Black cowboys? Yes please! Rebekah Weatherspoon is the master of her craft. A well-paced, well-plotted romance where the characters build their relationship, before deciding to be together. A heroine who is smart, confident, and competent. Oh and witty banter, plus secondary relationships that feel real. Wonderful!

The conflict in the third act feels realistic and draws the characters together, and does NOT fall into the forced-breakup trope, thankfully.

All in all, the characters don’t grow or change that much throughout the story, with the exception of trust growing as they get to know each other. And that’s fine: not every story needs drastic change. This was a lovely, straightforward story by an expert author that was a joy to read.

This book was, simply, fantastic. I finished it in a day.

The first book had, as first books in a series with a lot of characters and history do, a lot of lifting to introduce the cast and set the scene. While I liked it, I did find it a bit slow at times. This book benefits from that heavy lift and takes off like a rocket. Sam and Amanda make a wonderful couple. Their banter is fun and their chemistry is off the charts from the very beginning. As with the first book, the secondary cast of family members and friends on the ranch makes for a setting and a group anyone would want to be included in.

My one quibble, and it's tiny, is in the villain. Dru is often described by Amanda as having good qualities, but I never saw any of them. On the page, she comes across as vain, spoiled, and bone-deep mean. I don't mind a villain who's out-and-out awful and I don't mind one with a more balanced personality, but to describe one and present another makes for some mental conflict.

Bring on giant, silent Jesse's book!

I was given a free Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.

‪If the Boot Fits is a Black romance with a plus size heroine who’s a struggling writer/assistant by day who meets and somewhat reluctantly starts dating a famous actor in the white hot media spotlight after winning an Oscar. The romance is both steamy and sweet if slightly rushed towards the end. These two have a great, multifaceted connection. They like a lot of the same things culturally and even have similar values and compatible temperaments, so the main conflict is really around their differences in status. Sam is at the height of his acting career while Amanda is really struggling and vulnerable. She also faces hostility because of her size. The author does a great job of acknowledging the social hierarchies Amanda has to deal with without ever humiliating her heroine. This novel does many things well including providing a model example of a creative way to do the dark moment or third act conflict without the obligatory breakup and also in how to handle a bigger heroine in a way that is both realistic and respectful. .‬

Let me just start off by saying how much I adore Rebekah's books because of how realistic all the topics are that we're dealing with. <i>If the Boot fits</i> opens up with Amanda waking up to Sam, a newly Oscar winner, after a steamy night together. She accidentally sneaks out with Sam's bag holding the Oscar trophy in it when she actually intended on grabbing her stuff; this sort of plays into the modern Cinderella trope which I thought was really funny. Who the fuck just accidentally leaves with a high profile actor's Oscar? 😭

This book takes place in LA as well as the Pleasant's family ranch in Southern California. I just love how Rebekah goes into a lot of details with the ranch, the horses and the establishment itself. I'm from a big city so the yeehaw life is new to me so it's refreshing to read more about this setting. The Pleasant family is biiiiig; I honestly love each and every single individual and they all seem so fun to be around (well, maybe except for grumpy Jesse). Reading some snippets here and there about Evie and Zach made my heart really happy.

Amanda and Sam's slow burn romance is just top notch. The way Sam was handling the situation in such a respectable way made me really happy. This is how you deal with boundaries the other person has set! Besides, I was really anxious during some parts but I'm glad good communication was involved. Can I just say how much I love Amanda? She's so confident, caring and overall an amazing person I'd absolutely love to hang out with. Dru really does NOT deserve her as an assistant, she's been so horrible to her but Amanda always handled her shitty personality with grace. A QUEEN.

I flew through this story, it was a pleasure to read about these two! GIVE ME THE BOOK ABOUT JESSE ALREADY. I CAN'T WAIT.

Working as the personal assistant to one of Hollywood’s cruelest divas has left Amanda Queen more determined than ever to sell her screenplay and gain her independence. In the meantime, she’ll settle for a temporary escape. When her employer is felled by the flu on Hollywood’s biggest night of the year, Amanda gets her glam on, struts out the door, and parties with the glitterati. But she never expects to come face to face—and closer than close—with one of the hottest stars in the game . . .

Following up his first Oscar win with a steamy after-hours romp with an enigmatic woman seems like the perfect way for actor Sam Pleasant to celebrate—until she suddenly disappears. Worse, she’s vanished with the wrong swag bag: the one containing his Oscar statue, leaving Sam even more intrigued about the beauty’s identity—and wondering if a repeat performance of their amazing night is in the stars. And when a second chance encounter happens, only a trip to Sam’s family ranch—and revealing the whole, not-always-glamorous, truth about themselves—will give them a chance to turn one magical night into forever- Goodreads

Let me just start off by saying this book worked way better than the first one. The romance was much more realistic and there was a growth in it. Yes, there was a insta maybe this is love but I don't know but it did not stay that way.

Sam had to work for Amanda to trust him and he listened to her, valued her and not just her work or bedroom work. I respected him more because he knew what he wanted in his life and Amanda was it. He was a genuine guy, with a career but was grounded enough to know the importance of family and love.

Amanda... now I understand her reasons for being reluctant to be in a relationship (not necessarily in a relationship with Sam) but she was making more excuses than a child not doing their homework. But not just in relationship status but also within her career. Life is about networking and having people help you get into the rooms you want to be in but Amanda was not about that life until she had no choice. It was really frustrating to read especially considering how she was being treated in her current job.

Beyond this the pace of the novel was great. The focus on family wasn't as central in this book as it was in the first one but that is perfectly fine. Compared to the first book, the author took more time to develop the characters and give them their own lives without all the vagueness or the I am hold a grudge for the next 5 years. Sam and Amanda both discover things about each other while connecting and moving through Hollywood.

I liked their story. But I am not going to lie... I am looking forward to reading Jesse's story :)

Overall, this was a good one.

4 Pickles

This was my first time reading Rebekah Weatherspoon and I’m determined to read ALL of her books now! Weatherspoon’s writing is so good, realistic and draws you in emotionally. Weatherspoon is an incredible
Talent.

If the Boot Fits is the second book in the Cowboys of California series, but it worked very well as a stand alone. I have not read the first novel in the series, but you can be sure I will be going back to it!

The story opens on Amanda Queen sneaking out of a one night stand with a famous actor (who just won an Oscar). Amanda is a personal assistant to a diva actress, longing for her break as a screenwriter. That actor in bed is Sam Pleasant. He is not only a super sexy, talented actor he also is a great guy from
a big family with a ranch/resort.

When Amanda slips out of the room with her event swag bag.... she takes something of Sam’s by mistake. She sends it back to him but thankfully this book is full of some meet cutes.

The story takes place in LA and at the Pleasant ranch. We get an amazing cast of characters in Sam’s Family’s, Amanda’s friends and the awful actress Amanda works for. I love that this book has its own world and it put me right into it.

What we readers get is a delicious, slow burn romance. We see these two build a strong relationship by getting to know each other with friendship, talking and communicating. Their banter is a highlight for me for sure. This all leads up to their steamy romance and I just want to give
that ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

I love that Weatherspoon doesn’t shy away from handling issues in such a masterful way (race, wealth, celebrity and body positivity). Weatherspoon balances humor and deep emotion in such a skillful way.

BIG Thanks to NetGalley and Rebekah Weatherspoon for the chance to read and review an ARC.

An amazing spin on the Cinderella tale Rebekah Weatherspoon creates a fascinating continuation of her Cowboys if California series with If the Boot Fits. Readers are drawn to Amanda— she’s lovable, fun, relatable and most of all a genuinely good person. Sam also exhibits those qualities all wrapped in a soft yet rugged exterior.. it was refreshing to see a Hollywood actor openly and honestly pursue a woman who was plus sized. Their banter together was often laugh out loud hilarious, heartwarming and delightful. I loved that Ananda was no shrinking violet and despite her precarious work situation, she really held her own.

I read the first book in the series a few months ago and this book definitely built upon the world of Charming and the Pleasant men that Weatherspoon has created. I cannot wait for book 3 about Jesse (we’ve had hints of what is going to happen In both books.. Def a beauty and the beast theme for sure!)

I read the first one in this series, A Cowboy to Remember, and even though I can’t stand the amnesia trope, I like Weatherspoon’s writing so much that it was enjoyable. So I was really really excited for this one.

The good: Amanda, the heroine, is a size-20 Black woman who longs to write sci-fi TV. The ranch and supporting characters (including the Pleasant matriarch) are back, and great. Sam, the hero, just won an Oscar for a movie that he’s not exactly proud of (felt very Mahershala Ali winning a second Oscar for Green Book).

The not-so-good: the pacing feels all off. The book starts with Amanda waking up after what she thinks is a one-night stand with Sam. Yes, her accidentally stealing his Oscar is amusing, but this book over and over focuses pages and scenes not on Sam and Amanda together but Amanda’s abusive boss or Amanda’s worries or anything other than Sam and Amanda. The best scene in the book is Sam and Amanda having a meal with the Pleasant family. You get to see Amanda challenge Sam and get a sense of their draw to one another. But there aren’t enough of these moments! Amanda resists Sam until she doesn’t, but it doesn’t seem like she changed her mind so much as she passively falls into a hookup, which is frustrating and doesn’t seem to fit the character.
Also, I get that Sam is hot and sweet, and when the villain does the villainous thing (weirdly right toward the end of the book), he handles it well. But even after finishing the book, I don’t have a good sense of who Sam is. Jesse, the oldest Pleasant brother, hasn’t had his book yet and I already feel like I know him better than Sam.

I will still read Jesse’s book (and unclear if Lilah will get her own), but I really wanted more from this book. Amanda deserves more.

***I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***

There are very few characters in fiction that I wish could walk off the page so I can hang out with them, but Amanda is definitely one of them. She's smart and confident and hilarious, and her banter with Sam is top-notch. Rebekah Weatherspoon is a genius at writing low-angst romance that makes you think it's going to go high-angst, but then subverts that expectation and relieves the tension without slowing down the plot. I loved this book, and I'm anxiously awaiting Jesse's book!

I’ve been intentionally seeking out more AOC reads to add to my library and review blog. When If The Boot Fits first showed up on my social media radar, I was IN LOVE with the cover. But when this gem appeared on NetGalley I was pretty darn sure it was a sign from the Romancelandia powers that be.

Not only did I love If The Boot Fits, as soon as I flipped the last digital page, I ran right and grabbed a copy of A Cowboy to Remember, the first in the Cowboys of California series.

Since I’ve mentioned that If the Boot Fits is the second in a series BUT you do not need to read book one for it to all make sense. However I’d recommend reading it simply because Ms. Weatherspoon is such a gifted and rich author who brings a hard to achieve dynamic to her writing by balancing deep emotion and light hearted banter.

The opening of If the Boot Fits is one of my favorite ones ever. We meet Amanda as she’s taking the Walk of Shame from Sam’s bed… unfortunately she, unwittingly, also took a souvenir when she confused her Oscar after party gift bag with her paramour’s… and accidentally pilfered his award!

See what I’m saying about literally laughing out loud?

One of my favorite parts of If the Boot Fits is Amanda. Not only did she come to Hollywood to pursue a career OTHER THAN acting, which was a refreshing change to read, but also? Our girl has curves. And I don’t mean curves that are unrealistic on a Barbie level, but legitimate curves. She doesn’t just have the hips and chest of an impossibly designed woman, she has a thick waist to make her proportions believable and well-appreciated to see portrayed in fiction. Not only did Amanda possess a thicker body, she embraced it and owned it.

Ms. Weatherspoon brought all the entertaining banter, but didn’t skimp one the steam. Sam and Amanda set the pages on fire with sexy times that are off. the. charts!

Thanks to NetGalley and Rebekah Weatherspoon for this fabulous ARC.

Absolutely adored the newest book in the series by the incredible Rebekah Weatherspoon. This story was a bit lighter than the previous book and I’m definitely not complaining. It starts like so many good romances do, the heroine sneaking out after a one night stand with the hero. The hero, Sam is a celebrity, an Oscar winner and Amanda is an assistant. Watching their relationship blossom was so satisfying and if you’ve read Weatherspoon’s previous books, then this should not surprise you. Also I love a guys in a cowboy hat! Another solid entry in the series.

Rebekah Weatherspoon is a new to me author and I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of her latest book. This is the second book in the Cowboys of California series. I REALLY love this series. It sounds strange to talk about world building in a contemporary based series, but the author does a fantastic job creating a vivid cast of characters, especially the amazing Pleasant family. The realistic setting and true family dynamics are part of what makes this book so great.

What really takes this book over the top for me is the BANTER! Oh my goodness, the banter is 100% off the charts funny, clever and unique. Weatherspoon's novels often have witty dialogue and authentic interactions between the main characters. The main characters in this book, Sam and Amanda, are no different. They have an instant ease and chemistry that is so refreshing to read. In additional to their strong connection, the hero and heroine have each other's back so completely throughout the book. It makes the story a joyful journey.

What Weatherspoon also does so well is integrate key social issues into the story. I appreciated the beautifully succinct and striking ways she wove race, sex and privilege into the narrative. I am a major fan of this author and can't wait to read the next book in this series!

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC. #RebeccaWeatherspoon #IftheBootFits #CowboysofCalifornia

This is a wonderful slow burn romance. Newly minted Oscar winner Sam Pleasant meets the girl of his dreams at an Oscar after party, but she refuses to tell him his name, and he's unsure if he'll see her again. Amanda McQueen is an assistant to a tv star, but gets a night off from her demanding job when she goes to an Oscar after party and sleeps with Sam. She figures she'll hold onto the memory and never see Sam again until she goes to her friend's wedding at the Pleasant family ranch.

It was a fun mix of Hollywood and cowboys, and I liked that it was a slow burn romance. I can't wait to read Jesse's story next.

I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It was an easy read but not enough story to it to make me want to keep reading. More details about the surrounding activities when they met before they hopped into bed. Something to make a person want to keep reading. Details of Amanda's job and the craziness of her boss before she was invited to the awards parties and all the various things Amanda was put through so she was needing to have some fun and relaxation. Everything seemed to be skimmed over slightly with no detail except for the bedroom scenes. A younger person might have enjoyed the book more than I did.

CW: verbally abusive boss

I was thrilled to get approved for an ARC of this! I really liked this next installment of this series. Sam was such a sexy sweetheart and he and Amanda were adorable together. I liked that the conflict between them wasn't some overblown thing and in fact they chatted about the potential problem to their relationship. Sam didnt jump to conclusions and listened to Amanda.

The book opens with them having some sexy times and Amanda ducking out after, without having given Sam her real name and she accidentally runs off with his Oscar statue!! This is resolved pretty quickly but did make for some fun banter when they meet up again.

Amanda is understandably hesitant to have a relationship with Sam, given his celeb status and she has enough to deal with as she works for the boss from hell! Seriously, heed my CW in the beginning because the actress Amanda works for is THE WORST. She is so damn awful, I wanted to drop kick her into the sun.

I think that's my one qualm I had about the book. I wanted Dru to pay after she treated Amanda like such trash!! She was so horrible!

But anyhoo, back to the romance. Like I said, it was cute and sweet while also being sexy when they got around to getting intimate once more. A cowboy hat was involved and that's all I'm gonna say.

Sam's family is also so present and vibrant! I loved them in book 1 and even more so in book 2. Amanda feels a bit awkward when meeting them because I mean, Sam's grandma is a famous actress, who wouldn't be a bit scared and awestruck! But she fit in well. I need a lil novella or something with Miss Leona, I love her!

And now I'm even more intrigued about Jesse. When I read book 1, I thought his book was next but his is after Sam's and I cannot wait! Who's gonna give this tall drink of water some trouble?? I'm ready.

If the Boot Fits is the sweetest slow burn romance. The scene setting and character(s) building in the first chapter was absolutely charming, This is a hang out book. Assistant and screenwriter Amanda and actor Sam are smitten with each other and navigating how best to come together. I really enjoyed their slow dance, and literally. Amanda as a modern day Cinderella was cute, and didn’t beer too much into Mary Sue territory. The Pleasant family are a hoot! This series is such a breath of fresh air. Five stars!!

I loved it! I loved it! I loved it! Quite possibly better than book one of this series. Cowboys, and adorable dogs, a majestic horse, coupled with passion and humor and just the right about of drama. I cannot wait til book three is on the shelves! I think I just found my new 1-click favorite.

Anything I have read by Rebekah Weatherspoon has been fabulous and this book is no different! As always her characters are so real I’m sure I have met them somewhere. And if I haven’t, I want to!
The storyline kept me turning pages. A wonderful read!

I’m not a big cowboy fan but I’m a huge fan of Black Women and love supporting them even if it’s just reading their work. I was happily surprised at how much I really enjoyed the story and the way it was written, this was my first time reading Rebekah Weatherspoon but it won’t be the last that’s for sure. And her story was focused on the things that made me want to read it in the first place, Love.
It was exciting watching Amanda learn to thrive and without giving too much away it’s showing what I think love is supposed to be about which is giving each other the space to grow and thrive. I mean if there was a movie with a real-life Sam Pleasant I’d watch it!
I think that Weatherspoon also gives the reader concepts to think about as it relates to family, Hollywood, and how we let fear define ourselves no matter what our net of safety is. This book was not only enjoyable in the way that books give us a place to escape but she also gave me things to think about which is always a plus to me.

I liked this book! It was a little different for me but I definitely enjoyed reading this book! It was funny , light hearted, had some heartache and it was hot hot hot!! I liked the whole movie star cowboy deal lol I definitely recommend reading this book, it's well worth the read! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!