*~ Most Likely to Get Me To Look Up Rodeo Videos on Youtube ~*

Cowboy Romance and Hockey Romance in one story? Sign me up!
Dakota and Wyatt have a sweet history that develops into great chemistry and a wonderful read. This story truly had it all. Friends to lovers, small town, cowboys and rodeos, slow burn, spice, single dad, hockey, healing and finding themselves, it goes on and on and on.
There were only a couple times I felt like the story could move a little faster but that might have just been me being impatient.

Thank you to Net Galley, Atria, and Meredith Trapp for an eARC of this story.

YEE FREAKIN HAW!!! I think I just found my new favorite romance author 🫶🏼 I had really high hopes for this and it lived up to every single one!!!!!

"Homebound" by Meredith Trapp is a captivating romance novel that explores the complexities of relationships and small-town life. The story centers around Dakota, a strong and independent woman, and her journey towards love and self-discovery.

One of the strengths of this book is its thoughtful exploration of themes such as family, loyalty, and identity. The supporting cast is also well-developed, adding depth and nuance to the story.

Overall, "Homebound" is a sweet and satisfying romance that will appeal to fans of the genre. With its relatable characters, engaging storyline, and small-town setting.

This had every trope imaginable and somehow it worked. Hockey cowgirl, single dad, childhood friends to loves, small town and so much more. Was it realistic? No. Did I care? Absolutely not.

I had really high hopes for this book as I was excited to dive into a Western romance, and overall, I did enjoy the experience. The story had heart, and I appreciated the Western setting and atmosphere. That said, there were a few aspects that didn’t quite land for me.

While I love a slow build to a romance, I felt the level of possessiveness from the main male character came on a little too strong, a little too early. It took away some of the tension and natural progression I usually enjoy in a romantic arc. Additionally, there were moments where the writing leaned into repetition or over-explaining, which slowed down the pace for me.

What really stood out, though, was the main female character. I admired her resilience and determination. No matter what challenges came her way, she kept pushing forward, and that made her a character I genuinely rooted for.

Even though this wasn’t a 5-star read for me, I would still recommend it to friends. The overall story was enjoyable, and for fans of Western romances, there’s a lot here to love. (I give a 3.5 stars)

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

This book was a good cowboy/small town romance. I wasn't obsessed with this book, but I enjoyed it enough. Writing this review later, I can't really remember much of the story, so it wasn't super memorable.

I thought I would love this more than I actually did. The writing was lovely but I felt like there should have been a few more chapters to truly wrap up the story.

YOU KNOW WHAT IM THINKINNNN…

Oooooooooooo yall. Yall. Yall. Yall. FIRST OF ALL. My gurl, my BADDIE.. DAKOTA 😍😮‍💨 SHE is a bull riding baddie 🙌 and I loved absolutely EVERYTHING about Dakota.
Now my man, MY MAN, WYATT…absolutely perfection of a man. PERFECTION OF MAN.
I loved this storyline, I loved these characters, I loved everything.
These two were perfect for eachother and the heartbreak and reconciliation was absolutely perfect 🙌

This has definitely been added into a top cowboy book for me.. and I read ALOT. But this one.. I would absolutely reread again and still think about weeks later.

4/5 stars

Trigger warnings: sexual content, panic attacks/disorders, injury/injury details

Wow! What a wild ride this book was! Wyatt and Dakota grow up as best friends and then grow apart because Dakota gets engaged and Wyatt moves away. Fast forward to today and Wyatt comes back (like he has each summer) but this time, he is in close proximity to Dakota and finally has the courage to share how he feels about her.

I truly loved the single dad, MMC hockey player, FMC bull rider, small town, friends to lovers and forced proximity in this book! All such well done troupes in this book.

This is my first book by Meredith Trapp and it won't be my last. The steam is this book is so well done and I grew to love both of these characters.

I really enjoyed Wyatt's family, the flower farm and his daughter. He is a green flag book boyfriend!! Also this cover?! yes, please! I think I may want to buy a copy to highlight my favorite parts.

Read this book is you like:
-Female empowerment
-Single dad trope
-Childhood friends to lovers
-Mutual pining
-Quick-talking FMC
-No third-act breakup

Homebound is a moving, character-driven story that explores grief, growth, and the complicated pull of home. Meredith Trapp’s writing is thoughtful and lyrical, and Dakota’s journey felt incredibly real—messy, emotional, and deeply human. I loved how the rodeo world was woven in, giving the book a unique and vivid backdrop.

The connection between Dakota and the people around her—especially the slow-burn romance—was tender and well-earned. The emotional beats hit just right, and the themes of resilience and rediscovery really stayed with me.

My only small gripe was that some of the sections between rodeos dragged a bit, with a lot of inner monologue and training scenes that occasionally slowed the momentum. That said, the payoff was worth it, and I still found myself fully invested in Dakota’s story.

A powerful debut that blends grit and heart—I’m excited to see what Meredith Trapp writes next!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books Publishing for my DRC!

I really liked this. Just a sweet childhood friends to lovers romance where she's the bull rider and he's the single dad hockey player.

I would definitely recommend!

I'm clearly in my cowboy romance era, and this book definitely scratched the itch! I really liked the relationship between the main characters and how they communicated well with each other, even though there were some bumps in the road! Also loooved both their relationships to Wyatt's daughter, it was just so cute to read.

When I started reading this book, I discovered it was the 2nd book in a series of related stand-alones, so I'll probably take the time to read the first book as I enjoyed this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

I have always been a fan of the genre, "Cowboy Romance," and this one is no exception.
This is a light hearted single dad/ bull rider romance where Wyatt really plays the long game to get his girl.
Wyatt and Dakota are long term childhood friends, that were suddenly turned strangers when Dakota broke his heart.

Both Wyatt and Dakota are trying to navigate living together when Wyatt moves back home to Texas for the summer with his daughter Vienna and also following there dreams.
Wyatt decides that enough is enough and this summer he will finally get the girl!
Close quarters allows new feelings to grow as well as an attachment to the little family they made themselves to be.

This book is perfect for fans of Elsie Silver and Lyla Sage

Themes include

Small Town Romance
Forced Proximity
Single Dad
He falls first
Friends to lovers

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the free E-ARC !

Rating 3.5
Spice: 3

Homebound was a great follow up to Icebound. It gave me more of the characters I loved from Icebound, but a totally different setting and perspective. I really enjoyed Dakota and Wyatt's story. It was a great second chance romance. I loved Dakota's relationship with her dad and her immediate love for Vi.

There were times the pacing of the novel was a little off for me. Some things in the story seemed a little off and I wanted to see more of Wyatt the hockey player. While I had some struggles with this book, I did enjoy it for what it was. I would recommend continuing with the series if you have read Icebound.

It's a heartfelt return to small-town Texas that blends cowboy era grit with modern charm. This childhood friends-to-lovers romance pairs a bull-riding, emotionally guarded heroine with a golden-hearted single dad who’s also a professional hockey player. Wyatt has been in love with Dakota since their cowboy-era summers as kids, and now he’s back with a baby in tow determined to win her heart.

The first third drags a bit and Dakota’s emotional 180 felt sudden, but the second half hits all the right emotional beats. Wyatt’s devotion (and total DILF energy), Vienna’s sweetness, and the warm, supportive side characters make the story shine. For fans of slow burn, strong women, and old-school cowboy nostalgia with a modern twist, Homebound is a charming, feel-good ride.

Homebound by Meredith Trapp is the second book in the Boundless Player series.

I was so excited to read this book but it sadly fell short. I didn’t really care for the main characters and I found a lot of the dialogue to be cheesy. The cover however is gorgeous!

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked this one! This is my first Meredith Trapp book and I would definitely say I would read it again. I was swooning like 80% of the book. And don’t even get me started on the outdoor shower scene.

4.5
it's always been you
second chance
Golden retriever
Childhood best friends
Black cat
she's a bull rider
he's in the NHL (but not a sports book!)
single dad
Slow burn

was it because the audio was delicious or because the daughter was adorable who knows but I loved this! I absolutely ate this up! These two chemistry 🔥 🔥.off the charts. The spicy scenes oh boy! The good boys 🫠.

YEEE HAWW I am back in my cowboy era with this one!

we are not going to talk about how behind I am on arc reviews but...

i LOVED THIS ONE. If you are a single daddy sl* t like me then buckle up because Daddy Wyatt is everything 🥵 i loved this from start to finish. The reverse grumpy x sunshine dynamic, the banter, the PINING. Wyatt was a puppy in love while Dakota was still in denial about her feelings for her childhood best friend but the moment that she realized her summer boy was exactly who she's meant to be with it was like a symphony on the page! Magical! Perfect! And SEXY 🤭🌶️ (if you love a "the boots stay on" moment THIS IS FOR YOU).

My favorite part of any single parent book is watching the love interest form a relationship with the child and the bond that Vienna and Dakota formed was seriously, the sweetest thing! I think my ovaries exploded a few times too and now I have raging baby fever not gonna lie.

Dakota is such a strong FMC and I love her "prickly on the outside yet soft on the inside" personality! I really hope we get to see her more of her career progress and Wyatt and Vi in future books!

Tropes
🤎 single dad
🤎 bull rider FMC
🤎 reverse grumpy x sunshine
🤎 childhood friends to lovers
🤎 he fell a long time ago

Thank you Atria for the trad pub netgalley eARC

"Homebound" is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant story about identity, belonging, and the meaning of home. Meredith Trapp has a quiet, lyrical style that draws you in and makes the characters feel deeply real. While the pacing is a bit slow in places, the heartfelt moments and thoughtful themes more than make up for it. A touching and introspective debut perfect for fans of character-driven fiction.