This is a Dark Age Gap Dom/Sub Cowboy Romance, and this is the first book in The Sovereign Mountain series. I really got pulled into this story, and I loved getting into the characters in this book. I listened to the audiobook of this book, and I really liked the narrators. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC. We get dual POV from Kiera and Gerard. The narrators did great for this book. I’m not a fan of Kiera’s voice but absolutely loved Gerard’s voice. It’s so low and dark, absolutely great voice for the character. The storytelling was so good and I love the small town vibes. Right when I started listening, this I got so many good feelings about this story knowing it’s gonna be deep with the characters with some hard things also. Right away the chemistry between Kiera and Gerard is so steamy and intense. I hate who Kiera is “married” to. Clint is a nobody and bullies and doesn’t care for Kiera and never shows Kiera any type of affection just bosses her around like she’s his “property”. For me it was really deep with the family drama and suspense going on through this whole book and with the deep connection we get between Gerard and Kiera. Through the hardships of these two characters I really loved it when he calls her Redbird for a cute nickname but that is because she is strong with everything she endures. This is an age gap, dark cowboy romance with lots of detailed spice. Not for people of the faint of heart because there is domestic abuse in the relationship and emotional abuse as well, along with gun violence. Check the trigger warnings for this before you read.

This book was up and down for me. While I loved the spicy scenes I did not care about the story line/plot. The BDSM felt unreal to me and not portrayed well. This book for sure has the insta love trope which isn’t my favorite. But if you like insta love, age gape, sexy cowboy rancher, BDSM, touch her and you die books then this one is for you!

Well well well just when I thought I knew what I was getting into! Save a horse, ride a cowboy or whatever that song says. Sovereign got big daddy energy, but set in Montana. Sometimes I couldn't stand "Redbird", but I guess that is how the submissive gets portrayed. The narration was "ok", I really didn't care for the male voice in the book, but it was entertaining enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. 3.5 stars rounded up

The male main character Gerard is 38 years old and the female main character. Kierra is 21 years old. He takes her as his submissive in reward to her, wanting back her family’s farm. Not knowing that this man unalive her husband just to keep him it was an insanely amazing book. I was on my toes the entire time it was super entertaining spicy cannot wait for more books in the series. I want to read every book by this author! It truly ripped from Yellowstone, Christian Gray But extremely muscle and hard from working on a Montana farm

I am having a hard time rating this book. There are great parts and there are not so great parts. If I had a quarter for every time I rolled my eyes while reading this I would have at least a dollar if not more. This book is promoted as a dual POV, age gap, dark, high-heat cowboy romance with an anti-hero MMC and while this is true I feel like there was maybe one trope too many. I am not sure why, but the BDSM didn't feel all that genuine to me and the fact that she just signs the contract after meeting this guy less than a handful of times had me in a state of disbelief. The steam was definitely hot and Sovereign knows how to take care of a woman that's for sure but I'm on the fence here. I know this girl is 21 but she acts younger at times which I guess is the point since she was married so young and her husband to controlled her every action. Sovereign is 38 so the age gap is pretty big and that doesn't normally bother me but because she seemed so young, the age gap bordered on icky for me. I would probably rate this a 3.5 but I'll stick with 3 because there were definitely parts that don't deserve a 4 star. I will likely read the next in the series when available.

I listened to this via audiobook and followed along with the print copy but the narrators for this one Stefanie Kay; Oliver Clarke did a good job of portraying the characters accurately in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Sovereign by Raya Morris Edwards was a pleasantly spicy cowboy romance. It is supposed to be dark romance but it really didn't feel that dark to me. Maybe I've just read some really dark romance before but the vibes just weren't there for me. There were some really unrealistic parts of this book. My favorite example would be this quote. "She's not on birth control and I can smell she's ovulating." Um, no you can not. Just no. I would have liked a more complex plot with some good twists as well. But the saving grace for you book was the great spice. I really enjoyed the dominant and submissive relationship between Gerard and Keira. It was intense and intimate. And I really liked their deep trust. Then narrators she's a wonderful job bringing this book to life and giving new depth to the characters.

Thank you to the publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Sovereign is the first book of the Sovereign Mountain Series of interconnected standalones. This book was intense in every way and I couldn’t put it down. It kind of reminded me of Yellowstone but mix Rip and Christian Grey and you have Sovereign! He is definitely all alpha and needs complete control. Despite Kiera being his enemies wife he wants her. And when he finds out she is afraid of her husband he will do anything necessary to make her his. Kiera was manipulated into signing her family land to her husband before she realized he never loved her. She is strong and her character growth was amazing to read about. She became even stronger with Sovereign by her side. Again, this was an intense story and if you don’t like a lot of spice then you will want to skip this one.

I was able to listen to the audio while following along with the book. Stefanie Kay and Oliver Clarke really did an amazing job portraying these characters and bringing them to life. Highly recommend the audiobook!