Roped

by Saffron A. Kent

God of Malice meets Yellowstone in this stalker romance full of searing spice and featuring a college student being hunted by a cowboy utterly obsessed with her.

I’m Peyton Turner. I’m nineteen years old, and I have . . . a stalker.

No, I don’t have proof—but I know he’s watching me. I feel his stare burning through my bedroom window at night, smell his intoxicating scent when he’s close. Every time I try to catch him, he vanishes into the shadows like he was never there at all.

All I know for certain is that under his black Stetson, he wears a skull mask. It almost hides the wicked scar carved down his face, but it can’t hide his piercing green eyes. Eyes that haunt me.

I should be terrified of his attention. Instead, I find myself drawn to it. I only understand the danger too late, when my best friend goes missing. I’ve decided I won’t run, though. I won’t hide. I’ll set a trap to lure him out of the dark and force him to lead me to her.

But the man I’m hunting is a far more skilled predator than I imagined. And once his rope tightens around me, I’m no longer the one in control. I’m the prey.

Genres: Dark Romance, Westerns, Romance, Stalker, Dark, Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity

432 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 25, 2026

About the author

Saffron A. Kent is a USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary and New Adult romance. She writes dark, forbidden, and emotional romance that blurs the line between love and obsession. Her books feature burn that hurts, the broken boy who shouldn’t be touched, the girl who can’t stay away, and the secret that could destroy them both. She's known for her poetic prose and romance that delivers both beautiful destruction and the promise of being remade by love that should never have happened.

Reviews

[Kursed Reads]

Six months, three weeks, four days, fourteen hours, and thirty-six minutes.

That’s how long Radisson King spent watching Peyton Turner from the shadows. Her Phantom quietly eliminated the men who tried to hurt her, removing the competition one by one. Peyton became addicted to his particular brand of obsession, so much so that she barely flinches when she realizes she’s been kidnapped.

But the Turner princess was always a means to an end.

What neither expected was to see beyond the scars and assumptions. Peyton sees the man beneath Rad’s emotional and physical scars, while Rad sees so much more than the vapid college student everyone else assumes her to be.

Lonely and bitter, this hardened cowboy with ties to organized crime has been broken for years. But his sassy captive calls him on his bullshit, slowly proving that maybe he isn’t as unworthy of love as he believes.

And that obsession? Top tier. 🥵

Favorite Quote: “…you’re mine to save. You’re mine to protect. Mine to avenge. Mine to kill for; mine to wreak havoc for. Mine to burn the world for; mine to declare war for.”

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Format: 📱

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

Ending: 💗 {HEA}
Length: 📚📚📚📚
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 🫢😬🥵🫠😍
Darkness: 🖤
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

✨ Tropes: Age Gap (31/19), Blackmail, Forced Proximity, Heroine in Danger, Kidnapped/Captive, Mafia/Bratva/Organized Crime, Revenge, Stalker
 
💫 Microtropes: Boy Obsessed, Caretaker/Protective MMC, Caveman/Bridal Carry, Eyes on Me, “Fuck It”, “Good Girl”, Hand Necklace, Lap Sitting, Masked MMC, Pet Name (Princess), Sassy FMC, Scarred, Secret Tattoo, She’s a Runner, Tattooed MMC, Virgin FMC, “We’ll Make It Fit”

🔆 Character: Cowboy/Rancher, Illegal Enterprises, Student, Vigilante

💋 Kinks: 🍑, Bondage/Restraints, Degradation, Dirty Talk, Domination, Finger Licking Good, Pearl Necklace/Spunk Art, Power Exchange, Praise, Primal Play, Spanking, Spitting

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a

🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Drugged (by MMC), Eliminates the Competition, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, MINE!, Touch-Her-and-💀, Tracking/Spying

⛔️ Safety Squad: Kidnapping/Captive (Not by MMC), OM Drama (For Reasons), Unaliving, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, in the past and/or present, and to main and/or side characters. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: Ranch

📣 Type: Roped is part of the Brutal Cowboys series of interconnected standalones.

⚠️ Warning: The hate-to-want-you in this one will give you whiplash and sticky thighs

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

[Shaz ♡]

Rad-Daddy Kinggggg 👑 the sweet, beautiful, broken man that you are 😭 I'd give my left tit to be on the receiving end of your lasso and forehead kisses 🥵

Thank you to Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley for the ARC 💌

Pre-read:
The Book Gods really do be blessing me right now because I got the ARC 🥹🤠

[Sam]

Review of advance copy from NetGalley

I'm so sorry I could not get through this. The first thing that set me off was the "33B cup size" which is not a standard size and threw me off. Then was how CHILDISH the FMC was. Finally, was just how poorly written this was. I could not put myself in the story, it's like everything else but the actual scene itself was overly descriptive. I want to hear about the atmosphere of the bar or the sense that her stalker is in the room watching her, but instead all I got was how big his hands were, how hard his abs were, and how his green eyes reminded her of every green things she had ever seen in her life. Yeah.... no not for me

DNF @ 4%

[Brianna Lear]

Lost me at the trained wolves

[Christine]

Thank you Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. 3.5⭐️ Saydee Dickinson and Hoxton Leaon did a fantastic job with the duel narration, Hoxton really sounded like a rugged moustached cowboy! Don’t ask me how or why – he just did.

Now look, did this book have healthy relationships? Hell nah. Buuuut did it have an intriguing plot and salacious spicy scenes? Hell yeah! I’m not really a big fan of the virgin FMC trope and there were certainly moments that felt cheesy (if not straight up cringey) because of that.

Overall though, this dark romance was an entertaining read and book 1 of this series is now on my TBR.

[Leigh]

After reading and enjoying Branded although I did have issues I was looking forward to reading Roped. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment for me. I found the story boring and repetitive. I honestly had little interest in either Peyton or Radisson. I also dislike stories where a simple conversation with someone could change the path of your life. Overall, while this one didn't work for me, I really hope Mars and Haven get a story.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own***

[Clare J Davidson]

Another disappointing addtion to this series

One of my favourite authors but her recent works are not a patch on her earlier books. Ending was rushed.

[🎀Gaby🎀]

If your looking form your next dark cowboy you need. To start this book as soon as possible! Saffron A Kent has written one of my favorite ever dark cowboy books ever. This can be read as standalone but i promise you want to start from book 1.

Book 2 follows our main characters Peyton turner and her cowboy stalker. I loved how saffron did a full circle moment so everything connected from the first book branded which was so amazing to witness and read!!

You get to see every event and moment that lead to branded and then the present for these two!!

If you are looking for a deep love story thats emotional spicy AF banter between the both and a obsessive cowboy that doesn’t talk but for her ay will burn the whole entire world down then you need to pick this one up. A COWBOY THATS HELLA TALL AND INTOO ROPE PLAY AND KNOWS HIS ROPES ;)

“Because I’m his and he’s mine. This is when I come, when he calls me his in my dreams. my Phantom.”

IM TALKING SIZE DIFFERENCE AND HE TIES HER UP FROM THE CEILING AND … WELL YOU GET IT RIGHT

He helps her through her panic attacks he stalks her he unalives anyone who touches her literally. He’s a man that has his own mission and why he’s using her BUT he never expected her to become everything to him.

The way i was kicking my feet screaming inking changing the sheets to my bed screaming again such a roller coaster of emotions. One of my favorite reads of the year infinity stars i need every single special edition. I loved them so much i have reread this book twice maybe three times. The world building the character development the found family everything tied in to make such an amazing dark cowboy series!!

[Joseandbooks]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5

4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

A dark stalker cowboy romance? Yeah… I was like sign me up !

Roped had me hooked from the beginning. The whole setup with the masked cowboy, the family rivalry, the kidnapping, and all the secrets between the characters made this such a wild and addictive read.

The relationship between the characters is definitely dark and messy, so this is one where you’ll want to check the content warnings beforehand. There were moments where I was sitting there like, okay… we’re really going there 😂 but somehow I couldn’t stop reading.

I really enjoyed Saffron A. Kent’s writing. There’s something about the way she creates these intense, complicated characters that makes it so easy to get pulled into the story. And the cowboy romance mixed with the darker elements? Such a good combination.

The audiobook was a great way to experience this one and really kept me invested in the story. I definitely found myself wanting to keep listening just to see how everything would play out.

If you’re into dark romance, stalker romances, masked MMCs, family rivalries, and a whole lot of spice, definitely give this one a try. 🔥

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicki Boyer]

🖤ARC REVIEW🖤

"Because I'm his and he's mine."

"She doesn't feel like the Turner Princess. She just feels like she's mine."

Roped
By Saffron A. Kent

Whewwwww this book was spicy alllll the chili peppers but also what a way to kick off my first Saffron read! But also such a slow burn all at the same time. Had me hooked!

This was giving some Romeo and Juliet vibes. I mean super dark and cowboy and stalker but definitely the star crossed lovers and rival families were similar.

You have Peyton Turner, daughter to a local well known ranch. Then you have Raddison King, cousin to the fueding ranch, The Graysons. The way these two come to be together,  wow. Like their back story and how they legit collide together, against their will or not. 👀 Was so intricate and mysterious. Ya I dug it big time.

Radisson is the dark, stalker cowboy we all never knew we wanted to read about. But come near his princess....whewwww run run run!!

Thank you for this ARC Saffron & NetGalley!

[Rene Collins]

Honestly this was a hair darker than I anticipated!

A kidnapping within a kidnapping! I felt bad for Peyton but she’s so strong and tough.

[Andrea]

​I only finished this book because I kept hoping something—literally anything—would change or salvage the plot. Spoiler alert: it didn't. I hated every single second of it.

​Radisson is a completely terrible male lead. He isn't "dark," "mysterious," or "morally gray"—he’s just unhinged, predatory, and impossible to root for. The constant stalking and silent, masked behavior didn't read as dangerous or spicy; it was just uncomfortable and toxic. Seriously the wolves???!!!

​To make matters worse, Peyton was exhausting to read. For someone who claims her best friend is missing, her priorities are completely nonsensical. She acts like a childish, reckless teenager throwing a tantrum rather than a nineteen-year-old trying to handle a serious situation. Her "plan" to set a trap for Radisson made zero sense, and watching her swoon over a masked stalker while her supposedly beloved friend was in danger made her utterly unbearable and impossible to like.

​The plot twists were predictable, the angst felt forced, and the dynamic between Radisson and Peyton was frustrating from start to finish.

Save your time and skip this entirely.

[Dirtybookgirl]

Dnf for now. Don't know what is happening with this author but the writing isn't good as it was before. Some parts are overdescribed and all her books seem to be the same but with different characters. The h have no personality and the men are just angry. This was a hard read. Might get back into it but not sure.

[Nicole]

I had such high hopes for this book, but it was a snooze fest. I’m not sure why I continued to read, it should have been a DNF, but after getting to the half way point I just rage read the rest. It’s a no for me.

[Mandyloves2read]

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️


Okayyy Saffron Kent… a masked, scarred, completely obsessed cowboy stalker?! You had me from the beginning.

Peyton and Radisson’s story was dark, messy, emotional, completely unhinged at times, and SO addictive. Peyton knows someone has been watching her, lurking outside her window and showing up whenever she’s in trouble but instead of only being terrified, there’s a part of her that is fascinated by him. And when she finally discovers exactly who her mysterious stalker is… things get so much more complicated.

RAD. 😮‍💨 This broken, broody, quiet man was absolutely GONE for Peyton. The stalking, the mask, the possessiveness, the “touch her and die” energy, the way he protects her while also being one of the biggest dangers to her… I ate every bit of it up. Their families being longtime enemies only made their connection that much more forbidden and intense.

But what really got me was everything underneath Rad’s darkness. His past, his scars, his trauma and the reasons he became the man he is added so much emotion to the story. And Peyton has her own pain hiding underneath that spoiled princess exterior too. Watching these two damaged people slowly become a safe place for each other gave the story so much more depth than I expected.

And the SPICE?! Saffron Kent absolutely knew what she was doing with the ropes, the chasing, the dirty mouth and that obsessive cowboy energy. GOOD LORD.

There’s stalking, kidnapping, family secrets, betrayal, an age gap, enemies on opposite sides of a generations long family feud, suspense, healing and one seriously possessive cowboy.

Dark cowboy romance is officially ruined for me because now they all need to come with a skull mask and a lasso. 😂🤠

5/5⭐️ — dark, angsty, filthy, emotional and completely addictive. Peyton and Rad absolutely owned me.

[Joleen Turns Pages]

Roped was my first Saffron A. Kent book, and this was definitely an introduction. Dark, messy, obsessive, and emotionally intense—this is the kind of romance where you know the relationship isn't necessarily healthy, but you can't stop watching it unfold.

The chemistry and tension were easily the biggest highlights for me. There’s so much yearning and possessiveness woven into the relationship, and I really enjoyed how unapologetically the book embraces the darker, more complicated side of romance. These characters make questionable choices, cross lines, and become completely consumed by each other, which made for a seriously addictive read.

There were still moments where I wanted a little more depth outside of the intensity of the relationship, and some of the emotional beats didn’t hit quite as hard for me as I wanted, which ultimately kept this at 3.5 stars.

That being said, I’m definitely intrigued enough to read more from Saffron A. Kent. If you love dark romance that leans heavily into obsession, angst, possessiveness, and morally questionable behavior, Roped might be one to add to your list.

Please check the content/trigger warnings before jumping into this one. It deals with darker themes and relationship dynamics that won’t be for every reader, and going in knowing your personal limits is important.

[Diana Chinchilla (dianasbookhaven)]

𝘼𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙤 𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙩𝙚: 8/25/2026
𝘼𝙇𝘾 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 🎧🎧🎧🎧
𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 🤠🤠🤠
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: 🌶️🌶️
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨: Dark Westren Romance
Enemies x Lovers
Kidnapping


🎧🄰🄻🄲 🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆: the narrating was well done. I think I preferred that over the story.

📖🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆: I was super intrigued at the start, a bad ass chick getting her revenge seeking out answers for her best friends disappearance, I was super excited. It had me going there for about 30% of it, but then I felt like there was just too much going on and not enough at the am time.

Peyton, starts off ruthless & fierce but then becomes this delicate flower, I wasn't sure where the rough ass woman we got a hit of at the beginning went.

I also felt like the story could have been a little shortened, there was just a lot going on & that had me drifting off track. The smut, the dirty talk, well that was all chefs kiss.

All in all, this was decent and if you're into the authors type of style, then this will def be up you're alley.

🎧𝙶𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗 𝙰𝙻𝙲 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 & 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝, 𝚗𝚘𝚗-𝚒𝚗𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 netgalley 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢.

[thebeespot72]

When we met Peyton in Branded and got some bits about Rad—that was enough for me. I wanted the next book as soon as possible. I loved how Roped started. Peyton had set forth her plan and was in the thick of it. Saffron knows how to write these brooding, dark, pained, and scared MMCs, and Rad is one of the best.

Rad’s challenges are heartbreaking. The way he shmalks Peyton and for how long—my heart! And Peyton is no weak character. The things she does. She’s a tough cookie, and that’s the way I like my FMCs!

Thank you to @readforeverpub and Author @thesaffronkent for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Heather Houghtaling]

This was a ROLLERCOASTER. I never knew if I should be rooting for Radisson or not 😂 this was dark without going over the edge for me. This was my first toe dip into dark romance outside of dark rom coms. SHOULD I have read Branded first? Yes. But you can understand everything without it! Honestly the FMC gave me whiplash with how she was feeling. You definitely can tell she’s young

[ashlee ❤]

Peyton + Radisson

-dark mf stalker romance
-masked & scarred cowboy
-strong willed city girl
-loyalty & revenge
-unexpected found family
-age gap

as always…saffron came in here & hornied up the whole place!! like literally i never read more desperately pathetic obsessed mcs of all genders than the ones she’s writes!! they’re absolutely FILTHY!! & i love it so much!!

[Kendra’s Library]

I was so excited for Peyton and Rad’s story after Branded, but this fell a little flat for me. There was a lot (A LOT) of internal monologuing that seemed very repetitive and made me start to skim around the 40% mark. I finally locked back in and got interested again around 80% when the plot developed.

Peyton seemed bada** in Branded, but seemed to act more like a child in this book. I understand that’s part of being a brat, but it seemed to be more than that. I loved Rad’s character and seeing Peyton help him get past his trauma, but I just didn’t feel a lot of chemistry between these two.

The spice was spicing, and I did love me the possessive cowboy that Rad was. Thank you to Forever/Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!!

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

[karenslibraryy]

I used to enjoys saffrons books and writing. Lately I feel like her books are little repetitive and I was a little bored while reading this one … I’m saddened to say this might be my last saffron book.

[Yildiz Romance reader]

To be a writer with no other job is hard. It's true that you have time, energy and focus to do what you love but you have immense pressure to do all that time justice. To search and write s.th meaningful. To make ends meet and to survive on whatever your books brings to the table.

This author who is playing the field for 10years now has no other paying job but her writing, sits in front of her Docs Sheets to write

:"my stalker makes me horny and makes me cum every night I wish he could go into my window and hear me cumming for him.

Omg my stalker kidnapped me but he sniffs my hair and calls me pink and sunshine.

He makes me breakfast but he unleashes wolves on me. Fuck me I traumatized him with my whining about wanting to break free so yeah he must punish me.

Oh, yes rope me like I'm a running filly bound me to your bed and murder every man who dares to smile at me. Yes, eat my pussy in public on a filthy bar table.

How dare I not give you my virginity when you are this sad boy because you lost your parents"

Dear Saffron Kent: kindly reflect on all the time you spend crafting stories and think if it is worth our money to read such books. I love smut but I love logic and good story telling above all else.

[kj]

needed this to remind myself to be thankful for good books

[Jen Altman]

I was obsessed with Branded last year so it’s no surprise that Roped was one of my most anticipated reads of the year—and it completely delivered! Peyton and Radisson’s story takes us right back into the dark, gritty, and totally intoxicating world of the Turner and Grayson family feud. Peyton Turner knows someone is watching her from the shadows… a scarred cowboy in a black Stetson and skull mask. When her best friend goes missing, Peyton sets a trap for her stalker, only for him to completely flip the script and turn her from the hunter into his very willing prey.

The chemistry between these two is off the charts! Peyton is so much stronger and braver than her "spoiled princess" reputation suggests, and Radisson is the ultimate dark, possessive hero with serious "touch her and die" energy that’ll have your morally-grey-loving-heart swooning! Their push-and-pull dynamic is electric, and watching Radisson’s cold loyalty to his family shatter as his obsession with Peyton takes over was everything I hoped it would be… a slow burn so addicting, it consumed me!

This book has everything you could want from an intense and all-consuming dark western/cowboy romance: high-stakes tension, possessive heroes who would burn the world down for their girl, and even some primal play! Ultimately, this is one dark & steamy read you won't be able to put down.

[Amber | aambuurreads]

A good stalker romance is always needed, and Saffron definitely delivered! Radisson and Peyton were the perfect contrast, and I really loved their dynamic together. There were quite a few repeated moments and thoughts that pulled me out of the story at times, but overall, I liked this one!

[Sarah]

4 ⭐️ ARC • Guys, I loved this one so much more than the first one!!! Long review coming with spoilers, so beware. 

Before we get into it/my standard disclaimer: this is a dark romance, so consume your media responsibly and check the content warnings! It was not the darkest one I have ever read, but this is my opinion & incredibly subjective, so please make your own informed decisions. 

I remember that I was FERAL for a book about Rad & Peyton after seeing the hints of them in the first book, BRANDED. I am still really, really intrigued about Mars & Haven, and I hope that if we get another book, it will be about them (I was dropping little highlights about my ~suspicions~ for other couples). But this book about Rad & Peyton was everything that I wanted. 

Tropes (including but not limited to): dark cowboy romance, stalker romance, kidnapping/captive, masked & scarred MMC (with a disability), age gap (12 years), sassy FMC, primal/chasing scenes, rope play, protective and possessive (both of them!)  

First, I effing loved Peyton. You see only one side of her from Riri’s POV in the first book, but this one adds so much depth to this poor girl. She is strong, determined, & much more resilient than she will get credit for. She is fiercely protective and loyal, ready to fight anyone or do whatever it takes for her friend. She is traumatized from everything she endured growing up, but she made it into her strengths without letting it make her (too) afraid. She also feels more mature without it being unrealistic – with everything she survived and was juggling, it made sense. Riri might be the “responsible” one in their friendship duo, but Peyton is, to me, the most mature. 

Second, I also loved Rad. You know some of what happened to him from the first book, but this one expands on the wreckage that it really left behind in his life and how he dealt with it. Also, Rad is exactly how I like my MMCs in dark romances like this – he is very morally gray, and he does bad things (and you understand it), but at the core, he is beyond loving and protective of Peyton. He silently & instinctively takes care of her at every turn (even during the kidnapping, but walk with me here when you find out why he did it) & he sees beyond the front she puts up. They understand each other on a very deep level, and that undercuts a lot of places where I thought there was going to be miscommunication. 

These two sold to me the depth of their connection. You read everything they go through together, the way they open up to each other, and the longing of it all made me root for them. They both are harder and angrier – they have both survived things that have made them more vengeful, and that adds to their deep understanding of each other. (SPOILERS) An important element for me was that while he was stalking her at the beginning, Peyton *knew* he was watching her, knew who he was (kinda, because she saw him when he saved her that first time), could sense when he was there, and she was into it. She has more agency than you would think going into this, even from the beginning and despite the circumstances. Truthfully, I wanted *more* sex scenes (I cannot believe I am saying that lol) but what we got was hot, and Saffron, thank you very much for changing the language you used for these scenes (iykyk). 

Peyton, understandably, has never felt safe – especially not around men – until Rad. I will admit, I got a little emo when she admitted to herself that she longed for that protection from Rad – when you spend your whole life knowing no one is coming to save you, building yourself up to save yourself at every turn, of course it is so relieving to have someone come in and offer up that protection freely, instinctively, genuinely. And she is equally protective and possessive about him, albeit in a different (but no less touching) way.

We also finally get some more answers about what is going on at the Rawhide Ranch (re: the prisoner program) and more background about the feud between families. I agree with Haven and Peyton and the others that it really is a stupid thing (the greed, property wars, the endless fighting, etc.) but (unfortunately) I do believe that people (re: the men in this book) are like this about money and property and power. (*BIG* SPOILER) Another point that I was happy about is that two of these villains are GONE by the end of the book. I can see the little hints to what might be the crux of the conflict in the next books. I do like that the story will grow organically with the next couple, and it is not the same Big Bad Threat following them throughout the books. Also realistic, because I cannot see Rad (or Petyon, lol) letting a threat like that linger over their heads.  

So, TL;DR: I liked this one MUCH more than the first book. I think the characters are more compelling, their relationship builds in a great way, the dark romance had the elements I look for in a dark romance, & the pacing was good and the spicy scenes were hot. 

Thank you @Forever and @NetGalley for the eARC of this book!!

[Scarlet]

⭐️⭐️ 2 stars — I’m not convinced.

Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. The story lacks depth and, more importantly, I simply couldn’t buy into the plot.

The daughter - Peyton - of an important and dangerous man has apparently been stalked for over six months, yet she seems to live surprisingly carefree. She dates whoever she wants and, despite basically having a target on her back, comes across as incredibly naïve about the danger surrounding her. And her stalker.

The final straw for me was the night she gets kidnapped. She is literally a prisoner at a party hosted by the Graysons — her father’s enemies — yet somehow she is free to wander around the garden by herself and even goes snooping around in a shed. Without supervision?! I just couldn’t suspend my disbelief anymore.

And then she tries to coo her stalker? Come on…

The relationships didn’t save it either. They felt superficial and too unbelievable for me to become invested. And Rad? Unfortunately, he didn’t win me over either. I’m always up for a good bad boy, but he did absolutely nothing for me.

I made it to chapter 9 before giving up. At that point, there was still no spice in sight, and neither the characters nor the plot gave me enough reason to keep reading.

*DNF at chapter 9. The Graysons’ party was the final straw.

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Update: I gave Roped another chance and made it through a few more chapters. Unfortunately, my first impression hasn’t changed. If anything, it got worse.

The FMC just doesn’t work for me. At one point, she’s complaining about her body — including her “small tits” — to the man who has been stalking her. Come on. It makes her come across as incredibly insecure and superficial, and the whole interaction just feels bizarre considering the situation she’s in.

What bothers me even more is how inconsistent her character is. Three pages later, that insecurity has apparently vanished and she’s back to acting entitled and almost bratty toward Rad. I can enjoy a flawed or complicated FMC, but this doesn’t feel like complexity — it feels like inconsistent characterization.

Combined with everything that already bothered me about the plot — her unbelievable naivety despite being the daughter of a powerful and dangerous man, the lack of convincing security, and the whole Graysons party situation — I’m even less convinced than before.

I really tried to give this one another chance. It’s just not for me.

Still 2 stars.

[Samantha]

I know this book shows up as not part of a series but it's definitely part of an interconnected standalone series. It runs parallel with Branded. I originally started this read and as I was 25% in this book, I realized there was probably a book for the FMC's bff so I immediately did go back to Branded for finishing.

After returning back to Roped, the book felt redundant in story telling (even though different views points) since the first book was fresh in my mind. I wish there was an actual POV from the MCs instead of the MCs just reiterating plot of the first book. It's hard not to compare the two books because they are so similar but the romance feels a bit forced in this book. There was so much plot and subplots going in this read that the character development took a backseat and was forgotten about.

While I did have fun with this read, it was not my favorite and found myself with the lack of character growth despite the circumstances that they keep getting placed in.

Thank you Forever for the ARC!

[Nim_reads_a_lot]

2.5 stars rounded up. Age gap romance is not usually a problem for me but when the protagonist is very immature or portrayed also as “very tiny” it becomes a bit unbearable. Her youth, her smallness, the lack of education and life experience combined with the fact she is 18 was a bit insane. The MMC is a 30-something cowboy with trauma issues and he’s like super huge. But like, he’s very unwell and I do think he hypnotized this girl with his body. It was also my biggest peeve that his name was a hotel chain. Radisson!!?? There is also SA discussed about side characters (one young) and I just disconnected because of it.

I say all this knowing that I think this story has a reader out there. I would suggest this to those who are fans of dark romance, bondage and stalking themes, age gap, cowboys, and a “man obsessed” would enjoy this. The story had a whole mystery with evil white men and that felt like fact while the rest was a fantasy of a world without UTIs and rope burns.

Thanks to the publisher for this digital galley.