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Red Mountain Series #2
Double Barrel
A grieving man returns to his hometown to win back the woman he never stopped loving in this spicy small town romance with a suspenseful twist from the author of Rare Blend and Last Call.
He's back in town. She's not sure she can let him back in her heart.
Elyse Ledger doesn't do love-not anymore. Her focus is firmly on her career and family. Between managing her parents and siblings and planning elaborate weddings at her family's winery, her schedule is packed, leaving no room for a personal life. So when her high school sweetheart returns to Red Mountain as the town's new deputy sheriff, she's determined to keep her distance-no matter how good he looks in uniform.
Dominic Alvarez doesn't make many mistakes, but losing Elyse was the biggest one of his life. A brush with death and a devastating loss have shifted his priorities, fueling his resolve to right the wrongs of his past. Now that he's back in his hometown, Dominic is determined to show Elyse he's not the same man who let her slip away. When a series of threats put her at risk, he's intent on protecting the woman he's never stopped loving.
As danger closes in, Dominic is determined to prove he's worth a second chance—like a double-barrel vintage, stronger and more complex with time. Yet Elyse's reluctance to open her heart again may keep them from savoring a future together.
Some loves, like the finest wine, become richer with age.
488 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 13, 2025
120 people are currently reading
1434 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Naomi Mosley
7 books199 followersTechnical writer turned romance author Michelle Naomi Mosley writes all town romances with relatable characters and heartfelt narratives, incorporating humor and open-door spice in all her stories. Michelle lives in Washington State's wine country with her husband. When she's not writing, she's reading, cooking the latest viral recipe, or redecorating her home for the millionth time. Since deciding to take the plunge and make her writing dreams a reality, it's been a whirlwind of late nights crafting stories and trying to keep up with the countless book ideas that strike her at any given moment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 338 reviews
April 30, 2025
4⭐
“I’ll always look for you. In every parallel. On every plane. Every version of me is made to love you. You’re a once-in-a-lifetime, Ellie girl.
༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚
🥂 second chance romance
🚓 male yearning
🥂 reverse grumpy sunshine
🚓 romantic suspense
🥂 it's always been you
🚓 small town
🥂 childhood friends to lovers to strangers to lovers
🚓 dual time lines
🥂 matching tattoos
༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚
let me start by saying that I love romantic suspense books . I feel like there aren't enough of them . This book was a good one; I was invested in both the romance and the suspense aspects although it's heavy on the romance more than the suspense.
I loved the FMC . She was independent and her actions were pretty much justified in my opinion .
The MMC Dominic dom . the way he yearns for our FMC . he was so sweet and caring. He never gave up on our FMC despite her being rude towards him at first. he was so pathetically in love with her .
I also loved that they didn't get together fast so there was tension and yearning
there was also no third act break in it
༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚
overall this was so good and I recommend it
༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚
Thank you Luna literary for sending my an e-ARC
So excited to start it !!
“I’ll always look for you. In every parallel. On every plane. Every version of me is made to love you. You’re a once-in-a-lifetime, Ellie girl.
༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚
🥂 second chance romance
🚓 male yearning
🥂 reverse grumpy sunshine
🚓 romantic suspense
🥂 it's always been you
🚓 small town
🥂 childhood friends to lovers to strangers to lovers
🚓 dual time lines
🥂 matching tattoos
༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚
let me start by saying that I love romantic suspense books . I feel like there aren't enough of them . This book was a good one; I was invested in both the romance and the suspense aspects although it's heavy on the romance more than the suspense.
I loved the FMC . She was independent and her actions were pretty much justified in my opinion .
The MMC Dominic dom . the way he yearns for our FMC . he was so sweet and caring. He never gave up on our FMC despite her being rude towards him at first. he was so pathetically in love with her .
I also loved that they didn't get together fast so there was tension and yearning
there was also no third act break in it
༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚
overall this was so good and I recommend it
༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚˚
Thank you Luna literary for sending my an e-ARC
So excited to start it !!
April 21, 2025
Double Barrel by Michelle Naomi Mosley
4/5⭐
2,5/5🌶️
This book was such a delightful read! The romance is sweet and heartwarming, and the suspense kept me hooked all the way to the end. Dominic and Elyse’s journey to finding their happy ending is full of challenges, but it's absolutely beautiful. Their chemistry is electric from the very beginning, and I couldn’t help but root for them right away.
Dominic and Elyse have a long history together, having known each other since childhood. They finally start dating in high school, but when college rolls around, the long distance takes a toll, leading to Elyse unexpectedly ending their relationship. Then years later, Dom is back in their hometown as a cop, while Elyse has become an amazing wedding planner. When they see each other again, the connection is as strong as ever, and Dom is determined to win her back. However, Elyse is carrying a secret that could complicate everything.
Dom is the kind of guy you just can’t help but love—he's a golden retriever who knows Elyse is his forever. I admired how he continuously fought for her, never giving up, even when she pushed him away. And when a stalker threatens Elyse, he steps up as her protector, showing just how far he’s willing to go to keep her safe.
Elyse is smart and fiercely independent, but she’s also holding on to a secret that’s eating away at her. At first, I found myself a bit frustrated with her for keeping Dom at arm's length. But once I learned her reasons, my heart literally broke for her. She’s been through so much, and I genuinely admire her strength. I loved that she finally found the courage to trust Dom enough to share her truth, and it was wonderful to see how supportive and understanding he was.
The suspense added some seriously thrilling moments, and I was completely surprised by the villain’s reveal! Overall, this was a fantastic small-town second-chance romance filled with relatable characters, enough spice to heat things up, and plenty of swoon-worthy, heartwarming moments.
4/5⭐
2,5/5🌶️
This book was such a delightful read! The romance is sweet and heartwarming, and the suspense kept me hooked all the way to the end. Dominic and Elyse’s journey to finding their happy ending is full of challenges, but it's absolutely beautiful. Their chemistry is electric from the very beginning, and I couldn’t help but root for them right away.
Dominic and Elyse have a long history together, having known each other since childhood. They finally start dating in high school, but when college rolls around, the long distance takes a toll, leading to Elyse unexpectedly ending their relationship. Then years later, Dom is back in their hometown as a cop, while Elyse has become an amazing wedding planner. When they see each other again, the connection is as strong as ever, and Dom is determined to win her back. However, Elyse is carrying a secret that could complicate everything.
Dom is the kind of guy you just can’t help but love—he's a golden retriever who knows Elyse is his forever. I admired how he continuously fought for her, never giving up, even when she pushed him away. And when a stalker threatens Elyse, he steps up as her protector, showing just how far he’s willing to go to keep her safe.
Elyse is smart and fiercely independent, but she’s also holding on to a secret that’s eating away at her. At first, I found myself a bit frustrated with her for keeping Dom at arm's length. But once I learned her reasons, my heart literally broke for her. She’s been through so much, and I genuinely admire her strength. I loved that she finally found the courage to trust Dom enough to share her truth, and it was wonderful to see how supportive and understanding he was.
The suspense added some seriously thrilling moments, and I was completely surprised by the villain’s reveal! Overall, this was a fantastic small-town second-chance romance filled with relatable characters, enough spice to heat things up, and plenty of swoon-worthy, heartwarming moments.
April 19, 2025
4 stars
I’m a sucker for a suspense romance, and Double Barrel had all my favorite tropes—second chance romance, small town setting, and a man in uniform? Say less.
Elyse is a strong, determined FMC who will do anything for the people she loves. Dominic is basically a golden retriever in a cop uniform—charming, sexy, and impossible to ignore. Their chemistry is undeniable when they reunite, but their past adds a good layer of tension.
The suspense plot kept me hooked. A stalker slowly creeping closer to Elyse? Yes, please. And the reveal? I did not see it coming.
Loved the mix of heat, heart, and danger. Solid 4-star read!
I’m a sucker for a suspense romance, and Double Barrel had all my favorite tropes—second chance romance, small town setting, and a man in uniform? Say less.
Elyse is a strong, determined FMC who will do anything for the people she loves. Dominic is basically a golden retriever in a cop uniform—charming, sexy, and impossible to ignore. Their chemistry is undeniable when they reunite, but their past adds a good layer of tension.
The suspense plot kept me hooked. A stalker slowly creeping closer to Elyse? Yes, please. And the reveal? I did not see it coming.
Loved the mix of heat, heart, and danger. Solid 4-star read!
May 3, 2025
The only thing I regret is not reading this book in one sitting. I actually couldn't because of life, but I wish I could have! I didn't want to put it down! I wanted to make sure these babies had their happy ending!
Dominic and Elyse ... childhood best friends and sweethearts. they always knew it was more for them, and they always knew they were it for each other. off to college in separate schools and life as a young adult happened, and then 10 years of separation happened.
Dominic is back in their small town for one reason and one reason only. Elyse. and Elyse doesn't know what to do with that! she is mean and cold and tries to push him away until we'll she can't.
Elyse, the girl who takes care of everyone and doesn't want anyone to take care of her. She's built her walls up high, and the only one who knows how to crumble them is Dominic.
This story has a little bit of everything,
Smalltown romance
Tattooed MMC
Suspense
Stubborn FMC
SPICE!
I enjoyed this read!
Thank you @lunaliterary for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Dominic and Elyse ... childhood best friends and sweethearts. they always knew it was more for them, and they always knew they were it for each other. off to college in separate schools and life as a young adult happened, and then 10 years of separation happened.
Dominic is back in their small town for one reason and one reason only. Elyse. and Elyse doesn't know what to do with that! she is mean and cold and tries to push him away until we'll she can't.
Elyse, the girl who takes care of everyone and doesn't want anyone to take care of her. She's built her walls up high, and the only one who knows how to crumble them is Dominic.
This story has a little bit of everything,
Smalltown romance
Tattooed MMC
Suspense
Stubborn FMC
SPICE!
I enjoyed this read!
Thank you @lunaliterary for the opportunity to read this ARC!
April 16, 2025
oh my god PLEASE THIS WAS SO GOOD. So different and refreshing. Michelle does it again. FRTC.
October 25, 2025
MAYBE IM AN IDIOT BUT THAT TWIST HAD MY JAW ON THE FLOOR????? anywho i loved them & i love second chance romances sooooo bad
April 14, 2025
✨ARC REVIEW✨
Everyone stop what you're doing right now because Deputy Dominic Alvarez is in the building!!! Holy moly, this man has me weak.
But let me talk about the book first before I get ahead of myself.
So far, everything I have read from Michelle has been so beautifully written. I am so captivated by her storytelling. Her plots are fun, her characters are a dream, and the spice is HOT!
Characters like Dominic and Elyse are so complex but written deliciously. Their storylines are so bittersweet and you can't help but absolutely root for them. Like, I was so invested in their journey and I needed to see these two get their happily ever after. But first, we needed to dive into their hardships and what's been going on for 10 freaking years!!!
This was a second chance romance done RIGHT. So much happens that I literally cannot mention without spoiling anything but just know, these two NEEDED a second chance. They were basically kids when they last saw each other. Ten years later, it's time to figure out what went wrong and how they can make it right this time around.
I loved it. Absolutely loved it - ate it up is more like it.
I am so glad that Elyse is our black cat kind of FMC. Like, I literally could not picture her any other way. She's sassy, spunky, hotheaded, and so damn stubborn. I just loved getting to know her and seeing her softer side, especially around Dominic. She's so set on pretending he doesn't exist, for the safety of her heart, but yet one look into his eyes and she's taken back to 10 years ago.
Dominic. THIS MAN. HOW I BEG FOR A MAN LIKE THIS. He was absolute perfection. AND THE UNIFORM. OH LORD HAVE MERCY. Between this man's work attire and his actions, I have fallen in love. He would literally do anything for this girl, regardless of how things ended. He is a man in love and I am so jealous that Elyse gets to have him.
He's so sweet and caring...innocent at times, but damn...then he's not. Not only is he a beautiful person on the outside, but that man's heart could make the world go 'round. UGH. I could go on for hours about how much I love him.
Now. WE GET A ROMANTIC SUSPENSE IN THIS ONE!! And it was so good! Now. Did I FINALLY GUESS THE BAD GUY IN A BOOK FOR ONCE?! YES I DID AND I AM SO PROUD OF MYSELF! But even if you guess it, it's still suspenseful and done so well! So bravo, Michelle!
Also. I love how much of the Ledger siblings are in this! I am so excited for their stories. Especially Shane for some reason!!
My thoughts are all jumbled because I literally just finished this book and I have so many thoughts. But to put it simply - I loved this and I am LOVING this series so much!
Michelle can write a good plot. She can write complex and beautiful characters. She can write spice that'll have you SWEATING. The girl can do it all! So definitely check out this series!
Thank you so much to Michelle Naomi Mosley for the e-arc copy!!
Everyone stop what you're doing right now because Deputy Dominic Alvarez is in the building!!! Holy moly, this man has me weak.
But let me talk about the book first before I get ahead of myself.
So far, everything I have read from Michelle has been so beautifully written. I am so captivated by her storytelling. Her plots are fun, her characters are a dream, and the spice is HOT!
Characters like Dominic and Elyse are so complex but written deliciously. Their storylines are so bittersweet and you can't help but absolutely root for them. Like, I was so invested in their journey and I needed to see these two get their happily ever after. But first, we needed to dive into their hardships and what's been going on for 10 freaking years!!!
This was a second chance romance done RIGHT. So much happens that I literally cannot mention without spoiling anything but just know, these two NEEDED a second chance. They were basically kids when they last saw each other. Ten years later, it's time to figure out what went wrong and how they can make it right this time around.
I loved it. Absolutely loved it - ate it up is more like it.
I am so glad that Elyse is our black cat kind of FMC. Like, I literally could not picture her any other way. She's sassy, spunky, hotheaded, and so damn stubborn. I just loved getting to know her and seeing her softer side, especially around Dominic. She's so set on pretending he doesn't exist, for the safety of her heart, but yet one look into his eyes and she's taken back to 10 years ago.
Dominic. THIS MAN. HOW I BEG FOR A MAN LIKE THIS. He was absolute perfection. AND THE UNIFORM. OH LORD HAVE MERCY. Between this man's work attire and his actions, I have fallen in love. He would literally do anything for this girl, regardless of how things ended. He is a man in love and I am so jealous that Elyse gets to have him.
He's so sweet and caring...innocent at times, but damn...then he's not. Not only is he a beautiful person on the outside, but that man's heart could make the world go 'round. UGH. I could go on for hours about how much I love him.
Now. WE GET A ROMANTIC SUSPENSE IN THIS ONE!! And it was so good! Now. Did I FINALLY GUESS THE BAD GUY IN A BOOK FOR ONCE?! YES I DID AND I AM SO PROUD OF MYSELF! But even if you guess it, it's still suspenseful and done so well! So bravo, Michelle!
Also. I love how much of the Ledger siblings are in this! I am so excited for their stories. Especially Shane for some reason!!
My thoughts are all jumbled because I literally just finished this book and I have so many thoughts. But to put it simply - I loved this and I am LOVING this series so much!
Michelle can write a good plot. She can write complex and beautiful characters. She can write spice that'll have you SWEATING. The girl can do it all! So definitely check out this series!
Thank you so much to Michelle Naomi Mosley for the e-arc copy!!
April 30, 2025
3.80 stars ✨
This was one hell of a slow burn.
Elyse is quite the fighter—never one to let herself get pushed around. She’s stubborn and impulsive, but we get to see a softer side of her during the quiet moments she shares with Dominic. Speaking of which, the man is so charismatic and has been so proudly in love with Elyse ever since they were kids.
These two could not get enough of each other. It was kind of gross how cutesy they were, but I still loved every second of it—except for the tattoos. That was a little tacky, in my opinion.
I’m a little picky about second-chance romances because too often the reason for the breakup is absurd and the couple should’ve stayed broken up. However, this was a second-chance romance done RIGHT. They were so young when they got together and still so young when they separated—the breakup was totally valid, and their fears made so much sense. They weren’t quick to brush off the past either. This was such a slow burn, and I appreciated that they took the time to be sure of what they wanted and to talk about everything that transpired a decade ago.
That said, there was still something missing regarding this new stage of their relationship. It’s one thing for them to tell each other they’re different people now, but it’s another for them to demonstrate it. The moments leading up to their reunion felt a little too linear.
I enjoyed the suspense elements. The stalker reveal actually got me. I thought I knew who it was, but I was bamboozled! Although, Ellie was pissing me the fuck off. We’re not gonna victim blame over here, but omg she was not taking things seriously enough. Dominic was so valid for his outburst. Miss girl needed to stop with the temper tantrums and grow the fuck up.
In terms of the structure and writing, I really liked how seamless the transitions between the timelines were. I also had fun finding the quotes that inspired each chapter’s name. As for the tittle of the book, the wine analogy was so clever and almost poetic. It actually made me really excited for Gavin’s book!
Overall, this was a slow-burn worth the wait! Although it lacked a few layers to fully show the development of Elyse and Dominic’s relationship, it was a lovely story worth reading!
Thank you very much to Michelle Naomi Mosley and Luna Literary Management for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was one hell of a slow burn.
Elyse is quite the fighter—never one to let herself get pushed around. She’s stubborn and impulsive, but we get to see a softer side of her during the quiet moments she shares with Dominic. Speaking of which, the man is so charismatic and has been so proudly in love with Elyse ever since they were kids.
These two could not get enough of each other. It was kind of gross how cutesy they were, but I still loved every second of it—except for the tattoos. That was a little tacky, in my opinion.
I’m a little picky about second-chance romances because too often the reason for the breakup is absurd and the couple should’ve stayed broken up. However, this was a second-chance romance done RIGHT. They were so young when they got together and still so young when they separated—the breakup was totally valid, and their fears made so much sense. They weren’t quick to brush off the past either. This was such a slow burn, and I appreciated that they took the time to be sure of what they wanted and to talk about everything that transpired a decade ago.
That said, there was still something missing regarding this new stage of their relationship. It’s one thing for them to tell each other they’re different people now, but it’s another for them to demonstrate it. The moments leading up to their reunion felt a little too linear.
I enjoyed the suspense elements. The stalker reveal actually got me. I thought I knew who it was, but I was bamboozled! Although, Ellie was pissing me the fuck off. We’re not gonna victim blame over here, but omg she was not taking things seriously enough. Dominic was so valid for his outburst. Miss girl needed to stop with the temper tantrums and grow the fuck up.
In terms of the structure and writing, I really liked how seamless the transitions between the timelines were. I also had fun finding the quotes that inspired each chapter’s name. As for the tittle of the book, the wine analogy was so clever and almost poetic. It actually made me really excited for Gavin’s book!
Overall, this was a slow-burn worth the wait! Although it lacked a few layers to fully show the development of Elyse and Dominic’s relationship, it was a lovely story worth reading!
Thank you very much to Michelle Naomi Mosley and Luna Literary Management for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 16, 2025
ARC REVIEW
Dom and Ellie are absolutely so adorable! Their story is definitely so special and one that I loved. I’m honestly just really conflicted on how I fully feel about this book. While it was really well written and an amazing story, I just feel like it was missing something. I feel like there was no real pivotal development in their relationship that took them out of that weird friendzone to the lovers that they once were and should be now. Like I feel like one moment they were fighting and then all of a sudden they were hot and heavy and dating again. Like I really liked them as a couple and liked each of their development, but I feel like I just needed more of their relationship as a whole to get the whole effect. Other than that I really enjoyed this book and loved seeing all the family dynamic and new characters. The twist at the end was definitely unique and one I absolutley did not see coming and it definitely kept me entertained throughout this book! I’m so excited to read the next one and can’t wait to read more!!
Dom and Ellie are absolutely so adorable! Their story is definitely so special and one that I loved. I’m honestly just really conflicted on how I fully feel about this book. While it was really well written and an amazing story, I just feel like it was missing something. I feel like there was no real pivotal development in their relationship that took them out of that weird friendzone to the lovers that they once were and should be now. Like I feel like one moment they were fighting and then all of a sudden they were hot and heavy and dating again. Like I really liked them as a couple and liked each of their development, but I feel like I just needed more of their relationship as a whole to get the whole effect. Other than that I really enjoyed this book and loved seeing all the family dynamic and new characters. The twist at the end was definitely unique and one I absolutley did not see coming and it definitely kept me entertained throughout this book! I’m so excited to read the next one and can’t wait to read more!!
April 17, 2025
Deputy Dominic MFcking Alvarez was so freaking perfect! His flirting had me blushing and giggling the whole time! Latino Men representation at his finest 🤪 ❤️🔥 but really what I love love loved was that he never gave up on Ellie Girl ❤️🔥 he never lost hope and came back !
Miss Ellie girl! God I wanted to punch her so bad in the beginning but after reading her reasons and seeing how she was so independent and the back bone to her family, I completely understood her.
Young love is hard & this was such a beautiful second chance romance.
The romantic suspense was so freaking good ! Was it a big push to them getting back together ? Yes ! And I love that because finally she let someone TAKE CARE OF HER and who else better than Mr Alvarez 🤪♥️
That drunk scene 🤭❤️🔥
& let’s not forget the Ledger Brothers! I love them but specially Single 😉 Daddy 😜 Gavin with his wine / love metaphors
Rating: ★★★★.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Can’t wait for the rest of the series !!
Miss Ellie girl! God I wanted to punch her so bad in the beginning but after reading her reasons and seeing how she was so independent and the back bone to her family, I completely understood her.
Young love is hard & this was such a beautiful second chance romance.
The romantic suspense was so freaking good ! Was it a big push to them getting back together ? Yes ! And I love that because finally she let someone TAKE CARE OF HER and who else better than Mr Alvarez 🤪♥️
That drunk scene 🤭❤️🔥
& let’s not forget the Ledger Brothers! I love them but specially Single 😉 Daddy 😜 Gavin with his wine / love metaphors
Rating: ★★★★.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Can’t wait for the rest of the series !!
January 5, 2026
It wasn’t bad, but wasn’t good ether. Just boring af because nothing actually happens most of the time
November 3, 2025
loved this one more than the first
June 9, 2025
3.5 / 5 Stars
This was a fun read. I really enjoyed the suspense part of this book and generally liked the romance part. Elyse (Ellie) and Dominic have been best friends since they were kids and started dating in high school. They were each other’s everything and thought they’d last forever. Once they separate for college, things get tough. Ellie breaks up with Dominic without much explanation and both their worlds shatter. Dominic goes off to become a cop in LA while Ellie moves home and becomes an event planner for her family’s winery (hence the wine references). Ten years later, Dominic moves back and becomes the new deputy sheriff and he is determined to not Ellie slip away again. When Ellie learns that she might have a stalker, Dominic will stop at nothing to protect her. But Ellie needs protecting from herself and her feelings for Dom because she refuses to open herself up and yet can’t help feeling connected to him anyway. How will they navigate their relationship especially among the danger?
I really enjoyed the mystery and suspense in this book. Criminal Minds is a comfort show of mine (let’s not analyze that statement too closely), so I was fully bought in on that aspect of the book. I slightly wish there was a little bit more suspense – I would say the book is 30% suspense, 70% romance – but that might be a perfect ratio for other folks. I would love to hear if other folks saw the twist coming.
I generally really enjoyed Dominic and Ellie’s relationship. You could tell that they were truly meant to be together – really inevitable. For me with a second chance romance, I need to feel that the characters are different compared to when they broke up because otherwise, how are they going to last? You can’t just miscommunicate in the same ways and expect different results. I understand that they were teens when they broke up so you can’t expect perfect communication or maturity, but I felt that we didn’t see them change enough as adults. So I was really torn between feeling like they are soulmates and feeling like these two probably misunderstand each other often even if that wasn’t on the page.
This is also such a personal preference but I felt like there were too many sex scenes. Beyond the first few, I didn’t feel like the rest advanced the plot or led to character development. I’m a horn dog like the rest of them but sometimes I need a little extra to stay interested.
All of this being said, I enjoyed this book and will go back and read the first book in the series. Oh, and this is a true standalone. It was super well done and I didn’t feel like I missed anything having not read the first book.
Thank you to Michelle Naomi Mosley and Luna Literary for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
This was a fun read. I really enjoyed the suspense part of this book and generally liked the romance part. Elyse (Ellie) and Dominic have been best friends since they were kids and started dating in high school. They were each other’s everything and thought they’d last forever. Once they separate for college, things get tough. Ellie breaks up with Dominic without much explanation and both their worlds shatter. Dominic goes off to become a cop in LA while Ellie moves home and becomes an event planner for her family’s winery (hence the wine references). Ten years later, Dominic moves back and becomes the new deputy sheriff and he is determined to not Ellie slip away again. When Ellie learns that she might have a stalker, Dominic will stop at nothing to protect her. But Ellie needs protecting from herself and her feelings for Dom because she refuses to open herself up and yet can’t help feeling connected to him anyway. How will they navigate their relationship especially among the danger?
I really enjoyed the mystery and suspense in this book. Criminal Minds is a comfort show of mine (let’s not analyze that statement too closely), so I was fully bought in on that aspect of the book. I slightly wish there was a little bit more suspense – I would say the book is 30% suspense, 70% romance – but that might be a perfect ratio for other folks. I would love to hear if other folks saw the twist coming.
I generally really enjoyed Dominic and Ellie’s relationship. You could tell that they were truly meant to be together – really inevitable. For me with a second chance romance, I need to feel that the characters are different compared to when they broke up because otherwise, how are they going to last? You can’t just miscommunicate in the same ways and expect different results. I understand that they were teens when they broke up so you can’t expect perfect communication or maturity, but I felt that we didn’t see them change enough as adults. So I was really torn between feeling like they are soulmates and feeling like these two probably misunderstand each other often even if that wasn’t on the page.
This is also such a personal preference but I felt like there were too many sex scenes. Beyond the first few, I didn’t feel like the rest advanced the plot or led to character development. I’m a horn dog like the rest of them but sometimes I need a little extra to stay interested.
All of this being said, I enjoyed this book and will go back and read the first book in the series. Oh, and this is a true standalone. It was super well done and I didn’t feel like I missed anything having not read the first book.
Thank you to Michelle Naomi Mosley and Luna Literary for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
April 26, 2025
4.25⭐️ | 3.5🌶
I thoroughly enjoyed myself with Elyse and Dominic's book. It definitely more than satisfied my curiosity about them from book 1. This plot was great. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. That plot twist I NEVER saw coming! I loved the character depth as well. Please check your triggers and thank you to luna literary for this arc.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself with Elyse and Dominic's book. It definitely more than satisfied my curiosity about them from book 1. This plot was great. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. That plot twist I NEVER saw coming! I loved the character depth as well. Please check your triggers and thank you to luna literary for this arc.
May 15, 2025
4.75 ⭐️ rounded up!
“when i finally saw the sun again, i asked for you.”
umm, hello?? this was so good??
i very willingly signed up for this arc, but had no idea that it would surpass my expectations like it did.
dominic and elyse were precious. i was obsessed with their love story, and theirs was the type of second chance romance that just works. plain and simple. dominic was down bad through and through for ellie, always had been honestly, and still was ten years later. quite frankly, this man is the definition of “if he wanted to, he would”, and i stand by that. i mean, the library? the HOUSE? get serious. he’s the type of character that would rather do the work and earn something than receive instant gratification, and he gets massive kudos for that. and ellie, she was such a strong character, one that i related to in a lot of ways which meant a lot to me. i did side eye her a few times though because she was being silly, but that’s irrelevant. even though i haven’t experienced what she experienced, i felt her heartbreak and pain, and all i wanted to do was hug her and protect her. she deserves the world and absolutely needs to let someone take care of her for once!
i like to think i’m good at cracking cases in books, but i honestly did not crack this one like i thought i would. the real perp wasn’t even on my list, but they made so much sense. i loved this aspect of the book, it was so fun to work through and unravel!
all in all, dominic and ellie are perfect for each other and i just know they’ve christened every room in that damn house.
thank you so much to the author and luna literary management for the e-arc! 🌙
✪ small town
✪ always been you
✪ romantic suspense
✪ second chance romance
✪ black cat x golden retriever
“when i finally saw the sun again, i asked for you.”
umm, hello?? this was so good??
i very willingly signed up for this arc, but had no idea that it would surpass my expectations like it did.
dominic and elyse were precious. i was obsessed with their love story, and theirs was the type of second chance romance that just works. plain and simple. dominic was down bad through and through for ellie, always had been honestly, and still was ten years later. quite frankly, this man is the definition of “if he wanted to, he would”, and i stand by that. i mean, the library? the HOUSE? get serious. he’s the type of character that would rather do the work and earn something than receive instant gratification, and he gets massive kudos for that. and ellie, she was such a strong character, one that i related to in a lot of ways which meant a lot to me. i did side eye her a few times though because she was being silly, but that’s irrelevant. even though i haven’t experienced what she experienced, i felt her heartbreak and pain, and all i wanted to do was hug her and protect her. she deserves the world and absolutely needs to let someone take care of her for once!
i like to think i’m good at cracking cases in books, but i honestly did not crack this one like i thought i would. the real perp wasn’t even on my list, but they made so much sense. i loved this aspect of the book, it was so fun to work through and unravel!
all in all, dominic and ellie are perfect for each other and i just know they’ve christened every room in that damn house.
thank you so much to the author and luna literary management for the e-arc! 🌙
✪ small town
✪ always been you
✪ romantic suspense
✪ second chance romance
✪ black cat x golden retriever
May 5, 2025
It took me forever to get to this ARC bc ✨life✨ but I’m so glad I got the opportunity to read this! The complexities of Elyse and Dominic’s relationship were so intricate and painfully aggravating at times😭 I had to keep reminding myself that they were just kids when everything fell apart and that their emotional maturity was abysmal😂 I am very happy that both of them ended up going to therapy bc one of the things that had me holding out on whether or not I was fully behind their relationship was the fact that Ellie was still very much struggling with her mental health. Beyond obviously the stalker situation, she was still very much struggling with the trauma of her miscarriage, her self hatred, and being honest about her emotions. I do also wish we got to see a conversation between Shane and Ellie bc Shane’s extreme dislike for Dominic was something I feel should’ve been a talk between brother and sister even if she didn’t divulge every single detail about the situation🤷♀️ Now getting into the suspense side of the story! I really liked this element to the book and was very much side eying every man who wasn’t Dominic or a Ledger that came across the page😂 However, I do feel like we did drop the plot line a little with no kind of action or escalation for 20, almost 30% of the book. But when it did happen?! I was locked in crazyyy🙂↕️ I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I am very much locked into this series and I don’t even know who’s book I want next😭
April 19, 2025
Thank you to Luna Literary and Michelle Naomi Mosley for this read!
Second chances are my ultimate fave. Childhood friends to lovers? Even better!
This is the story of Dominic and Elyse! They grew up together, eventually becoming more than friends. When college time comes they will both go to separate colleges, 5 hours away. Ellie ends it because she feels like she can’t do the distance. A decade passed and Ellie is living at her families winery, Dominic has been working for the LAPD. But, when Dominic moves back home after an incident with the job he was working at, he bumps into Ellie. Ellie is a skeptical of him being back because she is afraid to admit to him why she ended things. Eventually they talk and get back to how things were. In the middle of all of this is a murder mystery! They’re trying to figure out who killed Victoria and is stalking and leaving Ellie messages and flowers on her car. The person who did it came to no surprise!!! He was fishy and gave weird vibes! I loved the different plots that still connected with each other in the book! It kept it fun and super entertaining to read!
Second chances are my ultimate fave. Childhood friends to lovers? Even better!
This is the story of Dominic and Elyse! They grew up together, eventually becoming more than friends. When college time comes they will both go to separate colleges, 5 hours away. Ellie ends it because she feels like she can’t do the distance. A decade passed and Ellie is living at her families winery, Dominic has been working for the LAPD. But, when Dominic moves back home after an incident with the job he was working at, he bumps into Ellie. Ellie is a skeptical of him being back because she is afraid to admit to him why she ended things. Eventually they talk and get back to how things were. In the middle of all of this is a murder mystery! They’re trying to figure out who killed Victoria and is stalking and leaving Ellie messages and flowers on her car. The person who did it came to no surprise!!! He was fishy and gave weird vibes! I loved the different plots that still connected with each other in the book! It kept it fun and super entertaining to read!
May 12, 2025
5 ⭐️
📕: Double Barrel by Michelle Naomi Mosley
Why you’ll love this book!!
🍷 Small Town
⭐️ Second Chance
🍷 Black Cat x Golden Retriever
⭐️ Dual Timeline
🍷 Romantic Suspense
⭐️ Latino MMC 🇲🇽
🍷 She’s a Wedding Planner
⭐️ He’s a Deputy Sheriff
🍷 No 3rd Act Breakup
⭐️ Dual POV
🍷 Open-Door Spice
⭐️ It’s Always Been You
⚠️ Check Trigger Warnings ⚠️
This is my first book by Author Michelle Naomi Mosley and she did not disappoint this is a second chance romance with heart , spice , and suspense that you will love!! Dominic is every girls dream boyfriend he’s amazing and shows Ellie is worth fighting for!! Ellie is a strong independent woman and I adored the heck of her..
📕: Double Barrel by Michelle Naomi Mosley
Why you’ll love this book!!
🍷 Small Town
⭐️ Second Chance
🍷 Black Cat x Golden Retriever
⭐️ Dual Timeline
🍷 Romantic Suspense
⭐️ Latino MMC 🇲🇽
🍷 She’s a Wedding Planner
⭐️ He’s a Deputy Sheriff
🍷 No 3rd Act Breakup
⭐️ Dual POV
🍷 Open-Door Spice
⭐️ It’s Always Been You
⚠️ Check Trigger Warnings ⚠️
This is my first book by Author Michelle Naomi Mosley and she did not disappoint this is a second chance romance with heart , spice , and suspense that you will love!! Dominic is every girls dream boyfriend he’s amazing and shows Ellie is worth fighting for!! Ellie is a strong independent woman and I adored the heck of her..
May 2, 2025
I loved this one so much! This series has been so good!
The way Dominic never stopped loving Ellie. Ugh so sweet. And he builds her a library?? 🥺🥺
Loved the suspense in this too! Looking forward to the rest of the series!
- second chance
- deputy x wedding planner
- black cat x golden retriever
- Latino mmc
- dual timeline
- he calls her “Querida Mia”
-
The way Dominic never stopped loving Ellie. Ugh so sweet. And he builds her a library?? 🥺🥺
Loved the suspense in this too! Looking forward to the rest of the series!
- second chance
- deputy x wedding planner
- black cat x golden retriever
- Latino mmc
- dual timeline
- he calls her “Querida Mia”
-
July 14, 2025
🚨 🍷 ⛓️💥💍❤️🩹
I’ve entered my Red Mountain Series Era! After seeing friends talk so much about Rare Blend and Double Barrel, it was my time to experience the magic & all I had to do was open my window to be there 😉
This book encompasses all of my favorite tropes: second chance, romantic suspense, groveling, small town, boy obsessed & found family! AND it delivers it all so so beautifully. - not to mention the spice is top tier chef’s kiss! 💋
Sneaky Peek: Elyse & Dominic have been sweethearts and each other’s first everything, but something happens in college that makes Elyse run away from her relationship. 10 years later, Dom is back in town, and ready to get some answers. Little does he know, Elyse will be forced to run to him. 🚓
The story goes back and forth between past & present perfectly giving you glimpses of their romance and clues!
I’ve entered my Red Mountain Series Era! After seeing friends talk so much about Rare Blend and Double Barrel, it was my time to experience the magic & all I had to do was open my window to be there 😉
This book encompasses all of my favorite tropes: second chance, romantic suspense, groveling, small town, boy obsessed & found family! AND it delivers it all so so beautifully. - not to mention the spice is top tier chef’s kiss! 💋
Sneaky Peek: Elyse & Dominic have been sweethearts and each other’s first everything, but something happens in college that makes Elyse run away from her relationship. 10 years later, Dom is back in town, and ready to get some answers. Little does he know, Elyse will be forced to run to him. 🚓
The story goes back and forth between past & present perfectly giving you glimpses of their romance and clues!
January 6, 2026
5 sheriff stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3🌶
3🌶
April 17, 2025
I love this book so much. I finished it in two days. I couldn’t put the book down. I 10/10 recommend this book. Elyse and Dominic are my favorites. I loved the way there relationship changed and grew over time.
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
April 18, 2025
2.75 maybe
I was more intrigued by the suspense than the romance, to be honest. However, I felt like a big part of the initial mystery was kind of forgotten. Once Elyse started being threatened, it seems like the police abandoned the actual murder case. I felt like the story was a little slow to start, and I did not like Elyse. She was too controlling, just like her brother said.
Lastly, I really don’t love when books reminisce about sexy times from when the MCs were under age. It makes me feel pervy, so there were a few parts that gave me the ick. Overall this one fell pretty flat for me, especially for how long it was.
Check your trigger warnings before reading!
I received an eARC from the author and Luna Literary Management.
I was more intrigued by the suspense than the romance, to be honest. However, I felt like a big part of the initial mystery was kind of forgotten. Once Elyse started being threatened, it seems like the police abandoned the actual murder case. I felt like the story was a little slow to start, and I did not like Elyse. She was too controlling, just like her brother said.
Lastly, I really don’t love when books reminisce about sexy times from when the MCs were under age. It makes me feel pervy, so there were a few parts that gave me the ick. Overall this one fell pretty flat for me, especially for how long it was.
Check your trigger warnings before reading!
I received an eARC from the author and Luna Literary Management.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2025
AHHH i love this series!!!! Thank you to Michelle for the ARC copy, I know it’s release day TODAY, but that makes it all the better to have just finished something now everyone can have access to!!!!!
5/5 stars - this book was everything it was promised to be. I absolutely loved Rare Blend, then Last Call. I knew Double Barrel wouldn’t disappoint and the book was everything I could have imagined. This is a small town, second chance romance with microtropes of: Latino MMC, black cat/golden retriever, male yearning (bring it BACK) and more!
I will say, before reading I had never read a second chance romance, which is pretty crazy. And I had doubts that i wouldn’t connect bc ew my exes… but this is an ESCAPE! Elyse and Dominic are both such well written and multifaceted characters. The YEARNING and PINING…… chef’s kiss. Their chemistry is there from the get go and through the dual POV structure we get all the backstory we could ask for. The spice……… normally I don’t comment on this aspect of books but guys……. It’s good. It’s so good.
This is also….. a murder/stalker mystery??? Like hello range! I was not expecting this from this book but again, it was so well done and did not disappoint. There were hints and signs here and there but I never in a million years would have guessed the ending. It also ran alongside the romance aspect and never overshadowed it because, at the end of the day, this is a romance book. But I thought this inclusion was soooo enticing.
Overall I really loved this new book in the Red Mountain series. I am a sucker for interconnected romances. This can also be read as a standalone but I would 100% recommend reading Rare Blend first. I loved escaping into Red Mountain and getting to know Dominic, and Elyse on a deeper level. Also loved seeing Ethan and Marisa and the rest of the gang.
Fans of Abby Jimenez and Laurie Gilmore - this series is the perfect blend of all the best aspects of these books!!!!!!
5/5 stars - this book was everything it was promised to be. I absolutely loved Rare Blend, then Last Call. I knew Double Barrel wouldn’t disappoint and the book was everything I could have imagined. This is a small town, second chance romance with microtropes of: Latino MMC, black cat/golden retriever, male yearning (bring it BACK) and more!
I will say, before reading I had never read a second chance romance, which is pretty crazy. And I had doubts that i wouldn’t connect bc ew my exes… but this is an ESCAPE! Elyse and Dominic are both such well written and multifaceted characters. The YEARNING and PINING…… chef’s kiss. Their chemistry is there from the get go and through the dual POV structure we get all the backstory we could ask for. The spice……… normally I don’t comment on this aspect of books but guys……. It’s good. It’s so good.
This is also….. a murder/stalker mystery??? Like hello range! I was not expecting this from this book but again, it was so well done and did not disappoint. There were hints and signs here and there but I never in a million years would have guessed the ending. It also ran alongside the romance aspect and never overshadowed it because, at the end of the day, this is a romance book. But I thought this inclusion was soooo enticing.
Overall I really loved this new book in the Red Mountain series. I am a sucker for interconnected romances. This can also be read as a standalone but I would 100% recommend reading Rare Blend first. I loved escaping into Red Mountain and getting to know Dominic, and Elyse on a deeper level. Also loved seeing Ethan and Marisa and the rest of the gang.
Fans of Abby Jimenez and Laurie Gilmore - this series is the perfect blend of all the best aspects of these books!!!!!!
April 17, 2025
This is the second book in the Red Mountain Series!
I absolutely LOOOOOOVEEEEEE this book!
This follows Elyse and Dominic.
These two grew up together and fell in love.
They were high school sweethearts up until a little after they went off to college.
10 years later…
Elyse is part of the big Ledger family who owns the best winery in town.
She is now a wedding coordinator at her families winery.
Dominic is back in town and is the new deputy on scene.
Dominic is back in town for one thing and one thing only.. to win back Ellie girl’s heart.
But there is a reason she left him all those years ago and so she is determined to keep her distance and focus on work and her family.
But dangerous circumstances bring them closer than she could have imaged and Dominic determined to keep her close and safe.
YALLLLLLL
THE SUSPENSE!!!!
THE “FMC IN DANGER”
THE MOUTH ON THIS MAN
THE PROTECTIVENESS OF THIS MAN
THE OBSESSION HE HASSSS
Need I say more!
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for Michelle’s debut novel, Rare Blend, which if you haven’t read already for goodness sakes GO READ IT!!!
Anyways, I am so honored to follow her on this journey because truly truly she is an incredible writer with characters that reel you in!
She is a Latina Author and brings in representation in these characters and their lives that I could relate to!
I am OBSESSED with this universe!
Y’all Elyse has a lot more siblings who are getting stories and I am SOOOOOO excited for them!!!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go start this series!!!!
It truly is sooooo good!
I absolutely LOOOOOOVEEEEEE this book!
This follows Elyse and Dominic.
These two grew up together and fell in love.
They were high school sweethearts up until a little after they went off to college.
10 years later…
Elyse is part of the big Ledger family who owns the best winery in town.
She is now a wedding coordinator at her families winery.
Dominic is back in town and is the new deputy on scene.
Dominic is back in town for one thing and one thing only.. to win back Ellie girl’s heart.
But there is a reason she left him all those years ago and so she is determined to keep her distance and focus on work and her family.
But dangerous circumstances bring them closer than she could have imaged and Dominic determined to keep her close and safe.
YALLLLLLL
THE SUSPENSE!!!!
THE “FMC IN DANGER”
THE MOUTH ON THIS MAN
THE PROTECTIVENESS OF THIS MAN
THE OBSESSION HE HASSSS
Need I say more!
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for Michelle’s debut novel, Rare Blend, which if you haven’t read already for goodness sakes GO READ IT!!!
Anyways, I am so honored to follow her on this journey because truly truly she is an incredible writer with characters that reel you in!
She is a Latina Author and brings in representation in these characters and their lives that I could relate to!
I am OBSESSED with this universe!
Y’all Elyse has a lot more siblings who are getting stories and I am SOOOOOO excited for them!!!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go start this series!!!!
It truly is sooooo good!
December 2, 2025
4.5 ⭐️s rounded up. Michelle Naomi Mosley — the woman that she is! I feel as though she is writing her books specifically for me. The way she depicts her latin representation and experiences in her novels feel so true to my own, and as someone who is also with their high school sweetheart, I knew I would absolutely adore this second-chance romance storyline. Her writing is so simple yet so beautiful, blending complex and heavier topics within some of the most wholesome (and SPICY) romances. Rare Blend already meant so much to me and I couldn’t imagine how it could get any better but Double Barrel truly left me speechless.
Read
January 18, 2025So lucky to have beta read this one! Absolutely loved it and can't wait for everyone to read it. You'll want to mark your calendars.
April 19, 2025
“I’m not going anywhere, querida mía. I’ll be here when you’re ready.” “And if I’m never ready?” I lean down to whisper in her ear. “I’ve never given up on us. I’m not about to start now.”
Overall Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spice Rating: 2.75/5 🌶️
This book felt much different than Rare Blend did — and that’s not a bad thing. I loved how this book felt and felt much more connected and invested in Elyse & Dominic’s story.
In this day and age, I wasn’t expecting to fall so hard and fast in love with a man in uniform but Deputy Alvarez can get it any day, any time, anywhere!!! The love he has for his girl is UNMATCHED I could feel it heavily through the pages and all I want is someone to love me the way that Dominic loves Elyse, flaws, quirks, mistakes, and all. Is that too much to ask? Their chemistry and relationship are everything and I loved getting to see them both as teenagers falling in love and navigating the world and then reuniting years later and falling in love all over again. Their story is precious, Dom and Elyse are precious and I can’t explain how much I loved them!
“I meant what I said,” he murmurs, low and thick. “You’re the other half of my soul, Ellie. Don’t make me live without you again.”
Double Barrel is by far my favorite Michelle Naomi Mosley novel & is going down as one of my favorite reads of 2025. Thank you Miss Michelle for writing such a wonderful masterpiece (and for living in the same state as me <3
Michelle knows how to write a book, write her characters, and completely get you invested through romance suspense, and everything in between. I was falling over giggling, blushing under my covers, and keeping my eyes peeling and playing private investigator through all those suspense parts and all it all it was just amazing. Can’t say anything more but that Michelle’s writing hits all the right places - it’s addicting and immersive, and anything she writes, I will be salivating over and eating out of the palm of her hands for the crumbs of her storytelling. It’s that good. Absolutely cannot wait to hear about the rest of the Ledger sibling & their happy endings!
What to expect in Double Barrel:
🍷 second chance
🍷 it’s always been you
🍷 dual timeline
🍷 small town
🍷 forced proximity
🍷 romantic suspense
🍷 latino mmc
🍷 deputy sheriff x wedding planner
🍷 return to hometown
Thank you to Michelle & her team for allowing me to be an arc reader for this release & providing me with an advanced reader copy of Double Barrel in exchange for an honest review! I received an ARC copy of Double Barrel and all thoughts & comments on this review are my own!
Double Barrel released April 17th, 2025 and everyone needs to go read it asap! 🍷
Overall Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spice Rating: 2.75/5 🌶️
This book felt much different than Rare Blend did — and that’s not a bad thing. I loved how this book felt and felt much more connected and invested in Elyse & Dominic’s story.
In this day and age, I wasn’t expecting to fall so hard and fast in love with a man in uniform but Deputy Alvarez can get it any day, any time, anywhere!!! The love he has for his girl is UNMATCHED I could feel it heavily through the pages and all I want is someone to love me the way that Dominic loves Elyse, flaws, quirks, mistakes, and all. Is that too much to ask? Their chemistry and relationship are everything and I loved getting to see them both as teenagers falling in love and navigating the world and then reuniting years later and falling in love all over again. Their story is precious, Dom and Elyse are precious and I can’t explain how much I loved them!
“I meant what I said,” he murmurs, low and thick. “You’re the other half of my soul, Ellie. Don’t make me live without you again.”
Double Barrel is by far my favorite Michelle Naomi Mosley novel & is going down as one of my favorite reads of 2025. Thank you Miss Michelle for writing such a wonderful masterpiece (and for living in the same state as me <3
Michelle knows how to write a book, write her characters, and completely get you invested through romance suspense, and everything in between. I was falling over giggling, blushing under my covers, and keeping my eyes peeling and playing private investigator through all those suspense parts and all it all it was just amazing. Can’t say anything more but that Michelle’s writing hits all the right places - it’s addicting and immersive, and anything she writes, I will be salivating over and eating out of the palm of her hands for the crumbs of her storytelling. It’s that good. Absolutely cannot wait to hear about the rest of the Ledger sibling & their happy endings!
What to expect in Double Barrel:
🍷 second chance
🍷 it’s always been you
🍷 dual timeline
🍷 small town
🍷 forced proximity
🍷 romantic suspense
🍷 latino mmc
🍷 deputy sheriff x wedding planner
🍷 return to hometown
Thank you to Michelle & her team for allowing me to be an arc reader for this release & providing me with an advanced reader copy of Double Barrel in exchange for an honest review! I received an ARC copy of Double Barrel and all thoughts & comments on this review are my own!
Double Barrel released April 17th, 2025 and everyone needs to go read it asap! 🍷
September 8, 2025
2025 has been the year of second chance romances for me and I'm glad I finally got to read Double Barrel so I could add it to my list!! An emotional journey with an enthralling mystery plot line - such a good read.
I love reading a second-chance romance where it's so clear that the love between the couple is still there. Through the flashback chapters, we got to see how strong Dominic and Elyse relationship was and how much they undeniably loved each other, but the present also showed the unresolved feelings and love still between them. It takes some time for Elyse to warm up to Dominic, but his steadfast devotion to winning her back was everythinggg. That man knew his heart belonged to her and only her and he was prepared to wait another lifetime if it meant getting her back. Love to see it!!
Elyse was the quintessential eldest daughter in many ways but definitely in the sense that she was not willing to ask for, and much less, accept help, so it delighted me to read about Dominic coming in to take care of her and try his hardest to get past her walls. Elyse was a little jaded and definitely stand off ish, but I love all the ways that Dominic softened her. She deserved all of the love, help, and care and I am so glad she got it all.
Dominic ugh what a swoon worthy man!!! Querida mia is an elite nickname and it's going to be impossible to top. Ellie girl was also a really cute nickname that I absolutely loved. There was no doubt in my mind that Dominic loved Elyse - and had never stopped. The most loyal and passionate man!! He was a man on a mission and I had heart eyes almost the whole time because of the way he was so dedicated to Elyse. Despite being so strong and confident, I'm glad we got to see a more vulnerable side to him. His PTSD was difficult to read about, but it made him deeply human. I just loved loved loved his character.
The whole mystery/thriller plot was so well done!! I mean it definitely kept me guessing and I was gasping at the end with some twists that shocked me. It definitely added a thrilling layer to an already moving story. I really loved this and I can't wait for more in this series.
Also, the spice was SO GOOD. I had the best time reading this book lmao.
I love reading a second-chance romance where it's so clear that the love between the couple is still there. Through the flashback chapters, we got to see how strong Dominic and Elyse relationship was and how much they undeniably loved each other, but the present also showed the unresolved feelings and love still between them. It takes some time for Elyse to warm up to Dominic, but his steadfast devotion to winning her back was everythinggg. That man knew his heart belonged to her and only her and he was prepared to wait another lifetime if it meant getting her back. Love to see it!!
Elyse was the quintessential eldest daughter in many ways but definitely in the sense that she was not willing to ask for, and much less, accept help, so it delighted me to read about Dominic coming in to take care of her and try his hardest to get past her walls. Elyse was a little jaded and definitely stand off ish, but I love all the ways that Dominic softened her. She deserved all of the love, help, and care and I am so glad she got it all.
Dominic ugh what a swoon worthy man!!! Querida mia is an elite nickname and it's going to be impossible to top. Ellie girl was also a really cute nickname that I absolutely loved. There was no doubt in my mind that Dominic loved Elyse - and had never stopped. The most loyal and passionate man!! He was a man on a mission and I had heart eyes almost the whole time because of the way he was so dedicated to Elyse. Despite being so strong and confident, I'm glad we got to see a more vulnerable side to him. His PTSD was difficult to read about, but it made him deeply human. I just loved loved loved his character.
The whole mystery/thriller plot was so well done!! I mean it definitely kept me guessing and I was gasping at the end with some twists that shocked me. It definitely added a thrilling layer to an already moving story. I really loved this and I can't wait for more in this series.
Also, the spice was SO GOOD. I had the best time reading this book lmao.
April 18, 2025
** Thank you Luna Literary Management for the ARC **
“Double Barrel” explores the second chance romance between Elyse, Ethan’s sister and Dominic Alvarez, the only man Elie ever loved.
While on “Rare Blend” we see get some glimpses of Elyse, now it’s her time to shine, and she’s very independent and likes to be in control. This is one of the most important themes throughout the book, and we witness Elyse and her coping mechanism when she’s facing things she cannot control. Although the reason for Elyse and Dominic’s breakup initially seems odd, the explanation makes perfect sense given Elyse’s personality. She’s the person that plans amazing weddings, she’s the person in the family that everyone always relies on, she’s smart, she’s funny and she’s always in control.
Dominic, however, always had eyes for Elyse only, and when she broke things off, the plans he had for their life disappeared. Now, after a traumatic event, he has decided that he could no longer live without her. Although he plans to win her heart back, the novel’s beginning shows things going badly, and it’s sweet to see a confident guy like Dominic make mistakes, angering Elyse. I always love when cute guys in books are just the worst at flirting because I mean, come on, they can’t be perfect and sometimes they just try to make things better and end up just in a worst position. I find it very endearing that even a smug guy can be bad at flirting.
Since Dominic is a cop, the novel also has some sort of thriller component that is a different vibe from the first one. It also handles some topics that can be triggering, and while I managed to guess the reason they broke up, it has a more somber tone.
“Double Barrel” while very different from the first book in the series, it was a cute romance with a lot of baggage, but especially a lot of banter from both main characters. Elyse is very hands on while Dominic is a guy who protects and serves. Elyse loves to let loose while Dominic follows every rule. In the end, they’re both made for each other and Dominic will wait as long as it takes for Elyse to realise that.
“Double Barrel” explores the second chance romance between Elyse, Ethan’s sister and Dominic Alvarez, the only man Elie ever loved.
While on “Rare Blend” we see get some glimpses of Elyse, now it’s her time to shine, and she’s very independent and likes to be in control. This is one of the most important themes throughout the book, and we witness Elyse and her coping mechanism when she’s facing things she cannot control. Although the reason for Elyse and Dominic’s breakup initially seems odd, the explanation makes perfect sense given Elyse’s personality. She’s the person that plans amazing weddings, she’s the person in the family that everyone always relies on, she’s smart, she’s funny and she’s always in control.
Dominic, however, always had eyes for Elyse only, and when she broke things off, the plans he had for their life disappeared. Now, after a traumatic event, he has decided that he could no longer live without her. Although he plans to win her heart back, the novel’s beginning shows things going badly, and it’s sweet to see a confident guy like Dominic make mistakes, angering Elyse. I always love when cute guys in books are just the worst at flirting because I mean, come on, they can’t be perfect and sometimes they just try to make things better and end up just in a worst position. I find it very endearing that even a smug guy can be bad at flirting.
Since Dominic is a cop, the novel also has some sort of thriller component that is a different vibe from the first one. It also handles some topics that can be triggering, and while I managed to guess the reason they broke up, it has a more somber tone.
“Double Barrel” while very different from the first book in the series, it was a cute romance with a lot of baggage, but especially a lot of banter from both main characters. Elyse is very hands on while Dominic is a guy who protects and serves. Elyse loves to let loose while Dominic follows every rule. In the end, they’re both made for each other and Dominic will wait as long as it takes for Elyse to realise that.
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