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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Twisted, tender, and totally addictive. DEACON proves that even in the darkest places, love can still find a way.
Raya Morris Edwards delivers another dark, emotional, and wildly addictive ride with Deacon, blending high-stakes obsession with the kind of twisted tenderness that defines the Sovereign Mountain series.
Freya is a quietly resilient heroine, raised under the thumb of a cruel stepfather, just trying to survive. Deacon—older, relentless, and absolutely feral for her—doesn’t ask for permission. From the moment he sees her, she becomes his entire world, and nothing (and no one) will stand in his way.
This book leans hard into dark romance territory—think stalking, intense age gap, and dominant Daddy kink—but somehow still finds space for vulnerability and healing in the shadows. The dynamic between Freya and Deacon is intense, sometimes jarring, but emotionally charged in a way that makes their bond feel earned, not just hot.
The pacing of their connection worked well for this story—fast, fiery, and deliberately intense. From the moment their lives collide, the chemistry is explosive and raw, perfectly in line with Deacon’s obsessive devotion and Freya’s desperate longing for safety and affection. The emotional and physical escalation felt authentic to their characters and the world they inhabit.
The spice is bold, filthy, and unapologetic, yet there’s a surprising sweetness underneath all the dominance and kink.
Deacon is unflinching, offbeat, and full of sharp edges—but it’s also about reclaiming agency, building trust in unexpected ways, and finding light in a very dark world.
Final thoughts: Come for the obsessive cowboy and kinky heat; stay for the moments of softness and the promise of more tangled lives to unravel in Sovereign Mountain. After all, all roads lead to Sovereign Mountain.
Story: 4.5⭐
Spice: 4🌶️
Genre:
🖤Dark Ranch Romance
Tropes:
🖤Dark Cowboy
🖤BDSM
🖤Stalking
🖤Age Gap
🖤Rope Bondage
🖤Chastity Equipment
🖤Daddy Kink
🖤Touch Her & Die
🖤Dubcon
🖤Kidnapping
This story had a lot going on. From Freya's abuse all the way to Deacon's childhood trauma there was a lot of deep wounds between these two and I spent a lot of time just feeling so sad for the both of them. Deacon is a man obsessed though from the very moment he first spots Freya and there were a lot of beautiful little details that give this story a little whimsical feeling of fate.
It is definitely not charming though. It is rough and gritty and dark at times and wildly sexy at others. I really enjoyed how hard Deacon worked to take care of Freya and to help her overcome the abuse that she was accustomed to. My favorite part though was towards the end when vindication happened and I loved how Deacon and Freya's future was shared as well.
It is definitely not charming though. It is rough and gritty and dark at times and wildly sexy at others. I really enjoyed how hard Deacon worked to take care of Freya and to help her overcome the abuse that she was accustomed to. My favorite part though was towards the end when vindication happened and I loved how Deacon and Freya's future was shared as well.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
If you have read the other books in this series, getting to dive into Deacon’s story could not come fast enough.
Deacon Ryder is a very complicated man, so when he catches the fern green in his periphery, he cannot imagine not having the woman that ribbon is connected to. So what does he do? Like any true gentleman of course he manipulates his way into her life, and maybe some light kidnapping.
Freya Hatfield lives a life of quiet confinement. Her home is not a place that she fells like she can be herself. She lives with her head down and walks on egg shells constantly. She dreams of being free as the stars. So when a handsome rough looking cowboy comes around it’s hard for her to trust his intentions.
Deacon must prove to Freya he can keep her safe and like always “All roads lead to Sovereign Mountain.”
If you haven’t jumped into this the Sovereign Mountain Series yet. Place these at the top of your TBR. What’s not to love, Cowboys, BD$M, SPICE 🥵, and action.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
🖤 Deacon by @rayamorrisedwards ARC from @theauthor.agency 🖤 5⭐️ when I tell you this book made me FERAL 😭 omg it was soooooo good. Like perfect dark cowboy romance. Age gap, stalking, BDSM, like truly what more could you ask for?! Deacon saw Freya and knew she was meant to be his and he bided his time in the shadows until he could come for her. He was a man devoted and so down bad for this girl. Freya honestly broke my heart a little, just reading about what she’d been through with her family and step-dad. And her collection of bugs 🥹 Freya had the purest heart and when she finally opened herself up to love and trust with Deacon, it was all worth it 🩷 plus you know I loveeeee a good daddy 😛 every book in the Sovereign Mountain series is better and better, I’m so obsessed with these insane men and their ladies 😍 I’m so excited for Jensen’s book too 👀 Deacon is out today!!!! Thank you so much @rayamorrisedwards and @theauthor.agency for the chance to ARC 🖤🖤
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you so much for the arc opportunity @rayamorrisedwards and @theauthor.agency. Deacon was amazing!!!
You all know I love a morally grey cowboy and Deacon is literally everything!!! So dark, so tortured, back story which is really tragic but he just gives you all the feels. He is the epitome of touch her and die and slots in nicely with the other cowboys of Sovereign Mountain (iykyk).
Freya as a FMC was really lovely. She just really is a nice person, who I want to be friends with and collect insects for, even if they give me the ick.
The relationships in this book a written really well. Relationships are complicated and not black and white, and this has been portrayed really sensitively. There is clear insight surrounding why people might remain in relationships that are abusive because of other factors and complications - its not as simple as pack your things and go and this is explored well in this book without excusing.
If you haven’t read the other Sovereign books by @raya I highly recommend. You don’t need to for this book as it is a standalone but you might as well - they are all so good. It was nice to have some the characters from the previous books appear in Deacon and continue on the story.
Highly recommended - if you like your trigger warnings (and there is quite a few), love a book with BDSM spice and love a morally grey MMC who is complicated this is a belter.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
@TrishSparklerReads Bookstagram:
“Deacon” by Raya Morris Edwards
Series: The Sovereign Mountain series, Book 3
(interconnected series that can be read as a Standalone)
Genre: Dark Cowboy Romance
POV: Dual
Rating: 5⭐️
Spice: 5🌶️
Darkness: 4🩶
Highlights:
🖤Sweet, Strong and Innocent FMC
🖤Mountain Cowboy - Tattooed and Pierced
🖤Small Town
🖤Age Gap
🖤Unhinged and Stalker MMC
🖤BD$M
🖤Daddy K!Nk
Thoughts:
I absolutely adored this romance, it was so spicy it might set your mouth on fire. I loved Freya, she’s innocent and sweet, small and curvy, but hasn’t let the years of emotional abuse by her stepfamily drag her down. Deacon has such a dirty talking mouth and I for one am here for it. He was the perfect Mountain Man, a humongous, muscled and tattooed cowboy with a piercing 🍆. My favourite steamy scene was the scene in his forge- I now know some new uses for an anvil. I mean you have to love a man who loves giving or@l and is into some k!nk. Their intimacy even outside of bed was so sweet and romantic.
Raya’s writing is so eloquent and she has a way of expressing such feeling with her language. It was impossible not to feel so much while reading this story. You will cheer when her stepfamily get their comeuppance and sigh when she finally feels loved. Like a classic western there’s even a shootout at the end.
🛑Please read all the author warnings as themes and events depicted in this book could be triggering. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ARC REVIEW
Where can I find a man like Deacon? Willing to do anything to get me and show me exactly what it's like to be loved by him? His dedication to getting Freya is something to be admired. I would've folded faster than a lawn chair with half of the things he did.
This plot was amazing to me. Like yes, we are with Freya and Deacon while they fall in love with each other. But the way this story makes me feel like I'm there and actually connecting with the characters is amazing. I didn't think I would care for Bittern as much as I did but God, Raya, you deserve all of the best things in life for how you wrote this out. Bittern caught me so off guard but in the best way. I want a little novella about him just to see him get his wish 💕💕
Overall I couldn't get enough of this book and I'm already putting Jensen in my calendar for later.
*Thank you Raya Morris Edwards and The Author Agency for the opportunity to read this book early*
Where can I find a man like Deacon? Willing to do anything to get me and show me exactly what it's like to be loved by him? His dedication to getting Freya is something to be admired. I would've folded faster than a lawn chair with half of the things he did.
This plot was amazing to me. Like yes, we are with Freya and Deacon while they fall in love with each other. But the way this story makes me feel like I'm there and actually connecting with the characters is amazing. I didn't think I would care for Bittern as much as I did but God, Raya, you deserve all of the best things in life for how you wrote this out. Bittern caught me so off guard but in the best way. I want a little novella about him just to see him get his wish 💕💕
Overall I couldn't get enough of this book and I'm already putting Jensen in my calendar for later.
*Thank you Raya Morris Edwards and The Author Agency for the opportunity to read this book early*
4.5/5 ⭐️
5/5 🌶️
❥Age gap
❥K!nk
❥Dark cowboy romance
❥He falls first
❥Suspense
Deacon shows up a mysterious, broody MMC with a dark past. Freya is young but scarred from her life with her stepfather and stepbrothers. Deacon sees Freya at work and knows instantly she’s his and I love that he did whatever he wanted to make that happen. Freya was shy and timid but grew into herself as their story progressed. This was probably my favorite of this series so far! These two fit together so easily and needed each other in different ways. I loved Freya’s reaction to Deacon’s less than honest ways and the lengths he went to keep her. The other couples showing back up in this one was a fun touch and I can’t wait for more!
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Dual POV, Spicy, Dark Western Romance, Age Gap, Stalker MMC, Daddy & Breeding Kink, Tattooed & Pierced MMC, Small Town, Step Father's Rival, Care Taking
This book will have your heart aching from the emotional revelations and tender care taking while simultaneously leave you blushing from the deliciously written spice. Deacon Ryder see's Freya one afternoon and decides she will be his no matter the cost. Only he never anticipated her emotional scars from the abuse she's suffered at the hands of her step father Aiden, who is currently trying to encroach on Deacon's land. Expect a twisty plot, a quiet young woman slowly healing, an unhinged obsessed cowboy, and a sibling bond worth losing life over.
This book will have your heart aching from the emotional revelations and tender care taking while simultaneously leave you blushing from the deliciously written spice. Deacon Ryder see's Freya one afternoon and decides she will be his no matter the cost. Only he never anticipated her emotional scars from the abuse she's suffered at the hands of her step father Aiden, who is currently trying to encroach on Deacon's land. Expect a twisty plot, a quiet young woman slowly healing, an unhinged obsessed cowboy, and a sibling bond worth losing life over.