Untamed: Beneath the Reign, Book 1

Beneath the Reign #1

by Luna Mason, Elle Sonali (Narrator), Sebastian York (Narrator)

Are you ready for cowboys to enter the mafia underworld?

They can come after my ranch, my freedom, even my life. But, no one gets away with touching my wife…

Hunter Sterling.

People call me by different names depending on which version of me they know. The owner of Sterling ranch. The heir to a mafia empire. The murderer the town wants caged.

I have ninety days to prove I didn’t kill the mother of my son or I lose everything.

I should be focused on survival. Instead, I fall for the same girl my best friend does. Lola Jackson. The city girl. My firefly.

I’m the one she runs to when he hurts her and I’m the one who punishes him for it. And I make her my wife so that the Sterling name will keep her protected long after I’m gone. But it was always more than just names on a piece of paper. It’s the one thing that makes me fight harder to stay alive.

When the truth is revealed, it doesn’t just shatter me, it forces me to choose between my empire… or my wife.

But they’ve all forgotten who they’re dealing with. And now they’re going to learn what happens when a cowboy stops playing nice and a mafia boss goes to war.

Untamed can be listened to as a standalone, but is the first book in an interconnected series, which will follow each of the Sterling Brothers.

Genres: Dark Romance, Westerns, Romance, Mafia Romance, Cowboy Romance, Dark, Marriage Of Convenience

Audible Audio

Published May 12, 2026

Reviews

[Shaz ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 - SMAAAAAAASH ❤️‍🔥 Hunter Sterling absolutely provided redemption and may have just become my #1 cowboy 🫦



Pre-read:
I am here for redemption and this dedication is already delivering! 🤠

This one is for my smut enthusiasts who look at a hot, tatted cowboy and think… "I wonder if he'd ride me that hard." Saddle up. You're in for a wild time. Hunter Sterling is about to give you his hat and prove… cowboys fuck better.

[Shira Kadashev · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 60%
Soooooo cringe and the most insta EVERYTHING I’ve ever read

[Kursed Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunter Sterling is the charming owner of Sterling Ranch, serving up cowboy swagger and BDE in equal measure.

Influencer and heiress of a billion-dollar fashion empire, Lola Jackson followed her bestie, Violet, to New Falls, Arizona to take a break from the hustle. And while she’s there, she plans to test the theory that cowboys fuck better. But a one night stand was all it was supposed to be. Yet they both knew it was more than that before he even pulled out.

Before his father’s death, a business deal permanently linked the ranch to the mafia, leaving Hunter to navigate the fallout. And those consequences are coming in hot. Claiming Lola not only ties her to him, it also provides her protection. Unfortunately, it also paints a giant target on her back.

Does everything happen at warp speed? Absolutely. Did I care? Not even a little. The chemistry is instant, the connection feels genuine, and somehow it all works. And Hunter? Holy cowboy, that man is such a softie. I mean, I ain’t mad at it but… 😳🤠

Also, we need to discuss the real stars of this book because there’s a tie for Best Side Character: Wyatt and Gary!! 🐐

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱

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

Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 🥵🫠😤😳😍
Darkness: 🖤
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

✨ Tropes: Age Gap (~7), Billionaire, Family Saga, Found Family, Heroine in Danger, Instalove/Insta-Obsession, Mafia/Bratva/Organized Crime, One Night Stand, Single Parent
 
💫 Microtropes: Boy Obsessed, Caretaker/Protective MMC, Caveman/Bridal Carry, Forehead Kisses, “Fuck It”, “Good Girl”, Hand Necklace, He Falls First, He Falls Harder, Panty Thief, Pet Name (Firefly), Tattooed MMC, “Who Hurt You?”, “Yes, Sir”

🔆 Character: Heiress, Illegal Enterprises, Influencer, Photographer, Rancher/Cowboy

💋 Kinks: 🍑, Angel Wings, Bondage/Restraints, Crawl, Cum Jammer, Snowballing, Spitting

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: Epilogue

🚩 Red Flags: Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, Touch-Her-and-💀, Tracking/Spying

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

📍 Setting: Ranch, Arizona 🇺🇸

📣 Type: Untamed is the first book in the Beneath the Reign series of interconnected standalones.

⚠️ Warning: This sweet and smutty read will leave your panties damp, your cheeks flushed and have you DoorDashing batteries for BOB.

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

[Sinful Dreamer · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 75%. the insta everything aspect completely ruined the experience for me.

[Mads · Rating 4 out of 5]

(⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5) Woooo, they moved fast! But I liked it. I was so entertained with the plot. Luna & Hunter both had engaging stories that fit well together. I would’ve rated it higher, but the pace of their relationship was a bit wild. Not even just for Luna & Hunter, but even for Wyatt, like damn, was it even week(s)?? But the chemistry was crazy. The glimpse of the other characters makes me excited for their books though, especially Harper & Ace. I love a second chance romance.

[Kayla | Kayla Reads Smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welp, I picked this one up and didn't want to put it down. The combination of mafia and small town cowboy is where it is at. I mean what more can you ask for than a morally grey cowboy? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Listen, Untamed will deliver everything that you love about Luna Mason. You will get a morally grey MMC who will literally burn the world down for his FMC, a dose of insta love, and a spicy plot. It's always a really good time. What I loved about the one is the bit of suspense. I always love to read a book with a bad guy and try to figure out who it is. And this book had that element so I was in heaven.

There was truly nothing that I didn't like about this one. The vibes were there. The plot kept me engaged. I loved all of the characters and the easter eggs for what is to come. Hunter is morally grey and he will quite literally burn the world down for Lola. She is his light in the dark. Lola has a fun personality and she keeps Hunter on his toes. She also meets his crazy and accepts him and his criminal ways. Hunter's son Wyatt was absolutely adorable. The way he loved Lola like a mother was so sweet to see. And an honorable mentions: Gray the goat.

Luna, I love the direction you are going with this one and I can NOT wait for the next Sterling brother! The easter eggs in this book has me straight feral!

You should most definitely read this book if you like:
- Small Town/Dark Romance
- Cowboy x City Girl
- Instalove/lust
- Single Dad
- Marriage of Convenience
- Mafia
- Morally Grey MMC

* I would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Luna Mason for allowing me the absolute pleasure to read Untamed as an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions and review.

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 5 out of 5]

5(♾️)🌟, 4🌶️

Untamed really said saddle up… and then hit me with cowboy charm and pure, unfiltered trouble 😏🤠

Mafia, cowboy, and chaos? Say less, I was already sold. 🔥

A morally grey cowboy tied to danger, a high-stakes situation hanging over his head, and a woman who walks straight into his world like she owns it had me hooked instantly. What starts as a messy, accidental connection turns into something way more intense when they’re forced into each other’s orbit, and neither of them can really step away.

Hunter is all control and danger on the outside, but underneath he is soft in a way that really hits, especially when it comes to his son 🥺. Lola brings light, chaos, and just enough boldness to match him without ever backing down. Their chemistry is instant and intense, the tension never lets up, and the emotional moments land so well. Add in the suspense, the found family, and those little hints of what is coming next, and I was completely locked in

This book just delivers on every level. It is emotional, fun, and a little unhinged in the best way, and so easy to get lost in. The author has me fully hooked because how does she keep doing this every single time? Five stars, no hesitation.

This book owns me at this point 💋

~~~~

Huge thank you to Luna Mason and Valentine PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insta love is not my bag I don’t think BUT….

Truck and barn f*cks definitely are!!! THIS COWBOY WAS HOT AS HELL 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

Dark mafia cowboy romance, I had a good time!

[Morgan | bookish_morgano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunter might be one of my newest top 5 book boyfriends from Luna Masons universe!

Right from the beginning Daddy Hunter energy was off the charts! The chemistry between him and Lola was so electric I could not stop reading! Plus seeing him interact with his son had me swooning immediately.

I really enjoyed the small town cowboy aspect to this mafia mix but found it was still exciting with the mafia pacing but a touch slower during the first half (more small town vibes).

It was also so fun to see Drago, Enzo, and Conan in this book! I love them all so much and cannot wait for book 2! I called Ace being next up and I’m so so excited!!! 😏

Add to your TBR if you like:
- mafia cowboy x city girl
- betrayal & satisfying revenge
- he falls first
- single dad vibes
- mafia shenanigans
- BD$M (snowballing, ropes, yes sir, good girl)
- grumpy x sunshine

I am so grateful for the opportunity to ARC read this book and am forever grateful to Luna and her team!

[Ally · Rating 1 out of 5]

You're welcome for the sacrifice I just made so you don't have to read this book.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Because Lola isn’t the kind of woman you sit around talking about with your friends. No. She’s the kind of woman who crawls under your skin. The kind that shows up in your dreams. And I already know one thing for certain. I’m going to chase my firefly.”

So, instead of reading the books I most definitely should be reading... I download a completely new book by a new author and DEVOUR it with zero regrets. Did I want to download the sequel as well? YES, but I didn't because for some dumb reason I motivated myself to read a book that was already downloaded on my kindle. Ugh, book reading responsibility can sometimes be the worst. And yet, I'm still very excited to get my hands on the sequel whenever I can (which will probably be by the end of the day if I'm being completely honest here).

Hunter was aboslutely everything a girl could ask for (and then some). Honestly, cowboys probably do a lot of things better and I'm devastated I know absolutely none of them. I loved hoe things were kind of instantaneous between him and Lola but also kind of not at the same time. Did I think the marriage of convenience was way too fast? Sure, who wouldn't... but that doesn't change the fact that I absolutely did not put this book down either. It worked for them and it worked for me in the end.

Did I think two certain people should've suffered more? ABSOLUTELY! In the end, I'm just happy that they are all safe and happy. I'm also very intrigued to see how Ace will feel about his ex being in the next town over. I wonder if he already knew that or if it'll be a surprise when they get reunited. Definitely want to know why they really broke up and such. So soooo happy that I randomly came across this hot man cover and absolutely need more cowboy mafia romances in my life.

Hot damn!

[R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

cringey at times แต่อ่านละค่ดติดมือเลย สนุกแบบละครๆ

พระเอกไปสุดทุกด้านดี จะเป็นมาเฟียที่ฆ่าคนได้หน้าตาเฉย จะคาวบอยดูแลไร่ที่ขนาดใหญ่จนแทบจะเปนจังหวัดนึง หรือจะซิงเกิ้ลแด๊ดที่ละมุนละเกินนนนน หรือเป็นผู้ชายคนนึงที่รักเธอไม่ไหวแล้ว ยอมทุกอย่าง เออเป็นให้ได้หมดนั่นแหละ

spice: 3.5

[Kait · Rating 1 out of 5]

No way they fuck one time and now they are married???

[Darkest Bellé · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!!!

This book? Yeah… it completely sank its claws into me and refused to let go.

There’s just something dangerously addictive about the collision of small-town ranch life and mafia darkness and this story leans all the way in. Dusty boots, quiet fields, and a man with blood on his hands? It shouldn’t work this well, but it does. The tension, the danger, the way the calm of the ranch masks everything lurking underneath… it’s the kind of atmosphere that keeps you on edge in the best way.

Hunter is that morally gray cowboy you know you shouldn’t fall for but you will anyway. He’s ruthless, calculated, and absolutely unhinged when it comes to protecting what’s his. The “burn the world down for her” energy? Not just talk. He proves it. And yet, somehow, Lola softens the edges of him without ever trying to change who he is. She walks into his chaos, matches his intensity, and becomes the one thing grounding him in a life built on shadows.

And Lola? She’s not just some city girl out of her element. She’s sharp, bold, and brings this light that doesn’t weaken Hunter it challenges him. Their connection is instant, intense, and yeah, fast… but it works. It feels like inevitability. Like that kind of love that doesn’t ask permission it just is.

“Like soulmates.” And honestly? That’s exactly what they felt like.

But what really got me was Wyatt.
Hunter trying to be the best father he can be while carrying the weight of his world? That hit. And Wyatt and Lola together? Completely stole my heart. Their bond is soft, genuine, and full of those quiet emotional moments that balance out all the danger and heat. That little found-family dynamic adds so much depth to the story.

Speaking of heat… yeah, this one brings it. The chemistry is intense, the tension is constant, and the steamy moments are woven perfectly into the story without taking away from the plot. It’s that perfect mix of emotional connection and undeniable physical pull.
And then there’s the suspense.

The lurking danger, the “who can you trust” energy, the underlying threat that keeps building in the background it adds this addictive layer that makes it impossible to put down. You’re not just here for the romance, you’re in it for the unraveling chaos too.

By the end, I was fully invested not just in Hunter and Lola, but in everything being set up for what’s coming next. The hints, the connections, the lingering questions? I’m already impatient.

If you love:

🖤 Small town with a dark edge
🤠 Cowboy × City Girl
🖤 Morally gray MMC
🔥 Fast, intense romance
🖤 Single dad + found family feels
💍 Marriage of convenience vibes
🖤 Mafia suspense threaded through it all

Then yeah… this one’s going to own you too.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Untamed by Luna Mason 🐴🩸⛓️

⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 3 stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️/ spice rating

The first like 90 pages of this book had me hooked in and I couldn’t put my kindle down. However, these two came together WAYYYY too soon for my liking. Now hear me out, I don’t mind the instant attraction trope, but these two felt such big emotions without actually knowing anything about each other. And whilst I did actually like Hunter & Lola as characters I couldn’t really enjoy their relationship together because it felt so surface level, they came together at around 38% percent into the book and from there on out the book felt off. I am very curious about the rest of the characters in this series and can see why this book is going to appeal to many but it was rushed in my opinion. The characters should have got to know each other more and I would have felt more confident in their love for one another. This is just a personal preference I have when I want to become invested in the main couples romance. Now I’m really intrigued about Harper & Ace’s story for sure as I can sense a second chance romance coming and I need Violets book too because my girl did make me cackle quite a few times 🤭

What to Expect/ Tropes:
~ insta love/ insta attraction 🫦
~ morally grey cowboy x city girl ❤️‍🔥
~ touch her & you die 💀
~ single dad
~ murder mystery
~ marriage for “protection”
~ ranchers that work with the mafia
~ lots of sizzling spicy scenes with; rope play, mirrors, a fuck in his truck, primal play, spanking, bath tub fucking, lots of blow jobs and Hunter loves to eat Lola out 🥵💦🍆😺

[Mel's corner Angham · Rating 1 out of 5]

10 percent in and I was already not feeling it. The writing style is lacking... Something about how she describes things is too simplistic... Also how many times can you say the words "the mafia" in one chapter... It just isn't working for me

[Paperback Princess]

Instant DNF when there’s too much dialogue about social media.

[Courteney · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just don’t have the strength to persevere with this

[lara]

do yourself a favour and don’t pick this up :)
the writing is bland and it’s insta everything, what the frick do you need 85 chapters for?

[Smutty Little Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, Luna can write no wrong. This book consumed me and I was in love. I have a soft spot for dark cowboys and Hunter was giving everything I needed in so much more!

I don't want to spoil anything so I will just say, if you like Mafia, Single Dad, oppositive attract, immediately obsessed MMC, pick up this book. The spice was spicing, the cowboys were cowboying and I was shouting "yeehaw!" the whole way through.

One thing to note: When I say immediately obsessed, I mean it. These two move FAST so in some ways, you have to check logic out the door. If you are someone who struggles with storylines like that, this may not be the book for you. As for everyone else though... read the damn book!

Some top tier quotes:

"Something about this place feels like the beginning of a story I haven’t read yet. And I want to turn the page."

“If that were the case, you wouldn’t have got in the truck. Your panties wouldn’t be soaking. And you wouldn’t be blushing the second I called you good girl, now would you?”

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story...

Single dad cowboyw x city girl
Found family
Betrayals
Mysterie enemies at play

And swoony romance with the edge of revenge

Fav quotes:

• "...I’d watched fireflies flicker through the grass, thinking how the prettiest things wait for dark to show themselves. How beauty hides until night falls. And now, watching that woman glowunder neon lights in the middle of my bar, every instinct I have settles into one dangerous thought..."

• "...the firefly that just walked through the door is about to burn a whole lot brighter than anything I’m ready for."

• You walked into my life like a light in a place I thought was dark. My firefly.”

[Caitlin Kershaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book club pick:

I wanna start with the positives, which is that it’s a very easy read. I am a slow reader, and I was able to read most of it in a day.

Honestly, i have two major issues with this book beyond my little issues which matter a lot less.

I would rate this book as a 1.5-2. The writing was lackluster, which was a huge reason why I feel like I didn’t connect to this book at all. I felt like the author was just telling me the story instead of an immersing me in it. And I feel like every chapter everything was so over explained that I just kept skipping large paragraphs because I can use my own context clues to figure out what the characters are feeling or thinking. The writing also added to the lack of spice to the smutty scenes. I didn’t feel heat or connection between the characters. It was just words on paper without any immersion into the scene.
(I haven’t seen anyone else talk about the writing so maybe I just don’t like this authors writing style)


The other reason I didn’t feel connected to the story or the characters was because of the instant everything. This entire book happens within the span of like a month. I can understand and get behind insta-lust but not love, marriage, moving in, the kid calling her mommy, etc.
they tried to do this back-and-forth thing where it’s like we can’t be together, but we still want to be together, but it was more annoying than anything. And don’t get me started on the “ I’ll chase you” but no chasing happens.

Overall, the instant everything and the writing killed this book for me.

[Ashley Miller · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, I really tried to see this one through since I got the ALC for it, but I just couldn’t do it. The insta-love and insta “you’re mine” dynamic gave me major ick right from the start. And the sex scenes that were supposed to be “life changing” 🤢 Lola girl… if that’s life-changing, I’m concerned. 😅
And the landlord… it felt so obvious that at some point he’s going to assault Lola and Hunter will swoop in to “save her.” Maybe I’m wrong since I won’t be continuing, but instead of the mystery feeling suspenseful or shocking, it just felt way too predictable to me.

I was so excited for the single dad / “bad cowboy” vibes this book was marketed with. Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me.

[Readwithmelis · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very first cowboy romance review! 🤠❤️ I’ve had so many cowboy books on my TBR, but I finally picked this one up and OH MY GOD, best decision ever!!! This is officially my absolute favorite book If I could give it infinite stars, I would. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐♾️

The story follows Hunter, a single dad cowboy, and Lola, a city girl. It was literal love at first sight, and the tension is absolutely unmatched. 🔥 They are such a fiery couple, but what I loved most was their communication and how much they trusted each other. And Hunter’s son, Wyatt... He is the sweetest little baby! 🥺 When he called Lola "mommy" for the first time, I lost it. I started crying like he was talking to me. The book made me so emotional, I couldn't stop tearing up. And when I turned the final page? I literally cried because it was over!😭😭

If you love Single Dad, Cowboy, and Mafia tropes, you NEED to read this immediately!

I am SO excited for book two. I already fell in love with Ace in this book and I need his story right now or I'm gonna scream! 🥹Need to devour it ASAP!

[Buffy・❥・ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so this was a cowboy/mafia romance which I feel like is very uncommon in the mafia romance world so I was very intrigued going into it and honestly it didn’t disappoint. I was sucked in since the start with this one.. I loved the relationship development b/t the MMC and FMC, the side stories and the spice 🥵 was really good also. Usually I don’t like the single dad storyline but this one wasn’t too bad and I feel like overall the story was very beautifully written. The only harp I’ll give it is the pet names b/t the main characters gotta a little cringy at moments but overall still very cute and enjoyed it

[Kaitlin Dice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luna Mason has entered her cowboy era and I’m here for it. It wouldn’t be a Luna Mason story without a mafia twist to it though! Untamed is book one in her all new series Beneath The Reign. Make it a single dad story and I’m sold even more. Being a darker themed book Luna still manages to pack all the insta love, swoon worthy moments and banter into it. One thing this author always does that I love is she always finds a way to bring all of her worlds together. Characters from her past series that you love will always pop up for little glimpses.

[Cassandra ☀️🌊☕️📚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m normally not big on mafia romances, but Luna had me with mafia boss cowboy. I’ve been in my cowboy era since last year. The chemistry between Hunter and Lola did not disappoint. I love how they met. The reason why it wasn’t a five star read for me is because of the insta love and how fast they were moving in their relationship. I also had a problem with how predictable part of the story was with what happened to Hunter. I’m a sucker for second chance romances, so I can’t wait to read Ace’s and Harper’s story next.

[Nicole Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I absolutely LOVED this!!! 🔥🔥

Fast paced, growly cowboy/mafia vibes, love at first sight ugh I just loved this so much!
Hunter Sterling is my new favourite cowboy and I will take no criticism on this man!

Can’t wait for Aces story next!!! I loved him in this book!

[Bryony Amesbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

May be the quickest I’ve ever read a book😅 insane and I loved every second of it, I was so hooked!

[monica • · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow this was SO good!!! hunter and lola are everything to me. this has everything. beautiful found family, suspense and drama, betrayals and I can’t wait to see what the next book brings.