Rider's Block

by Waitlyn Andrews

You’d think after nearly a dozen successful books under my belt I’d know better than to write about a location site-un-seen. My attempt to break into a new genre gets denied. A lot. Aggressively? Exaggerating, sure, but it feels personal. The gauntlet has been thrown, and I can no longer avoid a trip to Cowboy Country. I will get this book published.

Heading to Colorado for three months of research is not on my bingo card for the year, but I somehow find myself in the home of Rodeo Royalty. Ideal for immersive learning, but a little less than ideal when I have a propensity to piss off the grumpiest cowboy in 100 miles. I know I’m imposing, he knows I’m imposing, but if I can just make it through the next three months without ticking him off further, that’d be great. And if we could make it through the summer without him drunkenly confessing his attraction to me—again—that’d be even better.

Serves him right for drinking my whisky.

xx, Ameilia Greene

Genres: Romance, Cowboy Romance, Westerns, Contemporary Romance, Slow Burn, Found Family, Forced Proximity

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2024

About the author

I'm a 30-something-year-old who misses the romantic optimism of a good '90s rom-com. Since I hope you'll read my books more than my bio, I'll spare you the run-on-sentences about who I am and give you some bullet points for what I'm about:

- HEA or I walk

- Strong female leads chasing a goal are more fun to cheer on

- Reformed Rakes do make for the best husbands, as Mrs. Bridgerton promised

- Miscommunication and cheating tropes make my skin crawl

- If I could live in a Nancy Meyers movie forever, I would. Specifically Parent Trap and Father of the Bride

- If I had to choose between the mountains or the ocean...I wouldn't. I love them both too much.

- I take the phrase “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies...The man who never reads lives only one.” a little too seriously. I live vicariously through my character's occupations

That should give you a fairly decent set of expectations for the kind of books I write. If you're still curious, well...read the books. :)

Reviews

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*


3.5 out of 5 stars!

If you're looking for a cute western romance read filled with clichés and sweetness with a city girl romance novelist fmc and a hunky cowboy grumpy looking mmc who's secretly a softie then look no further. ;)

The author’s note made me tear up a bit, not gonna lie. 🥲
————————
*Cue to 'Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)' song.* 🤭
I need more cowboy romance in my life!

[Natalia🌙 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley! I wanted to love this story so badly but ultimately it just fell incredibly short for me. We are following Mia who is living in California as a writer. Mia submits her book to several publishers when she gets feedback from one publisher after being denied multiple times she decides to actually listen and move to Colorado to a ranch to learn about cowboys and country life so she can have a accurate cowboy romance novel. She meets a guys named Eric and they have a spark instantly Eric likes Mia and he is extremely grumpy because of it. I personally just didn’t feel a romantic connection between the two, I felt like there was no tension and it just felt like we were learning about everybody else in the book. I mean by the 60 percent mark Mia still thought her and Eric were friends. It was just incredibly frustrating to me and I just didn’t connect how I wanted to.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waitlyn Andrews’ contemporary cowboy romance had me considering a one-way ticket to Colorado’s cowboy country!

Andrews was able to rope in this reluctant Western reader by combining my love of fiction with a cowboy romance. She took a disgruntled author on the rise and sent her on a writing retreat to the ranch of Rodeo Royalty.

Her rich setting with vivid descriptions pulled me in, but her layered characters who were loyal to their family and loved their land kept me reading. Andrews showed that beneath the gruff exterior and iconic Stetson, there was a loyal, chivalrous man who had great respect for his heritage and enough room in his heart to accommodate a depressed author.

Andrews knows how to wrangle our feelings, too! Her closed-door story had lots of heart and cowboy charm and I wondered how long it would take Amelia ‘Mia’ Greene to fall head over (red) boots for Eric Randall.

I smiled at the contents of Eric’s first aid kit, read in awe at the courageous and dedicated cowboys, and learned lots!

I appreciated Andrews’ examination of cowboy culture, how she was able to lasso a budding romance and give me insight into the road to publication. Her grumpy/sunshine contemporary western romance is one I’d recommend. No “fiddle-farting” - go preorder it!

*swearing (very few instances)

[ReneeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I might be in my cowboy era. I cannot get enough of swoony cowboy romance books and this one was right up there. I admittedly didn't realize this one has no spice in it, and I do tend to prefer my romance books with a bit of spice, but this one was still cute. At first I didn't really love Eric's character because there is being grumpy and then there is just being standoffish and I thought he was a bit too aloof. As time went on he definitely grew on me and the way he looked out for Emelia was wonderful. I do hate that his name was Eric but that is a personal preference!

Overall this was wonderfully done, and I look forward to reading more from Waitlyn Andrews.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 9/26/24

[Kailynn (slump 😔) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 “Yee-fucking-haw” stars 🤠

⭐️ 2.75 stars… I changed my mind

Tropes/What to Expect:
🧡 Clean Romance
🧡 Cowboy x City Girl
🧡 Grumpy x Sunshine
🧡 A song for each chapter
🧡 He calls her ‘Red’
🧡 One Horse
🧡 Slow Burn

Info:
1st person POV (h)
No owd
Light unwanted omd (flirty cowboy)
No cheating
No virgins (no manwhore/celibate H - 2 yrs at least)
No spice
No third-act breakup
Epilogue (1 yr later)
HEA


My Thoughts (good):

I adored how the author captured cowboy culture in such a genuine and real way. I have read some books that just did not seem to have given that particular plot point enough thought or realism. This portrayal was outstanding.

I loved how much thought the author put into this. You can really tell she put little parts of herself in the story, and it makes it even more unique.

It was really fun to learn about cowboy life, and be able to learn alongside Amelia. Basically, this book addressed every query I had while reading a western novel.

I was relieved that Eric was not an asshole because sometimes when I read about a grumpy MMC, he just turns out to be an asshole. (It was a little off-putting that he was such a jerk in the first few chapters, but he quickly changed his attitude.)

It was great that we readers did not have to read about the "boring stuff" and that the first few chapters moved quickly from her book being rejected to her arrival at the ranch.

I loved how much I was able to connect to the characters and even have a few happy tears. I loved Eric! And his relationship with his horse, Roper <3


My Thoughts (not so good):

I would have liked to see Eric’s POV, and I feel like it would’ve helped me connect with his character and understand him better.

I was not as engrossed in this as I had hoped. I felt like certain parts of the story were drawn out, repeated, and maybe a little unnecessary. Which made me want to skim a little and took longer for me to read. I am not quite sure why this did not really work out for me, though, because I thought the characters were great.

There was a little too much pushing away from Amelia for my liking. I don’t mind it normally, but it did seem weird that she was completely blind to all of Eric’s advances. We do learn where her doubts stem from, so I understand to a certain extent.

It felt more like a personal journey on learning to trust and gain confidence back than an actual romance? The plot also felt slow.


This was not my thing, but I can definitely see others adoring it! I still recommend this to certain readers! The book was safe, had good writing, good characters, and I liked the hard topics that were brought up. This rating is based on my personal enjoyment.

**Thank you, NetGalley, for this E-Arc in exchange for my honest review!**

———

pre-read:

I love a grumpy cowboy 🤭

[mads ꫂৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

➵ 2 stars

Unfortunately this one didn’t work for me. Initially I was intrigued by the concept but I found the execution lackluster at best.

I really struggled to connect with the characters and just wasn’t all that interested the storyline. It didn’t feel like we really got to know these characters. Their interests, likes, etc. While I did relatively enjoy their romance something just didn’t quite click for me.

I also wasn’t a fan of the pacing in this book. It just felt a bit off. I found the characters to be a bit frustrating (at times) because they just wouldn’t talk to each other. Plus there could’ve been more buildup and tension between our two leads. When they got together it felt a bit anticlimactic.

I did really like how this book wrapped up. Eric and Amelia had a very sweet ending to their story.

This was a very easy and relatively cute read. If you’re looking for a closed door cowboy romance among those lines then check this one out.

Special thanks to netgalley, publishers, and Waitlyn Andrews for providing me with an eARC. As always, all thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.

[Carly W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yee-fucking-haw

FIVE STARS! I don’t care if the plot and romance was predictable or if Amelia was accident prone and sorta basic!

We got not one, but TWO love stories and there wasn’t an unnecessary third act breakup, five stars alone just for that. Everything was wrapped up nicely and I’m satisfied.

Eric was swoon worthy and his little actions made me giddy. I love a grumpy cowboy who acts like he doesn’t care but everything he does shows he cares.

Amelia was extremely relatable! It was sometimes too much that she kept getting hurt, but who cares? Don’t lie, we all loved Eric caring for her every time an injury befell upon her.

Dean and Penny are so cute! I didn’t expect them to actually happen — maybe thinking they’d get their own book— but I loved it ! IM OBSESSED. Also the way Trevor worships Christine?! I need!

Thank you NetGalley:,)

[emily *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
such a cute slow burn cowboy romance!!!! when ameila an author is writing a cowboy romance she decides she needs some hands on experience- her friend offers for her to stay at her family's ranch in colorado. so she can do some research. being there she meets eric a wild cowboy who has a lot to show her about the rodeo life and farm life. they have insane chemistry but, mia is too guarded to let him in. luckily though eric is persistent and knows she is the one he wants. his family welcomes her with open arms and soon enough they are falling in love. this book was so so good and i truly enjoyed it.

thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this ARC!

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waitlyn Andrews has become a must-read author for me, following her swoony romance debut, YES, CHEF, and now with her first Western love story. And I usually don't read cowroms, but it's Waitlyn and I had to and I'm so glad I did! Contemporary romance fans will adore it too!

[Leonie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Riders Block.

Riders Block hooked me with the setup already – combine two of my favourite things, literature and country life, and that might just make me want to read your book. Sometimes there also is a little bit of curiosity in it, if the life in rural areas is portrayed in a believable manner and this book definitely put gasoline on this little fire burning in me, by presenting me with a female main character whose book just got denied by every publisher because it clearly showed she had no clue of life in the countryside. Call me curious!
We follow Amelia, an accomplished author who is trying out new styles and genres to write, descend into the ranch life in Colorado including living on a farm with a friend’s family. Found family, a ton of new friends on two and four legs later, she does find a little more than she bargained for.
The male love interest is of the grumpy, silent sort, who has some hilarious slip ups and weaseled his way into my heart a lot faster than into Amelia’s, that’s for sure.
The reader gets a glimpse into the country way of life, including rodeos, the work and perils around a farm and of course the absolutely over-romanticised version of everything.
Granted, I’m not an American country gal, but having grown up on farms, around every barn animal you can think of and riding more than walking, there were some things I found to be a little too over the top, even for a romance that is just trying to get you to feel that cosy, home-y feeling. One of those things is claiming that sharing a saddle with two grown ass adults is any sort of comfortable. Let me tell you, it is not and that’s a hill I’ll gladly die on. Ditch the saddle and we’re talking, but no one in their right mind and over the age of … let’s say, 8 years old, will ever say this is a comfortable thing.
Another thing a little too on the nose for me personally was the avoidant behavior of the female main character, as, granted, she did struggle with a lot of past experiences and while I do get the hesitancy she showed towards the love interest, the back and forth of her mind gave me whiplash: Either the MMC was doing way too much for her liking or a few seconds later, did not even show difficulty saying goodbye, which subsequently was not enough for her taste. The repetition of the same struggles over and over again without resolving any of this got a little bit on my nerves.
Repetition is a good keyword, as some of the phrases the author (the real one, not the fictional one) used, were a little to frequent for my taste. At times scenes I would have loved to experience with the characters were just skimmed over by giving a tiny summary within an internal monologue or just in a paragraph instead of actually taking the reader there. Furthermore, the parts where the female main characters just voiced her thoughts in an internal monologue but just putting a ton of short sentences into a paragraph did hinder my immersion at times.
This is, overall, a very cute country romance without spice but with a ton of lovable characters that will take your heart with ease. The author wants to provide a safe space with her books, where you get exactly what you expect and for me, she nailed that home-y, found family feeling, even if some parts did not work out for me perfectly, I would pick up another book of hers, anytime.

[er · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with a copy for review purposes!

2.5 ⭐

I really enjoyed the setting of the story, I had a great time for the first 30%ish of the book but then I started feeling like the story was stalling and there was no progression. Things got boring and repetitive pretty quickly, and the very detailed descriptions of random things didn’t help. Tha love story between the main characters is marketed as a slow burn, but I personally felt like there was nothing “to burn” because while the main mmc was trying to move forward the fmc was stuck and didn’t really show any sign of wanting to same things as the mmc.

That being said if you’re looking for a book that is more a journey of self growth than a romance and has cowboy vibes this might be your cup of tea!

[sydneysbookshelves2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calling all Chestnut Springs and Rose Hill lovers to their next cowboy read. Waitlyn Andrews might just be one of my new favorite writers. I ATE Rider’s Block up.

What I loved:
-Each chapter had its own song (chefs kiss!)!
-Eric & Roper. Their relationship is the true star of the show in my eyes.
-I like how Waitlyn goes in depth on explaining everything “cowboy.” Readers are learning alongside Amelia.
-I think it’s interesting seeing the thought process behind writing a book. Amelia struggles with writing her cowboy mystery novel. Throughout the book Amelia ‘learns’ through experience. I could only imagine this is similar to Waitlyn’s writing process.

What I didn’t like:
-chapter 36 didn’t have a song ☹️
-The book ended!! I would love to see this become a series!

[Phoebe (readandwright) Wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for my advanced copy! All thoughts are my own.

I love a cowboy romance and a book about writers, so when I saw this cover it was an immediate yes for me. This is a book that you just need to enjoy the ride and meet the characters where they are. I think I had a bit too high of expectations, especially not having read this author before, so it’s not a new favorite of mine but I I did enjoy a lot of aspects of it.

Synopsis:

“You’d think after nearly a dozen successful books under my belt I’d know better than to write about a location sight unseen. My attempt to break into a new genre gets denied. A lot. Aggressively? Exaggerating, sure, but it feels personal. The gauntlet has been thrown, and I can no longer avoid a trip to Cowboy Country. I will get this book published.

Heading to Colorado for three months of research was not on my bingo card for the year, but I somehow find myself in the home of Rodeo Royalty. Ideal for immersive learning, but a little less than ideal when I have a propensity to piss off the grumpiest cowboy in 100 miles. I know I’m imposing, he knows I’m imposing, but if I can just make it through the next three months without ticking him off further, that’d be great. And if we could make it through the summer without him drunkenly confessing his attraction to me—again—that’d be even better.

 Serves him right for drinking my whiskey.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Setting—I’ve been reading a lot of western/cowboy romances in the last year but have yet to travel to Colorado in one! I grew up skiing out west so it was so fun to return to the area and see it from a new perspective.

The Characters—I love a meddling family and a big cast of characters. I loved them all!

The Happiness—This book was fun, joyful, and a low stakes read. Sometimes, those are so necessary.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

The Pacing—While I loved the vibes of this book, the execution didn’t work for me. I felt like the pacing was all off so that we were on a rollercoaster of emotions for the sake of it, rather than for deep character reasons. It didn’t give fun “will they or won’t they” energy, it just felt like we were holding out for no reason. There were so many moments that felt like they came too soon at the top of the book and too late at the end. The tension was there but the reasoning for it wasn’t.

Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 2.5/5

Content Warnings:

parental abandonment, injury

[ameliasanthology · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any of my book friends know that I will SWOON for a cowboy romance, and Waitlyn Andrews’ Rider’s Block did not disappoint!

I was excited right from the start when I realized our FMC and I share the same name, and was really hooked on her backstory of trying to write her next best-selling novel.

Amelia is writing a cowboy romance, but is currently being turned down by publishers as her novel is lacking authenticity. What better way to make your novel more authentic, than to spend a summer with ranchers/athletes, learning everything about their way of life?

What I really enjoyed about this book was how everyone at the ranch immediately took Amelia into their family with open arms. Now, it took a little bit for our grump MMC cowboy, Eric, to realize he had been won over, but the love was there nonetheless.

This was very much a slow burn romance, but I appreciated that the book was equal parts Eric and Amelia falling for each other as it was Amelia learning to let her guard down and allow herself to be loved again. On the topic of romance, I also enjoyed that there was little to no smut in this novel besides a few kissing scenes, it really allowed us to watch Eric and Amelia build their relationship together.

This is perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, and reminded me a lot of being back in Chestnut Springs! I would love to see additional novels focusing on the other brothers and their lives.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and would read more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley for my free e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book had a great start to it, and I love a cowboy romance. I liked the couple together though I wish I got Eric's pov as well in this book. I didn't love the main character that much which is what brought the book down for me. She complained about getting a Prius, but that's not how renting a car works, you choose the car you want, you aren't just assigned a car. There were a bunch of little things like that that I found irksome about Amelia, and it brought down my enjoyment of the book.

I felt there was a missed opportunity with having Penny/Dean get together in this book, I felt like they easily could've had their own book for their romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Emily G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rider’s Block by Waitlyn Andrews is a sweet, cowboy romance, set in the backdrop of a Colorado ranch. Amelia’s journey to write a more authentic cowboy novel is fun to follow, and the side characters and small-town charm add some heart to the story.

That said, the romance itself felt a bit slow and lacked depth, especially since we don’t get much insight into Eric’s character. This was a closed door slow burn.

It’s an easy, feel-good read, but it didn’t fully pull me in. Great for anyone looking for a cozy, no-drama escape.

Thankyou to netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Erin Branscom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cutest cowboy romcom I’ve read lately. The perfect mix of dialogue, swoon, and humor that read like watching a movie. I had to go get the other book by this author as well. Excellent! Can’t wait to read more!

[Drey Blackbeak · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5✨️

Tiene cosas monas, escenas bonitas, pero al final me ha aburrido demasiado. Pasado un punto es una repetición de la misma escena una y otra vez, una y otra vez.

Y el romance no ha sido bueno tampoco. Él es un poco sieso y su dinámica es aburrida. A veces son monos, sí, pero no hay chica en su relación. No hay tensión, no hay nada.

Lo que sí que me ha gustado ha sido la familia, son graciosos (aunque muy pesados con lo de juntarlos. Basta ya, chusma)

[Book_freak]

September:
DNF at 33% unfortunately. This is so sad because i adored this author’s first book

I just wasn’t enjoying the cowboy setting, and the romance was pretty bland save for the red boots moment.

July:
September cannot come soon enough!!

[Lenaasty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grateful yeehaw for getting me out of a little reading slump 🤠

I really enjoyed reading this as it was my first cowboy romcom, and I loved the author's previous book sm. You can tell a lot of efforts were put into showing a realistic representation of the cowboy lifestyle, if you may, although I wouldn't know so it might just be crazy nonsense (and I wouldn't care if it was)

The meta writing was sooo fun, how the MC analyzed and commented what happened through a reader's perspective like the one bed trope etc, her writing process moments were really interesting and familiar for writers out there.

Sadly I didn't feel any butterflies for Eric, dont know if the name ruined it for me if he was just too soft for my taste but it lacked a little oumf to make him irresistible. For starters, his name is ERIC 🚶‍♀️ it's really hard to picture a hot guy named Eric (sorry to any Erics out there) add to that his silent but soft behaviour it didn't match what I expected from a cowboy love interest (even the one scene where he gets protective it lacked intensity and testosterone..... but maybe I think that because of my romance-reader addled brain)

I was just reading for the vibes really because the family and side characters are so cute and the setting is gorgeous (I'm obsessed with the horse--cowboy-ranch aesthetic leave me alone) so I still enjoyed the ride despite the love story feeling a bit bland and flat, too cozy and sweet for my taste (then again, I'm the type of reader who craves some drama along with the romance) not to mention the last 40% being all about navigating a long distance relationship with different expectations and fears etc which is very realistic but doesn't make me swoon at all, I start losing interest once the couples get together.

Right so as you can see this is a very personal take and heavily influenced by my personal tastes, it was a really good book and I love this author's writing. I heavily recommend Yes Chef, her first book, which was a 5 stars for me!


[Arc review, honest opinion]

[jensbooknookclub · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thought: Love,Love,Love! Hats off to Waitlyn once again she leave me with all the feels wanting more. This book does not disappoint, I binged it in one sitting it’s that good! If you want a swoon worthy cowboy romance with all the vibes run and add this one to your TBR now I promise it’s as good as the late 90/2000s romcom movies.

NY best selling author Amelia is trying to break out in a new genre of mystery but her book has been turned down 14times! So she’s scratching the bottom of the barrel and her last attempt will be do go do some field research. One of her besties has family that owns a ranch out in Northern Colorado and to her luck they have an open cottage she can stay in for the summer.

Now it’s time for this cali girl to immerse herself in the land of the cowboys! Before she even makes it to her cottage for the summer her rental gets a flat on the road there and she encounters the hottest grumpiest man aka cowboy she’s ever seen. Man of little words he fixes her tire and send her on her way. Little does she know he is one of 3 brothers running the ranch she’s staying at.

Amelia wants to make her time counts and absorb all the things so she’s quickly indcuted to the family and tossed into all things ranch life. Come follow her adventures as she gets the full cowgirl treatment, she may ever find a cowboy as she gains insights to rewrite her book.

This book has it all: horses, rodeos, storms, rattlesnakes, sunsets, forced proximity, family dinners, hot cowboys, found family and the perfect level of slow burn! Check it out when it Releases on September 26th, 2024!

Literally Themes you’ll find:

* Grumpy Cowboy x Sunshine Author
* Forced Proximity
* Drunken Confessions
* Cowboy & His Horse 😍
* All the Silent Acts of Love
* Slow Burn
* Single POV
* Only Kissing 💋


♥️🐂🐴♥️🐂🐴♥️🐂🐴♥️🐂🐴♥️🐂🐴♥️

https://www.instagram.com/p/DAEuKAGyd...

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me encantó. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Es mi primer libro de Waitlyn y definitivamente no será el último, ahora mismo voy por Yes, Chef.


Ameilia y Eric son personas tan opuestas, ella es sociable, amable y él es lo contrario o al menos eso es lo que quiere que todos crean.

Me encantó la evolución de Eric. Al principio me cayó mal, se me hizo un grosero y no tenía idea como la autora lograría darle un giro, pero lo logró y poco a poco lo vi con otros ojos.

Algo que también me gustó mucho fue que la relación se dio poco a poco a pesar de que los dos se gustaban, prefirieron conocerse como amigos, pero había pequeños gestos que revelaban sus sentimientos por mas que intentaran ocultarlos.

Ameilia tiene inseguridades por el abandono de su padre por lo que le cuesta creer en los hombre y se nota mucho en sus reaciones antes Eric. Algo que me encantó fue que esto no se "resolvió" mágicamente con el poder del amor, ella tuvo que trabajar con sus miedos, enfrentarlos, también ayudó que Eric le tuvo paciencia, entendió porque se se tía de esa manera y todos los días le demostró que no era y jamás sería alguien como su padre.


La escena del casco se me hizo tan linda porque refleja como Eric le demuestra que las opiniones y sentimientos de ella son muy importantes para él.



Sólo tengo una queja, ¿por qué contar toda la historia de Penny y Dean en lugar de hacerlo en su propio libro?


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Patricia Holloman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes when I sit down to read a book I truly need something that will lift my spirits, make me smile, and even forget the world is turning...sometimes reading is a much needed and loved distraction. This book totally fit the bill and left me feeling a sense of calm and comfort once I reached the end...and boy did I need it.

I thoroughly enjoyed the authors ability to weave a story that felt like a real life, something simple that was easily relatable. Mia was a character that felt like reading myself. She's been through some stuff, has some trauma, maybe is a little too introverted but is just out there living her life as a average contented girl when bam life throws a curveball and a sexy cowboy all at the same time.

Eric, well the best I can say there is SWOON...he is definitely NOT book boyfriend material, he is book husband material. I love that he is just an ordinary guy too, he's got some stuff he's dealing with, his kind, generous, maybe a little scared, an even a bit of an ass. He feels like a real guy though, someone that could actually exist in the real world.

I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to and I almost wish that the author hadn't wrapped everything up in such a beautiful package with the bow on top because I really would love to come back to this world and visit these characters again, see their stories and their lives unfold.

[Luis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was 100% sure that I would love this book, I mean, she is a writer, he is a cawboy, a wholesome found family, he fell in love first. And I have indeed loved it, but the men of this author have left me very high standards.
I don't know much about cowboys, so don't know how acurate is the author, but she has convinced me, and she made me feel part of this story from the first page. The atmosphere, the rodeos, made me need more books like this one in my life, it has become my new obsession.
One thing that I value very much is that it's not one of those stories in which their love interests fall in love, argue for nonsense, and reconcile to be together. We can see how the relationshipbetween them evolves and how they fall in love, and that makes this book more special for me.
Definitely I need everyone to read it so I can talk about it with more people.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cowboy romance set in Colorado’s countryside sparked an idealistic awakening in me! This was such a classic romantic comedy that involved not only the pairing of Erica and Amelia but also two other side characters that have you deeply invested. I loved the plot of her using the 3 month stay for research and ultimately it turning into a “found family” situation.

Eric, the broody and grumpy mountain of a cowboy turning into a romantic softy was also *chefs kiss*. I highly recommend this book if you are into having a good time and feeling the romance of a chivalrous cowboy.

Thank you NetGalley and Waitlyn Andrews for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Ashley DT · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my very first cowboy romance read, and I definitely get the hype. I need to read all the cowboy books right now! I just couldn't put this book down. The book playlist was perfect to set the ambiance for this read!

Amelia, a well known writer on her journey of getting a cowboy romance published, after many attempts the story just isn't right. So she goes and learns the culture for herself, while doing so she finds more than inspiration for her book! I loved watching Amelia find her place in the ranch, the development of all the characters and their stories, Dean and Penny are some of my favorite! I was swooning over the Randall brothers! Now I'd like to buy Amelia's book, I just know it turned out perfectly!

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow burn, author fmc, rancher mmc, forced proximity, he falls first, he takes care of her, closed door, the hat rule

I love this book. This is the most adorable, full of love book I think I’ve ever read. I stayed up way too late reading this book, definitely read it during work, and love everything about it. I am going to request stories of our favorite ranching family because I just want more.

I was very fortunate to read Waitlyn Andrew’s other book early, and the second she posted this book I requested it. I love how she sets her stories, it feels like I’m right there with the characters. I love how her characters are complex and grow through the book, and especially how they don’t sacrifice themselves and what makes them happy for the sake of a relationship.

[Kylie ve · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5⭐️
To any book besties that love cowboy romance, this book is for you!
This was definitely a slow burn romance but it captured them both falling in love at different times perfectly! I loved seeing Eric get out of his grumpiness and finally let Amelia in little by little. Honestly was adorable. And I loved seeing Amelia learn how to let people in and open up to the idea of romance being a good thing.
This was such a cute clean cowboy romance and I liked it so much more than I thought I would.
I also loved how welcoming Eric’s family was to Amelia and how much they took care of her! And the side characters were definitely my favorite, I loved them all!
I wish this was a series because it was so good!

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It tends to surprise me when I fall in love with a closed door romance. Especially when the chemistry is palpable so I just keep waiting for more than a kiss. Add that to a cowboy romance and I was beside myself. I really loved this story. This was the perfect grumpy sunshine love story. Amelia is a California girly through and through who goes to the plains of colorado only to find what she has always been looking for. Eric is a grump on the outside but man is he a sweetheart and softy deep down. Also can I please have Roper or Chester?

The adventures our characters had together, good or bad, made me fall for this family head over heels. I loved every second and wish I had more of this story!

[Steph Kreuzburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc of this book! I got it from the read now section and you should too. It’s launching September 26th.
Amelia has written quite a few books and met her financial goals. But now she wants to switch genres. She gets denied by publishers 14 times! She decides to do some more research on the subject and finds herself in Colorado. Eric Randall is a grumpy cowboy who helps his parents and brothers run the family ranch.

I loved the songs on top of the chapters, so I had to create the playlist to go with it! This book is a very sweet rom-com. Making this such an easy read. I loved the side characters Dean and Penny.