Badges

Black Gulch Ranch #5

by M.A. Cobb

Wade

From the moment I saw her, I knew my past was coming back to haunt me.
She has her mother's eyes, and her father's temper.
But I'm the one who arrested her.
Firmly locked behind bars, I can't seem to stay away.
She might hold the key to who's behind the string of cow thefts on the Black Gulch Ranch,
yet all I really want to know is why can't I get her out of my head?
Will she ever reveal her answers?
Or will I end up bringing everything down around me in my fight with the demons of the past?


*Please note this portrays dark themes

- for a complete list of potential triggers, please visit the author's web page at www.macobb.com

Genres: Dark Romance

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2025

Reviews

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶
HEA: 🌟🌟🌟/3
❗️Safety and Small Spoilers Below❗️



📌 Triggers: Child Abuse (past; mentioned) Domestic Violence (past; mentioned) Violence (on-page) Animal Death (mentioned) Rape (mentioned) Cheating (not between MCs)

📌 No Cheating/Sharing

📌 OWD: MMC has a friends with benefits relationship with a married colleague at work. MMC is aware that she's married. OW tries to cause drama and there are a couple of on-page scenes of her trying to seduce MMC. But nothing happens and it's stated that they haven't hooked up in a while.

📌 MMC was in love with FMC's mother and fathered a child with her that he was unaware of. MMC met the mom a decade ago, when FMC was only a child, and they had a brief relationship. The mom ran away and never told the MMC that she was pregnant with his child. MMC loved her and still loves her even in the present and after her death. The FMC feels second best to her mom and this causes tension with the MCs. However, MMC assures her that he doesn't compare her to her mother and that their relationship is different.

📌 No OMD: FMC has been with one other person

📌 No Third-act Breakup

[Maria (semi hiatus)]

Note to self: Hero fathered a child with heroine’s mother. Wtf 🤮

[Madison_renee2415 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this series!
Wade is the sheriff and he has just caught a woman who damaged his friend’s dairy farm, only to find out that he knows her.
Elena is trying to get her sister back but is forced to work for someone bad to do, only to get out in jail.
Elena is one feisty woman! She loves to get under Wade’s skin, but she also loves to cook for him while she is under house arrest in his place.
Wade tries so hard to resist Elena while she is in his house, but we all know how that goes.
Then there are a few twists and turns that keeps on your toes!
Can’t wait to read the next book!

[Roo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Badges by Ma Cobb

Ummmm hello???? I’m obsessed!! I love Ma’s work and this read was no different!! I literally ate through this read!! This book literally everything you would like in a read from interesting characters to an even more
Interesting plot!! And the spice 👀 it was absolutely banging!

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2🌶️🌶️

[Dara Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book. I had gotten snippets of Wade’s character throughout the other four books as the Sheriff and Friend to the characters from past books. This book added some more twists and turns to the mystery of who has been terrorizing the Black Gulch Ranch. This book has me really excited to keep reading this series, so I can find out who all the players are involved in what’s been going on throughout these books.

I enjoyed the push-and-pull between Wade and Elena at the beginning of the book. He was trying so hard to resist her. Then you know I can’t resist an age gap book with a daddy kink. I loved Wade’s protectiveness for Elena, but also the daughter he learned existed.

Elena is feisty. I was thrilled that she stood up to Paige. I like how her character was woven into the story and how her connection to what’s been happening at the Black Gulch Ranch was developed. I loved her relationship with Wade, his dad, Cynthia, and the other characters.

[Samantha Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

YESSSS I FREAKING LOVED! I devoured this book. Getting Wades story was 🤌🏼🤌🏼 The plot unfolding and getting closer to who’s behind the attacks on Black Gulch.

Elena is the MFC she is arrested after she destroys Libby’s dairy farm. Not all is at it seems with her. She only did the things to protect what’s left of her family. She will do anything and everything for her sister. When Wade walks in offering to help her, she calls him d@ddy thinking she’s annoying him, little does she know it’s not annoying him 🤭

Wade is the sheriff and he arrests the women behind on the attack on Libby’s Dairy Farm. Only for his past to haunt him. With his will of steel he tries to resist Elena. She is definitely not making it easy. There is drama, plot and the spice 🤌🏼🤌🏼. I definitely can’t wait for the next book!

[Dahlia’s Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW


⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Wade’s Story – Secrets, Second Chances, and Small-Town Heat.

If you’ve read the other books in the series, you already know Wade, and, like me, you were probably eager to finally get his story.

Wade has only one real regret: letting go of the woman he once loved and helped escape a life that felt like hell. But fate gives him an unexpected second chance, not with her, but with her daughter, Elena. What Wade doesn’t see coming are the feelings that start to grow between them… or the secret her mother took with her when she left town.

When Elena’s sister, a 12-year-old girl caught in the system, turns out to be the daughter Wade never knew he had, everything changes.

I love how M.A. always drops subtle hints about what’s coming next, and this book is no exception. That final tease for Bridles? It promises to be very, very interesting.

[Maurisa Risareads221 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I was so happy to return to Black Gulch! This is wades book.

As soon as he sees Elena he recognizes her. And he realizes he has to help her. But the more they uncover the More secrets unravel.

And wade feel something big for Elena but can they move past the secrets?

I love a good MA book!! They never disappoint.

#badges #bookboyfriendsdoitbetter #idratherbereading
#spurs #blackgulchseries #macobb
#stables #saddles #cowboyromance #darkromance #agegap #saveahorserideacowboy #cowboylife #ranchromance #ranchlife #touchheranddie #possessiveMMC #macobbmm @m.a.cobb_author

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️I liked it and the plot (didn’t read the other books in the series, def would have made more sense if I did but I still got it) I just feel like we didn’t get to see Elena and wade connect emotionally at all. Like do they even know anything about each other? And he wasn’t very assuring about not comparing her to her mom - he just got mad and says she’s jealous and insecure. Idk. And Cynthia didn’t really act like a 12yo, I’m sure she would have realistically had a lot more trauma responses than she did under the circumstances. And wade never told either of them that he loved them..

[Jonnica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again M.A Cobb did it again with another amazing read in this series. I have loved reading bits and pieces about Wade in the other books but getting to read about Wades story was absolute perfection. Wade had his love 12 years ago but she left to get away from a situation she was in but 12 years goes by and things happen and the past comes back to find him. Will the good come out of this or will there be something bad about the past coming back up? I cant wait for the next book in this series!

[Darktwistybookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series has a way of sucking me in and leaving me wanting more!
Elena is quite the character and Daddy Wade definitely has his hands full with her.
Without giving too much away this book adds OW drama, some Jerry Springer sh!t and we get another step closer to finding our villain! Personally i'm hoping for a huge plot twist out of nowhere and a villain redemption arc for the black sheep of the family - we shall see what happens!

[Amanda Foote · Rating 5 out of 5]

What are you doing to me??? Why must you draw me in so fully, to leave me having off a cliff??? I honestly had no clue where book 5 was going to take us, but it somehow answered so many questions from books 1-4, but created a whole list of new ones. It was spicy but that wasn’t the main focus at all, it only highlighted key moments in their relationship. Loved it. Super frustrated to wait for book 6 now!

[Amanda M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author nailed it with this addition to the series. It’s well crafted with a plot that builds throughout. Loved the characters. There’s a perfect amount of slow burn, drama and spice. And of course I always love a good age gap that is a dark romance featuring a cowboy. I really do like how this book was set up, how everything flowed and built up. I was hooked from page one. Another amazing story in this fantastic series. I can't wait for more.

[Sisters and books · Rating 5 out of 5]

We don't even know what to say about Daddy Wade...

Loved this story! Cobb is the freaking Queen of age gaps and this one...man was it interesting! Elena really had to work through that mom stuff....

Anyway, oh Elena- young women with the nothing but blackmail chasing her causing her to run right into Sheriff Wade.

Forced proximity is one of our favorite trope and when Elena gets put on house arrest with no where to go....well

5 stars easily! We love this series soooo much!

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well hello Daddy Wade. Badges is Sherrif Wade's story. Like all the men in the Black Gulch series, Wade has a past. His story is not as dark as Ford's. Elena is the daughter of someone Wade once loved. She gets caught doing damage to Libby's dairy farm. Wade feels a sense of protectivness towards her so he keeps her under house arrest as his home. Elena is super feisty and their banter is so much fun.

This story was so good! Lots of teasing, flirting and slow burn. I didn't think I could love each book as much as the first but M.A gets me everytime.

Tropes:

Troubled past
Slow burn
Age Gap
Forced proximity
Feisty FMC
Obsessed MMC
Law enforcement x Criminal
Touch her and die
Banter

[Hannah 💕 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured this book. The background element that keeps going through the whole series has me on edge. I have so many questions I need answered. Like asap. I honestly think wade has been my favorite MMC of the series so far. And Elena her heart is so freaking big. Please I am begging you read this books.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wayne and Elena's story. I was not into the "he loved her mother and had child with her" storyline. As soon as he sees Elena he's drawn to her because she reminds him of another woman he loved, HER MOTHER. no no just no. Elena is really feisty and I loved her personality, but I did not care for this plot at all. Wayne is a gruff tough guy, but I loved him so much in the other books and was rooting for him to find his love story. Loved seeing other characters from previous stories, and happy to see everyone is still in love and growing their families. we got a hint at Sawyer's upcoming story and seriously can't wait for that!

[Jenn O'Leary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Badges is the exciting 5th book in M.A. Cobb's Black Gulch Ranch series.
This book is an age-gap, slow burn full of drama, spice and mystery, and Sheriff Wade has his work cut out for him with the feisty Elena.
I could not put this book down, and that ending? Ma'am? I can't wait for the rest of the series!!

[Mandy Robitaille · Rating 5 out of 5]

*screaming* because this was a perfect addition to the Black Gulch series. it was so hot and spicy, full of angst and drama. Wade was a *perfect* daddy & dad 🥹🥵

every time we think we're gonna catch the bad guy, a plot twist occurs. can't wait for the next in the series.

[Hayley Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my fav of this series but overall still really good

Wade & Elena have a odd connection from the beginning because of his past with her mom. Not my fav idea but we’ll go with it.

Overall — still really good and a wonderful series, I can’t wait for the next one!

[Jennifer Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES YES YES! 100% YES! loveddd this book, definitely a amazing addition to black gulch and my obsession for it grows more and more.

[Keri Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh. The book itself was super good. The amount of times "daddy" was used was not.🤢

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello Sheriff Wade. I absolutely loved all the teasing and flirting in this one! Age gap is one of my favs and MA does it so well! I cant wait to see where the next book takes us!

[Shelves_by_sim · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, I love each addition in this series and Wade's story was so good! Gosh, the mystery ever hanging over Black Gulch Ranch and all of Mason's associates always keeps me on my toes and I cannot wait to get to the bottom of it all. I love how, with each book, we get a little more tangled up in it and yet, we always learn a little more too. Wade's story was heart breaking and healing at the same time - even if it was somewhat a little strange lol.

I absolutely loved Elena, she's such a spitfire and I really think she is a perfect match for Wade, a second chance for him especially considering his past! I loved that Wade is the Sheriff and that means we get more police station and prison cell scenes which shakes up the overall setting!

This one had a good storyline, we have the main mystery that ties in with Elena's story and finding her sister and then we also have a jealous ex-fling on Wade's side that really kept the story interesting and me on the edge of my seat! I cannot wait for the rest of the books in this series, each book has the perfect sexy small-town cowboys, they are easy to read and the perfect palette cleansers after some of the heavy fantasy stories I have been reading lately!