2.5 Stars
Took me too long to review. But here it is.

This book cannot be read as a standalone. It can be but you will certainly miss the connection with all the side characters involved heavily in this book. And I did the mistake of reading it as a standalone.

Reyes has a past that he keeps very close to his heart. This has always stopped him from putting his heart on the line. Miles is escaping from his abusive ex, and he moves away from his city to live/share a room in a ranch with Reyes.

This is a forced proximity romance, hurt comfort MM romance. This book has a heavy influence of Miles' ex and to be honest, I really didn't enjoy that. Reyes was a really sweet guy who completely respected Miles' hurt. He takes everything at Miles' pace, and I really liked him.

My only issue was that this book failed to completely capture me. Maybe it's the third person narrative, or too many side characters. And I know I won't be remembering this book after a week.

Miles Arlington broke up with his ex, Dallas, but Dallas still won’t leave him alone. The guy is stalking Miles and after Dallas drugged Miles and did who knows what to him, Miles doesn’t want to be anywhere near Dallas and the stress is really getting to him. When Miles’ best friend, Wes, offers him a job as the head chef at the new restaurant in the ghost town near Clean Slate Ranch, it seems like the perfect chance for Miles to make a clean break from his old life and leave Dallas behind. Miles is excited to start his new life, but also a little bit nervous as he will be sharing a cabin with Reyes Caldero, a man on whom he has been crushing hard since he visited the ranch last year. But Miles is not ready for a relationship so soon after the mess with Dallas, so he wants to keep his distance.

Reyes has it bad for Miles as well, but Reyes has secrets about his own past that have convinced him a relationship is not in the cards. No one as sweet as Miles would ever be interested in being with Reyes if he knew the truth about what happened years ago. So the two men decide to keep things as friends only and start to get to know one another better. But despite their determination to keep their distance, both men are still attracted to one another and slowly a real connection blooms between them. Soon they are basically platonic boyfriends, having found a strong emotional bond, and ultimately they take it to a sexual relationship as well. But while Miles may have gotten away from Dallas, that doesn’t mean the man has forgotten about him. And Reyes still has secrets that he knows he must share, yet he is sure it will spell the end of things with Miles. As much as two men have fallen for each other, their pasts may get in the way of having a future together.

Saddle Up is the third book in A.M. Arthur’s Clean Slate Ranch series. While the story could stand alone, Reyes and Miles have been side characters in past books (a prominent one in Reyes’ case), so being familiar with the series plot and some of the other characters will definitely enrich your reading here.

I have been intrigued by the quiet Reyes since the start of the series and was eager to see him find his match with Miles. As I said, neither man is ready for a relationship, but it pretty much finds them regardless. It isn’t long before they are sharing meals and intimate moments and are basically boyfriends in all but name. I liked how these two guys fit together. Reyes is a big, strong cowboy and his instinct is to protect Miles, but I like that he listens when Miles wants to stand up for himself and doesn’t push. He helps give Miles the strength and confidence to work through the conflict and stand on his own two feet, which I really appreciated.

From a story perspective, things are set up here pretty much from the start: Dallas is threatening Miles, and Reyes has secrets that will inevitably come out. So there isn’t really anything surprising that goes on here and we are mostly watching those two things unfolding. I’ll admit I was surprised at the severity of what happened with Reyes. I was kind of expecting it to be more in his head and his own self doubts than a really serious transgression, but that is not the case. I am happy that things worked out, but I would have liked to see this perhaps addressed a little more between them. What I really enjoyed here is seeing life at the ghost town now that it has officially opened. We have been getting teasers about it for the first two books, but here we see things in full swing, particularly the restaurant where Miles works. So I think that is a fun element that has been nicely incorporated into the story. I also really like the sense of family among all these men and the way they have created such strong bonds of friendship and brotherhood.

So this was a nice installment in the Clean Slate Ranch series. I am not sure if there is more to come or not, but I definitely will keep my eyes open for more as I enjoy this one quite a lot.

I can't review Saddle Up, as I need to go back and read the whole series. I know I will like it, but I haven't had a chance to buy the other books yet.

I was so excited about Reyes' book and AM Arthur did not disappoint! Reyes and Miles had a deep intense connection and their love was just meant to be. I devoured this story and loved every bit of it!

This book moved so slow and it drove me nuts. I did not have the opportunity to read the first book and there were holes in this story that I could not connect. I know that I have read other LBGTQIA books where there is a scary ex-boyfriend and I felt like this was exactly the same. I was so bored.

This author is hit or miss for me and unfortunately this entire series has been more miss than hit. I did like this one more than the first two. Great covers though.


**ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

4.5 Stars

Saddle Up is the third installment in A.M. Arthur’s Clean Slate Ranch series. It’s Reyes Caldero’s turn to take the spotlight, and I must say of all three stories, I think I liked this one the best. There was something more intense about this novel that was lacking in the other two, and I think it came down to two components—one, the slow developing love story between Miles (Wes’ best friend) and Reyes, and the threat of imminent danger that Will had to grapple with on a daily basis.

Before I go any further with my review, please note that I would not label this a standalone and suggest you read this series in order before you pick up this third book. There is a lot of history between these characters that I feel you need to know before diving in to this book. Also, some of the discussion about what happened to Wes might be triggering for those who have been victims of abuse. While the acts are never described on the page, it haunts Will throughout the entire book, so please know it is a fairly big plot point. Now, let’s discuss why I thought this was the best of the lot thus far.

Miles has been a shadowy figure in this storyline since the first book. A rather timid and quiet best friend to the more flamboyant Wes, almost every novel has had some allusion as to a past that Miles was running from that had left him scared and damaged in some way. What we do know is that he has an ex named Dallas who has stalked him in the past and who still comes around every so often, trying to get back in Will’s good graces. We also had an inkling from past stories that Will fears Dallas, and Wes knows this as well. Of course, whatever Wes knows, so does his boyfriend and his two buddies at the Clean Slate Ranch, and that is how Reyes initially comes into Will’s life.

Reyes Caldero is just about as mysterious as Will’s past relationship. Both these men have secrets and Reyes has wrapped up his painful and violent memories so tightly even his best friend, Mack, doesn’t know everything about him. Suffice it to say that what Reyes keeps hidden has convinced him that he doesn’t deserve to be loved, and surely will not be if anyone discovers just what he has buried in his past. When Wes convinces Will to take on the role of head chef for the Bentley Ghost Town project Mack is running, Reyes and Will find out they will be bunking together on the ranch. Given that Will cannot bring himself to trust any man near him, and even sleeps behind a locked door in the old apartment he shared with Wes, it’s problematic that things are going to be rather tense given the new living arrangements.

However, Reyes is determined to give Will his space despite the very real knowledge that he is slowly falling for the guy. For his part, Will does begin to relax around his new roommate, and the two gradually begin to share some of their past with each other. As they share more about themselves, the walls that Will has erected to keep himself from shattering slowly come down, and Reyes is there to help hold the man he is falling in love with together. But Dallas is not done with Will yet, and despite going completely off the grid, Will is found by his manipulative, dangerous ex. Now the dark, destructive secrets that Will and Reyes both hold must be exposed if they are truly to discover if their love for each other is strong enough to survive.

This novel was a bit of a nail-biter, I must say. Every chapter, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. Would Dallas show up and find poor Will—hurt him, kidnap him, or worse? What was it that Reyes couldn’t tell Will? What was so horrific that he had never even confided it to Mack, who has known him since they were teens? And good golly, could the sexual tension and unrequited love get any more intense between these two guys? All these mysteries coupled with some hefty sexual tension, swirled around Will and Reyes as the solidly written story about the grand opening of the ghost town Mack had sunk his life savings into finally got off the ground.

I was well and truly captivated by this novel. It was a solid plot that never let up. From moment to moment I worried about Dallas finding Will, and what might happen. My heart just wept for Reyes, the gentle heart wrapped up in moments of explosive anger when anything befell the man he loved, and Reyes felt he had failed in keeping Will safe. Reyes, who carried the weight of not one but two deaths on his shoulders—deaths he felt directly responsible for and which haunted his every waking moment. Reyes and Will were both tortured souls for very different reasons, and author A.M. Arthur holds the key to the mystery surrounding Reyes tight until nearly the very end of the novel, and I have to say, it is a doozy.

Saddle Up is a roller coaster ride of emotions to the very end. A smattering of romance, a dose of psychological thriller, and two heavily wounded main characters who just wanted to love and be loved in return made this a story that knocked the wind out of me more than once. With this third novel, I think author A.M. Arthur produced a real winner and the best book by far.

Reviewed by Sammy

Saddle Up is a contemporary romance by A.M. Arthur This is the first book I have read from the author, and it is a stand alone. However, there is a good amount of secondary characters with depth and relationships that I feel like have, or should have, their own stories. I fully expect there are previously published books with these characters that are just waiting for me to read them.

Reyes Caldero keeps his past buried deep and his emotions buried deeper. But what he doesn’t say he always makes up for with his actions. When the hot chef he once saved from an abusive ex turns up at Clean Slate Ranch, the quiet cowboy is happy to act on their sizzling chemistry, even if he’s not ready to share his secrets—or his heart. Miles Arlington needs to get the hell out of San Francisco, and heading north for a job near Clean Slate Ranch seems like just the thing. It doesn’t hurt that his secret crush slash onetime rescuer happens to work at the ranch. Miles has never been one for the outdoors, but the superhot Reyes has him ready to saddle up. Reyes is happy to keep things casual, even though his heart has other ideas. And when Miles is forced to confront his past again, Reyes and Miles will have to put all their trust in each other if they want any chance at building a future together.

Saddle Up is a romance that tackles issues of abuse, stalking, and horrible mistakes from the past. I though Miles and his struggles to escape a bad situation is very well written, and the details about his emotional struggles and how he changes and grows during the process felt right. Reyes has his own demons to fight, and I found his handling of it to be realistic and understandable, even when he might not have made the right choice. I loved the pair together, with Reyes so aware and caring towards Miles- andhid worries about his nature and past. I thought all of the characters, both our main players and the secondary characters, were extremely well fleshed out and they all felt very real to me. The danger and drama, not to mention the family issues, added a good amount of crisis to push things along without being too much or crossing the line into melodramatic. The only thing that did not feel real to me is something that I find in so many books of all genres- why is every so beautiful? I need to find some of these towns and ranches, even though I am happily taken I would love a chance to sit around and watch all these stunning people for a weekend.

Saddle Up is a great romance with characters facing huge personal battles, and working their way toward happiness and love. I found Reyes and Miles to be a delightful couple, and I cannot wait to explore other books from the author.

A.M. Arthur is sort of hit or miss for me... this one was not bad, although while reading it I felt like I'd read this story before. I can't get that feeling out of my system and it makes me wonder if I've read a similar book. Alas, I don't remember!

I've not read the first two books of this series and honestly, they aren't needed, but I think I would have appreciated this one more. Miles and Reyes have mutual friends and I think having that background would have made this more fulfilling for me. But like I said, reading the others is not necessary. Saddle Up does a good job of filling in any blanks where needed, without rehashing entire story lines, which was much appreciated.

I liked the slow roll in this book a lot. It was a touching story, filled with a lot of hurt/comfort feels. Both Miles and Reyes are fighting their own demons and their friendship created a really good foundation for helping each other, and in building trust. That careful trust building leads to a really good relationship later. The struggles Miles has with his ex are front and center, so warnings should go out for some discussions of abuse and there is some violence. Nothing overt, but with both Miles and Reyes, they have a lot to talk about and bring out in the open.

At times it felt like the story was dragging on a bit too long, but then it would pick up again and move forward. So while I wanted it to move faster, in the end it was good that it didn't. And now I kind of want to go and read those first two books of the series.

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This has been sitting on my Kindle for a while. Honestly, after the last book I was a little nervous about reading it. This has not been my favorite series by this author…and I’ve been surprised by that because I’m a big fan of hers. But with Greg Boudreaux performing, I decided to listen to the story and I’m glad I did. This book felt more like a typical A.M. Arthur story and I’m glad for it.

I like the friends-to-lovers angle taken with these two because neither of them needed to rush into anything. Their romance was more believable with the slow build. The story was a bit predictable but it didn’t detract from the story.

There is quite a bit of angst with Miles’ ex continuing to stalk and pursue him. Reyes’ past was shocking but thankfully these guys get their HEA.

Mack and Wes as well as Colt and Avery continue to be big players in this book. We get some hints about a posible future character which I would stick around for if we get another book in the series.

As always, Mr. Boudreaux’s performance was perfection.

Reyes makes a bad decision at sixteen years old and it still torments him. Others also have a hard time forgiving him as well, which saddens me because we all make terrible mistakes at 16 and for people to hold them over our heads as adults is sad. Unfortunately it still happens all the time.

Miles is haunted from his past. Which makes Reyes and him have something in common just their pasts are different. But together they can help each other out. I liked Reyes and Miles together and I've been rooting for these two since the beginning of this series. So I was stoked to finally get to read their story.

It was sweet, a bit predictable but still sweet.

3 Stars!

A sweet story full of heartbreak healing and romance.
My heart absolutely broke for Miles and all that he had been through. He is such a sweet gentle soul and I couldn't help but hope for him get the HEA he deserved.
Reyes had me swooning hard with his patience and persistence.
I enjoyed Miles and Reyes story and hope to get more from this incredible group of characters.

Good written and well developed story. The MC’s both had deep scars from their pasts either nearby or longer ago. Throughout this story we will get to know how deeply sad it all is.
It’s a slow burn story. The marvelous cast from earlier parts of this series makes it one large event with a lot of side stories.

The writing was captivating, the environments like a movie. The personalities all widely developed. A great addition to this series.

Kindly received an arc from the publisher

I have to preface saying that I have never read any of the other books in the series. When I first downloaded the book I didn't even know there were others in the series. A.M. Arthur gave me enough information that I feel like I didn't need to know any of the first two books. I love that I didn't have to read them to fall in love with the characters. Because that is what I did. I ended up loving every character and by the end, I knew I had to read the other ones in the series soon. This is a sign of a great author and one that I am not going to forget.

I have enjoyed the two other books in Arthur's Clean Slate Ranch series so I wasn't surprised when I enjoyed this one too. Of all the characters in the series, Miles and Reyes are my favorite. Their dynamics were different than the others but it worked well and fit their stories almost perfectly. The slow-burn, sizzling chemistry between Miles and Reyes was so realistic too. Another solid book from A.M. Arthur.

To be fair I haven't read the first two books in this series and maybe would have enjoyed it more if I had. I was a little bit lost in parts as to the backstory especially the parts mentioning Geoff. This book started a bit slow but the second half definitely picked up the pace. I liked both characters although I liked Reyes more than Miles. It seemed that everything revolved around Miles even Reyes big secret seemed to be all about Miles and I really didn't like how he reacted given how patient and understanding Reyes has been to him throughout their relationship. It seemed like drama for the sake of drama. I also felt like the author dropped so many hints that there were no surprises. Everything seemed to be foreshadowed so much that it lost the suspense/surprise for me. This book was also just a bit too sweet for me and some of the dialogue was just OTT cheesy and had me rolling my eyes a bit. So overall, this one was just okay for me and didn't make me want to go back and read the previous two books.

Saddle Up is a sweetheart of a romance with lots of thrilling suspense and sizzling chemistry. Reyes and Miles are both strong, compelling characters that readers easily connect to and fall in love with. The romance between these two is full of heat and an electrical attraction but these two fight their attraction due to unresolved past issues which keeps this romance on an emotional rollercoaster of ups and downs. There are a couple of sensitive subjects brought up in the story but they are not brought up in elaborate detail. The story is also about new beginnings and overcoming seemingly insurmountable issues which is really inspirational as these two try to reach for the their happily ever afters which tugs at the heartstrings and has the readers cheering this couple onward.

Suspense and danger adds thrilling adrenaline pumping excitement to this story as the past comes back to torment each of these characters. Miles’ stalker ex-boyfriend and an emotionally torturous event from Reyes past which adds to the emotional turbulence and adds intense friction not only between Miles and Reyes but between family and friends as well. The ranch and ghost town setting really adds to the ambiance of this romance as well adding excitement to the story since that means there are quite a few hunky cowboys in the story and the getting a new ghost town venture off the ground is a fascinating subject on its own, but with these characters, also adds a bit of fun. So while the story is mostly a heartfelt and sweet read, it has uplifting moments and chuckle worthy moments which gives readers an enjoyable read.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series, and I would highly recommend that you read them in order – you do need the background to the Ranch, the Ghost Town, and the men themselves to really appreciate this story. I am assuming you have in my review.

Miles, we know has been badly abused by his ex, and is still nervous of what he could do in the future. However, he is internally a strong man, and it is lovely to watch that reveal itself as his confidence returns. I loved hearing about his culinary adventures in the saloon kitchen, but don't see myself trying vinegar pie anytime soon!

Reyes has been the loyal, upstanding, and very single character all along, and we already know that he finds Miles attractive, but little do we understand what a dark past Reyes is trying to make up for... I thought the buildup was clever, and the little thoughts that he expresses, living in denial for as long as he can.

As well as getting to see these two men come to terms with their pasts, and want each other in their futures, we also have a lot going on with other couples at the ranch, and the culmination of lots of Mack and Wes's work at getting the ghost town attraction open. Sadly, Arthur is not well, and that did bring other family issues to the fore.

I am fascinated to see where this series will go next, and am looking forward to seeing these two as they enjoy a clean slate.


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
Saddle Up is the third installment in the Clean Slate Ranch series.

Miles Arlington needs a fresh start. He has an obsessive ex that won't leave him alone. He's been through some traumatic events with Dallas and he just needs to get away and breath. When Wes, his best friend, offers him the head chef position at the ghost town, he knew he couldn't pass it up. It was the new start he needed, even if that meant rooming with the sexy, quiet cowboy that he'd been crushing on.

Reyes Caldero kept to himself for the most part. He had demons in his past that he's been fighting for years. He never felt he was worthy of being happy, not with the things that he's done. When Mack moves in with his boyfriend Wes and asks if Miles, Wes's best friend, can take his spot in the room, how can he say no? Even when Reyes knows it's a bad idea, he can't help but want to be around Miles.

When both of their pasts come crashing into their present can they handle what it means for their future?

I loved Miles and Reyes. Reyes was so gentle and aware for Miles. I loved seeing Miles gain his confidence. The amount of trust they needed to give to each other to give their relationship an honest try was hard but they made it worth it. I can't wait to see what's next in this series!


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
You really need to read the previous books in the series so you have all the back story. I instantly loved Miles and Reyes. These two had so much baggage but they started slow, and slowly worked through the baggage and their feelings for each other. I enjoyed seeing the opening of the Ghost Town and restaurant. We also caught up with characters in previous books, which was nice. My favorite parts of the book were the trail rides and camping trips. I think Miles and Reyes are perfect for each other and I hope to see more of them in future books.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is my favourite book in the series yet. Reyes has been an intriguing mystery since the first book and in his own story he’s wonderful. Miles has his own secrets and when both men stop running from their pasts the future they build together is pretty perfect.

I actually struggled to remember Miles from the first book. He starts this story quietly. He’s a little bit mousy and much quieter than most of the characters on the ranch. And then he comes alive. I loved the way Miles grows into himself in this story almost as much as I loved his relationship with Reyes.

Reyes has secrets so dark that he is sure no one will ever be able to forgive him or to love him. Readers don’t know his secrets until he finally shares them with Miles – but we watch Reyes’ constant emotional struggle. It is Miles who finally breaks through Reyes’ barriers and I loved the way the gentle, careful relationship between these two men catches fire and becomes something passionate and beautiful.

There are dark threads running through this book. Miles struggles to come to terms with an abusive past relationship and parts of Reyes’ past make for difficult reading. The men’s issues are complex but are dealt with sensitively. But this isn’t a dark or angsty book. This is the book where Mack’s ghost town finally comes to life and opens to the public. The sense of family and community on the ranch feels solid and comforting and the ranch feels like a proper home – even for the newest residents.

This is definitely my favourite in the Clean Slate Ranch series, after being a bit disappointed in book 2, I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was great. Miles, who played a small role in book 1 is offered a job as chef at the ranches new ghost town attraction. He has to room with cowboy Reyes who has definite feelings for Miles. Both have secrets and traumas they will need to deal with if anything is going to happen in the romance category. Arthur deals with some heavy subject matter, not least date rape and emotional abuse, but she deals with them well. I was definitely emotionally connected to both these characters throughout the story. The slow blossoming romance between Miles and Reyes only made me feel good feels, and hope for a happily ever after. It was nice to revisit the other characters at Clean Slate Ranch also, and see Bentley Ghost Town take off.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin - Carina Press for a copy in return for an honest review.

This is a slow, deliberate romance, with Reyes and Miles on go-slow for various reasons. I like the way Arthur didn't rush the romance or the leap into bed, despite the strong mutual physical attraction between the two.

Arthur's books always have a dark, sad edge, (sometimes right through to the middle, to be honest), and the stalking, abusive sub plot here is handled delicately and carefully. Reyes is clearly holding himself back on many occasions, and it's great to see his self-restraint.


This lovely pair shift towards each other organically, and in the meantime, we spend time with the other couples on the peripheral. One of the other significant but secondary characters faces a trauma, and this family continue to take the hits, as well as celebrate their triumphs.


There have been new characters introduced, so it's nice to think there maybe more. An off-shoot perhaps? She does those so well.


Thanks Netgalley and Carina Press for advanced copy. Saddle Up comes out on the 17th.