4.5 Stars

I sent a request for this book on NetGalley because of its beautiful cover, and man am I happy that I did that! This book was sooo cute, small town, single dad, and with an incredible side of it’s always been you!

3.5/5 stars | 3.5/5 on the spice-o-meter
(But that outdoor shower scene? Ma’am.🔥)

Let’s get real, ladies—yes, we all love a morally grey love interest, but sometimes it’s the genuinely good guys who steal the show. Homebound gives us just that in Wyatt Patterson: a small-town, soft-hearted hockey player-turned-single dad who gives, supports, and shows up in all the best ways. He’s the kind of man raised by strong women, written by a woman, and clearly for the women. And did I mention he’s a girl dad? Yeah. Swoon.

Set in the charming small town of Granite Falls, Texas, Homebound follows Dakota “Kodie” Cutler, the fearless and fiercely independent bull rider known as the Cowboy Killer (yes, you read that right), and Wyatt, her childhood best friend turned once-in-a-lifetime love. Now back in town with his daughter in tow, Wyatt is ready to fight for a second chance. Their story unfolds with all the emotional tension and heart-squeezing moments you’d expect from a second-chance romance, but with the added grit of past heartbreak, personal growth, and a healthy dose of small-town meddling.

Kodie is a total standout—a strong female lead who’s as emotionally guarded as she is physically fearless. Watching her open up, especially in the face of Wyatt’s unwavering tenderness, was genuinely satisfying. Their chemistry is the perfect balance of emotional intimacy and slow-burn heat (again, that shower scene).

This was a fun, feel-good read that worked well as a palate cleanser. It’s book two in the Boundless Players series, but you can read it as a standalone—though book one seems to lean more into the hockey romance lane, if that’s your jam.

If (when) Meredith Trapp writes Cruz’s book, I will be first in line. That man is giving main character energy and I am ready.

Tropes you’ll love:

Single dad
Childhood friends to lovers
“It’s always been you”
Small town romance
Black cat x golden retriever pairing
Cowgirl (okay, bull rider) x pro athlete
Forced proximity

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

4⭐️ the second I found out the fmc was a bull rider I knew I needed to read this!

This was such a great cowboy romance! I was actually a little worried the first few chapters because I wasn’t automatically connected to the writing and the characters but as the story progressed I ended up loving it! Wyatt Patterson!! This man is the sweetest guy, he’s a single dad to a one year old girl and has been in the friend zone with the fmc Dakota since they were little.

The tension these two had that developed with each chapter was incredible! There’s a scene at the bar with some dancing that had me literally sweating from the tension! It’s always the quiet guys 🤭

Really enjoyed this one and I’m hoping we get an Alanna and Willie (not Nelson) book in the future!

🐂 bull rider fmc
🐂 hockey player mmc
🐂 single dad
🐂 childhood friends to lovers (he is very much in the friend zone)
🐂 “it’s always been you”
🐂 black cat x golden retriever

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is a small-town western romance between a cynical female bull rider trying to make it as a professional and an optimistic single-dad hockey player who moves back home for the summer. After years of pining, he is ready to leave the friend zone and try to win her heart.

I liked Wyatt as the MMC. He was the boy next door who had a crush on Dakota, the FMC, since they were kids and spent years PINING. He was very sweet, caring, and a great dad to his little girl. I loved the dynamic between them and how, initially, Wyatt was awkward and easily blushed around Meredith, but once he started dialling up the charm, the tables turned, and she was flustered.

I also like how the author subverted tropes commonly seen in these small-town western romances, where the FMC is the bull-rider and the player instead of the MMC.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read; I rate it 3.5 stars.

If you love the following tropes, consider reading this:

• small town
• western
• single dad
• grumpy sunshine
• friends to lovers
• a three-legged pooch

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to review the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Small town romance
Forced proximity
Single dad
He falls first
Friend to lovers

In this slow burn romance, Wyatt and Dakota were childhood best friends, until he got his heart broken and didn’t return. He’s always loved her but it was never the right time to reveal his true feelings and then she got engaged to someone else. But the engagement is off and she’s staying in his family’s converted barn. It’s the perfect opportunity to swoop in and get what he’s always wanted. Her.

It was indeed as SLOW burn. Things didn’t really get exciting until the second half of the book, and while I found Wyatt swoon worthy, Dakota annoyed me. 3.5 stars rounded up.

““So, five times the man, huh?” he teases. “It kind of sounds like you’ve got a little crush on me, honey. When did that happen?””

Have I mentioned that I love a single dad!? God, Wyatt, the sunshine golden boy, yeah I’m gonna need me one of those. I really liked this story! I mean a girl bull rider!? This book intrigued me from the beginning! I loved Dakota and Wyatt’s story and thought this was a quick fun western romance!

Tropes:
🤠Single Dad
🤠Dual POV
🤠Slow Burn
🤠Childhood Best friends

♾️ read right here!!!!!!

I don’t know how I’ll ever get over this book! I was hooked from the first chapter and it only went up from there! The pinning, the yearning, the BEST first kiss ever written on a page!!!

I am so obsessed with Wyatt and Dakota’s love story it might honestly be one of the most romantic love stories I’ve ever read.

Wyatt Patterson has got to be the sexiest MAN I’ve ever read. And I’m not just talking about looks. He is the TOTAL package, what a man what a man! Top tier single daddy, son, teammate and friend.

Dakota “Kodie” Culter is known as the “Cowboy killer” bull rider. What a baddie. Dakota is one hell of a woman. She’s a strong willed independent woman who’s a freaking BULL RIDER!!!! She’s so cool I’m obsessed with her!!! Dakota is known for her “scowl”. She’s rough on the outside, but soft on the inside. She only shows her true self for HER people.

There’s something about a man who actually believes IN you, supportive AF and hopes that his daughter grows up to be like Dakota 🥹 literally so sweet and knows what he’s doing in bed. I mean they barely had spicy time in a bed 😉 that outdoor shower was a side character in of itself IYKYK.

One of my favorite things about Wyatt is that he was raised by lesbian moms and chose to raise Vienna on his own. That is such an undertaking and he does a wonderful job.

The yearning and pinning between these two is off the CHARTS!! And when they actually get together oh wow their chemistry is everything! I’ll be thinking about this book for quite some time I’m that obsessed..


Tropes:
🧡 Small town
🤍 Slow Burn (and the ride is oh so good getting there)
🌵 Best Friends to Strangers to Lovers
🧡 Forced Proximity/ Roommates
🤍 Sick/Comfort
🌵 Bull Rider x Hockey Player
🧡 Single Dad
🤍 NO 3rd act breakup
🌵 Black cat x Golden Retriever

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for letting me read this amazing book in exchange for an honest review!

Firstly, I loved the cover. It was a big motivator in trying it out.

Homebound has all the ingredients for a compelling second chance romance: a bull rider heroine with a tough exterior, a single dad/NHL player hero, and a long history of friendship and heartbreak between them. Meredith Trapp clearly put a lot of care into this story, especially in addressing emotional safety and including content warnings upfront—a thoughtful touch I really appreciated.

There are some strong elements here: realistic, practical moments about shifting a friendship into something romantic, a hurt/comfort sex scene that some readers will find touching, and positive LGBTQ+ representation through Wyatt’s moms. These details reflect the author’s heart and intention.

That said, the book didn’t fully click for me. I struggled to feel the emotional connection between Dakota and Wyatt, and the writing style—more show than tell—made it hard for me to get grounded in the characters’ inner lives. The sex scenes didn’t have the sizzle I was hoping for, and I often found myself wanting more depth and emotional nuance.

While Homebound wasn’t quite my match, readers who enjoy second chance romance, single dad dynamics, and slow-burning emotional transitions may still find a lot to appreciate here.

5⭐️/2.5🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and Altria as always for this book!!

BIG Meredith Trapp fan here. I read this book last year and was VERY excited to see it being rereleased!! So happy for Trapp. Please read this book!

Dakota and Wyatt are SO dreamy. This is such a fun cowboy/bull riding, second chance, friends to lovers, single parent book.

Dakota is a rough and tough bull rider working the circuits while Wyatt is her childhood friend who’s now a single dad. He comes back to visit his family and runs into Dakota where they see the sparks are as present as ever. He’s not ready to give up on winning her heart, and will do everything to prove it 🌶️👀


-second chance
-single parent
-friends to lovers
-down bad man (I love him)
-it’s always been you (he had a ring at like 14 😭😭😭)
-outdoor showers 👀

DNF @ 36%
I feel like second chance romances or books in general where the characters have known each other for a long time, need to have chapters thrown in from their past. That might only be a me thing (so if you don’t feel that way you may like this!) but I felt a disconnect from the couple because all we are getting is mentions of him loving her since he was 8. Okay why? I need to know why he’s been yearning for her for so long and feels like she’s the only one for him. If I had felt any kind of chemistry between them I might have been able to root for them without the flashbacks but I didn’t so it was hard to feel anything for them.
Wyatt seems like a great dad but he kinda gave me the ick with a few things he said.
Then there’s Dakota. I 1000% get that he hurt her by ghosting her but imagine loving someone since you were a child and have them publicly referring it as “a little crush” and not realizing it was more. I just didn’t feel like she could ever be into him as much as he seemed to be into her so I felt bad for him but he also needed to take a hint.

Shout out to Luna Tuna! I have a half black lab named Luna as well so that was a fun surprise.
If you’re a fan of cowgirl/friends-lovers/he fell first/single dad tropes and can get over there not being any flash back chapters, you may want to give it a shot it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review!

Homebound follows Dakota Cutler, a female bull rider, and Wyatt Patterson, her former childhood friend.

After three years away playing professional hockey, Wyatt returns to their small Texas town, now a single dad, with hopes of rekindling their old friendship and maybe turning it into something more. As Dakota faces her fears, both in the arena and in matters of the heart, she must find the confidence to chase her goals and open herself up to love.

I really liked the MMC, Wyatt, and how grounded and respectful he was. He’s the kind of MMC who truly values women, shows up consistently, and brings that quiet, steady charm. He knows what he wants! And it’s her.

The slow-burn tension was so good. I loved being able to watch Dakota and Wyatt reconnect and rebuild their friendship. It was sweet to watch Dakota discover what had always been in front of her. But, when the slow burn was done, it went from 0 to 100 fast!

I liked that the ending was this nice full circle moment that really tied it all together. As a West Coast city girl, it was fun to escape into a small Southern town and into the shoes of a cowgirl.

I would’ve loved a few flashbacks to their early friendship—seeing when Wyatt started falling for Dakota would’ve made the emotional arc even stronger. Personally, I would have loved a bit more tension and yearning on Dakota’s end.

Overall, the writing was simple and easy to read—accessible for most readers. But every now and then, there were moments of more poetic prose that felt a little out of place. They didn’t always match the tone of the rest of the book and sometimes felt a bit unrealistic coming from the characters.

You might like this book if you’re into:
•Spice!
•Childhood friends to lovers (“it’s always been you” kind of love)
•Southern small-town vibes
•Gentleman MMCs + Single dad trope

I think about this book allllll the time. The outdoor shower scene??? PLEASE. You don’t see very many female bull riders in books and I LOVED Dakota so much!!!

Netgalley Arc Review

Oh this book!

The relationship between father and daughter...soooo perfect!

Dakota and Wyatt were meant for the stars! Those two needed each other like they needed air.
there was no other way around it. Wyatt knew what he had to do to get his girl.

book rating 4.5
spice 3

Thank you Atria and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read Homebound in advance!

I loved this book! I think I just found another cowboy romance author! Thank you to atria books and net galley for send me this read as an arc read, it’s was exactly what I was looking for! I was completely hooked from the very first chapter and I know others will to be too. This was such a well written cowboy romance and I can't wait to read more from this author.

—ARC Review from NetGalley—

“You gonna put me out of my misery and flirt back?”

I really enjoyed this book. Is it the most well written or unique? No. But I’m here for the simple enjoyment of the story. The slow burn with Wyatt and Dakota was perfect. I’m not normally the biggest fan of the It’s Always Been You trope, but they felt so tender and sweet towards each other that I didn’t mind.

I did love that SHE was the bull rider. I’ve read my fair share of cowboy romances but this time she was the one in the saddle. The single dad trope was there but not overused and just made him feel even more squishy towards all the women in his life (daughter and moms included).

Bonus points for the lack of a third act breakup.

Rating: 5/5
Spice: 3/5

This romance novel offers a heartfelt and engaging story that draws readers in with its emotional depth and chemistry between the main characters. The author does a great job building tension and connection, creating a relationship that feels both passionate and believable. The plot moves at a comfortable pace, balancing romantic development with personal growth and conflict. Whether you're a fan of slow-burn stories or love-at-first-sight tales, there's a lot to enjoy here. The setting and supporting characters add richness to the narrative, making it a well-rounded and satisfying read. Perfect for anyone looking to get swept away in a love story that lingers after the final page.

This was a cute friends to lovers cowgirl romance. I loved the overlap with the hockey romance.
Wyatt and Dakota are so spicy while balancing parenthood and being supportive partners. Loved!

I think this book was pretty great. I love a single dad, but to make Dakota (the FMC) the girl he always loved was something special.

I wish we saw a little more of Wyatt’s hockey life. It seemed kind of like it took a back seat in this book. But I didn’t really mind it.

Dakota really was an interesting take on a bull rider. I’ve read plenty of books where the MMC was the bull rider but not the FMC. I think Meredith did her justice.

If you like a southern gentleman with a dirty mouth, and a badass FMC who scares men (but in a good way) I’d pick up this book when it releases.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the advanced copy of this book.

As a hockey loving, PBR watching horse girl, this book was a dream come true! Even the cover has a chameleon on it, and I have one as a pet. I could not devour this fast enough. Wyatt is a NHL heart throb who returned to his hometown with his daughter with the goal to win back his first love. The only issue is Dakota has not forgiven him for ghosting her and seeming to forget to tell her he became a dad while he was gone. Dakota cares about one thing and one thing only, and thats getting into the PBR. The last thing getting in her way is Wyatt and his kid and his city boy hockey lifestyle. Forced to live together, they realize they are gonna have to get over their issues real fast. As "the Cowboy Killer" struggles to stay on a bull, Wyatt takes over her training and she takes over mother duties with his daughter. All while trying to navigate feelings that have been brewing since they were in elementary school. This is the ultimate kick your feet, warm and fuzzy feelings read and having it be my 2 favorite sports made it even BETTER!

I’m a sucker for a good cowboy romance, but this wasn’t one of my favorites. Dakota and Wyatt had chemistry, but I needed a little more tension from them.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.