In Too Deep

by Elyse Riggs

Zoe Taylor doesn’t just visit Elk Ridge Falls, she waltzes into the saloon one stormy night in a wedding dress and carrying a three-layer-cake. It’s not every day a girl gets cheated on the day of her wedding. She’s sworn off men and only plans to stay in town long enough to get her car fixed. Then she has to figure out the rest of her life.

Enter grumpy mountain man Tyler Drake. Whatever happens, he knows he can’t fall for the beautiful tourist who walked into his bar. No matter how many sparks fly, she’s forbidden fruit he’s determined not to taste.

In Too Deep is a full-length, standalone, enemies to lovers, small-town romance with humor, steam, and lots of HEA.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

197 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 24, 2021

About the author

Elyse Riggs is a sassy, coffee loving geek who believes in happily ever afters. She also believes that a few drinks and an order of chips and salsa can solve pretty much any problem.

Reviews

[Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Runaway Bride meets sexy Lumberjack

This was a cute story. The author fast forwarded a lot and the writing was ok.

They story of Zoe and Tyler was adorable. I loved the storyline but it felt familiar. Tyler - the rough lumberjack mountain man with a gentle touch. Zoe - the runaway bride with cake and heart of gold.

Together they found each other in a life where they both were lost on what to do next. All of the side characters were great and I’d like to see more of them and more development in the story.

Not everything made sense - Zoe would say weeks later but then her car was only in the shop for a few days. For weeks later - I would think her and Tyler would know exactly what their relationship was. It was very fast forward in a lot of areas I would have like to see more.

The steam scenes were also short and sweet.

*Overall 3/5
*Heat? 2/5
*First person POV (both Zoe and Tyler)
*Quick read
*HEA? Yes.

[Peace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was good but the characters were hard to envision. Few descriptions were given; for example, an occasional hair color, presence of a beard, or sometimes eye color.

Good writing. 4 Stars.

[Lynn Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe put her fiancé through school and finds him having sex with her bridesmaid right before the wedding so she leaves and take her custom wedding cake with her. After driving aimlessly for hours her car breaks down during a storm by a saloon door and she brings her cake in and sits at the bar and drinks whiskey and eats her cake. She talks to several men at the bar but the one she calls tall dark & grumpy lumberjack, actually Tyler, puts her in his bed upstairs when she passes out before he leaves. Zoe has to stay until her car is fixed and finds a temporary job at an Inn owned by Tyler’s aunt during the town’s Spring Festival so she has a place to stay because she has very little money. Tyler is mad at first because he thinks she is taking advantage of his aunt’s generosity and is only a tourist in town who will not stay long, but she works hard getting everything cleaned and ready for the Festival and has some great ideas to help the Inn. She is known in the small town as the Runaway Bride plus cake and makes several friend and thinks that Tyler is a handyman but he is actually a billionaire who owns the lodge and other businesses in town with his brothers. They grow closer as they spend more time together but can they find happiness together?

I loved this story with the bride who left her cheating fiancé and ends up enemies and then lovers with the grumpy mountain man. Zoe didn’t realize Tyler was actually a billionaire when she started to have feelings for him. This story had humor, romance, and mystery, everything I love in a story. The characters were all very well-written and their story was great. The epilogue was a perfect ending for their story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The addition starts with the book cover….yeah…yeah…yeah don’t judge a book by its cover they say ….well we all do it and this one here it is the scratch to your itch or better yet the filling to your oreos! Within the first chapters you get the panoramic view of whom you’re dealing with! Humiliation at its best Zoe worked her butt off to put her fiancé through school, only to find him having sex with her bridesmaid on her wedding day no less in fact right before the wedding (what a jerk) so she took her cake and leaves him there with the bridesmaid (good for her). Driving around with no place in mind but thinking for hours to only have her break down during a storm (when it rains it pours) but the bright side it broke down near the saloon so she does what any girl in her situation would do grab her cake walks up to the bar asks for a drink and eat cake. Consuming enough alcohol and talking to random men she passes out yep, the tall, dark, and grumpy lumberjack puts her to bed. Tyler sexy as all get out grumpy lumberjack man who takes pity on the women sitting at his bar eating a wedding cake. Zoe has to stay in town long enough to get her car fixed while waiting finds a temp. job working with Tyler and his aunt preparing for the festival before it starts. Getting to know Tyler along the way realizing there is more than meets the eye with both of them Tyler isn’t just some random nice guy, and he is so unlike her ex. both are feeling the magnetic pull but is it enough to get over what she has been through and has this girl finally found her happiness in the grumpy lumberjack.

[Laura Finley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elyse Riggs continues her writing career with another great story. In Too Deep captures heartache and love.

Zoe Taylor was all set to marry the man she loved. Until she discovered he was having an affair with her bridesmaid/realtor. Her sister got proof of the affair and displayed it for the wedding guests. Zoe walked out of the wedding with her cake. She gets into her car and drives out of the city. She ends up in a small town she has always wanted to visit. She ends up staying in the town for a few weeks.

Tyler Drake is a workaholic. He and his brothers took over the family business after losing their parents. Tyler behaves grumpy most of the time due to work stress. He and his brothers are hanging out at the bar that Zoe makes her entrance into town. He gives her a safe place to stay for the night.

Sparks fly between Zoe and Tyler. Can Tyler trust and move on from past hurts? Is it too soon for Zoe to move on from her failure of a wedding?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe leaves her wedding day after finding him busy with her bridesmaid. In her wedding dress, with her three tiered cake, she drives until the car dies in a snow storm, just in front of a garage. She and the cake go next door to a saloon and she meets her future... Tyler, who looks like a lumberjack. The two main characters have both had heartache and are wary of relationships. The rest of the characters such as his brothers, their aunt who makes awesome pies, Sam who works in the garage and her sister who supports her no matter what. The storyline is a wonderful view of the locale in the mountains and the old fashioned main street and shops. The immense resort lodge and ski area sounds picturesque and includes a mystery all its own. One of my favorite parts was the picnic at the hot springs under the stars. Well done.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mindy Diegel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this fun sassy couple. Zoe is such a sassy feisty women that totally intrigued Tyler from the start. They are such an amazing couple. Zoe had a rough start but she has overcome all of it and took that little town of Elk Ridge Falls by storm. I mean walking into a bar in a wedding dress with your cake, that is memorable! The Drake brothers they are something else, I absolutely love Meg she is the greatest!! This book has me craving pie that is for sure! I love this town! I sure hope you write stories for the rest of the Drake brothers, then we will get to hang out in the Lodge and town a little while longer!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I love this story about the runaway bride and the gruff mountain man. The bride to be catches her fiance and her bridesmaid together. Running to get away from it all Zoe takes the cake with her. When her car breaks down outside a saloon, Tyler gives her a place to sleep it off.

Zoe ingratiates herself to Tyler's Aunt and he wonders what she is up to. She treats him like the handyman she thinks he is but he's not telling her the whole truth about himself. The banter between Zoe and Tyler is fun and kept me smiling. Even through the barbs you could feel the heat. Elyse Riggs has written an enjoyable summer read. The story never get dark and the chemistry is off the charts. Grab it today!

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe Taylor ends up stranded in Elk Ridge Falls after leaving her cheating fiancé at the altar. Her sister, Rory, helps her make her escape. She makes quite the entrance into the Silver Brand Saloon. She meets Tyler Drake and his brothers, Heath and Zack. Zoe had quit her jobs to start her new married life. She comes across an elderly lady, Meg, who needs help with her inn. Zoe makes friends with a local, Sam. I enjoyed the characters of this town. I loved the attraction between Zoe and Tyler. The storyline was very good. I am really hoping this is the beginning of a series. I loved learning about Elk Ridge Falls. I highly recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated this three and a half, rounding up.
A woman with a wedding cake walks into a bar. Zoe caught her fiancé with his pants down with a bridesmaid, hijacked the wedding cake and drove away from the wedding. She ends up getting stranded in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere, gets a job at an inn, makes some friends and falls in love with tall, dark and grumpy Tyler. Tyler has some work related woes and gets a bit freaked out by their developing intimacy.

This is an entertaining low angst read with some chuckles. It contains sexual scenes and some profanity. There were some editing issues and minor continuity problems that did not ruin the enjoyment.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andrea Barth-Leidinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elyse Riggs did it again. She’s gone and wrote a cute romantic story about two people falling madly in love, facing their worst insecurities and march out of it with a wonderful HEA. I like how they meet, the characters save Brad, the storyline itself and the midnight picnic. Also I am a firm believer that everybody should have a Sam and at least know a Meg. As I didn’t see any indication as of the serial nature of this book I would like to see more of Elk Ridge. Please pretty please….!!!
Enjoy your read!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rhonda Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wedding set...check
Perfect dress... check
Amazing custom cake....check
Finding your soon to be husband with your bridesmaid.... check.
Wait what? Yep Zoe finds them sleeping together so she takes off woth the cake and drives aimlessly until her car breaks down. She goes in the local saloon dressed in her wedding dress and proceeds to eat her cake and drink whiskey. She visits with the people in the bar and eventually talks to one she pegs as grumpy lumberjack. What happens next will have you laughing, crying, and jumping with joy. Enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dee Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story with excellent characters who have sass, a snappy dialogue and feelings that flow from the pages. The opening chapter is painfully hilarious and brilliant, it “takes the cake”. Zoe & Tyler are perfect for each other. Sam is wonderful and just what every girl needs after what Zoe has been through. Meg is insightful and almost witchy in her mild meddling. And to have brothers or a sister for backup is truly wonderful. Beautiful scenery, small town welcomes and new starts. Couldn’t ask for more, unless it’s a sequel or few to tie up some other characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mzlegz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This book was funny (I loved Rory and Sam!!) and romantic with some shady suspense, new best friends and family ties thrown in. Meg kept it real with Tyler when he was acting like the grumpy lumberjack Zoe first tagged him as. These two both went thru challenges with past and present relationships, but being together pushed past boundaries they weren't sure about. Jim and the bridesmade...I can only imagine the looks of the wedding guests when that picture made its appearance!!! The wedding cake and whiskey girl turned into the smalltown sweetheart. Lots of potty language!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Antonella - Happy Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the worst moment in her life, Zoe finds love!
by Happy-Girl

I think that poor Zoe faces the worst nightmare for every woman: finding her soon to be husband having sex with your best friend!
So she runs with her wedding dress on and her wedding cake, and meets Tyler, a silent, broody Cowboy!
The day after Zoe has a big headache and a broken car so she has to stay few days in Elk Ridge Falls. She'll try to avoid grumpy and sexy Tyler but his mountain man effortless charm and a matchmaking aunt will help her find real love!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Evy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was fantastic!
It was sweet, romantic and some suspicion and drama.
Zoe was a real sweetheart and Tyler was the grumpy lumberjack or Mr. McBroody liked some called him.
The side characters like Zack, Heath, Meg and Sam were great and made the story complete. Everyone deserves a friend like Sam or a woman lie Meg in their life.
I loved how their romance developed and how they overcome their insecurities.
I really hope there will be others stories in Elk Ridge Falls!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe catches her groom cheating on her on her wedding day. She decides to run away and literally goes as far as her car will take her. Ending up somewhere, she does not know where, in the middle of a snowstorm in her wet wedding dress she goes into a bar where she meets Tyler and his brothers. This was a really good book. Ms. Riggs descriptions of the town and the people were colorful and I got the feeling I would like to vacation in the town and meet Meg and go to Pie Happy Hour.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The worldbuilding in this book is outstanding, I love the beginning and the cast of characters, there is a slight lull after the initial chapters and then the author finds her stride again. The relationships are juat lovely and the small town charm is outstanding. Unfortunately, the drama at the end feels a bit forced and rushed, but there is a HEA and I nevertheless absolutely enjoyed this book. I recommend!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review. Zoe has been betrayed by her now cheating ex. She runs and ends up in Elk Ridge Falls. She and her cake make quite the impression. Tanner finds that she makes him feel protective and frustrated but happy. Zoe jumps right into her new lease on life. Her broken relationship and car might be the best thing to ever happen for her. It brought her straight to her true, grumpy love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angel Roo · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG

Tyler. I. Love. Him.
Okay, Zoe is pretty awesome, also, but I still prefer Tyler.

This book was awesome! So much drama and tension building up between those two - and the reader has no idea where it's gonna go.

So happy when they finally get it together. Both are so happy, and such a compliment to each other. Once Tyler got over himself and got Zoe back, they became each other's HEA.

Love Elyse Riggs... This book is just another reason why!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good story. It made me laugh out loud throughout. Zoe is a runaway bride (for a great reason) with a wedding cake. She walks into Tyler's bar after her car breaks down. Let the insanity begin! I loved their chemistry. Both were a lost in life and wondering what to do next. However, their connection and chemistry gets them through. Not to mention the secondary characters. They bring so much to the story as well. Good read!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe walks in a bar carrying her wedding cake after finding her fiancé cheating. The minute Tyler sees Zoe, he wants to protect her. They have an instant attraction to each other. Their story takes them through lots of emotions, chemistry, and learning to trust in their love for each other. Elsye has written a wonderful book filled with humor, drama, and passion.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Guylande Jeudy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book because it was so fun and captivating from the beginning. Tyler is a sexy mountain man billionaire recluse, he is wary of tourists and is afraid of getting hurt. But when the storm that is Zoe came waltzing into the bar in her wedding dress and a cake, he was a goner. I loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elsie Pitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and Quick. It was a good story and the writing was good. It felt fairy tellish and whimsical at times, meaning it was a sweet story. A lot of fast forwards within and it had a bit of questions arising for me but it was pretty good. It definitely will provide you with a warmth that you get from those feel good movies!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Magali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, funny, and hot
4.5
Excellent romance that has a tender side, but also funny, especially after Zoe arrives in a saloon in a weary wedding dress with her cake and her story of the day. It's a successful feel good story, a little predictable but still fun to read.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

[Lynda Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic runaway bride story beautifully done by this author. The “grumpy lumberjack” is certainly a complex man and perfect to rescue the runaway bride. Add in his gorgeous brothers along with their very special auntie and her Inn and we have great background characters to this lovely story

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shirley Rentzel · Rating 2 out of 5]

What happen?

This started out as a very funny, very good book, then bang! Long, boring, could careless about anyone in the book. I gave it two stars because it was seriously funny in the beginning. After the first couple of chapters are read, no need to bother with the rest of the book. Shirley

[Jodie Cary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was totally hooked in right from the start with this story. I loved the characters and the storyline. It was a first time read for me, from this author and i thoroughly enjoyed it. I cannot wait to read more from this author and more of this series. Loved it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gale Albright · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a cute storyline all in all. Unfortunately, the timeline is completely messed up. First night/day in town it jumps all over the place. Car still broken down, mechanic not back for 3 days, yet her ex-fiancé has already gone on honeymoon and charged everything to her card. ??? No way to have that info at all. Then their relationship timeline is totally off. Sorry no more than 3 stars.

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has given us a wonderful story that pulls us into the lives of Zoe and Tyler. The story keeps us turning the pages with betrayal, sabotage, misunderstandings and love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.