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Boots Beneath Her Bed
Not yet published
Expected 21 Apr 26A mysterious horse trainer with a dark past ropes the heart of a guarded ranch foreman in this steamy cowboy romance by debut author Taylor Esposito.
Grace Underwood has been hiding a dark secret about the night her parents died. Only her tyrannical Uncle Bellamy knows the truth, and he’s been using it against her ever since. He’s been treating her like dirt for a decade, forcing her to work tirelessly on his ranch, but once he crosses the line too many times, Grace finally risks everything to walk away. With nowhere to go, she can’t pass up the horse trainer position that lands in her lap at Halcyon Ranch, one of the biggest ranches in the state–and her uncle’s most despised competitor. But the foreman, who’s also the owner’s son, isn’t going to make her job easy.
Crew Caldwell knows that any association with Bellamy spells bad news, and he’s not about to allow anyone to come in and sabotage his ranch. Still, he can’t deny Grace’s talent for breaking horses, or how quickly she’s embraced by the other ranch hands, and his family. If she’s hiding something, he knows he’ll have to work fast to uncover it before she works her way into their hearts… and possibly his too.
As Grace tries to keep her distance, it gets more and more difficult to resist the heat between her and Crew. With her deepest secrets still hidden and business with her uncle unfinished, will she lose the only place—and person—that has ever felt like home?
Grace Underwood has been hiding a dark secret about the night her parents died. Only her tyrannical Uncle Bellamy knows the truth, and he’s been using it against her ever since. He’s been treating her like dirt for a decade, forcing her to work tirelessly on his ranch, but once he crosses the line too many times, Grace finally risks everything to walk away. With nowhere to go, she can’t pass up the horse trainer position that lands in her lap at Halcyon Ranch, one of the biggest ranches in the state–and her uncle’s most despised competitor. But the foreman, who’s also the owner’s son, isn’t going to make her job easy.
Crew Caldwell knows that any association with Bellamy spells bad news, and he’s not about to allow anyone to come in and sabotage his ranch. Still, he can’t deny Grace’s talent for breaking horses, or how quickly she’s embraced by the other ranch hands, and his family. If she’s hiding something, he knows he’ll have to work fast to uncover it before she works her way into their hearts… and possibly his too.
As Grace tries to keep her distance, it gets more and more difficult to resist the heat between her and Crew. With her deepest secrets still hidden and business with her uncle unfinished, will she lose the only place—and person—that has ever felt like home?
464 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 21, 2026
8523 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
March 21, 2026
Slice of life narrative with gorgeous descriptions of ranch life, the Texas setting, and mouth-water food with a bit of mystery and romance.
This book packs a lot of emotional depth and the writing/prose is absolutely stunning, but if you’re hoping for a fast-paced sexy cowboy romance I’m not sure this is going to hit.
Who will this book work for? Those that like emotional depth & a slice of life narrative. I felt like I was right there in the room chopping onions next to the crew while cooking dinner, jumping into the watering hole, and dancing at the hoe down. If you don’t mind a slower pace and enjoy languishing in the details this will be a great read for you.
While I enjoyed this book, I was hoping for a bit tighter pacing and a strong emphasis on the romance.
I will absolutely be on the look out for more books by this author in the future!
3.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
This book packs a lot of emotional depth and the writing/prose is absolutely stunning, but if you’re hoping for a fast-paced sexy cowboy romance I’m not sure this is going to hit.
Who will this book work for? Those that like emotional depth & a slice of life narrative. I felt like I was right there in the room chopping onions next to the crew while cooking dinner, jumping into the watering hole, and dancing at the hoe down. If you don’t mind a slower pace and enjoy languishing in the details this will be a great read for you.
While I enjoyed this book, I was hoping for a bit tighter pacing and a strong emphasis on the romance.
I will absolutely be on the look out for more books by this author in the future!
3.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
February 6, 2026
Really big thank you to Berkeley Publishing for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💕
I really wanted to love this one because I’m a big fan of cowboy romances and fresh start stories, especially when they center characters who have had difficult beginnings in life.
While the premise had a lot of potential, the story struggled to totally reel me in. The opening didn’t establish a strong hook for me, and the overall pacing and writing style felt fairly low energy throughout. The story is told in third person POV, and I found that the emotional depth, particularly the angst and yearning, was missing from the dialogue and character interactions, which made it harder for me to feel fully connected to the main characters.
Unfortunately, I also didn’t feel much chemistry between the MCs. Although the FMC’s traumatic upbringing is an important part of her story, I was really hoping to see more personal growth and agency from her over the course of the story. I tend to gravitate toward romances that lean into empowered and resilient FMCs, and this portrayal didn’t quite align with what I personally look for in current romance. Women are strong! 💪 Give us more of that!
With that said, the MMC was written as respectful and kind hearted sort of from the get go, which I thought was a breath of fresh air from my typical enemies to lovers or hate to love books I usually grab. I also loved the found family aspect and the way the surrounding family offered safety and stability for the FMC. Readers who enjoy gentler romances with a strong family dynamic and a softer emotional tone may connect with this story more than I did.
Overall, this didn’t end up being the perfect fit for me, but fans of small town cowboy romance and comfort driven stories will still find a lot to enjoy here.
What to expect:
💕 fresh starts
💕 horse trainer FMC
💕 slow burn
💕 third person POV
💕 cowboy romance
💕 trauma rep
💕 found family
I really wanted to love this one because I’m a big fan of cowboy romances and fresh start stories, especially when they center characters who have had difficult beginnings in life.
While the premise had a lot of potential, the story struggled to totally reel me in. The opening didn’t establish a strong hook for me, and the overall pacing and writing style felt fairly low energy throughout. The story is told in third person POV, and I found that the emotional depth, particularly the angst and yearning, was missing from the dialogue and character interactions, which made it harder for me to feel fully connected to the main characters.
Unfortunately, I also didn’t feel much chemistry between the MCs. Although the FMC’s traumatic upbringing is an important part of her story, I was really hoping to see more personal growth and agency from her over the course of the story. I tend to gravitate toward romances that lean into empowered and resilient FMCs, and this portrayal didn’t quite align with what I personally look for in current romance. Women are strong! 💪 Give us more of that!
With that said, the MMC was written as respectful and kind hearted sort of from the get go, which I thought was a breath of fresh air from my typical enemies to lovers or hate to love books I usually grab. I also loved the found family aspect and the way the surrounding family offered safety and stability for the FMC. Readers who enjoy gentler romances with a strong family dynamic and a softer emotional tone may connect with this story more than I did.
Overall, this didn’t end up being the perfect fit for me, but fans of small town cowboy romance and comfort driven stories will still find a lot to enjoy here.
What to expect:
💕 fresh starts
💕 horse trainer FMC
💕 slow burn
💕 third person POV
💕 cowboy romance
💕 trauma rep
💕 found family
March 27, 2026
Oh boy. Oh boy oh boy.
This is a weird cross between a slice of life romance and a ton of trauma porn. And I don't mind either one on its own but like, pick a lane. Both of these together don't make for a great combo.
This one features a third person present single POV (for the most part) and the Grace, the FMC , starts the book as a damsel in distress and in major need of rescue. She ends the book much the same way and at some point, I wanted to see her fight back. She does do it briefly, when she finally quits her abusive uncle's ranch and walks away but then he threatens her with harm to the people she's come to love and she just folds and listen, the man calls you and says he had someone intentionally run her current bosses off the road and they were grievously injured, possibly even dead (they're not but at the time of this phone convo, no one knows this) and instead of alerting the police, she returns to him to avoid more harm being caused to her new employers, especially the son who is the MMC.
This brings me to my next point, why does she fall for him? It feels like she falls for him because she goes from an extremely abusive situation with her uncle to one where she's being treated with kindness and respect which are all good things, but not enough to warrant falling in love, necessarily. It just feels like this romance is predicated on the fact that for once in her adult life, she's surrounded by good people who treat her with basic decency. There's got to be more than that to warrant falling in love with someone.
Third, she announces that she's never had an orgasm, either with a partner or solo. And then immediately afterwards, the MCs fool around and she has her first orgasm! Amazing! Miraculous! I mean, should we maybe excavate why this woman in her mid 20s has never allowed herself to orgasm, on her own or with another person? Should we maybe examine that further or even have a conversation about it? (And by we, I mean the author, obvs). Magical penis isn't a real thing.
Fourth, a lot of this book treats love as a cure all for all of Grace's emotional and physical trauma and it's not. This girl needs therapy. She needs to really come to terms with all the harm that's been done to her for so many years. And THEN maybe we can talk about her having a serious relationship with someone (though, IDK if Crew is the best option).
Speaking of Crew, all we know about him is that he's the eldest son, did 2 tours in Afghanistan, and then returned home to help run the enormous ranch and is the ranch foreman. He's grumpy and taciturn (listen, if you're gonna write a grumpy, taciturn hero, there needs to be a hell of a lot more character work than was done here) and distrusts Grace and then trusts her and falls for her, in very short order but also not, because it took a lot of pages of describing ranch life (slice of life part here) to get to that.
This book had some good lines of prose in it but overall, it misses the mark on character development (Grace begins and ends much the same way, a damsel in distress in need of a rescue and that final scene with her uncle is annoying bc she's so out of it, she can't even speak and Crew and his siblings basically do all the talking) and Crew basically is a one note character who we know very little about. The romance doesn't work, there's no real yearning, and also, let's reflect on the fact that he's the ranch foreman and will inherit this massive ranch one day and she's been hired on as a horse trainer, so there's definitely a boss/employee vibe going on here. Which, given her sense of vulnerability and lack of familial support and resources, it feels very very lopsided.
I feel like I could write more but I think I have more than made my point that this book did not work for me. It might for some people but I am not in that target audience. It felt like an old-school contemporary in some ways and I just wanted it to be something it wasn't.
ARC from publisher, review is all mine.
Content Notes: abusive, toxic uncle and ranch hands, assault resulting in broken bones and hospitalization, intentional harm of horses resulting in death of horses, animal abuse, other assorted criminal activities, murder in the past off page, attempted murder by way of car crash
This is a weird cross between a slice of life romance and a ton of trauma porn. And I don't mind either one on its own but like, pick a lane. Both of these together don't make for a great combo.
This one features a third person present single POV (for the most part) and the Grace, the FMC , starts the book as a damsel in distress and in major need of rescue. She ends the book much the same way and at some point, I wanted to see her fight back. She does do it briefly, when she finally quits her abusive uncle's ranch and walks away but then he threatens her with harm to the people she's come to love and she just folds and listen, the man calls you and says he had someone intentionally run her current bosses off the road and they were grievously injured, possibly even dead (they're not but at the time of this phone convo, no one knows this) and instead of alerting the police, she returns to him to avoid more harm being caused to her new employers, especially the son who is the MMC.
This brings me to my next point, why does she fall for him? It feels like she falls for him because she goes from an extremely abusive situation with her uncle to one where she's being treated with kindness and respect which are all good things, but not enough to warrant falling in love, necessarily. It just feels like this romance is predicated on the fact that for once in her adult life, she's surrounded by good people who treat her with basic decency. There's got to be more than that to warrant falling in love with someone.
Third, she announces that she's never had an orgasm, either with a partner or solo. And then immediately afterwards, the MCs fool around and she has her first orgasm! Amazing! Miraculous! I mean, should we maybe excavate why this woman in her mid 20s has never allowed herself to orgasm, on her own or with another person? Should we maybe examine that further or even have a conversation about it? (And by we, I mean the author, obvs). Magical penis isn't a real thing.
Fourth, a lot of this book treats love as a cure all for all of Grace's emotional and physical trauma and it's not. This girl needs therapy. She needs to really come to terms with all the harm that's been done to her for so many years. And THEN maybe we can talk about her having a serious relationship with someone (though, IDK if Crew is the best option).
Speaking of Crew, all we know about him is that he's the eldest son, did 2 tours in Afghanistan, and then returned home to help run the enormous ranch and is the ranch foreman. He's grumpy and taciturn (listen, if you're gonna write a grumpy, taciturn hero, there needs to be a hell of a lot more character work than was done here) and distrusts Grace and then trusts her and falls for her, in very short order but also not, because it took a lot of pages of describing ranch life (slice of life part here) to get to that.
This book had some good lines of prose in it but overall, it misses the mark on character development (Grace begins and ends much the same way, a damsel in distress in need of a rescue and that final scene with her uncle is annoying bc she's so out of it, she can't even speak and Crew and his siblings basically do all the talking) and Crew basically is a one note character who we know very little about. The romance doesn't work, there's no real yearning, and also, let's reflect on the fact that he's the ranch foreman and will inherit this massive ranch one day and she's been hired on as a horse trainer, so there's definitely a boss/employee vibe going on here. Which, given her sense of vulnerability and lack of familial support and resources, it feels very very lopsided.
I feel like I could write more but I think I have more than made my point that this book did not work for me. It might for some people but I am not in that target audience. It felt like an old-school contemporary in some ways and I just wanted it to be something it wasn't.
ARC from publisher, review is all mine.
Content Notes: abusive, toxic uncle and ranch hands, assault resulting in broken bones and hospitalization, intentional harm of horses resulting in death of horses, animal abuse, other assorted criminal activities, murder in the past off page, attempted murder by way of car crash
Want to Read
September 27, 2025Read the excerpt, joined the fanclub!
I read the excerpt for Boots Beneath Her Bed by Taylor Esposito, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out. Esposito delivers a cowboy romance with higher stakes and a darker edge than what’s currently popular in the genre—exactly what I’ve been craving.
From the first page, Grace’s dark secret is teased, a danger she’s carried for the past decade. When she risks exposure by fleeing her uncle’s ranch to apply for work on Crew’s family ranch, the tension only deepens. Crew may come across as guarded, but in their one shared scene, enough glimpses of his good heart shine through to leave me eager for more.
I read the excerpt for Boots Beneath Her Bed by Taylor Esposito, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out. Esposito delivers a cowboy romance with higher stakes and a darker edge than what’s currently popular in the genre—exactly what I’ve been craving.
From the first page, Grace’s dark secret is teased, a danger she’s carried for the past decade. When she risks exposure by fleeing her uncle’s ranch to apply for work on Crew’s family ranch, the tension only deepens. Crew may come across as guarded, but in their one shared scene, enough glimpses of his good heart shine through to leave me eager for more.
February 20, 2026
This book is written the way I want all romance novels to be. The pacing was perfect, there was just enough plot, the descriptions of feeling were SO well done, everything felt super genuine.
What I loved about this is that you really felt like you were reading a book about two people who live and work on a ranch. Grace is tough, Crew is capable, and all the characters are all into the same things I would expect a bunch of ranch hands to be interested in: drinking, jumping into ponds, mudding, horses, etc. The setting descriptions, dialogue, and activities all combined to create an atmosphere that felt authentic and very Texas.
This book is going to be compared to Yellowstone, and from what I have seen of Yellowstone (6 episodes max) the comparison definitely tracks, though this book focuses more on the romance and character growth of Grace than it does on the crime side plot. Which I preferred! Yellowstone was too unsettling for me, so this book was perfect!!
The only thing I have to say about this book is that they fuck in his bed almost exclusively so…boots beneath HIS bed might’ve been a better title. Boots beneath THE bed?
What I loved about this is that you really felt like you were reading a book about two people who live and work on a ranch. Grace is tough, Crew is capable, and all the characters are all into the same things I would expect a bunch of ranch hands to be interested in: drinking, jumping into ponds, mudding, horses, etc. The setting descriptions, dialogue, and activities all combined to create an atmosphere that felt authentic and very Texas.
This book is going to be compared to Yellowstone, and from what I have seen of Yellowstone (6 episodes max) the comparison definitely tracks, though this book focuses more on the romance and character growth of Grace than it does on the crime side plot. Which I preferred! Yellowstone was too unsettling for me, so this book was perfect!!
The only thing I have to say about this book is that they fuck in his bed almost exclusively so…boots beneath HIS bed might’ve been a better title. Boots beneath THE bed?
January 30, 2026
TL;DR: A gripping slow-burn romance with heart, mystery, and a hot but respectful cowboy. Grace’s dark past slowly unravels alongside her chemistry with grumpy-but-sweet Crew. Perfect for readers who love emotional depth, found family, and a farm setting that’s far from cringey.
Full Review: After escaping her Uncle Bellamy’s ranch, Grace lands a job as a horse trainer at one of the wealthiest ranches in Texas. She has a dark past, but that doesn’t stop Crew, the foreman, from falling head over heels. Will Grace’s history come back to haunt her?
This book instantly sucked me in. I was immediately intrigued by Grace and her story. The author slowly reveals her past, piece by piece, letting the reader discover it alongside Crew. It keeps you glued to the pages, wondering what happened to her and how she ended up under her cruel uncle’s control.
Crew and Grace are quite the pair. Both are guarded because of past traumas, which makes their slow-burn romance so delicious. Crew is an excellent leading man—grumpy with everyone except Grace, who is the only one he lets in. When he calls her pet names, my heart completely melted. Honestly, that trope will never get old.
At its core, this book is about escaping past traumas and finding a family of your own. It’s such a heartwarming combination, and I loved seeing Grace finally get the love she deserves after such a tough journey.
And of course, who doesn’t love a hot cowboy story? As someone from the city, I love getting immersed in farm life. And as a liberal reader, it can be hard to find cowboy romances that aren’t overtly sexist—but this one is perfect. Crew and the other ranch hands are all respectful gentlemen, making the setting immersive without the cringe. Even if you usually shy away from cowboy stories, give this one a go!
Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. I’m honestly honored—I don’t know what I did to deserve four Berkley ARCs this month, but I am so grateful.
Full Review: After escaping her Uncle Bellamy’s ranch, Grace lands a job as a horse trainer at one of the wealthiest ranches in Texas. She has a dark past, but that doesn’t stop Crew, the foreman, from falling head over heels. Will Grace’s history come back to haunt her?
This book instantly sucked me in. I was immediately intrigued by Grace and her story. The author slowly reveals her past, piece by piece, letting the reader discover it alongside Crew. It keeps you glued to the pages, wondering what happened to her and how she ended up under her cruel uncle’s control.
Crew and Grace are quite the pair. Both are guarded because of past traumas, which makes their slow-burn romance so delicious. Crew is an excellent leading man—grumpy with everyone except Grace, who is the only one he lets in. When he calls her pet names, my heart completely melted. Honestly, that trope will never get old.
At its core, this book is about escaping past traumas and finding a family of your own. It’s such a heartwarming combination, and I loved seeing Grace finally get the love she deserves after such a tough journey.
And of course, who doesn’t love a hot cowboy story? As someone from the city, I love getting immersed in farm life. And as a liberal reader, it can be hard to find cowboy romances that aren’t overtly sexist—but this one is perfect. Crew and the other ranch hands are all respectful gentlemen, making the setting immersive without the cringe. Even if you usually shy away from cowboy stories, give this one a go!
Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. I’m honestly honored—I don’t know what I did to deserve four Berkley ARCs this month, but I am so grateful.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC!!
First of all- first ever Berkley approval!!!! That was a goal of mine when I started doing ARC reviews so this was an exciting one for me!
I really enjoyed reading this. It’s an incredible debut with a lot of depth and I think it tackled so much for a first novel. This book deals heavily with an abusive family member and does not shy away from detail, including violence.
One of my favorite elements was getting to see more ‘slice of life’ ranch scenes. There’s a lot of description of everyday task and life on a ranch that you don’t typically see in a cowboy/ranch romance (I don’t think that’s how I would describe this book but more on that later). We really get to know several of the ranch hands and get a good picture of what Grace’s everyday life is like.
I did really enjoy Grace as a main character for the most part. She’s determined, capable, and ready to do what it takes to get out of a bad situation. She grows a lot over the course of the book.
Crew had less obvious character development but I would argue it’s even more of a change by the end. He’s very distant at the beginning of the book and while we don’t see a lot of outward progression through most of the book, it’s very clear that he softens by the end and prioritizes Grace and his family.
The actual relationship development between Grace and Crew felt less evident. There was a very clear attraction and I was absolutely rooting for them to get together. However, their actual conversations left me wanting a lot more depth and some more time for things to develop.
I think most of my little issues with this book were mainly due to the POV choice. This is written in third person present which made me feel so disconnected from the story. Especially for a book that tackles some rough topics and tries to focus on personal growth. I think we could’ve gotten a lot more from Grace’s character arc in first person. I think that heavily impacted the relationship development as well. A new POV was added in chapter 22 which was a necessary perspective on events Grace wasn’t present for but it was VERY jarring.
I’m also hesitant to just say this was a romance. I found it through the romance category on NetGalley and it’s classified as romance on Goodreads. It absolutely has romance and a HEA. However, this book packs a heavy punch that I think most romance readers would be surprised by if they picked it up thinking it was a “cowboy romance”. This book deals heavily with verbal, emotional, and physical abuse of the main character. It does not shy away from detail. The description doesn’t do justice for how dark some of these scenes are. There are no content warnings (at least in ARC form) and there is a scene toward the end of the book with pretty graphic violence that made feel ill. I’m not saying I wouldn’t have read the book if I had known but I do think readers should be prepared for that in a book that is marketed as romance.
First of all- first ever Berkley approval!!!! That was a goal of mine when I started doing ARC reviews so this was an exciting one for me!
I really enjoyed reading this. It’s an incredible debut with a lot of depth and I think it tackled so much for a first novel. This book deals heavily with an abusive family member and does not shy away from detail, including violence.
One of my favorite elements was getting to see more ‘slice of life’ ranch scenes. There’s a lot of description of everyday task and life on a ranch that you don’t typically see in a cowboy/ranch romance (I don’t think that’s how I would describe this book but more on that later). We really get to know several of the ranch hands and get a good picture of what Grace’s everyday life is like.
I did really enjoy Grace as a main character for the most part. She’s determined, capable, and ready to do what it takes to get out of a bad situation. She grows a lot over the course of the book.
Crew had less obvious character development but I would argue it’s even more of a change by the end. He’s very distant at the beginning of the book and while we don’t see a lot of outward progression through most of the book, it’s very clear that he softens by the end and prioritizes Grace and his family.
The actual relationship development between Grace and Crew felt less evident. There was a very clear attraction and I was absolutely rooting for them to get together. However, their actual conversations left me wanting a lot more depth and some more time for things to develop.
I think most of my little issues with this book were mainly due to the POV choice. This is written in third person present which made me feel so disconnected from the story. Especially for a book that tackles some rough topics and tries to focus on personal growth. I think we could’ve gotten a lot more from Grace’s character arc in first person. I think that heavily impacted the relationship development as well. A new POV was added in chapter 22 which was a necessary perspective on events Grace wasn’t present for but it was VERY jarring.
I’m also hesitant to just say this was a romance. I found it through the romance category on NetGalley and it’s classified as romance on Goodreads. It absolutely has romance and a HEA. However, this book packs a heavy punch that I think most romance readers would be surprised by if they picked it up thinking it was a “cowboy romance”. This book deals heavily with verbal, emotional, and physical abuse of the main character. It does not shy away from detail. The description doesn’t do justice for how dark some of these scenes are. There are no content warnings (at least in ARC form) and there is a scene toward the end of the book with pretty graphic violence that made feel ill. I’m not saying I wouldn’t have read the book if I had known but I do think readers should be prepared for that in a book that is marketed as romance.
March 27, 2026
Thank you Berkley for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
ARC Review: Boots Beneath Her Bed
Pub Date: April 21, 2026
Ya'll this is it - it's my favorite book of the year so far! It's gritty, emotional, and exactly what I wanted. I genuinely cannot believe it's a debut and cannot wait to see what this author does next!! I loved both MCs and especially appreciated Grace's journey from being abused to finding home at Halcyon Ranch. The found family is top notch and I loved just every single character (except Grace's uncle, that man can go die in a hole). And let me tell you - the spice is the absolute cherry on top of this book!
Honestly there wasn't a single thing I didn't like about this book - though be warned, you won't be able to put it down at a certain point! But I promise that it's worth it. It's a really compelling read with really likeable characters. There's enough romance to appeal to romance readers but also an engaging plot that will keep you invested.
Read this for:
- Cowboy Romance
- Horse trainer
- Healing
- Found family
- A lil bit of suspense
- The bad guy gets what he deserves
ARC Review: Boots Beneath Her Bed
Pub Date: April 21, 2026
Ya'll this is it - it's my favorite book of the year so far! It's gritty, emotional, and exactly what I wanted. I genuinely cannot believe it's a debut and cannot wait to see what this author does next!! I loved both MCs and especially appreciated Grace's journey from being abused to finding home at Halcyon Ranch. The found family is top notch and I loved just every single character (except Grace's uncle, that man can go die in a hole). And let me tell you - the spice is the absolute cherry on top of this book!
Honestly there wasn't a single thing I didn't like about this book - though be warned, you won't be able to put it down at a certain point! But I promise that it's worth it. It's a really compelling read with really likeable characters. There's enough romance to appeal to romance readers but also an engaging plot that will keep you invested.
Read this for:
- Cowboy Romance
- Horse trainer
- Healing
- Found family
- A lil bit of suspense
- The bad guy gets what he deserves
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a deeply emotional and romantic book. Grace and Crew have a great connection from the very beginning. You just know something good is going to happen. Grace's backstory is truly heartbreaking and seeing her rise above all that is the best. Crew also comes back to life as the story progresses and that is also beautiful to watch. This was an awesome book and I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2026
This is so well written! I fell in love with the characters (can I get a real life Crew, please?) and the story…The spice was perfect…very happy I won this #goodreadsgiveaway and got to read an ARC!
February 15, 2026
My new favorite cowboy romance
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December 2, 2025I didn’t want Boots Beneath the Bed to end. I adored the characters in this book. Grace reminded me a lot of Waylon. She was resilient, tough, and guarded. The scene where Crew helps her with her shoulder made me think of Grace working with Waylon. It was really rewarding watching her walls come down at Halcyon. Crew was a great book boyfriend. He was so perceptive. I liked his whole vibe and the way he handled the crew. He was patient with Grace and a gentleman. I loved Crew and Grace’s relationship. Their pond scene was 🔥. Everything about their relationship worked: the slow burn, the chemistry, and the banter. The side characters were well-rounded and added a lot to the story. The Caldwell family were great supporting characters. I liked Clint and Renata's relationship. I appreciated how they all rallied for Grace. The Caia POV chapters were a little random, but it was nice seeing her perspective and having her explain Grace’s logic to Crew. It definitely feels like Caia and Easton’s story is being set up (yay!). The Halcyon ranch hands were also fun. They had plenty of funny and wholesome moments. I did notice some writing and scene inconsistencies. A lot happens at the end of the story. It became too much, and the plot started to lose me. It felt like the book needed another round of edits to smooth out some of the inconsistencies. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I really liked the author's writing style and the pacing. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Berkley Pub for the eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Grace Underwood has spent the past 8-9 years working at her abusive uncle's ranch, forced to stay not only by the secret he holds over her head, but also by the fact that no one else will hire her because of his influence. Nevertheless, when his tactics go too far one day, Grace finally leaves. Months later, she's hired on at Halcyon Ranch by Renata Caldwell, one of the few ranches big enough to not be afraid of Grace's uncle. There, Grace slowly learns what it truly means to have people care for her and to have a place to call home.
Sadly, this book was a swing and a miss for me, in part because of what I consider to be mis-marketing of the book and in part because of the book itself. I understand that I'm in the minority in how I feel, so while this book just wasn't for me, YMMV.
Let's start with the things I liked:
- The found family aspect. This was my favorite part of the book, honestly. It's no secret that Grace has been so badly mistreated that she's naturally defensive and suspicious of people she meets. Yet the Caldwells and the ranch hands at Halcyon Ranch manage to find a way to break down her walls. They seem to be just genuinely good and kind people who see Grace for who she is and welcome her (mostly) unconditionally. The platonic/familial relationships were truly heartwarming and for awhile, made me consider rating this book higher.
- The ranch environment. I'm not a ranch girl, nor am I even a horse girl. I took horseback riding lessons when I was a kid, but it didn't really stick. All that being said, I thought Esposito did a wonderful job setting the ranch environment, both in terms of camaraderie among the people who live and work there and in the physical setting itself.
- The horses. They wound up playing small, but pivotal roles in the story and I wish we'd gotten more of Waylon in particular.
All of this seems promising enough, but unfortunately, the things I disliked really outweighed the things I liked:
- The abuse of Grace. I get it, it's a foundation of the plot. But I didn't expect it to be so graphic or prolonged, nor did I expect it to be coming from multiple places besides Grace's uncle. The fact that you're dropped into it in the first chapter without really any warnings really put me off and then and it goes even longer. I'm not someone who normally needs trigger warnings, but it made me extremely uncomfortable to read about it when I was expecting, as the synopsis states, "a steamy cowboy romance." It felt borderline like trauma porn.
- On that note, I was reading the chapters that included Grace's abuse with a sense of dread because the way it was written, Fortunately, it didn't happen, but again, to have that in what I expected to be a lighter romance novel was not really okay.
- The villain. Almost felt like a parody. And the big secret he was holding over her head was too predictable to be really interesting.
- Grace's character development. At the start of the book, she's 25 years old, but comes off much younger emotionally, which isn't surprising, given her trauma. This also affects the romance, as her feelings toward Crew tend to read more like schoolgirl crush than the foundations of a lasting relationship. (See below.) Again, not surprising, given her background, but I would have appreciated more organic growth of their relationship. Finally, you would think after everything she's been through and survived, someone would have recommended therapy, but alas. Instead, we end up with what almost feels like "love conquers all" solution, which does such a disservice to Grace's trauma (which was described in so much detail) and what her healing journey could have been. Instead, girl just went from being traumatized to being dickmatized.
- The romance. I love a good grumpy taciturn MMC as much as the next person, but Crew really didn't get much character development. And the romance certainly wasn't developed enough for me to truly believe that they were in love so soon. Even though there is some "yearning," when things actually happen between Crew and Grace, there's almost a sense of insta-love, which was disappointing.
- The ending. Okay. Brace yourself for a rant. This was a culmination of all the things I disliked about the book and made me so angry.
To me, this wasn't a steamy cowboy romance. It was more like literary fiction with cowboys and spice. It was honestly hard to root for the romance here, given all the issues I had with it. I wanted more of Grace finding belonging regardless of Crew, but that's just not what happened. I was very disappointed, sadly.
Grace Underwood has spent the past 8-9 years working at her abusive uncle's ranch, forced to stay not only by the secret he holds over her head, but also by the fact that no one else will hire her because of his influence. Nevertheless, when his tactics go too far one day, Grace finally leaves. Months later, she's hired on at Halcyon Ranch by Renata Caldwell, one of the few ranches big enough to not be afraid of Grace's uncle. There, Grace slowly learns what it truly means to have people care for her and to have a place to call home.
Sadly, this book was a swing and a miss for me, in part because of what I consider to be mis-marketing of the book and in part because of the book itself. I understand that I'm in the minority in how I feel, so while this book just wasn't for me, YMMV.
Let's start with the things I liked:
- The found family aspect. This was my favorite part of the book, honestly. It's no secret that Grace has been so badly mistreated that she's naturally defensive and suspicious of people she meets. Yet the Caldwells and the ranch hands at Halcyon Ranch manage to find a way to break down her walls. They seem to be just genuinely good and kind people who see Grace for who she is and welcome her (mostly) unconditionally. The platonic/familial relationships were truly heartwarming and for awhile, made me consider rating this book higher.
- The ranch environment. I'm not a ranch girl, nor am I even a horse girl. I took horseback riding lessons when I was a kid, but it didn't really stick. All that being said, I thought Esposito did a wonderful job setting the ranch environment, both in terms of camaraderie among the people who live and work there and in the physical setting itself.
- The horses. They wound up playing small, but pivotal roles in the story and I wish we'd gotten more of Waylon in particular.
All of this seems promising enough, but unfortunately, the things I disliked really outweighed the things I liked:
- The abuse of Grace. I get it, it's a foundation of the plot. But I didn't expect it to be so graphic or prolonged, nor did I expect it to be coming from multiple places besides Grace's uncle. The fact that you're dropped into it in the first chapter without really any warnings really put me off and then and it goes even longer. I'm not someone who normally needs trigger warnings, but it made me extremely uncomfortable to read about it when I was expecting, as the synopsis states, "a steamy cowboy romance." It felt borderline like trauma porn.
- On that note, I was reading the chapters that included Grace's abuse with a sense of dread because the way it was written, Fortunately, it didn't happen, but again, to have that in what I expected to be a lighter romance novel was not really okay.
- The villain. Almost felt like a parody. And the big secret he was holding over her head was too predictable to be really interesting.
- Grace's character development. At the start of the book, she's 25 years old, but comes off much younger emotionally, which isn't surprising, given her trauma. This also affects the romance, as her feelings toward Crew tend to read more like schoolgirl crush than the foundations of a lasting relationship. (See below.) Again, not surprising, given her background, but I would have appreciated more organic growth of their relationship. Finally, you would think after everything she's been through and survived, someone would have recommended therapy, but alas. Instead, we end up with what almost feels like "love conquers all" solution, which does such a disservice to Grace's trauma (which was described in so much detail) and what her healing journey could have been. Instead, girl just went from being traumatized to being dickmatized.
- The romance. I love a good grumpy taciturn MMC as much as the next person, but Crew really didn't get much character development. And the romance certainly wasn't developed enough for me to truly believe that they were in love so soon. Even though there is some "yearning," when things actually happen between Crew and Grace, there's almost a sense of insta-love, which was disappointing.
- The ending. Okay. Brace yourself for a rant. This was a culmination of all the things I disliked about the book and made me so angry.
To me, this wasn't a steamy cowboy romance. It was more like literary fiction with cowboys and spice. It was honestly hard to root for the romance here, given all the issues I had with it. I wanted more of Grace finding belonging regardless of Crew, but that's just not what happened. I was very disappointed, sadly.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.75⭐️/ 3🌶️
*Thank you to Berkley Publishing for this free book, I greatly appreciate it.
Right away, this was an incredible story by Taylor Esposito! Taylor’s debut novel incorporated cowboys, cowgirls, found family, a difficult journey for Grace, and trying to find her place after enduring years of abuse at the hands of her uncle. Alongside characters such as, Crew, Cooper, the ranch hands, Crew’s mom, Renata, and his sister, Caia, Grace found herself in the home she was meant to be part of. There was a slow build up to Grace’s story, and as I continued to read, I was unable to stop because, I was so invested in Grace. Taylor did such a wonderful job writing this book that I am already looking forward to reading her next book! Taylor is an author that readers will love and adore her characters. A must read that combines cowboys, heartfelt moments as well as equally emotional moments that will bring you to tears (I cried at certain parts), and you’ll appreciate the found family that Grace finds herself becoming part of.
Grace’s story was one that showed the hardest things she endured while living on her uncle’s ranch. With some mysterious details about Grace’s past, and questioning why she put up with the constant horrible treatment from her uncle, there was a lot about Grace that I didn’t know at the beginning of this book. As the story progressed, I got a better sense as to how much Grace was put in difficult and painful situations by her uncle, and feeling like she didn’t deserve to have anything good in her life. Although, the moment Grace went to Halcyon Ranch, it was the beginning of new things for Grace, and in many ones aside from getting a job she was perfectly suited for. Even with all that Grace previously dealt with at the hands of her uncle, she didn’t let her spirit fully be broken, there was still a spark within her that made her determined to show the Caldwell’s she was the woman for the job, and she indeed exceeded the expectations, as well as got the eye of the foreman a.k.a. the eldest Caldwell son, Crew.
I’m not going to lie, at first Crew just came off as a complete grumpy man (which I always love), but I wasn’t sure how Crew was going to become the love interest for Grace. Slowly but surely, Taylor did an excellent job of laying down the ground work to build a perfect foundation for Crew and Grace to build a natural relationship with each other, and obviously fall in love. I would personally classify Grace and Crew’s romance as a slow burn because, gradually the connection between the two grew stronger to the point the tension kept emanating between them that everyone could sense there was something definitely going on. I also really LOVED the things Crew told Grace over the course of this book from things like,
“Grace. It didn’t feel like home again until you got here. No one else knows that.”
“You have no idea how special you are, Grace. You’re— you’re everything.”
YOU GUYS! THESE QUOTES! That’s only two quotes, but the other things Crew said and did for Grace in this story were so heartfelt and beautiful (sniff). Once again, I fell for a grumpy man who became an absolute down bad obsessed man over the woman he fell for!!!!!! AWWWW SO ROMANTIC!
I absolutely LOVED THIS BOOK! I feel like the way Taylor wrote this book brought a unique take on a cowboy romance especially having Grace be a cowgirl and the elements of her past coming back to haunt her. There was also an added bit of danger and suspense to the story that really added high stakes especially for Grace. I think by the time I got towards the end was when things really ramped up and had me AT THE EDGE OF MY FREAKING SEAT! Not to mention, the way I actually cried during a couple of scenes! My emotions got the best of me and it was all because, I was fully invested in Grace, her wellbeing and hoping Grace and Crew would get their happy ending (*which they definitely did). There was also a strong sense of found family of the Caldwell’s welcoming Grace and bringing her into the family and of course, the ranch hands fully embracing her as one of their own. All around there was a great support and family system at Halycon Ranch for Grace. This story truly brought so many feelings to the forefront of my mind as I read, and I loved it so much. I’m already looking forward to reading Taylor’s next book, I love her writing, the way she wrote Grace and Crew, and I’m just in pure awe of how much this story ended up being so much more meaningful than I imagined. Highly recommend!!!
*Thank you to Berkley Publishing for this free book, I greatly appreciate it.
Right away, this was an incredible story by Taylor Esposito! Taylor’s debut novel incorporated cowboys, cowgirls, found family, a difficult journey for Grace, and trying to find her place after enduring years of abuse at the hands of her uncle. Alongside characters such as, Crew, Cooper, the ranch hands, Crew’s mom, Renata, and his sister, Caia, Grace found herself in the home she was meant to be part of. There was a slow build up to Grace’s story, and as I continued to read, I was unable to stop because, I was so invested in Grace. Taylor did such a wonderful job writing this book that I am already looking forward to reading her next book! Taylor is an author that readers will love and adore her characters. A must read that combines cowboys, heartfelt moments as well as equally emotional moments that will bring you to tears (I cried at certain parts), and you’ll appreciate the found family that Grace finds herself becoming part of.
Grace’s story was one that showed the hardest things she endured while living on her uncle’s ranch. With some mysterious details about Grace’s past, and questioning why she put up with the constant horrible treatment from her uncle, there was a lot about Grace that I didn’t know at the beginning of this book. As the story progressed, I got a better sense as to how much Grace was put in difficult and painful situations by her uncle, and feeling like she didn’t deserve to have anything good in her life. Although, the moment Grace went to Halcyon Ranch, it was the beginning of new things for Grace, and in many ones aside from getting a job she was perfectly suited for. Even with all that Grace previously dealt with at the hands of her uncle, she didn’t let her spirit fully be broken, there was still a spark within her that made her determined to show the Caldwell’s she was the woman for the job, and she indeed exceeded the expectations, as well as got the eye of the foreman a.k.a. the eldest Caldwell son, Crew.
I’m not going to lie, at first Crew just came off as a complete grumpy man (which I always love), but I wasn’t sure how Crew was going to become the love interest for Grace. Slowly but surely, Taylor did an excellent job of laying down the ground work to build a perfect foundation for Crew and Grace to build a natural relationship with each other, and obviously fall in love. I would personally classify Grace and Crew’s romance as a slow burn because, gradually the connection between the two grew stronger to the point the tension kept emanating between them that everyone could sense there was something definitely going on. I also really LOVED the things Crew told Grace over the course of this book from things like,
“Grace. It didn’t feel like home again until you got here. No one else knows that.”
“You have no idea how special you are, Grace. You’re— you’re everything.”
YOU GUYS! THESE QUOTES! That’s only two quotes, but the other things Crew said and did for Grace in this story were so heartfelt and beautiful (sniff). Once again, I fell for a grumpy man who became an absolute down bad obsessed man over the woman he fell for!!!!!! AWWWW SO ROMANTIC!
I absolutely LOVED THIS BOOK! I feel like the way Taylor wrote this book brought a unique take on a cowboy romance especially having Grace be a cowgirl and the elements of her past coming back to haunt her. There was also an added bit of danger and suspense to the story that really added high stakes especially for Grace. I think by the time I got towards the end was when things really ramped up and had me AT THE EDGE OF MY FREAKING SEAT! Not to mention, the way I actually cried during a couple of scenes! My emotions got the best of me and it was all because, I was fully invested in Grace, her wellbeing and hoping Grace and Crew would get their happy ending (*which they definitely did). There was also a strong sense of found family of the Caldwell’s welcoming Grace and bringing her into the family and of course, the ranch hands fully embracing her as one of their own. All around there was a great support and family system at Halycon Ranch for Grace. This story truly brought so many feelings to the forefront of my mind as I read, and I loved it so much. I’m already looking forward to reading Taylor’s next book, I love her writing, the way she wrote Grace and Crew, and I’m just in pure awe of how much this story ended up being so much more meaningful than I imagined. Highly recommend!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My rating: ★★★★☆ (4–4.25 stars)
cowboy romance 🤝 found family 🤝 “i don’t trust you” → “i’d burn the ranch down for you”
okay but…
why did this book make me want to move to a ranch and emotionally heal while brushing a horse???
because this is NOT just a cowboy romance. this is trauma, survival and learning what safety feels like for the first time and it lowkey hits harder than you expect.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
what i loved about this book was GRACE.
she’s not your typical sunshine FMC she’s guarded, sharp and constantly waiting for things to go wrong… and honestly?? valid. girly has been THROUGH it. and the way her past slowly unravels???
yeah that tension is built really well. like you feel that something is wrong before you fully know what. also her bond with the horses???
STOP.
that was one of my favorite parts. the training scenes, the quiet understanding, the trust building… it mirrors her emotional arc so well and adds so much depth. and CREW??? he’s definitely giving grumpy suspicious ranch foreman also protective but not overbearing and soft in the quietest ways
like he doesn’t fall fast he notices. and that made everything hit harder.
this is very much a slow burn with tension > immediate payoff “i don’t trust you… but i can’t stay away” and honestly?? i ate that up.
the VIBES this book gives are actual PEAK, we have ranch life (horses, mud, chaos, late nights) found family (the ranch hands?? i’m adopting all of them) and fresh start energy. halcyon ranch feels like a whole CHARACTER. like the kind of place that slowly becomes home before you even realize it and i absolutely loved it .
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Now what didn’t fully hit for me was the pacing that felt a bit uneven (slow build → faster ending)
how some emotional moments could’ve gone deeper and if you’re here for super intense chemistry… it’s more slow simmer than explosive i also kinda wanted a bit more from crew’s internal depth at times he’s more observed than fully explored.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
But overall this felt like running from a life that broke you landing somewhere you don’t trust and slowly realizing… you’re allowed to stay and maybe even be loved there.
it’s soft, tense and quietly emotional with just enough drama to keep you hooked.
So if you like cowboy romance with actual emotional weight, found family+healing arcs and slow burn with tension and trust building…you’ll probably love this.
My final thoughts;
i came for the cowboy romance…
i stayed for the healing, the horses, and the way this book made “home” feel earned 🤎🐎
I would also like to thank NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book!
cowboy romance 🤝 found family 🤝 “i don’t trust you” → “i’d burn the ranch down for you”
okay but…
why did this book make me want to move to a ranch and emotionally heal while brushing a horse???
because this is NOT just a cowboy romance. this is trauma, survival and learning what safety feels like for the first time and it lowkey hits harder than you expect.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
what i loved about this book was GRACE.
she’s not your typical sunshine FMC she’s guarded, sharp and constantly waiting for things to go wrong… and honestly?? valid. girly has been THROUGH it. and the way her past slowly unravels???
yeah that tension is built really well. like you feel that something is wrong before you fully know what. also her bond with the horses???
STOP.
that was one of my favorite parts. the training scenes, the quiet understanding, the trust building… it mirrors her emotional arc so well and adds so much depth. and CREW??? he’s definitely giving grumpy suspicious ranch foreman also protective but not overbearing and soft in the quietest ways
like he doesn’t fall fast he notices. and that made everything hit harder.
this is very much a slow burn with tension > immediate payoff “i don’t trust you… but i can’t stay away” and honestly?? i ate that up.
the VIBES this book gives are actual PEAK, we have ranch life (horses, mud, chaos, late nights) found family (the ranch hands?? i’m adopting all of them) and fresh start energy. halcyon ranch feels like a whole CHARACTER. like the kind of place that slowly becomes home before you even realize it and i absolutely loved it .
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Now what didn’t fully hit for me was the pacing that felt a bit uneven (slow build → faster ending)
how some emotional moments could’ve gone deeper and if you’re here for super intense chemistry… it’s more slow simmer than explosive i also kinda wanted a bit more from crew’s internal depth at times he’s more observed than fully explored.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
But overall this felt like running from a life that broke you landing somewhere you don’t trust and slowly realizing… you’re allowed to stay and maybe even be loved there.
it’s soft, tense and quietly emotional with just enough drama to keep you hooked.
So if you like cowboy romance with actual emotional weight, found family+healing arcs and slow burn with tension and trust building…you’ll probably love this.
My final thoughts;
i came for the cowboy romance…
i stayed for the healing, the horses, and the way this book made “home” feel earned 🤎🐎
I would also like to thank NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book!
February 16, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up
This was a solid romance debut. If you’re a fan of cowboy romances with spice, give it a try!
When FMC Grace gets a chance for a fresh start as a horse trainer at a new ranch, she’s eager to get away from her sadistic uncle. She begins working under the supervision of Crew, the son of the ranch owners. Crew is hard to read and suspicious of Grace when she first arrives. As the book goes on, they warm to each other and feelings develop, and they bond over their difficult pasts.
Positives for this book include a strong setting - it definitely feels like a cowboy romance, with plenty of horses, ranch hands, mudding, a hoe down, and ranch chores. The cast of characters are full of personality, and Grace brings a strong, clear perspective to the book. The dialogue between characters felt pretty natural - at times light and funny, and other times deep and heartfelt, I thought the author handled both types of character interactions well.
There are a few things I thought could be improved. The chemistry between Grace and Crew fell a little flat for me - I didn’t get the sense that their personalities matched, more that their attraction was based in physicalities. This also means that when they express their feelings, it doesn’t feel earned by their interactions on page.
Additionally, while the spicy scenes were well-done, I was disappointed that after Grace admitted she had never orgasmed with a partner, every sex scene in the book makes it seem like it’s very easy for her to orgasm. I think that was an opportunity to show Crew to be an extra attentive partner (but instead it felt like he was just magically good at sex). I also didn’t love the way Crew talked about sex around the campfire - his emphasis on meaningful, emotional sex ended up implying judgment against casual sex (I don’t think every reader will have issues with this, but I tend to think of the romance genre as a nonjudgmental space).
Lastly, I think the plot and romance would’ve been stronger if Grace had an opportunity to grow and show some independence. She really goes from one dependent situation (her uncle’s ranch) to her next dependent situation (Halycon ranch) and doesn’t develop much agency in the process. If she had a chance to stand up for herself in a meaningful way, instead of being a bit of a damsel in distress, I think it would’ve made her choice to be with Crew feel more meaningful.
All that said, I think this author shows a lot of promise, and I think her next book will be worth checking out!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this arc. These opinions are my own.
This was a solid romance debut. If you’re a fan of cowboy romances with spice, give it a try!
When FMC Grace gets a chance for a fresh start as a horse trainer at a new ranch, she’s eager to get away from her sadistic uncle. She begins working under the supervision of Crew, the son of the ranch owners. Crew is hard to read and suspicious of Grace when she first arrives. As the book goes on, they warm to each other and feelings develop, and they bond over their difficult pasts.
Positives for this book include a strong setting - it definitely feels like a cowboy romance, with plenty of horses, ranch hands, mudding, a hoe down, and ranch chores. The cast of characters are full of personality, and Grace brings a strong, clear perspective to the book. The dialogue between characters felt pretty natural - at times light and funny, and other times deep and heartfelt, I thought the author handled both types of character interactions well.
There are a few things I thought could be improved. The chemistry between Grace and Crew fell a little flat for me - I didn’t get the sense that their personalities matched, more that their attraction was based in physicalities. This also means that when they express their feelings, it doesn’t feel earned by their interactions on page.
Additionally, while the spicy scenes were well-done, I was disappointed that after Grace admitted she had never orgasmed with a partner, every sex scene in the book makes it seem like it’s very easy for her to orgasm. I think that was an opportunity to show Crew to be an extra attentive partner (but instead it felt like he was just magically good at sex). I also didn’t love the way Crew talked about sex around the campfire - his emphasis on meaningful, emotional sex ended up implying judgment against casual sex (I don’t think every reader will have issues with this, but I tend to think of the romance genre as a nonjudgmental space).
Lastly, I think the plot and romance would’ve been stronger if Grace had an opportunity to grow and show some independence. She really goes from one dependent situation (her uncle’s ranch) to her next dependent situation (Halycon ranch) and doesn’t develop much agency in the process. If she had a chance to stand up for herself in a meaningful way, instead of being a bit of a damsel in distress, I think it would’ve made her choice to be with Crew feel more meaningful.
All that said, I think this author shows a lot of promise, and I think her next book will be worth checking out!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this arc. These opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
This may be my most favorite cowboy romance I have had the pleasure of reading. Boots Beneath Her Bed is a beautifully written story about finding yourself, love, and trust amongst trauma and hardships. It's about trusting that there will be a soft place to land because you are worthy of having one. The tension and yearning were perfectly built, and it leads to one of the most genuine and authentic romantic relationships in romance. It's believable, paced perfectly, and full of emotional depth. Grace not only finds herself, but she finds love, finds home, and finds family.
Grace, our FMC, was perfect. She has struggled through numerous childhood traumas, and it has turned her into a mistrusting, guarded woman. Her doubts and insecurities are believable due to a well-built backstory. Unlike other cowboy romances that seek to make trivial mole-hills into mountains, Esposito made Grace's story pretty bleak and dark. I appreciated that we do get to see Grace's character grow emotionally and finally figure out that she does deserve love, respect, and security. I always found Grace's reaction to things reasonable (barring one specific scene later on in the story) and the drama was captivating.
As for Crew, I think he could have been given more backstory. He is ex-military, and that is pretty much used as the whole reason for his personality. However, that does not feel like enough. I would have gladly taken 100 more pages of this story in order to get more Crew lore and Waylon time. However, this is a post-book reflection and did not take me out of the story as I was enjoying it. It just felt like kind of a missing opportunity to shape him so that when their relationship developed, it was more impactful overall. Regardless of my small gripe, I think he's dreamy. He's not too full of himself, and I cannot wait to see the dynamic between him and Easton.
The spice is so wonderfully written- never cringey. The found family is full of delightful side characters I cannot wait to get more of in future books. Overall, this story is well-rounded and full of fantastic plot points and character development. I just wish there was a little bit more to truly push this to an all-time favorite read. If you're a lover of Elsie Silver or Lyla Sage but want more depth and darkness, Boots Beneath Her Bed has to be on your TBR.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
This may be my most favorite cowboy romance I have had the pleasure of reading. Boots Beneath Her Bed is a beautifully written story about finding yourself, love, and trust amongst trauma and hardships. It's about trusting that there will be a soft place to land because you are worthy of having one. The tension and yearning were perfectly built, and it leads to one of the most genuine and authentic romantic relationships in romance. It's believable, paced perfectly, and full of emotional depth. Grace not only finds herself, but she finds love, finds home, and finds family.
Grace, our FMC, was perfect. She has struggled through numerous childhood traumas, and it has turned her into a mistrusting, guarded woman. Her doubts and insecurities are believable due to a well-built backstory. Unlike other cowboy romances that seek to make trivial mole-hills into mountains, Esposito made Grace's story pretty bleak and dark. I appreciated that we do get to see Grace's character grow emotionally and finally figure out that she does deserve love, respect, and security. I always found Grace's reaction to things reasonable (barring one specific scene later on in the story) and the drama was captivating.
As for Crew, I think he could have been given more backstory. He is ex-military, and that is pretty much used as the whole reason for his personality. However, that does not feel like enough. I would have gladly taken 100 more pages of this story in order to get more Crew lore and Waylon time. However, this is a post-book reflection and did not take me out of the story as I was enjoying it. It just felt like kind of a missing opportunity to shape him so that when their relationship developed, it was more impactful overall. Regardless of my small gripe, I think he's dreamy. He's not too full of himself, and I cannot wait to see the dynamic between him and Easton.
The spice is so wonderfully written- never cringey. The found family is full of delightful side characters I cannot wait to get more of in future books. Overall, this story is well-rounded and full of fantastic plot points and character development. I just wish there was a little bit more to truly push this to an all-time favorite read. If you're a lover of Elsie Silver or Lyla Sage but want more depth and darkness, Boots Beneath Her Bed has to be on your TBR.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book did a good job giving me the summery ranch/cowboy vibes I was hoping for! There were lots of slice of life kind of moments between the FMC and the other ranch hands that built up into a very sweet found family.
However, based on the description of the book and the beginning, I anticipated more suspense and intensity regarding the FMC’s big secret and the conflict with her uncle, but it played a fairly minor part past the introduction until the third act. Tonally, the book did not lead smoothly into this conflict, we had a slower more ‘everyday life’ kind of pace to sudden full ramp high stakes. There was also a myriad of plot points that got mentioned but never fully fleshed out.
The depth of the romance also left some things to be desired. It was a very slow burn for the first 50% of the book, which I very much enjoyed. But once again the premise of the book misled me and I anticipated a much more significant clash between the two main characters before their romance began. It feels like any reservations our MMC had about the FMC’s past and potential secrets went away quickly with little actionable reason. The romance also went from 0-100%. The two shared moments where you could tell they were attracted to one another and grew to care for each other, but once the tension snapped and they got involved physically the FMC claimed she was in love almost immediately. There was a lack in the types of interactions and conversations that would lead me to believe the declarations of love they had for one another.
My general feeling with this book is it tried to do a lot, and in turn missed the mark getting to the depth and development in any given direction that I would have hoped. I still enjoyed my time with this book, despite the frustrations, and I do want to continue with the eventual future books in this series. I think the author has a knack for creating a beautiful setting/world and a rounded cast of characters, but I hope to see more improvement on plot structure/focus and relationship development!
However, based on the description of the book and the beginning, I anticipated more suspense and intensity regarding the FMC’s big secret and the conflict with her uncle, but it played a fairly minor part past the introduction until the third act. Tonally, the book did not lead smoothly into this conflict, we had a slower more ‘everyday life’ kind of pace to sudden full ramp high stakes. There was also a myriad of plot points that got mentioned but never fully fleshed out.
The depth of the romance also left some things to be desired. It was a very slow burn for the first 50% of the book, which I very much enjoyed. But once again the premise of the book misled me and I anticipated a much more significant clash between the two main characters before their romance began. It feels like any reservations our MMC had about the FMC’s past and potential secrets went away quickly with little actionable reason. The romance also went from 0-100%. The two shared moments where you could tell they were attracted to one another and grew to care for each other, but once the tension snapped and they got involved physically the FMC claimed she was in love almost immediately. There was a lack in the types of interactions and conversations that would lead me to believe the declarations of love they had for one another.
My general feeling with this book is it tried to do a lot, and in turn missed the mark getting to the depth and development in any given direction that I would have hoped. I still enjoyed my time with this book, despite the frustrations, and I do want to continue with the eventual future books in this series. I think the author has a knack for creating a beautiful setting/world and a rounded cast of characters, but I hope to see more improvement on plot structure/focus and relationship development!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for this gifted ARC!
I have read a lot of cowboy romances recently and I absolutely love them, this one is likely to become a new favorite for me! It felt so different from the usual formula to them, and I was so absorbed into the characters and the story itself. The romance was amazing, the spice was great and not over the top, and the suspenseful plot was perfect.
The main character, Grace, was wonderful. She has gone through so much trauma through her entire life, she was manipulated and taken advantage of by a family member at a time where she just could have used some love. The villain of this story is someone you will truly come to despise for many reasons. The author does a fantastic job of getting you to hate them. But even with all that Grace is still a loving and kind person. She has some massive insecurities and self worth problems, but when you read her backstory you will completely understand. Her strength and perseverance through it all though is inspiring.
The MMC is just perfection, I think I wrote that down several times in my reading journal while reading this book. He is strong, but also has his own vulnerable moments that show that he can relate and empathize with Grace when needed. They balance each other so well and he is just a wonderful love interest.
This story has some massive found family aspects to it, it's one of my favorite tropes in a book so I absolutely loved it. That feeling of belonging is just something everyone wants and needs. It was just done so well and you will love so many of the side characters in this world. I love that this book is also set up to have spin offs of some of the characters. I think it's going to be a wonderful little universe! This releases April 21st!
*This ARC was given by Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
I have read a lot of cowboy romances recently and I absolutely love them, this one is likely to become a new favorite for me! It felt so different from the usual formula to them, and I was so absorbed into the characters and the story itself. The romance was amazing, the spice was great and not over the top, and the suspenseful plot was perfect.
The main character, Grace, was wonderful. She has gone through so much trauma through her entire life, she was manipulated and taken advantage of by a family member at a time where she just could have used some love. The villain of this story is someone you will truly come to despise for many reasons. The author does a fantastic job of getting you to hate them. But even with all that Grace is still a loving and kind person. She has some massive insecurities and self worth problems, but when you read her backstory you will completely understand. Her strength and perseverance through it all though is inspiring.
The MMC is just perfection, I think I wrote that down several times in my reading journal while reading this book. He is strong, but also has his own vulnerable moments that show that he can relate and empathize with Grace when needed. They balance each other so well and he is just a wonderful love interest.
This story has some massive found family aspects to it, it's one of my favorite tropes in a book so I absolutely loved it. That feeling of belonging is just something everyone wants and needs. It was just done so well and you will love so many of the side characters in this world. I love that this book is also set up to have spin offs of some of the characters. I think it's going to be a wonderful little universe! This releases April 21st!
*This ARC was given by Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Boots Beneath Her Bed🐎 ARC Book Review ❤️🔥
thank you so much partner @berkleyromance @berkleypub for the free ARC! #berkleypartner #berkley #berkleybookstagram
Boots Beneath Her Bed
by Taylor Esposito
out April 21, 2026!
Grace Underwood has spent the last ten years hiding a dark secret about the day her parents died… one her ruthless uncle uses to control her. When she finally decides to escape, she takes a leap of faith and lands a job as a horse trainer at Halcyon Ranch, where she begins to build a life of her own for the first time. But starting over isn’t easy, especially when Crew Caldwell, the ranch’s guarded foreman, makes it clear he doesn’t trust her or her past.
As Grace proves herself and starts to find her place, the tension between her and Crew grows into something neither of them can ignore. But with her past still looming and her uncle’s hold not fully broken, Grace risks losing everything she’s worked for. She’ll have to decide if she’s willing to fight for the life and the love that finally feels like home.
❤️🔥 My thoughts:
A healing ranch, a guarded cowboy, and a found family that will steal your heart! This book is something special, truly one I’ll be thinking about for a long time. From the emotional depth to the slow building relationships, there’s so much to love, but it was the found family that really made this one unforgettable for me. Watching Grace find her place and her people felt so genuine and heartwarming. By the end, I was fully in my feelings. As in there were tears. And then I reading the sneak peek of Beneath a Neon Moon, the second book… and now I already know I’ll be doing whatever it takes to get my hands on an early copy. If you love emotional stories, strong character growth, and stories that feel like home, this is one you need to get your hands on! I can happily say this one left a mark on my heart. Boots Beneath Her Bed hits shelves 4/21/26!
Happy reading 📖 ❤️🔥🐎
thank you so much partner @berkleyromance @berkleypub for the free ARC! #berkleypartner #berkley #berkleybookstagram
Boots Beneath Her Bed
by Taylor Esposito
out April 21, 2026!
Grace Underwood has spent the last ten years hiding a dark secret about the day her parents died… one her ruthless uncle uses to control her. When she finally decides to escape, she takes a leap of faith and lands a job as a horse trainer at Halcyon Ranch, where she begins to build a life of her own for the first time. But starting over isn’t easy, especially when Crew Caldwell, the ranch’s guarded foreman, makes it clear he doesn’t trust her or her past.
As Grace proves herself and starts to find her place, the tension between her and Crew grows into something neither of them can ignore. But with her past still looming and her uncle’s hold not fully broken, Grace risks losing everything she’s worked for. She’ll have to decide if she’s willing to fight for the life and the love that finally feels like home.
❤️🔥 My thoughts:
A healing ranch, a guarded cowboy, and a found family that will steal your heart! This book is something special, truly one I’ll be thinking about for a long time. From the emotional depth to the slow building relationships, there’s so much to love, but it was the found family that really made this one unforgettable for me. Watching Grace find her place and her people felt so genuine and heartwarming. By the end, I was fully in my feelings. As in there were tears. And then I reading the sneak peek of Beneath a Neon Moon, the second book… and now I already know I’ll be doing whatever it takes to get my hands on an early copy. If you love emotional stories, strong character growth, and stories that feel like home, this is one you need to get your hands on! I can happily say this one left a mark on my heart. Boots Beneath Her Bed hits shelves 4/21/26!
Happy reading 📖 ❤️🔥🐎
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4⭐️
thank you berkley romance + taylor esposito for an e-arc of this book through netgalley <3
TWs: physical abuse, (some) animal abuse/cruelty(?), childhood trauma
something this book does really well is highlight cowboy/ranch life well. i’ve read many cowboy romances to this day, and i can’t confidently say that many of them really mention their roles or what they do. as someone who has absolutely no idea how that looks (😂), i thought this was a breath of fresh air!
crew and grace were introduced as enemies to lovers, but like many stories to date, it was more like “got off on the wrong foot but eventually liked each other”. them together wasn’t so bad but i did feel like their relationship came together nearly seamlessly yet the build up didn’t hit as hard for me. the found family in this story had to be my favorite part and this was especially important for me so grace can have her happy ending 🥺 like june coming around to help her get ready and won her over???? GIRLHOOD!
despite really enjoying this book, i did have issues with the pacing of this book bc it felt unnecessarily longer than it needed to be at ~500 pages. i saw that some people called this a “slice of life” narrative. this confused the hell out of me bc in anime this usually means wholesome and laidback but there was severe trauma so like huh?? 😭 once i looked it up, i understood lol
speaking of trauma, i do wish the author included trigger warnings bc W O W her uncle sure was a piece of work and them (torture) rock scenes were certainly a choice in a romance book, idk 😭 (added tws in the beginning of this review so you are for-warned timely)
thank you berkley romance + taylor esposito for an e-arc of this book through netgalley <3
TWs: physical abuse, (some) animal abuse/cruelty(?), childhood trauma
something this book does really well is highlight cowboy/ranch life well. i’ve read many cowboy romances to this day, and i can’t confidently say that many of them really mention their roles or what they do. as someone who has absolutely no idea how that looks (😂), i thought this was a breath of fresh air!
crew and grace were introduced as enemies to lovers, but like many stories to date, it was more like “got off on the wrong foot but eventually liked each other”. them together wasn’t so bad but i did feel like their relationship came together nearly seamlessly yet the build up didn’t hit as hard for me. the found family in this story had to be my favorite part and this was especially important for me so grace can have her happy ending 🥺 like june coming around to help her get ready and won her over???? GIRLHOOD!
despite really enjoying this book, i did have issues with the pacing of this book bc it felt unnecessarily longer than it needed to be at ~500 pages. i saw that some people called this a “slice of life” narrative. this confused the hell out of me bc in anime this usually means wholesome and laidback but there was severe trauma so like huh?? 😭 once i looked it up, i understood lol
speaking of trauma, i do wish the author included trigger warnings bc W O W her uncle sure was a piece of work and them (torture) rock scenes were certainly a choice in a romance book, idk 😭 (added tws in the beginning of this review so you are for-warned timely)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Cowboys for the contemporary romance readers!
I binged the first 70% because I had to know what would happen to Grace. She escapes a truly horrendous upbringing and finds what feels like a miraculous haven at Halcyon Ranch. The contrast between her uncle’s nefarious schemes and the wealth, order, and professionalism of the Griffith family is extreme. Grace is constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, convinced it’s all too good to be true—and I felt that tension in my gut. I couldn’t put the book down until I knew Grace was safe enough to leave in Crew’s care.
By that point, the quiet connection between this scrappy cowgirl and the Griffith heir was completely intertwined. They fall in love slowly, through so many small moments, and I was fully invested. “Small” doesn’t mean boring, though—their time together is also incredibly fun. Think bar brawls, bunkhouse chaos, a proper hoe-down, and camping out with the herd.
Crew comes from old money and runs his mother’s massive ranch with precision. The scale and splendor immediately reminded me of “Yellowstone” (TV), but he’s not the stereotypical grumpy foreman. I loved how Grace describes him as hot and cold—never fully stern without slipping in a smirk or a chuckle. His mother, Renata, is equally unforgettable: powerful, charismatic, and giving major Angela-from-“Landman” (TV) energy. When Grace’s past comes back to haunt her, this mother-son duo proves they are absolutely not to be messed with.
For readers who’ve been curious about cowboy romance but prefer contemporary stories over rom-com vibes, this is the perfect place to start.
I binged the first 70% because I had to know what would happen to Grace. She escapes a truly horrendous upbringing and finds what feels like a miraculous haven at Halcyon Ranch. The contrast between her uncle’s nefarious schemes and the wealth, order, and professionalism of the Griffith family is extreme. Grace is constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, convinced it’s all too good to be true—and I felt that tension in my gut. I couldn’t put the book down until I knew Grace was safe enough to leave in Crew’s care.
By that point, the quiet connection between this scrappy cowgirl and the Griffith heir was completely intertwined. They fall in love slowly, through so many small moments, and I was fully invested. “Small” doesn’t mean boring, though—their time together is also incredibly fun. Think bar brawls, bunkhouse chaos, a proper hoe-down, and camping out with the herd.
Crew comes from old money and runs his mother’s massive ranch with precision. The scale and splendor immediately reminded me of “Yellowstone” (TV), but he’s not the stereotypical grumpy foreman. I loved how Grace describes him as hot and cold—never fully stern without slipping in a smirk or a chuckle. His mother, Renata, is equally unforgettable: powerful, charismatic, and giving major Angela-from-“Landman” (TV) energy. When Grace’s past comes back to haunt her, this mother-son duo proves they are absolutely not to be messed with.
For readers who’ve been curious about cowboy romance but prefer contemporary stories over rom-com vibes, this is the perfect place to start.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ IT. This debut novel blew me away and I HIGHLY recommend it and can’t wait to read everything Taylor Esposito writes!!! I got hooked from the beginning and couldn’t put it down because I NEEDED to know what happened next!
Boots Beneath Her Bed by Taylor Esposito is about Grace, a horse trainer stuck at her abusive uncle’s ranch, but when his cruelty hits the next level, she makes a run for it and ends up at Halcyon ranch, a place that seems too good to be true for Grace, who has only ever known hardship. She finds a home with the Caldwells who own Halcyon and have taken her in, and she also develops an undeniable connection with Crew Caldwell, the ranch foreman/eldest son who is surly and guarded (but soft only for her 😩). Still, time is ticking before her uncle finds her and all hell breaks loose!
I LOVED Crew and Grace’s relationship and couldn’t get enough of the two of them. I also loved the found family at the Halcyon ranch with all the hands and especially Forty 😌. Also the Caldwell women are such badass bosses, I love Renata for taking Grace in and always believing in her, and I love Caia for pulling Crew’s head out of his own ass. I’m so excited to read Caia’s story next in Beneath a Neon Moon!!!
Grace
🐎 Horse trainer x Ranch foreman
🐎 Grumpy MMC
🐎 Dark mysterious past
🐎 MMC built like a refrigerator
🐎 Small town
🐎 Cowboy romance
🐎 Boone the heeler 🐶
🐎 Workplace romance
🐎 He’s her boss
🐎 He washes her hair when she’s hurt
🐎 Cinnamon roll MMC
🐎 Only one tent
🐎 Found family
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!
Boots Beneath Her Bed by Taylor Esposito is about Grace, a horse trainer stuck at her abusive uncle’s ranch, but when his cruelty hits the next level, she makes a run for it and ends up at Halcyon ranch, a place that seems too good to be true for Grace, who has only ever known hardship. She finds a home with the Caldwells who own Halcyon and have taken her in, and she also develops an undeniable connection with Crew Caldwell, the ranch foreman/eldest son who is surly and guarded (but soft only for her 😩). Still, time is ticking before her uncle finds her and all hell breaks loose!
I LOVED Crew and Grace’s relationship and couldn’t get enough of the two of them. I also loved the found family at the Halcyon ranch with all the hands and especially Forty 😌. Also the Caldwell women are such badass bosses, I love Renata for taking Grace in and always believing in her, and I love Caia for pulling Crew’s head out of his own ass. I’m so excited to read Caia’s story next in Beneath a Neon Moon!!!
Grace
🐎 Horse trainer x Ranch foreman
🐎 Grumpy MMC
🐎 Dark mysterious past
🐎 MMC built like a refrigerator
🐎 Small town
🐎 Cowboy romance
🐎 Boone the heeler 🐶
🐎 Workplace romance
🐎 He’s her boss
🐎 He washes her hair when she’s hurt
🐎 Cinnamon roll MMC
🐎 Only one tent
🐎 Found family
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Esposito establishes herself as a new voice in contemporary romance with her bingeable debut, 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘦𝘥.
I hadn't read cowboy romance prior to being sent a copy of this book as part of the Berkley Romance influencer program, but I'm so glad I tried something I wouldn't have otherwise gravitated toward!
𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘦𝘥 has a great ranch atmosphere with horses, hoedowns, and mudding. Despite her traumatic past, the protagonist, Grace, is fierce and resourceful, and I admired her strength. I was heavily invested in her horse training progress! Her love interest and ranch foreman, Crew, is mysterious, displaying a rough exterior that conceals his gentle side. The bond that forms between the couple is deep, powerful, and touching. I adored the side characters and wonderfully penned found family trope!
I enjoyed the storytelling conveyed through third person. There's a great deal of darkness and character struggles, but there's also yearning and themes of hope to balance the emotional impact. The pacing was a bit slow to start but quickly picked up the pace; I couldn't put this one down! Once the characters admit feelings, it was heavily focused on their intimacy for several chapters before the plot advanced again.
I'm so excited to recommend this debut! 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘦𝘥 is a must-read for avid romance readers. With such a stunning cover design, how could you not want to read it?
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance reading copy!
I hadn't read cowboy romance prior to being sent a copy of this book as part of the Berkley Romance influencer program, but I'm so glad I tried something I wouldn't have otherwise gravitated toward!
𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘦𝘥 has a great ranch atmosphere with horses, hoedowns, and mudding. Despite her traumatic past, the protagonist, Grace, is fierce and resourceful, and I admired her strength. I was heavily invested in her horse training progress! Her love interest and ranch foreman, Crew, is mysterious, displaying a rough exterior that conceals his gentle side. The bond that forms between the couple is deep, powerful, and touching. I adored the side characters and wonderfully penned found family trope!
I enjoyed the storytelling conveyed through third person. There's a great deal of darkness and character struggles, but there's also yearning and themes of hope to balance the emotional impact. The pacing was a bit slow to start but quickly picked up the pace; I couldn't put this one down! Once the characters admit feelings, it was heavily focused on their intimacy for several chapters before the plot advanced again.
I'm so excited to recommend this debut! 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘦𝘥 is a must-read for avid romance readers. With such a stunning cover design, how could you not want to read it?
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance reading copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars.
Wow, "Boots Beneath Her Bed" by Taylor Esposito is quite the ride. Immersive. Perilous. Emotionally hefty. Interesting. Extremely rousing drama. I found myself drawn to the main character, Grace, and what was happening with her from the very first chapter of this slow-burning cowboy romance. A lot happens here, lots of abuse, pain, heartache, reinvention, healing. While there is a romantic aspect to this story, it doesn't fully develop/get going until about halfway through the book. I think that's also part of why I didn't feel super connected to Grace and Crew as a couple. There was a lot of spice, but I just couldn't feel that much about it because the emotional aspects were not executed properly. My other complaint is that the book is quite a bit drawn out where it doesn't need to be. It definitely could have been shorter. Still, I didn't hate reading this book. I was compelled by the drama between Grace and her twisted uncle, her exit and eventual hiring at Halcyon Ranch, her immersion into the Halcyon crew, and her connection to Renata Caldwell, Crew's mother. I think a ton of readers are going to *love* this book, and while I did enjoy it and do recommend it, I did still have some thoughts about it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Taylor Esposito, and Berkley Publishing Group for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Wow, "Boots Beneath Her Bed" by Taylor Esposito is quite the ride. Immersive. Perilous. Emotionally hefty. Interesting. Extremely rousing drama. I found myself drawn to the main character, Grace, and what was happening with her from the very first chapter of this slow-burning cowboy romance. A lot happens here, lots of abuse, pain, heartache, reinvention, healing. While there is a romantic aspect to this story, it doesn't fully develop/get going until about halfway through the book. I think that's also part of why I didn't feel super connected to Grace and Crew as a couple. There was a lot of spice, but I just couldn't feel that much about it because the emotional aspects were not executed properly. My other complaint is that the book is quite a bit drawn out where it doesn't need to be. It definitely could have been shorter. Still, I didn't hate reading this book. I was compelled by the drama between Grace and her twisted uncle, her exit and eventual hiring at Halcyon Ranch, her immersion into the Halcyon crew, and her connection to Renata Caldwell, Crew's mother. I think a ton of readers are going to *love* this book, and while I did enjoy it and do recommend it, I did still have some thoughts about it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Taylor Esposito, and Berkley Publishing Group for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
April 7, 2026
Sending a massive thank you to Berkley & Netgalley for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽
When I first read the synopsis, I loved the idea of a cowboy romance for the horse girlies. After reading the book, this one might not be for the cowboy romance fans. It deals with very heavy topics and while there is romance, it’s not the focus.
I loved the slice of life moments, I loved seeing the FMC Grace working with horses (and I personally would have loved more of that), the wonderful ranch hands being so sweet and kind. Sharing laughs and meals and life around the ranch. The moments with the MMC Crew’s siblings and parents felt so healing!
As far as the romance goes, I really didn’t feel the chemistry between Grace & Crew… (I do think some of this was because of the 3rd person POV, I found it hard to connect to the characters.) I loved the banter between them in the beginning and it felt like it was building towards something deeper. But once they were together, the focus was not on having conversations 😂 and the spice was definitely there!!! I wish their relationship had been explored more, because to me, their connection felt surface level at best.
For a debut, this book is wonderful. I am very excited to see the next book in the series and to see how it continues!
Trigger warnings: animal cruelty with some resulting in death, graphic past murder mentioned, graphic physical harm done to FMC, attempted murder mentioned off page.
When I first read the synopsis, I loved the idea of a cowboy romance for the horse girlies. After reading the book, this one might not be for the cowboy romance fans. It deals with very heavy topics and while there is romance, it’s not the focus.
I loved the slice of life moments, I loved seeing the FMC Grace working with horses (and I personally would have loved more of that), the wonderful ranch hands being so sweet and kind. Sharing laughs and meals and life around the ranch. The moments with the MMC Crew’s siblings and parents felt so healing!
As far as the romance goes, I really didn’t feel the chemistry between Grace & Crew… (I do think some of this was because of the 3rd person POV, I found it hard to connect to the characters.) I loved the banter between them in the beginning and it felt like it was building towards something deeper. But once they were together, the focus was not on having conversations 😂 and the spice was definitely there!!! I wish their relationship had been explored more, because to me, their connection felt surface level at best.
For a debut, this book is wonderful. I am very excited to see the next book in the series and to see how it continues!
Trigger warnings: animal cruelty with some resulting in death, graphic past murder mentioned, graphic physical harm done to FMC, attempted murder mentioned off page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"It didn't feel like home until you got here. No one else knows that."
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫
Spice: 🌶️
After years of working as a ranch hand for her abusive uncle, Grace finally gathers the courage to walk away. Despite unable to find work because of his influence, she is scooped up by the owner of Halcyon Ranch, Renata Caldwell, only to wind under the scrutiny of her boss's son (and the foreman) Crew. As sparks slowly start to alight, Grace finds herself toeing the line of the life she's only ever dreamed of having, and the dark past that seems to follow her.
This was such a beautiful and emotional debut. Grace begins this story so battered after years until Bellamy's thumb, and it's so heartbreaking to see. I loved the bits of connection between her and Waylon as she trains him, how she slowly starts to trust the other hands on the farm just as Waylon is learning to trust her. And Crew - he begins so protective of his family and SO gruff but seeing the way he softens had my heart. The way they circle each other will definitely keep you reading, along with the way Grace's past haunts her like a shadow, I couldn't stop reading.
Yes - this is a love story, but the love in it truly extends into every form. I loved the romance that blooms between Grace and Crew, but the love the Caldwell family have for themselves and others had my heart aching. The moments where they banded together to protect Grace (along with the other ranch hands) was so powerful - truly a found family in every aspect and Esposito does such an excellent job making you feel it with every word. I definitely spent the last quarter of the book so choked up! This was such a great read.
If you love a cowboy romance that is all about people allowing themselves to be vulnerable, and learning to accept the love they deserve despite all the hardships of life, then you are going to devour this. 💖
Tropes & Tags:
🐴 grumpy x guarded
🏜️ western/cowboy romance
🤎 he calls her sweetheart
🐴 hurt x comfort
🏜️ he washes her hair
🤎 suspense plot
🐴 found family
[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much Taylor Esposito, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing Group! 📖]
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫
Spice: 🌶️
After years of working as a ranch hand for her abusive uncle, Grace finally gathers the courage to walk away. Despite unable to find work because of his influence, she is scooped up by the owner of Halcyon Ranch, Renata Caldwell, only to wind under the scrutiny of her boss's son (and the foreman) Crew. As sparks slowly start to alight, Grace finds herself toeing the line of the life she's only ever dreamed of having, and the dark past that seems to follow her.
This was such a beautiful and emotional debut. Grace begins this story so battered after years until Bellamy's thumb, and it's so heartbreaking to see. I loved the bits of connection between her and Waylon as she trains him, how she slowly starts to trust the other hands on the farm just as Waylon is learning to trust her. And Crew - he begins so protective of his family and SO gruff but seeing the way he softens had my heart. The way they circle each other will definitely keep you reading, along with the way Grace's past haunts her like a shadow, I couldn't stop reading.
Yes - this is a love story, but the love in it truly extends into every form. I loved the romance that blooms between Grace and Crew, but the love the Caldwell family have for themselves and others had my heart aching. The moments where they banded together to protect Grace (along with the other ranch hands) was so powerful - truly a found family in every aspect and Esposito does such an excellent job making you feel it with every word. I definitely spent the last quarter of the book so choked up! This was such a great read.
If you love a cowboy romance that is all about people allowing themselves to be vulnerable, and learning to accept the love they deserve despite all the hardships of life, then you are going to devour this. 💖
Tropes & Tags:
🐴 grumpy x guarded
🏜️ western/cowboy romance
🤎 he calls her sweetheart
🐴 hurt x comfort
🏜️ he washes her hair
🤎 suspense plot
🐴 found family
[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much Taylor Esposito, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing Group! 📖]
April 4, 2026
It’s no secret I love a good cowboy romance, but add in a little romantic suspense and a past that won’t stay buried? Yeah… I was done for. I read this in 5 hours. Stayed up until 1am because I physically could not set it down.
Grace carries so much, and you feel it in everything she does. The weight of her past, the way she’s had to survive for so long… it made each moment with her suspenseful, especially as she starts to step into something that could be different.
And then there’s Crew. He’s guarded with a rough exterior but he’s also the one you know would have your back without question. The kind of protector who doesn’t need to say much for you to feel it. And yeah… an ex-military cowboy with that kind of loyalty? Adding him to the fictional boyfriend list immediately.
There’s this constant feeling that the past isn’t done with her, and it keeps this quiet tension under everything, but at the heart of it is finding a place that feels safe… and someone who makes you want to stay.
And the emotions I felt reading this one? It’s no secret I’m a crier when it comes to reading books but I wasn’t just teary eyed. I was fully sobbing at certain chapters. The kind where you have to pause because your chest actually hurts a little.
Thank you to the publisher and author for the early copy!
Grace carries so much, and you feel it in everything she does. The weight of her past, the way she’s had to survive for so long… it made each moment with her suspenseful, especially as she starts to step into something that could be different.
And then there’s Crew. He’s guarded with a rough exterior but he’s also the one you know would have your back without question. The kind of protector who doesn’t need to say much for you to feel it. And yeah… an ex-military cowboy with that kind of loyalty? Adding him to the fictional boyfriend list immediately.
There’s this constant feeling that the past isn’t done with her, and it keeps this quiet tension under everything, but at the heart of it is finding a place that feels safe… and someone who makes you want to stay.
And the emotions I felt reading this one? It’s no secret I’m a crier when it comes to reading books but I wasn’t just teary eyed. I was fully sobbing at certain chapters. The kind where you have to pause because your chest actually hurts a little.
Thank you to the publisher and author for the early copy!
April 10, 2026
Thank you to Berkley for an ARC copy of this book!
This was my first cowboy book and it was a time yall. I had a country accent going on in my head whenever the characters talked and Reba was the character I thought of when it came to Renata haha.
So people call this a “slice of life” kind of book and to be honest, I didn’t know that was a thing. I just thought when there’s nothing really going on in the book, it’s just slow to me but now I feel like I can start to appreciate this kind of writing.
I like the found family aspect in this book because good lord, Grace needed it. Her time at Braxton was hell and Halcyon was a piece of heaven. I really enjoyed the characters too especially Crew, Renata, and Caia. Like I said before, I felt like nothing really went on in this book besides Grace living and working at Halcyon Ranch. So when the story picked up 70% in, I was pulled in every direction. The things Bellamy did ?? Where was the trigger warning?? Also, I’m guessing Caia is going to be the 2nd book because her POV just came out of nowhere and it was just odd to find her chapters towards the end of the book.
The romance was also not paced well in my opinion. I felt like they were just crushing on each other, then boom. They’re in love? Overall, the characters really helped the story but the pacing was off.
This was my first cowboy book and it was a time yall. I had a country accent going on in my head whenever the characters talked and Reba was the character I thought of when it came to Renata haha.
So people call this a “slice of life” kind of book and to be honest, I didn’t know that was a thing. I just thought when there’s nothing really going on in the book, it’s just slow to me but now I feel like I can start to appreciate this kind of writing.
I like the found family aspect in this book because good lord, Grace needed it. Her time at Braxton was hell and Halcyon was a piece of heaven. I really enjoyed the characters too especially Crew, Renata, and Caia. Like I said before, I felt like nothing really went on in this book besides Grace living and working at Halcyon Ranch. So when the story picked up 70% in, I was pulled in every direction. The things Bellamy did ?? Where was the trigger warning?? Also, I’m guessing Caia is going to be the 2nd book because her POV just came out of nowhere and it was just odd to find her chapters towards the end of the book.
The romance was also not paced well in my opinion. I felt like they were just crushing on each other, then boom. They’re in love? Overall, the characters really helped the story but the pacing was off.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Boots Beneath Her Bed is Taylor Esposito’s debut. This story is told in third person through Grace’s perspective. The writing kept me hooked throughout though I did find myself wishing we had Crew’s POV. It would have added more depth especially when it came to his thoughts and family dynamics. Grace and Crew’s romance is a slow burn in the best way. The relationship builds through small, meaningful moments that gradually come together. Crew is a unique kind of grump. He is sweet with Grace, a strict yet well-respected foreman and someone working through his past. The supporting characters also added a lot to the story. However, I do wish we had seen more development in Grace and Crew’s relationship. Each of them have very little growth as individuals and I wanted more time with them as a couple to fully strengthen their relationship. Parts of the story are also quite heavy and genuinely heartbreaking particularly Grace’s experiences. I recommend checking the content warnings on StoryGraph before reading as they are not included in the book. I do not usually comment on titles, but this one did not feel like it fit the story. Overall, this was a mixed bag for me. I am not sure if I will continue with the next book in the series.
Thank you Berkley Romance & PRH audio for free copy
Thank you Berkley Romance & PRH audio for free copy
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