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Whittaker Ranch #2
Kicking Up Dust
A rowdy bull rider finds his purpose again after a one night stand gone wrong in this spicy small-town, accidental pregnancy cowboy romance.
Colton Whittaker is a bull rider notorious for being the life of the party. The first to arrive and the last to leave, his beer bottle nor his bed are ever empty. But it’s all just a ruse. When the arena empties and everyone’s gone home, Colt finds himself on roofs across the country, and not just for the view. Life is becoming increasingly more meaningless, and though he’d promised his twin sister he’d never go anywhere she couldn’t follow, it’s becoming harder and harder to keep that promise with every night on the circuit.
Blair Marshall is finishing her senior year of college on a foster kid scholarship. Used to passing through place to place like a ghost, she never lets anyone close enough to see past her shy-girl persona. When she runs into a dimpled cowboy at the rodeo she and her friends visit one night, she expects a fun romp in the sheets and to disappear afterward, just like she normally does. Unfortunately, two pink lines on a test from the college pharmacy have her reaching back out to him a few months later.
When she breaks the news to Colt, she expects him to hightail it in the opposite direction as fast as he can, but he seems determined to stay by her side despite the hundreds of opportunities she gives him to leave. For the first time in Blair’s life, she finds a safe place to land and a family she belongs in.
He’s searching for a reason to live and she might’ve just given him the best one yet.
Kicking up Dust is perfect for fans of:
💚 City Girl x Cowboy dynamics
💚 Pierced MMCs
💚 Small town cowboy romance
💚 Accidental pregnancy drama
💚 A fun mix of sweet and spicy moments
💚 “And they were roommates”
💚 Anxiety & Depression rep
💚 “I’m only me when I’m with you” energy
💚 Series of standalones where every sibling has their own book
Colton Whittaker is a bull rider notorious for being the life of the party. The first to arrive and the last to leave, his beer bottle nor his bed are ever empty. But it’s all just a ruse. When the arena empties and everyone’s gone home, Colt finds himself on roofs across the country, and not just for the view. Life is becoming increasingly more meaningless, and though he’d promised his twin sister he’d never go anywhere she couldn’t follow, it’s becoming harder and harder to keep that promise with every night on the circuit.
Blair Marshall is finishing her senior year of college on a foster kid scholarship. Used to passing through place to place like a ghost, she never lets anyone close enough to see past her shy-girl persona. When she runs into a dimpled cowboy at the rodeo she and her friends visit one night, she expects a fun romp in the sheets and to disappear afterward, just like she normally does. Unfortunately, two pink lines on a test from the college pharmacy have her reaching back out to him a few months later.
When she breaks the news to Colt, she expects him to hightail it in the opposite direction as fast as he can, but he seems determined to stay by her side despite the hundreds of opportunities she gives him to leave. For the first time in Blair’s life, she finds a safe place to land and a family she belongs in.
He’s searching for a reason to live and she might’ve just given him the best one yet.
Kicking up Dust is perfect for fans of:
💚 City Girl x Cowboy dynamics
💚 Pierced MMCs
💚 Small town cowboy romance
💚 Accidental pregnancy drama
💚 A fun mix of sweet and spicy moments
💚 “And they were roommates”
💚 Anxiety & Depression rep
💚 “I’m only me when I’m with you” energy
💚 Series of standalones where every sibling has their own book
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2026
About the author
Cassie Truett
5 books120 followersWhen Cassie Truett was younger, she had a book with her at all times—sometimes two, usually three. She was constantly getting in trouble for reading instead of finishing chores, paying attention in school, or going to bed on time.
At 13, her love for reading birthed a passion for storytelling—first through fanfiction and now with the debut of Playing with Fire, releasing March 2026.
Outside of writing, Cassie is the proud mom of two cats, enjoys hand-feeding squirrels in the park, and is a chronic book collector. Her favorite tropes include hockey-playing MMCs, age gaps, and (naturally) cowboys.
For updates on the Whittaker Ranch series and beyond, follow Cassie across platforms at @cassietruettwrites
At 13, her love for reading birthed a passion for storytelling—first through fanfiction and now with the debut of Playing with Fire, releasing March 2026.
Outside of writing, Cassie is the proud mom of two cats, enjoys hand-feeding squirrels in the park, and is a chronic book collector. Her favorite tropes include hockey-playing MMCs, age gaps, and (naturally) cowboys.
For updates on the Whittaker Ranch series and beyond, follow Cassie across platforms at @cassietruettwrites
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
August 29, 2026
“One day, I’ll be strong enough to tell you how selfishly grateful I am to you. How I think the stars aligned perfectly for us to be here right now.”
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“ʜᴇʏ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏ ɢɪʀʟ” x ᴋɪᴘ ᴍᴏᴏʀᴇ
1:01 ───♥──────── 3:35
This is one of those books I had been looking forward to for what felt like FOREVER. I’d been following the author’s updates on Instagram, watching this one come together, and desperately hoping I’d get the ARC because it sounded so up my alley. So naturally, when I finally got to read it… I had EXPECTATIONS 👀
I will say though, i had a ROUGH start. There were a few things in the beginning that felt really unnecessarily pushy, and one particular thing was mentioned enough times that I was like, okay... I GET IT. 😭 It took me a little while to settle into the story because of that, but thankfully, things started going uphill pretty quickly after those initial irritations 😌
I really liked both Colt and Blair. Seeing what Colt was dealing with underneath everything genuinely made me sad, and I loved watching Blair give him the opportunity to pull himself out of that rut and find some purpose again. Colt especially had my heart. This man was ALL IN from the second he found out about the baby, and I loved that his excitement wasn’t just about becoming a dad. He genuinely wanted to show up for Blair, too. That made the surprise pregnancy dynamic feel so much more heartfelt because it never really felt like they were trapped into being together because of the baby.
Also, Colt? Biggest green flag. Supportive, attentive, caring… (pierced 👀) yeah Cassie... you understood the assignment 🤣
I loved how willing he was to take care of Blair, especially through all the pregnancy hormones and symptoms. Blair getting upset because this man basically had the audacity to BREATHE had me cracking up. 😭🤣 It felt so realistically written in those moments
My biggest struggle was their romance. I had a hard time believing how quickly they fell in love because I don’t feel like we actually got to SEE them fall in love. We saw them becoming closer through the pregnancy and living together, and then suddenly they were talking about being each other’s world, future babies, marriage, and forever. 😬 I needed more of the in-between. More moments where I could actually feel them getting there instead of being told they had gotten there. 🤷🏼♀️ I also wish Blair’s healing had been explored a little more deeply rather than having the resolution come so quickly at the end.
BUT despite those things, I genuinely adored this. I loved the characters, the small-town atmosphere, the little ranch-related baby-size updates at the beginning of each chapter, and all the little tidbits we got about the surrounding characters. And now I am VERY invested in Bailey and Chase. 👀 I’m officially putting my prediction in now that their book is going to be PINK🩷🫶🏼
favorite quotes ↓
“His arms feel more like home than any home I’ve ever lived in”
“Anytime you need attention, you tell me. I don’t care if it’s midnight or four in the morning, if I’m working or sleeping or anything in between.”
“A grown man who takes care of his mental health isn’t embarrassing. It’s hot.”
things to know about the book ↓
💚 surprise pregnancy
💚 ex bull rider x city girl
💚 he’s SO down bad
💚 roommates
💚 he’s pierced
💚 small town
💚 dual POV
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 2, 3, 16, 23, 31, 32, 35, 42, 44, epilogue
Thank you Luna Literary, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
❗️TW- If you don’t want spoilers don’t continue❗️
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
→ This book touches on: mention of abortion, on-page (almost) suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
august 29th- I GOT THE ARCCC!!! i've been following cassie's instagram and hoping so hard i get this!! i can't wait!! starting it ASAP 😝
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“ʜᴇʏ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏ ɢɪʀʟ” x ᴋɪᴘ ᴍᴏᴏʀᴇ
1:01 ───♥──────── 3:35
This is one of those books I had been looking forward to for what felt like FOREVER. I’d been following the author’s updates on Instagram, watching this one come together, and desperately hoping I’d get the ARC because it sounded so up my alley. So naturally, when I finally got to read it… I had EXPECTATIONS 👀
I will say though, i had a ROUGH start. There were a few things in the beginning that felt really unnecessarily pushy, and one particular thing was mentioned enough times that I was like, okay... I GET IT. 😭 It took me a little while to settle into the story because of that, but thankfully, things started going uphill pretty quickly after those initial irritations 😌
I really liked both Colt and Blair. Seeing what Colt was dealing with underneath everything genuinely made me sad, and I loved watching Blair give him the opportunity to pull himself out of that rut and find some purpose again. Colt especially had my heart. This man was ALL IN from the second he found out about the baby, and I loved that his excitement wasn’t just about becoming a dad. He genuinely wanted to show up for Blair, too. That made the surprise pregnancy dynamic feel so much more heartfelt because it never really felt like they were trapped into being together because of the baby.
Also, Colt? Biggest green flag. Supportive, attentive, caring… (pierced 👀) yeah Cassie... you understood the assignment 🤣
I loved how willing he was to take care of Blair, especially through all the pregnancy hormones and symptoms. Blair getting upset because this man basically had the audacity to BREATHE had me cracking up. 😭🤣 It felt so realistically written in those moments
My biggest struggle was their romance. I had a hard time believing how quickly they fell in love because I don’t feel like we actually got to SEE them fall in love. We saw them becoming closer through the pregnancy and living together, and then suddenly they were talking about being each other’s world, future babies, marriage, and forever. 😬 I needed more of the in-between. More moments where I could actually feel them getting there instead of being told they had gotten there. 🤷🏼♀️ I also wish Blair’s healing had been explored a little more deeply rather than having the resolution come so quickly at the end.
BUT despite those things, I genuinely adored this. I loved the characters, the small-town atmosphere, the little ranch-related baby-size updates at the beginning of each chapter, and all the little tidbits we got about the surrounding characters. And now I am VERY invested in Bailey and Chase. 👀 I’m officially putting my prediction in now that their book is going to be PINK🩷🫶🏼
favorite quotes ↓
“His arms feel more like home than any home I’ve ever lived in”
“Anytime you need attention, you tell me. I don’t care if it’s midnight or four in the morning, if I’m working or sleeping or anything in between.”
“A grown man who takes care of his mental health isn’t embarrassing. It’s hot.”
things to know about the book ↓
💚 surprise pregnancy
💚 ex bull rider x city girl
💚 he’s SO down bad
💚 roommates
💚 he’s pierced
💚 small town
💚 dual POV
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 2, 3, 16, 23, 31, 32, 35, 42, 44, epilogue
Thank you Luna Literary, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
❗️TW- If you don’t want spoilers don’t continue❗️
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
→ This book touches on: mention of abortion, on-page (almost) suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
august 29th- I GOT THE ARCCC!!! i've been following cassie's instagram and hoping so hard i get this!! i can't wait!! starting it ASAP 😝
September 25, 2026
4.5🌟 | 3🌶️
There’s something dangerous about pairing an accidental pregnancy with a reformed playboy who immediately goes all in.
This was such an easy romance to fall into, with the perfect mix of humour, chemistry, family chaos, and those emotional moments that sneak up on you. From the pregnancy shenanigans to the quieter moments between them, there was always something keeping me engaged.
Colt completely stole my heart. Beneath his playful, confident exterior, he was carrying so much, and watching him slowly find his way back to himself genuinely got to me. He was also the ultimate green flag with Blair, especially once the pregnancy brought them closer. His excitement about becoming a dad was never just about the baby. He wanted to show up for Blair too, and watching that care grow into something deeper was incredibly sweet.
The emotional side of their story really got to me, especially seeing Colt and Blair become each other’s safe place while finding their own sense of belonging. Their chemistry was fantastic, the spice was hot, and their banter had me smiling constantly. Getting more time with the Whittaker family made this even more special, and I’m officially even more attached to this fictional crew than I was before.
A funny, emotional, sexy cowboy romance that completely delivered for me.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Cassie Truett and Luna Literary for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
There’s something dangerous about pairing an accidental pregnancy with a reformed playboy who immediately goes all in.
This was such an easy romance to fall into, with the perfect mix of humour, chemistry, family chaos, and those emotional moments that sneak up on you. From the pregnancy shenanigans to the quieter moments between them, there was always something keeping me engaged.
Colt completely stole my heart. Beneath his playful, confident exterior, he was carrying so much, and watching him slowly find his way back to himself genuinely got to me. He was also the ultimate green flag with Blair, especially once the pregnancy brought them closer. His excitement about becoming a dad was never just about the baby. He wanted to show up for Blair too, and watching that care grow into something deeper was incredibly sweet.
The emotional side of their story really got to me, especially seeing Colt and Blair become each other’s safe place while finding their own sense of belonging. Their chemistry was fantastic, the spice was hot, and their banter had me smiling constantly. Getting more time with the Whittaker family made this even more special, and I’m officially even more attached to this fictional crew than I was before.
A funny, emotional, sexy cowboy romance that completely delivered for me.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Cassie Truett and Luna Literary for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
Cassie looked at the praise Playing With Fire received, and said - hold my beer.
Kicking Up Dust was so much more than a cowboy romance, it was a story of hope and belonging. In true Cassie fashion you’ll be laughing, then crying with their brand of balance you can’t get anywhere else.
Colton Whittaker is lost in a crowded room, and his loneliness is threatening to win until Blair takes a chance on a bull rider - just for a night. Only one problem, two pink lines and the universe making a judgment call turn one night into forever.
There are endless things to gush about, but for me it was just the bone deep chemistry these two had. And I don’t just mean sexually, don’t get me wrong these two are hot, but it was so much deeper than that. They were mirror souls and getting to read about them fall in love was bliss. The unplanned pregnancy allowed us to see a version of Colton that was downright dreamy, and see Blair grow in way I think we can all relate to.
Cassie does it again folks, the Queen of the heavy and the heat. This series is proving to be top tier cowboy romance, and we still have 4 siblings to go!
✨ Thank you so much Cassie for continuing to let me Beta read your stories, one day I’ll get to say I beta read for one of the big names in romance ✨
Kicking Up Dust was so much more than a cowboy romance, it was a story of hope and belonging. In true Cassie fashion you’ll be laughing, then crying with their brand of balance you can’t get anywhere else.
Colton Whittaker is lost in a crowded room, and his loneliness is threatening to win until Blair takes a chance on a bull rider - just for a night. Only one problem, two pink lines and the universe making a judgment call turn one night into forever.
There are endless things to gush about, but for me it was just the bone deep chemistry these two had. And I don’t just mean sexually, don’t get me wrong these two are hot, but it was so much deeper than that. They were mirror souls and getting to read about them fall in love was bliss. The unplanned pregnancy allowed us to see a version of Colton that was downright dreamy, and see Blair grow in way I think we can all relate to.
Cassie does it again folks, the Queen of the heavy and the heat. This series is proving to be top tier cowboy romance, and we still have 4 siblings to go!
✨ Thank you so much Cassie for continuing to let me Beta read your stories, one day I’ll get to say I beta read for one of the big names in romance ✨
September 13, 2026
This book was one of the better books I’ve read in the western romance genre lately. I absolutely loved the MMC. He makes a great book boyfriend 😍 I received this book as an ARC and I’m so glad because it introduced me to Cassie Truett as an author. I cannot wait for the next installment of Whitaker Ranch!
September 6, 2026
I. FREAKING. DEVOURED THIS. In what world was I expecting to be SOBBING at the end of this!? I will say Colton held the majority of the story for me, but he did such an exceptional job of it, I can honestly say my qualms with Blair ended up being insignificant. This family has such a chokehold on me already and this book just solidified how completely and utterly invested I am to see how the rest of their stories play out. I love that Cassie is giving us so much to love and look forward to in her debut series, I cannot rave enough about the Whittaker family and if Colton is a sign of how much I’m going to love the rest of them, I am in for a reallllll treat with the rest of the siblings. I can’t WAITTTTT. 4.5/5 stars!!!
::What to Expect::
•ONS
•Accidental pregnancy
•Bull rider x city girl
•Small town
•Found family
•SPICY
•Mental health rep
::What to Expect::
•ONS
•Accidental pregnancy
•Bull rider x city girl
•Small town
•Found family
•SPICY
•Mental health rep
July 6, 2026
BETA READ - ARC RE READ
The bull riding bad boy of the family is home for good and ready to be a girl dad no matter what it takes
Colton Whittaker has been a rolling stone not sure where his place truly is in the world. Finding himself facing his demons takes a turn when he hears from the one night stand that got away. Blair finds out she’s pregnant with Colt’s baby and knows she’ll have to tell him eventually- what she doesn’t realize is telling her will change the trajectory of both of their lives so much for the better. Having a home and a person to come home to makes life worth living 💚
Words cannot express my love for this story and these characters and this fictional world. Blair and Colt are both such sweet, special people who truly just need a little more love. Seeing them find home and safety in each other was such a beautiful journey and becoming a little family along the way. Also- naming their baby CLAIR because its Colt + Blair??? I die 😭
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You absolutely knocked this one out of the park, my girl!! So so proud of you and your author journey and honored to be alongside and apart of it in any way I can. Cannot WAIT for whats coming for the Whittaker siblings up next!!!
The bull riding bad boy of the family is home for good and ready to be a girl dad no matter what it takes
Colton Whittaker has been a rolling stone not sure where his place truly is in the world. Finding himself facing his demons takes a turn when he hears from the one night stand that got away. Blair finds out she’s pregnant with Colt’s baby and knows she’ll have to tell him eventually- what she doesn’t realize is telling her will change the trajectory of both of their lives so much for the better. Having a home and a person to come home to makes life worth living 💚
Words cannot express my love for this story and these characters and this fictional world. Blair and Colt are both such sweet, special people who truly just need a little more love. Seeing them find home and safety in each other was such a beautiful journey and becoming a little family along the way. Also- naming their baby CLAIR because its Colt + Blair??? I die 😭
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You absolutely knocked this one out of the park, my girl!! So so proud of you and your author journey and honored to be alongside and apart of it in any way I can. Cannot WAIT for whats coming for the Whittaker siblings up next!!!
Read
August 27, 2026Blair y Colt compartieron una noche. Después de despedirse, cada uno siguió con su vida pensando que aquello quedaría como un recuerdo más, hasta que el destino vuelve a ponerlos frente a frente cuando una prueba de embarazo da positivo.
Colt no puede negar que aquella chica de ciudad sigue rondando por su cabeza, mientras Blair descubre que volver a verlo despierta sentimientos que creía haber dejado atrás. Pero esta vez las cosas son diferentes y lo que comenzó como una aventura podría terminar cambiándoles la vida por completo.
___
Algo que me gusto fue que Colt no se curo con el poder del amor, sino que Blair y la bebe fueron un parteaguas para buscar ayuda profesional.
Gracias por el ARC.
Gracias Luna Literary por el ARC.
Colt no puede negar que aquella chica de ciudad sigue rondando por su cabeza, mientras Blair descubre que volver a verlo despierta sentimientos que creía haber dejado atrás. Pero esta vez las cosas son diferentes y lo que comenzó como una aventura podría terminar cambiándoles la vida por completo.
___
Algo que me gusto fue que Colt no se curo con el poder del amor, sino que Blair y la bebe fueron un parteaguas para buscar ayuda profesional.
Gracias por el ARC.
Gracias Luna Literary por el ARC.
September 3, 2026
♾️ ⭐️ | 3 🌶️
This will absolutely be one of my top reads of 2026 and is my new favorite accidental pregnancy book… I KNOW! High praise, and Kicking Up Dust absolutely deserves it. Colt and Blair and their story are so incredibly special.
Full review to come once I can get my thoughts together 🫶🏻.
This will absolutely be one of my top reads of 2026 and is my new favorite accidental pregnancy book… I KNOW! High praise, and Kicking Up Dust absolutely deserves it. Colt and Blair and their story are so incredibly special.
Full review to come once I can get my thoughts together 🫶🏻.
July 16, 2026
Kicking Up Dust Beta Review!!!!!!
10 mf stars 🫡 when I tell you we are witnessing the origin of a best selling author bitch LOCK IN.
Colt and Blair are the definition of soulmates. From Playing With Fire, I wasn’t 100% on Colt’s motives or maybe I just didn’t understand him yet. But at the end of PWF, we get some insight into the heart of gold he hides behind that fuckboy attitude. Blair is such a tender heart, I feel like we’re kindred spirits and I really loved how her story came together. I love stories where the main characters rub off on each other and Colt and Blair are a really good example of that. There’s so much nuance to how mental health and trauma are handled in this story, it’s a fucking masterclass in writing the human experience.
I cried my fucking eyes out a few times during this story (which low key I guess is just how it’s gonna be with every Cassie book lol) but that’s how you know it’s so good, it moves you. Colt’s mental health/SI were so hard to read, but it’s hard to read because of how realistic it is. The triggers are a necessity, but truly this book is a beautiful story showing how love helps, but it doesn’t fix all. How we can find our way back out of the dark, and we don’t have to disappear forever to find a better life. Again, bawled my fucking eyes out 20/10, will recommend for everyone. The spice was hot af too, and so cute. The way Cassie writes spice is so real and filled with the tender moments of an established couple being intimate, insanely sexy spice, and some quirky moments (courtesy of Blair’s curiosity lol). I could genuinely write a dissertation on this book and this series as a whole, because it’s that good. Playing With Fire changed my brain chemistry and Kicking Up Dust is gonna be burned into my brain forever, in the best way. You can read Colt and Blair’s story on September 8 on KU 🖤🥰
10 mf stars 🫡 when I tell you we are witnessing the origin of a best selling author bitch LOCK IN.
Colt and Blair are the definition of soulmates. From Playing With Fire, I wasn’t 100% on Colt’s motives or maybe I just didn’t understand him yet. But at the end of PWF, we get some insight into the heart of gold he hides behind that fuckboy attitude. Blair is such a tender heart, I feel like we’re kindred spirits and I really loved how her story came together. I love stories where the main characters rub off on each other and Colt and Blair are a really good example of that. There’s so much nuance to how mental health and trauma are handled in this story, it’s a fucking masterclass in writing the human experience.
I cried my fucking eyes out a few times during this story (which low key I guess is just how it’s gonna be with every Cassie book lol) but that’s how you know it’s so good, it moves you. Colt’s mental health/SI were so hard to read, but it’s hard to read because of how realistic it is. The triggers are a necessity, but truly this book is a beautiful story showing how love helps, but it doesn’t fix all. How we can find our way back out of the dark, and we don’t have to disappear forever to find a better life. Again, bawled my fucking eyes out 20/10, will recommend for everyone. The spice was hot af too, and so cute. The way Cassie writes spice is so real and filled with the tender moments of an established couple being intimate, insanely sexy spice, and some quirky moments (courtesy of Blair’s curiosity lol). I could genuinely write a dissertation on this book and this series as a whole, because it’s that good. Playing With Fire changed my brain chemistry and Kicking Up Dust is gonna be burned into my brain forever, in the best way. You can read Colt and Blair’s story on September 8 on KU 🖤🥰
July 20, 2026
Oh my god
Beta read / full review to come but oh my god
Immediate book hangover. I’m emotionally raw. I’m drained, I’m fulfilled, I need the next 4 books immediately.
I’m so excited for this book to be out in the world 💕💕💕
Beta read / full review to come but oh my god
Immediate book hangover. I’m emotionally raw. I’m drained, I’m fulfilled, I need the next 4 books immediately.
I’m so excited for this book to be out in the world 💕💕💕
August 17, 2026
4 ⭐ ⊹ 3 🌶️ ⊹ 307 📖
⁀➴ An emotional story about two people coming together and supporting each other as they become the best versions of themselves
⋆⟢ Tropes + Vibes:
💚 bull rider MMC
🤍 shy city girl FMC
💚 accidental pregnancy
🤍 small town
💚 big ranching family
🤍 nicknames
💚 mental health rep
⁀➴ Bookish Breakdown:
It feels so good to be back with the Whittaker siblings!! We really got to be up close and personal with so much of the family in this book since our leads, Colt and Blair, spend some time living in the Big House.
Seeing this new side of Colt, this fierce, caring protector was AMAZING! This man was peak girl dad from the moment he knew his little girl was on the way! I loved watching him care for Blair in every way she needed it. His patience with her as she processed her feelings was beautiful.
One writing aspect that I absolutely loved was Cassie’s excellent handling of the interconnected standalone aspect of this series. I feel like I don’t see this a lot in reviews, so I definitely wanted to mention. Since the books are happening across the same timelines in some cases, re-explaining scenes is necessary to get the POV for the characters in the current book. Cassie does this so incredibly well, hitting the moments in a way that if you’ve read the other book(s), you’ll remember exactly what happened in those scenes without feeling like you’re re-reading them. And, if you haven’t read them yet, you get enough of a taste to feel informed. Every time it happened I thought it was perfectly handled!
I’m so excited for more Whittaker sibling shenanigans in book 3!!
Thank you to Cassie Truett for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
⁀➴ An emotional story about two people coming together and supporting each other as they become the best versions of themselves
⋆⟢ Tropes + Vibes:
💚 bull rider MMC
🤍 shy city girl FMC
💚 accidental pregnancy
🤍 small town
💚 big ranching family
🤍 nicknames
💚 mental health rep
⁀➴ Bookish Breakdown:
It feels so good to be back with the Whittaker siblings!! We really got to be up close and personal with so much of the family in this book since our leads, Colt and Blair, spend some time living in the Big House.
Seeing this new side of Colt, this fierce, caring protector was AMAZING! This man was peak girl dad from the moment he knew his little girl was on the way! I loved watching him care for Blair in every way she needed it. His patience with her as she processed her feelings was beautiful.
One writing aspect that I absolutely loved was Cassie’s excellent handling of the interconnected standalone aspect of this series. I feel like I don’t see this a lot in reviews, so I definitely wanted to mention. Since the books are happening across the same timelines in some cases, re-explaining scenes is necessary to get the POV for the characters in the current book. Cassie does this so incredibly well, hitting the moments in a way that if you’ve read the other book(s), you’ll remember exactly what happened in those scenes without feeling like you’re re-reading them. And, if you haven’t read them yet, you get enough of a taste to feel informed. Every time it happened I thought it was perfectly handled!
I’m so excited for more Whittaker sibling shenanigans in book 3!!
Thank you to Cassie Truett for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
ARC Review: thank you to Cassie Truett and Luna Literary Management for sending me an advanced copy of Kicking Up Dust to read and review
I devoured this book!! Colt is such a likable. His struggles with mental health were so relatable and I appreciate the author for not shying away from covering difficult topics. On the outside he’s a flirty, cocky bull rider. I freaking love his hats with the sayings on them. I also love that he didn’t hesitate to step up when he found out he’s going to be a dad.
The dynamic between Blair and Colt’s family was so real. I love how Blair learned to see storms differently with Colt by her side. I love how he made her more comfortable exploring in the bedroom. Colt is bisexual and she made him feel so comfortable sharing that with her. There is so much to love about this book. It made me giggle and kick my feet, but it also had me a crying, sobbing mess, and to me that is one of the measures of a good book.
I devoured this book!! Colt is such a likable. His struggles with mental health were so relatable and I appreciate the author for not shying away from covering difficult topics. On the outside he’s a flirty, cocky bull rider. I freaking love his hats with the sayings on them. I also love that he didn’t hesitate to step up when he found out he’s going to be a dad.
The dynamic between Blair and Colt’s family was so real. I love how Blair learned to see storms differently with Colt by her side. I love how he made her more comfortable exploring in the bedroom. Colt is bisexual and she made him feel so comfortable sharing that with her. There is so much to love about this book. It made me giggle and kick my feet, but it also had me a crying, sobbing mess, and to me that is one of the measures of a good book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wowww every book by Cassie is just going to get better, huh?
I absolutely adored Kicking Up Dust. I saw so much of myself in Blair, and Colt made me cry. A lot. There were many all-caps messages and crying selfies sent while reading.
One of my favorite tropes is accidental pregnancy, so I definitely had high hopes for this book, but to say it exceeded every expectation is really an understatement. Blair’s pregnancy and birth were written with so much accuracy and care, and I truly loved reading every second of it. Colt’s mental health struggles were also handled with the utmost respect and broke my heart every single page. I love these two characters with my whole heart.
The spice was spicy, the humor was hilarious, and the serious moments were special and heart-wrenching.
I cannot wait to see what is in store for the rest of the Whittakers 💙
I absolutely adored Kicking Up Dust. I saw so much of myself in Blair, and Colt made me cry. A lot. There were many all-caps messages and crying selfies sent while reading.
One of my favorite tropes is accidental pregnancy, so I definitely had high hopes for this book, but to say it exceeded every expectation is really an understatement. Blair’s pregnancy and birth were written with so much accuracy and care, and I truly loved reading every second of it. Colt’s mental health struggles were also handled with the utmost respect and broke my heart every single page. I love these two characters with my whole heart.
The spice was spicy, the humor was hilarious, and the serious moments were special and heart-wrenching.
I cannot wait to see what is in store for the rest of the Whittakers 💙
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am in love with the Whittaker Ranch series and so happy to l got to read early because the wait was ramping up my anxiety, haha. To be completely transparent, I have been salivating over this book for months! Ever since Cassie started teasing with little teasers, tropes, sneak peeks and character art, 1 knew, hands down, that I wanted to read Colt and Blair's story.
And these MCs did not disappoint. They were the kind of down to earth, genuine characters | naturally gravitate towards and their story delivered on all fronts. I laughed, cried and went all weak in the knees just like our MCs do for each other.
I loved how unconventional their story began but also how gradual their romantic relationship grew. They had ups and downs but fought for their HEA. There is nothing better than a man who puts his family first and Colton really shined when he had Blair and baby bear in his corner.
Not to mention all the amazing side characters I'm becoming a little obsessed with! This story was an easy five star read. It was un-put-downable and l've already read it twice! If you enjoy the surprise pregnancy trope or the reformed playboy (turned baby mama obsessed!), I can 100% recommend
Kicking up Dust.
Please check trigger warnings as this book does deal with some heavy topics that might not be for everyone.
FAVORITE BITS
• Colton - I loved him. He was sweet golden retriever with a little spicy attitude!
Colton and Maddie airing everything out and finally being
honest with each other.
• Being "wilding upset about the history lesson regarding
And these MCs did not disappoint. They were the kind of down to earth, genuine characters | naturally gravitate towards and their story delivered on all fronts. I laughed, cried and went all weak in the knees just like our MCs do for each other.
I loved how unconventional their story began but also how gradual their romantic relationship grew. They had ups and downs but fought for their HEA. There is nothing better than a man who puts his family first and Colton really shined when he had Blair and baby bear in his corner.
Not to mention all the amazing side characters I'm becoming a little obsessed with! This story was an easy five star read. It was un-put-downable and l've already read it twice! If you enjoy the surprise pregnancy trope or the reformed playboy (turned baby mama obsessed!), I can 100% recommend
Kicking up Dust.
Please check trigger warnings as this book does deal with some heavy topics that might not be for everyone.
FAVORITE BITS
• Colton - I loved him. He was sweet golden retriever with a little spicy attitude!
Colton and Maddie airing everything out and finally being
honest with each other.
• Being "wilding upset about the history lesson regarding
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Colt is the ultimate mmc 🔥🙌
I laughed, I sobbed, and I feel like I'm part of the Whittaker crew 💛
Blair and Colt met briefly and from that night Blair ends up pregnant. When she finally decides to tell Colt, not expecting anything - he surprises her in the best ways 😭
Yall Colt is a reformed playboy who is such a golden retriever. He is playful, loves to be the jokester but he has his own battles. The way Colt comes into his own and the way his clouds clear and the way he treats Blair?!
You'll see why he's my favorite 🥹
And did I ugly sob reading? Hell yes. And that's why this book is a 6 star read for me.
I laughed, I sobbed, and I feel like I'm part of the Whittaker crew 💛
Blair and Colt met briefly and from that night Blair ends up pregnant. When she finally decides to tell Colt, not expecting anything - he surprises her in the best ways 😭
Yall Colt is a reformed playboy who is such a golden retriever. He is playful, loves to be the jokester but he has his own battles. The way Colt comes into his own and the way his clouds clear and the way he treats Blair?!
You'll see why he's my favorite 🥹
And did I ugly sob reading? Hell yes. And that's why this book is a 6 star read for me.
August 29, 2026
I will eat up a cowboy romance every single time and this one deeeelivereddd!!😍I was itching for the next book in this series! Down bad dirty talking cowboy✔️sweet romance✔️spice that was so freaking hot✔️I was not expecting this one to be so emotional but man was I was crying a few different times. If the MMC calls her pretty girl or mama and says “atta girl” I’m a puddle😮💨🥵
Colt is a bull rider where he meets Blair. They have an insane one night stand. When Blair discovers she’s pregnant she reconnects with Colt to tell him. When I tell you he is all in and down bad for her omg that man😮💨😮💨 I just loved them together. Their chemistry and banter were so good. The mental health rep was done so well. Colt struggles with depression, Blair struggles with anxiety and the way they helped each other and became each others person was😭
I love this found family and was so excited to be back with the Whittaker clan! And the way she left us with that ending😩I can’t wait for Bailey’s book! Def recommend this one! It’s book two in her Whitaker ranch series.
Thank you to Cassie and team for this gifted advanced copy🫶🏻
5⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Cowboy romance
Accidental pregnancy
Bull rider MMC x city girl FMC
Small town
Reformed playboy
Colt is a bull rider where he meets Blair. They have an insane one night stand. When Blair discovers she’s pregnant she reconnects with Colt to tell him. When I tell you he is all in and down bad for her omg that man😮💨😮💨 I just loved them together. Their chemistry and banter were so good. The mental health rep was done so well. Colt struggles with depression, Blair struggles with anxiety and the way they helped each other and became each others person was😭
I love this found family and was so excited to be back with the Whittaker clan! And the way she left us with that ending😩I can’t wait for Bailey’s book! Def recommend this one! It’s book two in her Whitaker ranch series.
Thank you to Cassie and team for this gifted advanced copy🫶🏻
5⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Cowboy romance
Accidental pregnancy
Bull rider MMC x city girl FMC
Small town
Reformed playboy
August 26, 2026
Thank you to Luna literary for this ARC copy!!
-Found family
-Men’s Mental health rep
-Accidental pregnancy
-Gentle fmc
Bisexual.pierced.cowboy…… if that isn’t enough to convince you, then let me just double that and say bisexual pierced cowboy who begs to go downtown. that should, do it :)
Ok no but seriously, this was worth the wait!! This whole family is the most beautiful amalgamation of silly, accountable and caring individuals I’ve ever read. I love that each of these people are flawed in ways that other characters can help them see past themselves. I truly feel like this story in particular was an awesome way to highlight characters we met previously and see them through new lenses of high stakes situations.
I absolutely loved colts journey through this, and don’t want to spoil literally anything about his journey bc I would truly be robbing you of the redemption arc that is his life. I think you should particularly read this just to see what they decide to name the baby. (Cassie you chewed me up and spit me out into Colt’s mouth for this!!!!!)
IS ACCIDENTAL PREGNANCY GOING TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE TROPES NOW???? What’s happening to me?!? (the only thing I didn’t like was the nickname he had for the fmc being so close to what he calls his mom)
-Found family
-Men’s Mental health rep
-Accidental pregnancy
-Gentle fmc
Bisexual.pierced.cowboy…… if that isn’t enough to convince you, then let me just double that and say bisexual pierced cowboy who begs to go downtown. that should, do it :)
Ok no but seriously, this was worth the wait!! This whole family is the most beautiful amalgamation of silly, accountable and caring individuals I’ve ever read. I love that each of these people are flawed in ways that other characters can help them see past themselves. I truly feel like this story in particular was an awesome way to highlight characters we met previously and see them through new lenses of high stakes situations.
I absolutely loved colts journey through this, and don’t want to spoil literally anything about his journey bc I would truly be robbing you of the redemption arc that is his life. I think you should particularly read this just to see what they decide to name the baby. (Cassie you chewed me up and spit me out into Colt’s mouth for this!!!!!)
IS ACCIDENTAL PREGNANCY GOING TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE TROPES NOW???? What’s happening to me?!? (the only thing I didn’t like was the nickname he had for the fmc being so close to what he calls his mom)
September 10, 2026
Kicking up dust was such a beautiful read, there were so many touching moments and some really sad ones it just put me through the wringer in the best way. I really enjoyed being back in this world! The spice was delicious, and ima need to read that bonus scene (iykyk) because, holy heck, these two were so hot. I loved the mental heath rep as well, but I will say please check the trigger warnings.
Colt, our MMC, holy hotness he was such a delight. He struggled with his mental health a lot in the beginning, and I felt so bad for him, but I am so glad he was able to get the help he needed. His caretaking vibes were so perfect he was just everything we want in an MMC. I loved how he was just all in on Blair.
Blair, our FMC, has had a hard life and I was really rooting for her, there were a few parts during this I felt so sad for her and how she was treated by other characters but her love of Colt was strong enough and she knew she was in the right. I loved them together so much, it was such a beautiful read!!
3 🔥
Colt, our MMC, holy hotness he was such a delight. He struggled with his mental health a lot in the beginning, and I felt so bad for him, but I am so glad he was able to get the help he needed. His caretaking vibes were so perfect he was just everything we want in an MMC. I loved how he was just all in on Blair.
Blair, our FMC, has had a hard life and I was really rooting for her, there were a few parts during this I felt so sad for her and how she was treated by other characters but her love of Colt was strong enough and she knew she was in the right. I loved them together so much, it was such a beautiful read!!
3 🔥
September 6, 2026
4.5 stars
What a follow up to a debut!!
Cassie’s writing has gotten better and better, this is my new favourite cowboy book.
Colt - my sweet baby angel. I love that he had so many layers. He wasn’t just a cocky playboy, he also had a lot of complicated and complex issues underneath that he hadn’t shared with anyone. His light at the end of the tunnel was Blair and I loved how she was a solid support for him without being pushy or nosey. Blair truly saves Colt and gives him a new lease on life. I love how this is shown through therapy and the open conversations he ends up having.
Blair was so sweet, I loved that she was a softer character. She had her own complexities and I wish we got to learn more about her life in the foster system to see how it had shaped her. I loved the realistic portrayal of pregnancy and that she had to learn her way in the Whitaker family. She found ways to be open and honest with Colt that really strengthened their relationship.
Read your trigger warnings because there is some heavy topics but they are treated with a lot of care and grace.
What a follow up to a debut!!
Cassie’s writing has gotten better and better, this is my new favourite cowboy book.
Colt - my sweet baby angel. I love that he had so many layers. He wasn’t just a cocky playboy, he also had a lot of complicated and complex issues underneath that he hadn’t shared with anyone. His light at the end of the tunnel was Blair and I loved how she was a solid support for him without being pushy or nosey. Blair truly saves Colt and gives him a new lease on life. I love how this is shown through therapy and the open conversations he ends up having.
Blair was so sweet, I loved that she was a softer character. She had her own complexities and I wish we got to learn more about her life in the foster system to see how it had shaped her. I loved the realistic portrayal of pregnancy and that she had to learn her way in the Whitaker family. She found ways to be open and honest with Colt that really strengthened their relationship.
Read your trigger warnings because there is some heavy topics but they are treated with a lot of care and grace.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author and Luna Literary for a copy of this ARC 💚
Blair's levels of anxiety feeling like she consistently wanted to give Colt an out really resonated with me. The deep feeling of being a burden. I love that Colt felt the immediate joy and love of fatherhood from the second he found out Blair was pregnant, and wanted to be there for the baby AND Blair. I loved seeing the why into his aggressive outbursts that we saw in Whittaker Ranch Book 1, and understanding Colt more. I love the representation of mental health, especially in a man - I don't think it's talked about nearly enough, and I love how the author handled it. I'm also just so glad that as slow as it may have been (understandable given Blair's past), that we did get to see her open up towards Colt and his family, despite her struggles to do so. Colt was persistent in a respectful way and seeing her walls come down was beautiful.
I do wish there was a little more background for each of the main characters. I feel like there could have been a little more context about Blair's past and family. I also feel like we could have used just a little more context to Colt's background. Just seemed like I was waiting for some big aha's that never came. And I feel like we got a lot of pregnancy moments, but maybe not as many "falling in love" moments as I would have liked. Regardless, we experienced the progression of their love and I did thoroughly enjoy it.
I normally hate cliffhangers, but I like the way Cassie writes them. These are standalones and you don't have to read the next book, but she makes you want to! This became a series I knew I'd love from book 1, and book 2 did not disappoint.
I also learned what snowballing is, so thanks Cassie!
Blair's levels of anxiety feeling like she consistently wanted to give Colt an out really resonated with me. The deep feeling of being a burden. I love that Colt felt the immediate joy and love of fatherhood from the second he found out Blair was pregnant, and wanted to be there for the baby AND Blair. I loved seeing the why into his aggressive outbursts that we saw in Whittaker Ranch Book 1, and understanding Colt more. I love the representation of mental health, especially in a man - I don't think it's talked about nearly enough, and I love how the author handled it. I'm also just so glad that as slow as it may have been (understandable given Blair's past), that we did get to see her open up towards Colt and his family, despite her struggles to do so. Colt was persistent in a respectful way and seeing her walls come down was beautiful.
I do wish there was a little more background for each of the main characters. I feel like there could have been a little more context about Blair's past and family. I also feel like we could have used just a little more context to Colt's background. Just seemed like I was waiting for some big aha's that never came. And I feel like we got a lot of pregnancy moments, but maybe not as many "falling in love" moments as I would have liked. Regardless, we experienced the progression of their love and I did thoroughly enjoy it.
I normally hate cliffhangers, but I like the way Cassie writes them. These are standalones and you don't have to read the next book, but she makes you want to! This became a series I knew I'd love from book 1, and book 2 did not disappoint.
I also learned what snowballing is, so thanks Cassie!
September 13, 2026
Ugly crying. What a sweet, surprising book 😭
I picked this up randomly after seeing an ad for it, thinking it would be a nice palate cleanser in between dark romances. Imagine my surprise when I ended up sobbing happy tears (and emotional ones!) multiple times throughout the book. Colt, you angel boy. Raising the standard for dads everywhere, and showing that taking care of your mental health is, indeed, hot. And sweet Blair, so good to everyone and just quietly aching to be loved. I genuinely felt like I MISSED them when the book was over, that's how much they stole my heart. I'm bummed to find out the next book in the series (interconnected standalones) won't be out for a little while, but I'm going to catch up on book 1 and probably reread this one in the meantime! Check your triggers, but God, this is so worth the read.
I picked this up randomly after seeing an ad for it, thinking it would be a nice palate cleanser in between dark romances. Imagine my surprise when I ended up sobbing happy tears (and emotional ones!) multiple times throughout the book. Colt, you angel boy. Raising the standard for dads everywhere, and showing that taking care of your mental health is, indeed, hot. And sweet Blair, so good to everyone and just quietly aching to be loved. I genuinely felt like I MISSED them when the book was over, that's how much they stole my heart. I'm bummed to find out the next book in the series (interconnected standalones) won't be out for a little while, but I'm going to catch up on book 1 and probably reread this one in the meantime! Check your triggers, but God, this is so worth the read.
September 27, 2026
Omgosh, this was such an amazing story. I’m always up for a good small town romance with all the bells and whistles, but this one not only rang those bells and blew those whistles, it set off some heartfelt warm fuzzies too. Colton and Blair were so special in this. The way they met was a one night only deal, but it left them with a sweet aftermath. And I loved that this didn’t just focus on what Colton wanted in life, and the spice between these two. But it also focused on a beautiful life that was a gift between the two of them. Those two pink lines changed everything for these two. But in the best possible way. I was so obsessed with this story and how wonderful it was. I could read it a few times over and never be bored.
August 29, 2026
ARC Review
Thank you for letting me read this ARC! I absolutely loved reading it and couldn’t put it down. Colton and Blair love story all starts from a one night stand well it was supposed to be… but her getting pregnant was the start of bringing them together. Colt was a bull rider who struggled with mental health and this book did so well showing how he was getting help and reaching out when he needed it💙 Blair has trauma from foster homes and shares it as why she is scared of storms. This book really showed opening up is hard but it helps you feel seen.
Now there banter was so funny! I loved how respectful and handy he was as Blair was ready to get that baby out. Definitely a romance I will love to rad again in the future💙🤠
Thank you for letting me read this ARC! I absolutely loved reading it and couldn’t put it down. Colton and Blair love story all starts from a one night stand well it was supposed to be… but her getting pregnant was the start of bringing them together. Colt was a bull rider who struggled with mental health and this book did so well showing how he was getting help and reaching out when he needed it💙 Blair has trauma from foster homes and shares it as why she is scared of storms. This book really showed opening up is hard but it helps you feel seen.
Now there banter was so funny! I loved how respectful and handy he was as Blair was ready to get that baby out. Definitely a romance I will love to rad again in the future💙🤠
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2026
The way I was HOOKED from the start?! Colton the man you are 🥵🥵. I love the complexity behind the MCs character and All his layers from the cocky exterior to his insides. It showed a real representation of mental health struggles and how even when things are better they are never “fixed”. The FMC was a a bit whiny but with her background it does make sense and is accurate in my opinion.
This book had me gagging for more and I cannot wait for the next book to be released in February! Also the cliffhanger at the end?! Bring on Feb 2027 so I can have more. Still cannot believe this is a debut series and the second book this author wrote? I want more!!!
This book had me gagging for more and I cannot wait for the next book to be released in February! Also the cliffhanger at the end?! Bring on Feb 2027 so I can have more. Still cannot believe this is a debut series and the second book this author wrote? I want more!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Colton Whittaker is a giant green flag cowboy and he fully stole my heart!! I absolutely loved the first book of this series and yet somehow Cassie still blew me out of the water, having me fall even more in love this time around.
Colt and Blair's story was somehow both calmer but also more emotional than the one we got in "Playing with Fire". In the first book we really only see Colt as the wild brother who doesn't seem to care about anything serious. But once we get inside his head in "Kicking Up Dust", it becomes blatantly obvious how much of that is just a front. His mental health is beating him down, and beneath his carefree attitude is someone who resents himself and truly believes he's let everyone down.
The way Cassie wrote Colt's depression and his journey with therapy and opening up was my favorite part of his story arc. As someone who has dealt with severe mental health problems for 20+ years, I truly say with my whole heart that this was some of the most relatable mental health representation I've ever read within a romance book. Colt's numbness broke my heart but the payoff of him working towards healing himself was so worth it. His depression doesn't just disappear simply because he falls in love but forming that relationship with Blair and their baby gave him a rope to pull himself up with. I was obsessed how quick he shifted into devoting himself to Blair and getting into #girldad mode.
& then we have his other half Blair, she was such a breath of fresh air. I loved how realistic she felt, with her hesitations and anxieties but also her "well ok this is where life has taken me so might as well pivot with it and carry on" attitude. She was the calm center to Colt's chaos, and the way she helped him feel safe standing still was so perfect.
What really made this romance work for me was how much Colt worshiped Blair and how she accepted and loved all his pieces. From the beginning he was head over heels for her and never let up, but still respected her need for a slower pace as she adjusted to so many changes. I loved as he made her feel more settled and wanted, she was able to let her walls down with the rest of the family & then likewise, he was able to feel secure enough to work on believing in his purpose in life when she gave him sometime to grab onto.
Overall, Colt is easily in my top 10 book boyfriends of all time and I seriously cannot recommend the book enough. Please please please pick this one up so I can gush with more people over the absolute preciousness that is Colt and Blair <3
Tropes:
- forced proximity
- shy city girl
- former bull rider
- hotheaded cowboy
- accidental pregnancy
- mental health rep
- family of ranchers
CW/TW: please read the author's content warnings at the beginning especially if talks of depression, suicidal ideations, past assault, and pregnancy are triggering topics for you.
***this is book 2 of an interconnected series but can be read as standalone (I personally recommend reading in order so you can truly see the juxtaposition of the outside vs internal perception of Colt).
Colt and Blair's story was somehow both calmer but also more emotional than the one we got in "Playing with Fire". In the first book we really only see Colt as the wild brother who doesn't seem to care about anything serious. But once we get inside his head in "Kicking Up Dust", it becomes blatantly obvious how much of that is just a front. His mental health is beating him down, and beneath his carefree attitude is someone who resents himself and truly believes he's let everyone down.
The way Cassie wrote Colt's depression and his journey with therapy and opening up was my favorite part of his story arc. As someone who has dealt with severe mental health problems for 20+ years, I truly say with my whole heart that this was some of the most relatable mental health representation I've ever read within a romance book. Colt's numbness broke my heart but the payoff of him working towards healing himself was so worth it. His depression doesn't just disappear simply because he falls in love but forming that relationship with Blair and their baby gave him a rope to pull himself up with. I was obsessed how quick he shifted into devoting himself to Blair and getting into #girldad mode.
& then we have his other half Blair, she was such a breath of fresh air. I loved how realistic she felt, with her hesitations and anxieties but also her "well ok this is where life has taken me so might as well pivot with it and carry on" attitude. She was the calm center to Colt's chaos, and the way she helped him feel safe standing still was so perfect.
What really made this romance work for me was how much Colt worshiped Blair and how she accepted and loved all his pieces. From the beginning he was head over heels for her and never let up, but still respected her need for a slower pace as she adjusted to so many changes. I loved as he made her feel more settled and wanted, she was able to let her walls down with the rest of the family & then likewise, he was able to feel secure enough to work on believing in his purpose in life when she gave him sometime to grab onto.
Overall, Colt is easily in my top 10 book boyfriends of all time and I seriously cannot recommend the book enough. Please please please pick this one up so I can gush with more people over the absolute preciousness that is Colt and Blair <3
Tropes:
- forced proximity
- shy city girl
- former bull rider
- hotheaded cowboy
- accidental pregnancy
- mental health rep
- family of ranchers
CW/TW: please read the author's content warnings at the beginning especially if talks of depression, suicidal ideations, past assault, and pregnancy are triggering topics for you.
***this is book 2 of an interconnected series but can be read as standalone (I personally recommend reading in order so you can truly see the juxtaposition of the outside vs internal perception of Colt).
September 8, 2026
Cowboy romance do I need to say more than that, plus he is a bull rider.
This was one of those books that I was looking forward too and it doesn’t disappoint. The spicy was spicy and the banter was good.
- An emotional story about two people coming together and supporting each other as they become the best versions of themselves
** Tropes + Vibes:
• bull rider MMC
• shy city girl FMC
• accidental pregnancy small town
• big ranching family nicknames
• mental health rep
Thank you to Luna literacy for allowing me to read this arc.
This was one of those books that I was looking forward too and it doesn’t disappoint. The spicy was spicy and the banter was good.
- An emotional story about two people coming together and supporting each other as they become the best versions of themselves
** Tropes + Vibes:
• bull rider MMC
• shy city girl FMC
• accidental pregnancy small town
• big ranching family nicknames
• mental health rep
Thank you to Luna literacy for allowing me to read this arc.
September 20, 2026
Colton and Blair had a one-night stand, and she accidentally got pregnant. He was a famous bull rider, so she was nervous to tell him, but he didn’t even question her or doubt the baby was his.
I loved how all in Colt was from the beginning. He made Blair feel safe and took care of her. And he stood up for her to his family.
It was heartbreaking to hear about Colt’s mental health and what could have happened. But Blair helped him, and she never judged him.
This was a cute and fun. I haven’t read the other books in the series, but I’ll be going back to read them later.
I loved how all in Colt was from the beginning. He made Blair feel safe and took care of her. And he stood up for her to his family.
It was heartbreaking to hear about Colt’s mental health and what could have happened. But Blair helped him, and she never judged him.
This was a cute and fun. I haven’t read the other books in the series, but I’ll be going back to read them later.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rcvd an ARC for giving my two cents.
Such a good story that made to tear up and say OMG at times.
We meet Colt, professional bull rider who is doing the circuit when a beautiful woman named Blair with her friend approaches him with a lil liquid courage. Colt puts a message into her phone but doesn't send it...the balls in her court. Cold finished his round with no text msg and thinks she didn't want to see him but she is standing at his truck. Colt is reeling when he wakes up to an empty bed after ine of thr best nights of his life and has no idea how to find her. Blair is almost done university and having an one night stand with a cowboy wasn't on her bingo card but it'll be smtg she remembers for a long time esp when she misses her period and has a positive pregnancy test. Colt has had enough with life. Nothing not even bull riding makes him happy anymore and he's the joke in the family. But a DM from Blair stops him from making the biggest mistake of his life. Blair is terrified to tell Colt that shes preggers but when he learns about the baby he is beyond excited. This was what his life was missing. He wants to be there for Blair and child. Now first he must convince her to take a chance on him. Drama, large chaotic family, horses and food cravings make this a sweet read.
Such a good story that made to tear up and say OMG at times.
We meet Colt, professional bull rider who is doing the circuit when a beautiful woman named Blair with her friend approaches him with a lil liquid courage. Colt puts a message into her phone but doesn't send it...the balls in her court. Cold finished his round with no text msg and thinks she didn't want to see him but she is standing at his truck. Colt is reeling when he wakes up to an empty bed after ine of thr best nights of his life and has no idea how to find her. Blair is almost done university and having an one night stand with a cowboy wasn't on her bingo card but it'll be smtg she remembers for a long time esp when she misses her period and has a positive pregnancy test. Colt has had enough with life. Nothing not even bull riding makes him happy anymore and he's the joke in the family. But a DM from Blair stops him from making the biggest mistake of his life. Blair is terrified to tell Colt that shes preggers but when he learns about the baby he is beyond excited. This was what his life was missing. He wants to be there for Blair and child. Now first he must convince her to take a chance on him. Drama, large chaotic family, horses and food cravings make this a sweet read.
September 10, 2026
Wow! I didn’t think it was possible for me to like a second book as much as I liked Playing with Fire but Kicking Up Dust definitely exceeded expectations.
I loved Blair and Colt’s story so much. The character development for them both was chef’s kiss. I also really appreciated how this book talked about heavy topics.
And umm excuse me with that cliffhanger?! Cannot wait for book 3!!!
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an ARC!💚
I loved Blair and Colt’s story so much. The character development for them both was chef’s kiss. I also really appreciated how this book talked about heavy topics.
And umm excuse me with that cliffhanger?! Cannot wait for book 3!!!
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an ARC!💚
August 22, 2026
ARC Review
5/5 ⭐️
If I already loved Playing With Fire, Kicking Up Dust is a whole other level
Not only does this book has the most down bad cowboy I’ve ever read, but also a sweet romance, out of this world spice (so freaking hot omg), and insane chemistry…need I say more?
I also didn’t expect to get so emotional, but I was literally sobbing with Colt and Blair. They are perfect for each other and I loved how much they took care of one another from the beginning.
Kicking Up Dust is perfect for you if you enjoy:
- Cowboy Romance
- Accidental Pregnancy
- Reformed Playboy
- Small Town
- Bull rider MMC x City girl FMC
- Large ranching family
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series after that ending omg!!
Thank you so much Cassie for the e-arc! I love being part of this street team 🥹✨🫶🏼
5/5 ⭐️
If I already loved Playing With Fire, Kicking Up Dust is a whole other level
Not only does this book has the most down bad cowboy I’ve ever read, but also a sweet romance, out of this world spice (so freaking hot omg), and insane chemistry…need I say more?
I also didn’t expect to get so emotional, but I was literally sobbing with Colt and Blair. They are perfect for each other and I loved how much they took care of one another from the beginning.
Kicking Up Dust is perfect for you if you enjoy:
- Cowboy Romance
- Accidental Pregnancy
- Reformed Playboy
- Small Town
- Bull rider MMC x City girl FMC
- Large ranching family
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series after that ending omg!!
Thank you so much Cassie for the e-arc! I love being part of this street team 🥹✨🫶🏼
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