🐎 Book Review: Taming the Heart by Elliott Rose
A steamy, emotionally charged cowboy romance that explores forbidden desire, personal healing, and the messy beauty of falling for someone you shouldn’t.
Book 3 in the Crimson Ridge series, Taming the Heart by Elliott Rose is a standalone age-gap romance set in a sleepy mountain town, where summer heat and buried secrets collide. With a strong Goodreads rating of 4.05/5 from over 10,000 readers, this installment is praised for its sizzling chemistry, heartfelt character arcs, and bold emotional stakes.
🧠 Plot Overview
Sage Maloney is a free-spirited, fiercely independent woman hired to work at a ranch for the summer. She’s determined to keep her heart locked away—but that resolve is tested when she meets her new boss: Beau Heartford, a former pro bull rider with a brooding gaze and a wedding band on his finger.
Despite the obvious complications—age difference, workplace boundaries, and Beau’s marital status—their mutual attraction simmers. As Sage uncovers the truth behind Beau’s guarded demeanor, the line between right and wrong begins to blur. What starts as a forbidden flirtation becomes a journey of emotional vulnerability, trust, and the possibility of love in the most unexpected place.
💬 Why Readers Love It
- Forbidden Romance: The tension between Sage and Beau is electric, with high emotional stakes and moral complexity.
- Strong Female Lead: Sage is witty, wild, and refreshingly self-aware—her voice drives the story with authenticity.
- Cowboy Charm: Beau is the quintessential rugged hero with layers of pain and tenderness beneath his tough exterior.
- Summer Setting: The mountain town backdrop adds warmth and intimacy, perfect for a slow-burn romance.
📣 Reader Reactions
- “Sage and Beau’s story is messy, raw, and real. I couldn’t put it down.”
- “Elliott Rose writes with heart and heat—this book had me swooning and sobbing.”
- “Loved the emotional depth and the way the story handled complicated relationships.”
Some readers noted that the forbidden-love angle may not be for everyone, but most praised the author’s ability to navigate it with nuance and emotional honesty.
🏁 Final Verdict
Taming the Heart is a bold and beautifully written romance that doesn’t shy away from emotional complexity. If you enjoy cowboy love stories with age-gap tension, workplace drama, and characters who grow through vulnerability, this one’s a must-read.
