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Mercy River Ranch #1
Long Time Coming
From USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Bright comes a new small town cowboy, romantic suspense set in wild and beautiful Wyoming.
She’s the city girl who doesn’t know she’s in danger. He’s the ex-special forces cowboy who thinks she is the danger.
Mercy River Ranch is a sanctuary for military and first responders suffering from invisible wounds that hide deep beneath the skin. When Lennon Graves shows up at our ranch, I know something is not right about her. She’s too pretty. Too spoiled. If this woman ever spent a day in service, I’d eat my cowboy hat.
It can’t be a coincidence that things happen when Lennon is around. A car accident. A fire. My background in search and rescue operations left me with a special talent for finding things people would rather keep hidden, and I’m determined to uncover Lennon’s secrets. I trusted a wolf in sheep’s clothing before, and my sister paid the price. I won’t let it happen again.
But that sassy mouth of hers reminds me how to laugh. Her sharp brain beats me at my own game. And the way she touches me heals my stained soul. I don’t trust her, but I might be falling in love with her.
Then the letters start and I realize I made a mistake, one that might cost Lennon her life: She didn’t bring the danger with her to Mercy River Ranch. The danger brought her.
She’s the city girl who doesn’t know she’s in danger. He’s the ex-special forces cowboy who thinks she is the danger.
Mercy River Ranch is a sanctuary for military and first responders suffering from invisible wounds that hide deep beneath the skin. When Lennon Graves shows up at our ranch, I know something is not right about her. She’s too pretty. Too spoiled. If this woman ever spent a day in service, I’d eat my cowboy hat.
It can’t be a coincidence that things happen when Lennon is around. A car accident. A fire. My background in search and rescue operations left me with a special talent for finding things people would rather keep hidden, and I’m determined to uncover Lennon’s secrets. I trusted a wolf in sheep’s clothing before, and my sister paid the price. I won’t let it happen again.
But that sassy mouth of hers reminds me how to laugh. Her sharp brain beats me at my own game. And the way she touches me heals my stained soul. I don’t trust her, but I might be falling in love with her.
Then the letters start and I realize I made a mistake, one that might cost Lennon her life: She didn’t bring the danger with her to Mercy River Ranch. The danger brought her.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2026
About the author
Elizabeth Bright
16 books512 followersSign up for Elizabeth's newsletter to be the first to hear about hot deals and new releases! https://www.elizabethbrightauthor.com/
Elizabeth Bright writes smart, passionate romance with heart, humor, and heat. "Sparkling prose...unrelentingly sharp...unabashedly nerdy." (Bookpage) When she's not writing stubborn heroines and the men who adore them, Elizabeth can be found hiking and rock climbing. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her two daughters, who are every bit as headstrong and wonderful as the characters she writes.
Elizabeth Bright writes smart, passionate romance with heart, humor, and heat. "Sparkling prose...unrelentingly sharp...unabashedly nerdy." (Bookpage) When she's not writing stubborn heroines and the men who adore them, Elizabeth can be found hiking and rock climbing. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her two daughters, who are every bit as headstrong and wonderful as the characters she writes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 460 reviews
June 20, 2026
okay… this one was just really weird to me and I am so incredibly disappointed that I didn’t like it, especially since it has such high ratings 😭
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“ʟᴏɴɢ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ” x ғʟᴏʀɪᴅᴀ ɢᴇᴏʀɢɪᴀ ʟɪɴᴇ
0:32 ───♥──────── 3:14
The premise sounded interesting enough, and honestly, the cover did a lot of heavy lifting because that’s what convinced me to pick it up in the first place. A cam girl hiding out on a ranch that serves military veterans and first responders dealing with PTSD isn’t exactly something you see every day, and I was curious to see how it would all come together.
Unfortunately, the more I read, the more confused I got.
I found myself skim-reading quite a bit in the beginning because I genuinely wasn’t sure what was going on half the time. The suspense never fully hooked me, and a lot of the mystery felt pretty predictable. (the Guardian POV chapters should have been nixed completely) I’d also seen so many reviews hyping up some huge secret reveal, but when everything started unfolding, I wasn’t surprised at all (especially with Jeremiah's back history) 😭
One of my biggest issues was Jeremiah. As an ex-military guy with a search-and-rescue background, he did not live up to those mental standards I had for him going into the book. Instead, it felt like he fell for Lennon so fast with almost no caution. I’m not a huge fan of instalove to begin with, and their relationship felt rushed and based mostly on attraction (at least in his end).
And Lennon… whew
I know she was written to be confident and outspoken, but she honestly grated on my nerves more often than not. There were several moments where her reactions felt incredibly insensitive (especially after the secret reveal), and I struggled to connect with her throughout the story.
The biblical references sprinkled throughout Jeremiah’s dialogue also gave me secondhand embarrassment more than once. I understand why they were there based on his upbringing, but some of them felt so out of place that they completely pulled me out of the story like...
The vibes that quote gave me were just… really weird. 😭 And if I had to read the words “spill” or “spilling” one more time during the spicy scenes, I might have lost my mind.
The ending was probably the biggest disappointment for me. Everything wrapped up in a way that felt very flat and predictable, and I was left feeling pretty underwhelmed.
The writing itself wasn’t bad. It was easy enough to get through, and I can appreciate that the author had an interesting premise. However, the characters, romance, suspense, and overall execution just never worked for me.
and maybe I picked this up at the wrong time, but overall, this story felt odd, unrealistic, and a little all over the place. I finished it, but it’s not one I’d personally recommend.
things to know about the book ↓
🧡 cowboy x city girl
🧡 cam girl
🧡 protective MMC
🧡 age gap (9 years)
🧡 mystery and suspense
🧡 ranch setting
🧡 dual POV
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 8, 14, 21, 23, 24, 29, 30, 34, 35
Thank you Luna Literary, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 🧡💜 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
i'm really starting to like romance suspense ngl.
this cover first off!! gorg!! but the premise?? so excited!!
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“ʟᴏɴɢ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ” x ғʟᴏʀɪᴅᴀ ɢᴇᴏʀɢɪᴀ ʟɪɴᴇ
0:32 ───♥──────── 3:14
The premise sounded interesting enough, and honestly, the cover did a lot of heavy lifting because that’s what convinced me to pick it up in the first place. A cam girl hiding out on a ranch that serves military veterans and first responders dealing with PTSD isn’t exactly something you see every day, and I was curious to see how it would all come together.
Unfortunately, the more I read, the more confused I got.
I found myself skim-reading quite a bit in the beginning because I genuinely wasn’t sure what was going on half the time. The suspense never fully hooked me, and a lot of the mystery felt pretty predictable. (the Guardian POV chapters should have been nixed completely) I’d also seen so many reviews hyping up some huge secret reveal, but when everything started unfolding, I wasn’t surprised at all (especially with Jeremiah's back history) 😭
One of my biggest issues was Jeremiah. As an ex-military guy with a search-and-rescue background, he did not live up to those mental standards I had for him going into the book. Instead, it felt like he fell for Lennon so fast with almost no caution. I’m not a huge fan of instalove to begin with, and their relationship felt rushed and based mostly on attraction (at least in his end).
And Lennon… whew
I know she was written to be confident and outspoken, but she honestly grated on my nerves more often than not. There were several moments where her reactions felt incredibly insensitive (especially after the secret reveal), and I struggled to connect with her throughout the story.
The biblical references sprinkled throughout Jeremiah’s dialogue also gave me secondhand embarrassment more than once. I understand why they were there based on his upbringing, but some of them felt so out of place that they completely pulled me out of the story like...
“My soul thirsts for you, my flesh yearns for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Holy words that my lips whispered to a holy place, where she was abundantly wet. And I drank.
The vibes that quote gave me were just… really weird. 😭 And if I had to read the words “spill” or “spilling” one more time during the spicy scenes, I might have lost my mind.
The ending was probably the biggest disappointment for me. Everything wrapped up in a way that felt very flat and predictable, and I was left feeling pretty underwhelmed.
The writing itself wasn’t bad. It was easy enough to get through, and I can appreciate that the author had an interesting premise. However, the characters, romance, suspense, and overall execution just never worked for me.
and maybe I picked this up at the wrong time, but overall, this story felt odd, unrealistic, and a little all over the place. I finished it, but it’s not one I’d personally recommend.
things to know about the book ↓
🧡 cowboy x city girl
🧡 cam girl
🧡 protective MMC
🧡 age gap (9 years)
🧡 mystery and suspense
🧡 ranch setting
🧡 dual POV
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 8, 14, 21, 23, 24, 29, 30, 34, 35
Thank you Luna Literary, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 🧡💜 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
i'm really starting to like romance suspense ngl.
this cover first off!! gorg!! but the premise?? so excited!!
June 11, 2026
ALC from Must Love Audio 💓🎧
Audiobook was SO good. The narration was amazing.
I love Cowboys, romantic suspense, when an FMC owns her sexuality, and when a man comes in his pants, so it’s safe to say I enjoyed this one. 🤭
Audiobook was SO good. The narration was amazing.
I love Cowboys, romantic suspense, when an FMC owns her sexuality, and when a man comes in his pants, so it’s safe to say I enjoyed this one. 🤭
June 30, 2026
2.7⭐️
Idk how I feel about this book tbh. Maybe I’m in a reading slump or maybe the plot was just a bit boring and predictable. Either way, that’s probably a me problem, so I’m sure a lot of you will enjoy it.
The one thing I really liked was the virgin MMC and the experienced FMC who never felt ashamed of her sexual history… Give me more confident FMCs like her.
______
Book info:
- Age gap (9): H (38) / h (29)
- City girl x Cowboy
- Ex military
- FMC on the run
- She has a stalker
- Insta attraction-lust
- Small town
Safety:
- The h is a cam girl who does cooking and flower-arranging streams topless (she doesn’t take off her panties).
- Virgin H (don’t worry, he’s completely a virgin).
- Experienced h (she’s very confident and never feels ashamed of her sex life or her work).
“I’d always enjoyed sex. I liked the men I was with, even if my favorite thing about them was their bank account. Sex had felt good. Kissing was perfunctory but enjoyable. It hadn’t occurred to me that I was missing out on anything.”
Her last relationship was with a man who was 30 years older than her. He was good to her and they cared about each other. He was also the reason she had to run away (he sent her away at the beginning of the book because people were after him and they wanted the h too / he never appeared in the story).
- OWD (from the h’s side):
Maybe this is a spoiler or maybe it isn’t, I honestly don’t know. The h has a stalker but it’s pretty easy to figure out who she is right away since we get her POV in a few chapters.
She’s one of the h’s camming subs and is completely obsessed with her. She causes a lot of trouble whenever the h gets into a relationship or does something she doesn’t like.
- No om/cheating/scenes with other people
- No 3rd act break up
- HEA
______
Notes:
I’m curious about the next books!
- Emma and Liam:
Emma is a widowed single mom and apparently her late husband was a great man (I hope the author doesn’t change that). Liam is her late husband’s brother and has always been there for her and his niece.
He also ruins her dates with other men, claiming he doesn’t want them around his niece, so I hope he’s celibate.
I glanced at her curiously. From the pictures I’d seen in her house, Liam looked a lot like his younger brother, Daniel—Emma’s deceased husband.
“Is it hard for you?” I asked carefully. When she gave me a questioning look, I continued, “Seeing Liam all the time. He looks so much like Daniel, doesn’t he? I don’t mean to pry,” I added hastily. “But if you want to talk about it, I’m here.”
She blinked, looking a little surprised by the question. “Huh. I don’t…” She paused rolling her lips. “I think about Daniel a lot. But Liam doesn’t remind me of him at all, to tell you the truth. They’re so different. Liam is…Liam.” She shrugged. “So, no. It’s not hard for me having Liam around. If anything, he’s made everything so much easier. I don’t know what I would have done without him after Daniel died. Liam and Grace held me and Blair together. I—”
- Holly and Mateo:
I honestly don’t know if I’ll read their book (they’re friends to lovers)…
If Mateo has been celibate the whole time—which I find impossible but one can dream—then I’ll give their book a try.
- Sebastian:
The manwhore one and by the end of the book, it turns out he has a wife (i think his FMC!) anyway, I’m terrified of reading his book.
Idk how I feel about this book tbh. Maybe I’m in a reading slump or maybe the plot was just a bit boring and predictable. Either way, that’s probably a me problem, so I’m sure a lot of you will enjoy it.
The one thing I really liked was the virgin MMC and the experienced FMC who never felt ashamed of her sexual history… Give me more confident FMCs like her.
______
Book info:
- Age gap (9): H (38) / h (29)
- City girl x Cowboy
- Ex military
- FMC on the run
- She has a stalker
- Insta attraction-lust
- Small town
Safety:
- The h is a cam girl who does cooking and flower-arranging streams topless (she doesn’t take off her panties).
- Virgin H (don’t worry, he’s completely a virgin).
- Experienced h (she’s very confident and never feels ashamed of her sex life or her work).
“I’d always enjoyed sex. I liked the men I was with, even if my favorite thing about them was their bank account. Sex had felt good. Kissing was perfunctory but enjoyable. It hadn’t occurred to me that I was missing out on anything.”
Her last relationship was with a man who was 30 years older than her. He was good to her and they cared about each other. He was also the reason she had to run away (he sent her away at the beginning of the book because people were after him and they wanted the h too / he never appeared in the story).
- OWD (from the h’s side):
Maybe this is a spoiler or maybe it isn’t, I honestly don’t know. The h has a stalker but it’s pretty easy to figure out who she is right away since we get her POV in a few chapters.
She’s one of the h’s camming subs and is completely obsessed with her. She causes a lot of trouble whenever the h gets into a relationship or does something she doesn’t like.
- No om/cheating/scenes with other people
- No 3rd act break up
- HEA
______
Notes:
I’m curious about the next books!
- Emma and Liam:
Emma is a widowed single mom and apparently her late husband was a great man (I hope the author doesn’t change that). Liam is her late husband’s brother and has always been there for her and his niece.
He also ruins her dates with other men, claiming he doesn’t want them around his niece, so I hope he’s celibate.
I glanced at her curiously. From the pictures I’d seen in her house, Liam looked a lot like his younger brother, Daniel—Emma’s deceased husband.
“Is it hard for you?” I asked carefully. When she gave me a questioning look, I continued, “Seeing Liam all the time. He looks so much like Daniel, doesn’t he? I don’t mean to pry,” I added hastily. “But if you want to talk about it, I’m here.”
She blinked, looking a little surprised by the question. “Huh. I don’t…” She paused rolling her lips. “I think about Daniel a lot. But Liam doesn’t remind me of him at all, to tell you the truth. They’re so different. Liam is…Liam.” She shrugged. “So, no. It’s not hard for me having Liam around. If anything, he’s made everything so much easier. I don’t know what I would have done without him after Daniel died. Liam and Grace held me and Blair together. I—”
- Holly and Mateo:
I honestly don’t know if I’ll read their book (they’re friends to lovers)…
If Mateo has been celibate the whole time—which I find impossible but one can dream—then I’ll give their book a try.
- Sebastian:
The manwhore one and by the end of the book, it turns out he has a wife (i think his FMC!) anyway, I’m terrified of reading his book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2026
4'2 ✮⋆˙ || Si ven a Jeremiah ser dominado por su mujer, actuando como si ella fuera su nuevo propósito en la vida y siguiéndola en sus locuras como un cachorrito enamorado, déjenlo, ahí es justo donde él quiere estar.
«𝘓𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘮á𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘦𝘭 𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘰. 𝘌𝘳𝘢 𝘮𝘪 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘤𝘪ó𝘯».
Es mi segundo libro de la autora y tengo que decir que estoy ENCANTADA. Puedo decir desde ya que me voy a leer esta serie entera. Osea, este ha sido solo el primer libro y ya me encariñe con cada personaje.
JEREMIAH EL HOMBRE QUE TÚ ERES 🗣️🗣️🗣️ En serio, creo que perdí la cuenta de las veces que desee tener a un Jeremiah en mi vida. Es increíble: respetuoso, amable, gentil, paciente, caballeroso, romántico, dulce y coquetoooo (este solo con Lennon jsjs). A pesar de sonrojarse cada vez que Lennon mencionaba algo subido de tono, no era nada tímido. Él estaba tan seguro de sí mismo que no le avergonzaba decir que era un inexperto, sí chicas ES INEXPERTO. Además, es un hombre que resuelve 🙂↕️
También me gustó mucho Lennon. Super graciosa, alegre, amable, independiente, fuerte y que no se deja pisotear por nadie (mucho menos por un hombre). Algo que me preocupaba era el tema de que ella era cam girl. No quería que la autora lo romantizara o idializara. Si bien lo que hace Lennon es un tanto distinto ya que ella utiliza un fetiche muy específico (y podría decir que hasta "inocente") con sus suscriptores (en su mayoría hombres, claro, pero también había un puñado de mujeres), sigue siendo parte de una industria de la que no soy muy fanática (no por las mujeres, sino por los hombres detrás de ellas).
Otro punto a favor fue la frenemistad que se forma entre Holly y Lennon JSKAJKSA fue muy divertido ver como Lennon le ganó 2 veces siendo que a Holly nadie le gana. Ojalá seguir viendo más de esto en los siguientes libros.
Me gusta también como la autora nos va dando ciertos guiños a las que podrían ser las siguientes historias. La dinámica entre Holly y Mateo, que me urge su libro, tienen tantísimo potencial. Y el tema de Liam y Emma, la carga emocional estará fuerte. LO QUE PASÓ AL FINAL SOBRE SEB? HOLA? Totalmente inesperado, ya necesito conocer su historia con Lyla.
En un up date dije: capítulo 23 y sí CAPÍTULO 23 CHICAS JSHDJAKJS. Tengo que decir que adivine el trope secreto, pero eso no me quito las ganas de gritar como loca jsjs.
Uno de mis únicos "peros" es que Hannah, la hermana de Jeremiah, no hiciera aparición. Y, okey, no es su libro, pero ni siquiera hay una mención y una pequeña escena donde Jeremiah diga que esta al pendiente de ella o algo así. En el libro de Hannah nos dicen que hasta él tiene un rastreador en su teléfono (es algo "entendíble" dado el contexto en el que crecieron, créanme, pero igual Hannah lo puede desactivar si quisiera) por eso es que lo menciono. Al final, sí que sale en el epílogo, pero no sé, no es lo mismo.
Anyway ME ENCANTÓ, LEANLO Y CONOZCAN A JEREMIAH 🛐🛐🛐
Pd. Gracias por ese prólogo, andaba con la duda de que había pasado con el cerdo del tío. Jay hizo lo que había que hacer, amén 🙏
«𝘓𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘮á𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘦𝘭 𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘰. 𝘌𝘳𝘢 𝘮𝘪 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘤𝘪ó𝘯».
Es mi segundo libro de la autora y tengo que decir que estoy ENCANTADA. Puedo decir desde ya que me voy a leer esta serie entera. Osea, este ha sido solo el primer libro y ya me encariñe con cada personaje.
JEREMIAH EL HOMBRE QUE TÚ ERES 🗣️🗣️🗣️ En serio, creo que perdí la cuenta de las veces que desee tener a un Jeremiah en mi vida. Es increíble: respetuoso, amable, gentil, paciente, caballeroso, romántico, dulce y coquetoooo (este solo con Lennon jsjs). A pesar de sonrojarse cada vez que Lennon mencionaba algo subido de tono, no era nada tímido. Él estaba tan seguro de sí mismo que no le avergonzaba decir que era un inexperto, sí chicas ES INEXPERTO. Además, es un hombre que resuelve 🙂↕️
También me gustó mucho Lennon. Super graciosa, alegre, amable, independiente, fuerte y que no se deja pisotear por nadie (mucho menos por un hombre). Algo que me preocupaba era el tema de que ella era cam girl. No quería que la autora lo romantizara o idializara. Si bien lo que hace Lennon es un tanto distinto ya que ella utiliza un fetiche muy específico (y podría decir que hasta "inocente") con sus suscriptores (en su mayoría hombres, claro, pero también había un puñado de mujeres), sigue siendo parte de una industria de la que no soy muy fanática (no por las mujeres, sino por los hombres detrás de ellas).
Otro punto a favor fue la frenemistad que se forma entre Holly y Lennon JSKAJKSA fue muy divertido ver como Lennon le ganó 2 veces siendo que a Holly nadie le gana. Ojalá seguir viendo más de esto en los siguientes libros.
Me gusta también como la autora nos va dando ciertos guiños a las que podrían ser las siguientes historias. La dinámica entre Holly y Mateo, que me urge su libro, tienen tantísimo potencial. Y el tema de Liam y Emma, la carga emocional estará fuerte. LO QUE PASÓ AL FINAL SOBRE SEB? HOLA? Totalmente inesperado, ya necesito conocer su historia con Lyla.
En un up date dije: capítulo 23 y sí CAPÍTULO 23 CHICAS JSHDJAKJS. Tengo que decir que adivine el trope secreto, pero eso no me quito las ganas de gritar como loca jsjs.
Uno de mis únicos "peros" es que Hannah, la hermana de Jeremiah, no hiciera aparición. Y, okey, no es su libro, pero ni siquiera hay una mención y una pequeña escena donde Jeremiah diga que esta al pendiente de ella o algo así. En el libro de Hannah nos dicen que hasta él tiene un rastreador en su teléfono (es algo "entendíble" dado el contexto en el que crecieron, créanme, pero igual Hannah lo puede desactivar si quisiera) por eso es que lo menciono. Al final, sí que sale en el epílogo, pero no sé, no es lo mismo.
Anyway ME ENCANTÓ, LEANLO Y CONOZCAN A JEREMIAH 🛐🛐🛐
Pd. Gracias por ese prólogo, andaba con la duda de que había pasado con el cerdo del tío. Jay hizo lo que había que hacer, amén 🙏
June 19, 2026
This kiss wasn’t fire and thirst. It was milk and honey. And that made it all the more dangerous, because I didn’t feel it in my cock.
I felt it in my chest.
After a lot of mediocre books, I finally found a gem. I wasn’t a fan of Elizabeth Bright’s final Lodestar book, but overall, she is an author I can count on. Even if I don’t quite like one of her stories, her characters, humor, and excellent banter always make up for it. I just love her voice.
This book is not just an ‘ordinary’ contemporary romance, but a romantic suspense novel, and it perfectly shows why I don’t like this genre: because the suspense part is pretty lacking. I wish the author hadn’t given the stalker his own POV, because If Bright had just forewent these four chapters, there would have been many more possibilities for the stalker’s identity and much more suspense.
However, the romance was enjoyable, as were the main and supporting characters.
Jeremiah, 38, is the brother of Hannah from Wild Wild Cowboy, and like his sister, he grew up on a compound. He was kicked out at age 14 and later became a SEAL (SAR). After leaving the military, he joined the Mercy River Ranch in Wyoming, a sanctuary for military personnel and first responders with mental health issues. I thought he would be a rather broken guy due to his background, but he isn’t. He’s a quiet, protective, stoic man, who doesn’t have much interest in women or sex—until he meets Lennon. She awakens his sexual instincts like no one before.
Lennon, 29, is a cam girl from New York. When her millionaire lover/benefactor is arrested for tax evasion, she has to disappear for a while and ends up at the Mercy River Ranch, thinking it’s a wellness resort. She adapts, though, as she always does. She is a self-confident, pragmatic, and sexually liberated woman who isn’t ashamed of what she does and who she is. She calls herself a “good news girl”, and I quite liked her self-perception (even though it’s a bit of an understatement):
I look forward to the next book in the series, Seb’s story, coming in October 2026. This intriguing group of ex-special forces and their relationships leaves me curious for more.
What an editor might also have pointed out:
What about the “thick scars” on Jeremiah’s back from his “lesson” after sinning? They are mentioned a few times, and in one scene, all the cowboys work shirtless, only Jeremiah wears a T-shirt. The obvious explanation is that it’s because of his scars. However, they aren’t mentioned at all during their first time having sex (or later). She must see and feel them and comment on them. That doesn’t make sense.
I felt it in my chest.
After a lot of mediocre books, I finally found a gem. I wasn’t a fan of Elizabeth Bright’s final Lodestar book, but overall, she is an author I can count on. Even if I don’t quite like one of her stories, her characters, humor, and excellent banter always make up for it. I just love her voice.
This book is not just an ‘ordinary’ contemporary romance, but a romantic suspense novel, and it perfectly shows why I don’t like this genre: because the suspense part is pretty lacking. I wish the author hadn’t given the stalker his own POV, because If Bright had just forewent these four chapters, there would have been many more possibilities for the stalker’s identity and much more suspense.
However, the romance was enjoyable, as were the main and supporting characters.
Jeremiah, 38, is the brother of Hannah from Wild Wild Cowboy, and like his sister, he grew up on a compound. He was kicked out at age 14 and later became a SEAL (SAR). After leaving the military, he joined the Mercy River Ranch in Wyoming, a sanctuary for military personnel and first responders with mental health issues. I thought he would be a rather broken guy due to his background, but he isn’t. He’s a quiet, protective, stoic man, who doesn’t have much interest in women or sex—until he meets Lennon. She awakens his sexual instincts like no one before.
Lennon, 29, is a cam girl from New York. When her millionaire lover/benefactor is arrested for tax evasion, she has to disappear for a while and ends up at the Mercy River Ranch, thinking it’s a wellness resort. She adapts, though, as she always does. She is a self-confident, pragmatic, and sexually liberated woman who isn’t ashamed of what she does and who she is. She calls herself a “good news girl”, and I quite liked her self-perception (even though it’s a bit of an understatement):
People liked me because they liked themselves when they were with me. I laughed at their jokes, so they pushed themselves to be funnier. I cheered for their successes, so they tried even harder. They sparkled all the more brightly because I held up the mirror. Making people feel good about themselves made me feel good about myself.
I look forward to the next book in the series, Seb’s story, coming in October 2026. This intriguing group of ex-special forces and their relationships leaves me curious for more.
What an editor might also have pointed out:
What about the “thick scars” on Jeremiah’s back from his “lesson” after sinning? They are mentioned a few times, and in one scene, all the cowboys work shirtless, only Jeremiah wears a T-shirt. The obvious explanation is that it’s because of his scars. However, they aren’t mentioned at all during their first time having sex (or later). She must see and feel them and comment on them. That doesn’t make sense.
June 10, 2026
I could not put this down.
This was a one day binge read.
Wild wild cowboy was my favorite from the lodestar series. And when I learned we were getting a certain group in a new series and Hannah’s brother was starting us off. I jumped up and down.
The banter in this book was so good.
The chemistry between these too was 🔥
Jeremiah 🤠
Ex military turned cowboy
Born and raised in a cult
Scars
Protective broody vibes
The way I think I’d fold for this man
Mercy River ranch
A retreat/escape/reset for military/1st responders
Wyoming
Found family
Lennon 🎥
City girl “rich”
Cam girl
Heroine in danger. Dun dun dun
Survival attitude
Lot of trauma rep going on.
Cue the suspense.
And “the guardian” chapters
And chapter 24… the trope twist!!
Blood ball 🤣
There’s so much I want to say about this book and these two but I don’t want to spoil a thing!
This was just generally so well written. It had everything I want in a book.
Arc review ✨
This was a one day binge read.
Wild wild cowboy was my favorite from the lodestar series. And when I learned we were getting a certain group in a new series and Hannah’s brother was starting us off. I jumped up and down.
The banter in this book was so good.
The chemistry between these too was 🔥
Jeremiah 🤠
Ex military turned cowboy
Born and raised in a cult
Scars
Protective broody vibes
The way I think I’d fold for this man
Mercy River ranch
A retreat/escape/reset for military/1st responders
Wyoming
Found family
Lennon 🎥
City girl “rich”
Cam girl
Heroine in danger. Dun dun dun
Survival attitude
Lot of trauma rep going on.
Cue the suspense.
And “the guardian” chapters
And chapter 24… the trope twist!!
Blood ball 🤣
There’s so much I want to say about this book and these two but I don’t want to spoil a thing!
This was just generally so well written. It had everything I want in a book.
Arc review ✨
June 5, 2026
City girl x cowboy
Romantic suspense
Found family
Age gap
Protective hero
She’s a cam girl
Trauma rep
He grew up in a cu!t
Dual POV - 1st person
Duet narration - Aiden Snow & Rose Dioro
Fantastic performance. These two sound SO good together!
Book #1 Mercy River Ranch series
Oh. My. Gawd. The way that I ate this book up... I loved every freaking minute of this story. The characters were so well written and multi layered. I loved that Jeremiah has golden retriever energy but was also so protective. He has a past from growing up in a cult and it has shaped him into the kind, loving, and protective man that he is. Lennon is hiding from some very bad people and the "resort" is where she lands. I absolutely loved the development of their relationship, Jeremiah was so enamored with Lennon from the start and he was surprised by his desires for her. Lennon also feels a strong attraction to Jeremiah. I loved Lennon's personality she is bold and strong. I want to be more like her when I grow up.
AND there is a secret trope that gets revealed that I SQUEALED and had to rewind to hear it again. OMG this book is so good, seriously give it a read/listen or both... You will not be disappointed I promise you that!
Romantic suspense
Found family
Age gap
Protective hero
She’s a cam girl
Trauma rep
He grew up in a cu!t
Dual POV - 1st person
Duet narration - Aiden Snow & Rose Dioro
Fantastic performance. These two sound SO good together!
Book #1 Mercy River Ranch series
Oh. My. Gawd. The way that I ate this book up... I loved every freaking minute of this story. The characters were so well written and multi layered. I loved that Jeremiah has golden retriever energy but was also so protective. He has a past from growing up in a cult and it has shaped him into the kind, loving, and protective man that he is. Lennon is hiding from some very bad people and the "resort" is where she lands. I absolutely loved the development of their relationship, Jeremiah was so enamored with Lennon from the start and he was surprised by his desires for her. Lennon also feels a strong attraction to Jeremiah. I loved Lennon's personality she is bold and strong. I want to be more like her when I grow up.
AND there is a secret trope that gets revealed that I SQUEALED and had to rewind to hear it again. OMG this book is so good, seriously give it a read/listen or both... You will not be disappointed I promise you that!
June 28, 2026
3🌟, 3🌶️
This had all the makings of a book I thought I’d love, but it ended up landing somewhere in the middle for me.
I enjoyed the mix of romantic suspense, the ranch setting, and the found-family feel, but I never felt fully pulled in. The mystery was easy to piece together, so I found myself wishing for a little more tension and a few bigger surprises.
The ranch and the friendships between the characters were easily my favorite part. They gave the story warmth and made the setting feel like somewhere I’d want to spend more time. Jeremiah had that protective, dependable energy, while Lennon brought plenty of personality and kept their dynamic interesting. I just didn’t completely buy into the romance, as it developed a little too quickly for me and left me wanting a deeper connection between them.
Even though this wasn’t quite what I hoped for, I still enjoyed the experience overall. The pacing made it an easy read, there were some fun moments throughout, and the ending was enough to make me curious about what’s next.
Overall, it was a pleasant read, and I’m curious to see where the series goes next.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Elizabeth Bright and Luna Literary for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
This had all the makings of a book I thought I’d love, but it ended up landing somewhere in the middle for me.
I enjoyed the mix of romantic suspense, the ranch setting, and the found-family feel, but I never felt fully pulled in. The mystery was easy to piece together, so I found myself wishing for a little more tension and a few bigger surprises.
The ranch and the friendships between the characters were easily my favorite part. They gave the story warmth and made the setting feel like somewhere I’d want to spend more time. Jeremiah had that protective, dependable energy, while Lennon brought plenty of personality and kept their dynamic interesting. I just didn’t completely buy into the romance, as it developed a little too quickly for me and left me wanting a deeper connection between them.
Even though this wasn’t quite what I hoped for, I still enjoyed the experience overall. The pacing made it an easy read, there were some fun moments throughout, and the ending was enough to make me curious about what’s next.
Overall, it was a pleasant read, and I’m curious to see where the series goes next.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Elizabeth Bright and Luna Literary for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
June 13, 2026
ARC/ALC Review
This was such a fun, cowboy romance, with some suspense!
We have a city girl on the run. Oh no, she ends up in Wyoming! She meets a broody, delicious mustache-clad, ex-Seal cowboy!
Oh no! Whatever could happen?! 🤔
I highly recommend checking this one out! It has banter. It has romance. It has a surprise twist, not usually one I read but still fun nonetheless! It has suspense! Dual points of view.
Aiden Snow and Rose Dioro did a fantastic job on bringing Jeremiah and Lennon to life! The chemistry was definitely felt!
Thank you, Luna Literary and Elizabeth Bright, for the opportunity for the ARC and ALC of this book!
This was such a fun, cowboy romance, with some suspense!
We have a city girl on the run. Oh no, she ends up in Wyoming! She meets a broody, delicious mustache-clad, ex-Seal cowboy!
Oh no! Whatever could happen?! 🤔
I highly recommend checking this one out! It has banter. It has romance. It has a surprise twist, not usually one I read but still fun nonetheless! It has suspense! Dual points of view.
Aiden Snow and Rose Dioro did a fantastic job on bringing Jeremiah and Lennon to life! The chemistry was definitely felt!
Thank you, Luna Literary and Elizabeth Bright, for the opportunity for the ARC and ALC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
⭐ (Story) 4.25
⭐ (Narrator) 5
🌶️ 3
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 8, 9, 23, 24, 29, 30, 34, 35
❤️🔥 Swoon Factor: 2
👫 Jeremiah + Lennon
📚 Tropes/Themes: forced proximity, romantic suspense, found family, protective MMC, small town, city/country
👀 Triple POV 1st person
🎙️ Duet narration (Rose Dioro, Aiden Snow, Bridget Bordeaux)
⏰ Approx 5 hours @ 1.75x
💔 Content warnings: Violence, murder, gore, assault, stalking, kidnapping, sex work, discussion of a religious cult/religious trauma, mentions of CSA in the past
🎀 Special editions: none
Another fabulous read by Elizabeth Bright! This book takes us (back) to Mercy River Ranch where the owner, Jeremiah, (who we originally meet in Wild, Wild Cowboy, my Roman Empire book- Jeremiah is Hannah's brother) falls for Lennon, a cam girl trying to hide out from a bad situation
🐸🐸🐸🐸
It has all the things I love from Bright's work- strong FMCs and the super hot cowboy MMC who falls down bad for them, sweet swoony moments, plenty of spice, delicious chemistry, and it's all wrapped up in a suspenseful plot that kept me guessing.
I was lucky enough to get an ALC of this story, and it really was the best way to read this book. Snow and Dioro did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life, and then Bordeaux bringing the suspense with the guardian's POV.
There's also a secret trope that I did not guess- I feel like I guessed everything but that 😂😂 but it was def the perfect addition to the story. 🔥
I do wish I'd reread Wild Wild Cowboy prior to reading this, and while I wouldn't say it's necessary, knowing Hannah's story added extra oomph to this one, so I would recommend it. I also wish there'd been more about Jeremiah's history with the cult though, or maybe more background check on him. I did appreciate the bible verse puns though 🤣 Would've preferred some more follow-up on Benny as well...I mean, I guess it's not really cheating because he was more of her sugar daddy than boyfriend but idk.
Either way this was a great read, and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book
⭐ (Narrator) 5
🌶️ 3
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 8, 9, 23, 24, 29, 30, 34, 35
❤️🔥 Swoon Factor: 2
👫 Jeremiah + Lennon
📚 Tropes/Themes: forced proximity, romantic suspense, found family, protective MMC, small town, city/country
👀 Triple POV 1st person
🎙️ Duet narration (Rose Dioro, Aiden Snow, Bridget Bordeaux)
⏰ Approx 5 hours @ 1.75x
💔 Content warnings: Violence, murder, gore, assault, stalking, kidnapping, sex work, discussion of a religious cult/religious trauma, mentions of CSA in the past
🎀 Special editions: none
Another fabulous read by Elizabeth Bright! This book takes us (back) to Mercy River Ranch where the owner, Jeremiah, (who we originally meet in Wild, Wild Cowboy, my Roman Empire book- Jeremiah is Hannah's brother) falls for Lennon, a cam girl trying to hide out from a bad situation
🐸🐸🐸🐸
It has all the things I love from Bright's work- strong FMCs and the super hot cowboy MMC who falls down bad for them, sweet swoony moments, plenty of spice, delicious chemistry, and it's all wrapped up in a suspenseful plot that kept me guessing.
I was lucky enough to get an ALC of this story, and it really was the best way to read this book. Snow and Dioro did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life, and then Bordeaux bringing the suspense with the guardian's POV.
There's also a secret trope that I did not guess- I feel like I guessed everything but that 😂😂 but it was def the perfect addition to the story. 🔥
I do wish I'd reread Wild Wild Cowboy prior to reading this, and while I wouldn't say it's necessary, knowing Hannah's story added extra oomph to this one, so I would recommend it. I also wish there'd been more about Jeremiah's history with the cult though, or maybe more background check on him. I did appreciate the bible verse puns though 🤣 Would've preferred some more follow-up on Benny as well...I mean, I guess it's not really cheating because he was more of her sugar daddy than boyfriend but idk.
Either way this was a great read, and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book
June 17, 2026
ok so i LOVEDDDDD this. first of all, the cover has me sat. blonde cowboy? count me in, solider. it’s just so BEAUTIFUL. i will be purchasing for my bookshelf. this book is the BLUEPRINT for why i love cowboy books so much, especially city girl x cowboy. we also have girl on the run & suspense, what else do we need? hehehehe
these two are some of the best main characters i’ve ever read. i don’t even know how to describe lennon to give her justice. i loved everything about her. she’s unapologetically herself. she’s smart, driven, kind, and just a beautiful soul i LOVE HER 😭 since she has always taken care of herself, she doesn’t trust easy. when she finally gets to the point where her walls are tearing down, where she feels she deserves the love he’s giving her, it’s just so fulfilling. as someone who relates to feeling like they’re hard to love or not worth it, this was so important to me.
now jeremiah. where do i even start? HE HAS A MUSTACHE (great starting point tbh). he would be the definition of hard on the outside, soft on the inside. this man. DOWN BAD. (let me also say the pacing in this book - phenomenal. we don’t go straight into trusting each other, it definitely takes time) even when he didn’t trust her he was protecting her from his friends in a game they play, he wouldn’t let anyone near her 🤭 the way i would fold for this man should be studied. AND HE CALLS HER HONEY. i’ll NEVER get over it!!!!
elizabeth has made a new fan for life just from this book. i will say in the beginning i felt overwhelmed with so many characters, but now im sooo excited for future books and to see where they go. and the end of chapter 23? i’m dead. deceased. best thing that could ever happen to me.
thank you to elizabeth, & luna literacy for the advanced reader copy. all opinions are my own!
these two are some of the best main characters i’ve ever read. i don’t even know how to describe lennon to give her justice. i loved everything about her. she’s unapologetically herself. she’s smart, driven, kind, and just a beautiful soul i LOVE HER 😭 since she has always taken care of herself, she doesn’t trust easy. when she finally gets to the point where her walls are tearing down, where she feels she deserves the love he’s giving her, it’s just so fulfilling. as someone who relates to feeling like they’re hard to love or not worth it, this was so important to me.
now jeremiah. where do i even start? HE HAS A MUSTACHE (great starting point tbh). he would be the definition of hard on the outside, soft on the inside. this man. DOWN BAD. (let me also say the pacing in this book - phenomenal. we don’t go straight into trusting each other, it definitely takes time) even when he didn’t trust her he was protecting her from his friends in a game they play, he wouldn’t let anyone near her 🤭 the way i would fold for this man should be studied. AND HE CALLS HER HONEY. i’ll NEVER get over it!!!!
elizabeth has made a new fan for life just from this book. i will say in the beginning i felt overwhelmed with so many characters, but now im sooo excited for future books and to see where they go. and the end of chapter 23? i’m dead. deceased. best thing that could ever happen to me.
thank you to elizabeth, & luna literacy for the advanced reader copy. all opinions are my own!
June 19, 2026
Mustached Cowboy? SAY LESS.
My first book by Elizabeth Bright, but definitely not my last! I need to read her Lodestar Ranch series immediately.
I loved Jeremiah and Lennon together.
The city girl x cowboy dynamic between them was done so well. Lennon was so much stronger than she realized. She was so smart and sassy, and I love how she fit in so well at the ranch. Jeremiah was so sweet and once he let down his guard he was so soft for her. Also, I loved that his nickname for her was “honey”. It’s my fave!
I did guess the bad guy pretty early on, but it didn’t take away from enjoying the suspense aspect at all. I really loved that the villain had their own chapters!
I’m so excited to see what’s next in this series!
ARC review
🤠Cowboy x City girl
🤠Ex Military
🤠Found family
🤠Girl on the run
🤠Suspense
🤠Small town
My first book by Elizabeth Bright, but definitely not my last! I need to read her Lodestar Ranch series immediately.
I loved Jeremiah and Lennon together.
The city girl x cowboy dynamic between them was done so well. Lennon was so much stronger than she realized. She was so smart and sassy, and I love how she fit in so well at the ranch. Jeremiah was so sweet and once he let down his guard he was so soft for her. Also, I loved that his nickname for her was “honey”. It’s my fave!
I did guess the bad guy pretty early on, but it didn’t take away from enjoying the suspense aspect at all. I really loved that the villain had their own chapters!
I’m so excited to see what’s next in this series!
ARC review
🤠Cowboy x City girl
🤠Ex Military
🤠Found family
🤠Girl on the run
🤠Suspense
🤠Small town
June 13, 2026
My first Elizabeth Bright book but definitely won’t be my last! Long Time Coming completely blew me away. Set against a rugged Wyoming ranch, it follows an ex-special forces cowboy and a city girl he totally misjudges. The tension? Off the charts! The suspense? Gripping! And the slow burn? Absolutely delicious. It kept me hanging on to every single word!
I am completely obsessed with Lennon and Jeremiah! Lennon is such a sassy, smart FMC. She’s a survivor who did what she had to do to make a living, and even though people underestimated her intellect, she is actually brilliant. And Jeremiah? This man. He had me absolutely swooning! From a cult upbringing to becoming a Navy SEAL, he has so much depth and a massive heart, while still exuding a sexy, protective energy. This man makes me SWEAT! Especially after that little plot twist at the end of Chapter 23!
Plus, the found family dynamic with his former SEAL team (Liam, Seb, Holly, and Mateo) is perfection. The rivalry between Holly and Lennon was hilarious, and the scene where Lennon holds Henrietta the chicken and finally gets why Holly carries Mother Clucker around had me laughing out loud.
Can we talk about the audiobook for a second? Because WOW! It’s narrated by Rose Dioro and Aiden Snow, and as an absolute stan of Aiden’s deep, gravelly baritone, he completely delivered. He is the ultimate protective cowboy, and I was melting. Rose Dioro was equally amazing, bringing so much fire and vulnerability to Lennon’s character. Their chemistry in this duet narration made the whole story come alive and had me completely glued to my headphones. I can't wait for more books in this series!
I am completely obsessed with Lennon and Jeremiah! Lennon is such a sassy, smart FMC. She’s a survivor who did what she had to do to make a living, and even though people underestimated her intellect, she is actually brilliant. And Jeremiah? This man. He had me absolutely swooning! From a cult upbringing to becoming a Navy SEAL, he has so much depth and a massive heart, while still exuding a sexy, protective energy. This man makes me SWEAT! Especially after that little plot twist at the end of Chapter 23!
Plus, the found family dynamic with his former SEAL team (Liam, Seb, Holly, and Mateo) is perfection. The rivalry between Holly and Lennon was hilarious, and the scene where Lennon holds Henrietta the chicken and finally gets why Holly carries Mother Clucker around had me laughing out loud.
Can we talk about the audiobook for a second? Because WOW! It’s narrated by Rose Dioro and Aiden Snow, and as an absolute stan of Aiden’s deep, gravelly baritone, he completely delivered. He is the ultimate protective cowboy, and I was melting. Rose Dioro was equally amazing, bringing so much fire and vulnerability to Lennon’s character. Their chemistry in this duet narration made the whole story come alive and had me completely glued to my headphones. I can't wait for more books in this series!
June 8, 2026
Romantic suspense may just be my new thing.
Add in a beautiful Wyoming setting and I’m all set.
We follow Lennon, a wild and spoiled city girl who is running from her stalker and Jeremiah, a ex special forces cowboy who runs a sanctuary for military and first responders called Mercy River Ranch.
My thoughts-
Lennon my city girl, total opposite of Jay 100 percent.
So damn smart and witty. Such a sassy mouth. I love her to pieces.
Is that girl an Aquarius? Because I swear she’s my twin. Bold and spicy. A little flame for sure!
Jeremiah, such a broody man. So damn protective. I’d do anything for him. Anything. 😂😭
Him calling her honey… got me wild.
The spice was definitely thereeee. The chemistry was so good! 👏👏👏
The banter even better, I love both Jay and Lennon so much.
Let me tell you I screamed in chapter 24. I mean I was HOLLERING!
Aiden Snow does it again. The audio was literally spectacular! One of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to in a while.
Rose Dioro did wonderful and I devoured this entire book within hours.
Even though I figured out the stalker kind of early I still had so much fun with this book. Elizabeth Bright definitely did her big one with this whole book.
4.5/5⭐️
——————
Her hair reminded me of dessert, the way shades of chocolate, caramel, and honey swirled together.
A month ago I had no idea who Lennon Graves was, and now I didn’t know how I was supposed to keep breathing without her.
——————
As always thank you Elizabeth Bright and Luna Literary for this ARC & ALC.
Add in a beautiful Wyoming setting and I’m all set.
We follow Lennon, a wild and spoiled city girl who is running from her stalker and Jeremiah, a ex special forces cowboy who runs a sanctuary for military and first responders called Mercy River Ranch.
My thoughts-
Lennon my city girl, total opposite of Jay 100 percent.
So damn smart and witty. Such a sassy mouth. I love her to pieces.
Is that girl an Aquarius? Because I swear she’s my twin. Bold and spicy. A little flame for sure!
Jeremiah, such a broody man. So damn protective. I’d do anything for him. Anything. 😂😭
Him calling her honey… got me wild.
The spice was definitely thereeee. The chemistry was so good! 👏👏👏
The banter even better, I love both Jay and Lennon so much.
Let me tell you I screamed in chapter 24. I mean I was HOLLERING!
Aiden Snow does it again. The audio was literally spectacular! One of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to in a while.
Rose Dioro did wonderful and I devoured this entire book within hours.
Even though I figured out the stalker kind of early I still had so much fun with this book. Elizabeth Bright definitely did her big one with this whole book.
4.5/5⭐️
——————
Her hair reminded me of dessert, the way shades of chocolate, caramel, and honey swirled together.
A month ago I had no idea who Lennon Graves was, and now I didn’t know how I was supposed to keep breathing without her.
——————
As always thank you Elizabeth Bright and Luna Literary for this ARC & ALC.
June 11, 2026
Mercy River Ranch is a sanctuary for military and first responders who need some healing. When Lennon shows up, she obviously doesn't belong there. Jeremiah was super suspicious of her at first because soon after she arrived weird things were happening. But then they realized somebody was actually after Lennon. I love how Lennon is unapologetically herself. Jeremiah is protective of Lennon and will do anything to keep her safe. Also he calls her honey. SWOON. The two are opposites but their chemistry is undeniable.
I love a good romantic suspense and it's been a while since i've read one. It was pretty obvious who the villain was but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. And that ending!? I need to know what happens.
🎧Audio:🎧
This was a duet narration by Aiden Snow and Rose Dioro with Bridget Bordeaux voicing the villain. Aiden's voice was perfect for the broody, protective Jeremiah. Rose brought the sassy city girl to life in the best way. The audio was great and kept my attention the entire time.
Overall, 3.5/5.
Thank you to Must Love Audio & Luna Literary for this e-ARC/ALC. All opinions are my own.
I love a good romantic suspense and it's been a while since i've read one. It was pretty obvious who the villain was but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. And that ending!? I need to know what happens.
🎧Audio:🎧
This was a duet narration by Aiden Snow and Rose Dioro with Bridget Bordeaux voicing the villain. Aiden's voice was perfect for the broody, protective Jeremiah. Rose brought the sassy city girl to life in the best way. The audio was great and kept my attention the entire time.
Overall, 3.5/5.
Thank you to Must Love Audio & Luna Literary for this e-ARC/ALC. All opinions are my own.
November 11, 2026
✨ Romance Comfort-Read Alert ✨
I’ll always fill you in on:
🛑 Cheating / OW-OM drama: No
💞 Angst: fairly low
🚫💔 Third-act breakup: Nope! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
🔥 🌶️🌶️.85
🏡 HEA ALWAYS
Format: 🎧 on Hoopla
Narrators: Aiden Snow and Rose Dioro
Triggers: stalking, kidnapping
You've read the plot summary; here are the things I loved 😍 and the things I didn't like as much 👎
😍 Jeremiah. Full stop. I ate this man up. I loved that he was so protective. He's a former SEAL, so he's got that whole alpha-male, military thing going on and a slutty mustache. He wasn't like an alpha-hole, and I appreciated that. He was clearly very respected. He had good leadership.
😍 The fact that Jeremiah was a v!rgin was damn near the cutest and sweetest thing 🫦 I get it, religious trauma will do things to a person. I think the religious trauma thing was part of it, but he says it just never felt right with other women. So, I appreciate that while he's hot and I'm sure he had plenty of opportunities, he had some morals about intimacy.
😍 Holly-she seems like she'd be fun to be around...and a little mean 😂
😍 I loved the idea of the ranch: a ranch that is mainly for military and first responders.
😍 Jeremiah calling her "Honey" I'm a puddle.
😍 and👎 I didn't hate that he was a V and she was the experienced one...but IDK, something about her being in a sugar daddy/baby relationship was the 👎 At one point, when she and Jeremiah are fooling around, she blurts out that her last boyfriend left money on the nightstand...it just felt icky. It's sort of explained away by Jeremiah that he knew she was trying to shock him or make him not want her, but it didn't work.
👎 I didn't love that Lennon tells Jeremiah she would have married Benny, her sugar daddy, if he asked. The reason she would is that he was rich and would take care of her. IDK, it would be hard to trust that she could love someone for who they are and not what they can give her.
👎 My notes on Lennon: Lennon wasn't deep. She had trauma, but her surface-level approach to men was flat. I mean, I get it: she used men, and they used her. She was a cam girl in a sugar daddy situation, which, no shade, but also, of course, she didn't see that men could be deep. She didn't have deep, emotionally connective conversations. She seemed so shallow w/ so much of her focus on designers, wealth, pampering etc. Sure, b/c she was from the trailer part.
👎 Jeremiah was by far the better character; I wish we saw more of his SEAL skills.
😍 and 👎 Her stalker situation was a fun twist b/c it wasn't a man. It was pretty obvious after the 2nd or 3rd "Guardian" chapter who it was.
Honestly, I liked this and would read others from the series. Definitely recommend audio.
I’ll always fill you in on:
🛑 Cheating / OW-OM drama: No
💞 Angst: fairly low
🚫💔 Third-act breakup: Nope! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
🔥 🌶️🌶️.85
🏡 HEA ALWAYS
Format: 🎧 on Hoopla
Narrators: Aiden Snow and Rose Dioro
Triggers: stalking, kidnapping
You've read the plot summary; here are the things I loved 😍 and the things I didn't like as much 👎
😍 Jeremiah. Full stop. I ate this man up. I loved that he was so protective. He's a former SEAL, so he's got that whole alpha-male, military thing going on and a slutty mustache. He wasn't like an alpha-hole, and I appreciated that. He was clearly very respected. He had good leadership.
😍 The fact that Jeremiah was a v!rgin was damn near the cutest and sweetest thing 🫦 I get it, religious trauma will do things to a person. I think the religious trauma thing was part of it, but he says it just never felt right with other women. So, I appreciate that while he's hot and I'm sure he had plenty of opportunities, he had some morals about intimacy.
😍 Holly-she seems like she'd be fun to be around...and a little mean 😂
😍 I loved the idea of the ranch: a ranch that is mainly for military and first responders.
😍 Jeremiah calling her "Honey" I'm a puddle.
😍 and👎 I didn't hate that he was a V and she was the experienced one...but IDK, something about her being in a sugar daddy/baby relationship was the 👎 At one point, when she and Jeremiah are fooling around, she blurts out that her last boyfriend left money on the nightstand...it just felt icky. It's sort of explained away by Jeremiah that he knew she was trying to shock him or make him not want her, but it didn't work.
👎 I didn't love that Lennon tells Jeremiah she would have married Benny, her sugar daddy, if he asked. The reason she would is that he was rich and would take care of her. IDK, it would be hard to trust that she could love someone for who they are and not what they can give her.
👎 My notes on Lennon: Lennon wasn't deep. She had trauma, but her surface-level approach to men was flat. I mean, I get it: she used men, and they used her. She was a cam girl in a sugar daddy situation, which, no shade, but also, of course, she didn't see that men could be deep. She didn't have deep, emotionally connective conversations. She seemed so shallow w/ so much of her focus on designers, wealth, pampering etc. Sure, b/c she was from the trailer part.
👎 Jeremiah was by far the better character; I wish we saw more of his SEAL skills.
😍 and 👎 Her stalker situation was a fun twist b/c it wasn't a man. It was pretty obvious after the 2nd or 3rd "Guardian" chapter who it was.
Honestly, I liked this and would read others from the series. Definitely recommend audio.
June 30, 2026
This follows Lennon and Jeremiah. Lennon is a city girl who needs to lay low due to her profession and someone close to her being under investigation, so she escapes to a retreat ranch in Wyoming. There, she meets Jeremiah an ex special forces soldier turned cowboy who’s determined to figure out why she’s really there. But can she outrun the danger catching up to her?
I really enjoyed this city girl meets country boy, suspenseful small town romance. The plot was well done, and I was hooked to see how everything would unfold, especially with multiple potential situations unfolding. The ranch itself felt like such a special place, and I loved the backstory behind it how it was now run by five mates and has purpose.
Lennon and Jeremiah were fantastic together. I loved how Lennon would tempt and challenge him it added such a fun dynamic. At the same time, we got some really vulnerable moments, mental health and even dyslexia representation.
Jeremiah is such an handsome character who is protective, grounded, and trying to understand Lennon, while also being drawn to her strong intoxicating personality and the mystery surrounding her. His backstory pulled on the heart strings. The plot kept me engaged the entire time, and I really liked how everything played out. The spice was also well balanced and fit well into the story.
I will say, I was a bit surprised by the reveal that Jeremiah is a virgin. Based on how he carries himself, it felt slightly unexpected and impossible. I also wish we had seen his immediate reaction when he learned more about Lennon, rather than it happening off page after he had already processed it.
I highly recommend the audiobook if you pick this up. Aiden and Rose did a fantastic job with the duet narration it really brought the story to life.
This was my first Elizabeth book, and I’m definitely interested in reading or listening to more of her work, especially since this one ended with some suspense for what’s coming next in the series.
Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook ALC
Audiobook Length: 8hrs 29mins
Narrators: Aiden Snow and Rose Dioro - Duet
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️.5
POV: First Person
Series or Standalone: Book One In Mercy River Ranch Series
Tropes or Themes: Small Town, Cowboy, Opposites Attract, Found Family, City Girl X Cowboy, Suspense, Protective MMC, Chemistry, Tension, Jealousy, Panic Attacks, Dyslexia Rep, Kidnapping, Injured, Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Praise, Reverse Virgin, Oral Play, Shower Scene, Barn Scene and Outside Scene.
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Margins | Pagebound | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
I really enjoyed this city girl meets country boy, suspenseful small town romance. The plot was well done, and I was hooked to see how everything would unfold, especially with multiple potential situations unfolding. The ranch itself felt like such a special place, and I loved the backstory behind it how it was now run by five mates and has purpose.
Lennon and Jeremiah were fantastic together. I loved how Lennon would tempt and challenge him it added such a fun dynamic. At the same time, we got some really vulnerable moments, mental health and even dyslexia representation.
Jeremiah is such an handsome character who is protective, grounded, and trying to understand Lennon, while also being drawn to her strong intoxicating personality and the mystery surrounding her. His backstory pulled on the heart strings. The plot kept me engaged the entire time, and I really liked how everything played out. The spice was also well balanced and fit well into the story.
I will say, I was a bit surprised by the reveal that Jeremiah is a virgin. Based on how he carries himself, it felt slightly unexpected and impossible. I also wish we had seen his immediate reaction when he learned more about Lennon, rather than it happening off page after he had already processed it.
I highly recommend the audiobook if you pick this up. Aiden and Rose did a fantastic job with the duet narration it really brought the story to life.
This was my first Elizabeth book, and I’m definitely interested in reading or listening to more of her work, especially since this one ended with some suspense for what’s coming next in the series.
Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook ALC
Audiobook Length: 8hrs 29mins
Narrators: Aiden Snow and Rose Dioro - Duet
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️.5
POV: First Person
Series or Standalone: Book One In Mercy River Ranch Series
Tropes or Themes: Small Town, Cowboy, Opposites Attract, Found Family, City Girl X Cowboy, Suspense, Protective MMC, Chemistry, Tension, Jealousy, Panic Attacks, Dyslexia Rep, Kidnapping, Injured, Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Praise, Reverse Virgin, Oral Play, Shower Scene, Barn Scene and Outside Scene.
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Margins | Pagebound | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
June 23, 2026
Babes...
This book had me at:
✨ Broody cowboy.
✨ Ex-special forces.
✨ Protective as hell.
✨ Calls her "honey."
Because let's be honest...I'm easy.💀
But what I DIDN'T expect was to become completely obsessed with Jeremiah and Lennon. And now here we are.
A city girl on the run.
A cowboy who trusts absolutely nobody.
A ranch full of wounded heroes trying to heal.
And danger lurking where nobody expects it.
Let's start with Jeremiah.
BABES. JEREMIAH.
This man looked at Lennon and immediately decided she was trouble. Not because she actually did anything. But because she was gorgeous, smart, and way too out of place on his Wyoming ranch.
And meanwhile Lennon was matching his energy every step of the way. She wasn't intimidated. She wasn't shrinking herself. She gave it right back.
Both Jeremiah and Lennon carry trauma.
Both have spent years surviving.
Both have learned to keep pieces of themselves hidden.
And watching them slowly become a safe place for each other?
BABES. That got me.
Underneath the flirting, banter, and suspense was a story about finding someone who sees every broken piece of you and stays anyway.🥹
Now the suspense...
Did I figure out some of it? Sure.
Did I still stay glued to the pages? ABSOLUTELY.
Because the real magic wasn't trying to figure out who the danger was. It was watching Jeremiah realize that the woman he thought brought trouble to the ranch was actually the person who brought him back to life.😭
🎧Also...
Aiden Snow's voice? Babes.
THAT MAN COULD READ ME A GROCERY LIST.
Aiden Snow and Rose Dioro completely brought Jeremiah and Lennon to life and their chemistry jumped straight through my headphones.
✨ Tropes & Themes ✨
🤠 Cowboy Romance
🩵 Romantic Suspense
🤠 City Girl x Cowboy
🩵 Ex-Special Forces MMC
🤠 Protective Hero
🩵 Found Family
🤠 Girl On The Run
🩵 Small Town Romance
🤠 Trauma & Healing
🩵 Opposites Attract
🤠 Forced Proximity
🩵 Grumpy x Sunshine
🤠 Hidden Danger
🩵 Touch Her and Die
✨ Read if you love:
Protective cowboys, found family, women who refuse to be underestimated, romantic suspense, healing journeys, ex-military heroes, and books that make you laugh, swoon, and stress all at the same time.
This book had me at:
✨ Broody cowboy.
✨ Ex-special forces.
✨ Protective as hell.
✨ Calls her "honey."
Because let's be honest...I'm easy.💀
But what I DIDN'T expect was to become completely obsessed with Jeremiah and Lennon. And now here we are.
A city girl on the run.
A cowboy who trusts absolutely nobody.
A ranch full of wounded heroes trying to heal.
And danger lurking where nobody expects it.
Let's start with Jeremiah.
BABES. JEREMIAH.
This man looked at Lennon and immediately decided she was trouble. Not because she actually did anything. But because she was gorgeous, smart, and way too out of place on his Wyoming ranch.
And meanwhile Lennon was matching his energy every step of the way. She wasn't intimidated. She wasn't shrinking herself. She gave it right back.
Both Jeremiah and Lennon carry trauma.
Both have spent years surviving.
Both have learned to keep pieces of themselves hidden.
And watching them slowly become a safe place for each other?
BABES. That got me.
Underneath the flirting, banter, and suspense was a story about finding someone who sees every broken piece of you and stays anyway.🥹
Now the suspense...
Did I figure out some of it? Sure.
Did I still stay glued to the pages? ABSOLUTELY.
Because the real magic wasn't trying to figure out who the danger was. It was watching Jeremiah realize that the woman he thought brought trouble to the ranch was actually the person who brought him back to life.😭
🎧Also...
Aiden Snow's voice? Babes.
THAT MAN COULD READ ME A GROCERY LIST.
Aiden Snow and Rose Dioro completely brought Jeremiah and Lennon to life and their chemistry jumped straight through my headphones.
✨ Tropes & Themes ✨
🤠 Cowboy Romance
🩵 Romantic Suspense
🤠 City Girl x Cowboy
🩵 Ex-Special Forces MMC
🤠 Protective Hero
🩵 Found Family
🤠 Girl On The Run
🩵 Small Town Romance
🤠 Trauma & Healing
🩵 Opposites Attract
🤠 Forced Proximity
🩵 Grumpy x Sunshine
🤠 Hidden Danger
🩵 Touch Her and Die
✨ Read if you love:
Protective cowboys, found family, women who refuse to be underestimated, romantic suspense, healing journeys, ex-military heroes, and books that make you laugh, swoon, and stress all at the same time.
June 27, 2026
Jeremiah & Lennon are an unconventional match. Between his cult upbringing and her cam girl profession, these are not characters you automatically link. Yet, the sparks flew immediately and you can see the pull between them. Lennon is bold, a strong survivor who has learned to depend on one person, herself. Jeremiah is strong-willed, determined and a natural protector. Is it any wonder he is drawn to Lennon’s charisma and danger. I loved seeing Lennon carve a place for herself at the ranch. It wasn’t an atmosphere she was used to but she approached each experience with determination and a mind that thinks outside the box. The mystery of this story kept hooked and intrigued as we tried to find Lennon’s stalker with a few surprises. Yes, I did not see the surprise trope at chapter 23 coming, in hindsight I should have. The gasp I gasped could be heard in the next room. The slow burn heat between Lennon & Jeremiah was heady with a fully satisfying culmination. This story shines a new light on areas we don’t see often, cult life and biblical belief but I thought they were handled with a tender care. I enjoyed this story and the world of Mercy River Ranch.
Narration by Aiden Snow & Rose Dioro with Bridget Bardot with such a fun listen. Aiden & Rose had great chemistry and really brought you into Lennon & Jeremiah’s world. I fully bought Jeremiah as the strong, committed protector in Aiden’s voice. Rose Absolutely settled into Lennon’s sassy spirit and stubborn determination. Additionally the support of Bridget Bardot was unexpected and a fabulous contrast. She was fabulous at bouncing between her characters two sides. Production put together is beautiful story that kept me dialled right in.
Narration by Aiden Snow & Rose Dioro with Bridget Bardot with such a fun listen. Aiden & Rose had great chemistry and really brought you into Lennon & Jeremiah’s world. I fully bought Jeremiah as the strong, committed protector in Aiden’s voice. Rose Absolutely settled into Lennon’s sassy spirit and stubborn determination. Additionally the support of Bridget Bardot was unexpected and a fabulous contrast. She was fabulous at bouncing between her characters two sides. Production put together is beautiful story that kept me dialled right in.
June 19, 2026
Whoa can we first stop and take a moment for the monumental shock of the trope reveal at ch 24?
Oooohhh baby!!!
If your looking for a city girl x military cowboy
Cult culture and FMC on the run.
This is it!
The entire book will keep you hooked even if you guess the stalker it’s still full of twists that will have you hooked!
Oh and when he calls her Honey 🍯 I melted.
Their banter and emotional connection was amazing this author did an incredible job at engrossing me into the story. Oh yeah the setting was also descriptive and beautifully written.
Thank you so much to Lina Literary for the ARC
All opinions are my own.
Oooohhh baby!!!
If your looking for a city girl x military cowboy
Cult culture and FMC on the run.
This is it!
The entire book will keep you hooked even if you guess the stalker it’s still full of twists that will have you hooked!
Oh and when he calls her Honey 🍯 I melted.
Their banter and emotional connection was amazing this author did an incredible job at engrossing me into the story. Oh yeah the setting was also descriptive and beautifully written.
Thank you so much to Lina Literary for the ARC
All opinions are my own.
July 2, 2026
arc / alc review 🤠🤍
long time coming pulled me in from the beginning before i started this book. from cowboys, city girl, romantic suspense, tension, and yearning will surprise you. this audiobook was filled with amazing people who were very ambitious and the story was well written. the secret trope took me by surprise while i did two sets of legos.
elizabeth's writing was very addictive and chef's kiss. i really enjoyed this story and i will definitely continue with this series. thank you to luna literacy and the author for the gifted eARC and alc for an exchange review.
tropes:
🤎 found family
🤠 age gap
🤎 city girl × cowboy
🤠 secret trope
🤎 romantic suspense
🤠opposites attract
long time coming pulled me in from the beginning before i started this book. from cowboys, city girl, romantic suspense, tension, and yearning will surprise you. this audiobook was filled with amazing people who were very ambitious and the story was well written. the secret trope took me by surprise while i did two sets of legos.
elizabeth's writing was very addictive and chef's kiss. i really enjoyed this story and i will definitely continue with this series. thank you to luna literacy and the author for the gifted eARC and alc for an exchange review.
tropes:
🤎 found family
🤠 age gap
🤎 city girl × cowboy
🤠 secret trope
🤎 romantic suspense
🤠opposites attract
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2026
this was such a fun & swoony read, that of course had me stressed for a lot of the time. 👀 romantic suspense books just always hit the spot for me, and even though i was able to figure out the villain early on, i was still impatiently waiting for the big reveal. 👀
i absolutely loved Lennon’s personality, how she fought for herself, and how freeing being at Mercy River Ranch was for her. 🥰
And Jeremiah!! I loooove a protective cowboy!
overall, I really enjoyed this one & can’t wait to read the next!
i absolutely loved Lennon’s personality, how she fought for herself, and how freeing being at Mercy River Ranch was for her. 🥰
And Jeremiah!! I loooove a protective cowboy!
overall, I really enjoyed this one & can’t wait to read the next!
June 19, 2026
This was such a fun read! I loved both Lennon and Jeremiah. I’m always a sucker for a sweet cowboy romance and this one fit the bill.
The suspense in this book was really good. The “Guardian” chapters kept me guessing. Also, the surprise trope twist was honestly a breath of fresh air. This is not something that I typically find in the romance genre but I’m here for it!
The suspense in this book was really good. The “Guardian” chapters kept me guessing. Also, the surprise trope twist was honestly a breath of fresh air. This is not something that I typically find in the romance genre but I’m here for it!
July 12, 2026
Thank you to Must Love Audio for my copy.
Rating: 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Tropes:
🤠Small Town
🤎Virgin MMC
🤠Cam Girl FMC
🤎Suspense
Thoughts: This was my first book by Elizabeth and it most definitely won’t be my last. I absolutely loved this story and was hooked from the start until the end. I devoured it all in one day. I enjoyed the main characters and their ability to bond over their trauma. The suspense was an added bonus.
Narration: I think these narrators did a wonderful job bringing this story to life.
Rating: 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Tropes:
🤠Small Town
🤎Virgin MMC
🤠Cam Girl FMC
🤎Suspense
Thoughts: This was my first book by Elizabeth and it most definitely won’t be my last. I absolutely loved this story and was hooked from the start until the end. I devoured it all in one day. I enjoyed the main characters and their ability to bond over their trauma. The suspense was an added bonus.
Narration: I think these narrators did a wonderful job bringing this story to life.
June 18, 2026
This is my first Elizabeth bright book and I loved it so much, I’m excited to see where this series goes.
Tropes:
Romantic Suspense
Small Town Romance
City Girl x Cowboy
Found Family
Protective Hero
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Romantic Suspense
Small Town Romance
City Girl x Cowboy
Found Family
Protective Hero
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
July 19, 2026
4⭐️
2🌶️
I love me a cowboy romance with some suspense
2🌶️
I love me a cowboy romance with some suspense
November 4, 2026
Added to my DNF pile at the end of page 44. I hate this FMC - she's complete trash.
July 11, 2026
So while I didn't hate this, I didn't exactly love it either.
The prologue has nothing to do with the rest of the story. Literally nothing. It feels like a remnant from the series that took place BEFORE this series began. Which may be a nice easter egg for those who read that series...but I didn't.
There was a kind of bizarre polygamy cult angle that felt monkey-wrenched into the plot of an otherwise totally normal story. It's a left-over, apparently, from another series that this series spins off of, so I know it HAS to be there. I just wish it weren't.
The suspense part of the story, while present, wasn't as front and center as I hoped for, too. There's more focus on the two people being horny for each other, and then on Jeremiah finally getting laid after 38 years as a virgin than the actual dangerous mystery.
And while we're talking about the mystery - It's almost immediately obvious who The Guardian is. She's got chapters that basically point you directly at the person. So when it's finally revealed...it wasn't a shock or a surprise. I don't think we needed the Guardian's chapters AT ALL if I'm honest. They didn't really add anything that a villain speech later on in the story couldn't have accomplished.
The relationship...eh. I didn't really feel much for either of the pair individually. Lennon's billed as this outspoken, confident girly - but she's just another FMC who's got her mother in her head telling how useless and stupid she is the whole story. She's also in sort of a sugar daddy/baby situation with another man in the beginning of the story and that situationship is never really ENDED before she starts lusting after Jeremiah. It's to the point that, at the end of the story, she gets a call from this guy's...assistant? basically telling her she's safe from the goons who were after him and she can move back to NYC and live in his apartment - that he still cares for her and wants to give her a boatload of money...
She obviously chooses not to take it or go back to NY, but like... it's unfinished business that's messier than it needs to be.
Jeremiah is sort of a nothing burger outside of his polygamy cult background. He's just The Virgin™ the whole book.
Which is sad because he's supposedly an ex-Navy SEAL and Search and Rescue expert. But outside a few scenes where he analyses the scene of a wreck, we don't get to see him actually use his skills. I NEEDED that!
But the book's too busy trying to get this man laid.
It's sex or the promise of it or the desire for it that drives Jeremiah's and Lennon's ENTIRE relationship. She teases him, he gets hard and grumbles about it until he finally gives in and lets her touch him. That's it. That's their whole relationship.
Lennon is on this ranch for barely a month, they have only a handful of conversations that DON'T end up revolving around sex, and then they're telling each other they love each other. 🫤
The spice, when we do finally get it - is also weirdly Biblical? It made me uncomfortable, the way he talked to her and about her. The way he was quoting Bible verses up to and after finally getting his dick wet. And the rest of the time, he's just saying weird shit, like:
"My soul thirsts for you, my flesh yearns for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Holy words that my lips whispered to a holy place, where she was abundantly wet.
And Lennon's reaction to finding out Jeremiah is a virgin tells me enough about her that I don't really think I like her. It's not just disbelief. It's the fact that over the course of the story she makes several statements about men that make me think she's the sort of woman who likes lumping men into one giant category. What do you mean you didn't know men were capable of having feelings?! Like she can't fathom that one doesn't fit the mold.
I don't like people who do that. Who stereotype and judge. Even when they don't mean to. It's gross behavior.
So, this was just an okay read for me. It's fast, and an easy read. But I didn't feel anything I wanted to feel. The plot didn't really give me everything I was hoping for. The weird religious stuff kind of grossed me out... yeah, I don't know.
The prologue has nothing to do with the rest of the story. Literally nothing. It feels like a remnant from the series that took place BEFORE this series began. Which may be a nice easter egg for those who read that series...but I didn't.
There was a kind of bizarre polygamy cult angle that felt monkey-wrenched into the plot of an otherwise totally normal story. It's a left-over, apparently, from another series that this series spins off of, so I know it HAS to be there. I just wish it weren't.
The suspense part of the story, while present, wasn't as front and center as I hoped for, too. There's more focus on the two people being horny for each other, and then on Jeremiah finally getting laid after 38 years as a virgin than the actual dangerous mystery.
And while we're talking about the mystery - It's almost immediately obvious who The Guardian is. She's got chapters that basically point you directly at the person. So when it's finally revealed...it wasn't a shock or a surprise. I don't think we needed the Guardian's chapters AT ALL if I'm honest. They didn't really add anything that a villain speech later on in the story couldn't have accomplished.
The relationship...eh. I didn't really feel much for either of the pair individually. Lennon's billed as this outspoken, confident girly - but she's just another FMC who's got her mother in her head telling how useless and stupid she is the whole story. She's also in sort of a sugar daddy/baby situation with another man in the beginning of the story and that situationship is never really ENDED before she starts lusting after Jeremiah. It's to the point that, at the end of the story, she gets a call from this guy's...assistant? basically telling her she's safe from the goons who were after him and she can move back to NYC and live in his apartment - that he still cares for her and wants to give her a boatload of money...
She obviously chooses not to take it or go back to NY, but like... it's unfinished business that's messier than it needs to be.
Jeremiah is sort of a nothing burger outside of his polygamy cult background. He's just The Virgin™ the whole book.
Which is sad because he's supposedly an ex-Navy SEAL and Search and Rescue expert. But outside a few scenes where he analyses the scene of a wreck, we don't get to see him actually use his skills. I NEEDED that!
But the book's too busy trying to get this man laid.
It's sex or the promise of it or the desire for it that drives Jeremiah's and Lennon's ENTIRE relationship. She teases him, he gets hard and grumbles about it until he finally gives in and lets her touch him. That's it. That's their whole relationship.
Lennon is on this ranch for barely a month, they have only a handful of conversations that DON'T end up revolving around sex, and then they're telling each other they love each other. 🫤
The spice, when we do finally get it - is also weirdly Biblical? It made me uncomfortable, the way he talked to her and about her. The way he was quoting Bible verses up to and after finally getting his dick wet. And the rest of the time, he's just saying weird shit, like:
"My soul thirsts for you, my flesh yearns for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Holy words that my lips whispered to a holy place, where she was abundantly wet.
And Lennon's reaction to finding out Jeremiah is a virgin tells me enough about her that I don't really think I like her. It's not just disbelief. It's the fact that over the course of the story she makes several statements about men that make me think she's the sort of woman who likes lumping men into one giant category. What do you mean you didn't know men were capable of having feelings?! Like she can't fathom that one doesn't fit the mold.
I don't like people who do that. Who stereotype and judge. Even when they don't mean to. It's gross behavior.
So, this was just an okay read for me. It's fast, and an easy read. But I didn't feel anything I wanted to feel. The plot didn't really give me everything I was hoping for. The weird religious stuff kind of grossed me out... yeah, I don't know.
June 24, 2026
5 Stars
Spice: 2/5
I devoured this book. Loved, loved Jeremiah and Lennon.
Jeremiah - age 38
Grew up in a cult until he was banished at 14
Lives with the scars of his childhood
Joined military / Special Ops / Tracker
Avenged his sister Hannah
Leader of Mercy River Ranch
He’s a protector
Lennon - age 28
At very young age, she became her mothers keeper (mother was an alcoholic)
Emancipated herself at 16
Moved to NYC
Cam girl
Doesn’t have a great track record with men
Has a stalker
She’s on the run / hiding
Their profiles would say these two are not a match but in reality, they needed each other to make themselves whole.
Chapter 23 was definitely an unexpected revelation.
Loved the core group that started Mercy River Ranch and their mission as well as all the other side characters.
This is a book I will read again. Excited for book 2 (Seb’s story).
Spice: 2/5
I devoured this book. Loved, loved Jeremiah and Lennon.
Jeremiah - age 38
Grew up in a cult until he was banished at 14
Lives with the scars of his childhood
Joined military / Special Ops / Tracker
Avenged his sister Hannah
Leader of Mercy River Ranch
He’s a protector
Lennon - age 28
At very young age, she became her mothers keeper (mother was an alcoholic)
Emancipated herself at 16
Moved to NYC
Cam girl
Doesn’t have a great track record with men
Has a stalker
She’s on the run / hiding
Their profiles would say these two are not a match but in reality, they needed each other to make themselves whole.
Chapter 23 was definitely an unexpected revelation.
Loved the core group that started Mercy River Ranch and their mission as well as all the other side characters.
This is a book I will read again. Excited for book 2 (Seb’s story).
June 26, 2026
I missed release day but I'm really glad I didn't miss reading this book while on vacation.
I enjoyed the characters, their backgrounds, the banter and the chemistry between Jeremiah and Lennon.
Jer didn't see the sassiness coming but boy did he need that in and Lennon in his life.
Thank you Elizabeth and Luna Literary Management for the ARC.
I enjoyed the characters, their backgrounds, the banter and the chemistry between Jeremiah and Lennon.
Jer didn't see the sassiness coming but boy did he need that in and Lennon in his life.
Thank you Elizabeth and Luna Literary Management for the ARC.
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