Elliott Rose’s cowboy romance Chasing the Wild (2024) is the first novel in the Crimson Ridge series. Originally self-published, the novel became an international and USA Today bestseller after gaining viral popularity on TikTok before being acquired for traditional publication by Kensington Books. A New Zealand-based author, Rose wrote an extensive backlist of independently published paranormal and dark romance novels before her successful transition into the contemporary cowboy romance subgenre.

The story follows Layla Birch, a 25-year-old vet apprentice who gets stranded during a blizzard at Devil’s Peak Ranch, the remote Montana home of a reclusive cowboy, Colton “Colt” Wilder. Their situation is complicated by the fact that Colt is nearly twice her age and the father of her unreliable ex-boyfriend. Forced into isolation by the storm, Layla and Colt must confront their intense, unspoken attraction and the traumatic histories that have left them both emotionally guarded. The novel engages with popular romance tropes, including age-gap romance, forced proximity, and the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, while exploring themes such as Forbidden Desire Spurring Emotional Truth, Finding Peace in the Wilderness, and Breaking Cycles of Inherited Guilt & Regret.

This guide is based on the 2025 Kensington trade paperback edition.

Content Warning: The source text and guide feature depictions of cursing, sexual content, illness or death, death by suicide, addiction, physical and emotional abuse, animal cruelty and/or death, mental illness, and sexual violence and/or harassment.

Plot Summary

Layla Birch, a 25-year-old veterinary student, is on her way to a new job placement when she detours to Crimson Ridge, Montana. She intends to drop off the belongings of her unreliable ex-boyfriend, Kayce Wilder. When Layla arrives at the remote Devil’s Peak Ranch, she meets Kayce’s father, Colton “Colt” Wilder. Colt is 42-year-old rugged, handsome cowboy, and Layla is immediately attracted to him. However, Colt is cold and dismissive. Layla leaves Kayce’s things and departs, convinced she will never see either of the Wilder men again.

Five months later, in early January, Layla’s life is upended when she learns that Kayce has fraudulently taken out a loan in her name. Layla is particularly frustrated because she is already facing financial precarity and is about to start a new job (which will allow her to fulfil the work placement requirements for her veterinary program). She is particularly committed to completing her studies and beginning her career because she supports both herself and her beloved aunt, who raised her and now lives in a care home. Layla drives back to Devil’s Peak Ranch, where Colt is extremely rude to her. Upon learning that Kayce is not at the ranch, Layla departs, but her car breaks down on the isolated mountain road. She has no choice but to walk back to the ranch for help.

Colt explains that the snow will shut the roads for days, leaving Layla trapped at the ranch. Surprised by her extreme stress and agitation, he gives her the money to pay off the fraudulent loan and offers her a position at the ranch. By working at the ranch for the next eight weeks, Layla will be able to complete her work placement hours and remain on track in her program. Layla accepts the job, but both quickly begin to struggle with their mutual attraction. Colt feels especially guilty for lusting after Layla due to the age gap between them, and because Layla previously dated his son. Colt and Kayce have a complex relationship that they are only beginning to rebuild (Colt was a teenage father and largely absent during his son’s childhood). Colt loves his ranch but is haunted by memories of his abusive grandfather and is involved in an ongoing conflict with the Pierson brothers (two local men who regularly antagonize him). 

Weeks pass and the simmering tension between Layla and Colt leads to conflict and confrontations. He often displays protective behavior towards her while agonizing over his desire for her. Eventually, they begin a sexual relationship, believing it will remain brief and secret (due to the roads being snowed in, they are completely isolated on the ranch). However, their sexual intimacy accelerates their emotional bond, and they both come to dread their impending separation. Enjoying their time together, Colt and Layla learn about one another’s childhoods and dreams. However, Colt continues to believe that he is not a suitable match for Layla and he does not want to jeopardize his relationship with his son by revealing the truth. 

Their time together ends abruptly when Kayce returns to the ranch unexpectedly, accompanied by his pregnant girlfriend, Chyannah. 

Colt and Layla are forced to act like strangers, and the strain is agonizing for both. Chyannah, sensing the connection between them, grows hostile. One night in the kitchen, Chy confronts Layla, revealing that she saw her with Colt in the barn. She threatens to expose their affair, spin it as Colt preying on his son’s girlfriend, and ruin Colt’s reputation and business unless Layla leaves the ranch by morning. Heartbroken but desperate to protect the man she loves, Layla agrees. Colt intercepts her just before she leaves but, understanding her sacrifice, he doesn’t ask her to stay.

Five months pass. Layla is thriving professionally, but she is emotionally shattered and misses Colt every day. Just before her graduation, she runs into Kayce by chance. He reveals that Chy’s baby was not his. Chy and her cousins, the Pierson brothers, had conspired to defraud the Wilder family of the ranch, continuing a long-standing feud that began when Colt’s grandfather sexually assaulted a woman from the Pierson family. Although Colt has repeatedly offered to give the Piersons a share of the ranch based on their status as descendants of his grandfather, they insist on trying to claim it entirely. Moreover, Kayce reveals that he knows the truth about her relationship with Colt: He tells Layla that Colt has been miserable since she left and gives them his blessing, urging her to contact his father. 

At her graduation ceremony, Layla is stunned to see Colt. He explains that, with encouragement and help from Kayce, he deduced her location from social media posts and drove all night to be with her. They reunite and pledge their love for one another, no longer needing to fear Kayce’s disapproval. The following day, Colt and Layla drive back to Devil’s Peak Ranch together, preparing to start a happy new life. An epilogue shows them years later, happily together while traveling in Malta, solidifying their lasting love and shared future.