Thought this book was really cute. Loved the perspective of the female being the bull rider. At first I was upset that Wyatt didn’t get in contact with Dakota. Such a good read and now I’ll need to go back and read the first one.

Rating: 5⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️


Dakota is a bull rider, hoping to make it big in the Professional Bull Rider circuit. She is also trying to get past things that her ex said about her in an interview, that’s caused her to get into her head.

Wyatt is a new dad to Vienna, who is trying to prove to Dakota that he is more than just a boy who used to spend summers with her, and that he’s worth a shot.

When he starts helping her work out, she starts to notice he is more than just a boy from her past.

Can Vienna help her dad win Dakota over?

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to the ARC in exchange for this honest review!

I initially was drawn in by the cover and the setting. This was my second “cowboy” romance, but really it’s my first cowgirl romance.

Dakota is a strong FMC, but she is vulnerable in ways that make sense. You see two sides of her, which I appreciate. A girl has weaknesses, but she doesn’t like to show them to others.

I fell in love with Wyatt. He has been obsessed with her since they were kids, which totally explains the pining. I love that he’s a single father, and he cares deeply for his daughter.

The second half of this book is quite the turnaround from the first half. I feel like the first half is a little sad and kind of trying to make-up for mistakes made. The second half… spice and romance.

❤️❤️❤️❤️ So much romance. I loved it. They are the sweetest pairing.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ This was some ghost pepper level spice for me. It took me a little off-guard because I have been reading mild to no spice books. Spice lovers will enjoy it.

Overall, I enjoyed this read for many reasons.

I am so appreciative for this ARC read. This ARC was provided by the Atria Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For western lovers out there, who enjoy all things rodeo, this story follows a complex pair who have a thing for one another.

Dakota is a Texas bull rider with a reputation. She is as tough as they come, but deep down has the biggest heart.

Wyatt is Dakota’s childhood friend. He has always worshipped and understood Dakota but when feelings started to develop, Wyatt always maintained they were only friends.

Now that they are reunited, living in close proximity with Wyatt’s daughter in tow, things get even more complicated… steamy at that, and borderline dark. (with the appropriate trigger warnings) Dakota not only falls for the little girl, but she also sees a whole other side to Wyatt and wonders what if they were not only friends. Next to her father, Wyatt is Dakota’s biggest supporter, he shows it in spades. They give themselves a chance to be together.

This book is the opposite of a cozy small-town story. The characters are messy, passionate, driven and ultimately open up to one another. The outdoor shower scenes move the plot along. The rodeo scenes are real. And the two stepping is everything, go forth and find your cowboy!

Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an e-ARC of this via Netgalley.

✨CowGIRL romance
✨bull rider x hockey player
✨childhood friends to lovers

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced reading copy in exchange for a review!

When both characters are a red flag...it's gonna be a yeeNAW for me, cowboy!

Wyatt and Dakota have spent every summer together, as Wyatt's moms own a flower farm near Dakota's home, but now they aren't speaking as Wyatt never came back after one summer. It's 3 years after that fateful summer. Wyatt is an NHL star, as well as a single dad, and Dakota is one of Texas's toughest FEMALE bullriders. Despite walking away 3 years ago, Wyatt has never gotten over his secret crush and unrequited love for Dakota. When he returns to town for the summer to help out on his family's farm, he ends up moving in with Dakota, as she currently lives on his family's property in exchange for her help at the flower farm. What could happen?

First off, I love that the bull rider in this cowboy romance book is a woman!! This was such a bad ass decision and I am here for it even if it is unrealistic - I don't think there are any women in the PBR? not 100% sure. I liked certain parts of this book, but others not so much. I think this was because there were a few plot holes throughout the book, and the writing was not the strongest as the first half of the book felt a bit slow, and then there started to be drama and things picked up a bit. A lot of repetition of some phrases as well. Wyatt was a bit too much of a softie, golden retreiver type in the beginning while Dakota was just wild (fucking dudes left and right - I get not wanting to get hurt, I'm all for fucking around, but to have the nickname of Cowboy Killer in your workplace is kind of wild lol). Phew though the hay bale scene oh yeah and the shower scene spicy lol I also thought there were some really sweet scenes in the second half of the book, such as the fiddle scene at the bar.

The book does have me curious to read the first book in the series and definitely more if it follows the other NHL players.

It was kinda basic. Like, the whole childhood friends-to-lovers, small-town romance with a single dad and a tough bull rider? Sounds like it could be good, but it just felt a little... flat. I kept waiting for the drama to ramp up, or for their chemistry to really pop, but it was more of a slow simmer that never quite boiled. Some parts felt super repetitive, like I was reading the same internal monologue on repeat, and the "feisty" female lead felt more like she was just being difficult sometimes. It was a cute read if you want something super chill, but it definitely didn't have me, like, screaming, crying, throwing up from the feels. It was just okay.

I really enjoyed this!

I liked Wyatt in Icebound, so I was excited he was book 2 of the series. You could tell he was going to be such a good single dad and that held up.

He knew Dakota was his and he was going to do whatever he had to to make her realize it, too. I liked Dakotas prickly personality with everyone but Wyatt. And this was a really well done version of women in men’s sports.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love the change up from cowboy to cowgirl! Definitely different than other western, small-town romances.

But the story was slow to start, and overall the plot was not that exciting. Some moments also felt cringey and a tad-bit unrealistic. Also the MMC being in the NHL could have been omitted, it did not feel vital for the character.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, a rodeo romance with the twist of it being the FMC bull riding was a super intriguing concept, but by chapter 3 I was ready to put it on my DNF. While the characters are supposed adults, I found their internal dialogue to be more what I’d expect from a teenager. A lot of repetitive phrasing, and the premise of a man pining after a girl since they were 10 lacks the romance factor when we’re immediately introduced to the child he had with another woman AFTER he left and ghosted the FMC for the NHL, blaming his daughter making his life busy, yet he ghosted her before he had her. I had to put it down after he showed up out of nowhere expecting to stay with her, and the FMC starts crying during sex because her dog won’t live forever??

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
🐂🤠🏒🍼💐

I LOVED Icebound by Meredith Trapp, so I was super excited to see this one available on NetGalley. It definitely delivered and although it’s 2nd in a series, you don’t need to read the first.

Single dad hockey player returns home to the Texas hill country to woo and win the love of his life, Dakota, a fierce bull-riding woman that he’s loved since they were children.

This is light on the hockey, heavy on the two-stepping and I. AM. HERE. FOR. IT. I lived in Texas for 15 years and this one took me right back to the rolling hills, drinks along the creek and sultry heat. The way tough-as-nails Dakota instantly loved baby Vi? Tore at my heart. And the fact that it took her so much longer to SEE Wyatt? She wasn’t there until she was ready.

Read if you love:
Single dad
He fell first
Small town romance
Strong female leads
An adorable dog sidekick
Even when they’re not together, they always have each other’s back

#homebound #meredithtrapp #singledadromance #blackcatxcinnamonroll #smalltownromance

Goodreads is being funky with this one, so I’ll post my full review here and add it there later.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Homebound is a childhood friends to lovers story about Dakota and Wyatt. Wyatt grew up spending his summers in Granite Falls where he met and befriended Dakota. He knew all along she was it for him but she needed some convincing. After a few years of separation and a failed engagement on her end, he comes back into town determined to change her mind once and for all.

I really liked the way Wyatt was so patient with Dakota throughout. Probably because he has been waiting for years for her but I was a fan of how he let her be her own person and figure things out on her own. All while quietly supporting her from behind.

Dakota was an average FMC. Other than her struggles with being a woman in bull riding she didn’t seem to have a lot of defining characteristics. Her main story revolved around her want to balance her career goals as a bull rider and staying uninjured.

Some parts of the story were not explored much including her friendship with Alanna, Wyatt’s hockey career, and Dakota’s past relationship. These all had moments in the story but I felt like it could have been explored a bit more.

Overall a great cowboy romance for anyone who is a fan of the genre.

2.5

This had a lot of potential, but there were a few too many things that bothered me about this. The cringey dialogue. The possessiveness of the male character. The repetitiveness. The author’s habit of over explaining in both dialogue and in expositions. I think with another round of edits this could be a great summer read, but it didn’t hit the way I was hoping it would. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This slow-burn romance is pure Texas gold. Dakota is as tough as they come, the only female bull rider in Texas, determined to prove herself in a man’s world. But her heartbreak from a failed engagement haunts her, leaving her struggling in the arena. Enter Wyatt—her childhood best friend turned NHL star—who’s back in town with his baby daughter and a heart full of old love. The chemistry between Dakota and Wyatt crackles like a Texas summer, with delicious tension that builds to a sizzling payoff. Wyatt’s dedication to winning Dakota’s heart is swoon-worthy, and the story’s emotional depth makes it more than just a steamy romance. Highly recommended for fans of heartfelt second-chance love stories and strong, independent heroines!

This was the perfect slow burn, friends to lovers summer romance! Wyatt has always had eyes for Dakota but she’s only ever seen him as her best friend. But this summer, Wyatt is changing that.

She’s a grumpy girl and he’s a golden boy which is a trope I love so much. She’s a bull rider and he’s the NHL hockey star. And he’s the single dad to the cutest little girl.

I enjoyed Wyatt’s inner monologue, especially when he thinks about his girls. And don’t get me started on his bossy side that comes out at the right time 😉

I will definitely be stocking this book 🤗

I loved this story but there were some things that made me so mad. I cannot stand Dakota. She is so oblivious to the fact that Wyatt is in love with her even after she was told.

I was head-over-heels for this book! It had me kicking my feet in pure delight with all the witty banter, just begging for that swoon-worthy kiss to finally happen!

It was jam-packed with the most hilarious and heart-melting moments ever. Cowboy romance tangled up with hockey romance? Sign me up! A single dad with a heart as golden as a sunset? Absolutely! Fingers crossed the next book is Willie and Alanna, because I'm betting on the most hysterical enemies-to-lovers banter. Also I’m craving banana pancakes and a prickly pear margarita now.

Homebound by Meredith Trapp

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 2/5 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Atria Books, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Homebound is such a fun read! A small town, cowboy romance that has tons of banter, heart, angst, and love. The slow burn is amazing and the friends to lovers trope was incredibly well done. Their history and memories together work to strengthen their bond and make their romance even more heartfelt!

Growing up, Dakota and Wyatt were inseparable. But a lot has changed over the years and Dakota hasn’t heard from him in years. Wyatt is now a hockey star and Dakota is a bull rider and leaves men with broken hearts. Dakota mainly has one-night-stands and avoids anything serious, but when her childhood friend comes back into town and moves into her barn with his daughter, everything changes. Wyatt’s back to get the woman he’s been in love with for years and he’s doing everything to get her to see him as more than a friend.

Dakota and Wyatt are such a cute couple! The yearning, angst, and slow burn are some of the best aspects of the story. Also, love how strong and tough the FMC is! Overall, a super entertaining, lighthearted read!

Tropes:
- Cowboy romance
- Single dad
- FMC bull rider
- Forced proximity
- Black cat x golden retriever
- Childhood friends to lovers
- “It’s always been you”

my first ARC and let me tell yah, it was gooooood, so sweet and fluffy and honestly right up my alley.

eeks
- SHE’S the cowgirl (bull riding queen)
- he’s obsessed and she’s oblivious which is just so sweet
- ooohhh I wish you could see my notes and highlights because I was giggling and blushing
- the tension throughout the whole book was phenomenal, but it was also dynamic as their relationship changed
- I typically have pretty big critiques about pacing but this one was perfect to me

icks
- he’s two years younger than her (just a personal preference)
- i’ve yet to find an author that writes baby talk well, so it just kinda brings me out of the story when a 12th month old is saying crazy things but this may also just be because I specialize in speech acquisition.
- a bit repetitive, words wise- I feel like I hear the same 3 or 4 phrases over and over. I had many moments where I was like… “didn’t we say this already? In the exact same wording?”


3.5 rounded up!! will be looking forward to more books by this author ESPECIALLY if we’re getting a sasquatch and barbie story (iykyk). This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a sucker for a good rodeo! I’m a sucker for a story about a stubborn tough woman! I’m a sucker for best friends becoming lovers! I’m starting to love sports romance and this book was just the perfect mix of rough, rugged and sweet & gentle!