grateful to NetGalley for granting me the e-ARC of this book.

this was my introduction to cowboy romance and i fear i can see the appeal now. there’s something about the setting, atmosphere and found family that keeps you hooked and while i’m not the biggest fan of contemporary romance, i really enjoyed this for what it was. i will say though, that some character behaviors felt a little unrealistic especially for a couple that has been together for over ten years. also, the fmc was kind of annoying and slow… regardless, this was a fun read and i’m actually excited for the books following the secondary characters of this book!

I am a sucker for a good cowboy romance and Madison Wright didn't disappoint.

This book dives in with some tough subjects but they are dealt with so well. It was an emotional journey, but I loved it all the same.

I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

2.5 stars

Okay, so I really wanted to love this one. Second-chance romance / marriage in crisis? Sold. But unfortunately this one just did not do it for me and I had to dnf just before the midway mark.

I kept waiting for some chemistry to spark between the fmc and mmc, but unfortunately I’m still waiting lmao. Their relationship felt awkward and the moments that were supposed to be heartfelt actually made me cringe. They read like a couple that have known each other 12 weeks, not 12 years.

The fmc clearly struggles with mental health issues, but her lack of communication with the mmc was infuriating. I wanted to feel for her, but I just couldn’t, I just ended up feeling sorry for him. Rather than rooting for the romance, I was rooting for the fmc to book in for some, clearly very much needed, therapy sessions.

Controversially, I quite like the accidental pregnancy trope but only when it’s done WELL, and sadly I didn’t enjoy it in this case. Also, it’s a minor error but there are timeline inconsistencies that really annoyed me; the fmc says the night she got pregnant was 3 weeks ago, then in the same conversation she says she’s five weeks pregnant??? As I said, it’s minor but it was all I could focus on lmao

Not Our First Rodeo by Madison Wright is a raw, emotional, and beautifully written second-chance romance that completely captured my heart. I was lucky enough to receive an eARC from the author via NetGalley, and I’m so grateful I did — because this book wrecked me in the best way possible.

This story dives deep into love, loss, and healing, touching on heavy but important topics like miscarriage, identity, and rediscovering your worth after everything you thought defined you has been taken away.

Our heroine had it all — a thriving dance career, a loving husband, and a bright future. But when an injury shatters her dreams and she discovers she’s pregnant, she clings to this new purpose… until that too is tragically taken from her. What follows is a heart-wrenching journey of grief, distance, and the painful ways loss can fracture even the strongest love. She pushes her husband away, believing she’s too broken to be loved — but he never stops fighting for her, for them.

Their road back to each other isn’t easy, and Madison Wright doesn’t shy away from the messy, uncomfortable emotions that come with rebuilding something that’s been through the fire. An unplanned pregnancy brings even more complexity to their journey, but also hope — a chance to create something new and even stronger than what they had before.

This book had me deep in my feels — I cried, I rooted for them, and I closed the last page with a full heart. If you love emotionally charged second-chance romances with depth and heart, Not Our First Rodeo is absolutely one to add to your TBR.

Absolutely smitten with Beau.

This book was so good, loved the storyline even though at some points in the beginning I was getting annoyed with the slight miscommunication from Elsie but she had her reasons so we let her off 🤫

Im sorry but Beaus dad opening up to him about his troubles before he was born when he knew Beau needed to hear it.. love that old man 👏🏼

This book has so many characters that I love we get a glimpse into potential books 😏

I think once I got to half way mark I finished this book within an hour! The ending was perfect for them.

Not Our First Rodeo by Madison Wright
Huge thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Book 1 in the Lucky Stars Ranch is Calling series introduces readers to a second-chance romance that is both raw and healing. Elsie Jennings thought she had it all—a ballet career, a devoted husband, and a future full of promise. But a devastating injury and heartbreaking miscarriage send her into a spiral of grief and isolation, pushing away the one person who’s always stood by her: Beau.

Now back in her small Montana hometown, Elsie is trying to find her footing again—teaching instead of dancing, surviving instead of thriving—until a single night changes everything. When she discovers she’s pregnant, she’s forced to face the past, the present, and a future she never saw coming. Beau never stopped loving her, and with quiet strength, he returns with the kind of steady, patient love that honestly had me swooning.

This story absolutely grabbed me by the heart. Elsie’s emotional journey—especially her grief, anxiety, and struggle with depression—was written with so much honesty and care. Knowing that the author has experienced loss herself adds even more depth to Elsie’s character and her healing. I saw myself in her—flawed, hurting, and slowly putting the pieces back together. Her growth was powerful, and by the end, I was completely undone in the best way.

And Beau? Let’s just say I’m obsessed. He’s everything: loyal, kind, patient, and the ultimate book boyfriend.

Grab your tissues for this one—it’s emotional, real, and so worth the read. A beautiful beginning to what I hope will be a long-running series full of heart.

Okay this book hands down was incredible
I've posted it in my tiktok page this is adorable I love the characters and their story I highly recommend it,
Easy and fun to read and gripping.

I really wanted to love Not Our First Rodeo. The premise had so much potential with its themes of grief, healing, and second chances. But unfortunately, it didn’t quite land for me. While I understood Elsie’s emotional struggle after her injury and loss, the reason for the marriage breakdown felt more like miscommunication than anything irreparable, which made it harder to connect with their separation.

I also struggled to feel the chemistry between Elsie and Beau. His love for her was clear, but their connection didn’t feel as emotionally charged or believable as I hoped. I appreciated the effort to explore grief and reconnection, but I never truly felt swept up in their romance.

If you love small-town stories and patient, soft-hearted heroes, this might still work for you. It just didn’t fully click for me.

thank you to netgalley for the arc

Finger licking good! This book made me feral! Cowboys romances are my kryptonite! Please give me more!! This book is up there with some of my favorite cowboys romances.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️

In this book, we explored Elsie and Beau’s marriage journey, as well as their grief, pain, and loss. Before reading the book, please read the trigger warnings at the beginning, as this book deals with miscarriage among other topics. For the most part, I liked this book. I always enjoy reading books that have lots of emotional trauma and their journey to overcome their obstacles. I think the author did a good job of taking us through their journey, but I do wish there was more on how Elsie was mentally feeling. I feel like throughout the book, I felt more for Beau and how he was struggling and trying to be there for Elsie while also trying to save his marriage with her. With Elsie, I felt more annoyed by the way she was treating Beau, even though I know she probably has a lot of trauma that was all kept inside her. I get it was multiple things, such as her miscarriage, the way her parents treated her, and her hiding her panic attacks from Beau.. but maybe if we gotten more of her POV when her injury occurred and her grief through her pregnancy loss, I could feel more of why she was mentally checked out and her journey of discovering herself again without the help of her husband. Besides that, overall, I think this is a good start to perhaps a series, as this book also has a good family foundation. I loved reading about Beau’s family and how protective and loving they are towards Elsie. 

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC!!

Can I give this 10 stars? Easily my new favorite read of 2025. Madison wrote this so beautifully. I also experienced an early miscarriage at 6 weeks and to experience it all over again was refreshing. Madison, thank you. I related to Elsie so deeply. Beau reminded me of my husband being so patient and understanding while I healed. This book will hold a special place in my heart as it relates to my own life experiences so much. Thank you

A perfectly sweet small town romance that warms your heart. We’ve got a horse trainer x ballerina, marriage in crisis, anxiety and panic attack rep, second chances, accidental pregnancy and grief tropes.

Elsie and Beau’s relationship is full of ups and downs. Elsie is dealing with a lot and her struggles eventually cause their relationship to fall apart but over time they manage to meet in the middle again. Beau never gives up on her, he’s the most patient and caring man ever. The way he gives her space, supports her healing and stands by her even when she pushes him away? I just loved this so much! Honestly we need more Beaus in the real world.

I loved their banter and how playful they were with each other! Even though the spice was closed door scenes, the passion between them was still palpable.

Also, Elsie being a ballerina really touched me, I used to dance too and ballet was a huge part of my life growing up. I always love stories that reflect that part of me.

Overall I really enjoyed the storyline! I flew through the pages of this book! I recommend it if you’re looking for an easy and heartwarming read!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Not Our First Rodeo explores grief, identity, and the complexity of life. This story had a lot going on with marital issues, pregnancy, and trauma. The premise was excellent, however there were moments where the execution lacked for me. I felt like readers were being told rather than shown too much which made it difficult to feel the chemistry or create a connection with the characters and their romance. I loved Elsie and her journey but felt like Beau played a background role rather than an equal love interest. That being said, Madison did an excellent job of handling the heavy themes of this book with care.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Gosh this book had me deep in my feels. A marriage in crisis turns into a surprise pregnancy and this begins the journey to reconciliation.

Elsie, my sweet anxious girlie. I wanted to shake her by the shoulders and tell her to share all her big feelings to Beau because that is a man that is going to love you no matter what. I get why she shut down - I’ve been there myself. But I wish she would’ve relied on her husband a little more.

And Beau Jennings, the man that you are. I wanted to fall to the floor every time he said, “Elsie baby.” I loved how he handled Elsie with such care, and gave her the space to work through her emotions.

I also loved how much Beau’s family loved Elsie despite their separation. The small town, found family vibes are really vibing in this one.

Thank you so much for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

I’ve really stepped into my cowboy romance era and I’m so glad to have read “Not Our First Rodeo”. It’s a second chance romance but not really and you know what? I liked that! I of course enjoy the courting period between two characters once they first meet but it was nice to skip that and get straight into this relationship that already has history.

While I enjoyed this read, I will say I didn’t love it. I love that the story tackled grief and loss. It did however make it hard for me to really root for Elsie. Why? Because of the massive miscommunication trope…and it’s my least favorite trope. I found it incredibly unfair for her to not consider her husband needing to grieve the loss of their pregnancy. They were both mourning. I think also I would understand it bit more if they were younger but they’d known each other since 16/17 years old. It felt odd.

Overall, this is a sweet read but not really a series I’d continue reading. This is the third cowboy romance series I’ve read and can someone explain to me why the microtrope of the FMC’s best friend ending up with the brother of the MMC (who also has a child) is in almost every cowboy romance series? It’s nice but in such a niche genre…it’s a bit much.

Not Our First Rodeo by Madison Wright completely swept me off my feet. I went in expecting a quiet second-chance romance, but what I got was an unflinching, tender exploration of grief, healing, and the kind of love that holds steady even when everything else falls apart.

This book hurts in the best way. Its portrayal of loss—particularly miscarriage—and how that grief reshapes your identity felt so achingly real.

I was especially drawn in by the raw depiction of Elsie’s loss—both of her baby and her sense of self. Her grief feels like a living, breathing part of her. It isn’t clean or linear. It’s complicated, layered, and deeply human. Elsie is hard on herself (sometimes painfully so), but that made her growth feel all the more earned. She’s angry and aching, constantly at war with herself—but it’s in that hurt and messiness that the real magic happens. Watching her slowly shed the coping mechanisms that once protected her—but now hold her back—was one of the most powerful parts of the story.

We’re given a narrator who, at times, is unreliable—not because she’s dishonest, but because her pain clouds her perception of how others see her. That was so beautifully and thoughtfully handled. Madison Wright explores these complex themes with such care while also making room for love, growth, and the comfort of coming home to the people who know you best.

And Beau? Actual. Saint. Status. He’s the kind of man who waits, who listens, who stays even when he’s hurting too. His patience is unyielding, his love unconditional, and his willingness to grow and reflect is humbling. I do wish we saw more of his internal emotional journey—because while I felt his pain, I wanted to see him heal too. His story at times feels secondary to Elsie’s, but I also think that might be intentional. Beau’s growth comes from learning when to advocate for himself, and knowing when it’s time to stop waiting quietly and start asking for more.

That said, the tension?? Off the charts.
The love?? Overflowing.
The way they show up for each other again and again—even when it’s hard, even when they’re scared—completely gutted me.

This is a story about coming home to yourself. About learning to love the person you become after the storm, even if they look nothing like who you were before. It’s about leaning on your people, letting yourself be held, and choosing love—messy, aching, beautiful love—again and again.

It balances grief and hope so well and reminds us that sometimes the most powerful kind of love is the one that stays—especially when everything else falls apart.

And while this book is absolutely about second chances, it isn’t just about finding second chances in love. It’s about finding second chances in life. It’s about being brave enough to show up for yourself—because it’s never too late to process your pain or make meaning of your past. It’s about seeing one door close and loving yourself enough to open the next one, even when you’re not sure you have the strength.

And it is absolutely beautiful.

I adored this book and will definitely be reading more of Madison Wright’s work. If you're in the mood to cry a little, feel a lot, and believe in love that endures—this one’s for you.

- Dual pov
- Marriage in trouble
- Anxiety rep
- Found family
- Small town romance
- Accidental pregnancy
- Horse trainer x ballerina


And with that, everything was set to work out, right?
Well...

An excellent story began.
Elsie was an anxious person who, after losing her dancing skills due to an injury and the loss of her son, pushed Beau, her husband, away because she was suffering and no longer knew who she was.

Beau is THE MAN, and despite loving her and not wanting to leave her, he did everything he could to help her get better, and if she needed some space, he gave it to her.
But he reached a point where he couldn't take it anymore, and one night at a bar, they met and get involved.
That night was more than one night, and Elsie got pregnant.
Now everything changes.

Or so it seemed...
Cause we're still with the same Elsie. While I understood her situation, I now find her just an irritating woman, with no feelings or concern for what Beau is feeling (he also lost a son, my friend!!).

Cooper wasn't lying when he said Beau deserved better!
He literally carried the book on his back, and I just kept reading because of him.

It was a good story idea, but it could have been better, and that makes me sad.
However, it was still an easy read. The writing is very good and fluid, and we don't even notice the pages fly by. Beau is PERFECT.
And despite everything, if the next book is about Cooper, I will definitely want to read it because I feel it has everything it takes to make a good book!

✨️Thank you so much to Netgalley and Madisson for this earc! ✨️

ＡＲＣ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ

“𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳.”

3.5 ★
2 ♥

Ｔｒｏｐｅｓ:
✧ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʀᴏᴜʙʟᴇ
✧ sᴜʀᴘʀɪsᴇ ᴘʀᴇɢɴᴀɴᴄʏ
✧ sᴍᴀʟʟ ᴛᴏᴡɴ sᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ
✧ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ
✧ ᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴘᴏᴠ

Ｔｈｏｕｇｈｔｓ:
It took me a second, but I did end up liking this. I wanted to like it more but I really struggled with the FMC Elsie and her reason for separating from the MMC Beau. It’s also a huge miscommunication trope that basically stems from Elsie’s immaturity so that was annoying to me. Beau is a great character and an amazing husband, and I think he’s what prevented me from DNFing. There’s a lot of repetition in the beginning that I also struggled with, but it got better towards the end. Besides Beau, there’s some other great characters that I loved - his brother, his dad and Elsie’s best friend. Overall, this came together in the end and I ended up enjoying it.

This book had some ingredients that caught my attention quickly: (former) ballet dancer, marriage in trouble and an accidental pregnancy. On top of everything, it had "my wife" and some good tension between the leads in the first few pages.

But the story went down a bit for me from the first half. The tension I was hoping for was fading and the chemistry felt slightly forced. I think what threw me off the most was their lack of communication about their emotions, despite their more than a decade long relationship. Also sometimes they felt more like friends than lovers. Lastly, the use of professional help to navigate their struggles would be elevated the story for me, but it was absent.

Hence, I am a bit disappointed that I didn't like it more.

I have been a long time fan of Madison Wright's and adored her books so much & this one is no exception. A marriage on the rocks but they get back together for one night only & accidentally get pregnant? Sign me up! Some of these tropes (accidental pregnancy, marriage on the rocks) are not always my fav but Madison did such a brilliant job with portraying them in the sweetest most loving way I absolutely adored them! If you're looking for a sweet cowboy second chance romance, this is the one for you!!