Can we first just talk about this cover?? Absolutely stunning. We have
- single dad
-girl bull rider
- forced proximity
-childhood friends to lovers

This book seemed to have it all and it was beautiful written. Let’s not forget that he was obsessed with the FMC. His daughter is a product of a ONS and now he is a single dad. I love that Wyatt supported Dakota and her dreams and wanted her to achieve all her goals.

Dakota was an alright character I love that she had dreams and decided to follow them. I hated how she was basically blind to Wyatt having feelings for her but that’s my own personal thing.

Overall loved the book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

When Wyatt comes back to his hometown during hockey season's break, he has two goals. #1: Stay in shape. And #2: Get the girl. They've been friends--and only friends--for their whole lives. And Wyatt is determined to make Dakota see that he can be the man that fits into her life.
Dakota "Cowboy Killer" has a chance this summer to make it to the PBR, if she can stay on a bull for more than 2 seconds. However, the stress of choosing between being a bullrider and being a mother has gotten to her head, and the pressure is making her lose focus.
With Wyatt's help, Dakota is training better than ever before. But is it enough to make it to the pros? And can Wyatt show her that she can be a mother and a bullrider?
🐂🐂🐂🐂🐂
Y'all, this BOOK!!! So perfect for a summer romance read! Wyatt treats Dakota so well, and the way he is with his one-year-old daughter is the cutest most precious thing, I loved it! The side characters are fantastic, too!
And just so you know, the dad doesn't die, and neither does the dog.
And Colt Cutler is also a great dad. Lovely read, especially right around Father's Day!
Now I need to read the first one!

Tropes
Small Town Romance
Single Dad
Forced Proximity
Golden Retriever MC
Black Cat FMC
Childhood Friends to Lovers
Slow Burn
Angsty
Spice 3

“Take what you need from me,” I groan against her lips. “I’m yours, so take it all."

First of all I love the cover of this book. I am one who tends to look at the cover first and decide from there if I'm interested in the book.

Small town cowboy romances are trending right now and Homebound didn't disappoint. Plus I am a sucker for the single dad trope. Meredith did an amazing job showcasing the relationship Wyatt has with his daughter.

Homebound is a easy read that is fun, spicy, and swoon worthy. I plan to listen to the audiobook asap now that it is out1

Side note: I hope from the dedication that ladybird is dog :)

Ultimately this was not my cup of tea. I think the cowgirl/hockey player match was a little too much for me. Plus I’m not a huge fan of “it’s always been you” tropes. Maybe others will like this book for those exact reasons, but I did not.

Homebound is a small town, country romance. Dakota is a bull rider hoping to make it into the PBR circuit. Wyatt is a NHL hockey player home for the summer. Growing up they were always the best of friends... could that turn into something more? I enjoyed the romance in this book. Some parts were a bit hokey, like the way Wyatt talked about his daughter. It was a bit over the top and seemed a bit unrealistic. This is my first western romance so I had to get used the the "sugars", "darlins", and "honeys".

Soooo swoony! I love cowboys and friends to lovers so of course I loved this! Such a fun read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy!

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice 🌶️

Wyatt has loved Dakota since he was 8 years old. But she never returned his feelings and friend zoned him. Then she got engaged and Wyatt left and didn’t look back.

Now she is single and he is ready to make his move. But he has some extras that she may not be ready for. Will Dakota finally see him and forgive him for leaving her alone?

A cute cowboy romance with a loyalty hockey guy that only has eyes for her!!

#homebound #meredithtrappauthor #cowboysdoitbetter #cowboyromance #smalltownromance #sportsromance

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Hockey and bull riding? YES. Friends to lovers? Also yes! I enjoyed this and am looking forward to the rest of the series. Our main characters had a lot of chemistry and this was a quick and fun read.

2.75 🌟I was so excited for a cowboy romance where the FMC was the bull rider instead of the MMC. I wish I loved this one but something about it didn’t stand out to me. I felt like Dakota was an exaggeration of a “black cat” character. It also felt like Wyatt was more obsessed with Dakota since they spent so much time together and he just thought they were supposed to be together. It was hard for me to believe the relationship between the two MCs. They were supposed to be adults even though they talked and acted more like teenagers. Everything just felt a little mid.

Tropes:
💖Western Romance
💖Forced Proximity
💖Friends to Lovers
💖Small Town Romance

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love me a second chance single dad plot!!

I ate this up! The cover is super cute and I will be adding this to my personal library!

This book had all of my favorites. Black cat x golden retriever. Friends to lovers, second chance, hockey, cowgirl, single dad, GIRL dad. I mean, come on!! For whatever reason I could not get into this no matter how hard I tried. It actually made me mad that I wasn't invested. Sigh.

Thank you Atria for the ARC of Homebound!

Rounded up from 2.5 stars.

I really wanted to like this, but I thought it had too much going on, and there was a lot of repetition. I didn't really buy into the story behind Wyatt becoming a single dad, and his character felt a little bumpy. I also didn't really believe Dakota's interest in him. She spends a lot of the book saying, to herself and to others, that she only ever say Wyatt as a little brother. If she was just saying that to other people to deny what she was really feeling in her internal monologue, I'd believe her feelings for him were genuine.

I don't know, I just didn't vibe with either of these characters or the storyline.

Okay, okay. I have to be honest. I really didn't think I was going to like this book as much as I did. I read the synopsis and saw that she was a female bull rider and immediately assumed she would be over the top annoying and overcompensating for competing in a male-driven environment. She was, but not in an overly annoying way. She was in a refreshing female empowerment way. Dakota was actually likeable. And Wyatt...what can I say? I loved him! Wyatt and Vi, are absolutely adorable. This book was so darn cute and the spice level was spicy! I was just really impressed with the writing and how I just connected with the main characters. This book is a yes for me. And I don't give out 5 stars easily, so read it! Thank you to Meredith Trapp, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.

3.75 ⭐️

I really love Meredith Trapp's writing style! This book was funny and engaging, and honestly just a good time!

I love Wyatt—he's the perfect hot (but still so kind) single dad. Getting to hear his inner monologue was so adorable and hilarious. "I'm going to die in the friendzone." Poor guy.

Dakota and her dad's relationship felt like everything. Especially when all the Wyatt/Vienna, Colt/Dakota parallels were drawn.

I really recommend this book if you're looking for something you can sit down and just BINGE, I didn't want to set it down!! I can not WAIT to see what else Trapp writes!!


Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Give me all the cowboy romance books! Because I am in my total cow girl era. Such a fabulous story and loved the characters.

🏡💫 Book Review: Homebound by Meredith Trapp 💫🏡

A beautifully moving story about finding your way back—to family, to yourself, and to the place you truly belong. Homebound is an emotional journey filled with healing, hope, and the bittersweet power of home.

What it’s about:
After years away, Harper returns to her small hometown with a heavy heart and unresolved past. Reconnecting with old friends, family, and the familiar rhythms of home, she begins to uncover the strength to forgive, grow, and maybe even find love where she least expects it.

Tropes You’ll Love:
🏡 Small-town charm
💞 Second chances
✨ Family secrets & healing
🌿 Self-discovery & growth
❤️ Slow-burn romance

Meredith Trapp’s heartfelt writing and authentic characters make Homebound a tender, unforgettable read for anyone who believes in the magic of returning home.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#Homebound #MeredithTrapp #SmallTownRomance #SecondChanceLove #HealingJourney #Bookstagram #FeelGoodReads #BookReview

Always down for a small town cowboy romance! I was obsessed with this one and the childhood friend to lovers trope! Perfect for fans of Lyla sage and Elsie silver too!

3.5! this was so cute and fun - i’m always a fan of cowboy romances. I will say, I wanted to know more about Wyatt, our MMC - who is apparently a professional hockey player and obviously a single dad, but we don’t know much about him aside from his love for Dakota and his daughter. In the same vein, we don’t know a ton about Dakota besides that she is a bull rider, and I just think it would’ve been fun to see more of the quiet moments between them! Overall, a super fun and quick read, I would recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eArc in exchange for my honest review!

Fun and spicy 2nd chance cowboy romance! 3.5

Wyatt’s been in love with his best friend Dakota since he was 8years old, but when she gets engaged, he leaves without a word. 3 years later he’s back to get the girl. But can he tame this wild hard headed bull riding babe?

Thoughts and spoilers


I enjoyed this! I’m a sucker for a cowboy romance and throw in a single dad who’s head over heels for the FMC?! Delicious. I didn’t really understand why he came back? Like he literally only seemed to come back to get the girl? No other reason? I think it mentioned helping with the family flower farm, but then he never helped with the family flower farm until one scene at 87% in when he was helping with deliveries. He’s also meant to be a big deal NHL star and I feel like it never came up? Like in public or the bar or rodeo, no one batted an eye.

Dakota easily stepping in to the role of mother was so beautifully done. I always love “the parent who stepped up” combo to a single parent trope! I thought the delicate balance of her wanting her dreams but also thinking of Vi and Wyatt within her choices was perfectly written. Dakotas job confused me a bit, she’s training to be a professional bull rider and trying allllll the time, but if she’s not a professional bull rider she’s not getting paid? And though it was mentioned that she helps with the farm, there just weren’t any actual scenes of her working.

I’m the end I liked it. Would recommend as a fun lil read and if Willie and Lana are getting a book?! That banter?! Catch me reading!!

A devoted single dad who’s completely gone for his childhood best friend—the fierce, independent bull rider? Yes, please. Wyatt is the whole package. His love for his daughter is heart-melting, but the way he confidently claims space in Dakota’s world? Swoon. He fell first, and hard, but when she finally let herself fall too? Fireworks. The heat between them is unreal—seriously, I’ve never wanted an outdoor shower more. I adored that Dakota never had to sacrifice her dreams, and watching her fall just as hard for his daughter as she did for him? Total heart-eyes. This story hit all the right notes—sweet, sexy, and completely satisfying.