Easton's Encore

by Jodie Leigh

Easton Shaw had it all—stadiums roaring his name, platinum records, and a wife who owned every beat of his heart. But when tragedy stole her away, the world’s brightest spotlight couldn’t cut through the darkness that swallowed him. Without her, he became nothing more than a broken man seeking solace at the bottom of a bottle.

Grief drove him from the stage, from fame, from everything… all the way to a quiet ranch in Montana.

He came searching for silence and sobriety. He never expected her.

Teagan Wilson is wildfire wrapped in sunshine—sharp, stubborn, and startlingly alive. She sparks something in Easton he thought had died with hope, desire, and a future he’s terrified to want.

But Teagan doesn’t know who he really is or the unraveling past he’s desperately trying to outrun. And when the truth erupts back into his life, Easton will have to choose between staying the ghost of a fallen star or fighting for the woman who brought him back to life.

Genres: Westerns

432 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2026

Reviews

[Kursed Reads]

Tragically losing his wife, Rosie, Easton Shaw is being consumed by his grief. After reaching rock bottom and going to rehab, he’s not ready to return to the stage or the life he shared with his wife.

Taking a job as a ranch hand at the Wilson Family Cattle Ranch, Easton begins to find pleasure in the simple things again, and eventually even the company of Teagan Wilson.

Let me just be clear, this is not my typical read. I’m not sure what it was about the blurb that drew me in. Honestly, I suppose that it was the author more than anything else. With that out of the way, I can tell you the despite the heavy subject matter, this was such an incredible read. Sometimes you just need a good ugly cry and I got one with Easton and Teagan‘s story!! I’d be remiss not to mention how much Rosie’s presence throughout added to the story.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): New Adult, Western

Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻🧍🏼‍♀️ {Multiple | Present • Past}
Emotions: 😭😩🥹😊😍
Darkness: 🤍
Burn: 🔥🔥1/2
Spice: 🌶️

✨ Tropes: Age Gap (x), Forbidden (Boss’ Daughter), Forced Proximity, Grumpy x Sunshine, Hidden Identity, Love After Loss, One Tent, Secret Relationship, Workplace
 
💫 Microtropes: Forehead Kisses, Grovel, Pet Name (Wildfire), Tragic Past, “You Take Me So Well”

🔆 Character: Celebrity (Rockstar), Rancher

💋 Kinks: Domination, Praise

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: Epilogue

🚩 Red Flags: n/a

⛔️ Safety Squad: Addiction (Alcohol), Grief, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page and in the past and/or present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: Nashville, Tennessee + Ranch, Montana 🇺🇸

📣 Type: Easton’s Encore is a standalone.

⚠️ Warning: The angst in this slow-burn will edge you to the point of combustion!

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[Kim Merkenhof]

The way this book shows grief is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Jodie let's you see and feel all of Eastons grief and pain. And it's raw and real and painful.

Rosie's voice in this story is so beautiful to see. I love to see her side of their life.

Teagan is exactly what Easton needs to start living again. Not just surviving, but living their life togheter with Rosie in their hearts.

[jenniferlea]

I finished this book 2 days ago & had to marinate in it…let it all sink in & get my thoughts together before I gave a review that wasn’t just word vomit

For those that don’t know Jodie Leigh writes under a different pen name for a different genre…still love stories but make it mafia….this debut novel as Jodie Leigh knocked it out of the park…the picture she painted of a Montana ranch…I’d love to go visit there please & thank you
Like Teagan, I’ve lost a parent but not a spouse…I understand loss but I felt like I could honestly feel every emotion Easton felt…the love, the grief, the hate, the unsure that what he was doing & feeling was right…all of it….did I cry??? No, but only because I’m not a cryer….did I get that thick feeling in my throat you get when you are upset??? Uh yeah & A LOT!!!
& can we all have a man in our life like Easton…he may not have handled everything life handed him correctly but he tried his best…one thing I can say for certain is that man loved with his whole heart….there just wasn’t any other way….& he met his match after loss with Teagan…he definitely got the nickname he used for her correct….she was everything he said plus some
Oh & we can’t forget about his first love, Rosie…the way he loved & continued to love her…if I ever get to feel a fraction of what Rosie & Teagan felt from Easton I would consider myself blessed

I’m hoping we see more of Easton & Teagan in the future….maybe Knox will have a story to tell about love…a girl can hope

[Jen (Onemorespicychapter)]

⭐️ 5
🌶️ 2.5

ARC REVIEW-

This beautiful but devastating story shows you that after your heart shatters into a million pieces, that it’s okay to allow yourself to love again if you find it.

Easton had it all, a career in music, friends, a beautiful home and most importantly his beautiful wife, Rosie. Until it was suddenly taken from him and he no longer had it all. An unexpected accident takes Rosie from him and Easton struggles to continue on with this life, turning to the bottle to numb the pain.

Easton seeks the help he needs after realizing that Rosie wouldn’t want him to continue down this path and live and live his life like this.

Then he meets her, the blonde wildfire. Teagan shows him that he can love again, even showing him that she is okay with him caring Rosie is in heart but also loving her as well.

If you want your heart broken, put back together again, slightly shattered again and then a definite HEA then this story is for you. Grab the tissue (you will need them) .

[The Book Ssirren]

5⭐️++++ this was such an amazing story.Easton left this world when his wife did. She was his everything. And without her, he didn’t know who he was anymore. Music meant nothing to him without her. His star fizzled. So he left to Montana to find himself. That’s where he met Teagan. He never thought he could love another, but as he got to know her, he felt he could. But he needed to find himself bent he could love again.
This story pulled at my heart. It was so emotional I wasn’t about to put this down until I finished it. It was truly amazing. For a debut, this was a home run.

[Riley Harrison]

What a raw and real examination of grief, life after loss, and growing forward. The book seemed to be split into two parts. The first part was slower than the second and felt like the MMC was split between two worlds. The novel portrayed the inner workings of the mind and allowed the reader to see into thoughts and emotions, pain and ecstasy.

[Rondi]

I’m currently six chapters into this ARC and holy buckets … this book is powerful.

I truly believe the author has experienced extreme loss in her life. That may be a generalization, but the way she writes Easton’s grief for Rosie is so raw that you feel it in your chest. You feel how deeply he’s struggling.

The line that completely broke me:

“Because loving her is all I have left, and it’s killing me.”

I gravitate toward books that deal with loss because, unfortunately, I’ve experienced a lot of it in my own life. Books helped pull me out of some of the darkest parts of depression, and seeing Easton process these emotions feels incredibly therapeutic. Grief is heavy. Some days it’s crushing, other days it’s quieter—but it’s always there, like a small weight on your chest.

Easton heads to a ranch in rural Montana to continue working on his sobriety (this isn’t a spoiler—the author includes it in the trigger warnings). While helping on a cattle ranch, he meets Teagan—the only girl in a family full of boys.

Easton is grappling with the idea that he might like her.
Teagan is grappling with the idea that she might like him.
And she’s doing everything she can to get him to open up.

There’s a moment where she invites him to a bar…not knowing he’s struggling with sobriety, and the phone call that follows is so good. Easton’s protective instincts really shine there.

Some of my favorite moments so far:
• Fixing fences
• The abandoned cabin
• Watching Easton slowly open his heart to Teagan while she opens hers to him

But it isn’t simple. When Teagan learns who Easton really is, the truth hits hard because the foundation of their relationship wasn’t fully honest.

And through all of this, Easton never stops missing his wife. That grief never disappears. It’s part of him. Even as he begins to move forward with Teagan, he’s still navigating the life he left behind and the life he’s trying to rebuild.

Now let’s talk about the comedy relief: Knox.

His dynamic with his one-night stand Jess had me laughing out loud. Some of the things that come out of his mouth are just absolute chaos.

I also love a grand gesture … and this book absolutely delivers one.

This story spans almost three years, and the author is very clear that it deals with intense themes. It shows what it looks like when someone is going through the worst loss of their life while unexpectedly meeting someone who helps them begin to heal.

That kind of love—the kind willing to endure that journey with someone—says a lot.

For me, this is an ∞ star read simply because of how beautifully grief is written.

And to anyone reading this who may be deep in grief right now:
It won’t always feel this brutal. Some days it will soften into a quiet ache—but it may always be there. And that’s okay. We just learn how to live our lives while still honoring the people we’ve lost.

[Kat]

🎵 ARC REVIEW🎵

Easton's Encore by Jodie Leigh
Easton & Teagan

AVAILABLE: March 20th

🎶 My Rating: 5☆
🎶 Musician MMC
🎶 Country Music Superstar
🎶 Cowboy Romance
🎶 Barrel Racer FMC
🎶 Small Town
🎶 Love After Loss
🎶 Starting Over
🎶 Ultimate Second Chance
🎶 Boss’s Daughter
🎶 10 Year Age Gap
🎶 Hidden Identity
🎶 Close Proximity
🎶 Addiction Rep
🎶 Dual Timeline
🎶 My Spicy Rating: 2/5

This is the author's debut novel under the name Jodie Leigh. Also known as J.L Quick.

Trust the process.
Welcome to Easton's life story. Easton's Encore is the past, present, and future of his life. How hard it is to move on after an extreme loss. How hard grieving can be. The shame, guilt, and self destruction. Self loathing becomes an addiction. So many high emotions we don't know how to move on from. Yet, it is also about growing, healing and learning to live. Learning to love yourself enough to seek help to give yourself a second chance at life and letting yourself love and be loved. Learning to accept what life has thrown at you.

The first 19 chapters are of his past and present while the remaining chapters are of him working on his present and future. We first fall in love with his late wife, Rosie. At first, I didn't understand why we were reading her POV. But it turns out, she is a huge part of Easton's story. And the more I read, the more Easton's grief made sense. Then we meet Teagan. She is the 'second' part of Easton's story. Bringing acceptance and strength. She is what brings it all together.

This is a very sad book. It's real and raw. I cried in several of the chapters. Especially, Rosie's journal. And not because it doesn't have a HEA but because I couldn't help and put myself in Rosie's shoes. How that was the life she was meant to live and that had to be her ending. And then Easton. I don't know grief. I've never felt loss like that but just thinking about being in his shoes is devastating in a way. That's how I know the author did a wonderful job. Crying over fictional characters. What an amazing book.

Again, trust the process. Normally, we never get so much of our characters background but Easton's Encore gave us just that and more. This is a very beautiful and unique story. I enjoyed every second. A very hard earned HEA. Thank you so much for letting me ARC read this beautiful book.

[Emily Knaus]

This story broke me open in the best, most necessary way. It follows Easton, a musician whose life shatters when he loses his wife and the grief in these pages feels so real it almost hums. The way he reads her journal just to hear her voice again, to feel tethered to the woman he thought he’d grow old with, absolutely gutted me. His pain isn’t romanticized; it’s raw, messy, and honest.

After rehab, Easton retreats to a quiet ranch far from the noise of the life he used to know. He’s not looking for anything except space to breathe. But then he meets the ranch owner’s daughter Teagan who is feisty, brazen, and unexpectedly disarming. She doesn’t try to fix him. She just sees him, even the parts he’s convinced are too broken to offer anyone.

Their connection builds slowly, there’s lots of tension. Easton fights his feelings thinking he would be betraying Rosie, until he can’t do it anymore. Falling for Teagan is like sunlight creeping into a room he thought would stay dark forever. He calls her wildfire and I am absolutely here for it. Teagan is bold and beautiful. She knows what she wants and is trying to tread carefully but feels so deeply. Easton sees her and makes her feel things she has never felt before.

“And I don’t know how not to look at you. You’re beautiful in the way a wildfire is—dangerous, mesmerizing, and impossible to ignore. When you walk into a room, I’m drawn to you, like oxygen being consumed by a fire. You ignite things in me I thought had long since sputtered out.”

What I loved most is that this isn’t a story about replacing the love Eastin lost. It’s about learning that grief and new love can coexist, that healing doesn’t erase the past, and that sometimes the heart has more capacity than we give it credit for.

“You showed me that my heart was still capable of beating for something other than a memory. You’re the one I think about when my day begins. You’re the one I reach for in the dark. You’re the one my soul recognizes before my mind can catch up. I don’t want a life that doesn’t have you in it.”

Easton’s Encore is slow‑burn healing wrapped in small‑town ranch life and a story focused on how love grows in the cracks left behind after loss. It’s beautifully heart breaking and warming at the same time.

A huge thank you to Jodie Leigh & Luna Literary for the early copy!

[Good Booking Girl]

There are books you enjoy… and then there are books that completely wreck you in the best possible way. This one left me raw, aching, and somehow still hopeful—and I can honestly say it’s one of the most emotionally powerful stories I’ve read in a long time. This is a 5+ star book, hands down!

The writing is absolutely phenomenal. The way Jodie Leigh captures grief isn’t just something you read—it’s something you feel. Every moment of loss, every memory, every step of Easton’s downward spiral into self-destruction is written with such intensity and authenticity that it felt almost intrusive, like witnessing something deeply personal. His pain seeps into every page, and there were multiple times I had to stop just to catch my breath. I haven’t cried this much over a book in ages.

What stood out even more to me, though, was the way love after loss was handled. The story never diminishes the love he had for his wife—it honours it. His grief isn’t rushed or “fixed,” and that made everything feel real and earned.

And then there’s Teagan—truly one of the most beautiful, refreshing characters I’ve come across. She is mature, grounded, and incredibly selfless in a way that never feels unrealistic. She doesn’t try to replace what he lost, nor does she compete with his past. Instead, she respects it, holds space for it, and loves him because of it, not in spite of it. Her strength is quiet but unwavering, and the patience and emotional intelligence she shows made me admire her so deeply.

Their relationship isn’t about saving each other—it’s about healing, growth, and learning how to live again after unimaginable loss. It’s messy, tender, and so incredibly human.

If you’re looking for a story about love after loss, about finding light in the darkest places, and about characters who will stay with you long after the final page—this is it. Just be prepared: it will break your heart before it puts it back together again.

Thank you to Jodie Leigh for the ARC! It was an honour and privilege to read Easton's Encore in advance. *This review is only my opinion*

[Nikki Dunlap]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Some books entertain you… and some books reach into your chest and squeeze your heart. Easton’s Encore absolutely did the latter.

This story dives deep into grief, love, and the complicated journey of learning how to live again after unimaginable loss. Easton’s pain feels incredibly raw and authentic. You don’t just read about his heartbreak—you experience it alongside him. The way his memories of Rosie are woven into the story, especially through her voice, letters, and reflections, makes their love feel real, tender, and unforgettable.

Easton’s path toward healing isn’t easy. For a long time he’s simply surviving, carrying the weight of his past and unsure if he’ll ever be able to move forward. Watching him slowly begin to open his heart again is emotional, messy, and deeply moving.

Then Teagan enters his life.

She’s bold, warm, and exactly the kind of spark Easton never expected but desperately needed. Their connection grows in such a natural way, filled with vulnerability, laughter, and moments that show him it’s possible to love again without letting go of the past. Teagan and her lively family bring warmth and light into a story that balances heartbreak with hope.

What makes this book especially powerful is how realistic the emotional journey feels. Healing isn’t instant, and the story doesn’t pretend it is. Easton’s struggle to accept happiness again is both heartbreaking and inspiring to witness.

By the end, I was completely invested in these characters and their lives. This was an emotional, beautifully written story about loss, second chances, and finding the courage to live—and love—again.

An unforgettable read that will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you Jodi Leigh and her team for this ARC! I received this book from the author and this is my honest opinion.

[Dahlia’s Library]

ARC REVIEW


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧

This Book Didn’t Just Break Me… It Rebuilt Me

I swear I needed a new category on my shelf for this one: How Much I Cried.

Because nothing—and I mean nothing—could have prepared me for the emotional devastation of the first 20–25% of this book. It doesn’t just tug at your heartstrings… it rips them apart. The grief seeps through every word, settling in your chest and staying there, a constant ache that follows you through every chapter of Easton’s journey.

Losing the love of your life is an unimaginable kind of pain, and watching Easton lose Rosie? Absolutely shattering. The kind of heartbreak that makes you feel like you’re drowning right alongside him. And for a while, he almost loses himself too—and honestly, I felt every second of that spiral.

This debut by Jodie deserves every award out there. The way she pulls you into Easton’s grief, drags you through the darkest depths, and then somehow—somehow—guides you back into the light is nothing short of extraordinary. His journey isn’t just about survival; it’s about rebuilding from nothing, about facing the unbearable, and finding the courage to ask for help even when you feel unworthy of it.

What makes this story truly unforgettable is its raw honesty. The struggle. The acceptance that life will never be the same again. The painful, beautiful process of learning how to live anyway.

And then… Teagan.

Watching Easton slowly open his heart again, piece by fragile piece, and realize he deserves love? That was everything. Soft, healing, and so deeply earned.

If you’re looking for a book that will make you feel—I’m talking ugly crying, heart-clutching, soul-deep emotions—this is it. It will break you, heal you, and leave a permanent mark on your heart.

And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thank you Luna Literary and Jodie Leigh for this amazing ARC.

[Carm Readers]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5

I appreciate when you don’t have to go too far into a book to get a good understanding about what is going to happen…. And Jodie Leigh delivers that in quite literally the first chapter, which is where we meet Easton as he is living one of the hardest days of his life. As per with most of my reviews I won’t give any spoilers other than what has already been released by the author, but it was also in the first chapter where there was already many highlightable sentences that I came across one that just encompassed what Easton was feeling ‘The funeral is over, and apparently, I’m supposed to feel something like closure. Instead, I feel hollow - like I’m wearing a life that no longer fits’. Ugh. Talk about hitting you in the feels with such a poignant descriptor of how he was feeling. It is from this moment that we witness Easton’s spiral, and whilst being tragic, I was able to really feel the pain/anger/heartbreak/confusion that he was going through. 

We don’t meet the FMC Teagan until further into the book, but what an entrance. I really liked that her character and personality shine through and she is no wallflower. Whilst this really is Easton’s story, Teagan really ends up being the most important person by allowing Easton to feel again, and I loved seeing the growth between the two. 

Now I absolutely enjoyed this book (hence the 4 ⭐️), and again Jodie has done a phenomenal job of really making me feel and understand all the emotions that Easton and Teagan go through…… but I think there was maybe too much of Rosie. Yes she is a vital part of the whole story and to be fair there wouldn’t be a story without her, but I do think it might be a case of less is more. But really that is my only critique.

Thank you to Luna Literary and Jodie Leigh for sending me this ARC. This review is my own thoughts and opinions.

[Melanie Walker]

ARC Review: 5⭐️
Easton’s Encore is a breathtaking story about finding love after loss. It is told in dual timelines featuring Easton Shaw, Rosie Shaw & Teagan Wilson.

Easton & Rosie met when they had nothing and built a life full of love, eventually Easton makes it big in country music and their lives changed forever.

That is until Rosie dies unexpectedly and Easton turns to the bottle to soothe his heartbreak. Eventually his friend vininces him to get help stating that Rosie wouldn’t have wanted this for him and he checks himself in to treatment.

After successfuly staying sober for 60 days, Eason knows that he can’t return to the home he shared with his late wife. He needs a break from the spot light and under a fake name takes a job at a farm in Montana.

He meets Teagan and her family as he begins working on n their family farm. What he doesnt expect is the strong attraction he feels towards her, and fights with himself over the feelings.

Teagan is persistent and just when things begin to fall into place, she discovers the truth of who Easton really is. Can Easton surviie loosing the second love of his life or will he fall back into the darkness ?

WOW, this book was such a journey and let me tell you the tears I cried while reading were plentiful. Leave it to Jodie to have you fall in love with a dead woman, tear your heart from your chest and then piece it back together again with another beautifully written character.

The raw emotion on the pages of this book left me reeling for days after finishing and it was simply unlike anything I’ve ever read before. I would give anything to read it again for the first time, and I can’t recommend it enough. If youre looking for an emotional journey look no further then this one!

Thank you Jodie for the opportunity to ARC read this beautiful story, even though I cried many times while reading!

[Midnight Tails and Chapters]

Easton’s Encore is heartbreak and hope intertwined so tightly it is impossible to separate them. Easton Shaw’s grief after losing his wife Rosie is raw, all-consuming, and utterly human. The moments where he reads her journal, clinging to her voice and memories, gutted me in the best way. This is grief that is not romanticised, it is messy, painful, and real.
After rehab, Easton retreats to a quiet ranch to breathe, far from the stage and the life he once shared with Rosie. He is not looking for anything, especially not love, but Teagan Wilson has other ideas. Feisty, bold, and impossibly disarming, she does not try to fix him. She simply sees him, even the parts he is convinced are too broken for anyone to love.
Their slow-burning connection is electric. Easton fights his feelings, torn between loyalty to Rosie and the undeniable pull toward Teagan. Falling for her feels like sunlight in a room he thought would remain dark forever. Teagan is strong, determined, and deeply feeling; Easton sees her in ways that make her feel alive in a way she has never known.
What makes this story extraordinary is how it handles grief and new love, not as replacements, but as layers that coexist. Healing does not erase the past, and the heart is capable of more than we often give it credit for.
This is not a typical read for me, but I was utterly captivated. Easton’s Encore is slow burn, tender, and achingly beautiful, a story about learning to love again, finding joy in the small moments, and discovering that even broken hearts can beat for something new.

[Rachel]

Easton's Encore is as gut-wrenching as it is heartwarming. Jodie took deliberate care in crafting the details of this story and her attention to detail creates the perfect visual imagery that evokes real emotions. This story is beautiful, but it's also full of deep grief, longing, suffering and packs a gut-punch unlike anything I've read.

Easton and Rosie's love is magical and heartfelt, which makes her loss even more jarring. The deep emotions that lie within these pages made their story and the depth of Easton's grief palpable and his struggle was at the heart of this story throughout.

When he arrives at the Wilson Family Cattle Ranch ready to try to move forward, he never expects to find the woman that will help him not only move forward in his life, but that will also help honor his loss and understand his feelings.

The emotional challenges that Easton goes through as he's working through his grief and figuring out his future is beautiful and heartbreaking, incredible and also so sad at the same time. But I loved the way that Teagan stepped in, not to take Rosie's place, but to help Easton heal and learn to live again. She was incredible and I loved that Easton found someone to help him pick up the pieces and live.

TROPES:
Small Town
Boss' Daughter
Age Gap
Forced Proximity
Love After Loss

Thank you to Jodie Leigh for the ARC.

[Cafedarc]

I had to sit with my thoughts for a moment after finishing this. I only realized on release day that this is Jodie’s debut novel. I’m sure I’ve seen it mentioned somewhere before, but it must have slipped past me.

When I started reading, the first pages already had me in a chokehold — I knew this book would drag me deep into the past with some heavy emotions, back to the time when I became a widow myself.

This book is a beautiful and honest portrayal of how complicated and difficult the journey back to life can be when the world pulls the rug out from under you in the cruelest way possible. At the same time, it captures the contradictions between the life you lost and the new beginning ahead. Anyone who has lived through this knows how incredibly hard it is to learn to trust again.

Jodie’s debut hits straight in the feelings and takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster of survival. Do you know how hard it is to read through tears when every single emotion and fear Easton goes through is something you’ve felt yourself?

I recommend this book if you want to dive into a storm of emotions and follow a complicated journey written with such startling realism that it makes you wonder whether the author has lived through it herself.

[Kris]

Easton and Teagan

This was heartbreaking.
The first 25% was devastating.
The growth of Rosie and Easton’s relationship simultaneously with his spiral when he lost her…

Not going to lie…. I’m not usually a fan of seeing how consuming the earlier relationship is as it often makes me struggle to believe in the new one… Despite this being Easton’s and Teagan’s story, it defintiely added to this one. Seeing how hard he had to fight to find normal again.

But…

I felt for Teagan. There was a level of cruelty in the fact that she found someone who may be what she needs, and he’s afraid/refusing to be that man… the distance…. Oh man… that hurt…

I was torn.
Sympathy for Easton.
Rage for Teagan.

I did enjoy the letters to Rosie, and they gave great insight to how he was feeling, but I wish we got more in that style of communication to Teagan. I would have loved to finish with a letter to Teagan to close the loop rather than to Rosie. But I get it, the symbolism of closing the journal and walking out to Teagan. It made sense.

This was such an emotional journey… It absolutely sucked me in, threw me around emotionally, then spat me out.
And the sneaky new beginning at the end??? Gorgeous.

[Dea Farrell]

Easton's Encore will break you, then slowly put you back together again. This is a story about loss, hitting rock bottom, and feeling that there's absolutely nothing left, but then one day finding something worth living for. When we meet Easton, he's broken and grieving. He's just lost his wife, Rosie, he's given up, and is drowning his sorrows in bottles of whiskey. We're taken back in time through a series of letters in his late wife's journal where we learn the story of him and Rosie. We get to see how they met, fell in love, got married, how Easton lost her, and how he spiraled. It's after Easton decides to go to rehab and moves to Montana to work on a ranch that he meets Teagan. Easton may be sober, but he still has a lot of healing to do. He's so hard on himself. He's still grieving, but he won't let himself move on. Teagan is kind, understanding, and patient with him. Both of them love hard and fully. This was such a beautiful and emotional story. Make sure you have tissues handy because it is a tearjerker.

Thank You @authorjodieleigh for my complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Tiffani Jo]

Easton feels like the kind of man who smiles easy while carrying around enough heartbreak to level a city.

There is this quiet loneliness woven through the story that makes every connection hit harder, especially once the walls start slipping. Watching him and her find each other in the middle of starting over felt raw in a way that never tipped into melodrama. Just honest. Messy. Human. The kind of romance where healing is not linear and love does not magically erase grief, but somehow makes carrying it feel lighter.

And the chemistry? Dangerous. That mix of musician charm and cowboy steadiness should honestly be illegal.

The age gap and boss’s daughter tension add just enough “this is probably a terrible idea” energy to keep everything sharp, but what stayed with me most was how deeply emotional the story felt underneath it all. Every moment between them carried this undercurrent of wanting. Not just desire, but longing for connection, for peace, for another chance at happiness.

And yeah… it hurt a little. In the best way.

Tropes

• 🎸 Musician MMC
• 🤠 Cowboy romance
• 🌲 Small town
• 💔 Love after loss
• 🌅 Starting over
• 🚫 Boss’s daughter
• 🔥 Age gap

[Mary (Marysnoveljourney)]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

★𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙻𝚘𝚜𝚜
♪ 𝚁𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
★𝙲𝚘𝚠𝚋𝚘𝚢 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
♪ 𝙰𝚍𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚁𝚎𝚙
★𝙱𝚘𝚜𝚜'𝚜 𝙳𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛
♪ 𝙶𝚛𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚢 𝚡 𝚂𝚞𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎
★𝙰𝚐𝚎 𝙶𝚊𝚙 
     

Instant 5 Stars, instant favorite, instant re-read. This book and these characters are absolutely everything.

Easton’s Encore was such a moving and emotional read, I just adored everything about it. Going into this book, I knew it was going to be heart wrenching (I mean…the love after loss trope, am I right) but I didn’t expect to not only fall in love with Easton and Teagan but also sweet Rosie. Honestly there were a couple spots in the book where I wondered if Easton would truly be able to heal after her loss. It was such a wonderful read.

Easton’s journey to acceptance and ultimately healing was wonderful to read. His strength throughout this book…it just touched me. I absolutely adored Teagan and her whole family! The banter between the siblings had me laughing out loud. Just loved them.

This was a perfect book and I’m excited to see what Jodie has in store for us next!

Thank you to Jodie Leigh for the ARC of this book!

[Cocolici]

For a debut novel this was really good. I went into this not knowing what to expect and ended up really enjoying the emotional depth of the story. My heart honestly bled for Easton. He’s carrying so much grief and pain, and watching him try to figure out how to live again after everything he’s lost was heartbreaking at times.

The quieter ranch setting worked so well for the story because it felt like the perfect place for someone trying to escape their past and heal. Then Teagan comes into his life and slowly starts breaking through the walls he built around himself. She has this fiery, stubborn energy that balances his brokenness in such a natural way.

What I liked most was the emotional journey. This is very much a story about healing, learning to trust again, and allowing yourself to want a future even when you’re scared of losing it. Easton’s character especially felt very raw and real, which made his growth throughout the book really satisfying.

For a debut, Jodie Leigh did a great job and I’m definitely curious to see what she writes next.

[Kymberly Lamb]

5⭐️ 2🌶️

What a deep story about finding love after loss, navigating grief, hitting rock bottom, and then somehow coming out on the other side and choosing to live again. This book made me cry... a lot... grab the tissues and enjoy the ride. The HEA is hard fought and earned, and I loved every moment.

The first 30% of the book is the backstory of Easton and Rosie. How they met, feel in love, their life dreams, how she passed, and Easton's struggle after losing her and his rehab journey. I loved Rosie's journal entries; it was a beautiful way for us to get to know Easton's first love. I love Easton's letters to Rosie, hit me right in the feels and I may or may not have cried... After rehab Easton goes to work on a ranch where we meet Teagan and the love after loss story begins. I loved Teagan's approach to Easton and his grief. She always left room from him to grieve and heal on his own terms and was just present for his own process.

Thank you, Luna Literary and Jodie Leigh for an advanced copy of this eBook.

[Han]

Wow - this book had me feelings all kinds of emotions! The topic of grief and longing was wrote in such a raw and genuine way. This book touched on finding love again, healing, strength in loss, and cherishing memories.

After a tragic accident, Easton loses the love of his life. He turns to alcohol to forget all the hurtful memories and falls into a deep depression. When he starts working on a ranch, he meets Teagan who shifts his entire world on its axis. Watching him grapple with loss while finding that spark with someone else again was tender and emotional. I loved Easton’s character as he was the true definition of strength.

Teagan is fiesty, affectionate, and mature. When she meets Easton, she feels butterflies deep inside her belly. These two grew so much together and as individuals finding beauty in pain and forgiveness in loss. They ignored their feelings as a result of fear but the connection was intense and inevitable. Teagan became a safe spot for Easton to break down and be vulnerable when he needed to be.

[XenyMarie]

“I thought love was enough. I was wrong. Love doesn’t survive everything.”

This book has my whole heart. Jodie had me in a chokehold from beginning to end with this story.

I honestly have no words to describe how I feel about this story. Easton's journey was so painful, but it was also so beautiful. I loved the way that Teagan pushed him just enough to get him to leave his status quo, while at the same time accepting his grief and his love for his late wife.

To no one's surprise, I absolutely loved the side characters and how they balanced the story's emotions. They brought some comedic relief when needed. And the diary entries... if those entries, at least one of them, don't touch a piece of your soul, idk what will.

Quote: “You didn’t ask permission. You didn’t tiptoe around the wreckage of a man I’d become. You just stood there, steady and unafraid, like you couldn’t see the broken pieces scattered at my feet. Or maybe you saw them and chose me anyway.”

[Brandie Wilson]

Review of an ARC provided by the author

Grab the tissues

5⭐
2.5🌶️

This book follows Easton's devastatingly beautiful journey through love, heartbreak & loss, agonizing grief, and learning to live again. Easton had so much love for Rosie, that when she was suddenly gone, he lost himself to the pain and devastation. He finally hits rock bottom and realizes he can't keep going how he was. With the help of a friend, he lands in Montana to work as a ranch hand where he meets Teagan. As much as he didn't want to believe it, she was everything he needed to heal, breathe and actually live, not just survive. Teagan is strong, feisty and has a stubborn streak a mile wide. She's understanding in a way he needs and gives him a safe space to still love Rosie in a different way.

It was raw, real, emotional, and beautiful.
Easton's story is not for the faint of heart. Jodie will break you before putting you back together.

[Brianna Price]

I tried not to cry but I failed
I loved how this book shows grief and heartwarming at the same time meaning that it will show you past POV moments with Rosie’s journal and as someone who has lost someone I can understand his grief that’s kind of why I failed at not trying to cry
Easton heads to a ranch in Montana to continue working on his sobriety and while he is helping on a cattle ranch he meets Teagan who’s the only girl in a family of boys.
He knows there’s something there with Teagan and Teagan knows the same he tries to move forward with her and rebuild his life.
Now Teagan who’s bold, warm and the exact spark Easton didn’t know he needed. I loved how their connection grows and filled with vulnerability and laughter and I loved how that showed him to love again without letting go of the past

I loved everything about this book even tho I cried. It shows how you can move on and still remember that one person you lost and move forward.

[Teddi Coleman]

5/5 stars
3.5/5 peppers
1/5 buzz buzz

As a debut in contemporary romance, I give you a standing ovation. Where to begin? Well, Easton has been through the ringer when you feel like you have lost your world and almost the drive live on. When reality comes crashing to Easton, he takes the steps needing to find the light back in his life, even if it means leaving the world you've worked hard in to do so. What he didn't expect is his heart to beat for someone else.

I feel like I went into this a little blind and I'm glad I did because for a good portion of the read, my heart hurt knowing that this is grief, when you feel like you can't see the light anymore and start to lose yourself. The beginning was raw, emotional, and honestly, a bit realistic. I loved the easiness it was with Teagan and that she didn't push but be there for him, whatever that may look like. We learn that hurt people can hurt people and in the end, your heart raced to know if love would win again. I loved that we were reading his journal to his deceased wife, a way to feel that he's trying. I applaud Jodie for the emotions that we went through. One of the most raw reads I've had this year and I'm so happy I gave it chance. I can't wait to see what comes next for this author.

[Raven Sinnett]

Review of advance copy received from Author

"This is not the end, this is a beautiful beginning" - this line from the Anastasia movie came to my mind after reading this book.

I cried. I cried so much...😭

The way Easton's broken heart was described absolutely shattered me. I felt as if I had lost the love of my life myself...

Rosie's voice carefully pieced my heart back together, making me understand how beautiful their love truly was. Then Tegan's appearance gave me hope that all his struggles weren't for nothing.❤️‍🩹

Tegan - she's different... not worse, not better, just perfect for him. They are so beautiful together. She gives him a breath of fresh air.

With every chapter, I fell more and more in love with every character in this book. It was absolutely incredible.

And mind you - I'm not usually a fan of angst or slow burns.😈

Hands down, this book deserves 10 out of 10. ⭐️
I will definitely reread it many more times.

Thank you, Jodie... this is a masterpiece.💓

[Bobbie]

⚠️ Definitely have tissues near by before you start reading this one!

This was the ultimate second chance romance. It's been a long time where I've been wrecked by a book from start to finish. And I don't know if that's because I've watched my mom lose her spouse of 30 years unexpectedly 2 months ago and have witnessed her shattering in pieces, but man this book had me crying the whole time.

Easton had it all, stadiums roaring his name, platinum records and a wife who owned every beat of his heart. But when tragedy stole her away, the world's brightest spotlight couldn't cut through the darkness that swallowed him. Without her, he became nothing more than a broken man seeking solice at the bottom of a bottle.

Jodie takes you for a ride, as we watch Easton's world unravel after the passing of his wife, Rosie and we get to read her inner thoughts on their relationship. It was beautiful to watch Easton fight and claw his way back from the dark hole he spiraled to.