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Slow Burn
Not yet published
Expected 3 Sep 26 Beck Hollis is six feet of grumpy steer roper, and my brother’s best friend… and he can’t stand me.
Too bad I’m the only person who can save his ranch.
I wouldn’t be back in Sage Valley if my city life hadn’t imploded. I need a job, and fast. So here I am, consulting for Wild Sage—Beck’s ranch.
The problem is, Beck doesn’t want my help. He’s made it clear since we were kids that he wants nothing to do with me.
But long days and late nights have me seeing a different side of this broody cowboy.
He’s gentle in a way I wasn’t expecting, supportive in a way that never makes me feel small, protective in a way that I love.
And Beck hating me? I think it’s been an act all along.
Perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, Lyla Sage, and Bailey Hannah!
Too bad I’m the only person who can save his ranch.
I wouldn’t be back in Sage Valley if my city life hadn’t imploded. I need a job, and fast. So here I am, consulting for Wild Sage—Beck’s ranch.
The problem is, Beck doesn’t want my help. He’s made it clear since we were kids that he wants nothing to do with me.
But long days and late nights have me seeing a different side of this broody cowboy.
He’s gentle in a way I wasn’t expecting, supportive in a way that never makes me feel small, protective in a way that I love.
And Beck hating me? I think it’s been an act all along.
Perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, Lyla Sage, and Bailey Hannah!
- GenresRomance
454 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 3, 2026
About the author
Meg Riley
5 books79 followersHi! I'm Meg Riley. I'm a Canadian author of small town romance novels set in the heart of the Rocky Mountains! My stories are steamy, spicy, and cute - all of the best flavours of smut!
I live in Calgary, Alberta with my husband and my dog. Writing is currently my side gig - I am a nurse as my day (and night!) job and I feel very lucky to have a job where I can care for others and meet so many interesting humans that inspire me.
Thanks for joining my community of romance readers! I am so happy you're here.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 18, 2026
Advanced reader copy received from the author:
I really enjoyed this brother’s best friend cowboy romance. The pacing was excellent, for the slow burn and for the story as a whole. I really liked the characters and how they interacted with each other. I loved this quiet, closed off, grumpy MMC who falls so hard for an out of place FMC. The pining was on point, but once the emotions were acknowledged there was no reining it back. I loved that.
I really enjoyed this brother’s best friend cowboy romance. The pacing was excellent, for the slow burn and for the story as a whole. I really liked the characters and how they interacted with each other. I loved this quiet, closed off, grumpy MMC who falls so hard for an out of place FMC. The pining was on point, but once the emotions were acknowledged there was no reining it back. I loved that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5/5. A not-so-gentle reminder that I only like the brother’s best friend trope when it’s clearly established why it’s forbidden.
I just want to preface what I'm about to write by saying that ultimately I understand why it would be a good book for others but it's definietely not something for me. The mix of the tropes sounded great, but the execution was too frustrating for my brain. I'm sure a normal person who doesn't take issue with details as much as me would love this. So, with that said, let me review.
There are parts of it which I really enjoyed like all the animals being taken care of and having personalities and the cover art (IG @jwitless_art) which pulled me to it in the first place.
The scene in the storm was very dramatic and fitting their current vibe, so I adored that. Also, kind of connected to that, after some things went down Beck was finally able to think about something other than sex, and that was a relief. His yearning turned more sweet, less creepily obsessed with Lyla's body.
And I love the point it makes about letting yourself be yourself and to let people in. Expressing your emotions in a healthy way is important and women shouldn't make themselves smaller to be more amiable and easier to swallow. Beck is amazing at making sure Lyla doesn't keep things in and acts freely around him, which is very sweet. She also helps him unwind a little in return, open himself up to people who love him, and that's beautiful.
Unfortunately, I was too hung up on the brother's best friend aspect of it - among other things - to appreciate much more. Let's get into what didn't work for me personally, as a someone who gets easily annoyed by a lack of strict boundries.
The brother’s best friend trope was frustrating from all angles. This is something that I've learnt I love but only if it's executed well. If not, I really hate it. Here, it makes the reading experience extremely repetitive, because until Austin eventually learns what's going on, Beck constantly thinks about how wrong what he's doing/thinking is, how forbidden it is, how much of a betrayal.
However I choose to look at it, it's coming off badly. What do I mean?
If I stick to my stance of 'why would it matter if you're dating his sister? She's her own person, he's not her guardian, there was no blood pact or anything, and he actually likes you, so he should be happy about his sister being with a great dude', then the whole thing is just pointless and annoying.
If I try to get into this mindset of 'yes, this is a bad thing, you should talk to him before you do anything, if you even do anything because it's so forbidden', then the fact that he crosses so many boundries and still fails to talk to him pisses me off.
I literally can't win here. I genuinely don't understand why this would be enticing to someone in this format.
But that's not the only issue I have. Beck’s over-the-top grumpiness (he's constantly negative about everything - pets, music, changes, clothes, etc.), inability to talk about anything (you're a grown man, not a child, act like it), constant horniness (it stops after they do stuff but until then the objectification is cranked up to 100), lack of proper boundries (both setting them and not going over someone else’s), and stringing Tessa along even though he claims he’d never (he did, he literally did that, what do you mean 'he's not that type of guy' - YES, he IS) are all things that made him difficult for me to cheer for. He's quite sweet when it comes to Lyla, but that's pretty much that.
Also, Lyla making assumptions, throwing a fit, and refusing to show empathy as the 3rd act break-up got me so angry. It's fine for a woman to express her feelings loudly, sure, but it's not fine to act like the world revolves around you. This man has been under so much weight because of his ranch's situation - which he chooses to bear alone because he wants his siblings to live full, happy and free-of-this-shit lives - and you pull that stunt on him and make him feel bad for something he doesn't even get a chance to properly explain and which was a moment of weakness based on desperation? And he's the one who should apologize? For what? He didn't do anything wrong, at least in my opinion.
Plus, I didn’t feel any actual tension. I was told there was some, but it never registered.
Overall, I think if you like the best friend trope - it's the central focus here - and you don't need it to be well-explained - like I do - then this should be a perfectly fine read for you. Especially if you're into really grumpy cowboys that basically grunt and get constantly angry at first, and don't mind waiting a very long time for them to change (this is the real slow burn you get here, the emotional development of the MMC). I can't overstate how much not for me this was, even though on paper I do enjoy these tropes.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for giving me a chance to read the ARC.
I just want to preface what I'm about to write by saying that ultimately I understand why it would be a good book for others but it's definietely not something for me. The mix of the tropes sounded great, but the execution was too frustrating for my brain. I'm sure a normal person who doesn't take issue with details as much as me would love this. So, with that said, let me review.
There are parts of it which I really enjoyed like all the animals being taken care of and having personalities and the cover art (IG @jwitless_art) which pulled me to it in the first place.
The scene in the storm was very dramatic and fitting their current vibe, so I adored that. Also, kind of connected to that, after some things went down Beck was finally able to think about something other than sex, and that was a relief. His yearning turned more sweet, less creepily obsessed with Lyla's body.
And I love the point it makes about letting yourself be yourself and to let people in. Expressing your emotions in a healthy way is important and women shouldn't make themselves smaller to be more amiable and easier to swallow. Beck is amazing at making sure Lyla doesn't keep things in and acts freely around him, which is very sweet. She also helps him unwind a little in return, open himself up to people who love him, and that's beautiful.
Unfortunately, I was too hung up on the brother's best friend aspect of it - among other things - to appreciate much more. Let's get into what didn't work for me personally, as a someone who gets easily annoyed by a lack of strict boundries.
The brother’s best friend trope was frustrating from all angles. This is something that I've learnt I love but only if it's executed well. If not, I really hate it. Here, it makes the reading experience extremely repetitive, because until Austin eventually learns what's going on, Beck constantly thinks about how wrong what he's doing/thinking is, how forbidden it is, how much of a betrayal.
However I choose to look at it, it's coming off badly. What do I mean?
If I stick to my stance of 'why would it matter if you're dating his sister? She's her own person, he's not her guardian, there was no blood pact or anything, and he actually likes you, so he should be happy about his sister being with a great dude', then the whole thing is just pointless and annoying.
If I try to get into this mindset of 'yes, this is a bad thing, you should talk to him before you do anything, if you even do anything because it's so forbidden', then the fact that he crosses so many boundries and still fails to talk to him pisses me off.
I literally can't win here. I genuinely don't understand why this would be enticing to someone in this format.
But that's not the only issue I have. Beck’s over-the-top grumpiness (he's constantly negative about everything - pets, music, changes, clothes, etc.), inability to talk about anything (you're a grown man, not a child, act like it), constant horniness (it stops after they do stuff but until then the objectification is cranked up to 100), lack of proper boundries (both setting them and not going over someone else’s), and stringing Tessa along even though he claims he’d never (he did, he literally did that, what do you mean 'he's not that type of guy' - YES, he IS) are all things that made him difficult for me to cheer for. He's quite sweet when it comes to Lyla, but that's pretty much that.
Also, Lyla making assumptions, throwing a fit, and refusing to show empathy as the 3rd act break-up got me so angry. It's fine for a woman to express her feelings loudly, sure, but it's not fine to act like the world revolves around you. This man has been under so much weight because of his ranch's situation - which he chooses to bear alone because he wants his siblings to live full, happy and free-of-this-shit lives - and you pull that stunt on him and make him feel bad for something he doesn't even get a chance to properly explain and which was a moment of weakness based on desperation? And he's the one who should apologize? For what? He didn't do anything wrong, at least in my opinion.
Plus, I didn’t feel any actual tension. I was told there was some, but it never registered.
Overall, I think if you like the best friend trope - it's the central focus here - and you don't need it to be well-explained - like I do - then this should be a perfectly fine read for you. Especially if you're into really grumpy cowboys that basically grunt and get constantly angry at first, and don't mind waiting a very long time for them to change (this is the real slow burn you get here, the emotional development of the MMC). I can't overstate how much not for me this was, even though on paper I do enjoy these tropes.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for giving me a chance to read the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this book. Read this one in less than 24 hours. This book is called ‘Slow Burn’ and it absolutely is a slow burn. Lyla and Beck already know one another, and Lyla is back to her small hometown. Beck and Lyla are working together on the ranch, and the forced proximity pulls them together. We get to see them build their own relationship, and you could feel the tension and chemistry between them. It was so burn it’d have you thinking will they or won’t they.
I liked Lyla, I could relate to her being painted as someone who is ‘too much to handle’ when she is just sticking up for herself. I think a lot of women and AFAB folk can relate to being made to feel small. I admired how she didn’t sugarcoat anything, and I appreciated her honesty. She’s assertive and she sticks to her morals, can’t fault her for that, especially in the big evil world of business.
I love romances with dual POV. I want to know the MMC’s thoughts etc. It’s through Beck’s POV chapters that we see he really does care and love Lyla. We also see how he’s battling all kinds of emotions. He’s stuck between loyalty and being happy.
Beck was starting to annoy me after a point, but he quickly started to redeem himself. It felt like he was just stalling and stalling for so long. It took a while for him to stop going a step forward, then two steps back. I wish it was easier for men to speak up on their feelings, and men discussing their feelings with each other.
I love how he always reassured Lyla that she’s perfect exactly as she is, and he wants her to know she never needs to make herself feel small. We STAN a man who is nothing but supportive, and validating her feelings.
I didn’t think the third act breakup was necessary. I just felt that the FMC jumped to conclusions, and it definitely could’ve been resolved with a conversation. I would have liked a little more on the business consulting/ ranch business side, just to add something more to the story. Show us, the readers ways they were making the ranch more sustainable, etc.
I’m looking forward to the next book(s),
I know we got some information about the side characters, but I don’t mind if we don’t get to know them until they get their own book.
4.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Meg Riley for offering me a copy of an advanced readers copy in exchange for a voluntary and honest review.
I liked Lyla, I could relate to her being painted as someone who is ‘too much to handle’ when she is just sticking up for herself. I think a lot of women and AFAB folk can relate to being made to feel small. I admired how she didn’t sugarcoat anything, and I appreciated her honesty. She’s assertive and she sticks to her morals, can’t fault her for that, especially in the big evil world of business.
I love romances with dual POV. I want to know the MMC’s thoughts etc. It’s through Beck’s POV chapters that we see he really does care and love Lyla. We also see how he’s battling all kinds of emotions. He’s stuck between loyalty and being happy.
Beck was starting to annoy me after a point, but he quickly started to redeem himself. It felt like he was just stalling and stalling for so long. It took a while for him to stop going a step forward, then two steps back. I wish it was easier for men to speak up on their feelings, and men discussing their feelings with each other.
I love how he always reassured Lyla that she’s perfect exactly as she is, and he wants her to know she never needs to make herself feel small. We STAN a man who is nothing but supportive, and validating her feelings.
I didn’t think the third act breakup was necessary. I just felt that the FMC jumped to conclusions, and it definitely could’ve been resolved with a conversation. I would have liked a little more on the business consulting/ ranch business side, just to add something more to the story. Show us, the readers ways they were making the ranch more sustainable, etc.
I’m looking forward to the next book(s),
I know we got some information about the side characters, but I don’t mind if we don’t get to know them until they get their own book.
4.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Meg Riley for offering me a copy of an advanced readers copy in exchange for a voluntary and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of Advanced Reader Copy from Meg Riley. All opinions are my own.
This ended up as a cute little, pallet cleanser read for me. For the record, I typically can't stand slow burn romances. But, I've been trying to get out of my comfort zone lately which is why I applied for the ARC. This was my first book by Meg and I was surprised by how much I didn’t hate it.
Tropes and what to expect:
👢 Brother's best friend
👢 Grumpy cowboy (but not really)/Sunshine
👢 Off limits
👢 Slow burn
👢 Longing
👢 Spice level: 🌶🌶
Lyla is back home in Sage Valley after getting fired from her job. While she looks for a new one, she gets hired onto Beck's family ranch as a consultant. They are on the verge of losing the ranch and it seems she may be their last hope. Beck is her brother's best friend who also can't stand her. Or so she thinks. Beck makes it clear he doesn't want the help, but it's not out of hate like Lyla assumes. Cue the angst and pining.
Lyla was fun. She reminded me so much of myself. I've always been the one that is "to much." The one who will stand up for what doesn't seem right, even if it gets me in trouble. Too loud or not loud enough. Like me, Lyla doesn't sugarcoat or hide what needs to be said. She holds true to what she believes in and doesn't falter.
Beck was.....irritating lol but in the end he grew on me. The first kinda half of the book I just felt he objectified Lyla a little too much. In a like, her eyes are up there, kind of way. Like sir that is NOT all that she's here for. His relationship/non-relationship with Tessa also rubbed me the wrong way. Like how are going to do this to what seems like a really sweet, albeit a little clueless, girl like that. Rude. Grow a pair. You're excuse isn't excusing. Anyways. Towards the end I liked him, mainly for how he treats Lyla and allows her to be herself. So, he gets like 6...ish....out of 10. He's still on probation though.
Also, I feel like the third act breakup was a little silly. Like over reaction much? But then again, I'd probably do the same. So lemme shut my trap 🤐
Overall, I enjoyed this. The plot had a few ehh moments, but the writing was great and I did enjoy the characters. For my first official, read all the way through, slow burn I give it 4 stars.
Happy reading 🌻
Thank you to Meg for the opportunity to read this ARC!
This ended up as a cute little, pallet cleanser read for me. For the record, I typically can't stand slow burn romances. But, I've been trying to get out of my comfort zone lately which is why I applied for the ARC. This was my first book by Meg and I was surprised by how much I didn’t hate it.
Tropes and what to expect:
👢 Brother's best friend
👢 Grumpy cowboy (but not really)/Sunshine
👢 Off limits
👢 Slow burn
👢 Longing
👢 Spice level: 🌶🌶
Lyla is back home in Sage Valley after getting fired from her job. While she looks for a new one, she gets hired onto Beck's family ranch as a consultant. They are on the verge of losing the ranch and it seems she may be their last hope. Beck is her brother's best friend who also can't stand her. Or so she thinks. Beck makes it clear he doesn't want the help, but it's not out of hate like Lyla assumes. Cue the angst and pining.
Lyla was fun. She reminded me so much of myself. I've always been the one that is "to much." The one who will stand up for what doesn't seem right, even if it gets me in trouble. Too loud or not loud enough. Like me, Lyla doesn't sugarcoat or hide what needs to be said. She holds true to what she believes in and doesn't falter.
Beck was.....irritating lol but in the end he grew on me. The first kinda half of the book I just felt he objectified Lyla a little too much. In a like, her eyes are up there, kind of way. Like sir that is NOT all that she's here for. His relationship/non-relationship with Tessa also rubbed me the wrong way. Like how are going to do this to what seems like a really sweet, albeit a little clueless, girl like that. Rude. Grow a pair. You're excuse isn't excusing. Anyways. Towards the end I liked him, mainly for how he treats Lyla and allows her to be herself. So, he gets like 6...ish....out of 10. He's still on probation though.
Also, I feel like the third act breakup was a little silly. Like over reaction much? But then again, I'd probably do the same. So lemme shut my trap 🤐
Overall, I enjoyed this. The plot had a few ehh moments, but the writing was great and I did enjoy the characters. For my first official, read all the way through, slow burn I give it 4 stars.
Happy reading 🌻
Thank you to Meg for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC received from NetGalley and Victory Editing
Slow Burn by Meg Riley ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There’s something about a cowboy romance with a grumpy hero, a sunshine heroine, a forbidden brother’s best-friend situation, and enough tension to make you want to yell at both of them to JUST KISS ALREADY. And Slow Burn absolutely delivered. 🤠🔥
This was a deliciously slow burn, but the emotional payoff made the waiting worth it. I loved watching the tension build between Lyla and Beck, especially knowing there was so much standing between them. The brother’s best-friend dynamic added that extra layer of “we absolutely should not be doing this” that made every stolen moment feel even better.
And Beck? Sir. The cowboy hat, the mustache, the steely grumpy exterior, the way he loves Lyla with his whole damn heart, I was listening. 👀
But what really got me was the way his feelings for her were written. This man wasn’t simply attracted to her. He was completely undone by her.
“There will be before kissing Lyla and after kissing Lyla, and that will become my measure of time.”
EXCUSE ME. Sir. Who gave you permission to be that romantic?
And then:
“Lyla is a shooting star, and I’ll be her gravity.”
I’M SORRY. 🥹
That line perfectly captures what I loved about their relationship. She is bright and impossible to hold still, and he doesn’t want to cage her. He just wants to be the place she comes back to.
I also loved the found-family element and all the furry friends woven throughout the story. They added that cozy small-town/cowboy-romance feeling that makes you want to move to the country, acquire a horse, and start calling everyone darlin’. 😂
The dual POV was another win for me because getting inside both Lyla’s and Beck’s heads made the slow burn even better. Watching them fight what they wanted while knowing exactly how deeply they were falling made the tension delicious.
And yes, there is spice. 🌶️🌶️🌶️ The door is very much open, ladies.
Slow Burn gave me cowboys, tension, forbidden feelings, found family, furry friends, emotional angst, and a romance that took its sweet time before finally giving me what I wanted.
Meg Riley, you can keep the cowboy romances coming. Apparently I have a problem now. 🤠❤️
Slow Burn by Meg Riley ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There’s something about a cowboy romance with a grumpy hero, a sunshine heroine, a forbidden brother’s best-friend situation, and enough tension to make you want to yell at both of them to JUST KISS ALREADY. And Slow Burn absolutely delivered. 🤠🔥
This was a deliciously slow burn, but the emotional payoff made the waiting worth it. I loved watching the tension build between Lyla and Beck, especially knowing there was so much standing between them. The brother’s best-friend dynamic added that extra layer of “we absolutely should not be doing this” that made every stolen moment feel even better.
And Beck? Sir. The cowboy hat, the mustache, the steely grumpy exterior, the way he loves Lyla with his whole damn heart, I was listening. 👀
But what really got me was the way his feelings for her were written. This man wasn’t simply attracted to her. He was completely undone by her.
“There will be before kissing Lyla and after kissing Lyla, and that will become my measure of time.”
EXCUSE ME. Sir. Who gave you permission to be that romantic?
And then:
“Lyla is a shooting star, and I’ll be her gravity.”
I’M SORRY. 🥹
That line perfectly captures what I loved about their relationship. She is bright and impossible to hold still, and he doesn’t want to cage her. He just wants to be the place she comes back to.
I also loved the found-family element and all the furry friends woven throughout the story. They added that cozy small-town/cowboy-romance feeling that makes you want to move to the country, acquire a horse, and start calling everyone darlin’. 😂
The dual POV was another win for me because getting inside both Lyla’s and Beck’s heads made the slow burn even better. Watching them fight what they wanted while knowing exactly how deeply they were falling made the tension delicious.
And yes, there is spice. 🌶️🌶️🌶️ The door is very much open, ladies.
Slow Burn gave me cowboys, tension, forbidden feelings, found family, furry friends, emotional angst, and a romance that took its sweet time before finally giving me what I wanted.
Meg Riley, you can keep the cowboy romances coming. Apparently I have a problem now. 🤠❤️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🔥 Slow Burn - Meg Riley
⭐ 4/5
This was a slow burn that actually understood the assignment and lived up to its name.
I’m a huge fan of romances that take their time building the chemistry, tension AND emotional connection between the characters, and Meg Riley gave me exactly that with Beck and Lyla. I felt like I actually got to watch them fall for each other.
Their relationship develops naturally through all those little interactions and moments of growing closeness, which made the eventual payoff so much more satisfying. Give me yearning. Give me tension. Give me two people slowly realising oh no, I actually really like this person 🤌🏻
But what I loved most was the message underneath their romance. Lyla is someone who has spent her life being made to feel like she’s too much - too loud, too passionate, too emotional, too chaotic.
And Slow Burn asks: what if you don't need to make yourself smaller?
What if the right kind of love isn't simply someone tolerating all the parts of you that other people found inconvenient, but someone genuinely loving and celebrating you because of them?
As a fellow animal lover, I also found Lyla incredibly easy to connect with. Her huge heart and passion for animals made me love her even more. And an honourable mention MUST go to the real stars of this book: Kenny Rogers and Critter. The furry side characters had absolutely no business being as cute as they were. As someone who always gets irrationally attached to fictional animal sidekicks, I was always going to be vulnerable, but these two? OBSESSED 🐾🥹
Meg Riley created characters I became genuinely invested in, and I really enjoyed the emotional depth woven through the romance.
⭐ 4/5 — a genuinely satisfying slow burn about chemistry, connection and finding someone who doesn't ask you to dim your fire.🔥
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
⭐ 4/5
This was a slow burn that actually understood the assignment and lived up to its name.
I’m a huge fan of romances that take their time building the chemistry, tension AND emotional connection between the characters, and Meg Riley gave me exactly that with Beck and Lyla. I felt like I actually got to watch them fall for each other.
Their relationship develops naturally through all those little interactions and moments of growing closeness, which made the eventual payoff so much more satisfying. Give me yearning. Give me tension. Give me two people slowly realising oh no, I actually really like this person 🤌🏻
But what I loved most was the message underneath their romance. Lyla is someone who has spent her life being made to feel like she’s too much - too loud, too passionate, too emotional, too chaotic.
And Slow Burn asks: what if you don't need to make yourself smaller?
What if the right kind of love isn't simply someone tolerating all the parts of you that other people found inconvenient, but someone genuinely loving and celebrating you because of them?
As a fellow animal lover, I also found Lyla incredibly easy to connect with. Her huge heart and passion for animals made me love her even more. And an honourable mention MUST go to the real stars of this book: Kenny Rogers and Critter. The furry side characters had absolutely no business being as cute as they were. As someone who always gets irrationally attached to fictional animal sidekicks, I was always going to be vulnerable, but these two? OBSESSED 🐾🥹
Meg Riley created characters I became genuinely invested in, and I really enjoyed the emotional depth woven through the romance.
⭐ 4/5 — a genuinely satisfying slow burn about chemistry, connection and finding someone who doesn't ask you to dim your fire.🔥
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2026
This gave me so much of what I love in a cowboy romance: small town vibes, a grumpy cowboy, brother’s best friend, forced proximity, found family, and a slow burn that actually gives the relationship time to develop. But what really made this one stand out to me was Beck and Lyla themselves.
Lyla was easily one of my favorite parts of this book. She’s passionate, outspoken, emotional, and unapologetically herself, even after spending so much of her life being made to feel like she’s “too much.” I loved watching her find someone who never wanted her to make herself smaller. Beck doesn’t simply tolerate all of those pieces of Lyla. He genuinely loves her for them. There was something so special about watching her slowly realize she could be completely herself with someone and still be fully loved.
And then there’s BECK. This grumpy, broody cowboy was fighting his feelings for his best friend’s little sister with everything he had while simultaneously being completely gone for her.
I especially loved the way Beck made space for Lyla. He understood her. He saw her. And underneath all that brooding and stubbornness was a man who cared so deeply that resisting her was basically a losing battle from the beginning.
What really worked for me, though, was how much time Meg Riley gave their relationship to become something. It wasn’t just attraction or chemistry carrying the romance. We got all those smaller interactions, the growing closeness, the tension, and SO much yearning. By the time these two finally stopped fighting what was happening between them, I believed in their relationship and I was ALL IN. The payoff was absolutely worth the wait.
I also loved being in Sage Valley. The ranch, family relationships, adorable animals, found family, and cozy small town atmosphere made this feel like the beginning of a world I’m genuinely excited to come back to.
I had such a good time with this one and I’m already ready for my next trip back to Sage Valley!
Thank you so much to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, NetGalley, and Meg Riley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Lyla was easily one of my favorite parts of this book. She’s passionate, outspoken, emotional, and unapologetically herself, even after spending so much of her life being made to feel like she’s “too much.” I loved watching her find someone who never wanted her to make herself smaller. Beck doesn’t simply tolerate all of those pieces of Lyla. He genuinely loves her for them. There was something so special about watching her slowly realize she could be completely herself with someone and still be fully loved.
And then there’s BECK. This grumpy, broody cowboy was fighting his feelings for his best friend’s little sister with everything he had while simultaneously being completely gone for her.
I especially loved the way Beck made space for Lyla. He understood her. He saw her. And underneath all that brooding and stubbornness was a man who cared so deeply that resisting her was basically a losing battle from the beginning.
What really worked for me, though, was how much time Meg Riley gave their relationship to become something. It wasn’t just attraction or chemistry carrying the romance. We got all those smaller interactions, the growing closeness, the tension, and SO much yearning. By the time these two finally stopped fighting what was happening between them, I believed in their relationship and I was ALL IN. The payoff was absolutely worth the wait.
I also loved being in Sage Valley. The ranch, family relationships, adorable animals, found family, and cozy small town atmosphere made this feel like the beginning of a world I’m genuinely excited to come back to.
I had such a good time with this one and I’m already ready for my next trip back to Sage Valley!
Thank you so much to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, NetGalley, and Meg Riley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Slow Burn by Meg Riley follows Beck, a ranch owner who is struggling to keep it afloat, and his best friend’s little sister, Lyla, who came back to the small town after some unfortunate circumstances occurred in Calgary. In the meantime, Lyla helps consult for Beck’s ranch and the more time they spend together the more she sees a different side of him.
Tropes:
Slow burn
Best friend’s little sister
Grumpy x Sunshine
Small Town
*Vague but also maybe minor spoilers*
I thought this was a quick and easy read. The writing flowed very well. I would definitely say it’s slow burn and kind of one-sided crush at first.
I liked the characters and it’s strange because I usually like reading books more focused on the main characters but for some reason I wanted to get to know the other supporting characters a bit more. I wish we got to see more of Lyla’s relationship with her brother, Austin, though I did love her relationship with Wade, Beck’s father.
Wasn’t the biggest fan of the third act breakup, just because I agreed with Beck with looking at all the possibilities.
I wouldn’t say the consulting to save the ranch bored me but sometimes it was too much talk about it with no solution and sometimes it was too little/forgotten if that makes sense.
I’m glad Lyla finally got to do what aligns with her beliefs and morals especially since she was big on helping animals.
I am excited to read the next book!
Thank you to the author and publishing company for providing me with an arc for my honest review.
Tropes:
Slow burn
Best friend’s little sister
Grumpy x Sunshine
Small Town
*Vague but also maybe minor spoilers*
I thought this was a quick and easy read. The writing flowed very well. I would definitely say it’s slow burn and kind of one-sided crush at first.
I liked the characters and it’s strange because I usually like reading books more focused on the main characters but for some reason I wanted to get to know the other supporting characters a bit more. I wish we got to see more of Lyla’s relationship with her brother, Austin, though I did love her relationship with Wade, Beck’s father.
Wasn’t the biggest fan of the third act breakup, just because I agreed with Beck with looking at all the possibilities.
I wouldn’t say the consulting to save the ranch bored me but sometimes it was too much talk about it with no solution and sometimes it was too little/forgotten if that makes sense.
I’m glad Lyla finally got to do what aligns with her beliefs and morals especially since she was big on helping animals.
I am excited to read the next book!
Thank you to the author and publishing company for providing me with an arc for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such a good second chance romance! Although not in the traditional sense since Beck had always been in Love with Lyla but never really acted on it until the forced proximity of them working together to save his family ranch really made them have to spend time together. Lyla was running from her own problems and really sought out refuge on the farm while she figured out the next steps in her career.
Lyla was always a free spirit who wore her emotions on her sleeve and tended to be a little too much for most people because of it. She spent a long time away from her home town and now that she is back, she was worried that people would treat her differently because she stayed away for so long. Of course her return was not something she was planning on doing, but when she was fired from her job in the city, she really didn't have much of a choice.
Lyla was hired by Beck's father to hopefully get their family farm out of a state of ruin, and didn't inform Beck about any of it. Beck and Lyla were forced to work together to figure out how to turn things around and have longevity in a farm that has meant so much to Beck and his family.
This was a story of second chances, found family, small town vibes, and workplace romance. The flow and progression of the book was perfect and the timeline of everything happening always made sense. Meg Riley really killed this book and I cannot wait to see what else she comes up with for Sage Valley!
Lyla was always a free spirit who wore her emotions on her sleeve and tended to be a little too much for most people because of it. She spent a long time away from her home town and now that she is back, she was worried that people would treat her differently because she stayed away for so long. Of course her return was not something she was planning on doing, but when she was fired from her job in the city, she really didn't have much of a choice.
Lyla was hired by Beck's father to hopefully get their family farm out of a state of ruin, and didn't inform Beck about any of it. Beck and Lyla were forced to work together to figure out how to turn things around and have longevity in a farm that has meant so much to Beck and his family.
This was a story of second chances, found family, small town vibes, and workplace romance. The flow and progression of the book was perfect and the timeline of everything happening always made sense. Meg Riley really killed this book and I cannot wait to see what else she comes up with for Sage Valley!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Wild Sage Series: Beck and Lyla
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was actually really enjoying this one. The tension, the will they/won’t they, the forced proximity… All of it worked really well for me.
Then the brother’s best friend trope kicked in and sent my blood pressure through the roof!
Beck kept choosing Austin’s feelings over Lyla’s, and I just couldn't understand it. Even when it seemed like they were finally making progress, there was still this sense that Austin’s feelings mattered more than the woman Beck was supposedly falling for.
And the inheritance situation made it even worse. Austin had sold their shared inheritance years earlier to get himself out of trouble, leaving Lyla with nothing. It seems to have been a big part of why she left town in the first place.
So watching Beck worry about Austin’s feelings after all of that?
*Ahem, Beck, please reconsider your priorities….
I did like that he finally gave Austin a bit of a serve towards the end, although honestly, it needed to be a lot more forceful.
Despite my frustration with the Beck and Austin bromance, I really did like the story. The chemistry and slow-burn tension kept me invested, and there was plenty here that worked for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was actually really enjoying this one. The tension, the will they/won’t they, the forced proximity… All of it worked really well for me.
Then the brother’s best friend trope kicked in and sent my blood pressure through the roof!
Beck kept choosing Austin’s feelings over Lyla’s, and I just couldn't understand it. Even when it seemed like they were finally making progress, there was still this sense that Austin’s feelings mattered more than the woman Beck was supposedly falling for.
And the inheritance situation made it even worse. Austin had sold their shared inheritance years earlier to get himself out of trouble, leaving Lyla with nothing. It seems to have been a big part of why she left town in the first place.
So watching Beck worry about Austin’s feelings after all of that?
*Ahem, Beck, please reconsider your priorities….
I did like that he finally gave Austin a bit of a serve towards the end, although honestly, it needed to be a lot more forceful.
Despite my frustration with the Beck and Austin bromance, I really did like the story. The chemistry and slow-burn tension kept me invested, and there was plenty here that worked for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I cannot find the words to appropriately explain how much I loved this one.
A slow burn that plays out beautifully. The slow is only because they both are fighting what’s right in front of their faces.
I loved both Beck and Lyla. The grumpy sunshine dynamic worked so well in this story. Dual POV allowed us to see sides from each perspective and that helped understand every thing. Through Beck’s POV you see his grumpiness is because he carries the weight of the world while fighting between allowing himself the love he deserves and fighting the feelings of loyalty to his best friend. You see Lyla’s sunshine continue to break down the walls he’s tried so hard to build. But he loves Lyla with his whole heart and as she breaks down those walls he just wants to find a way to be happy, to love Lyla out loud, save his ranch and keep the honor in the friendship with Austin. I absolutely love that he sees Lyla for exactly who she is and never makes her feel like she’s too much!
Lyla is such a beautiful soul. She’s battling her own feelings and demons making her believe she doesn’t belong. She’s honestly just yearning to belong. She finally finds that with Beck. Following these two on their journey to their HEA was beautiful and I couldn’t get enough!
A slow burn that plays out beautifully. The slow is only because they both are fighting what’s right in front of their faces.
I loved both Beck and Lyla. The grumpy sunshine dynamic worked so well in this story. Dual POV allowed us to see sides from each perspective and that helped understand every thing. Through Beck’s POV you see his grumpiness is because he carries the weight of the world while fighting between allowing himself the love he deserves and fighting the feelings of loyalty to his best friend. You see Lyla’s sunshine continue to break down the walls he’s tried so hard to build. But he loves Lyla with his whole heart and as she breaks down those walls he just wants to find a way to be happy, to love Lyla out loud, save his ranch and keep the honor in the friendship with Austin. I absolutely love that he sees Lyla for exactly who she is and never makes her feel like she’s too much!
Lyla is such a beautiful soul. She’s battling her own feelings and demons making her believe she doesn’t belong. She’s honestly just yearning to belong. She finally finds that with Beck. Following these two on their journey to their HEA was beautiful and I couldn’t get enough!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Slow Burn by Meg Riley ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A slow burn that actually makes you feel every single moment. 🔥
Slow Burn completely pulled me in! I’m a huge fan of romances that take their time building the chemistry, tension and emotional connection between the characters, and this one delivered exactly that.
The relationship develops at a pace that makes the payoff feel so much more satisfying. The chemistry was undeniable, and I loved watching the tension build throughout the story. There were plenty of moments that had me smiling, swooning and desperately wanting the characters to just admit how they felt already!
Meg Riley has created characters that were easy to become invested in, and I really enjoyed the emotional depth alongside the romance. It felt like more than just attraction — there was a genuine connection that kept me turning the pages.
If you love slow-burn romance, undeniable chemistry, emotional tension and characters who make you want to scream “JUST KISS ALREADY!”, definitely add this one to your TBR.
A really enjoyable read and one I’d happily recommend to fellow romance readers. 💕🔥
A slow burn that actually makes you feel every single moment. 🔥
Slow Burn completely pulled me in! I’m a huge fan of romances that take their time building the chemistry, tension and emotional connection between the characters, and this one delivered exactly that.
The relationship develops at a pace that makes the payoff feel so much more satisfying. The chemistry was undeniable, and I loved watching the tension build throughout the story. There were plenty of moments that had me smiling, swooning and desperately wanting the characters to just admit how they felt already!
Meg Riley has created characters that were easy to become invested in, and I really enjoyed the emotional depth alongside the romance. It felt like more than just attraction — there was a genuine connection that kept me turning the pages.
If you love slow-burn romance, undeniable chemistry, emotional tension and characters who make you want to scream “JUST KISS ALREADY!”, definitely add this one to your TBR.
A really enjoyable read and one I’d happily recommend to fellow romance readers. 💕🔥
August 15, 2026
"I've burned for you since the day I met you." 🩷
This was such a sweet (and also spicy) cowboy romance book! I truly think Meg's writing gets better and better with each book and this one is my new favorite of hers! I loved the setting and our entire cast of characters. I feel like there is so much to explore with them, which I am sure we will get to see in future books!
Lyla and Beck's relationship was a slow burn for sure (pun intended), but I think that's what made me love them so much. I loved that we got chapters from both of their points of view, because we got to see the true yearning from Beck's end (and oh boy was that man struggling to hold down his feelings and not give in even though he loved her). Best friend's brother trope really gets me every time and it's becoming one of my favorites!
I am so looking forward to Austin's book next, especially to see who he gets paired up with!
Thank you so much to Meg Riley for the advanced copy Slow Burn releases on September 3, so be sure to check it out!
This was such a sweet (and also spicy) cowboy romance book! I truly think Meg's writing gets better and better with each book and this one is my new favorite of hers! I loved the setting and our entire cast of characters. I feel like there is so much to explore with them, which I am sure we will get to see in future books!
Lyla and Beck's relationship was a slow burn for sure (pun intended), but I think that's what made me love them so much. I loved that we got chapters from both of their points of view, because we got to see the true yearning from Beck's end (and oh boy was that man struggling to hold down his feelings and not give in even though he loved her). Best friend's brother trope really gets me every time and it's becoming one of my favorites!
I am so looking forward to Austin's book next, especially to see who he gets paired up with!
Thank you so much to Meg Riley for the advanced copy Slow Burn releases on September 3, so be sure to check it out!
August 20, 2026
Thanks @megrileyauthor for the opportunity to ARC for you and be able to give my honest review.
Slow Burn by Meg Riley is about Beck, a ranch owner who is trying to keep his family ranch afloat, and Lyla, his best friend’s little sister,returns to their small town in BC, after leaving Calgary. When Lyla starts consulting on the ranch, the two find themselves spending a great amount of time together—and Lyla begins to see a whole different side of Beck.
The characters were definitely one of my favourite parts of the story. I found it to be a slow-paced book that was easy to follow.
I also loved the references to both BC and Alberta. Being familiar with those two provinces made those little details interesting to me.
I found some of the storyline around trying to save the ranch and the consulting to be a little boring at times.
Overall, it was an easy read with characters I really liked. Definitely worth picking up if you enjoy a slower-paced cowboy romance with a Canadian setting.
Would totally recommend and I will definitely be reading more books by Meg Riley.
Slow Burn by Meg Riley is about Beck, a ranch owner who is trying to keep his family ranch afloat, and Lyla, his best friend’s little sister,returns to their small town in BC, after leaving Calgary. When Lyla starts consulting on the ranch, the two find themselves spending a great amount of time together—and Lyla begins to see a whole different side of Beck.
The characters were definitely one of my favourite parts of the story. I found it to be a slow-paced book that was easy to follow.
I also loved the references to both BC and Alberta. Being familiar with those two provinces made those little details interesting to me.
I found some of the storyline around trying to save the ranch and the consulting to be a little boring at times.
Overall, it was an easy read with characters I really liked. Definitely worth picking up if you enjoy a slower-paced cowboy romance with a Canadian setting.
Would totally recommend and I will definitely be reading more books by Meg Riley.
Review of advance copy received from Author
★★★★☆
ℑ 𝔪𝔞𝔶 𝔫𝔬𝔱 𝔟𝔢 𝔞 𝔰𝔩𝔬𝔴-𝔟𝔲𝔯𝔫 𝔤𝔦𝔯𝔩, 𝔟𝔲𝔱 𝔟𝔬𝔬𝔨𝔰 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔞 𝔣𝔲𝔫𝔫𝔶 𝔴𝔞𝔶 𝔬𝔣 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔫𝔤𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔴𝔥𝔞𝔱 ℑ 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔨 ℑ 𝔞𝔩𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔶 𝔨𝔫𝔬𝔴 𝔞𝔟𝔬𝔲𝔱 𝔪𝔶𝔰𝔢𝔩𝔣
I went into 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧 knowing the trope would test my patience, and for a while, it did. But as I moved further into the story, I stopped focusing on the slow burn and started paying attention to the people inside it.
I really appreciated the way both MCs' emotions and character growth unfolded. I came away understanding them better, and I think that's what ultimately made this a 4-star read for me. It reminded me that sometimes the things we think we know about our own reading preferences can keep us from seeing what a book is actually giving us.
I didn't suddenly become a slow-burn girl. 😂 But I did have a genuinely enjoyable time with this one.
Also, that cover? We need to take a moment. 😭
Thank you to Meg Riley for providing me with an ARC. These are my own honest thoughts and opinions.
ℑ 𝔪𝔞𝔶 𝔫𝔬𝔱 𝔟𝔢 𝔞 𝔰𝔩𝔬𝔴-𝔟𝔲𝔯𝔫 𝔤𝔦𝔯𝔩, 𝔟𝔲𝔱 𝔟𝔬𝔬𝔨𝔰 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔞 𝔣𝔲𝔫𝔫𝔶 𝔴𝔞𝔶 𝔬𝔣 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔫𝔤𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔴𝔥𝔞𝔱 ℑ 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔨 ℑ 𝔞𝔩𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔶 𝔨𝔫𝔬𝔴 𝔞𝔟𝔬𝔲𝔱 𝔪𝔶𝔰𝔢𝔩𝔣
I went into 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧 knowing the trope would test my patience, and for a while, it did. But as I moved further into the story, I stopped focusing on the slow burn and started paying attention to the people inside it.
I really appreciated the way both MCs' emotions and character growth unfolded. I came away understanding them better, and I think that's what ultimately made this a 4-star read for me. It reminded me that sometimes the things we think we know about our own reading preferences can keep us from seeing what a book is actually giving us.
I didn't suddenly become a slow-burn girl. 😂 But I did have a genuinely enjoyable time with this one.
Also, that cover? We need to take a moment. 😭
Thank you to Meg Riley for providing me with an ARC. These are my own honest thoughts and opinions.
August 20, 2026
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC copy.
As the title would suggest, this was the perfect slow burn cowboy romance. Beck is the grumpy cowboy, and completely down bad for Lyla, his best friends little sister and she’s off limits. His attempt to hide his attraction definitely comes across as grumpy, and I loved watching that slowly unravel and learn the history they share.
Lyla was such a great FMC. She’s sometimes outspoken, ambitious and unique. She is used to being told she’s “too much”. I loved the way Beck gave her the space to be exactly who she is.
And we absolutely have to give an honorary mention to Kenny Rogers, the three-legged goat, and Critter, Lyla’s snaggletooth chihuahua mix dog. The animal characters brought so much humour.
The chemistry slowly smoulders before finally turning spicy, and it was so worth the wait. A great cowboy romance with just enough intrigue into the next book to have me watching for its release.
As the title would suggest, this was the perfect slow burn cowboy romance. Beck is the grumpy cowboy, and completely down bad for Lyla, his best friends little sister and she’s off limits. His attempt to hide his attraction definitely comes across as grumpy, and I loved watching that slowly unravel and learn the history they share.
Lyla was such a great FMC. She’s sometimes outspoken, ambitious and unique. She is used to being told she’s “too much”. I loved the way Beck gave her the space to be exactly who she is.
And we absolutely have to give an honorary mention to Kenny Rogers, the three-legged goat, and Critter, Lyla’s snaggletooth chihuahua mix dog. The animal characters brought so much humour.
The chemistry slowly smoulders before finally turning spicy, and it was so worth the wait. A great cowboy romance with just enough intrigue into the next book to have me watching for its release.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Welcome to Wild Sage! This was such a cute romance that was also full of so much heart. Beck and Lyla were a perfect couple because they also shinned as individuals. Beck is headstrong and grumpy, but it stems from his love and loyalty to his family and their ranch, and anyone who feels a little too loud for this world will see themselves in Lyla. She’s spent years trying to tamper herself down and watching her learn to love herself, flaws and all, was one of the best parts of this book. I typically don’t love the brother’s best friend troupe because it can often come off really possessive and misogynistic, but the friendship between Beck and Austin really helped to establish why he struggled to cross the line with Lyla despite his feelings. The 3rd act conflict and resolution felt a little out of character and rushed at the end, but overall Slow Burn is everything you want in a cozy, small town read. Thank you again Meg Riley and team for this arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A really good cowboy romance that I really enjoyed! 🤠❤️
I really liked Beck, especially because you can truly feel and understand the pressure he’s under. I also loved Lyla and her personality. Together, they were great, and I really enjoyed their slow burn and the chemistry between them.
My only issue was the third-act breakup. I honestly didn’t understand why it was necessary, and it made Lyla seem a little selfish, which didn’t really fit with how she had been portrayed throughout the book. Especially considering the way Beck talks about her and sees her, it just felt a little out of character.
Overall, this was a great cowboy romance with a sunshine x grumpy trope, great chemistry, and a really enjoyable slow burn. I definitely recommend giving this one a read! I flew through it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really liked Beck, especially because you can truly feel and understand the pressure he’s under. I also loved Lyla and her personality. Together, they were great, and I really enjoyed their slow burn and the chemistry between them.
My only issue was the third-act breakup. I honestly didn’t understand why it was necessary, and it made Lyla seem a little selfish, which didn’t really fit with how she had been portrayed throughout the book. Especially considering the way Beck talks about her and sees her, it just felt a little out of character.
Overall, this was a great cowboy romance with a sunshine x grumpy trope, great chemistry, and a really enjoyable slow burn. I definitely recommend giving this one a read! I flew through it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. 3.75⭐️ This read like an Elsie Silver cowboy romance, if not a tad more vulgar, and I am here for it!
Beck was an all-star MMC, I mean, who doesn’t love a man who yearns?! 🫠 And I loved how he helped Lyla become more confident and secure in her outspokenness. Together their banter was unmatched, and the romance (and spicy scenes!) were friggin’ swoon-worthy! The plot was well paced and I honestly flew through reading this.
Living in BC, I also loved that the setting of this book took place in Alberta - another province that I am very familiar with. Meg Riley is an author that I will definitely be reading more of!
Beck was an all-star MMC, I mean, who doesn’t love a man who yearns?! 🫠 And I loved how he helped Lyla become more confident and secure in her outspokenness. Together their banter was unmatched, and the romance (and spicy scenes!) were friggin’ swoon-worthy! The plot was well paced and I honestly flew through reading this.
Living in BC, I also loved that the setting of this book took place in Alberta - another province that I am very familiar with. Meg Riley is an author that I will definitely be reading more of!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
Wowee, I had a great time with this one! I’ve been a Meg Riley fan since her Heartwood series, but I can really tell how far she’s come as a writer the more I read. And especially with Slow Burn!
Lyla and Beck feel like such well drawn-out characters and the slow burn aspect really makes their coming together feel earned. They work because they’ve worked for it, together.
I was curious how the vegan x rancher aspect would unfold, but I was won over by how it was all handled. Beck’s a big softie with his three legged goat, after all. 🤭
Also the meaning behind the Cassiopeia line breaks really made me kick my feet a little. (I see you with the constellation being upside down in the shape of an M, Meg 😏)
All in all, I can’t wait to see the rest of this series unfold.
Wowee, I had a great time with this one! I’ve been a Meg Riley fan since her Heartwood series, but I can really tell how far she’s come as a writer the more I read. And especially with Slow Burn!
Lyla and Beck feel like such well drawn-out characters and the slow burn aspect really makes their coming together feel earned. They work because they’ve worked for it, together.
I was curious how the vegan x rancher aspect would unfold, but I was won over by how it was all handled. Beck’s a big softie with his three legged goat, after all. 🤭
Also the meaning behind the Cassiopeia line breaks really made me kick my feet a little. (I see you with the constellation being upside down in the shape of an M, Meg 😏)
All in all, I can’t wait to see the rest of this series unfold.
Review of advance copy
Durante una parte del libro me desesperó Beck por su miedo a demostrarle sus sentimientos a Lyla porque Austin, el hermano de Lyla y su mejor amigo, se enteraría y se enojaría y no quería perder su amistad. Luego en la parte final fue Lyla quien me cayo mal, ¿Quién se cree que es para decidir si está bien o mal lo que otra persona hace con sus cosas? Ella sabía perfectamente que el rancho estaba en números rojos y había visto lo estresado que estaba Beck porque no lograba conseguir más dinero. Por eso, cuando se enteró de que él había considerado vender el rancho para poder respirar un poco, que le hiciera una escena por eso hizo que me cayera mal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2026
𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧
4.5/5.0⭐️
A perfect brother’s best friend romance with lots of yearning! Lyla and Beck are adorable! I saw a lot of myself in Lyla, and knowing Beck was always confident in her made me love them so much! This is my first Meg Riley book and she has certainly shot to the top of new fav authors, and if her Easter eggs are anything to go off of in Slow Burn, I’m going to like the rest of the series!!
4.5/5.0⭐️
A perfect brother’s best friend romance with lots of yearning! Lyla and Beck are adorable! I saw a lot of myself in Lyla, and knowing Beck was always confident in her made me love them so much! This is my first Meg Riley book and she has certainly shot to the top of new fav authors, and if her Easter eggs are anything to go off of in Slow Burn, I’m going to like the rest of the series!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Arc Review !!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love me a good cowboy romance but throw in some grumpy X sunshine, a forbidden aspect and brothers best friend you’ll practically have me begging for more; and that’s exactly what happened I need more!!!! Lyla and Becks tension and yearning for each other was so beautifully written I was yelling at the book to hurry up haha! But in all seriousness this book was such a delightful spicy read and I can’t wait to see what is next !
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love me a good cowboy romance but throw in some grumpy X sunshine, a forbidden aspect and brothers best friend you’ll practically have me begging for more; and that’s exactly what happened I need more!!!! Lyla and Becks tension and yearning for each other was so beautifully written I was yelling at the book to hurry up haha! But in all seriousness this book was such a delightful spicy read and I can’t wait to see what is next !
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Slow Burn lived up to its name! I was instantly hooked starting the book, and the more I read the more connected I was to the writing and characters. Meg’s writing style has a way of drawing you in and making you feel like it is about your friends that you are reading about! A good read, and will be recommending to friends! Thanks for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was so much better than anticipated for me! Loved the forbidden, best friend's sister trope. MMC had been in love with FMC from the beginning and pushed his feelings aside for the sake of his friendship. Lyla showing up to the ranch to work was destined in the stars(pun intended). Can't wait to read the next one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beck Hollis made my heart swoon so hard even with his grumpy self. And Lyla Morgan is one of those FMCs that just makes you kick your heels with her sass.
Lyla has always been “ too much” to many. After standing up for what she believes in, she finds herself back in her hometown facing some of her past. Beck always had her eyes but he was her brother’s best friend and thought he only saw him as the little sister. That is until late nights start to reveal feels and hard truths are revealed. I won’t share too much because you just have to read it yourself.
Saddle up and enjoy Beck’s dirty cowboy mouth in this upcoming release.
Lyla has always been “ too much” to many. After standing up for what she believes in, she finds herself back in her hometown facing some of her past. Beck always had her eyes but he was her brother’s best friend and thought he only saw him as the little sister. That is until late nights start to reveal feels and hard truths are revealed. I won’t share too much because you just have to read it yourself.
Saddle up and enjoy Beck’s dirty cowboy mouth in this upcoming release.
August 20, 2026
read this as an ARC.!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!! this was cute, too short but cute. lyla morgan will hold a place in my heart now forever. i think i wish we got some more throwbacks to lyla & beck growing up to really set in the slow burn atmosphere but besides that, i adore them.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!! this was cute, too short but cute. lyla morgan will hold a place in my heart now forever. i think i wish we got some more throwbacks to lyla & beck growing up to really set in the slow burn atmosphere but besides that, i adore them.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5 ⭐️ enjoyed this! Liked Beck & Lyla and the tropes! It is like the title a slow burn!
August 21, 2026
This was super cute. RTC!
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