Unleashed: A dark mafia cowboy romance

Beneath the Reign #2

by Luna Mason

Unleashed is a dark cowboy romance with a mafia twist...

I've spent my whole life riding things that want to kill me. But the most dangerous ride of my life? Chasing the woman who broke my heart across a war zone to bring her home.

Ace Sterling.

Six years. That's how long I've been texting a woman who won't reply. Every birthday. Every Christmas. Every night I'm drunk enough to be honest and sober enough to hit send.

Harper Jones. My Goldie. She stole my heart, ground it to dust and then drove it to Los Angeles without even looking back.

At least, that's what I thought.

Turns out, she's been protecting my family from the shadows this whole time. She loves me in silence and lets me think she doesn't.

When she walks back into New Falls with secrets that could ignite a war between two of the most dangerous mafia families in the country, it feels like the second chance I've been desperate for.

Then I find her tied up in my cousin's barn with another man's ring on her finger.

I don't buy it. Won’t. Because there is no me without my soulmate, and the second she stops loving me, my heart will stop beating. So I hold on, the way I always do. Eight seconds at a time.

But this town is crawling with enemies I don't see coming. Alliances that aren't what they seem. And someone is pulling strings that none of us can trace until it's too late.

So I’m forced to let the woman I love walk down the aisle toward another man. But that isn’t the end of our story…

That’s the declaration of war.

One phone call changes everything. No words. Just the sound of her breathing.

And I know. She's not just calling for herself anymore.

They say second chances don't come around twice. They're right.

This is our third. And it's the last one either of us will need, because she will always be the only woman I’ll ever love.

They think because I ride bulls, I'm just a cowboy. But every Sterling has a line. Cross it, and the cowboy disappears. What's left ain't ranching. It's reckoning.


*Unleashed is a standalone romance, but part of the Beneath the Reign series, where each book follows one of the brothers in the Sterling family. This story is Ace & Harper.

TROPES INCLUDE:
- Professional Bull Rider x Mafia Underboss MMC
- Criminal Journalist FMC
- Second Chance Romance
- Childhood Sweethearts
- She's Investigating his crimes
- She's engaged to another man
- All the angst, yearning and heartbreak.

Genres: Dark Romance, Westerns, Second Chance, Cowboy Romance, Mafia Romance, Romance, Dark

538 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 16, 2026

Reviews

[Shaz ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 - Luna, my queen. Making me ugly cry is one thing, but making me ugly cry while my ovaries were doing backflips?! Absolutely diabolical 😭🥵❤️‍🔥

💌 Thank you to Luna and VPR for the ARC. Beyond grateful to get a sneak peek at my most anticipated read.

Pre-read:
GUYS!! I USED ALL NINE LIVES REFRESHING MY INBOX FOR THIS ARC... AND WE GOT IT!!! 😭
About to go absolutely feral for Ace, apologies in advance 🫦🤸🏻‍♀️

[Kursed Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six years after leaving New Falls, Arizona, and shattering Ace Sterling’s heart spectacularly in the process, Harper Jones returns home chasing a lead. But when her investigation uncovers a connection to Sterling Ranch, she buries the story to protect Ace and the family she almost had before she walked away.

This was the perfect blend of mystery, darkness, violence, toe-curling spice, and emotion. The yearning between Ace and Harper was absolutely palpable, but what really hooked me was the grittier tone. Compared to the first book, the mafia storyline takes center stage, and I was glued to my Kindle trying to peel back the endless layers of betrayal and fuckery.

When Ace and Harper finally confront the past, it’s impossible not to root for them. Their connection is effortless, the kind that makes you believe they were always meant to find their way back to each other. Knowing they spent six years apart because of secrets and misunderstandings? Equal parts heartbreaking and infuriating.

And Ace… whew! Move over, Hunter, there’s a new leading cowboy at Sterling Ranch. Hot, fiercely loyal, sentimental as hell, and this man got a secret tattoo and stayed celibate because no one else compared? Fuck me! 🫠

And the stories I assume are to come? Gimme. Gimme right TF now. Colten and Gianna are going to be absolutely explosive, and don’t think I haven’t noticed Jett lurking in the background. I get he’s not technically a Sterling brother. But that man has a story to tell, and I’ll be first in line when it’s his turn.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Format: 📱

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

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

✨ Tropes: Bad Boy x Good Girl, Billionaire, Family Saga, Heroine in Danger, Mafia/Bratva/Organized Crime, Second Chance
 
💫 Microtropes: Backward Hat, Boy Obsessed, Celibate MMC, “Good Girl”, Grey Sweatpants, Hand Necklace, It’s Always Been You, Masked MMC, Pet Name (Goldie), Pierced 🐓, Sassy FMC, Secret Tattoo, Secrets & Lies, Tattooed MMC, “Who Hurt You?”

🔆 Character: Bull Rider, Illegal Enterprises + Investigative Journalist

💋 Kinks: 🍑, Biting/Marking, Bondage/Restraints, Crawl, Degradation (Mild), Dirty Talk, Discipline/Punishment, Domination, Finger Licking Good, Impact Play (Belt), Phone Fun, Power Exchange, Primal Play, Spanking, Toys as Teammates

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: Minor Storyline

🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, MINE!

⛔️ Safety Squad: Kidnapping/Captive (Not by MMC), OW/OM Drama (Not Really • One Sided), Rough Handling of FMC (Not by MMC), 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: Unleasehed is part of the (Beneath the Reign series of interconnected standalones. While no other books need to be read in order to follow the story, reading prior books may enhance the experience.

⚠️ Warning: This steamy read will leave your panties damp and your cheeks flushed.

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

[Mads · Rating 4 out of 5]

(⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5) Man, do I loveeeee second chance romances. A one woman guy, a secret tattoo, come on 😭🤭 I’m so hooked on this series, the first was great & this was even better. I want Violet’s book right nowwwww. This was such fun chaos. I can appreciate that their conflict was worked out quickly, it didn’t drag, & they communicated once they were reunited. It was still perfectly emotional without feeling frustrating.

The last 30% though, frustrating 🙄 Girl, trust your man to help you. Could’ve been a 5 star read but I have a hard time with a second chance romance AND a third act breakup. All he wanted was trust, for her to trust him enough to tell him what she was doing & twice she couldn’t. What happened was the same result anyway lol. Butttt, a good wrap up though. They were truly meant to be together, I just think one conflict was enough for their heartache. I get that she’s a self sacrificer but give this man a break, girl. He has suffered enough. The emotional payoff was pretty worth it considering. I do love them together, I just needed them to finally be happy 🥹 Can’t wait to continue this series. I’m hooked.

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

4.5🌟, 3🌶️

Stepping into this chaotic world of dangerous men and deep emotional stakes was an absolute thrill.

I am, utterly ruined by Ace and Harper. Their six-year separation, endless pining, and protective secrets kept them apart, but Ace completely wrecked me by staying entirely devoted and celibate. The sheer depth of his loyalty made him an unforgettable leading man who set the bar impossibly high.

The emotional highs were incredible, making every page worth turning. While Harper kept her guard up longer than necessary, watching them navigate their complicated history made their eventual reunion feel deeply satisfying. Their palpable chemistry and suffocating romantic tension kept me hooked from start to finish, totally immersing me in their thrilling world of heartache and hard-fought healing.

Beyond the main romance, the vibrant family dynamics and standout side characters made the experience an absolute blast. The darker twists added a thrilling edge, and the sizzling romance scenes delivered plenty of heat while honoring the emotional core.

If the upcoming books in this series are half as addictive as this one, we are all in for an incredible treat.

~~~~

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

[Bookbubble · Rating 1 out of 5]

Story 1 ⭐ | Spice 3.5 🌶️ Feels AI written

I have enjoyed Luna Mason's work a lot in the past, but this series is clearly AI-generated and unedited by humans. It's an agonizing and disappointing experience to read. It's repetitive, performative, and lacks all of the tension-building and character-building that she impressed me with in the past.

This book had a lot of promise, including the unhinged stuff the author likes to put in her books and I love to read, but the story execution overshadows all of the uniqueness of season 2 of Beneath the Reign. We're not even going to get into how the cover models have all of their tattoos added in post.

Book 1, Untamed, had a lot of problems, most of which came down to the fact that Luna Mason's writing style has changed. Where she had character depth and nuance, now everything is announced out loud. Instead of setting up a scene to let you wallow in the unresolved tension and letting it build over the book, situations are cut and dry and nicely wrapped with a bow.

I hoped Unleashed would be different. That Untamed was a one-off situation. It wasn't. It's the new normal. Hopefully, that's only a short-term production decision and the F1 series returns to human-generated prose.

In Unleashed nothing is allowed to sit under the surface. Every beat gets announced, expanded, restated, then turned into a quote-card line:
- “You’ve had your hand around my heart for six years.”
- “I stopped living the day you left me.”
- “This in-between is not love.”
- “I’m not sure I can keep dying for you.”
- “Every sound is a blade between my ribs.”
- “Maybe loving me is killing her.”
These are basically stock phrases of the same emotion repeated ad nausem.

Dialog info dumps also also contradicts themselves constantly. In chapter 18, he says he won’t push her. Then he delivers an emotional ultimatum. Then he says he’ll stay out of her way. Then immediately asks whether she’s coming. Then narrates that he respects her request not to push. Then the book tells us again that he doesn’t break promises.

The horse sequence is pure cinematic cowboy movie set theatre: Ridge, stars, wind, hat, saddle, silent ride, crying in the dark. It is trying so hard to look devastating that it's fake and performative. The worst line might be, “the two of us becoming one person in the saddle." That sounds like a wedding venue sign. By 25%, the book is spending climax-level language currency on every conversation. There's nowhere left to go.

The book doubles down on a boilerplate structure where every beat is obvious, every scene announces its own meaning, and nothing comes through character behavior. The danger is described instead of created, the banter lands on cue, the crowd tells you when to react, and the violence follows movie shorthand instead of human movement.

What makes this worse is that this author once came up with something as strange and specific as the Decadence Games. She clearly has the imagination for bold, original ideas. That creativity is nowhere on the page here. The book relies on generic scenes, stock banter, cinematic shortcuts, and constant explanation instead of the tension and unpredictability she used to create. The ideas may still be hers, but the execution doesn't have the originality or tension of her earlier work.

Every scene follows the same pattern: announce the trope, explain the stakes, insert stock banter, tell us who is dangerous, add a performative gesture, then move to the next beat.

The writing leans on the same stock gestures over and over. Every emotion gets translated into identical character descriptions. The book repeats physical cues (I counted 102 times for one particular instance) instead of giving the characters specific reactions. It relies on repetitive emotional shorthand rather than developing the moment.

Even if you can get past the boilerplate scene structure, the characters are flat and undeveloped.

Ace is never allowed to be wrong, make mistakes or show human flaws. Even when he pushes too hard, the narration immediately reframes it as: he knows her better than anyone, he’s protecting her, he’s keeping his promise, he’s suffering nobly, or he’s giving her exactly what she needs. The book gives him the appearance of conflict without making him accountable. And why don't any of the brothers even care that Beau is dead? Or Wyatt's mom? Nobody grieved anything. They just treated it like, "oh well, he did me wrong" and move on. No blowback, no accountability, no remorse.

Harper's secrecy, indecision and mixed signals aren’t allowed to be flaws with consequences. They’re packaged as unearned trauma, duty and self-sacrifice. The story keeps excusing both of them while insisting they’re in agony.

"Perfect" characters kill the relationship because there’s nothing to repair, no selfish choice, betrayal, or blind spot to recognize. Just two perfect people being kept apart by plot machinery and talking about how much it hurts.

This pattern over the last few books (Indulge and Instinct had some of this but it wasn't as obvious or constant), leads me to suspect there is heavy AI drafting happening without much editing. Whether the author is doing it or outsourcing to a ghostwriter, who knows? Whatever is happening in production has a clear pattern that is not Luna Mason's voice.

I will continue to give Luna Mason's future books the benefit of the doubt for now, instead of saying, "I'm done with this author," the way I did with Penelope Sky, but this one is a "Not recommended unless you don't care if the book is AI generated."

I feel sorry for narrators who have to read this stuff.

[Helenesbookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

ya know i love a good second chance romance.
the it’s always been you, the yearning and longing for years to finally find their way back together again.
this story has it all, along with the tears, the mistakes and the heartaches, but also so much love.

‘𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞’𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢.’

mr ace sterling. this soft hearted, bull riding mafia cowboy who 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝘀 for his woman. this man who has gone 6 years celibate because there is no one else for him. only his soulmate.
the man who will burn down anything, who will protect and care for his woman in every way, but also chase her down and show her who she belongs to.
harper who always put others before herself, always protecting ace, but learns to finally lean on someone else and not do everything on her own.
loved ace & harper together. their connection was perfect.

ace’s relationship with wyatt? loved! they are so precious together.

also jett was the best side character in this book. he was so funny, he cracked me up so bad. but he was also so sweet and soft and i love him.


as always luna knocks it out of the park with all the emotions and hot as heck spice wrapped in an amazing story.

[Buffy・❥・ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so this was a cute read. I definitely liked the first book of this series way more than this one though ngl… this book was just a little too corny for me at times and the FMC was super annoying 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Laurel Ullman-bockert · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down. There were some parts of this that I loved. But it didn’t need to be 625 pages and I think I’ve decided that FMCs not telling their morally grey loves that they are being blackmailed is the worst thing ever. So much of those 600 pages could have been avoided without that whole thing. Also if Gianna knew how much of a snake Hudson was the whole time why didn’t she do something to help all the women he blackmailed? Idk just a lot that seemed superfluous and even if we keep the plot points there was still 150 pages of this that could have been eliminated.

[Christie Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unleashed by Luna Mason
MMC: Ace Sterling
FMC: Harper

👀Pro bull rider MMC x Criminal journalist
💚Second Chance but 3rd times a charm
🤠Cowboy & Mafia underboss
💋He’s pierced
✨She’s engaged to someone else
🎀Surprise baby
❤️He hasn’t been with anyone since her

Thank you to Luna Mason and Valentine PR for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is the second book in ‘Beneath the Reign’ series. I would recommend starting with book one.
Ace sterling has yearned for his woman for years. He’s also gone 6 years celibate because there is no one else for him.

[Kayla | Kayla Reads Smut · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know, I was skeptical about the whole mafia cowboy thing. I thought Untamed was just a magical unicorn but Luna Mason said hold my beer let me show you that cowboys can be big bad mafia men and you know what, Luna is right!

I fell in love with Acey poo in book one but the way that I fell in love with him in his own book, I'm weak in the knees! The way that this man has been yearning for his high school sweetheart since the day she left and broke his heart. Can't even fathom being with another woman. The way that this fictional man elevated the bar for men in real life and that are none the wiser.

I'm a huge sucker for a second chance romance, specifically when they were together at a younger age, spent time apart then find their way back to each other. It just does something to me on the inside. And yes, this book is exactly that! These two yearned for each other. They protected each other but do you know what Harper was awful at, communication lol which you know what got her in a lot of trouble. Like being engaged to another man while also wanting to be with Ace.

I will say, the lack of communication on Harper's part irritated me at times. I also think this book was about 100 pages too long. There was a lot of repetition on thoughts and feelings that at some point I was like yeah I get it. But over all, I loved the plot. I'm a sucker for things that have a bit of suspense to it and this one had that. I do wish there was more action and a little less spice since it became repetitive and at some point taking away from the story but I enjoyed it! I love all of the easter eggs for our next Sterling brother!

[Bri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

[Jennie Stiehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to Harper and Ace's story, like I can't even express how much I wanted to read this book.
Then I get the book and I am reading it and maybe I built it up too much in my head based on the sneak peaks, but this book fell a little flat for me.

It absolutely had some parts that were super good, but it was sooooo freaking long. It was like reading three books in one. Ace felt very one dimensional to me, he is the goofy never serious brother and that is where the author kept him. Harper is terrible to him and he just keeps taking her back and she just keeps leaving.

The characters have a Dom/Sub situationship and when they scene it did not feel like it was a healthy Dom/Sub partnership, but also they are running around the desert in Arizona and I keep thinking, maam there are snakes everywhere in Arizona.

I loved the first book, and this one just gets 3 stars.

[Julie Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

There is so much I want to say, but let’s start with I love Ace Sterling. I thought Hunter was intense, Ace is unhinged. This second chance between Ace and Harper is emotional, heart wrenching, the yearning.

Six years ago, Harper called off the relationship, distance and other reasons. We enter the story in the present, and both are still yearning for each other. Both try to move on, but can’t. She is still protecting him and his family; he cannot be with another woman.

They have finally found their way back; can they make it stick this time?

I love that this book is significant in length, but their story needed all of it. I was hooked on page one and I almost read it in 24 hours. It hit all my emotions, and I do not cry in books! The spice was delicious and hot. I loved Jett, I hope we get more of him, and Ace’s relationship with Wyatt, so well done. I am ready for Colt’s book.

Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luna Mason may be the only author that can make my anxiety so high during a book, dislike the FMC and still give it 4 stars. The Luna universe is one that I will continue to read no matter what but this one put me through the wringer. I will always love a second chance romance…technically this one is a third time chance but theres no denying that Ace and Harper were meant to be together.

Ace was the biggest YEARNER in this. I love a man so down bad, he’s been celibate since she left, sign me up. And the fact that he ripped my heart out multiple times in this, just give me more. I felt like he took it easy on Harper when she came back both times, but when you know you know. Harper was a different story. Did I think she made dumb choices? Absolutely. Did I think she loved Ace the only way she knew how? Also, absolutely. Their love so monumental, so consuming, she didn’t know how to process it existed in the world. But I did love she folded like a lawn chair for Ace when she came back. She could have groveled more in my opinion but Ace is a man so in love, he just wanted Harper.

The Sterling family in this was absolutely chefs kiss and one of my favorite things. I love a good family and also a found family within it. I love this series and the expansion of it, the plot and how Luna just writes a mafia romance.

Another thing I love about a Luna book is the past character name drop. I eat that up so hard.

Thank you to Luna Mason and Valentine PR for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Tropes:
✨Dark mafia + cowboy romance
✨Secret baby
✨Pro bull rider MMC × Criminal journalist
✨Childhood sweethearts
✨Second Chance but 3rd times a charm
✨She's the one who got away
✨Primal (with masks)
✨He's pierced
✨She's engaged to someone else
✨She protects him even though she's investigating his crimes
✨He hasn't been with anyone since her

[Brie | bookedbybrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I have been (im)patiently waiting for Ace since this Spring, after I finished Untamed, was both borderline unhealthy and an understatement. And the daily teasers from Luna, was not helping me, ONE BIT. She was feeding an already feral cat.

The way that I was both scared and excited to jump in, but had absolutely no idea how this story would unfold.

From reading Untamed, I knew I loved Ace. He was like a big ole golden retriever, goof. And was absolutely drawn to his playful side. So when this book started, he was this sad, broken, soulless boy. Ugh! I just wanted to fix him right away. Ace is a spirit larger than life, he comes in loud and proud. He loves his family something fierce, but nothing comes to the level he has for Harper. There is literally nothing, NOTHING he wouldn’t do for her. If that means she has him wrapped around his finger, then that’s exactly where he wants to be.

Now my girl Harper, oh how she thought the grass would be greener on the other side, until the other side didn’t turn green but was very much brown. Blah, boring, and not thriving. While she has missed Ace terribly, and coming back to New Falls briefly only convinced her what she already knew. She was still very madly in love with him, and the life she was living in LA, wasn’t what she wanted. She struggled with finding the balance of living your life and allowing others to control it. It might have taken her longer to realize this, but she finally did and when she knew exactly what she wanted (*cough - ACE- *cough) she got her shit together and went after it. Or him.

Ace and Harper…. What an absolute W.I.L.D. trip they were. The yearning!!!!!! I mean! The tension was strong in this one. So strong, so thick you could cut it with a chainsaw. Ahha Their banter, everything you’d want. These two together was everything I would have hoped for, wished for and dreamed of. I MEAN Ummmmm Ace and Harper! HOT MF dauuummmnnnn son!!! Those two were electric! Like lightning bolts in the sky those two were. The chemistry was off the charts. Literally and figuratively. Their kinks were a good ole time. BUUUUUUT more than that, they had the sweetest moments in the back of his truck, under the stars. How they were just so easy and effortless with each other. Cracking jokes, talking about anything and everything in between. It was those sweet, quiet moments that I really fell in love with these two.

And it was like those six years didn’t happen. He read her like a book. Knew what her signs, breathe or looks meant. And she knew him right back. Knew what his next move would be. The way these two knew each other on a molecular level was the straight definition of SOULMATES. And that is what these two were. Through N through.

You honor, I love them!

If I haven’t convinced you yet, then I don’t know what else I could say to get you to dive right in.

Thank you to Luna Mason and Valentine PR for allowing me to be an early reader for Unleashed in exchange for my honest thoughts. This was an honored that I am so very grateful for.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cowboys just do it better, full stop. Luna Mason's cowboys? Will burn it all down with a smile on thier faces. I cannot recommend any of her books anymore than I possibly could because otherwise put ot on my epitaph. Ace fucking Sterling is a man hard-pressed to find anyone that will ever compete with his Goldie. These two have such a deep connection that even when he says that he knows that he will cease existing the moment she doesn't love him anymore, I believe that might be the actual case. Cause damn. Second chances be damned, they get three chances and the stars alongside Frank aligned to give us this incredible story. This book broke my heart several times over and repaired it all the same. Absolutely loved this and I cannot wait for Colten.

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

-4.5🌟 Ace was everything in this book. The way he would do anything for Harper and his family had me swooning. The only reason why this wasn’t a 5 star read is because I had some problems with Harper. When Hudson threatened to blackmail her and force her to marry him. I don’t understand why she didn’t talk to Gianna first and then tell Ace. I understand she was trying to protect Ace, his family and other women that were being blackmailed, but you broke his heart for the second damn time instead of being upfront with him. I’m looking forward to Colten and Gianna’s story next. Maybe a MMF, since he hooked up with Romeo 👀

[Vivien R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This mafia/cowboy romance was so good and very suspenseful. Ace is the MMC who’s a bull rider and also in the mafia. His character is my favorite. He is loyal, protective, and would truly do anything for Harper, the woman he loves. Harper is a beautifully written character, she’s scarified a lot for those she loves. These two have an incredible connection with each other that never really broke even during their time apart. I really loved their second chance romance.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 🌶🌶🌶🌶

So freaking good!!! New favorite couple of JULY if i say so myself 💕

[Stephanie 📚🌈✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still can't get over the idea of him using the engagement ring on his Jacob's Ladder piercing.

[Jami Cloutier · Rating 5 out of 5]

GAHHH! This book. Exciting. Touching. Thrilling. This was what I needed in my life. A hole I didn’t know I had that needed to be filled (giggity.) This was a good one!

[Christie Hardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infinity stars
Spice: 3/5

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW |

Thank you to the author & Valentine PR for the ARC ✨

We’re back with book 2 in the Beneath the Reign series.

“𝐀𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫. 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫.”

Harper and Ace stole my heart.
I think I may love him more than Conan now… 👀
I cried. Twice.

Honestly, what kind of man goes celibate for 6 years because he’s holding onto the hope that the girl that got away will eventually come back? Ace, that’s who.

I don't know how he did it. I don't know how SHE did it.
They tried to move on but nothing stuck.

Circumstances led them right back to each other.
Then came the baby 🤭

I don't know why people hate the pregnancy trope...
I love when the big scary guy suddenly has a little person to live for.😩

Colten is up next and whew 😅 knowing what I know now, I can’t wait.

Also, Jett has to be the most hilarious person in this universe, and he’s getting a book, so I'm being patient, but I would take it tomorrow if it were possible.

[Tatiana Sayodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥️💘🌶️💥🔥
I hate second-chance romances… but for Ace Sterling, I would give a thousand chances. ❤️‍🔥
Eleven years ago, a simple smile during English class was enough to turn Ace’s entire world upside down. He experienced the kind of once-in-a-lifetime love that leaves a permanent mark on your soul—the kind you can never truly forget, no matter how much time passes.
Harper chose adventure and a career in journalism, leaving Arizona—and Ace—behind with a broken heart. Six years later, she may be miles away from Arizona’s starry skies, but her heart still belongs to the only man who can make her feel everything, even from a distance.
Leaving Ace was her biggest mistake. But pride, fear of failure, and the pressure of protecting the Sterling name have kept her moving forward, even while everything inside her is falling apart.
And just when she thinks things couldn’t possibly get more complicated, she finds herself in the middle of the mess of the century: a fake engagement, a return to the only place where she has ever truly been happy, and the Italian mafia breathing down her neck. 😂
How is Harper supposed to survive all of this? Honestly, even she doesn’t know.
But one thing is certain: Ace is the kind of man who would set Hell on fire for her. 🔥
I absolutely loved their chemistry, the unresolved feelings, the emotional tension, and the fact that after all those years, Ace never truly stopped loving her.
I went into this reminding myself that I hate second-chance romance… and somehow Ace Sterling had me ready to make an exception.
Not once.
A thousand times. ❤️‍🔥
A fun, emotional and addictive romance filled with second chances, fake engagement, family drama, danger, mafia trouble and plenty of chemistry.
Definitely a five-star read for me! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Eight seconds, Acey baby.”

If you know me, you know I’ve been obsessed with Untamed since the first time I read it! So, I was super excited to read Ace’s story because I loved him so much in that one. This book was so good! If you love a very spicy, second (more like third) chance, surprise pregnancy, childhood sweethearts, small town, romantic suspense, cowboy/mafia romance, then this book is definitely for you!

Ace was the most perfect MMC. He has made the top of the list of my favorite MMCs of all time. The yearning this man did for a woman who left him was top tier. He couldn’t even look at another woman without being reminded of Harper. My heart broke multiple times for him in this book. However, he was determined to protect her and his family at all costs.

Oh, Harper. Did I really like her? Yes, but wow did she really frustrate me at times. I understood why she left Ace all those years ago and I loved how she protected him and his family without them even know about it. Even when she returned, I loved how she opened up to Ace about everything and it didn’t drag on. However, she made such a bad decision that I was left so frustrated with this book and her character.

These two had so much tension and chemistry between them. I loved the sweet moments they shared and how they would reminisce on their past. I was so happy when they were together because you could feel the love between them.

I enjoyed getting more of the rest of the Sterling family. They all loved each other so much that they’d go to great lengths to protect one another from anyone who challenges their family.

Overall, I did love this book. I will say, it is super long. It has a ton of spice, however, I didn’t feel like it took away from the plot. So, I feel like that could be why. If you enjoy these tropes and don’t mind the spice, I would 100% recommend it to you! I will say, I am super excited for book 3.

Thank you Luna Mason and Valentine PR for the ARC for an honest review.

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh GIRL, what have you done to me... I'm ruined.... The cowboy x mafia trope is definitely something I don't want to miss out on in the future. Especially if they are hot as Ace Sterling (and Hunter, of course ;-)).
Ace is a such a golden retriever for Harper packed in a mafia villain body. I loved the way he's devoted to Harper, such a goner. LOL. And at the same time he sparkles with this bad boy vibe and "touch her and die" vibes.

Even though Harper and Ace have great chemistry and absolutely deserved their second chance, I sometimes had trouble feeling it. I wish we got some actual flashbacks from their time together, when they fell in love, when she left him etc. I always feel like I can touch their love on a deeper level.
I know they mention their past a lot and remember together old times. But to me that's not the same.

Nevertheless, I had a another great time at the Sterling Ranch and my gut feeling early on on who is going to be the next couple was confirmed by the end.
Can't wait to return to the Sterling Ranch, where hot cowboys burn down the world for their ladies!

[Lesleyanne Millar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

Unleashed Luna Mason
5 ⭐️ read without a shadow of doubt

Oh Ace & Harper you have stolen my heart. To say I loved this book would be an understatement I freaking adored it.

☀️Second Chance
🐂 Professional Bull Rider MMC
☀️Criminal journalist FMC
🐂 Mafia romance
☀️ Small town romance
🐂 Primal Play
☀️ She’s engaged to someone else

They fell in love at 15, she left him at 19 broke is heart now she’s back 6 years later trying to protect him & his family.
He’s only ever loved her, she’s only ever loved him.
This story broke my heart & put it back together. Honestly I cried, I laughed, I clutched my pearls & everything in-between

Luna Mason writes such good books such good characters. I fell in love with both Harper & Ace. Ace Trent Sterling flew into my top 10 book boyfriends knocking his brother down a spot.

Spice was top tier as always with a Luna Mason book. 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I highly recommend this if you love cowboys, if you love mafia romance, if you love second chance romance, if you love strong sexy men who would burn the world down for you & crawl through glass broken & bleeding then this is the book for you.

I cannot wait for the audiobook, I most definitely will be buy that and listening

Outstanding

#

[Morgan | bookish_morgano · Rating 5 out of 5]

primal play mafia cowboys uhm yesss

I do not have words to describe how much I love Ace sterling. The cocky bull riding soft only for her mafia underboss.

And Harper being the absolute sweetest, kind hearted but bad-a when needs to be FMC WHEW.

The tension, the heartbreak, I nearly died reading this I swear.

I recommend reading in series order but technically a stand alone.

Add to your TBR if you like:
- cowboys x mafia
- it’s always been you
- k!nk friendly
- bullrider x investigative reporter
- high school sweethearts > strangers > lovers
- so many twists
- accidental / surprise pregnancy

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely shattered my heart. The tears still haven’t stopped, and I honestly don’t think Ace and Harper’s story will ever leave me. Easily one of those books that breaks a piece of you in the most beautiful way and stays with you forever. 🥺❤️‍🔥

There was something so profoundly beautiful about their story. It was filled with yearning, missed connections, impossible timing, and the kind of love that proves some souls are just meant to find their way back to each other - even if it takes time, pain, and a few detours to get there.

The emotional depth of this book was everything. The longing. The pining. The quiet moments where their love spoke louder than words. Just thinking about it makes me cry.

His Goldie. His sunshine. ☀️

I will forever be in love with Ace Sterling. The way he loved Harper, the way he held onto that love through all those years, the way their story unfolded… it completely wrecked me.

The yearning. The pining. The pure, all-consuming love.

This book took my heart, broke it into pieces, and somehow made me grateful for every single crack.

If you love cowboys who are also part of the mafia, a man who is devoted to his childhood sweetheart no matter the distance and a story that will wreck you in the most beautiful way…this is a must read.

Thank you so much Luna for the ARC, it was an honour to read Ace and Harper’s story.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

To get put on the investigator a case that could harm the Sterling Brothers and their ranch, Harper makes a deal with her boss, Hudson, to be fake engaged to him so his father will give Hudson ownership of their company, the L.A. Press.

But she has to return home to New Falls, where she reconnected with her ex-Ace Sterling, whom she never stopped loving.

I was not the biggest fan of Harper’s. She made a lot of ridiculous and dumb choices. I disliked the entire fake engagement turn not fake engagement with Hudson, Harper’s boss at L.A. Press. I feel like that entire plotline could’ve been taken right out of the book.

What I did enjoy about that plot line was when she finally realized she needed to get out of that situation and call Ace to come and help her (aka when she accidentally offed a certain someone).

Ace YEARNED for Harper for six years and was celibate for all six of those years; Harper should’ve groveled a F-ton more than what she did.

I love ACE! He’s sweet protective, possessive, dark and dangerous.

Along with the beginning was really slow paced for me, if I know one of the main tropes is surprise baby, I expect it within the first 25-50% of the book and that was not the case here.

I loved their second chance romance; they have an all-consuming love. You will laugh (Jett), cry, and want to knock out a certain someone. It’s spicy and sensible and full of hot, mafia cowboys.