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Crimson Ridge #1

Chasing the Wild

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What happens when you're snowed in on a mountain ranch with the one man you definitely should not be fantasizing about?

I've always done what was expected of me. Layla Birch, the good girl. Forced to grow up too fast. To take care of everything myself. I had a plan.

Only, I didn't count on him. Colton Wilder, the cowboy nearly twice my age. He's my dream man. One who takes care of me, gives me a job, and makes my pulse thud harder every time he comes near.

My ex-boyfriend's father.

The nights are long and cold on top of this mountain. As the snow grows thicker and the tension builds between us, we're both inching closer to a line we shouldn't cross.

Each day, it grows harder to resist the man who looks at me with longing in his eyes. It's tempting to forget about being the good girl for once.

No one would find out. Would they?

From international bestselling author Elliott Rose comes a new forbidden love series. Chasing the Wild is an interconnected standalone in the all-new Crimson Ridge series. For mature listeners.

Includes a bonus novella, Bouquets & Buckles.

15 pages, Audible Audio

First published June 20, 2024

12124 people are currently reading
85645 people want to read

About the author

Elliott Rose

19 books3,774 followers
Elliott Rose is a bestselling author of romance on the forbidden and deliciously dark side. She lives in a teeny tiny beachside community in the south of Aotearoa, New Zealand with her partner and three rescue dogs.

Find her with a witchy brew in hand, a notebook overflowing with book ideas, or wandering along the beach.

Join her reader group The Cauldron for exclusive giveaways, BTS details, first looks at character art/inspo, and intimate chats about new and ongoing projects.


Join her Newsletter for all the goodies and major news direct to your email inbox.


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5 stars
20,758 (32%)
4 stars
22,798 (35%)
3 stars
15,117 (23%)
2 stars
4,453 (6%)
1 star
1,296 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,479 reviews
Profile Image for Marianna Moore.
468 reviews64.4k followers
May 13, 2025
3.5⭐️ Was it a good book or was I just ovulating….. ????

Ex boyfriend’s cowboy DADDDYYYYYYYYY!!!! This book was filthy, this man was filthy, it was kind of trash but so addicting, call me a fucking dumpster.

Insta lust for sure and heavy on the spice but like I was giggling and screaming the whole time so here we are.
Profile Image for Kristina .
1,051 reviews926 followers
did-not-finish
November 13, 2024
Needy bud? 🤚🏻 No.

DNF 30%. I couldn’t do it. It’s giving amateur, Wattpad, trope soup.
It’s just so cliched and slow moving. Why’s he so mad at her? I hate it when the MMC is an asshole to the FMC simply because he’s attracted to her when all she does is cook, clean and work hard for him. I can’t read 469 pages of push and pull between a veterinarian who is working as a farm hand for a placement 🙄 and a grumpy dick of a cowboy who seems like the worst dad in the world.

I’m also COMPLETELY over calling grown women girls (302 times)and the FMC using the term slut (14 times) to shame herself and other women. And please buy this FMC some canestan for her sopping wet 🐱 . It cant be comfortable walking around with a swamp in your underpants all the time.


Thanks BookSirens for the copy… yada yada.
Profile Image for M (hiatus).
297 reviews46 followers
July 2, 2025
I got the ick when:
1) She called his hand big paw (more than once)
2) Maybe I’m dumb but chapter 18 didn’t make any sense at all??
3) Swollen needy bud
4) Pouting little bud
5) I got bored
6) His dirty talk feels recycled
7) They’re in their own head way more than actually having a conversation
8) “it’ll fit” should only be applied to monster romance
9) She was moaning “oh god” so much I was starting to think I was part of a ritual or some shit like girl pls stop
10) I usually don’t have any problems with book length but this is waaaaay too long

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk 🤚
Profile Image for Yana.
182 reviews30.3k followers
July 15, 2025
So I thought I was gonna finish it but I just left this book at 90% and kinda lost interest after, super spicy but I got bored idk
Profile Image for Nancy.
605 reviews540 followers
October 17, 2025
3 cowboy smut ⭐️—and that’s me being generous.

Rather than our usual sunshine, we’ve had tons of rain this past week. With that comes the messy job of cleaning up the yard and my garden. Dirty chores called for a dirty book to help pass the time, what can I say? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Definitely overhyped and overrated in my humble opinion, but consider it a palate cleanser between all the horror I’ve been reading this month. Now, back to my regularly scheduled October reads.
Profile Image for Gry ☾.
248 reviews995 followers
July 8, 2025
ngl if i was her i might want to jump colt for 100 pages straight too
reading it though? brain = soup. literally down to 1 braincell and it’s glitching.

(how is her coochie not tired?)
Profile Image for Samantha Gilmore.
47 reviews4 followers
July 18, 2024
I seriously need to stop taking tik tok's advice. I should classify this as a DNF because around page 100 of straight smut (with the WORST terminology imaginable) I started to skip past the rest of the smut scenes... and wouldn't you know it... I think I only read 30 pages out of the remaining 150 pages of the book.

It started out fun, slow burning a smidge, the "will-they, won't-they" but then it just got boring. The writing is juvenile and anything that resembles a plot was dismissed as soon as they actually got together the first time. For a nearly 500 page book, the several plots going on could have been hashed out 100x more. Instead I got to read some very disturbing sex scenes and now I have to go bleach my eyes, my brain, and frankly my soul.
Profile Image for Ashley Andersen.
198 reviews1,970 followers
June 23, 2024
Grumpy cowboy
Age gap
Ex bfs dads
Snowed in
Workplace
Forced prox

EXCUSE ME!!!!! This book was such a good read. I really enjoyed the characters POVs, their journey, the spice, the tension between them. The way the ranch was explained and the work that went behind it.

The spice built really well in the book, it wasn’t just from the get go. There was a good build up before it hit, but once it hit OH MY…🥵

I adored this one! And I highly recommend it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Profile Image for Kiara.
61 reviews14 followers
December 18, 2025
I picked it up for the trope. I stayed for the grumpy cowboy who fell way too hard — and never stood a chance 🫦

🏔️ The Premise

Layla Birch is exhausted in every way possible — broke, overworked, and barely surviving vet school. On a final courtesy errand to return her ex’s forgotten stuff, she has a flirty little gas station meet-cute with a rugged cowboy.

Cute. Forgettable — or so she thinks.

Because that cowboy?
Is Colton Wilder. Her ex’s dad.

Months later, her ex pulls yet another screw-up, sending Layla back up the mountain. A snowstorm hits. Roads close. She gets stranded on Colt’s remote ranch.

Trapped together for weeks, the tension between them becomes impossible to ignore — and they’re forced to confront the one thing they both want… and absolutely shouldn’t have.

🐎 Layla Birch (25)

A certified good girl who had to grow up way too fast. She’s responsible, tired, quietly strong, and honestly very relatable — needing a full week to recover from one social interaction? same 🥲

What I loved most: Layla truly cared about Colt’s relationship with his son and was fully willing to walk away if that’s what was right.

🤠 Colton “Colt” Wilder (42)

Possibly the grumpiest cowboy I’ve ever read — and yes, I mean that as praise.

He’s brooding, rugged, emotionally wrecked, and deeply convinced he doesn’t deserve happiness — or her.

Protective, possessive, dirty-talking, and calling her baby and angel??
Yeah. That worked for me. 😮‍💨

❄️ My Thoughts

The first half of this book is easily the strongest. The ranch life felt real (finally a cowboy romance that actually commits to the lifestyle), and the tension between Layla and Colt was palpable.

Where it lost me a bit was the middle 😬
Once they finally crossed the line, the story leaned heavily into repetitive inner monologues. It became a loop of “We shouldn’t do this,” “This is wrong,” “I’m a terrible person” — rinse and repeat for far too long.

There was a lot of extended spice, but not much emotional progression during that stretch. This book definitely could’ve been shorter.

However — the ending redeemed it for me. Actual communication. No unnecessary lying. No drawn-out misunderstandings. It felt mature, earned, and emotionally grounded.

“You own my black fucking heart, and I couldn’t go another day without telling you how deeply I’m in love with you.”

I was genuinely surprised (and pleased) by Kayce’s redemption arc. Seeing him get his life together and reconnect with Colt was satisfying — I just wish we’d gotten more of it.

Also: Colt’s epilogue > Layla’s

🌾 Final Take

I totally get why this book has mixed reviews — it’s not flawless. But for me? It worked.

If you love the ex’s dad trope and want one that actually leans into ranch life, tension, and a grumpy cowboy who is absolutely down bad, this is worth the read.

🫦 Tropes / What to Expect

Ex’s dad / forbidden romance
Age gap (17 years)
Grumpy cowboy
Forced proximity / snowed in
Small town ranch life
Workplace romance
Possessive & jealous MMC
“Fuck it” moment
Breeding kink & 🍑 play

Crimson Ridge Series

1. Chasing The Wild — 4⭐️
2. Braving The Storm — TBR
3. Taming the Heart — TBR
4. Saving the Rain — TBR
5. Bouquets and Buckles — TBR

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
✧・゚ Pre-Read ・゚✧
cowboy + ex’s dad + snowed in?? say less 🤠❄️
Profile Image for cat.
165 reviews36 followers
November 26, 2025
“I told you I couldn't think of a word to describe what it felt like having you arrive in my life... and all I can think is that you're my wildflowers after the winter, you're the first crackle in the fireplace when it heats up, you're the sun chasing away storm clouds.”

”I love you, Layla. This thing struggling to beat inside my chest when you're not near, is yours.”

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

I didn’t pick up this book for quite some time because I honestly didn’t like the cover at all,
but goodness I’m so glad I finally did.

Layla is going after her veterinarian degree and has been struggling to make ends meet from all the college bills, plus the assisted living care she pays for someone dear to her. After finally breaking up with her literal WASTE OF SPACE boyfriend(ugh i hate him so much), she’s left with all of his belongings he kept at her house and forgot to pick up when he moved out. Desperately seeking closure from that chapter of her life, Layla decides to drive his belongings and drop them off on his front doorstep.

After an encounter with a sexy man that ended badly at the gas station (who paid for her fuel HOW SWEET)— she continues her way up the mountain to deliver her ex-boyfriend’s things… only when she knocks, she comes face to face with the sexy man who just so happened to leave her in his dust down in town… and on top of that, he’s her ex’s dad, Colton Wilder.

Knowing that any type of relationship is out of the question now, Layla drops off the things and leaves town for good—never planning on visiting Crimson Ridge ever again. Until a few years later she realizes her ex has been taking loans out under her name and has to go confront him back up at his dad’s house. But instead of finding her ex, she finds herself stranded up on the mountain with Colt, snowed in until further notice… alone. Now with no other company but each other, these two have to learn to live and work with each other for the next few weeks.

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

I love how the relationship between Colt and Layla deepens over time spent together. Reading the story, it’s obvious that them falling for each other is inevitable, but the way it slowly grew into something more was my favorite part.

I will say the only reason I didn’t rate it a 5 star was because of the “Daddy” kink. I just couldn’t get behind it no matter how hard I tried. I’m fine with some taboo to spice up the plot, but pairing an age-gap with daddy content just makes me cringe.

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

things to know about the book ↓

🤠forbidden love
🤠age gap (she’s 25/he’s 42)
🤠ex-boyfriend’s dad
🤠forced proximity
🤠breeding kink
🤠dual POV


Overall it was a great read and I’m excited to start the next one in the series 🤞🏼
Profile Image for Jenn (The Book Refuge).
2,667 reviews4,489 followers
January 28, 2025
Reread for Patron in Jan 2025
.
.
.
.

So hot! It was headed for a 6 star read, no joke. But a few things held it back.

Will have my full review in an upcoming weekly wrap up.

4.5 stars
4 on the spice scale

CW: Cheating (not by hero), domestic abuse (as a child), attempted date rape, debt, unreliable income, dementia

Sexy stuff: Light Daddy Kink, Good Girl
Profile Image for Sabrina.
221 reviews925 followers
August 26, 2024
2.5 stars

I honestly don’t have much to say about this. The spice was definitely something lol I got the ick a few times from somethings but it wasn’t the worst. If you enjoy age gap, breeding kink, and ex boyfriends dad, then this is your book. i went into this blind mostly (just saw cowboy and ran with that) so I was surprised with what I was met with. it ultimately was a good time initially but it just took too long to wrap up and certain things weren't even explained. it ceased to hold my attention
Profile Image for inesnjreads.
231 reviews647 followers
July 29, 2024
TW : it’s age gap and ex boyfriend’s dad and she says things like « yes daddy » « I need you daddy » (ew ew ew)

I am so sorry for this review but :

- first 50 % : literally just inner thoughts and nothing happens (he’s a bad dad for wanting her and she doesn’t want to tempt him)
- 50-80% : they f*** for chapters on end it’s so freaking long and nothing else happens
80-100% : no comment

so that would be a no for me
Profile Image for sil ♡ the book voyagers.
1,360 reviews3,190 followers
July 8, 2024
Oh yeah this was amazing? EX'S DAD ROMANCES, YOU ALWAYS WINNNN <3

I buddy read this book with Aniya and Whit though I think I finished it first lmao. I seriously suck at buddy reads but I'm always there for you when you want to scream about it!!! Still, I'm so happy that we went back and buddy read a new book because we haven't done it in so longggg. And what better way to return than with a forbidden, taboo romance about a sad, lonely girl who falls for her shitty ex's dad (who also happens to be a handsome, rugged cowboy).

I'm ngl, I was crying in the first 13% of the book??? It just made me emotional that she had no one and was so sad and had her back against the wall until rugged cowboy daddy Colton appears and helps her out and cares for her and lets her know she isn't alone. Also I do love me a "hero misjudges her so badly and feels badly after because he was 100% wrong and now begs for her forgiveness" situation lmao PLEASE I LOVE THAT EVERY SINGLE TIME!

ALSO the spicy scenes in this were sooo *hot* wild wild wild. There's breeding kink, daddy kink, even some ass play, so! If you wanna read that, give this a go.
Profile Image for Paloma FC (in my reading era).
331 reviews60 followers
August 29, 2025
3.5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐💫
4 / 5 🌶️
Spicy chapters: 11, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 32, Epilogue

Colt (MMC) and Leyla (FMC)

Cons:
Too long, sometimes repetitive plot and inner monologs.
The MC's relationship is mostly physical, not much emotional intimacy.
Most male characters except for the MMC are depicted as irresponsable, immature, and incapable of stopping themselves from s*xually harassing the FMC.

Pros:
Very HOT spicy 🌶 scenes, with plenty of smut, dirty talk, and "good girl" praise 🔥.
Entertaining and easy read.
Hot cowboy MMC 🤠 🥵.


Final thoughts: Great novel if you're in the mood for some cowboy smuttyness 👌.

Happy reading! 📚
Profile Image for Melanie A..
1,242 reviews559 followers
August 18, 2024
4 STARS!
... as much as the word 'shouldn't' keeps resounding in my brain like a goddam siren . . . absolutely nothing about being with Layla feels wrong.
YUM! Age-gap, ex-boyfriend's father, angsty, sizzling-hot dirty talk from a usually taciturn cowboy, and just a hint of daddy kink. If you're into any of the above, you'll need to read this.
"I want to be ruined by you Colton Wilder."
Yeah, me too. 🔥🔥

Profile Image for Nicole.
82 reviews110 followers
November 16, 2025
Wow, I REALLY disliked this book. I hate read / skimmed the last 20%. I thought the beginning seemed promising, but quickly evolved into utter nonsense. The FMC was so unlikeable. Basically she gave off the biggest “I’m not like other girls” energy, and was so judgmental of all the other women in this book. She just had the most horrible opinions about the other women because she thought they were dumb and liked to sleep around with other men? She basically slut-shamed them, and it was not a good look for her. Honestly, not a great look for the author as well. Seriously, why were the majority of women portrayed so HORRIBLY in this book? I hate when women are pitted against each other, especially when it’s because of mediocre men! Also, it was annoying that literally ALL the men in the book were attracted to the FMC. 🙄

The middle was all spice with minimal plot development. Basically the two MCs were snowed in on top of the mountain and that’s when they decided they can finally act on their attraction to one another, which was basically all insta-lust anyway. Right when the roads would start to clear up and their time together was coming to an end, some other event happens that keeps them trapped up on the mountains, and the sex would just resume again. These two “adults” had absolutely no control over their bodies (the MMC was constantly “hard” and the FMC was “clenching her thighs” whenever they were around each other). Plus, the dirty talk in this book was so incredibly cringey! 🤮

Both MCs were in their heads way too much, and there was so much recycled internal monologue in each chapter. It was like they both only had one thought in their heads that they would constantly recycle for the whole book. It honestly got very boring and SO repetitive. The book was much longer than it should be.

This was my first cowboy romance and honestly was such a disappointment. I also felt like there were a few different plot lines introduced that were never fleshed out or developed… It made me wonder why the author chose to include certain details in the book, if she was not going to give them any sort of conclusion?

If you are in the mood for pure spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, then maybe this book is for you…. Otherwise, the plot was non-existent and the characters were poorly developed.

And just as an aside…. The FMC was a veterinary student, yet had zero support from her school. I’m not sure what country this book takes place in because it was never mentioned (maybe New Zealand since the author’s from there?), but there is ALWAYS someone at the school to contact and offer support when needed, which is the case in the USA.… I’m not saying it was incorrect based on the country the book takes place in, but it’s just very different compared to what occurs in the USA. Students are not left to fend for themselves, especially while completing their clinical externships away from campus. ALL clinical externship locations must be pre-approved in advanced by the school. A student cannot just show up somewhere and decide they will use this experience to get credit towards their PROFESSIONAL DEGREE! Did the author do ANY research into veterinary school curriculum? Overall, I wish the veterinary profession was portrayed better in this book!

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@nicole_thereader
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolethere...
Profile Image for Mia S..
544 reviews37 followers
June 16, 2024
I’m stingy with my 5 stars. 4 I’ll be honest I’m a little slu**y with them because I don’t want to hurt the author but I’ll be honest in the write up, so again stingy with my 5 stars- and this one has 5 and has broken me for all future men because if they’re not like Colt I’m out. Older rough cowboy- takes daddy to a whole new level! And it wasn’t just the smut (but believe me kittens it’s there and I don’t blush often because I live in dark romance and this had me rushing to Sephora because I need the shade of pink that this book drew out) the story catches & does not let go.

There moments of hate, serious frustration, and yes one chapter just broke my heart only to put it back together again. Now watch your triggers this is set in a true true farm so there is farm life and realities that come with living that hard life (grew up on a farm and yep a little flashbacks here and there) so be warned- but nothing you can’t handle.

So do yourself a favor and let yourself be Layla for a moment and get ready for a roller coaster!
Profile Image for Chaotic Bookworm.
512 reviews
December 12, 2024
Chasing The Wild is book 1 of the interconnected standalone series Crimson Ridge.

What happens when you are snowed in on a mountain ranch, cut off from civilisation, and stuck with the one man you definitely shouldn’t be fantasizing about?

Well this is my first cowboy romance, I don’t usually read them, but it was the age gap, forbidden love/romance that really caught my attention, and honestly I’m so glad it did. This was a fun read.
Elliott did a great job with the story, settings and characters. I honestly could picture the beauty of Crimson Ridge. I enjoyed the grumpy x sunshine dynamic and the chemistry between Colt and Layla. It was a slow start but once things started moving they steamed ahead!
I’m excited to see what Elliott has planned for the next book of the series.

If you enjoy cowboy, age gap and forbidden romances you are going to eat this up, definitely recommend the read.
Profile Image for Katie Beasley.
694 reviews87 followers
November 29, 2024
These mountain men are a different breed yall!! I just finished book 2 and realized I hadn't reviewed this one yet so here we are LOL. This book was EXCELLENT!! I haven't really read a lot of taboo romances but OMG this one was HOT. It was a great intro to this world and the characters were fantastic. I am not going to lie. I thought that Colt could have pulled back on how rude and unwelcoming he was being to Layla. That went on for a tadbit too long BUT I get it at the same time. He was angry with how he felt towards her. Their meet cute was PERFECT! The immediate chemistry and charm at a gas station of all places. And then Layla finds herself at his door (not knowing it's his) looking for her ex and then there he is. The hottie from the gas station who now realizes who she is and is immediately just rude. I liked watching both of them slowly unravel not just with their chemistry but themselves as people. Colt had so much sadness in him. He was trying to make things right with people in his life and felt like a HORRIBLE person for the thoughts he was having about his son's ex. Layla was barely scraping by. Doing everything she could to prove herself to whoever would look. And then of course the TENSION. It was beyond palpable. It was electric. The way that Colt was so possessive over her but wasn't willing to do anything about it and then they decide they were going to give into their feelings for a few weeks while they were snowed in. Kayce was down the mountain and would never know. Their time together was unlike anything either had experienced, and it was clear they were both gone for each other. I JUST LOVED EVERY SECOND!!

Layla is down on her luck. She is basically puling her car into this gas station in the middle of nowhere. When she sees the hottie get out of a truck next to her. She has never had this immediate of a reaction to someone as him. She almost asks for his number, but she is just passing through town and it couldn't go anywhere anyways right?? But now that she is almost at her new job she realizes that her ex has emptied her bank account. So she goes to his house (or what she thinks is his) and who does she find? The hottie from the gas station. And now that he knows who she is all pretense is gone. But he does offer her a job. To work for him and he will help give her the credits she needs to graduate. She will have to live with him though here. And be able to WORK. She can't get over how different he was at the gas station, but she will not cave. She will prove him and everyone else wrong. The more challenging thing is fighting this tension between them. It is there like a living wire with every look or accidental touch. They can't do anything about it though. Even though her and her ex Kayce who is his SON were nothing. They can't act on this tension...or can they. Because now there are a whole bunch of cowboys coming to the ranch and Colt is acting like a man possessed. She pounces on that and realizes that he will follow her lead. And then they are snowed in and decide they will take this time to explore each other in all ways. They will act like their is no taboo to how they feel. They slip into a fantasy of sorts. They have the most amazing nights and days together. Colt treats her like a queen. But there is an expiration on this time together. And it ends sooner than they think it will. And when Colt's happiness is threatened, Layla has no choice but to leave. She was going to anyway but why does it feel so hard now? Months have passed and she has heard nothing. She can't go on like this, but the ball is in his court. He knows where she is- will he come for her and ens this sadness? Or did she imagine what was between them?

Colt is aught off guard by his immediate attraction to the bombshell at the gas station. He almost asked her out and she had to be like 10 years younger than him. He tries to get this emotions in check but then she is at his doorstep asking about his son Kayce. And that's when he realizes that she is his son's EX. And Kayce has screwed her over. He finds himself offering her a job and a place to stay. He also finds himself being a complete jerk to her. Maybe if she hates him then he can forget the way his body reacts to her. But nope that isn't the case. And the longer she is there the more he can't fight it anymore. There is something about her he has never experienced. And it isn't just her body. It's her. Now the time has come for the annual retreat and the other ranchers are coming to his house. He finds himself staking a claim on her without finalizing it. And then she makes her move. She can't fight it anymore either. And she is a dream. A vision. And then they are snowed in. And decide that they will explore this. She will be his at least for the next two weeks. And the time is MAGICAL. It is beyond anything he could have imagined. He has fallen hard for her. But then their time ends earlier than they thought. Kayce is back with a woman at this side. And now they have to go back to pretending they aren't completely gone for each other. And now she is leaving- she can't stay. She was leaving anyways. So he lets her leave. He sits in his despair. And realizes that he let the best thing he has ever had walk away and that's just not ok. So he will go find her and surprise her and hope to God that she hasn't given up on them. Because he knows now that she is his end game!

I fell so hard for these characters and this setting. The way that Layla lit up Colt's life and house in the best way. Even the horses seemed different by her sunshine. I always love watching a grump unravel and Colt did not disappoint! If you haven't picked this one up, I can't recommend it enough. And get ready to squirm in your seat because OMG the spicy scenes are EXTRA spicy!!
Profile Image for giulsxx.
210 reviews245 followers
March 23, 2025
DNF 50%
“She’s a ray of fucking sunshine, and I’m the thundercloud about to unleash all hell at any moment.”


listen, i tried to finish it, but i was out of my mind bored and i left the book in the middle of a sex scene (which i never do) for days. i can’t find it in me to pick it up again. i decided i didn’t want to waste my precious time on books i don’t want to continue.

again, it may be a me problem but this was awful😭 thank god i have my br ri who can tell me how it ends!! eheh

the main problem with this book was the pace, slow as fuck, which led to me getting bored. the characters were very bland, giving me no emotions whatsoever. the insta-lust was awful and their obsession with each other genitals…
and no cowboy vibes whatsoever, so…

i started this book because of the main trope which is ex boyfriend’s dad. it didn’t go well for me, but it may be it for you! what i’m trying to say is that i don’t feel like not recommend it. it’s not a bad book per se, it just didn’t work for me in this moment.

💌 to my baby ri
next time you choose. i’m sorry😭 ily



“If I were twenty years younger, she’d have been the girl of my fucking dreams. Hell, she is right now.”
Profile Image for Brittany Ferraro.
237 reviews1,320 followers
June 23, 2024
4.5⭐️
Cowboy romance is my weakness and I’m going to eat it up every single fucking time. This one had a little *flare* because it was ex boyfriend’s dad. Age gap has to be done really well in order for me to love it, and it was done perfectly.

There’s something about a taboo/forbidden romance that makes things so much hotter, and when I tell you this book was HOT I am not kidding. 10/10 spice 🌶️ Colt Wilder really knows what the fuck he is doing and I was giddy the entire time 🤭 AND THE PET NAME BABY??? Why don’t more books have this? Nothing is better than baby. It just hits the spot.

I loved this story and their love for eachother, I found myself getting so emotional because I could feel their pain. This book was done so well and I can’t wait to continue the series.

Colt is the cowboy of my dreams
Grumpy✔️
protective✔️
Soft only to her ✔️
filthy mouth ✔️
Calls her baby ✔️
Rough hands ✔️
Looks amazing in a pair of jeans ✔️
Knows what the fuck he’s doing ✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️

I WANNA RIDEEEEEE🤠
Profile Image for Kylie.
720 reviews1,315 followers
June 21, 2024
ATE THIS SHIT UP 🍽️

Be back with my full review but OH MY GOD.

4.75/5 ⭐️
4.5/5 🌶️
Profile Image for Trinity.
708 reviews253 followers
June 30, 2024
⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶🌶🌶/5

TW - death of parents (past, car crash, mentioned), suicide of a grandfather (past, mentioned), blood, hunting, guns, injured cattle, animal abuse (past, sc, recounted), mental health discussions, panic attack (on page), negligent parents (off page), dementia (family member, mentioned), unwanted pregnancy (past, mentioned), drug addiction (past, off page), drugging / SA (scs, past mentioned, implied on page), alcoholism (scs, past, mentioned), abuse (burning cigarettes on the back of the head, by a grandparent, scaring seem on page, past, mentioned), cheating (by a sc on the FMC), suicide ideation (past, briefly mentioned), rape (scs, past, implied)

CW - breeding, cum play, light daddy, very light degradation

Tropes - age gap (25F, 42M), ex's dad, one horse, cowboy, workplace, forced proximity - snowed in, possessive, jealous

This started off well but would have really benefited from being 100 pages shorter than it is. Imo, contemp romance longer than 350 pages typically hurts itself more than it makes the story better. At 446 pages, this book is quite long for a comtemp romance and it really started to drag and become repetitive, I ended up skimming the last 15%. It really became a lot of the same. Idk how many times I’m gonna read her moan oh god. It’s too long for what it is and things are taking too long to be explained. Colt (MMC) and Layla (FMC) are snowed in and there’s not much for them to do apart from eat and work the ranch - there’s little variation some of it could’ve defo been cut out.

Colt was very much 'I'm gonna be an asshole to you because I want you but can't have you because of *insert some perceived moral issue here*' and it wasn't fun for that long. His sentiment towards flipped to the other extreme in a very short amount of time and I honestly felt like there wasn't that much chemistry between them other than the forced proximity and they found each other attractive.

Whilst this is ex's dad, it wasn't really forbidden in the sense that they were the only ones making it problematic. When the ex actually found out, it was very anti climatic.

I found it weird that Layla needed money to get by and also support her aunt who has dementia hence why she needed work and needed a vet job to aid her graduation yet, the first pay check was never mentioned, she hasn’t spoken to this aunt on page and for some reason her texts with sage, her best friend, vanished into thin air. I would have much preferred to read about some of that instead of the same back and forth and sex from the MCs.

This started off strong and there were bits of it I enjoyed but it just didn't pan out for me in the end 🤷🏽‍♀️

Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪

🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List
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