ant loved her and they were meant to be. Her blindness to that was sooooo frustrating! Like girl open your eyes!

Drea and Ant became friends making a celibacy pact together. Because of that they were able to grow into a deeply emotional relationship, connecting together and still just calling it a friendship. Ant waited and waited and finally "moved on" and that's when the record scratches for Drea. Not her man leaving her behind! That was one thing that I hate in some friends to lovers - when the other doesn't consider/ignores their feelings for the other until they go and find someone else. Its almost like "you only want me because I'm unavailable" Unfortunately that happens in real life and not fair to that person.

The third act (also includes a breakup) came out of left field. I think it could've been hinted more at what Mireya's dad was up to instead of it just being sprung on us. It was an exciting part of the book, but very unexpected.

Overall I really enjoyed this story, and I think I'll go ahead and read the previous two books and look forward to the next one!

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a slow-burn, friends to lovers romance that keeps you turning the pages to what happens next. Drea and Tony (Ant) are best friends, though he most definitely wants more. She is a single mom whose life revolves around her daughter and her the bakery she owns. Past romantic relationships have not ended well, so anything but friendship with the man she relies on just isn’t on her radar at the moment. With no sign from Drea that she wants anything beyond friendship, Tony is ready to move on and find someone else with whom to build a future. When he introduces his girlfriend to her, Drea is blindsided. That’s when things start to percolate in her brain and she finally realizes that she might indeed want more than just friendship with Tony, now that it might be too late.

When she needs help to fulfil an order, Tony comes to her rescue. A snow storm strands them at a resort, in a room with one bed. Everything changes between them then. No more denying their attraction, the desire and connection they have between them. But their story isn’t straightforward from there. Unfortunately, there are unexpected hurdles to clear, a dangerous situation to confront and his past to deal with before Drea and Tony, her Ant, attain their happily ever after.

If you enjoy a slow-burn romance with plenty of spice and suspense, a feisty and independent heroine and a dirty-talking, I’d-do-anything-for-you hero, then this book is for you. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all - hello Mr Anthony Dupont 🙂‍↕️ this man - sweet baby Christmas. Ima say I saw this arc signup in my good girls pr email and I saw cowboy, plus size fmc, angsty, friends to lovers and I thought sign me up & im so glad I did!

This story was freaking sweet! I love the friendship between Tony & Drea. I can feel the connection and chemistry between them right away. I will say I didn’t know this was book3 of a series, they are standalones but interconnected and you meet these two in the previous books. I didn’t feel like I was missing a piece of the story and I love that.

Drea is a single mom, finally opening her own bakery. Her dream. Tony is a ranch manager, and her best friend. He always has her back. Again I loved their relationship, how they are with each other. I didn’t see this going the way it did which I enjoyed because it kept me hooked. The suspense toward the middle there had me on edge because I was like fvcking finally and then the curve ball lol. When the spice came it was delicious.

I love how independent Drea is - she’s an awesome mom. Although there was times I wanted to be like miss ma’am please - I’m glad she has her girlfriends because they did that for me. Tony is so patient and understanding - literally can’t do no wrong.

I love the found family vibe, the best friends. It was overall a good read and I enjoyed it. I’m glad I signed up for it and I now I have to go back and read the other two.

[S Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Baker and Single Mom, Drea is living her best life even though her love life leave something to be desired. She has a great kid and an awesome best friend Tony. They decide together to take a vow of celibacy, I’ll let you read why, and they have a close relationship. Tony has always been in love with Drea but she has been to preoccupied to see it. Tony, finally giving up hope that Drea willl finally see him decides to dip his toe in the dating pool, but he doesn’t mention it to his best friend, but when his new girlfriend shows up in town with his brother everything comes to a head.

I liked this story but I loved the relationship Tony had with Drea. What I loved is how the book does such a great job of making me understand Drea’s hesitation about all things relationship. You know she is hesitant and her decisions around relationships seem extreme until her history is revealed. You understand why she is hesitant and why she clings to the stability of her relationship with Tony just the way it is. Drea doesn’t trust herself or her decisions in relationships, honestly she doesn’t seem to trust men in general. Tony is also hesitant to push her because of things hidden in his past and the risk of losing her if he reveals his feelings. I enjoyed this book. There was some drama, a little mystery, some steam and a medium amount of angst. Drea and Tony are explosive when they finally get together and all the angsty goodness makes for a fun read.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/🌶️🌶️🌶️

This is the emotional book of this series!!!
I was all over the place!!!!
You’ll be ready to smile, laugh, swoon, fight, yell, cry and add whatever else you need to this list!

Zea does not disappoint with the romantic slow burn with the hint of suspense/thrill in the plot!

Ant and Drea are adorable in their friendship which only makes sense to why one of them wouldn’t see them as more. It is always when someone steps into the picture that things start to look differently. My girl Drea was not having it!!

As a sweets fanatic and baker myself, I loved every bit of the detail into what Drea cooked and baked and anything involving the bakery👩🏽‍🍳🧁🎂🍰🍪🍩 and how it was intermingled with the spice! Yes maam🫠🫠🫠

An aspect that I have enjoyed in every book of this series is the found family aspect within the friend group!!! This group is so relatable with the different personalities represented and how they speak to each other and their honesty!

What to expect:
💚Friends to Lovers
💚Single mom
💚Snowed In
💚Romantic Suspense
💚Cowboy
💚Plus Size FMC
💚Holiday Vibes
💚Baker Boss Babe
💚He Falls First
💚Only One Bed

Thank you Zea and Good girl PR for allowing me the opportunity to read this as an ARC💛

[Abby G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love a slow-burn romance that tugs at your heartstrings, this one is an absolute *must-read.* Drea and Tony’s friends-to-lovers journey is full of heartfelt moments, raw emotions, and sizzling tension. Tony is the kind of hero you’ll fall hard for—intuitive, patient, and devoted in a way that makes your heart ache. His love for Drea’s daughter and the quiet way he supports Drea without expecting anything in return? Absolutely swoon-worthy.

The story balances its emotional weight with just the right amount of spice, especially in *that* unforgettable hotel scene (yes, the one with only one bed!). Watching Tony push Drea to confront her feelings and have those tough, soul-baring conversations adds so much depth to their relationship, making every moment between them feel earned and genuine.

Even if you’re not a slow-burn fan, the pacing is spot on—it never drags, thanks to the tension simmering beneath every interaction. The mix of small-town charm, Christmas magic, and an emotional connection that’s been years in the making makes this story impossible to put down.

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫: 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬-𝐭𝐨-𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥-𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐲. 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭—𝐈 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞.

[Rosie | xo.rosiereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

What to Expect:
💚Friends to Lovers
💚Single Mom
💚Romantic Suspense
💚Pining
💚Plus Size FMC
💚Holiday Vibes
💚He Falls First
💚Only One Bed
💚Small Town

This book was an absolute page-turner from start to finish, and I couldn’t put it down! It’s got a little bit of everything—heartwarming romance, a sprinkle of suspense, and just the right amount of spice to keep things interesting. The wholesome, small-town charm and the close-knit community vibe completely won me over. I found myself rooting for the main characters from the very first page, and their journey was so beautifully written.

The author does an amazing job of creating characters you can truly connect with, making you feel like part of the story. I especially loved the friendships that felt like family—the kind of friends who are there for the tough times but don’t shy away from giving you some real talk when you need it most.

This was my first time reading this author’s work, and I can’t wait to dive into more of their stories!

Thank you to the author, Zea Kayleigh Galan, and the Good Girls PR team for the ARC opportunity.

[gabreadsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love friends to lovers and slow burn romances, this book is for you.

Drea & Tony were angsty and sweet. Tony has been pining for Drea since they met five years ago and everyone sees it but her. I was yelling at Drea to see the perfect man in front of her haha. Tony is a wonderful hero. He is patient, kind and is wonderful to Drea and her teen daughter. Plus he has a cute dog! Everything Drea baked sounded delicious. This book will make you want pastries! I thought Drea & Tony had a good dynamic and I really enjoyed the angst & pining. The romance was developed well and I felt the chemistry.

The steamy scenes were sexy. Tony had a dirty mouth, which I was not expecting. Definitely worth the wait after a slow burn.

The suspense plot is more towards the end of the book but I thought it was hinted enough throughout that it didn't feel like it came out of nowhere.

I think my main issue was this felt slow paced. It took a bit for me to get into the story.

Overall, if you like friends to lovers, slow burn romances and close-knit, small town friend groups, you'll enjoy this!

Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up)
🌶️ Rating: 3/5

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When are you going to stop dating these boys and get with a real man?”

I am so mad at myself for waiting so long to read this book. This is the third book in the standalone series and features Drea and Tony (if you’ve read the first two books you’ll recognize these two!). Drea has finally opened her dream bakery it seems like things are finally going to plan, at least in most aspects of her life. However the love department is not quite there yet— but her special someone may be closer than she wants to admit…

I loved this story so much! I especially loved getting to know both of these characters better after being introduced to them. This was truly a delicious slow burn full of yearning and pent up tension. Whisked Til Peaked was full of emotion and suspense the story was perfectly binge-able. I couldn’t get enough of these two. The tension just waiting for what was going to happen was palpable.

Anthony is a top tier MAN!

Definitely recommend checking this one out, especially if you’re a fan of small town settings, suspense, and lovable characters! It’s for sure a perfect book to cozy up with a blanket, a tasty beverage, and something sweet to snack on.

[Karen Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing small town/friends to lovers romance! This book was such a page turner. You have Drea, a single mom, who owns a bakery and coffee shop and Tony, a ranch manager. It seems one of them has had a crush on the other since the time they met. That person never acted on their feelings though. Will these feelings eventually come out and how will they be reciprocated? Wait til you find out.

Drea is all about her work and her daughter. Relationships don’t seem to work out too well for her. Tony on the other hand seems to have a great relationship with not only Drea, but also her daughter. Let’s put it this way one snowstorm and being stuck together could possibly change how Drea and Tony act toward each other. I’ll say this, their chemistry is sizzling! In the end is a forever in the cards for these two or will they just remain friends. Wait til you find out! One other thing, Drea’s daughters’ father, he’s definitely a piece of work. Tony’s brother also. See how those two tie together and how they put Drea’s daughter in danger. You will be on the edge of your seat!

[Jenella · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ ARC Review

I came in blind and hadn’t read the other two books in the series, but they seem to be pretty standalone. I imagine I would’ve just had more backstory on Drea’s friends if I’d read them.

On to this book. It wasn’t that this was a bad book, I just don’t think it was for me. I don’t really enjoy a miscommunication trope, and I felt like that’s pretty much all Tony and Drea had. They’ve been friends for years, but Tony has been in love with her since basically day one and Drea doesn’t realize she loves him until years later when he shows up with a girlfriend and she’s jealous.

There’s also a plot line with Tony’s brother and Drea’s ex/father of her child that seems to come out of nowhere with drug deals and backstabbing. It also feels like it’s not really finalized. It felt kind of weird.

In all honesty, if you enjoy the miscommunication trope and friends to lovers then give this a shot! This one wasn’t for me, but I’ll go back to read the first two books and give them a go.

[reading escapist · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.50 stars
Good Girls PR ARC, third book in series, friends to lovers, single mother, golden retriever MMC

The story follows Drea (Andrea) as she opens her own bakery and her relationship with her best friend Ant (Anthony).

This story has two things that I love: friends to lovers and a devoted MMC. Drea is in denial about her feelings for Ant, but he is not. Everybody around them can see Ant’s love for Drea, except her. I love how Ant naturally shows his love and devotion for Drea and her daughter on a daily basis (but he can’t wait forever…)

Drea, on the other hand, has so many responsibilities, she doesn’t really consider Ant’s feelings. I liked her work ethic, but her insistence on friend-zoning Ant was frustrating. Ant’s patience and desire to not be part of his family’s “business” are admirable. I also admired Drea’s circle of friends.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes loving MMC’s and friendships that evolve into something more. I will probably go back and read the first two books of this series.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drea and Tony have been best friends for the past four years. Drea is following her dreams to opening a bakery and coffee shop all while raising a teenage daughter. Tony is trying to escape his past, but his family's business might bring danger to those around him. After Drea accepts a huge business opportunity, Tony accidentally gets snowed in with her...and they end up sharing a hotel room (and a lot more to keep them warm).

I could not get enough of these characters. Zea writes so beautiful and I enjoy watching the characters grow. I am not a huge "slow burn" girly, but I was here for this one. I kept turning the pages because I needed more from these characters and Zea delivered! This was a beautiful "holiday vibes" story with a tiny bit of suspense. Definitely pick this one up when it comes out on December 6, 2024!

Thank you to Zea Kaleigh Galan and Good Girls PR for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Jasmine Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so good! I think this may be my favorite in the Alpenglow Ridge series though.

Ant and Drea have been best friends for five years and have a pact that they will remain celibate until they find the one. Everything seems fine until Ant shows up at Drea’s opening with his girlfriend in tow. The will they won’t they duo is finally forced to open up about their feelings for one another and thank goodness they did!!!

Of course, this would not be an Alpenglow Ridge novel without some extra drama. I really appreciate the side stories that happen in these novels and in this one, we are introduced to Ant’s brother, Blue. He runs the family business that Ant wants no parts in. I do wish we received more leading up to the big fallout, but I still appreciated the side storyline here about Blue and Colton.

I will definitely read this again and cannot wait for Mack’s story. Thank you so much to Zea Kayleigh for the ARC of her third book, Whisked Til Peaked.

[Mysia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️

CAWPILE Scores
Characters: 6.5
Atmosphere: 7
Writing: 7
Plot: 8
Intrigue: 7
Logic: 6
Enjoyment: 7

This book was cute! For about 60% of it, I honestly forgot it was a romantic suspense and would’ve happily written it off as a fun holiday romance. Then, out of nowhere, twists and turns started appearing—some of which were genuinely surprising. However, the introduction of multiple characters left me feeling a bit lost toward the end.

I’m not sure if this confusion stems from it being part of an interconnected standalone series or if there were simply too many names to track, but it required more effort than expected. With a notebook, pen, and maybe a character map, I think this could easily become a favorite for readers who love juggling intricate casts and surprising plot developments.

If you’re looking for something light but layered with suspense, give this one a shot—but be prepared to do some extra mental legwork!

[Ashlynn_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝒁𝒆𝒂 𝑲𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆. 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒌 𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝑷𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 #3 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒍𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔. 𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑫𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 6𝒕𝒉.
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆: 🌶🌶🌶
𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆:💧💧

𝑴𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘:

First off, thank you, @zeakayleigh & @good.girls.pr for this amazing ARC. This book was AMAZING, and I couldn't put it down. I literally finished this book in less than 24 hours. This one had me in a choke hold.

My emotions were all over the place, Ant (Anthony) is every girls wet dream. He did no wrong in my eyes. He was absolutely perfect in every way. Drea (Andrea) was a strong, independent woman and mother to a teenager.

The friendship between Ant and Drea is what all girls want. It's a must read is all I'm saying. Lol

#𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒁𝒆𝒂𝑲𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏 #𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒌𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒅 #𝑨𝒍𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒐𝒘𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 #𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒎 #𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒅 #𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔 #𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔

[Gosia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I rated it as soon as I finished reading but then kind of forgot about the full review 😭 I usually write reviews right away so I’m a bit late with this one but here are my thoughts 3 weeks after I read this book.
I still remember the plot so that’s a good sign!


It was my first book by Zea and for sure not the last! (Tho her books are not that easy to get where I live but I will definitely work this out and somehow read her previous books!)

This book was exactly what you want from a romance book. Good writing, well developed and executed plot, a little bit of heavier stuff (but truly A LITTLE), the whole story was not overly long.
It’s not a book that will change your life or you will think about for months after reading it, but it’s just a perfect contemporary romance you will have fun reading.
It has some spicy scenes. If you’re new to spice in your books it can seem like spicy-spicy, but for me (I read a lot of spice) it was nothing new or special.
IMO the amount of spice was just perfect. I hate when the book is only about smutty scenes. Fortunately this one was not it, the spice was a nice addition, but not the main focus of the story.
I was a bit (ok, a lot) frustrated with how blind Drea was for what was right in front of her for the whole time and the denial she was in, but at the same time it was part of the story, right? If she wasn’t so blind for Tony’s feelings towards her there would not be a story there 😅
I felt a bit that the moment finally something happened between Drea and Tony was a bit like… “ok, we are at the point of the plot it has to happen” and not necessarily an IT moment. Like the overall build up was there but the scene and tension JUST before IT happened was not “strong” enough to my liking that it made sense they let go of their control in that specific moment.
I also had a bit of a “problem” with how Tony “used” Steph. I choose to believe she was “using” him exactly the same way. It was a bit triggering for me that Drea slept with Tony despite thinking he’s with Steph. That’s a pretty big red flag for me, but I am aware it might be a me-thing and it was mildly annoying for me, more like just a thought so I didn’t let it affect my overall rating of this book.

Overall I really did enjoy reading this book and it made me want to check out previous books of the series *almost right away, despite my TBR being like 81826628181 books.

(*I say almost only because I had some other string goals before the year ends like finishing already started books and fitting in one or two Christmas reads, but come January I will definitely try to fit Zea’s books at the top of my TBR)

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
Small town romance
Friends to lovers
Slow-burn
Suspense
Forced proximity/one room

This books focuses on Drea, a single mom finally going after her dream of opening a cafe/bakery, and Tony, the manager of a nearby ranch. They've been friends for years, but their relationship feels much deeper than that, even though they swear it's platonic. It takes Tony starting to see someone else to make Drea finally realize that she wants more. Then, it's all she can think about, to the point where it starts to affect their friendship.

I went into reading this book without reading the others in the Alpenglow Ridge series. There were some references to the previous books, but nothing that made it hard to understand the plot of this book. This was a quick read that had just enough suspense to keep me on my toes. Some of the characters' choices felt a little petty at times, but that's kind of the point of having a flawed character. Overall, it was a good read.

[What.Nikki.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

🥯 Small Town
🥯 Friends to lovers
🥯 Single Mom
🥯 Slow burn
🥯 Snowed in/ holiday vibes
🥯 He falls first
🥯 Plus size FMC
🥯 Romantic suspense
🥯 Dual POV

Single Mom Drea and Ant meet and decide to form a celibacy pact. They maintain this pact for years while Ant is hanging out in that friend zone. He is constantly showing up for her and her daughter. He absolutely falls hard for her but for some reason Drea is completely blind to it despite her friends and everyone around her seeing it.

This was such a fun read at Christmas time too! The snowed in vibes.... Drea is a baker and girl constantly had me hungry while reading 🤤 🍰 🥯🍰.

Then we get some wild suspense/mystery plot that had me on the edge of my seat!

I love how it all came together at the end. The bits and pieces we get to see of past characters was so nice. I do think this could be read as a standalone but for full effect read the whole series!

Thank you Zea and Good girls pr for this arc!

[AB Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a hallmark movie with a little tiny criminal twist that made it more interesting. A celibacy pact, two best friends, a teen daughter, new business, a family runaway, the sassy baker and the hardworking ranch hand, what could go wrong? Seeing Drea work and struggle to build a life for herself and her daughter was perfect. I absolutely melted seeing their friendship bloom into more. The way Tony loved her and her daughter and put them before everything in good life was perfect. There was enough plot to keep it interesting! The set up was maybe just a little long, but not drawn out. I definitely would consider the rest of this series! Would recommend to romance readers who like a little tiny spice!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a cowboy romance then let me tell you, you need Tony in your life. Tony and Drea are best friends who are always there for each other, including making a celibacy pact with each other. With the pact in place and Tony to compare to, no man ever measured up to Dre, even if she didn’t realize that she was making those comparisons. When Tony finally defines a relationship with an old friend, Drea is rightfully thrown for a loop. Snowed in and trapped, they are forced to confront their feelings. Tony and his familial secret is revealed, and it is truly life altering for the pair. This is a perfect winter, small town book!

[Yammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’m always a sucker when best friends fall in love. whisk til peaked has some of my favorite things: the best friends to lovers, an mmc that is always there for the fmc, and fms has an amazing group of friends. the book follows ant/tony and drea in a small town. ant works in the town’s local ranch while drea just opened up her bakery in town. the feelings these two gave me 😭 there were many times i wished i was able to yell at tony for his decisions and actions. but he did wait a long time so idk if he deserved the yelling, the man was very patient with his heart and drea. throughout the book, drea has to figure out her feelings for ant. drea has gone through a lot of things and ant has always been there for her. since ant met drea, they have always been with each other so with feelings being involved, they had to figure that out together.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved revisiting Alpenglow Ridge with Drea and Tony.

After Verse to Acclimate (the prior book in this series of standalones) I knew there would be quite the story for these two, and the author did not disappoint.

I loved the history between Drea and Tony. I love the way he loves her daughter... and I even loved the drama brought up by both of their pasts. The spice starting just over halfway through the book didn't hurt either.

Drea and Tony are both clearly good people - and I love seeing good people find each other and find their HEA.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice level:
1.5/5 🌶️

CW:
Drug-related subplot with violence, child endangerment (ends happily)

Tropes/themes:
Friends to lovers, only one bed at the inn, Christmas setting, small town, introvert x extrovert, third act breakup and a nice grovel

Review:
It's giving Kennedy Ryan vibes, and I LOVE Kennedy Ryan. This book is sweet with a dollop of serious with the drug dealer subplot.

HEA includes marriage. The FMC has a child from an unplanned teenage pregnancy in her past, but no other babies.