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Steel & Sin: A Dark Cowboy Romance
Knox
Working the ranch is the only thing I live for. It's hard work, long days, but it's all I know.
I like being alone and being out here in the valleys of the mountains gives me the seclusion I crave.
So when a gorgeous stranger takes shelter in one of my barns, I wonder how the hell she got there.
But she isn't just anyone.
Elena De Luca may look sweet and innocent, but her family is the reason my business is on the rocks. With her family's corruption and the blood they've spilled, it'll take years to get the Carter Cattle Ranch back to where it was.
And now she needs something from me.
Safety. A place to heal.
And what better place than a ranch in the middle of nowhere?
She promises to make it right but trusting a De Luca is like making a deal with the devil, and she happens to wear lace.
Elena
It was my birthright to become the head of the De Luca mafia family.
My father is dead, and the business is now mine.
But you can't fix a man's fragile ego.
When some of the men who are supposed to be loyal turn on me, I have no choice but to flee.
What I don't expect to find is a grumpy cattle rancher who hates me just as much as the men who tried to kill me.
Turns out I have more to fix than just the treason within my own ranks.
So I make him a deal.
Give me a place to stay while I fix the mess everyone else made, and I'll return his business to where it used to be.
He doesn't believe I have the power to do so but I'm tired of men believing me to be weak.
But all those long nights spent with him have me yearning for more than just my throne.
I want the king too.
Steel & Sin is a full length dark, standalone cowboy romance. As a dark romance, it contains themes commonly found in dark romance. A full list of content warnings will be found at the beginning of the book and via my website.
Working the ranch is the only thing I live for. It's hard work, long days, but it's all I know.
I like being alone and being out here in the valleys of the mountains gives me the seclusion I crave.
So when a gorgeous stranger takes shelter in one of my barns, I wonder how the hell she got there.
But she isn't just anyone.
Elena De Luca may look sweet and innocent, but her family is the reason my business is on the rocks. With her family's corruption and the blood they've spilled, it'll take years to get the Carter Cattle Ranch back to where it was.
And now she needs something from me.
Safety. A place to heal.
And what better place than a ranch in the middle of nowhere?
She promises to make it right but trusting a De Luca is like making a deal with the devil, and she happens to wear lace.
Elena
It was my birthright to become the head of the De Luca mafia family.
My father is dead, and the business is now mine.
But you can't fix a man's fragile ego.
When some of the men who are supposed to be loyal turn on me, I have no choice but to flee.
What I don't expect to find is a grumpy cattle rancher who hates me just as much as the men who tried to kill me.
Turns out I have more to fix than just the treason within my own ranks.
So I make him a deal.
Give me a place to stay while I fix the mess everyone else made, and I'll return his business to where it used to be.
He doesn't believe I have the power to do so but I'm tired of men believing me to be weak.
But all those long nights spent with him have me yearning for more than just my throne.
I want the king too.
Steel & Sin is a full length dark, standalone cowboy romance. As a dark romance, it contains themes commonly found in dark romance. A full list of content warnings will be found at the beginning of the book and via my website.
426 pages, Paperback
Published October 16, 2025
109 people are currently reading
907 people want to read
About the author
Ria Wilde
19 books1,171 followersStories that are dirty, dangerous & deliciously sinful.
Ria Wilde is an international bestselling author of Dark, Steamy & Suspenseful Romance. She currently resides in the UK where getting lost in her books, and plotting the next best way to break some hearts is a daily occurrence.
A lover of all things steamy and sinful, she also has a big soft spot for small town romances & cowboys, but morally gray will forever be her favorite color!
HEA's & Spice, but there's no promise it'll be an easy ride, and be prepared to fall in love with her morally gray men and the sassy queens that steal their hearts.
Instagram: @authorriawilde
Facebook: @riawilderauthor
Tiktok: @.authorriawilde
Ria Wilde is an international bestselling author of Dark, Steamy & Suspenseful Romance. She currently resides in the UK where getting lost in her books, and plotting the next best way to break some hearts is a daily occurrence.
A lover of all things steamy and sinful, she also has a big soft spot for small town romances & cowboys, but morally gray will forever be her favorite color!
HEA's & Spice, but there's no promise it'll be an easy ride, and be prepared to fall in love with her morally gray men and the sassy queens that steal their hearts.
Instagram: @authorriawilde
Facebook: @riawilderauthor
Tiktok: @.authorriawilde
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews
October 4, 2025
★★★★★. Thank you so much to the author Ria for this ARC!! Once again, another 5 stars for me. Whatever Ria writes, I know it will deliver everything I expected. This review will have some spoilers, read at your own risk!
A sexy as hell cowboy? Check. A mafia QUEEN who is not afraid to speak her mind? Check. So much tension? Check. A hint of hate to love? CHECK.
knoxelena, you are now my family.
Elena, ugh my queen. I loved her down bad. She was the strongest fmc I have read in so long. She truly owned this book. The way she wasn’t afraid of anything until it started to threaten what she loved. 10s. I loved her attitude and her confidence so much. Her bond with the animals was everything. Ralph was her baby boy and there was no denying that. Her banter with Knox and not letting him hide behind his fear was PERFECT. She stood on business and was not letting him make her feel bad for ANYTHING!
Knox, A MAN! The immediate(not really) protectiveness of Elena was so good. The hate he had for her family yet he couldn’t bring himself to truly hate her is exactly what I love to read. He couldn’t bring himself to want the one woman whose family destroyed his life and yet that’s all he did. He fell first and HARD. He was not allowing her to leave or run from him. He read Elena like a book. His backstory was sad with his father and then with the farm, so reading his happy ending with that was perfect. His best friend Chase, DESERVED MORE.
I absolutely loved the mafia plot with this and how Ria focused on Elena being in charge. How the men didn’t want this because she was a woman and yet she was stronger than all of them. Ria, I beg of you. Give Caden a book. I need it in my hands right this instant.
For my safety readers, safe. Knox has been celibate for 10 years. This is my assumption because of a comment made in his inner monologue and to Elena. There is other woman drama, knox makes it known to Elena that he does not want her in anyway shape or form. Elena is not a virgin! THANK GOD. Her “lover” was someone she trusted in her circle. It was purely for pleasure. No on page scenes. Just mentioned
It was refreshing to read the fmc have a casual relationship with a man. Whereas the mmc has been celibate for a while. I wish more authors did this.
“She is fucking haunting me, and I’m not sure even an exorcism will get her out.”
A sexy as hell cowboy? Check. A mafia QUEEN who is not afraid to speak her mind? Check. So much tension? Check. A hint of hate to love? CHECK.
knoxelena, you are now my family.
Elena, ugh my queen. I loved her down bad. She was the strongest fmc I have read in so long. She truly owned this book. The way she wasn’t afraid of anything until it started to threaten what she loved. 10s. I loved her attitude and her confidence so much. Her bond with the animals was everything. Ralph was her baby boy and there was no denying that. Her banter with Knox and not letting him hide behind his fear was PERFECT. She stood on business and was not letting him make her feel bad for ANYTHING!
Knox, A MAN! The immediate(not really) protectiveness of Elena was so good. The hate he had for her family yet he couldn’t bring himself to truly hate her is exactly what I love to read. He couldn’t bring himself to want the one woman whose family destroyed his life and yet that’s all he did. He fell first and HARD. He was not allowing her to leave or run from him. He read Elena like a book. His backstory was sad with his father and then with the farm, so reading his happy ending with that was perfect. His best friend Chase, DESERVED MORE.
I absolutely loved the mafia plot with this and how Ria focused on Elena being in charge. How the men didn’t want this because she was a woman and yet she was stronger than all of them. Ria, I beg of you. Give Caden a book. I need it in my hands right this instant.
For my safety readers, safe. Knox has been celibate for 10 years. This is my assumption because of a comment made in his inner monologue and to Elena. There is other woman drama, knox makes it known to Elena that he does not want her in anyway shape or form. Elena is not a virgin! THANK GOD. Her “lover” was someone she trusted in her circle. It was purely for pleasure. No on page scenes. Just mentioned
It was refreshing to read the fmc have a casual relationship with a man. Whereas the mmc has been celibate for a while. I wish more authors did this.
“She is fucking haunting me, and I’m not sure even an exorcism will get her out.”
October 24, 2025
5⭐️
3🌶️
🔥 Grumpy Cowboy MMC
🔥 Morally Grey, Mafia Queen FMC
🔥 Enemies to Lovers
🔥 She falls first, he falls harder
🔥 Touch her/him & 💀
🔥 She's pierced
🔥Dual First Person POV
Ria has brought together everything I love about mafia and cowboy romances and created a perfectly blended romance with Steerl and Sin. Our cowboy, Knox Carter, is grumpy with walls of steel. Elena DeLuca, is the sinful mafia heiress. After her father’s death, she was set to take over but was betrayed by her uncle. Now on the run, she takes refuge in Konx’s barn. Knox is trying to keep his family ranch running, but with the DeLuca family backing the company responsible for destroying the ranchng in the area, it’s a struggle. Elena wants to make it right, she never would have made the deal. Knox reluctantly allows her to stay on the ranch while she comes up with a plan to take back her city. She quickly charms his dog Judge and his temperamental bull Ralph. Elena and Knox but heads creating irrestible tension. She knows he wants her and she does everything to push his buttons. When Knox finally snaps, he doesn’t hold back. Elena is all fire and makes it known she’ll do whatever she wants, like play with the bull, but in the bedroom Knox takes charge. Elena is ready to fight for her city and Knox because Carter Ranch is her home now.
🚩Be sure to read the author’s note and content warnings before reading
Plot:5
Engaging:5
Character:5
Thank you to Ria Wilde for the ARC.
📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
🐦🔥Follow me on socials @myrisingphoenixera.reads 🐦🔥
A Few Favorite Quotes:
“It isn’t going to be the ranch life that takes me out, it’s going to be her. I can tell already, she’s bad for my blood pressure.”
“Careful, cowboy.” She drops her tone as she walks by me, skirting her fingers along my chest as she goes, “Keep looking at me like that and I’ll start to think you do like me after all.”
“I’ll admit I want him. Bad. I want to climb the man like a tree, saddle up and ride until I physically cannot anymore.”
“Let’s not play games, Hellion; we both know in this bedroom, on this bed, I’m the one who owns you. I’m the one who controls your pleasure. In this bedroom, you submit to me.”
“I’ll go to war. Burn the whole f*€king world to the ground and move mountains for this man.”
“Keep looking at me like that, Hellion, and we won’t make it back to the house.”
“That truck hood looks like a great place to start.”
3🌶️
🔥 Grumpy Cowboy MMC
🔥 Morally Grey, Mafia Queen FMC
🔥 Enemies to Lovers
🔥 She falls first, he falls harder
🔥 Touch her/him & 💀
🔥 She's pierced
🔥Dual First Person POV
Ria has brought together everything I love about mafia and cowboy romances and created a perfectly blended romance with Steerl and Sin. Our cowboy, Knox Carter, is grumpy with walls of steel. Elena DeLuca, is the sinful mafia heiress. After her father’s death, she was set to take over but was betrayed by her uncle. Now on the run, she takes refuge in Konx’s barn. Knox is trying to keep his family ranch running, but with the DeLuca family backing the company responsible for destroying the ranchng in the area, it’s a struggle. Elena wants to make it right, she never would have made the deal. Knox reluctantly allows her to stay on the ranch while she comes up with a plan to take back her city. She quickly charms his dog Judge and his temperamental bull Ralph. Elena and Knox but heads creating irrestible tension. She knows he wants her and she does everything to push his buttons. When Knox finally snaps, he doesn’t hold back. Elena is all fire and makes it known she’ll do whatever she wants, like play with the bull, but in the bedroom Knox takes charge. Elena is ready to fight for her city and Knox because Carter Ranch is her home now.
🚩Be sure to read the author’s note and content warnings before reading
Plot:5
Engaging:5
Character:5
Thank you to Ria Wilde for the ARC.
📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
🐦🔥Follow me on socials @myrisingphoenixera.reads 🐦🔥
A Few Favorite Quotes:
“It isn’t going to be the ranch life that takes me out, it’s going to be her. I can tell already, she’s bad for my blood pressure.”
“Careful, cowboy.” She drops her tone as she walks by me, skirting her fingers along my chest as she goes, “Keep looking at me like that and I’ll start to think you do like me after all.”
“I’ll admit I want him. Bad. I want to climb the man like a tree, saddle up and ride until I physically cannot anymore.”
“Let’s not play games, Hellion; we both know in this bedroom, on this bed, I’m the one who owns you. I’m the one who controls your pleasure. In this bedroom, you submit to me.”
“I’ll go to war. Burn the whole f*€king world to the ground and move mountains for this man.”
“Keep looking at me like that, Hellion, and we won’t make it back to the house.”
“That truck hood looks like a great place to start.”
October 4, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Mafia meets Cowboy romance
There’s some messy history between Elana & Knox and it all comes to fruition when Elana needs Knox’s help to survive.
Elana was as hard headed as they come being raised a mafia princess and Knox has lived a rough life and is doing his best to keep his ranch and his workers afloat. A little forced proximity and enemies to lovers put them in the direct path for a relationship.
#Forced Proximity
#Mafia Princess
#Cowboy Romance
Mafia meets Cowboy romance
There’s some messy history between Elana & Knox and it all comes to fruition when Elana needs Knox’s help to survive.
Elana was as hard headed as they come being raised a mafia princess and Knox has lived a rough life and is doing his best to keep his ranch and his workers afloat. A little forced proximity and enemies to lovers put them in the direct path for a relationship.
#Forced Proximity
#Mafia Princess
#Cowboy Romance
November 26, 2025
#Review: *Steel & Sin* - Ria Wilde - ARC [18+]
5/5✨
3/5🌶️
Ria writes such amazing books and I'm always hyped to read her stories.🩵 Super grateful for being accepted for an early copy of this book and I wanna thank Ria for this opportunity!🥰
Elena was, kind of, forced to live a life where she couldn't show any weakness. Because her father was the leader of an empire, rulling the entire town. Elena had to be part of a world where violence was a common thing and she needed to have a strong demeanor to face all that. When her father passed away, she was the one who inherited his throne, but not everyone was agreeing to that and many people wanted her gone. That's how Elena was now finding herself into an unknown place, hurt and unaware if she will be able to escape alive from the messed up situation she was finding herself in.
Knox was a simple man who tried his best to save his ranch from being bought from him by the people who destroyed the rest of the town. He had the worst surprise when he found Elena in his barn and the grumpy man didn't know how to make her leave as soon as possible. But he couldn't let her go before she healed a bit. That forced proximity didn't play in his favor because the more he was around Elena, the more he got attached to her. And he swore that he wouldn't do that. How will their story end?
I was captivated by this story even from the first page, when I got to meet our fearless FMC in the person of Elena. She was a strong woman but a certain cowboy made her armor melt and it was so entrancing to see that happening throughout this story. Knox was completely mesmerized by Elena even from the first glance but he tried his best to deny his attraction to her. But nothing went as he planned, of course, and it became harder to do so with each day passing and that made their story even more interesting.🤭 Of course, the whole uncertainty and suspense about the people who were searching for Elena was something I liked, especially because of how things unfolded in the last couple of chapters. It was simply amazing and nerve-wracking.
Once again, Ria has conquered my heart with another great story, after falling in love with her books when I read 'River', in the beginning of the year. This one was definitely at the same level as 'River' and I can say that it's a book you must read if you're a fan of dark and romantic suspense. It will keep you captivated and it will make you fall in love with these characters.
✨Tropes
#EnemiesToLovers
#OppositesAttract
#Cowboy
#MorallyGrey
#HeroineInDanger
#BlackCat
#GrumpyMMC
#SlowBurn
#Mafia
#RomanticSuspense
#DarkRomance
#ForcedProximity
5/5✨
3/5🌶️
Ria writes such amazing books and I'm always hyped to read her stories.🩵 Super grateful for being accepted for an early copy of this book and I wanna thank Ria for this opportunity!🥰
Elena was, kind of, forced to live a life where she couldn't show any weakness. Because her father was the leader of an empire, rulling the entire town. Elena had to be part of a world where violence was a common thing and she needed to have a strong demeanor to face all that. When her father passed away, she was the one who inherited his throne, but not everyone was agreeing to that and many people wanted her gone. That's how Elena was now finding herself into an unknown place, hurt and unaware if she will be able to escape alive from the messed up situation she was finding herself in.
Knox was a simple man who tried his best to save his ranch from being bought from him by the people who destroyed the rest of the town. He had the worst surprise when he found Elena in his barn and the grumpy man didn't know how to make her leave as soon as possible. But he couldn't let her go before she healed a bit. That forced proximity didn't play in his favor because the more he was around Elena, the more he got attached to her. And he swore that he wouldn't do that. How will their story end?
I was captivated by this story even from the first page, when I got to meet our fearless FMC in the person of Elena. She was a strong woman but a certain cowboy made her armor melt and it was so entrancing to see that happening throughout this story. Knox was completely mesmerized by Elena even from the first glance but he tried his best to deny his attraction to her. But nothing went as he planned, of course, and it became harder to do so with each day passing and that made their story even more interesting.🤭 Of course, the whole uncertainty and suspense about the people who were searching for Elena was something I liked, especially because of how things unfolded in the last couple of chapters. It was simply amazing and nerve-wracking.
Once again, Ria has conquered my heart with another great story, after falling in love with her books when I read 'River', in the beginning of the year. This one was definitely at the same level as 'River' and I can say that it's a book you must read if you're a fan of dark and romantic suspense. It will keep you captivated and it will make you fall in love with these characters.
✨Tropes
#EnemiesToLovers
#OppositesAttract
#Cowboy
#MorallyGrey
#HeroineInDanger
#BlackCat
#GrumpyMMC
#SlowBurn
#Mafia
#RomanticSuspense
#DarkRomance
#ForcedProximity
October 18, 2025
★★★★☆
Mafia meets cowboy — and somehow, Ria Wilde makes it work flawlessly. This book had no business being this good, but here we are. Elena DeLuca is everything I want in a female lead: sharp-tongued, dangerous, and absolutely unbothered by fragile egos. She’s a mafia queen with a chip on her shoulder and fire in her blood, running from betrayal and straight into the arms (and barn) of a grumpy cowboy who hates her family. The setup? Chaos. The execution? Perfection.
Knox Carter… Jesus. A man built from grit, trauma, and repressed feelings. He’s the type who says he doesn’t want her while internally planning her future on his ranch. The chemistry between them? Explosive. The hate-to-love tension? Chef’s kiss. Every insult drips with attraction until it turns into something primal.
Elena owns every scene — her bond with the animals, her unshakable confidence, and her refusal to bow to anyone, least of all the men who underestimate her. Knox tries to resist, but let’s be honest, the man never stood a chance. When they finally collide, it’s all teeth, heat, and emotion. Ria balances their dynamic perfectly — the spice never overshadows the story, and the story never forgets the heat.
There are some pacing hiccups, and a few moments could’ve dug deeper into their emotional fallout, but overall? This book delivers. It’s raw, steamy, and addictive — a blend of grit and tenderness that shouldn’t work together but absolutely does.
If you like your romance with dirt on its boots, blood in its lineage, and a heroine who could stab you and make you love her for it — this one’s for you.
Mafia meets cowboy — and somehow, Ria Wilde makes it work flawlessly. This book had no business being this good, but here we are. Elena DeLuca is everything I want in a female lead: sharp-tongued, dangerous, and absolutely unbothered by fragile egos. She’s a mafia queen with a chip on her shoulder and fire in her blood, running from betrayal and straight into the arms (and barn) of a grumpy cowboy who hates her family. The setup? Chaos. The execution? Perfection.
Knox Carter… Jesus. A man built from grit, trauma, and repressed feelings. He’s the type who says he doesn’t want her while internally planning her future on his ranch. The chemistry between them? Explosive. The hate-to-love tension? Chef’s kiss. Every insult drips with attraction until it turns into something primal.
Elena owns every scene — her bond with the animals, her unshakable confidence, and her refusal to bow to anyone, least of all the men who underestimate her. Knox tries to resist, but let’s be honest, the man never stood a chance. When they finally collide, it’s all teeth, heat, and emotion. Ria balances their dynamic perfectly — the spice never overshadows the story, and the story never forgets the heat.
There are some pacing hiccups, and a few moments could’ve dug deeper into their emotional fallout, but overall? This book delivers. It’s raw, steamy, and addictive — a blend of grit and tenderness that shouldn’t work together but absolutely does.
If you like your romance with dirt on its boots, blood in its lineage, and a heroine who could stab you and make you love her for it — this one’s for you.
October 16, 2025
arc review to come 🖤
November 15, 2025
4.5⭐️ Steel & Sin gave me total Yellowstone-but-darker vibes, and Elena? She’s absolutely the Beth of this book. She's fierce, sharp-tongued, bada$$ and impossible not to obsess over.
Knox is the perfect grumpy, broody rancher with a chip on his shoulder, and Elena shows up like a storm he never saw coming. I loved the mix of mafia danger with rugged cowboy life. Watching them clash, then slowly trust, and eventually fall for each other hit all the right spots.
The story throws you straight into danger, cowboy grit, and mafia chaos, and it just keeps getting better from there. The audiobook was so good. The narrators, Savannah Thomas and Gabriel Spires, absolutely nailed it!
Knox is the perfect grumpy, broody rancher with a chip on his shoulder, and Elena shows up like a storm he never saw coming. I loved the mix of mafia danger with rugged cowboy life. Watching them clash, then slowly trust, and eventually fall for each other hit all the right spots.
The story throws you straight into danger, cowboy grit, and mafia chaos, and it just keeps getting better from there. The audiobook was so good. The narrators, Savannah Thomas and Gabriel Spires, absolutely nailed it!
October 4, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
I want to say thank you again to Ria Wilde for sending me this ARC before saying how incredible it was.
I didn’t know mix mafia and cowboy romance could be this good ! Take all you love in mafia romance and in cowboy/small town romance and you put it here. I was afraid this would be too much but it was so well written : just the right amout of each type, it was amazing.
Knox is the perfect, hot, grumpy ranch owner who fell so hard for Elena even when he didn’t want it. He losted almost everything because of her family, he wanted so much to hate but his love for her ? Was above all.
Elena was the heiress of the mafia, but because of her sex she was attacked and get to Knox ranch by unfortunate conditions. She had so much strengh and was so stubborn : I loved it ! For her, feelings were always a weakness, so seeing her opened up to Knox was beautiful to read.
The author made a really great job in this book, the characters are amazing, the smut 🫣, the plot ? I loved it all. So please, if you love a mafia romance or cowboy romance or both : please go discover this book 🥰.
I want to say thank you again to Ria Wilde for sending me this ARC before saying how incredible it was.
I didn’t know mix mafia and cowboy romance could be this good ! Take all you love in mafia romance and in cowboy/small town romance and you put it here. I was afraid this would be too much but it was so well written : just the right amout of each type, it was amazing.
Knox is the perfect, hot, grumpy ranch owner who fell so hard for Elena even when he didn’t want it. He losted almost everything because of her family, he wanted so much to hate but his love for her ? Was above all.
Elena was the heiress of the mafia, but because of her sex she was attacked and get to Knox ranch by unfortunate conditions. She had so much strengh and was so stubborn : I loved it ! For her, feelings were always a weakness, so seeing her opened up to Knox was beautiful to read.
The author made a really great job in this book, the characters are amazing, the smut 🫣, the plot ? I loved it all. So please, if you love a mafia romance or cowboy romance or both : please go discover this book 🥰.
October 14, 2025
*MF Romance
*Contemporary
*Dual-1st-PoV
*Cowboy Romance
*Mafia Romance
*Grumpy meets Sassy
*Hate to Love
*Mid Burn
*High Heat
*Standalone
Superb sexy cowboy/mafia mix.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - the characters really made it for me! Honestly I could really feel the exasperation of Knox when Elena was playing up for him - the scenes with the whiskey stealing and animal wrangling did make me giggle out loud at times 😅 it felt authentic as those lighter moments were interspersed in a darker storyline as Elena is hiding from the mafia that ousted her as a leader and happens upon Knox’s ranch - he wants nothing to do with her and is an absolute standoffish grunting brute at times 😅but she wrangles him by presenting it as her opportunity to right the wrongs her family did to the valley 🥺 despite his determination to fight it there is a clear chemistry and attraction between them and when he finally gives in it’s 💥🌶️ it makes Elena question what is is she actually wants from her lifestyle 😍 but first she needs her revenge even though if the teasing has changed!
There are also some real tear jerker moments in this book 😢 so prepare yourself!
This book was a great balance of plot drama, amusing moments and hot hot 🔥 scenes - with brilliant characters who drove the story!
*Contemporary
*Dual-1st-PoV
*Cowboy Romance
*Mafia Romance
*Grumpy meets Sassy
*Hate to Love
*Mid Burn
*High Heat
*Standalone
Superb sexy cowboy/mafia mix.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - the characters really made it for me! Honestly I could really feel the exasperation of Knox when Elena was playing up for him - the scenes with the whiskey stealing and animal wrangling did make me giggle out loud at times 😅 it felt authentic as those lighter moments were interspersed in a darker storyline as Elena is hiding from the mafia that ousted her as a leader and happens upon Knox’s ranch - he wants nothing to do with her and is an absolute standoffish grunting brute at times 😅but she wrangles him by presenting it as her opportunity to right the wrongs her family did to the valley 🥺 despite his determination to fight it there is a clear chemistry and attraction between them and when he finally gives in it’s 💥🌶️ it makes Elena question what is is she actually wants from her lifestyle 😍 but first she needs her revenge even though if the teasing has changed!
There are also some real tear jerker moments in this book 😢 so prepare yourself!
This book was a great balance of plot drama, amusing moments and hot hot 🔥 scenes - with brilliant characters who drove the story!
September 27, 2025
I was lucky enough to beta read this for Ria and let me tell you, I ate it up!
I bombarded Ria with messages. I still, to this day literally adore Knox and Elena.
The push and pull, the quick witted comebacks, the fiesty and the oh so sassy balls of Elena! Their chemistry was off the page hot.
I cannot wait to ass this paperback to my @authorriawilde shelf!
Just read the book when it releases! You dont wanna miss out! If you love a certain TV show then this is must read!
I bombarded Ria with messages. I still, to this day literally adore Knox and Elena.
The push and pull, the quick witted comebacks, the fiesty and the oh so sassy balls of Elena! Their chemistry was off the page hot.
I cannot wait to ass this paperback to my @authorriawilde shelf!
Just read the book when it releases! You dont wanna miss out! If you love a certain TV show then this is must read!
October 17, 2025
Thank you so much Ria for the ARC of Steel and Sin!
This was a new-to-me author and also a new-to-me trope with mafia x cowboy. I was very intrigued when I heard about this and I was so thrilled when I absolutely LOVED it as much as I hoped!
“She is fucking haunting me, and I’m not sure even an exorcism will get her out.”
This captured my attention and held it throughout the story of Elena and Knox. I really loved how morally grey Elena was. She was a sinful, badass mafia heir, and did not disappoint! I loved her independence, her courage and how strong minded she was. She was a force to be reckoned with! Knox was grumpy and broody, not to mention sexy as hell. He was protective and didn’t have time for nonsense or bullshit.
““Vicious little Hellion,” He rasps.”
Their dynamic was absolutely amazing! The push and pull, the butting heads and constantly being at each other throats created palpable tension between the two of them. Their banter was entertaining and hilarious! I absolutely loved it! I also loved how Knox hated to love her. Their family history made him absolutely hate her, but the way he was slowly becoming more protective of her, and then he fell hard for her! I also adored the nicknames they gave each other. Very fitting and made their chemistry and tension even better!
“Perhaps it’s the fear of not knowing whether she’ll kill me or kiss me. She’s certainly capable of both.”
I loved how the focus was on Elena being a badass and a leader. I also felt the mafia plot and the cowboy plot was perfectly balanced.
“I am steel. But she is sin.”
This was thrilling, had action, this was spicy and I had a blast reading this novel! I highly recommend this if you love cowboys, mafia, a badass FMC and a brooding hot af protective MMC with a big heart, this is perfect for you!
“First the dogs. Then the bull. Now the fucking horse. What the actual fuck is happening!?”
I also have to give honorable mentions to Chase, Judge, Apollo and Ralph. True mvp’s. Also, Cade. I need more of Cade!
This was a new-to-me author and also a new-to-me trope with mafia x cowboy. I was very intrigued when I heard about this and I was so thrilled when I absolutely LOVED it as much as I hoped!
“She is fucking haunting me, and I’m not sure even an exorcism will get her out.”
This captured my attention and held it throughout the story of Elena and Knox. I really loved how morally grey Elena was. She was a sinful, badass mafia heir, and did not disappoint! I loved her independence, her courage and how strong minded she was. She was a force to be reckoned with! Knox was grumpy and broody, not to mention sexy as hell. He was protective and didn’t have time for nonsense or bullshit.
““Vicious little Hellion,” He rasps.”
Their dynamic was absolutely amazing! The push and pull, the butting heads and constantly being at each other throats created palpable tension between the two of them. Their banter was entertaining and hilarious! I absolutely loved it! I also loved how Knox hated to love her. Their family history made him absolutely hate her, but the way he was slowly becoming more protective of her, and then he fell hard for her! I also adored the nicknames they gave each other. Very fitting and made their chemistry and tension even better!
“Perhaps it’s the fear of not knowing whether she’ll kill me or kiss me. She’s certainly capable of both.”
I loved how the focus was on Elena being a badass and a leader. I also felt the mafia plot and the cowboy plot was perfectly balanced.
“I am steel. But she is sin.”
This was thrilling, had action, this was spicy and I had a blast reading this novel! I highly recommend this if you love cowboys, mafia, a badass FMC and a brooding hot af protective MMC with a big heart, this is perfect for you!
“First the dogs. Then the bull. Now the fucking horse. What the actual fuck is happening!?”
I also have to give honorable mentions to Chase, Judge, Apollo and Ralph. True mvp’s. Also, Cade. I need more of Cade!
November 25, 2025
A sexy as hell cowboy.
A mafia QUEEN who is not afraid to speak her mind.
So much tension that would snap a rope.
A hint of hate to love, but the moment that snaps you better watch out.
The spurs and claws came out in this one. And the way Elena survived all she endured from her uncle and thoses who turned on her.
Elena my queen. She owned this story and the more I read the more I loved her. She wasn't afraid of anything until it started to threaten what she loved. Her attitude and her confidence so much. Her bond with the animals was everything Elena DeLuca, is the sinful mafia heiress. After her father's death, she was set to take over but was betrayed by her uncle. Now on the run, she takes refuge in Konx's barn. Knox is trying to keep his family ranch running, but with the DeLuca family backing the company responsible for destroying the ranchng in the area, it's a struggle. Elena wants to make it right, she never would have made the deal. Knox reluctantly allows her to stay on the ranch while she comes up with a plan to take back her city. She quickly charms his dog Judge and his temperamental bull Ralph. Elena and Knox but heads creating irrestible tension. She knows he wants her and she does everything to push his buttons. When Knox finally snaps, he doesn't hold back. Elena is all fire and makes it known she'll do whatever she wants, like play with the bull, but in the bedroom Knox takes charge. Elena is ready to fight for her city and Knox because Carter Ranch is her home now.
Knox, A MAN all in himself just trying to make ends meet after everything was taken by the DeLucas. The immediate protectiveness of Elena was so good. The hate he had for her family yet he couldn't bring himself to truly hate her was perfection. He couldn't bring himself to want the one woman whose family destroyed his life and yet that's all he did. He fell first and HARD. He was not allowing her to leave or run from him. He read Elena like a book. His backstory was sad with his father and then with the farm, so reading his happy ending with that was perfect. His best friend Chase, this sweet man. What happened to him broke my sweet heart.
The mafia plot with this and how Ria focused on Elena being in charge. YES QUEEN. How the men didn't want this because she was a woman and yet she was stronger than all of them. It was refreshing to read the fmc have a casual relationship with a man. Whereas the mmc has been celibate for a while.
This book was everything and the quotes in this book had me gagged:
“You can flutter your eyelashes all you want it’s your name that makes me not want to be with you. You’re a de Luca”
"Careful, cowboy." She drops her tone as she walks by me, skirting her fingers along my chest as she goes,
"Keep looking at me like that and I'll start to think you do like me after all."
"I'll admit I want him. Bad. I want to climb the man like a tree, saddle up and ride until I physically cannot anymore."
"Let's not play games, Hellion; we both know in this bedroom, on this bed, I'm the one who owns you. I'm the one who controls your pleasure. In this bedroom, you submit to me."
"I'll go to war. Burn the whole f*king world to the ground and move mountains for this man."
"Keep looking at me like that, Hellion, and we won't make it back to the house."
"That truck hood looks like a great place to start."
A mafia QUEEN who is not afraid to speak her mind.
So much tension that would snap a rope.
A hint of hate to love, but the moment that snaps you better watch out.
The spurs and claws came out in this one. And the way Elena survived all she endured from her uncle and thoses who turned on her.
Elena my queen. She owned this story and the more I read the more I loved her. She wasn't afraid of anything until it started to threaten what she loved. Her attitude and her confidence so much. Her bond with the animals was everything Elena DeLuca, is the sinful mafia heiress. After her father's death, she was set to take over but was betrayed by her uncle. Now on the run, she takes refuge in Konx's barn. Knox is trying to keep his family ranch running, but with the DeLuca family backing the company responsible for destroying the ranchng in the area, it's a struggle. Elena wants to make it right, she never would have made the deal. Knox reluctantly allows her to stay on the ranch while she comes up with a plan to take back her city. She quickly charms his dog Judge and his temperamental bull Ralph. Elena and Knox but heads creating irrestible tension. She knows he wants her and she does everything to push his buttons. When Knox finally snaps, he doesn't hold back. Elena is all fire and makes it known she'll do whatever she wants, like play with the bull, but in the bedroom Knox takes charge. Elena is ready to fight for her city and Knox because Carter Ranch is her home now.
Knox, A MAN all in himself just trying to make ends meet after everything was taken by the DeLucas. The immediate protectiveness of Elena was so good. The hate he had for her family yet he couldn't bring himself to truly hate her was perfection. He couldn't bring himself to want the one woman whose family destroyed his life and yet that's all he did. He fell first and HARD. He was not allowing her to leave or run from him. He read Elena like a book. His backstory was sad with his father and then with the farm, so reading his happy ending with that was perfect. His best friend Chase, this sweet man. What happened to him broke my sweet heart.
The mafia plot with this and how Ria focused on Elena being in charge. YES QUEEN. How the men didn't want this because she was a woman and yet she was stronger than all of them. It was refreshing to read the fmc have a casual relationship with a man. Whereas the mmc has been celibate for a while.
This book was everything and the quotes in this book had me gagged:
“You can flutter your eyelashes all you want it’s your name that makes me not want to be with you. You’re a de Luca”
"Careful, cowboy." She drops her tone as she walks by me, skirting her fingers along my chest as she goes,
"Keep looking at me like that and I'll start to think you do like me after all."
"I'll admit I want him. Bad. I want to climb the man like a tree, saddle up and ride until I physically cannot anymore."
"Let's not play games, Hellion; we both know in this bedroom, on this bed, I'm the one who owns you. I'm the one who controls your pleasure. In this bedroom, you submit to me."
"I'll go to war. Burn the whole f*king world to the ground and move mountains for this man."
"Keep looking at me like that, Hellion, and we won't make it back to the house."
"That truck hood looks like a great place to start."
November 11, 2025
It’s been a few months since I dived into a new adult romance with smut, and this one? A breath of fresh air with a bit of chaos. It was fun, highly engaging, and the audiobook was a riot (equal parts steamy and hilarious). A laid-back farm boy and a Mafia princess? What could go wrong, right? Apparently, everything, and that’s half the charm.
The story flips between Knox and Elena, two characters born and raised in wildly different worlds. He’s all Southern charm and quiet strength; she’s fierce, fiery, and unapologetically extra. The trope overload here is fully packed: opposites attract, forced proximity, fish-out-of-water, and a dash of found family. No wonder I hit that request button on NetGalley. To my surprise, I smashed it in about five hours, non-stop, and yes, I laughed out loud more than once.
Likes:
* Swoon-worthy book boyfriend with a soft spot and a dirty mouth!
* Alternating first-person POV that actually works.
* Narrators who nailed the emotional beats and comedic timing.
Dislikes:
* Insta-love trope is a bit worn out.
* The demise of one genuine character had me side-eyeing the author.
* A few more layers to Elena’s backstory would’ve added depth.
Ratings Breakdown:
❥ Setting: 5⭐️
❥ Character Building: 3⭐️
❥ Writing Style: 3⭐️
❥ Message: 3⭐️
❥ Overall: 3⭐️
Overall: If you’re after a smutty romance with fast-paced drama, messy characters, and a sprinkle of absurdity, this one’s for you. It’s the kind of book you read with a glass of wine in hand, fuzzy socks on, and zero regrets. Perfect for unwinding after a long day, especially if you’re craving chaos, chemistry, and a farm boy who knows how to handle a Mafia princess.
Huge thanks to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and author Ria Wilde for my copy. My views are my own.
~JaNnA~
The story flips between Knox and Elena, two characters born and raised in wildly different worlds. He’s all Southern charm and quiet strength; she’s fierce, fiery, and unapologetically extra. The trope overload here is fully packed: opposites attract, forced proximity, fish-out-of-water, and a dash of found family. No wonder I hit that request button on NetGalley. To my surprise, I smashed it in about five hours, non-stop, and yes, I laughed out loud more than once.
Likes:
* Swoon-worthy book boyfriend with a soft spot and a dirty mouth!
* Alternating first-person POV that actually works.
* Narrators who nailed the emotional beats and comedic timing.
Dislikes:
* Insta-love trope is a bit worn out.
* The demise of one genuine character had me side-eyeing the author.
* A few more layers to Elena’s backstory would’ve added depth.
Ratings Breakdown:
❥ Setting: 5⭐️
❥ Character Building: 3⭐️
❥ Writing Style: 3⭐️
❥ Message: 3⭐️
❥ Overall: 3⭐️
Overall: If you’re after a smutty romance with fast-paced drama, messy characters, and a sprinkle of absurdity, this one’s for you. It’s the kind of book you read with a glass of wine in hand, fuzzy socks on, and zero regrets. Perfect for unwinding after a long day, especially if you’re craving chaos, chemistry, and a farm boy who knows how to handle a Mafia princess.
Huge thanks to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and author Ria Wilde for my copy. My views are my own.
~JaNnA~
November 25, 2025
Rating: 3.75/5⭐
Spice: 3 🌶️
Elena DeLuca is a mafia princess destined to inherit the DeLuca empire after her father’s death, until her uncle and former lover betray her because they believe a woman is not fit to take over the operation. After a narrow escape with her life, she ends up stranded on the Carter Ranch where a rugged, grumpy-but-golden cowboy steps in to save her. Knox offers her safety, shelter, and time to gather herself, and sparks start flying long before she is ready to reclaim her empire. 🔥🤠
I loved the characters in this story. Knox and Elena both felt vivid and complex, and the narrators (Savannah Thomas and Gabriel Spires) absolutely nailed their performances. 🎧✨ The cowboy energy was delivered perfectly, and Elena’s fierce, bold personality came through so well. I do not often connect deeply with the FMC, but Elena was such a refreshing surprise. She is strong, clever, and a total badass🔥 Their banter, their chemistry, and their dynamic were all so enjoyable. And the spicy scenes were chef’s kiss. 🔥
The pacing was where the book struggled for me. The plot is engaging, but the middle section dragged quite a bit. Most of the action is concentrated at the beginning and the end, leaving a noticeable lull that pulled me out of the story.
Overall, it is a fun blend of mafia drama, ranch-life charm, and sizzling chemistry. Fans of strong heroines, protective cowboys, and audiobooks with excellent narration will definitely find something to enjoy. 🤎📚
I want to thank NetGalley, Ria Wilde and Dreamscape Media for this ALC! All opinions are my own.
Elena DeLuca is a mafia princess destined to inherit the DeLuca empire after her father’s death, until her uncle and former lover betray her because they believe a woman is not fit to take over the operation. After a narrow escape with her life, she ends up stranded on the Carter Ranch where a rugged, grumpy-but-golden cowboy steps in to save her. Knox offers her safety, shelter, and time to gather herself, and sparks start flying long before she is ready to reclaim her empire. 🔥🤠
I loved the characters in this story. Knox and Elena both felt vivid and complex, and the narrators (Savannah Thomas and Gabriel Spires) absolutely nailed their performances. 🎧✨ The cowboy energy was delivered perfectly, and Elena’s fierce, bold personality came through so well. I do not often connect deeply with the FMC, but Elena was such a refreshing surprise. She is strong, clever, and a total badass🔥 Their banter, their chemistry, and their dynamic were all so enjoyable. And the spicy scenes were chef’s kiss. 🔥
The pacing was where the book struggled for me. The plot is engaging, but the middle section dragged quite a bit. Most of the action is concentrated at the beginning and the end, leaving a noticeable lull that pulled me out of the story.
Overall, it is a fun blend of mafia drama, ranch-life charm, and sizzling chemistry. Fans of strong heroines, protective cowboys, and audiobooks with excellent narration will definitely find something to enjoy. 🤎📚
I want to thank NetGalley, Ria Wilde and Dreamscape Media for this ALC! All opinions are my own.
did-not-finish
November 20, 2025I'm struggling big time with the FMC. All the reviews say how strong and unfiltered she is. I'm reading an FMC that is rude, disrespectful and ungrateful. She holds a gun to him multiple times, demands he help her, so he saves her life. Then she drinks all his good whiskey, lights his stove on fire (on purpose, in a big old farmhouse, a very flammable big old farmhouse), plans to steal his dog when she leaves (WTF), watches him in the shower and then offers to "take care" of his hard-on (you met him hours ago, your brand is probably still steaming), sleeps in his bed so he has to sleep on the couch, demands he goes to buy clothes for her because she is in hiding and can't, says she needs these clothes because if she has his brand and is wearing his shirt then "people will talk" (ma'am, what people, you just said you are in hiding), makes rude comments about his lack of food supplies and puts her nose up at helping around the ranch. This is all in the first 24 hours. This man SAVED YOUR LIFE. You were bleeding out IN HIS BARN. The second he saw you bleeding out on his straw and you held a gun to his head, he could have just left you there. Zero gratitude. Also, how is it that you have been shot twice, branded to cauterize a wound that would have killed you, and have multiple broken ribs, and you're just casually walking around within 24 hours? Excuse me what? I really want to find the book that all the other reviewers are loving, because I'm not finding it here. Also, the term "cowboy" is used by the FMC excessively, to the point of distraction. After writing that all out, I've decided that I'm DNFing. I can still safely recommend this to readers who love their mafia/romance books to be extra thick with drama and snark. I'm not looking for a book firmly set in reality, but I am really finding it hard to like this FMC.
November 26, 2025
Story 6 ⭐️
Spice 2 🌶️
Audiobook 5 ⭐️
Steel & Sin by Ria Wilde is a standalone! I don’t think I would’ve ever considered a cowboy x mafia a combo on my bingo card, so here we are talking about a book that blew my mind literally! Delivering not only the plot, character development, depth and story telling, Ria is more then an author, she is a real story teller that weaved perfect personalities, trauma, spice and plot into a masterpiece story.
I absolutely loved Elena, she is a FMC with backbone, a fighter, survivor. Knox, is our MMC, grumpy, growly, cowboy, and totally delicious.
Let’s talk about the audiobook. This is a dual narration by Savanah Thomas and Gabriel Spires. Both of them delivered amazing performances, matching each other’s cadence and performance. Savanah pulled all the cards when it came to her performance and for Elena’s POV, owned every word, every emotion and deliverance.
Gabriel, this is the second time we meet (in a audiobook). As Knox, Gabriel is simply pulling us, like a real cowboy, with a lasso, dragging us into his POV, grumpy and all the feeling and the growls, oh they do things to my sensitive parts. However, what is most memorable of his performance is the way he cared about all the emotions the characters were feeling.
Dreamscape Media did an amazing job editing and scripting this book.
Thank you Ria, Dreamscape, your teams and NetGalley for providing this ALC. This review are my own thoughts and opinions.
Spice 2 🌶️
Audiobook 5 ⭐️
Steel & Sin by Ria Wilde is a standalone! I don’t think I would’ve ever considered a cowboy x mafia a combo on my bingo card, so here we are talking about a book that blew my mind literally! Delivering not only the plot, character development, depth and story telling, Ria is more then an author, she is a real story teller that weaved perfect personalities, trauma, spice and plot into a masterpiece story.
I absolutely loved Elena, she is a FMC with backbone, a fighter, survivor. Knox, is our MMC, grumpy, growly, cowboy, and totally delicious.
Let’s talk about the audiobook. This is a dual narration by Savanah Thomas and Gabriel Spires. Both of them delivered amazing performances, matching each other’s cadence and performance. Savanah pulled all the cards when it came to her performance and for Elena’s POV, owned every word, every emotion and deliverance.
Gabriel, this is the second time we meet (in a audiobook). As Knox, Gabriel is simply pulling us, like a real cowboy, with a lasso, dragging us into his POV, grumpy and all the feeling and the growls, oh they do things to my sensitive parts. However, what is most memorable of his performance is the way he cared about all the emotions the characters were feeling.
Dreamscape Media did an amazing job editing and scripting this book.
Thank you Ria, Dreamscape, your teams and NetGalley for providing this ALC. This review are my own thoughts and opinions.
October 15, 2025
Okay I’m going to be completely honest with you and say I was struggling at the beginning of this book to get interested. I don’t know why but it just was super slow and the characters drove me nuts….BUT BOY DID THAT CHANGE
I ate this book up and I’m seriously begging for more. The FMC is a bada** who has ZERO filter and zero issues with unaliving you. Seriously…I love her 🤣
The constant back and forth, enemies to lovers, vibes was full force in this book. I mean, how could love fall for a woman whose family ruined your life? Read and find out my friends.
Okay, I have to say the MOUTH on this cowboy…I was not prepared. The amount of highlights I have on my kindle JUST with the filthy things he says to her is unreal. I was cracking up and getting hot and bothered all at once. It was so dang good!
This has mafia elements in it, but I think the small town cowboy trope is more prevalent in this book, which I enjoyed. I thought the plot was well done and it definitely kept my interest!!
Thank you to Ria Wilde for the arc copy of this book, I enjoyed this so much! I think you all should give this one a try.
I ate this book up and I’m seriously begging for more. The FMC is a bada** who has ZERO filter and zero issues with unaliving you. Seriously…I love her 🤣
The constant back and forth, enemies to lovers, vibes was full force in this book. I mean, how could love fall for a woman whose family ruined your life? Read and find out my friends.
Okay, I have to say the MOUTH on this cowboy…I was not prepared. The amount of highlights I have on my kindle JUST with the filthy things he says to her is unreal. I was cracking up and getting hot and bothered all at once. It was so dang good!
This has mafia elements in it, but I think the small town cowboy trope is more prevalent in this book, which I enjoyed. I thought the plot was well done and it definitely kept my interest!!
Thank you to Ria Wilde for the arc copy of this book, I enjoyed this so much! I think you all should give this one a try.
November 13, 2025
He lassoed her!
*Free Audiobook ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Read along on KU
Hardass Cowboy MC ✔️
Morally Grey Mafia Boss FMC ✔️
Enemies to Lovers ✔️
They'll burn the world down ✔️
He uses a lasso ✔️
Shes pierced ✔️
Elena De Luca is a spitfire and I loved her! Right out the gate in the very first chapter we learn how tough she is. Heir to the DeLuca mafia throne, she experiences exactly what betrayal looks like. In a life or death situation, she takes cover on the property of none other than our MC, Knox Carter. Knox is the proud owner of his family's cattle ranch and trying to keep everything afloat when Elena comes and shakes things up. A true enemies to lovers with Elena's recently deceased father being the cause of the financial troubles at Knox's ranch. These two have so much angry chemistry and I was feral for it!! She pushes his buttons like no one can and when he finally takes the plunge OOF 🥵 The man LASSOED her. I mean, come on. Does it get any hotter?!
I loved this book. It was the perfect blend of mixing mafia and cowboy romance. The plot stayed alive throughout the entire book. The spice was appropriate and delicious! Their narrators were PERFECT!! Honestly cannot think of any other narrators out there who could have played these characters better and I listen to A LOT of audiobooks.
*Free Audiobook ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Read along on KU
Hardass Cowboy MC ✔️
Morally Grey Mafia Boss FMC ✔️
Enemies to Lovers ✔️
They'll burn the world down ✔️
He uses a lasso ✔️
Shes pierced ✔️
Elena De Luca is a spitfire and I loved her! Right out the gate in the very first chapter we learn how tough she is. Heir to the DeLuca mafia throne, she experiences exactly what betrayal looks like. In a life or death situation, she takes cover on the property of none other than our MC, Knox Carter. Knox is the proud owner of his family's cattle ranch and trying to keep everything afloat when Elena comes and shakes things up. A true enemies to lovers with Elena's recently deceased father being the cause of the financial troubles at Knox's ranch. These two have so much angry chemistry and I was feral for it!! She pushes his buttons like no one can and when he finally takes the plunge OOF 🥵 The man LASSOED her. I mean, come on. Does it get any hotter?!
I loved this book. It was the perfect blend of mixing mafia and cowboy romance. The plot stayed alive throughout the entire book. The spice was appropriate and delicious! Their narrators were PERFECT!! Honestly cannot think of any other narrators out there who could have played these characters better and I listen to A LOT of audiobooks.
October 5, 2025
I loved this Cowboy and Mafia mix. Two of my favourite genres coming together in one book absolutely yes! 👏🏼
This book follows Elena and Knox. Elena is their heir to her father’s empire and after his passing it is now her time to take the reins but this transition is not as smooth as she believed it to be. Elenas uncle is reluctant to have her in power and after a betrayal from someone close to her Elena finds her self on the run and lands in Knox’s Ranch in Sierra Valley.
Now these two while they have never met previously have a slight complicated history, in which Elenas father is the reason Knox finds himself to be struggling with his ranch at times. Knox finds Elena when she’s a little bit worse for wear but he helps her none the less.
Elena is feisty and confident- she definitely has her head screwed on right and oh she definitely loves to push Knox’s buttons. She develops a bond with Ralph the ranch bull, Judge who is Knox’s Irish wolfhound and also his father’s horse Apollo. I found it quite hilarious how Knox was in utter disbelief of how his animals on the ranch took to Elena so quickly- but he soon found himself falling for her charms just like they did.
Over the course of the book we see these two open up to one another and Elena finds herself loving the ranch life and more specifically Knox. She is determined to claw back her power not only for herself but also for Knox and the ranch. I loved the push and pull between these two and when the finally gave in to that they both wanted oh we were in for an absolute treat.
Overall I absolutely loved this book. Thank you so much to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭
This book follows Elena and Knox. Elena is their heir to her father’s empire and after his passing it is now her time to take the reins but this transition is not as smooth as she believed it to be. Elenas uncle is reluctant to have her in power and after a betrayal from someone close to her Elena finds her self on the run and lands in Knox’s Ranch in Sierra Valley.
Now these two while they have never met previously have a slight complicated history, in which Elenas father is the reason Knox finds himself to be struggling with his ranch at times. Knox finds Elena when she’s a little bit worse for wear but he helps her none the less.
Elena is feisty and confident- she definitely has her head screwed on right and oh she definitely loves to push Knox’s buttons. She develops a bond with Ralph the ranch bull, Judge who is Knox’s Irish wolfhound and also his father’s horse Apollo. I found it quite hilarious how Knox was in utter disbelief of how his animals on the ranch took to Elena so quickly- but he soon found himself falling for her charms just like they did.
Over the course of the book we see these two open up to one another and Elena finds herself loving the ranch life and more specifically Knox. She is determined to claw back her power not only for herself but also for Knox and the ranch. I loved the push and pull between these two and when the finally gave in to that they both wanted oh we were in for an absolute treat.
Overall I absolutely loved this book. Thank you so much to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭
October 12, 2025
I wish I could experience this story for the first time all over again! It literally combined my two favourite types or romances in one. Cowboy x Mafia. It’s a story of earning trust, overcoming the past and wanting a future with each other regardless of it all!
Elena is an epic FMC she stands her ground in a world full of men who think that being a woman is a weakness. She is now in charge of the city and was going to prove all of them wrong. She isn’t scared of death, Until Cowboy Knox Carter made her feel safe.
“Death never scared me, I figured when it’s my time, it’s my time, that it was the plan but now? This I don’t want to lose or leave behind.”
Knox is the definition of grumpy cowboy. He works hard,trusts rarely, and has walls built up! He makes sure his workers are fed and taken care of before he worries about himself. He is just trying to keep the ranch running even with the debt continuing to pile up. He always seems to figure it out. What he didn’t see coming was a raven haired Hellion that would knock every god damn wall he had down.
Knox pushes her and she pushes him right back. The back and forth between these two just built up the sexual tension an it radiates off the pages. Elena doesn’t like feeling weak, and Knox wants to take care of her. He knows he needs to tread lightly. She doesn’t need him, but she wants him. She falls in love with the ranch and the cowboy. Determined to right all the wrongs from the past
I could go on and on about this story, just freaking read it. It’s sexy, compelling and kept me flipping page after page!
“First you brand my leg, then you force me to wear a shirt with your name on it.” She sucks her tongue against her top teeth. “Careful cowboy, people might start to talk.”
Elena is an epic FMC she stands her ground in a world full of men who think that being a woman is a weakness. She is now in charge of the city and was going to prove all of them wrong. She isn’t scared of death, Until Cowboy Knox Carter made her feel safe.
“Death never scared me, I figured when it’s my time, it’s my time, that it was the plan but now? This I don’t want to lose or leave behind.”
Knox is the definition of grumpy cowboy. He works hard,trusts rarely, and has walls built up! He makes sure his workers are fed and taken care of before he worries about himself. He is just trying to keep the ranch running even with the debt continuing to pile up. He always seems to figure it out. What he didn’t see coming was a raven haired Hellion that would knock every god damn wall he had down.
Knox pushes her and she pushes him right back. The back and forth between these two just built up the sexual tension an it radiates off the pages. Elena doesn’t like feeling weak, and Knox wants to take care of her. He knows he needs to tread lightly. She doesn’t need him, but she wants him. She falls in love with the ranch and the cowboy. Determined to right all the wrongs from the past
I could go on and on about this story, just freaking read it. It’s sexy, compelling and kept me flipping page after page!
“First you brand my leg, then you force me to wear a shirt with your name on it.” She sucks her tongue against her top teeth. “Careful cowboy, people might start to talk.”
November 3, 2025
cowboy & mafia! 🤩
Mmmm who could’ve thought you can take a mafia princess and get her to fall for a true cowboy!! But boy, watching two stubborn, strong headed people clash head first has been everything!! I was rooting for Elena from the beginning and praying Knox wouldn’t F her over. Add in a third party and now we’ve got a wild game! Who knows what will go down and who will or won’t backstab who?! Throughly enjoyed this book!!
Mmmm who could’ve thought you can take a mafia princess and get her to fall for a true cowboy!! But boy, watching two stubborn, strong headed people clash head first has been everything!! I was rooting for Elena from the beginning and praying Knox wouldn’t F her over. Add in a third party and now we’ve got a wild game! Who knows what will go down and who will or won’t backstab who?! Throughly enjoyed this book!!
November 16, 2025
I did the audio for this one (available on several of my subscriptions!) 5/5 🎧
Story 3,75/5⭐️
Spice 3,5/5🌶️
I liked that FMC was from mafia world and MMC a grumpy cowboy, there were some hiccups along their journey but not something that bothered me too much (there was both OM and OW drama but both MMCs don’t care about said OP!)
Was sad about secondary character’s faith 😞 and I found it very endearing the way FMC’s treated and loved animals on the farm/ranch.
Story 3,75/5⭐️
Spice 3,5/5🌶️
I liked that FMC was from mafia world and MMC a grumpy cowboy, there were some hiccups along their journey but not something that bothered me too much (there was both OM and OW drama but both MMCs don’t care about said OP!)
Was sad about secondary character’s faith 😞 and I found it very endearing the way FMC’s treated and loved animals on the farm/ranch.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2025
DNF.. booooooring
October 16, 2025
⛓️ ARC REVIEW OF STEEL AND SIN ⛓️
🖤
⛓️Author: @authorriawilde
🖤
⛓️ COMING OCTOBER 16th, 2025
🖤
⛓️
If I’m ever asked for a book rec that is about mafia princess falling for a cowboy that is steeped in a dark romance, Steel and Sin is going to be the first thing out of my mouth. 👄 Honestly, Elena is not “help me I’m a weak woman”…she’s (excerpt) With a sigh, he picks up the pen and signs his name. “What did you do?”
“It’s all yours.” I tell him and pull the trigger. (excerpt). Give me a woman who’ll burn the world and anyone who gets in her way for the man she loves and I’m totally on board.
⛓️
Knox is just the same. So protective, so giving rugged cowboy vibes and Hello! he’ll run cattle over your enemies just to keep you safe and the murder discreet. Yes plz…also did you know lots of people die being trampled by cattle every year…running cattle is no joke…ANYWAY, yeah this couple tests one another and someone always gets punished or tied up…I’m here for it. Also the bite back Elena has is elite. She is every bit mafia princess but def comes out a mafia Queen.
⛓️
Let my man call me‘Hellion’ and say to those that ever take him from me “Here she comes. You ready for her?” Or “Your fucked.” Or “Are you ready to meet your maker?” Or “Have you always underestimated her? I wonder if you’ll think the same when she guts you from c😶ck to throat.”…I mean the man knows his woman!
⛓️
If you haven’t preordered this book, link is in my bio and of course, check out @authorriawilde
Book is available OCTOBER 16, 2025
⛓️
#arcreader #comingsoon #streetteam #riawilde #steelandsin #darkcowboyromance #TBRmust #mafiaprincess #grumpycowboy #lassoed #organizedcrime #murder #attemptedmurder #branding #cattleranch
🖤
⛓️Author: @authorriawilde
🖤
⛓️ COMING OCTOBER 16th, 2025
🖤
⛓️
If I’m ever asked for a book rec that is about mafia princess falling for a cowboy that is steeped in a dark romance, Steel and Sin is going to be the first thing out of my mouth. 👄 Honestly, Elena is not “help me I’m a weak woman”…she’s (excerpt) With a sigh, he picks up the pen and signs his name. “What did you do?”
“It’s all yours.” I tell him and pull the trigger. (excerpt). Give me a woman who’ll burn the world and anyone who gets in her way for the man she loves and I’m totally on board.
⛓️
Knox is just the same. So protective, so giving rugged cowboy vibes and Hello! he’ll run cattle over your enemies just to keep you safe and the murder discreet. Yes plz…also did you know lots of people die being trampled by cattle every year…running cattle is no joke…ANYWAY, yeah this couple tests one another and someone always gets punished or tied up…I’m here for it. Also the bite back Elena has is elite. She is every bit mafia princess but def comes out a mafia Queen.
⛓️
Let my man call me‘Hellion’ and say to those that ever take him from me “Here she comes. You ready for her?” Or “Your fucked.” Or “Are you ready to meet your maker?” Or “Have you always underestimated her? I wonder if you’ll think the same when she guts you from c😶ck to throat.”…I mean the man knows his woman!
⛓️
If you haven’t preordered this book, link is in my bio and of course, check out @authorriawilde
Book is available OCTOBER 16, 2025
⛓️
#arcreader #comingsoon #streetteam #riawilde #steelandsin #darkcowboyromance #TBRmust #mafiaprincess #grumpycowboy #lassoed #organizedcrime #murder #attemptedmurder #branding #cattleranch
September 30, 2025
Another great book by Ria!! Thank you for the ARC, all views are my own.
I loved this book, I loved how unapologetic and strong Elena was. She knew what she wanted and she went for it. Even when she was feeling vulnerable and finally let her guard down, she knew what she needed to do, what was expected of her. I loved how the animals all fell for her too, especially Ralph!!
Oh I love you Knox! So grumpy and set in his ways. He had the weight of the world on his shoulders, thought he would die alone until a raven haired beauty stumbled into his barn and he just had to save her life.
I love how they hated each other so much, but secretly constantly checking each other out, trying to bury the attraction. The banter was on point, the darkness was dark and the spice was freaking spicing once they got to it! I like how it didn’t take away from the story too.
I loved this book, I loved how unapologetic and strong Elena was. She knew what she wanted and she went for it. Even when she was feeling vulnerable and finally let her guard down, she knew what she needed to do, what was expected of her. I loved how the animals all fell for her too, especially Ralph!!
Oh I love you Knox! So grumpy and set in his ways. He had the weight of the world on his shoulders, thought he would die alone until a raven haired beauty stumbled into his barn and he just had to save her life.
I love how they hated each other so much, but secretly constantly checking each other out, trying to bury the attraction. The banter was on point, the darkness was dark and the spice was freaking spicing once they got to it! I like how it didn’t take away from the story too.
September 28, 2025
I have the biggest book hangover from this amazing read 😍
I freaking love bad ass FMC’s and the one in this book is certainly that, she takes no shit whatsoever and doesn’t let anyone walk over her, and I love that Knox is the only one she’s vulnerable for, can break down her walls and get her to listen.
Now don’t get me wrong Knox is just as bad ass too and they work so well together. I love how Knox lets her be herself and never tries to shut her down but also shows her that it’s ok to be taken care of.
It made me shed some tears throughout but it has a lovely HEA. This was a fantastic read and if you love grumpy cowboys and fiercely independent FMCs with added spice and suspense, this is definitely the book for you, and you’re in for such a treat when it releases.
I was given an ARC for review and all opinions are my own, thank you for the opportunity ❤️
I freaking love bad ass FMC’s and the one in this book is certainly that, she takes no shit whatsoever and doesn’t let anyone walk over her, and I love that Knox is the only one she’s vulnerable for, can break down her walls and get her to listen.
Now don’t get me wrong Knox is just as bad ass too and they work so well together. I love how Knox lets her be herself and never tries to shut her down but also shows her that it’s ok to be taken care of.
It made me shed some tears throughout but it has a lovely HEA. This was a fantastic read and if you love grumpy cowboys and fiercely independent FMCs with added spice and suspense, this is definitely the book for you, and you’re in for such a treat when it releases.
I was given an ARC for review and all opinions are my own, thank you for the opportunity ❤️
October 26, 2025
Title: Steel & Sin
Author: Ria Wilde
What to expect:
*Mafia Princess
*Grumpy cowboy
*Forced proximity
A grumpy cowboy that is on the verge of losing his ranch saves a defiant mafia princess on the run from her uncle who is trying to kill her.
Written well there were just too many characters constantly backstabbing the main characters and causing unnecessary drama. I loved the relationship between the FMC and the ranch bull!
Safety:
OW drama, no cheating, jealously on both parts. On page violence against the main characters. Multiple on page deaths. Branding of the FMC on page by the MMC to save her life.
Format: KU ebook
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV’s: Elena (FMC) & Knox (MMC)
Author: Ria Wilde
What to expect:
*Mafia Princess
*Grumpy cowboy
*Forced proximity
A grumpy cowboy that is on the verge of losing his ranch saves a defiant mafia princess on the run from her uncle who is trying to kill her.
Written well there were just too many characters constantly backstabbing the main characters and causing unnecessary drama. I loved the relationship between the FMC and the ranch bull!
Safety:
OW drama, no cheating, jealously on both parts. On page violence against the main characters. Multiple on page deaths. Branding of the FMC on page by the MMC to save her life.
Format: KU ebook
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV’s: Elena (FMC) & Knox (MMC)
July 27, 2025
As someone who has read all of Ria’s books, this is hands down my favorite one. Knox is everything and Elena is a bad bitch.
I also do not read cowboy romances since I grew up around that life. It’s just something I’m not big into reading. But I will say Ria knocked it out of the park when it comes to how things are done on a ranch.
Thank you Ria for allowing me to Beta read for you ❤️
I also do not read cowboy romances since I grew up around that life. It’s just something I’m not big into reading. But I will say Ria knocked it out of the park when it comes to how things are done on a ranch.
Thank you Ria for allowing me to Beta read for you ❤️
July 27, 2025
Beta Read - official review at time of release.
But I have to say I was obsessed with this couple.
Ugh, they were literally perfection! So swoonworthy. I could not put this book down.
But I have to say I was obsessed with this couple.
Ugh, they were literally perfection! So swoonworthy. I could not put this book down.
November 17, 2025
4.25
Cowboy Romance but make it mafia but also Hallmark movie but also SO GOOD?
Steel & Sin somehow was all of that and positively surprised me in so many ways. I fell in love and was giddy, I cried a bit, was tense at times and laughed a lot. In short: everything I’d want from a book like this, it was there.
PLOT
The big city girl stranded on the remote ranch with the grumpy, reclusive farmer is one thing. But to then add the actual mafia, make the FMC’s family the reason behind the MMC’s financial issues and her a fugitive (who finds ways to get into his expensive liquor, even after he locks it away)?
The author absolutely pulled this of and turned it into an exciting and very enjoyable story of suspense and tension, heartwarming romance and wholesome moments.
They hit the spot in terms of pace, character development and introducing twists. And by adding the necessary dash of darkness to make it authentic, while also allowing the characters moments of ease and playfulness, the story found the perfect balance to keep me hooked.
With this, the author set the stage perfectly for what had to inevitably happen in the third act to resolve the issue in a way that felt believable and not artificial.
CHARACTERS
Both, the Elena and Knox are such fun characters: strong and hot-headed. Independent, good at what they do, not so good at dropping the walls they’ve built around them. They clash exactly the way you’d expect such characters to do and I absolutely relished the intensity of it.
The way they have no chance but to let their sharp edges melt in each other’s heat until they become part of the shape that holds the both of them.
I also love how the only cinnamon rolls in this book are the cute side character and, surprisingly, the actual bull.
WRITING
The writing was good and absolutely matched the book. I particularly liked how it felt authentic to the characters.
Sometimes, phrasings felt just slightly off, as in they sounded fine yet made me stumble, only to realize they weren’t quite correct. A minor thing, though, that did not harm the reading experience, especially when listening.
I liked the narration, particularly the FMC’s. It was so well done and brought amazing nuance to the story. The male voice was also a fitting choice, so deep and perfect for the character. However, I personally didn’t love how they narrated the FMC’s lines - I feel like they made her sound almost meek when she was anything but.
Tropes:
- Mafia FMC on the run
- Grumpy Cowboy MMC
- Enemies to Lovers
- Soft for her/him
- Forced Proximity
- The animals love her (to his chagrin)
- Found Family
- Touch her/him and die
---
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Ria Wilde for an ALC of this book
Cowboy Romance but make it mafia but also Hallmark movie but also SO GOOD?
Steel & Sin somehow was all of that and positively surprised me in so many ways. I fell in love and was giddy, I cried a bit, was tense at times and laughed a lot. In short: everything I’d want from a book like this, it was there.
PLOT
The big city girl stranded on the remote ranch with the grumpy, reclusive farmer is one thing. But to then add the actual mafia, make the FMC’s family the reason behind the MMC’s financial issues and her a fugitive (who finds ways to get into his expensive liquor, even after he locks it away)?
The author absolutely pulled this of and turned it into an exciting and very enjoyable story of suspense and tension, heartwarming romance and wholesome moments.
They hit the spot in terms of pace, character development and introducing twists. And by adding the necessary dash of darkness to make it authentic, while also allowing the characters moments of ease and playfulness, the story found the perfect balance to keep me hooked.
With this, the author set the stage perfectly for what had to inevitably happen in the third act to resolve the issue in a way that felt believable and not artificial.
CHARACTERS
Both, the Elena and Knox are such fun characters: strong and hot-headed. Independent, good at what they do, not so good at dropping the walls they’ve built around them. They clash exactly the way you’d expect such characters to do and I absolutely relished the intensity of it.
The way they have no chance but to let their sharp edges melt in each other’s heat until they become part of the shape that holds the both of them.
I also love how the only cinnamon rolls in this book are the cute side character and, surprisingly, the actual bull.
WRITING
The writing was good and absolutely matched the book. I particularly liked how it felt authentic to the characters.
Sometimes, phrasings felt just slightly off, as in they sounded fine yet made me stumble, only to realize they weren’t quite correct. A minor thing, though, that did not harm the reading experience, especially when listening.
I liked the narration, particularly the FMC’s. It was so well done and brought amazing nuance to the story. The male voice was also a fitting choice, so deep and perfect for the character. However, I personally didn’t love how they narrated the FMC’s lines - I feel like they made her sound almost meek when she was anything but.
Tropes:
- Mafia FMC on the run
- Grumpy Cowboy MMC
- Enemies to Lovers
- Soft for her/him
- Forced Proximity
- The animals love her (to his chagrin)
- Found Family
- Touch her/him and die
---
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Ria Wilde for an ALC of this book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews