This book had a lot of potential. Admittedly I don’t read a lot of lesbian romance, but that isn’t an issue for me. I think the issue I had was that we are supposed to believe in this intense love between Lauren and Marsh, when honestly it seems that Lauren’s main focus through out the entire book is on sex. Even at book signings or horse riding events it’s her focus. It made Lauren seem like a very flat and almost unlikeable character to me. Marsh on the other hand fascinated me. She was so intense and was very passionate about horses, her life, and seemed to have this incredible bond with her bother and his husband. I wish more of the book could have been about her.

When mystery writer Lauren Everhart meets riding instructor Marsh Langston their chemistry is immediate. But under the fog of lust, Lauren can't help digging into Marsh's past, which may put their future in jeopardy.

I usually really enjoy Leigh's books, however this one was a bit hard to get into. While the writing was the same excellent quality and the characters were still strong, I found the plot a bit too erratic. Rather than a slow burn the book begins more in the style of an erotica, which was unexpected for this author, so it took me a little longer to settle into the pacing and plot of the book. Not the authors fault my expectations were wrong so once I got past that I enjoyed the well written sizzling chemistry between the two leading ladies. The rest of the plot was a little on the weaker side, looking into the mystery of Marsh's past, and lacked some development to really make us care about the characters rather than just the chemistry. If you're looking for a sexy well-written book then you'll definitely enjoy this one.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t love this book but I didn’t hate it either. I didn’t find Lauren a particularly pleasant person and that got in the way of my enjoyment. Her whole focus seemed to be on her and what she would get from any interaction. I didn’t feel there was an actual romance between the two characters and actually at the start I got fed up of all the references to control and the dynamics. It felt like it was mentioned too much.

Unbridled took me on a wild ride. I can say I overall enjoyed the ride but even though this was classified as erotica/romance, I would think this drifted more toward mystery then erotica then romance. The romance is third because I really didn't feel like the mains got to know each other well. Lauren was more interested in having a sexual relationship with Marsh. They do talk some and share some things but nothing that would make me feel like they had a deep love connection. The mystery comes in because Lauren is trying to figure out why Marsh is no longer in the Equestrian show circuit. She dives and dives and eventually with the help of the supporting casts she is able to get to the bottom of everything. The mystery portion is what kept me reading and did not disappoint. That is the main reason I am giving this 4 stars.

This arc was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.

I always expect well-written books from this author but Unbridled has gone above and beyond my expectations and is her best work to date. It's a first-person narrative from Lauren's point of view and it absolutely works in this case. I loved how Lauren's character developed throughout the story - she started out as a self-absorbed, controlling character and it was great to see that gradually change. I really connected with Lauren's character in the second half of the book and rooted for her and Marsh. The dynamic between them was deliciously hot from the minute they met - it's so rare to find books that explore D/s dynamics without going into cringe territory and this book had done it brilliantly. I hope the author gives us more of that in her next book. (Spoiler: It would have been great to have more of an insight into how Marsh went from I-don't-do-relationships to I-love-you after the big conflict as it all happened rather quickly, but I'll forgive that as I loved this book so much I finished it in one sitting!)

Enjoyable read. I can always count on this author to write a book that keeps the pages turning and the story intriguing. I really liked the characters and the chemistry they shared. Most of all, I love horses and there are always horses in D. Jackson Leigh books. I highly recommend.

This book started off strong and initially I was captivated by Lauren and her infatuation with Marsh. The dynamics between the two initially were quite interesting and I was enjoying the story. Unfortunately, the story shifted and I found myself a little puzzled by the shift in the relationship dynamics as well as the storyline. I wasn't as taken with the second half of the novel, as it felt as though the characters and their arc changed drastically from what we started with.

All in all, an interesting premise with some very steamy scenes. I think this just wasn't what I was expecting from the blurb or the start of the novel.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Well that was exciting. It’s listed as a Romance but I would definitely say Erotic Romance, at the very least, with a side of who-dunnit intrigue.

The first half is definitely erotic: seriously hot sub/dom sex scenes while we skitter around in the decidedly lascivious mind of the MC, author Lauren Everhart. As her feelings for former Olympic horsewoman Marsh develop, we move into romance, but a romance apparently doomed by Lauren’s obviously flawed decision to use the story of Marsh’s downfall as the centre of her next plotline. When the intensely private March inevitably finds out and cuts her off Lauren determines to find out ‘who dunnit’ to free Marsh of the rumour and suspicion. Her investigation leads to uncovering a nasty narcissistic psychopath manipulating them all… at which point we return to the romance and erotica.

Thoroughly enjoyable if a little unexpected and definitely the cause of a few cold showers. Lauren and March are intriguing characters, not particularly deep but Marsh, in particular is a complex character and both are dominated (ha!) by their pasts. As Always Ms Jackson-Leigh’s love of horses and knowledge of the equestrian world shines through.

2.5 stars. Lauren Everhart is a mystery writer who has writer's block for her next story. She needs to keep writing to keep her fame as a writer. After going with a niece to horse back riding lessons with Marsh, she cannot get Marsh out of her head. She takes riding lessons herself to get closer to Marsh and try to win her over. Lauren seems to be falling harder for Marsh than she thought she would. Lauren finds a new story for her books, one that involves a horse murder that Marsh seemed to be involved in. This murder ended Marsh's olympic career.

I struggled through this one. I did not really enjoy the mystery with the horse murder, it was not really that surprising about who did it or what had been happening. The whole story felt a bit convoluted to me. I liked the premise of the book, and thought it would interesting, but just from the beginning I thought it was a weak excuse to get the characters together. I did not like the predatory behavior that seemed to be occurring. This book was fine if you like the author, but I would not really recommend it.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book it reminded me of the Jilly Cooper books my mother had on her shelf, this read similar to those but updated and with the added LGBTQIA+.
I did enjoy the book and I do think it is well written but I don't think I would reread it in the future.

“You’re the first she’s looked at and seen. She seems strong, but she’s so fragile.”

When mystery writer Lauren Everhart meets horseback riding instructor Marsh Langston, she feels immediately drawn to her. Marsh is a hard woman to get close to, but Lauren can’t seem to walk away from this private woman, who takes control in all things.

This book had a lot of potential. Admittedly I don’t read a lot of lesbian romance, but that isn’t an issue for me. I think the issue I had was that we are supposed to believe in this intense love between Lauren and Marsh, when honestly it seems that Lauren’s main focus through out the entire book is on sex. Even at book signings or horse riding events it’s her focus. It made Lauren seem like a very flat and almost unlikeable character to me. Marsh on the other hand fascinated me. She was so intense and was very passionate about horses, her life, and seemed to have this incredible bond with her bother and his husband. I wish more of the book could have been about her. I give this book 2 stars.

An exciting mystery!

Mystery writer Lauren is inspired by the story of champion horse rider, her riding instructor Marsh. Instantly attracted to one another, both Lauren and Marsh know they aren’t one for commitment but exploring and experiencing one another almost exclusively is something they are very interested in, until Lauren uses Marsh’s story loosely for her next book. Determined to prove her commitment to Marsh and proving her innocence, Lauren sets out to make everything right and win back the captivating, hurt, woman who she has unexpectedly fallen in love with.

A mystery of a mystery of a mystery with erotic edge and such deep emotions. This was just amazingly sexy, a touch scandalous and very unexpected. I enjoyed the first chapter and thought I knew how the story might play out but I had no idea what was coming, which was so much better than I’d initially expected. This is the first story I have read by D. Jackson Leigh and it certainly won’t be the last. The story was engaging, twists and turns throughout, with that edge that took it across multiple genres.

I loved that Marsh and Lauren were laid bare, they didn’t hide anything or pretend to be something they weren’t and yet despite all they knew about one another, they still ended up falling for one another, even if one of them tried to hold back. I didn’t expect anything that happened between Marsh and Lauren, nor the secrets revealed from the past or plans for the future. Every little bit of the book was a sweet surprise just waiting, just like little clues in a mystery.

Again, even though the story isn’t a pure mystery, there were scattered clues and I missed every single one like I usually do, so was uncertain who to trust, who to believe and clueless to know what the outcome was going to be when Lauren went deeper into a mystery story than any writer should ever had to. (I think she found it all very exciting though!)

A hot, steamy, erotic romance mystery with edge, exciting twists and turns, great characters and an unforgettable story that I was completely invested in. It was difficult to put the book down and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience of reading it!

I wanted to like this book more as I do like the writing of D Jackson Leigh but I just didn’t warm to it. I’m not sure if its the first person narrative which only gives us “one side of the story”, or the sexual drive of the lead character Lauren, which is at times unsettling, but I think in the end it’s because I just didn't much like her. Normally this doesn’t bother me but when the book is first person and you spend all your time in her head, it does become a bit draining.

The book is well plotted and I did like Marsh and the sex scenes and “control” issues were well written; there is no doubt Ms Jackson Leigh is an excellent writer. In this instance the narrative just didn’t capture me. I think It would have been better for me if the book was normal third person with insight into both characters but then that might have made it more difficult to conceal Marsh’s issues.

All in all not one of my favourite books by this author but I will continue to read her work.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review

Unbridled by D. Jackson Leigh is a steamy contemporary romance with hints of erotica and a solid mystery. I enjoyed this book in spite of a few minor flaws to the story.

Lauren Everhart is an accomplished mystery writer who feels she is finally at the point where she has complete control of her life, both professionally and personally. Then she meets Marsh Langston, the owner of a horse ranch where her niece is taking riding lessons. Lauren has an almost instant and very strong sexual attraction to Marsh. She is also intrigued by the mystery surrounding Marsh’s former career in equestrian show jumping, and how that career ended so suddenly.

We see the story through the eyes of Lauren in first person POV. This works well in the story. The mystery in the tale is intriguing and well written. Actually, I think the “who-done-it” is one of my favorite parts of the novel.
I connected with Marsh quickly, especially as I learned more about her history. I had more trouble with Lauren. At the beginning of the novel she presents as a very controlling person and somewhat of a player with a new conquest at every book signing. Then she meets Marsh and suddenly we see her more as a submissive. Her attraction to Marsh also bordered on obsessive at first. Both things felt very inconsistent with the Lauren at the beginning of the book. I came to see that her family history and how she was raised had something to do with this. Perhaps if we had seen some examples of her childhood, it might have been easier to understand her actions. I normally dislike flashbacks, but one or two here might have helped the reader understand Lauren’s behavior better and more quickly.

Other than taking a while to understand and connect with Lauren, I really did enjoy this book. It has a great erotic romance, an interesting mystery, and a very satisfying ending. I’m glad I read this novel, and will be looking for more from this author.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

I feel like the blurb is extremely misleading on this one. I also wouldn't qualify this book as a romance, for me, it veers more towards erotica.

Told in first-person POV of Lauren, a very successful author with control issues this book never picks up its stride for me. It's stuck in a constant loop of want. Lauren wants Marsh, the handsome former equestrian jumping champion turned instructor. The secondary characters from Marsh's side tell us their "relationship" is special for her, but we don't really get to see a lot of Marsh outside of the sexual interactions. The secondary characters also explain, sorta, about her trust issues. So we have a main with control issues and one with trust issues, neither character is very likable and their relationship isn't one if you'd ask me. It's all based on lust. Somewhere around the 50% mark lots of secondary characters are introduced at once and I kept losing track of who is who. The break up with the slight mystery that is involved is just so utterly boring and predictable I just don't have any other words for it.

If you are looking for a lesbian "romance" with some kink, no character development, and an endless loop of one character telling you how much she lusts for the other, go read this. If this isn't something you are looking for, stay away from it. This book would have been a DNF if it weren't an ARC read for me, this is just not something I enjoy ready. I guess there is something in here for other people based on other reviews, so please check those.

This was my first time reading a book from this author,but it won't be the last. I loved learning about the different aspects of horseback riding and dressage. The relationships between the characters were really kind of out there and there was quite a bit of drama throughout this book. I thought the mystery surrounding Marsh, Maggie and Lauren was very well done and kept me guessing till the very end. The relationship between Marsh and Lauren was pretty hot, and steamy. The supporting characters helped push the story along and the info on horses was very interesting. I look forward to what's next from this author and would recommend this to my friends and family.

This is a somewhat kinky lesbian romance about two women with control and trust issues. It's entirely told from the perspective of only one of those women (Lauren, rather than Marsh), which perhaps contributed to my finding the emotional aspect of their relationship - as opposed to the sexual element, which was very clear - a little unconvincing. Secondary characters tell us several times that that this relationship is special for Marsh, but we don't see much from Marsh herself to show this specialness.

There book features a mystery sub-plot that is key to both the inevitable temporary break-up and their eventual happy reunion. I thought that the resolution of this mystery was rather too pat and easy, personally: it's hard to imagine it never got solved before this.

If escapist lesbian romance with some blindfolds and mild dominance games is your kind of thing, it should scratch the itch just fine, but it's competent rather than a classic.

I liked that this book was written in first person. I prefer first person POV from the two main characters over third person. This book was only first person from, one character and I would have liked to have known what the other character was thinking. I found the main character slightly annoying and the romance pacing just felt off. The book was pretty steamy and the mystery was interesting. But, the pacing, all the pacing felt just a little bit off. From the romance to the mystery. The pacing wasn’t so off that I lost interest in the book. I was intrigued and wanted to get to the bottom of everything I just think some parts could have been shaved in areas and added to other to make the story feel more cohesive. I’m a fan of this author but this wasn’t a favorite of mine.

A bit of a mystery and romance. Quite a page turner and very very hot. The main characters have amazing, hot chemistry. It was quite an easy read. I definitely recommend. A must read. 4.5 Stars


I received an ARC via NetGalley from the publisher Bold Strokes Books for my honest opinion. Thank You.

Hot read. You will never hear the words "posting a trot" the same again!! Set loosely in the Cherokee Falls world, but absolutely could be a stand-alone. A writer looking for inspiration - and a safe place to give up control. A horse rider/trainer looking to avoid entanglement at all cost - but secretly yearning for someone she can trust.