9.43/10

Characters-10

This was my first time reading a book with a Western theme. I loved the characters in this one. Riley was so fun, she started the story with a big event and spent some of the first part of this story trying to recover. Colton was great, and he was very laid back as a character. I enjoyed the interactions and the banter between the characters throughout the story. This was an opposite attract and grumpy Xsunhsine story which I enjoyed. I enjoyed the supporting characters as well. Riley's family and Colton's co-workers were interesting people to follow.

Plot-10

This book was an adventure. I loved following the group as they journeyed on the Oregon Trail. I know a bit about the area from history classes, but seeing the small towns along the way was fun. I loved seeing the relationship blossom between Riley and Colton along the way. They went from referring to each other as Prarie Princess, and Tall, Dark, and Irksome to using each other's first names and falling in love in the Nebraska wilderness. I'm not the biggest fan of love triangles, but this one added some fun extra drama.

Writing-9

I enjoyed the writing in this book. I loved the duel pov, and hearing events from both characters as the story progressed. The writing style made sense for the story being told, and was drawn into the atmosphere of Near Misses and Cowboy Kisses through the writing. This was an easy read; the writing style brings you into the story and the characters.

Enjoyment-9

loved this more than I thought it would. I ended up enjoying the characters and the story. I will read more from the author for sure.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Riley Thomas is not happy about her life being uprooted for Senior year and having to move from her beloved home in California to Nebraska. It is bad enough that they are moving, but her parents have decided that the best start to their time in Nebraska is to take a family trip on a weeklong Oregon Trail excursion. This trip would be bad enough for most teens since it means riding in wagons or walking behind for miles, no cellphone service, no running water or bathrooms; but for Riley it starts off especially bad with the airline losing her luggage. If that wasn't bad enough, the Trail Boss's son, Colton Walker, seems to think that Riley is a Prairie Princess that can't handle life on the prairie. Riley is determined to show him that he has judged her all wrong and she is no wilting prairie flower! Will Colton's heart soften towards Riley or will he decide to keep his distance?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Emmel and look forward to adding it to my middle school library!

4 Stars

So cute and my favorite just-one-tent trope but make it just-one-stagecoach or even just-one-patch-of-grass-because-he-saved-you-from-a-bison-stampede-and-y’all-have-to-camp-and-cuddle-and-makeout.

Like did this make me download The Oregon Trail and then simultaneously start googling a family vacation to Nebraska so I could do the trail a bit? YES YES IT DID. It was everything I could ever want in a cute YA romance, and also COWBOYS AND ADVENTURES AND SLEEPING UNDER THE STARS. I absolutely recommend!

While I wasn't the target audience for this one. I did enjoy it. A family summer trip on the Oregon trail by wagon train sign me up. And teenage me would have loved it because I loved the game oregon trail and a wagon train trip would have be a dream vacation for me as a teen.

Introduction
A cowboy romance with all (well, some) of the conveniences of modern day? Yes please! This is very much in the Hallmark vein of stories, making a cosy read that's perfect to curl up with on a lazy afternoon.

Plot Summary
Riley's family have just moved to Nebraska and she's not feeling too happy about it. She's definitely not happy to be stuck on a week long wagon trip designed for tourists to safely experience the Oregon trail. And when she and one of the workers keep encountering each other? Things just get worse.
The overall theme in the book is not taking things at face value. Colton and Riley both make assumptions about each other and have to backtrack when they're proved wrong.

Characters
Riley and Colton are our main characters. In keeping with the genre, they're both hyper competent; Colton is amazing at everything to do with being a cowboy and has even won awards, while Riley has learned all about camping and fishing from her grandfather and is also an amazing artist. I would have liked them to need to learn something, but that's not the point of the story!

Writing Style
Fast paced and with a decent amount of banter. It's very common in this kind of book but I thought the romance developed very quickly - they were exchanging 'I love you's after just a few days. However, the tour was due to last only a week so the speed is understandable.

Setting
The descriptions of the plains were absolutely amazing. I could picture them perfectly and I've added Nebraska to the list of places I'd like to see in the world! Genuinely stunning.

Conclusion
A great addition to the romcom canon, the joy of this one was in the setting, which sets it apart from other novels. It's a very cute read

This was extremely cute!!

I almost forgot how quirky YA enemies-to-lovers books were. Really enjoyed the Oregon trail setting as well.

Thank you Netgalley & Publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

"Praire Princess" my foot. This is what Riley thinks when a cowboy calls her that while carrying many bags from the store. Little does he know. Riley has moved, no uprooted, from California to Nebraska. Her parents feel this is the perfect time to ride the Oregon Trail. UGH! Told from a well-done, dual point of view, between Riley and Colton. These two that seem so opposite from each other, and you know what they say about magnets. This debut YA was a great read for me. Cannot wait to read Mrs. Emmel's next book, "Trail Rides & Starry Eyes", which comes out in fall 2025. Thank you to Mrs. Emmel, Delacorte Romance, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was an adorable YA story. There were relatable issues that were well handled. I’m not made for roughing it, so this definitely told me what I was and wasn’t cut out for. This was really fun read.

It was rainy and, even though I had a poncho on to avoid getting wet, I desperately wanted to go inside for a little while. Disney World is a lot of fun, but the rain can always put a damper on things. The queue for Toy Story Mania is almost always over an hour long and this time would be no exception. Though the queue lasted 53 minutes (I like timing it to see how accurate the wait times are), it felt like far less than that.

I had a rather good book to read while I waited – loaded up on the NetGalley app on my phone.

Though it was rainy at Disney World, I was transported to the Oregon Trail with Katrina Emmel’s book, Near Misses and Cowboy Kisses. The vibes of this book were incredible! It put me right into the middle of the scene and made me learn a thing or two about the cowboy lifestyle that I’d not thought of before. I loved the country boy aesthetic that Colton gave off and Riley’s hesitant interest in the land around her as she gets used to her new surroundings.

What I enjoyed most about this book, though, was the way that Riley and Colton misunderstood each other and how their perceptions of the other person grew over the course of the story.

Riley’s struggling with a move that she doesn’t want and doesn’t feel is fair. As someone who’s been forced to move as a kid and didn’t have much say in the matter, I feel for Riley here. Her feelings and struggles are entirely valid and then to make matters worse her luggage goes missing. Colton doesn’t know this, obviously, and views her as some stuck-up, phone-obsessed girl. Riley views him as a know-it-all jerk. They’re both proven wrong in the cutest ways over the course of this Oregon Trail tour adventure. The characterization of these characters was brilliant, and I highly enjoyed the way the things they were struggling with seemed to balance each other’s out.

Overall, this book was really enjoyable and gave the perfect cowboy romance vibes. If you’re looking for a cute, end of summer rom com to read, look no further cause Emmel’s got you covered. And if you’re looking for a book to make the Disney wait times fly by, then I highly recommend this one too.

I’m not gonna lie. As someone who hates the great outdoors and who hates everything outside (I’m from Texas and the heat has left me jaded ok lol) I just knew I was going to hate this. But it actually wasn’t bad at all. The focus was more on the characters and that saved it for me.

Ok so what I didn’t like wasn’t much. I didn’t care for the characters because of some of the ways they communicated. There is a lot that could have been solved with them just freaking talking, but they were ridiculous and just kept making assumptions about each other. It really was annoying because it was like why not just ask. And the other thing that really annoyed me was the way he had to mansplain everything. I’m SO GLAD she got onto his ass about that. But it got really weird for a moment there.

The romance was cute tho. After they got their ish together, they were extremely cute. Only to be thwarted by that dingbat of a guy that just assumed he was God’s gift to all women. Especially when he didn’t even know Riley. So basically when we finally see Colton acting right and he shows interest in what Riley is interested in, I loved that for her. I was very happy to see the way the two of them interacted.

I also thought Riley was cool. I am not a huge outdoors person, so whenever I see someone who is I think they’re cool af and I want to know all the things they know. If I tell you all the things that I Googled while I was reading this lol you would think I didn’t know anything. But fr, I learned so much from this. What milkweed was, what the Nebraska prairie looked like etc. I also learned what a scientific illustrator was and what they’re needed for. I had never in my life heard of that lol And I’m an adult. So now I have something else to tell my teens about if they’re interested in art and don’t want to take the traditional path. Thank you Katrina Emmel for this info.

The plot itself had a lot of surprises tho. That almost ending was insane! I was freaking out for her! And I’m sorry, but the dressing up thing? Yeah there’s no way. I would have told my mom its not happening. Idc what she wanted lolol I agreed with Riley in some ways about her moving, but in other ways she just had no choice. I won’t say anything more because of spoilers, but if you’re looking for a big plot thing, you’re going to be upset. There’s something that they argue about as a family, but it’s nothing like huge.

This was a very cute Cowboy romance that I really enjoyed. I really hope there’s more Cowboys to come in YA after this. There’s some, but not many modern, they don’t actually feel like Cowboys, and they seem few and far between. So pick this one up so we can get more!

This had a bit of a slow start to me but it was so cute. The two of them just really connected and understood each other in such a short time. I kind of wish we got and epilogue of them after the trail but I had a good time.

I received an arc through netgalley.

This was a quick and adorable read and such a nice change of pace. The romance was very sweet and I loved watching it develop. The setting was really the star of the show for me though. It was so immersive and took me somewhere that I would probably never see for myself. I am NOT outdoorsy in the slightest but I love living vicariously, so this was perfect!

I recommend this one to anyone who wants to dip their toes into cowboy romance or those looking for some City Slickers nostalgia.

Thank you so much to Delacorte and NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.

I received an e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

This was a really sweet, slow-burning young adult romance. I liked how Riley and Colton's connection was developed by the author throughout the story. I thought it was great that this Californian city gal was now adjusting to life in Nebraska of all places! I love the writing style; it does an amazing job of capturing the beautiful environment of this novel! The writing in this book was great, and the details made me feel as though I was with the people on the prairie. All in all, this is quite enjoyable and interesting.

5 Reasons to Read

Family

I loved getting to know the families in this YA Contemporary. There’s nothing like some quality, unplugged, family time and this one has that in spades. Riley’s family is going through a big change and although there’s tension between Riley and her parents, they are still always there for her. Colton’s family runs the trail ride company and it was great getting to see them all working together. It was never about anyone feeling obligated to work. It was all about spending time with each other doing something they all genuinely loved.

Trail Rides & Landscapes

This is the coolest setting in a YA Contemporary that I’ve read in a while. I have been diving into summer camp themed books lately so this was a nice change of pace. I would love to spend a week on an authentic trail ride with wagons and costumes included! Also, some tasty Dutch oven dinners and tent nights under the stars. I also loved how descriptive the landscape was throughout the book. I felt like I was really there!

Romance

OMG! Riley and Colton were adorable. I enjoyed how both of them were a bit on the grumpy side of things in the beginning but were both sunshine by the end of it. They were both a bit misunderstood but definitely had a spark none the less.

Love of Art

Riley’s sketches of the landscapes throughout the book were great. I wish I were creative enough for fanart because I think there’s plenty of inspiration in this one.

New Beginnings

Riley’s parents have dropped the bomb on her that she’ll be moving from L.A. to Nebraska the summer before her senior year. To every high school student with established friend groups, courses, summer plans, etc., news like this would feel like the worst thing that could possibly happen. I enjoyed the development from worst thing to ever happen to possibility and hope that maybe the move won’t be as bad as it seems.

I thoroughly enjoyed the narrative leading up to the commencement of the Oregon Trail expedition. While some of the events that unfolded early in Riley's journey were not part of my own experiences, I empathized with her character. The gradual development of Colton and Riley's relationship, as they transitioned from initial animosity to love, felt very organic. Additionally, the portrayal of the supporting characters, including Riley and Colton's parents, Riley's brother, and even Colton's horse, Chance, and his rival Jake, was compelling. The vivid and picturesque descriptions of the scenery were truly captivating. Furthermore, the misadventures encountered by Colton and Riley were quite engaging, but I refrain from disclosing specific details to avoid spoilers. The resolution of the story left me satisfied. Overall, it is a delightful young adult novel, presenting a compelling rivals-to-lovers romance narrative.

TL;DR: Near Misses and Cowboy Kisses was a fun contemporary YA featuring a sweet summer romance with relatable teenage characters who were easy to empathise with and like. It also made me want to go and experience an Oregon Trail summer experience and bask in Nebraska’s natural trails! Overall, it was a fun and easy read and an enjoyable debut!

As I was reading Near Misses & Cowboy Kisses, I immediately thought of how much a younger me would’ve loved to read this book. Not only was the Oregon Trail a big part of my formative gaming experience, but as a young hopeless romantic, I’d always loved the idea of experiencing a breathtaking and beautiful summer romance. 🤭 Beyond that, as someone who grew up moving frequently and whose high school experience involved three moves in four years, I related so much to Riley’s experience!

The summer before senior year is nothing at all like Riley expected. Not only is she not spending time with her besties in California, but her whole life is being uprooted to the last place she wants to be—Nebraska. Riley is understandably upset and frustrated and she displays that through her grumpiness and lack of excitement at being dragged into a family trip for a good portion of the book. Change is hard for anyone to deal with and as a teen, sometimes it feels even more "life ending", which Emmel illustrated well through Riley’s behaviour. But the way Riley's thoughts and feelings about the "Great Upheaval" changed over the story was natural and realistic. This was reflected in her relationship with her family, who she so clearly loves and it was nice to see her reconnect with them by the end, but also with Colton, who's not as bad as she initially thought. I also really loved her passion for art and what she wanted to pursue as a career! It was very cool. 😊

Colton was her opposite in many ways and their relationship could not have started any worse. He’s a working teen who’s passionate about the Nebraskan wild he’s grown up in. He takes great pride in his family’s business hosting Oregon Trail experiences and I loved his relationship with his mother so much! It was very sweet :) I have to admit that his initial harsh judgement of Rylie rubbed me the wrong way but as we get to know him more, it’s clear that he’s just a teen who gets his words wrong sometimes and then doesn’t know how to make things less awkward, lol. He’s used to being alone and is shy but respectful, hard-working, passionate and has a great heart! I’m so glad this was in dual perspective so we got his POV too.

What starts as a rather contentious relationship between Riley and Colton due to quick judgments from poor first impressions slowly becomes a comforting, heartwarming and wholesome romance. I loved how their harsh feelings for each other thawed as they spent more time together and learned to see beyond their physical appearances and that initial impression. As teens, they don’t always communicate in the best way but it was totally realistic and I’m glad that they eventually got on the same page with how they felt for each other. At times it seemed to tip over the line into 'instalove' but they also went through a lot over the two weeks. Ultimately, I found their romance sweet and swoonworthy! 💜

If there’s anything I wished had been done differently, it would be the ending. While it was technically satisfying and they get their “happy for now”, I kind of wish that the story hadn’t ended so abruptly. Coming in at less than 300 pages, this was a pretty short read and the ending made it feel even more so. I’m not always a fan of epilogues but it would’ve been nice to see what happened after the summer. I wanted to see what it was like for Riley in her new school but also whether they decided to stick it out or not. It’s a small “complaint” and defo a personal preference but overall, I thought this was a great debut! I’m keen to see what Emmel writes in the future.

I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours. Special thanks to Delacorte Romance for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is an adorable story! I've recently been getting more into western-style romance stories, and this was a great YA version. It was like going back in time of when I played Oregon Trail a ton as a tween on the computers at school, and I love how determined Riley is to prove Colton wrong in his first impressions of her. Is it a conventional vacation/moving trip? Nope, and that's what really makes the book as good as it is.

If you’re looking for a heart-warming adorable romance then I recommend picking this one up!!

I absolutely love the writing style, it describes the beautiful setting of this book perfectly!
I’m not a huge fan of being out in the wild for days but through this story is one of the exception that made wished I could be on that Oregon Trail Excursion!

Riley’s character is actually pretty relatable. I could totally relate to her as I would not be happy either if I have to go on that trail excursion after my life had just undergone massive change.
I really enjoy seeing how Riley started to grew fonder towards Nebraska - the people and its nature thorughout this story.
Not to mention, a handsome and sweet cowboy is there as a tour guide, life may not as bad as Riley thinks…..

Overall, this is highly enjoyable and entertaining. My eyes are glued to my kindle, it’s such a page turner!
I bet teenagers would love a story with a mix of adventure, nature and also a dash of romance!
I’m really looking forward to read the next book by this author in the future!

This one was really cute! It definitely was YA, so don’t be expecting any spice, but it was a really cute cowboy young love romance.
He calls her Prairie Princess at first because he stereotypes her as a city girl and kind of mansplains her a bit, which gives them a rivals energy. But once they both realize there’s more to each other and they’ve misread and judged too quickly, the gears shift.
There’s another boy, Jake, who THINKS he has a chance but really doesn’t and he ends up getting in the way a lot. Thankfully, Colton eventually figures out that Jake really doesn’t have a chance and makes his move. But he has that normal teen doubt.
All in all it was really cute, just a long trek through the outdoors and a relationship blooming under the stars in the Nebraskan wilderness.

Thank you TBR and Beyond for having me on the tour!