Disarming Elena

A True North Ranch Story

By: Tessa Leigh

Narrated by: Randy Boyum

He was her late husband’s best friend.

She was never supposed to get this close.

But the truth her late husband took to his grave, is about to blow everything wide open.

After surviving a brutal ambush and the betrayal of someone they trusted, Jack and Elena are finally building something real on the quiet Colorado ranch left behind. Chickens. Mornings that start with coffee instead of gunfire. Silence that feels like healing instead of danger.

But peace doesn’t last.

When Jack uncovers a map hidden in Declan’s old gear—with his own name scrawled in red—everything tilts. Secrets buried in the ashes of old missions begin to surface, and the quiet they’ve fought for slips away with every unanswered question.

Elena has scars of her own. She’s lived through lies, war, and the kind of marriage made of secrets that wound from the inside out. Jack was never part of the plan—but he’s become the one thing that feels safe. Familiar. Maybe even home.

As a ghost from the past resurfaces, bringing danger with it, Jack and Elena must confront what Declan knew, what he left behind—and what it could cost the only woman Jack’s ever let himself want.

Grief forged their bond. Now, trust will have to fight to keep it.

A suspenseful, heart-rooted slow burn romance about rebuilding after ruin, and the terrifying hope of being truly seen.

©2025 Tessa Leigh (P)2026 Tessa Leigh

Love After Loss—and the Secrets That Refuse to Sta

Disarming Elena by Tessa Leigh is a powerful blend of suspense, grief, and slow-burn romance that proves healing after loss is never simple—especially when the past refuses to stay buried. Set against the quiet backdrop of a Colorado ranch, this story balances heart-pounding danger with deeply emotional moments as two people try to rebuild their lives after everything they once trusted has been shattered.

Elena is still learning how to live in the shadow of her husband Declan’s death. The man she once loved left behind more than memories—he left questions, secrets, and scars she’s only beginning to understand. By her side through the aftermath is Jack, Declan’s best friend, who promised to watch over her. What began as loyalty slowly grows into something neither of them planned but both quietly depend on.

Together they try to create a new kind of life on the ranch Declan left behind. Simple routines replace the chaos of the past—morning coffee, caring for animals, and the peaceful silence that feels like healing after years of danger. For a while, it almost seems like they might finally find the calm they deserve.

But peace never lasts long for people with a past like theirs.

When Jack discovers a hidden map tucked away in Declan’s old gear—marked with his own name in red—it becomes clear that Declan’s final mission held secrets far more dangerous than anyone realized. As pieces of the truth begin to surface, old enemies and unanswered questions drag Jack and Elena back into a world they thought they’d escaped.

What makes this story so compelling is the emotional tension beneath the action. Jack isn’t just protecting Elena out of loyalty anymore—he’s protecting the one woman who has slowly become home to him. Elena, still grappling with the complicated truth about the man she married, must decide whether she can trust her heart again when everything she once believed turned out to be built on secrets.

Tessa Leigh does a wonderful job weaving suspense with emotional depth. The mystery surrounding Declan’s final mission keeps the tension high, while the quiet connection growing between Jack and Elena adds warmth and vulnerability to the story. Their relationship unfolds slowly, shaped by grief, trust, and the courage it takes to let someone truly see you.

Disarming Elena is a gripping and heartfelt romance about rebuilding life after devastation, uncovering the truth hidden in the past, and discovering that sometimes the person meant to save you has been standing beside you all along. For readers who love romantic suspense with strong characters, emotional healing, and just the right touch of danger, this story delivers a powerful and unforgettable journey.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Love and conflict

Elena is the center of a government conspiracy without even knowing it. Her dead husband left clues for her to follow and get her name cleared. I like the narration.

Finding answers

It is a great story of finding with her husband died and his friends who helped find those answers.

Forbidden romance

I went into this one intrigued by the premise—second chance at love, buried secrets, and a suspense element woven into a ranch setting—but unfortunately, it didn’t fully land for me.

While the story has all the right ingredients on paper, it ultimately wasn’t very memorable. Even shortly after finishing, I found that not much stuck with me in terms of standout moments or emotional impact. The romance and suspense were both present, but neither quite hit hard enough to leave a lasting impression.

This is marketed as a standalone, but I struggled with that aspect quite a bit. Throughout the book, I often felt like I was missing key context or emotional buildup, as if important pieces of the story had already happened elsewhere. Because of that, it was difficult to fully connect with the characters or their relationship.

That said, the writing itself was solid, and readers who are already familiar with the series will likely have a much better experience diving back into this world.

Overall, this one had a compelling setup but didn’t quite deliver the depth or staying power I was hoping for.

Romance

Disarming Elena by Tessa Leigh is a great small town/ rural western/ military romance. Randy Boyum did a great job with the narration. The story is entertaining, exciting, interesting, romantic, funny and more. Disarming Elena is the second book in A True North Ranch series.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.would recommend