In addition to the review links below, I promoted the book on my Instagram stories on July 26, aug 3, and aug 14, with plans to promote there again before October release date. Will also review on retail sites after release date.

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This, finally, is Jesse’s story: the oldest brother, the boss of the ranch, the grumpy one. I’ve been waiting since the Early Pandemic Era for this book and I’m so glad it’s (almost) here!

We’ve already had our Sleeping Beauty (amnesia) book, and our Cinderella (screenwriter and movie star) book, and now it’s Beauty and the Beast.
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Jesse’s ‘beast’ is anger: the book opens with him freaking out at the man making out with his grandmother. That man’s daughter is an old school friend of Jesse’s who is staying in town while considering her next career move, and so they have a chance to reconnect.
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Rebekah Weatherspoon is such a solid writer, and so you can be assured of vivid characters, great pacing, and a satisfying conclusion. Whichever of her books strike your fancy, know that it’ll be very well done! So I won’t talk about why I loved Jesse and Lily-Grace, but rather, some of the less-usual things I especially appreciated:
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--Jesse starts going to therapy to work on his anger. And later, his fears. Yay, love doesn’t solve all, and yay, professional therapy.
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--As feelings start to grow, they both admit it. I hadn’t realized how tired I was of the “I have feelings but am afraid to say anything and am therefore getting more and more insecure” plotline, until I read this book and another with courageous honesty. It’s so refreshing, and you get the kilig feeling several times and not just at the romantic climax.
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--Lily-Grace has vitiligo, the skin condition where patches are missing melanin.
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--Jesse reaches out to address some other issues with his family, and affects change. I love it when other relationships beyond the romantic one, are shown to be important.
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There is one thing that I wish were addressed a bit more, and that’s the loneliness and shame Jesse must have felt as a kid afraid of horses, growing up on a ranch. My heart had been hurting for that kid ever since book one.
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Definitely recommend this book (out Oct 26), and the whole Cowboys of California series.

I have been waiting for Jesse's book since book 1 and it DID NOT disappoint.

I absolutely love both of our characters and how they compliment each other. Lily-Grace and Jesse both grow so much and form a really beautiful bond. I loved watching them get to know each other and figure out their relationship. It was so amazing to watch Jesse realize his faults and actually go to therapy and work through his shit. MORE THERAPY IN BOOKS PLEASE.

This was also pretty low angst/conflict/smut, so if you're into that this would be perfect for you.

Also, of course I loved the supporting characters and the ranch setting. Every single character is so fleshed out and wonderful and i enjoyed seeing the whole family come together and bicker, but ultimately love and support each other immensely. (Also Lilah spinoff pleaseeee!)

I highly recommend all three books in this series and while i am sad to say goodbye to the Pleasant brothers, this was a wonderful conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: gaslighting, discussions of sexual assault, breaking in, family tensions

This is the third in the series and while it is a standalone I do think that I would have understood/appreciated it more if I had read the two previous books.

I would recommend if you're looking for
-m/f frenemies to lovers
-cowboy/rance romance
-insta love
-sex education

This was a low angst story that was a quick and fun read. I haven't read many cowboy romances, which was a fun setting, especially for a MMC who does not like to ride horses. An enjoyable read, it felt like i was missing things from the other books which made it harder to invest in the characters.

Rating: 3
Steam: 3

A Thorn In The Saddle is book # 3 in the Cowboys of California series, and much like books 1 & 2, A Thorn In The Saddle did not disappoint. Out of the 3 Pleasant brothers, Jesse Pleasant is known as the serious, temperamental, father-figure of the Pleasant clan. Jesse meets his match when Lily-Grace Leroux comes back to town to visit her dad. No-nonsense Lily-Grace has her own internal issues that she is wading through, and her quick wit/sarcasm bring Jesse down a notch. One thing is for sure, neither of them can ignore their chemistry when they’re together, and their longing for the other when they’re apart.

I LOVED this story. I feel like, Jesse was misunderstood, and the people around him took his brashness as “Jesse just being Jesse”. What the people in Jesse’s life did not realize was that he felt unseen, unheard, and tended to “deal” with his issues alone. I was happy to discover that Jesse had layers, and he just needed someone like Lily-Grace who was interested enough in him, to pull each layer back in order to discover the person Jesse really was. Lily-Grace and Jesse needed each other!

I really appreciated the fact that Rebekah Weatherspoon conveyed the importance of seeking mental health counseling, and yes, men can benefit from counseling too.

Lily-Grace has become one of my favorite characters, out of all the books I’ve read. Her sarcasm/ playfulness is unmatched!

As a self-proclaimed romance connoisseur, I without a doubt, give A Thorn In The Saddle 5-stars!

Therapy for everyone!

When grumpy giant Jesse walks in on his grandmother during a particularly sensitive situation, he earns the wrath of Lily-Grace, who is visiting her small Charming hometown after setbacks in San Francisco. Jesse earns her forgiveness eventually, and fireworks and swim lessons ensue!

We've been waiting three books for eldest Pleasant brother to have his day, and this book certainly does not disappoint. Lily-Grace and Jesse play well off each other, and there are plenty of doggos and trail rides to fulfill your horse girl fantasies. The story is a riff of beauty and the beast with the beast being both Jesse's temper and maybe a bit of Lily-Grace's past. "Gaston" is still a prick, but he's mostly off the page.

If you are looking for adults that talk through their problems, this book is for you. They have a mostly complete discussion of their past relationships and how those failed. Lily communicates her needs, and Jesse meets them. Jesse communicates his needs, and Lily and his family meets them. It is refreshing to have a romance novel that has healthy communication and therapy as such a large part of the happily-ever-after while not shying away from it being a process. Jesse and Lily-Grace are successful people who can go anywhere, and they decided to go there together.

For fans of the Cowboys of California series, this book also sets up future follow ups for side characters. I for one hope a certain runaway and veterinarian get their story told.

Note: I received a review copy from the publisher through Netgalley.

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day. This one took by surprise! Weatherspoon is one of the best.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a fan of Rebekah Weatherspoon's but haven't read her "Cowboys in California" series. I saw the third book was on NetGalley and requested it because it's her.

She does a great job of getting the reader up to speed on everything that's happened in the books before so you can pop without a lot of confusion. There's a large cast of characters, but they flow in and you can see who's close to who throughout the book. However, a lot of the character interaction is so set in how they are as characters that you know she laid the foundation down really well in the previous books.

My sole "problem" with the book is related to my own expectation of a Rebekah Weatherspoon book. When I read her work, I've now expected sexy reading time romps quite often throughout. That wasn't the case here. However, this was the first time I had read a "Cowboys in California" book. Is this a trademark of this series? Not as much sex but more introspection? I don't know and I don't want to dislike a book solely because of my own reading expectation. That's one of the downsides of jumping into a romance series out of order; you're learning about what makes the series tick by the time it's been going for a while.

About the sex, I get why it's limited here. Both Jesse and Lily-Grace simply won't allow it. They're both holding back for different reasons and I respect that.

Would I read the first two in the series knowing what ultimately happens to them? I don't know. I will say I'm intrigued by the ranch running that I saw in this book but I don't know if I'm a fan of the other two brothers. Perhaps when I'm in the right mood, I'll read those two.

It was exactly a year ago when I was reading Sam's story. This book was so worth the wait because Jesse's is my favorite story out of the series. I don't think I've ever read about an adult male character who is this vulnerable and honest; I just love his whole character arc so so much. The way Jesse and Lily-Grace (re-)met was super delightful and entertaining to me like who just busts down a meeting like that? Reading about the Pleasant family and their Big Rock Ranch again feels like home to me. I just wish this series would never end because I absolutely want to know more about Lilah, Jenny, etc. Thank you Rebekah for giving us such heartfelt stories with the most lovable characters.

I love this series and was thrilled to receive an advance copy of the final installment. Rebekah Weatherspoon is a master in creating real world families, personal struggles and relationships that just leap off the page. The banter continues to be amazing in this third book. I know everyone has been waiting for Jesse's story, but Lily-Grace was the star of the show for me. She stole Jesse's dog and my heart right away. Brazen and full of heart, she was a standout heroine. Jesse was also a fantastic character, but in a different way than I was expecting. He showed tremendous vulnerability and capacity for change, but I struggled to get past his behavior towards he grandmother and fully connect with his journey. That being said, watching him struggle to overcome a significant phobia and reach that HEA for himself and Lily-Grace was both moving and incredibly satisfying. Overall, a fantastic end to this series. I'm so sad to say goodbye to Charming and the Pleasant family! Thanks to #NetGalley and #DafinaBooks for the ARC.

I’m a huge fan of Rebekah Weatherspoon and this is a delicious series to binge read! I’ve been not so patiently awaiting Jesse’s story and this is a delightful read.

I loved the dynamics of the characters in A Thorn in the Saddle. Jesse Charming is scared to ride a horse, a brilliant businessman, inexperienced with women and takes care of everyone in his life. He is even courting going into politics.

Lily-Grace Leroux has a big personality with her own insecurities. Lily-Grace has vitiligo, a brilliant mind for making money, an outgoing nature and much more experience in the bedroom. Lily-Grace left her job after being being sexually harassed in the workplace and is visiting her dad deciding her next move.

All the books have a loose theme relating to a fairy tale. Which means there are villains at play! I love in this one that I often forgot the villain until they snuck up on us!

You’ll want to read this for the amazing chemistry, low angst and to fall in love with the Charming family.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

#RippedBodiceBingo #dateauction #RebekahWeatherspoon. #AThornintheSaddle #NetGalley

I’m not sure I was reading the same book as these other reviewers. After three chapters of this and it’s choppy writing I had to stop. I know ARCs are not supposed to be a final draft, but we had main characters misnamed. Im disappointed the quality of the ARC distracted me from continuing. I get the premise of a big gruff cowboy meeting his match and I think I’ll go find the first of this series as a finished product to properly get a feel for this author.

Thank you for the ARC to read a review.

A Thorn in the Saddle is an extremely fun, compelling, emotional, sexy and successful romance! I love the vague beauty and the beast trop vibes, which was the main reason I was interested since I usually tend to avoid more "Western" themed romances. Luckily for me, the whole cowboy theming wasn't too heavy for me and I ended up really enjoying the ranch setting since it's paired with a really modern adjacency to LA.

As for the characters, Jesse and Lily-Grace are not only instantly loveable but I could immediately feel their compatibility from literally the first page. BEFORE THEY EVEN MET I was like oh my god I completely understand how these two people would be perfect for each other. Their ROMANCE!! Their CHEMISTRY!! Don't talk to me, I can't handle it.

My only qualm is that I really don't think the provided synopsis really conveys the story well at all. The synopsis places a lot of emphasis on Jesse being interested in running for a political position and Lily-Grace helping him get more comfortable being a public figure. The political thing is like, there, but it's really not that big a part of the story at all. I'd more say that this is a story of two people trying to figure out what they want the next stages of their lives to be after each experiencing upset in their personal lives, and then growing as individuals alongside each other!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy! I can't wait to buy my own physical copy in October lol

I've been waiting for Jesse's book! Jesse is a strong, silent mess who's been strong for everyone else but himself for too long. Lily-Grace is his opposite in many ways, but also the best person to help him break down some of the issues he needs to deal with. And she is my favourite kind of heroine--brilliant, ballsy, charming, caring (and will fight you).

I do think the blurb is misleading in that it focuses a lot on Jesse's potential political ambitions, which is not at all what the story centers on. There are a LOT of individual issues that Jesse and Lily-Grace both deal with that are external to their relationship and don't really affect it very much; they just support each other on these issues, and that's pretty much the story. Some of these issues or elements of their respective lives feel dropped in and don't get picked up again in depth, which can lead the reader down one path expecting a resolution or a conflict that doesn't really happen.

That said, I kinda don't care that the story is just Jesse and Lily-Grace finding their way together because they are both great, individually and as a couple, their banter is top-notch, and the chemistry is fire, and super-low relationship angst/conflict is very welcome. And of course, the extended Pleasant family shines in their everyday lives. This is my favourite of the series.

I loved Jesse and Lily-Grace so much!! Oh, this was my favorite of the series. I loved all of them, but Jesse? Oh, kill me now. He is my favorite kind of guy. A big grumbly sweetheart. I never wanted this story to end.

Jesse has taken on all of the burdens of running the ranch. He has a temper, an anger in him that makes him lash out at people at times and now he is really trying to get that under control. To make sure he is the amazing person he is all the time. He...I loved how much he tried. How he really worked on himself and wanted to be better. He is not very experienced with people, or women in particular. He hasn't really dated, doesn't really have any friends, he is really shy and feels awkward around most people. He doesn't talk a lot so no one really tried to get to know him better. Until Lily-Grace.

Lily-Grace is a strong woman and is not afraid to tell you when you are wrong. She was absolutely perfect for big, shy Jesse. Oh I loved these two together. They don't start off on the right foot, but Jesse is so freaking adorable I don't know how anyone could not fall in love with him. These two had a connection and Lily-Grace was trying to help Jesse break out of his shell a little bit. Trying to help him be more comfortable around other people. And of course she falls in love with this giant sweetheart.

These two gave me all the feels. I adored how supportive Jesse was and always there for Lily-Grace. He might not know what to do, he might not know how to be in a relationship, but he really works hard to do the right thing and I loved that so much. He reaches out to people he trusts when he needs help and once you get into the inner circle he would do anything for you. I loved how vulnerable he was and how he could talk about his feelings and ask people's advice when he was unsure. I just loved this story so so much.

Thanks to the Netgalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of this book. I loved it so much!

Jesse. Oh Jesse Pleasant, how I just wanted to hug you throughout this book. Lily-Grace is the perfect woman for this romantic, gruff, swoony man. I loved this who series and I’m hoping there’s a spin-off with another character, but this book was nothing short of spectacular!

Yes Ms. Weatherspoon, Jesse is our favorite Pleasant. Jesse has the burden of the entire ranch and business on his shoulders while the others in the family have been able to pursue other hours and dreams and love. Jesse stilted in that department.

Lily-Grace is a force of nature, a whirlwind I'd say plowing into Jesse's life. I'm not sure how to put into words what I feel or think of Lily-Grace, or here match with Jesse, so I'll let that simmer a little.

I loved this series and this family. Miss Leona is a ball breaker matriarch and reins these gang in, loved the entire series!

We finally got a story with Jesse and he was worth the wait. Great character development.. I got to get to know the characters they seemed real and relatable. I loved the chemistry and vulnerability between the characters, a great read. Also I loved the hero and heroine had flaws and were not perfect.