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Writing Saddle
Not yet published
Expected 7 Jul 26Two guarded hearts. Two different pasts. One safe word.
Rising romance author Maisie Brooks can’t catch a break. Dealing with blow after devastating blow, she’s left with no other pack up her life in the Big Apple in search of something real to write about. Moving to her family's ranch in rural Montana seems to be the ticket to her wildest dreams—only the cocky, unbearably sexy cowboy who came with the ranch was decidedly not on her twelve-step plan.
Grayson Miles, foreman of Foxy Roxy Ranch, is used to taking blows of his own. One life-changing decision has him tangled in a sticky mess he’s not sure he’ll ever escape. He only has three rules for life, and having a gorgeous spitfire on the ranch is proving to be trouble for them all.
The heart wants what the heart wants, and there’s no escaping a love story to rival the classics. With a love as sweet as honey and a passion that burns hotter than whiskey, what could go wrong? Will she save her career and ride her cowboy into the sunset, or will their decisions haunt them the rest of their lives?
Writing Saddle is the first book in Lupine Love Letters, an interconnected standalone, adult dark cowboy romance series.
Rising romance author Maisie Brooks can’t catch a break. Dealing with blow after devastating blow, she’s left with no other pack up her life in the Big Apple in search of something real to write about. Moving to her family's ranch in rural Montana seems to be the ticket to her wildest dreams—only the cocky, unbearably sexy cowboy who came with the ranch was decidedly not on her twelve-step plan.
Grayson Miles, foreman of Foxy Roxy Ranch, is used to taking blows of his own. One life-changing decision has him tangled in a sticky mess he’s not sure he’ll ever escape. He only has three rules for life, and having a gorgeous spitfire on the ranch is proving to be trouble for them all.
The heart wants what the heart wants, and there’s no escaping a love story to rival the classics. With a love as sweet as honey and a passion that burns hotter than whiskey, what could go wrong? Will she save her career and ride her cowboy into the sunset, or will their decisions haunt them the rest of their lives?
Writing Saddle is the first book in Lupine Love Letters, an interconnected standalone, adult dark cowboy romance series.
- GenresRomance
438 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 7, 2026
About the author
Alexis Morgan
2 books43 followersAlexis Morgan was born and raised in the beautiful rainy state of Washington. She discovered her love for reading and writing later in life—thanks to a bout of boredom while her husband was deployed overseas. Since then, books have become her passion (and, admittedly, her whole personality). When she's not curled up with a good book, accompanied by her Frenchie, Enzo, and cat, Evie, you’ll likely find her at the gym, spending time with family, or—more often than not—browsing the aisles of her favorite bookstore.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 12, 2026
so i’m a little conflicted, honestly, on how i want to rate this book. there are a lot of things i liked, but quite a few things that i didn’t as well. so to start, i like cowboy x city girl. i LOVED that he’s a 6’5 southern man with dimples, brown curly hair, tattoos & a slutty little mustache 🤭 (he also has a tattoo that says she comes first LIKE HELLO???) like if i could describe my favorite type of cowboy, he’s it. and he calls her HONEY which is one of my favorite nicknames (i’m a country bumpkin, sue me) the spice is great, the banter is bantering, & the writing in this book is nice. BUT…
it was a little too insta-love for me. like, he was saying day two she was important to him and that’s not gonna fly with me LOL i will say it was insta lust as well, but they did wait a while before acting on it. the back and forth between the two was fine at first but jesus it just dragged and dragged. the fmc forgave him way too quickly in so many instances and i think it would have been way better had he have to work for some trust back.
i will say this is not just a regular cowboy book, it does have some darker themes, so if you’re looking for light and fluffy this is not your book. thank you to alexis morgan & her team for an early copy. all opinions are my own!
it was a little too insta-love for me. like, he was saying day two she was important to him and that’s not gonna fly with me LOL i will say it was insta lust as well, but they did wait a while before acting on it. the back and forth between the two was fine at first but jesus it just dragged and dragged. the fmc forgave him way too quickly in so many instances and i think it would have been way better had he have to work for some trust back.
i will say this is not just a regular cowboy book, it does have some darker themes, so if you’re looking for light and fluffy this is not your book. thank you to alexis morgan & her team for an early copy. all opinions are my own!
June 18, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you Alexis Morgan for the e-ARC is exchanged for my honest review.
For a debut cowboy romance, Writing Saddle was a really impressive start!
I had a lot of fun with the aspects of a big-city author FMC who travels to a small town to "research" her next cowboy romance. Watching her gather inspiration while getting pulled into ranch life and the sexy local cowboy, made for such a fun premise. ;) And the research notes at the end of each chapter were honestly one of my favorite parts. They added so much personality to the story and had me laughing more than once.
I also loved the mafia style suspense woven throughout the plot. It added an unexpected layer of mystery and kept me curious about what was gonna happen next. That said, I did find that storyline a little drawn out at times, and I think it lost some momentum in the middle.
The romance itself leaned pretty heavily into insta attraction or insta love, and while that's not usually a dealbreaker for me, I didn't completely connect with the way it was handled here. I would have loved a little more relationship development before the feelings escalated.
Overall, though, this was a fun read with plenty of charm, an engaging premise, and a unique voice. For a debut novel, Alexis Morgan definitely delivered an entertaining cowboy romance, and I'm excited to see what she writes next.
Thank you Alexis Morgan for the e-ARC is exchanged for my honest review.
For a debut cowboy romance, Writing Saddle was a really impressive start!
I had a lot of fun with the aspects of a big-city author FMC who travels to a small town to "research" her next cowboy romance. Watching her gather inspiration while getting pulled into ranch life and the sexy local cowboy, made for such a fun premise. ;) And the research notes at the end of each chapter were honestly one of my favorite parts. They added so much personality to the story and had me laughing more than once.
I also loved the mafia style suspense woven throughout the plot. It added an unexpected layer of mystery and kept me curious about what was gonna happen next. That said, I did find that storyline a little drawn out at times, and I think it lost some momentum in the middle.
The romance itself leaned pretty heavily into insta attraction or insta love, and while that's not usually a dealbreaker for me, I didn't completely connect with the way it was handled here. I would have loved a little more relationship development before the feelings escalated.
Overall, though, this was a fun read with plenty of charm, an engaging premise, and a unique voice. For a debut novel, Alexis Morgan definitely delivered an entertaining cowboy romance, and I'm excited to see what she writes next.
June 19, 2026
3.75⭐️ ARC REVIEW💜
LOVED this one! This was the first book I’ve read by Alexis and I love her writing! This was such a good cowboy summer read with a hint a darkness. It felt a little slow for me at times, but it kept sucking me back in. Such a cute story, my dream truly. And the spice was to die for 🤭
LOVED this one! This was the first book I’ve read by Alexis and I love her writing! This was such a good cowboy summer read with a hint a darkness. It felt a little slow for me at times, but it kept sucking me back in. Such a cute story, my dream truly. And the spice was to die for 🤭
Review of advance copy received from Author
Writing Saddle by Alexis Morgan was such an emotional and addictive start to the Lupine Love Letters series. I went into this expecting cowboy romance, forced proximity, and a broody ranch man, but I ended up getting so much more than that. This book had grief, healing, danger, tension, found family, longing, spice, and two characters who were carrying so much pain while still somehow finding comfort in each other.
Maisie Brooks was such an easy heroine to feel for. I loved that she is a romance author, but at the same time she is struggling with everything life has thrown at her. After dealing with so much and feeling overwhelmed by the busy, chaotic city life, she goes back to her aunt and uncle’s family ranch to breathe again and hopefully find inspiration for a new book. I loved that her next story was supposed to be cowboy themed, because then Grayson Miles comes into her life and suddenly he becomes more than just inspiration. He becomes the man she cannot ignore.
Grayson was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book. He is the foreman of Foxy Roxy Ranch, and on the outside he has that guarded, grumpy, protective cowboy energy. But underneath all of that, he is carrying such a heavy past. The fact that he was forced into underground fighting because he was desperate to save his sister made his story so heartbreaking. He wanted to help his sister, especially with something as serious and expensive as a life-saving operation, and someone took advantage of that desperation. Now he is trapped in debt, forced to keep fighting, and stuck in a dangerous situation that he never truly asked for.
That part made me feel so much for him, because Grayson is not just this dark, broody cowboy with secrets. He is someone who made a sacrifice for the people he loved, and now he is paying for it in ways that keep hurting him. His love for his sister and niece showed such a softer side to him, and I really loved that Foxy Roxy Ranch gave him a place to work, a place to belong, and a sense of purpose when everything else in his life felt heavy.
The romance between Maisie and Grayson had such good tension. They are clearly attracted to each other, but it is not simple. Both of them have been through tragic losses, both of them are guarded in their own way, and Grayson especially does not want to bring Maisie into the mess of his life. That made the slow burn feel even more satisfying because the longing was there, the chemistry was there, but there was also this emotional weight behind every moment between them.
I really enjoyed the cowboy x city girl dynamic too. Maisie coming to the ranch for inspiration and accidentally finding herself pulled toward Grayson was so fun to read. He was not part of her plan at all, but he quickly became the kind of man who stays in your head. Their connection had that mix of sweetness and danger, and I loved how protective Grayson was of her. He tries to keep her away from the darker parts of his life, but at the same time, he cannot fully stay away from her either.
And the spice? The longing? The tension? Yes, please. This book definitely delivered on the slow burn and the payoff. The chemistry between Maisie and Grayson felt emotional, intense, and very swoon-worthy. I loved that it was not only about attraction, but also about trust, vulnerability, and the way they slowly became a safe place for each other.
Overall, Writing Saddle gave me exactly the kind of dark cowboy romance I love. It had a romance author heroine, a protective ranch foreman, forced proximity, a mafia subplot, underground fighting, anxiety representation, emotional backstory, and a love story that felt sweet as honey but hotter than whiskey. It was tender, spicy, angsty, and full of heart.
If you love cowboy romances with darker edges, protective heroes, city girl x ranch boy energy, slow-burn tension, and characters who are trying to heal while falling in love, this book is definitely worth picking up. I cannot wait to see more from this series.
Maisie Brooks was such an easy heroine to feel for. I loved that she is a romance author, but at the same time she is struggling with everything life has thrown at her. After dealing with so much and feeling overwhelmed by the busy, chaotic city life, she goes back to her aunt and uncle’s family ranch to breathe again and hopefully find inspiration for a new book. I loved that her next story was supposed to be cowboy themed, because then Grayson Miles comes into her life and suddenly he becomes more than just inspiration. He becomes the man she cannot ignore.
Grayson was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book. He is the foreman of Foxy Roxy Ranch, and on the outside he has that guarded, grumpy, protective cowboy energy. But underneath all of that, he is carrying such a heavy past. The fact that he was forced into underground fighting because he was desperate to save his sister made his story so heartbreaking. He wanted to help his sister, especially with something as serious and expensive as a life-saving operation, and someone took advantage of that desperation. Now he is trapped in debt, forced to keep fighting, and stuck in a dangerous situation that he never truly asked for.
That part made me feel so much for him, because Grayson is not just this dark, broody cowboy with secrets. He is someone who made a sacrifice for the people he loved, and now he is paying for it in ways that keep hurting him. His love for his sister and niece showed such a softer side to him, and I really loved that Foxy Roxy Ranch gave him a place to work, a place to belong, and a sense of purpose when everything else in his life felt heavy.
The romance between Maisie and Grayson had such good tension. They are clearly attracted to each other, but it is not simple. Both of them have been through tragic losses, both of them are guarded in their own way, and Grayson especially does not want to bring Maisie into the mess of his life. That made the slow burn feel even more satisfying because the longing was there, the chemistry was there, but there was also this emotional weight behind every moment between them.
I really enjoyed the cowboy x city girl dynamic too. Maisie coming to the ranch for inspiration and accidentally finding herself pulled toward Grayson was so fun to read. He was not part of her plan at all, but he quickly became the kind of man who stays in your head. Their connection had that mix of sweetness and danger, and I loved how protective Grayson was of her. He tries to keep her away from the darker parts of his life, but at the same time, he cannot fully stay away from her either.
And the spice? The longing? The tension? Yes, please. This book definitely delivered on the slow burn and the payoff. The chemistry between Maisie and Grayson felt emotional, intense, and very swoon-worthy. I loved that it was not only about attraction, but also about trust, vulnerability, and the way they slowly became a safe place for each other.
Overall, Writing Saddle gave me exactly the kind of dark cowboy romance I love. It had a romance author heroine, a protective ranch foreman, forced proximity, a mafia subplot, underground fighting, anxiety representation, emotional backstory, and a love story that felt sweet as honey but hotter than whiskey. It was tender, spicy, angsty, and full of heart.
If you love cowboy romances with darker edges, protective heroes, city girl x ranch boy energy, slow-burn tension, and characters who are trying to heal while falling in love, this book is definitely worth picking up. I cannot wait to see more from this series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Alexis Morgan for the opportunity to read an ARC of Writing Saddle in exchange for an honest review!
Writing Saddle was such a fun introduction to this world, and I'm already excited for the next books in the series!
From the very first chapter, this book had my attention. Maisie's life takes an unexpected turn, sending her to Montana, and I was immediately invested in seeing where her journey would lead. The combination of cowboy romance with a touch of mafia intrigue kept me hooked, and I found myself invested in both Gray and Maisie's story right away. I also loved that this was written in dual POV. Being able to see both sides of the relationship added so much depth to the story and made me even more connected to the characters.
Gray is basically the definition of a book boyfriend. Protective, loyal, hardworking, and undeniably swoon worthy, he was everything I want in a cowboy MMC. Maisie was a wonderful match for him. I loved watching her adjust from city life to ranch life, and the fact that she's an author was an added bonus that made her especially easy to root for.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the banter. The chemistry between Gray and Maisie was fantastic, and the slow burn created so much tension. While there is definitely some insta love energy mixed in, that's never something that bothers me, and I thought it worked well here. The spice was good, but the emotional build up and tension were what really stood out to me.
I also adored Maisie's cat, Evie, who completely stole every scene she was in.
I appreciated the similarities between Gray and Maisie's pasts. However, I did find myself wanting a little more exploration of Gray's backstory. There were some emotional elements there that I would have loved to see developed further. I also wished we had gotten a bit more time with the ranch family and side characters to strengthen that found family feeling.
If you're someone who is curious about dark romance but doesn't want to jump straight into something extremely dark, this could be a great place to start.
Overall, Writing Saddle was an enjoyable cowboy romance filled with great banter, strong chemistry, and a MMC who is impossible not to love. I can't wait to see where this series goes next, and I already have my theories about who will be starring in the upcoming books!
Writing Saddle was such a fun introduction to this world, and I'm already excited for the next books in the series!
From the very first chapter, this book had my attention. Maisie's life takes an unexpected turn, sending her to Montana, and I was immediately invested in seeing where her journey would lead. The combination of cowboy romance with a touch of mafia intrigue kept me hooked, and I found myself invested in both Gray and Maisie's story right away. I also loved that this was written in dual POV. Being able to see both sides of the relationship added so much depth to the story and made me even more connected to the characters.
Gray is basically the definition of a book boyfriend. Protective, loyal, hardworking, and undeniably swoon worthy, he was everything I want in a cowboy MMC. Maisie was a wonderful match for him. I loved watching her adjust from city life to ranch life, and the fact that she's an author was an added bonus that made her especially easy to root for.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the banter. The chemistry between Gray and Maisie was fantastic, and the slow burn created so much tension. While there is definitely some insta love energy mixed in, that's never something that bothers me, and I thought it worked well here. The spice was good, but the emotional build up and tension were what really stood out to me.
I also adored Maisie's cat, Evie, who completely stole every scene she was in.
I appreciated the similarities between Gray and Maisie's pasts. However, I did find myself wanting a little more exploration of Gray's backstory. There were some emotional elements there that I would have loved to see developed further. I also wished we had gotten a bit more time with the ranch family and side characters to strengthen that found family feeling.
If you're someone who is curious about dark romance but doesn't want to jump straight into something extremely dark, this could be a great place to start.
Overall, Writing Saddle was an enjoyable cowboy romance filled with great banter, strong chemistry, and a MMC who is impossible not to love. I can't wait to see where this series goes next, and I already have my theories about who will be starring in the upcoming books!
June 15, 2026
🤎🤠🎀 4⭐️ ARC Review 🎀🤠🤎
Thank you to the author for the ARC opportunity!
Cowboy romance has quickly become one of my favorite genres, so when I saw this book was also being marketed as a dark romance with a mafia element, I knew I had to pick it up—and I’m so glad I did.
The very first quote in this book immediately had me hooked:
“Men are good for three things: orgasms, entertainment, and protection. But all three of those things could be solved with my right hand, a good book, and a taser, so really, men ain’t shit.”
Any book that starts off like that is going to grab my attention, and that’s exactly what Writing Saddle did.
One of my favorite things about this story was the banter between Maisie and Grayson. The tension, the back-and-forth, the yearning—it was all done so well. Their chemistry felt natural, and I found myself rooting for them from the beginning. I also loved seeing their personal growth throughout the story. Learning more about their pasts helped me understand why they had built so many walls around themselves, making their journey together even more rewarding.
Maisie was such a fun FMC—independent, determined, and a fellow writer. Grayson was the perfect protective cowboy with plenty of layers beneath the surface. Add in the cowboy vibes, the mafia connections, and the “he falls first” energy, and this book had so many elements I love.
The reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is because I wish we had gotten a little more of the mafia storyline. The concept of combining mafia, dark romance, and cowboy romance was incredibly unique, and I found myself wanting even more of that side of the story. The ending also felt slightly rushed to me.
That being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved how Maisie and Grayson’s story came together in the end. The author did a wonderful job blending these genres into something fresh and entertaining, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for future books.
And please tell me I’m not the only one hoping Moretti gets his own story someday! 👀
Overall: 4/5 stars 🤎🤠🎀
Thank you to the author for the ARC opportunity!
Cowboy romance has quickly become one of my favorite genres, so when I saw this book was also being marketed as a dark romance with a mafia element, I knew I had to pick it up—and I’m so glad I did.
The very first quote in this book immediately had me hooked:
“Men are good for three things: orgasms, entertainment, and protection. But all three of those things could be solved with my right hand, a good book, and a taser, so really, men ain’t shit.”
Any book that starts off like that is going to grab my attention, and that’s exactly what Writing Saddle did.
One of my favorite things about this story was the banter between Maisie and Grayson. The tension, the back-and-forth, the yearning—it was all done so well. Their chemistry felt natural, and I found myself rooting for them from the beginning. I also loved seeing their personal growth throughout the story. Learning more about their pasts helped me understand why they had built so many walls around themselves, making their journey together even more rewarding.
Maisie was such a fun FMC—independent, determined, and a fellow writer. Grayson was the perfect protective cowboy with plenty of layers beneath the surface. Add in the cowboy vibes, the mafia connections, and the “he falls first” energy, and this book had so many elements I love.
The reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is because I wish we had gotten a little more of the mafia storyline. The concept of combining mafia, dark romance, and cowboy romance was incredibly unique, and I found myself wanting even more of that side of the story. The ending also felt slightly rushed to me.
That being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved how Maisie and Grayson’s story came together in the end. The author did a wonderful job blending these genres into something fresh and entertaining, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for future books.
And please tell me I’m not the only one hoping Moretti gets his own story someday! 👀
Overall: 4/5 stars 🤎🤠🎀
June 18, 2026
4.25⭐️ | 2.5 🌶️
This is my first Dark Cowboy Romance…and I’m sold. I love cowboy romance books, and dark romance books…put them together, and you have a fabulous niche genre that I am now obsessed with. 🤠🤠
Characters: I really connected with Maisie, her love for her cat, evie, her anxiety, her insecurities of not having many close friends, etc. etc. I think almost anyone will be able to connect on some level with her, or Grayson. Seeing the story from both of the main character’s POV really added to the plot, imo. Seeing how much Grayson struggled internally with some of the things he had to do vs. how Maisie saw it, was sooo good
Spice: Grayson is literally a cowboy themed wet dream walking. Says “good girl”? Check. Protective? Check. Tall, dark, and grumpy? Check. The spice was well done, it was a slow burn that exploded at just the right time. It didn’t overpower the plot at all. There is YEARNINGGG from this man. Who doesn’t love a man that yearns?! And one who knows just what to say?? I’ll tell ya, Grayson has a mouth on him 👏🫠🤭. I may need to tell my husband to ditch the beard and grow a mustache. W.P.M. — ifykyk 🤭😘.
Storyline: This is def a insta-lust to insta-love type story…so if you’re looking for enemies to lovers, this isn’t for you. BUT, the insta-lust and love is done really well, and fits with the story. It may be insta-lust, but it’s a slow burn, so buckle up cowgirl 🤠🫡. There are SO MANY Easter eggs in this story for future books in the series, and I’m dying to know who the next book will be about. Hunter, Lan, Chester/Laine??? I MUST know 😭😭. I do wish we got a little more insight into what Lan does?? But I think that’s to come in another book. I loved having the two little epilogues at the end, so cute. Who doesn’t love a good HEA?!
Review of Advanced Reader Copy — all opinions are my own.
This is my first Dark Cowboy Romance…and I’m sold. I love cowboy romance books, and dark romance books…put them together, and you have a fabulous niche genre that I am now obsessed with. 🤠🤠
Characters: I really connected with Maisie, her love for her cat, evie, her anxiety, her insecurities of not having many close friends, etc. etc. I think almost anyone will be able to connect on some level with her, or Grayson. Seeing the story from both of the main character’s POV really added to the plot, imo. Seeing how much Grayson struggled internally with some of the things he had to do vs. how Maisie saw it, was sooo good
Spice: Grayson is literally a cowboy themed wet dream walking. Says “good girl”? Check. Protective? Check. Tall, dark, and grumpy? Check. The spice was well done, it was a slow burn that exploded at just the right time. It didn’t overpower the plot at all. There is YEARNINGGG from this man. Who doesn’t love a man that yearns?! And one who knows just what to say?? I’ll tell ya, Grayson has a mouth on him 👏🫠🤭. I may need to tell my husband to ditch the beard and grow a mustache. W.P.M. — ifykyk 🤭😘.
Storyline: This is def a insta-lust to insta-love type story…so if you’re looking for enemies to lovers, this isn’t for you. BUT, the insta-lust and love is done really well, and fits with the story. It may be insta-lust, but it’s a slow burn, so buckle up cowgirl 🤠🫡. There are SO MANY Easter eggs in this story for future books in the series, and I’m dying to know who the next book will be about. Hunter, Lan, Chester/Laine??? I MUST know 😭😭. I do wish we got a little more insight into what Lan does?? But I think that’s to come in another book. I loved having the two little epilogues at the end, so cute. Who doesn’t love a good HEA?!
Review of Advanced Reader Copy — all opinions are my own.
June 17, 2026
Thank you to the author for allowing me to be apart of the ARC team for this novel!
Writing Saddle was such a fun ride! While I’m not typically a cowboy romance reader, the darker elements and mafia subplot had me completely hooked. The suspense and danger added an extra layer that kept me flying through the pages and eager to see what would happen next.
Gray was easily one of my favorite parts of this book. His filthy mouth and protective nature made him impossible not to love, and I found myself rooting for him and his happy ending from the very beginning. The conclusion was beautiful, and I loved seeing these characters finally get the family and sense of belonging they had been longing for.
One thing I especially appreciated was how invested I became in the side characters. Sometimes supporting characters fade into the background, but here I was just as interested in their stories as I was in the main romance. In fact, some of my biggest questions revolve around them!
I do have a few lingering questions that I’m hoping will be addressed in book two. What exactly was in Hunter’s grocery basket? Was that a pregnancy test? Where is that storyline headed? I’m also incredibly curious about what’s going on between Ches and Laine. And while I was satisfied with the overall ending, I would have loved a little more detail about what happened after the mafia boss was eliminated and how Gray was ultimately able to secure his freedom for good.
Even with those unanswered questions, I had a great time reading this one. As long as those loose ends are explored in the next book, this was an easy 4-star read for me. I can’t wait to continue the series and see where these characters’ stories go next.
Writing Saddle was such a fun ride! While I’m not typically a cowboy romance reader, the darker elements and mafia subplot had me completely hooked. The suspense and danger added an extra layer that kept me flying through the pages and eager to see what would happen next.
Gray was easily one of my favorite parts of this book. His filthy mouth and protective nature made him impossible not to love, and I found myself rooting for him and his happy ending from the very beginning. The conclusion was beautiful, and I loved seeing these characters finally get the family and sense of belonging they had been longing for.
One thing I especially appreciated was how invested I became in the side characters. Sometimes supporting characters fade into the background, but here I was just as interested in their stories as I was in the main romance. In fact, some of my biggest questions revolve around them!
I do have a few lingering questions that I’m hoping will be addressed in book two. What exactly was in Hunter’s grocery basket? Was that a pregnancy test? Where is that storyline headed? I’m also incredibly curious about what’s going on between Ches and Laine. And while I was satisfied with the overall ending, I would have loved a little more detail about what happened after the mafia boss was eliminated and how Gray was ultimately able to secure his freedom for good.
Even with those unanswered questions, I had a great time reading this one. As long as those loose ends are explored in the next book, this was an easy 4-star read for me. I can’t wait to continue the series and see where these characters’ stories go next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2026
>> ARC REVIEW
“𝘔𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴; 𝘰𝘳𝘨x𝘴𝘮𝘴, 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘪𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘹𝘵.” — When a book starts with a line like that, I know I’m going to be hooked.
Writing Saddle is possibly one of the most relatable and quotable books I’ve read this year. The writing felt like I was reading something I had lived out loud.
“𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺.”
Maisie is our city girl who got burned in multiple ways. What a fxcking start to this story. She’s an author and has taken some time away from the city to gain inspiration for her next novel.
“𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘺.”
“𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰, 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺.”
Grayson was my favorite part of this story. His life has been anything but easy and the things he hides from his loved ones are enough to break a heart…and a fist.
“𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺.”
The BANTER — ladies and gents, we live for yearning and banter around these parts and Writing Saddle did not disappoint. Seriously. It was a will they/wont they but the banterrrrrr kept coming in hot.
“𝙄 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙. […] 𝙃𝙚𝙮, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨. 𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 … 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨, 𝙩𝙤𝙤!” — DECEASED. I actually choked on a cackle while my husband slept next to me.
Okay, I’m done. This book was seriously so freakin’ enjoyable. Please do yourself a favor and pick it up so you don’t have a FOMO moment. I promise you’ll feel left out if you don’t grab it.
“𝘔𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴; 𝘰𝘳𝘨x𝘴𝘮𝘴, 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘪𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘹𝘵.” — When a book starts with a line like that, I know I’m going to be hooked.
Writing Saddle is possibly one of the most relatable and quotable books I’ve read this year. The writing felt like I was reading something I had lived out loud.
“𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺.”
Maisie is our city girl who got burned in multiple ways. What a fxcking start to this story. She’s an author and has taken some time away from the city to gain inspiration for her next novel.
“𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘺.”
“𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰, 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺.”
Grayson was my favorite part of this story. His life has been anything but easy and the things he hides from his loved ones are enough to break a heart…and a fist.
“𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺.”
The BANTER — ladies and gents, we live for yearning and banter around these parts and Writing Saddle did not disappoint. Seriously. It was a will they/wont they but the banterrrrrr kept coming in hot.
“𝙄 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙. […] 𝙃𝙚𝙮, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨. 𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 … 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨, 𝙩𝙤𝙤!” — DECEASED. I actually choked on a cackle while my husband slept next to me.
Okay, I’m done. This book was seriously so freakin’ enjoyable. Please do yourself a favor and pick it up so you don’t have a FOMO moment. I promise you’ll feel left out if you don’t grab it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Where to even begin... I'm so blown away by Alexis Morgan once again! This story has consumed me these past few days, in the best way possible.
What begins as a sweet, funny, and lighthearted story gradually takes you on an emotional journey alongside characters carrying deep, traumatic pasts, all while fighting every day for the happiness and safety of the people they love most. You get tender girlhood moments, cheeky family times, intimate whiskey-filled banter, and so much more in between. Every relationship between the characters feels raw and meaningful which just adds to the emotional intrigue of the story.
Maisie Brooks is a fiery, independent aspiring romance author seeking inspiration for her next book. She's sworn off men and is still battling the events of her past. By the end you'll realize how strong she truly is and there's so much more to her whit and banter.
Grayson Miles is dark and mysterious but there's many sweet and delicate moments that gives us a glimpse into his guarded heart. He cooks pancakes for dinner, for goodness' sakes!! And, dont even get me started on all the other things that make him such a dream ahhh! (You'll just have to read this and find out for yourself).
What to Expect:
🥃 Dark Romance
🌸 Mafia Subplot
🥃 City Girl x Cowboy
🌸 Secret Tattoo
🥃 Whiskey Play
Thank you for letting me be apart of your ARC team. All thoughts and opinions are my own 🫶🏼
Where to even begin... I'm so blown away by Alexis Morgan once again! This story has consumed me these past few days, in the best way possible.
What begins as a sweet, funny, and lighthearted story gradually takes you on an emotional journey alongside characters carrying deep, traumatic pasts, all while fighting every day for the happiness and safety of the people they love most. You get tender girlhood moments, cheeky family times, intimate whiskey-filled banter, and so much more in between. Every relationship between the characters feels raw and meaningful which just adds to the emotional intrigue of the story.
Maisie Brooks is a fiery, independent aspiring romance author seeking inspiration for her next book. She's sworn off men and is still battling the events of her past. By the end you'll realize how strong she truly is and there's so much more to her whit and banter.
Grayson Miles is dark and mysterious but there's many sweet and delicate moments that gives us a glimpse into his guarded heart. He cooks pancakes for dinner, for goodness' sakes!! And, dont even get me started on all the other things that make him such a dream ahhh! (You'll just have to read this and find out for yourself).
What to Expect:
🥃 Dark Romance
🌸 Mafia Subplot
🥃 City Girl x Cowboy
🌸 Secret Tattoo
🥃 Whiskey Play
Thank you for letting me be apart of your ARC team. All thoughts and opinions are my own 🫶🏼
June 15, 2026
I had the pleasure of reading an ARC copy of Writing Saddle by Alexis Morgan, and let me start by saying this was an easy 5-star read for me!
I absolutely loved Maisie’s character and her spitfire attitude. She was strong, witty, and determined. And don’t even get me started on Grayson Miles. I was immediately drawn to his story, from the moment he appeared on the page.
Writing Saddle is about Maisie Brooks, an author looking for inspiration for her next romance novel. In search for inspiration and a fresh start, she goes back to her family’s ranch in Montana. Once she arrives she crosses paths with the ranch’s mysterious foreman, Grayson Miles.
The heated tension between Maisie and Grayson is undeniable, and their banter had me kicking my feet and smiling the entire book. I loved watching their relationship develop while they both dealt with the wounds from their pasts. Alexis Morgan did an incredible job balancing heartfelt emotional moments with humor, romance, and just the right amount of tension.
If you are looking for a of city girl x cowboy small town romance, with strong character development, mafia subplot, and a romance that will keep you drawn from start to finish, then I recommend reading Writing Saddle.
There are some potential triggers in this book, please make sure you read the trigger warnings.
June 22, 2026
*honest review in exchange for an e-arc*
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For a debut western romance, this was a really strong start, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Maisie was an absolute firecracker from the very beginning. She had me laughing more than once with her quick wit and personality. Greyson is exactly what you’d want in a cowboy romance hero—tall, tattooed, rugged, mustached, and effortlessly charming. Their chemistry felt natural, and the banter between them was one of my favorite parts of the book.
There is a bit of insta-love, but it never felt excessive or unbelievable. I also appreciated that the author didn’t rely on unnecessary miscommunication or keep readers in the dark about the characters’ secrets. Being able to understand both perspectives made the emotional moments more impactful and kept the story moving at a great pace.
The writing flowed well, the characters were relatable, and the romance was easy to root for. I finished the book in under five hours because it was such an enjoyable, fast read.
Overall, this was a fun, entertaining debut, and I’m excited to see where the series goes next. I’ll definitely be picking up the next two books—especially if they end up featuring Chesney and Lan.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For a debut western romance, this was a really strong start, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Maisie was an absolute firecracker from the very beginning. She had me laughing more than once with her quick wit and personality. Greyson is exactly what you’d want in a cowboy romance hero—tall, tattooed, rugged, mustached, and effortlessly charming. Their chemistry felt natural, and the banter between them was one of my favorite parts of the book.
There is a bit of insta-love, but it never felt excessive or unbelievable. I also appreciated that the author didn’t rely on unnecessary miscommunication or keep readers in the dark about the characters’ secrets. Being able to understand both perspectives made the emotional moments more impactful and kept the story moving at a great pace.
The writing flowed well, the characters were relatable, and the romance was easy to root for. I finished the book in under five hours because it was such an enjoyable, fast read.
Overall, this was a fun, entertaining debut, and I’m excited to see where the series goes next. I’ll definitely be picking up the next two books—especially if they end up featuring Chesney and Lan.
June 19, 2026
4 ⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
For my first cowboy romance, I have to say this was such a great book! Makes me want to read more cowboy romances. And I’m so ready for the next book in this series!
Maisie Brooks, our FMC, is a romance author in need of some inspiration for her next book. So she leaves the Big Apple to spend some time at her family’s ranch in Montana. There, she meets Grayson Miles, our MMC and the foreman of the ranch. He’s keeping secrets that put the people he loves in danger, so when Maisie walks into his life – as drawn to her as he is – he knows he has to stay far away in order to keep her safe. But how long can he resist the magnetic pull that is Maisie Brooks?
This book hooked me from the very first paragraph. I absolutely loved Maisie’s takes-no-shit attitude, and she was also such a relatable character. And the addition of Evie’s character (her cat) was one of those little details I just love. Grayson might seem all tough on the outside, but he has a soft spot for his niece, which was just adorable. And the found family dynamic was so heart-warming. This was a sloooow burn, though, and I will say I had a bit of trouble sticking with it. But it’s so worth it. The ending was so well-written and emotional, I had tears in my eyes. Alexis Morgan has done it again.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
For my first cowboy romance, I have to say this was such a great book! Makes me want to read more cowboy romances. And I’m so ready for the next book in this series!
Maisie Brooks, our FMC, is a romance author in need of some inspiration for her next book. So she leaves the Big Apple to spend some time at her family’s ranch in Montana. There, she meets Grayson Miles, our MMC and the foreman of the ranch. He’s keeping secrets that put the people he loves in danger, so when Maisie walks into his life – as drawn to her as he is – he knows he has to stay far away in order to keep her safe. But how long can he resist the magnetic pull that is Maisie Brooks?
This book hooked me from the very first paragraph. I absolutely loved Maisie’s takes-no-shit attitude, and she was also such a relatable character. And the addition of Evie’s character (her cat) was one of those little details I just love. Grayson might seem all tough on the outside, but he has a soft spot for his niece, which was just adorable. And the found family dynamic was so heart-warming. This was a sloooow burn, though, and I will say I had a bit of trouble sticking with it. But it’s so worth it. The ending was so well-written and emotional, I had tears in my eyes. Alexis Morgan has done it again.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4 1/2 stars
This was, in a word, adorable. Tiny bit of mafia mixed with a cowboy romance and we got a dash of a city girl coming home to find herself. Like a bookish version of a Hallmark movie.
I enjoyed how fierce Maisie was and how strong she stayed through the whole thing. Greyson was a great MMC and I loved how close he is with his niece. She was a sneaky little thing.
It might just be because I do read a lot of pitch black romances, but this really was not "dark" for me. This was very very tame compared to a lot of other books I've read and that are on my TBR. It's not a bad thing! But with being told this was a dark romance and, for me, it not being very dark was a touch disappointing. I still loved the book as a whole and can't wait to see what couple we get next! Maybe a certain sister of one of these MCs and the cousin of the other? Make it a whole family affair...that would be nice.
Thank you to Alexis Morgan and her team for this ARC. It was a great way to start my day!
This was, in a word, adorable. Tiny bit of mafia mixed with a cowboy romance and we got a dash of a city girl coming home to find herself. Like a bookish version of a Hallmark movie.
I enjoyed how fierce Maisie was and how strong she stayed through the whole thing. Greyson was a great MMC and I loved how close he is with his niece. She was a sneaky little thing.
It might just be because I do read a lot of pitch black romances, but this really was not "dark" for me. This was very very tame compared to a lot of other books I've read and that are on my TBR. It's not a bad thing! But with being told this was a dark romance and, for me, it not being very dark was a touch disappointing. I still loved the book as a whole and can't wait to see what couple we get next! Maybe a certain sister of one of these MCs and the cousin of the other? Make it a whole family affair...that would be nice.
Thank you to Alexis Morgan and her team for this ARC. It was a great way to start my day!
June 19, 2026
4.5🌟
Alexis had me roped in with “sexy cowboy/mafia” and kept me captivated the whole time! Grayson was HOT, a bit of a romantic softie, while also fully capable of knocking someone out and being that protector.
This was a deep story but the fun banter and sweet, healing moments were perfectly placed and balanced the story out from the darker and more tragic moments. This was my first story by Alexis and I was thoroughly impressed with the writing. I connected so quickly with the characters and the story had me pulled in the whole way through. I mean from chapter one you kind of know what you are in for and I LOVED it.
This dark cowboy romance was everything you could want and more! The friends and family members will all hold a special place in your heart and the little town will have you craving that small town life.
Thank you for the opportunity to ARC read this story!! I loved it!
Alexis had me roped in with “sexy cowboy/mafia” and kept me captivated the whole time! Grayson was HOT, a bit of a romantic softie, while also fully capable of knocking someone out and being that protector.
This was a deep story but the fun banter and sweet, healing moments were perfectly placed and balanced the story out from the darker and more tragic moments. This was my first story by Alexis and I was thoroughly impressed with the writing. I connected so quickly with the characters and the story had me pulled in the whole way through. I mean from chapter one you kind of know what you are in for and I LOVED it.
This dark cowboy romance was everything you could want and more! The friends and family members will all hold a special place in your heart and the little town will have you craving that small town life.
Thank you for the opportunity to ARC read this story!! I loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Just finished my ARC read of *Writing Saddle*, and I have to say I’m a little conflicted. I absolutely love dark romance, but this one felt much sweeter than I expected. It had a mix of contemporary and dark romance elements, which was interesting, but I found myself wanting more of the darker vibes and tension that I usually gravitate toward.
The city girl x cowboy trope also isn’t really my favorite, so that may have played a part in my overall enjoyment. Unfortunately, the conflict in the story wasn’t my favorite either—it just didn’t hit as hard as I wanted it to, and some of the drama felt a bit underwhelming.
That being said, if you enjoy sweeter romances with a touch of darkness and love a city girl x cowboy dynamic, I can definitely see this being a hit for you. It just wasn’t quite the emotional rollercoaster or level of angst I personally look for in my romances.
The city girl x cowboy trope also isn’t really my favorite, so that may have played a part in my overall enjoyment. Unfortunately, the conflict in the story wasn’t my favorite either—it just didn’t hit as hard as I wanted it to, and some of the drama felt a bit underwhelming.
That being said, if you enjoy sweeter romances with a touch of darkness and love a city girl x cowboy dynamic, I can definitely see this being a hit for you. It just wasn’t quite the emotional rollercoaster or level of angst I personally look for in my romances.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Writing Saddle is a banter-filled cowboy romance that has lots of yearning and stolen glances from both the fmc and mmc.
When everything goes a flop in NY, Maisie heads to her extended family's ranch in Montana to take a break and take a breath. Little did she know locking eyes while passing by would open her to an different path in life. Both Maisie and Grayson are guarded, holding secrets but pain sees pain and they are attracted to eachother like moths to a light. Grayson is fighting his own battles and is reluctant to let anyone in until he finds the thing he can't live without.
This book is a fun time, but I did want to smack Grayson upside the head multiple times for making stupid decisions.
Thank you to Alexis Morgan for providing me with an early copy to review.
When everything goes a flop in NY, Maisie heads to her extended family's ranch in Montana to take a break and take a breath. Little did she know locking eyes while passing by would open her to an different path in life. Both Maisie and Grayson are guarded, holding secrets but pain sees pain and they are attracted to eachother like moths to a light. Grayson is fighting his own battles and is reluctant to let anyone in until he finds the thing he can't live without.
This book is a fun time, but I did want to smack Grayson upside the head multiple times for making stupid decisions.
Thank you to Alexis Morgan for providing me with an early copy to review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Standing. Fucking. Ovation.
So blessed to get to review this book early as an ARC.
Between the banter, the love, the sass and the characters I’m in love with all of them. I was REALLY worried how the mafia piece was going to play into this and all I can say is, we best be getting a book for Moretti. Bc that story is needed and I loved the cowboy x mafia cross over.
I’ve never highlighted so many things. So many things that made me laugh, cry and loveee reading more than I already do.
Grays tattoos 😏❤️
Gray turning me on by milking a cow?
Listen, I don’t even know what I’m writing anymore. But please read this book. I literally have a tear rolling down my face as I type this because to experience this love, is truly special.
So blessed to get to review this book early as an ARC.
Between the banter, the love, the sass and the characters I’m in love with all of them. I was REALLY worried how the mafia piece was going to play into this and all I can say is, we best be getting a book for Moretti. Bc that story is needed and I loved the cowboy x mafia cross over.
I’ve never highlighted so many things. So many things that made me laugh, cry and loveee reading more than I already do.
Grays tattoos 😏❤️
Gray turning me on by milking a cow?
Listen, I don’t even know what I’m writing anymore. But please read this book. I literally have a tear rolling down my face as I type this because to experience this love, is truly special.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you, Alexis Morgan for the ARC!
I loved the storyline, especially the dark romance with cowboys. You have Grayson who will die to protect what he loves, and you have Maisie who just got out of a cheating relationship. Their chemistry was something you long for. The quick easy love with the feeling of being safe. She goes to visit family (who own a dude ranch) to help her write a cowboy romance. It's where to instantly feels a connection with the cowboy in the window she passes on the ranch. He has his problems where he is in deep with the mafia and he wants to get out. I loved how he came back to her after pushing her away. This was good read. Ive never read any of Alexis stuff before but I will definitely read more!
I loved the storyline, especially the dark romance with cowboys. You have Grayson who will die to protect what he loves, and you have Maisie who just got out of a cheating relationship. Their chemistry was something you long for. The quick easy love with the feeling of being safe. She goes to visit family (who own a dude ranch) to help her write a cowboy romance. It's where to instantly feels a connection with the cowboy in the window she passes on the ranch. He has his problems where he is in deep with the mafia and he wants to get out. I loved how he came back to her after pushing her away. This was good read. Ive never read any of Alexis stuff before but I will definitely read more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was an addictive read, I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed the cowboy mafia add. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters as well as the character growth. The spice was definitely spicing. This would be another re read as well as a recommendation to anyone who wants to get into a dark cowboy romance.
The character growth between Maisie and Grayson was definitely there. I enjoyed how we got a taste of their past and what brought them to Lupine. I like how we got to see why the main characters have these walls and boundaries up as the growth for the characters continue throughout the story. Maisie is a self independent writer who picks up her life and moves to Lupine to find inspiration for her story. Grayson is an over protective cowboy who was pulled into an illegal boxing ring.
Alexis did an amazing job with this story and I can’t wait to read the rest of this series. Thank you to Alexis and her team for sending me this Arc. I’m so glad that I tried my shot to put my name out there.
The character growth between Maisie and Grayson was definitely there. I enjoyed how we got a taste of their past and what brought them to Lupine. I like how we got to see why the main characters have these walls and boundaries up as the growth for the characters continue throughout the story. Maisie is a self independent writer who picks up her life and moves to Lupine to find inspiration for her story. Grayson is an over protective cowboy who was pulled into an illegal boxing ring.
Alexis did an amazing job with this story and I can’t wait to read the rest of this series. Thank you to Alexis and her team for sending me this Arc. I’m so glad that I tried my shot to put my name out there.
June 13, 2026
ADVANCED READERS COPY REVIEW!!!!
This was such a fun read. I ate this up. The vibes of cowboy x mafia was a fun twist.
SPOILERS BELOW THIS POINT
Points subtracted only bc the last 20% felt rushed- we went from slow burn to everything happens now which i loved but also made it a bit chaotic.
Also of course third act breakup smh
BUT
Overall i loved this. The characters are fun and the background with them i hope we get to see the side character stories soon too.
I can’t wait for this to publish so i can recommend to my friends 💖🥹
Side note the characters having the same names as my dogs was so funny to me
This was such a fun read. I ate this up. The vibes of cowboy x mafia was a fun twist.
SPOILERS BELOW THIS POINT
Points subtracted only bc the last 20% felt rushed- we went from slow burn to everything happens now which i loved but also made it a bit chaotic.
Also of course third act breakup smh
BUT
Overall i loved this. The characters are fun and the background with them i hope we get to see the side character stories soon too.
I can’t wait for this to publish so i can recommend to my friends 💖🥹
Side note the characters having the same names as my dogs was so funny to me
June 14, 2026
Advance Readers Copy.
Thank you Alexis Morgan for allowing me to read your book💕
4.8 ⭐️
First cowboy romance book ever, and I loved the mafia twist to it! Maisie and Grayson were perfect! I loved their banter and watching the chemistry build. Although it did seam a bit rushed how quickly they feel for each other, the build to the spicy scenes were perfect!! Seeing Graysons vulnerability was definitely not what I was expecting but it works so well. The ending was beautiful, the side characters are perfect and I can’t wait for book two 🤩
This book does contain dark theme so as always please read the trigger warning before reading. Your mental health matters ❤️
Thank you Alexis Morgan for allowing me to read your book💕
4.8 ⭐️
First cowboy romance book ever, and I loved the mafia twist to it! Maisie and Grayson were perfect! I loved their banter and watching the chemistry build. Although it did seam a bit rushed how quickly they feel for each other, the build to the spicy scenes were perfect!! Seeing Graysons vulnerability was definitely not what I was expecting but it works so well. The ending was beautiful, the side characters are perfect and I can’t wait for book two 🤩
This book does contain dark theme so as always please read the trigger warning before reading. Your mental health matters ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was sent this book as an arc reader and from the first sentence I was hooked. If you love a good cowboy x city girl romance with a bit of mafia you will love this book. This is the first book I have read of hers I know she has one more that is a dark romantasy and I am excited to read that one as well. Not only were the main characters in this book amazing especially their back and forth banter but I also fell in love with the friendships created along the way with the amazing side characters.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you're looking for a spicy cowboy romance with lovable characters look no further. This book had some darker themes like a mafia subplot and underground fighting. I also found the anxiety rep in this book fantastic! But the love story is what drew me in and I found myself rooting for Maisie and Grayson and loved their vulnerability. The ending of the book is absolutely perfect! I highly recommend this book.
Review of advance copy
I was extremely lucky to be selected for an ARC of this book and I was so excited to get into it. I mean come on. Dark cowboy romance?? That’s all of my favorite things. Things were going well, I was loving them, the smut was SMUTTING but then the last 100 pages just really fell flat. The story seemed really rushed and some parts gave the ick with how off the wall they were. Still a good read. Cowboys have my heart forever.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review!!
A cowboy mafia romance book with banter that will have you giggling and kicking your feet. I flew through this and could not put it down. This was such an easy read with some moments of dark romance and phenomenal spicy scenes!! The ending felt a little rushed and I wanted some closure on subplots but I have a feeling those may be elaborated in later books. Still would recommend to anyone who loves a good badass cowboy MMC and witty fiery FMC.
A cowboy mafia romance book with banter that will have you giggling and kicking your feet. I flew through this and could not put it down. This was such an easy read with some moments of dark romance and phenomenal spicy scenes!! The ending felt a little rushed and I wanted some closure on subplots but I have a feeling those may be elaborated in later books. Still would recommend to anyone who loves a good badass cowboy MMC and witty fiery FMC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you love a man who is a protective, rough around the edges cowboy, slightly on the morrally grey side, and can't say no to his niece, then Grayson Miles is for you. If you love a woman who loves largely, is down for a girls night, a romance author and tough as nails, then Maisie Rae Brooks is for you. These two not only find strength in each other but learn to love together. The suspense, spice and swooning is everything in this book.
June 18, 2026
ARC REVIEW! 3.5 ⭐️
I am so excited and lucky to have been selected to read an ARC of this book. This is a dark cowboy romance with a touch of mafia. I enjoyed the characters, there was great banter, and the spice was great. It was quite insta-lovey but the characters didn’t pursue it right away so that did drag on a little but that didn’t bother me too much because I enjoyed the storyline.
Cowboy x City Girl
Adult Dark Cowboy Romance
Mafia Subplot
I am so excited and lucky to have been selected to read an ARC of this book. This is a dark cowboy romance with a touch of mafia. I enjoyed the characters, there was great banter, and the spice was great. It was quite insta-lovey but the characters didn’t pursue it right away so that did drag on a little but that didn’t bother me too much because I enjoyed the storyline.
Cowboy x City Girl
Adult Dark Cowboy Romance
Mafia Subplot
Review of advance copy received from Author
A hot cowboy and a relatable FMC?! Sold! I'm convinced that Maisie and I are the same person. This book took some of my favorite tropes and put the best spin on them. I fell in love with these characters so hard and I'm still trying to guess who the sequel is going to be about 👀 Also, just be aware... Epilogue 2 DEFINITELY took me out
June 11, 2026
This book exceeded my expectations. We have cowboys with sl*tty mustaches, we have feisty females who is also an author which I love, there’s mafia involved. He falls first it’s just everything you could ever want in a cowboy romance. I can’t wait to purchase my physical copy because I will definitely be reading this one again and again and again..
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