I am in my Cowboy Romance era, and I am loving it! This cover is stunning, absolytley gorgeous, and the characters in this book are phenomenal! This is a 4.5 for me, and I loved it because of the character description and development.
Dakota is a sassy, strong, take no prisoners kind of gal. She's living out her dream and working hard to get there, so much so that she has no time for a full on relationship.
Enter Wyatt, her lifetime best friend who is always and forever? in her friend zone. He has a precious daughter, and is back home for the summer.
I haven't read many or any single dad romances, but this was precious - Meredith did an excellent job with all these tropes!

- Cowboy romance
- Small Town Romance
- Single dad
- He Falls First
- SO much blended family representation, I loved this!
- Lady bull rider - HOW COOL?!
- Forced proximity
- Golden Retriever MMC
- Childhood Friends to Lovers
- No third act breakup - SUPREME!

This was a fun, quick, adorable read! Our FMC is self-deprecating at times, but who isn't? It made this feel so real and I love how the MMC balances and calmed her. They are a legitimately precious duo and the supporting cast was also very well done! I loved Alana, and I am hoping for a story, even a novella, about her and Willie!

Texas’ only female bull rider Dakota Cutler lives her life by her rules, and having experienced a career setback, she’s wanting to break into the Professional Bull Riders League. She has not time to make any lasting romantic commitments. Wyatt Patterson is a hockey powerhouse, who has always held a torch for Dakota growing up together.

*** Small town romance
*** Childhood friends to lovers
*** Single Dad
*** Reverse grumpy/sunshine
*** Cowgirl romance
*** The steam was steaming!

Really liked this one! Loved that our FMC was the one with a career as a badass bull rider. And hot single Dad Wyatt? Swoon! A fun and sexy novel: definitely recommend. I will absolutely be looking for future novels by this author.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

Nothing like a man knowing he wants to get the girl and doing everything to get her. Seeing the slow burn burning was amazing

This book was super unexpected because, for me, the whole he came back just to get the girl vibe seemed far, BUT THE AUTHOR IMPRESSED ME SO MUCH!!! 😍

Dakota is a strong, independent, and stubborn woman with a scowl who calls everyone "sugar"—agh, I need her confidence. She is ready to take on anyone who gets in her way, but Dakota wasn't ready for a MAN to be in front of her, basically on his knees, giving everything he has. PERFECTION. 😍✨

The slow burn was indeed slow, but it was needed. Dakota and Wyatt have known each other since they were little, so I liked the realistic angle of Dakota's POV: "Why am I thinking of Wyatt without a shirt... that's illegal." 🤭 Five freaking stars! I loved the giddiness and the swoon of this amazing duo, AND WE CANNOT FORGET WYATT'S DAUGHTER—so squishy and the perfect character to unite them. 💖

Lastly... the outdoor shower scenes, they were chef's kiss. 🤌🔥

Fav Quotes
"I'm f-- peacocking."

"Wyatt Dale Patterson. Are you flirting with me?" "Yes ma'am. I have been for a while now. You gonna put me out of my misery and flirt back?"

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

Tropes
✨cowboy romance
✨childhood friends to lovers
✨ single dad
✨ blackcat x golden retriever
✨ forced proximity
✨ no third act breakup

Thank you Meredith Trapp and Atria Books for giving me an eARC in exchange for my honest review

Thanks Atria for the arc.
I had read this book when it was still an indie release, and I’m glad it’s getting a traditional publication.
It’s the first book I’ve read and only one I know of that features a female bull rider, which is what caught my interest and made me pick it up initially. Although the mmc is a professional athlete as well (hockey), the focus in terms of their career is almost solely on hers. Which is a plus in my opinion. Oftentimes with books where they’re both athletes, or the mmc is an athlete, the fmcs career goals are not featured as much as the guy’s, at least in my experience. I liked the single dad aspect of it, and the childhood friendship to lovers as well. Their initial distance and their issues were convincing and understandable enough, and I think it was a solid story with a satisfying ending.

Y’all……
I absolutely devoured this beautiful book!!
Meredith Trapp just knows how to write a good romance book.
I was absolutely cackling throughout this whole book and kicking my dang feet in the air. It was definitely a grumpy sunshine but she was the grump and so spicy! The one liners were perfect.

We first meet Wyatt Patterson in icebound and now here he is in all his glory. He’s such a golden retriever, single dad, but also has no problem sticking up for his girls! Wyatt really was the perfect “it’s always been you” trope. Wyatt was absolutely obsessed with Dakota. I really liked that he never gave up on her and supported her through everything she set her mind to. Also he is such a great dad to Vi, made my heart melt seeing their interactions. I really liked the amount of importance this book put on parenting and what it’s like.

Dakota is a sassy takes no B.S. type of woman. I loved her character so much and could definitely relate to her and her struggles. I loved reading how her walls she’s built up so high started to fall and she started to trust so much more. Dakota has a hard and tough exterior but on the inside she is incredibly kind and selfless when it comes to people she loves. The determination on that girl is crazy high. Seeing the progress of Wyatt and Dakota mending their relationship and seeing Dakota soften towards Wyatt’s baby girl was so heartwarming and sweet!

And let me just say the side characters were absolutely hilarious. Cruz had me laughing so much with his conversations. Also I’m really hoping we get a Barbie/Sasquatch book

Dakota and Wyatt were once inseparable—until one summer, Wyatt just… stopped coming back. Now, he’s the NHL’s golden boy and she’s a bull-riding heartbreaker known around Granite Falls as “The Cowboy Killer.” She’s sworn off relationships, but when Wyatt shows up out of nowhere—with a daughter on his hip and eyes only for Dakota—things get complicated fast.

Wyatt is soft, steady, and absolutely smitten. Dakota? Stubborn, fierce, and rocking absolute confidence. The tension? Sign me up. The banter? I was giggling and kicking my feet. And the slow burn? Oh, it burns.

Watching Dakota try to figure out why she couldn’t stop thinking about a shirtless Wyatt had me howling 😂 Childhood friends to lovers just hits differently, especially when it’s laced with pining, growth, and a second chance at something real.

Man, this one got me all in the feels with Dakota’s evolving bond with Wyatt’s daughter. I teared up more than once. I absolutely freaking loved everything about Dakota’s brash personality and Wyatt was the perfect balance for her, and so supportive. I adore them, and this may be one of my favorite single dad romances ever. This bull-riding featured throughout was super fun to read!

•bull riding FMC
•single dad MMC
•Texas setting
•banter galore
•lovable side characters (Willie or Cruz better be the star of the next book lol)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

is there an option for a million stars? because OH MY GOD

meredith can’t write a bad book. I’m convinced. this was everything. one of my top reads of the year, and quite possibly one of my favorite reads ever.

wyatt is the ultimate book boyfriend, the greatest man to ever live, and the love of my life. my god, this man is incredible. justice for blonde MMCs has been served, on a silver platter, in the form of wyatt patterson. not only is he an incredible partner and man, but he’s the BEST dad and friend and it made me so fucking happy to see his relationships blossom on the page.

dakota is so strong and even with her cold shoulders, her heart is still so warm. she’s the woman that not only wyatt needed, but that vienna needed. seeing her bond with vi, his moms, his whole family and friends made my heart hurt in the best way and I couldn’t tell you how many times I sobbed.

the mentions of characters from icebound, the possible set ups for future books, the new town and people and relationships???? it was all sooooooo good!!!

this book was truly something else and I simultaneously needed to gobble it up and savor it. I need everyone to put this on their tbr, to read it, to talk about it, because I need to talk about it forever.

i’m so thankful to be a part of meredith’s ARC team and get an early copy of the indie version of this book! and to atria for an ARC of the trad pub version 🥹🫶🏻