Elsie and Beau are married high school sweethearts. Elsie is a ballerina and after a carreer ending injury she loses her dream and starts to lose herself but after finding out she's pregnant she finds a new purpose, until she miscarriages.
After so many lost she doesnt feel like she deserves her husband so she asks for a break. After months of trying to heal they end up meeting in a bar. and that meet up ends up in a new pregnancy.
I felt bad for Elsie... for the way she didn't think she deserved anything good and so bad for Bea... the way he didn't know what to do to get his wife back. The way they slowly went back to understand each other. It's not more stars for me because I would I have loved more yearning/chemestry. And I would have loved a few flashbacks. Cant wait for the next ome

So cute. I absolutely loved getting to know Elsie and Beau in the is read. The accidental pregnancy trope has never really been for me; however I felt that it was done fairly well here. the only thing I wish we had gotten was more tension and emotion pulling from the characters. Quick, cute, easy read. great palette cleanser.

This was such a beautiful story. I posted and tagged the author in a TikTok video because of how much I loved this book. I gave a 4.5 stars because of how much emotion this gave me. Madison Wright did such an incredible job with the story. It is Second Chance marriage and the accent of a pregnancy trope. Usually, I don’t like that trope, but I feel like she did it right. This series I know I will read the whole thing, and I am excited to read more from this author.. I personally have felt the marital issues that Elsie felt and separation finding yourself but maintaining your love of your husband. I felt this story through and through, and highly recommend this book

• ARC REVIEW •
• NOT OUR FIRST RODEO: BY MADISON WRIGHT •
• ELSIE & BEAU•
•⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️•

First and foremost I would like to thank Madison and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity.

Welcome to Lucky Stars Ranch! This is the first book by Madison that I have read and I am so happy with it! I knew as soon as I saw the tropes that I would really enjoy this book! Beau and Elsie are just the sweetest, and the way that this is like my all time favourite trope, gahhh I was so excited for this book and I'm so glad it was fantastic!

Elsie is going through some internal struggles, and finds herself distancing herself from the one person she wishes she didn't have to, her husband. So when she leaves the bar with him, resulting in an unexpected pregnancy, she is forced to piece back her feelings, and let Beau in.

- Accidental Pregnancy
- Horse Trainer x Ballerina
- Second Chance
- Marriage in Crisis
- Found Family
- Horse Trainer x Ballerina

Lets first talk about Elsie! She believes she isn't good enough and an inconvenience to others, but she is anything but! She is so loyal to Beau and her students, and I am glad that she finally was able to eventually see her worth in everyone's life. The way this women has the strength to get herself better before she really felt like she could be herself was something I can relate to! Her inner struggles and anxiety is defiantly something I can relate to.

The man that is Beau Jennings. I thought Elsie was loyal, but this man..... Ohhh lord. He never gives up on Elsie and he knows exactly how to handle the situation. The love for his wife is just so special and the way he makes sure she knows that he is there, he is there to support her in EVERYTHING.

Watching Beau and Elsie become close again was so special. They not only grew closer as a couple but grew as individuals as well. And watching them become parents was extra special. Especially after what they had been through.

I did find Elsie hiding her feelings so sad. That she had to hide away to deal with them, but I was so glad that Madison did include how much Elsie hiding herself away and distancing herself hurt Beau. It really showed his feelings and gave us a little into his side of things! I would have liked to have seen the yearning, the tension, the heartbreak a bit more, so that I could feel them getting that connection a bit more.

The side characters are also so amazing!! I'm so excited for this series to continue!!! I'm so excited to read more from Madison. Please check TW and CW before reading xox

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Prima di tutto, devo ringraziare NetGalley per avermi concesso l’opportunità di leggere questo ARC. Non avevo mai avuto modo di scoprire le opere di Madison Wright prima d’ora, ma posso dire con certezza che questa autrice mi ha conquistata completamente. Il suo modo di scrivere è così autentico e toccante che ora non vedo l’ora di esplorare tutto il suo mondo.

Tropes:
Marriage in crisis
Surprise pregnancy
Second chance romance
Small town romance
Found family
High school sweethearts
Horse trainer x Ballerina
Anxiety representation

Elsie pensava di avere tutto sotto controllo: una brillante carriera come ballerina, un marito che l’adorava e un futuro che sembrava solido. Ma la vita ha i suoi piani, e quando un terribile incidente mette fine ai suoi sogni di danza e una perdita devastante spezza il suo cuore, Elsie si ritrova a dover affrontare un dolore che non credeva possibile. La sua reazione? Allontanare tutti, perfino Beau, l’amore della sua vita dai tempi del liceo. Tornata nel Montana, nella sua piccola città natale, Elsie cerca di ricostruire i pezzi della sua esistenza insegnando danza e vivendo nell’isolamento che crede di meritare. Ma basta un momento di debolezza e un incontro con Beau e improvvisamente si ritrova di fronte a una nuova gravidanza che la costringe ad affrontare tutto ciò che ha cercato di evitare.

Elsie è tutto tranne che perfetta, ed è proprio questo che la rende così reale. Ex ballerina professionista, si ritrova a dover ridefinire completamente la sua identità dopo l’incidente che distrugge la sua carriera. I traumi che ha subito (vi metto già qui i possibili trigger warning del libro, cioè un infortunio professionale e un aborto) la portano in un vortice di ansia e depressione che l’autrice descrive con una sensibilità straordinaria. Ciò che più colpisce di Elsie è la sua lotta interna: vuole essere forte ma si sente fragile, vuole comunicare ma non riesce a trovare le parole, vuole essere amata ma si convince di non meritarlo. Il suo percorso di guarigione è tortuoso e realistico, senza scorciatoie magiche o trasformazioni istantanee. È una donna che deve imparare di nuovo a fidarsi, a mostrarsi vulnerabile e a credere che il futuro possa riservare ancora gioia.

Beau Jennings è letteralmente un sogno: paziente, comprensivo, devoto e con un amore che sembra indistruttibile. Ama Elsie da quando erano adolescenti e continua ad amarla anche quando lei lo allontana, rispettando i suoi tempi ma non rinunciando mai alla speranza. Quello che lo rende speciale è che non cerca di “sistemarla” o cambiarla, ma semplicemente le sta accanto, pronto a sostenerla quando è pronta ad accettare il suo aiuto.

Elsie e Beau hanno una storia lunga e profonda (sono sposati da un decennio e si amano dai sedici anni) ma devono reimparare a stare insieme dopo tutto quello che hanno passato. Il loro amore è fatto di piccoli gesti e durante il corso della storia Beau impara a leggere i segnali di Elsie, a capire quando ha bisogno di spazio e quando invece ha bisogno di essere abbracciata, mentre lei deve imparare di nuovo a lasciarsi amare e a credere che il loro amore possa sopravvivere a qualsiasi ostacolo.

Ho amato scrittura dell’autrice, che è riuscita ad essere cruda quando serve ma anche tenera ed è riuscita a trattare argomenti delicati come il lutto, l’ansia e la perdita con una grande sensibilità.

Madison Wright ha creato qualcosa di speciale, un libro che vi farà piangere ma vi lascerà il cuore pieno di speranza. È una lettura che consiglio a tutti coloro che amano le storie dove i personaggi sono imperfetti ma reali, dove l’amore non risolve tutto ma può dare la forza per affrontare qualsiasi cosa.

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First of all, huge thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC! I hadn’t come across Madison Wright’s work before but I can say I’m now a big fan. Her writing is so raw and moving that I honestly can’t wait to dive into more of her books.

Tropes:
Marriage in crisis
Surprise pregnancy
Second chance romance
Small town romance
Found family
High school sweethearts
Horse trainer x Ballerina
Anxiety rep

Elsie thought she had it all figured out: a thriving career as a ballerina, a husband who adored her and a future that looked bright. But life had other plans, a tragic accident ended her dancing dreams, and a heartbreaking loss left her emotionally shattered. Her response was to shut everyone out, including Beau, the love of her life since high school. Back in her small Montana hometown, Elsie tries to piece her life back together by teaching dance and living in the kind of isolation she believes she deserves. But one impulsive moment with Beau changes everything. Now she’s pregnant, and suddenly forced to face everything she’s been avoiding.

Elsie is far from perfect, and that’s exactly what makes her so compelling. She’s trying to redefine who she is after the accident that took everything from her. The trauma she’s experienced (i’ll include the potential trigger warnings here: injury and miscarriage) sends her into a spiral of anxiety and depression and the way the author handles these topics is incredibly sensitive and real.
What stood out to me most was Elsie’s inner struggle. She wants to be strong but feels broken. She wants to open up but doesn’t know how. She wants to be loved but convinces herself she’s not worthy. Her healing journey is winding and realistic, without magical shortcuts or instant transformations. She’s a woman who must learn again to trust, to show vulnerability, and to believe that the future can still hold joy.

And Beau Jennings? An actual dream man. He’s patient, kind, steady and the way he loves Elsie feels completely unconditional. He’s loved her since they were teenagers and even when she pushes him away he never stops hoping. He doesn’t try to fix her or rush her. He simply shows up, again and again, ready to support her when she’s ready.

Elsie and Beau have a long, complicated and beautiful history. They’ve been married for ten years and have loved each other since they were sixteen. But after everything they’ve been through they need to learn how to be together again. Their love lives in the little things. Beau learns to read her silences and Elsie learns to trust that love can last, even through the worst of it.

I really loved Madison Wright’s writing. It’s emotional and honest with the perfect balance of tenderness and grit. She doesn’t shy away from hard topics like grief, anxiety, and loss but handles them with so much care and nuance.

This book will break your heart in the best way and then slowly put it back together. It’s a powerful, emotional read I’d recommend to anyone who loves stories about imperfect people, where love doesn’t solve everything but can give you the strength to face anything.

I really enjoyed this one!! This is a new author to me and it will not be my last book by her. Second chance, small town and found family. Some of my literally fave things all wrapped in one. Beau was so caring and I truly love that man. Highly recommend this book

This book surprised me in the best way. I’m not usually a fan of the accidental pregnancy trope, but the way the author approached it, especially alongside the emotional weight of miscarriage and healing, felt really thoughtful and respectful. The focus on grief and the fear that can come with pregnancy after loss was handled with care, and I appreciated watching the main character work through that while also reconnecting with herself.

One part I struggled with was how Elsie had kept so much of her emotional pain and struggle from Beau over the years. Considering they had been together since they were young, it was hard to believe he had no idea what she was going through. That made it difficult for me to fully connect with their relationship in the beginning, and I found myself wanting a little more emotional tension or build-up to make their reconnection feel earned.

That said, once Elsie started facing her emotions head on, her vulnerability came through in a very real way. I also really appreciated how the story acknowledged Beau’s feelings. His grief and pain were treated as just as valid, which added a lot of balance to their journey.

While I did enjoy the overall story, I found myself wanting a stronger turning point or emotional peak in the second half. The pacing felt a little too steady and could have used more impact toward the end.

Still, this was a heartfelt and emotional read with strong themes of healing, growth, and love. I am glad I gave it a chance, even with a trope I typically do not enjoy.

I love this take on a "Second chance romance" and accidental pregnancy trope. The author did a beautiful job of hitting on miscarriages and how the you overcome that fear while handling another pregnancy. I really enjoyed experiencing the FMC find herself again and in turn, healing her relationship with the MMC. For those looking for a closed door romance, this is the perfect read! I gave it 3 stars because I do wish there was a little more of a tipping point/climax in the second half of the book but the story in all was a very fun read. I am extremely excited to see what the author does in the next book of the series as I can already see a fun, banter-full relationship between the MMC's brother and the FMC's best friend.

I'm super picky with my second chance romances, there has to be a good enough for them to break up in the first place, and believable enough character growth for them to reunite or I'm out; Not Our First Rodeo had both!! I laughed, I cried (a lot tbh), I swooned and I totally fell in love with Elsie and Beau.

The cowboy/ballerina trope is one I didn't know I needed and the sheer HEART in this story is just beautiful. I was obsessed with how sweet and understanding Beau was and every 'Elsie baby' just melted me that little bit more. This felt super real, and I'd honestly recommend to anyone who loves a small town/cowboy romance and isn't afraid to get the tissues out!

dnf @ 24%

I wanted to really love this book because I've loved second chance romances and marriage in crisis books as well as an accidental pregnancy (when done right), but this I could not handle. I've read one other book by this author and LOVED it, but for some reason, this felt like a completely different writing style and author who wrote it. It felt like a whole lot of telling and not showing,g and i don't love that in books. This was just not clicking with me, which makes me so sad.

Also, I was trying to be empathetic to the FMC in this book, but I genuinely couldn't really feel bad for her. I did not like her and i understood that she was depressed (had an injury that caused her career to be over, had a miscarriage) but when i read that her husband that she had been together/known for TEN YEARS had no clue that she had panic attacks was when I knew I probably wasn't going to finish it. I can understand that being vulnerable is hard and scary, but when you've been with this person for so long, you would think that is something he would know. however she genuinely just didn't communicate anything with him and knew i wouldn't be connected to the fmc. I probably could have pushed through for the mmc but she doesn't deserve him. she should go to therapy instead of just trying to handle it all by herself.

This was a great second chance romance with a cowboy twist. Elsie and Beau were such good characters and I think the difficulties in their relationship were handled in such a real way. I also really loved the representation of anxiety, panic attacks and mental health. The setting of the ranch was lovely and I hope we get to return!

Cowboy x ballerina = sign me up

Through most of the book, I found Elsie’s reasons for pushing Beau away to be a little strange. I could understand if the two of them hadn’t been together since they were teenagers, but for her to hide panic attacks from him for a decade AND him to have no idea she was having them is kind of wild. Because of this, I did struggle a little bit with their chemistry, specifically in the beginning. I think we get that first scene that is very angsty, but I could have had a little more angst.

I liked how raw Elsie was when she was finally coming to grips with her struggles. This was written in a very impactful way. Although I think Elise needs to see a professional for the trauma and grief she’s gone through. And I do appreciate Cooper being very blunt that Beau’s feelings were equally as valuable as Elise’s - and that Elise was able to realize this as well.

I love a second chance romance, and this one was unique in the aspect that they’re still married, but overcoming immeasurable grief and figuring out how to fit back into each others lives. And I love love love the big found family vibes that this family gives off.

This was good! I enjoyed it, and I think it covered the topic of miscarriages in a gentle, but real and raw, way. I wanna know what Cooper was up to with his spread sheet. What is going on between him and Jade. I think I would obsess over their romance if there’s a second book coming.

Not Our First Rodeo
4.5 stars!
I loved this book! Second Chance is one of my favorite tropes; and I haven’t read one quite like this one! The vibes were always positive, it was such a happy, uplifting story! The resilience of the FMC, and the determination from the MMC, I loved every part of it! I love how they both weren’t giving up on the love they knew was still there, and that everyone was so supportive of it. The MMC was truly one of the best, and so patient with her. The FMC was one of the strongest I’ve read, and I loved them both so much!! I love that the grief they shared was transitioned into something so beautiful and they were able to make their bond stronger rather than claiming it as a forever empty piece. Truly such a beautiful book, with such an amazing plot!

This book was an easy read – and who doesn’t love a cowboy romance?

I found the plot quite original, particularly the existing marriage and accidental pregnancy trope, which is relatively uncommon in my reading experience.

At times, I did struggle to warm to the female main character, but I appreciated the way her difficult journey was written. I loved the male main character from the very beginning!

Thank you to NetGalley, Madison Wright, and the publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I absolutely loved this book. From the very first page, Not Our First Rodeo had me hooked—emotional, raw, comforting, and deeply romantic. Madison Wright has written something really special here.

The connection between Elsie and Beau was everything. Their story is filled with so much heart, tension, and history—it made me feel everything. I was completely invested in their journey. Elsie’s struggles with anxiety felt so real and relatable, and the way it was written—without judgment, without over-explaining—was so refreshing. You could feel her trying so hard to hold everything together, and it just broke my heart in the best way.

Beau? Total dream. Supportive, patient, vulnerable—he’s the kind of love interest you don’t forget. Every time he called her “Elsie, baby,” my heart melted. Their chemistry felt natural, layered with both longing and love, and I was genuinely rooting for them the whole way.

I also loved the small-town setting and the sense of community—friends, family, the local drama—it made the story feel warm and lived-in. There’s so much tenderness in the way the characters show up for each other, even when things get messy. And oh wow, do things get messy. It’s not just a love story—it’s about grief, growth, letting go of control, and learning to open your heart again.

Five stars, no hesitation.
If you’re looking for a heartfelt second-chance romance with depth, healing, and unforgettable characters, this one should be at the top of your list.

First off I want to applaud the author for how well she wrote the struggles the fmc was facing. I liked how careful she was with handling that aspect of the story. Elsie is so well thought out and she felt so real that I felt so protective of her. When she talked about her feelings of failure in her life I couldn’t help but shed several tears. Beau is the man!! The way he was written was top tier! I loved how supportive he was (also his family). Even with Cooper I loved how Beau handled that. Although I did really like how Cooper made Beau a priority as well. I wish we went deeper into how Cooper was acting in the end but maybe that will be book 2? I would definitely recommend this book! So wholesome and very fast paced.

I loved every second of this book. I think I have a new book boyfriend in Beau!! This book tackled complex topics so well and I loved the progression of our FMC going from “tough” to “soft” - vulnerability isn’t something we always get and Madison wrote that so well. I can’t wait for more!

Absolutely loved this book. Cowboy romance say no more!!! Thank you for letting me arc read this book I really enjoyed it. Tropes second chance small town found family yes!!!

Not Our First Rodeo isn’t your typical cowboy romance despite the cover, this book leans heavily into emotional depth and complex issues like anxiety, trauma, and miscarriage. It was a much more serious read than I expected, but I appreciated the thoughtful handling of mental health and grief.

As someone who deals with anxiety and panic attacks, I really connected with Elise’s need to isolate. When your mind is spiraling, it can feel impossible to be around anyone even those who love you. That part of her character felt incredibly real. However, I struggled to have much sympathy for Elise overall. She clearly needed therapy, and her unresolved trauma made her selfish and emotionally distant, especially toward Beau. It’s hard to believe that after 10+ years of marriage, she never once opened up to him about her anxiety or the emotional aftermath of the miscarriage. Beau is written as deeply understanding and supportive, so that kind of emotional secrecy just didn’t feel realistic.

This is a heavy, introspective read that touches on real pain, but it left me feeling more frustrated than hopeful. I applaud the emotional depth, but I didn’t enjoy Elise’s character, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that Beau deserved so much more.

A cowboy/ballerina book wasn't something I knew I needed, but OH MY GOODNESS what a delightful read!

What makes books like these so special is that the whole world is fleshed out, and I need to see some stories from the side characters. I don't usually go for books that include a pregnancy trope or a bit of miscommunication, but I loved this!