Homebound by Meredith Trapp is a sweet and emotional small-town romance. Dakota and Wyatt’s second-chance love story is heartwarming, with just the right mix of chemistry, family, and healing. A feel-good read that’s perfect for romance fans!

I really enjoyed this book. I loved Wyatt and Dakota a lot. I feel like their story was really well hashed out and the tropes of the story were well developed and done in a unique manner.

My one issue with this book is the continuity issues from the first book. Wyatt has a daughter, but her name completely changes from Icebound to Homebound. In Icebound her name is Betty, but in Homebound it is completely different. I like the story of why her name is what it is in Homebound, I just don't like how it's so drastically changed. I also miss the characters from the first book, Wyatt was more involved in that story than his teammates got to be in this story and I missed their characters.

The character development throughout this story is really good. It is nice to see how much Dakota gets to grow throughout the story. She had to grow through so much and she did it while staying true to herself.

I also really love baby Vi, she is precious and the love everyone in this story has for her is truly so wholesome.

I read this book in three days, it was fun and enjoyable. I hope to see a third book about Cruz!

Cowgirl and hockey player, single dad, grumpy x sunshine, and childhood friends to lovers?!

This trope filled romance with a badass strong FMC is everything you need and more!!

Character development was flawless. The tension was palpable and the heat was scorching!!!

I adored every second of this amazing book!!

4.5! WOWWW i loved this book! Not typically a big fan of second chances ( i know im weird) but god i loved the fmc so much! I loved their banter and the dialogue. I love women who knows who she is and what she wants and Dakota gave exactly what i wanted her to give. The cover is so gorgeous which i was initially drew me in. Absolutely love the slow burn and single dad romances so this book is SO perfect for those wanting a good mix of all of that.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
I am in a cowboy romance mood and I LOVED Wyatt and Dakota! Their relationship was a very slow burn, but their second chance was so so sweet.
Wyatt was a green flag and I loved everything about his story. Dakota was a little hard to like and it was a little slow at times, but I still really enjoyed the book.

Homebound by Meredith Trapp is a must read! I love a small town romance and single dad? Perfection!

I cannot wait to read more by this author. She rides bulls, hes a hockey player and single dad and she's the one that he's always pined for. I thought their chemistry was so hot and perfection. Their dynamic was fun, sweet, and I loved the relationship and bond that she forms with his daughter and a found family. It's fun, sweet, slightly angsty and endearing and the perfect summer read! A must read for all lovers a good small town with a single dad!

I went into Homebound with high hopes—who doesn’t love a striking cover and the promise of a sports romance? But unfortunately, this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

The story centers on Wyatt, a single dad and hockey player spending the off-season back home in Texas, and Dakota, his childhood best friend turned rodeo star. On paper, this should’ve been everything I enjoy: second chances, small-town feels, a little cowboy grit. But the execution didn’t quite live up to the setup.

Wyatt being a hockey player felt more like a decorative character trait than something that shaped the story. It didn’t influence the plot much, which was disappointing because the potential was there. Interestingly, Dakota is the one who really embodies the “athlete” role in this dynamic, and that was a refreshing switch from the typical cowboy/sports romance trope.

That said, I really struggled with the way Wyatt becomes a dad. He hooks up with someone in a one-night stand after finding out Dakota—the girl he’s quietly loved forever—is engaged. Fast-forward six months, and that same woman shows up saying she’s pregnant and planning to put the baby up for adoption unless Wyatt takes full custody. It felt like a huge narrative leap, like we were missing key emotional beats that would’ve helped make that arc feel more grounded.

Spice-wise? If steamy scenes in outdoor showers or hidden corners of a rodeo sound like your thing, this book definitely delivers on heat. But that alone couldn’t carry the story for me.

Emotionally, Homebound just didn’t land. I kept putting it down and reaching for other books, which is never a great sign. Dakota didn’t click with me—she came off more rude than grumpy, and something about her “pick me” energy just rubbed me the wrong way. Meanwhile, Wyatt felt like he had all the makings of a great MMC but never really stood up for himself. It was frustrating watching him pine over Dakota for years while she remained oblivious and, frankly, kind of mean to him.

In the end, I just couldn’t root for them as a couple.

Thank you to Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This one wasn’t for me, but I’m sure there’s an audience out there who’ll connect with it more than I did.

what a splendid book!!!
i'm enchanted by the way the author wrote all the characters and their interactions.
Iim completely in love with a couple that changed the course of my life!!!
books with cowboys always have a certain charm, but this one went beyond all limits of enchantment.
I LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT!!!

The beautiful book cover caught my attention immediately, but the story wasn't quite my cup of tea—or at least not what I was looking for.

Homebound is the story of Wyatt, a famous hockey player turned single father, who returns home and reconnects with his longtime childhood crush and ex–best friend, Dakota. Dakota is now a professional bull rider, and the two end up living together for the summer.

I just felt like I didn’t connect with their relationship. It felt kind of one-sided at the start—Wyatt has been in love with her since they were kids, while she only saw him as a little brother until he became hot. I don’t know… it leaned more toward the “spicy” side, and I just wasn’t invested enough in their relationship for that to work for me.

Homebound is the second book in an interconnected stand alone series. I didn't read the first one, and this one was easy to follow, so don't be intimidated if you want to jump into this one head first.

We follow Dakota and Wyatt. They have known one another since they were kids, when Wyatt would visit Texas during the summers. When they were kids, they were inseparable. However, once they grew up, they lost connection when Dakota got engaged to a fellow bull rider. With her pursuing her career and love life, Wyatt moved away to Nashville where he cut all ties with Dakota, in order to protect his own heart. Now, after hearing Dakota has broken off her engagement, Wyatt decides he's returning to win his girl back. Except, Dakota wants nothing to do with him after leaving her in his past. But, when he comes back toting along his little girl, she finds it difficult to turn them away.

---

This was a different take on a regular cowboy romance, as the FMC is the brooding, grumpy bull rider. Meanwhile, we have the sunshine of a MMC who is a hockey player and single dad. While I really love cowboy romances and friends to lovers, this one just didn't quite land with me. It took me a while to warm up to the FMC, as she was so guarded and a bit unlikable. Wyatt was a swoon-worthy single dad. I've seen a lot of reviews of people immediately dismissing this one because he had a daughter with another woman, but I think this really was representative of real life and the way blended families work.

I did find that the dialogue/inner monologue of how they felt about one another, and how Wyatt wanted his daughter to grow up like Dakota, got very repetitive. Not to mention, we were in an endless cycle of hearing about her bull riding ventures, but we never saw Wyatt play his sport. It was talked about how he was on the team and worked out, but never any hockey action. So, if you're looking for a sports romance meets cowboy romance, this one didn't quite hit the mark. Overall, it just felt like this one could've been developed more. With that being said, this wasn't a bad book by any means. I've just personally read other cowboy romances that hit the mark more so than this one.

*Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for my honest review.*

I think this book suffers from having a gorgeous cover and being a just kind of okay book. Wyatt is a single dad hockey player on summer break back home in Texas and Dakota is his childhood best friend / bull riding rodeo princess. In theory, I love a good sports romance so I should love this book. Wyatt being a hockey player felt like an excuse for him to be super hot and didn't have any real consequences to the plot. The athlete in this book is solidly Dakota which is a nice flip of the cowboy/sports romance trope. I don't like the circumstances in which Wyatt becomes a single dad. Having a one night stand to get over the fact that the girl you've loved since you were eight years old got engaged to someone else and then the ONS returning six months later saying she's going to put the baby up for adoption if he doesn't assume full-time parenthood feels like there is more to that story that we just aren't privy to.

The spice is good if you're into really hot low-key exhibitionists doing it in outdoor showers or backstage at the rodeo behind a haystack.

I found myself reaching for a few other books over the course of reading Homebound and emotionally I just didn't feel like this book delivered what I was looking for.

Thank you to Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“I’m starting to think we were never meant to be just friends.”

Homebound is a really great friends-to-lovers, single parent, cowgirl romance! The anticipation alone is enough to keep you reading straight through to the end!
—

this and that:
♡ bull rider x hockey player
♡ dual pov
♡ forced prox
♡ friends-to-lovers
♡ golden retriever x black cat
♡ it was always you
♡ open door spice
♡ single dad
♡ small town

triggers:
☞ emotional manipulation x harassment
☞ graphic injury as a result of bull riding (not MCs)
☞ panic attacks
☞ parental abandonment
☞ recreational drug x use

Homebound delivered all the emotional punch and sweet charm you could want in a second chance romance—with a side of rodeo grit and small-town heat. Dakota was fierce, focused, and rightfully guarded after being ghosted by her childhood best friend, Wyatt. And Wyatt? Hockey star turned single dad with a mission to win back the girl he never stopped loving.
Their chemistry sparked from page one. The tension simmered as old memories clashed with new realities, and the push-pull between Dakota’s bull-riding ambition and Wyatt’s slow, heartfelt persistence felt authentic. The addition of Wyatt’s baby added an extra layer of vulnerability and heart to his character, making his return to Granite Falls even more compelling.
Sure, some beats were a little predictable, second chance tropes tend to ride a familiar trail, but the writing was fresh, the banter snappy, and the Texas setting vivid and warm. The emotional payoff, once the truth behind Wyatt’s absence came to light, was well-earned and deeply satisfying.
In short: Homebound was a heartfelt reunion full of rodeo sparks, slow-burn swoon, and just the right amount of tearjerking truth. A perfect weekend read for anyone who believes love can find its way home.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I could use more cowgirl romances! How could you not instantly fall in love with a fiery female bull rider.
This book was so incredibly easy to enjoy from the very first page. Our main characters Dakota and Wyatt has such a rich history. The dynamic it created was filled with tension, heart wrenching bumps and sizzling hot chemistry. I loved being able to experience their journey finding a way back to what they needed.
Wyatt was such a joy as a character between his utter devotion and his small moments of navigating parenthood. I loved him from the very start and kept falling more in love with him the more I read.
The ending was a great fit for them and I just wish I could have kept reading about them and their life together.

Hated it from start to finish, the only chapter I read and felt normal by was chapter number one, yup, I hated it that much. The amount of times I cringed and felt the ‘ick’ is better left unexplained.
The FMC? She isn’t grumpy, she is rude, I honest-to-god tell you.
The MMC? Meh, couldn’t care less about him.
I skim-read ALL OF THE BOOK because it just was so bad, when I reached the epilogue I was so relieved I dropped everything to go write this review.
I hardly ever hate-hate books but this one is a hard, big, fat no for me, especially Dakota’s behavior honestly.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher for the ARC in exchange of a honest review.

Extremely cozy vibes in this hockey player x bull rider romance! If you love cowgirls, men who fall first, and literal daddies you will love this book

First the pros:
- The cover (so freaking cute!!!!)
- Characters who feel real, both the MCs had made mistakes and had more going on than their romance
- Really interesting portrayal of fatherhood
- Grumpy x sunshine baked to perfection
- Alternative family structures that felt authentic and not overdone
- Bull rider/rodeo setting

Things that made me 🤔:
- Spice wasn't hitting right for me. I could not stop thinking about how uncomfortable a hay bale would be
- Writing in the first part was rough in some patches

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC!

I didn't read this book for a long time and I'm mad about it because it's so good. I love an excellent friends to lovers book and that's exactly what this is. Wyatt was giving her time to adjust to the fact that they would be a couple but he was not ending the summer without her knowing his feelings. Dakota took a bit to get there but she fell in love with him and his little girl.

I received an arc through netgalley.

realistic rating: 3.75 ⭐️

<I>“It's always been you” - Wyatt</I>

Everyone deserves a man like Wyatt Patterson. He is so sweet oh my goodness. I truly enjoyed reading this book. I also loved that it was so different for a Western book because it featured Dakota—our FMC—who is a bull rider. Most western sports romance books I read focus on the MMC who is in sports so this was a nice touch. We love a strong, powerful, boss FMC.

I just love Dakota and Wyatt together. Also love how Dakota became so fond of Wyatt’s daughter Vivian.

ALSO THE COVER IS SO BEAUTIFUL.

<u>Tropes:</u>
🐂 Cowboy romance
🐂 Childhood friends to lovers
🐂 Single father
🐂 Yearning
🐂 Professional bull rider (FMC) x NHL hockey player (MMC)
🐂 Black Cat(FMC) vs Cinnamon roll (MMC)
🐂 Slow burn

Pros:
- Dual POV
- No third act breakup
- WYATT

Cons:
- BOONE
- Dakota’s friends who talked shit behind her back

<I>Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and the author Meredith Trapp for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review!</I>

<b>・₊✧ Quotes ・₊✧</b>

<blockquote><I>”Dakota Rae Cutler. I’ve loved you from the day you saved my life in that creek, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you.” My voice shakes slightly, but I press on. “For me, it’ll always be you. Anytime I think of the woman I want my daughter to grow up to be, it’s a woman as bold as you. I know you still have that dream of yours to chase, so…” I pull out the mood ring I’ve kept all these years.
“You don’t have to marry me today, but will you marry me someday?” Her eyes water as she looks down at me and whispers, “You kept the mood ring?”
“Told you I would.”</blockquote></I>
THE FACT HE KEPT THE MOOD RING FOR ALL THOSE YEARS…I CRY.

(I WASN'T ABLE TO WRITE A REVIEW ON GOODREADS BECAUSE THE PAGE DOESN'T ALLOW IT)

Let’s start with the good: it’s got cowboys with southern manners, a single dad that's down BAD for the FMC (and also loves his baby daughter so very much), and some delish spice. OH and there's no OW drama or third act break up (bless!)

The characterization... was all over the prairie sometimes. The FMC is introduced as this total badass—constantly trying to prove herself in a sport that basically side-eyes her for being a woman. She very explicitly tells the MMC not to make her look “weak” in front of the other cowboys—and then suddenly, she’s in the middle of a training session pouring her heart out to him like they’re on a therapist’s couch. This is like chapter four. One minute it’s “I don’t need nobody,” and the next, she’s one sad country song away from a full-on emotional meltdown. I needed a little more buildup there, like... give a girl a transition scene! Let me earn that vulnerability instead of getting smacked with it like a surprise cow pie.

Some of the themes are also very clearly being bludgeoned into the plot like a sledgehammer to a fencepost. The MMC is constantly pointing out how the FMC shows she cares about his daughter. Like, yes sir, we see it. You’ve mentioned it. Twice. Per chapter. It’s like the book is waving a big neon sign that says “LOOK SHE HAS A SOFT SIDE!!!” Which is totally unnecessary, by the way, because she shows it in really sweet, genuine ways that don’t need a running commentary.

Still, despite its quirks, Homebound has a certain charm that’s hard to deny. There’s a sweetness to the way the relationship unfolds—especially the bond between the FMC and the daughter—that gives the story some real heart. And while the emotional beats may come in hot and unexpected, they do pack a punch. It’s like comfort food with a few surprise jalapeños thrown in. (I will 1000000% be making her prickly pear margaritas they sound bomb af)

Black cat / Gold retriever
MMC NHL player / FMC Bull Rider
Friends to lovers
Single dad
He falls first
Small town
Reverse age gap (She's 2 years older)

In this small town romance you have Wyatt who is a single dad NHL player and Dakota who is a bull rider. They have been friends since they were kids until one day Wyatt stops coming back home for the summer and completely ghosts Dakota. Now that he's back he's willing to do whatever it takes to win her over which will be especially hard considering she's never seen him as more then a friend.

As amazing as this sounded to me I unfortunately DNF'd at 18%. I just couldn't get into this book, I wanted to love it so bad. I feel like the writing style was a bit repetitive and I just couldn't get myself to like Dakota she just felt too much like a pick me girl. As for Wyatt he seemed like he had good potential but him pining for her since they were kids and her constantly turning him down without her even knowing how he truly felt, it was kinda annoying.

I hope that maybe I can pick this back up one day and try reading it again but as of now it's a no for me.