A Clean Yellowstone Alternative: Gritstone Ranch Series Review (and content guide)
Updated: Aug 31
Leath and Lies by Lucy McConnel and Erica Penrod
Quick Summary
Genre/Topics: Modern Romance, Western, Southern
Recommended Age: 18+
Possibly Concerning Content*
🤬 Language: None
❤️ Romance: Scorching Kisses only
🛡️Violence: Punching. Injuries due to rodeo.
‼️ Heads up: Stalker-like behavior. DNF book 2 so cannot comment on content.
Formats: Paperback, ebook
Who is this for?
The Tropes: Instant like. Fighting for the land. Southern Grit. Family and community. Scorching kisses.
The Vibe: Fighting for the land. Family and community. Modern westerns.
For Fans of: Yellowstone without the swearing, gore, and smut.
Review
One of the reviews for Leather and Lies said, “Yellowstone without the blood and with a clean romance,” and honestly, I was sold. Between that and the cover, I was so excited to jump into this ‘save the ranch’ cowboy romance.
I read it in two days and barely put it down! The romance was sizzling hot, kisses only but the chemistry between Wyatt and Kinsley was amazing. I loved that this was a ‘like-at-first-sight’ kinda story. The setting of the little town with its two warring ranches hooked me from the moment Kinsley described it and the tension came from saving the land, and Wyatt’s pull to leave and return to the rodeo, instead of any ‘forced’ tension from the romance. The couple actually talks about their problems and works through them instead of making assumption and storming off. It’s brilliantly done.
I loved all the characters, from the grumpy grandfather to the trouble making little sister (though I did forget who Hailey, the best friend was and had to go back and figure out who she was later on). I especially loved the rodeo moments. I felt like I was actually watching, heart palpitations and all!
And the TWISTS? The first one I saw coming early on but the second? I literally put the book down for a second to gasp and connect all the dots. It was SO good!
It’s a fast-paced, heart pounding, fight for love and land that will keep you turning the pages and rooting for the underdogs.
📍Important Note: I Did Not Finish Book 2 so I cannot comment on content beyond this book.
Possibly Concerning Content*
Click on 'possible spoilers' for details.
🤬 Q: Is there profanity in Leather and Lies?
A: No, there is no language or profanity in the book.
❤️ Q: Is there a romance in Leather and Lies?
A: Yes, and while the kisses get intense there are no open-door or fade to black scenes.
🛡️Q: What kind of violence is there in Leather and Lies?
A: Wyatt is a bull rider so there are injuries associated with that.
‼️ Q: Are there any heavy themes, triggering moments, or iffy subjects in Leather and Lies?
A: There is stalker like behavior from a villain.
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Official Blurb
"The bull rider says he kisses better than he rides, but nobody warned Kinsley Rose he would prove it.
Kinsley pulls into Gritstone, Colorado, with a horse trailer, a locked heart, and daddy issues the size of Texas. She came to this small town to save Stonegate Ranch from a federal land grab, not to trade witty banter with the cowboy next door or fall for his reckless grin and thunder-gray eyes.
Wyatt is an NFR-qualified bull rider with a gentle streak he doesn't let anyone see. The moment Kinsley's boots touch his land, he falls first, he falls hard, and there's no walking away. But Kinsley isn't the trusting type, and Wyatt's family name comes with secrets that could bury them both.
In Gritstone, the land remembers. Ghosts linger in the fence posts and the Halloway name is chained to a legacy that won't stay buried. Saving the ranch means untangling generations of lies, and falling for each other might be the worst idea either of them has ever had.
Leather and Lies is a cowboy romance with a close-knit family, a world that feels full and real, and the kind of slow-burn emotional roller-coaster that will leave you smiling for days. No miscommunication drama. Just grit, buried secrets, and a love that could heal a legacy or destroy it." - From Amazon
📍*Possibly Concerning Content Disclaimer: I try my best to include all relevant content notes, or possibly concerning content, but I may not catch everything and/or you may feel things are concerning that I do not. Please research individually if you’re sensitive to specific topics/subjects! 📍
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