I probably shouldn’t admit this, but OH WELL 😉

Saving the Rain was my first ever Elliott Rose book.

And after finishing Saving the Rain all I have to say is WHERE HAVE THESE BOOKS BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!?!!!!!!

I request this from NetGalley because I’m a sucker for a cowboy romance. But when I learned this was MM Cowboy romance insert immediate grabby hands. I had no clue this book was apart of an interconnected series. Now my new obsession will be going backwards and reading the rest and I can’t freaking wait.

Because Saving the Rain is going down as one of my favorite books of 2025. Kayce & Raine’s story was perfection from beginning to end. I loved watching these two go from hate to love. The banter, the will they/wont they, the SPICE!!! Everything was just chef kiss 😘

Elliott Rose you have a fan for life after this book. And all I can say is THANK YOU! Everyone do yourself a favor read this book. I cannot recommend it enough. Lastly big thank you to NetGalley & Kensington Publishing for providing me an ARC copy. I can’t wait to buy my trophy copy on August 26th!

"We’re stepbrothers. We’re strangers. Although, at the end of the day, we’re still connected and that means something like this should never even be a whisper of an idea."

One of my highly anticipated release for August, and it did not disappoint.

When I received a notification (before work, mind you) that I had access to the ARC, I was so happy and instantly messaged Morgan (@mor_gan_reads). We both are a fan of this series, and we both got the ARC !!!

Now, I immediately dropped my current read to read this. No regrets.

Where to start?

After reading book 3 in this series, I was like a dog with a dangling bone because that teaser about this book? Perfect. I was jealous of people who received ARC before me, but I trusted the process and lowkey did not hope anymore. But hey, I live for the hope of it all (ofc I had to add a little bit of TS there considering I finished this on Aug 1). Thennn, I got sick. I napped throughout the day (still after work, mind you) and when I woke up, I started thinking about this book. This one got me on a chokehold (wink wink).

Anyways -

This book is the perfect conclusion to the series. I am gonna miss the characters, the found family, the whole taboo forbidden tropes and just the whole thing. I wished there's more (is there?) books in this series.

There's something about Wilder men. I mean, my favorite is book 1 (Colton and Layla), and this one is the next.

First off, I love Kayce surprisingly, considering he was an jrk in the first book but hey, we love to see his redemption arc in this one. He's been through so much, and dealt with bad life the way he thought was right. We saw his history, his traumas, his baggage, his family dynamic before he went to Crimson Ridge. I just want to reach out to the book and hug him. I am so proud of him.

Raine, his stepbrother, is a great addition to this series. He's still the world's grump but he's such a softie inside. The way he cares about the people around him, doing little things and not taking any credits or asked for any praise. Now, he also had a hard life but we also saw how he's so protective especially towards Kayce now and before when they were living together.

I read 70% of this book in just a day. The tension is so palpable, I can feel it in my bones. They started out so rocky because of their history together but they still cannot help themselves to be drawn to one another.

The way Kayce was confused with his sexuality and how he processed the fact that he's gay was so endearing to see. I love how it felt so real and so vivid that I just know that this book got such a great representation for people who are dealing/dealt with the same process.

We all know these books got a third-act break up, and honestly, with this, I am not even mad. It made sense and I know that it's the right decision.

I think I yapped for far too long, and just know this is my favorite book read this month!

I cannot wait to reread it again once it's published.

Thank you Netgalley gods and Kensington Publishing for the eARC!

Crimson Ridge has never burned hotter what a finale. This last installment in the series is everything a MM cowboy romance fan could want: forbidden tension, emotional depth, a slow-burn payoff, and spice that does not hold back.

Kayce and Raine? Fire and gasoline. Their shared history is complicated, painful, and deeply personal and watching them navigate it was both heartbreaking and so rewarding. Kayce’s journey absolutely gutted me. His growth from the first book to now is one of my favorite arcs in the series. And Raine… let’s just say he had to earn my love, but by the end, I was all in.

Elliott has created something truly special with Crimson Ridge...gritty, tender, and addictively emotional. I’m sad to say goodbye to this world, but I’m already counting down the days until her next release.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the early copy!

It took me awhile to get into it because it is my first book in the series and my first book by the author. But once I got through the first few chapters connected with the characters and world more, I really enjoyed it!! Cowboy spicy MM book with both angst and a HEA - hard not to like that. I am excited to read more of the series so will go back and do books 1-3

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for giving me this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

This was so fucking beautiful!!! And angsty!!! And just pure perfection!!!
It's literally filled with angst, yearning, tender moments, but also whitty and sooo spicy!!!
Kayce and Raines story is just so beautiful that I actually cried happy tears at the end.

"Never not obsessed with you."

Absolutely LOVED this. Kayce and Raine are my FAVORITE couple. How weak Raine was for Kayce was everything. Kayce’s character development was the best. Elliot is one of my auto buy authors

this was such a sweet angsty story filled with so much history and heartbreak, these two went through so much trauma but I loved that they got their well earned happy ending.. Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC!

this was such a sweet angsty story filled with so much history and heartbreak, these two went through so much trauma but I loved that they got their well earned happy ending.. Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC!

Well these lover boys have officially etched themselves into my heart. This book is raw, real, heartfelt, emotional, awakening and damn spicy in all the best ways. The amount of times I melted into a puddle on the floor for these boys while reading. I am truly, deeply, firmly living in Kayce & Raine season right now, and honestly I don't want to escape it. The pain and hurt these two have had to endure in their life, made seeing them together to be each others comfort all the more sweet and special. My heart absolutely swelled for these two and I'm almost a bit sad that I read this in a day, because now its all over.

The tension, angst, hate-to-love vibe between these two? LITERAL PERFECTION! All of that between these two is enough to set you on fire and needing to take a moment to fan yourself when they're done. The sexual energy between these two is insane. Like OH. MY. WORD. Jaw on the floor, screaming, biting your fist level stuff. But all their soft moments made it oh so tender too. Both these boys have the biggest hearts and totally deserve their happy ending that they got.

Omg, sweet, baby angel Kayce! He is such a broken mess of a boy, constantly craving that love and affection that he has lacked for most of his life. As a boy he was so broken and idolised everything that Raine was. He put himself through so many dips and turns in his life and he is still struggling so much to come out of the other side of that. He sees himself as not being worthy of so much, when really he actually deserves the world and to have that someone in his life to love and cherish him. His growth since we first met him in Chasing The Wild is amazing. But his growth alone in this book made me so emotional. Opening up to the people he loves and seeking the help he needed was all he need to find that sense of peace and start living the life he deserved.

Raine, our black cat, moody, grumpy cowboy, with all the emotional damage from his past. He screams PROTECTOR energy in everything he does. Especially where Kayce is concerned. He suffered so much when he was younger, just to keep Kayce and his mom safe. Even through all the hurt that was inflicted on him, he still managed to come out the other as this wonderful, quiet, soft man that does all these wonderful things for the people he loves. But OMG, JESUS CHRIST - the works! The mouth on that man. I knew from all the teasers that he was going to have me feeling like a sweating, panting mess but I never could have imagined him being as damn hot and in control as what he was 🤭🥵🔥.

Stop it, I'm not crying, you are! How is this series over? To be wrapped up by following along with these two lover boys is the absolute best way it could have ended though. Damn, am I going to miss the world of Crimson Ridge though.

This book was absolutely everything I needed it to be and more. Their was pain, sadness, heartache, happiness, love, tension, angst and a big ole heap of found family. Basically everything I love to see in a book. Absolutely a 5 ⭐️ read.

Thank you so, so much to Elliot, Netgalley & Kensington for approving me to read this as an arc. I literally almost squealed in a public place when the email came though!

I loved this so so much. Kayce the bronco rider with big dreams ends up in an incident and has to rely on his estranged stepbrother Zeke. Zeke is a hot cowboy covered in tattoos that tempts Kayce the minute he sees him. They have to learn to work together and put the past aside. Things get steamy pretty quick, and they have to bring their walls down and learn to admit how they really feel.

I have no notes other than I was sad when it ended bc I loved it so much.

4.5 🌟

I am struggling to find the words to accurately describe the feelings I felt reading this book. I am so emotionally overwhelmed after finishing this absolute masterpiece.

When I ARC read Taming the Heart and figured out Kayce’s book was going to be a queer love story, I was jumping for joy because I knew Elliott Rose would do it justice, and my god, she did just that. This was one of the most beautiful queer love stories I’ve read in a long time, these boys had me in a vice grip from page one. Their trauma and healing played out beautifully, allowing them to make mistakes and grow on page. The emotional depth of this book is a whole thing in and of itself. I could write a dissertation on the emotional aspect of this book.

Being back in Crimson Ridge always feels like coming home; the setting is so familiar and comforting that I could live between the pages. I am in awe of the world and characters Elliott Rose has created.

Now for the fun part: the romance and spice!
Wow. Queen Elliott did not hold back (she never does, who am I kidding?) The dynamic in this book sets us up for some incredible spice and, as usual, it delivered. I was panting during some scenes, and my jaw was on the floor for others. I was so wrapped up in the love story that every single spicy scene just added to the plot. Every scene was intentional. You can actually feel Kayce and Raine’s walls breaking down and watch them fall headfirst into love.

I want to say so much more, but I need to keep it spoiler free. Just trust me - you’re going to love this one.

This is the story of Kayce and Raine - two broody stepbrothers who find love in the most unexpected way. These grumpy cowboys start off as oil and water, filled with angst, tension, and bottled-up feelings from traumatic childhoods. Raine was the somewhat distant, always aware older brother, looking after Kayce and his addicted-to-pills mom when his abusive father made time at home rough. ~ Kayce was always looking for Raine's approval - excited for the chance to bond and build a family but ended up watching Raine drive away when it mattered most. ~ Years have passed and Raine shows up in Kayce's very own Crimson Ridge. Not sure how to handle this change, Kayce tries to put up a front, fighting his quickly growing attraction and thawing heart. Kayce's entire world is turned upside down when injured on the rodeo, and nothing prepares him for Raine showing up as his emergency contact. ~ As Kayce heals and Raine takes care of him, truths are spoken - healing both the past and present versions of these characters. Interwoven timelines complete the story, allowing readers to discover why Kayce took money from Layla ("Chasing the Wild") and why Raine left Kayce all those years ago. ~ "Saving the Rain" is incredibly cathartic and totally unexpected. This book gave me everything I needed from the world of Crimson Ridge - in addition to everything I didn't know at the foundational core. This is a phenomenal ending to the series, and exceeded my expectations. ~ Many thanks to Elliott Rose and Kensington Publishing for my physical and digital ARCs!

I really enjoyed the story, but I did feel like it dragged from the 50% mark to the 80% mark there just wasn’t that much that happened and I disliked how enemies they were. It really was hard for me to see how they were becoming lovers.

I absolutely loved this book! Kayce was an unlikable character at the being of the series and the amount of growth he goes through in his story completely changed my opinion of him.

This is a taboo step brothers MM romance so check trigger/content warnings.

Thank you Kensington for the ARC!

What an end to the Crimson Ridge series 👏🏼 this is new favorite book! Kayce and Raine’s journey was messy and filthy and beautiful. If you’ve read a CR book before you’ve probably met Kayce Wilder. Seeing him get his own hard earned HEA, and the depth to his character, coming to terms with his sexuality and his past is a full circle happy moment. Older stepbrother Raine? Well he’s a grumpy, rugged loner who may look your average cowboy at first glance but might have a little soft side hidden away, especially for our golden boy lol. And a gosh darn filthy mouth too, in true Elliott Rose fashion.

I think people are going to love their story. Everything about their relationship was perfect—the tension, the uncertainty and longing, the banger and the intimacy!!! Some of the best I’ve read.

Thank you so much to Kensington for the ARC!

— 🎀 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 🎀 —
𝚂𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚋𝚢 𝙴𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚘𝚝𝚝 𝚁𝚘𝚜𝚎 / @elliottroseauthor
𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 : 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/ 𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜
𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝙻𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚕 : 🌶️🌶️🌶️
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—— • Mini Review • ——
Is this one of the best MM romances I’ve ever read? Yes. Is it hot and sweaty? Absolutely. Did I cry? Abso-fucking-lutely. Elliot Rose did it again, and this one hit deeper. I’ve been waiting for Kayce’s story for so long, and now that it’s here—I’m a wreck in the best way. The story packs emotional punches and unexpected turns, but above all, it’s beautifully written. I was left speechless by how heartfelt and powerful it was.
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Kayce completely stole my heart. He’s sweet, cunning, and full of sass—but beneath all that, he’s carrying pain that’s heavy and heartbreaking. His backstory broke me, but watching him slowly bloom throughout the book felt like healing. He’s the kind of character you can’t help but love and root for, someone who’s so much stronger than he realizes. Every moment with him had me clutching my chest.
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Raine, on the other hand, is everything. Not once did he annoy me (a rare blessing in book boyfriends). He’s grounded, confident, and so emotionally layered. His chapters had me sobbing—his past is so heavy, yet he carried it with such quiet strength. The way he loves, protects, and understands Kayce made me melt. And let’s be real—he’s hot. Cowboy hot. Filthy-mouth, dominant-energy, melt-your-bones hot.
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The chemistry between Kayce and Raine? Off the charts. Their banter had me giggling like a teen, their tension made my skin tingle, and the way they loved—soft, fierce, and messy—completely undid me. Saving the Rain made me laugh, cry, blush, and scream. I’ll be gaying all over the place for these two forever. It’s the kind of book that settles deep in your heart and stays. Forever a favorite.
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Add #SavingTheRain if you love:
🍁Stepbrothers
🍂Ride with me?
🍁I had nowhere else to go
🍂It’s always been you
🍁Found family
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Thank you @kensingtonbooks for the gifted book! ✨
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GIDDY. GIDDY THE WHOLE TIME.

Kayce and Raine are stepbrothers who have hated each other and ignored each other as much as possible. UNTIL NOW - Raine has come to Crimson Ridge and Kayce, our whimpering blushing boy has been figuring out a lot about himself.

I have been SOOO EXCITED about Kayce's story since book 1 because I knew there was going to be TEA and my golly, I love him so much. And Raine giving off MAJOR DADDY VIBES with how assertive and intense he is with his need to take care of Kayce all grumpily 🫠

I am dead.

Saving the Rain is an angsty and tension filled MM Step-Brother Romance, and four in the Crimson Ridge series- a taboo/ forbidden cowboy romance series.
I have loved every one of these books, and didn’t know I needed Kayce’s redemption story.

I would absolutely recommend this book and series!

Thank you Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read Saving the Rain in advance.

Never not obsessed with this book...
I didn't think it was possible to top my favorite book in this series, but here we are. I am absolutely obsessed with Kayce and Raine! Their relationship was built from such a rocky foundation into the strongest and most beautiful thing. They each had their own demons to fight to get their happy ending.

"He's become my sun, and without him, I don't know which way to turn."

We all met Kayce in book one and watched him grow more and more through the other books. Seeing how far he really came endeared me more to him. I was rooting for his character, and he quickly became my favorite. From his goofy sense of humor to his most vulnerable parts.

I loved getting to meet Raine's character and get so much background on both his and Kayce's younger selves. He went through so much and the more I learned about him the more I loved him.

Now onto everyone's favorite topic...SPICE
The spice in this book was FANTASTIC! I was down bad for Kayce everytime he *whimpered*
I was fanning my face because HOLY COW! And don't get me started on Raine's tattooed hand necklaces... *insert drooling face emoji*

Thank you to Kensington for sending me this ARC. I truly enjoyed every moment of reading this book!

While I am so heartbroken this series is coming to an end, Kayce and Raine’s story was the perfect completion of this series. Nobody does angsty, forbidden romance quite like Elliott Rose.

I absolutely loved seeing Kacey and Raine’s hate to love relationship unfold. There were so many we shouldn’t be doing this moments that had me just kicking my feet and rooting for them.

Raine is the protective older brother that just saw Kayce and his mom as a burden when they came into his life. While Kayce just really wanted Raine’s approval and was excited about the prospect of having an older brother. Kayce always thought Raine hated him after he left, so years later when he shows back up in Crimson Ridge he’s having a hard time fighting the urge to continue to hate Raine, and his growing attraction. This story is the definition of love will find you when, and where you least expect it.

I loved that Raine knew exactly when to push Kayce, and when to back off. The room that Raine gave Kayce to grow, while I was sad they were apart it was much needed and only strengthened their relationship. This book was absolutely beautiful, but they’re characters written by Elliott so I expected nothing less